Zola's Elephant

by Randall de Sève, illus. by Pamela Zagarenski. HMH.
PreS-Gr 2–Zola moves into a new neighborhood, and the narrator, a longtime resident, is sure that the large, heavy crates being delivered contain an elephant—one that loves stories, playing hide-and-seek, taking bubble baths, making clubhouses, and more. The child slowly gathers the courage to go next door, profess her love of elephants, and make a new friend. Zagarenski’s stunning artwork showcases the power of imagination and how it can lead to a happy reality.

A Parade of Elephants

by Kevin Henkes, illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow.
PreS-K–This spare gem of a concept book starring five pastel-hued pachyderms introduces counting, sequencing, shapes, opposites, time, and action verbs, all while telling a satisfying story. Toddlers will love the pitch-perfect bit of whimsy at the end as the elephants scatter stars across the night sky. A trumpet-worthy tale for the youngest listeners.

Saffron Ice Cream

by Rashin Kheiriyeh, illus. by author. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine.
PreS-Gr 2–A day by the Caspian Sea is always exciting, so when Rashin and her family move to New York, the girl wonders if the ocean will bring the same joy. She’s thrilled to discover Coney Island pulsating with music and packed with sunseekers in vibrant outfits, until an ice-cream truck unleashes memories of everything she misses about Iran. A new friend and a chocolate crunch cone eventually set things right again in this inviting picture book.

Drawn Together

by Minh Lê, illus. by Dan Santat. Disney-Hyperion.
PreS-Gr 2–Despite the many things that separate an elderly man and his grandson—age, language, food, and culture—the barriers dissolve instantly once the art supplies come out. Through their shared love of drawing and storytelling, the pair happily create new worlds and explore ways to communicate beyond words. This dynamic and fun-filled intergenerational story blends old-school and modern drawing styles and techniques to tell a whopper of a tale.

Black Bird Yellow Sun

by Steve Light, illus. by author. Candlewick.
Toddler-PreS–The author-illustrator uses textured mixed media and collage art to explore multiple first concepts—perspective, time, shapes, and colors—and present an exciting board book about a black bird and an orange worm. Created out of single piece of black paper, the black bird changes slightly with each page turn (its eyes, posture, and positioning) to convey a spectrum of feelings—fear, curiosity, and happiness—as it moves through the colorful world.
                                                                                                              

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A Big Mooncake for Little Star

by Grace Lin, illus. by author. Little, Brown.

PreS-Gr 1–A child and her mother bake a Big Mooncake and place it in the night sky to cool. Little Star can’t help but nibble away at it night after night until it is completely gone. Lin’s luminous gouache painting set the perfect tone for this sweet, lilting bedtime story that showcases the phases of the moon and honors the traditions of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

Julián Is a Mermaid

by Jessica Love, illus. by author. Candlewick.
PreS-Gr 2–On the way to the pool with Abuela, young Julián happens upon some mermaids and is captivated by their beauty and grace. He announces that he, too, is a mermaid and, with a little ingenuity and after an under-the-sea dream sequence, outfits himself accordingly. His grandmother takes him to a beachside mermaid parade, where they join right in. Lush and lovely watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations are filled with light and fluid motion. An affirming story of individual expression.

Alma and How She Got Her Name

by Juana Martinez-Neal, illus. by author. Candlewick.
PreS-Gr 2–After complaining that her name is so long that it “never fits,” a child listens as her father shares his memories of the five relatives for whom she has been named: Sofia, Esperanza, José, Pura, and Candela. “Alma” alone belongs to the girl, to create “her own story.” Bathed in sepia tones reminiscent of an old family album—with touches of pink—the book speaks to pride of family, heritage, and individuality.

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Thank You, Omu!

by Oge Mora. illus. by author. Little, Brown.
PreS-Gr 2–When the scent of Omu’s simmering thick red stew wafts out the window, onto the street, and around the corner, the woman soon finds people knocking on her door, hoping for a bowl—until dinnertime rolls around and she discovers there’s nothing left in the pot. Another knock brings the neighbors back—this time with the fixings for a feast. The story is delivered with the cadence of a tale just right for sharing and illustrated with distinguished mixed-media collages in warm earth tones.

The Field

by Baptiste Paul, illus. by Jacqueline Alcántara. North South.
K-Gr 3–On an unnamed Caribbean island, a young fútbol enthusiast recruits like-minded buddies, appeals to a fruit vendor (to referee), and shoos cows off a field for an impromptu game. Before long, passersby gather, the sky darkens, and the rain pours down, but the game goes on until a slip-slide goal and calling mamas end the play. Verdant greens and sun-drenched hues dominate the lushly illustrated pages, while Creole words punctuate the animated text. Annou ale!

Fox + Chick: The Party and Other Stories

by Sergio Ruzzier, illus. by author. Chronicle.
PreS-Gr 2–In this early reader that doubles as a first entry into comics, odd couple Fox and Chick engage in some low-key and always hilarious episodes across three chapters. Antsy goofball Chick is a perfect foil for ever-patient Fox. Ruzzier’s distinctive ink and watercolor art adds whimsy, while the word balloons and simple panel structure aid new readers.

Me and My Fear

by Francesca Sanna, illus. by author. Flying Eye.
PreS-Gr 2–A young immigrant child has a complicated relationship with her tiny friend called Fear, who keeps her safe. However, in this new environment, Fear grows and grows and prevents the girl from playing outside and making friends. Deeply saturated cartoon art personifies Fear as it envelops the child in its embrace. The realization that everyone else has a fear, too, changes the narrator’s worldview. An engaging and reassuring picture book.

Blue

by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, illus. by author. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.
K-Gr 3–The many shades and moods of the titular color are explored through the day-to-day interactions of a boy and his faithful canine companion. The simple text is amplified by Seeger’s full-bleed acrylic paintings, accented with her trademark die-cuts. A lovely mediation on life, loss, and the strong bonds between children and their pets.

They Say Blue

by Jillian Tamaki, illus. by author. Abrams.
PreS-Gr 1–A young girl contemplates whether the sky is really blue and other philosophical questions in Tamaki’s visually captivating picture book debut. Through nonlinear vignettes, the seasons change, as do feelings ranging from frustration to wonder, capturing a child’s imagination, mindfulness, and inquiry. Large swaths of acrylic paint on top of inked illustrations bring energy, color, and light to each sensitively rendered moment. This work radiates joy.

Mommy’s Khimar

by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illus. by Ebony Glenn. S. & S./Salaam Reads.
PreS-K–A young Black American Muslim girl adorably counts the ways in which her mother’s khimar is a source of happiness, comfort, and closeness. Thompkins-Bigelow’s lyrical text is filled with love: “I close my eyes and if I breathe in deeply—really deeply—I smell the coconut oil in Mommy’s hair…I smell the cinnamon in her favorite dessert.” Glenn’s illustrations are radiant; the use of yellow, the many textures of the khimars featured, and the affectionate glances between characters all combine to produce a detailed, joyful work.

The Day You Begin

by Jacqueline Woodson, illus. by Rafael López. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen.
K-Gr 2–Standing on the threshold of any new endeavor, there are myriad ways for children to feel different or like an outsider. Everything changes on “the day you begin to share your stories.” Woodson’s upbeat and melodic text is enlivened by López’s exuberant and brilliantly hued mixed-media artwork. An empowering story about finding one’s voice, opening doors, and making room for others.

Tiger vs. Nightmare

by Emily Tetri, illus. by author. First Second.
Gr 1-3–An endearingly plucky tiger cub confronts a sinister nightmare, with the support of an unlikely ally: the monster who lives under her bed. With dynamic action sequences and a satisfying showdown, this inspired bedtime read will give little ones the courage they need to face the things that go bump in the night.

They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems

by David Bowles. Cinco Puntos.
Gr 5-8–In this slim but affecting novel in verse, readers meet Güero, a light-skinned, freckle-faced, copper-headed border kid who crosses into Mexico frequently with his dad to shop and catch up with family. In addition to exploring issues of colorism within the Latinx community, Bowles integrates discussions on immigration and racism. A variety of poetic forms distinguish the vignettes that paint a rich portrait of life on the border. 

Hurricane Child

by Kheryn Callender. Scholastic.
Gr 4-6–Caroline, who lives on St. Thomas and was born during a hurricane (a bad omen according to local lore), has always felt like an outsider. It’s only when new girl Kalinda arrives that Caroline, who faces bullying because of her dark complexion, makes her first friend. But soon her feelings evolve into something more romantic. The richly described Caribbean setting and an eminently likable protagonist mark this unique bildungsroman.

Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish

by Pablo Cartaya. Viking.
Gr 4-7–At six feet and 180 pounds, Marcus Vega certainly looks like a bully, but he’d rather use his size to protect smaller kids. When Marcus loses control while standing up for his younger brother, who has Down syndrome, he is suspended, and an emergency trip to Puerto Rico ensues. There he hopes to finally forge a bond with the dad who had abandoned his family years ago. This simple but achingly accurate tale about identity and community ties is a love letter to the island, pre–Hurricane Maria.
 
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Aru Shah and the End of Time

by Roshani Chokshi. Disney-Hyperion.
Gr 3-6–A pitch-perfect middle grade fantasy packed with mystery and humor, starring the somewhat impulsive but always delightful 12-year-old Aru Shah. Chokshi challenges Aru (and readers) by exploring the complications of lying, bullying, and other external pressures but also provides moments of love and encouragement. Tweens looking to lose themselves in a book will treasure this series opener.

Finding Langston

by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Holiday House.
Gr 2-5–It’s 1946, and Langston’s mother just died. His father moves them from Alabama, with its overt racism, to the relatively liberal Chicago area. After being bullied at his new school, the child discovers the works of his namesake, Langston Hughes, at the Chicago Public Library, where he discovers the works of his namesake, Langston Hughes, and set out to read everything the poet ever wrote. Exquisite prose and historical detail make this a powerful and memorable story.

The Journey of Little Charlie

by Christopher Paul Curtis. Scholastic.
Gr 5-8–Set in 1858 South Carolina, this stirring work follows Little Charlie, a young white boy who’s forced to help the sinister Cap’n Buck in his pursuit of several formerly enslaved individuals. In Curtis’s capable hands, what could have been a simplistic tale becomes a complex story of a boy’s moral awakening.

The Serpent’s Secret

by Sayantani Dasgupta. (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond: Bk. 1). Scholastic.
Gr 5-7–It’s just Kiranmala’s luck that a slimy, drooling, blood-curdling rakkhosh demon would try to eat her on her 12th birthday, setting off a roiling chain of events in which Kiranmala, secretly an Indian Princess and future Demon Slayer, must rescue her parents (locked away in another galactic dimension) with the help of two princes. In her debut series opener, DasGupta crafts an adventure story filled with terrifying and majestic creatures, plenty of laughs, and, of course, spit and booger jokes.
 
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Blended

by Sharon M. Draper. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy.
Gr 4-7–Isabella is biracial and comes from a blended family; her mom and stepdad are white and working class and her dad and stepmom are black and wealthy. She splits her time between her two families, enduring constant arguing from her parents. She also experiences daily microaggressions from family and friends. The import of her racial identity comes into sharp relief when a lesson on the history of the lynching ends with a disturbing, racist incident at school. Draper is at the top of her game in this relevant and affecting work of middle grade realism.

The Night Diary

by Veera Hiranandani. Dial.
Gr 5-8–At the dawn of Partition in 1947, when India’s independence from Great Britain also resulted in the creation of the mostly Muslim Pakistan and the largest human migration in history, Nisha writes to her Muslim mother, who died in childbirth, in a diary in which she records the trauma of leaving home. Hiranandani’s compelling prose is filled with mouthwatering descriptions of food, emotional scenes of loss, and heartrending insight into survival and the power of love.
 
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The Parker Inheritance

by Varian Johnson. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine.
Gr 4-6–Two lonely kids, some old letters, a missing treasure, and a clever puzzle form the backbone of this mystery set in a small South Carolina town with deep ties to the racial injustices of the Jim Crow era. With likable, well-rounded characters and a plot that shifts back and forth in time, Johnson unpacks the town’s racist past and acknowledges the ongoing struggle for equality in the broader society.

You Go First

by Erin Entrada Kelly. HarperCollins/Greenwillow.
Gr 4-6–Two square pegs connected only by their love of online Scrabble slowly come into their own. Newbery Medalist Kelly recognizes the big and small heartaches that children endure, and arms her protagonists, and readers, with just enough hope to keep going.
 
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The Season of Styx Malone

by Kekla Magoon. Random/Wendy Lamb.
Gr 4-7–A summer full of chores turns tantalizing when 16-year-old Styx Malone shows up, turning young Caleb’s sheltered world upside down. Though this novel is full of fun and mischief, it’s also a profound meditation on black boyhood, parental protectiveness, and the yearning to transcend expectations.

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

by Meg Medina. Candlewick.
Gr 4-7–Eleven-year-old Merci Suárez’s world is full of changes she’s not quite ready for, from the social hierarchy of middle school to her Lolo’s memory problems. Medina deftly captures the growing pains of the tween years with warmth and humor in this charming novel. Seamlessly depicting the balmy Florida setting and a lovable multigenerational Cuban-Filipino American family, this narrative will tug at young readers’ hearts and reflect their own trials with authenticity and respect.
 
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Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble

by Anna Meriano.  HarperCollins/Walden Pond.
Gr 3-6–The youngest of five sisters, Leonora (Leo) Logroño just wants to help out with the family bakery’s preparations for Día de los Muertos. After some spying and mischief, Leo learns the magical truth behind the bakery’s many delicious treats—and is determined to mix up a few secret spells of her own. With references to Easy Bake Ovens and love potions gone wrong, Meriano’s debut is a perfectly sweet ode to sisterhood and traditions, new and old.

Dactyl Hill Squad

by Daniel José Older. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine.
Gr 4-7–This epic, alt-history fantasy is set during the U.S. Civil War. In July 1863, Afro-Cuban Magdalys Roca, a resident of the Colored Orphan Asylum in New York City, is desperate to hear from her older brother, a Union soldier. When their orphanage is burned down by racists, Magdalys and her friends are embroiled in the aftermath as she tries to reunite with her siblings—all with the help of her newfound ability to communicate telepathically with dinosaurs. This high-energy title offers a fresh perspective on history and an honest portrayal of the complex topics of race and gender through a chuckle-inducing narrative.

Swallow’s Dance

by Wendy Orr. Pajama Pr.
Gr 5-8–When a tsunami destroys her island home just as she’s preparing for the Learning, a ceremony for girls entering womanhood, highborn Leira’s entire world is thrown into chaos. As the earth crumbles around her, she flees with her injured mother and old nurse, desperately seeking safe haven. The Bronze Age setting and spiritual rituals are artfully depicted in this harrowing and realistic survival tale.  

Amal Unbound

by Aisha Saeed. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen.
Gr 5-8–Amal is an aspiring teacher in a Punjabi village in rural Pakistan, but the tween has to stay home to run the household while her mother recovers from postpartum depression. When she angers the local landlord, Amal must pay off her father’s debts by becoming an indentured servant to the corrupt man. Saeed’s rich, complex middle grade debut takes a nuanced look at the socioeconomics of modern Pakistan while sharing an empowering message about family, literacy, and culture.
 
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The Cardboard Kingdom

by Chad Sell & others, illus. by Chad Sell. Knopf.
Gr 4-7–Neighborhood children find outlets for their angst by donning homemade costumes and envisioning themselves as superheroes, sorceresses, and other fantastical beings. Featuring dynamic illustrations and inspired storytelling, this is an exuberant ode to the power of play.

Harbor Me

by Jacqueline Woodson. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen.
Gr 4-6–From 2–3 p.m. on Friday afternoons, Ms. Laverne sends her sixth graders to the ARTT room (A Room To Talk) to discuss “the things kids talk about.” As the six get to know and trust one another, they open up about their lives and fears, share secrets, and begin to heal as the world continues to spin unpredictably around them. This spare, heartbreaking, and hopeful novel from the National Ambassador for Children’s Literature’s is a timely work for all libraries.

Front Desk

by Kelly Yang. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine.
Gr 4-6–When 10-year-old Mia and her parents come to the United States, they wind up running a motel for a cruel owner. Kids will root for the lovable Mia, and Yang’s exploration of immigration, poverty, racism, and the exploitation of marginalized groups at the hands of employers are honest and sensitive. Mia’s growth as a writer gives her character a sense of achievement, and paves the way for a  happy ending.

Eat This!: How Fast Food Marketing Gets You To Buy Junk (and How You Can Fight Back)

by Andrea Curtis, illus. by Peggy Collins. Red Deer.
Gr 4-7–Tackling everything from sports figures on cereal boxes to product placement, this slim volume serves up easily digestible chapters to get readers thinking about how “kidvertising” impacts their choices, health, and wallets. Addressing labels, serving sizes, false claims, and movements such as junk-food-free checkouts, the book will help tweens and teens become better consumers of both facts and food. Enticing photos of appealing but unhealthy edibles drive home the point that looks can be deceiving.

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968

by Alice Faye Duncan, illus. by R. Gregory Christie. Calkins Creek.
Gr 2-5–The landmark event in the civil rights movement is recounted from the point of view of nine-year-old Lorraine Jackson, a fictional child of a sanitation worker striking for a living wage and safe working conditions. The compelling story is told in a mix of poetry and prose and illustrated with Christie’s stunning and iconic images.

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot To Kill Hitler

by John Hendrix, illus. by author. Abrams/Amulet.
Gr 7 Up–This boldly colorful, highly graphic hybrid piece of nonfiction is at once a biography of the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an account of the Nazi rise to power, and a scathing look at the German church and its response to Hitler’s tyranny. Hendrix brings Bonhoeffer’s words and teachings to life for a new generation of young people concerned with moral authority and justice for all.

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness

by Anastasia Higginbotham, illus. by author. Dottir.
Gr 4-6–Higginbotham challenges white readers to fully consider the depth of their privilege and the historical and current role of racism in U.S. society. The collage artwork follows a young white child learning to recognize the biases and racism of the white adults around them. The text often gets right to the point (“Racism was not your idea. You don’t need to defend it”), providing a launching point for meaningful conversations with students about dismantling white supremacy.

Spooked!: How a Radio Broadcast and the War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America

by Gail Jarrow. Calkins Creek.
Gr 7 Up–“It was the beginning of the rout of civilization, of the massacre of mankind.” While students may be able to identify that quote from H.G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds, they may not know the story of Orson Welles’s Halloween broadcast that panicked the nation. In telling that tale, Jarrow offers an abundantly illustrated, fascinating account of radio history, 1930s technology and entertainment, and hoaxes, along with a timely, spellbinding message about credulity and the power of story.

Prickly Hedgehogs!

by Jane McGuinness, illus. by author. Candlewick.
PreS-Gr 3–Readers follow a small, adorable, and spiny woodland creature and its hoglets on a sensory walk through days, nights, and the seasons of the year, learning about this nocturnal animal’s habits and habitats, food sources, and the dangers it encounters. Small-print notes provide additional facts, while the charming full-page mixed media art extends the text through enchanting visual details to pore over. A lovely and informational work for the younger set.

Dreamers

by Yuyi Morales, illus. by author. Holiday House/Neal Porter.
PreS-Gr 3–From her son’s birth to their move to the United States from Mexico in the mid-1990s to their often fraught and barrier-filled life, the Pura Belpré Medalist depicts the many obstacles she faced while trying to survive in a new country. This excellent picture book memoir and ode to literacy, language, and the transformative power of the picture book form encapsulates the fears, hopes, and dreams that accompany immigration. A timely and much-needed selection filled with dreamlike text and magical art.

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I Have The Right To: A High School Survivor’s Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope

by Chessy Prout with Jenn Abelson. S. & S./Margaret K. McElderry.
Gr 8 Up–Along with journalist Abelson, Prout has crafted a sweeping chronicle of her fight for justice against the senior classmate who sexually assaulted her when she was 15 years old—and the institutions that protected him and other predators. The prose is perfectly attuned to teen concerns, highlighting Prout’s supportive family and friends while also asking readers to think critically about rape culture.
 
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Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide

by Isabel Quintero. illus. by Zeke Peña. Getty.
Gr 7 Up–In this boldly imaginative, lyrical tribute to the life and work of the renowned Mexican photographer, Quintero explores the artist’s search for the “many angles of truth,” and the recurring images and symbols in Itrubide’s sometimes disturbing, always intriguing, intimate black-and-white photos, “where unknown worlds, real and imagined, intersect.” Monochromatic graphic panels mingle with Iturbide’s photos, in a commanding examination of a restless spirit’s artistic vision.

Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere

by Barb Rosenstock, illus. by Katherine Roy. Little, Brown.
K-Gr 3–Explorer Will Beebe was intent on finding out what the bottom of the ocean looked like. Engineer Otis Barton knew Beebe’s submersible design would fail. When the two finally met, together they designed a 5,000-pound, four-and-a-half-foot-wide bathysphere that would bring them 800 feet below the ocean surface—a scientific first. Fluid watercolor illustrations heighten the suspense of this awe-inspiring adventure while depicting a vast and mysterious world teeming with life. A paean to curiosity, invention, and teamwork.

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card

by Sara Saedi. Knopf.
Gr 9 Up–Saedi chronicles her long and winding road to U.S. citizenship: her family’s flight from Iran, her realization as a teen that they were undocumented immigrants, and the triumph of finally taking the oath of allegiance. Her self-deprecating memoir captures her adolescent angst, dispels pervasive myths about undocumented immigration, and evokes the joy and heartache of attaining the American dream.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

by Traci Sorrell, illus. by Frané Lessac. Charlesbridge.
K-Gr 2–Sorell, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, follows a modern Cherokee family as they express gratitude, remember their ancestors, engage in traditional practices and ceremonies, and observe holidays throughout the year, beginning with the Cherokee National Holiday in September. Lessac’s vibrant folk-art style artwork depicts the diversity of Native life. The narrative is enriched with Cherokee vocabulary and supplement by informative back matter.
 
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The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow

by Jan Thornhill, illus. by author. Groundwood.
Gr 3-6–Thornhill takes on the long, turbulent history of a petite bird through investigative prose and phenomenal art. It's a testament to the author's cleverness that readers will come away from this book about sparrows understanding, and wanting to know more about, human behavior and our conflicting relationship with the natural world.

Children of Blood and Bone

by Tomi Adeyemi. Holt.
Gr 9 Up–Seventeen-year-old Zélie Adebola, along with her brother and an unexpected ally, races to restore magic in Orïsha and usurp the genocidal King Saran. Adeyemi’s epic work, steeped in the Yoruba language and culture, contains all the elements fantasy fans clamor for: haunted characters, mysterious artifacts, shifting alliances, and, of course, jaw-dropping magical abilities.

Love, Hate & Other Filters

by Samira Ahmed. Soho Teen.
Gr 9 Up–Aspiring filmmaker Maya starts her senior year with fun and flirtation, but she becomes the victim of Islamophobia after a terrorist attack in another town. Debut author Ahmed’s portrait of a teen torn between how others see her and the identity she aches to carve out for herself is by turns funny, poignant, and devastating.

Speak: The Graphic Novel

by Laurie Halse Anderson, illus. by Emily Carroll. Farrar.
Gr 7 Up–Anderson’s Printz Honor book makes a masterly transition into graphic novel format. Centering on a teenager who stops talking after trauma, and featuring artwork that’s by turns graceful and grotesque, this tale doesn’t simply speak out against rape culture—it’s a primal scream that readers everywhere will recognize.
 
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All That I Can Fix

by Crystal Chan. S. & S./Simon Pulse.
Gr 7 Up–Chan tackles mental illness and the national gun debate in a novel that is by turns hilariously irreverent and heartfelt. Wild zoo animals are on the loose in 15-year-old Ronney’s small town of Makersville, TN, inviting gun control supporters and gun rights advocates to set up camp and provoke chaos. Ronney, whose depressed father previously attempted death by suicide using a gun, tries to act callously, though Chan masterfully shows the dimensions Ronney, his family, and his friends contain.

Mirage

by Somaiya Daud. Flatiron.
Gr 8 Up–Romance, double identities, and political intrigue all combine in this hard-to-put-down debut. Through her incredible world-building, Daud explores space travel, the pervasive effects of colonialism, and the revolutionary power of indigenous poetry, language, and tradition in the face of empire. lyrical prose and fully developed characters will enrapture sci-fi/fantasy fans.

Give Me Some Truth

by Eric Gansworth. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine.
Gr 9 Up–A battle of the bands novel set in 1980 on the Tuscarora reservation, outside of Niagara Falls. Carson, a senior, longs to make it big but is clueless about how to treat people or be a friend. Maggi, a 15-year-old artist and drummer, has just moved back to the Rez after years of city living. Told in alternating richly developed perspectives, this wild and raucous novel also explores traditional vs. modern Native values, racism in the white community, and teens desperately seeking a place to call home.

Picture Us in the Light

by Kelly Loy Gilbert. Disney-Hyperion.
Gr 9 Up–High school senior Danny has big dreams of becoming an artist, but a secret from the past looms even larger, with the potential to destroy the life his immigrant parents built. Emotions run deep in this seemingly quiet work that makes profound observations about race and class, love and friendship, and family.

Dread Nation

by Justina Ireland. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray.
Gr 9 Up–When the undead start to rise from the battlefields of the Civil War, the North and the South agree to place Black and Native children in combat camps, requiring them to one day take on the perilous task of killing these “shamblers.” Ireland’s immensely discussable work examines U.S. history, institutional racism, colorism, and sexism in fascinating and incisive detail.

Monday’s Not Coming

by Tiffany D. Jackson. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen.
Gr 9 Up–The disappearance of an African American teenager goes unnoticed by everyone except her best friend. Jackson follows up her electrifying debut, Allegedly, with a novel that combines visceral thrills and thought-provoking commentary on the marginalization of black girls and the insidious effects of gentrification.
 
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Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction

by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, illus. by author. Scholastic/Graphix.  
Gr 7 Up–Known for his sidesplitting “Lunch Lady” series, Krosoczka departs from his usual, humorous fare, offering an achingly honest chronicle of his youth: the mother who struggled with heroin addiction, the sharp-tongued but loving grandparents who raised him, and the father he met as a teenager. This nuanced portrait of a not-so-perfect family will resonate with readers, especially those who don’t often see themselves on the page.
 
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Blood Water Paint

by Joy McCollough. Dutton.
Gr 8 Up–This powerful, charged historical novel mixes verse and prose to tell the story of real-life painter Artemisia Gentileschi, her inspirations and limited options as a talented woman artist, and her devastation and quest for justice after her mentor rapes her. This well-researched and evocative portrait of a 17th-century woman’s passion for art and life will resonate profoundly with teens.
 
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Blanca & Roja

by Anna-Marie McLeMore. Feiwel & Friends.
Gr 8 Up–McLemore crafts a queer, Latinx fairy-tale mash-up told from four perspectives. Blanca and Roja del Cisne are sisters, destined to be ripped apart by a generations-old curse that will turn one of them into a swan. Enter a blue-eyed boy named Yearling, who can turn into a bear, along with his best friend, genderfluid Page. Real-world problems of small-town life, family betrayal, and developing crushes are entangled with the very eminent danger of the swans. The expansive, magical tone of McLemore's writing leaves readers enchanted by the power of love, stories, and sisterhood.
 
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The Astonishing Color of After

by Emily X.R. Pan. Little, Brown
Gr 9 Up–After her mother’s suicide, a grieving biracial teen insists on going to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. Leigh is convinced that her mother has turned into a bird, and she is intent on finding her. This magical element leads her to places that were meaningful to her mother, and, she discovers family secrets. A mellifluous novel about family, identity, and the power of memory.

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After the Shot Drops

by Randy Ribay. HMH.
Gr 8 Up–Alternating voices frame this story of two teens whose friendship is strained when one accepts a scholarship to a private school to play basketball. While Bunny navigates the responsibilities of his new school, a team heading to a state championship, and a romance, Nasir becomes entwined with Wallace, whose behavior and financial troubles threaten all three, ultimately, culminating in tragedy. A compelling, nuanced story about family, loyalty, and choices.

The Promised Neverland, Vol. 1: Grace Field House

by Kaiu Shirai, tr. from Japanese by Satsuki Yamashita. illus. by Posuka Demizu. Viz Media.
Gr 11 Up–Emma, Norman, and Ray are the best, brightest, and oldest of the orphans at the Grace Field House. But when the trio uncover the malevolent truth behind the orphanage, they become trapped in a monstrous battle of wills. Shirai’s creepy shonen manga, reminiscent of Peter Pan and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, is fast-paced and captivating, with elegant and intricate illustrations and characters for whom manga fans and newcomers alike will root.
 
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A Room Away from the Wolves

by Nova Ren Suma. Algonquin.
Gr 9 Up–When her small-town life conspires to smother her, Bina heads to New York City to regroup at the storied Catherine House, a boarding house where her wayward mother took refuge 18 years earlier. What transpires there for the unreliable narrator is eerie and bizarre, disturbing, and oddly liberating. This deliciously twisty modern gothic ghost tale will haunt readers for years to come.

Sadie

by Courtney Summers. Wednesday Bks.
Gr 9 Up–This deeply affecting and horrifying thriller begins after 19-year-old Sadie’s little sister Mattie is murdered. When Sadie goes missing (the teen has set out to find and kill her sister’s murderer), journalist West McCray decides to profile the disturbing case on his true-crime podcast. Sadie’s unflinching first-person narrative is interspersed with podcast transcriptions and off-the-record notes. Summers skillfully interrogates genre tropes as she slowly reveals character motivations.

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When Light Left Us

by Leah Thomas. Bloomsbury.
Gr 8 Up–In this compelling, character-driven, and genre-bending novel, the Vasquez siblings are trying to cope with the loss of Luz, a parasitic alien who had taken residence in their bodies (Hank's hands, Ana's eyes, and Milo's ears) the previous summer. Readers learn that Luz had filled a gap caused by the abandonment of the siblings’ father, and Luz’s departure has brought back all of the pain and dysfunction. Exuding intimacy and wonder, this thoughtful work explores the resilience of young people and family bonds that can’t be broken.

On a Sunbeam

by Tillie Walden, illus. by author. First Second.
Gr 7 Up–Walden illustrates two time lines in this meditative space epic on romantic and platonic love—and explores the value of closure. Mia, along with her newfound family-cum-shipmates, travels the universe restoring abandoned structures. Walden’s cast of female and nonbinary characters, most of who are lesbian, are simply lined and often set against astonishing, detailed views of space. Teens will savor this graphic novel, returning again and again.

The Prince and the Dressmaker

by Jen Wang, illus. by author. First Second.
Gr 6 Up–In this refreshing departure from traditional fairy-tale tropes, Prince Sebastian worries that his passion for donning couture gowns will horrify his royal parents and prevent him from marrying; he must keep his alter ego, the fabulous Lady Crystallia, a secret. Meanwhile, his best friend, dressmaker Frances, dreams of stepping out of the shadows as well. Strong linework and a luxurious palette bolster this affirming and romantic story.
 
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Pride

by Ibi Zoboi. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray.
Gr 8 Up–Afro-Latina sisters Zuri and Janae are excited and wary when the renovation of the abandoned house across the street into a mansion ushers in the arrival of the wealthy Darcy brothers—Ainsley, the charming and friendly college boy who is possibly striking up a romance with Janae, and Darius, the too-cool-for-school younger brother, who is as handsome as he is snooty. This Bushwick-set, contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice brilliantly tackles gentrification, Blackness, and romance with honesty, humor, and heart.

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Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy

by Tony Medina, illus. by Various. Penny Candy Bks.
Gr 2-5–Medina offers a brilliant collection of tanka that explores the beauty of black boyhood and the intergenerational relationships among family and neighbors that make up a community. Each poem is paired with a breathtaking interpretation by 13 illustrators. This slim but mighty book is required reading, especially for librarians introducing the works it contends with: Wallace Stevens’s “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” and Raymond R. Patterson’s Twenty-Six Ways of Looking at a Black Man.

Martin Rising: Requiem for a King

by Andrea DavisPinkney, illus. by Brian Pinkney. Scholastic.
Gr 4 Up–A masterfully written, researched, and illustrated work of poetry and history on the final months of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, the sanitation strike in Memphis, and King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. Andrea Davis Pinkney expertly paces the poems, organizing the collection into three parts (“Daylight,” “Darkness,” and “Dawn”) while zooming in and out on aspects of King’s life and legacy. Brian Pinkney’s iconic art captures the warmth and spirituality of the text and the man at the center of it.

Seeing into Tomorrow

by Richard Wright & Nina Crews. illus. by Nina Crews. Millbrook.
K-Gr 3–A Mississippi childhood spent in nature informs this selection of 12 of the celebrated author’s haiku, featuring the sights, sounds, and scents of the seasons. Like the poetic form they illustrate, Crews’s sharply articulated photo collages layer images and meaning to create unexpected, often surprising, perspectives of the natural world and the emotions it can evoke.

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot To Kill Hitler

by John Hendrix, illus. by author. Abrams/Amulet.
Gr 7 Up–This boldly colorful, highly graphic hybrid piece of nonfiction is at once a biography of the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an account of the Nazi rise to power, and a scathing look at the German church and its response to Hitler’s tyranny. Hendrix brings Bonhoeffer’s words and teachings to life for a new generation of young people concerned with moral authority and justice for all.

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide

by Isabel Quintero. illus. by Zeke Peña. Getty.
Gr 7 Up–In this boldly imaginative, lyrical tribute to the life and work of the renowned Mexican photographer, Quintero explores the artist’s search for the “many angles of truth,” and the recurring images and symbols in Itrubide’s sometimes disturbing, always intriguing, intimate black-and-white photos, “where unknown worlds, real and imagined, intersect.” Monochromatic graphic panels mingle with Iturbide’s photos, in a commanding examination of a restless spirit’s artistic vision.

The Cardboard Kingdom

by Chad Sell & others, illus. by Chad Sell. Knopf.
Gr 4-7–Neighborhood children find outlets for their angst by donning homemade costumes and envisioning themselves as superheroes, sorceresses, and other fantastical beings. Featuring dynamic illustrations and inspired storytelling, this is an exuberant ode to the power of play.

The Promised Neverland, Vol. 1: Grace Field House

by Kaiu Shirai, tr. from Japanese by Satsuki Yamashita. illus. by Posuka Demizu. Viz Media.
Gr 11 Up–Emma, Norman, and Ray are the best, brightest, and oldest of the orphans at the Grace Field House. But when the trio uncover the malevolent truth behind the orphanage, they become trapped in a monstrous battle of wills. Shirai’s creepy shonen manga, reminiscent of Peter Pan and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, is fast-paced and captivating, with elegant and intricate illustrations and characters for whom manga fans and newcomers alike will root.
 
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Tiger vs. Nightmare

by Emily Tetri, illus. by author. First Second.
Gr 1-3–An endearingly plucky tiger cub confronts a sinister nightmare, with the support of an unlikely ally: the monster who lives under her bed. With dynamic action sequences and a satisfying showdown, this inspired bedtime read will give little ones the courage they need to face the things that go bump in the night.

On a Sunbeam

by Tillie Walden, illus. by author. First Second.
Gr 7 Up–Walden illustrates two time lines in this meditative space epic on romantic and platonic love—and explores the value of closure. Mia, along with her newfound family-cum-shipmates, travels the universe restoring abandoned structures. Walden’s cast of female and nonbinary characters, most of who are lesbian, are simply lined and often set against astonishing, detailed views of space. Teens will savor this graphic novel, returning again and again.

The Prince and the Dressmaker

by Jen Wang, illus. by author. First Second.
Gr 6 Up–In this refreshing departure from traditional fairy-tale tropes, Prince Sebastian worries that his passion for donning couture gowns will horrify his royal parents and prevent him from marrying; he must keep his alter ego, the fabulous Lady Crystallia, a secret. Meanwhile, his best friend, dressmaker Frances, dreams of stepping out of the shadows as well. Strong linework and a luxurious palette bolster this affirming and romantic story.
 
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