Starred Reviews
Fat & Bones: And Other Stories
“Moments of selfishness, sacrifice, bravery, and revenge jumble together in haunting and unexpected ways, and Doyle’s lush b&w illustrations help establish an unsettling atmosphere that feels like Charlotte’s Web by way of Neil Gaiman.” —starred,… View →
Santa Clauses: Short Poems from the North Pole
“An oversize format gives plenty of room for intriguing illustrations with a muted palette and an Old World flavor…. Anyone interested in haiku or poetry for children will find this collection a rare treat.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
“[An] exceptional debut novel for middle graders…. Both cinematic and pleasingly literary, this will keep readers entranced.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Perfectly Good White Boy
“Mesrobian… excels at conveying the awkwardness and wonder of sex…. [She] deftly conveys just how much drama there is in the everyday, especially for a 17-year-old trying to figure out not just what’s next, but what’s happening right now.” —starred,… View →
Bubbe's Belated Bat Mitzvah
“Pinson makes an assured authorial debut with a much-needed story about an increasingly common Jewish life cycle ritual.” —starred, Publishers Weekly View →
My Heart is Laughing
“Eriksson’s plentiful black-and-white line drawings expressively show joy and distress and perfectly complement the story…. Genuine feelings such as humor, honesty, and heartbreak will leave readers yearning for Dani to return once again.” —starred, School… View →
White Space
“This is a fascinating, intricate story with multiple threads running through it. It is a combination of mystery, science fiction, and horror—an exciting page-turner.” —starred, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books View →
BZRK Apocalypse
“[A] great choice for readers with a strong stomach, an interest in the future of biomedical technology and the essential ethical debate, or anyone willing to embark on an unnerving, frighteningly plausible thrill ride all around the globe.” —starred, View →
Perfectly Good White Boy
“Engaging, perceptive, witty and at times gut-wrenchingly sad—this is an extraordinary addition to fiction for teens and adults alike.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Beetle Boy
“Willey (Four Secrets) returns with a riveting story about being robbed of one’s childhood…. A potent story about the power that the past exerts on the present.” —starred, Publishers Weekly View →
“Spectacular; a book to make anyone think seriously about society’s preordained gender roles.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Beetle Boy
“Willey takes readers along on Charlie’s painful journey back to physical and emotional health via a meandering timeline of flashbacks, dreams and wrenching conversations, skillfully weaving together the bits and pieces of his life…. Demanding—and riveting.”… View →
Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole
“Latham’s finely crafted verse, at once humorous and serious, dazzlingly opens the imagination to the wilds of the world. Enlightening and engaging, a thrilling panorama of the diversity to be found throughout the animal kingdom.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole
“This will be a much-sought-after book for teaching reading and inquiry skills…. A strong choice.” —starred, School Library Journal View →
The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats: A Scientific Mystery
“The text is written in a clear tone, providing information on the plight of the bats in an accessible style…. An excellent work that will enlighten readers about a growing problem in the natural world.” —starred, School Library Journal View →
When Lunch Fights Back: Wickedly Clever Animal Defenses
“This is an outstanding way for readers to meet scientists at work in both field and lab…. Thrilling reading for budding biologists.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Up for Sale: Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
“This slim volume makes clear the grinding reality of the cheapest labor and presents a welcome chance to act.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Chasing the Storm: Tornadoes, Meteorology, and Weather Watching
“A fascinating composite of text, photos, charts, and maps … Descriptions model energetic composition featuring precise active verbs and straightforward observation, both useful to students learning to write nonfiction.” —starred, VOYA View →
The Patchwork Torah
“Through its serene, oil-painted illustrations and warm language, The Patchwork Torah demonstrates the importance of cycles in Judaism – the cycle of the reading of the Torah ending and beginning on the holiday of Simchat Torah, the cycle of the generations and… View →
The Whispering Town
“This slim volume is highly recommended for its fine read, for its introduction to sound historical fiction and for its gentle look at a difficult past that cannot be ignored.” — Jewish Book World View →
Every Body's Talking: What We Say without Words
“A must-have for classroom libraries in classes requiring oral presentations, this book may well help students faster than any teacher encouragement…. Display in public and school libraries; gift a copy to your child or child’s teacher; help this extraordinary resource… View →
Knockout Games
“[T]he author’s meaty ideas and exciting action sequences blend together perfectly. . . . Harsh and relentless, a tough but worthy read.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
The Whispering Town
“Both author and illustrator do an excellent job of bringing both the horror and humanity of this story to a level younger children can understand, and there is much of both: Nazis pounding on doors; Carl giving Anett his most prized possession, a heartshaped stone, a last gift… View →