The Silversix by AJ Lieberman Artwork by Darren Rawlings Graphic Novel Science FictionTween Graphic Novel/Science Fiction/Dystopia Phoebe is able to avoid detection for a year after her parents die in a shuttle explosion orchestrated by the evil Mr. Craven of the Craven Mining Corporation (which has a monopoly on the world’s fuel source – Hydro-2), but then someone manages to track a file transfer from her parents’ ship to her apartment, and she’s taken into … Read more
Allegiant Divergent #3 by Veronica Roth Dystopian Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) After revealing Edith Prior’s message to the Divergent – to find out what lies beyond the city’s borders – Tris and some others who are unhappy with Evelyn Eaton’s tyranny (she and the Factionless have disbanded the faction system and forbidden anyone to leave) make their escape. They expect to find people who need their help, but instead, they find … Read more
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King LGBT Realistic Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Astrid is struggling to figure out who she is in a small town that’s full of small-minded people and she’s keeping her innermost thoughts a secret from everyone she knows except the passengers in the airplanes that pass over her. She spends hours lying on her back on the picnic table she and her father built, watching the planes … Read more
The Lemonade War By Jacqueline Davies Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction When we first meet Evan, he is not in a good mood. Then we are introduced to his younger sister, Jessie and we learn his bad mood has to do with her. Anyone who has a younger sibling can relate. These two have a lot of fun together, but when they learn that things are going to change in the upcoming school year, that’s when … Read more
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck Wimpy Kid #8 by Jeff Kinney Funny Illustrated Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Greg Heffley’s best friend, Rowley, has a girlfriend (Abigail), with whom he is spending all of his time, and Greg desperately needs to make some new friends. The prospects are pretty bleak, though, and Greg is hoping that the happy couple breaks up before it’s too late and he becomes some … Read more
The Garden of My Imaan By Farhana Zia Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction / Grades 4-7 * * * * Stars (Great!) Aliyah, fifth grader, is having a difficult year. She’s got two big projects to complete – one for elementary school on the topic “Respecting Ourselves and Others,” and another for religious school on self-improvement. Her biggest problem is that she’s still figuring out and getting comfortable with who she is – particularly as a … Read more
The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood Illustrated by Renata Liwska Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) Experience these carefully selected, quiet moments of Christmas through, “The Christmas Quiet Book.” There are all kinds of quiet: Hoping for a snow day quiet, Knocking with mittens quiet, Shattered ornament quiet, Listening for sleigh bells quiet, and more. Readers of all ages will enjoy the memories, feelings, and emotions they evoke. Sometimes, when a picture … Read more
The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz illustrated by Dan Santat Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) This book gets points for being an excellent (and funny) story that actually uses rhyme to good effect (unlike a lot of the picture books I’ve been reading lately). A retelling of the Three Little Pigs, these 3 pigs decide to go on the offensive and prepare themselves for a wolf attack by taking classes … Read more
The Terrible Plop by Ursula Dubosarsky Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) A group of bunnies is picnicking by a lake when they hear the most terrible plop. They flee from the noise and are joined by every other animal they encounter as they try to get as far away from the plop as possible. When the animals nearly trample a bear, however, he grabs the tiniest bunny – the one who can’t … Read more
The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum by Kate Bernheimer and Nicoletta Ceccoli Picture book The Girl in the Castle inside the Museum is an interesting piece of writing for the young reader. It is certainly a concept that will stir the imagination. In the book there is a museum and in the museum there is a globe which houses a castle in which a little girl lives. If one looks really hard the … Read more