Review

Blackburne, Livia. Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre. Nicole Xu, Illus. Lerner/Carolrhoda, 03/2025. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8-7656-2722-8. GRADES 3–6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.          This informational picture book explores the Los Angeles Chinatown massacre that took place in October of 1871, explaining how Chinese nationals [continue reading]

Beckmeyer, Drew. Stalactite and Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave. Drew Beckmeyer, Illus. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 03/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6659-2663-8. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.   A little nub on the roof of a cave slowly drips on the little nub below, and the two [continue reading]

Barnes, Derrick. Incredibly Human Henson Blayze, The. Viking, 09/2025. 254 [+7]pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-9848-3675-5. GRADES 7–10. HIGH ADDITIONAL.            Thirteen-year-old Henson Blayze is a football star in a small Mississippi town that has never had a football star like him before. The implications of what [continue reading]

Smith, Cynthia Leitich, ed. Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories. HarperCollins/Heartdrum, 08/2025. 310 [+26]pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-331426-9. GRADES 8–Adult. OUTSTANDING.            Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In is a space suspended in time, fluid in location, only [continue reading]

Smith, Cynthia Leitich, ed. Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories. Addl. Creators Kate Hart, Eric Gansworth, et al. HarperCollins/Heartdrum, 08/2025. 336pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0633-1426-9. GRADES 9–12. OUTSTANDING. In this collaborative work of magical realism, seventeen [continue reading]

Miller, Marie-Therese. Taylor Swift: Unstoppable Icon. Gateway Biographies. Lerner, 01/2025. 48pp. Biography. PLB $33.32. 979-8-7656-4915-2. Paper $11.99. 979-8-7656-6181-9. GRADES 4–8. ADDITIONAL.         SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Angie Thomas: Hip-Hop Author and Voice of Change by Keenan [continue reading]

Jones, Keenan. Angie Thomas: Hip-Hop Author and Voice of Change. Gateway Biographies. Lerner, 01/2025. 48pp. Biography. Trade $33.32. 979-8-7656-4914-5. Paper $11.99. 979-8-7656-6177-2. GRADES 4–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.       SERIES REVIEW: These biographies provide up-to-date details on authors, [continue reading]

Golusky, Jackie. Top Ten Minecraft Biomes: An Unofficial List. Addl. Creator Ty Chapman. Searchlight Books – Minecraft Top Tens. Lerner, 01/2025. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 979-8-7656-4751-6. Paper $10.99. 979-8-7656-6228-1. GRADES 2–5. LOW ADDITIONAL.         SERIES REVIEW: [continue reading]