SOTOMAYOR, Sonia. My Beloved World. Knopf. Tr $27.95. ISBN 9780307594884. High School/Adult—Sotomayor relates her rise from her beginnings in the South Bronx to become the first Hispanic Justice of the Supreme Court, emphasizing pride in her Puerto Rican heritage, prioritization of education, and belief in the law as a force for protecting community.–Best Adult Books 4 Teens 2013

Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal:

BURG, Ann E. Serafina’s Promise. Scholastic. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545535649; ebk. $16.99. ISBN 9780545549943. Gr 4-6– In this poignant novel in verse, Serafina, a girl living in poverty-stricken Haiti, wishes to become a doctor. Caught in the middle of the devastating 2010 earthquake, Serafina must overcome both physical and metaphorical obstacles in the pursuit of her dream.–Best Books 2013 LO, Ginnie. Auntie Yang's Great Soybean Picnic. illus. by Beth Lo. 32p. Lee & Low. 2012. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781600604423. Gr 1–4—Ginnie Lo draws on her own memories to share a sunny tale about the value of family and community. After coming to America in the 1940s for their education, Lo's parents and Aunt and Uncle Yang were unable to return to China due to war. Isolated and far from home, the two families visited often. The children looked forward to Chinese games, cooking, and language lessons on these visits, along with universal childhood pasttimes like playing hide-and-seek. Out for a drive, the families are delighted to find an isolated soybean field—a food virtually unknown in the U.S. They ask to pick some of the vegetables and excitedly prepare a traditional Chinese feast. The following year they do the same, but invite a few more families. This annual picnic grows until it becomes an important cultural event for Chinese immigrant families in the Midwest.—Anna Haase Krueger, Antigo Public Library, WI HUGHES, Langston. I, Too, Am America. illus. by Bryan Collier. S. & S. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442420083. LC 2011002879. K-Gr 5—Hughes's poem of burgeoning pride in one's African American identity, written at the height of the Harlem Renaissance in 1925, is interpreted anew in this striking picture book. Collier has visualized the message of the sparely written poem through the lens of a Pullman porter. As the porter cleans up the club car and examines the detritus—newspapers, magazines, blues, and jazz albums left by the train's well-heeled passengers—flings it all from the caboose. Wafting through time and space, these items fall into the hands of a young female field worker in the long-ago South as well as residents in a contemporary northern urban landscape. The poem's powerful conclusion—"I, too, am America"—depicts a young boy on the subway with his mother, peering out the window through a readily visible flag toward his unknown but hopeful future. Collier's signature mixed-media collages create bold, textured images that give tangible expression to the poet's potent words.—Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT ERDRICH, Louise. "The Birchbark House" series. Hyperion. FEDERLE, Tim. Five, Six Seven, Nate! 304p. S. & S. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442446939; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781442446960. LC 2012051239. Gr 5-8– In this follow-up to the multiple award-winning Better Nate Than Ever (S. & S., 2013), Nate juggles being an understudy in a Broadway production of E.T.: The Musical, having a secret admirer, and trying to find a boyfriend for his aunt. Federle’s gentle and positive exploration of the preteen’s sexuality, combined with charming supporting characters and laugh-out-loud high jinks, makes this one of the best new middle-grade series.–Culturally Diverse Books, May 2014 JOHNSON, Varian. The Great Greene Heist. 240p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545525527; ebk. $16.99. ISBN 9780545525541. LC 2013029145. Gr 5-8– Jackson Greene, a middle-school troublemaker with a heart of gold, concocts an elaborate con in order to help the girl he likes. Johnson’s characters are charming and funny and represent a refreshing diversity of ethnic backgrounds.–Culturally Diverse Books, May 2014

Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal:

Andreu, Maria E. The Secret Side of Empty. 336p. ebook available. Running Pr./Teens. 2014. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9780762451920. LC 2013950819. Gr 9 Up–Monserrat Thalia, known as M. T., describes herself as pale white with blondish hair. It’s easy for her to hide the fact that she’s an undocumented immigrant whose family came from Argentina to New Jersey. Told over the course of her senior year, the story reveals a captivating look at the life of one young immigrant and the challenges so many like her face. Andreu deftly captures the protagonist’s desires, despair, and determination in this peek at a side of American life not often seen in YA literature.–Amanda MacGregor, formerly at Apollo High School Library, St. Cloud, MN Giles, Gail. Girls Like Us. 224p. ebook available. Candlewick. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763662677. LC 2013944011. Gr 8 Up–Quincy and Biddie are “speddies” (special education students). They have just graduated high school and must live out in the world on their own. After being matched together by their teacher, they are given adult responsibilities:Quincy works at a supermarket while Biddie cooks and cleans for the older woman who is boarding them. Giles has constructed a unique, hard-hitting yet refreshing story with well-developed characters free from expected clichés or caricatures. A fantastic novel that teens will enjoy wholeheartedly.–Christopher Lassen, Brooklyn Public Library MCCALL, Guadalupe Garcia. Summer of the Mariposas. Lee & Low/Tu. RTE $17.95. ISBN 9781600609008. Gr 7-9–A Mexican-American retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, this novel focuses on the bonds among five sisters who resolve to return a man’s corpse to his hometown. Odilia, the eldest, is guided by Malintzin–the mythical mother of Mexico–across the Texas border where the girls encounter legendary creatures, witches, and the stark truth of their father’s abandonment. Sprinkled with Spanish words and Aztec traditions, this lyrical tale of magical realism and adventure will resonate with readers.–Best Books 2012 Sedgwick, Marcus. She Is Not Invisible. 224p. ebook available. Roaring Brook. 2014. RTE $16.99. ISBN 9781596438019. Gr 8 Up–Laureth Peak, 16, has just kidnapped her seven-year-old brother and negotiated her way through two major airports on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and is on her way to meet up with someone she’s only met via email. Her author father, who is supposed to be in Switzerland on a research assignment for his esoteric novel on coincidences, is not answering her phone calls and his precious notebook is currently in the possession of a stranger in Queens, NY. The teen sets out on this quest to find her missing father, with a niggling premonition that something sinister has befallen him. However, Laureth is blind, and she needs the aid of her little brother to maneuver through the streets of New York City, fancy hotels, taxis, and subways. This novel will have readers feeling a creepy sensation on the backs of their necks long after the last page.–Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal SMITH-READY, Jeri. This Side of Salvation. 368p. S. & S./Simon Pulse. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442439481; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781442439504. Gr 9 Up–An honest portrayal of a family dashed apart by grief and in much need of salvation. David’s family is still reeling from his military brother’s death three years ago, and all but older sister Mara have embraced God as a way to cope. A former alcoholic, David’s dad has abandoned his addiction to the bottle for an all-consuming and unhealthy relationship with religion, talking only through Bible verses and aligning himself with a fundamentalist preacher that promises the Rapture (or Rush) will occur in just a few months. The narrative frankly depicts a teen struggling with finding a balance between religion and his own desires. Smith-Ready respectfully gives voice to those who question their beliefs, while providing teens a fascinating look into Doomsday cults. The protagonist is multi-dimensional and finds fault with his church’s rejection of his gay best friend, but continuously prays to God for guidance. The ending will ring true for those rooting for this family’s redemption.–Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

The Editors of The Horn Book:

MESHON, Aaron. Take Me Out to the Yakyu. illus. by author. 40p. glossary. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781442441774; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4178-1. LC 2011050907. PreS-Gr 3–A lucky boy gets to attend ball games in both the U.S. and in Japan (yakyu is Japanese for baseball). Spreads showcase differences between the two locales, setting up a quiet rhythm that’s thrillingly interrupted when both teams’ hitters get a home run.—Horn Book Summer Reading Recommendations 2013 MORALES, Yuyi. Niño Wrestles the World. illus. by author. 40p. glossary. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-604-6. LC 2012012989. BUITRAGO, Jairo. Jimmy the Greatest! illus. by Rafael Yockteng. Groundwood. 2012. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781554981786; ebook $18.95. ISBN 9781554982066. Gr 1-3–In an isolated seaside village, a youngster finds direction and inspiration from a caring adult who shares his love of boxing and a carton of books and clippings about Muhammad Ali, which the boy devours and takes to heart. The energetic digital cartoon art packs a punch of its own, balancing humor, grace, and naïve charm.—Best Books 2012 WOODSON, Jacqueline. Each Kindness. illus. by E. B. Lewis. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399246524. Gr 2-5–A child learns a painful lesson when she and her classmates purposefully exclude a new girl and ignore her overtures of friendship. Rich, impressionistic watercolor paintings and lyrical, understated text create a moving, bittersweet story that offers food for thought for youngsters still learning to navigate their social circles.—Best Books 2012 BEATY, Daniel. Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me. illus. by Bryan Collier. 40p. Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-20917-5. LC 2012043088. K-Gr 3—Beaty tells this poignant, heart wrenching tale of love, loss, and hope. A boy narrates how every morning he and his father play the “Knock Knock” game. He feigns sleep while his father raps on the door until the boy jumps into his dad’s arms for a hug and an “I love you.” One day, there is no knock. Left with his mother, the child deeply misses his Papa and writes to him for advice, receiving a moving letter in return. Collier’s watercolor and collage illustrations enhance the nuanced sentiment of the text. Following his journey from a grief-stricken child to an accomplished strong adult, the lifelike images intermingle urban and domestic backgrounds with the symbolic innerscape of the narrator. Author and illustrator’s notes at the end of the book elaborate on the personal meaning of this eloquent story that speaks especially to children who are growing up in a single-parent home.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY FLETT, Julie. Wild Berries. trans. by Earl N. Cook. illus. by author. 32p. Simply Read Bks. 2014. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781897476895. PreS-Gr 1—When Clarence was little, his grandma / carried him on her back through / the woods to the clearing to pick / wild berries / pikaci-mīnisa.” Now Clarence, around age five, follows Grandma on his own two feet. In Julie Flett’s Wild Berries / Pikaci-Mīnisa, each double-page spread introduces a single line of text describing the sights and sounds—dropping berries in a bucket (tup, tup), observing a fox (rustle, rustle). Each page also uses one word in a dialect of Cree (the “n” dialect, known as Swampy Cree), highlighted in red typeface (a glossary and pronunciation guide are appended). The muted earth tones of Flett’s watercolor and collage illustrations in browns, grays, and reds perfectly complement the quiet tone of the story.—Horn Book post, "All the world's children," January 2014 DOMINGUEZ, Angela. Santiago Stays. illus. by author. 32p. Abrams/Appleseed. 2013. RTE $12.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0821-3. LC 2012041376. PreS-A boy tries every trick in the book to get his adorable, big-eared, supremely stubborn pooch to move. Toys, a game of fetch, a walk, even a treat are offered to Santiago, who turns up his nose at every one. When the frustrated child screams, "Santiago!" readers finally learn why the pup stays put. A wail issues from the crib in the corner, and the dog and his boy run to comfort baby sister. The large, mixed-media illustrations set against white backgrounds pack much nuance and personality into the canine and human characters.-—Martha Link Yesowitch, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC DOMINGUEZ, Angela. Maria Had a Little Llama/María tenía una llamita. Holt. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-805-09333-9. PreS—Maria and her llama smile out at us from the cover of this bilingual picture book, a riff on “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Maria’s tale, told in English and Spanish, is set in the Peruvian Alps. The bold ink and gouache illustrations include plentiful cultural clues: the market, the village, the traditional headwear, and the musical instruments all help to place readers in the setting. The text mirrors the traditional tale (“He followed her to school one day. / Un dia le siguio a la escuela”), and the limited amount of text allows both languages to appear on the same page or spread. Maria and her llama, though, are the stars of this book. Their personalities and their affection for each other shine through. As if to confirm it, the last spread opens to a scene of children, llamas, and local Peruvian musicians playing and waving as they encircle our two stars dancing in the center. This is a scene young children will return to again and again.—excerpted from the Horn Book review by Jim St. Clair KIM , Patti. Here I Am. illus. by Sonia Sánchez. 40p. Picture Window. 2013. lib. ed. $27.32. ISBN 9781404882997; pap. $7.95. ISBN 9781479519316. ebook available. LC 2012051009. Gr 2-5—In this visually impactful wordless picture book, Kim tells the story of a young boy who immigrates with his family to a new country. Scared and uncomfortable, the child keeps a seed from his former homeland as solace in the midst of the unfamiliar surroundings, classmates, and language. When he loses it, the youngster goes out to explore and finds new wonders, from the neighborhood pretzel stand to making friends to discovering the rewards of planting old seeds in new soil.—Ted McCoy, Springfield City Library, MA ISADORA, Rachel. Jake at Gymnastics. illus. by author. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. June 2014. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780399160486. PreS-Gr 1–A diverse and adorable group of tots tumble, stretch, and perform impressive gymnastic moves in this is short and appealing companion to Isadora's Bea at Ballet (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen, 2012).  The only color in the pen-and-ink and pencil drawings is reserved for the chubby youngsters' gym clothes and accessories. With an economy of strokes and without being busy, the artwork evokes movement appropriate to toddlers in motion.—Maralita L. Freeny, District of Columbia Public Library JOHNSON, Angela. All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom. illus. by E. B. Lewis. 40p. S. & S. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780689873768. Gr 2 Up– Johnson’s stirring prose and Lewis’s stunning paintings tell the story of a Juneteenth celebration through the eyes of a young girl on a plantation in the South. Both joyous and somber, this picture book offers children a glimpse into what life was like for slaves before and after emancipation.–Culturally Diverse Books, May 2014 WILLIAMS-GARCIA, Rita. P.S. Be Eleven. HarperCollins/Amistad. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780061938627; lib. ed. $17.89. ISBN 9780061938634; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780062208507.   MCKAY, Hilary. "Lulu" series. illus. by Patricia Lamont. Albert Whitman. Gr 1-3–Lulu isn't allowed to bring pets to school or have pets at home. Yet, in each installment in this charming chapter book series, the big-hearted young girl winds up taking care of all sorts of interesting creatures in need, such as a duck, a dog, a hamster, a cat, and a hedgehog.–Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal LIN, Grace. "Ling & Ting" series. illus. by author. Little, Brown. 2013. PreS-Gr 1–Lin has created an engaging beginning chapter book about a pair of Chinese American twins. Ling and Ting are real kids with individual strengths and weakness and their own brand of problem solving. The gouache artwork extends the clever and amusing story line, which celebrates the fun and friendship aspects of twindom, while subtly reinforcing the cultural representation.–Culturally Diverse Books, May 2014 ATINUKE. "Anna Hibiscus" series. illus. by Lauren Tobia. Kane Miller. Gr 1-3–How refreshing to encounter Atinuke’s Anna Hibiscus, a biracial child who lives in an urban “Africa. Amazing Africa.” In chapter books and picture books, the Nigerian-born Atinuke gently and lyrically presents life for a solidly middle-class family, highlighting experiences that help Anna (and the reader) to subtly appreciate differences.—excerpted from the Horn Book post, Books About Africa, January 2014 ENGLISH, Karen. Dog Days. (Carver Chronicles). illus. by Laura Freeman. 128p. Clarion. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780547970448. Gr 1-3–It's tough being the new kid at Carver Elementary. Gavin had lots of friends at his old school, but the kids here don't even know that he's pretty good at skateboarding, or how awesome he is at soccer. And when his classmate Richard comes over and the boys end up in trouble, not only does Gavin risk losing his one new friend, he has to take care of his great aunt Myrtle's horrible little dog as punishment.—from the publisher NYE, Naomi Shihab. The Turtle of Oman. 320p. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Aug. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780062019721. Gr 3-6–In the last week before his family leaves Oman for a three-year stint in Michigan, Aref has a hard time saying good-bye to his beloved home, particularly his grandfather, Sidi. Episodic in nature, friends come to say goodbye; the suitcase must be packed; and Sidi takes Aref for an overnight camping trip, fishing on the Indian Ocean and memorably, to visit a nesting ground for many kinds of turtles. The language is both fresh and lyrical at times, with vivid descriptions of daily life and Aref’s obvious anxiety about leaving.—Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO KADOHATA, Cynthia. The Thing About Luck. illus. by Julia Kuo. S. & S./Atheneum. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781416918820; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781442474673. LC 2012021287. Gr 5-8–After a year of bad luck, Summer Miyamoto, her “intense” younger brother, Jaz, their strong-minded grandparents, and the family dog join a crew of itinerant wheat harvesters. Quarrelsome Obaachan does the cooking while gentle Jiichan drives a combine. Readers will root for plucky Summer as she comes into her own in this tenderhearted, multigenerational story.—Best Books 2013 TINGLE, Tim. How I Became a Ghost. RoadRunner Press. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781937054533. GANSWORTH, Eric. If I Ever Get Out of Here. 368p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545417303. LC 201202030553. MEDINA, Meg. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Candlewick. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763658595; ebk. $16.99. ISBN 9780763663544. LC 2012943645. Gr 8 Up– Piddy Sanchez just wants to make it through high school, but Yaqui Delgado tries to make life miserable for Piddy. This realistic portrayal of teen bullying features two Latinas against the backdrop of an ethnically diverse Queens neighborhood.—Best Books 2013 PATRICK, Denise Lewis. A Matter of Souls. 192p. Carolrhoda Lab. 2014. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9780761392804; ebk. $12.95. ISBN 9781467724029. LC 2013017597. Gr 7 Up–This collection of short stories examines the African American experience from the years just after the Civil War through the Civil Rights era. All of the work is threaded through with spirituality and romance as part of the everyday experience of people, helping to personalize and humanize stories of violence.L. Lee Butler, Stoughton High School, MA REYNOLDS, Jason. When I Was the Greatest. 240p. S. & S./Atheneum. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442459472; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781442459496. LC 2012045734. Gr 7-10 –Ali lives with his mother, Doris, and kid sister, Jazz, in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn and spends all of his free time with best friends Noodles and Needles, brothers who live in a run-down brownstone next door. Needles was born with Tourette’s syndrome, and after a particularly bad episode of tics, Doris gave him some knitting needles to focus his attention. The three teens hang out on the stoop and streets, living life and getting into just a touch of mischief. When their friend Tasha gets them into a party–and not just any party, an exclusive, adults-only party–trouble escalates.—Emily Moore, Camden County Library System, NJ PERKINS, Mitali, ed. Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices. 144p. Candlewick. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5866-3. ebook available. LC 2012955218. Gr 6–10—This collection of short tales explores the experiences of young people bridging cultures. Perkins's contribution is a memoir about the Guy Game she and her two older sisters played. Other highlights include Gene Luen Yang's comic about boycotting a Hollywood film that appropriates Asian culture. Francisco X. Stork relates unexpected acceptance and support for a gay Latino teen, while in other selections, characters proudly wave a Black Geek flag or grieve the loss of an Arab father who overcame prejudices.—Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA POWELL, Patricia Hruby. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker. illus. by Christian Robinson. 104p. bibliog. further reading. Chronicle. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781452103143. LC 2012030440. PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America. illus. by Brian Pinkney. 244p. bibliog. chron. further reading. index. CIP. Disney/Jump at the Sun. 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4257-7. LC 2011051348. Gr 4 Up–Presenting ten biographical vignettes in chronological order — Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack H. Obama II—the Pinkneys create a testament to African American males that, taken together, tells one big story of triumph (a story that, incidentally, spans American history).—excerpted from the Horn Book review by Jonathan Hunt NELSON, Kadir. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2011. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-06-173074-0. Gr 5 Up–An unnamed narrator of a collection of family stories relates stirring accounts of relatives who fought by George Washington’s side, worked in fields and factories, and marched with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Electrifying portraits shed light on the triumphs and tragedies of our nation’s history as reflected in the faces of its people.—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library NELSON, Marilyn. How I Discovered Poetry. illus. by Hadley Hooper. 112p. Dial. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780803733046. Gr 6 Up—Nelson traces her childhood and developing awareness of civil rights issues in this eloquent collection of 50 unrhymed sonnets. In 1950, her father, one of the first African American Air Force officers, is recalled to duty, launching the family on the first of several cross-country moves. Through snatches of grown-up conversation, she learns of Rosa Parks, Emmett Till, and Little Rock. She overcomes school-yard bullies, wonders about boys, and is humiliated by a teacher who makes her read aloud a racist poem: "She smiled harder and harder until I stood and opened my mouth to banjo-playing darkies…." This hurtful episode only underscores the awesome power of words and leads Nelson to wonder whether "there's a poet behind my face."—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA SHEINKIN, Steve. The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights. 208p. bibliog. index. notes. photos. reprods. Roaring Brook. 2014. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781596437968. Gr 7 Up –In the summer of 1944, 50 sailors, all of them African American, were tried and convicted of mutiny by the U.S. Navy. They had refused to follow a direct order of loading dangerous rockets and munitions on ships bound for battle in the Pacific after an enormous explosion had killed more than 300 of their fellow sailors and other civilians working on the dock. At the heart of this story is the rampant racism that permeated the military at all levels, leaving minority sailors and soldiers to do the drudge work almost exclusively while their white counterparts served on the front lines. Through extensive research, Sheinkin effectively re-creates both the tense atmosphere at Port Chicago before and after the disaster as well as the events that led to the men’s refusal of this one particular order that they felt put them directly in harm’s way.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA LEWIS, John & Andrew Aydin. March. Bk. 1. illus. by Nate Powell. 128p. (March Series). Top Shelf. 2013. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60309-300-2.  

SLJ READERS:

BRUCHAC, Joseph. Killer of Enemies. 400p. Lee & Low/Tu Books. 2013. Tr $9.99. ISBN 9781620141434. Gr 7 Up—Following the coming of the Cloud, which destroyed all technology and plunged the world back into the preindustrial age, 17-year-old Lozen, of Abenaki and Apache ancestry, is one of the few people left with the ancient skills and courage necessary to survive outside the walls of their city, a former prison. Holding her family hostage has given the rulers leverage over Lozen, forcing her to fight the genetically altered monsters that threaten the city and its inhabitants.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK CHAN, Crystal. Bird. 304p. S. & S./Atheneum. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442450899; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781442450905. Gr 4–6—Jewel never met her brother; on the day she was born, he tried to fly off a cliff and died. Her parents believe that Grandpa's nickname for his grandson, Bird, caused a bad spirit, a duppy, to trick the boy into believing he could fly. Twelve years later, Grandpa has still not spoken a word and Jewel is fed up with her moody parents and unloving household. She meets a boy who calls himself John, her brother's real name. They share their hopes and dreams and Jewel opens up about visiting the cliff to bury her worries as small stones.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA DEMPSEY, Kristy. A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream. illus. by Floyd Cooper. 32p. Philomel. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399252846. LC 2013009520. Gr 1-4—An African American girl from Harlem dreams of becoming a prima ballerina in this beautifully written narrative, which is also a tribute to Janet Collins, who, in 1951, was the “first colored prima ballerina” to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools ENGLE, Margarita. Mountain Dog. illus. by Olga Ivanov. 224p. Holt. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780805095166. When his mother is sent to prison for cruelty to animals, Tony moves in with his great uncle Leo, whom he’s never met. Life in the Sierra Mountains is completely different from his Los Angeles world. He has his own room, a friendly dog who loves him at first sight, and a patient foster father who has much to teach him. Leo is a search-and-rescue volunteer, and his dog Gabe has also been trained to find people lost deep in the mountains. Tony alternates between his curiosity of the nature around him and his fear of loving things he could lose. Engle uses free verse and the voices of Tony, Leo, and Gabe to strengthen the reader’s empathy for the boy, allowing them to feel the struggles that the mountain dog sees.—JLG's On the Radar, Tough Stuff: Middle Grade Novels Tackle Heavy Topics, September 2013 FLOOD, Nancy Bo. Cowboy Up!: Ride the Navajo Rodeo. 48p. bibliog. photos. websites. Boyds Mills/Wordsong. 2013. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-893-6. LC 2012949009. Gr 1-5–The history and tradition of the Navajo rodeo are made lively and accessible in this “day-in-the-life” account. Short narrative poems accompany each spread, recounting the anticipation, determination, danger, and excitement of the day. “Big Brahma bull/stands square,/glares./ Big Brahma bull/head down/ horns able/to rip a rider wide apart./Big Brahma bull…/My turn to ride.”—Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library HIGHWAY, Tomson. Caribou Song. illus. by John Rombough. 32p. Fifth House. 2012. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781897252611. Gr 1-3—Bilingual in English and Cree, this story of the far north follows a family of four that has a spiritual connection to the caribou of the land. One brother, Joe, plays the accordion (a kitoochigan) and sings while the other, Cody, dances. On a magical day, all of nature aligns and ten thousand caribou come when the boys call. Though the stampede is ocean-storm strong, Cody and Joe emerge from the experience unharmed.—from publisher HOSHINO, Felicia. Sora and the Cloud. Japanese text by Akiko Hisa. illus. by author. 36p. glossary. Immedium. 2012. Tr $15.95. ISBN 9781597020275. LC 2011015924. PreS-Gr 1—An adventurous young boy takes flight on a friendly cloud in this delightful whirlwind of a daydream. The story is artfully structured, with reality turning to fantasy as Sora (a name that means "sky" in Japanese) climbs a tree and hops aboard a cloud for a whimsical journey above the city. His fanciful vision gently gives way to reality again when he drifts to sleep on the cloud and dreams of pleasures grounded in everyday life, like splashing in puddles and digging in sand at the beach. Sora's airborne fantasy is charmingly depicted with a dreamlike palette of pastel colors. The San Francisco setting in combination with the bilingual text deftly shows the child's Japanese American identity.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA KRISHNASWAMI, Uma. The Problem With Being Slightly Heroic. 288p. S. & S./Atheneum. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442423282. Gr 4-6–Dini and Maddie, 11-year-old BFFs, are together again in this sequel to The Grand Plan to Fix Everything (S. & S., 2011). The girls are just as starstruck with dazzling Bollywood actress Dolly Singh and eagerly await her arrival in Washington, DC, where she will have her first U.S. fillum (film) premiere. When the celebrity arrives at the airport dripping and dropping her jewelry in typical Dolly-fashion, she discovers that her passport is missing. Dini comes to the rescue, and the plot springs into a comedic romp to retrieve the passport, find a rose-petal milkshake (the only thing that can soothe Dolly's nerves), and locate an elephant for the big event. With the help of her friends, the intrepid girl takes care of the unfortunate mishaps that continue to pop up in the days before the premiere, leaving her feeling “slightly heroic.”—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH KUKLIN, Susan. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out. photos by Susan Kuklin. 192p. further reading. glossary. websites. Candlewick. 2014. RTE $22.99. ISBN 9780763656119; ebk. $22.99. ISBN 9780763670351. LC 2013943071. Gr 9 Up—Extended interviews with six very different transgender, genderqueer, and intersex young adults allow these youth to tell their stories in their own words. Author-interviewer-photographer Kuklin interjects only briefly with questions or explanations, so that the voices of these youth–alternately proud and fearful, defiant and subdued, thoughtful and exuberant–shine through.—Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library MARTIN, Jacqueline Briggs. Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table. illus. by Eric-Shabazz Larkin. Readers to Eaters. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9780983661535. LC 2013937817. Gr 3-6–Martin introduces readers to former basketball player turned urban farmer Will Allen, who teaches children about composting, container gardens, and “growing power.” Larkin’s thickly textured illustrations complement the energetic and upbeat verse. A timely topic for eco-minded youngsters and future agriculturalists.—Best Books 2013 MARTÍNEZ, Andrés Vera & Na Liu. Little White Duck: A Childhood in China. illus. by Andrés Vera Martínez. 108p. chron. glossary. Lerner/Graphic Universe. 2012. RTE $29.27. ISBN 978-0-7613-6587-7; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-8115-0; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-7963-8. LC 2011005347. Gr 4 Up–Based on her childhood experiences, Liu and Martinez have created a rich, multilayered memoir, incorporating history, geography, language, culture, and mythology into eight short stories; then weaving them together to create an exquisite tapestry of life in China during the 1970s. The work follows a logical progression, capturing youthful experiences against a broad Chinese landscape.–Babara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, NY MOORE, Katrina. So Long Gnop-Jiye. illus. by author. 28p. Tate Publishing. 2014. pap. $9.99 ISBN 9781630630645. A seven-year-old Chinese American girl is forced to leave behind all of her dolls, friends, and her pet duck when her family moves to America. As a nation of immigrants, Americans have often heard the story as each new child attempts to find a place in our culture. But each child has a unique set of circumstances and brings something new to that culture. And so it is with the author’s mother—forced out of Hong Kong at a young age and plopped into a school where the language barrier is a big problem. As soon as seven-year-old Kuen Mun, renamed Mary, begins to understand, she is much happier. But she still dreams of the dolls, house, and pet duck, Gnop-Jiye, she left behind.—from publisher POLACCO, Patricia. The Junkyard Wonders. illus. by author. 48p. Philomel. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780399250781. Gr 1-4—When young Trisha finds out her class at the new school is known as The Junkyard, she is devastated. She moved from her old town so she wouldn't be in a special class anymore! But then she meets her teacher, the quirky and invincible Mrs. Peterson, and her classmates, an oddly brilliant group of students each with his or her own unique talent. And it is here in The Junkyard that Trisha learns the true meaning of genius, and that this group of misfits are, in fact, wonders, all of them.—from publisher SAY, Allen. The Favorite Daughter. illus. by author. 32p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545176620. LC 2012026830. K-Gr 2—As the story opens, "Yuriko came to stay with her father on Thursday that week." Readers follow the flaxen-haired child through homework assignments that involve bringing a baby picture to school and, later, creating a model of the Golden Gate Bridge. A photograph of Yuriko clad in a red, flowered kimono becomes a source of confusion for her classmates, who associate Japanese appearance with dark hair. When the art teacher mispronounces her name, and the students follow suit, her day goes from bad to worse; miserable, she seeks a new identity upon arriving home. Father and daughter visit a familiar sushi restaurant, Golden Gate Park, and the bridge (shrouded in fog), all of which help the troubled girl process her feelings and inspire a unique response to the art project. A sensitive addition to the canon of picture books about children coming to terms with being "different."—Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library TINGLE, Tim. Danny Blackgoat, Navajo Prisoner. 160p. 7th Generation. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781939053039. Gr 6 Up—Danny Blackgoat is a teenager in Navajo country when soldiers burn down his home, kill his sheep, and capture his family. During the Long Walk of 1864, Danny is labeled a troublemaker and given the name Fire Eye. Refusing to accept captivity, he is sent to Fort Davis, Texas, a Civil War prisoner outpost. There he battles bullying fellow prisoners, rattlesnakes and abusive soldiers until he meets Jim Davis, who starts him on the road to literacy.—from publisher VENKATRAMAN, Padma. A Time to Dance. 320p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780399257100. LC 2013024244. Gr 6 Up –Despite the pressure from her parents to become an engineer, Veda dreams of being a dancer. She studies the classical Indian dance, Bharatanatyam, and has reached the competition finals. Impressed with her graceful lines and skill, the judges award her first place, and Veda is ecstatic. After posing for pictures, she is injured in an accident on the way home and her leg has to be amputated below the right knee. Devastated, she lies in her hospital bed devoid of hope until one day her doctor introduces her to a specialist from America. He sparks optimism in her because he understands that she needs to dance. Eventually Veda receives a prosthetic limb that allows her to walk and dance once again.—Laura Fields Eason, Henry F. Moss Middle School, Bowling Green, KY VIGILANTE, Danette. Saving Baby Doe. 230p. Putnam. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399251603. Gr 5-8—After sneaking into a construction site in their Brooklyn neighborhood, 13-year old Lionel Perez and his best friend, Anisa Torres, get more than they bargained for when they discover an abandoned newborn in a Porta-Potti. In the process of seeking medical attention for the baby, Lionel and Anisa are regarded with suspicion by the police and hospital personnel who assume that the teens are the parents.—Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CA ZIA, Farhana. The Garden of My Imaan. 228p. glossary. Peachtree. 2013. Tr $15.95. ISBN 9781561456987. LC 2012028138. Gr 4–7—Aliya is worried about fitting in at her New England school for many reasons. Other girls go to parties and talk about boyfriends, but her family is Muslim, so the fifth grader has to think about how these things do or don't fit in with what her religion teaches. Will the other kids notice when she fasts for Ramadan? What type of reaction might she face if she decides to wear the hijab? With Ramadan approaching, her teacher at the Islamic Center tells her to communicate with Allah, and taking the advice of her great-grandmother, Aliya decides to write letters to Allah explaining her concerns. As the year progresses, Aliya works at understanding herself and her faith, and with the support of a new Muslim classmate, she comes to appreciate her many blessings and her identity.—Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ