Category Archives: Recommendation

May the Best Player Win

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by Kyla Zhao

May Li loves to play chess. After a competition where she won a trophy at the California State Middle School Chess Championship for being the top female up-and-coming player, winning and being on top gets a whole lot more stressful. Her school’s chess club has their sights set on Nationals, her teammate suddenly becomes her rival, and life gets more complicated when she becomes friends with a soccer player. May has to find her love of the game again and not just her nerves about always being on top. This sweet story is not only for those interested in chess, but also for anyone who puts too much pressure on themselves to meet others’ perceived expectations of us. I liked that May found balance in her life as she learned to re-embrace the sport she had loved since she was young. For those who also play chess, there is plenty of chess play, vocabulary and strategy in the pages of this book, too. The book confronts sexism in sports – both chess and soccer – and reminds readers that gender has nothing to do with whether or not you can play chess well or kick soccer goals! A great addition to a middle school library.

Hummingbirds (Pollinators)

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by Martha London

Hummingbirds describes the life and importance of hummingbirds. Facts are presented with accompanying photos and QR codes are interspersed throughout with added videos, activities and information. Unfamiliar words are bolded and colored with a glossary at the back of the book. There is a page of connections to consider, an index and further information as well.

This book packs a lot of information into 32 pages and the extras via QR codes make it a fantastic addition to your science collection. Photos are clear and brilliant, a timeline of the lifecycle is well-done and text spacing all make this book accessible for many readers.

It is part of a series called Pollinators and should be a first choice when updating your collection. It is geared toward upper elementary, but will prove useful (with guidance) for the younger readers. Free teaching resources are included. Highly recommended.

Sunken Ship (Tiny Habitats)

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by Amy Hevron

in 1733, a ship sank in a big storm as the crew swam to safety. As the years go by, we see the changing habitat, resulting in a thriving artificial reef that sustains a rich variety of marine life. Based on the sinking of the San Pedro (as noted in the afterward), this delightful book looks at Year 1, Year 10, Year 100 and the present day. Not only does the ship provide a wonderful place for the myriad of sea life, the wood itself enriches its resting place as it decomposes.

Students will enjoy the colorful, smiling creatures as well as the funny speech bubbles while they learn some solid science. The back of the book contains a note about artificial reefs and the original San Pedro shipwreck as well as additional reading suggestions and selected sources. Add this book, and the first book, Log Life, to your library. This charming book will hook your kids into more exploration of tiny habitats. Highly recommended.

Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents

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by Nicki Pau Preto

Vin’s magic is out of control and it has caused her to get kicked out of almost every magical school in the world. She has landed in the last possible chance she has: The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents. This is her last chance to figure out how to control her magic without it exploding into disaster. She discovers loyal friendships and finally gains an understanding of how her magic actually works. This book is full of heartwarming characters who are quirky, but accepting. All of them have been a bit of a mess and found this welcoming home of last chances. The headmistress of the school is very kind and works diligently with her troubled students to find their confidence and control in a safe space while not giving up on them when the “oopsies” happen with their developing magic. I enjoyed this book a lot. Clever magic, kind, brave characters, and plenty of action made for a fun read. Vin’s fear of failure and of being cast out felt very real and tugged at my heart. I think lovers of magic & fantasy will really enjoy this book. The ending also left room for a sequel. I would definitely read another book if this were a series!

The Blood of Kings

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by Matt Myklusch

An action-packed graphic novel set in a medieval land surrounded by more modern kingdoms. It is being attacked by Night Lander warriors every evening. Skerren finds himself defending his kingdom and his king from this invading force and from enemies within as well. The story moves along with plenty of visual action and plot twists. I liked the map at the beginning of the book, but wished that it had included more of the kingdoms that actually appeared in the book. For instance, the Night Landers home location was not on the map.There are other books in the Imagine Nation world, so perhaps those books included information I felt was missing in this volume. Clearly, Skerren’s friends, Jack and Allegra, were in other volumes. This book alluded to earlier adventures with the friends. Graphics are bold & colorful and the pace of the story moves right along.

A Game of Noctis

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by Deva Fagan

Pia, a girl from the poor side of town, is recruited to play with a team in the Great Game of Noctis where the stakes are life and death. If she and her team win, she just might be able to save her grandfather, banished to the island of pawns who may no longer play in the games. I enjoyed this book of games, riddles and strategies and Pia’s quest to get ahead in life. All of the games had similarities to common, real world games like chess or tag, but all were unique and different. One scene reminded me a bit of the human chess board in the 2nd Harry Potter book, but again, every game and puzzle was something brand new with just an echo of a familiar one. The book is full of twists and turns, allies and enemies, and stakes worth playing for! I cared about the characters and was rooting for their success or downfall, depending on who they were. A rags to potential-riches story worth reading, and I think my middle schoolers will really enjoy this one.

The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner by Erin Stewart

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This upper elementary/middle grade novel is perfect for many readers: anyone managing an anxiety disorder, anyone who loves to write fanfiction or fantasy, anyone who’s been bullied, anyone who’s lost a parent, anyone receiving support from a therapist, or anyone who worries or fixates on worst case scenarios.  Zoey Turner lost her father to a bus accident and now struggles with debilitating anxiety. Her fears include but aren’t limited to buses, germs, crowds, cars, the deep end of the pool, and she spends her time googling worst-case scenario facts. She is obsessed with Raven M. Wells, author of her favorite fantasy series about a hero’s journey. Cleverly, this is exactly what Zoey finds herself embarking on after she obtains what she believes to be a “magic pencil” at the author’s signing event because when she proceeds to write with it, her stories come true. Readers will ponder what they would write if they had a magic pencil. Zoey’s quest includes: a supportive mother; book store owner, Jada; Derek, a boy bullied by others; and best friend, Lena, who loves and supports her, but who is also being pulled into a new circle of not-very-nice girls. During the course of her quest, Zoey learns that it’s okay to need others, courage means acting in spite of fear, “bad things…happen to all of us, be we decide how those things change us” (298), the magic is in us, and we can’t just be the hero; rather, we have to become one. All powerful and necessary messages. The twist at the end will delight readers while they cheer Zoey on during the final stages of her hero’s journey.

Heartfelt by Elaine Vickers

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What is love? How do you show love? The main character makes small hearts and gives them away after completing acts of kindness. The character uses their senses to describe love. Love feels like a gentle hand to lift you up if you fall down. Love tastes like warm cookies we take to the neighbors. The diorama illustrations are colorful and help carry the story. Many small acts of kindness are demonstrated through the words and collage illustrations of this book.

With Just One Wing by Brenda Woods

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Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.

This is an exquisite middle-grade novel that sensitively explores identity, belonging, and the intricacies of adoption. Readers are transported into a heartfelt coming of age story through nearly twelve-year-old Cooper “Coop” Garnet’s eyes, who finds himself needing to rescue an injured mockingbird. Coop, who was adopted at infancy, struggles with questions about his birthmother and where he fits into his beloved, yet adoptive family. Coop and his buddy, Zandi, find an orphaned fledgling, who only has one wing; it won’t be able to fend for itself. They choose to take care of the bird, and name it Hop. As Coop pours his energy into Hop’s care, he starts to notice parallels between the bird’s plight and his own abandonment and acceptance issues. This experience teaches him about love, sacrifice and the complexities of his own adoption. Woods uses straightforward, conversational language to enliven Coop’s first-person narrative, helping to explain complicated feelings to young readers. Ideal for fans of… The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng; Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan Readers who enjoy tales of personal transformation, family relationships, and the redemptive power of tending to another’s needs will especially resonate with With Just One Wing, a warm, approachable family story with believable conflicts and satisfying resolutions. The complexity of Woods’ story mirrors the intricacies of relationships woven among those we love, the sense of responsibility we have for families we choose, and how to balance that with the hard realities of life. More than a heartwarming book, this is a great addition to middle-grade literature because it reads like a love letter mixed with life lessons.

Sing It Like Celia by Monica Mancillas

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Reviewed by North Thurston High School Student, Michelle E.

A moving, middle-grade novel about identity, resilience, and the power of music. The main character is twelve-year-old Salvadora “Salva” Sanchez, whose life is turned upside down when her mother vanishes from the family store without a trace. Salva wrestles with abandonment and insecurity when she is reluctantly uprooted to live with her estranged investigative journalist father at an RV campground. The plot reveals broader social issues through Salva’s personal struggles. The subplots add dimension to the narrative, drawing attention to the struggles of immigrant families. Salva’s involvement in a band creates group dynamics, including friendship, jealousy, and identity, along with personal growth, particularly in her confrontation with the original lead singer of the band. The narrator’s yearning moments arise as Salva discovers the truth about her mother’s disappearance, forcing Salva to reckon with harsh realities and find strength within herself. Mancillas treats complex topics with sensitivity and age-appropriate concepts. The mix of Jeronimo Pretto and Celia Cruz’s legacy adds a rich cultural layer celebrating music and the importance of role models. Ideal for fans of… The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart and Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina. If you enjoy reading stories about growth and family and music as balm, you might find Sing It Like Celia especially enjoyable. This is an impressive novel that will encourage children to embrace their identities and use music as a source of solace and expression.