Maudsley, George. Ancient Greece. Eugenia Nobati, Illus. Addl. Creators Lisa Alderson and Daniel Rodgers. The Magnificent Book of Treasures. Weldon Owen, 08/2025. 80pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8886740677.GRADES 3–7. ADDITIONAL.       

Oversize pages and easy-to-read fonts explain thirty-seven objects, found by archaeologists, that help to illustrate life in Ancient Greece. This oversize (nearly fifteen inches tall) title offers a glimpse into what and how modern people know about life thousands of years ago. Parts of mosaics, toys, statues, bracelets, vases, and other artifacts are shown in photograph-like illustrations. Each artifact is accompanied by five to six bulleted paragraphs explaining what knowledge the piece provides, along with a fact file corner with details of where the artifact was found, where it is now, approximate age, and size. Interesting for readers intrigued by Ancient Greece, artifacts, or archeology.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Jeffery, Eliza. Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? Discover the Science Behind Melittology. Lays Bittencourt, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9131-1. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW: This introductory nonfiction series uses color illustrations (no photographs) and fast- moving, easy-to-understand text to show young elementary readers the basics of a scientific field of study. Each book focuses on a part of the natural world, while conversational text asks questions and guides readers through various aspects of the title’s scientific topic. The series covers a broad range of subjects, including bees, whales, mushrooms, dinosaurs, life on other planets, and volcanoes. Each title asks a direct question related to the scientific field being explored, but the text often skirts around answering the question directly, instead providing a more general understanding of the field as it relates to the question. All titles include a useful glossary, pronunciation guide, and links to a website with additional resources for readers and adults.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Watson, Olivia. Are Birds Modern-Day Dinosaurs? Discover the Science Behind Ornithology. Valeria Abatzoglu, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9136-6. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Jeffery, Eliza. Are Whales and Dolphins Smarter than Humans? Discover the Science Behind Cetology. Lays Bittencourt, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9133-5. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

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 team tasked with protecting animals from being poached. Kids will be fascinated by the elaborate training regimen, procedures for capturing evidence, and vibrant photography of animals in the South African savannah. The book features an unusual format in that it could be used as narrative nonfiction for younger kids, but the captions, statistics, interactive questions, and quotations from members make it an excellent choice for older kids reading it on their own. Back matter includes pronunciations and pictures of the animals, a guide to the NATO phonetic alphabet, an author’s note, and further information with books and websites. A superior selection for Black history and women’s history displays.

Beth Gousman—Montclair Elementary School / Oakland Unified School District

Jeffery, Eliza. Can Mushrooms Save the World? Discover the Science Behind Mycology. Daniel Limon, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9127-4. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.    

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Jeffery, Eliza. Can Predicting the Weather Save Lives? Discover the Science Behind Meteorology. Daniel Limon, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9132-8. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Jeffery, Eliza. Can Snakes Predict Earthquakes? Discover the Science Behind Ophiology. Denis Alonso, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9137-3. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.    

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Watson, Olivia. Can Trees Talk to Each Other? Discover the Science Behind Dendrology. Denis Alonso, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9128-1. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Watson, Olivia. Can Volcanoes Turn the Moon Blue? Discover the Science Behind Vulcanology. Veronika Chaves Morales, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9135-9. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Yuly, Toni. Go, Sloth, Go! Toni Yuly, Illus. Little Brown, 07/2025. [36]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-316-49791-6. GRADES Baby/Toddler–1. OUTSTANDING.            

A softly smiling sloth wakes, ready to eat. Her slow climb to the tastiest leaves is narrated in brief, alliterative, rhyming text, punctuated by an interactive, encouraging chant – “Go, Sloth, go, Sloth, go, Sloth, go!” Matte paper with simple shapes in saturated greens, slowly transitions to midday, treetop, blues and peach, before hues warm and deepen to sunset oranges and indigo. The torn paper, ink, and digital illustrations are complemented by large-format text in potato cut font. Words ascend the page as sloth climbs, and diminish in size in the final chant, as readers encourage sloth to sleep. A calming, simple, and satisfying read-aloud or bedtime story perfect for young listeners. An entirely different picture book, with the identical title, was written by Gabrielle Prendergast and published in May (Orca, 2025).

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Cooper, Elisha. Here Is a Book. Elisha Cooper, Illus. Abrams, 04/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-4197-6675-6. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

Beginning at her home in the country, an author writes and illustrates a book, then goes to the city to have it published, printed, and sold so that children can read it. Similar to Cooper’s previous books, such as Farm (Orchard, 2010), the brief text gives an overview of the process without much detail and is illustrated with charming watercolors showing everything in miniature, including an author who presents as white. The sentences read like lists of related items: “the artist’s studio overflows with paper, pencils, watercolors, brushes, sketches, drafts, a wastebasket, a light, a desk, a chair, music, tea, days, nights, art, and wonder.” This will work well as a supplement to more detailed books, including Eileen Christelow’s What Do Authors and Illustrators Do? (HMH, 2013).

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Jeffery, Eliza. How Do Oceans Help Us Breathe? Discover the Science Behind Oceanography. Daniel Limon, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9134-2. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Schmitt, Kelly Rice. I Truck: A Big Rig’s Epic Trip. Jam Dong, Illus. Lerner/Millbrook, 10/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 979-8765619827. GRADES Kindergarten–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.   

Follow a big rig as it journeys across the country, as shown via engaging text and colorful illustrations. Readers experience the highlights of the trip, including the loading and unloading at several toy delivery stops, as the brown-skinned, female driver (and her dog) rumble along toward the West Coast. Mixed-media, collage, and watercolor illustrations depict the size of the truck, the varied cargo that other trucks carry, and the changing landscape encountered along the way. I Truck concludes with four pages packed with additional information and facts, including a glossary and a diagram of the big rig’s parts. Similar to the author/illustrator duo’s previous two titles, I Ship (2023) and I Fuel (2024), which also depict fascinating parts of the global economy. Great for readers fascinated by trucks or transportation.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Watson, Olivia. Is There Alien Life in Outer Space? Discover the Science Behind Astrobiology. Denis Alonso, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9129-8. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Watson, Olivia. Is This the Biggest Dinosaur Ever? Discover the Science Behind Paleontology. Veronika Chaves Morales, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9125-0. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

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 of the Leaving, who helps children pass between life and death. Throughout the book, as her true purpose and origin story slowly unfold, she cooks Southern-style comfort food for each visitor, shares authentic recipes, plays mancala, and creates inviting spaces for them to rest. In the cover illustration, Gospel presents as Black. The Leaving Room is structured into chapters based on the rules that Gospel must follow and the stages of grieving. It is written in verse with a mysterious ambiance, emotionally evocative, uncomplicated language, making it accessible to a variety of reading abilities. Appropriate for an audience as young as twelve, The Leaving Room is a story of transcendent love that leaves readers with heartbreak, redemption, and joy.

Lesley Golkin—San José State University iSchool Student

Heiligman, Deborah. Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs. America (A Love Story). Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 09/2025. 336pp. Biography. Trade $21.99. 978-1-2508-2307-6. GRADES 10–Adult. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

In 1885 sixteen-year-old Emma Goldman immigrated to the United States. By her early twenties, she was at the heart of her new country’s political protests, an anarchic activist urging workers to demand their rights and take what they needed. For the next thirty plus years Goldman made headlines, wrote articles, roused crowds, and bounced in and out of jail until J. Edgar Hoover, and the newly written Naturalization Act, deported her in 1919. This superbly researched biography showcases Emma’s indomitable zeal and refusal to compromise, backing social-justice causes from fair pay, to legalizing birth control, to anti-war demonstrations. Heiligman’s surprising and exhaustive account makes clear Goldman deserves a place in the pantheon of American political activism. Word choice sometimes excuses questionable behavior; “attentat” in place of assassinate, Emma doesn’t choose, she is “compelled.” Yet this eye-opening glimpse into the political and sexual passions of a seminal rebel reveals a fascinating figure and a chilling period of American political persecution. Contains a content warning, notes, bibliography, further reading, index and photographs. 

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Stein, Joshua David. Make New Friends. Mariachiara Di Giorgio, Illus. Abrams, 09/2025. [36]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-949480-55-9. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

Tomasso starts at a new school, and each day his single dad asks if he has made any friends yet. On the third day, he says that he has friends, but they are inanimate objects like a ball and a milk carton (similar to the volleyball companion of Tom Hanks in the film Castaway). This relatable story of a sympathetic father and his shy son (both illustrated with tan skin and black hair) is told in a way that is believable, and will promote kindness to others. The distinctive watercolor and pencil illustrations depict a classroom of diverse students and a modern home with TV, video games, and piles of books. Tomasso’s creativity in finding a solution to the issue is a fresh take on being the new kid at school, assisted by his father’s warmth and openhearted acceptance.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

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 child cherishes the experiences she calls bruja magic and hopes one day she can be magical too. She learns that bruja magic is created through love and care for her family, the use of flora and fauna on their island, and shared activities like cooking dinner together. In a tender moment, the abuela explains that the child already has bruja magic inside her, passed down through generations of the Taíno people, and more specifically, Bohíques women. Puerto Rican heritage is showcased through dialect-specific Spanish words, diverse illustrations with different skin tones and hair textures, indigenous practices depicted in the story, and delicious traditional recipes. Back matter includes a glossary, recipes, and a note from the author. Lovely digital illustrations in a bright color palette exhibit the beauty of Puerto Rico. This is a wonderful story that teaches children to be proud of their heritage and open to learning about new cultures. It highlights the importance of deepening bonds with loved ones. Anyone with a special connection to their grandmother will enjoy this book immensely.

Kazuko Rance—Contra Costa County Public Library

Charman, Katrina. Old MacPumpkin Had a Farm. Georgie Birkett, Illus. Nosy Crow, 07/2025. [22]pp. Picture Book. Trade $14.99. 979-8-88777-168-7. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

In this reimagining of the classic nursery song “Old MacDonald,” the farmer has a cat, spider, bat, and other spooky creatures on the farm. The brightly colored cartoon style illustrations resemble gouache, and depict the farmer as a white female. The repeated rhyme of “Old MacPumkin had a farm, Eek! Ahh! Eek! Ahh! Ohh!” will take some practice, but listeners can easily guess each creature as it appears, and what sound it makes. The final spread uses a gatefold page to depict the farmer’s living room filled with all the animals and creatures shown throughout the story. A nice additional selection for autumn storytimes.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Velasquez, Eric. Polar Bear and the Ballerina, The. Eric Velasquez, Illus. Holiday House, 10/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8234-4918-7. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.

In this compelling wordless picture book, a young ballet dancer sees a polar bear at the zoo and imagines dancing with him. At the same time, the bear escapes from the Central Park Zoo and attends the ballet performance. Set in New York City, most of the audience is made up of people of color, and the young dancers are Black. The dramatic illustrations, done in oil paint, are dominated by deep blues, soft white for the bear and the ballet costumes, and red for the scarves worn by the bear and the young principal dancer. The final spread and endnote identify the main dancer, who is a real person named Chloe Maldonado, with the El Barrio Ballet Academy in Spanish Harlem. The lack of a printed text parallels how ballet tells a story without using words, allowing readers to focus on the details in the exemplary illustrations. The book opens with a two-page gatefold spread that may need reinforcement to hold up to library circulation.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Stevenson, ND. Scarlet Morning. ND Stevenson, Illus. Scarlet Morning; bk. 1. Quill Tree, 09/2025. 426pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0-6321034-9. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING.   

Teenage best friends Viola and Wilmur embark on adventures involving pirates, magic, monsters, and secrets, in a novel using memorable characters, detailed world-building, and vivid language to propel a riveting story. Most of the elaborate plot unfolds in third-person narration, interspersed with dream sequences and journal entries of “bizarre occurrences” at sea. Viola is depicted with dark brown skin, while Wilmur is shown with red hair and pale skin, and minor characters are illustrated with diverse skin tones. Strong female characters hold leadership roles, such as queen and pirate captain. Stevenson, the multi-talented graphic novelist of Nimona (HarperTeen, 2015), created dramatic b&w illustrations, as well as journal pages with inkblots and cross-outs obscuring words. The only drawback is that, due to subtle book design, some readers initially won’t realize that Scarlet Morning is the first half of a duology. Book one ends at a major plot moment, with mysteries still to be explored. Readers will eagerly await the sequel, Evening Gray.

Joy Shioshita—Independent

Águila, María Dolores. Sea of Lemon Trees, A: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez. Roaring Brook, 09/25. 273 [+8]pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-2503-4261-4. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING.      

Twelve-year-old Mexican American Roberto is apprehensive about serving as the plaintiff in a lawsuit against his San Diego school district. This novel in verse, longlisted for the National Book Award, employs lyrical prose to bring to light life in la colonia, Roberto’s Lemon Grove neighborhood, in 1931. Abundant back matter provides historical context around the history that preceded the case, plus an epilogue of what happened after, as well as explaining language choice of some terms used in the book. Unlike many novels in verse with a large cast, the book’s characterization of the community members is very strong. While there have been other children’s books on this historical event, this exemplary book belongs on every library shelf. Includes California-specific content.

Beth Gousman—Montclair Elementary School / Oakland Unified School District

Boulley, Angeline. Sisters in the Wind. Henry Holt, 09/2025. 384pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-250-32853-3. GRADES 8–Adult. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

Angeline Boulley continues to educate readers about life as a Native American in today’s world, while wrapping the story in drama and a dangerous mystery. Lucy Smith unexpectedly enters the foster care system at age thirteen after her father’s untimely death. Disturbing secrets from her stay at Hoppy Farm, a foster placement, are revealed as the story progresses. After an attempt on her life lands her hospitalized and unable to fend for herself, Lucy grudgingly teams up with two characters from Boulley’s Firekeeper’s Daughter (2021): Daunis Fontaine and Jamie (John Jameson), a Native American lawyer, private investigator, and Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) advocate. Throughout the book are Native women’s stories of children taken away by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Boulley exposes the utter disregard for Native culture, language, and family perpetrated by the United States government and the Catholic Church. Intertwining the mystery of who is following and threatening Lucy’s life with the agonizing stories of the Native mothers is tricky, complicated, and not always successful. Boulley is at her best when the story is more straightforward, indicting atrocities by celebrating the healing Native cultures we see now. Her writing is brilliant, she pulls no punches, and the tension is sustained as it builds to a heartbreaking yet hopeful conclusion. While this is a stand-alone novel, readers would benefit from first reading Firekeeper’s Daughter. Characters present as Ojibwe, Anishinaabe, and white. The author’s note gives current information about the ICWA and the ongoing struggle to reconnect Native children to their families. 

Pauline Harris—San Francisco Public Library

Stead, Philip C. Snow Day for Amos McGee, A. Erin E. Stead, Illus. Roaring Brook, 09/2025. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-250-32473-3. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

This third book featuring the title character begins with zookeeper Amos McGee anticipating a snowstorm. When it comes, he is ready with hand-knit items for the animals, including an afghan for the tortoise and thicker socks for the penguin. The distinctive woodblock and pencil illustrations have a timeless quality, similar to classic picture books from the 1950s and 1960s. This will make a great pairing with Keats’ The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962), where the fun of winter includes snow angels, snowmen, and hot cocoa. The only humans shown in the artwork are McGee, who presents as white, and the bus driver, who appears to be dark-skinned.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

van Lieshout, Maria. Song of a Blackbird. Maria van Lieshout, Illus. First Second, 12/2025. 256pp. Graphic. Trade $25.99. 978-1-2508-6981-4. Paper $17.99. 978-1-2508-6982-1. GRADES 8–Adult. OUTSTANDING.    

Using maps, photographs, deceptively simple illustrations, and a connecting image of a blackbird, van Lieshout plunges her readers into a family mystery that travels between 2011 and World War II in Amsterdam. Main character Annick is a teenager who attempts to trace her grandmother’s biological parents in an attempt to help her find life-saving medical care. Accompanied by an artist/poet she meets during her search, Annick uncovers and shares elements of the Holocaust and her family’s story, while learning the ongoing transformative power and obligation of art to change the world. The skillful illustrations support and amplify the story throughout.

Lesley Mandros Bell—Independent

McGuire, Erin. Spy in the Museum, The: How Rose Vallard Saved Art from the Nazis. Erin McGuire, Illus. Beach Lane, 09/2025. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-5344-6617-3. GRADES 1–5. OUTSTANDING.    

Rose Valland was a curator at the Jeu de Paume Museum when the Nazis took over Paris during World War II and began the systematic theft of priceless artworks, claiming it was to rid the world of “degenerate art.” She kept a notebook detailing which works were taken and where they were sent, risking her life so that after the war those works could be reclaimed. The straightforward text, often just one paragraph per page, clearly explains what occurred and her heroism. The narrative is well-matched to mixed-media pencil artwork, digitally painted and emphasizing the darkness of the museum interiors, which suit the serious tone of the circumstances. The book concludes with a note on Valland’s post-war work, an author’s note on her process, and a list of sources. This informational picture book will appeal to students interested in history, art, and women’s history, and would make a great classroom readaloud.

Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool

Collins, Suzanne. Sunrise on the Reaping. Scholastic, 03/2025. 382pp. Fiction. Trade $27.99. 978-1-5461-7146-1. GRADES 8–12. ADDITIONAL.         

Sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy is one of forty-eight people chosen in a competition to the death, set in an arena where comforts are poisonous and even natural disasters are unnatural.  The competition is televised, and he wants to make a statement against the regime that cannot be overlooked. Haymitch is an adult character in The Hunger Games(2008), which means that much of the dramatic tension around whether he will survive is removed. Haymitch is not particularly compelling except when narrating unusual events, so his turn to depression and alcoholism in the book’s closing pages is not a surprise; it is difficult to be surprised by a thinly-drawn character. In this title, Haymitch’s race is not mentioned or cued. Collins’s fans may enjoy this look at a younger Haymitch, but this is not a good starting point for a newcomer to the franchise.

Alli Angell—Benicia Public Library

Nayeri, Daniel. Teacher of Nomad Land, The: A World War II Story. Levine Querido, 08/2025. 192pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-64614-566-9. GRADES 4–7. OUTSTANDING.    

Award-winning author Daniel Nayeri explores the hidden history of World War II in Iran through the eyes of two orphaned children on a journey to the land of the nomadic Bakhtiari tribe. With his father’s teaching supplies strapped to his back, Babak and his little sister encounter a Nazi spy, British and Russian troops, and a lost Jewish boy as they search for a new home and survive the harsh wilderness. Nayeri showcases his signature introspective style and masterful storytelling with heart-stopping action and vivid descriptions in this slim novel. In a moving and deeply satisfying conclusion, Babak demonstrates that he has embraced his father’s teaching philosophy while also processing the grief over his father’s sudden death. This book will resonate with the right reader and has already won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. An unforgettable journey.

Kelly Pollard—Alameda County Library

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 she deals with pregnancy, abortion, an unstable home life, and an uncertain future. Her poetry helps process these experiences and, ultimately, leads her to a place of community, freedom, and self-actualization. With the poetic prose, as if one is reading Truth’s journal, the reader cannot help but become as invested in Truth’s poetry as they are in her story. Sawyerr allows her character to revisit and revise her poems over time, showing not only the work that goes into crafting a poem but also allowing the reader to experience Truth’s evolution as she finds her place in the world. Speaking with unflinching honesty, Truth is a thoughtful and likeable character with a healthy sense of self, one who is not easily swayed by the opinions of others: this allows readers to appreciate Truth’s choices, whether or not they personally agree with them. Front matter includes an author’s note and teen pregnancy resources; back matter includes poetry-writing prompts and the author’s acknowledgements.

Jennifer Taylor—Palo Alto City Library

Robinson, James. Whale Eyes: A Memoir about Seeing and Being Seen. Brian Rea, Illus. Penguin, 03/2025. 298pp. Biography. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5935-2395-7. GRADES 4–Adult. OUTSTANDING.           

After holding Whale Eyes: A Memoir about Seeing and Being Seen near, far, and upside down, you will not only understand documentary filmmaker James Robinson’s exotropia, but you will see and connect with him differently and maybe come away inspired to share your own story. This interactive book chronologically covers his ocular condition from childhood through early adulthood. Robinson, who presents as white, uses the second person as he teaches you how to “fake read” like he did and take his “impossible” eye tests. Text is used thoughtfully almost like concrete poems to mimic his vision, and illustrated “starers” and interspersed black pages reinforce feelings of confusion and isolation. “…if the first part of this book was about my eyes, then the second…is about yours. Because I want to see through your eyes.” Robinson finishes by discussing specific techniques he uses to form connection through documentary filmmaking and encourages readers to share their stories. This book of empathy, connection, and expression is a must-read for everyone from reluctant readers to book and writing clubs.

Kimberly Lauer— San Francisco Public Library

Bausum, Ann. White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History. Roaring Brook, 08/2025. 352 [+6]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $24.99. 978-1-250-81657-3.  GRADES 8–Adult. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Myths about the War of the Rebellion (1861-1865) that developed after the defeat of the Confederacy resonate to this day. Bausum’s argument also serves as her call to action: studying history is essential to learn from the errors of the past and to avoid “the falsehoods embedded in our national story” (p. 289). She bolsters her assertions with extensive source notes, a bibliography, an index, and twenty photos of statues, a “Gallery of the Lost Cause.” Unfortunately, the images of the statues are murky, and the pages highlighting twenty lies about the Lost Cause have lower contrast than the rest of the text. Still, Bausum’s explanation of how the former Confederates shaped U.S. culture after the War is well worth a read, especially for those interested in history or sociology.

Alli Angell—Benicia Public Library

Watson, Olivia. Will We Ever Live on the Moon? Discover the Science Behind Selenology. Veronika Chaves Morales, Illus. Big Questions Answered. Hungry Tomato/Beetle, 02/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-8356-9130-4. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Are Bees Nature’s Tiny Heroes? by Eliza Jeffrey for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Day, Nicholas. World Without Summer, A: A Volcano Erupts, a Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out. Yas Imamura, Illus. Random House, 09/2025. 294pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-593-64387-7. GRADES 6–11. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Animated language, dramatic events, and direct questions for the reader, connect the 1815 volcanic explosion of Tambora to a worldwide catastrophic fallout, Frankenstein, and our current climate concerns. The dynamic history is divided into four parts. Titled chapters are teased on the front piece of each section with lists of intriguing topics covered: mysterious cannons, fountains of flame, everyone leaves everywhere. Day masterfully fills readers in on scientific, cultural, and historic background information, from the gruesome mechanics of pyroclastic blasts to the revolutionary and artistic milieu of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley. Moody grey-scale ink, watercolor, and digital spot illustrations match the text’s dark levity. The all-knowing foreshadowing occasionally comes off as glib, and repeated assertions diminish the impact of the narrative contention that Tambora’s climate shock illuminates the present. Well conveyed is the fascinating interconnection of events and the surprising rewards of delving deeper and questioning more. Many races are included, and the central characters are white Europeans. Extensive back matter includes acknowledgements, a bibliography, chapter notes and an index.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Lukoff, Kyle. World Worth Saving, A. Penguin Random House/Dial, 02/2025. 337pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5936-1898-1. GRADES 5–9. OUTSTANDING.         

Trans fourteen-year-old A Izenson has been isolated since the beginning of COVID and is all too aware of his parents’ and the world’s transphobia. However, it isn’t until he is approached by a golem, a Jewish protector spirit, that he realizes this transphobia is driven by otherworldly beings more nefarious than he could have known. Thus begins an adventure, heavily based on Jewish mysticism, to defeat the evil that has latched on to the trans community. A is a white, Jewish, trans man who is joined on his quest by a crew of queer and trans marginally-housed youth. While A is featured as the main character, the friendships he forms help him unlearn socialized individualism. Though complex, the story remains riveting and fast-paced, with moments of lightness and humor. The writing is imbued with a strong sense of poetic spirituality, and tenderness for the story’s characters and real-world trans kids is extremely evident. A’s story addresses suicidality, transphobia, homelessness, and anti-Semitism yet remains hopeful, returning to the idea that “one in the process of becoming is imbued with holiness.”

Sicilia Smith—Alameda Free Library