Reviews
Overexposed
“The perils of irresponsible Internet sharing and controlling boyfriends are some of the challenges that surface in this addition to the Surviving Southside series, written at a fourth-grade reading level…Readers looking for a brisk read about teens with real-life problems… View →
Cookie, the Walker
“Monroe (the Monkey with a Tool Belt books) explores the pitfalls of fame through deadpan narration and celebrity stereotypes, all captured in tidy comics-style panels.” —PW Online View →
The Noisy Book
Combining the tidy trim size and young audience of a board book with the range of an encyclopedia, this celebration of sound is epic in its scope and delightful in its execution. Printed on thin but sturdy glossy paper, each spread pairs a simple declaratory sentence (“The monkey goes oo View →
Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg
“Based mostly on Tillie’s own recollection of the conflict, which she wrote and published in 1889, this book combines that writing with Anderson’s smooth retelling to describe the weeks leading up to and following the battle from the perspective of an extremely… View →
Grover and Big Bird's Passover Celebration
“Passover comes to vivid life in this fun and engaging tale from the Shalom Sesame series. As Grover and Big Bird make their way to Brosh and Avigail’s home for the Passover seder, a stalled bus gives them an opportunity to do mitzvot (good deeds), like helping a tired… View →
Stones for Grandpa
“Londner (Ruby’s Whistle) and Avilés (The Shabbat Princess) present a small boy as he observes two of the distinctly Jewish rituals of mourning: the unveiling of his beloved grandfather’s tombstone (which traditionally occurs one year after a death) and the… View →
No Baths at Camp
“Max, the hero of what is really a clever exercise in reverse psychology, could just be the secret weapon that parents (and Jewish educators) are looking for in convincing recalcitrant kids to give Jewish camp a try. Resisting his mother’s attempts to get him into the tub,… View →
The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street
“[This story of] neighbors becoming friends takes place in contemporary Tel Aviv. There are shades of Cynthia Rylant’s Mr. Putter & Tabby books as fishmonger Mr. Modiano brings fish to Mrs. Spiegel every day, with instructions that it is for her, not for her… View →
William and the Lost Spirit
“There’s more to the book than meets the eye, and multiple readings reveal even more subtext. What does meet the eye, though, is quite nice, thanks to Bonhomme’s impeccable linework and breakdowns, as well as clean, if traditional, layouts.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio
“Cooper’s grainy illustrations look as though they are filtered through sunlight, striking a nostalgic chord, while Skead’s play-by-play… provides a riveting, baseball story about two players seeking recognition of their worth.” —Publishers Weekly View →
My Crocodile Does Not Bite
“Absurdity abounds in Kulka’s tale of a clever boy who knows that telling the truth—just not the whole truth—can be pretty entertaining….[T]he wicked twist of an ending should catch most readers by surprise.” —Publishers Weekly View →
My Happy Life
“To understand the true meaning and value of resilience, look no further than the 20 brief chapters of this early reader…beautifully translated into spare, lyrical prose….As Eriksson’s emotionally astute and often endearingly funny pencil drawings show, Dani does… View →
My Happy Life
“To understand the true meaning and value of resilience, look no further than the 20 brief chapters of this early reader…beautifully translated into spare, lyrical prose….As Eriksson’s emotionally astute and often endearingly funny pencil drawings show, Dani does… View →
The Sin-Eater's Confession
“Bick (Drowning Instinct) crafts a powerful tale of bigotry and murder in small-town Wisconsin….a potent examination of teenage emotions and reactions to peer and parental pressures, and to the evil that people are capable of.” —starred, Publishers Weekly View →
“Distinctive and full of sly humor…. This is the kind of picture book that families fall in love with.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Change of Heart
“McClintock keeps tensions high, and Robyn is a winning heroine….Like Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars before her, Robyn’s investigations are addictive.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Zoo Station: The Story of Christiane F.
“Although Christiane’s message to readers is, without a doubt, ‘Do not follow me,’ she synthesizes moments of beauty and joy alongside those of horror, resulting in a deeply observant look at the search for love and meaning amid chaos.”—Publishers Weekly View →
The Twelve-Fingered Boy
“It’s a little bit Shawshank Redemption, a little bit X-Men, as adult author Jacobs (This Dark Earth) launches a promising trilogy about superhuman teens… [T]he premise is sound, Shreve’s hard-edged narrative voice is strong, and Jacobs skillfully builds tension… View →
Thank You, Trees!
“Tu B’Shevat is the Jewish Arbor Day, and families can celebrate its message with this charming and colorful board book for youngest readers. Karwoski (Seaman, the Dog Who Explored the West with Lewis and Clark) teams with educator Gootman to provide easy-to-say (or repeat) rhymes… View →
The Normal Kid
“Holmes constructs a sturdy story that examines preconceptions and the sting of social rejection, combined with credible character development. Sylvan and Charity’s alternating perspectives reveal how taking chances on friendships can broaden and enrich one’s awareness… View →
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves
“The breadth of emotion and experience the entries cover guarantee that almost any reader will identify with some of the situations and anxieties expressed.”—Publishers Weekly View →
Regine's Book: A Teen Girl's Last Words
“[A] rare, valuable window into life with a terminal illness.”—Publishers Weekly View →