Review

Oshiro, Mark. Into the Light. Macmillan/Tor Teen, 03/2023. 448pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-2508-1225-4. GRADES 7–12. OUTSTANDING.          Manny, a queer Latinx former foster kid/adoptee, is traveling the highways of the southwest living by his wits and [continue reading]

Oh, Ellen [editor]. You Are Here: Connecting Flights. Addl. Creators Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Lê, Ellen Oh, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and [continue reading]

Franck, Ed. Moon is a Ball, The: Stories of Panda & Squirrel. Thé Tjong-Khing, Illus. Translated from the Dutch by David Colmer. Gecko, 04/2023. 77pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-7765-7493-3. GRADES Kindergarten–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.  Nine short [continue reading]

Pla, Sally J. Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn, The. Quill Tree, 07/2023. 336pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-326879-1.  GRADES 6–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.      Rising eighth-grader Maudie loves spending summers with her dad, Pedro, in Northern California. At home, her belittling mom, angry stepfather, and rigid behavioral [continue reading]

Clanton, Ben. Ploof. Ben Clanton, Illus. Addl. Creator Andy Chou Musser. Tundra, 09/2023. 56pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-77488-192-7. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Preschool. ADDITIONAL.        Ploof is a friendly cloud full of feelings who needs the reader’s help. Big-eyed and puffy, Ploof mostly floats on a blue watercolor background. Questions [continue reading]

Bruchac, Joseph. Of All Tribes: American Indians and Alcatraz. Abrams, 09/2023. 256pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-4197-5719-8. GRADES 7–12. ADDITIONAL.     The well-researched, involved, and diverse history of Alcatraz and American Indians is comprehensively presented. Bruchac summarizes centuries of problematic history, from the precolonial period though centuries [continue reading]

Albus, Kate. Nothing Else but Miracles. Holiday House / Ferguson, 09/2023. 288pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-8234-5163-0. GRADES 4–7. OUTSTANDING. Things have been rocky since Dory’s Pop headed off to war. True, the neighborhood looks out for the three kids: dinner at Caputo’s on Thursday, baked [continue reading]

Kerry, Isaac. Spotlight on China. Countries on the World Stage. Lerner, 08/2023. 32pp. Non-Fiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9196-7. Paper $10.99. 979-8765602522. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.      SERIES REVIEW: Please see Spotlight on Brazil by Isaac Kerry for the [continue reading]