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One of my favorite reads so far this year. Alexandra Ott starts off her new fantasy series with a win. The world building is spot-on. I don't think I've ever entered a fantasy story as quickly or easy before. Fun and appealing characters, interesting magic, intriguing magical creatures, and a plot that any young reader will love make this series a must for fantasy lovers everywhere. Can't wait for the sequel!

A lovely, heart-felt story that does a brilliant job of looking at everything from friendship to racism from the very believable perspective of an eleven year old.

Lekha is a great middle grade heroine. She's smart, funny, and trying so hard to both be herself and to fit in - at home, at school, and at swim practice - that the reader is pulled right into her story and can't help but cringe and cheer along side of her. Her pain is easy to connect with, her missteps are real and oh-s0-relatable, and her triumphs are just the right size to make any reader see that growth, change, and forgiveness is possible.

Great supporting characters - including present and realistic parents - round out this story and make it one of my current favorites.

A must read!

A sweet and funny read that both kids and adults will enjoy.
A solid story, great illustrations, and a host of fun characters make this a must for anyone's picture book shelf. The resumes at the end were a perfect and adorable touch. I'm looking forward to more from this author.

A smart, sharp, and funny addition to any bookshelf. THE DARK LORD CLEMENTINE is a clever story - full of magic, evil, and the perfect amount of heart. Horwitz goes deep with her characters and fills a plot that would be fun on its own, with great insights on the difficulties of choosing your own path, the importance of friendship, and the complexities of love and sacrifice. A fun read.

This is a tough, yet heartwarming, story about friendship, family, and the hard (and sometimes poor) choices we make to help each other out.

I enjoyed the contrast between safe and sheltered Gideon and worried and determined Roona as they developed a friendship that challenged them both.

The themes of this book are deep and sometimes troubling - but real nonetheless. Grimes does a nice job developing kid characters we can empathize with and a group of adults who really want what's best for their children even during the roughest of times.

There's lots of room for discussion here about how to be a friend and still get someone the adult help they need. A list of resources at the end would be a nice addition for kids struggling with what to do when a friend is in a harmful and scary situation.

Great characters and a fun setting make this book an enjoyable read. This is a sweet story about a young girl searching for her True Blue Friend (who happens to be right in front of her the whole time) while trying to navigate some tough financial circumstances that even her very best hustle can't quite keep at bay. The mystery of the hotel care-taker and her vaudeville past was icing on the cake. A fun, sometimes serious, story that will appeal to middle grade readers.

A lovely book that tackles a number of complex issues in a real and heartfelt way. Ruby Moon Hayes is a character that's easy to root for, and her frustration, sadness, and eventual compassion feel very true to life. The author does a wonderful job of showing just how hard standing up (for yourself and for others) can be - and how necessary it is for all of us. Great friendships form the heart of this story that's all about finding and using your voice.

The Woman of Troublesome Creek follows a very determined Cussy Mary Carter as she rides the Kentucky hill country as one of President Roosevelt's Pack Horse Librarians in the 1930's. Through Cussy's library route, we meet a number of her patrons - getting a glimpse of the simple joys and the unending sorrow of life during the depression. We also get a look at how different people deal with what they fear and don't understand - as Cussy's blue skin and the prejudice she faces because of it are key parts of the story. This is an interesting and well-researched book that covers the Pack Horse Library Project, coal mining, rural poverty, and the rare disease, methemoglobinemia. It's a sad, tough read at times - but Cussy's strength, determination, and passion for books carries the reader through.

Another wonderful book by Ali Standish. Beautiful writing, a realistic group of kids, and a touch of mystery make this a warm and engaging read. Ali Standish tackles tough topics with lots of heart and just the right amount of grown-up wisdom. A must for every classroom library. Kids will love the story and will relate to the characters fears and frustrations. Teachers will love the discussions it will prompt.

An enchanting tale of a boy, a girl, and a wild woodland creature. This beautifully written tale begs to be read aloud. The language is magical and the storytelling is captivating.

Yolen's short tale of friendship, magic and the beauty of believing is a must read.