Picture Books for 9–12 Year Olds

357 picture books for 9–12 year olds, sorted by rating — page 2 of 4.

FIGHTER

boxing. Lee, an Irish southpaw, melds revealing set pieces about life as an “outsider” with a rich account of his rough route to the middleweight championship. His itinerant boyhood was shaped by the “special closeness to gypsy life.” His family was among a group that lived in “trailers and caravans,” traveled “in convoy” and prohibited marriages to “non\u002DGypsies. Gorgeys, we call them.” At school, classmates sang a parody of his peripatetic lifestyle. He learned to fight by taking beatings from his older brothers, already skilled boxers. Relatably, Lee realizes that he chose his profession in part because he didn’t want to disappoint loved ones. Yet being “pushed to the fringes of society” equipped him with an invaluable trait—“raw toughness.” A stellar amateur career won the attention of Emanuel Steward, a decorated American trainer who began schooling Lee at the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit. As “the white kid in a black city,” he was lonely. He read Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, discovering the Holocaust survivor’s “theory of ‘Sunday neurosis’: that feeling of emptiness that people get when their hectic life slows down at the weekend. That’s me.” Lee is excellent on boxing preparation and technique. As an amateur, he won by counterpunching, but pro fighting rewards “viciousness.” A Steward disciple teaches him the “Suzie Q,” a technique meant to get an opponent leaning before you “dress him up”—flatten him. Prefight weigh\u002Dins prove easy to manipulate. He sits in saunas before getting on the scale, then chows down, his weight fluctuating by 10 pounds within hours. The book’s one clear flaw—a penchant for hackneyed philosophizing about the nature of combat—only shows up a couple of times."

This powerful narrative delivers an unflinching look at the world of competitive fighting, following a young protagonist's journey through grueling training, personal sacrifice, and the complex psych...

FIGHTING BULLIES

Genre

This powerful guide tackles the difficult reality of school bullying with direct, actionable advice for young readers navigating these challenging social dynamics. The book provides clear strategies ...

FIRST KISS WITH FANGS

fangs." />

This paranormal romance delivers a fresh take on first love with its compelling blend of supernatural tension and authentic teenage emotions, following a human protagonist's unexpected connection wit...

FLASH GORDON

an escape pod containing Flash Gordon, a freckle\u002Dfaced girl with endless curiosity and energy but no memory of her identity. When the Ark crashes on planet Omnia X, the new friends find themselves at odds with the “Merciless Emperor” Prince Azimuth, who dominates the planet’s kingdoms with his rage\u002Dpowered dark magic. Flash is shocked to discover the tyrant is no older than she is, while Azimuth’s sister, Princess Aura, is even more surprised by the fear her brother has for their unexpected visitor. Seeking to use this, Aura saves the girl from the gladiatorial arena and takes her to Arboria, a land of rebellious tree\u002Dfolk and gallant knights led by the honorable Captain Barin. But as the determined Flash readies herself to save Dale and liberate Omnia, she is blind to the Princess’ own ambitions and the unsettling reason behind the Prince’s fixation on her. Johnson’s illustrations, delightfully influenced by shojo manga, are rich with detailed characters set against simple, colorful storybook\u002Dstyle backgrounds, capturing expressive facial expressions—even during an intense battle with a giant, razor\u002Dtoothed axolotl. Bennett, who has worked on some of Marvel’s and DC’s biggest properties, displays her talent for inclusive storytelling—this universe is filled with more than just the white and green faces so many space operas feature. The spirit of Alex Raymond’s original creation is here, too\u003B there’s an intoxicating combination of sword\u002Dand\u002Dsorcery tropes with laser guns and flying saucers. The book never talks down to its audience, and this heartfelt adventure will be great for kids to share with parents, or even for longtime fans looking for a reminder of what made them love Flash Gordon—and comics—in the first place."

This thrilling space opera rockets readers into a universe of interplanetary adventure, where the heroic Flash Gordon battles the tyrannical Ming the Merciless across the exotic landscapes of Mongo. ...

FLIP

Genre

This innovative picture book transforms the traditional reading experience into an interactive adventure, inviting young readers to physically engage with the story by flipping the book upside down t...

FLOAT

Genre

This visually stunning picture book explores the magical world of water through the eyes of a young child discovering what happens when everyday objects meet puddles, ponds, and rain-filled skies. Th...

FOLK REMEDY

Genre

This chilling exploration of traditional healing practices and their shadowy consequences delivers a potent blend of supernatural suspense and psychological depth, perfect for readers who crave stori...

FRANCISCO DE SAAVEDRA’S AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR

the British, he was taken as a prisoner to Jamaica, which he realized was an excellent opportunity for espionage. After talking his way out of incarceration, he made his way to Havana, the Spanish base of operations in the Caribbean. The Spanish allied with the French, hoping to drive the British out of the area, and Saavedra, a genius in money matters, financed his lifelong friend Bernardo de Gálvez’s successful rout of the British from Pensacola in British West Florida. At this point, the dispirited and nearly bankrupt Americans turned in desperation to their allies, the Spanish and the French. Saavedra wrangled loans in record time from far and wide to pay for the Battle of Yorktown in 1781—a decisive conflict that effectively sealed the independence of the United States of America. From there, he went from strength to strength, even reluctantly becoming the Spanish prime minister for a time. Ever a modest man, he once said, “In one way or another this contrast between my true and apparent merit is one of the keys to my life.”In a book that fairly bristles with endnotes and indices, one might expect to encounter very dry prose, but Giesler proves to be a graceful and often lively writer. This biography of Saavedra engagingly addresses all the momentous affairs in which he had a hand, and Giesler relies greatly on Saavedra’s diaries and letters. The author points out that his subject was not only savvy in financial matters but was also a talented administrator. The situation in Havana, for example, often pitted the old guard, who not only jealously guarded their privileges but were also overly cautious in military matters, against the young and rash—Bernardo de Gálvez being a good example of the latter. Saavedra, the author establishes, was the perfect go\u002Dbetween, compromiser, and schmoozer, who could handle people set in their ways and young fire\u002Deaters. The powers back in Madrid, including his patron, José de Gálvez, saw the Central American colonies as simply cash cows—but Saavedra, the man who was actually there, in Cuba, in Mexico, and later in Venezuela, realized that the colonists had legitimate grievances and deserved respect and audience. Giesler reveals his subject’s prescience in realizing that if the colonists didn’t get that respect, they would eventually rise in revolt, which is, of course, exactly what happened. Saavedra died in Seville in 1819, perhaps the most respected man in all of Spain at the time—a man for whom the term “national treasure” is fitting."

This compelling historical account chronicles the crucial but often overlooked contributions of Spanish official Francisco de Saavedra during the American Revolutionary War. Drawing from extensive ar...

FREE PIANO (NOT HAUNTED)

the emergence of the ghost of the piano’s original owner from its keyboard: 1980s one\u002Dhit\u002Dwonder pop star Vision. Vision’s cool vibes are eventually too much to resist, though, and she becomes a welcome source of support as Margot reckons with her mom’s long working hours, feeling like her dad’s “dumb invisible daughter,” and the success of @sonsofsmash, her best friends’ social media channel about smashing things, which is gaining the followers she’s desperate for. But Vision isn’t the only ghost in the machine, and Margot may be in danger. The art features amusing details, vivid gradients, and bright colors (like Vision’s candy apple red hair and blue eyeshadow), as well as expressively drawn characters. Margot, who has light skin and blond hair, grapples with feelings of abandonment and betrayal when her existence is clearly a lower priority to her father than his own fame in a way that’s accessible and grounding, balancing emotional depth with the creepy mystery. "

This cleverly titled middle-grade novel delivers exactly what it promises: a free piano with a surprisingly un-supernatural backstory, wrapped in a contemporary tale of friendship and family dynamics...

FROM COCINAS TO LUCHA LIBRE RINGSIDES

themes, including “Building Bridges, Building Community” and “Belonging…Dolor y Alegría.” The authors and illustrators run with the inspiration provided by food and sports, exploring the nuances of diaspora culture and belonging through the lens of their diverse Latinx heritages. The varied artistic styles include both full\u002Dcolor and black\u002Dand\u002Dwhite illustrations. While the central focus on Latinx identity is strongly developed throughout, some of the entries feel too similar to one another to stand out on their own, making this collection better for dipping into and browsing than reading cover to cover. Some stories are brief and humorous while others are longer, more thoughtful pieces reflecting on serious topics. The strongest narratives are the ones rooted in memoir and family history, such as Valerie Martínez Cabrera and Andrés Vera Martínez’ “Lamesa” (a story of enduring Chicano cultural pride in mid\u002D20th\u002Dcentury Texas, which features atmospheric, sepia\u002Dtoned illustrations) and “El Limber” by Rafael Rosado (a charmingly buoyant slice\u002Dof\u002Dlife tale set in 1970s Puerto Rico)."

This is the third edition of an established and leading book on family law in Nigeria. Since the last edition in 1990 significant judicial and statutory enactments have taken place in the area of study. The new edition incorporates these changes and explains their implications. The chapters have bee

Fruitcake A Graphic Novel by Rex Ogle

Rex Ogle

Lately Rex has been feeling lost, but as he explores his interests, hangs with new neighbors, strays from old friends, and makes new ones, he is forced to confront the underlying issues that have been plaguing him since he was young.

FUJI

a stream of unfamiliar names. The current Fuji took shape around 17,000 years ago. Thus it did not precede humans but grew up among them. It erupted now and then, disastrously in 1707, but has gone quiet for the past few hundred years. From prehistory, humans settled nearby and grew crops—especially tea and mulberry trees for silk—that thrived on the volcanic soil. The volcano’s beauty as well as its behavior attracted attention both mystical and literary. An 18th\u002Dcentury mystic who starved himself to death on Fuji gave rise to a cult, “Fujiko,” devoted to its worship that included a pilgrimage to the summit, which in turn gave rise to a major local industry. Fujiko adopted many Buddhist practices and competed with the more nationalistic Shinto movement. Much of the book details the legal, doctrinal, and organizational quarrels between the three religions. Fujiko did not do well and is now a fringe movement, but almost all religious ceremonies surrounding Fuji evaporated after World War II. The mountain is now a major tourist attraction, fueling quarrels over trash, sanitation, crowds, and the deteriorating environment."

This visually stunning exploration of Japan's iconic mountain offers young readers a breathtaking journey through both natural landscapes and cultural traditions. Through vivid photography and access...

Future X

war, plague, and eco-collapse comes across the writings of a fellow survivor in Koszulinski’s SF novel." />

"The Great Gray Plague" is a science fiction short story written by Raymond F. Jones. This riveting story depicts a futuristic civilization coping with the implications of unrestrained technological progress. The plot is set in a dystopian future and revolves around a society that has become overly

GHOST CIRCUS

Genre

A high-octane supernatural thriller plunges readers into the eerie world of a cursed circus where the performers are ghosts bound to entertain for eternity. When a skeptical teen is forced to join th...

GHOSTS OF HIROSHIMA

survivors, include the sight of a cart falling from the sky with the hindquarters of the horse pulling it still attached\u003B a young boy who put his hands over his eyes as the bomb hit—and “saw the bones of his fingers shining through shut eyelids, just like an X\u002Dray photograph”\u003B “statue people” flash\u002Dfossilized and fixed in place, covered in a light snowfall of ashes\u003B and, of course, the ghosts—people severely flash\u002Dburned on one side of their bodies, leaving shadows on a wall, the side of a building, or whatever stood nearby. The carnage continued for days, weeks, and years as victims of burns and those who developed various forms of cancer succumbed to their injuries: “People would continue to die in ways that people never imagined people could die.” Scattered in these survivor stories is another set of stories from those involved in the development and deployment of the only two atomic weapons ever used in warfare. The author also tells of the letter from Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard to Franklin D. Roosevelt that started the ball rolling toward the formation of the Manhattan Project and the crew conversations on the Enola Gay and the Bockscar, the planes that dropped the Little Boy on Hiroshima and the Fat Man on Nagasaki. We have to find a way to get along, one crew member said, “because we now have the wherewithal to destroy everything.”"

This gripping historical novel plunges readers into the immediate aftermath of the atomic bomb, following a young survivor's harrowing journey through the ruins of his city. The narrative masterfully...

GIRL WITH THE SILVER HAIR

their military\u002Dofficer parents they are a post\u002Dnuclear\u002Dapocalypse evolution of mankind, crucial to the survival of a subterranean, locked\u002Ddown United States beset by savage enemies on Earth’s radiation\u002Dscarred surface. Eten is directed to use her deadly brainwaves on an accused “terrorist” leader, but she begins to doubt the tales being fed to her. It transpires that the kids are part of “Project Samson,” an initiative by the American military and government to grow DNA\u002Dmodified test\u002Dtube embryos into weaponized, ESP\u002Daugmented assassins. The Pentagon powers behind Project Samson have learned that maintaining control over these super\u002Dbeings grows difficult over time—especially when the subjects reach puberty—and uncooperative members of the group have been summarily killed. How long can Eten hide her wrathful discontent and rely on the dubious protection offered by a sympathetic guard, or her faux “mom” and “dad”? The premise of youngsters being cultivated by Black Ops agencies as mutant secret weapons is not an original one (there are similar tales by Dean R. Koontz, Stephen King, and John Farris), but Seupel’s take proceeds in an effective, straight\u002Dahead fashion as Eten, a stranger to concepts such as money or menstruation, becomes a fugitive in the “real world”—a very familiar one in the YA\u002Ddystopian genre in which an unjust society is threatened by rising sea levels and violently authoritarian adults. (Trying to ingratiate herself with the fascistic power structure, Eten proclaims, “More than anything in the world, I want to defend our country and make America great again.”) With such strong forward momentum, the material will not require psychic pushes to compel readers to barrel through in one sitting."

A young woman with striking silver hair navigates a world of magic and political intrigue, discovering that her unique appearance is tied to a forgotten prophecy and a hidden power she must learn to ...

GLORY, GRIT AND GREATNESS

what he perceived as the lack of reverence many Americans have for military heroes. This observation, combined with what Carr believes to be a declining historical awareness among young people, prompted the author to write this work, which surveys American heroes “from many eras and walks of life.” The book’s nine chapters can essentially be divided into two categories: biographies of soldiers and those of various historical icons. Many of the war heroes are lesser\u002Dknown figures, such as those covered in the opening chapter on the Torpedo Plane Squadrons of the Battle of Midway. Readers are offered inspirational vignettes about such men as Lloyd Childers, who came from poverty but eagerly volunteered to serve at the outbreak of World War II, and John Thomas Eversole, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who was among the first American airmen killed in the opening stages of the battle. Other chapters focus on more well\u002Dknown names, from business tycoon John D. Rockefeller and President Calvin Coolidge to boxer Rocky Marciano and songwriter Irving Berlin. These chapters provide sweeping overviews of each individual’s life and contributions while reveling in the idiosyncrasies of the subjects\u003B Rockefeller, readers learn, swallowed a spoonful of olive oil each day and had a proclivity for “canoodling” women in his town car after the death of his wife, while Coolidge refused to install a telephone in his White House office (“the better to avoid chitchat”). A chronic workaholic, Berlin worked on his songs “in taxis and restaurants and while shaving,” and even brought a piano with him on vacations.While not shying away from personal flaws, such as Marciano’s taste for philandering or Rockefeller’s “cutthroat” business practices, the book’s overall tone is celebratory, which may come off as overly hagiographic to skeptical readers. (The same cutthroat Rockefeller, for instance, is subsequently praised for his philanthropy and religiosity.) While generally nonpartisan in his approach to American history, the author unnecessarily wades into contemporary culture wars in his introduction, declaring the work is “for people like [him] who are fed up with America bashing, who would rather salute our flag than sully it.” The book is generally well\u002Dresearched\u003B each chapter is accompanied by its own bibliography. (The sources cited, including works published by contemporary academics over the last decade, contradict Carr’s argument that modern American history books have “either left out or glossed over” heroes of the past.) Aside from the politically charged opening pages and the author’s implied critiques of contemporary history teachers and scholars, the book’s biographical vignettes are written in a welcoming, engaging style that blends encyclopedic overviews with fascinating trivial details. Many include dialogue and novel\u002Dlike scene\u002Dsetting that immerse the reader in the past. The text’s ample inclusion of photographs supplements the work’s engaging and absorbing storytelling. And while all but one of the chapters focus on men (Irving Berlin shares the spotlight with Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, the “First Lady of Radio,” in their combined chapter), the author is careful to emphasize the role of women, albeit in supporting roles, in shaping the lives of his male subjects."

This powerful collection of biographical profiles introduces young readers to extraordinary women whose remarkable achievements have shaped our world, from pioneering scientists and groundbreaking ar...

GOAT MAGIC

good fortune, Trill’s magic power is the ability to communicate with goats. Alya, in her goat form, hides from her assailants among Trill’s herd. The girls get off to a rocky start—sheltered Alya has some high\u002Dhanded ways that make Trill bristle—but ultimately, Trill agrees to help the princess. The girls must move quickly, however: Aunt\u002DU, a friend of Trill’s mother whom they seek out for help, informs them that if they don’t destroy the talisman used to place the curse within a month, Alya will remain a goat forever. This fantasy story reads like a classic fairy tale and explores themes of trust in oneself and greater awareness of others. The friendship and love that blossom between Alya and Trill feel natural and endearing. The cartoonlike illustrations employ warm colors that match the tone of the story. Wheeler’s worldbuilding emerges organically from interactions between the characters, sustaining a fast pace and avoiding lengthy explanations. Alya has tan skin, and Trill has medium\u002Dbrown skin."

This middle grade novel delivers a thrilling sports fantasy that will captivate young readers who dream of athletic stardom, blending competitive soccer action with unexpected supernatural elements. ...

GOETHE

a history of 18th\u002Dcentury ideas? How did he make, and respond to, 19th\u002Dcentury ways of looking at the world? Behind all his work is this: What is human nature and what is the place of humankind in the natural world? The great scholarly achievement of this book lies in its synthesis of Goethe’s personal writing (especially his letters) with his public work. It shows how he created modern German as a language for a people—how the German\u002Dspeaking peoples, scattered across small kingdoms, duchies, and imperial lands, could find unity in a literary heritage. This book does not ignore the paradoxes of Goethe’s life. A man of great faith, he was an indefatigable analyst of nature. A proponent of human freedom, he could consort with despots. Goethe enabled us to find philosophy in literature, much as he sought faith in Shakespeare and the Greeks. Bell, a professor at King’s College London, distills an ethical lesson from that search: “Faith is…an expression of compassion. What matters is that our compassion engages with the world….The natural human capacity to feel concern or compassion, rooted deep in our nature, dwarfs any reasoning about good or evil or otherwise of religious doctrine.” That is the lesson of literature, and that is the lesson of this amazing book."

This insightful biography offers young readers a compelling introduction to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German literary giant whose works spanned poetry, drama, and scientific inquiry. The narrat...

GOLIATH'S CURSE

Genre

This gripping fantasy adventure plunges readers into a world where ancient curses and modern-day heroes collide, delivering a story rich with mythological stakes and relentless pacing. When an ancien...

Grammar Engaging Grammar Adventure to Boost Your Childs Learning for Ages 5-14!

Monster Academy

Candy School Chapter Books Have you ever wondered what exactly an adjective was? Drawn a blank when your child asked for help with English grammar homework? In GRAMMAR CANDY, the second book by educator Katrina Streza, Danny and Sam are back for another candy-filled learning adventure. This time, th

GRAND FINALES

religion, the Civil Rights Movement, and social injustice to find new outlets for their talents and new ways to engage with the world. Gubar cites many other aging women—artist Faith Ringgold and designer Iris Apfel, and writers Grace Paley, Ursula K. Le Guin, Margaret Atwood, and Annie Ernaux, among others, to ring in on the lively possibilities—of productivity, connection, and reinvention—in one’s last years."

This collection of book reviews offers young readers and their parents a curated guide to contemporary children's literature, providing thoughtful analysis of plot, character development, and age-app...

HALF PASS SIX

the naturalist William Beebe to study ocean life—first in the Sargasso Sea, and then off the coast of the Galápagos Islands. After the voyage ended, Beebe, with co\u002Dauthor Ruth Rose, published a bestselling account of the journey. Rohrbein was aware of this fact, but it wasn’t until more than 30 years later, when his teenage daughter gave him a handsome hardcover edition of the book, that he gave it much thought. “He was not the kind to read books,” his now\u002Dadult daughter, Lockhart, writes. “The Daily News was enough.” Rohrbein had watched Beebe excitedly dredge specimens from the depths of the ocean, but he’d never understood the meaning of the work. In this blend of history and biography, Lockhart records her father’s firsthand experiences of the expedition, informed by the written account of Beebe, whom the young Rohrbein saw as a sort of parental figure\u003B Rohrbein’s father died years before the expedition. The narrative proves to be an investigation not only into Beebe’s revolutionary nautical discoveries aboard the Arcturus but also into the author’s family history, as Lockhart seeks to understand her taciturn parent, who, in turn, plumbs the depths of his younger years. Lockhart, a novelist, writes with measured lyricism: “Maybe all his life he’s wanted to be back at sea and not be connected to any land at all,” she wonders about her father. “The sea was a new beginning, an introduction to the world between the lands, the world with depths so infinite that it stayed hidden from view.” With its ruminations on migration and finding life in unlikely places, this is a book that will sink deep into the reader’s consciousness."

This compelling narrative weaves together marine biology exploration and personal history, chronicling a young man's transformative journey aboard the Arcturus expedition with naturalist William Beeb...

HATE REVISITED!

Genre

This collection of critical essays offers a raw, unflinching examination of contemporary hatred across social, political, and cultural landscapes. The author dissects the mechanisms of animosity with...

HEARTBEATS

1980, atop his sport, fame and media scrutiny fed “a creeping sense of panic.” He retired at 26, a decision he regrets, for he “sank” even lower. He got “hooked” on cocaine, made some business mistakes, and now regards the 1990s as a “lost” decade. Though Borg was drug\u002Dfree during his career, his “memories are fewer” about his biggest wins. When you play well, he explains, it’s “like you’re in a trance.” Accordingly, his accounts of his 11 major tournament titles are sometimes terse. He declines to explain, for instance, how he transcended his relative struggles on Wimbledon’s “fast grass” to eventually win five times. He divulges no hard feelings about his great rivalry with John McEnroe, instead sharing an Odd Couple\u002Desque anecdote about pausing a match to counsel the high\u002Dstrung American: “John, it’s only a game.” Borg is forthright about his failings as a father, insightful about the elite competitor’s mindset, and funny on puny 1970s paydays. He was so focused on the next challenge that he’d leave just\u002Dwon trophies in hotels. He lugged a “Santa sack” containing $1 bills on a flight. Borg recently had prostate cancer surgery. He intends “to beat” the disease. As this likable book shows, he’s still a battler. "

This powerful collection of poetry explores the complex emotional landscape of adolescence, giving voice to the turbulent feelings, first loves, and identity questions that define the teenage years. ...

HEIRESSES

virtue of their wealth, became sought\u002Dafter wives by men of all classes. These heiresses owned, managed, or had financial interests in plantations that depended on slave labor, which the women were well aware of and condoned. All, Kaufmann asserts, willfully disregarded the suffering their fortunes depended on. Drawing on family papers, letters, diaries, and portraits, Kaufmann offers richly detailed biographies of the women, along with many of the men and women whom they enslaved. She depicts the back\u002Dbreaking labor required of plantation workers, their degrading living conditions, and the abuse they suffered at the hands of owners, overseers, lawyers, and governors. She depicts, as well, those who rebelled: Betsy Newton, for example, one of 400 enslaved people on a sugar plantation in Barbados, who traveled to London to petition for freedom for herself and her children. The heiresses profiled, Kaufmann reveals, are only a small number of at least 150 other women whose marriages brought wealth to Britain. And plantation owners were only part of the nation’s profiteering from slavery: Britons “invested in slaving voyages, either through direct ownership or by becoming shareholders. Some insured the ships.” Others provided manacles and guns. Importers bought sugar, rum, coffee, and tobacco produced by enslaved workers. Kaufmann discovered that some of her own ancestors were involved in trafficking Africans\u003B two family members were Liverpool slavers. She hopes, through this examination of Caribbean women, to raise awareness of the web of connections to slavery throughout Georgian Britain—connections that persist into the present—and to begin a process of making amends."

This gripping novel plunges readers into the glittering, cutthroat world of ultra-wealthy teenage girls, where immense fortunes and family legacies dictate every friendship and rivalry. The story fol...

HEKATE

Genre

This gripping YA fantasy introduces readers to the powerful goddess of magic and crossroads, weaving ancient mythology into a modern coming-of-age narrative. The story follows a young protagonist's d...

HELLO SUNSHINE

a change in color scheme, can disrupt the flow as readers pause to figure out what’s going on. Most central characters present white, and Izzy and Skylar are Asian."

This vibrant picture book offers a joyful introduction to weather patterns and seasonal changes through the eyes of a curious child exploring their backyard. Young readers will delight in spotting th...

HERE WE GO

and Sandy Hazelip “met at a medical mission conference in Dallas” just a few months after Sandy was widowed. The two hit it off and realized that they made not only great friends but also ideal traveling companions. They write, “Traveling together—relying on each other in new thrilling and challenging situations\u003B sharing the intense pleasures of discovery, as well as the humdrum hassles of the journey—has cemented what was already a profound and sustaining friendship.” In this book, they reminisce on their past travels—always on a budget—and their ambitious plan to travel around the world in 80 days at the age of 81. The women not only document their journeys but also make meaning out of their experiences through lessons learned along the way. Braving the “Drake Shake” on board a ship to Antarctica and a three\u002Dhour camel ride across the desert to a Bedouin encampment—and dodging the Russian secret police on the Trans\u002DSiberian Railway—the women reinforce the idea that “aging doesn’t have to mean inertia.” The ebullient narratorial voice, inspirational chapter headings, and well\u002Dchosen anecdotes make the book feel less like a text and more like a conversation between friends. Occasionally, the women’s naïveté of their white privilege tests the reader’s empathy, as when they find themselves stranded in Syria and straining the resources of their hosts, or when they treat sleeper cars, which are common among many socioeconomic classes in the global south, as potentially dangerous. "

This vibrant counting book takes young readers on a lively journey through numbers 1 to 10, using rhythmic text and bold illustrations to build early math skills. The simple, repetitive structure mak...

HEROBEAR AND THE KID VOL. 1

Genre

This charming graphic novel introduces a young boy who inherits a magical teddy bear that transforms into a heroic protector, blending everyday childhood experiences with extraordinary superhero adve...

HIDE & SEEK WITH CLYDE & MONIQUE

Genre

This engaging picture book transforms the classic game of hide-and-seek into an interactive counting adventure, following two playful characters as they search for their hidden friends throughout vib...

HIGH HOPES

Genre

This vibrant picture book offers young readers an inspiring journey through the power of determination and resilience, following a young protagonist who refuses to give up on their ambitious dream. T...

HISTORY MATTERS

me.” Some of McCullough’s appreciations here are of writers who are not much read these days, such as Herman Wouk and Paul Horgan\u003B a long piece concerns a president who’s been largely lost in the shuffle too, Harry Truman, whose decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan McCullough defends. At his best here, McCullough uses history as a way to orient thinking about the present, and with luck to good ends: “I am a short\u002Drange pessimist and a long\u002Drange optimist. I sincerely believe that we may be on the way to a very different and far better time.”"

This comprehensive history resource offers young readers an engaging journey through pivotal moments that shaped our world, presenting complex historical events with remarkable clarity and narrative ...

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

Genre

This comprehensive volume offers young readers an engaging journey through America's past, from indigenous civilizations through modern times, presenting historical events with clarity and vivid stor...

HOLLYWOOD HIGH

extension, the American teenager." />

This vibrant novel offers an unflinching look at the high school experience through the lens of Hollywood's competitive performing arts scene, where ambitious teens navigate auditions, friendships, a...

HOOVES OF DEATH

a magical herd of unicorns who happen to be immune to their plague. When food runs scarce, unicorn sergeant Glitter is sent on a scouting mission and stumbles upon Kate, a fierce blond, blue\u002Deyed girl who’s living on her own. The pair team up with two other strong unicorns, but it seems the undead aren’t their only enemy—Kate is being hunted by a Grim, a black wolflike henchman of Death himself. During their quest to unravel the cause of humanity’s downfall, they encounter mischievous sirens and their beefy boyfriends (who are being held hostage), zombie gnomes, a band of Bigfoots, and even a vampire. Though the creatures aren’t the biggest fans of humans, it becomes clear through the nefarious involvement of the horsemen of the apocalypse that Kate just may be the key to ending all the suffering. The violence and general despair balance the cuteness. Bragg’s unicorns are deceptively adorable, even with grenades hanging around their necks and rainbow blood dripping from the zombie bites on their bodies. A sinister cliffhanger will leave readers neighing for the next installment of these heroes’ quest. "

This gripping thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes world where a deadly equine virus, engineered as a biological weapon, threatens to decimate global food supplies and trigger societal collaps...

HOTBLOOD! VOL. 1

a sinister sphinx, Elen. Evander’s task is to kill Asa Langley, who’s the director of central west operations for Wakefield Steel and “crazy enough to eat the devil with horns on.” Instead of murdering Asa, Evander works for him, and a turbulent romantic entanglement develops. The pair travels through the United States. After first meeting in Iowa, they make a stop in Davidson, “a shithole town in Wyoming” that has a mine, and the Colorado territory Lynd, where Asa wants to build a railroad connecting to Denver. Evander and Asa consider living in Deseret, a provisional Western state that the inhabitants believe was Jesus’ final resting spot\u003B it’s also a place rich in uranium, copper, and iron. After the duo’s plans are disrupted, Evander eventually gains information about some puzzling questions, helping him make an important decision about his life and relationship with Asa. Using minimal and muted color tones reminiscent of sepia photographs, Orlesky skillfully renders images of an older America, though one inhabited by both humans and nonhumans. In this engrossing series opener, the engaging drawings depict multiple intriguing angles. One frame zooms in on Evander’s hooves crossing a railroad bridge while the next pulls back to show the centaur and a man as small shapes silhouetted against a panoramic sky. Marred by inner pain, Asa and Evander conceal it with laconic language. Their psychological battle, as they struggle not to kill or be killed, can get intense (and confusing), but wordlessly touching each other seems to bring them relief. Through Orlesky’s haunting illustrations of the uninhabited Western landscapes, wide open and natural, readers will get the sense of a land filled with promise and possibility that men like Asa exploit for personal gain."

This high-octane manga debut plunges readers into a world where supernatural creatures secretly live among humans, centering on a hot-headed young man who discovers his own fiery powers aren't just f...

HOUSE OF SMOKE

becoming the director of the Southern Foodways Alliance. That brought him into an ever\u002Ddeepening appreciation for Black food traditions, and out of that grew the aim of sponsoring “honest conversations about slavery and its legacies” with food as an instrument of healing. Results didn’t quite work out as hoped: Edge found himself challenged by activists such as the Nigerian\u002Dborn chef Tunde Wey, who told him, “You have endorsed and celebrated the appropriation of Black Southern food without consequence.” The denouement finds Edge recognizing the justice of that statement without self\u002Dpity and committing himself to “my ongoing reconstruction.”"

This gritty urban fantasy plunges readers into a world where ancient magic smolders beneath the streets of a modern metropolis, following a young protagonist who discovers a hidden society of smoke-w...

HOW TO SURF A HURRICANE

the company\u003B Miki, a former oil worker who desperately needs money to help his sick father\u003B and Victoria Wood, an innovator in the brand\u002Dnew sport of hurricane surfing, in which pilots of small, specially built watercraft attempt to set speed records in potentially deadly weather conditions. Is it the perfect team to pull off the riskiest corporate heist of all time? Maybe—but only if the weather cooperates. Medema weaves imaginative climate\u002Drelated technologies into his story, from the luxury ski habitats that Miki builds on top of snowdrifts in Alaska to the hurricane seeding that Moro undertakes to ensnare the Pyxis Cloud: “It’s about applying a small amount of leverage and waiting,” he explains. “The government’s been experimenting with this technology since 1947. I’m just the first private citizen to seed one. For all we know.” Hurricane surfing is a particularly inspired creation, as well. Despite some early pacing issues, the premise is a winning one, and readers will quickly find themselves caught in the cyclone of Medema’s story."

Born at the end of the 1930s depression, New Zealander John Broomfield began a lifetime of travels as an infant that took him to every corner of his rugged homeland and ultimately around the world. Readers of his first memoir, Carried on Great Winds, admire his capacity to combine radical political

HUMAN HISTORY ON DRUGS

professing that he’s obsessed by the past—and that, being on the autism spectrum, “I develop an almost physical compulsion to know everything there is to know on a subject.” This lively book is proof positive, a whole warren of rabbit holes that lead to unexpected vignettes about the mind\u002Daltering habits of the likes of George Washington (laudanum), Queen Victoria (ganja), Elvis Presley (the whole medicine cabinet), and Adolf Hitler (“coked out of his mind”). Kelly reaches deep into the past, reckoning that people have enjoyed various means of bending reality since there have been people: One early case is Marcus Aurelius, the brilliant Roman emperor whose Meditations Kelly likens to “The Art of the Deal [if it] had been written by Jesus Christ instead of Donald Trump” and whose chronic pain was relieved by goodly doses of opium prescribed by his physician, none other than the famed medical encyclopedist Galen. Young Judy Garland was prescribed mounds of pills at the behest of studio executives who “preferred to get her addicted to drugs and ruin her life than give her a reasonable work schedule.” The Beatles, of course, famously got so ripped that, as the comedian Bill Hicks used to quip, they let Ringo sing—but, Kelly notes, even though they were fairly open about their drug use (John Lennon: “I’ve always needed a drug to survive”), they also denied being proselytes, about which Kelly brightly remarks that if simply mentioning drugs brings down the (silver) hammer, “well, then, frankly, I’m in a lot of trouble.” And Shakespeare? As Kelly notes, “pipes with cannabis residue” have been found in the Bard’s garden—and besides, “his plays are filled with characters who ingest all manner of fantastical pharmaceutical concoctions.”"

This provocative exploration of psychoactive substances throughout civilization offers a bold, unflinching look at how drugs have shaped human culture, religion, and society from ancient rituals to m...

I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY

contrast, Edward Snowden leaked 1.5 million pages.) Winner’s crime was to send those printed pages to an online site that specialized in national security matters. As she writes, astonishingly, a staffer described the pages to a source who in turn notified the FBI\u003B meanwhile, the staffer also called the NSA and sent photographs of the printed pages, violating “standard Reporting 101 protocols for journalists who need to confirm the authenticity of leaked documents.” Traced to her by virtue of a printer code, the document occasioned her arrest and conviction under the terms of the Espionage Act of 1917, meant as a legal tool against German secret agents during World War I. After 15 months in jail, a plea bargain earned her a spot in federal prison, “a vacation, filled with activities and amenities,” compared to where she’d been. Winner writes candidly about the hellish nature of incarceration in America, from constant violence to boredom and the challenge of contending with conflicting and arbitrary rules, with her fellow prisoners more often than not less dangerous than the staff: “These weirdos, outcasts, and criminals loved me, and I loved them back.”"

This powerful young adult novel tackles the complex realities of racial prejudice and police violence through the eyes of a white teenager whose worldview shatters after witnessing a violent arrest i...

I WANNA BE YOUR GIRL

big ideas and big feelings. The shōjo manga–style art is cute and expressive. The translation feels slightly unpolished, however, relying heavily on footnotes rather than conveying the original more loosely. At times, understanding the original Japanese vocabulary is critical, but elsewhere Procter uses the original Japanese, defined in a footnote (e.g., “a derogatory slang term for an effeminate male”) when simply using an equivalent English term would have led to a smoother reading experience. But overall this series opener is an earnest and enjoyable beginning to Hime and Akira’s story."

A raw and resonant coming-of-age story follows a transgender teen navigating the treacherous waters of high school, first love, and self-discovery with heartbreaking honesty. This powerful narrative ...

I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS

Genre

This powerful young adult novel tackles the complex emotional landscape of a teenage girl navigating her mother's mental health crisis with unflinching honesty. When her mother's depression becomes o...

I, ROBOT ALIEN

the author are generated via AI."

This young adult science fiction novel explores the complex relationship between a sentient robot and an extraterrestrial being, blending artificial intelligence themes with interstellar adventure. T...

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT

accompanying his father, a liquor inspector who “would make a buck on the side by taking a restaurant’s application from the bottom of the pile and moving it to the top” and dined free to boot at storied places like Dubrow’s Cafeteria and Paul \u0026amp\u003B Jimmy’s. Lacking the money and the academic record to go to a top\u002Dflight hotel school in Europe, he enrolled at Cornell—but not before logging time at a McDonald’s, of which he writes, “To this day, it’s one of the greatest gigs I’ve ever had.” Other great gigs followed, from waiting tables on a Scandinavian cruise ship to founding the legendary Nobu chain of restaurants. Along the way, very much in the spirit of Anthony Bourdain (albeit with fewer hangovers and parallel lines), Nieporent dishes out secrets of the trade: If you have a small kitchen, then have a small menu, which allows you to “control food costs, prep work, and the timing of cooking and service”\u003B don’t ask a customer whether everything is all right, which “implies that something might be wrong”\u003B don’t do a deal with Donald Trump (“I could barely get a word in edgewise”)\u003B and, above all, “Just do your job, and do it well.” A bonus in this lively memoir, which pairs well with a robust red or an egg cream, is some well\u002Dplaced name\u002Ddropping, with the likes of Robin Williams, Ruth Reichl, partner Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, and Spike Lee popping up at turns. The takeaways are many, but perhaps the most memorable is one that anyone who’s worked on the line will know: If you’re in the restaurant business, your life is not your own."

This candid exploration of adolescent identity and family dynamics follows a young protagonist navigating the turbulent waters of growing up while feeling constantly misunderstood by the adults in th...

IN MOURNING

the author’s depictions of her mother holding, praising, and arguing with her\u003B working as an ER nurse\u003B or volunteering at the dog shelter. Throughout, the memoir avoids sentimentality as it depicts destabilizing loss (“The only times that came to mind were when we fought. Something we did a ton of”) and tells a story that lingers long after the final page."

This stark exploration of grief and loss provides young readers with an unflinching look at the emotional landscape of mourning, offering a raw and honest portrayal of how different individuals proce...

INNER CLARITY

many motivational quotes, both familiar and less well\u002Dknown. River’s tone throughout is upbeat and reassuring\u003B his text gives readers the strong impression that he has experienced some of the things they might be coming to his book to explore. He’s consistently clear\u002Deyed about detecting possible abusive elements in seemingly positive things\u003B “people pleasing may look like generosity on the outside,” he writes in a typical passage, “but it often comes with a cost—resentment, burnout, loss of identity, and even emotional manipulation.” The most refreshing aspect of the work is the author’s encouragement to readers to take an active part in their own personal renewals."

This guide to mindfulness and self-awareness offers young readers practical tools for navigating the complex emotions and social pressures of adolescence. The book breaks down abstract concepts like ...

INTO THE BEWILDERNESS

Genre

This middle-grade fantasy adventure plunges readers into a world where ancient forests conceal magical creatures and long-forgotten secrets, following siblings who discover a hidden portal behind the...

INTO THE FIRE

other characters, forcing Freya into a passive role, though the ending suggests she may come into her own in the upcoming final installment."

This gripping survival thriller plunges readers directly into a raging wildfire, following a group of teens whose wilderness camping trip becomes a desperate fight for their lives. The author masterf...

INTO THE WEEDS

revealing the experiences or ideas that evoked several of her stories. The death of an elderly friend, for example, resulted in a story about Davis’ lifelong project of improving her German, even though her knowledge of German will die with her. When it comes to why she writes, she finds it easier to talk about why she doesn’t write: “I don’t write to convey a message, and I don’t write stories to achieve any particular purpose,” she asserts. Nor does she write for any particular audience, or to move someone. Instead, she writes “for the pleasure of it”: the discovery of material, shaping it, seeing it in print, and sharing it. Admitting that her stories are inspired by “something outside coming in,” she writes “to figure out something I don’t understand.” As she circles around the question of motivation, she turns to other writers: George Sturt, for one, author of the richly detailed The Wheelwright’s Shop\u003B Knut Hamsun for his memoir On Overgrown Paths\u003B and poets John Ashbery, John Clare, Walter Raleigh, and Russell Edson. She considers writers who risk being tedious or strange, such as Gertrude Stein, Laura Riding, Robert Musil, and Walter Benjamin. Finally, she reaches a conclusion: She writes, she says, to relieve herself “of the burdens of strong feelings, by taking them out of myself and putting them in an objective form, a form that can also be shared by others out in the world.”"

This field guide to common weeds transforms ordinary backyard exploration into a thrilling botanical treasure hunt, inviting young naturalists to see the often-overlooked plants in their environment ...

IOSI, THE REMORSEFUL SPY

Iosi himself. We get a story of recruitment and seduction as subtle and as disturbing as anything in a novel by John le Carré. We get a vision of a democratic country that monitors its citizens. We hear the voices of Argentinians trapped between a love of their country and a duty to their heritage. The story of Iosi exposes duplicity and defiance in a modern nation. In the process, it makes us ask whether the United States is capable of such deceit."

This gripping historical novel plunges readers into the morally complex world of a young Jewish man, Iosi, who makes the devastating choice to become an informant for the Argentine secret police duri...

JAZZY THE WITCH IN BROOM DOOM

Genre

A young witch named Jazzy faces her greatest fear—flying on a broomstick—in this charmingly illustrated early chapter book. When a school-wide flying competition looms, Jazzy must overcome her anxiet...

JOHN HANCOCK

paragraphs, until every member shall have had opportunity fully to express his sentiments,” after helping offset contending state interests in the fight over the Articles of Confederation. Randall reminds readers that the years immediately after the war ended were fraught: Frontier rebellions broke out over taxations and pensions for military service, and, briefly, “Pennsylvania and Connecticut had actually gone to war” over territorial issues. A Federalist but also a pragmatist, Hancock championed nine “Conciliatory Amendments” that led to the Bill of Rights, to which he added the 10th, which reserved to the states any “powers not expressly delegated to Congress.” As well, apart from serving as a well\u002Dliked governor of Massachusetts, Hancock—serving his own interests to be sure, but also with an eye on the larger U.S. economy—helped restore postwar trade with Britain. For all that, Randall notes, Hancock weathered numerous controversies, mostly financial\u003B he was also the subject of a possible canard that Randall corrects—namely, that he wished to be commander of the Continental Army and resented George Washington for being selected for the post, when in fact, Randall writes, Hancock suffered so badly from gout that it is unlikely that he “would have accepted a position that would require long days on horseback.”"

This biography brings to life the fascinating story of the Founding Father whose flamboyant signature became an American icon. Young readers will discover the man behind the famous autograph, from hi...

JOY GODDESS

her mother, Lelia adopted Mae Bryant, a fatherless girl who served as a hair model and assistant for the company. While Mae at first considered the adoption a great privilege, Lelia proved as domineering as Madam had been, leaving Mae—Bundles’ biological grandmother—feeling “indebted and cornered.” Lelia could be difficult, to be sure, but Bundles captures her energy, her drive, and her commitment to the creative community that she nourished."

This vibrant guide to cultivating happiness offers young readers practical tools for navigating the emotional landscape of adolescence, blending mindfulness techniques with accessible psychology. The...

Kill Train

the end of the ride. The odds of being on a Kill Train are 1 in 10,000, so most of the populace are willing to take the chance when traveling throughout the city. Enter Vanessa Crow, a struggling single mother with a teenage daughter who is on the precipice of a mental breakdown. When circumstances force her onto a subway train, she knows the odds are in her favor as 580 passengers were just slaughtered on a Kill Train the day before. She fatefully meets an old college friend, Corwin, who reminds Vanessa of the badass woman she used to be. But when the two friends discover that they’re on a Kill Train, Vanessa is forced to battle much more than a group of psychotic killers. Powered by an intriguing, albeit absurd, concept and complemented by visually stunning (and potentially traumatizing) illustrations by Martina Niosi—dismembered and decapitated bodies, intestines hanging like party streamers, etc.—it’s Vanessa’s inner journey through past trauma that makes this graphic novel so memorable. Her problematic relationship with her mother, her unstable financial situation, and her tumultuous but intimate bond with her daughter make her a character that readers can not only understand and identify with but also root for as she fights for her life. Ass\u002Dkicking motherly characters like Terminator’s Sarah Connor and Alien’s Ellen Ripley have nothing on Cuartero\u002DBriggs’ Crow."

This gritty survival thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes scenario where a group of teens must navigate a sabotaged high-speed train hurtling toward certain destruction. The relentless pacing ...

KINGDOM OF WATER

confronts family secrets." />

This gripping YA fantasy plunges readers into a submerged world where a teenage protagonist must navigate treacherous underwater politics while confronting long-buried family secrets that threaten th...

KULEANA

the last king of Hawai‘i. Arriving at an equitable solution to this bureaucratic problem is just one thread of Goo’s narrative, whose larger story is really one of homecoming: Born and raised in California, an East Coast resident for decades, Goo must learn or relearn key points of the people’s traditional lifeways. The title of the book speaks to one such point, one’s obligation to both place and culture, less a burden, she explains, than a privilege: “For example, certain people had kuleana for growing taro or crops in a certain part of the island, or for taking care of a fishpond or teaching hula.” She explores many other concepts as she travels in the company of relatives, who take her, in one instance, to a heiau, or temple, whose purpose is lost to time\u003B says her uncle, “Some people say dey did these tings there like human sacrifice and dat stuff, but we don’t know.” What is clear is that humans are sacrificed, at least metaphorically, for profit in a Hawai‘i made for wealthy outsiders\u003B as Goo laments in closing, “Our culture won’t remain unless each generation—grandparent to parent to child to grandchild—­keeps it burning.”"

This powerful coming-of-age story set in contemporary Hawaii follows a young native Hawaiian boy as he navigates the complex intersections of family legacy, cultural identity, and environmental activ...

LADY DRAGON

Genre

This action-packed fantasy novel introduces a fierce heroine who must embrace her draconic heritage to save her kingdom from dark forces. When a young royal discovers she can transform into a powerfu...

LADY LIKE

Emily Sergeant, who has arrived in London desperately looking for a husband who can outrank the odious man to whom her family has betrothed her. When their separate pursuits of the duke bring the two women together, after a few days of bickering both become more interested in each other’s company than anything, or anyone, else. The worldly Harriet is well aware of the nature of her developing feelings for Emily, but it takes Emily longer to understand her emotions. When she finally learns what a Sapphist is, the women connect emotionally and physically. However, society hasn’t changed, nor have the expectations of their families. Lee’s delightful adult debut will please fans of her YA historical fiction as well as romance readers encountering her for the first time. The story, which centers queer and theatrical Regency life alongside the familiar tropes of the London Season, is well\u002Dpaced, with entertaining side characters and rich detail. The clever ending, moving and satisfying on its own, is enhanced by Lee’s extensive, thoughtful notes sharing historical background and revealing that much of her plot is less fantastic than readers might assume."

This empowering guide for young women tackles the complex transition from girlhood to adulthood with refreshing honesty and practical wisdom. The book addresses everything from personal values and he...

LAUNCHING LIBERTY

relentless Nazi U\u002Dboat attacks on cargo ships in the Atlantic and inspired by Britain’s Merchant Shipbuilding Mission, the U.S. launched a parallel effort. In roughly four years, shipyards from Maine to Oregon produced 2,710 Liberty ships, each longer than a football field. Christened “ugly ducklings” by the press, the ships were practical but unattractive. Even President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who supported the program, said of the ships’ design, “Anyone of you that knows a ship and loves a ship, would hate them, as I do.” In his readable account, Most injects a sense of urgency and humanity into what might otherwise be a niche topic, an approach complemented by the book’s organization into seven sections composed of short chapters. The narrative is at its most lively in the first four sections, which follow the small group of men who created the Liberty program from the ground up. The massive workforce needed to power their effort came with challenges, ranging from the need for housing and schools to health care. One shipyard’s effort to provide health care for workers built the foundation of today’s Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. Racism and sexism accompanied the increasingly diverse population of shipyard laborers. The author documents both, but his discussions sometimes lack nuance. “Wendy the Welders,” shipbuilding’s answer to Rosie the Riveter, are present and accounted for, yet the epilogue’s brief descriptions of their subsequent marriages and/or happy transitions to other jobs leave little room for the complexity of their experiences. Most returns to his strengths in the final two sections, describing the push to build ships faster and faster to meet the needs of a country at war."

This gripping historical novel plunges readers into the heart of World War II, following a young girl whose life becomes unexpectedly intertwined with the iconic Rosie the Riveter movement. As she na...

LETTERS FOR THE AGES

Clara Schumann, the fellow composer who had great affection for her friend (the feeling was reciprocal, although the relationship probably remained platonic). The letter is illuminating because it shows how much Schumann advised Brahms on his scores, with detailed (and gentle) suggestions: “In the C major piece I wish you would use the charming opening phrase again at the repeat, it would not be difficult, would it?” Schumann’s husband, Robert, is also in the anthology. In an 1830 letter to his mother, the future composer expresses his reluctance to pursue a legal career: “My life has been for twenty years one long struggle between poetry and prose, or, let us say, music and law.” Seems he made the right choice. Dozens of other musicians are included\u003B the range is broad, if focused on Western artists. We hear from Giuseppe Verdi, Woody Guthrie, John Coltrane, Leonard Bernstein, Amy Winehouse, and Nick Cave. In a foreword, David Pickard writes that “despite their genius, great artists are real people”—even, apparently, when addressing royalty. “My glorious and dearly beloved King,” Richard Wagner gushes in a letter to Ludwig II of Bavaria. In his short communication, the composer proceeds, like any modern\u002Dday fanboy, to use no fewer than 11 exclamation marks."

This collection of historically significant correspondence offers young readers a fascinating window into pivotal moments through the personal words of those who lived them. The carefully curated let...

LIFE AT SHUTTER SPEED

Genre

Life At Shutter Speed is the debut collection from Larry Chen, the preeminent automotive photographer of today's generation. This 400-page keepsake celebrates 20 years of Chen's work, featuring never-before-seen images and behind-the-scenes stories from his travels all over the world. More than 2,50

LIGHT BENEATH ASHES

armed burglars during the night, prompting his family to frequently sleep at their church to avoid zenglendos (armed criminals). While he deeply valued Haiti’s rich culture, even having competitions with his friends to see who could read Haitian novels the fastest, he also had family members whom he visited in the United States, where he developed an affinity for the U.S., especially its cartoons and Wendy’s spicy chicken nuggets. Ultimately, he migrated to the U.S., devoting his efforts to education and eventually receiving a Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Florida. Apart from academic research, Anglade spent much of his postgraduate life engaging with Haitian politics, public policy, and economic development. The memoir certainly offers an inspirational story of overcoming obstacles to obtain one’s dreams, but what makes this work stand out is Anglade’s grasp of Haitian history\u003B he interweaves his personal story into the larger narrative of the Caribbean nation. For example, the zenglendos that terrorized his family, he convincingly writes, weren’t just random criminals or a “local menace,” but were intricately tied to the political and economic instability that followed the overthrow of President Jean\u002DBertrand Aristide in 1991. He similarly connects his immigration story to the wider history of the African diaspora. The book also includes ample commentary on contemporary Haitian politics and the effects of climate change on the country. While this political analysis lacks formal citations, Anglade has a learned understanding of the various forces at play in 21st\u002Dcentury Haiti and is particularly critical of the nation’s bureaucrats for “riding in bullet proof cars and drawing comfortable salaries” amid rising crime rates and economic decline."

This powerful young adult novel explores the raw emotional landscape of grief and survival as a teenage girl navigates the aftermath of her family's devastating tragedy. The narrative plunges readers...

LIKE

Genre

This collection of critical reviews offers readers a curated selection of thoughtful literary analysis across various genres, providing a valuable primer on the art of critique. The book's strength l...

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA

nature, Miranda bloomed in high school, where he made movies with a camcorder and took advantage of the school’s drama program, staging ambitious plays. In his sophomore year at Wesleyan University, Miranda wrote a musical set in Washington Heights\u003B it would become the first draft of In the Heights, his first Broadway musical. Most of Pollack\u002DPelzner’s book is dedicated to the creative process behind In the Heights, which won four Tony Awards, and Hamilton, the idea for which came when Miranda took a copy of Ron Chernow’s biography on vacation. Miranda talked to Pollack\u002DPelzner for the book, and his remarkable candor is part of why it succeeds. The author’s chronicle of the musicals’ development is equally thrilling. Pollack\u002DPelzner, who writes about theater and culture for the New Yorker, the Atlantic, and the New York Times, understands the technical and creative aspects of the stage, and he proves himself to also be an astute observer of the more human side of creating art."

This compelling biography captures the extraordinary journey of the visionary creator behind "Hamilton" and "In the Heights," tracing his path from a childhood immersed in New York City's vibrant art...

LINK + HUD

Genre

This action-packed adventure follows two brothers with wildly different personalities—one a cautious planner, the other a spontaneous thrill-seeker—who must combine their unique strengths to navigate...

LIVING IN THE PRESENT WITH JOHN PRINE

Covid\u002D19. He was 73. Piazza repurposed the materials he had gathered to produce this moving work. Equal parts profile, oral history, and on\u002Dthe\u002Droad adventure, the book recounts the artist’s working\u002Dclass background in suburban Chicago, his family connection to rural Kentucky, his early success with Atlantic Records, and the decision to co\u002Dfound the label Oh Boy Records. Often writing in the first person and present tense, Piazza recounts his time with Prine, including a spontaneous road trip from Nashville to Sarasota, Florida, in a cherry\u002Dred 1977 Coupe de Ville. Piazza also reviews Prine’s body of work, its broad influence, and his unassuming humanity. Comparing Prine to Bob Dylan, Piazza notes, “You don’t want to be him, you just want to hang out with him.” Along the way, the author gathers insights from Prine’s peers, friends, and family. One band member, for example, notes that Prine’s keen emotional intelligence easily overcame his limitations as a musician and singer. A two\u002Dtime cancer survivor, Prine was already in poor health when Piazza befriended him, but the artist’s good humor and low\u002Dkey grace shine through on every page."

This picture book biography introduces young readers to the legendary singer-songwriter John Prine, capturing both his musical journey and his profound appreciation for everyday moments. Through lyri...

MABEL MAKES (^UP) A FRIEND

Genre

This vibrant picture book explores the creative ways a young girl named Mabel navigates the challenges of making new friends when she moves to a different neighborhood. Through whimsical illustration...

MAKER GIRL AND PROFESSOR SMARTS

book’s end, they’ll likely come to agree with the duo’s claims that “MAKING STUFF!” and “KNOWING STUFF!” are indeed superpowers. Other supervillains in town go by monikers such as the Fluffernator and “Snot Lady,” and Florentine allows readers to see Mr. Antifreeze’s vulnerable side\u003B the level of actual or potential violence here is low. Thanks to dramatic poses and exaggerated expressions, the dynamic duo’s big personalities come through clearly in Florentine’s limber cartoon scenes. Yael is light\u002Dskinned, while Chuy is brown\u002Dskinned and cued Latine\u003B the entire cast displays a broadly diverse range of racial and cultural identities."

This STEM adventure follows a curious young inventor and her brilliant mentor as they tackle real-world engineering challenges through creative problem-solving. The story cleverly integrates fundamen...

MANGA

Genre

This vibrant manga guide offers young artists an accessible entry point into the world of Japanese-style comics, breaking down complex illustration techniques into manageable steps. The book excels a...

MANNAZ

the end, there are definite changes at the highest levels and richly deserved rewards for those who brought them about."

This gripping YA fantasy plunges readers into a world where ancient Norse runes hold tangible power, centering on the Mannaz symbol of humanity and interdependence. The narrative follows a young prot...

MARSEILLE 1940

France’s collapse, most Americans opposed helping refugees. Running for reelection in November, Franklin D. Roosevelt knew that supporting immigration was a sure loser at the polls. Some readers will recognize Wittstock’s hero, Varian Fry, a young New York journalist: He is at the heart of Julie Orringer’s 2019 novel The Flight Portfolio, which inspired the Netflix series Transatlantic. Together with a few activists, Fry raised money and founded the Emergency Rescue Committee. Carrying a list of names, including 200 German\u002Dlanguage authors provided by Thomas Mann, he traveled to Marseille in August 1940, assigned to spend a few weeks organizing an office to aid refugees. He remained for more than a year. On arriving, Fry realized that thousands needed help to survive as well as navigate absurd procedures for obtaining paperwork to live, travel, and leave France. Fiercely idealistic, he did what had to be done, much of which was illegal and expensive\u003B this offended the ERC, which demanded his return, and the State Department, which refused to renew his passport and denounced him to the Vichy government. Fry finally returned in the fall of 1941\u003B declared persona non grata, he received little thanks. Wittstock detours regularly for accounts of refugees. Readers may recognize names like Max Ernst, Hannah Arendt, Marc Chagall, and Heinrich Mann, but most will be as unfamiliar as they were to Fry, who rescued more than 1,000 people, a lifesaving feat because, of course, death in concentration camps awaited many who were left behind."

This gripping historical novel plunges readers into the tense, occupied streets of Marseille during the darkest days of World War II, following a young protagonist whose world is upended by the Nazi ...

MASKS

the centuries\u002Dold monster\u002Dhunting society the Knights of the Night. But a compassionate Knight helped her escape, and she was later found by Stoker, a young adult monster, who taught her how to survive in the shadows of the human world. He also shared a “silly urban legend” about a place “deep downtown, where monsters could live in peace.” Ever since Stoker’s sudden disappearance, Poe has been living with two young monsters named Rice (who has blue skin) and Shelley (who has pink skin, orange hair, and sharp fangs). When neighborhood gentrification means the empty house they’re squatting in will be destroyed, they venture out on Halloween—which provides the perfect cover for their unusual appearances—in search of the rumored haven. But their quest is far from easy, and they encounter danger along the way. Found family and good human allies (diverse in skin tone) who offer support in the face of the actions of corrupt, greedy people lie at the core of the story, offering parallels to the experiences of marginalized groups who must fly under the radar to live safely. The illustrations, which are full of emotion, feature muted colors and loose linework."

This visually striking exploration of facial coverings takes readers on a global journey through the art, history, and cultural significance of masks across civilizations. From ancient ceremonial fac...

MATCHING MINDS WITH SONDHEIM

many of his friends. His Murder Game inspired the song “Finishing the Hat.” In the 1960s he’d occasionally appear on TV game shows like The Match Game and Password, always anxious to win. He was also New York magazine’s puzzle editor. Joseph goes into great detail outlining the musician’s treasure hunts. “Tackling one of Sondheim’s puzzles can feel like being lost in the face of an unknown language,” the author writes, but the 2013 City Center Treasure Hunt offers insights, as it was “thoroughly documented” by Maria Seremetis, whom Sondheim hired as an assistant. Joseph even gathers together a group of friends over Zoom to reenact the hunt so that they could all experience the fun of matching minds with Sondheim. Joseph discusses the composer’s movie board game, Stardom, designed when he was in his early 20s. The Great Conductor Hunt was designed for his friend Leonard Bernstein. Sondheim was also a word puzzle designer, especially crosswords and challenging cryptics. Stephen Sondheim’s Crossword Puzzles was published in 1980. He was even passionate about elaborate jigsaw puzzles, giving them as gifts to performers in his musicals. Late in life, he got into escape rooms. Joseph estimates that nearly 2,000 of the composer’s possessions, which were auctioned off, were related to puzzles and games."

This innovative puzzle book challenges young minds with clever word games and lyrical brainteasers inspired by the intricate patterns of musical theater. Each page presents fresh linguistic challenge...

MAX, A LITTLE AXOLOTL #1

Genre

This vibrant underwater adventure introduces Max, a curious axolotl who discovers his unique ability to regenerate not just limbs, but also friendships after a playful mishap. The story cleverly weav...

Mechanic (Dirty Jobs) by Simon Rose

Simon Rose

Describes the typical daily activities of a mechanic and discusses the skills, tools, and training necessary to do the job.

MERCY

his own tragedy when readers first meet him hunting fugitives. Later, he allies himself with Alevist. “So much of the history was filled with deceit and manipulation, but also sacrifice,” Erevayn realizes at one point. “So much of what he had learned, now revealed to be false.” In the book’s “About the Author” section, a mention is made that some of Dillon’s writing influences include Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen series and Joe Abercrombie (presumably his First Law trilogy). Readers familiar with those authors will see them all over this fast\u002Dpaced series opener. The usual trappings of epic fantasy are present—maps, glossaries, etc.—but they’re amply augmented by some of the hallmarks of grimdark fantasy, including bouts of gory violence and the liberal deployment of expletives. The characters wield magic in a world of supernatural beings, but most of them sound distinctly contemporary in language and attitude. The novel is also characterized by a great deal of the cynical nihilism that fills the books of the author’s storytelling predecessors. Dillon takes the risk of front\u002Dloading his narrative with the intricate vocabulary and proper names of his story, and despite the presence of glossaries at the front and back of the novel, this gamble doesn’t entirely pay off. Readers unfamiliar with the shotgun\u002Dstyle worldbuilding of the Dungeon Master’s Guide may find themselves swamped by the tale’s arcane terminology. But the author usually overcomes this lack of punchy exposition by keeping readers hooked the old\u002Dfashioned way, with well\u002Ddeveloped characters and smoothly realized dialogue. Alevist dominates the bulk of the story so completely that it’s fortunate he’s drawn as compellingly as he is, a deeply wounded man who’s nonetheless emotionally honest. But even the tale’s main villain, Harglon, often manages to be more than a simple, one\u002Ddimensional bad guy. In his first novel, Dillon accomplishes the crucial feat of making his readers want to move on to his next book."

This gritty fantasy debut plunges readers into a morally complex world where fugitive hunters and reluctant allies navigate landscapes of deceit and violent magic. Drawing clear inspiration from grim...

MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC

superior resources and persistence, not battlefield victories, so he was not discouraged after a year of bloody stalemate, although Union morale plummeted. Departing from tradition, Ellsworth gives John Wilkes Booth more attention than Abraham Lincoln and Grant. America’s most admired matinee idol, Booth hated Black people and fervently supported the Confederacy. Ellsworth turns up evidence that he secretly met with Confederate agents. No one knows what they discussed, but the idea that Wilkes was carrying out a devilish Confederate plot has never lacked supporters. Despite remaining skeptical, Ellsworth devotes much of his book to the South’s energetic secret service, whose members engaged in espionage, propaganda, and terrorism throughout the Union and Canada. His breathless account takes the service more seriously than most scholars but can’t conceal its mostly ineffectual schemes, among which were plans to kidnap the president. Booth approved and volunteered his services, but by 1865 efforts had fizzled\u003B the Confederacy was on its last legs, but the plot to kill Lincoln, the vice president, and the secretary of state proceeded under Booth’s leadership. Ellsworth tells the familiar story, followed by the victory that the Union greeted ecstatically despite the shadow cast by Lincoln’s assassination. He extols Black freedom yet admits that persistent racism left a shameful pall over American exceptionalism, which lifted somewhat over the following century but is, of course, still with us."

This gripping political thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of Washington D.C. intrigue, where a young intern stumbles upon a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of government....

MILLIE OF THE MANOR

Genre

This charming middle-grade novel introduces readers to Millie, a clever and resourceful twelve-year-old who takes on the responsibility of managing her family's sprawling, slightly dilapidated manor ...

MISS CAMPER

Genre

This middle-grade novel offers a fresh take on summer camp adventures, following a determined protagonist navigating friendship challenges and outdoor escapades. The story captures the authentic expe...

MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS

negativity or “wicked thoughts,” eventually turning them into monsters. Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, encounters the equally famous Momotaro, or Peach Boy, from Japanese folklore, forming an empathic bond even as they venture to Demon Island. They meet fox spirit Kit, along with other beasts and yokai (spirits), and together recover magical treasures while unraveling mysteries and narrowly averting war between beasts and humans. Lam again weaves a colorful and exhilarating pictorial narrative that will delight readers, inhabited by appealing characters such as Tofu\u002DBoy. Although the iconic Monkey King is eternally childlike, in the portrayal of Wukong’s hero’s journey in his human form, he appears as a young adult, perhaps signaling his interior world. Lam’s charmingly expressive and endearing illustrations add humor to this rollicking adventure\u003B Cerberus, Wukong’s constant companion and a carry\u002Dover from the first book, is adorably fluffy and rotund. "

This action-packed graphic novel adaptation brings the legendary Chinese folk hero Sun Wukor to life, plunging readers into a vibrant world of ancient gods, demons, and mythical quests. The narrative...

MONSTER BLOOD

Genre

This chilling addition to the popular series delivers another dose of supernatural suspense, plunging readers into a world where a mysterious green goo has terrifying, transformative powers. The plot...

MORE AND MORE AND MORE

a new one. In this model, wood gives way to coal, which gives way to oil, then electricity, nuclear, and eventually renewable energy become the dominant forms. The book argues that the transition model was originally created by industrialists touting their products as the wave of the future. The idea especially took off after World War II, with the “atomic age” promoted as a new era of clean, cheap energy. Historians as well as the popular press adopted the idea without looking closely at all the ways it simplified what was really happening. Fressoz, a French historian of science and technology, rejects this model, supplying abundant evidence that instead of earlier forms being replaced as newer ones came online, they remained in use, often supplementing the new forms. For example, the rise of coal was accompanied by an increase in the use of wood, for braces in the coal mines, railroad ties, and construction of railroad cars. A similar dynamic followed each of the later “energy transitions,” with coal usage increasing as oil became the dominant energy source\u003B more coal is being used today than ever before, notably to generate electricity in Asian countries but also to make steel and other metals. Most recently, “transition” has become a mantra for those responding to the climate crisis—all the bad, polluting energy sources will be replaced eventually by something greener. Fressoz does not dispute the severity of the climate crisis. Instead, he points to “the need…for a new understanding of energy and material dynamics” instead of reliance on “bad history.”"

This vibrant counting book transforms early math concepts into an engaging visual adventure, using bold illustrations and clever repetition to build number recognition skills. Each page introduces ne...

MURDERLAND

the Guggenheim family), tragic incidents on a precarious floating bridge connecting Seattle and Mercer Island, and Fraser’s own recollections of growing up in a time and place when young women were inordinately targeted and killed. She depicts a lot of death\u003B Fraser is determined to make the reader see the worst of the killers’ actions, in vivid but unsensationalistic detail, to underscore the ever\u002Descalating crises that mining and smelting businesses tried to underplay, pay off, or ignore. By the ’90s, as bans on leaded gasoline took effect, smelters closed, and the EPA set stricter pollution standards, the number of serial killers dissipated. Fraser’s book is an engrossing and disturbing portrait of decades of carnage that required decades to confront."

A chilling and atmospheric thriller that plunges readers into a small town where a series of gruesome murders exposes the dark secrets festering beneath a seemingly placid surface. The narrative mast...

MY DEAR ILLUSION

the mist rising off the black water and the droplets falling in a raindrop symphony over the moonlit night that it almost missed the trickster slipping through the front door of the Night Den.”) The story, despite its bulk, maintains tension. The frenetic, unpredictable final act makes checking out the forthcoming sequel a virtual necessity."

This collection of literary criticism and essays offers a sophisticated exploration of literary theory and textual analysis that will challenge advanced high school readers and college-bound students...

MY NAME IS BENNY

best friend Timothy, her neighbor Isaac, and her classmate Fae. The individual entries, which range from one to three pages, throw readers into Benny’s world with little introduction and feature short, often comedic moments from her interactions with peers. The humorous scenarios vary but primarily focus on a combination of Benny’s immaturity, laziness, and imaginative flights of fancy, which are often juxtaposed against the actions and responses of her friends. There’s not enough material in the fast\u002Dpaced stories to enthrall readers looking for belly laughs and deep witticisms, but those amused by slice\u002Dof\u002Dlife moments might enjoy meeting Benny and seeing her offbeat interactions. The artwork makes use of watercolorlike textures and tones and minimalist backgrounds. Some of the jokes seem to be aimed at older readers, such as references to infomercial pitchman Billy Mays and the marshmallow test and an incident involving a massage chair. Diehard fans of the web series may appreciate owning a book that collects many of Benny’s adventures. Characters are light\u002Dskinned and largely present white. "

This vibrant picture book introduces young readers to Benny, a curious child who embarks on a journey of self-discovery through the simple, powerful act of introducing himself. The narrative cleverly...

NAGASAKI

Genre

This powerful historical account transports readers to the final days of World War II through the eyes of Japanese civilians, offering a deeply personal perspective on the atomic bombing and its deva...

NIGHT PEOPLE

a musician with a home studio. But this was an absurdly lucky break, even for me.” Ronson writes beautifully about the allure of the nightclub: “For someone who grew up amid chaos and uncertainty, the DJ booth was the perfect refuge—a one‐man command center, where every fader and dial bent the world to my will.” His chronicle of his rise to success is entertaining, funny, and humble\u003B while he allows that he’s good at his job, he remains well aware of the role that chance played in his career. You don’t have to love dance music to enjoy this thoroughly charming memoir."

This compelling exploration of nocturnal life reveals the hidden world of creatures and humans who thrive after dark, offering young readers a fascinating glimpse into nighttime ecosystems and activi...

NINETTE'S WAR

Basque smugglers. Ninette sat out the rest of the war in Madrid, only returning to France after the Allied victory. Her life is told by a master storyteller, himself a child of Jewish survivors, based on her diaries and the conversations that the elderly Ninette had with her biographer. Jay’s book focuses on a young woman’s coming of age in a time of trauma. It writes an inner, psychological narrative of getting by, getting along, and not getting caught. It illustrates how even the most privileged of people could be ensnared in prejudice and persecution. Ninette’s life does not have the tragic poignancy of Anne Frank’s, and her diary and reminiscences carry little of the existential weight of Frank’s famous journal. Ninette ages into what her biographer calls “une grande dame from central casting.” What we learn from her story, though, is how family gets you through the worst of times—how parents and children bond and bear the terror of a knock on the door, a casual encounter with a man in uniform, and the foreboding sense that, irrespective of your importance, they may come for you too."

This powerful historical novel follows a young Jewish girl's harrowing journey through Nazi-occupied France, blending coming-of-age themes with the stark realities of survival during World War II. Th...

NIV, Adventure Bible, Hardcover, Full Color

Zondervan

Take your kids on an adventure through God's Word with the #1 Bible for kids The bestselling NIV Adventure Bible will get kids excited about reading the Scriptures Kids will be captivated with the full-color features that make reading the Bible and memorizing their favorite verses engaging and fun.

NORTH FOR THE WINTER

Podesta"

This middle-grade survival adventure follows a determined young protagonist's perilous journey through the harsh northern wilderness after becoming separated from their family. The narrative masterfu...

Nostalgia

his stage name, Nostalgia) was once a revolutionary musician, but after not making any new music for years, he’s become completely detached from both his creative life and his former insurrectionist ties: “I can’t get arrested these days,” he says to someone currently fighting against the system. “And I’m not looking to.” When Nathan appears, claiming to be his son, Craig is skeptical but open to forming a bond with the younger man. The story flashes back to Craig’s earlier life—his parents, his rise to fame, and subsequent withdrawal from the world—while, in the present, Nathan’s involvement with a shadowy rebel organization is revealed. Unlike a lot of other dystopian fiction, this story’s setting and its technology is fleshed out just enough to be intriguing without feeling excessive\u003B the futuristic way that music is created is especially engrossing. There’s a twist just before the end that some readers may see coming, but Hoffman (perhaps better known by his stage name, Babydaddy, of the glam\u002Drock band Scissor Sisters) still manages to make it compelling. Žeželj’s art style is more abstract than one typically encounters in comics—reminiscent of flyers from punk shows, but more richly colored. It’s an appealingly bold stylistic choice, but it causes a few problems at times, as characters’ faces are sometimes too abstract to recognize. The story itself is moody and introspective, ruminating on such ideas as what it means to be famous, how to use that fame, and what a celebrity owes to the world\u003B however, it avoids feeling self\u002Dabsorbed. Truly, the biggest downside is that the story ends just as it seems to be getting started."

This poignant coming-of-age novel explores the bittersweet landscape of adolescence, where first loves and formative friendships are tinged with the ache of impending goodbyes. The narrative masterfu...

ODDITY WOODS

town of Perdita, where he worked with the police. But the town’s police are dismissive, saying they’re too busy to follow up on a “silly ghost story.” To keep children out, people say that “deep in the woods, a ghost train appears, which steals your soul if you ride it.” Trusting her instincts, Marietta runs directly into those storied woods. Upon crossing a mystical threshold that disappears behind her, she finds herself in an otherworldly realm. A boy named Wyatt with a mysterious past appears to be the only living human in a landscape otherwise populated with monsters and ghosts. After escaping a terrifying encounter with the conductor of the ghost train, the two team up, working together to find Marietta’s father and get Wyatt home. Originally released as a webcomic, this series opener features luminescent and evocative artwork reminiscent of chibi\u002Dstyle manga. The illustrations effectively convey threats, movement, and emotions. Though the latter half of the book gets a bit complicated by added characters and side quests, the magical gadgets, compelling characters, and exciting twists give the story strong appeal for young fantasy fans. Most human characters are white presenting."

This gripping supernatural thriller plunges readers into a mysterious forest community where strange occurrences are the norm and a young protagonist must uncover the town's dark secrets. The atmosph...

OLIVER'S GREAT BIG UNIVERSE

Dr. Bertha, he does—from (primordial) soup to incidents that are pure nuts. Once again, the humor (including groan\u002Dworthy puns, farting, and mentions of poop) is matched to a middle schooler’s DNA, and the droll black\u002Dand\u002Dwhite line drawings reduplicate the fun (and convey information). The language is largely accessible: Words like paleontologist, domesticated, and fossils are defined in the text. A pronunciation cue is integrated for fungi (Dr. Bertha: “It’s pronounced ‘fun\u002Dguy.’” Oliver: “Yes, I am!”) but not for harder vocabulary (e.g., eukaryotes, haikouichthys, and Chicxulub). Cham explains scientists’ various theories for potential sources of life (such as lightning hitting the primordial soup or asteroids bringing “the right ingredients”). He also describes natural selection and mass extinctions. The book gets down to the microbe level, but there’s no mention of genes (even in the explanation of mutations), and evolution comes across as largely occurring in the past\u003B nevertheless, this is an entertaining overview of the basics. "

This middle-grade science adventure follows an inquisitive 11-year-old named Oliver as he navigates the vast and often confusing cosmos of middle school, using his passion for astrophysics as both a ...

ON ANTISEMITISM

the middle third of the 20th century, “the Jewish question,” in the words of the Nazi Reich press office, became “the key to world history.” Antisemitism and the rise of the emancipation of Jews went together. Mazower writes, “As a movement against Jewish emancipation, antisemitism fundamentally involved a critique of the idea that the law should treat all alike.” The impact of antisemitism, then, went beyond laws discriminating against Jews. It created a world in which law and national identity became inextricably linked. In a postwar world, could Jews be “true patriots?” Mazower, professor of history at Columbia University and author of Hitler’s Empire, also argues that the emergence of the state of Israel as a world power reshaped both the social and the legal positions of Jewish communities throughout Europe and America. “With the secularization of American Jewry and its embrace of ethnic politics, antisemitism was gradually becoming more and more linked to the question of Israel.” While Mazower declines to equate anti\u002DZionism with antisemitism, he recognizes that, increasingly, some do. Mazower concludes his book with a reflection on student protests in the wake of Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza. The word “antisemitism” has become ammunition that fits many different guns. “To clarify terms like it,” he writes, is to make us aware of the “hidden depths” behind its modern history and, in the end, “make ourselves participants in the process of change in the world.”"

This essential collection of essays and analyses tackles the complex history and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism with unflinching clarity. The book provides a vital educational resource f...

OUR FRAGILE FREEDOMS

Genre

This timely collection examines the fundamental rights and liberties that form the bedrock of democratic society, exploring everything from freedom of speech and religion to the right to a fair trial...

PAISLEY & PECK

Genre

This vibrant counting book introduces early math concepts through the charming adventures of Paisley the possum and Peck the parrot as they explore their colorful rainforest home. Young readers will ...

PARALLEL LIVES

Genre

This young adult novel explores the complex dynamics of identical twins separated at birth who discover each other as teenagers, navigating identity, family secrets, and the haunting question of natu...

Paw & Order

Genre

This clever picture book offers a fresh take on early number concepts through a charming police procedural theme that will captivate young readers. Children join a team of animal officers as they sol...

Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Lightning Thief Illustrated Edition

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few