Reading Level: Elementary

A Dandelion Wish

Kate, Mia, Lainey, and Gabby are special girls. They know how to travel between their hometown and Never Land—through a broken slat in a backyard fence. But what happens when the fence is repaired . . . with one of the girls stuck on the Never Land side?  

Mia sneaks out to Never Land and brings a fairy home. When Gabby finds out, the two girls get into a fight and Gabby decides to go to Never Land alone. When Mia’s father fixes the fence, she calls on her friends—and the fairy—to help. Determined to keep Gabby’s disappearance from her parents, Mia and her friends sneak around, sabotage a lawn mower, and eventually find a new way into Never Land. 

While Mia is trying to find a way to rescue her sister, Gabby is having an adventure with the fairy Iridessa. Many readers will relate to Iridessa, who gets flustered when things don’t go according to plan. When Iridessa is put in charge of watching Gabby, the fairy is surprised at how the girl keeps disappearing. Iridessa is upset that her plans have been interrupted because “planning was how you went about making sure things turned out as you wanted.” However, because of Gabby’s inquisitive nature, Iridessa isn’t able to follow her plan. Eventually, Iridessa realizes, “If it weren’t for Gabby, she never would have seen the dancing fireflies or the trail of wishes. Those things hadn’t been part of her plan, but Iridessa wouldn’t have wanted to miss them for the world.”  

The chapter book has ten short chapters. While the short chapters and illustrations make the story accessible to readers, younger readers may need help with the vocabulary. Cute black and white illustrations appear every one to four pages, which helps bring the fairy magic to life. The illustrations will help readers visualize the story’s plot. 

Young readers will enjoy A Dandelion Wish because of its fun cast of characters that include both clumsys and fairies. Gabby’s adventure into Never Land is full of wonder and her sister’s search for a way into Never Land adds suspense. In the end, Gabby and Mia get over their argument and learn to appreciate each other. However, parents may not like all of Mia’s sneaking around and her desire to keep her parents unaware of Gabby’s disappearance. Despite this, A Dandelion Wish’s high-interest topic, relatable conflict, and friendship among the girls will keep young readers entertained until the end. Readers who would enjoy another entertaining series focused on friendship should check out Purrmaids by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language    

  • Lainey and her friends think an elderly neighbor is a witch. 

Supernatural 

  • Never Land is “an island that has a mind of its own.”  
  • There is a hole in a fence that can be used to travel to Never Land. “No one knew how the passage between the two worlds had come to be—not even the fairies. . .” 
  • The fairy Rosetta is a garden fairy who “can make any flower bloom [and] hear the secrets inside a seed.”  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Tea Dragon Festival

A worthy sequel to the debut graphic novel The Tea Dragon Society, The Tea Dragon Festival immerses readers in a charming fantasy realm where humans and dragons dwell in harmony. Readers may recognize cheerful bounty hunters, Hese and Erik, from the previous installment in the series, but the couple appears noticeably younger and are able-bodied, as this story takes place before Erik’s debilitating injury in battle. 

New characters include Rinn, a young chef learning to use natural ingredients in their recipes with the help of their grandmother, Gramman. While foraging in the woods outside of Silverleaf Village, Rinn stumbles upon a shapeshifting creature named Aedhan who has been asleep for eighty years. Aedhan belongs to the Shining Wing clan of dragons, whose duty it is to oversee the Tea Dragon Festival and protect Silverleaf Village. 

Soon Hese and Erik arrive from their bounty hunting escapades and reveal that they have been tracking a forest spirit that has the power to make its victims sleep for decades without aging. They follow clues to a magical glade and tell the spirit that if it wants to share memories of its flourishing species from thousands of years ago, it should make people dream for a matter of hours rather than decades. The creature bows its head and leaves peacefully. 

When it is time for the Tea Dragon Festival to begin, the village sets up decorations and shares a bounteous feast of home-cooked recipes made from foraged ingredients and tea leaves that will allow Aedhan to glimpse the memories and events during the eighty years he was asleep. Rinn and Aedhan share this meaningful meal and notice their new feelings for one another. Rinn decides that they would rather enjoy cooking as a hobby than as a vocation. Hese and Erik set out on new adventures hinting at the events of the other two books in this lovable trilogy. 

Nonbinary readers will likely identify with Rinn, as well as Aedhan, who remarks that dragons are capable of shifting between male and female forms. Queerness is not called into question or judged in their world. The Tea Dragon Festival also provides positive representation for disabled people, especially the deaf or hard-of-hearing and users of sign language. 

Like in The Tea Dragon Society, O’Neill’s endearing artistic style continues to immerse readers in a flourishing realm that values family, traditions, nature, and following one’s heart. The story is introduced with an author’s note about the depiction of sign language in italicized captions, to distinguish it from verbal dialogue without diminishing its value as a form of communication. 

The Tea Dragon Festival is an adorable companion to its precedent and fluently builds readers’ curiosity about the third installment in the trilogy. Although the premise of making peace with the forest spirit rather than slaying it is appealing, its execution is anticlimactic. The story does not explain how Hese and Erik avoid succumbing to slumber in their encounter with the creature, nor how they manage to communicate with it. Other than this oversight, this graphic novel shows an impressive capacity for storytelling, art, and positive representation. 

Sexual content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • Aedhan fights off a large griffin to protect Rinn and their little sibling, drawing blood from a painful gash. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When brewed into tea, leaves harvested from the small household pets known as tea dragons have the power to send the drinker into a trance and glimpse their own memories or past events experienced by those around them. 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • The book includes multiple fantasy creatures, such as shape-shifting dragons, anthropomorphic birds, and humans with features like tails, horns, furred ears, or goat legs. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

What We Saw

When best friends Abbi and Skylar witness a clandestine meeting between a mysterious woman and someone in a dark van, they’re thrilled. Finally, a mystery to spice up the summer!

Who could these people be? Why are they meeting? Are they spies? Criminals? The two girls are determined to find out. But then a local woman goes missing and is found dead in the woods. And Abbi and Skylar realize that their detective work could hold the keys to solving her murder. Suddenly, sleuthing isn’t so fun anymore.

As tensions rise and their friendship frays, the girls find themselves in increasing danger, and must choose between keeping a secret or exposing a life-altering truth.

What We Saw is told from Abbi’s point of view and her best friend, Skylar, also plays a significant role. Nevertheless, readers may have a difficult time relating to either of the girls. Of the two, Skylar is more adventurous, but she is also jaded because her father is a “cheater.” On the other hand, Abbi is more fearful and often follows Skylar’s lead, even when she knows she shouldn’t. Both girls are secretive and hide things from their mothers because they don’t want to get into trouble. Even when the girls realize they have information about the missing woman, the girls don’t come forward at first. Both girls are immature and self-absorbed which makes it difficult to connect with them.

When Abbi discovers who killed her teacher, Ms. Sullivan, Abbi’s only concern is not letting her mom find out what she’s been up to. Instead of telling her mother the truth, she keeps quiet because “right now, I need a mom who loves me, not one who’s too mad at me to care if I go to jail. I’ll lie my head off to keep her on my side as long as I can.” First of all, Abbi isn’t thinking clearly since she has done nothing illegal. Secondly, Abbi’s mother is portrayed as a reasonable, caring parent who isn’t going to hate her daughter. In fact, when Abbi’s mother finds out part of the truth, she tells Abbi that she will never hate her.

While What We Saw is supposed to be a thriller, there is very little suspense besides the description of the creepy woods that is close to the girls’ treehouse. Instead, Abbi focuses on the typical boring events of the summer—going to the pool, going to the mall, and hanging out with Skylar. In addition, the story often goes off on an unnecessary tangent such as Abbi thinking about the books she’s reading. Another example is when Abbi sees her art teacher leaving Victoria’s Secret and thinks, “She’s my teacher. I don’t want to know she wears lacy bras or sexy lingerie.” These events slow down the pace and do little to advance the plot. 

To make matters worse, the story’s conclusion doesn’t show any personal growth in Abbi. When Abbi goes to Ms. Sullivan’s funeral, Abbi still focuses on herself. Abbi misses her teacher and thinks about Ms. Sullivan’s paintings, but she’s not concerned about the other people who are affected by her death. After the funeral, Abbi thinks of “Skylar and me and the strange distance that’s opened between us. . . I wonder what eighth grade will be like.” Unfortunately, What We Saw lacks the suspense and mystery that is typical in Mary Downing Hahn’s stories. Mystery-loving fans will want to skip What We Saw and instead explore a book with more depth and insight. For a mystery wrapped up in suspense, you can read The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel by Sheela Chari or Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter by Beth Fantaskey.

Sexual Content 

  • As the girls are biking through town, a “beat-up red pickup slows down long enough for the driver to bang on his door and yell something gross at us.” Skylar says the person is “a perv.”
  • Skylar’s father is a “cheater” who ran off with a woman. Skylar brings this up often.
  • Skylar and Abbi are in a tree house when they see two cars stop at the end of a dead-end road. Skylar says, “Maybe the woman is married and she’s meeting the man in secret. Or maybe he’s the one who’s married. Or they both could be married—to other people.”
  • Abbi watches a news report on her teacher’s death. “Ms. Sullivan was assaulted and killed in the woods near Marie Drive. A thirteen-year-old boy found her body under a pile of branches and trash near the train tracks.” 
  • Skyler thinks that two of her teachers, Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Boyce, were having an affair. She says, “Ms. Sullivan was a cheater, too. She knew he was married, she knew he had a kid, but all she cared about was breaking up his marriage so he could be with her. In some ways, she’s worse than he is.”

Violence 

  • Two mean boys from Skylar’s school, Carter and Jason, see the girls on their bikes. “Jason tightens his grip on Skylar’s handlebars, and Carter blocks me. . . Carter makes a move to grab my [Abbi’s] backpack, and I duck away. My feet tangle in the pedals and the bike and I topple over.” Abbi has blood “running down my leg from a cut.” 
  • Skylar finds her brother smoking pot with some of his friends. Her brother says, “Calm down, Skylar, it’s just pot. It’s legal in some places now.”
  • While at Dairy Queen, a man named Paul “grabs Jason by the shirt and says, ‘Keep it up and I’ll punch your face in.’” Abbi’s mom’s boyfriend jumps in and calms Paul down. The boyfriend says that Paul “has issues…Drugs and stuff.”
  • Carter and Jason see Skylar and Abbi coming down the treehouse ladder. As Jason goes up the ladder, he grabs Abbi’s backpack and she falls “not far enough to kill me, but it hurt when I landed hard on my butt.”
  • Carter and Jason get into a fight. “Jason punches Carter, and Carter punches him back. They grab each other like wrestlers and grunt and strain and struggle until Jason’s face turns so red I think he’s dying of heatstroke.” Abbi breaks up the fight.
  • Skylar and Abbi follow Carter and Jason into the woods where they see an old trailer house. A drug dealer, Paul, and his dog Diablo appear and when Diablo smells the kids, they all run. Paul shoots at them as they leave. Skylar, Abbi and Jason stay together, but Carter runs off in another direction.
  • Jason tells the girls how Ms. Sullivan died. After Ms. Sullivan wanders into the woods, she finds Paul’s old trailer. Then, Paul sees her. “He must’ve been out of his mind on drugs. . . He accused her of being after his drug money. . . he hit her. And he hit her, and he hit her again, and he just kept hitting her. And she was yelling, fighting back, but, but—”
  • A police officer tells Abbi that Paul is in jail. When the police went to arrest Paul, they found Carter “badly beaten. He’s in the hospital being treated for severe dog bites and fractures.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • A boy at school smokes cigarettes.
  • Skylar found pot in her brother’s bedroom. Later, Skylar’s brother tells her, “Buying that stuff was a once-in-a-lifetime mistake.”
  • Twice during dinner, Abbi’s mom and her boyfriend have a beer.
  • Skylar and Abbi go to their teacher’s house to get advice. In his kitchen, “the recycling bin overflows with beer cans.” Later, when they go back to his house, Abbi notices that he “smells like beer and coffee.”
  • Carter and Jason were selling drugs for Paul. 

Language   

  • The kids in the story occasionally call other people names such as moron, jerk, druggie, and idiot.
  • Carter blows cigarette smoke in Abbi’s face and says “Bowwow, ugly dog.” 
  • Hell is used once.
  • Jason says that Paul is a “freaking crazy man. A psycho.” 
  • Oh my God is used as an exclamation twice.

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • When Abbi finds out her teacher was murdered, she asks, “Why does God allow bad things to happen to people like her? I don’t understand.”

Wild & Chance

When a girl wakes up trapped on a sinking ship with no memory of who she is, she has nothing but her instinct to survive. As she fights her way to freedom, she quickly discovers two incredible facts: she is a dog and she can understand human speech. Soon, she befriends a thirteen-year-old boy named Chance who gives her a name of her own: Wild. 

But Wild and Chance find themselves running for their lives, pursued by relentless Animal Control officers. Joined by a mysterious hacker girl named Junebug, the unlikely trio fight for survival while trying to solve the mystery of Wild’s extraordinary strength, super-intelligence, and high-tech collar.

Wild’s heart-pounding story will grab readers from the very first page when she almost dies in a yacht explosion. After surviving the ocean, a dog fighting ring, and Animal Control, Wild thinks her problems are over. When Chance befriends Wild, the two connect over the discovery that they are both looking for a home. However, the two are forced to flee as they realize that Maelstrom, a secret military organization, will stop at nothing to silence Wild forever.

Readers will instantly get wrapped up in Wild’s fight for survival. Wild’s unique perspective shows her struggle to fight against her breeding—she was genetically engineered to make humans love her and then kill them. Wild has no desire to hurt anyone, but she must constantly fight her instincts. Despite her past, Wild is determined to keep her new friends, Chance and Junebug, safe. However, Wild isn’t completely sure that Junebug can be trusted. Despite this, Wild is determined to keep her promise to Chance and reunite him with his mother.

Even though Wild is a dog, many readers will relate to her desire to understand her past and determine her own future. The fast-paced mystery is full of action-packed chases, several intense dog fights, and a dramatic conclusion that will leave readers in tears. Wild, Chance, and Junebug are complex characters who are thrown together by circumstance but connect through friendship. While Wild & Chance is a heart-stopping, entertaining book, readers who want to avoid violence should instead read the Wild Rescuers Series by Stacy Plays and the Survival Tails Series by Katrina Charman.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • Wild wakes up on a yacht that smells of gasoline. She sees a boat of soldiers off to the side. One soldier shoots a flare. “There’s a loud whoosh as the flare hits the yacht and the fuel ignites. The explosion comes less than a second later, a thunderclap that shakes the entire vessel and causes the deck to tilt at a steep angle.” Wild jumps into the ocean before the yacht sinks.
  • A man captures Wild and takes her to a dog fighting ring. Not wanting to fight, Wild tries to get off the platform. “I try to run between [the bystanders’] legs to get away, but they kick at me, boots connecting with my hindquarters.” 
  • Wild is forced to fight Thunder, a rottweiler. “The moment I turn, he leaps at me, mouth open wide as he springs for my neck. . . It seems there’s no way to escape this fight, but I no longer want to escape. I want this dog’s throat in my teeth.” Wild forces herself not to kill Thunder. Instead, she twists “to the side, flinging Thunder away from me, hearing him yelp as the big dog goes airborne across the pit. . . “. The dog fight is described over three pages before Wild finds a way to escape the fight.
  • Wild comes across a kid who is corned by a group of boys. “Without warning, the older kid punches him in the stomach, doubling him over. The boy tries to get away, but he’s trapped between a brick wall and the three kids hovering over him.” The older boy hits the kid again and Wild jumps in. Wild is “overwhelmed by a desire to protect the skinny boy. . . I bare my teeth and roar at full volume.” The bullies leave. The scene is described over two pages.
  • Chance hides Wild in his closet. The next morning, two men dressed as animal control appear offering money in exchange for the dog. In the exchange, the men reveal that they plan to kill Wild. When Wild runs, “both officers flick open their zappers and sparks fly. . . The small officer points his zapper in my direction, and an arc of electricity shoots out like a lightning bolt.” In order to escape, “I spin and kick him in the chest with my hind legs, hard enough to knock him backward into the small officer and send the two of them crashing to the ground.” Wild and Chance run. The scene is described over four pages.
  • In order to remove a GPS tracking device, Wild uses her teeth to bite it out. Wild bites “down, ignoring my disgust, and get a fang into my skin. I feel a sharp pain as my tooth pierces the flesh. . .” The dog removes the tracker and throws it out the window.
  • Chance, Wild, and Junebug get picked up by a police officer, who puts them in the back of his police car. The kids know they are in trouble when the police officer drives past the police station and begins heading to a remote location. On the way there, a truck intentionally runs into the police car. “The truck hits us at full speed. Metal grinds against metal and glass shatters. For a few seconds, the patrol car is airborne, and then it crashes down hard, rolling over on itself, flinging us violently from side to side.” The kids and Wild wake up with their wounds cleaned and no serious injuries.
  • In order to find out why Wild has special abilities, Wild and her friends go to see Dr. Pao, who lives in a fenced compound. While there, they hear an explosion. “Another explosion knocks us to the ground, and the rear wall of the compound shatters in front of me. . . A wall of electricity floods the compound, beams crisscrossing, smashing whatever they touch.” Dr. Pao shows the kids a way to escape.
  • As the kids try to escape the soldiers that are on the compound, “Junebug rears back and kicks him hard in the groin, cutting off his sentence and doubling him over with a grunt of pain.” Junebug runs, but Chance disappears. Wild finds Chance. “A Maelstrom soldier has an arm around Chance’s throat, holding him tight. He also has a fully charged zapper with sparks flying from the tip.” Wild free Chance and the two escape. The chase scene is described over eight pages.
  • Another specialized Maelstrom dog is sent to kill Wild. Wild describes, “The dog turns to Chance, his eyes red, drool flowing. He charges without warning . . . I howl and attack, my heart pumping, eyes blind with range. I crash into him from the side, catching him off guard, and my jaws close around his neck.” When Wild realizes that the dog will hurt the children, Wild twists “and throw[s] him high into the air, as hard and as far as I can.” The dog falls over a cliff and dies. The scene is described over four pages.
  • Wild has a flashback to before she was on the yacht. Wild was placed with a family so she could spy on the mother. Once Maelstrom had enough information, Wild was ordered to kill the family. Wild refused and instead, she “lunged at my handler, clamping down on his arm, stripping him of the zapper, and attacking him. His screams are the ones I’ve been hearing in my nightmares.”
  • General Rupani, a Maelstrom soldier, holds Chance captive in order to force Wild to kill a family. Instead of killing the family, Wild breaks into the Maelstrom command center. “The soldiers realize what’s going on and come at me, but I’m moving on instinct, arcing in the air and smashing as I go, a whirlwind of legs and body strikes, and take out the entire room in a matter of seconds.”
  • In order to save Chance and Wild from her father, Junebug takes a zapper “using it like a baseball bat and striking the general in the back of the head with a loud smack. General Rupani grunts and his eyes roll back into his head.” The escape scene is described over six pages.

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • A man finds Wild who is thirsty and hungry. In order to capture Wild, the man gives Wild “a little something. . .to relax you.” The drug makes Wild fall asleep.
  • When Wild wakes up, she’s in a warehouse with a bunch of rich people who are drinking cocktails.
  • Chance’s mom is in drug rehab. Chance tells Wild, “She isn’t a bad person, Wild. She’s an addict. The drugs make you do things you wouldn’t do if you were thinking straight.”

Language   

  • Bullcrap is used once.
  • Heck is used twice.
  • Damn and darn are both used once.
  • As Chance and Wild are running from Animal Control, they hear a helicopter. Chance shouts, “Animal Control doesn’t have friggin’ helicopters!”
  • Junebug says, “My dad can be a real jerk sometimes.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

A Grimm Warning

While his sister, Alex, decided to stay in the fairy world to become a fairy trainee, Conner hasn’t had any adventures and he’s starting to like it that way. While he misses the Land of Stories and its endless fun, the real world has presented Conner with exciting opportunities, such as a school trip to Europe with his crush, Bree. While Alex busies herself with her upcoming acceptance into the Happily Ever After Assembly – the council of kings, queens, and fairies – Conner travels to Europe for a reading of three recently recovered stories written by The Brothers Grimm that had been sealed away for 200 years. 

But the final story reveals a grave warning for the fairytale world, and Conner knows fate has brought him here to decipher the message. He must warn Alex and his friends that General Marquis, a French officer from Napoleon’s Army, wanted to launch an attack on the Land of Stories centuries ago. The Brothers Grimm were able to delay them until the present time, but very soon a portal will open and the French Army will pour into the fairytale world to wreak havoc. Conner must warn them before the army arrives. 

Bree, who has been suspicious of Conner’s tales, tags along as they travel through Europe with the help of a German boy named Emmerich and search for an entrance to the Land of Stories. Conner warns Alex of the coming threat, but sadly, Alex has news in return: The Fairy Godmother, their grandma, is sick. Despite their grandmother’s impending death, the twins work together to rally the kingdoms and prepare for war. Though the battle is difficult, the fairytale world is able to beat back the French Army, but the victory is bittersweet. The Fairy Godmother passes away and now Alex must step up and take on the role of Fairy Godmother. But at least through everything, the twins still have each other.

Alex and Conner are entertaining and relatable narrators. Alex’s serious and scholarly nature contrasts Conner’s witty and easy-going personality, making them a fun duo. As the twins grow older, this installment of the Land of Stories attempts to deal with more mature themes, such as first love and the death of close family members. However, Alex and Conner always support each other during rough times. The twins’ selflessness is admirable, as is their dedication to doing what’s right even if it interferes with their personal desires.

Though the plot for this novel was a bit more outlandish than the previous stories, the Land of Stories series stays true to its themes of relying on family, protecting one’s friends, and staying brave in the face of evil. Additionally, one of main conflicts in this book is that to defeat General Marquis’ army, all the factions in the fairytale world will need to work together. The kingdoms haven’t always seen eye to eye, and they have also excluded certain groups like the elves and troblins (the name used to refer to the troll and goblin community) due to past grievances. However, everyone is stronger together. Alex says, “Every creature is an individual and we can’t punish an entire race for mistakes made by individuals. As easy as it is to label large groups with the reputation of their ancestors, it isn’t right.” 

With the new council in place, Alex and Conner hope that the Land of Stories can recover from the war and move towards a more united future. However, the book ends by suggesting that the twins’ greatest personal battle is about to begin: a strange, masked prisoner who vows to eliminate all fairies is caught stealing an unknown potion from the twins’ late grandmother’s bedroom. It seems that Alex and Conner will still have plenty of adventures ahead of them. Readers who enjoy epic stories with feats of bravery should also check out the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan and the Kingdom Keepers Series by Ridley Pearson

Sexual Content 

  • Conner makes a joke to Alex about how their personalities are so different. Conner says, “Alex, I’ve been impressed by you since the womb. I’m sure your part of the uterus was much neater and more organized than mine.” Alex replies, “Really, Conner? A uterus joke?”
  • Goldilocks and Jack, members of the Land of Stories, kiss at their wedding. “Jack and Goldilocks locked lips and their crowd of guests cheered wildly.”
  • Rook, a village boy who Alex is crushing on, kisses Alex several times throughout the story. “Rook stepped even closer to [Alex] and placed a hand on the side of her face. He looked into her eyes for a moment and then slowly leaned his head closer to hers. . . Rook kissed her for the first time.” Later, Alex says that her favorite days are the ones that end with a good-night kiss from Rook. 
  • Bree kisses Conner on the cheek. Conner says, “I’ve come to the conclusion that I might – possibly – maybe – do have a crush on you.” Bree replies, “I have a crush on you too.” 

Violence 

  • General Marquis threatens the Brothers Grimm. “. . . The brothers were gagged again, their hands retied behind their backs, and the black sacks placed over their heads. . . “ Then the general says, “Find a portal in two months or I’ll make you watch as I personally kill everyone you love.”
  • The talking lion statue explains how Mother Goose and the Brothers Grimm made the magical portal open. “Mother Goose took a dagger and made a cut in her hand and one in Wilhelm Grimm’s hand . . . they held their hands tightly together and let some of the magic from Mother Goose’s blood flow into his.”
  • When the portal is opened and all the French soldiers fall out, the scene is gruesome. “Hundreds of men and pieces of equipment rained from the sky . . .  many soldiers barely missed being crushed by the carriages or cannons or horses that fell beside them . . . Most of [the soldiers] held their heads in agony or vomited.” 
  • General Marquis executes an old man who helped the soldiers. “‘Unfortunately, you know too much,’ [General Marquis] said. ‘Get rid of him.’ The old man screamed. ‘No! Please! I have a family!’ he pleaded, but it was no use. The general didn’t have an ounce of mercy to spare. [The soldiers] dragged the old man into the foggy woods and his screams echoed through the trees around them. A moment later a gunshot was heard and the woods were silent again.”
  • While Alex and Conner are on the back of one of Mother Goose’s geese—Lester—a cannon shoots him. “A rogue cannonball bolted through the sky and blasted through Lester’s right wing. The gander squawked in pain as he and the twins began rapidly descending toward the trees on the horizon. . . They crashed hard into the ground. . . Alex and Conner were too wounded to get to their feet. They both had broken several bones. They heard Lester squawking in the distance – he was perhaps in even more pain than they were.” Alex and Conner fall unconscious. Their injuries are magically healed by a witch. 
  • A witch describes how she healed Little Bo Peep’s broken heart. “I cut out a small piece of Little Bo’s heart, the part that was full of hurt and longing for the men in her life, and I turned it to stone.”
  • General Marquis shoots two of his soldiers. “General Marquis turned to [the soldiers] and shot them both in the foot. They fell backward and slid down the canyon walls. They moaned as they tried to get to their feet. A low growling noise vibrated up the canyon walls and the [soldiers’] moaning increased. A series of deafening screeches echoed next from the canyon, but they weren’t human. . . the camp heard the [soldiers] scream as they were eaten alive” by a dragon.
  • The battle between General Marquis’s army and the Land of Stories takes place over nearly 40 pages. A few people’s deaths are described. There is some violence, such as when Alex fights back by using magic. “Alex swished her wand through the air at [the soldiers]. Their rifles were transformed into long-stemmed roses that pricked their fingers before they could shoot.” 
  • When Rook betrays Alex, she gets angry and lashes out violently. “Without thinking, Alex took her heartbreak out on the soldiers charging at her. She cracked her wand like a whip and a burst of white light sent the soldiers flying into the air.” 
  • Gator, a troll, dies in the battle. “Gator was too small to fight the soldier off alone and lost his balance. The soldier stabbed him in the stomach and Gator fell to the ground. . . the little troll died before he could say another word.” 
  • Little Bo Peep dies. “Bo Peep clutched the side of her chest. . . [she] collapsed on the ground and became very still. . . Little Bo Peep had died of a broken heart.” 
  • The unicorns help fight the dragon. “The unicorns stabbed their horns into the dragon’s feet and he roared in pain. The dragon picked the unicorns up with his front claws and threw them into the forest. . . The dragon grew impatient and scorched the remaining unicorns with his breath.” 
  • The dragon turns on General Marquis and kills him. “The dragon took a deep breath and exhaled a long and powerful fiery geyser from his lungs. The geyser hit the general and he was consumed in its vicious flames. When the dragon stopped, the ground beneath the general had been scorched black and General Marquis was gone.” 
  • The Fairy Godmother kills the dragon. “A long, silvery trail erupted from the tip of the Fairy Godmother’s wand. She happily waved her wand in the air as if she were conducting an orchestra and the trail slashed through the air like a giant whip. The trail grew longer and longer by the second. The dragon jumped back and forth, trying to avoid it. Eventually, the trail was so long the dragon tangled himself in it when he tried flying away. . . She cracked her wand like a whip again, and the trail that was wrapped around the dragon grew brighter and brighter. The others covered their eyes at the blinding sight and the dragon burst into clumps of ash.” 
  • When defeating the dragon, the Fairy Godmother exhausted her powers. “The Fairy Godmother’s eyes closed for the final time. Her body became weightless in [the twins’] hands, transformed into hundreds of bright sparkling lights.”  

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • Mother Goose gets poisoned while in a tavern. 
  • Mother Goose says, “Last time I officiated a wedding, Puss in Boots drank all my bubbly.” 
  • Mother Goose has a flask hidden in her hat and “takes a swig” from it twice. 
  • Mother Goose talks about a tavern that she went to with her “drinking buddies.” 
  • Mother Goose wakes the unconscious Conner by splashing him in the face with alcohol. “Mother Goose removed her flask from her hat and splashed [Conner’s] face with the liquid inside.”

Language   

  • General Marquis calls Mother Goose an “old lush.” 
  • Mother Goose calls Lester, her goose, “mattress filler”
  • Queen Red Riding Hood refers to her rival Bo Peep as “Little Bo Bimbo” and, “A pain in the shepherdess.” 
  • When the fairies don’t want to join the war, Conner says, “Screw the code.” 
  • Conner calls Rook a “stupid boy who needs a haircut.” 
  • Conner refers to the evil enchantress Ezmia as a “narcissistic wench.” 
  • General Marquis calls Conner a “stupid, pathetic, ignorant little boy.” 

Supernatural 

  • All fairytale stories are true in the Land of Stories . . . there is a portal connecting the Land of Stories to the human world, called the Otherworld.
  • Because Alex and Conner’s mother is from the human world but their father is from the Land of Stories, they have a bit of magic in their blood which brings them good luck.
  • The Fairy Godmother can do magic. She is described by General Marquis as someone who “wears robes that sparkle like the night sky, has white flowers in her hair, and carries a long crystal wand.” She can travel between the fairytale world and the Otherworld as well as transform objects. 
  • Mother Goose is another main character in the story. She can do magic, such as teleport, and she travels on a giant goose named Lester. 
  • Mother Goose escapes the Marquis by using magic. “She reached out an open hand and the golden egg floated straight out of the box and into the wagon where she sat. And, with a blinding flash, Mother Goose and the golden egg disappeared into thin air.”
  • Conner has a magic mirror that allows him to contact the fairy world so he can talk to Alex. He uses it periodically throughout the story.
  • Alex uses magic to transform her clothes. “Alex picked up her crystal wand from her nightstand and waved it around her body. Her plain nightgown was instantly turned into a long, sparkling dress the color of the sky, and a headband of white carnations appeared on her head.” 
  • Alex has a unicorn. Unicorns have silver horns that can guide them to people in need. 
  • As part of Alex’s fairy training, she goes out each day and performs three wishes to townspeople in need.
  • Conner and Bree get information from a talking lion statue. 
  • Conner and Bree open the portal to the fairy world with a magical panpipe.
  • The twins cast a magic spell that teleports all the soldiers of the Land of Stories’ kingdoms to the same place. “The world appeared in slow motion as they raised the wand above their heads. The twins could feel magic rush through their bodies and into the wand in their hands. . . a gigantic blast of white light erupted from the tip and surrounded them… Alex and Conner had turned themselves into a shooting star that bolted across the sky faster than anything had ever traveled before. . . Upon seeing it, every soldier of the armies, on duty or in hiding, turned into his or her own sphere of light and instantly shot through the sky to join the twins.” 
  • General Marquis hatches a dragon, the first of which to be seen in the fairytale world for many years. “The dragon emerged from the trees and landed at the edge of the fairy gardens. He was almost as tall as the fairy palace. Red scales covered his body and a forked tongue slipped in and out of his sharp teeth. He had two horns and sharp spikes covered his head and traveled down his spine. Two large wings grew out of the dragon’s back and a long tail whipped around behind him.” 

Spiritual Content 

  • Mother Goose says, “Thank God.” 
  • Conner sees a painting of Jesus in a castle in Germany. 
  • When the dragon attacks and there is little hope left, Conner says that the only thing they can do is pray. 

The Day War Came

The day started with a young girl having breakfast with her family. Afterwards, she heads to school, where she and her classmates learn about volcanoes and the life cycle of frogs. Then just after lunch, war came, and the school was brought down around the girl. All the people she had been with that day, from her teacher to her classmates to her family, were taken away from her. What follows is a moving story that is equally heart-wrenching and thought-provoking, as the girl flees her country and is faced with the possibility that the war may follow her wherever she goes.

The Day War Came uses simple vocabulary and childlike illustrations to introduce young readers to the real-life issues of war and child refugees. The illustrations are drawn to mimic a child’s drawings, making the story more accessible to young readers while also placing them in the perspective of the book’s child protagonist. The book does not specify which war it describes and does not show the resulting violence in its illustrations. Still, the presence of the war and its impact on the protagonist can be felt on nearly every page. 

The arrival of the war is indicated by tall clouds of dark smoke, along with a destroyed skyline of buildings. These drawings, along with the narrator’s description of the attacks, portray the confusion and chaos without directly showing its violence. For example, the narrator describes, “at first, just like a spattering of hail, a voice of thunder. . . then all smoke and fire and noise that I didn’t understand.” The book does not shy away from the reality of war and the struggles faced by war refugees, as the narrator travels across mountains, roads, and seas before arriving in a town where people shun her. 

The story ends with a message of hope, as the children of the town come together to give the narrator a seat in their classroom. On the last page of the book is a note from the author, Nicola Davies. Davies explains that she wrote the book after hearing a story about a child refugee who had been rejected by a school because there wasn’t a chair for her to sit in. Davies hopes that through this story, young readers will be taught the importance of these issues and will be inspired to act for a better future. If you are looking for a book to help your child understand the serious and continuing issue of war and child refugees, The Day War Came is an honest and straightforward guide.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Although no violence is explicitly shown, the narrator says that the war “came across the playground. It came into my teacher’s face. It brought the roof down and turned my town to rubble.”
  • After the first attack, the narrator describes herself as “ragged, bloody,” although no blood is shown in the illustrations.

Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Luke McClain

The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck

Using a unique blend of notes, lists, and classic prose, The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck tells the story of Bud and Laurie’s quest to find the infamous Tutweiler Treasure. They’re hot (or at least lukewarm) on the trail of scavenger hunt clues, but time is running out as the school board wants to tear down Tuckernuck Hall. Can Bud and Laurie find the treasure before it’s lost forever?

When Bud and Laurie are given gerbil duty at their school, the two accidentally discover the first clue to the Tutweiler Treasure. While the story definitely has some laugh-out-loud funny moments, those are largely overshadowed by subplots that don’t add much to the story. These subplots slow down the action and make it hard to stay engaged in the mystery. For example, the two must avoid an English teacher that wants Laurie to start a poetry club, and, in an effort to find a clue, Bud ends up with a part in the school play. 

Bud and Laurie have relatable conflicts with their parents, their classmates, and each other. While looking for the treasure, Bud (the school outcast) and Laurie (who only has one friend) bond over the clues and the gerbils. The gerbils add an interesting twist to the story that will cause readers to laugh. As the two look for the treasure, Bud and Laurie’s relationship changes from unwilling partners to friends, which adds some heart to the story. However, the two characters are not well-developed which makes them easy to forget. 

The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck creates a humorous mystery that lacks suspense. The large cast of characters and the many subplots slow the story’s action, which may make it difficult to stay engaged. Because of the nature of the Tuckernuck Treasure, the story contains no violence and instead creates suspense through Bud’s and Laurie’s teachers, classmates, and family. However, readers who are looking for an action-packed mystery should leave The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck on the shelf. Readers who love the thrill of finding treasure can instead find action and adventure in Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas by Jonathan W. Stokes and Notorious by Gordon Korman.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • Crap is used once.
  • Heck is used frequently.
  • Laurie thinks Bud is a “butt-kisser.”
  • There is some name-calling such as lame, moron, and nitwit. 
  • Laurie thinks that one of the teachers is a “bearded English freak.”
  • Laurie says, “I’m such a dork.”
  • Laurie’s friend calls herself a “goober.”
  • “Holy cow” is used as an exclamation twice; “Omigod” is used as an exclamation once.
  • Laurie writes a list of reasons Bud is an idiot. When he says he wants to say the speech at eighth-grade graduation, Laurie thinks, “Eighth-grade graduation, my butt.”
  • One of Laurie’s lists is titled “Boneheaded Statement of the Day by Bud Wallace.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

Princess Posey and the Next-Door Dog

After hearing about her classmate’s new puppy, Posey wants a dog of her own even though she’s a little bit scared of dogs. When a new neighbor moves in with a dog that has a very big bark, Posey tries not to be afraid. Will her special pink tutu give her the courage to befriend the next-door dog?  

Posey’s teacher assigns a writing assignment: “Write a story about your own dog or pet. . . Those of you who don’t have a pet can write about the pet you hope to own someday.” When the other students talk about their pets, Posey doesn’t want them to know she is afraid of dogs.  

When the next-door neighbor’s dog gets its paw stuck under a chain-link fence, Posey wants to help the dog, but she’s afraid. At first, she couldn’t help because “she was too afraid.” But then Posey thinks about her Gramps’ advice to look into a dog’s eyes. When Posey does this, she sees that the dog’s eyes are kind and sad. This gives her the courage to help the dog and to get over her fear. In the end, Posey writes about how she helped her neighbor’s dog.  

Princess Posey is a relatable first grader who learns how to overcome her fear of dogs. The chapter book has ten short chapters printed in oversized font. With easy vocabulary words and black and white illustrations on almost every page, the Princess Posey Series is perfect for beginning readers. Plus, the cute illustrations will help readers understand the story’s plot. 

Princess Posey and the Next-Door Dog will appeal to readers who love animals because Posey’s classmates tell their own pet stories. Parents will appreciate the positive adults who kindly discipline Posey when needed. However, the story’s plot jumps around and the chapter about Posey’s mean neighbor boys seems out of place. Despite this, young readers will relate to Posey’s fear and will cheer when she is able to put her fear aside and help a dog in need. For more fun, the book also includes directions on how to create a beaded necklace.  

Parents looking for more entertaining series that teach life lesson by using positive protagonists should check out the Jada Jones Series by Kelly Starling Lyons and the Purrmaids Series by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • One chapter shows the neighbor boys being mean to Posey. They invite her to play soccer and then have her stand in one place. Then, they laugh at her saying, “you were a great goalpost.” 
  • Posey is upset that her mom says she cannot get a pet until her brother “gets bigger.” Posey is mad so she “reached over and pulled his binkie out of his mouth.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • After two boys are mean to Posey, she calls them, “Big dummy heads!” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Half-Court Hero

There’s nothing eight-year-old twins Zach and Zoe Walker love more than playing sports and solving mysteries. And when those two worlds collide . . . well it doesn’t get any better than that. When the twins start a summer basketball league at their local park, they notice the once rundown court is getting freshened up with each passing day. First new nets, then the benches have been completely restored. But who’s behind it? Zach and Zoe are on the case!

The Half-Court Hero will appeal to a wide range of readers because it has both play-by-play sports action and a solid mystery. Plus, the twins have many positive attributes thanks to their parents who have taught them to always focus on the positive. While the kids share a love of sports, it’s Zoe’s curiosity that drives the mystery. As the kids practice for a tournament, several accidents happen because the court is in disrepair. When someone secretly begins to make repairs, the kids are determined to discover who the culprit is, even though the person clearly wants to remain anonymous. As the twins dig for clues, their parents remind them that “a good deed is its own reward” and public recognition isn’t necessary. Despite this, Zach and Zoe follow all the clues until they know who the half-court hero is.

There’s a lot to like about The Half-Court Hero including the kind characters and their healthy two parent family. While sports are clearly important to Zach and Zoe’s family, the kids’ parents remind them of good sportsmanship and the importance of passing the ball to whomever is open. Even though the kids want to win the tournament, they know having fun is just as important. 

The short chapters and illustrations that appear every four to seven pages will appeal to young readers. Most of the pictures focus on Zach and Zoe, but the scenes on the basketball court show a diverse group of players. Even though The Half Court Hero is intended for younger readers, emerging readers may struggle with the difficult vocabulary. 

In a world that often glorifies winning at all costs, The Half-Court Hero highlights the importance of being a good sport. While both the conclusion of the basketball tournament and the solving of the mystery are predictable, readers will still enjoy the well-written story that has a good blend of looking for clues, hanging out with family, and basketball action. Readers who want more courtside action should dribble to their closest library and check out a copy of STAT: Standing Tall and Talented by Amar’e Stoudemire.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference

Throughout history, women have been told that science isn’t for them. They’ve been told they are not smart enough, or that their brains just aren’t able to handle it. In this book, Chelsea Clinton introduces readers to women scientists who didn’t listen to those who told them “no” and who used their smarts, skills, and persistence to discover, invent, and create.

She Persisted in Science is for everyone who’s ever had questions about the world around them or the way things work—the kind of people who won’t give up until they find their answers.

She Persisted in Science shows how many women from different backgrounds made groundbreaking contributions to science. This book features Florence Nightingale, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, Flossie Wong-Staal, Temple Grandin, Zaha Hadid, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Mari Copeny, Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg, and Wanjiru Wathuti.

Each person is introduced in a two-page spread. One page includes a short introduction of the woman. Both pages have a beautiful picture that highlights each woman’s passion. While most of the women are adults, the book also includes teenager Mari Copeny, who helped bring Flint, Michigan’s water situation into the public’s light. Her story shows that “You’re never too young or too small to change the world.” 

Because of the advanced vocabulary, She Persisted in Science will need to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it independently. However, the book is an excellent way to introduce a wide variety of women who overcame obstacles and made their dreams come true. Many of the biographies explain how these women from the past are still impacting today’s world. For example, Rosalind Franklin studied DNA and her work “is still being used today by scientists investigating many viruses, including the virus that caused COVID-19.”  

She Persisted in Science will encourage readers to reach for their dreams and explore the world around them. While many of the women featured in the book needed higher education to pursue their careers, other women impacted the world through activism. In the end, these diverse women and their amazing accomplishments highlight that “the world. . . should be full of people raising their voices, using their power and presence, standing up for what is right.”

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

Deep Down Popular

Jessie Lou Ferguson has loved Conrad Parker Smith since the second grade. Conrad is the most popular boy in school and the star of the soccer team. Jessie Lou, on the other hand, is described by her mother as a “tomboy,” and is an outsider with few friends. She doesn’t like dressing up. She cuts her own hair choppy and short. And she is very smart and loves to write poetry.  

Now, Jessie Lou and Conrad are in sixth grade at Cabanash County Elementary, and things have changed. Conrad is no longer the popular boy he once was. Conrad has developed a limp and wears a leg brace, hindering his performances in soccer, at school dances, and during field trips. When Jessie Lou is asked to help Conrad, they begin to spend more time together. But Jessie Lou is worried that if Conrad’s leg gets better, he’ll no longer want to be her friend. 

Deep Down Popular is a fun and light story that addresses issues such as friendship, self-image, and internal beauty. In the end, Jessie Lou finds the most meaningful friendships in the people she least expected—Conrad and a fourth grader named Quentin. The more they hang out with each other, the closer they become. By the end of the story, Jessie Lou tells Quentin that she, Conrad, and Quentin are “deep down friends, and as far as I’m concerned that’s about better than anything.” 

Additionally, as Jessie Lou’s sister, Melinda, prepares for the Junior Teen Beauty Pageant at the Apple Blossom State Fair, the two become closer. Jessie Lou had always been jealous of her beautiful, perfect older sister. Melinda has luscious long hair while Jessie Lou’s looks like it is buzzed. Melinda is doted on by their grandpa and mother all the time. Towards the end of the book, Jessie Lou and Melinda become closer as they bond through their sadness. Melinda is disappointed that she didn’t win the pageant and Jessie Lou thinks Conrad won’t be her friend anymore after his leg is fixed. They cry together and reassure one another, bringing them closer together.  

Jessie Lou struggles with self-image throughout the story. She compares herself to Melinda a lot and feels like a “stupid ugly old beanpole” next to her. On her self-portrait, she writes that she thinks she’s stupid, ugly, and skinny. Eventually, Jessie Lou realizes that she is her own special person and that internal beauty matters more. On her self-portrait, she writes the word “happy,” and realizes that being happy matters more. Her supportive family helps Jessie Lou realize, “I don’t know how I look on the outside, but I’d like to say that I feel pretty on the inside, and Granddaddy always told me that’s all that really matters.” Deep Down Popular is a sweet story because Jessie Lou’s relationships progress and she grows as a person.  

Stone writes mostly from Jessie’s first-person perspective, allowing readers to have a better sense of how Jessie Lou thinks. Naturally, readers end up rooting for Jessie Lou and hoping that she begins to think positively about herself. Deep Down Popular talks about the meanderings of a small town, and the events are believable. However, it is difficult to tell what is going on sometimes because of how much is happening. While the plot isn’t always entertaining, the characters are enjoyable. The kids and the shenanigans they got into are fun to read about. They are snappy, sarcastic, and silly little kids who are having fun while growing up. 

Sexual Content  

  • In second grade, Jessie Lou was so in love with Conrad Parker Smith that “when he’d go running by, I’d jump out and pull him down and give him a great big kiss on his cheek. He didn’t seem to really mind, but he never kissed me back.” 
  • Quentin, Conrad, and Jessie Lou watch an airplane flying while lying in the grass, “and then they roll over toward me and Conrad kisses my cheek and Quentin kisses my forehead.” 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • The word bimbos is used once. 
  • Heck is used four times. 
  • While talking about people’s names, Jessie Lou says you can tell who has hippie parents. She says, “I think I’d feel half stupid to have a name like Moon n’ Stars.” 
  • When Jessie Lou is left alone, she predicts how the rest of the night will go. She predicts she will go to her room and “write me a poem about feeling like a stupid old ugly beanpole, about never being able to be perfect and pretty like my snooty older sister, Melinda.” 
  • Jessie Lou’s teacher assigns a self-portrait where the students draw themselves and write words to describe themselves. When looking at Quentin Duster’s self-portrait, Jessie Lou comments, “I think I would have written on his, PIP-SQUEAKY, BOSSY, TOO BIG FOR HIS BRITCHES.” Around Jessie Lou’s own, she writes “STUPID. UGLY. SKINNY.” 
  • While talking about Tiny Bailey, a supposed fifth-year senior, Quentin says he sleeps a lot because of his size, to which Jessie Lou asks him, “is there anything you don’t have a lamebrain answer for?” 
  • Quentin asks Jessie Lou if she likes Conrad. When she denies it, he says, “Good. Don’t gross me out by liking that idiot.” 
  • Quentin gets a new snorkel set. Jessie Lou says he looks “like an idiot space alien” when running around in the yard with it. 
  • Conrad goes on TV. Jessie Lou says Conrad is still “plain old, stupid Conrad,” and that it won’t change just because he went on TV. 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While talking about Pizza Day at school, Jessie Lou says the pizza is so good that “you could just flap your way to heaven.” 

The Second Story

Growing up in an orphanage, Leila was bullied for being different. The other orphans would make fun of her whenever they could, sometimes going so far as to lock her in a closet and get her in trouble. Then Dante Vernon, a renowned magician, adopted her and Leila turned her hardship into a skill. With time, Leila becomes an escape artist, a valuable trait in a group of magical best friends.  

But when one of Dante’s old friends, the famous psychic Sandra Santos, comes to town, Leila and her friends can’t keep away from the mysterious incidents that came upon the psychic’s arrival. Leila especially can’t resist the offer to perform in one of the psychic’s shows, especially because the psychic could provide answers on why Leila was left at an orphanage, who placed her there, and the key they left with her. But trouble disrupts the peace in Mineral Waters. From chasing angry monkeys to banishing ghosts from a hotel, the Magical Misfits do their best to protect the town and to figure out the enigma behind the latest acts of mischief.    

Leila takes center stage in this installment of the Magical Misfits! A limited third-person perspective allows the reader to learn about Leila’s backstory and her struggle to be more open with her friends. Readers will empathize with Leila’s desire to tell her friends about herself and the possible rejection that might follow. This causes Leila to keep secrets and hide her negative emotions behind a smile. 

Leila assumes that her new friends wouldn’t want her around if they knew about her days as an orphan, so she doesn’t confide in her friends about the mystery behind her key. But the group’s friendship deepens because of their collective interest in the magical arts. When Leila finds the courage to tell the group about herself, Ridley, one of Leila’s friends, says, “We know exactly who you are, Leila. And we love all your various parts . . . even the ones you think you keep secret.” This interaction carries an important lesson: friends stick by their friend’s side and accept them for who they are. Because Leila’s friends accept her, she learns to open up to her friends instead of keeping her feelings locked away. 

Occasionally, an omniscient, unnamed narrator chimes in with a summary of the story’s events, which blends seamlessly with the overall narration. As a bonus, black and white pictures are scattered throughout the novel and help readers visualize the setting and the action scenes. 

In order to fully engage the readers, how-to magic tricks are sprinkled throughout the story. These sections contain instructions for performing the magic tricks, along with illustrations to reference. Tricks such as changing a card by shaking it and making a coin vanish out of a glass are easy to do, but adults are encouraged to help their little ones with these activities. Ciphers and Morse code add even more to the book’s visual flare and create opportunities for further involvement. 

The Second Story is a dynamic, dazzling novel that gets its energy from the tension of performers trying to up-stage one another at every opportunity. Combined with excellent narration and evocative descriptions, the striking visuals of various styles complement an eye-catching story. Readers will enjoy reading about the friendship between Leila and her friends, and watching how the characters solve the mystery behind Sandra Santos. If you are looking for stories about magic, friendship, and secrets, then give Magic Misfits: The Second Story a read! 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • Carter says “crud” when he failed to catch the monkey that had been skulking around the magic shop. 
  • Ridley calls a parrot a “nut-so.”  

Supernatural  

  • Many of the characters use tricks related to illusions or trickery, such as Leila’s escape artist tricks or Dante Vernon’s sleight-of hand. These tricks are in no way similar to supernatural magic.  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Jemima Cooke 

How to Test a Friendship

Best friends Pablo and Violet are excited to start their first day of third grade. However, when Violet starts giving the new boy, Deepak, her attention, Pablo gets upset. Pablo is afraid that he’s about to lose his best friend. But when Pablo, Violet, and Deepak discover a magical makerspace, they can’t wait to check it out! They must work as a team, but Pablo still doesn’t want Deepak’s help. Can the three learn how to work together or is Pablo about to lose his best friend forever?  

When the kids are magically transported to the Maker Maze, they find cool science games and puzzles behind every door. They also find a wacky scientist who will be their guide, giant puzzles to test their skills, and holograms of animals, plants, and more!  

Science loving readers will love jumping into Maker Maze, where they will learn about the food chain, such as the difference between producers, consumers, and decomposers. While the story mixes in friendship drama, the story’s focus is on teaching readers about the food chain. Pablo, Violet, and Deepak are challenged to correctly identify plants and animals that are producers, consumers, and decomposers. They also must learn to work together to find the correct answers. While the book is educational, the story is heavy on science, so some readers may have difficulty reading the entire book. 

With oversized text, black and white illustrations on every page, and the magic of the Maker Maze, How to Test a Friendship will delight readers interested in science. The large illustrations show the kids in action, which will help readers understand the plot. Plus, the characters’ facial expressions clearly show their emotions—this makes Pablo’s worry palatable. To add a little fun, the text occasionally shows onomatopoeia in large font. The end of the book also includes instructions on how to make a rubber band powered boat and a diorama of an ecosystem. Younger readers may need a little help with the project. 

How to Test a Friendship uses a lot of science, a little bit of magic, and three friends to teach readers about the food chain and about friendship. When Pablo first meets Deepak, Pablo is worried that Violet will no longer be his best friend. In the end, Pablo finally tells Deepak why he is upset and the two work through the problem. Pablo realizes that “friend groups are a lot like ecosystems. Over time they can change. And that isn’t always bad.” Science loving readers who want more science adventures should also check out The Data Set Series by Ada Hopper and the Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom Series by Margaret McNamara. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • Violet tells Pablo, “Don’t be a party pooper!” 
  • Pablo says jeez once. 
  • Dr. Crisp, the scientist in the Maker Maze, says, “Oh, fiddle flasks.” 

Supernatural 

  • A telescope in the classroom pulls the kids into a portal. “It was as if they were paper clips, and the telescope was a giant magnet. One by one, Pablo, Deepak, and Violet were squeezed through.” They come out in the Maker Maze. 
  • While the kids are exploring the Maker Maze, the kids in the class are asleep. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Lost Expedition

In book two, The Lost Expedition, Oliver, Mya, and Jorge continue their search for home, with a few hilarious stops along the way. As the friends set sail for new sights, they find that Octavian is still hot on their trail, and he’s determined to get his hands on their magical map. To make matters worse, a mysterious organization is keen on expelling the three friends from Poptropica. As the pals travel, they find that each island is filled with its own unique brand of peril, and the mystery surrounding the map and Poptropica itself begins to unfold. Will our trio be able to outfox Octavian and discover the identity of this secret society? 

On this adventure, the kids meet Amazon warriors, have a brief encounter with Shakespeare, and eventually end up on a frozen island. Even though the kids meet some historical figures, the interactions are so short that there are no historical facts about the people or places. Mya, Oliver, and Jorge end up on the HMS Terror, a warship that disappeared in 1813. However, most readers will not make the connection between the shipwreck in the book and the historical warship. While there is no educational value, readers will enjoy the sense of adventure, the nonstop action, and the comical fights. The angry polar bear that reappears several times also adds some fun. 

Each page has brightly colored illustrations that use fun elements such as onomatopoeia—Krash! Smash! Krak!—as well as comical characters with oversized eyes. The illustrations clearly show the characters varying emotions such as annoyance, fear, and confusion. Some of the pages let the illustrations tell the story without text. Other pages contain up to nine sentences that use easy-to-understand vocabulary. However, most of the sentences are super short, which makes the book accessible to reluctant readers. 

The Lost Expedition is visually appealing and will entertain readers because there is never a dull moment. Unlike the first installment of the series, The Lost Expedition’s plot is more complex, and the conclusion is slightly confusing. Despite this, readers will love the interplay between Mya, Oliver, and Jorge. The suspenseful conclusion will leave readers looking forward to the next book in the series, The Secret Society. Readers who find the frozen shipwreck in The Lost Expedition interesting may also want to read Ice Wreck by Lucille Recht Penner. However, if you’re looking for some more silly shenanigans, check out the Bird & Squirrel Series by James Burks.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Octavian gags a woman and ties her to a tree. 
  • A group of Amazon warriors throws spears at the kids. The kids safely run away. 
  • Octavian and an unnamed man get into a fight. Octavian kicks the man in the face and then throws him off a roof. The man falls in a cart full of straw. 
  • As the kids try to escape from Octavian, they fall off a building and land on Shakespeare. When the kids get to their boat, someone throws a morning star at them. The boat begins taking on water.  
  • Several times, a polar bear chases the kids.  
  • A woman tries to kill the kids by trying to shove them into the icy ocean. Mya whacks the woman in the head with an oar. The ice eventually cracks, but everyone gets out of the water alive.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • Both the adults and the kids call people names such as creep, pig, cuckoo, jerk, and doof. 

Supernatural 

  • The kids have a magical map. 
  • A time machine appears and nabs the kids.  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Just Dance

Put on your dancing shoes! Believe it or not, there’s a fairy named Maryrose LIVING in my house. And she’s sending me and my brother, Jonah, through the magic mirror and into the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. There, we meet the twelve sisters who sneak out every night to go dancing. But Jonah and I have our own mission. It’s up to us to find the enchanted object that will give Maryrose her fairy powers back.

So now we need to:

-Get our hands on an invisibility cloak

-Follow the twelve princesses to their secret hideout.

-Learn some VERY complicated dance steps.

-Avoid being thrown in the dungeon.

We better wiggle our way out of this magical mess or we’ll never help our fairy friend in time!

Whether you’ve read all the Whatever After books or none, Just Dance will entertain young readers with a fun new version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. In this version, the prince who is trying to discover the princesses’ secrets is silly and slightly unintelligent. Yet, this doesn’t stop one of the princesses from crushing on the cute prince. In order to have a happy ever after, Abby and Jonah step in. 

When Abby and Jonah get to know the princesses, they realize that each girl has their own hopes and dreams. For example, Ellie loves chess and wants to go to a chess competition, but the twelve princesses have a dance recital at the same time. After taking Abbi’s advice, Ellie decides “that I have to put myself out there. Take risks. Because that’s how I achieve what I want. It’s about having fun and following my heart.” 

Even though Abby is scared to dance, she is determined to help Ellie. So, Abby learns Ellie’s dance steps and takes Ellie’s place on the stage. Through this, Abby realizes that you shouldn’t let your fear keep you from doing things such as dancing. Instead, “you’ve got to aim and hope for things to go right.” 

Just Dance has some silly moments and the conclusion is a bit ridiculous, but the enjoyable story will leave readers with a smile. The fairy tale retelling uses core facts from the original but reimagines them. In the retelling, the princesses, the prince, and the king are given distinct personalities which allow readers to connect with the story. Plus, the fairy tale ties into Abby’s and Jonah’s personal lives, which makes the story’s lesson more memorable. Readers who want to step into a fairy tale with more complexity can find a land of magic by reading The Land of Stories Series by Chris Colfer or the Fairy Tale Reform School Series by Jen Calonita.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • The prince has three days to discover the princess’s secret, or “it’s off with this guy’s head if he fails!”

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • In order to keep their activities secret, one of the twelve dancing princesses puts a sleeping potion in the prince’s wine. The other nights, they put the sleeping potion in something else so the prince won’t catch on to what they are doing.

Language   

  • Abby uses “crumbs” as an exclamation. 
  • OMG is used as an exclamation once.
  • When a soldier begins stealing from the castle, one of the princesses calls the soldier a jerk.

Supernatural

  • The fairy, Maryrose, sends Abby and Jonah into the fairy tale world through a mirror. Abby explains that when it’s time, “I knock three times on the mirror at midnight, the glass starts hissing and then turns purple and my brother and I can jump through the mirror, right into a fairy tale.”
  • A fairy gives Abby and Jonah an invisibility cloak. Later, the fairy gives a soldier an invisibility cloak, but when Abby and the soldier are both under their cloaks, they can see each other.
  • Maryrose is able to get out of the mirror, but she keeps getting weaker. When Abby and Jonah bring a ruby back from a fairy tale, the fairy “puts her hand on the ruby. It sparkles and shines. And then Maryrose sparkles and shines. And then shines brighter. And brighter.” Touching the ruby makes Maryrose “feel so much better. . . But the more I touch the ruby, the stronger I’ll get.”

Spiritual Content 

  • None

Bold Women in Black History

Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations. Irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history, such as chemist Alice Ball, pilot Bessie Coleman, abolitionist Harriet Tubman, poet Gwendolyn Brooks, mathematician Katherine Johnson, filmmaker Julie Dash and astronaut Mae Jemison. 

Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things—bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air, or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were taking a stand against a world that didn’t always accept them. 

Bold Women in Black History is an excellent educational book that will introduce readers to women who have changed the world. The interesting stories show a wide range of women who each used their unique talents to make a difference. The short biographies are interesting and will spark readers’ interest and make them want to learn more about these bold women. In addition, the book celebrates a wide range of women, including singers, astronauts, educators, athletes, and more. Bold Women in Black History shows readers that perseverance and dedication can make dreams come true. It also highlights women who persisted through difficult times, such as Harriet Tubman who “was always looking to help other people. What little she had she gave to others. She lived in poverty most of her life and donated her time, money, and property to people in need.” 

Each brave woman is introduced on a two-page spread that includes a one-page illustration. While the biographical information is relatively short with 4 to 5 paragraphs, younger readers will need help in order to tackle the difficult language. While the format of Bold Women in Black History uses fun illustrations that will appeal to young readers, this is not a book that should be read in one sitting for several reasons. Since the book features 40 women, readers will need to have time to absorb the information. Plus, the advanced language will give some readers difficulties. 

Inspire readers to make the world a better place by introducing them to the women in Bold Women in Black History. To motivate readers even more, add She Persisted in Sports by Chelsea Clinton to your library. Both books have a positive message that features women who have overcome challenges and made their dreams come true.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

A Walk in the Words

When Hudson Talbott was a little boy, he loved drawing, and it came naturally to him. But reading? No way! One at a time, words weren’t a problem, but long sentences were a struggle. As his friends moved on to thicker books, he kept his slow reading a secret. But that got harder every year. He felt alone, lost, and afraid in a world of too many words.

Fortunately, his love of stories wouldn’t let him give up. He started giving himself permission to read at his own pace, using the words he knew as stepping-stones to help draw him into a story. And he found he wasn’t so alone—in fact, lots of brilliant people were slow readers, too. Learning to accept the fact that everyone does things in their own unique way and that is okay, freed him up and ultimately helped Hudson thrive and become the fabulous storyteller he is today.

A Walk in the Words is a must read for any child who struggles with understanding words. Hudson shows how learning new words can be a little scary. When he first started reading books with more text, “It was a reign of terror. My drawing pad was my safe place.” The accompanying illustrations show Hudson hiding underneath a notebook while words rain from the sky. Hudson worried that others would realize he couldn’t read as quickly as them, which caused him to feel shame. However, Hudson learns that he’s not the only person who struggles with words. To reinforce this, he includes a list of famous people—William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, and Babe Ruth—who were all slow readers. 

Even though reading was difficult for Hudson, he didn’t give up. Hudson gives advice on how to make reading easier such as, “I took time to look for words that I knew. There they were! Like stepping-stones leading me onward.” Hudson also explains how he used drawing to cope with his difficulties. Throughout the story, Hudson uses his own experiences to encourage others to keep reading—at their own pace.

Besides the message, the book beautifully uses illustrations to help bring the story and words alive. For example, one picture shows Hudson in a dark, foreboding forest; white words are written on the tree trunks and limbs. The words include equipoise, aspiration, and trepidation. In another scene, a group of books greets Hudson and one book says, “We come in peace.” Each page has two to five sentences, but because of the story’s difficult vocabulary, the story will need to be read aloud to a child, rather than the child reading it themselves independently.

A Walk in the Words encourages struggling readers to keep trying. The story shows that many people are slow readers and that if you keep trying, you will become a better reader. Young readers will love the inspiring message as well as the amazing illustrations that have many fun elements. To introduce more ways that words can be fun, check out The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds and Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

The Tryout

When cheerleading tryouts are announced, Christina and her best friend, Megan, literally jump at the chance to join the squad. As two of the only kids of color in the school, they have always yearned to fit in—and the middle school cheerleaders are popular and accepted by everyone. But will the girls survive the terrifying tryouts with their whole grade watching? And will their friendship withstand the pressures of competition?

Middle school readers will relate to Christina, who must navigate the strange world of junior high. However, Christina also faces the added obstacle of racism, especially at the hands of one mean boy who makes snarky comments and calls her “rice girl.” Since Christina is the only Thai girl living in her predominately white town, no one seems to understand her feelings except for Megan, her best friend, who is also seen as different because her father is from Iran. Christina and Megan often feel like outsiders because everyone sees them as “too different, too much on the outside.” 

The Tryout gives readers an inside perspective into Christina’s struggles as well as her Thai culture. Even though Christina often gets upset at being viewed as an outsider, she clearly loves her culture, her family, and her best friend. However, Christina isn’t a perfect protagonist; instead, she says mean things that she later regrets, she worries about losing Megan as a friend, and she wants to fit in and be popular. The Tryout gives an honest look into the author’s middle school experiences and shows the importance of trying new things, even if they might be scary. 

The graphic novel’s illustrations bring Christina’s world into focus and the characters’ facial expressions will help readers understand their varying emotions. Christina’s thoughts appear in cloudlike quote bubbles, which make it easy to distinguish her thoughts from dialogue. Christina’s active imagination takes life since her musings are illustrated like a video game. With three to six sentences per page, The Tryout is accessible to most readers.

The Tryout is an entertaining graphic novel that shows the conflicting emotions of middle school students. Even though Christina and Megan do not make the cheerleading squad, Christina has a positive attitude about the tryout experience. Christina thinks, “Maybe Megan was right about life not giving you something just because you wanted it really badly. But sometimes . . . you got something better.” Not making the cheerleading squad allows Christina to find another extracurricular activity that she loves. 

Since many middle schoolers struggle with self-doubt and the desire to fit in, The Tryout will appeal to a wide range of readers. Plus, the story shows how friendships change, grow, and often stay with you into adulthood. Readers will enjoy seeing the pictures of the author in middle school that appear at the back of the book. Middle school readers can also learn more about dealing with obstacles in the graphic novel, New Kid by Jerry Craft, where the protagonist changes schools and wonders how he can fit in at the new school while still being true to himself.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • A boy at school calls Christina “rice girl” and “China girl.” He also says, “Why don’t you go back to where you came from?” 
  • A boy tells Christina, “Don’t be such a psycho.”  
  • Christina calls a mean boy a “dumbface jock idiot.” 
  • When some kids at school make fun of a girl’s clothes, Christina says, “Yea, Deanna did you get that out of the trash?”
  • When Christina tells Megan about a mean boy, Megan says, “He’s like a walking turd log.” 
  • A boy from school says that Megan’s dad is a “Muslim terrorist” because he’s from Iran. 

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • Christina goes to the Thai temple where “the Buddha teaches us how to act and think wisely. . . how to handle sorrow. . . and how to live a good life while we are here, so you can think about those things.”
  • Christina and her mom go to the Presbyterian church when they cannot go to the temple. Christina thinks, “Buddhism and Christianity were different in many ways, but I always thought the teachings of Jesus Christ and Buddha had a lot in common. In my mind, I pictured them as good friends.” 
  • A girl at school is upset when she finds out Christina hasn’t been baptized, because she believed “if you’re not baptized, you can’t be saved, and you won’t go to heaven.” Another girl jumps into the conversation and says that Christina won’t go to “you-know-where” because “God cares what’s in your heart, that’s all.” 
  • Before cheerleading tryouts, the coach prays: “Please be with each of our girls today. They have worked hard for this moment, and they’re all good girls. Please keep them safe from injury and give them the strength to do what they need to do.”

Louise, Soccer Star?

Louise can’t wait for soccer season to start! She has been practicing, planning, and even dreaming about it all summer. But at the team’s first practice, she is thrown completely off by Trelawney, a new girl with some very impressive soccer skills. Is it the fault of the flashy new player, the one with all the new tricky moves? Or maybe the coach just doesn’t understand what a star Louise could be—if only she had the chance to show her stuff. 

Readers will relate to Louise, who is jealous of the new girl, Trelawney. Louise was sure that this year she was going to be the star of the soccer team. But when Trelawney shows up, she makes soccer skills “look so easy. Louise always felt like a jerky wind-up toy when she tried it herself.” To make matters worse, Trelawney is also getting a lot of attention at school—even Louise’s friends are spending time with her! Louise is determined not to like Trelawney, but her bad attitude is affecting her on the field, at home, and at school.  

Though she may be a few points down, Louise is determined to prove herself. Her effort leads her to do unusual exercises, such as taking inspiration from the Greek goddess Hera and listening to tips from her favorite computer game. 

Even though Louise, Soccer Star? features sports, the book will have wide appeal because of the mix of soccer action, family scenes, and friendship drama. Louise is a relatable character who isn’t perfect. She loses focus and daydreams, she gets jealous of the attention Trelawney is getting, and she doesn’t want to be seen at the mall with her mom. In the end, Trelawney and Louise connect over a video game and afterward, Louise realizes that she doesn’t need to compete with Trelawney. Instead, they need to work together on and off the field.  

Louise, Soccer Star? uses soccer to teach valuable lessons about friendship and teamwork. One lesson Louise learns is that “adding a new friend doesn’t have to mean getting rid of the old ones.” The book has twelve short chapters printed in oversized font. In order to help readers visualize the plot, large black and white illustrations appear every two to three pages. Soccer playing readers will get a kick out of Louise, Soccer Star? Readers can find more soccer action in Good Sport Gwen by Valerie Tripp. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson

Sharon Robinson, the daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, has crafted a heartwarming, true story about growing up with her father.

When Jackie Robinson retires from baseball and moves his family to Connecticut, the beautiful lake on their property is the center of everyone’s fun. The neighborhood children join the Robinson kids for swimming and boating. But oddly, Jackie never goes near the water. In a dramatic episode that first winter, the children beg to go ice skating on the lake. Jackie says they can go—but only after he tests the ice to make sure it’s safe. The children prod and push to get Jackie outside, until hesitantly, he finally goes. Like a blind man with a stick, Jackie makes sure the ice is safe to play on. 

Testing the Ice is a metaphor for Jackie Robinson’s legendary breaking of the color barrier in Major League Baseball. While the book introduces Jackie by discussing his role in Major League Baseball, the story focuses on his family’s move to Connecticut and Jackie’s refusal to go into the water. While the two events show Jackie’s bravery, younger readers will need help connecting the two events and understanding the story’s deeper meaning. 

Even though Testing the Ice is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Unlike most picture books, Testing the Ice uses some difficult vocabulary and complex sentences that make it more appropriate for older readers. Many of the pages are text heavy and have up to 16 sentences on the page. The realistic illustrations often feature Jackie’s family as well as the neighbor’s children, which makes Jackie more relatable. 

Sharon Robinson’s childhood experience will allow readers to see Jackie Robinson’s bravery through new eyes. Sharon’s love and pride in her father is evident, and readers will come to understand why Sharon believed that, “My dad is the bravest man alive.” Readers who are interested in learning more about Jackie Robinson and sports history should also read Miss Mary Reporting by Sue Macy.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

Hot Hand

It’s simple. All Billy Raynor wants to do is shoot hoops. After all, he is one of the best shooters in his basketball league. But with his dad as his coach, and his parents newly separated, somehow everything’s become complicated. His brother Ben hardly talks anymore. His mom is always traveling on business. And his dad is always on his case about not being a team player. But when Ben’s piano recital falls on the same day as the championship game, it’s Billy who teaches his dad the meaning of being a team player.

Billy’s story contains enough play-by-play basketball action to keep sport-loving readers engaged. While Billy loves basketball, he often doesn’t pass the ball. Instead, he chooses to make the shot himself. Despite his father’s chastisement, Billy keeps trying to make a “hero shot.” Unfortunately, Billy’s teammates’ perspectives are never given, which gives a limited view of Billy’s actions. Instead of seeing it from another’s point of view, Billy thinks his basketball skills are the reason his team keeps winning.

Billy’s troubled family life and the school bully, Zeke, also play a large role in the story. On and off the basketball court, Billy often gets caught up in the moment and doesn’t think about his actions. While this leads him into trouble, Billy’s conflict is relatable because he wants to be a good teammate and a good brother. While Billy isn’t sure how to make meaningful connections with his brother, Ben, he doesn’t stop trying. In the end, Billy realizes that his brother Ben is more important than a basketball game—even if it’s the championship game. Billy’s change of focus makes the spectacular conclusion even more heartwarming.

Billy’s family life is complicated and, unfortunately, his parents are not good role models. Billy’s mother is a workaholic who is rarely home, and his father is a stubborn man who often yells at Billy in front of his teammates. Billy obviously loves basketball, but his father’s harsh attitude takes the joy out of the game. Even though Billy’s team wins the championship game, the reader is left to wonder if Billy and his father will be able to put their differences behind them.

Hot Hand is an easy-to-read story that will appeal to sports-loving fans who want an action-packed story. Through Billy’s story, readers will learn the importance of family, friendship, and teamwork. Basketball-loving fans should also read the Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream Series by Hena Khan. 

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • A school bully, Zeke, picks on Billy’s brother, Ben. Billy saw Zeke “pulling Ben Raynor’s hoodie over his head and spinning Ben around like they were playing blindman’s bluff. . .” Billy helps his brother get up, but “Zeke took a fast step, reaching out and grabbing him by the arm, then slid his hand down so he held Ben’s right hand . . . Billy could see from Zeke Mills’s face how hard he was squeezing one of his kid brother’s piano hands.” Billy tackles Zeke and both Zeke and Billy are suspended. The scene is described over four pages.
  • While on the school playground, Zeke goes up to Billy and, “Before Billy could get a better grip on the rope handles attached to his swing, Zeke the Geek leaned down and jerked the seat up so fast that Billy went flying backwards into the dirt.”
  • Again, Zeke grabs Ben’s hand “and didn’t let go until Ben yelled, the sound coming out of Billy’s brother.” 
  • While in town, Zeke sees Ben and he begins laughing “as he shoved Ben to the ground.” Before Ben could throw a punch, “Billy was launching himself at his own brother.” Zeke walks away.

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • Billy thinks that the school bully is a jerk. Later, Billy tells his mom that Zeke is a jerk. 
  • Billy calls Zeke a loser.
  • Zeke calls Billy and Ben “two whack jobs.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

Cartwheel Katie

When Katie sees gymnasts on TV, she thinks the girls are so cool! So she jumps at the chance to take a gymnastics class. But it turns out that somersaults and cartwheels aren’t as easy as they look. Will Katie ever learn to land on her feet?

Cartwheel Katie uses Katie Woo’s difficulties with gymnastics to show the importance of perseverance and encouragement. When Katie finds somersaults and cartwheels difficult, both her teacher and other students encourage Katie to keep trying. Everyone’s positive attitude helps Katie practice “again and again.” However, it’s not just the people in Katie’s class who are a positive force in Katie’s life. As Katie watches her mom playing tennis, Katie sees that “sometimes she hit the ball. Sometimes she missed.” Instead of feeling embarrassed by the misses, Katie’s mom focuses on the fact that she keeps “getting better. I am proud of me.”

Independent readers will enjoy the easy-to-understand plot and the bright colorful illustrations that appear on every page. Each page contains four or fewer sentences with simple vocabulary. Although Cartwheel Katie is part of a series with many of the same characters, it does not need to be read in order. At the end of the story, readers will find a glossary, questions, and writing prompts. Younger readers can continue the fun by creating a Be-Your-Best Medal by following the directions at the back of the book.

Katie Woo is a likable character who keeps practicing gymnastics even when she has difficulties. She is surrounded by positive people who encourage her to keep trying. Cartwheel Katie will delight young readers with the cute story and parents will appreciate the positive characters. Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry & Jessica Curry is another motivational book perfect for young readers.

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None

Play Ball, Jackie!

Batter up! April 15, 1947 is a big day for ten-year-old Matty Romano. His dad is taking him to see his favorite team—the Brooklyn Dodgers—on opening day!

It’s also a big day for the Dodgers’ new first baseman, Jackie Robinson. Today is Jackie Robinson’s very first game in the major leagues. Many white fans don’t like the fact that an African American is playing in the major leagues. By putting Jackie on the team, the Dodgers are breaking the color barrier. How will Jackie respond to the pressure? Is he the player who can finally help the Dodgers make it back to the World Series?   

Play Ball, Jackie! is told from the unique perspective of two Dodgers fans, Matty Romano and his father, who attended Jackie Robinson’s first game. The father and son discuss some of the discrimination Jackie faced because “he was a black man.” While at the game, Matty explains some of the discrimination that African Americans faced during the 1940s. Even though the story is set at Dodger’s Stadium, the story focuses on Matty’s experience at the game instead of Jackie Robinson’s achievements. However, baseball fans will still enjoy some of the play-by-play action as well as learn more about Jackie Robinson.  

Even though Play Ball, Jackie! is a picture book, the story will need to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it independently. Many of the pages are text-heavy with five to nine complex sentences. The illustrations have an old-fashioned feel with blue tinting. All of the characters are shaded in black and some of them have oversized facial expressions that emphasize the person’s emotions. However, some of the facial expressions are a little odd, especially the ones of angry fans. 

Play Ball, Jackie! is packed full of information about discrimination during Jackie Robinson’s time. Instead of having a typical story plot, Play Ball, Jackie! is mostly expository as it explains segregation by using several different examples. The educational book ends with a list of books and websites readers can check out to learn more about Jackie Robinson.  

Play Ball, Jackie! is an excellent book to introduce young readers to big ideas such as segregation, discrimination, and the civil rights movement. Plus, the book shows how Matty is brave enough to speak up in defense of Jackie Robinson; this part of the book is an excellent conversation starter about how to kindly stand up for others. For more history-related baseball stories, you’ll hit a home run by reading the picture books Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki and Catching the Moon by Crystal Hubbard. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • When Jackie strikes out, someone yells, “You stink, Robinson! Go back to where you belong.”  
  • While in line at the hotdog stand, Matty sees a boy with an “I’m for Jackie” button. Another boy says, “Negros should stick to their own kind. They’ll never make it in the big leagues.” Matty defends Jackie by saying, “If some of the best players are black, they’re the ones who can help us get to the World Series. That’s what we all want, isn’t it?”

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Swim Team

Bree can’t wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees—until she’s stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule: the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she’s forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help.

With Etta’s training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school’s failing team around. But that’s easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake. Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap—for good?

Swim Team is an entertaining graphic novel that shows the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and friendship. Told from Bree’s point of view, Swim Team focuses on Bree’s embarrassment because she doesn’t know how to swim. When Bree enrolls in a new school, Swim 101 is the only elective that she can take, but to avoid being noticed, Bree skips class. When her father finds out, he enlists the help of Etta. With Etta’s help and encouragement, Bree not only learns how to swim, but she also joins the swim team. 

With Etta’s help, Bree learns Black people’s history with swimming—this section appears in the shape of a puzzle which ties into Etta’s love of puzzles. “In America, laws were passed that limited Black people’s access to beaches, lakes, and swimming pools.” This section includes short descriptions of Black people who fought the discriminatory laws. The brevity of this section keeps the action moving and may spark readers’ interest in the people who fought for change. In kid-friendly terms, Swim Team highlights the effects of segregation and how it impacted an entire community. 

The graphic novel Swim Team will appeal to many readers because the illustrations use bright colors and are full of action. Plus, the easy-to-read vocabulary makes it accessible to all readers. Each page has three to eight simple sentences and some panels tell the story without words. When Bree is overcome by feelings of uncertainty and doubt, her negative thoughts appear in gray blobs, while conversations appear in white quote bubbles which makes it easy to distinguish the two. 

While Swim Team hits on difficult topics of discrimination, segregation, and classism, these themes are integrated into the story and never feel like a lecture. Since everything is filtered through Bree’s eyes, the information is kid friendly. While the historical information is interesting, Bree’s personal struggle is what drives the story. Bree is a relatable character readers will root for. Plus, readers will enjoy seeing Bree’s growth in and out of the water. Swim Team is a fun and educational graphic novel that will entertain readers as well as encourage them to try new activities. Even though the story focuses on Bree’s swim team experiences, the graphic novel will appeal to all readers because of the relatable conflicts and the positive lessons. 

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • Etta explains how some people opposed allowing black people to swim in public places. “Opposition to these conditions were often met with violence. From the murder of Eugene Williams in Chicago, in 1919 to acid poured in a pool with protesters in St. Augustine Florida in 1964.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None

Language   

  • Oh my God and heck are both used once.
  • A member of the Holyoke Prep swim team calls the opponents losers. 
  • Bree says the students from Holyoke Prep seem like “a bunch of jerks.”
  • When Bree and her friends ask Humberto to help them take costumes from the theater department, he is reluctant. One of the girls says, “C’mon, Humberto, don’t be a weenie.” 

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None
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