Review

Vargas, Jose Antonio. Dear America: The Story of an Undocumented Citizen. Biography. HarperCollins, 2019. 130pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-291459-0. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-8. Pulitzer-prize-winning author Jose Antonio Vargas opens this young-reader version of his autobiography with a brief [continue reading]

Yazdani, Ashley Benham. Green Place to Be, A: The Creation of Central Park. Picture Book. Candlewick, 03/2019. [40]pp. $17.99. 978-0-7636-9695-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 1-5. In 1858, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted won a con­test to [continue reading]

Solnit, Rebecca. Cinderella Liberator. Arthur Rackham, Illus. Folklore. Haymarket, 05/2019. 29pp. $17.95. 978-1-608-46596-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-ADULT. A feminist reimagining of Cinderella, this story alters the nar­rative to focus on the liberation that comes with helping [continue reading]

Henkes, Kevin. Sweeping Up the Heart. Fiction. Greenwillow, 03/2019. 183pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-285254-0. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-7. It’s 1999, and 12-year-old Amelia is frustrated by her rigid sin­gle father’s reluctance to seek any sort of adventure and [continue reading]

Becker, Aaron. You Are Light. Aaron Becker, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 03/2019. [16]pp. $15.99. 978-1-5362-0115-4. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-2. Using a poetic text, this innovative book describes the impor­tance of the sun and how it impacts [continue reading]

Parry, Rosanne. Last of the Name.  Fiction. Carolrhoda, 04/2019. 334pp. $17.99. 978-1-5415-4159-7. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 5-9. Fleeing violence and starvation in Ireland, 12-year-old Danny O’Carolan and his older sister land in the proverbial fire as they [continue reading]

Forshaw, Nick. Mammals! William Exley, Illus. Non-fiction. Explorer Series. What on Earth! 03/2019. 38pp. $14.95. 978-0-9955770-7-7. OUTSTANDING.  GRADES 2-6. Part of the Explorers series, this book introduces readers to Agent Osprey, who explains what mammals [continue reading]