Outstanding Books of the Month – October 2023
Each month we post an annotated bibliography of books that were rated ‘Outstanding’ at our previous meeting and nominated for our year-end Distinguished List. You can see full reviews of these books and many more in our BayViews blog. Interested in becoming a member? Join, come to our monthly meetings, and hear about these Outstanding books in person!
Fiction
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood, G. P. Putnam, November 2023.
STEMinist romcom author Hazelwood successfully shifts into YA territory with this appealing romance. After four years’ absence, 18-year-old prodigy Mallory Greenleaf returns to competitive chess while supporting her family and falling for world champion, Nolan Sawyer.
The Eyes and The Impossible by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris, Knopf/McSweeney’s, May 2023.
Eggers has written a wild dog story with a fresh and engaging voice. A masterful piece of writing.
Mascot by Charles Waters & Traci Sorrell, Charlesbridge, September 2023.
This novel in verse follows six middle grade students as they grapple with the issues around having an “Indian Brave” as a school mascot.
Non-Fiction
Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed by Dashka Slater, Macmillan/Farrar, Straus & Giroux, August 2023.
In this followup to the very successful 57 Bus, Dashka Slater examines the racist Instagram postings that shocked the community of Albany, CA.
Geology by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Druscilla Santiago, Hands-On Science. Charlesbridge, October 2023.
Introduction to geology and its related terms, in a smooth flowing, engaging storyline.
Picture Book
All Aboard the Schooltrain: a little story from the Great Migration by Glenda Armand, illustrated by Keisha Morris, Scholastic, January 2023.
Thelma, a young Black girl in Jim Crow-era rural Louisiana, loves trains and school, and eagerly awaits the “schooltrain” (the children’s daily walk to school). Excellent, accessible storytelling introduces the Great Migration to young children.
Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Winter, illustrated by Daniel Miyares, Harper Collins/Brazer & Bray, January 2023.
Long ago, Nell planted a seed and now a pecan tree has grown, providing a special place for her African American family to gather. Illustrations in luminous fall colors complement the gentle read-aloud verse, conveying the passage of time for both the tree and the people who enjoy its bounty.
This Is a Story by John Schu, illustrated by Lauren Castillo, Candlewick, March 2023.
In this picture book with repetition, a young girl visits the public library and sees the world of information and imagination. The full-color ink, watercolor, and pastel illustrations present the library as a warm and welcoming place. There are many actual books shown in the artwork.
When You Can Swim by Jack Wong, illustrated by Jack Wong, Orchard, May 2023.
Recipient of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, this lovely picture book begins with a parent telling a child that once they learn to swim, they can explore the ocean and other areas of nature. Different parent and child pairs are shown, representing a variety of racial and ethnic groups.
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