McGuire, Sarah. Alien Escape Room, The. Diego Garcia, Illus. Mystery Masters. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648391. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649756. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Please see Museum Mayhem by Christina Farley for the series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Idzikowski, Lisa. Baby Horses. Lightning Bolt Books—Horse Lover’s Library. Lerner, 08/2024. 24pp. Nonfiction. Trade $29.32. 979-8765626047. Paper $9.99. 979-8765628881. GRADES 1–3. LOW ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Baby Horses is one of six books in the Horse Lover’s Library series from Lerner’s Lightning Bolt Books. Like other books in these series, they have large print describing the topic—in this case, foals. There are four short chapters and lots of large, full-color photos. Back matter includes a question, some “fun facts” (for example, most foals are born at night), a glossary, and resources for readers who want to delve deeper and learn more about the topic. Photos in Baby Horses don’t include people, but in Horse Breeds and Horse Sports most but not all riders appear to be white. Lerner hardback books are expensive but hold up well in libraries. This is a solid series but not a must-have.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District
Hershey, Brian. Book of Riddles, The. Vanessa Gutiérrez, Illus. Camp Whispering Woods. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648414. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649770. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Please see Haunted Deliveries by Amanda Coffin for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Van Wagenen, Maya. Chronically Dolores. Penguin/Dutton, 03/2024. 320pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-525-42682-0. GRADES 7–12. OUTSTANDING.
Dolores has interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder condition that is a source of pain, frustration, and embarrassment. After a mortifying incident at school, the fourteen-year-old Mexican American girl spirals downward as she is rejected by her best friend and taunted by classmates. Sharply irreverent and very much a teenager, Dolores tells her story using a variety of literary techniques, including short, one-act plays written in telenovela style and transcripts of dialogue with a priest at confession. Her starred reviews on the quality of local bathrooms add a note of levity, providing further insight into Dolores’s character. Secondary players are equally vivid, including Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, a white, costume-designing autistic girl struggling to break free from an over-controlling mother. Authentic and heartfelt, this young adult novel is based on the author’s own experiences with chronic illness.
Jenny Andrus—Independent
Ribay, Randy. Everything We Never Had. Kokila, 08/2024. 264[+8]pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5934-6141-9. GRADES 9–12. OUTSTANDING.
In a character-driven family story, Bay Area author Ribay portrays four generations of Filipino American men during formative moments in their teen years. The carefully crafted narrative alternates perspectives between four characters, beginning in 1929, 2019, 1983, and 1965. Told from limited third-person viewpoints, the book portrays the differing (and sometimes clashing) beliefs and motivations of nuanced characters and shows complex situations from multiple perspectives. The sweeping, historic scope depicts the Watsonville riots, the Delano grape strike, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other momentous events. Credible dialogue and vivid language (a “thousand buzzing worries” plague Enzo like “murder hornets”) give voice to experiences underrepresented in teen literature. Back matter includes an author’s note and recommended resources. Includes California-specific content.
Joy Shioshita—Independent
Coffin, Amanda. Haunted Deliveries. Vanessa Gutiérrez, Illus. Camp Whispering Woods. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648438. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649794. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: This mystery story series for reluctant readers has short chapters and a limited number of pages. Each title’s six chapters follow a similar pattern: introduction to the characters and setting, a mysterious event, a thickening plot, and a triumphant resolution. While each title features different kids and a different mysterious situation, each is set at the same summer camp and the overall storylines are very similar. This reviewer read four of the eight series titles featuring words appearing out of nowhere, riddles coming to life, an ancient fossil coming back as a ghost, and packages containing toy items that then become real. Based on cover art and names, each title includes characters or protagonists of various ethnicities, but no identifiable cultures, and everyone seems to be upper-elementary age. Providing a small glimpse into the storyline, a limited number of b&w illustrations are scattered throughout the titles. Designed to help with reading skills, each chapter includes a reflective question about the story, and the books end with a page about phonic skills related to words in the story.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Krenn, Cara. Horse Breeds. Lightning Bolt Books—Horse Lover’s Library. Lerner, 08/2024. 24pp. Nonfiction. Trade $29.32. 979-8765626054. Paper $9.99. 979-8765628898. GRADES 1–3. LOW ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Baby Horses by Lisa Idzikowski for series review.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District
Idzikowski, Lisa. Horse Sports. Lightning Bolt Books—Horse Lover’s Library. Lerner, 08/2024. 24pp. Nonfiction. Trade $29.32. 979-8765626061. Paper $9.99. 979-8765628904. GRADES 1–3. LOW ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Please see Baby Horses by Lisa Idzikowski for series review.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District
Cusolito, Michelle. Jellyfish Scientist: Maude Delap and Her Mesmerizing Medusas. Ellen Rooney, Illus. Charlesbridge, 04/2025. 32pp. Biography. Trade $18.99. 978-1-62354-581-9.
GRADES 2–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
At the turn of the twentieth century, little was known about jellyfish. Maude Delap had no formal training, but she had made herself an expert on the marine life of her Irish island home and had the skills, determination, and patience to attempt the challenging task of raising jellyfish through a complete life cycle. Narrated in the present tense, short, dated excerpts describe Maude’s scientific process for gathering, nurturing, and observing jellyfish’s fascinating transformations. Rooney’s translucent, layered gouache paintings in harmonious browns, greens, and blues incorporate textured backgrounds and painted cut-paper collage. Imperative text and strategic use of cursive font remind readers of the active nature of biological observation and the importance of written observation. Educators and science-minded kids will welcome this superb account of a ground-breaking citizen scientist and her important contributions. Back matter includes author and illustrator notes that add scientific and biographical details and informally noted sources. Additional reading is included. Delap is white. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Wibowo, Jes. Lunar Boy. Jes Wibowo, Illus. Addl. Creator Cin Wibowo. HarperAlley, 05/2024. 240pp. Graphic. Trade $24.99. 978-0-0630-5760-9. Paper $15.99. 978-0-0630-5759-3. GRADES 3–6. OUTSTANDING.
Indu, a dark-skinned child with shockingly white hair (very reminiscent of the Little Prince) was found alone on a moon and adopted by his hijabi-wearing mom to live on the spacecraft she commands. Now they are moving from the spaceship to New Earth, to live with their new blended family. In this new home, Indu comes to terms with his own sexuality and his new feelings for his bisexual pen pal, but he still faces many challenges at home and school. In his loneliness, Indu feels torn: he wants to go back to his original home on the moon where he can’t be hurt by anyone, but he also wants to keep connecting with his new community of friends, family, and crushes. A luminous color palette uses warmer colors to represent New Earth and cooler ones for the space scenes. Indonesian co-creators Jes and Cin Wibowo have penned a great sci-fi graphic novel about growing up as an outsider and learning to find your place in a foreign world full of diversity.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District
Todd, Traci N. Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins—The First Lady of Children’s Music. Eleanor Davis, Illus. Chronicle, 01/2025. [52]pp. Biography. Trade $19.99. 978-1-4521-7064-0. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.
Ella Jenkins, the noted musician and recording artist for children who died at age 100 in November 2024, is celebrated in this charming picture book biography. Jenkins used her talent to spread folk music to children with over sixty recorded albums, often reflecting her African American culture. She lived for several years in the San Francisco area, and graduated from San Francisco State College. The bouncy narrative doesn’t rhyme but has a lively rhythm that fits the subject matter. The boldly colored folk art-inspired illustrations depict Jenkins as a proud Black woman among a sea of diverse children, including a memorable spread near the end featuring gatefold pages. There is a timeline on the endpapers, an author’s note with further details on her life, and a bibliography. This is as notable as the author’s previous award-winning biographies, Nina: A Story of Nina Simone (2021) and Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes (2023).
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Coffin, Amanda. Message in the Dirt. Nikki Sumipo, Illus. Camp Whispering Woods. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648421. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649787. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Please see Haunted Deliveries by Amanda Coffin for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Farley, Christina. Museum Mayhem. Kate Fallahee, Illus. Mystery Masters. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648353. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649718. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: This series of reluctant reader mystery stories features short chapters and a limited number of pages. Each title’s six chapters follow a similar pattern: introduction to the characters and setting, defining a problem, following clues, and ending on a happy note. Varied settings and situations change up the mystery enough to not be overly formulaic. This reviewer read four of the eight series titles featuring a missing museum jewel, a school theater production being disrupted, a robot vanishing before a competition, and an odd escape room. Based on cover art and names, each title includes characters or protagonists of various ethnicities, though the stories do not readily reflect aspects of identifiable cultures. The characters are likely upper-elementary age, between fourth and sixth grade, depending on the story. Providing a small glimpse into the storyline, a limited number of b&w illustrations are scattered throughout the title. Designed to help with reading skills, each chapter includes a reflective question about what is going on in the story, and each book ends with a page about phonic skills related to words in the story.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Millington, Allie. Olivetti. Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends, 03/2024. 246[+3]pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-250-32693-5. GRADES 4–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Olivetti Brindle, a vintage typewriter, will go to any length to keep his beloved family together, even if that means breaking the only rule of all typewriters: to never type back. With strong alternating POVs, Olivetti’s witty dialog appears as inky typewriter font, visually distinguishing it from his secret communication with Ernest Brindle, the family’s twelve-year-old middle child who is written with neurodivergent characteristics. The Brindles are depicted as a warm yet chaotic family recovering from an unnamed “past event.” There is no content build-up or warning, potentially leaving readers unprepared to handle difficult topics that are addressed mid-way through the compact novel, including cancer and suicidal ideation. Younger readers who can handle the surprise reveal may appreciate the book’s friendly and at times comical tone, as well as the warm and fuzzy ending.
Brianna Arellano-Meli—Oakland Public Library
Bernstrom, Daniel. One Day at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea. Brandon James Scott, Illus. Hippo Park, 04/2025. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-66264-082-7. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
A little girl searches for pearls under the sea when a shark comes along. To save herself, she makes a deal to find him something for his dinner in this clever story similar to folktales such as Margaret Read McDonald’s The Fat Cat (2001). The text has a Seuss-like jaunty rhyme with repetition, describing how the girl offers various sea creatures that end up hurting the shark which he spits out, including a squid, an octopus, and a puffer fish. The digitally rendered cartoon artwork is filled with bright colors, and the girl is depicted as Black with two curly puffs of hair. This will work well as a readaloud and as a way of showing a number of ocean animals. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Farley, Christina. Operation Robot Rescue. Kate Fallahee, Illus. Mystery Masters. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648346. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649701. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Please see Museum Mayhem by Christina Farley for the series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Harrell, Rob. Popcorn. Penguin Random House/Dial, 09/2024. 269pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5936-9792-4. GRADES 4–7. OUTSTANDING.
The pressure is on—and steadily growing—for seventh grader Andrew Yaeger, who struggles to manage his anxiety and OCD throughout a school day in which everything that can possibly go wrong does. Author Rob Harrell, who has personal experience with anxiety and OCD, puts the reader directly in Andrew’s shoes as we follow along on this comically disastrous day, listening in as he thoughtfully processes his reactions to the situations he encounters while laughing along with the humorous sketches he draws in his so-called “anxiety files.” Although some of Andrew’s problems are quite serious, Harrell manages to maintain a light-hearted tone overall, one that allows the reader to be highly entertained by the action-packed events while rooting for this likeable character every step of the way. Even the most reluctant reader would be hard-pressed not to engage with this charming, relatable story. Andrew presents as white; his closest friend, Jonesy, is Black. Back matter includes a note from the author and recommended resources on anxiety, OCD, and Alzheimer’s.
Jennifer Taylor—Palo Alto City Library
Liu, Jennie. Red Car to Hollywood, The. Lerner/Carolrhoda Lab, 03/2025. 245pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-7284-9321-3. GRADES 9–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Teen Ruby Chan’s story is set in the spring and summer of 1924 in Los Angeles, where Ruby helps out at her parents’ shop that sells Chinese furniture and antiques. To her shock and dismay, her parents find out she has been dating a fellow high school student who is white, so they threaten to make her accept an arranged marriage. Hoping to move out on her own, she gets a job at a department store where she is sexually harassed by her boss, but she befriends movie star Anna May Wong and Wong’s brother, who own a nearby laundry. Mixing Hollywood history and romance, this first-person novel from a female Chinese American perspective shows the gap between immigrant parents and their American-born children. A unique YA novel that many readers with immigrant parents will relate to. Includes California-specific content.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Hershey, Brian. Restless Fossil. Nikki Sumipo, Illus. Camp Whispering Woods. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648407. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649763. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Please see Haunted Deliveries by Amanda Coffin for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
McGuire, Sarah. School Play Sabotage. Kate Fallahee, Illus. Mystery Masters. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648360. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649725. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Please see Museum Mayhem by Christina Farley for the series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Stavans, Ilan. Secret Recipe, The. Taia Morley, Illus. Kar-Ben, 03/2025. [24]pp. Picture Book. PLB $18.99. 978-1-7284-8643-7. GRADES Kindergarten–3. ADDITIONAL.
A little boy’s abuela teaches him how to make bourekas, a type of cheese-filled pastry, from a recipe in Ladino. The story goes on to explain that Ladino was the language of Jews in Spain and Portugal before they were expelled (although it doesn’t spell out that this was during the Spanish Inquisition). The words in Ladino and Spanish are explained within the text, and there is a glossary at the back along with the recipe in English. The text is a little long but smoothly written, and the digital, full-color illustrations serve the text. A nice story about a rarely-covered subject.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Ixta, Carolina. Shut Up, This Is Serious. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 01/2024. 368pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-328786-0. GRADES 9–12. OUTSTANDING.
Belén and Leti are best friends who are finishing up high school in East Oakland. Leti is pregnant and her family are super strict and Catholic, unaccepting of her Black boyfriend or his gracious parents, and always finding a way to blame Belén for what they view as Leti’s lack of morality. Belén seems to be rudderless and unable to find a purpose in her life; she feels trapped, and tries to escape by dating an older guy, which is the first in a series of self-destructive decisions. Complicated family dynamics threaten to tear down both Belén and Leti, but the two eventually find solace and support with each other. Main characters are Latine, and the girls live in the Fruitvale neighborhood. This debut novel won the Pura Belpré Award for young adult fiction. Includes California-specific content.
Pauline Harris—San Francisco Public Library
Doeden, Matt. Slam Dunk: The Shot That Changed the Game. Millbrook, 03/2025. [68]pp. Nonfiction. PLB $34.65. 979-8765626801. GRADES 3–6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
A slam dunk is one of the most exciting moments in sports, but is the move more than eye candy? Doeden makes a compelling case for the slam dunk’s importance, exploring the history and highlights of an athletic innovation that helped turn a slow-paced sport into one of the world’s most popular games. Four short chapters, full of photographs and sidebars, alternate dynamic descriptions of basketball action with substantive history and science-based analysis. Basketball fans will find plenty of famous firsts and learn about game changers at college and professional levels, both male and female. While the brief biographies of basketball royalty may be what draws readers in, it is the surprising and compelling facts that will stick with them. High interest and high value combine, delivering a win. Back matter includes a glossary, source notes, further reading, and an index.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Clarke, Bethan. Snarky Sharky. Nikolas Ilic, Illus. Tiger Tales, 02/2025. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6643-0064-4. GRADES Preschool–3. ADDITIONAL.
A large shark named Snarky thinks he has outgrown his part of the ocean, so he leaves to find something better. At first, Snarky bullies the smaller fish, but things change once he encounters a larger shark. The narrative is in Snarky’s first person voice, filled with puns and other wordplay, but it runs on a little too long. It is the illustrations that will grab the attention of the young audience. The brightly colored artwork shows the underwater setting in the style of an animated cartoon (the illustrator is an Emmy Award-winning animator), with big eyes and expressive faces on all the sea creatures. Sure to be popular.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool
Salazar, Aida. Ultraviolet. Scholastic, 04/2024. 304pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-3387-7565-5. GRADES 5–10. OUTSTANDING.
Thirteen-year-old Elio Solis has fallen hard for the girl of his sueños, dreamy Camelia. In this highly accessible and true-to-life story of a Mexican boy living his life with his parents and two little sisters in Oakland, California, author Salazar transports readers via verse to the seldom encountered world of newly pubescent boys. Filling a glaring gap for middle-grade readers, this book translates what it’s like to be a boy in the throes of a growing body, exploring changing expectations, machismo stereotypes, and the concept of consent. The language richly incorporates some Spanish to help describe the explosive feelings Elio has, comparing his feelings to “lava,” worrying over a just-discovered physical heart problem, and recognizing the color that surrounds his newfound love is, every time, ultraviolet. Funny, relatable, heartwarming, with a strong sense of family and cultural pride, this Pura Belpré Honor book is an outstanding and needed addition to any library collection. Includes California-specific content.
Pauline Harris—San Francisco Public Library
Fang, X. We Are Definitely Human. X. Fang, Illus. Tundra, 08/2024. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-7748-8202-3. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING.
When three big-eyed, blue-skinned “strangers” crash land outside Mr. and Mrs. Li’s house, the local people pull together in kindness, helping the “visitors” fix their broken vehicle. In an engaging way, the book explores what it means to be human, conveyed through vibrant illustrations and child-friendly text. Fang invites young readers to consider the qualities that make us uniquely human, from empathy and creativity to curiosity and critical thinking. Each page unfolds delightful examples and scenarios that children can relate to, effectively bridging complex ideas into digestible concepts for preschoolers and early elementary students. The use of bright colors and expressive characters enhances the narrative. With interactive questions sprinkled throughout, Fang fosters a sense of community and connection, inviting children to share their thoughts. The book concludes with an inspiring note about the importance of understanding and embracing our shared humanity. Mr. and Mrs. Li present as having Asian heritage, and their neighbors are racially diverse.
Jennifer Crain—Independent
Engle, Margarita. Wild Dreamers. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 04/2024. 224pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6659-3975-1. GRADES 8–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Leandro, a Cuban refugee experiencing PTSD, largely relies upon his therapy dog Cielo as his sole companion; Ana, a Cuban American experiencing homelessness, worries about the wild pumas and other urban wildlife she sees struggling to survive in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the course of their junior year of high school, the two teens are bonded together in a way that allows them to not only envision a better future for themselves, but to actively work towards creating a better world around them as well. Engle has the two encounter such a wide range of different social and political issues that it is difficult to focus on any one element of the story beyond the romance itself, but it is the romance between these two engaging and empathetic characters that elevates the novel to a higher level. Told in verse from the alternating perspectives of Leandro and Ana, with occasional interludes from Cielo the singing dog, Engle’s novel depicts the nature of first love as a transformative experience that is quite literally magical. Includes California-specific content.
Jennifer Taylor—Palo Alto City Library