(3) YA In Andrews's satirical dystopian world, one's physical size is directly related to one's wealth or poverty. "Bigriches" are gigantic; "littlepoors" are so tiny they can be killed by "middlerich" footfalls. The one place everyone is the same is Dreamworld, where littlepoor protagonist Warner has powerful talents for shaping dreams. Andrews uses a mixture of colloquial slang, words run together, and phonetic spelling in this allegory about economic inequities.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker

(3) YA Rome, a (supernaturally) gifted mechanic in Cottonwood Hollow, Kansas, trades her car to her vile landlord for rent when her mom loses her job. A diary sends Rome and similarly gifted friends Lux and Mercy in search of treasure, but the pioneering ancestress who buried it may have blessed their friendship as the better asset. Threads of romance, poverty, and the supernatural combine for a satisfying Midwestern ghost story.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Corinna Luyken. Chloe doubts Adrian's imaginative claims that he owns a horse, considering he receives free lunch at school and has worn-out shoes. Expressive sketch-style illustrations rendered in ink, colored pencils, and watercolor feature mainly yellow and earth tones on abundant white space. The art pairs nicely with the thoughtful narrative to capture Chloe's transformation from mean-spirited skeptic to friend. Hidden equine figures provide additional interest.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(2) YA Growing up in a low-income housing project, thirteen-year-old friends and dancers Mila and Tai have always trusted each other. After living with her aunt for a summer, Mila seems to care only about auditioning for a new gifted arts program. But Tai's not the only one who's been hurt, and eventually Mila reveals her secret. Readers will root for both young women as they tell their stories in memorable alternating voices.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Van Thanh Rudd. A child in an unnamed village "where we live inside our mud-for-walls home" describes the diversions of daily life, including zooming about with "my crazy brothers" on a "patchwork bike" built of scrap. Clarke's spare, mellifluous language is hand-lettered on Rudd's rough, tactile paintings composed of heavy acrylic paint on recycled cardboard. The illustration choices reflect the book's theme--exposing the harsh reality of life while acknowledging the resilience that comes from homemade joy.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) YA Annie's foster family takes good care of her, but she won't let go of her troubled "bio family." She devises a way to see them: at a basketball tournament, her team purposely drops into the losers' bracket, resulting in more games for Annie's birth family members to attend. Annie's first-person narrative, with intermittent transcripts from her therapist visits, is that of a smart, athletic teen surviving the family she has and finding the support system she needs.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider

(3) YA This informative volume covers the history, development, and ongoing propagation of economic inequality in the United States. Using accessible language and easily relatable examples, Frazer covers topics such as the housing bubble and economic depression of the 2000s, the inequality of opportunity, and the cycle of poverty, as well as the connection between wealth and political power. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 A small, depressed city in southern New Jersey is hit by a rolling blackout. Sixth grader Luis and his friend Maura collaborate to uncover the motive for the computer hack that's caused the problem. Equal parts thriller, STEM lesson, political satire, and commentary on class and racial inequality, this fast-moving story with plenty of heart is well constructed and thought-provoking. Includes electricity facts and emergency-kit instructions. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) YA Maya and her friend Lily discover that their grade-seven classmate Jewel has been living at school; Jewel's sister, who protected her from the worst of her parents' abuses, has disappeared, and Jewel is not safe at home. Garvie explores socioeconomic privilege (wealthier Maya initially sees Jewel as kind of a project), secret-keeping, and the nature of home. The quiet novel ends with a better (not perfect) situation for Jewel and believable growth in Maya.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 4-6 After her stealing compulsion lands twelve-year-old Hush in the Sass, Georgia, sheriff's office, she's offered a second chance working at a plant nursery. Bolstered by a good friend, a compassionate community of quirky characters, and the discovery of her own ability to help others, Hush flourishes. Harkey softens a story of neglect and poverty with a resilient protagonist, distinct voices, and a touch of magical realism.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(2) 4-6 Exceedingly well-mannered and excruciatingly poor ten-year-old Rupert Brown stumbles upon his rich classmate's Christmas celebration. After Rupert leaves still empty-stomached and empty-handed, guilt-ridden members of the wealthy family attempt to make amends. Their misguided efforts include a silk suit; a visit to a fancy restaurant; and excursions via a cardboard-box time machine. With hints of Dickens, Dahl, Travers, and others, Horvath's latest is brainy, hilarious, and poignant.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ryan Andrews. After the shooting death of his best friend, eleven-year-old aspiring cartooonist Lowen Grover ("his" comics are interspersed) convinces his family to move to Milltown. Hoping for revitalization, the down-on-its-luck town is giving away homes for one dollar, which proves too good to be true. Facing myriad financial and social challenges, the Grovers persevere in this emotionally resonant family drama featuring a diverse cast of likable characters.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Fifteen-year-old Rain lives with her jewelry-peddling father in a tent community outside of Seattle. When the city clears the "Winterfolk" community, Rain finds herself isolated and shoe-less in the big city, trying to find her way home or to a new safe haven. Lyrical language draws readers into Rain's distinctive worldview as she navigates the risks of homelessness in this uniquely set, thought-provoking coming-of-age story.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julianna Swaney. This enlightening and inspiring biography highlights Dr. Sara Josephine Baker's work with impoverished women and children in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Hell's Kitchen. Dr. Jo's public-health breakthroughs included heatstroke-safe infant clothes, antibacterial eye drops to prevent blindness, and training requirements for midwives. Swaney's watercolor, gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations contribute both context and emotion. "More about Dr. Jo" is appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Gris Grimly. Seventh grader Gabe becomes the new owner of a wish-granting imp in a bottle. Unfortunately, each wish causes someone else's misfortune. Worse yet, if Gabe dies before selling the bottle, the Devil gets his soul. While Gabe is an unlikable protagonist for much of the novel, he eventually matures, risking damnation to save his friends. Grimly's signature off-kilter illustrations enhance the story's unsettling atmosphere.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 A solid black dot reports, "I have friends... / Life is good. We have housing... / and food to eat." A hollow black dot remarks that "there are lots and lots of us too" but with insufficient housing and food. What to do? When the types of dots band together--to, for instance, create two hands reaching for each other--it's just one example of this outsize book's large-scale humanism.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Sports Stories series. Illustrated by Aburtov. Black-and-white full-page illustrations accompany these hi-lo stories involving talented athletes in tennis (Doubles), football (Punter's), bull-riding (Rodeo), and golf (Secondhand). The message-laden texts highlight the importance of focus and fair play to achieve team victory and accomplish personal goals. The engaging, action-packed stories should appeal to sports enthusiasts. Each book is supplemented by background on the sport, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Sports Stories titles: Double Trouble, Punter's Pride, Rodeo Challenge, and Secondhand Slice.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) 4-6 In late 1846 during Ireland's Potato Famine, twelve-year-old Lorraine meets Susanna, daughter of Lorraine's tenant-farming family's English landlord. Together they devise a plan to help the farmers and cottagers survive. Napoli skillfully evokes Lorraine's close-knit community, interweaving Irish culture, history, and scenery for an accessible and appealing story. Lorraine's affection for her family and solidarity with her starving friends deepen the personal tragedy. Timeline. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(2) 4-6 Unable to afford an apartment, Felix and his loving but irresponsible mother live in a van. Felix sets out to win his favorite game show's junior tournament, thinking the cash prize will solve his problems. Felix is engaging both as he keeps a sense of humor and when he realizes he can no longer rely on the adults in his life. Nielsen's eye for detail brings the story to life.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(2) YA Fifteen-year-old Macy Cashmere tells her story through electric-voiced, slang-laden entries in her "dictionary," a journal distilling her chaotic life into alphabetically arranged vignettes. No-holds-barred retellings of her impulsive adventures sit alongside evocative memories of hunger, parental neglect, and sexual abuse; this juxtaposition is uncomfortable but adds empathetic depth to Macy's character. Macy's aggressive resilience and irrepressible passion for her loved ones prevail in this powerful debut.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018