In a world of magic doors to escape your world and scribing spells that can kill, Maeve has quietly lived by a false name and without her parents for almost half of her life. Never staying in one place for very long became a way of survival — if people found out who her father was, she too would be killed. Maeve’s father was a scriptomancer, specially trained in the art of magical messages to be couriered to other worlds. While most believe he unleashed a vine that poisons on contact and decimated most in his society, including himself, Maeve knows her father would not use his magic in dark ways. Her life’s mission is to clear his name, and her path to do so involves becoming a scriptomancer, too. Emily Taylor’s world-building is divine, with descriptive details that enhance the pace. Maeve is wickedly smart, which pairs well with her sarcastically supportive crush of a boy, Tristan. Got readers who say they don’t like fantasy? Give them this!
By Invitation Only by Alexandra Brown Chang
This book is set in Paris for the debutante ball, La Danse des Débutantes. This ball is only interested high society and elite status individuals; and as the title alludes, the guest list is by invitation only. The only new face to this year’s ball is Piper Woo Collins, a middle-class science whiz who is trying to hold tight to her Columbia acceptance. Piper is put in direct competition with Hollywood legacy Chapin Buckingham – who was born and raised to want for nothing. Only right now, Chapin desperately wants to win “Deb. of the Year” but fears naive Piper may win over the title just by being herself.
This book is full of scheming, back-stabbing, and superficial relationships, but I didn’t find much substance in the writing. There are a number of teens who may enjoy reading it, for the drama, scandal and pop-culture references. I did enjoy the depiction of the relationships between the characters and their parents – these were more complex than the other relationships depicted in the book.
War is Over!
We all know and love the famous Christmas song from John Lennon and Yoko Ono, this book takes the song and gives a background story that kids can relate to. In War is Over! the reader follows a carrier pigeon named Julia as she relays messages for a chess game between two soldiers on opposite sides of a war. (The book uses green coats and red coats, not specific countries fighting). As you’re reading the story, the lyrics from the song are intertwined with the text and stand out with larger font and bold print.
Readers will get to know the two soldiers through their chase game and Julia carrying their moves/messages back and forth. By the time the two must fight, the reader, and the characters, have empathy for eachother. I can envision using this book to talk about finding commonalities among your outward differences, or working with kids to understand empathy and how its so important in our world. I also really enjoy that Julia the carrier pigeon plays such an important part of the story, moving the plot forward. Students may never have heard of carrier pigeons before and this is an easy and fun way visualise their roles.
This book is a great conversation starter for kids K-3. Use it in a social emotional lesson, or a friendship lesson and guide your readers through their conversation – a perfect jumping off point.
This Book Might Be About Zinnia by Brittney Morris
This novel is told from two alternating teenage protagonist voices: Zinnia in 2024; and her birth mother, Tuesday, from 2006.
Immediately after her birth, Zinnia is adopted by a white couple and raised lovingly with all needs and wants provided. Zinnia is smart, loves to read, and is determined to attend Harvard after high school, just like both of her parents; she knows nothing about her birth parents nor has she been very curious about them. This all changes for Zinnia when her best friend gifts her a book that seems to be describing Zinnia’s life story.
Tuesday – upon becoming pregnant knows that she is unable to care for her child in the way she wants to; nor does she have the support of her family – in fact she has the opposite and worries that her mother and the baby’s biological father’s family would cause harm if they were in the baby’s life. She has no choice but to give the baby up for adoption. Tuesday is a writer and has journaled about the details of Zinnia’s birth and circumstances surrounding those decisions. This journal end up in the hands of a writer who eventually steals the story to claim as her own.
Once this story gets into Zinnia’s hands, she begins a quest to find her birth mother.
The characterization of Zinnia and Tuesday is strong; however, the supporting characters lack the substance I wanted to really connect fully with the story. I do appreciate the themes of found family, adoption, and nature vs. nurture that arise. I think teen readers will resonate with the parts of the novel that show the protagonists having to make tough decisions for themselves amidst strong familial opinions – do we do what feels right, or do we do what others think we should?
On Thin Ice
By Jessica Kim
Twins, Phoebe and Dexter, are fierce competitors on the ice. When Phoebe’s partner is injured and Dex is cut from the star hockey team neither knows what to do. Dexter agrees to pair up with his sister so she can still compete but is there enough time for him to learn the routine? Let alone be successful? While these two and their mother are still reeling from their dad’s death from cancer, they have become further apart from each other and their friends. Will they reconnect? Will their mother be okay? This middle grade fiction will be enjoyed by many who are interested in sports, school stories as well as family tales.
I would strongly recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school. There is a light crush in this book as Phoebe gets to know her brother’s replacement on the team but nothing that would be concerning for younger readers.
I Hate Everything by Sophy Henn
Ghost declares, “I HATE EVERYTHING! His ghost friend listens and asks him if he hates sweets, dressing up, and cakes. Ghost does not. Through his friend listening ghost realizes maybe he doesn’t hate everything.
The illustrations feature adorable, expressive ghosts and vivid pictures on bright backgrounds. A great story for dealing with a bad day and strong emotions.
Can I Keep It, PLEASE? by John Sullivan
Evie and her pet cat, Sasha, are on the way to the pet parade. While at the parade, Evie decides that her pet is boring. She sets off to persuade her parents to let her get a more exciting pet. When she finds a snake in her backyard, her parents let her keep it. But a snake for a pet was not what Evie was expecting. And as she learns about her snake, she learns that maybe not all animals are meant to be pets.
Inspired by the author’s childhood of catching a wild garter snake and keeping it as a pet. He notes that there are now laws in some states to protect wild snakes and it is better to get a snake from a reputable source.
The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt
Another book in the Crayon series by Drew Daywalt. Duncan’s crayons have disappeared again. This time the crayons have set out to make friends. White crayon no longer feels invisible since meeting the chess set and filling in as the missing queen. Blue crayon’s problem of being short is solved when they find a doll who’d lost a head and they team up. Each crayon’s story is told as a letter from that crayon.
Bela and Lily by Natasha Khan Kazi
A young girl moves to the United States from Bangladesh. She does not know many English words and this makes it hard to make friends. She meets Lily and they start to play together. Even though they don’t speak the same language, they become friends.
Based on the author’s own experience of moving to the United States at five and not speaking English.
The back matter gives an author’s note and some games that can be played without words. The end papers include pictures with words in English and Bengali.
Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India’s Woven Trees by Sandhya Acharya
In the state of Meghalaya in India, there are bridges or Jingkieng Jri created from the living roots of rubber fig trees. The War Khasi-Jaintia weave the roots together to make bridges for the community to be able to cross the mountainous area they live in. The Living Bridges last for hundreds of years and withstand the monsoons in the area.
This book follows a young boy on his way to learn to build a Jingkieng Jri. He notices the insects and birds that make their home in the bridge, but also the damage that is happening to the bridges from littering and people stealing the sap. He decides that he can take action and teach others to clean up the bridges.
The back matter includes information about living bridges, a glossary and pronunciation guide, photographs of a Living Bridge and a bibliography.