Reviews
I, Emma Freke
“Atkinson (From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between) has written a lively novel with an empathetic, well-drawn heroine.” —Publishers Weekly View →
The Ancient Formula: A Mystery with Fractions
“This series helps show how people use math every day along with presenting some fun mysteries and character lessons with lively, colorful illustrations.” —Booklist View →
Blood on My Hands
“[T]his is a rare teen thriller with an actual mystery that is as quickly paced as it is heart wrenching.” —Booklist View →
Notes from the Blender
“It’s a rare treat to find a teen novel with both heart and humor in such great and equal quantities.” —Booklist View →
Changing Moon: Book 1
“Bubble-gum-tinged whimsy abounds in this stylish French graphic-novel import. . . . With its upbeat palette (courtesy of Pop), manga-inspired art and hip characters, this charmer is sure to please preteen girls.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Sneaky Sheep
“The irascible duo is tons of fun to follow across the pages; Monroe even blasts them through panel borders to illustrate just how ‘incredibly sneaky’ they are. Ultimately, a dark forest, a hungry wolf, and a steep cliff figure into their comeuppance—though a final page View →
Ruth and the Green Book
“Cooper masterfully captures the emotions of the characters, filling his pages with three-dimensional individuals. This story touches on a little-known moment in American history with elegance, compassion and humanity.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
I, Emma Freke
“Atkinson deftly portrays the intense self-consciousness that is an inherent part of the transition between childhood and adolescence. . . . A poignant journey of self-discovery.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Mallory in the Spotlight
“The fourteenth volume in the Mallory series is a fast-moving chapter book depicting a low period in the girls’ strong friendship.” —Booklist View →
The Protectors
“the goings-on in the lonely funeral home are effectively eerie, and the details of cadaver restoration and embalming give the novel a believable (if kinda icky) edge. If your teens dig this, try the other books in the Night Fall series, all of which take place in the unlucky town… View →
Maccabee!: The Story of Hanukkah
“The real draw is the high drama of Harrington’s sculptural illustrations and their superhero cartoon vibe, as the Maccabees fend off armored elephants and labor to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Ruth and the Green Book
“A sense of resiliency courses through Cooper’s (Back of the Bus) filmy illustrations—beatific portraits of the Esso worker who sells the family their Green Book and the owner of a ‘tourist home’ where the family spends the night radiate strength, kindness, and… View →
Draw the Dark
“‘Draw the Dark’ is one of four books launching Minneapolis-based Carolrhoda’s new line of distinctive fiction that the publisher says ‘offers YA authors and their readers an opportunity to explore and experiment with the full range of adolescent triumph and View →
Draw the Dark
“Bick builds the gripping supernatural/historical mystery to a satisfying conclusion that demonstrates the evils of the present can be just as terrifying as those of the past.” —Publishers Weekly View →
I Want Two Birthdays!
“Filled with satirical moments, the watercolor illustrations add to the madcap comedy.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Garbage Helps Our Garden Grow: A Compost Story
“Practical but also full of wonder, the book illustrates the whole composting cycle.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Michael Jackson: Ultimate Music Legend
“These standard biographies offer sanitized facts about each subject’s life, beginning with childhood and ending with present day (which in Sotomayor focuses on her Supreme Court achievements, and in Jackson his legacy after death). The simple, uncluttered… View →
Are You Ready for Spring?
“The verb-heavy text and abundant photographs help readers hear the rumbling thunder or see the flashing spring lightning.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Windows, Rings, and Grapes — a Look at Different Shapes
“This book is a useful resource and could serve as an effective teaching tool, especially if coupled with good questions that probe and extend children’s thinking.” —Science Books & Films View →
One-of-a-Kind Stamps and Crafts
“No-frills illustrated instructions explain how to create twenty different homemade stamps using inexpensive, readily available materials includes bottle caps, corks, buttons, and craft foam. Rudimentary craft ideas using the stamps—such as decorating invitations or making… View →
Green Energy: Crucial Gains or Economic Strains?
“A valuable addition to libraries wanting to show both sides of controversial issues facing American society today. Recommended.” —Library Media Connection 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 →
Faulty Hearts: True Survival Stories
“This book, appropriate for junior high school students to adults of all ages, is extremely well done, with a number of great examples of survival stories.” —Science Books & Films View →
Who's Buying? Who's Selling?: Understanding Consumers and Producers
“Bright, colorful photographs and simple text teach children skills such as how to create a budget and how to be responsible buyers and/or sellers.” —The Horn Book Guide View →