Reviews
The Ancient Formula: A Mystery with Fractions
“For the middle school student embarking on the exploration of multiplication and division, the book is a nice read…. Readers who are just learning about multiplication and division or who have recently learned these topics could begin to understand the usefulness of… View →
Death: Corpses, Cadavers, and Other Grave Matters
“Meticulously organized and admirably levelheaded.” —Booklist View →
Frozen Secrets: Antarctica Revealed
In a wide-angle survey of our least-explored continent, the author of Written in Bone (2009) and other perceptive accounts of researchers in the field examines the methods and discoveries of scientists studying Antarctica’s geophysics, prehistory, biota, and long- and… View →
Ruth and the Green Book
“Cooper’s soft, stippled illustrations capture both the pathos of the bigotry and the warmth of the support the family encounters, and a substantial closing note on the Green Book itself invites the audience to explore it further online. This will be a fascinating addition to View →
“Evil mastermind Vordak the Incomprehensible shares his ‘evilosity’ with aspiring supervillains in this hilarious spoof on superheroes.” —School Library Journal View →
Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures
“This heavily illustrated title contains a wealth of information about the fascinating science of ocean life. . . . Along with the 250,000 species that are presently known, there is also the lure of the estimated 10 or even 50 million more species waiting to be discovered, and… View →
Everything I Was
“This is a lovely story about a strong, courageous young woman and a wise grandfather—kindred souls who, together, forge new lives.” —Patricia MacLachlan, Newbery-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall View →
Draw the Dark
“The author paints vivid depictions of Christian’s mind, and the reader will be right there with him along for the ride. The ending will leave the reader holding on for dear life. The author has a few loose ends, but something this enthralling should never be expected to end neatly View →
The Absolute Value of -1
“The Absolute Value of –1 begins with Suzanne Fisher viewing the audience at her father’s memorial service. In front is her high school sophomore brother, Simon; his girlfriend, Lily, to whom he is indifferent; and best friend for lack of any other, Noah. In three… View →
Ruby Valentine Saves the Day
“Splattered with pink and hearts, the cartoon art is joyful and energetic while the landscapes have a Seuss-like quality. . . . This good-natured story shows what really matters during holidays: spending time with people you love.” —School Library Journal View →
The Freak Observer
“A unique, disturbing, creative story.” —School Library Journal View →
Notes from the Blender
“[T]his light-hearted novel will prove popular.” —starred, VOYA View →
Open the Jail Doors — We Want to Enter: The Defiance Campaign against Apartheid Laws, South Africa, 1952
“These titles are notable for the level of care in both their content and production.” —VOYA View →
Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes: And Other Tricky Tongue Twisters
“This high-energy collection of pleasantly rhythmic tongue twisters features a screwball cast of cartoon animals rendered in digital collages. . . . An appended guide provides tips for creating effective tongue twisters―something readers are likely to try out once they master the… 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 →
A-B-A-B-A—a Book of Pattern Play
“This book can be used as a read-aloud, not just in math, but to teach the basics of poetry, art, and music. This is a great addition to any school library. Recommended.” —Library Media Connection View →
“Fans of Shannon Hale will enjoy this compelling fantasy, which is filled with magic, political drama, and romance.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Raised by Wolves
“Barnes weaves a fantastic story line full of great plot twists and turns with a little romance sprinkled in…..[A] great read and a must-have for libraries with fans of the supernatural. " —School Library Journal View →
The Drained Brains Caper: Book 1
“Though it is full of sophisticated references, this inventive, playful story should appeal to tween readers. Diverse characters and assured, accessible cartoon-style illustrations make it a promising start to a new series.” —School Library Journal View →
A Hubbub: Book 2
“The watercolor illustrations help set the mood and provide a great deal of depth to each panel. Each strip depicts Ginger’s feelings and makes the text come alive. A good choice for the youngest graphic-novel fans.” —School Library Journal View →
Battling Malaria: On the Front Lines against a Global Killer
“This title offers students an eye-opening view of what life is like in other parts of the world and the dangers faced by people in developing countries.” —School Library Journal View →
"Washing Adam's Jeans" and Other Painless Tricks for Memorizing Social Studies Facts
“In the introduction, Cleary defines ‘mnemonic’ and gives a few examples. Using songs, captions, sentences, poems, and numbers to aid in memorizing are all demonstrated.” —School Library Journal View →
Frozen Secrets: Antarctica Revealed
“Walker investigates the scientific mysteries of Antarctica with her characteristic depth and insight…. Despite conveying lots of technical information, Walker’s narrative remains lively and engaging.” —The Horn Book Magazine View →
