Lo, Malinda. Scatter of Light, A. Dutton, 10/2022. 324pp. Fiction. Grades 9-12. $18.99. 978-0-525-55528-5. OUTSTANDING.

In the summer of 2013, Aria’s parents send her to stay with her grandmother in California as a way of separating her from her friends. Her exile turns into an awakening as Aria begins to connect with her aging artist grandmother, rediscover her dead grandfather through his papers and videos, and learn to name the truth about her own desires and actions. Befriended by a local gardener who introduces her to a working-class lesbian community, Aria has to expand both her self-knowledge and her interactions with others in a coming-of-age/coming-out story which really explores the way self and society, and art and inspiration, are tied together. Wonderful glimpses into the real-life history of the summer when gay marriage was legalized in California are an additional bonus of the tale. This book has California-specific content.

 Lesley Mandros Bell—Unaffiliated

Hanáčková, Pavla. All Aboard! Rockets. Diarmuid Ó Catháin, Illus. Albatros, 08/2022. [20]pp.
Non-Fiction. GRADES 2 –3. 16.99. 978-80-00-06349-2. ADDITIONAL.

Karl, a wingless Kiwi bird, guides readers through twenty board pages filled with images and small text blocks about space. While following Karl, readers learn about various space topics, including how rockets work, the history of rockets, the solar system, space objects, and exploration. The mix of non-fiction and a brief connecting storyline keeps the facts tied together and interesting for young readers.

Joshua Rees–Daly City Public Library

Tahir, Sabaa. All My Rage. Razorbill, 03/2022. 374 [+2]pp. Fiction. GRADES 9-12. $19.99. 978-0-593-20234-0. OUTSTANDING.

A small desert town in California provides the backdrop for the stories of Salahudin and Noor, two seniors in high school whose friendship has been interrupted, but whose lives continue to be deeply interwoven. Salahudin faces his mother’s ill health and father’s bad decisions, backed into a corner by poverty, and Noor has a tragic past that ties her to a controlling and abusive uncle. With chapters voiced convincingly by different characters, author Tahir shows us how poverty, prejudice, and fear can twist lives, and how love can have an uphill battle to try and improve them. The book includes a trigger warning and list of resources for victims of domestic violence.

Lesley Mandros Bell—Unaffiliated

Chokshi, Roshani. Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality. A Pandava Series Novel; bk. 5. Disney/Hyperion, 04/2022. 373pp. Fiction. Grades 6-8. $16.99. 978-1-368-05544-4. Additional.

Aru Shah and her Pandava friends embark on a final quest to save the world and protect the nectar of immortality. In this fifth series title focusing on Hindu mythology, the Pandava girls have to work with Aiden and Rudy in order to pass various godly challenges as they somehow earn back their demi-god weapons and access the labyrinth, which houses the nectar. Built around complex Hindu mythology which includes many gods, places, and events that readers may be unfamiliar with, this story may be best for those who have read the earlier series titles and are familiar with the mythology.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Kahtouh, Zoulfa. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow. Fiction. Little, Brown, 09/2022. 416pp. $18.99. 978-0-316-35137-9. GRADES 9 – 12. OUTSTANDING.

Her native city of Homs is crumbling under bombings during the Syrian revolution, and eighteen-year-old pharmacy student Salama has already lost her father and brother to prison, her mother to a bombing, and every chance of a normal life to a bloody war. Accompanied by the dark presence of Kahwf  (Arabic for fear) as a personification of her loss, Salama attempts to support her pregnant sister-in-law and volunteer at a resource-starved hospital as hundreds of mutilated people struggle to live through the chaos. When she finds nineteen-year-old Kenan and his younger siblings and makes plans for a terrible and risky escape from Syria, Salama glimpses a possible future even as the world around her literally burns. Lyrically written, redemptive, and powerful, this novel confronts loss and personal growth, and truly highlights the insanity of trying to exist in the middle of a bloody conflict.

Lesley Mandros Bell—Unaffiliated

Nelson, Marilyn. Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano,  01/2022. 128pp. Poetry. GRADES 9 – 12. $18.99. 978-0-316-29802-5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

A biographical portrait in chronological poems captures the character of the African American sculptor’s life and work. Nelson goes far beyond biographical details and immerses us in the internal. We experience Savage’s thoughts and feelings as they occur. The downside of this immersion is an initial loss of orientation. Readers, most of whom will have little context for Savage’s illustrious and probably no knowledge of her career as an artist and art teacher, are dropped into a vanished era in which the child Augusta, sculpting ducklings and frogs from clay, is routinely beaten by her devout father for creating idolatrous, graven images. What helps to lure readers along are the many b&w photographs of Savage’s amazing sculptures dotted among the pages. As the poems progress to more familiar ground it becomes easier to connect to a story that has a familiar shape. The variety of poetic form, and diversity of voices make this a quick, engaging read. Nelson is exemplary in providing abundant fascinating details. Readers will come away with an indelible impression of an artistic life fully lived, and hopefully motivated to seek out Savage’s surviving work. An Afterword provides seven pages of context and biographical detail. While there are photo credits, no biographical sources or suggestions for further reading are included.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Kuang, R.F. Babel or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution. Harper Voyager, 08/2022. 560pp. Fiction. $27.99. 978-0-06-302142-6. GRADES 8 – Adult. OUTSTANDING.

In an 1829 where Britain’s empire spreads using magic and academic power to anchor its armed forces, protagonist Robin Swift begins his own voyage from his birthplace in Canton to the fabled world of Oxford. Brought to England by the strange and stern Dr. Lovell, Robin discovers that his native language is a valued commodity at the prestigious Royal Institute of Translation, where he finds a community of other young people gathered from all over the Empire. But translation is a complicated process, and Robin learns that the power he and his peers are working with has a very sinister purpose, and that a secret society opposed to the Institute is trying to disrupt the greed and imperial expansion that drives England to greater efforts of subjugation and control worldwide. A magical, political examination of imperialism, labor movements, individual identity, and institutional racism, Babel is a tour-de-force filled with evocative description and deeply interesting exploration of language and violence, individual responsibility, and moral choice.

Lesley Mandros Bell—Unaffiliated

Ziefert, Harriet. Be Thankful for Trees. Brian Fitzgerald, Illus. Red Comet, 03/2022. [76]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool-Kindergarten. $19.99. 978-1-63655-020-6. ADDITIONAL.

Ziefert’s informative picture book tribute to trees demonstrates seven ways (food, comfort, music, art, recreation, home, and life) that trees are useful to humans, animals, and the world. Full-page digital illustrations show many aspects of each of the seven ways and how animals, humans, or nature benefit from each. Useful for young readers to think about the many ways trees are important, this title would work well for a school lesson plan about nature, or shared aloud in any preschool.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Goade, Michaela. Berry Song. Michaela Goade, Illustrator. Little, Brown. 07/2022. [34]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Trade $18.99. 978-0-316-49417-5.

A young girl and her grandmother gather berries and other supplies from nature in this beautiful picture book from the creator of We Are Water Protectors (Roaring Brook Press, 2020). The watercolor-and-mixed-media illustrations are soft, drawing the reader through the book and creating a sense of closeness with nature. The illustrations include light-and-medium-brown-skinned characters. The text has a steady rhythm with repetition of different types of berries and the Tlingit word for giving thanks, “Gunalchéesh.” There is also an author’s note at the end of the book that expands upon the author’s Tlingit heritage, connection to nature, and the themes woven through the book. Berry Song presents an opportunity to learn more about Indigenous cultures and the ways that people can connect to and preserve nature.

Lillian Whithaus — Berkeley Public Library

Pasternack, Sofiya. Black Bird, Blue Road. Harper Collins/Versify, 09/2022. 320pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 8. $16.99. 978-0-358-57203-9. OUTSTANDING.

In the ancient kingdom of Khazaria, twelve-year-old Ziva cares for her beloved twin brother Pesah, who is dying of leprosy. Desperate to find a cure before Rosh Hashanah, the pair set out on a journey to Luz, a city of eternal life, encountering formidable foes and surprising allies along the way, including demons known for their ability to misguide humans; shape-shifting wolves; and the angel of death himself—
Malach Ha-Mavet. Steeped in Jewish lore, this thought-provoking fantasy is enhanced by a setting rich in historic and imagined details. An endnote explains that the Jewish Empire of Khazaria, a place that welcomed people of many faiths, has been a source of study and speculation since its fall in 988 B.C.E. A helpful glossary includes word, name, and place definitions, but curiously omits any explanation of the significance of spear-leek/garlic in the treatment of leprosy. Unique characters, a fascinating historic setting, and a powerful message about love and loss make this a must-read for sophisticated middle school fantasy readers.

Jenny Andrus—Independent

Peters, Katie. Day of the Dead: A First Look Read about Holidays. (Read for a Better World™) Series.
Lerner, 01/2023. 16pp. Reader. GRADES Kindergarten – 2. $29.32. 978-1-7284-7561-5. Paper $.8.99. 978-1-7284-7894-4. ADDITIONAL.

Please see Cinco de Mayo by Percy Lead for series review.

Mary Ann Scheuer—Independent

Austin, Susan J. Drawing Outside the Lines: A Julia Morgan Novel. Spark, 10/2022. 204 [+14]pp. Fiction. GRADES 4-10. $12.95. 978-1-68463-159-9. OUTSTANDING.

Imagining the life of ground-breaking architect Julia Morgan from her childhood in Oakland through her university years in Berkeley, author Susan Austin skillfully blends actual and inferred information in a youth-appropriate and fascinating biographical novel. Details about Morgan’s neighborhood and family make the historical figure accessible and understandable, and Austin is accurate in her depictions of the societal challenges that Morgan faced as a young woman interested in a traditionally male career. An engaging and informative read, Oakland locals will be delighted with details they can still see in the city today. This book has California-specific content.

Lesley Mandros Bell—Unaffiliated

Colfer, Eoin, adapted by Michael Moreci. Eternity Code, The. Stephen Gilpin, Illus. Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel Series. Disney/Hyperion, 06/2022. [124]pp. $19.99. 978-1-368-06508-5. Grades 4-9. Additional.

Artemis Fowl, the teenage criminal genius, returns in this redo with new art and some added text of the 2013 graphic novel adaptation of the 2003 book (both Hyperion). Moreci and Gilpin’s adaption flows through the storyline in an interesting, engaging manner, with well-detailed illustrations providing plenty of appropriate support to the dialogue and actions. Fans of previous Artemis Fowl titles will enjoy this tale in a renewed graphic novel style of Artemis besting a billionaire business man (with ties to the mob), while once again becoming entangled with the Fairy People’s L.E.P. (Lower Elements Police) personnel and technology.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

David-Sax, Pauline. Everything in Its Place: A Story of Books and Belonging. Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, Illus. Doubleday/PRH, 07/2022. 40pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 4. $17.99. 978-0-593-37882-3. OUTSTANDING.

In this picture book, Nicky, a shy girl with red glasses and afro puffs, prefers the quiet and order of the library to the noise and social cliques of the playground at recess time. But when the librarian Ms. Gillam leaves for a conference, Nicky will have to spend recess outside.With encouragement from Maggie, a motorcyclist who comes to her Mama’s café and shares books and advice, Nicky finds the courage to face recess on the playground and even make a friend. The collage scrapbook illustrations contain cartoon-style portraits of characters of many races, shapes, and sizes. This story about anxiety with a bit of OCD rang true for this reviewer, and Nicky’s observations of the world around her are insightful, succinct, and poetic.

Reiley, Rachael—Hillcrest Elementary, Oakland Unified School District

Blackall, Sophie. Farmhouse. Sophie Blackall, Illus. Little, Brown, 09/2022. 48pp. Picture Book. Grades Preschool-3. $18.99. 978-0-316-52894-8. OUTSTANDING.

A  farmhouse in New York, home to a lively family with twelve children, falls into disrepair after the youngest child grows old and leaves. Animals take up residence, including a squirrel hiding nuts in the parlor organ and a bear hibernating in the basement. Author/illustrator Sophie Blackall, the new owner, appears in the final scenes, collecting mementos and family stories to resurrect the house in the form of a beautifully constructed book filled with intriguing, evocative details. An author’s endnote includes additional information about the farm and how the artwork was created; historic photos are included. All characters are assumed to be white. This fascinating look inside a farmhouse over time will spark the imagination of readers both young and old.

Jenny Andrus, Independent

Reedy, Trent. Fishing in Fire. McCall Mountain Series; bk 2. Norton, 02/2023. 208pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 7. $18.95. 978-1-324-01141-5. ADDITIONAL.

The end of sixth grade was a disaster when a rivalry between two popular girls broke into a war. At the end of summer, Annette attempts to repair her failed mediation, inviting her crush Hunter, estranged best friend Yumi, and glam girl Swann on a fishing trip. But when their crew runs into the rival Queen Bees, and gets caught up in a forest fire, the question is not who will win the popularity contest, but who will survive. Set in Idaho, the teens display rural kids’ knowledge of survival skills. Some clunky dialog and overly explanatory text rob the characters of vitality. Those reading for outdoor action/adventure will be satisfied by a plot with an inventive ending. All characters, except two Asian Americans, are white. This is the second book in a series, but it can also stand alone. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Salati, Doug. Hot Dog. Doug Salati, Illus. Knopf, 05/2022. [40]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool-3. $17.99. 978-0-593-30843-1. OUTSTANDING.

A small, red, short-legged dog is suffering in the city’s summer heat, compelling the older white lady owner to decide that they must go to the beach. The text is brief: “City summer, steamy sidewalks, concrete crumbles, sirens screech….” with many wordless pages, too. The artwork carries the story, using gouache-and-pencil set into framed pictures, portraying an ethnically diverse city population. There are spreads with one large illustration, but many have two or more of the framed pictures, all with the title pet as the main focus. The color palette moves from red and orange in the city scenes, to blues and tans for the ocean and beach. The frames disappear in the beach scenes, indicating the freedom the characters are feeling. This evocative celebration of the joys of going to the beach will be a great readaloud for summer storytimes.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Gardner, Kate. If You Live Here. Christopher Silas Neal, Illus. Blazer & Bray, 02/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 1. $17.99.978-0-06-286532-8. ADDITIONAL.

Many interestingly different places (including some unusual spots) to live are depicted in this dream-like tale. Mixed-media illustrations show the same two brown-skinned, dark-haired children in various locations including a treehouse, a train’s box car, and a submarine. These and many other impractical places may be some of the places kids dream of calling home instead of regular, mundane houses. Brief rhyming text leads readers from place to place, showcasing the good (and maybe not so good) aspects of each.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Acevedo, Elizabeth. Inheritance: A Visual Poem. Andrea Pippins, Illus. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 05/2022. 48pp. Poetry. Grades 5-Adult. $16.99. 978-0-06-293194-8. OUTSTANDING.
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Acevedo’s word magic and rhythm combined with Pippins’ saturated and dynamic artwork explore the complex theme of Black hair and its cultural associations in a layered and accessible way. “How do you fix this shipwrecked history of hair?” Acevedo asks, and answers, with a powerful and loving celebration of her personal vision of its beauty. The illustrations support and deepen the poetry in a volume that packs a great deal of power into a small package.

Lesley Mandros Bell—Unaffiliated

Engelfried, Sally. Learning to Fall. Little, Brown. 09/2022. 268pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 8. OUTSTANDING. Trade $16.99. 978-0-316-36797-4.

Daphne’s mother sends her to spend the summer in Oakland, California with her dad while mom is working on a movie in Europe. She’s unhappy about being away from her mom, and prepared to be careful around her emotionally absent, alcoholic dad. But Daphne discovers more about herself and her family than anyone may have expected. This twelve-year-old, assumed to be white, girl used to want to be a skateboarder like her dad, but she buried that ambition after her dad never showed up when she thought he was going to. The issues around her then-absent dad are slowly exposed and examined, and Daphne begins to develop a new understanding of her dad. Engelfried’s swift-moving storyline, engaging characters, and Bay Area setting details bring her dad, neighbors, grandparents, skateboarding, and especially Daphne to life. There’s plenty to like in this local story by a local librarian.

Joshua Rees — Daly City Public Library

Reyes, Sonora. Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, The. Balzer & Bray, 05/2022. 386pp. Fiction. Grades 7-Adult. $18.99. 978-0-06-306023-4. Outstanding.

Yamilet (Yami) and her younger brother Cesar are about to start a new school year at Slayton, a Catholic school in a wealthy Phoenix neighborhood. After getting into too many fights, Cesar leaves public school and gets into Slayton on a scholarship. Yami chooses to follow Cesar to protect him and avoid the aftermath of being outed by her former best friend and crush, Bianca. Though Yami knows she’s a lesbian, she keeps it a secret from her family and friends until Cesar begins to struggle with his orientation as well. Yami, a brown-skinned, dark-haired indigenous Mexican, faces racial aggressions from the popular white girls at her new school. Yami’s voice is powerfully authentic, fierce, and funny. While most of the characters are Mexican, other characters include the out-and-proud lesbian Bo, who is Chinese and struggles with her cultural identity because she was adopted by a straight white couple. Brown-skinned, dark-haired David is Indigenous and lives on the nearby reservation, and Cesar’s friend Jamal is described as being Black. What makes this coming-of-age/coming-out story unique is the focus on Yami’s internal struggle with the Catholic faith: while she was born Catholic, her personal beliefs and values don’t align with what she’s being taught at Slayton which, along with self-identifying as a lesbian, causes most of the internal conflict in the story.  The author includes a content warning at the beginning of the book for tough subjects, including racism, homophobia (internalized and external), immigration, and attempted suicide. An excellent read-alike for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Angie Thomas. Solia Martinez-Jacobs—Bret Harte Middle School

Carzoo, Breanna. Lou. Breanna Carzoo, Illus. Harper, 07/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. Grades Pre-K. $17.99. 978-0-06-305405-9. High Additional.

Lou, a red fire hydrant, has only ever been used as a dog toilet, until the day Lou realizes that he is a superhero. Mixed-media illustrations show many dogs using Lou to do their business, a developing background fire, and the arrival of the firefighters. Finally we are able to see the true use and importance of a fire hydrant. Readers will laugh at Lou’s simplistic outlook on this life, then they will start calling out that the fire is what Lou is really for, and will appreciate Lou’s ending revelation. 

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Rashka, Chris. Meow. Chris Rashka, Illus. Greenwillow, 05/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – Kindergarten. $17.99 978-0-06-304935-2. ADDITIONAL.

Caldecott medal winner Raschka shows the story of a housecat spending the day enjoying the sun, tail
being stepped on, and seeking or receiving attention from the brown-skinned girl of the house. Primarily using one word “Meow” in various sizes, stretched out, or partly used, the cat’s actions aptly portray its emotions and feelings. Broadly painted watercolor illustrations are the focus of the nearly wordless story, but lack enough details for readers to easily understand what is happening, especially in some scenes where the cat takes up much of the page, with little background to provide contextual clues. Good for younger readers who are “reading” on their own, as they can decide what the cat is doing.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Lim, Hope. Mommy’s Hometown. Jaime Kim, Illustrator. Candlewick. 04/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 2. ADDITIONAL. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-1332-4.

A young boy has heard mommy’s stories about what her hometown was like when she was growing up, in a rural area of a faraway country. The two of them return to her home country and everything seems to have changed as urban growth has swallowed up the area; even the river is now lined with high rise buildings. Luckily, Grandma welcomes them and later calls them in from playing in the river, just like when mommy was growing up. Digital illustrations portray everyone as Asian, while the look and feel of the hometown, where they live now, and the new urban area smoothly align with the story’s text. Since the author and illustrator are from Korea and now live in the United States, their work deftly shows their experiences in several places: an older, rural Korea, present-day United States, and a modern Korean town full of electronic signs, people, and buildings. A wonderful look at what it’s like to live in different places, or how a parent’s childhood was different from how things are now.

Joshua Rees — Daly City Public Library

Stowell, Louie. Monster in the Lake, The. Davide Ortu, Illus. Kit the Wizard Book, A; bk. 2. Walker, 02/2022. 197pp. Fiction. GRADES 3-6. $17.99. 978-1-5362-1494-9. ADDITIONAL.

Kit is a novice wizard, and she and her non-wizard friends Josh and Alita travel to a Scottish loch and its mermaids to determine why some strange magical occurrences are happening in their neighborhood. For example, Kit can hear and understand animals who talk, and their dog/dragon pet is ill. This sequel to The Dragon in the Library refers to incidents from the first book but doesn’t really explain them, limiting this to readers of that first book. The grayscale illustrations that appear every few pages indicate Kit is white but Josh appears to be Black, and Alita has brown skin and long black hair. Faith, Kit’s wizarding mentor and librarian, is also Black. Although this is a solid transitional fantasy novel, it is not innovative nor particularly original. Published in the UK in 2019, this is the first U.S. edition.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Giles, Crystal G. Not an Easy Win. Random House, 02/2023. 256pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 7. $16.99. 978-0-593-17521-7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

African American Lawrence is used to being at the mercy of others, and yet somehow everything always winds up being his fault. He didn’t ask his Pop to leave, or to move from Charlotte to his grandma’s small southern town, and he certainly didn’t ask to be stuck in mostly-white, Andrew Jackson Middle School, where he is lucky to get in a couple of punches during the all-too-regular beat-downs. So, when he is expelled for fighting, and staying home in his strict granny’s way is NOT an option, suddenly Lawrence has to figure out what to do with himself. Luckily, he seeks out an elderly neighbor who gives him a job helping out at the Rec Center. A friendship, a crush, and a conflict with the Rec Center director’s son, all push Lawrence towards an interest in chess and gaining a spot on the Rec Center’s team. Lawrence navigates every kid’s worst-case scenario: friendless, misunderstood, and expelled. Watching him come back from that low—forgiving and seeking forgiveness, standing ground, and developing skill in considering his next move—is pure pleasure. Some two-dimensional, villainous, white, chess competitors make a brief appearance detracting from the otherwise satisfying ending. While there are plenty of chess play specifics, the heart of the story is about the kind of moves every kid has the chance to make, and the message of how to take charge of shaping one’s own story applies to us all. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Marks, Janae. On Air with Zoe Washington. Zoe Washington Series; bk. 2. Katherine Tegen, 02/2023. 304pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 7. $19.99. 978-0-06-321231-2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

African American Zoe, now fourteen, is moving from strength to strength. She won both her dream job at Ari’s Cakes and her father’s freedom from prison in From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Katherine Tegen  Books, 2020). Now, with a podcast, she’s taking on raising awareness about the difficulty parolees have restarting their lives, and is determined to open a restaurant with her father, Marcus. While the voice can seem overly expository, and Zoe’s tasks are daunting, her determination and ability to break down and think through seemingly insurmountable challenges is both compelling and inspiring. Happily the wish-fulfillment never becomes absurd, and Zoe’s ability to recalibrate in the face of setbacks is impressive. Marks includes more typical fourteen-year-old concerns, such as how to navigate the feelings about a romantic relationship between best friends. Fans of the first book will be happy there is still plenty of time for baking, as Zoe works on coming up with a signature dessert and puts together mouth-watering meals. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Rosen, Michael. On the Move: Home is Where You Find it. Quentin Blake. Illus. Candlewick, 02/2022. 125pp. Poetry. Grades 5-9. $17.99. 978-1-5362-1810-7. High Additional.

In a series of free verse poems, Rosen describes the experience of his relatives during World War II and the Holocaust, and how that affected him as a Jew growing up in London. He has a section on migrants and refugees, and gracefully bridges these topics with his family’s experiences, making this very timely. The poems are accompanied by Blake’s inky drawings with gray and blue watercolor wash that help to set the tone. The book ends with a list of online resources, and Yiddish terms are defined. An unusual and poignant poetry collection.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Messner, Kate and Margaret E. Powell. Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe. Erin K. Robinson, Illustrator. Chronicle. 10/2022. 56pp. Biography. GRADES 2 – 5. OUTSTANDING. Trade $18.99. 978-1-45216-160-0.

With panache and style, perseverance and determination, Black fashion designer Ann Lowe made beautiful gowns for the rich and famous, overcoming blatant discrimination and establishing herself as a leading American fashion designer. Messner collaborates with art historian Powell to capture Lowe’s life and designs, drawing on newspaper articles, archives, interviews, and letters. “With her mother’s steady hand on hers,” Ann learned how to sew, learning “Vision. Precision. Attention to detail. Only the best will do.” Throughout, Messner and Powell weave lyrical language that evokes the beauty of Lowe’s creations along with her passion and determination. Gowns “glow like moonlight” with “glimmering fabrics and the soft sheen of pearls.” Floral motifs run throughout the language and illustrations; as “Ann snips and tucks, gathers and folds,” readers see “the fabrics bloom in her hands.” Lowe followed her dream of designing high fashion gowns, breaking color barriers when she attended a New York City fashion school in 1917, and later when she applied for jobs in dress shops. Readers will celebrate as Lowe achieves recognition, designs dresses for Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding, and opens her own dressmaking salon. Robinson uses color, shapes, and texture in digital-collage illustrations, conveying the beauty and style of Lowe’s craft. A masterful picture book biography of a fashion designer determined to provide only the best.

Mary Ann Scheuer — Independent

Warga, Jasmine. Rover’s Story, A. Harper Collins, 10/2022. 320pp. Fiction. GRADES 4 – 7. $17.99. 978-0-06-311392-3. OUTSTANDING.

Born for observation, and programmed to learn to solve simple problems, a Mars rover named Resilience moves beyond its expected limits: forging friendships with other machines, learning to care about its human creators, and developing self-awareness. Along the way it navigates the pain and pleasure of emotions and engages in some dramatic space exploration. Warga deftly grounds the science in reality, with enough detail to satisfy enthusiasts and with plenty of plot and character development to engage those who just want a good story. Where the tale surpasses expectations is in how effectively Resilience’s realizations hold up an illuminating mirror to the human reader. Central to the story is Res’s brown-skinned, Middle-Eastern creator, Raina, and her adolescent daughter, Sophie. Sophie, disgruntled by the long hours her mom spends devoted to Res, writes to it, as part of a sixth grade class project, continuing, off and on, into her college years. The humor, science, charming robot friendships, and heart-warming family dynamics add up to an unusually deep and enjoyable story perfect for independent reading and family readalouds.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Lyall, Casey. Spoonful of Frogs, A. Vera Brosgol, Illus. Greenwillow, 07/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 1. $17.99. 978-0-06-289029-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL

While demonstrating a recipe for a television cooking show, a witch has a hard time preparing her brew. The final ingredient gives her tremendous trouble, hopping away instead of following the oft repeated step “Put the frogs on the spoon.” Brosgol’s hilarious digital illustrations show what starts out as a straight-forward cooking demonstration, but turns into a chaotic chase, before ending with an ingredient substitution that readers will be happy to see. A fun and amusing read for small group sharing.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Ferry, Beth. Stick and Stone Explore and More. Kristen Cella, Illus. Stick and Stone Series. Clarion, 06/2022. 94pp. Reader. Grades 1-3. $12.99. 978-0-35-854936-9. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Stick and Stone, who are what their names say, return in two easy reader graphic novel stories in which they have interesting adventures. The first features them being found by a “Nature Girl,” a brown-haired, pink-skinned girl collecting things in the woods that fit each letter of the alphabet. The second adventure finds them picked up by a white-looking boy who adds them to a campfire for roasting s’mores. Each time Stick and Stone work together to successfully survive unharmed during their encounters with humans. Cella’s digital illustrations simulate watercolor-and-pencil effects that keep pace with the humorous text, show plenty of life for these otherwise inanimate objects, and provide an enjoyable story for younger elementary readers.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Ferguson, Jen. Summer of Bitter and Sweet, The. Heartdrum, 05/2022. 384 [+4]pp. Fiction. GRADES 9 – 12. $17.99. 978-0-06-308616-6. OUTSTANDING.

First-person Métis narrator Lou is eighteen and living with her uncles on their farm. She’s planning to
spend the summer helping out at the family ice cream business with her boyfriend and best friend,
hoping her mom has a good summer traveling and selling her beaded jewelry. But ugly secrets from the past and some violent events in the present turn this idyllic summer into a harrowing rite of passage for Lou as she learns the true identity of her birth father and the deep roots of systemic racism that continue to threaten her family. A well-written trigger warning by the author opens the book, which includes descriptions of rape and violence. The author carefully uses the experience to give the readers a story in which personal strength, love, and redemption break a generations-long pattern of pain. Underlying humor and honesty make Lou an appealing and effective champion in this coming-of-age novel.

Lesley Mandros Bell —Unaffiliated

Davis, Danielle. To Make. Mags DeRoma, Illus. Harper Collins/Katherine Tegen, 05/2022. [48]pp. Picture Book. Grades Pre-3. $18.99. 978-0-06-308406-3. High Additional.

A sweet, simplistic picture book about the creative process and the importance of patience. “Gather, make, wait” is the repeating mantra throughout. Kids with different skin tones and physical abilities are featured working on a variety of activities and projects like cooking, gardening, and more. Sometimes they even have the help of magical fairies and gnome friends. The art, most of which appears to be painted, drawn, and collaged, offers lots of details to discover. The print is large and minimal, and the playful illustrations feature more color with every turn of the page, concluding in a colorful gathering of kids sharing their creations. The book’s overall message is that we all have something unique to offer our communities, and would be most enjoyed in any creative setting: a library craft storytime, a classroom, or for inspiration at home.

Greta Marti—Marin County Free Library

Stiefel, Chana. Tower of Life, The: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs. Susan Gal, Illus. Scholastic, 10/2022. 40pp. Biography. GRADES 2-5. $18.99. 978-1-3382-2589-1. OUTSTANDING.

Yaffa Eliach (1935-2016) grew up “a spirited girl who loved her home and her family” in the shtetl town of Eishyshok, Poland (now modern-day Lithuania). In this moving picture book biography, Stiefel begins by painting a picture of life in Eishyshok, a “Jewish town that pulsed with love, laughter, and light.” When the Germans killed most of the Jewish population in 1941, Yaffa and her family managed to escape. Yaffa hid a few family photos, and ”wherever they ran, … they reminded her of home. Snapshots of light—and life—captured in time.” Eliach, a history professor and Holocaust expert, was asked by President Jimmy Carter to create a memorial in the new U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Eliach decided that she “didn’t want to reflect on death and darkness. Instead she wanted to create something that would shine a light onto the beautiful lives of people lost and forgotten.” Thinking of her own treasured photographs, Yaffa collected 6,000 photographs and stories from Eishyshok’s Jewish community, and assembled them into a soaring display called the “Tower of Faces.” Like Eliach herself, Stiefel shines a light onto the lives of the people of Eishyshok, heroes full of dignity, not victims of disaster. Gal’s ink-watercolor-and-digital-collage illustrations reflect the emotional journey of Eliach’s life, warm and bright as a young girl, dark and imbued with red in times of war. Sepia-toned watercolor portraits give readers a sense of how photographs created a record of the townspeople’s lives. A moving celebration of life, full of light and hope.

Mary Ann Scheuer—Independent

Moss, Marissa. Woman Who Split the Atom, The: The Life of Lise Meitner. Harry N. Abrams, 04/2022. 264pp. Biography. Grades 6-10. $19.99. 978-1-4197-5853-9. Outstanding.

Moss crafts an engrossing biography of Lise Meitner, a Jewish Austrian nuclear physicist, exploring the significance of her research, demonstrating her passion and commitment, and investigating the impact that sexism, antisemitism, and personal betrayal had on her work. As the Nazis gained control in Germany in the 1930s, Moss shows how “the scientific community as a whole said and did nothing as some of its most esteemed members were stripped of their positions and assets” simply because they were Jewish. Meitner finally escaped to Copenhagen to work with Neils Bohr, and then to Sweden where she made her most significant discovery, showing that atoms can be split and the resulting “nuclear fission” released incredible energy. When Hahn received the 1944 Nobel Prize, “he presented the discovery as his alone.” Moss describes the scientific, political, and personal developments clearly, basing much of her interpretations on letters Meitner wrote to other scientists throughout her career. Chapters begin with one-page comics that draw readers into the narrative and convey some of the emotional weight of the story. Short, clear chapters help move the story at a brisk pace. Extensive back matter helps frame and support the story. Throughout, Moss shows how deeply Meitner cared about physics, fighting constantly for her right to be recognized.

Mary Ann Scheuer—Independent