(2) YA Seventh-grader Ari Rosensweig is the new kid, "awkward, big, different / from everyone else." Picked on and beat up, Ari is drawn to other worlds where characters transform heroically (e.g., Avatar). The verse novel is a well-chosen format for Baron's debut, with his first-person narrative effectively revealing the protagonist"s growth step by step. Any reader who has felt like an outsider will be drawn to this verse novel.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) YA When she's first hospitalized for anorexia, twelve-year-old Riley wonders, "If I'm not skinny, who will I be?" After almost two months at the facility--where she makes friends, rediscovers a passion for art, works with a therapist, and eats--she finally acknowledges, "I am Riley." Written as journal entries, the epistolary novel believably captures Riley's disordered thinking and difficult road toward recovery.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA Max is a quiet fourteen-year-old Brit who enjoys birds, video games, and geocaching. But his anorexia threatens to take all his attention and might be destroying his family. An endearingly intimate voice draws readers into Max's internal battle, including his notably complex feelings about masculinity and puberty. This tender story is hopeful but painfully honest about the difficult work Max's recovery will require.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) YA Twenty-one female YA authors offer personal essays about moments and life experiences that shaped their feminist worldview. The timely topics covered include the intersection of race and gender, sexual assault and rape, issues around weight and body image, and the experience of growing up a girl in an immigrant family. Engaging, emotional, and perfectly attuned to today's young women, this feminist collection promises to make an impact. Websites.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Leah, Simon's friend from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, stars in a story of their friend group's last few months of high school. Leah, who hasn't told others she's bisexual, slowly falls for her once-estranged friend Abby but worries about a variety of repercussions. Frequently funny, this novel is also socially aware, addressing issues of race, class, and body image in addition to sexuality.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 4-6 Princess Aislin is half-fairy, half-pedrasi (mountain people who possess incredible strength), but she has the "sturdier" figure of the pedrasi side. When an enemy human king takes her hostage, Aislin must use all of her powers, magical and otherwise, to save her home. Aislin is a compelling heroine, proving her strength against fantastical beasts as well as the human girls who bully her.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) 4-6 Tally, whose classmates are tired of her superior-seeming attempts to help others, navigates awkward seventh-grade dynamics on a class trip to Washington, DC. Signs of a classmate's eating disorder force her to consider interfering despite others' annoyance. Dee nails the voice and characterization of preteens trying to find their place in the social order. Eating disorder resources are appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 4-6 Hoops series. The WNBA-player author's new series features seventh grader Elle, who's six feet tall. She's destined to play basketball--which she does and loves--but Elle is also a normal kid, juggling basketball with other obligations and fretting about her height and its impact on her life. Elle is a likable character: a little clumsy, a little goofy, but a good role model for girls. Review covers these Hoops titles: Elle of the Ball, Full-Court Press, and Out of Bounds..

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Hoops series. The WNBA-player author's new series features seventh grader Elle, who's six feet tall. She's destined to play basketball--which she does and loves--but Elle is also a normal kid, juggling basketball with other obligations and fretting about her height and its impact on her life. Elle is a likable character: a little clumsy, a little goofy, but a good role model for girls. Review covers these Hoops titles: Elle of the Ball, Full-Court Press, and Out of Bounds..

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Hoops series. The WNBA-player author's new series features seventh grader Elle, who's six feet tall. She's destined to play basketball--which she does and loves--but Elle is also a normal kid, juggling basketball with other obligations and fretting about her height and its impact on her life. Elle is a likable character: a little clumsy, a little goofy, but a good role model for girls. Review covers these Hoops titles: Elle of the Ball, Full-Court Press, and Out of Bounds..

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) YA A young Canadian woman with a large nose enters a long-distance relationship with a plastic surgeon, who loves her for who she is. Adapted from Dorfman's time-lapse film of the same name, this graphic memoir for older readers has mature themes yet a refreshing picture-book simplicity to the text. A creatively minimalist art style adds depth to this story of self-acceptance.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(4) YA On his eighteenth birthday, Patrick receives a letter from his long-dead mother. Only she's not dead--his dad's been lying to him for years. As "Pack" unravels the mystery, he loses his supportive girlfriend and his whole life turns upside-down. Though readers may not feel satisfied by the hurried resolution to the mystery, Pack is an interesting character and his complicated relationship with food and exercise adds dimension.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Savvy: Girlology series. A series of infographics related to girls' growing bodies address health, hygiene, puberty, nutrition, media representation, and more; overall the text demonstrates the broad range of what's normal and points out the often-harmful messages in mainstream media. The tables, graphs, timelines, trivia bits, and photographs of a diverse set of tween girls create a visually engaging, magazine-style volume.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) YA Sex educator Green expands on her popular YouTube videos with this hefty guide to modern sexuality and relationships. With a slangy but knowledgeable tone, Green expounds on the expected subjects (anatomy, birth control) as well as relevant issues such as gender identity, communication, and consent. Her deft, gentle treatment of delicate topics and commitment to sex-positivity makes this informational book stand out among similar titles for older teens. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lane Smith. This companion to Penguin Problems stars Edward the Giraffe, who, as revealed in fidgety, conversational first-person text, is self-conscious about his too-long neck. Then downhearted Edward meets lonely turtle Cyrus; retrieving a banana from a tree for Cyrus changes Edward's perspective about his neck. Panels divide images during moments of conversation and contemplation, allowing characters' emotions and reactions to take center stage in the textured, muted illustrations.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(3) YA Virginia's stressful home life becomes more so when her brother, Byron, is arrested for sexual assault. A relationship with cute Sebastian offers a welcome distraction--even after Virginia learns that his sister is Byron's accuser. Timely subject matter and the return of relatable, body-confident protagonist Virginia make this a welcome follow-up to The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA When overweight but body-confident Jess Jones receives an invite to a party from her crush Matt, the British year-eleven student begins a strict diet and exercise regimen hoping to win him over. Debut novelist Mainwaring's heartwarming, hilarious story about wanting to fit in but ultimately choosing to stand out is bolstered by Jess's snarky yet accurate observations about women's place in society.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(2) YA Millie and Callie, Willowdean's classmates from Dumplin', alternate narrating this similarly girl-powered follow-up. Callie and her dance teammates vandalize Millie's family's gym. As the only one busted, Callie is sentenced to work alongside Millie at the gym for free. Murphy delivers gentle lessons about body acceptance, stereotyping, and forgiveness. But the focus is on Millie and Callie's friendship; after a rocky start, it's authentic, supportive, and noncompetitive.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(3) YA Elizabeth, who has anorexia, is being treated at a residential center for girls with eating disorders. With lots of therapy, support from the other patients, and comfort from some mysterious care packages, Elizabeth begins to change her relationship with food and her weight. This debut is a compassionate portrayal of anorexia's physical, psychological, and interpersonal effects; Elizabeth's journey is authentic and heartbreaking.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA This girl-power guide to style explains how readers (of all sizes) can use clothes and accessories to express their individuality and build confidence. It includes advice on choosing figure-flattering styles, creating balanced outfits, and buying clothes on a budget; stock photos of uniquely dressed teens enliven the layout. The inclusive, encouraging tone is just right for would-be fashionistas. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith