Sawyerr, Hannah V. Truth Is. Amulet/Abrams, 09/2025. 461 [+14]pp. Fiction. Trade $21.99. 978-1-4197-7683-0. GRADES 10–12. OUTSTANDING. Black high school senior Truth Bangura uses her poetry journal to chronicle a difficult school year, one in which [continue reading]
Joy Shioshita
Leaving Room Review
McBride, Amber. Leaving Room, The. Feiwel & Friends, 10/2025. 224pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-2509-0808-7. GRADES 10–12. OUTSTANDING. Taking place over four minutes, The Leaving Room is the lyrically stunning, first-person narrative of Gospel, a Keeper [continue reading]
My Abuela Is a Bruja Review
Cuevas, Mayra. My Abuela Is a Bruja. Lorena Alvarez Gómez, Illus. Knopf, 08/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5934-8063-2. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING. In Puerto Rico, a granddaughter creates lifelong memories with her abuela (grandmother). The [continue reading]
Black Mambas Review
Crull, Kelly. Black Mambas, The: The World’s First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit. Kelly Crull, Illus. Millbrook, 04/2025. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8765627259. GRADES 1–5. OUTSTANDING. Crull highlights the work of the Black Mambas, an all-woman [continue reading]
Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile Review
Jreije, George. Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile. Harper, 05/2025. 275pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-338224-4. GRADES 4–8. ADDITIONAL. Just as his summer in his native Lebanon is ending, Bashir finds a mysterious ring, [continue reading]
Witch in the Tower Review
Sardà, Júlia. Witch in the Tower, The. Júlia Sardà, Illus. Candlewick Studio, 09/2025. 64pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-5362-4301-7. GRADES 4–7. OUTSTANDING. Carmela feels left out and sad that her new friends and older [continue reading]
Rose Bargain Review
Peyton Smith, Sasha. Rose Bargain, The. HarperCollins, 02/2025. 385pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-337252-8. GRADES 8–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL. To save her sister from a mysterious rose bargain with the cruel fairy queen, Ivy Benton joins a [continue reading]
Graciela in the Abyss Review
Medina, Meg. Graciela in the Abyss. Balbusso, Anna and Elena, Illus. Candlewick, 07/2025. 256pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5362-1945-6. GRADES 4–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Newbery-award-winning author Medina enters the fray of fantasy in her latest middle-grade novel. [continue reading]