Reviews+

Shifa Saltagi Safadi's novel in verse about an immigrant family, the 2016 Muslim ban, and a boy trying to balance school and family earned the prestigious prize.

As teachers and school librarians work to add more diverse voices to their libraries’ collections, we continue learning more about the impact of these efforts on literacy. According to First Book Research & Insights, “a majority of students chose to read diverse books that serve as mirrors, where they can see themselves.”

While book bans and other efforts to curtail free expression in schools have made headlines, canceled visits have gone relatively unmarked. SLJ spoke with authors about their experiences. 

Readers can see the Goa-based artist’s work in two 2024 SLJ-starred titles, each distinct in format and scope: the cover of Saadia Faruqi's novel The Partition Project and the illustrations in Abigail Wheatley’s children’s cookbook, World Kitchen.

The acclaimed graphic novel romance, written by Yang and illustrated by Pham, features supernatural elements, family conflict, and celebrations of Asian culture.