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 [continue reading]
Ultraviolet Review
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 [continue reading]
We Are Definitely Human Review
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. [continue reading]
Wild Dreamers Review
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 [continue reading]
School Play Sabotage Review
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 [continue reading]
Alien Escape Room Review
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 [continue reading]
Operation Robot Rescue Review
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 [continue reading]
Everything We Never Had Review
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 [continue reading]