Melissa McAvoy

Fipps, Lisa. Starfish. Fiction. Paulsen, 03/2021. 256pp. $17.99. 978-1-9848-1450-0. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 5-8. There are so many things 11-year-old Ellie loves, but she’ll never forget the single moment where she learned how dangerous it can be [continue reading]

Fang, Vicky. Making Waves. Christine Nishiyama, Illus. Easy Reader. Layla and the Bots Series; bk. 4. Scholastic, 03/2022. [74]pp. PB $5.99. 978-1-338-58300-7. OUTSTANDING. GRADES K-3. Layla and her bots are rock stars and inventors and put [continue reading]

Denise, Christopher. Knight Owl. Christopher Denise, Illus. Picture Book. Ottaviano, 03/2022. [42]pp. $17.99. 978-0-316-31062-8. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-2. Since the day he hatched, Owl has dreamed of becoming a knight. Richly colored illustrations, lavishly filled with medieval [continue reading]

Castrovilla, Selene. Seeking Freedom: The Untold Story of Fortress Monroe and the Ending of Slavery in America. E. B. Lewis, Illus. Non-Fiction. Calkins Creek, 01/2022. [44]pp. $18.99. 978-1-63592-582-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 1-5. In forty pages, Castrovilla reshapes our [continue reading]

Reese, Jenn. Every Bird a Prince. James Firnhaber, Illus. Fiction. H. Holt, 05/2022. 304pp. $16.99. 978-1-250-78344-8. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 4-7. Ever since seventh grade started, Erin, who is white, has felt like she is on a [continue reading]

Harvey, Jeanne Walker. Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas. Loveis Wise, Illus. Biography. HarperCollins, 02/2022. 40pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-302189-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 1-3. Alma Thomas loved being outside, soaking up the sparkling colors [continue reading]

Balcárcel, Rebecca. Shine On, Luz Véliz!. Fiction. Chronicle, 05/2022. 332pp. $17.99. 978-1-7972-0967-8. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 4-6. Luz divides her life into before and after. She used to be a soccer star, tightly bonded to her [continue reading]