Category Archives: Recommendation

Into the Rapids by Ann Braden

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Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

The novel takes place in a moment of distress for the main character, Addy, whose town has just been hit by a difficult storm. Although the story is not a difficult one to understand, the concepts of grief, trauma, and moments of need are significant parts of the story. The concepts are presented with a digestible tale of a young girl trying to carry on her parents’ legacy by making her way through the storm and to a survival camp. Through this journey, however, she discovers tools of strength in character, friendship, and courage. Overall, the book is an excellent read for readers who may relate to the trials presented to Addy, both mentally and physically.

We Built This City by Cat Patrick

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Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

The novel follows a young girl and her exciting journey towards stardom. It is also a nostalgic read, as it takes place before the 2000s, and in an era of rock, pop, and guitar music. The book will be particularly enjoyable for incoming middle school readers, who will be able to relate to the main character’s values, conflicts, exciting times, and big dreams. Cat Patrick’s story is motivational, drama-filled, and a thrilling read for middle-level readers or people who have enjoyed novels such as Out of My Mind or Every Last Word.

Los Monstruos: Rooster and the Dancing Diablo

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Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

This book is an extraordinary read for people hoping to expand on their knowledge of Mexican culture. Rooster and the Dancing Diablo, the second book in a series, follows a town where children have mysteriously gone missing. A young man named Rooster goes on a magical adventure with friends in order to save the town. It also includes Mexican folklore, and is an engaging way to learn about different cultures. Diana Lopez has written a story that is inspirational, depicts the ups and downs of friendships, and is overall a fantastic story for people of all ages.

Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales! Troubling Tonsils by Aaron Reynolds

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Jasper Rabbit tells the tale of Charlie Marmot. Charlie has a sore throat and when his dad takes him to the doctor, the doctor says he needs to have his tonsils removed. Charlie decides he wants to keep the tonsils in a jar and take them to class for show and tell. Only before his surgery a strange sound keeps him up at night. And on the day of surgery, his tonsils are gone.

Jasper Rabbit’s retelling reads like a show from the Twilight Zone which may be missed by younger readers. The creepy tale will be a hit for those who like spooky tales. This is a short chapter book with any pictures being gray and black. The only thing that has color is the tonsils.

Beverley, Bat Your Service by Kelly Collier

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Beverley Bat lives in an old abandoned house. He loves to entertain, but no one comes to visit until one day a car pulls up with people in it. Excited to entertain, Beverley reads about how to host people guests. Beverley sprays a welcoming scent of eau de rotten eggs and cooking Bolognese de millipede for dinner. The humans didn’t appreciate all of his efforts.

A fun, not so spooky story. The use of thought and speech bubbles and onomatopoeia draws readers into the text. The illustrations are colorful and the characters are expressive.

Zombees by Justin Colón

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A swarm of zombees invade a town on Halloween night. They are a ghastly green and drag a glowing sack. Did they come to eat our brains? The town gets out their smokers to ward off an attack. The text is rhyming and leads us on a frolicking tale with a twist at the end.

The illustrations are color and bright with the “ghastly green” drawing readers in. Each page contains two lines of rhyming text.

Perfect choice for a not so spooky Halloween read. Fans of Creepy Carrots will delight in this tale.

A Tempest of Tea By Hafsah Faizal

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Reviewed by Emilyn 10th grade – This book wraps you up and never lets you go! It has a strong and relatable heroine, as well as mostly light-hearted fun with underlying themes of colonialism and bigotry. With a ragtag group of protagonists you can’t help but root for, the rich and immersive world will stay with you long after you finish it!

How to Lose a Best Friend: a novel By Jordan K. Casomar

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Reviewed by Jaelyn 12th grade – How to Lose a Best Friend is a real and honest book that more teenagers, especially the “Gen Z” generation should read. Zeke and Imogen were best friends for as long as anyone could remember. Everyone wanted them to get together, including Zeke. Imogen didn’t feel the same. This book was labeled as fiction which I do agree with but the concept of the story, the plot twist, and emotions were all very real. I really liked the storyline of the book and how on the back it says “What would you do if you were in love with your best friend… and they didn’t love you back?” It’s something I’ve experienced and I think many others have as well. This book could be used as a life lesson. I didn’t like how this book gave us “2 years later” but only lasted for a few pages. There should have been more or a second book.

Chronically Dolores by Maya Van Wagenen

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Reviewed by Baylie 12th grade – Chronically Dolores is centered around a girl, Dolores Mendoza, who suffers from a chronic bladder illness. The book follows her daily struggles and her slow path to self-acceptance. Dolores befriends Terpsichores-Jones, an autistic homeschooled girl, making a pact to help each other in their challenges. Dolores wishes to rekindle her old friendship with her friend Shae, while Terpsichore hopes to attend public school. Waganen’s use of first person helps connect you with Dolores, feeling the exact emotions she feels when she is embarrassed/self-conscious about her illness. I liked when Dolores reviewed bathrooms, as that is something with a bladder disease would do that is also funny to think about. This book shines in its lack of a concrete ending. It instead focuses more on the challenges and the growth of Dolores and Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones. They grow more confident in themselves about their respective disabilities, learning to accept themselves for who they are even if they don’t get the exact results that they aim for in their “pact”. This is something that I would recommend for people to try something new, as when most go for fantasy or horror fiction, this book shows that realistic stories can still be just as entertaining. Would read again!

Out of My Dreams by Sharon Draper

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Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

Out of My Dreams is an outstanding continuation of the Out of My Mind trilogy. It details Melody’s journey following an exciting accomplishment regarding the aid of an elderly neighbor. After being called for an interview on television, she goes through physical and emotional challenges, feeling excited and scared through the process. She provides a unique perspective on the issues and stigmas surrounding the world today, and a perspective from a one-of-a-kind source. The novel will empower young minds to strive towards excellence and overcome obstacles in their way. Overall, this story is an excellent read for teens, and is a necessity in middle-grade libraries.