Reading Level: Elementary

Ella Enchanted

When Ella of Frell is a baby, the fairy Lucinda bestows her with the “gift” of obedience. Thereafter, Ella is compelled to obey every command she is given – a predicament at odds with her bold and lively personality. For protection, Ella’s mother orders her to never reveal the curse. However, when Ella’s mother dies and her father remarries, Ella’s new stepfamily, including a bitter stepmother and two wicked stepsisters, discovers and exploits her secret.  

Desperate to finally retake her freedom, Ella resolves to track down Lucinda to rescind the gift, leading her on an epic quest throughout the kingdom. Along the way, Ella faces magical creatures, such as giants and ogres, and navigates a budding romance with Char, the kingdom’s prince. After all of her efforts, Ella just might discover that the magic to end her curse was within her all along.  

Ella of Frell is a charming and likable protagonist who disrupts common critiques of the original source material. While the passivity of her fairy tale counterpart, Cinderella, might frustrate some audience members, the curse gives Ella a sympathetic reason not to stand up for herself – she literally cannot disobey a direct order. Nevertheless, Ella is not complacent. She takes responsibility for her situation and uses her wit and determination to save herself, subverting the damsel-in-distress trope. For example, after trolls capture and plan to eat her, Ella sings them to sleep in their native language, then successfully flees their camp. Readers will like the bravery and spunky attitude Ella exhibits and root for her to break free of her curse.  

As his name would suggest, Prince “Char” Charmont is Ella’s friend and charming love interest. He serves as a compelling motivation for Ella to finally break free of her curse, because her susceptibility to outside influence could put him in a dangerous position as king. Their romance unfolds primarily over letters, in which Char reveals his character flaws of pride and anger, especially when it comes to protecting those he loves. For example, he dismisses a tutor who belittled his younger sister and ensured the tutor never found work again. However, Char is also kind and sympathetic. He is frequently “tormented” by his push-pull dynamic with Ella, not knowing the important reason she has to keep him at arm’s length.  

The large supporting cast of female characters provides many positive representations of female relationships that balance the negative ones. For example, there is little nuance in Ella’s stepfamily. Similar to their fairytale counterparts, they are cruel to Ella and exploit their position of power simply because they can. At times, their mean-spirited commands border on cruelty, such as when stepsister Hattie demands a necklace Ella inherited from her late mother. However, Ella has a loving relationship with her family’s cook and her mother figure, Mandy. Mandy is a good role model who is often strict, yet well-meaning and down-to-earth. While Mandy is a fairy, in contrast to Lucinda, Mandy preaches responsibility, using magic out of necessity rather than as a shortcut or convenience.  

Ella Enchanted is told in the first person, with part of the narrative told through letters. This gives the reader intimate access to Ella’s thoughts and feelings, making her a sympathetic character. Readers will enjoy the whimsical plot, including Ella’s journey across the magical land of Frell, and the romantic subplot between Ella and Char. Given the adversity Ella has faced, including her curse and the mean-spirited demands of her stepfamily, readers will root for Ella to succeed and reclaim her freedom.  

Ella Enchanted is a charming spin on the Cinderella fairy tale that fleshes out some underexplored elements in the original source material. It provides reasonable explanations for why Cinderella never resists her stepfamily’s orders and why the prince fell in love with her after only one meeting at a ball. Instead of anchoring the love story around Cinderella’s beauty, Ella Enchanted puts a greater emphasis on the prince falling for Ella’s personality. It also introduces positive female relationships into the fairy tale, such as Ella’s friendship with another girl at finishing school and her mother-daughter dynamic with Mandy.  

Readers who enjoy fantasy stories with fairytale elements will enjoy this entertaining and fast-paced story. While Ella faces some danger, such as a comedic run-in with human-eating ogres, the most upsetting moments are the ones grounded in reality, such as the cruelty of Ella’s stepfamily or the death of her mother. Overall, Ella Enchanted is a fun and whimsical story, well-suited for younger audiences.   

Sexual Content      

  • Ella and Char develop their relationship through flirty, yet fun banter. For example, after being asked if she enjoys sliding down stairs, Ella replies, “‘I wish I could enjoy it. This fear of heights is an affliction.’ He nodded, a show of sympathy but not much interest. I was losing him. ‘Especially,’ I added, ‘as I’ve grown taller.’ He stared. Then he laughed in surprised delight.” These moments are especially effective because they emphasize that the prince falls in love with Ella’s personality, rather than solely her appearance.   
  • Char confesses his love and proposes marriage to Ella through a letter. He writes, “What a beautiful bride you’ll be, whomever you marry at whatever age. And what a queen if I am the man! Who has your grace? Your expression? Your voice? I could extol your virtues endlessly. . . Love (it is such relief to pen the word!), love, love – Char.”  
  • Though Ella initially rebukes Char, her internal monologue returns his feelings. She thinks, “I hadn’t loved him as long, perhaps, but now I loved him equally well, or better. I loved his laugh, his handwriting, his steady gaze, his honorableness, his freckles, his appreciation of my jokes, his hands, his determination that I should know the worst of him. And, most of all, shameful though it might be, I loved his love for me.” 
  • After Ella breaks her curse, she and Char share a kiss. As Ella describes, “I kissed his cheek. He was safe from me. He turned my head and kissed me on the mouth. The kiss swept through me, and I clung to him, trembling.” 

Violence      

  • While traveling in a carriage, Ella and her two stepsisters, Olive and Hattie, spot an ogre. Olive is hysterical until “the coachman stopped the carriage, came inside with us, and slapped her smartly across the face. ‘Sorry, miss,’ he said, and popped back out.”  
  • At age eight, after a childhood friend discovered her curse and gave her several orders, Ella “punched her. She screamed, and blood poured from her nose. [Their] friendship ended that day.” 
  • Once, Ella’s stepmother gave Ella a task that resulted in injury. Ella had to “wash the floor in the hall. . . As soon as [she] submerged [her] hands, they smarted and burned. . . the task took three hours, but [her] knuckles were bleeding in a quarter of the time. Occasionally, other servants passed by. Some gawked, some seemed sympathetic.” Ella is not left with permanent damage to her hands.  
  • Ella often fears the damage her curse could do. For example, she “imagined future commands, awful ones, ones that would kill [her], and [she] glowed at the idea of obeying them.”  
  • While traveling across the kingdom to find Lucinda, Ella is captured by ogres. Even though they promise to kill and eat her, the scene maintains an overall comedic tone. The situation is technically life-or-death, but readers never feel like Ella is in any real danger. For example, an ogre pokes Ella and says, “Wake up, Breakfast. How do you like to be cooked? Bloody? Medium? Or done to a crisp?” There is no violence because the ogres quickly discover they can command Ella, and Ella uses her wits to escape unscathed, essentially hypnotizing them into submission by using their mother tongue.  

Drugs and Alcohol      

  • At a family dinner, Ella’s father offers a sip of his wine. Ella spills it before she can drink any.      

Language     

  • None   

Supernatural     

  • There are fairy godmothers, who can cast spells and curses. The acts of magic in this book are divided into two categories: big and small magic. Big magic includes life-altering transformations. For example, in addition to cursing Ella with obedience, the well-intentioned, yet dim-witted Lucinda curses a newlywed couple to never be apart, reasoning that she gave them “companionship and felicitous union.”  
  • Small magic is low stakes, and the effects are either reversible or inconsequential. For example, Lucinda gives Ella elaborate jewelry to wear at a ball, provided the jewelry disappears by midnight.  
  • There are passing mentions of several magical creatures, such as fairies, gnomes, elves, and giants. Ella attends a giant’s wedding and is nearly eaten by a group of trolls.  
  • Mandy is a fairy godmother, yet refuses to perform most magic. Lucinda’s curses drive the conflict.  

Spiritual Content      

  • None 

by Kerry Lum     

A Risky Game

Deadly stakes, dangerous secrets, and a cut-throat game where the winners are set for life. Welcome to the Boston School, and the world of the Liars Society. 

Weatherby and Jack have been tapped to join Last Heir, the most powerful secret society in the world, but the night of the first gambit, the game takes a terrifying turn. Now, Jack and Weatherby are in a race against time to discover the truth about the game—and themselves. But how do you know who to trust when everyone is a liar?  

A Risky Game follows cousins Jack Hunt and Weatherby Walker as they try to unravel their families’ secrets. In an attempt to join the Last Heir, Jack, Weatherby, and three of their friends work together to win each gambit. To accomplish this, the friends agree to always be honest with each other, even as they lie and manipulate the truth for anyone outside the group. This leads to a murky theme about honesty as the teens plan to uncover the truth by deceiving others. 

The Liars Society—Jack, Weatherby, Iris, Harper, and Prescott—can’t trust the adults in their lives. Jack’s father has made it clear that he will use any means necessary to remain on top and encourages Jack to manipulate others. For example, to win a gambit, Jack’s father says, “It’s fine for you to use Weatherby to win.” Additionally, all of the other adults also have trust issues and questionable morals. According to Iris, her mom “doesn’t believe in friends. She always says, Trust no one. It’s like her personal slogan.” Unfortunately, trustworthy adults are missing from the story’s plot. 

The story’s plot doesn’t always ring true. Throughout Weatherby’s life, her mother has worked to keep Weatherby away from her father’s family, the Hunts, who are described as “bad people.” However, in A Risky Game, Weatherby and her mother move into a house on the Hunts’ property and accept everything that comes with being a Hunt—a new car, new clothing, and a membership in the country club. Weatherby enjoys the perks of being wealthy, thinking, “The best part is that now whenever Mom isn’t working, we get to be together. There’s no laundry, grocery shopping, or errands getting in our way. We have time to talk and cuddle up on the sofa with popcorn and an old movie.” As a member of Boston School, Weatherby quickly adopts an elitist attitude and wants everyone to know she is part of the powerful and wealthy Hunt family. 

Despite initially disliking Weatherby, Jack is now completely on Weatherby’s side and is determined to keep her safe from his father, who wants Weatherby dead. Initially, Jack lacks confidence and often feels stressed. When worried, Jack picks at his nails, a habit that he cannot break because “the pain burns in a good way, until my fingers start to ache.” This habit is mentioned often, which may lead readers to think about self-harm. Out of all the characters, Jack comes off as the most genuine, and he truly wants to live a life that he can be proud of, even if that means distancing himself from the Hunt family. 

A Risky Game will entertain readers who want to immerse themselves in a world where wealth and lies rule. Neither Weatherby nor Jack is a trustworthy character, but the mystery revolving around the Hunt family is interesting, and readers will enjoy trying to decipher the clues. However, readers must be willing to suspend their disbelief and overlook the plot points that just don’t seem credible. Before reading The Liars Society Series, readers need to understand that the book glorifies wanting to be part of a wealthy, powerful secret society for personal gain. 

If you’re looking for an exciting series packed with action and mystery, you may want to leave The Liars Society Series on the shelf. Instead, read the Gallagher Girls Series by Ally Carter, City Spies Series by James Ponti, and Jack and the Geniuses Series by Bill Nye & Gregory Mone. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • During an individual challenge, Jack drops an important key. Ulysses, another boy in the challenge, sees this, and he “lunges towards [Jack] and tries to pry the key from [his] fist.” Jack describes, “I don’t dare let go. Even after he starts kneeing me in the ribs.” Another boy jumps in and helps Jack. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Someone puts poison in Weatherby’s water bottle, which Jack drinks from. Later, they learn that the doctors found “benzodiazepines, a type of medicine that slows down your brain and puts you to sleep,” in Jack’s system. 
  • Jack and Weatherby discover that their grandfather, Kingsman, “poisoned Grier [a relative] with a medicine prescribed to [Jack’s father].”  

Language  

  • Name-calling, such as jerk, is used infrequently.  
  • “Oh my God” is used as an exclamation several times. 
  • A boy uses “jeez” as an exclamation one time. 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • Jack is poisoned. When he wakes up in the hospital, his father says, “Oh, thank God.” 

The Iron Giant

In the countryside, a strange being appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. A giant metal robot, taller than a house. Where he came from and who created him are a mystery. This being known as the Iron Giant has an insatiable hunger for scrap metal and begins stealing the material from local farmers. A local boy, Hogarth, set a trap to stop the Iron Giant, but he quickly discovers the robot is far from a threat.   

The Iron Giant, originally published in 1968 as The Iron Man, is a modern fairy tale. Author Ted Hughes presents the story in five chapters, each with a succinct title, such as “The Coming of the Iron Giant” and “The Return of the Iron Giant.” The text is large, and the language is written in such a way that younger children can understand. The book was adapted by director Brad Bird into a cult classic animated film in 1999 under the same name, though the film took many creative liberties compared to the original text.  

The only major similarities between the book and the movie are the characters of the Iron Giant and Hogarth. The book is far more fantastic in its approach than the film, which is grounded in Cold War atomic paranoia. The book is likely set in Hughes’ native England, while the movie is set in the fictional town of Rockwell, Maine. In the book, the Iron Giant’s origins are completely unexplained, giving him a more mythic status. In stark contrast, the film reveals that the Iron Giant was a weapon sent from space by alien beings, who, with the help of Hogarth, learns to reject his destructive purpose and become a hero in his own right—a development absent from the original text. In a similar vein, the relationship between Hogarth and the Iron Giant, a highlight of the film, is vastly inferior in the book. Their interactions are brief and sparse, and only serve to drive the plot forward. The book does not take the time to develop their relationship. 

Not long after the farmers realize the Iron Giant is harmless and provide him with a scrap yard to satisfy his hunger, the story takes a truly bizarre twist—an enormous space dragon crash-lands onto Australia and threatens to consume the entire world. Hogarth believes the only thing capable of stopping this threat is the Iron Giant, who agrees to challenge the dragon in a climactic battle of endurance, in which the Iron Giant ultimately prevails and becomes the unlikely savior of humanity. The Iron Giant’s heroism isn’t a conscious choice, as it is in the movie, and there is no moment of sacrifice driven by compassion because the book lacks the crucial narrative beats that make the film a cult classic. The confrontation between the two otherworldly beings is far more surreal and dreamlike than violent. Hughes’ writing focuses on the encounter’s pure bizarreness, giving the book a fairy-tale tone.   

While the characters are not as developed as in the film adaptation, Ted Hughes’ original story remains a classic modern fairy tale and a great short read. The themes of fear of the unknown, welcoming outsiders, and overcoming prejudices are as relevant now as they were when the book was first published in 1968. Learning The Iron Giant’s origin makes for a particularly interesting read for fans of the 1999 film, though this is a rare case in which the movie greatly outshines the book on which it was based, as the film tells a more emotionally resonant and narratively rich story with more defined and developed characters in both the Iron Giant and Hogarth. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • There is minimal violence in the final battle between the Iron Giant and the space dragon, though this is more of a battle of wits rather than a physical confrontation and is described through Hughes’ writings and shown through a few sparse illustrations. Though both beings are injured during this struggle, they survive without serious injury. 
  • The Iron Giant and dragon “battle” to see who can endure the heat of the sun the longest. While the heat is intense to the Iron Giant, it is the dragon’s ego that ultimately becomes his downfall. “‘It’s enough,’ cried the dragon. ‘It’s too much. I can’t stand another. The fires of the sun are too terrible for me. I submit.’ ‘Then I’ve won,’ shouted the Iron Giant. ‘Because I’m ready to roast myself red hot again. If you daren’t, then I’ve won.’” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Supernatural Content 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None

by Nicholas Paragano

Camp Mah Tovu

Lila is a young girl attending Jewish summer camp. She doesn’t initially connect with the other campers and finds herself alone in the forest, where she encounters Lonny, a beautiful brown horse with white spots on his face. In Lonny, Lila finds a friend who will listen to her problems as she develops the confidence she needs to befriend the other campers.  

Like many tweens, Lila worries about making friends while at summer camp. This worry is amplified because Lila has stopped taking her ADHD medication because it “makes me feel like a zombie propped on a hanger.” However, Lila’s friendship problems are not caused by her ADHD. Lila is an unlikable protagonist because she lies to everyone and doesn’t consider the feelings of the other campers. For example, the girls in her cabin want to win the camp’s color war, but they keep losing points because Lila is always disappearing and refuses to clean up her bunk. Then, when one of her cabinmates tries to help her, Lila throws the blame on someone else. When Lila has a conflict with others, her solution is to retreat into the woods, where she meets Lonny. 

While spending time with Lonny, Lila finds Lonny’s herd of wild horses being chased by men in a helicopter. The men plan to relocate the herd so the land can be used to graze cattle. Lila worries that the herd will be broken up, “separating mothers from their babies, and carted them off to other destinations, where they were sold and often slaughtered.” To help Lonny, Lila reaches out to the other campers and finds a way to bring attention to the horse’s plight. With the help of others, Lila saves the horses, who are given a permanent home where they can remain free. The act of saving the horses allows the other campers to view Lila in a different light, which opens the door to becoming friends. 

Although the story takes place at Camp Mah Tovu, it misses the opportunity to help readers understand Jewish traditions and beliefs. Lila often prays to God, but her prayers usually revolve around her trying to make a deal with God. For example, after alienating her cabin, Lila prays, “Uh, God, if you could just rewind time three days and let me start over, I’ll give all my canteen money to charity.” When nothing happens, Lila says, “Thanks a lot, God.” At times, Lila asks God to help her solve a problem, but she doesn’t take personal responsibility for her bad behavior.  

Camp Mah Tovu is part of a series of books written by several authors highlighting the unique relationships between young girls and their horses. Unfortunately, Lila’s flaws detract from her relationship with Lonny. However, the American Horse Tales Series has other books that will engage readers, including The Dust Bowl, Hollywood, and Nowheresville. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • One of the counselors is helping Lila tame a horse. After being away from the camp, the counselor tells Lila, “We need to get back to camp, or Shimona will send me to the guillotine. That refers to an ancient beheading device, in case you didn’t know.” 
  • Lila finds out that the wild horses are going to be relocated. She thinks about the past when “The government ‘took care’ of the problem, rounding up the horses by intimidating them with helicopters. They corralled them into trailers, separating mothers from their babies, and carted them off to other destinations, where they were sold and often slaughtered—if they survived the journey.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Lila usually takes medication for her ADHD, but she isn’t taking them while at camp. She says, “I take one tiny pill that keeps my brain from somersaulting all day. But it also makes me feel like a zombie propped on a hanger.” 
  • Lila is worried about not taking her medications. She thinks the medication “makes [her] feel like [she’s] being invaded by an alien version of Lila.” 

Language  

  • Lila is afraid that others will think she is a loser.  
  • One of the campers thinks she’s dumb because she struggles to read. 
  • One of the campers calls Lila’s talking “verbal diarrhea.” 
  • When Lila and Sarah become friends, Sarah doesn’t tell anyone. Lila acknowledges, “Admitting she was my friend would be like choosing to step in dog poop and walking around with it stuck to the bottom of her sneaker.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • The camp observes Shabbat. A counselor tells the kids, “Prayers are at the lake. Bring your siddurim.” 
  • Lila makes deals with God and often prays. For example, after alienating her cabin, Lila prays, “Uh, God, if you could just rewind time three days and let me start over, I’ll give all my canteen money to charity.” When nothing happens, Lila says, “Thanks a lot, God.” 
  • Lila’s roommates sneak out of the cabin to toilet paper the boys’ cabins. When Lila tries to follow them, she gets lost. She prays, “God. Help me fix all this.” 
  • Lila has a bad habit of lying to others. She lies to one of the counselors. Afterward, Lila and the counselor attempt to tame a wild horse, but it runs away. Lila prays, “Bring me back my horse, God. Please give me one more chance. I’ll stop lying. Really.” 
  • Lila decides to ride the horse while she’s alone. She’s having difficulties putting a saddle on the horse and prays, “Uh, hey, God, you brought me this far, could I have a stool, please?” She finds a tree stump to stand on.  
  • While at camp, Tisha B’av is observed. Tisha B’av is “the Jewish fast day commemorating the destruction of our two holy temples.” The campers are taken to hear a Holocaust survivor speak, but Lila doesn’t attend. The book discusses some of the traditions of Tisha B’av, such as fasting. 
  • Lila asks God to help her figure out how to fix things with her cabin mates. 

The Phantom Bully

Roan Novachez is eager with anticipation as he begins his third and final year at Jedi Academy Middle School. This year, every student is assigned to a Jedi mentor for direct instruction. Roan, hoping to work with Master Yoda, is disappointed to learn that his mentor is the stern, often grumpy Mr. Garfield. And not long into the semester, a mysterious bully begins a series of pranks to get Roan in trouble.    

Much like Jedi Academy and Return of the Padawan, The Phantom Bully is a graphic novel that tells Roan’s story through diary entries, comics, sketches, Holobook posts, Holomail, and poster clippings that fill every page. Much like its predecessors, The Phantom Bully is largely split between Roan’s diary entries and his comic strips, with the former featuring more words than the latter. As always, Jeffrey Brown’s charming, humorous illustrations bring Roan’s world to life and make each page a treat. 

In The Phantom Bully, Roan’s primary obstacle is his assigned Jedi mentor, Mr. Garfield, who is incredibly stern, and the unknown “phantom bully” wreaking havoc across the Academy. Roan has trouble getting through to Mr. Garfield, who prefers a “hmph” (his trademark expression) to a hello. Over time, Roan learns that while Mr. Garfield may have a gruff exterior, he does genuinely care about his students’ well-being and growth. By the end of the year, their relationship evolves from frustration to respect—a good lesson for students on how to adjust to difficult teachers, who often look out for their students’ best interests.  

The identity of the mysterious “phantom bully” keeps tensions high throughout the school year. His antics include letting the school pet, Voorpee, loose, stealing Roan’s backpack, and sabotaging Roan and Gaiana’s talent show performance. The truth is revealed during the climactic Jedi Labyrinth Trial, the Academy’s final challenge. Cronah, who had bothered Roan ever since his first arrival, had been pulling the strings all along. Cronah laments, “Ever since you arrived here, you’ve loved getting all the special attention. . . I don’t even have any good friends now. I’m not even going to become a Jedi, probably, because of you.” Roan tells Cronah that he would have more friends if he didn’t spend his time messing with people. Roan’s reply demonstrates his growth over the last two books. 

Over the course of the Jedi Academy series, Roan has grown tremendously as a character. In the first book, Roan arrives at Jedi Academy feeling like a fish out of water; his classmates had been students of the Force for years, leading Roan to worry not only about fitting in, but also whether he’ll be able to catch up to them. In Return of the Padawan, Roan struggles socially as a series of misunderstandings leads his two closest friends, Pasha and Gaiana, to ignore him. By the conclusion of The Phantom Bully, Roan has become a more mature, confident, and empathetic person through his many tribulations – all traits that suit a Jedi well. 

Roan Novachez’s final year at Jedi Academy isn’t all challenges. One constant bright spot is his budding relationship with Gaiana, and by the end of the book, they’re officially a couple. Many classic middle school crush and first-date tropes are both awkward and endearing. In the end, Roan demonstrates his growth as a person and as a Jedi, graduating from Jedi Academy Middle School on a high note. While the book doesn’t reach the same heights as Jedi Academy or Return of the Padawan, it still brings the trilogy to a satisfying close.  

Sexual Content 

  • Roan and Gaiana grow closer and begin a relationship. They display affectionate behavior like hugging and holding hands. They kiss a few times, both on the cheek and lips. This is depicted in the comic panels and is more playful than sexual. 

Violence 

  • There is minimal violence during lightsaber training sequences and especially in the Jedi Labyrinth Trial. These are shown in the comic panels; no one is hurt. 
  • On a field trip, Cronah pranks Roan by whipping him with a towel while at the pool. This is depicted in a panel. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • Like the previous books, there are some light verbal insults thrown between the characters during altercations, as well as by Roan in his journal. For instance, the words “suck,” “jerk,” and “idiot” are used infrequently. 

Spiritual Content  

  • The Force, the source of a Jedi’s power, can be interpreted as a sort of supernatural entity. As described in a brochure in the first book, “The Force is an invisible energy field created by all living things. The Force gives a Jedi his power, allowing him to do extraordinary things like moving objects with his mind.” 

by Nicholas Paragano 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Edward Tulane is one of a kind. He is a china rabbit given to a ten-year-old girl named Abilene. One night, Abilene’s grandmother tells Abilene and Edward a story about a princess who never loved anyone and was turned into a warthog for her arrogance. The next day, Edward is taken on a ship with Abilene and thrown overboard. Thus begins his journey from home to home, as Edward learns how to love.  

He spends almost a year at the bottom of the sea before being rescued by a fisherman named Lawrence and given to his wife, Nellie. Renamed Susanna, Edward begins his journey of learning to care for others. Nellie tells him stories, and he actually listens to her. He finds that his time at the bottom of the sea has begun to change him. 

Next, Edward is taken from the comfort of this new home and found by Bull, a homeless man, and his dog Lucy. He travels with them, renamed Malone, and holds the secrets of the travelers that he meets. Once again, he finds value in listening to the people who care for him, and he misses them dearly when he is separated from them. 

Finally, he is found by Bryce, a young boy who gives him to his sick sister, Sarah Ruth, as a gift. Here, witnessing the love of Sarah Ruth before she dies, Edward truly learns the value of selfless love. He allows himself to be tossed to the floor and his ears to be sucked on because he knows that it brings Sarah Ruth comfort. 

A unique story told from the perspective of a toy, Edward’s narrative begins with despair. Edward is taken from the comfort of his home, and at times, he is forced to endure the cruelty of humans. However, he also experiences the care of humanity and learns that people are worth loving. He is able to let go of his obsession with his appearance, and he learns that to be loved is to be held, to be used. Edward’s perspective shifts from distant cruelty to a deep, abiding love for all the people he has met, and readers will follow Edward’s journey, becoming just as attached to him as all the people who have loved him. 

The story, which won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in the Fiction category, is told in twenty-seven short chapters, each approximately three to six pages long. It also features illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. Through these images and DiCamillo’s words, readers will learn that even when life becomes difficult, there are always people worth loving and relationships worth nurturing. They will learn that even though something may be temporary, the love that was there will never go away. And they will learn that home exists in many forms, in many people. DiCamillo’s vivid writing and the timeless themes in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane make it a must-read. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • A dog named Rosie grabs Edward in its mouth and shakes him. “Before Edward even had time to consider the implications of being sniffed by a dog, he was in Rosie’s mouth and Rosie was shaking him back and forth vigorously, growling and drooling.” Abilene’s mother tells the dog to drop Edward.
  • Abilene’s grandmother tells a story about a princess who is turned into a warthog by a witch. The warthog is killed and butchered. “The men took the warthog back to the castle, and the cook slit open its belly.” 
  • Some boys toss Edward over the edge of a ship. “The rabbit hit the water with such tremendous force that his hat blew off his head. . . and then he began to sink.” 
  • Nellie tells Edward about her son Raymond, who died of pneumonia as a child. “He drowned inside of himself.”  
  • A policeman kicks Edward off a train. “With one swift kick, he sent Edward sailing out into the darkness. . . Edward landed with the most alarming thump, and then he tumbled and tumbled and tumbled down a long dirty hill.” 
  • To scare away birds, an old lady nails Edward to a pole. “She nailed his velvet ears to the wooden pole and spread his arms out as if he were flying and attached his paws to the pole by wrapping pieces of wire around them.” 
  • A man swings Edward against a counter. “And he swung Edward by his feet, swung him so that his head hit the edge of the counter hard. There was a loud crack. . . And the world, Edward’s world, went black.” His head is broken into 21 pieces, but he is repaired.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Abigail Clark 

Mount Rushmore: Faces of Our History

More than just a random display of U.S. Presidents, this imposing monument honors the leaders of America’s founding, expansion, preservation, and unification. Discover how these faces ended up on a mountainside in South Dakota’s Black Hills. 

In 1923, Doane Robinson, South Dakota’s state historian, sought to attract tourists to his state by creating an extraordinary landmark. After sharing his vision with others, the group began searching for a sculptor capable of bringing this ambitious project to life. 

They found John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum, who was then sculpting Civil War heroes at Stone Mountain, Georgia. When Borglum became frustrated and abandoned the Georgia project, he traveled to South Dakota to explore this new opportunity. However, Borglum rejected the original plan to carve Western frontier heroes, instead proposing to honor “people who were heroes for the whole nation.” He believed United States presidents would create a more meaningful and nationally significant monument. Before construction could begin, Borglum and his supporters faced the daunting task of securing funding for this massive undertaking. 

Borglum dedicated himself to the project from 1925 until 1937, when declining health forced him to transfer leadership to his son, Lincoln Borglum. The monument was finally completed in 1941, and today approximately 393,000 visitors travel to Mount Rushmore annually. 

Readers interested in the construction of Mount Rushmore will appreciate the book’s detailed illustrations and vivid descriptions of the workers carving the monument. The text serves as an excellent resource for anyone researching this iconic landmark. While much of the book examines the preliminary steps—including the project’s origins and fundraising efforts—pages 16 through 25 focus specifically on the carving process. These sections feature awe-inspiring historical photographs that capture the monument’s impressive scale and the remarkable skill required for its creation. 

The book’s design effectively supports its content through thoughtful graphic elements that break the text into digestible sections. Large red titles announce each new chapter, while red-shaded fact boxes provide additional context, such as the mountain’s namesake. Black and white historical photographs showcase the key figures who made Mount Rushmore possible, but the most compelling images depict workers suspended by ropes as they carved into the mountainside—a testament to both their courage and craftsmanship. 

Mount Rushmore chronicles the creation of an enduring monument while explaining why four presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt—deserve recognition for generations to come. As Borglum stated, “The purpose of the monument is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States.” The book concludes with a one-page glossary, three recommended books for further reading, and one suggested website, providing readers with resources for deeper exploration of this remarkable achievement in American sculpture and history. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

  • A quote on Mount Rushmore reads: “A monument’s dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated. . . Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and the rain alone shall wear them away.”  

Locomotion

Five years ago, 11-year-old Lonnie Motion’s entire world came crashing down when he lost his parents in a house fire and was subsequently separated from his sister in foster care. Now, as he enters the fifth grade, he finds an unexpected outlet to express himself as his class begins to learn how to write poetry. Through the power of poetry, Lonnie finds the words to tell his story, address his grief, and move forward.  

Jacqueline Woodson’s Locomotion captures Lonnie’s voice with feelings of honesty, sincerity, and warmth. The novel consists of 60 poems of varying lengths, some longer and more focused, while others are more spontaneous. They vary in format but are mostly free verse. However, letters, haikus, and sonnets are also included. Through these poems, the reader is immersed in Lonnie’s emotional journey. The medium allows him to confront the difficult memories he has avoided, reconnect with his sister Lili, and begin to look forward to the future with his foster mom, Miss Edna, and her son, Rodney.  

Locomotion masterfully balances heartbreak and hope through Lonnie’s voice. The book is a stark reminder that children who have experienced traumatic circumstances are still capable of joy, humor, and happiness. As the story progresses, Lonnie becomes more comfortable in his new life. His exploration of poetry is a key driver in this progress, allowing him to make sense of what he has gone through and encouraging him to trust the people around him.   

Locomotion is especially suited for middle school-aged readers, particularly those who appreciate realistic fiction and the unconventional story format of poems. The most distressing content (i.e., the house fire and the loss of Lonnie’s parents) is described delicately, as Woodson explores these traumatic themes through Lonnie’s hazy memories rather than in graphic detail. The themes of grief and loss may be heavy for some readers, but Woodson demonstrates how these feelings can be expressed and processed constructively through the creative process of Lonnie’s poetry. 

Overall, Locomotion is a moving story that is a powerful example of the healing power of creativity, in this case, poetry. Lonnie’s journey is defined not just by tragedy and loss but also by hope and resilience, and that recovery is never a purely linear journey. As Lonnie writes in his concluding poem “June:” “The poems come to you day and night. Sometimes they wake you up and make you write them down real fast even though there’s not a voice saying Be quiet, Lonnie in your head anymore. . . Just words. Lots and lots and lots of words.”  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence 

  • Lonnie references the fire that took the lives of his parents many times, often focusing on elements like flames, smoke, and screaming. For instance, “In my head I see a fire. I see black windows. I hear people hollering. I smell screaming. I smell smoke. I hear a man’s voice saying I’m so sorry. I hear myself screaming.” 
  • Miss Edna’s son, Jenkins, is out fighting in a war (presumably Afghanistan, considering the book’s release date). In “War Poem,” Lonnie writes, “Dear Lord, I heard her say once, Keep Jenkins safe and don’t let too many people die in this war.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None

Supernatural Content 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • In the poem “December 9th,” Lonnie wakes up and realizes he’s sick. After his foster mother, Miss Edna, takes the day off to take care of him, he hears her praying out loud, asking God how long Lonnie will have to bear the burden of grief. “‘It’s been four years,’ Miss Edna says to the Lord, ‘how long will [Lonnie] carry this burden?’” 
  • In “God Poem,” while Lonnie is sitting on his building’s roof, he says, “There’s a fat moon and enough stars to read Lili’s Bible but/ I don’t understand a lot of the words and I’m waiting for God to show Himself to me/ Not for me so much–for Lili. Yeah, I guess, for me too.” 
  • When he visits his sister Lili’s foster home, Lonnie writes, “God’s in this room, I whisper to Lili. She looks at me a minute without saying anything. Then she smiles. God is everywhere, I say.” 
  • In “Easter Sunday,” Lonnie recalls going to church. He writes, “At church, the preacher goes on about Christ rising.” This leads Lonnie to wonder, “Was it a big sacrifice to give your life if you knew you was gonna rise back up? I mean, isn’t that like just taking a nap?” 
  • Lonnie writes a letter telling God that he is reading the Bible and questions aspects of the book.  “Like how did you make the sky and the water and the earth and stuff? And when you took a rib from Adam to make Eve, was that like an operation? Miss Edna says it’s blasphemous to ask those kinds of questions, but I just wouldn’t mind knowing some answers.” Lonnie concludes the letter with, “God? Do you know that this was a poem letter? And God? Is there some kind of sign you can send down about how Mama and Daddy are doing up there with you? I’m gonna see Lili tomorrow and it’d be nice to get to her new mama’s house with some good news.” 

by Nicholas Paragano 

Rise of the Jumbies

Corinne’s evil aunt Severine may have been dealt with, but the villagers are wary of Corinne. Ever since they discovered she is half-jumbie, nobody looks at her the same. Every time she sets up her orange stand in the market, people give her distrustful looks and avoid her. When kids from her village start to disappear, Corinne wants to prove to everyone that they can trust her. She is a kind protagonist who genuinely wants to help others—she isn’t helping solely to trick the villagers into liking her, no matter how much they think that’s exactly what she’s doing.  

To rescue the missing children and clear her own name, Corinne goes deep into the ocean to find Mama D’Leau, the dangerous jumbie who rules the sea. But Mama D’Leau’s help comes with a price. Corinne and her friends Dru, Bouki, and Malik must travel with mermaids across the ocean to fetch a powerful object for Mama D’Leau. The only thing more perilous than Corinne’s adventures across the sea is the jumbie that waits for her back home. 

Corinne and her friends are inspiring characters who engage in spirited banter while maintaining mutual respect even during disagreements. When bartering with Mama D’Leau goes awry, the four friends find themselves being towed by mermaids to Ghana to recover a jewel. Along the way, Corinne’s emerging jumbie powers frighten her companions, creating tension within the group that they resolve through honest communication. Their courage, understanding, and humanistic approach to magical creatures creates a sweet story with a powerful ending. 

While The Rise of the Jumbies contains many amazing elements, they aren’t always well integrated. The plot meanders and feels overcomplicated, and though the language is accessible, the overwhelming number of magical elements could confuse readers. The macabre folklore embedded in the story makes it worthwhile, though readers averse to horror should be warned of some genuinely scary features. Despite these issues, the worldbuilding remains strong, and the creative blend of historical themes with fantasy creates a well-rounded narrative. 

The Rise of the Jumbies offers a creepy atmosphere, imaginative monsters, and youthful wit that will captivate readers. The supernatural creatures have complicated histories and morally gray motives that ground the fantastical elements. As Corinne travels between continents protecting her friends, she learns that some things aren’t black and white and that forgiveness can be powerful medicine. She proves to be a kind and intelligent protagonist who recognizes that monsters are subjective and that chosen family can be stronger than blood. Ultimately, this fantastical story delivers a grounded message: everyone needs a healthy home so that hurt people don’t create more hurt. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While taking a walk in the market, Corinne notices that she’s being avoided because of her half-jumbie status. “Corinne had learned that a slight curve in the lip might mean a cruel thought from one person, a tiny squint signaled suspicion from another, and a stiffness in the muscles meant fear from someone else. These subtle body changes meant Corinne was being judged because of who she was: half-jumbie.” 
  • As Mama D’Leau hunts for food, she eats a fish whole. “She smiled before biting down, leaving a gaping hole in its fat belly. She crunched the scales and fins and bones and slurped the guts, and thought about what she was going to do about this other jumbie.” 
  • During Corinne’s expedition to Ghana, her friends, the mermaids Ellie, Addie, Noyi, and Sisi, and Corinne are all attacked by a sea creature. “One of the tentacles had wrapped around [Ellie’s] tail. She held Dru away from her body, looking for someone to pass her to. Addie and Noyi dodged the other suckers, pulling Malik’s and Bouki’s arms out of the way of danger as they tried to reach Ellie. But with the children to carry, the mermaids weren’t as agile as usual. Noyi passed Bouki to Addie and managed to navigate the field of tentacles to get to Ellie. She tried to pry Ellie loose. Sisi dove and rammed herself into the squid’s rubbery body. She bounced off and turned for another attack. The squid reached for her. Sisi stopped short and changed direction. Corinne’s head bounced and lolled. As Sisi turned, she saw Noyi pull Ellie out of the squid’s grip. But glittering scales and dark red blood trailed behind them.” Ellie eventually dies from her wounds, but everyone else is fine.  
  • While connecting psychically with the mermaids, Corinne relives their memories of a slave ship wrecking in a storm. “The water rolled away and the sounds of screaming voices and screeching chains filled her ears. The ship cracked and ripped at the joints, then sank. Water closed over them. It sealed them in like an iron box. There was a low moan and a loud pop and the beam she was attached to broke away and pitched in the current. Corinne could see the wide, frightened eyes of others below her who were still chained to the ship. Their mouths opened, sucking for air that would never come.” Those aboard either died or were transformed into mermaids.  
  • In an effort to recover the missing children, Corinne encounters Severine, who attacks Corinne. “Severine dove on Corinne, pinning her under the water. Corinne kicked and scratched at Severine with her fingers, but her aunt was much too strong. The people in the crowd moved in, trying to pry Corinne from Severine’s grip, but the jumbie held them off. She pulled Corinne deeper into the water.” Both escape unharmed.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Language is tame, but it includes juvenile insults, such as “stupid,” “idiot,” and “imbecile,” which appear frequently. 

Supernatural  

  • This novel incorporates Caribbean folklore and supernatural references on nearly every page. Corinne and her friends have many interactions with magic, mostly through magical creatures called jumbies and potions.  
  • Corinne has jumbie abilities, like being able to communicate with snakes. For example, while in Ghana, Corinne and her friends find themselves in trouble, running from the local authorities. “[Corinne’s friend] picks up a snake, and Corinne hears a voice. ‘Sssqueeze sssofter, pleassse!’ The only thing that could have been speaking to her was the snake.” 
  • Corinne recounts the events of the past book while explaining a couple of different kinds of jumbies. “Months earlier, Corinne had believed that jumbies were only stories that the grown-ups told to make children afraid. Jumbies were too incredible to be real. Who would believe in a creature like the soucouyant, who could shed her skin and turn into a ball of fire? Or the lagahoo, with knife-sharp teeth and clanging chains? Or worst of all, the douen, with its small, strong body and backward-facing feet? And then there was Severine, who was unlike any of the jumbies Corinne had heard of in stories. At first, with her beautifully wrapped hair and long green dress, she looked exactly like the other ladies in town. Then she turned out to be the strongest and most dangerous jumbie of all.” 
  • While looking for a missing child, Corinne is almost lured into the water by a magical song. “The song became louder and clearer and more beautiful the longer Corinne listened. And the water felt warmer, too, like bathwater left out in the sun. Corinne dove deeper into the darkness after the lulling song. But the rope pulled against her waist, making her movements useless. The song began to fade. She reached in front of her and felt something warm and solid between her fingers. But she was jerked away. She opened her mouth to scream, ‘No!’ and gulped water as she was yanked back to the surface, where she coughed and sputtered, and the song disappeared.” 
  • While trying to summon Mama D’Leau, a powerful water jumbie, Corinne and her friends find themselves able to breathe underwater. “We’re not breathing, Dru said. Yes, we are, said a small, squeaky voice. Malik pointed at his nose. He took a deep breath and blew bubbles out of it.” 
  • Mama D’Leau is another reappearing jumbie who possesses considerable magical power. “Her eyes were the same bright blue as the water around them, and as the water grew darker, they did too. Her hair was long and braided in thick plaits. Some wrapped around the top of her head like a crown, but masses more fell down past her waist. Scales were scattered against her skin at her collarbone and thickened down to her hips, where her tail began. It was long and twice as thick as an anaconda’s, narrowing to a thin, twitching end that was coiled beneath her like a throne.” 
  • When Corinne and her friends swim to Ghana, the mermaids lose their memories of Mama D’Leau. They also don’t remember why they were expected to bring Corinne and her friends all the way to Africa. There is no explicit magic spell that makes this happen.  
  • Panicked about leaving her newly discovered family in Ghana, one of the mermaids, Ellie, tries to drag herself ashore. “Malik dove into the water. He met Corinne on the beach and they took Ellie’s hands and tried to pull her back. Her fingers were brittle as glass and they cracked in their grip. Malik moved to scoop up the mermaid’s body. Corinne followed his lead. They tried to drag her back as her bright scales began to shrivel, becoming as delicate as tissue paper. The line down the middle of her tail darkened and sank inward, separating into two legs. Corinne and Malik tried to move more gently as Ellie’s entire body faded to the color of beach sand. The breeze peeled the surface of her skin like petals on the wind.”  
  • Corinne meets Papa Bois, a powerful woodland jumbie, in the forest. “Corinne felt something like a heartbeat coming up through the soles of her sandals. It was as if the entire forest had come alive. The pulse felt stronger as she moved closer to the boulder. . . The boulder itself moved as if it was breathing. Corinne’s pulse quickened, but she reached a finger out to touch it, and the surface felt soft but tough, like muscle. She jumped back. The boulder rearranged itself. Cracks and crevices twisted in other directions. Some opened up, exposing new muscle beneath, and the surface of the rock shifted. When it stopped moving, the boulder had unfolded into a little old man not much taller than Corinne, with a long gray beard, the legs of a goat, and a pair of tiny horns peeking through his messy gray cornrowed hair.” 
  • Later, Papa Bois demonstrates more magical ability while arguing with Corinne, “a few tears squeezed out of the wrinkled corners of his kind brown eyes. Where they fell to the ground, tiny white flowers sprang up and opened their buds.”  
  • To save the children and defeat Severine, Corinne resolves to sacrifice her humanity to lead Severine away from the island. She asks Mama D’Leau to turn her into a mermaid. “Where Corinne’s legs had been, a shimmering orange tail waved.” 
  • To save one of her friends, Allan, from transforming into a jumbie, Corinne tells him to wish for home, and he’ll become human again. Corinne finds his mom to help him do this. “Allan turned toward his mama again. This time, his feet didn’t move, so his body lined up perfectly. When he stepped forward, his movement was steady and sure. [Allan’s mom] dropped to her knees. Allan ran into her arms and they cried against each other’s cheeks.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • When Corinne and her friends land in Ghana, they meet a boy, Kahiri, who mistakes the mermaids who brought them to Ghana for servants of an African water spirit/goddess named Mami Wata. After Corinne asks Kahiri who that is, he responds, “She’s a water goddess, and she can look like anything she wants. They are mermaids. One of them must be her.” 

by Kate Schuyler 

I Am Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is one of the most famous formerly enslaved people and abolitionists in American history, and her efforts to free enslaved people through the Underground Railroad are legendary. This biography describes her life before her work with the Underground Railroad and the various ways she helped others, including fighting for women’s rights, assisting with strategy and planning during the Civil War, and opening a home for the elderly. Throughout her life, Harriet Tubman made countless sacrifices to care for other people. 

Born into slavery, Tubman was forced to raise her younger brothers while her parents worked. Growing up, she endured violence from white enslavers and lived with the constant fear that her family could be torn apart at any moment. After failed escape attempts with her brothers, Harriet finally escaped on her own, using the network of homes and hiding places known as the Underground Railroad. She reached Pennsylvania and freedom, but her worry for her family drove her to return again and again to lead her family members and many other enslaved people to freedom. 

Tubman was a woman who wasn’t fearless but was willing to overcome her fear to do the right thing. While Harriet’s struggles are specific to her time period and to slavery, readers can learn from her compassion and desire to help others. Her loyalty to her family, to the people she met, and to the slaves she freed led to a remarkable life. This book and her story teach the lesson that leaders come from unlikely places.   

This biography is divided into five concise chapters, featuring black-and-white illustrations on nearly every page. Highlighted vocabulary words are defined in a glossary at the end. Additional features include twenty fun facts, a timeline, a map, and illustrations of the important people in Harriet’s life. Through clear writing, illustrations, and supplementary materials, young readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of Harriet Tubman, her struggles, and her triumphs. The book also includes a section on places to visit and references to how her work contributed to the progress we see today, ensuring readers understand that her legacy remains important.  

Despite being Black, a woman, and illiterate, Harriet Tubman overcame tremendous obstacles to help others. Her story is one of the most important in American history, and her resilience and determination to fight for others remain admirable qualities. Harriet’s life story highlights the importance of sacrifice, courage, and resilience, showing that one person can make an extraordinary difference. To learn even more about Harriet Tubman’s life, grab a copy of The Underground Abductor: An Abolitionist Tale by Nathan Hale.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • There are descriptions of the violence of slavery throughout the book. For example, “If a slave was caught learning how to read and write, he could have his fingers or toes cut off!” Slaves “were stolen from their homes and treated no better than animals.” 
  • Harriet received multiple beatings. As a child, “Harriet was whipped five times before breakfast” for not being clean enough. Later, Harriet stole a lump of sugar, and the slave master “struck [Harriet] so hard he broke her ribs and gave her scars for life.” 
  • A slaveowner struck Harriet in the head with a weight “The overseer grabbed a weight used for measuring and threw it toward the door. It hit Harriet in the head and knocked her to the ground. . . she went in and out of consciousness and came close to death. . . she was sent back out to the fields with ‘the blood and sweat rolling down [her] face till [she] couldn’t see.’” This injury caused headaches and narcolepsy for the rest of her life. 
  • At other times, there are more vague mentions of beatings and punishments. For example, slaves “were often beaten if their masters decided they weren’t working hard enough.” 
  • On a journey to free enslaved people, Harriet knocked out her infected tooth. “Getting help was simply too dangerous, so she knocked out her top row of teeth with the handle of the gun she always carried.” 
  • Traveling north after serving in the Civil War, Harriet Tubman is manhandled by a racist train conductor and shoved into the baggage car. “Instead of thanks for her service, she got her arm in a sling.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Abigail Clark 

The Great Greene Heist

At Maplewood Middle School, Jackson Greene’s elaborate heists, such as breaking into the copy room to plaster comedic posters around the school, have turned him into a local celebrity—a reputation that Jackson does not enjoy, ever since the infamous “Kelsey Job.” After the heist gone wrong costs Jackson his good standing with the school and his budding relationship with his crush, Gaby de la Cruz, he swears to give up heisting for good. That is, until a rich bully threatens to take over the whole school.   

Jackson’s rival, Keith Sinclair, is competing against Gaby for student council president. While Gaby runs a clean campaign with a positive message, Keith resorts to unethical tactics such as using his father’s wealth to bribe the other students. Keith’s ultimate goal is to redirect funds from popular clubs around campus to his own video game club. To stop Keith from winning, Jackson assembles a crew to carry out his most elaborate heist yet—steal the scantron machine used to count the votes and guarantee Gaby’s election.   

Jackson Greene is a likable and charismatic protagonist, yet, at times, he’s too proud for his own good. His main conflict stems from the guilt and consequences of the infamous “Kelsey Job,” the specifics of which are hinted at throughout the book but not fully revealed until the final chapter. After a pretty classmate, Katie Accord, gets her phone confiscated, Jackson agrees to steal it back in exchange for dancing lessons. However, when Keith catches him red-handed, Jackson petulantly kisses Katie, Keith’s ex-girlfriend. Ironically, Jackson only wanted Katie’s lessons so he could invite Gaby to the school dance. Too embarrassed to admit to needing help, Jackson refuses to clear up the misunderstanding until another character essentially forces his hand. Some readers may dislike that Jackson’s pride occasionally makes him act recklessly without considering the feelings of others. However, Jackson’s genuine remorse over his actions and his sincere apology to Gaby redeem him as a sympathetic protagonist. While Jackson occasionally makes mistakes, he mostly uses his talents for good, and his heart is in the right place.  

Gaby is the no-nonsense foil to Jackson. But while she is a headstrong and intelligent leader, she also has moments of vulnerability and self-doubt, especially in regard to her complicated relationship with Jackson. Gaby is a strict rule follower, but she occasionally breaks the rules to protect the people she cares about, such as when she helps Jackson avoid getting caught. Readers will appreciate that Gaby is more than just a love interest to be won over. She is a well-rounded character with her own goals and interests.  

Readers will be emotionally invested in Jackson’s goal and engaged in the fast-paced plot. The book is narrated in the third person, with each chapter told from a different point of view, focusing primarily on Jackson and his crew. The crew includes techie Hasemi Larejani, informant Charlie De LaCruz, financial backer Victor Cho, and popular cheerleader Megan Feldman. The group is well-rounded and makes a conscious effort to subvert stereotypes. For example, Megan is a pretty cheerleader, but she also loves science. Each member contributes something important to the whole, both in terms of personality and the heist.   

While Jackson Greene’s rebellious attitude may not make him the ideal role model for authoritarian teachers and parents, readers can appreciate that Jackson is always well-intentioned. Overall, The Great Greene Heist is heartwarming and entertaining, introducing middle school readers to more complex topics, such as corrupt politics, while providing positive representation that subverts common stereotypes. Readers eager to jump into another fast-paced heist story should also read High Score by Destiny Howell.      

Sexual Content    

  • To taunt Keith, Jackson kisses his ex-girlfriend. As Jackson comedically describes, “he lightly brushed his lips against hers. And Keith’s face crumbled like a month-old cookie.”  
  • Jackson has a crush on Gaby. His internal monologue often compliments her style, such as liking “how the rectangular frames of her glasses made her brown eyes look even darker. Wider. More mysterious.”  
  • Gaby has a crush on Jackson, but because he kissed another girl, she keeps her distance and remains emotionally detached from him. In one scene, she longingly reminisces about their relationship, thinking they had “held hands three times.”   

Violence    

  • After Jackson reveals that part of the reason he kissed Katie was to make Gaby jealous, Gaby says, “I could slap you right now.” The threat feels empty, and Jackson does not seem concerned.  

Drugs and Alcohol    

  • None.  

Language   

  • Crap and crappy are frequently used t. For example, after the school locks are upgraded, Jackson thinks, “Good-bye, crappy Ultra lock. Hello, Guttenbabel 4200.”  

Supernatural   

  • None. 

Spiritual Content    

  • None.   

by Kerry Lum

Unicorns and Germs

Zoey has come home to an exciting surprise: her mom is going to teach her how to make homemade yogurt! But when Zoey discovers that one of the main ingredients in yogurt is bacteria, she’s stunned. Her mom explains that some bacteria can be helpful because they keep the body safe and aid in creating delicious food! 

As Zoey and her mom cook the yogurt, their magic doorbell rings! Zoey opens the door to find an enormous rainbow unicorn named Tiny. Tiny is in pain from a large cut on his hoof. Zoey treats the wound with antibacterial ointment and wraps it up, but the unicorn comes back the next day with an infection. Now, it’s up to Zoey to conduct her own experiment—she must grow bacteria to find out which antibacterial will heal Tiny’s wound. With the help of her mom and her cat, Sassafras, can Zoey discover the perfect solution to heal the unicorn’s cut? 

Zoey is a kind and curious character who captures the hearts of young readers through her genuine compassion and scientific determination. When the unicorn shows up at her doorstep, Zoey is enamored by the large creature and wants to do everything she can to help him feel better. However, Zoey quickly realizes that healing Tiny’s wound will not be as straightforward as she originally expected. She utilizes problem-solving strategies to come up with another plan to help her new friend. “I need to get started on my research. I’ve got to make a list of things that I think will get rid of bacteria!” Young readers will love Zoey’s curiosity and feel inspired by her determination to help her magical new friend. 

The educational value shines through kid-friendly first aid lessons woven seamlessly into the adventure. Zoey explains to Tiny the steps that she takes when she gets a scrape. “The first thing my mom asks me to do is rinse it really well with water. Then she dries it and puts some antibacterial cream on it. After that she covers it with a bandage.” These simple explanations are repeated throughout the book as Zoey cares for Tiny and conducts her own experiments, making the story both engaging and educational. 

Citro enhances the educational experience by including a glossary at the end of her book. This glossary includes the definition of six scientific words, such as “agar” and “petri dish,” which are repeated frequently throughout the story. The book also includes black and white illustrations in every chapter, allowing readers to see Zoey’s experiments and Tiny the unicorn. These aspects add clarity and make the book more inclusive for any reader who wants to join Zoey on her journey to save her new unicorn friend. 

Unicorns and Germs is a perfect pick for kids who love science, animals, or magical adventures. Through Zoey’s curiosity and compassion, readers will learn about problem solving, helping others, and the fascinating world of bacteria—while enjoying a heartwarming story about friendship and discovery that demonstrates the power of child-led scientific inquiry. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • Only Zoey and her mom can see the magic animals that ring their doorbell.  
  • The unicorn has the power to heal other people with its touch, but it cannot heal itself or other unicorns.  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Madeline Hettrick 

Noelle at Sea: A Titanic Story

Thirteen-year-old Noelle feels like the luckiest girl in the world to be cruising the Atlantic aboard the famed Titanic. The trip is made even better by her new friend, Pauline, a girl who is traveling with her father to live in America. The girls spend the first days of the journey exploring, but on the fifth night, Noelle awakens to a sinking ship. Women and children will be rescued first, and Noelle realizes motherless Pauline will be left all alone. Despite her parents’ wishes, Noelle breaks away from her family to find and help her friend.  

Noelle, who is half Haitian and half French, has led a sheltered life and is unprepared for the discrimination she faces aboard the Titanic. One first-class passenger shows hostility toward Noelle because of her mixed heritage, even telling another passenger to let Noelle sink with the ship when disaster strikes. While most discrimination is implied, it becomes explicitly clear that Noelle’s Haitian father lacks the same opportunities as others. 

When boarding the ship, Noelle meets Pauline, a third-class passenger who also faces discrimination because of her lower social status. Through her friendship with Pauline, Noelle witnesses how people are often prejudged based on both class and race. While these scenes may upset some readers, Pauline’s relationship with her father proves to be even more disturbing. After Pauline’s mother died, her father lost all interest in life and refused to leave the sinking ship. Noelle wonders, “What type of father asked his daughter to leave him to die? What kind of father refused to save his child’s life?” 

From the beginning, Noelle and Pauline’s friendship is built on deception. Since Pauline is a third-class passenger, she should not be on the same deck as Noelle, but Noelle allows others, including her parents, to believe that Pauline is a second-class passenger. This seemingly harmless lie leads to other rule-breaking when Pauline and her friend Albert convince Noelle to sneak into the first-class section and disobey her father’s orders. As Albert says, “My dad thinks a man should challenge authority.” 

Noelle at Sea addresses several sensitive topics that may be disturbing to young readers. However, the story is told from Noelle’s perspective and avoids detailed descriptions of the Titanic’s sinking. The book’s structure makes it easy to follow, with each chapter beginning by noting Noelle’s location and the time. Black-and-white illustrations appear every 10 to 17 pages, including one that depicts the silhouette of a lifeboat against the backdrop of the Titanic. The back includes nonfiction material on the Titanic, a glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts. 

Anyone interested in learning more about the Titanic will find Noelle at Sea an engaging book that offers a unique perspective through its half-Haitian, half-French protagonist. The fast-paced story also provides readers with insight into the prejudices of the era. Readers captivated by the tragedy of the Titanic should also read Disaster on the Titanic by Kate Messner or Survival Tails: The Titanic by Katrina Charman. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When the ship begins to tip, Noelle is worried about her friend Pauline, who is in steerage. Noelle “pictured Pauline among hundreds of other passengers screaming for help down in third class. They would be running down the halls trying to find an unlocked gate.” 
  • While on the lifeboat, Noelle watches the Titanic. “The people on board were more frantic than they had been earlier. Bodies began falling from the ship. Some of their silhouettes seemed to be diving gracefully. Others tumbled through the air.” 
  • Some of the people on the lifeboats “froze to death.” 
  • When the passengers on the lifeboats were rescued, they “looked like they’d been through a war. Several passengers had cuts and broken bones. Nearby, Noelle watched a doctor tend to a man whose feet were frostbitten.” The doctor hopes the man’s feet do not need to be removed. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • A woman on a lifeboat “prayed through her sobs.” 
  • As Noelle watches the Titanic sink, “she prayed that [her father] was swimming towards them at this very moment.” Later, she says a second prayer.

The Liars Society

Weatherby is a fish out of water. When she lands a scholarship to the prestigious Boston School, she’s excited to be in the same world as her dad, whom she’s never met, and make real friends. But Weatherby has a secret she’ll risk everything to protect, one that could destroy her new life. 

Every member of Jack’s wealthy and privileged family has made their mark at the Boston School. Everyone, that is, except for Jack, who is entirely mediocre. He’s desperate to prove his worth to his influential father. But Jack has a secret of his own. . . one with the power to ruin everything. 

When the money for their school trip to a private island—exclusive to Boston students—is stolen, Jack and Weatherby are invited to play a high-stakes game and solve the mystery of the missing money. If they win, they’ll be selected to join the oldest, most powerful secret society in the world—and they’ll be Boston royalty forever. If they lose. . . well, they better not lose. 

The Liars Society is told from first-person point of view that alternates between Weatherby’s and Jack’s points of view. This allows the reader to understand Jack’s family, the Hunts, while also giving an outsider’s view of his family. However, Jack’s and Weatherby’s voices aren’t always distinctive, making it hard to remember whose viewpoint the chapter is from.  

Weatherby’s character is defined by deception from the moment she enters Boston School. She harbors a major secret that calls her integrity into question, and despite initially struggling to fit in with her wealthy classmates due to her own modest background, she quickly adapts by choosing dishonesty over authenticity. Her willingness to deceive everyone around her—classmates, her best friend, and even her mother—makes it difficult for readers to sympathize with her struggles. Moreover, her obvious enjoyment of the exclusive school’s privileges and her wealthy friends’ lifestyles reveals a shallow side to her personality that undermines any potential for genuine connection.  

Jack wants to win, but not if that means hurting others. However, Jack relies on his father’s wealth and power to get himself out of trouble. Like many middle schoolers, Jack wants to make his father proud, and the way to do that is to get into the secret society, Last Heir. Jack realizes that his father has prepared him to get into Last Heir by teaching him “Hunt-isms,” such as, “Keep it in the family” and, “Ignore. Deny. Threaten.” However, Jack also realizes that his family is keeping secrets—secrets that may reveal Jack’s dad is willing to do anything, including killing others, to maintain his position at the top.  

The Liars Society revolves around several mysteries—who stole the money for the field trip and what the Hunt family is hiding. However, the story mainly focuses on five students trying to complete tasks to prove they belong in the Last Heir. The five students—Prescott, Harper, Iris, Weatherby, and Jack—are not trustworthy because they all have hidden agendas, which makes the conclusion problematic. When each person reveals their secret, the others instantly forgive them despite their previous deception, which is unrealistic. In the end, the kids decide to form their own secret society, promising that there will be, “No secrets among friends.” But being in a secret society means they will have to lie to everyone outside of their group, creating a contradiction. 

Right from the start, many of the plot points are implausible. For example, when Jack first meets Weatherby, he instantly dislikes her. Yet, after winning just one regatta, Jack suddenly chooses to trust Weatherby over his own family. The conclusion wraps up everything so quickly that the events become unbelievable. The kids discover that Jack’s family has been dumping harmful chemicals into the ground for decades—chemicals being dumped on a lush island that the Hunts and the school own together. When the EPA discovers this illegal dumping, they clean up the site in a few weeks, and the Hunts receive no punishment. The Liars Society implies that if you are wealthy enough, you can get away with anything, even criminal activity. 

Although The Liars Society has conflicting messages, its strongest message is that “you get to decide who you want to be.” Even though Jack’s family is corrupt, Jack and the Liars Society have decided they will not harm others in their pursuit of the truth. Despite the book’s conflicting messages and underdeveloped characters, readers who enjoy mysteries will enjoy trying to figure out all of the clues. The book will leave readers questioning what they would do to win money, power, and influence. 

At her new school, Weatherby reinvents herself and makes new friends while struggling with keeping a lie. Readers who want to explore these issues should read Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun and High Score by Destiny Howel. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • To win a regatta, Jack puts a laxative in an opponent, JB’s, water bottle. Jack thinks, “I didn’t mean to hurt him. I was only trying to make him get stuck in the bathroom and miss a race or two. . . JB had a bad reaction and pooped his pants in front of everyone, all their parents, and our biggest rivals.” After the incident, JB is sent to a boarding school.

Language  

  • While describing people, the term jerk is occasionally used. For example, when being introduced to Jack, Weatherby thinks, “The Hunt jerk who laughed at me.” 
  • A boy calls Weatherby a turd. 
  • A police officer questions Jack’s father. After the officer leaves, “Dad slams the front door behind him and mutters, ‘Loser.’” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • One of the characters is preparing for her bat mitzvah. She says, “I’m a woman now in the eyes of the Jewish people’s view.” 

I Am Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente is one of the most important baseball players in history. Born in Puerto Rico, he fell in love with baseball as a child and dedicated himself to reaching the Major Leagues. Once there, he exceeded all expectations, earning numerous awards and honors. But what mattered most to him was the work he did for his community, both in Pittsburgh and back home in Puerto Rico. His greatness on and off the field established him as one of the most influential athletes ever. 

During his eighteen seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente faced segregation as a Black Latino player. The media mocked his accent, and in certain cities, he was barred from eating with his white teammates or staying in the same hotels. These indignities stood in stark contrast to life in Puerto Rico, yet Clemente persevered, ultimately winning over fans and media through his exceptional talent. He played in 15 All-Star Games, won 12 Gold Gloves, and earned two World Series championships. In his last regular-season at-bat, he recorded his 3,000th hit. Tragically, his career ended when he died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while delivering relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. 

Clemente paved the way for future generations of Latin American baseball players by never forgetting his roots. His story teaches us to fight for our dreams and persevere through adversity, but most importantly, it shows that individual achievements matter less than what we do for others.  

I Am Roberto Clemente is essential reading not only for sports fans but for anyone with a dream. Despite becoming one of the game’s greatest players, Clemente remained humble and consistently used his platform to help those less fortunate. His story reminds us to remember where we came from and embrace selflessness. 

This biography comprises five concise chapters, featuring black-and-white illustrations on nearly every page. It features highlighted vocabulary words with a glossary, twenty fun facts, a timeline, a map, and illustrations of important figures from Clemente’s life. The author balances Clemente’s athletic achievements with his humanitarian work, giving readers a complete picture of his enduring legacy. Through this biography, readers will discover that Roberto Clemente’s greatest achievement wasn’t what he accomplished on the field, but the example he set for living with purpose and compassion.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language    

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Abigail Clark

The Basketball Blowout

Basketball season is underway at Franklin Elementary School, and the MVP club, comprising five best friends, is determined to represent their school in the weekend travel tournament. However, the school can only send one team to the tournament, forcing an intense winner-take-all playoff bracket between the MVP club and the school’s other teams. Although the MVP club is very talented, their lack of teamwork and inability to finish their shots threaten to disqualify them from the weekend tournament.  

Alongside the playoffs, the school challenges the basketball teams to sell popcorn for travel expenses, promising shirts to the winning team and a grand prize of the “coolest pair of sneakers” to the player who sells the most popcorn. With the playoff game and popcorn prize on their minds, the MVP club commits to practicing basketball and selling popcorn. However, difficulties quickly arise for the club, with low popcorn sales, a lackluster practice, and the introduction of a mysterious boy in their school. Can the MVP club pull it together and achieve its goals? 

The Basketball Blowout is the exciting fourth book in the MVP series, continuing the MVP club’s adventures in the realm of basketball and fundraising. Like the other books, the story focuses on the five young members of the MVP club—Max, Alice, Nico, Luke, and Kat—and their involvement in the school’s sports and community. While the story attempts to provide appropriate attention to each character, most of the character development revolves around Luke, who struggles to sell his popcorn and make his shots in the big moments. However, the kids display remarkable character and perseverance in the face of their challenges, and their ability to work as a team to overcome their problems will be inspirational for many readers. Adding in the childhood perspective of basketball tournaments and competitive school fundraisers, the book becomes a relatable and enjoyable story for all ages. 

The heart of the story lies in its lessons on teamwork and inclusion. Early on in the book, the MVP club struggles to win basketball games because they aren’t working together. To make matters worse, they allow the competitive spirit of the fundraiser to get in the way of their friendship. However, through the observation and advice of their new friend Jason, they realize that they’ve “been competing against each other” and need “to work together to beat Jenna’s team” and “win the sneakers.” Jason’s incorporation into the MVP club also highlights the theme of inclusion. When the kids learn that Jason comes from a financially challenging situation, they band together to raise awareness for his dog-walking job and help him earn more money for his family. These lessons remind readers of the importance of friendship and teamwork, demonstrating that the power of many can accomplish even the most difficult tasks. 

The book is divided into ten short chapters, with each chapter typically comprising eight to ten pages and containing several black and white illustrations. Although the writing doesn’t use large diction, its paragraph format and multiple story lines may make the book challenging for beginner readers. The story’s ending also includes additional material, featuring a small glossary of basketball terms and a sneak peek at the book Ballpark Mysteries: The World Series Curse by David A. Kelly. Much like its predecessors, The Basketball Blowout continues the MVP club’s sports adventures with its signature action scenes, lovable characters, and applicable lessons, making it a must-read for sports and early chapter book readers. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • Kat, one of the kids in the MVP Club, teases her brother Luke about his stinky feet. “My feet are smaller than your big clown feet! Plus, your feet stink like a skunk eating rotten eggs in a garbage bag! There’s no way I’d want to wear the sneakers after you’ve been wearing them.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

by Caleb Kleinmann

Saving Animals from Hurricanes

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast with heavy rain and winds that whipped at speeds of up to 140 miles per hour. Thousands of people had already evacuated the city, but many were not able to take their pets. Instead, they left extra food and water for the animals—thinking they would be back in just a few days. Unfortunately, that was not the case. As young readers relive the dramatic events surrounding the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, they will witness firsthand the dramatic and courageous rescue attempts that saved the lives of thousands of innocent animals that were trapped in the Gulf Coast region after Katrina. From rescue workers floating in boats down the flooded streets of New Orleans looking for stranded pets to marine biologists searching for dolphins that were washed out to sea. 

Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact caught everyone off guard, especially the countless pets left behind when the city was evacuated. Hundreds of thousands of animals found themselves trapped in the flooded city, forced to survive on their own. Saving Animals from Hurricanes by Stephen Person tells the inspiring story of the people who risked everything to rescue these abandoned animals.  

The book reveals little-known dangers faced by major animal facilities like the Aquarium of the Americas. When the power failed, the electrical systems that cleaned water tanks and pumped oxygen to the fish stopped working. Without these life-support systems, nearly 10,000 fish died at the aquarium. However, one dedicated employee, Don Kinney, remained at the facility throughout the disaster, feeding the alligators, otters, and penguins. His heroic efforts saved many animals from starvation. 

The Aquarium of the Americas wasn’t the only facility that faced catastrophic challenges. At the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Mississippi, eight Atlantic bottlenose dolphins were swept out to sea by the storm surge. Having lived their entire lives in captivity, these dolphins lacked the skills to hunt for food or protect themselves from predators like sharks. Fortunately, all eight dolphins were eventually rescued and relocated to a new home in the Bahamas. 

Saving Animals from Hurricanes engages readers through its compelling visual design. Each page combines striking photographs with text boxes featuring bold headlines and concise paragraphs. Red circles draw attention to fascinating facts, while detailed captions provide important context. The book balances heart-wrenching images of animals in peril—swimming through flooded streets or trapped in debris—with uplifting photographs of successful rescues. 

The book concludes with valuable reference materials, including a list of animals most vulnerable from hurricanes, accounts of famous hurricanes, and a helpful glossary. Important vocabulary terms appear in bold throughout the text, making complex concepts accessible to readers. Saving Animals from Hurricanes is an engaging and educational book that also teaches vocabulary words such as storm surge, tropical storm, and evacuate.  

The animal rescue operation following Hurricane Katrina became the largest in history. Through the combined efforts of volunteers and animal rescue organizations, more than 15,000 animals were saved from the disaster zone. While many animals tragically perished during the hurricane, the book concludes with an optimistic message that will resonate with readers: “Saving just one dog won’t change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog.” To learn more about hurricanes, read Carrie and The Great Storm: A Galveston Hurricane Survival Story and Hurricane Rescue. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

 Violence  

  • The book includes photographs of pets among the destruction following Hurricane Katrina. “No one knows how many animals were killed because of Hurricane Katrina. It is estimated that more than 100,000 pets died in the days and weeks after the hurricane.” 
  • A photograph shows a dead chicken. “Animals on farms all over the Gulf Coast region were killed because of Hurricane Katrina. Many cows and horses drowned, or were killed when barns collapsed.” 
  • The hurricane almost killed a pony named Molly. “Molly was left alone in a barn for more than two weeks.” Rescuers moved Molly to a farm. “However, dogs that had been rescued from the hurricane were also living on the farm. One of them attacked Molly, badly injuring her right leg.” Molly lost her leg and doctors “attached a replacement leg made out of plastic and metal.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Lucy Lancaster is Totally in Control

Young witch Lucy Lancaster is preparing for a super fun weekend with her favorite cousin, Skye Simmons-Young. Lucy plans to play a board game called “Snails and Letters” with Skye and make charm bracelets afterward. Lucy hopes her magical hiccups don’t cause any disasters. Finally, Lucy decides to stop her hiccups, once and for all. But how do you cure a case of magical hiccups? 

Lucy’s magical hiccups cause endless problems, so she performs “The No More Hiccups Spell.” To Lucy’s surprise, the spell transfers her magic hiccups to Skye! Skye’s hiccups make Lucy’s stuffed animals float. Lucy cannot hide this magical occurrence from her cousin, so she lies and says her friend Bruce created “stuffed robots” that read minds. Skye is thrilled at the silly magic that has taken over their playdate. Lucy quickly reverses her spell before their parents see the floating animals, causing her hiccups to return and the animals to lose their magic. Skye is disappointed, but the cousins spend the day happily pretending to be witches together. 

Lucy Lancaster is Totally in Control follows Lucy as she tries in vain to keep her powers in check. Many young readers can relate to her desire to maintain control over her day despite outside forces that threaten to ruin her plans. Readers will learn more about Lucy’s life at home, where she eats a very nutritious breakfast before tidying up her room. Lucy is a very responsible protagonist who exhibits compassion and ingenuity. On the other hand, Lucy’s lying about Bruce is implied to be a necessary and useful tactic she employs to keep her magic a secret, and no commentary on the potential harmfulness of lying is offered. Lucy Lancaster Is Totally in Control offers adults the opportunity to discuss Lucy’s behavior with young readers and apply it to their own lives. 

Despite their differences, Lucy and Skye’s relationship demonstrates the joy of family connections. Lucy is determined to have a fun weekend with her cousin Skye, and many readers will find their bond relatable to their own family experiences. The story introduces Skye’s two mothers, which normalizes different family arrangements without making them the focus of the story. This allows children to see diverse families as part of everyday life. 

Lucy Lancaster is Totally in Control is a fun book suitable for independent readers. Large black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page. The illustrations are charming and highly expressive, effectively highlighting the key details of every scene and visually conveying the emotions of various characters. Each chapter begins with a full-page illustration that seamlessly transitions readers into the next section, picking up where the previous chapter left off. The Lucy Lancaster Series can be read in any order because each book focuses on a new adventure. 

Lucy Lancaster is Totally in Control continues the themes of self-reliance and problem-solving present in the previous Lucy Lancaster books. Lucy must quickly figure out how to handle the situations caused by her hiccups without revealing her magic. Lucy also learns that, even if her plans do not turn out the way she wanted, she can still have a fun day. What may have seemed like a disaster at first could turn out to be an opportunity.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Lucy and her cousin Skye lose the game “Twisted Tower,” their make-believe characters fall off the tall wizard tower. Skye exclaims, “I fall to my doom!” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • Lucy’s magic manifests in two ways: her spontaneous and uncontrollable hiccups (accompanied by her toes tingling) and the spells she recites from her spell book. 
  • Lucy hiccups while eating breakfast, causing the orange in her hand to explode, “spraying juice and pulp everywhere.” She later reflects on how “her magic seemed to have a mind of its own.” 
  • Despite having cleaned her room, Lucy’s hiccups cause “an avalanche of games, dress-up clothes, and stuffed animals” to come out of her closet. Her cousin Skye assumes that Lucy had shoved everything into her closet before having guests over, and Lucy is unable to prove otherwise. 
  • Lucy and Skye play a board game called “Twisted Tower” in which they must scale a wizard’s tower to receive his blessing. Lucy hiccups while rolling the dice, and it flies into the air, around the room, and back to her. Skye remarks that the path of the dice was “like magic,” and Lucy denies it. 
  • In secret, Lucy makes her charm bracelet spell the word “COUSINS” as a surprise for Skye. However, she hiccups while completing it, and the letter beads become “regular old beads.” 
  • Skye hides in Lucy’s room, preparing to scare Lucy and make her hiccups go away. Lucy sits on the other side of the door with her stuffed dog named Boris. She hiccups, causing Boris to come to life. He starts to move and talk, telling Lucy, “I am the guardian of this room . . . None shall pass.” Boris floats, and Lucy worries that Skye will open the door and see him in the air. 
  • Lucy’s spell book magically appears while she is trying to catch the floating Boris. She opens the Book of Spells and sees “The No More Hiccups Spell” has appeared in the pages. 
  • When Lucy recites “The No More Hiccups Spell,” she sees a swirl of magic sparkles leave the animated Boris and fly through her bedroom door. The magic seemingly transfers to Skye, who immediately begins hiccupping. 
  • Skye’s new magic hiccups cause all of Lucy’s stuffed animals to “rise into the air. Boris is flying, too, and returns to life.” Skye wonders if the stuffed animals are magic, and Lucy hurriedly lies that they are robotic. Skye hiccups again, and the stuffed animals begin “cleaning up [Lucy’s] messy room.” 
  • To keep the magic hiccups a secret and prevent Skye from hiccupping, Lucy decides to “reverse her last spell.” She uses her spell book and follows the directions for “How to Catch the Hiccups,” a new piece of text that has appeared in the book. The spell succeeds, and the stuffed animals all fall to the ground. 
  • Lucy’s hiccups return to her, and she makes Boris fly without Skye knowing. 
  • Lucy and Skye end the day playing make-believe. They pretend to be witches with magic wands, casting spells on everything around them. Both Lucy and Skye fall asleep dreaming that they are flying on broomsticks. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Gabrielle Barke 

Finally Seen

After patiently waiting, Lina Gao is finally going to be reunited with her parents and younger sister in the United States! For the past five years, Lina has been living in Beijing, China, and has been raised by her grandmother, Lao Lao. Her parents and younger sister moved to America without Lina, promising that she would eventually join them. So, when the day finally comes, Lina is excited to see her family again and begin her new, glorious life in America. 

When Lina arrives, the life her parents described and the reality of their situation are very different. Money is tight, their apartment seems to be falling apart, her dad is overworked, and she has trouble connecting to her younger sister. On top of all that, Lina is struggling to learn English, which makes it hard for her to connect with other kids her age. In fact, other kids have been laughing at her, making fun of her, and destroying her confidence.  

Despite these challenges, Lina decides to push through, not only for herself but also for her family. She works hard to learn English with her ELL teacher, she begins to make friends, and she steps into her role as a big sister. In addition, she helps her dad find the courage to leave his harmful work environment, and she helps her mom grow her small business. Through this, her family overcomes financial hardships, and Lina rebuilds her confidence and begins to excel.  

Lina also finds her voice and conquers her fears, allowing her to give a speech in English to a large crowd. Lina stood “staring out at so many strangers, each and every one of whom [spoke] better English than [her].  She felt her knees wobble. But adrenaline [pushed her] forward as [she reminded herself] that [she] worked too hard and waited too long for this moment.” This is one example that proves that her voice is courageous and powerful.  

Millie Gao, Lina’s younger sister, grew up in America after her parents moved there with her when she was very young. She is bubbly and extremely extroverted, contrasting with her older sister Lina. Her embrace of youth culture is evident in her obsession with TikTok dances and trendy expressions. However, Millie struggles with insecurities when trying to fit in with her classmates, particularly the most popular classmates. Initially, she compromises her principles to fit in, but as the story progresses, she experiences personal growth and recognizes what and who is truly important to her. Millie realizes that her popular peers, who are absorbed in their own lives, are no match for her family, who cherish her deeply.  

Finally Seen is a heartwarming story that displays the realistic lives of an immigrant family and their struggles in modern America. At only ten years old, Lina has taken on the burden of her parents’ financial hardships, attempts to fit into American culture, and navigates discrimination at school. Her character is relatable to any young immigrant who has struggled with learning English and adapting to American life. It is also relatable to any reader who has endured bullying and, like Lina, found strength through the struggle.  

Kelly Yang wrote Finally Seen with her own experiences in mind, as she, too, faced harsh realities when she was a young immigrant in America. Like Lina, Yang moved to America at a young age and initially struggled to find her way. Eventually, she overcame adversity and decided to share her story with others to ensure that they felt seen. Finally Seen is a must-read due to its authenticity and uplifting, inspiring narrative.    

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While there is no physical violence, Lina faces bullying. Jessica, a student in Lina’s class who is hostile towards her, wrote a mean message on the back of the school’s bathroom stall. She wrote, “I wonder why she doesn’t talk. Her English is trash, that’s why. I bet Mrs. Carter only gave her the Best Emerging Artist thing because she felt sorry for her. It’s a pity award – for sure.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Leela Kowalski    

The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II

“You are to report to Station X at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, in four days’ time. . . That is all you need to know.” This was the terse telegram that hundreds of young women throughout the British Isles received in the spring of 1941, as World War II raged. As they arrived at Station X, a sprawling mansion in a state of disrepair surrounded by Spartan-looking huts with little chimneys coughing out thick smoke, these young people had no idea what kind of work they were stepping into. Who had recommended them? Why had they been chosen? Most would never learn all the answers to these questions.  

Bletchley Park was a well-kept secret during World War II, operating under the code name Station X. The critical work of code-cracking Nazi missives that went on behind its closed doors could determine a victory or loss against Hitler’s army. Amidst the brilliant cryptographers, flamboyant debutantes, and absent-minded professors working there, it was teenaged girls who kept Station X running. Some could do advanced math, while others spoke a second language. They ran the unwieldy bomb machines, made sense of wireless sound waves, and sorted decoded messages. They were expected to excel in their fields and most importantly: know how to keep a secret. 

The Enigma Girls explores the period between 1939 and 1945, introducing ten Enigma teens, as well as a host of other individuals and the various jobs at Bletchley Park. The author does an impressive job showing the importance of the work as well as the silliness of the girls; after all, they were teenagers. While the girls played a significant role in the war effort, their unique personalities do not stand out. However, readers will be amazed by the Enigma Girls’ abilities as well as their dedication to their jobs. Because of the work that went on at Bletchley Park, lives were saved, and Hitler was defeated. 

The book is broken into short chapters with catchy titles, and historical pictures appear every one to two pages. Since most of the girls were involved in code breaking, there are several sections titled “Top Secret” that explain how to break codes or decipher a message. Additionally, several pictures depict the complex computers used in code breaking. Although the book presents information in smaller sections, many readers may still struggle to retain all the information.  

As part of the True Stories in Focus Series, The Enigma Girls is specifically written for a middle school and high school audience, utilizing rigorous research to provide accurate and compelling content for young readers. The True Stories in Focus Series emphasizes sharing true stories and focusing on real individuals and their authentic experiences. These books aim to help young people understand the world, develop critical thinking skills, and connect historical events to the present. 

Anyone interested in World War II or code breaking will find The Enigma Girls to be a fascinating book, packed with information on how teenage girls contributed to the war effort. The different treatment between the girls and the men at Bletchley Park adds another layer of depth to the book. Readers with limited knowledge of World War II may be overwhelmed by the numerous details included in The Enigma Girls. However, the book would be immensely helpful for anyone researching World War II. Readers can learn more about code breaking by reading Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing by Paul B. Janeczko and The Usborne Book of Secret Codes by Eileen O’Brien & Diana Riddell. Readers interested in World War II who want a fictional account should read Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen and Lifeboat 5 by Susan Hood. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Germany’s attacks on foreign lands are mentioned. However, most of the attacks are not described beyond listing the number of casualties. The book does include many historical pictures of the aftermath of an attack. For example, one illustration shows a Polish factory burning after “a lightning-quick Nazi air raid.” 
  • Germany attacked Poland. The battle is not described. However, after Britain declared war on Germany, British citizens were given gas masks to protect themselves. One illustration shows “a nursery school class practicing using them.” 
  • To work for the British army, Elizabeth Blandy and the other Enigma Girls had to sign the Official Secrets Act. A commander told Elizabeth, “It clearly states that if you disclose the slightest information about this place or your work. . . you will be committing treason. . . If you did, you would be liable to the most extreme penalties of the law. . . I’m not sure whether, at this moment, that’s hanging or shooting by firing squad.”
  • On Black Saturday, the Nazis attacked Britain. “Suddenly, the sky grew dark as 348 German planes began dropping high explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the city. Flames billowed. Buildings collapsed. Terrified citizens streamed toward air raid shelters. . . In just a few hours, 430 people were killed and 1,600 injured.” 
  • The British Navy attacked an Italian Fleet in the Mediterranean. Mavis wrote, “Our sailors did grand work in the battle. They sent [five ships] to the bottom of the ocean. . . and our Navy lost not a man, not a ship, and not even a square inch of paint.” An illustration shows “a scene of nighttime action as British warships bombard Italian battleships at the Cape of Matapan.” 
  • The German ship Bismarck and the British ship HMS Hood, the flagship of the Royal Navy, battled. “For four thundering minutes the two vessels pounded at each other. Shells screamed overhead. Water exploded. Then one of Bismarck’s shells ripped through Hood’s deck, piercing its ammunition storage and causing a huge explosion. Hood broke in half and sank beneath the waves. All but two of its crew members sank with it.” 
  • As Bismarck fled, the British launched an attack. “The battleship could do little to save itself. Within hours it sank, taking twenty-three hundred men to the ocean’s bottom.” A picture shows a British warship saving some of the German sailors from the ocean. 
  • One of the Enigma Girls, Gwen, was horrified when she was given a Nazi’s cipher book. “The book’s cover had a huge bloodstain on it. She discovered the inside pages did, too, once she got up the courage to open it. When she drew away her hand, it was sticky with blood.” 
  • The D-Day attack is described over three pages. On Omaha Beach, “US troops faced heavy resistance. Eventually, after a tough and bloody fight, they, too, successfully stormed the beach.” There are five illustrations of the troops who fought on D-Day. 
  • A chapter discusses the dropping of an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima and later Nagasaki. The casualties are listed, and one illustration shows the destruction in Hiroshima.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When an admiral was arriving at Bletchley Park, a couple of girls rushed to a pub to buy some wine. Later, the admiral gives a toast. 

Language  

  • “Good God” and “good heavens” are used as exclamations. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Ship of the Dead

Magnus Chase can’t catch a break. First, he died bravely and was reborn in Valhalla, the Norse afterlife for heroes. Soon after his death, he had to embark on a mission to stop Fenris Wolf from escaping. Shortly after this perilous quest, he had to find Thor’s missing hammer, which is much easier said than done. Now, Magnus faces his toughest challenge. The sinister trickster god Loki has broken free from his prison and is intent on starting Ragnarök, the prophesied end of the world. 

Magnus and his ragtag group of friends must sail across three worlds to intercept Loki and prevent him from wreaking havoc with his army of the undead. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, Magnus wrestles with one question: Is he strong enough to stand against Loki?  

The Ship of the Dead is the fast-paced and engaging finale to the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard trilogy. Building upon the groundwork laid in the first two installments, this book dives further into Norse mythology while exploring themes of family, strength, and individuality. Throughout this novel, Magnus and his friends band together as they face many different foes. They support one another while embracing the unique skills and backgrounds that each character brings to the team.  

The plot is driven by the eight core characters of this novel, who are as eclectic as they are lovable. Magnus, a deeply compassionate healer, is willing to risk everything to protect his friends. Sam, one of Odin’s Valkyries, embarks on the quest while fasting for Ramadan, and utilizes this to help her stay focused and determined. Hearth, a deaf elf, is the greatest sorcerer in the Nine Worlds. Blitz, a fashionable dwarf, is a skilled designer and inventor. T.J., a Civil War soldier who died serving the Union, is as cheerful as he is brave. Mallory, a hotheaded fighter who hails from Ireland, is ready to attack any challenge that comes her way. Halfborn, a Viking warrior who died over a thousand years ago, is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Finally, Alex, the transgender and genderfluid child of Loki, unites the crew with her mischievous nature and quick wit.        

The Ship of the Dead contains Riordan’s familiar humorous writing style and well-developed plots. This story contains many characters and settings, which some readers may find confusing. However, readers do not have to be familiar with Rick Riordan’s previous works to enjoy the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Series.  

Like the previous installments in this series, The Ship of the Dead discusses serious topics such as homelessness, ableism, transphobia, child abuse, and Islamophobia. These themes will resonate with readers who relate to the struggles that the characters face and allow them to feel represented and understood. These topics are written about in a way that is suitable for young readers, and this novel offers readers a chance to consider new perspectives and learn about those who are different from them.   

The Ship of the Dead is an action-packed and touching finale to one of Rick Riordan’s greatest series. Readers will be both entertained and moved by the plot and the bonds that the characters develop with one another. This series is perfect for middle-grade readers who are eager for a fun and adventurous story.  

Sexual Content  

  • Magnus and Alex, Magnus’s friend and child of Loki, kiss as they are walking across a frozen bay. Magnus details, “Then, before I even knew what was happening, she kissed me. She could have bitten off my mouth and I would have been less surprised. Her lips were cracked and rough from the cold. Her nose fit perfectly next to mine. Our faces aligned, our breath mixed. Then she pulled away.” 
  • A giantess named Skadi says that Loki publicly “insinuated that he had shared [her] bed.”  
  • Alex and Magnus kiss after the quest is complete. Alex “clamped his hands on the sides of my face and kissed me.”  

Violence  

  • Magnus describes the accidents he had while training for his quest. He had “gotten chomped by a great white shark, strangled by a giant squid, and stung by a thousand irate moon jellyfish.” He recovers from all these injuries.  
  • Alex decapitates a wolf that had stolen a mead horn from Magnus’s uncle’s house. Alex “lashed out with his garrote like he was throwing a bowling ball. . . the golden cord wrapped around the wolf’s neck. With a yank backwards, Alex cured the wolf of any future headache problems. The decapitated carcass flopped against the carpet.” 
  • Halfborn injures his head during a shipwreck. “Halfborn Gunderson was slumped over the rudder, blood dripping from an ugly gash on his forehead.” Magnus heals Halfborn. 
  • Nine giantesses attack Magnus and his friends. “The nine sea giantesses fell upon us with a collective howl of glee. My friends were ready. Mallory Keen flipped onto [a giantess’s] back and plunged her knives into the giantess’s shoulders. Halfborn Gunderson dual-wielded mead goblets, slamming [one giantess] in the face and [another] in the gut.” This fight is described over seven pages. Nobody is seriously injured or killed.  
  • In a dream, Magnus hears Kvasir, a wise being created by the gods, being murdered. “Inside the cave, Kvasir began to scream. A few moments later, I heard the sound of a chainsaw, then liquid gurgling into a large cauldron.”  
  • In a dream, Magnus sees Alex get kicked out of her house. “A trickle of blood ran from [Alex’s] left temple. She crawled down the front walk on her hands and knees, her palms shredded from breaking her fall and leaving dabs of blood on the cement like a sponge painting.” It is implied that Alex was kicked out for being transgender. Alex leaves, and the pair do not reconcile.       
  • T.J. fights a stone giant in a duel. “With a dry crack T.J.’s rifle discharged. The giant roared in pain. He staggered backward, smoke streaming from his left eye, which was now black instead of amber.” T.J. kills the giant. The fight scene is described over 11 pages.  
  • Magnus kills a dragon by stabbing it in the heart with his sword, Jack. “Fumbling and panicked I positioned Jack’s point against the weak spot in the hide. Then, with all my strength, I drove the sword into the dragon’s chest.”  
  • Magnus kills a giant with the help of a flock of crows. “[The giant] raised his ax over his head once more. Jack pulled me into battle as the murder of crows rose from their tree and swarmed [the giant’s] face, pecking at his eyes, nose, and Frosted Flakes beard.” 
  • Magnus and his friends fight an undead army on Loki’s ship. Alex “turned into a mountain lion and lunged at the [zombie], biting his head clean off. . . Sam pulled out her Valkyrie spear. With searing light, she blasted through the undead, burning dozens at a time, but hundreds more pressed forward, their swords and spears bristling.” During this fight scene, which spans over three pages, numerous zombies are killed.      

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The characters occasionally mention and drink mead. 
  • Magnus recalls seeing how alcohol affected people while he was homeless. “I’d been on the streets long enough to know how ‘mead’ improved people’s skills. Pick your poison: beer, wine, vodka, whiskey. Folks claimed they needed it to get through the day. They called it liquid courage. It made them funnier, smarter, more creative. Except it didn’t. It just made them less able to see how unfunny and stupid they were acting.”  

Language  

  • While kicking her out of his house, Alex’s father yells, “That’s all I want from you! To be a normal kid! Is that so damn hard?”

Supernatural  

  • Magnus has a magical sword named Jack that can talk and fly.  
  • Sam is a Valkyrie, a warrior who leads the souls of the dead heroes to Valhalla, the Norse afterlife for heroes who died bravely in battle.  
  • Magnus and his friends sail in a magical ship that can take the form of a handkerchief. Magnus “flicked the handkerchief toward the water. As soon as the cloth hit the surface, the corners unfolded and unfolded. . . In the space of two breaths a Viking longship lay at anchor in the canal, the turbulent water coursing around its stern.” 
  • Magnus and his friends encounter nine giantesses as they are sailing. “In front of us, the sea had started to churn, swirling into a downward funnel like someone had pulled the bathtub plug out of Massachusetts Bay. Rising from the maelstrom were the giant watery forms of women—nine in all, each as large as our ship, with dresses of foam and ice, and blue-green faces contorted in rage.” They fight the giantesses and escape. 
  • Magnus has healing powers that he often uses on himself and his friends when they get injured. For example, he “channeled Frey-power to heal Halfborn’s head wound.”  
  • Hearth is a sorcerer who uses runes to cast spells. “Hearth threw a runestone I hadn’t seen before. It hit [a giantess] with a bright flash, liquefying her into a large angry puddle.” The giantess recovers.  
  • Magnus possesses a magical ability known as the Peace of Frey. This power allows Magnus to “blast everyone’s weapons out of their hands.” 
  • \A stone giant appears in front of Magnus and his friends and threatens to kill them. Magnus’s “mind had to process what [he] was looking at: not a section of ruined wall, but a giant, twenty feet tall, whose appearance perfectly mimicked limestone.” Magnus and his friends fight the giant. 
  • Hearth’s dad, Mr. Alderman, is transformed into a dragon by a cursed ring. “The monster’s four feet were each the diameter of a trashcan lid. Its short thick legs dragged along a lizard-like body, maybe fifty feet from nose to tail, its spine ridged with spikes bigger than my sword. . . The new, dragonish Alderman pulled himself from his lair, muttering, grinning, then cackling hysterically—all for no apparent reason.” 
  • After Magnus accidentally tastes the blood of a dragon heart, he gains the ability to understand animals.   
  • Magnus and his friends encounter an undead army on Loki’s ship. “Taking up most of the vast deck, they stood at attention in ranks of ghostly white and blue, tens of thousands, like they were waiting for a parade review. Some were mounted on zombie horses. Others had zombie dogs or wolves by their side. A few even had zombie birds of prey perched on their skeletal arms.”   

Spiritual Content  

  • This novel is centered around Norse mythology and contains frequent depictions of and references to Norse gods. 
  • While on the quest, Sam is fasting during Ramadan. This means that she does not eat or drink during the day. 
  • Magnus prays to Frey for help when he is fighting the giantesses. Magnus says, “Okay, Frey, Dad, please. . . we’re about to die down here, so if you’ve got any help you could send me, I’d really appreciate it. Amen.” Frey sends a deity to aid Magnus. 
  • Sam prays and breaks her fast. “At sunset. . . Sam did her ritual washing. She prayed facing southwest, then sat down next to me with a satisfied sigh and unwrapped a package of dates. She passed me one, then took a bite of hers. She closed her eyes as she chewed, her face transformed by pure bliss like the fruit was a religious experience. Which I guess it was.” 

by Kelly Barker 

Saving Animals After Tornadoes

The Super Outbreak of 2011 was a series of more than 300 powerful tornadoes that struck in 15 different states over several days in April of 2011. One of the most destructive natural disasters in U.S. history, the tornado outbreak killed more than 340 people and flattened thousands of buildings. Many pets, farm animals, and wild animals were injured or left stranded without food or water. Could rescue workers save the animals and reunite pets with their owners? In Saving Animals After Tornadoes, kids will discover the inspiring stories of rescue organizations like the Alabama Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, whose volunteers brought injured pets to animal shelters for veterinary care, and the Alabama Wildlife Center, whose rescue teams saved baby birds with broken wings and damaged feathers. 

When tornadoes tear through communities, the devastation extends far beyond damaged buildings and uprooted trees. Saving Animals After Tornadoes opens readers’ eyes to a crucial but often overlooked aspect of natural disasters: the countless animals that suffer injuries and displacement when these powerful storms strike. 

While most people understand that tornadoes destroy homes and property, this book reveals how wildlife and pets become casualties too. Dogs, cats, baby birds, deer, horses, and even ferrets face serious injuries during these catastrophic events. The book emphasizes that these vulnerable animals require immediate assistance, and fortunately, dedicated volunteers, rescue organizations, and veterinarians step up to provide life-saving care. 

Saving Animals After Tornadoes captivates readers through its thoughtful design. Each page features a striking photograph paired with a text box containing a bold headline and one concise paragraph. Blue circles highlight fascinating facts, while descriptive captions provide additional context. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of injured animals alongside heartwarming rescue stories, creating a balanced perspective on disaster response. 

The book concludes with valuable reference materials, including a list of animals most vulnerable to tornadoes, accounts of famous tornado events and rescues, and a helpful glossary. Important vocabulary terms appear in bold throughout the text, making complex concepts accessible to readers. 

The book presents a startling statistic: scientists cannot fully explain why the United States experiences most of the world’s tornadoes, with approximately 1,300 striking the country annually. However, when disaster strikes, people and search-and-rescue dogs work together to help find survivors. Despite this sobering reality, Saving Animals After Tornadoes maintains an optimistic tone by celebrating the countless individuals who dedicate themselves to helping both animals and people affected by natural disasters. Older readers who want to learn more about how search-and-rescue dogs help people should read Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World by Nancy F. Castaldo. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • The book includes photographs and descriptions of the destruction caused by tornadoes. For example, in the Super Outbreak of 2011, “more than 340 people were killed by the storm.” 
  • Baby birds are often injured during a tornado because “most types of birds cannot fly until they are a few weeks old. As a result, baby birds are not able to move to safety if they see tornadoes coming.” 
  • A huge tornado hit Joplin, Missouri. “The storm flattened entire neighborhoods, killing more than 100 people.” 
  • A tornado destroyed a barn. A couple learned the barn “had been turned into a heap of cracked lumber. . . They soon found one of their horses, Cajun, but he was bleeding badly.” The horse had an operation to remove wood splinters from its leg. 
  • Mason, a dog, was lost during a tornado. When he finally made it back home, he had to have an operation. Doctors “had to put two metal plates and 17 screws in Mason’s legs to help them heal.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Kristy’s Great Idea

Kristy Thomas was having a normal dinner with her family when she had a brilliant idea: she should start a babysitting club! The club would meet three times a week, and during that time, parents can call and reach four babysitters at once. With the help of her friends Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, there is nothing that can stand in the way of The Baby-Sitters Club being created. Together, the four girls promote their new club by distributing fliers, putting an ad in the paper, and creating a logo.  

As the club becomes more and more popular with parents, the girls must learn how to run a business, all while navigating their lives as middle school students. Can the girls overcome their personal struggles and ensure the club’s success? 

Kristy’s Great Idea focuses on the formation of The Baby-Sitters Club and the girls’ adventures in babysitting. This comical and easy-to-read graphic novel is perfect for younger readers. Each page contains one to ten short sentences. These short sentences use easy-to-read vocabulary that makes the book accessible to struggling readers. The colorful and bold illustrations effectively capture the characters’ expressions and creatively portray various scenes. The story is told almost entirely through dialogue, which readers will find interesting and engaging.  

The Baby-Sitters Club sets a good example for young readers because the characters display responsibility and maturity while babysitting. The babysitting scenes remain lighthearted, and the girls respond well to different problems that arise while on the job. For example, when Claudia is faced with three children who are screaming and running around the room, she calmly begins to read to another child, rather than giving in to the chaos or losing her temper. Her decision to do this causes the rambunctious children to settle down and listen to the story.  

This story effectively balances fun babysitting antics with more serious plotlines. For instance, Kristy is shown struggling with her parents’ divorce and rejecting her soon-to-be stepfather, Watson. She lashes out towards her mom and Watson due to her difficult emotions, but by the end of the story, she has grown fond of her future stepsiblings and is supportive of her mother’s engagement to Watson. Kristy’s journey is portrayed in a way that is approachable for young readers, and this story will resonate with audiences who are facing similar circumstances.  

The simple plot, combined with likable characters and the cartoonish art style, makes this graphic novel a great choice for elementary and middle schoolers who are eager to dive into a series. This book contains positive messages about the importance of friendship, determination, and resilience. The overall plot and themes of this graphic novel adaptation are faithful to the original series, with the illustrations making the story more appealing to younger readers. Kristy’s Great Idea is an engaging and easy-to-read introduction to The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel adaptations.   

Sexual Content  

  • Kristy’s mother is dating a man named Watson. The couple becomes engaged by the end of the book.   
  • When Stacey learns that she will be meeting Kristy’s older brothers, she is shown smiling with hearts in her eyes. She gets hearts in her eyes often when talking about the older brothers.  
  • Kristy’s older brother Sam is shown blushing when he meets Stacey. He decides to stay at home instead of visiting his friend so he can be around Stacey.  
  • Stacey smiles as she tells Kristy, “Your older brother is so hot!” 

Violence  

  • A four-year-old boy named Jamie falls off a swing. There is an illustration of Jamie being pushed on the swings, and the next panel says the word, “Thump!” Jamie is shown crying, but there are no visible signs of injury.  
  • Kristy tells a story about how she broke her ankle last summer. Kristy says, “I was taking our dog, Louie, for a walk. . . I wasn’t actually walking, I was riding my bike. Louie was on his leash running next to me and we came to a tree. Louie went one way, and I went the other, and WHOOOSH!” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language   

  • The word geez is used occasionally. For example, Kristy says, “Geez. . . what if Mom marries Watson?” 
  • The word gosh is used occasionally.  
  • After Sam prank calls the club, Kristy calls him a rat.  
  • Mrs. Porter, a woman who lives next door to where Mary Anne is babysitting, calls a cat a rapscallion after it digs in her garden.

Supernatural  

  • Karen, a little girl Mary Anne is babysitting, thinks that her neighbor, Mrs. Porter, is a witch. 
  • Karen tells Mary Anne that Mrs. Porter cast a spell on her cat to make it fat. After Mrs. Porter chases the cat out of her garden and up a tree, she touches her nose, and the cat falls to the ground, where it lands on its feet and runs away. Karen is convinced that a spell caused this.  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Kelly Barker 

The Bletchley Riddle

Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II—Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother.

The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother’s disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues that unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept? 

The Bletchley Riddle alternates between the perspectives of two engaging siblings, Lizzie and Jakob. Fourteen-year-old Lizzie is reminiscent of Enola Holmes—spunky, intelligent, independent, and resourceful. Readers will quickly fall in love with this “half-American” character who approaches problems with refreshing directness. Determined to find her mother, Lizzie enlists the help of two loyal friends, Colin and Marion. Together, the trio embarks on fact-finding adventures that lead them into surprising situations filled with suspense and excitement.  

Jakob, meanwhile, is an awkward mathematician who resorts to terrible jokes when under stress. This serious young man is determined to help defeat the Germans through his code-breaking abilities, but cracking the Enigma machine proves more challenging than anticipated. Complications arise when a mysterious figure appears, intent on proving that both Jakob and his mother are enemy spies. Focused on his crucial work, Jakob becomes frustrated by Lizzie’s unwavering insistence that their mother remains alive. Though Jakob rarely ventures beyond Bletchley Park’s boundaries, he experiences his own share of adventures. 

The Bletchley Riddle contains all the elements of compelling fiction: well-developed characters with distinct voices, an intriguing mystery, and high stakes throughout. The story features memorable individuals with realistic flaws and antagonists who pose genuine threats to the siblings. However, the primary danger stems from the ongoing war with Germany, which Jakob and his fellow Bletchley Park colleagues are determined to help win. The various plot threads converge satisfyingly in the conclusion, and while the story doesn’t end with Germany’s defeat, readers will finish with a sense of satisfaction.  

As historical fiction, the novel incorporates fascinating details about Bletchley Park and the vital work of codebreakers during World War II. Six pages of black-and-white photographs showcase code-breaking machinery, wartime scenes, and newspaper headlines. Unfortunately, these photographs lack captions, leaving readers to interpret their significance independently. Nevertheless, readers will absorb numerous interesting facts about the war, codebreaking techniques, and the individuals who played crucial roles in the Allied effort. Readers interested in learning more about Bletchley Park should also consider reading The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming. 

The Bletchley Riddle appeals to more than just history enthusiasts. The captivating narrative will keep readers engaged as the they attempt to solve the mystery surrounding Lizzie and Jakob’s mother’s disappearance while following the characters’ efforts to crack the Enigma code. The novel effectively highlights the courage and intelligence of the British people who refused to capitulate to German forces.  

Sexual Content  

  • As Lizzie delivers messages at Bletchley Park, she sees, “Couples kissing behind trees.” 
  • Lizzie tells the commander, “Well, the light in the ladies’ loo isn’t broken. The light bulb is intentionally unscrewed, as that location is a preferred spot for snogging. . . That is to say, kissing.” 
  • Collin admits to having a crush on Lizzie. He says, “I just knew that every time I was around you, I felt so odd.” When Lizzie admits to having a crush on Collin, she asks, “What happens now?” Collin replies, “I imagine we’ll just be better friends now.” They decide to hold hands.  

Violence  

  • Lizzie’s mother, Willa, is missing. She was “killed in a bomb blast. . . A falsity I refuse to accept.” Lizzie was told, “Willa went to Poland, the Germans attacked, and she was killed.” 
  • Later, Lizzie learns that Willa “stuck to her post, even as German bombers targeted the train. . . The station was destroyed. The Poles thought she was probably killed.” However, Willa is not dead. 
  • A newspaper article describes the Luftwaffe air raid. “[The Germans] hit factories and airfields up and down the coast. And some nearby houses as well.”  
  • Collin’s brother, a pilot, “was shot down over the Channel. He hasn’t been found.” Collin’s brother is presumed dead. Pilots had a life expectancy of four weeks. 
  • Lizzie and her brother are in London when the Germans attack. “Jakob grabs my hand as pulverized stone and glass rain down upon us. . . Flames rise in the distance, licking the sides of buildings.” They hide in an air raid shelter where, “the stairs rumble with tremors beneath our feet as we make it to the bottom.” 
  • When it’s safe to go outside, Lizzie and her brother see a changed London. “The morning air is sharp with the tang of burning wood, rubber, paint, sugar—whatever was in those warehouses along the river.” A German plane has crashed on the street, “or pieces of a plane, hunks of metal wreckage scattered along the road and sidewalk.” The pilot survived. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Lizzie knows that “Mr. Fleetwood enjoys too many nips of Old Schenley.” 
  • Lizzie’s grandmother tells her, “Nicknames such as ‘Lizzie’ are reserved for barmaids and axe murderers, of which you are neither.”  
  • A mysterious man Lizzie sees several times smokes cigarettes. 
  • While at a theater, someone buys Lizzie a “fizzy drink,” not realizing it was a gin and tonic. 
  • At an embassy party, champagne is served. 
  • As part of her plan not to go to America, Lizzie and her friends get Mr. Fleetwood “well oiled.”  

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 
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