Reviews+

Pablo’s first day at his new school coincides with a field trip to the Empire State Building, and a series of mishaps ensue when he and his partner get separated from the rest of the class. Fun and engaging cartoon art, cutaways with above- and below-ground views, photographs, informative asides about the NYC subway system, and a map all contribute to the story of a boy learning to navigate his surroundings and find his way home.

When city girl Sophie moves to her late great-uncle’s farm, the one bright spot is a chance to raise chickens. The narrative is composed of letters to her Great-Uncle Jim and Abuelita in heaven, along with correspondence with the Redwood Farm Supply company, the source of the rather unusual fowl. In addition to the challenges of caring for super-powered chickens, Sophie handles microaggressions in a homogenous small town. A charming chapter book with humor and magic reminiscent of the works of Roald Dahl.

Sickly 12-year-old Triss wakes up after an accident with a fuzzy memory and an insatiable hunger. Once she encounters talking dolls, fairies, and letters from her dead brother, who was a casualty of World War I, she soon realizes that there are darker forces at work trying to destroy her family. A creepy tour de force, Hardinge’s novel is a rich and atmospheric exploration of identity, family, grief, and loss.

Mark Flowers and his team of reviewers selected 22 of the top adult titles published in 2015 to share with teen readers.

On the busy streets of an urban landscape, a little girl observes and collects colorful weeds and wildflowers from cracks in the pavement. As Dad chats on his cell, the girl lingers, secretly gifting pieces of her bouquet to those in need. On wordless, graphic novel–like panels, the mostly black-and-white cityscape slowly fills with soft washes of pastel as her not-so-random acts of kindness transform her world.

Originally from the Philippines and living in Louisiana, Apple sees the personal traits that set her apart as a deep source of shame. Convinced that her first-generation immigrant mother will never understand her, the girl yearns to play the guitar in order to forge a connection to her now-deceased Beatles-loving father. Kelly has created an authentic tween voice with Apple, whose hope, determination, and passion let her soar.

Bridge finds herself growing apart from her best friends, Sherm writes letters to a now-absent grandfather whom he desperately misses, and, unable to face a day at school, an unnamed girl roams the streets. Displaying an intuitive understanding of the fraught period between childhood and adolescence, Stead deftly blends multiple threads and perspectives to tell a quirky and tender coming-of-age story laced with themes of gender, identity, loss, and the complexity of friendship.

In this ode to “Harry Potter,” “The Chosen One” trope, and fanfiction, Rowell creates an amusing but layered world filled with relatable protagonists, hero quests, and unforgettable friendships. Simon Snow, first introduced in Fangirl (2013), is fated to change the world of magic but can’t seem to control his powers. When he realizes that he would rather kiss than kill his nemesis, the teen wizard is finally able to fulfill his destiny. Equal parts fantasy and realistic fiction, this genre-bending title, overflowing with joy and magic, tackles big questions, such as identity, love, class, and power.