Weatherford, Carole Boston. Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual. Frank Morrison, Illus. Crown/Young Readers, 09/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES 1 – 4. $18.99. 978-0-593-30634-5. OUTSTANDING. Even those unfamiliar [continue reading]
Melissa McAvoy
Notorious Scarlett and Browne Review
Stroud, Jonathan. Notorious Scarlett and Browne, The. Scarlett and Browne Series; bk. 2. Knopf, 04/2023. 432pp. Fiction. GRADES 6 – 10. $17.99. 978-0-593-43040-8. OUTSTANDING. Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne are both in their teens, but [continue reading]
Ghosts of Rancho Espanto Review
Cuevas, Adrianna. Ghosts of Rancho Espanto, The. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 04/2023. 304pp. Fiction. GRADES 4 – 7. $17.99. 978-0-374-39043-3. ADDITIONAL. Cuban American Rafa and his friends planned to end sixth grade with an epic [continue reading]
School Trip Review
Craft, Jerry. School Trip. Jerry Craft, Illus. New Kid Series. Quill Tree, 04/2023. 256pp. Graphic. GRADES 6 – 8. $24.99. 978-0-06-288554-8. Paper $14.99. 978-0-06-288553-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. In his final weeks of junior high, African American [continue reading]
Burglars and Bluestockings Review
Berry, Julie. Burglars and Bluestockings. Wishes and Wellingtons Series; bk. 3. Sourcebooks, 03/2023. 368pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 7 $16.99. 978-1-7282-3152-5. ADDITIONAL Maeve Merritt’s misadventures with magical objects take her and chums, Alice and Tommy, [continue reading]
Pearl Hunter Review
Beck, Miya. Pearl Hunter, The. Balzer + Bray, 02/2023. 320pp. Fiction. GRADES 6-9. $17.99. 978-0-06-323819-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Kai and Kishi are identical twins and pearl divers in a time and culture where both are despised. [continue reading]
Hamra and the Jungle of Memories Review
Alkaf, Hanna. Hamra and the Jungle of Memories. Harper, 03/2023. 400pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 8. $19.99. 978-0-06-320795-0. OUTSTANDING. On the morning of her thirteenth birthday, Hamra doesn’t feel chosen—at least not in a good [continue reading]
Legend of Gravity Review
Palmer, Charly. Legend of Gravity, The: A Tall Basketball Tale. Charly Palmer, Illus. Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 01/2022. 40pp. Picture Book. GRADES 1 – 3. $18.99. 978-0-374-31328-9. OUTSTANDING. A new kid with exceptional skills joins [continue reading]