Reviews
Body Decoration
“As body decoration—including nail art, hair fashion, piercings, makeup, and tattoos—continues to become more popular, readers can turn to this entry in the On the Radar: Street Style series for more information…. Bright colors and patterned backdrops are the perfect… View →
Drowning Instinct
“Bick, a child psychiatrist, writes about dysfunction with a professional’s insight, and she goes to great pains to create believable characters…and dramatizes dysfunction and disorder in ways that will attract readers and offer opportunities for classroom… View →
The Knife and the Butterfly
“An uncompromising look at two characters most readers would otherwise look away from.” —Booklist View →
What Are the Articles of Confederation?: And Other Questions about the Birth of the United States
“The Six Questions of American History series investigates events in our nation’s past in the same way a journalist might—through the framework of who, what, when, where, why, and how. As a result, readers uncover the past rather than memorize it.” —Booklist View →
Catch & Release
“Woolston’s novel offers intriguing characters, contemporary ethical questions, and a story that will have appeal to a wide range of readers.” —Booklist View →
Not a Buzz to Be Found: Insects in Winter
“Artfully combining foreground close-ups and cutaways with broader views of children at play in lightly wooded winter landscapes, Zollars supplies soft-lined but accurately detailed illustrations for Glaser’s survey of wintering insects…. An informative foray into the… View →
Tricky Coyote Tales: Book 1
“In these interactive stories, young readers can choose certain actions for Coyote that will lead to different outcomes—some good, some bad, all fun.” —Booklist View →
The Absolute Value of -1
“At times raw with emotion…, the story compellingly explores how teens connect with one another and how they view themselves. Many readers will relate to the feelings of isolation and lack of hope portrayed here. Edgy and gritty, Brezenoff’s YA debut reads like a cross… View →
In Trouble
“Author Levine has broached a delicate subject in the hope that readers will reflect upon what life was like for women before Roe v. Wade and where our nation could be headed if we refuse to learn from our history…. It’s also a stark reminder of ‘the more things… View →
“This early chapter book mystery is engaging, providing a case to solve that is age appropriate. Numerous clues are provided, a red herring is present, and the mystery has a surprising twist at the end…. This series provides super sleuthing strategies at the end of the book… View →
Elephant Talk: The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication
“Well-chosen color photos appear on nearly every page, transporting readers from American zoos to African wildlife preserves to an Indian festival celebrating the birthday of the Hindu god Ganesh…. This wide-ranging book is always engaging and informative.”… View →
Seven Wonders beyond the Solar System
“‘People love to make lists of the biggest and the best,’ begins each of these four awe-inspiring volumes in the Seven Wonders series, each of which introduces readers to outer space in targeted volumes with an intriguing ‘greatest hits’ approach….… View →
Lost in the River of Grass
“In this authentic survival adventure…it’s the identity questions as much as the taut rescue story that will resonate with readers.” —Booklist View →
Ruby Valentine Saves the Day
“The story is as warm as the fire over which people are roasting marshmallows at the book’s conclusion. Avril’s ink-and-and-watercolor pictures, highlighted with pinks and reds, go for both tenderness and giggles and get readers into the spirit of this special… View →
Sherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Bohemia: Case 1
“This story is an inspired choice for a series opener not just because it was the first Holmes short story published (following two novels) but also because it establishes right off the bat something that may surprise readers: a fallible Holmes.” —Booklist View →
Lost Sight: True Survival Stories
“Markle humanizes some technical and fairly abstruse material by placing it in the context of four case studies, which also demonstrate the extraordinary advances made in medical science. . . . The gee-whiz medical techniques will surely excite the interest of young readers.” View →
Draw the Dark
“Bick’s ambitious, intelligent, and relentlessly dark novel is a notable achievement. . . . Patient readers will be well rewarded. Gut-punch of an ending, too.” —Booklist View →
The Drained Brains Caper: Book 1
“Page’s black-and-white cartooning has a loose manga slant, with peppy goofiness popping out from stippled screen tones. . . . Heroic zaniness abounds, and in the end, Megan, Raf, and Bradley the dog decide to jump into the private-eye business. There’s little doubt… View →
Score!: The Action and Artistry of Hockey's Magnificent Moment
“Following the same formula they’ve honed in Long Ball (2006), Swish (2009), Touchdown (2009), and Goal! (2010), Stewart and Kennedy take readers on a chatty, photo-studded tour of the art of scoring in the rink. . . . Hockey is creeping up View →
Guinea Dog
“Jennings injects magic realism into a story filled with believable yet flawed characters, resulting in a satisfying story….[A] good choice for readers making the transition to chapter books.” —Booklist View →
Hamster and Cheese: Book 1
“Young readers will appreciate the zaniness of the pet shop and the fun mystery, and Yue’s colorful art uses a straightforward panel design that’s easy to follow.”—Booklist View →