Fire and Fury

Provides a nuanced portrayal of a bullying situation. Randy, the scourge of Nate and his friends’ middle-school life, is an expert at slipping under adults’ radar by pretending to be the victim. The inviting format features comics on every page, including Nate’s own drawings on humorous topics such as “Worst Days Ever! Special School Picture Edition.” Nate and Francis pass notes in code, and a line or two appears in most of Nate’s comics. The book includes a key, which makes the notes easy to decipher, and may inspire kids to write their own secret messages and codes. Nate’s diverse group of friends (and enemies) feels authentic. Characters who appear in other Big Nate books are further developed in this story. Nate’s friendship with Francis (studying machine, neat freak, and cat person—Nate’s opposite, in other words), for example, is tested. And Gina, “Pushy McBossaround,” balks at having to share yearbook committee responsibilities with Nate and his buddies.

Hank Wolowitz and his invisible bandipat, Inkling, are back for their third Brooklyn-set adventure, a tale of ice cream, food trucks, and friendship. As Thanksgiving nears, Hank's father is losing his mind trying to make pumpkin-flavored ice cream that doesn't taste like baby food. Meanwhile, a vindictive dessert entrepreneur has set up her food truck right in front of the Wolowitz's ice-cream shop. Leave it to pumpkin-loving Inkling to get involved. Fans of this series will welcome some new revelations about bandipats, especially the fact that a wet bandipat is a visible one. The sibling relationship is mellowing, too, as older sister Nadia is less of a shrill presence and Hank is showing some backbone. The chapters are short and snappy, Bliss's illustrations add energy and help extend the text, and our hero Hank is fun to cheer for. Ice cream + pumpkins + invisible friends = a lot of fun for chapter book readers. robin l. smith