Gr. 4-7  Jason D. Riazi gets the shock of his life when his mother reveals the story of how she came to America from Afghanistan, and how she once was legal but now is undocumented. Soon after, Jason witnesses what he fears most: men with badges taking his mother away. Not knowing what will happen next, he takes the train to New York City to find his mother’s friend, “Auntie” Seema. [Read More]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Middle Grade Readers

Gr. 4-7 Brodie is a good dog, and not even death deters him from making sure his boy is safe from the Monster, Aiden’s abusive father. Against the advice of other dogs waiting to go to the Forever place, Brodie takes the risk and, with his affable new friend Tuck, returns to earth as a spirit. As words and memories begin to filter through his mind, Brodie gains an understanding of what happened to him and why Aiden meant so […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Middle Grade Readers

Gr. 5-8 (Book Two) Having secured the Compass—one of three powerful objects known as the Sacred Tools of Geometry—Giacomo and his friends set out to find the Straightedge, which amplifies an artistic genius’ power a hundred times over. They must find and capture it to stop Nerezza, the Supreme Creator, from spreading her tyranny. On the run from a merciless emperor, the kids and their teacher find themselves in the enemy territory Rachana. [Read More]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Middle Grade Readers

Gr. 4-7 Orphaned after the death of his baay (father), 11-year-old Mor of Lat Mata, Senegal, finds himself responsible for his younger sisters. Mor is committed to keeping the family together, but his aunt only gives him until the end of summer to prove that he can—or she’ll take the girls away. Juggling bad luck against worse odds, Mor persists in his efforts to make a living and slowly brings in an income. But soon he has to make a […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Middle Grade Readers

Gr. 4-7. (Book Two)  This sequel to Momotaro: Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters (2016) begins on the heels of Xander Miyamoto learning he’s the new Momotaro, a demon-fighting warrior. He should be thrilled, but his powers have waned, he’s plagued by nightmares, and his long-absent mother has returned without warning. Xander’s grandmother gives him a baku (special charm) to help fight the nightmares, cautioning him not to use it unless absolutely necessary, for misuse causes the theft of […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Middle Grade Readers

Gr. 6-9. ***Starred Review*** Fourteen-year-old Sofia Wolfe moves through life smiling with friends and hiding the sorrow of having lost her Spanish mother almost a year earlier. The only people she has to talk to are her abuelo in Spain, and—regarding girl things—“Dear Kate,” a teen-advice columnist with whom she can anonymously discuss personal matters. When Sofia’s father reveals he’s dating Kate, Sofia initially feels betrayed that he’s moving on with his life when she can’t. But just as things […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Middle Grade Readers

Gr. 4-7. ***Starred Review*** Eleven-year-old Joe Grant has no recollection of being outside of his specially monitored hospital room. A rare genetic disorder, severe combined immunodeficiency, keeps him within the same four walls because the smallest thing can kill him. Joe’s world revolves around monitor beeps and daily bruise checks in the shower, and the only people he sees are doctors, nurses, his Skype pal Henry, and Beth, his sister and only living family member. Though he’s a rabid fan […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Middle Grade Readers