Elem./MG – Timid

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Todd, Jonathan. Timid. Graphix, 2024. 978-1-338-30570-8. $12.99. 272 p. Grades 3-8.

Cecil and his family just made a big move from Florida to Massachusetts. As with any big move, this comes with big feelings for Cecil. He has feelings about fitting in, finding friends, and change. His sister suggests making friends with the other Black kids at school, but when he gets to his new school, he isn’t quite sure that he fits in with them. Cecil tries to make friends while showcasing his artistic talents, but when a caricature that he made gets used in an inappropriate way, Cecil is forced to learn how to stand up for himself.

THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It is great for upper elementary and middle level readers and I immediately added my copy to my library! This novel was written and illustrated in a relatable and authentic way and the way that racism was depicted was done in a thoughtful manner. Overall, highly recommended for any student grades 3 and up!

Graphic Novel
Realistic Fiction

Elem. – You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!)

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Henson, Taraji P. You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!). Illustrated by Paul Kellam. ZonderKidz, 2024. 978-0-310-16059-5. $19.99. 32 p. Grades K-3.

Little TJ is so excited about her first day of school! She is dreaming about all the things she will learn, the activities she’ll get to participate in, the lunch room, and of course making a million new friends. However, when she arrives at school her first day jitters set in, and she ends up alienating her classmates and attracting a bully. Each day seems to go wrong, and TJ finds herself shrinking to avoid being bullied; she stops wearing her favorite clothes, eating her favorite lunch, and sharing her work in class. TJ confides in her grandmother who offers support, gives her advice on how to deal with a bully, and encourages her to find her confidence once more. The next day TJ feels more like herself again. During recess she finds her rhythm in the music room, and once the other kids see how much fun she is having marching to the beat of her own drum (literally) they come to join her. TJ even finds common ground with her former bully and makes a new friend.

THOUGHTS: With notes from the author about how to help your child deal with a bully, this book is great for parents whose child might be struggling at school. The lessons in this book would also resonate with teachers and could easily be used at the beginning of the school year to encourage classroom community. This picture book has fun, vibrant illustrations that will catch the attention of kids ages 4-8.

Picture Book

MG/YA – Louder Than Hunger

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Schu, John. Louder Than Hunger. Candlewick Press, 2024.  978-1-536-22909-7. $16.97. 528 p. Grades 5-9.

John Schu tells the fictional story of Jake, a middle school student who is very self-conscious of his appearance. He tries to control his feelings about his body by controlling his eating. But Jake spirals and continues to force himself not to eat, until he becomes critically malnourished. Schu shows readers Jake’s experience in battling anorexia nervosa, OCD, anxiety, clinical depression,  and being admitted to residential treatment as well as out-patient treatment. This is an authentic novel about not only mental illness and the battles that those with them face, but the hope and power that those who push through the darkness experience.

THOUGHTS: This book belongs in every single middle school, high school, and public library. It is an authentic look at anorexia nervosa, anxiety, depression and OCD and will surely help many teens feel seen. While this book discusses some tough topics, it is written in such a heartfelt and genuine way that teens will undoubtedly enjoy it.

Realistic Fiction 

Elem. – Line Leads the Way

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Salas, Laura Purdie. Line Leads the Way. Illustrated by Alice Caldarella. Capstone, 2024. 978-1-684-46928-4. $18.99. 32 p. Grades K-3.

Line Leads the Way introduces numerous topics to young readers including, shapes and their features, perseverance, bullying, and determination. In this colorful, shape-filled book each shape is on a mission to become the new treasure keeper; each shape journeys to the audition at the library exhibiting their unique features along the way. Line is not flashy like the other shapes and his journey is filled with obstacles including other shapes putting him down. As each shape boasts about why they would be the perfect treasure keeper, Line admits that he is in fact not perfect. His humility and honesty impress the librarian who recognizes that the perfect shape for this role is someone kind, open, and a little broken, as we all are.

THOUGHTS: This book provides many opportunities for learning, whether focusing on shapes and what features make each shape unique or discussing bullying and the fact that no one is perfect. I appreciated the simple text and colorful illustrations that will appeal to kids ages 4-8. I think this would make a great addition in any classroom or home library.

Picture Book

Elem. – Sasquatch and Squirrel

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Monroe, Chris. Sasquatch and Squirrel. Carolrhoda Books, 2023. 978-1-728-40466-0. $18.99. Grades K-2. 

Strawberry the Sasquatch lives a solitary existence in the forest. No other sasquatches live nearby and humans are afraid of her, so Strawberry spends her time doing typical sasquatch activities–hiking, swimming, pranking loggers, and making collages. One day, she has a chance encounter with Nutty, a friendly squirrel and the pair decide to hang out together. This leads to a day of adventures, including climbing (Sasquatch falls–a lot), a logger prank (the pair have a close call with an angry logger), and snack sneaking (they are almost caught in a Squatch Watcher trap!). It was a rough day–maybe the pair don’t have enough in common to be friends. But, the next day, as they recover from their injuries from the prior day’s adventures, the two relax in a field and watch the clouds go by and discuss making a collage later. All they needed was to find some common ground and activities that suited both their personalities, and their friendship has been cemented.

THOUGHTS: This humorous friendship tale is sure to be a hit with readers. Many (though not all) of the illustrations are divided into panels, giving the title a hybrid picture book/graphic novel feeling. Recommended.

Picture Book

Elem. – Animal Battles (Series NF)

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Sommer, Nathan. Animal Battles. Bellwether Media, 2024. $19.95 ea. $79.80 set of 4. 24 p. Grades 2-4. 

Arctic Fox vs. Snowy Owl. 979-8-886-87456-3.
Burmese Python vs. Sun Bear. 979-8-886-87457-0.
Crocodile Monitor vs. Southern Cassowary. 979-8-886-87458-7.
Harpy Eagle vs. Ocelot. 979-8-886-87459-4.

Young readers will have the opportunity to learn more about fierce animal predators in Bellether’s ever expanding Animal Battles series. This reviewer had the opportunity to read the volume entitled Arctic Fox vs. Snowy Owl. An introductory chapter provides basic information about each animal including physical characteristics, habitat, etc. Next, readers are introduced to each animal’s secret weapons. The arctic fox counts exceptional senses of smell and hearing as well as the ability to run fast among their secret weapons. The snowy owl has large wings with comb shaped feathers that enable them to fly silently. They also have excellent eyesight. Each animal’s secret weapons serve as advantages when hunting prey. The attack moves, and tactics of each animal are also profiled. The title concludes with a narrative style chapter in which the profiled animals do battle. Backmatter includes a glossary as well as directions to web resources.

THOUGHTS: This series is sure to hold appeal for fans of animal stories or action-related tales. Fans of fact-style books will also find much to appreciate. The text is enhanced by the inclusion of numerous high-quality photos. Recommended.

598 Animals

Elem. – Addie and the Amazing Acrobats

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Cagan, Shauna. Addie and the Amazing Acrobats. Hippo Park, 2023. 978-1-662-64046-9. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2. 

 Addie and her best friends Ben and Jude live under a red bridge with other neighborhood bats. The three are best known for their amazing flying acrobatic feats. They love to flip, swoosh, and cartwheel through the night sky. While they are all talented, the star of their show is clearly Addie. In fact, the animals of the neighborhood soon give their act a name– “Addie and the Amazing Acrobats.” When they are invited to join the Big Bat Circus, the three are ecstatic! But, it turns out the circus is only interested in having Addie join their company. So Addie grabs her bag, leaves the bridge, and is soon performing as an acrobat under the big top. As time passes, however, Addie finds that no matter how popular she is with the circus crowds, there’s something missing–her two best friends. Back at the bridge, Ben and Jude are finding that their act isn’t quite the same without Addie. When the circus is due to travel by her home, Addie is worried. Will Ben and Jude still want to be her friends?

THOUGHTS: This delightful picture book would make an ideal read aloud and could also be paired with a non-fiction text on bats. Readers will enjoy the acrobatic bat tricks as well as the interplay between the narrator and the protagonist. The digital illustrations convey the personality of the bats as well as the excitement of the aerials. An enjoyable story about the bonds of friendship.

Picture Book

YA – A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife

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Kulper, Kendall. A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife. Holiday House, 2023. 978-0-823-45361-0. $19.99. 347 p. Grades 9-12.

To the outside world, Henrietta “Henny” Newhouse seems like just another aspiring actress trying to break into the movie business in 1934 Los Angeles. But Henny has a secret – after the death of a Hollywood acquaintance, she’s started seeing the ghosts of women who have disappeared, victims in various ways of men within the entertainment industry. Declan Collins is a stuntman turned actor with a secret of his own – he somehow has the power of invincibility. He can survive stunts such as jumping off tall buildings or being run over by a wagon without a scratch. He’s also secretly working for a private investigator looking into the disappearance of a young actress. When Henny lands a starring role in a film at Silver Cup Studios, the studio pairs her with Declan to act as a couple at events around town for publicity purposes. Sparks fly between the pair, and they eventually reveal their secrets to one another. They then team up in an attempt to find out what is happening to young women in Hollywood and to try to bring the powerful Hollywood figures behind the crimes to justice.

THOUGHTS: This highly engaging historical fiction title will have readers eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. Holds appeal for fans of mystery, historical fiction, cinema history, and romance. Highly recommended.

Historical Fiction

MG – Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II

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Hopkinson, Deborah. Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II. Scholastic Focus, 2023. 978-1-338-74616-7. $19.99. 320 p. Grades 5-8. 

Author Deborah Hopkinson chronicles the experiences of American prisoners of war in the Philippines during World War II in this engaging narrative nonfiction title. Letters, oral histories, interviews, maps and photographs are utilized to help tell the stories of American and Filipino soldiers and civilians, men, and women, in the days, months, and years following America’s entry into the war. Readers follow the experiences of soldiers, army doctors and nurses, American and Filipino civilians, guerilla fighters, and others, before, during, and after the Battle of Bataan. The forced march of American and Filipino prisoners of war on what became known as the Bataan Death March, as well as their experiences in the prisoner of war camps O’Donnell and Cabanatuan are also recounted. The final portion of the book chronicles a daring rescue operation undertaken by American troops and Filipino guerrilla fighters in early 1945 to rescue all POWs remaining in the Cabanatuan camp. Backmatter includes a bibliography. Suggested web resources are shared through the text.

THOUGHTS: This highly engaging title is a perfect choice for history, World War II and/or narrative nonfiction aficionados. The incorporation of primary source accounts throughout the text gives readers a real sense of the impact of the war on different parts of society. A first purchase for any library serving middle grade readers.

940.54 World War II

MG – Lasagna Means I Love You

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O’Shaughnessy, Kate. Lasagna Means I Love You. Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. 978-1-984-89387-1. $17.99. 360 p. Grades 5-7.

Mo lives with her beloved Nan in a New York City apartment. But when Nan gets sick and passes away, and her uncle (her only living relative) is unwilling to serve as her guardian, Mo enters the foster care system. Mo’s grandmother left her a notebook and left her a letter, which advised taking up a hobby, but Mo isn’t sure until she stumbles across a cookbook featuring a family’s recipes. She decides to take up the hobby of cooking, specifically cooking recipes handed down through families. She chronicles her experiences and her life in foster care in letters she writes in her notebook to her Nan. After Mo’s first placement doesn’t work out, she is placed with a couple who are fostering her with the intent of adoption. In a more stable environment, Mo expands her family recipe cooking project, starting a blog and posting cooking videos to TikTok. She begins to meet with a therapist to help her process and deal with her feelings of grief and loss and being in foster care. But when her foster family makes a surprising decision, it seems like Mo may have lost her chance for a forever home. Could her recipe project hold the answer to a potential home?

THOUGHTS: This is a moving story about an experience in the foster care system. Mo deals with many emotions–grief, loss, anger, loneliness, and fear, just to name a few. She is passionate about her family recipe project, is a good friend, and is willing to open herself up to new friendships. Many readers, even those who may not have experiences in foster care, will be able to relate to Mo. Budding chefs also will enjoy the recipes incorporated throughout the text. Perhaps, like Mo, they will be inspired to give the recipe a try. Recommended.

Realistic Fiction