(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Wesley Wilder is excited to have her poem, "We Still Belong: An Indigenous People's Day Poem!" published in the school paper. When the time comes, she's unprepared for some of the reactions she receives, for better or worse. The story takes place during one day--Indigenous People's Day--with well-timed extended flashbacks and first-person rumination rounding out the characters, setting (Everett, Washington), and main narrative. Wesley lives with her single mother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, and baby cousin; her matrilineal tribal affiliation is Upper Skagit, though she does not qualify for enrollment. She has a supportive best friend, Hanan, and wants to ask a cute fellow gamer to the school dance. Readers learn these details organically as the day unfolds; it's an effective, relaxed way for Day (The Sea in Winter, rev. 3/21) to convey information and endear readers to her protagonist. As Hanan says, when Wesley's poem is discounted by a teacher for not having a "clear thesis statement": "You are enough...You always have been. You have nothing to prove...You're a gamer and a poet and a good friend. You're kind and funny and nerdy and weird." This is a story of quiet determination and triumph, with well-defined characters who push each other and are there for each other, and which culminates in sweet heart-to-heart conversations at a powwow in a high-school gym. An appended author's note provides further detail about the story's setting, tribal citizenship (Day is a tribal citizen of the Upper Skagit Tribe), and names and naming.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Alex is in grade six and lives on the Gold Coast of Australia. He is autistic and feels he needs a strategy for making friends: be good enough at his favorite computer game, OrbsWorld; run faster and contribute to the track relays coming up; or win a trophy at the upcoming PAWS dog show. Foster's effective first-person narrative gives readers insight into how the protagonist's mind works, allowing them to observe the world the way he does (e.g., his difficulty with noise and crowds and with reading people's facial expressions). The tension of the story rides on the dog show, not only how Alex's dog, Kevin, will do, but also how Alex will cope with the crowds and excitement. By the novel's end, he realizes that not only has he learned how to be a friend, but he's also had a friend all along. It is a testament to Foster's craft in character development that readers will care so much about the earnest, good-hearted Alex and that the final, tear-jerking scene is such a surprise.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Chan Chau. Middle-schooler Binh isn't happy about his Vietnamese American family's trip to a silent Buddhist meditation retreat. His beloved Game Boy is taken away, and, worse, Binh has to write an apology for shoving the school bully to the ground after he'd directed anti-Asian racist remarks at Binh. During the retreat, through Sister Peace's skillful teachings and meditation, Binh learns to set aside his angst and anger and find the inner wisdom, strength, and community to handle life's challenges. Frequent cool colors in dynamically composed panels made for a sweet and surprisingly soothing comic. Siddhartha Gautama's path to enlightenment and the Jataka tales (fables connected to Buddha's prior forms) are made accessible by framing them through Binh's perspective, with some video-game allusions and nature imagery, talking animals, and spirits. Both reader+s who are unfamiliar with the religion and those who practice it will enjoy this refreshing, modern Buddhist primer, complete with a bibliography that lists other educational texts. As Sister Peace says, "The journey to becoming a B uddha is long, and not one that should be traveled alone."

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Zachariah OHora. To today's young readers, a video game played on a television screen probably seems like something that's existed forever, but this picture-book biography introduces readers to the individual to whom all gamers owe a debt of gratitude. After fleeing Nazi Germany as a teenager, Rudolf Baer changed his first name to Ralph and used his talent for electronics to work as a radio operator during World War II. After the war, Baer studied early television technology and became a military engineer. He first conceived of his TV video game idea in 1966 and spent the next five years experimenting, testing, and prototyping his invention. Hannigan's (A Lady Has the Floor) text conveys Baer's determination and relentlessness as he works through multiple iterations of his video game box. OHora's recognizable acrylic paint illustrations (Goodnight Veggies, rev. 3/20; Dogs at Work, rev. 9/21), using a limited palette of yellow and blue contrasting with subdued greens, reds, and pinks, help set the story in its historical context. Back matter includes photos, four pages of questions and answers about Baer and his work, a timeline, and a list of resources.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(2) YA Joel Teague--an affable, self-deprecating teen living in 1990s Michigan--is at a crossroads. After years spent in and out of inpatient psychiatric care following an unspecified "Bad Thing That Happened," Joel is now seventeen and long past his last flare-up. When his therapist prescribes a part-time job, Joel gets hired at ROYO Video. There, he takes the Star Wars–inspired nickname Solo and, with it, the chance to reinvent himself as "Normal"--as long as he keeps his history secret from his gaggle of quirky, cinematically pseudonymed young coworkers. In this pop culture–heavy period piece, Solo narrates his own halting, sometimes misguided emotional coming of age with an earnest, immediate voice. His friendship with Baby--a tough, straightforward, pregnant colleague standing at her own crossroads--becomes both a safe haven from his increasingly difficult parents and a proving ground for his complex relationships with others: for example, when she pushes him to examine his behavior around a gay coworker with a crush on him, and around his troubled but alluring boss. The ­lingering, ­often-alluded-to mystery of Solo's past casts an uneasy tension over his social wins and losses. The traumatic story he eventually reveals is neither tidy nor redeeming, but ­neither, Solo learns, is life--even for Normal people. Authentically flawed characters and imperfect connections add heft to this bittersweet workplace dramedy.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) YA The school board has cut funding for football at Ironville Middle School, but Ms. B hopes her new eSports club might "give students something else to focus on. ­Something to get excited about." After all, the eight shiny new gaming computers she has gotten through a ­technology grant for low-income schools aren't costing the school anything, and the students are sure to love playing a World War II simulation game pitting the Allies against the Axis. But that game soon spirals out of control. Axis members walk the hallways wearing gray shirts and Iron Crosses and talking in fake German accents. Chat rooms resound with "Long live the Axis. Sieg Heil!" And when Ally member Emma puts on her headphones, she hears sounds of boots marching, crashes of cymbals and drums, and someone (presumably Hitler) giving a passionate speech in German. Her monitor displays Iron Crosses, swastikas, burning crosses, and nooses. The Good War has become more than a game; "evil has seeped into the real world." Strasser revisits themes from his now-classic The Wave (1981), a fictionalized account of an actual 1967 history class simulation that went too far. The prose is simple, the themes heady, and the conflicts intense, all balanced by an in-your-face encounter with the worst of middle-school life: bullying, cheating, boys spitting loogies onto the ceiling of the "pissorium," and cellphone-obsessed students pursuing their meanness 24/7 on social media. It's a quick read and a thought-provoking reflection of the underbelly of our times.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Pete Oswald. The reliable duo behind the nondidactic (and puntastic) behavior-themed picture books The Bad Seed; The Good Egg (rev. 1/19); and The Cool Bean (rev. 3/20) tackle the topic of excessive screen time. Our couch-potato protagonist (a cheery, bright-eyed cartoon potato) has a favorite spot: the sofa. From there, it can see "a sea of shimmering screens, from wall to shining wall. What joy! What bliss!" As a TV-watcher, an online gamer, and a live-streamer, all of its social interactions are virtual. (The line "It's much easier than trying to meet up somewhere, like folks did in the olden days" has a particular resonance right now.) While plugging in its newest device--"a video camera that would allow me to watch myself react while I was watching all my favorite shows"--our hero blows a fuse. This leads to some much-needed fresh air, face-to-face interaction, and outdoor adventure besting anything with pixels. Text and illustrations ("scanned watercolor textures and digital paint") are packed with humor, from the potato's guileless expressions to its favorite shows ("M*A*S*H*E*D Potatoes") and ingenious inventions (self-pouring milk and cereal) to its pals, a.k.a. "best spuddies." By the end, the tater still loves electronic devices and couch-sitting, but its horizons have been expanded to the great outdoors, and to analog reading: Catcher in the Fry.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) YA Seventeen-year-old narrator Kiera is (secretly) the creator of the hugely popular multiplayer gaming community SLAY, which is rooted in Black culture and which she developed to "showcase how awesome we are as Black people, how multifaceted, resilient, and colorful we are." When a troll disrupts SLAY--and an act of real-life violence follows--Kiera must investigate the events without losing herself or compromising her creation. Morris has truly captured the holistic experiences of many Black digital users.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(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

(4) 4-6 Alternator Books: My Minecraft series. Each of these four volumes offer a brief overview of a feature of the popular open-world video game. Accompanied by screenshots from the game, the straightforward, second-person texts tend to be repetitive from book to book, particularly when discussing a 2018 update and MineCon. Sidebars highlight STEM connections and how coding skills come into play. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: My Minecraft titles: The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Construction, The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Mining and Farming, The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Mods, and The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Survival

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Alternator Books: My Minecraft series. Each of these four volumes offer a brief overview of a feature of the popular open-world video game. Accompanied by screenshots from the game, the straightforward, second-person texts tend to be repetitive from book to book, particularly when discussing a 2018 update and MineCon. Sidebars highlight STEM connections and how coding skills come into play. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: My Minecraft titles: The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Construction, The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Mining and Farming, The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Mods, and The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Survival

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Ready, Set, Code! series. Illustrated by Sue Downing. Each volume in this series introduces a coding language, providing instructions for four progressively challenging projects. Brief introductions orient coders, having them download the appropriate programs on the appropriate devices. Brightly colored, simple illustrations accompany clear, numbered steps. Tangential facts about various topics (animals, flowers, etc.) add a touch of whimsy. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ready, Set, Code! titles: Coding with Hopscotch Coding with Python Coding with ScratchJr and The Unofficial Guide to Coding with Minecraft

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers series. Each of these engaging biographies introduces readers to the creator of a popular classic kids' toy or game. The texts are generally positive (and overuse exclamation points) but don't ignore difficulties and hardship, both personal and business-related. Captioned photos, archival reproductions, and "Fun Fact" boxes liven up the pages. The topics have ready-made kid-appeal; readers will glean insight into product development and the challenges of running a business. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Toy Trailblazers titles: Hot Wheels Developer, Lincoln Logs Creator, My Little Pony Pioneer, Nerf Genius, Nintendo Innovator, and The Slime Queen.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Alternator Books: My Minecraft series. Each of these four volumes offer a brief overview of a feature of the popular open-world video game. Accompanied by screenshots from the game, the straightforward, second-person texts tend to be repetitive from book to book, particularly when discussing a 2018 update and MineCon. Sidebars highlight STEM connections and how coding skills come into play. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: My Minecraft titles: The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Construction, The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Mining and Farming, The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Mods, and The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Survival

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Alternator Books: My Minecraft series. Each of these four volumes offer a brief overview of a feature of the popular open-world video game. Accompanied by screenshots from the game, the straightforward, second-person texts tend to be repetitive from book to book, particularly when discussing a 2018 update and MineCon. Sidebars highlight STEM connections and how coding skills come into play. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: My Minecraft titles: The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Construction, The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Mining and Farming, The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Mods, and The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Survival

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) YA Emika Chen (Warcross) isn't over Hideo Tanaka, inventor of the virtual reality–enabling NeuroLink, which was redesigned to subvert people's free will. While preparing for the Warcross championship rematch game, Emika is courted by Hideo's nemesis (and long-ago-kidnapped younger brother), Zero. This edge-of-your-seat sequel propels readers through action sequences and intrigue in the shadowy Tokyo underground, even as they may ponder the ethical implications of biotechnology, virtual realities, and artificial intelligence.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) 4-6 Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls series. In this second series installment, Abigail's mother is now headmaster at the posh boarding school that doubles as a secret training ground for spies. When a friend's father, a famous augmented-reality game designer, is kidnapped, Abigail and her classmates are tapped for a dangerous mission to save him. Nonstop action, more cool gadgets, and strong secondary characters should grab new readers and keep existing fans hooked.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) YA With her mom's death, her dad's remarriage, and estrangement from her best friend, sixteen-year-old anxious introvert Analee prefers online role-playing games to living in the real world. An arrangement to fake-date a popular jock, though, sets her on a course of self-rediscovery. Milanes delivers a diverse cast of fully fleshed-out characters with nuanced relationships and relatable situations in this complex, rewarding rom-com.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Xavier Bonet. Bart doesn't fit in at his new middle school and is targeted by bullies. But secretly he's been fine-tuning the code on his own interactive smartphone game, and it eventually becomes the game of the moment. When Bart orchestrates a very public revenge on his bullies, he ultimately connects with them instead. Cartoonlike black-and-white illustrations bring the game to life and add to the laughs.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Rogan Webber, twelve, spends most of his life in Virtual City, gaming his way to the top five in Laser Viper. Invited to compete in an exclusive, high-stakes gaming competition at the creator's cushy headquarters, Rogan eagerly agrees, but the young competitors soon realize the game feels alarmingly real. Video gamers especially will love this thrilling, high-tech adventure.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters