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Whew. Brace yourselves for a powerful, painful story of choices and survival in this strong addition to the Graceling Realm.
The post Book Review: Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore appeared first on Teen Librarian Toolbox.
From first crushes to love of country, a grandmother's fiercely protective love to second grade boys finding the confidence to admit their feelings, we've collected a few titles we think your patrons will really fall for.
Chhabra executes this #OwnVoices historical fiction well; libraries with the “American Girl” and “Dear America” series should consider this for their collections.
PREMIUM
Amelia and Me
Ginny is a spirited protagonist who does not allow others to stand in her way of achieving her dream. Readers will fly high with her.
PREMIUM
The Bitterwine Oath
A solid magical thriller perfect for fans of witchcraft and slightly darker YA books.
An excellent addition to Spanish and bilingual picture book collections, as well as a wonderful tribute to the work of José Guadalupe Posada.
PREMIUM
I Can’t Feel My Feet
With a number of captivating activities and tools for young readers, this title is a worthy addition to any early chapter book section.
Holczer’s use of humor, thoughtful imagery, and magical realism elements makes this a wholly unique blend of modern fairy tale, hero’s quest, and coming-of-age story. A suggested purchase for all middle grade collections.
Every page of this story was a delight. Really all I want in life right now is for this whole series to be out and all the movies so I can just live inside the world of Amari and friends. I'm obsessed.
The post Book Review: Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston appeared first on Teen Librarian Toolbox.
Centering on fat protagonists who defy societal expectations and reject narrow beauty norms, these YA novels work to combat the messages that fat bodies are unacceptable and undeserving of respect.
PREMIUM
Quiet Please!
This early reader stands alone despite being third in the series. Recommended for fiction collections.
PREMIUM
Chicks Rock!
A suggested general purchase for libraries assisting social-emotional learning, this title brings a message of courage and growing self-esteem through the support of friends.
Fans of mystery, adventure, fantasy, and theater will enjoy this title. Recommended for libraries where wacky mysteries are popular.
A fun and entertaining adventure, highly recommended for fans of Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember.
A suggested purchase for large libraries looking to update their already extensive holiday section or expand their Engelbreit holdings. The author gives readers what they have come to expect from her work: a sentimental, greeting-card look at a holiday through famous people’s words.
Add these charming titles to your bilingual collections and feature them in baby or toddler story times.
PREMIUM
Roman and Jewel
Broadway lovers and musicians may enjoy the references to popular musicals and details about music composition. An additional purchase for libraries seeking to expand their romance offerings.
PREMIUM
Kick the Moon
This #OwnVoices title brings laughs, relatability, and awareness of important issues. Recommended broadly.
An early chapter book suitable for young readers seeking comical science fiction.
PREMIUM
Stars of the Show
This appealing book is a recommended purchase for beginning reader collections.
PREMIUM
Clues to the Universe
The message of resilience, courage, and friendship will resonate widely with young readers. Themes touched on include grief, fears, bullying, and identity, making the work highly discussable and a good candidate for classroom use.
PREMIUM
Kidnap on the California Comet
A suspenseful mystery ideal for readers transitioning from middle grade to young adult titles.
PREMIUM
These Unlucky Stars
A fair realistic fiction read, but there are others that do the job better. A secondary purchase.
PREMIUM
Reckless, Glorious, Girl
This title will resonate with readers who aren’t ready to leave childhood behind but who don’t feel like kids anymore. Recommended for libraries in need of verse novels and relatable coming-of-age tales.
Costner offers some thoughtful ways of encouraging readers to reflect on what kind of a person they want to be, and what they want to be known for. An absolute must-purchase for all middle school libraries.
PREMIUM
Candy Kingdom the Bored Game
Purchase where readers voraciously devour similar adventure series.
An enjoyable addition to most middle school mystery collections. Come along for the ride (if you dare) as these determined sleuths discover portals, meet false realm characters, and puzzle over long-hidden clues on the path to finding the truth behind a gifted magician’s untimely disappearance.
A first purchase. Hand this to readers who don’t mind a few tears on their way to a happy ending.
PREMIUM
My Best Friend Is Extinct
A fun addition to fiction collections for early middle grade readers.
PREMIUM
365 Days to Alaska
This charming novel is recommended for realistic fiction fans who love nature and animals.
PREMIUM
Unicorn Island
What begins as realistic fiction turns to a fantastical tale of magical rescue. Fans of unicorns and magic in the real world will enjoy this adventure.
PREMIUM
Delphine and the Silver Needle
A delight of a quest story that will fill the need of readers seeking a fractured fairy tale, talking animals, or just a quick-moving adventure.
A delightfully quirky story with nuance, depth, and a colorful cast of characters, this book begs for multiple readings.
PREMIUM
The Thief of Worlds
Light, fun fantasy that touches on current topics. Purchase where previous titles from the author have circulated well.
A fun, compelling story that will keep readers engaged; recommended for younger siblings, fans of princess stories, and fantasy lovers.
PREMIUM
The Hocus-Pocus Hoax
Perfect for readers looking for a new female hero of modern crime-solving who isn’t afraid to be her authentic self.
PREMIUM
Revenge of the Sluts
Dealing with a topic not often depicted in young adult literature, this makes a good addition to a collection, especially paired with the likes of Louise O’Neill’s Asking for It and Shannon Schuren’s The Virtue of Sin.
An immersive, smartly written view into the mind of a young woman coping with her identity and trauma; a distinct perspective to add to the mental health fiction selection.
PREMIUM
Can’t Take That Away
A fresh voice + a genderqueer teen + one Wicked musical + fighting against the establishment + first love = A page-turning YA debut. Recommended for all YA collections.
PREMIUM
The Secret Life of Kitty Granger
A fun thriller spotlighting a neurodivergent protagonist, appropriate for middle school readers.
PREMIUM
Loner
Many readers will relate to Lona’s meandering journey and be delighted to find company for their own.
PREMIUM
Middletown
This realistic portrayal of a family in crisis sugarcoats nothing, but offers conditional hope for the future.
PREMIUM
Love Is for Losers
While the everyday queer romance is cute, Phoebe’s sarcasm won’t hold the attention of readers as they relive the tedium of her day-to-day life.
PREMIUM
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
A pensive, rich work of queer historical fiction that will reward patient readers.
PREMIUM
I Think I Love You
This will appeal to readers fond of light-hearted romances and titles like Tim Federle’s The Great American Whatever and Ciara Smyth’s The Falling in Love Montage.
A well-written book on an important topic that will appeal to a mature and discerning reader.
PREMIUM
The Girl from Shadow Springs
An additional purchase for collections where survival stories circulate well.
This boarding school story offers a heartfelt exploration of grief, guilt, and recovery. The complex, distinct characters and strong sense of place will give it wide appeal.
Filled with tender moments and subtle humor, this well-paced gem will have readers rooting for Karina and Ace as they stand up for themselves and for each other. A must-purchase for all teen collections.
PREMIUM
The Iron Raven
A great spin-off series that should capture new readers and please established fans. Recommend to readers who enjoy Cassandra Clare or Holly Black.
PREMIUM
The Rules Have Changed
This topical selection is highly recommended for those who maintain a hi-lo collection.
PREMIUM
Rise of the Red Hand
Readers seeking sci-fi with political, environmental, technological, and South Asian dimensions might overlook the shakier aspects and stick with this series.
An engaging adventure for young “Star Wars” fans, and a great introduction for new visitors to the galaxy far, far away.
PREMIUM
There Must Be More Than That!
Relevant, charming, this flips the mindset of a limiting binary choice and renders the multitudes of possibility in a very accessible, childlike way.–
PREMIUM
Nathan’s Song
This title pays tribute to courageous individuals, with an underlying message of the unbroken connection of family love.
A beautiful story about adventure and honoring a father’s memory, this is a noteworthy addition to elementary school libraries.
PREMIUM
It’s Not About You, Little Hoo!
This book is a great starting point for conversations about social-emotional awareness, and will find a home in many collections.
What are the lessons? Big animals save small ones? Men save women? This is a sweet story, but collections may already have explored bear-mouse friendships with Karma Wilson and Bonny Becker’s books.
PREMIUM
Sometimes It’s Hard To Be Nice
A pleasant, important book for this age group, giving them words and actions to smooth the course of their days.
PREMIUM
I’ll Always Hold Your Hand
This gentle and heartwarming title is a sweet, if unremarkable, addition to any board book collection.
PREMIUM
Milo Imagines the World
Pictures brimming with activity, an endearing main character, and threads for thinking about art, families, and what we see in others make this a book that will hold up to many readings.
PREMIUM
The Alpactory: Ready, Pack, Go!
This colorful new spin on anxiety management strategies is a great addition to any collection.–
PREMIUM
Starting Over in Sunset Park
A sweet but uneven story of immigration and adjustment that will appeal to anyone who has ever been the newcomer.–
Bowman sets high expectations and meets them in this standalone worthy of all YA shelves. An impeccably crafted dystopian full of beloved tropes and a generous helping of plot twists.
PREMIUM
Home Is Not a Country
A unique verse novel that looks at how our past choices influence identity and sense of belonging.
PREMIUM
Go the Distance
A satisfying retelling, recommended for fans of the “Percy Jackson” series and adventurous, modernized fairy tales.
PREMIUM
Pride and Premeditation
Price’s YA debut is a clever, twisting murder mystery adaptation that will keep both Austen fans and newcomers on their toes. This first book in the series will intrigue readers of Brittany Cavallaro’s A Study in Charlotte and Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper.
PREMIUM
Take Three Girls
This story will keep readers wondering who is behind the gossip while addressing important teen issues and proving how essential friendship is when dealing with difficult situations.
PREMIUM
Mortal Remains
While the book has an interesting and somewhat original idea, the execution makes this hard to recommend for anything but large collections.
PREMIUM
Called Upon
An interesting premise falls short of its own potential. Suitable for adolescent readers who are new to the psychological thriller genre.
A suggested general purchase for libraries and classroom, this title allows young readers to view changing relationships through strong-willed characters who learn how to work together.
PREMIUM
Laxmi’s Mooch
Readers of all ages will appreciate the message of self-love presented within Laxmi’s story, which takes on body positivity for a relatively young audience in an uplifting way.
Most books with this much purpose fall down on the lessons. This one transcends them, for a true story of how a home happens.
A perfect bedtime work, this has sly humor for knowing toddlers, and an ending that guarantees the proper outcome for pre-nap story hours.
With an ending prayer to God about faith and trust, and a trio of Bible verses about belief, this is a worthwhile addition to Christian collections, aimed more at parents seeking books about faith than at children.
PREMIUM
The Bright & the Pale
Hand this to readers who enjoy Leigh Bardugo and are looking for a similar fantasy world to dive into.
This nuanced work steeped in Islamic culture fills a gap in English-language literature. Readers who are unfamiliar with Arabic fiction will find their perspectives broadened.
PREMIUM
Mother Goose to the Rescue!
A plethora of nursery rhyme characters make up the crew in this fast-paced rhyming tale of firefighting derring-do, subverting Mother Goose tropes and delivering lots of punch. Pair with the traditional rhymes.
PREMIUM
Bunny Figures It Out
A recipe for success, this is a general purchase to please inquisitive readers, with nuts-and-bolts advice and a sweet dollop of sugar.
A sterling collection, these exist as archaic bits of language that we save which are no longer attached to a meaning. Important to the canon, this may have a home on reference shelves more than in picture book collections.
Crisp retro watercolors and a gentle story are knit into a warm and tender tale.
PREMIUM
Paris by Phone
More of a homage to the City of Lights than a character-driven story, this additonal purchase is an effervescent viewing and listening experience.
PREMIUM
Squish Squash Squished
Children who want a modern take on an old story will giggle at the silliness of this version.–
PREMIUM
One Day
While a young boy grapples very literally with the absence of his grandfather, the abstract representation of death may raise more questions than answers.
This will be a story time hit well beyond Appalachia. A first purchase for public libraries.
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