(2) YA Eighth grader Ajay and his sister feel stifled by their immigrant Sri Lankan parents' strict rules. These include a sole focus on academics, no socializing, and minimal extracurricular activities. When Ajay moves to a new school, he attempts to appease the popular kids, only to face racism and bullying. Things get even worse when, on a dare, he steals a chocolate bar that turns out to come with a prize of a million dollars. Though this money would be life-changing for his family, Ajay knows he won it through deceit, and the lies stack up until he can no longer keep them from crashing down. This is a realistic portrayal of a Tamil family, with memorable characters in an underrepresented cultural setting; the hardships his parents face and the characters' believable motivations add depth and nuance. Ajay and his sister's closeness, his frustration with family, and his middle-school struggles mirror the lives of many immigrant children. The inclusion of Ajay's reflections through his schoolwork and journals helps make him easy to empathize with; references to his Christian faith as a moral compass add another layer of nuance. The plot never falters, and surprising twists make for a refreshing coming-of-age story.

Reviewer: Sadaf Siddique | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(1) YA In this coming-of-age novel set in an insular Orthodox Jewish community (adjacent to the one in The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, rev. 11/22), Yocheved "Yoyo" Gold is the eldest daughter of the local rabbi and has been cast in a particular and demanding role by those around her. After her best friend leaves town under questionable circumstances, Yoyo begins to notice cracks in the standards of behavior she has always accepted and feels an urge to call out the hypocrisy she sees. New friends -- one from outside her tight-knit community and one who is pushing boundaries within it -- lead her to question both her responsibilities and her beliefs. Social media, alcohol, and physical relationships feature heavily in the story, and each potential hot-button issue is handled with delicacy and nuance as Yoyo approaches these new experiences from her sheltered but mature perspective. While the book critiques Orthodoxy, it also treats its norms and traditions with respect. Even at the height of mean-girl drama, the characters have dimension and agency, and Yoyo models a level of integrity that feels both genuine and aspirational. The story's depictions of teens grappling with expectations are specific to this community and also represent universal themes of growing up, friendship, family pressures, and being true to oneself.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old Charity Brown, youngest of four, is dealing with the lingering effects of polio and starting to question the beliefs and rules of her parents, who adhere to the precepts of a strict Christian sect. "We had to avoid places where the Devil might lurk, like cinemas, or those coffee bars with juke boxes that play wickedly sinful pop music." The family's plain, thrifty, and restrained domestic life changes drastically when the Browns come into an unexpected inheritance that includes a mansion and decide to set up a kind of hostel for the "weary and heavy-laden." Set in postwar London, this narrative touches on antisemitism, racism, and the oppression of women but folds these issues deftly into a child-centered story of a spirited girl who feels inadequate, longs for a friend, is embarrassed by her parents' behavior in public, and frets about how the idea of a loving God can be reconciled with the sorrows of the world. The tone here, warm and gently funny, matches the setting, as well-orchestrated scenes of family dinner disasters, a teenage brother with attitude, not having the right clothes, an adored auntie who is a bit "fast," and a short-lived crush could have been plucked from a mid-twentieth-century children's novel. A nuanced portrait of growing up outside the mainstream.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 4-6 Ebony (Eb) and De'Kari (Flow), both seventh graders, are suspended from school after a fight in the cafeteria that neither thinks is their fault. On the surface, this looks like a case of two unruly adolescents acting out. Flow is hurt and angry that Eb ruined the shoes his deployed father gave him; Eb says, "It was all just an accident! / Nobody was trying to mess up / his Stupid Ugly Shoes." Over the course of their two-week suspensions, both narrators have the opportunity to reflect and to rethink their actions. Are they really "bad kids," or are they just kids dealing with bad situations? This engaging verse novel reveals the complexities of their home lives, which, despite the kids' enmity, have similarities and are intertwined in surprising ways. Their alternating narratives employ authentic language and tone that give readers the opportunity to empathize with them as their stories unfold. Baptist (The Swag Is in the Socks, rev. 11/21) explores the effects of parental absence, inequitable school discipline, and social issues such as gang violence. This story will resonate with readers struggling to express their emotional lives in ways that society deems appropriate.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) 4-6 Sixth grader Melony tries really hard to please her overprotective Japanese immigrant parents and be the good girl they expect her to be, but inside she's raging against their strict rules. Her mother won't let Melony have a phone but does decide she's old enough now at twelve to hear the real reason the family left Japan for Oregon years ago: apparently, they were running from an evil spirit. Melony scoffs, thinking it's just a silly story--until the creature shows up at their house while her parents are out. Though terrified at first, Melony quickly falls under the Amanjaku's spell; the wily shape-shifting demon somehow knows she's yearning for adventure and freedom--and a phone!--and provides her with everything she desires, including revenge on the mean boys at school. Although the Amanjaku convinces Melony that it's all harmless, she slowly realizes that plenty of people are getting hurt, especially her new friend Chloë. The demon has become more and more dangerous; is it too late for Melony to fight back and save everyone? Brown's (Dream, Annie, Dream, rev. 3/22) eerie tale is a suspenseful, just-scary-enough story of the supernatural; the author's note reveals how she incorporated elements of her favorite Japanese folktale, "The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku," into the novel.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) 4-6 "I'm tired of being that girl / who's different / who's special / who went through a 'hard time' / and basically messed up her home." Seventh grader Iveliz writes in her new journal about her goals: trying to stay out of trouble at school; making a new friend; and acclimating to living with her abuelita, Mimi, who, having been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, has moved from Puerto Rico to be with Iveliz's family. In spite of her efforts, Iveliz still struggles: her mom keeps getting called to the principal's office; a makeover date with a new friend turns complicated; and her idea to grow a garden with Mimi doesn't go as planned (gandules don't grow well in Maryland). She is not sure how to get her life under control, or whether Dr. Turnip and Dr. ­Carrot, her garden-vegetable "therapists," can actually help. Iveliz's voice is relatable and strong. Her spare journal entries are in English with a fair amount of Spanish naturally integrated into her musings to create an authentic depiction of a Puerto Rican family and a young girl's personal issues. This verse novel (with occasional interspersed art by Alyssa Bermudez) deals convincingly with grief, mental health, and middle-school bullies; twelve-year-old Iveliz's first-person account amplifies the need for finding one's voice and asking for help at any age. An author's note lists mental health resources for young people.

Reviewer: Alicia K. Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) PS Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford. Big Dog is perfectly happy before Little Dog comes along. It's just him and his human friend--yelling "Walkies!" while hanging onto the leash as Big Dog hurtles along; "Come!" as off-leash Big Dog trots away; "Up!" as Big Dog sprawls on the couch; "Sit!" as Big Dog jumps to see the kitchen counter; and, Big Dog's favorite, "Get down!" whenever his human comes home. Life is good for this less-than-good dog, except for those long days waiting and waiting for "Get down!" to arrive. Here, Gifford's cheerfully colored illustrations fade to gray as Big Dog looks forlornly out the window. Life changes one day when the pair meets a woman walking a tiny white dog; the latter two eventually move in, and Little Dog unintentionally makes Big Dog look bad by interpreting "Come!" and "Sit!" in a very different, very obedient manner. Little Dog must go! The physical differences between the dogs playfully show off their personalities: Big Dog's huge, floppy hound ears and long tail versus Little Dog's tiny wing-like ears and constantly wagging wisp of a tail. Rippin's brief but amusing text lets the expressive illustrations fill in gaps and extend the story's humor, as the pups soon become besties in this lighthearted Australian import about blended families.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(2) YA African American sixteen-year-old Dove ("Birdie") is on the "right" track, with good grades and a clear life plan chosen by her parents. When Birdie's fresh-from-rehab aunt Carlene arrives, Birdie begins to rebel, including by dating Booker, a kindhearted boy with a difficult past. Vivid dialogue and rich descriptions of the Chicago setting serve the story well. Birdie's believable first-person perspective reflects a protagonist who evolves to trust her own instincts.

Reviewer: Christina L. Dobbs | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(4) K-3 Translated by Annie Prime. Elderly Bo lives with young Koko, who greets every direction with "I DON'T WANT TO!" Bo doesn't press, knowing that Koko will eventually see the logic behind wearing a coat (it's cold outside), getting out of bed (how else to get breakfast?), etc. Readers yearning for bratty Koko's comeuppance may be disappointed, but this sweet intergenerational-friendship tale from Sweden features beguiling skewed-line illustrations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. This sequel to Marge in Charge is more convincing in its depiction of fun-loving Marge, a Mary Poppins–ish babysitter whose adventures just skirt the edges of reality. Jemima and little brother Jake--guided by Marge--take care of a "pirate baby" cousin, go on a water adventure, and save a wedding from disaster. The magic, mayhem, and silliness that ensue are underscored by Ceulemans's line drawings.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(2) YA Mahlia, Ocho, and the "soldier boys" nurse severely wounded half-man Tool (Ship Breaker; The Drowned Cities) back to health. Mercier Corporation (his former owner) pursues Tool to the Seascape (dystopian future Boston), where the once-obedient slave finally confronts his creator. Frenetic action sequences vividly depict combat's brutality and finality, while Bacigalupi masterfully employs multiple alternating viewpoints to examine larger philosophical questions.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(4) PS Illustrated by Ella Okstad. Toddler "Tiny Tantrum" throws fits whenever she doesn't get her way. One day, however, some friendly monsters explain why she should put on her coat, eat her broccoli, etc. Tiny listens to their practical advice, also learning a healthier alternative to tantrum-throwing. The rhymed text's obvious message isn't likely to fool kids; the pastel-toned illustrations, especially of Tiny's enthusiastic monster helpers, are more engaging.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. When Jemima and little brother Jake meet diminutive babysitter Marge (size jokes abound), they are astonished to learn that she has rainbow-colored hair under her hat and creates (consequence-free) chaos wherever she goes. Written and illustrated with enthusiasm and energy, this fantasy about a wacky, messier Mary Poppins–type strains a bit too hard to convince us that breaking the rules is tons of fun.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Taking a fall for her twin, good girl Olivia lands at a "positive redirection" camp, where she and rebellious fellow camper Ruby must catalog antiques in a creepy historic mansion. Strange happenings turn the frenemies into ghost-hunting friends. The perceptive and funny dialogue--along with the idea that being frightened can be fun--should resonate with readers navigating the often scary realities of growing up.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) K-3 Making Good Choices series. Illustrated by Victoria Assanelli. In each Choose Your Own Adventure–style lesson book, readers determine a focal character's behavior in a challenging situation: Does Kendra come inside when her father asks, or does she whine and cry (Angry)? The opportunity to make choices seems empowering, but the parental lectures that characters receive ruin the fun. The culturally diverse cast of protagonists often look frozen in place. Reflection questions are appended. Review covers these Making Good Choices titles: You Can Control Your Voice, You Can Handle Conflict, You Can Listen to Directions, You Can Stay in Control, You're Angry, and You're in Trouble.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) 4-6 Jimmy Murphy, the worst sixth grader at his 1950s Catholic elementary school, is the target of humiliation by a new teacher, Sister Angelica Rose--so much so that he enlists his friends in a revenge prank against her that could be dangerous. Fear not: there's a happy ending. Though occasionally quite funny, there's scant historical detail to anchor the semi-autobiographical story.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Ted Enik. Nancy's fancy dog, Frenchy, is a tolerable terror, but the pooch goes too far when she wrecks Nancy's new backpack, which Nancy painstakingly fancied up for the new school year. At puppy school, Frenchy shapes up, after which the beginning-reader story fizzles out. Still, Nancy's fans will get their frilly, frothy fill via Enik's Robin Preiss Glasser–imitating art. Glos.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS A young mouse is trying to be good while its little brother is napping, but every activity the mouse tries threatens to end noisily. Finally, when a block tower falls down, baby brother wakes up and can join the fun. But now his big sibling is snoring... With rounded-edge card-stock pages, this book offers young children a cheery and realistic story about an appealing sibling pair.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Cautious Edie spends the summer stuck in Florida, helping fix up her late grandmother's house; that grandmother's list of "Good Ideas for Summertime" sets off a string of antics for Edie and adventurous cousin Rae. Tweens unsure of how much independence they want should relate to Edie's constant mental tug of war between her overprotective mom's voice and her desire to be cool.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) K-3 Though Miles's human family loves him, he is a "very difficult dog." The only time he's cooperative is in the car, so neighbor Mr. Huddy makes Miles his own car. After driving lessons, Miles is ready for the road. As always, Burningham controls pacing through a mix of vignettes, full-page illustrations, and double-page spreads; his pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings are maximally expressive.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016