Category Archives: Recommend

Tíos and Primos

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A young girl and her father arrive in his country of origin. She has grown up speaking English and is not confident in her Spanish. This makes her nervous to meet her large extended family. At the same time, the sights of her father’s birth country and the Spanish language fascinate her as she meets her tíos, tías, and primos. And finally she gets to meet her abuela and they share the biggest hug. She learns that differences in language don’t keep her from feeling the closeness of family. As she leaves her extended family at the end of their trip, she has a sense of connection and the confidence that they will see each other again.

This book has a place in multicultural lessons especially when focused on celebrating students’ diverse origins. Pair with Dear Primo by Duncan Tonatiuh to highlight the continued connection of extended families across borders.

Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the text, particularly in the dialog with family.

Family of Friends by Varsha Bajaj

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Isha’s birthday is coming and her grandmother is coming from India to visit. Isha can’t wait for her Nani to come. She tells her neighbor Mrs. Garcia all about Nani and she invites Mrs. Garcia and others to the party. As she gets things ready for her Nani, her Nani says she is sick and can’t come. Isha is so sad, but soon realizes that her friends are like her family and Nani will visit when she is feeling better.

A heartfelt story of dealing with disappointment and discovering the value of friendship.

Fade Into You by Amber Smith & Sam Gellar

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This book is set in the 1990s and presents an accurate portrayal of the times, especially in regard to societal treatment of lgbtq communities. This story begins by showcasing two best friend relationships: Bird and Kayla; Jessa and Dade. When Kayla and Dade begin dating their best friends don’t like it and feel like neither is good for the other; because of this, Jessa and Bird team up to try and split up Kayla and Dade. Jessa and Bird start out as reluctant partners that have little trust for one another. Not long after they partner up with a common goal, the combative nature of their interactions begins to shift; the two realize they have a lot in common and sparks of interest begin to ignite. In addition to this storyline, we also gather insight into the families of Jessa and Bird; both are dealing with heavy family responsibilities.

If you like books by John Green or Becky Albertalli, you will like this book. I really like the 90s music references that were sprinkled in throughout. There is good character development, making readers want to root for main the characters – and really dislike those who get in their way.

Body Systems Need to Know Series by D. R. Faust

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Reviewed by Annette Wells, teacher librarian

Included in series: The Circulatory System, The Digestive System, The Muscular System, The Nervous System, The Respiratory System, The Skeletal System

This high interest series, easily accessible for elementary readers (target age is 3rd grade), is visually appealing with simple and engaging images that feature diversity in ethnicity and age. Every book in the series is 32 pages, making it easily digestible (pun intended) for those exploring nonfiction for the first time, or wanting to review body systems. At the end of each book, you’ll find tips for success, a glossary, a list of “read more” suggestions, “learn more online” links, and an index. Teachers and librarians will love this series if they’re teaching nonfiction text structures. Also, a HUGE bonus: ALL books in the series use OpenDyslexic font, ideal for readers with dyslexia. As an introductory series, I recommend this for all elementary school libraries and even middle grade libraries if you serve emerging readers.

This Way to Happy by Alison Green Myers

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Reviewed by Aspen, a high school student

Reilly Rhoades is not looking forward to the opening of her family’s amusement park since it will be the first year without her grandfather. When her grandmother lands in the hospital, her mom and her aunt have a huge fight and her aunt takes Reilly’s best friend and cousin Nic to visit Nic’s father. Now Reilly has no grandfather, no grandmother, and no Nic to help her get through the summer. While walking her dog by the creek that separates the amusement park from the adjacent campground, she meets Alex, who is staying in the campground. With Alex’s help, Reilly takes on her grandfather’s last unfinished project.

This book is not just a story about an amusement park, it is about friendships, learning to let go, and taking things one step at a time.

Open Wide by I. M. Eerie

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Reviewed by Aspen, a high school student

This book follows a young boy, Eddie, who is reluctant to return to the dentist after a bad experience at his last appointment. Eddie visits Dr. Yankum, a new dentist in town who seemed to appear overnight. The new dentist pulls two of Eddie’s teeth, teeth he could’ve sworn were healthy. When he discovers that he was not the only kid with unnecessary extractions, he begins to suspect something sinister. To make matters worse, Eddie’s mom begins to date Dr. Yankum. With the help of his best friend, Darryl, Eddie creates a plan to find out what is really going on. The ending is unexpected, and contributes to the horror and mystery of the book.

Overall, this book is fast paced, and mixes funny and spooky perfectly. It will make you shiver and grin at the same time! This book gives off the same eerie vibe and would be perfect for readers who like Goosebumps.

Lost on Doll Island by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez

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Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

Lost on Doll Island is a story that explores Mexican culture and familial issues. The story is about a young boy named Diego who travels to the Isla de Muñecas (Doll Island) with two new friends, hoping to make a magical wish to fix his parents’ divorce. As they arrive on the island, however, they begin experiencing scary phenomena, and must work together to escape the island. Ramos-Gomez weaves complicated emotions of divorce together with a scary tale of Mexican legend to combat difficult experiences teens may be facing. This is recommended to readers who love scary stories like “Goosebumps” and struggle with similar experiences to Diego’s.

Phantom Academy by Christine Virnig

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Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

Phantom Academy is a story that explores the theme of death. The book approaches the topic with a tale about a young boy named Finn, who, having recently died, is transported to Phantom Academy, where ghosts learn how to be ghosts. He deals with complicated feelings of homesickness, and the fear of losing his memories of spending time with his family. With newly found friends, he embarks on a journey to leave the school before it’s too late. Although the book includes supernatural phenomena, it may still be a relatable read for younger readers. This book is recommended to readers who may be transitioning to a new school, or who are dealing with a loss.

The Unforgettable Leta “Lightning” Laurel by R. L. Toalson

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Reviewed by Michelle, a high school student

The Unforgettable Leta “Lightning” Laurel is a book about perseverance, as well as mental and physical health. The book is about Laurel, a girl struggling with an insecurity with food, familial issues, and an absence of male presence in her life as she works to win the district track championship. Toalson explores mature themes of eating disorders, female stereotypes, and poverty with an inspiring tale about a determined young girl. This is an “unforgettable” story, perfect for teens struggling with self-doubt and body image. Recommended for readers as they transition from elementary to middle school, or middle to high school, as they begin to explore new opportunities for physical or social activity.

If I Built a Town

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What would you build? Maybe a house? A school? A car? In Chris Van Dusen’s newest book in the series, Jack plans the perfect town…through the eye of a child. In this humorous and imaginative book Jack’s recommendation for the Mayor, include the perfect fountain, zoo, housing, stores and more. The text’s rhythm and rhyme make it a fun read aloud.

More fantastical than realistic, this title is a great jumping off point for teaching planning and to encourage students to think outside the box. It’s sure to be a hit with fans of Van Dusen’s other If I Built books.