New in Fiction
★ All the Things We Never Said by Yasmin Rahman
- Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12
Sixteen-year-old Mehreen is overwhelmed by her anxiety and depression, and she doesn’t believe anyone in her life will understand if she tries to talk about it. She’s been thinking about suicide for a while when she discovers a website called MementoMori.com. The site matches people with partners and assigns them a date on which to end their lives, together. Mehreen is partnered with Cara and Olivia, strangers dealing with their own struggles.
But as the girls get to know one another in preparation for their “date of termination” they find themselves developing a strong bond—even becoming friends. They realize that, with the right support systems, life is worth living after all. So they decide to abandon the suicide pact.
Except the website won’t let them stop.
As their assigned “date of termination” draws nearer and MementoMori continues to manipulate them, the girls will have to rely on one another to survive.
“[P]oignantly realistic. Honestly portrays the dark parts of life—and shows that there is hope.” — starred, Kirkus Reviews
New in Nonfiction
Reimagining Police: The Future of Public Safety by Dr. Artika R. Tyner
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
Large-scale protests, marches, and demonstrations in cities all over the globe have followed high-profile fatal encounters involving law enforcement and people of color. Citizens have taken to the streets and demanded answers to the chronic problems of police violence and lack of accountability, particularly at the intersection of law enforcement and race in the United States. Many have demanded reform, defunding, and even the outright abolishment of police departments.
How did we get here? And what does the future of public safety look like?
In Reimaging Police, Dr. Artika R. Tyner explores this troubled past and present, as well as the underlying problems of a flawed criminal justice system and unjust social structures. By examining various alternative policing models—and addressing systemic societal issues such as breaking the poverty cycle, instituting restorative justice, and investing in education and community resources—Tyner debunks the misconception that calls for change are anti-police, while offering hope for a more harmonious future between law enforcement and the people it swears to protect and serve.
“Readers learn about methods of reform and possible strategies for crime prevention and community building. . . Informative and rousing.” — Kirkus Reviews
Wild Inventions: Ideas Inspired by Animals by Sandra Markle
From the Series Sandra Markle’s Science Discoveries
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 6
Welcome to the world of bioinspiration! Inventors observe and imitate strategies and adaptations that animals use in the natural world to find inspiration for new creations.
Sometimes two animal species face a similar challenge and come up with two very different ways for dealing with it. For instance, both sharks and pangolins have special skin that protects them from harm. Shark skin inspired a type of armor for boats, and pangolins inspired the design of a helmet for humans. Wild Inventions gives readers a peek at the creative process involved in designing new inventions to help people stay safe, live more comfortably, and go places and do things that weren’t previously possible.
Nature’s Rule Breakers: Creatures That Don’t Fit In by Jessica Fries-Gaither
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
Some rules are meant to be broken, even those in the animal kingdom!
You’re probably familiar with many of the common categories scientists use for animals: warm-blooded or cold-blooded, nocturnal or diurnal. But what about the animals that don’t fit in? Sharks cannot be classified as warm or cold-blooded—they are somewhere in-between. And Eurasian eagle owls don’t hunt during the day or night. Instead, they swoop through the trees at dawn and dusk. Author and science educator Jessica Fries-Gaither introduces eight common categories scientists use and the animals that break those rules.
“Not your ordinary display of interesting and appealing animals, this offering has an important message for young readers and the adults who care for them. For in-betweeners everywhere.” — Kirkus Reviews
On a Flake-Flying Day: Watching Winters Wonders by Buffy Silverman
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 3
On a feather-fluffing, seed-stuffing, cloud-puffing day . . .
Weasels whiten. / Cardinals brighten. / Frost glistens. / Owl listens.
From Buffy Silverman, author of On a Gold-Blooming Day and On a Snow-Melting Day, comes the third installment of a seasonal celebration. With winter’s arrival, plants and animals hunker down for the cold season. Rhyming text and eye-catching photos sparkle in this wonderful read-aloud that encourages kids to closely observe the natural world. Back matter offers more information on the featured animals, plants, and weather conditions.
“Ultimately, the incredible photography makes this book worthy of a spot on readers’ shelves, but the rhyming text and end notes certainly bolster its value. Breathtaking images and lively text.” –Kirkus Reviews
New in Graphic Novels
Strikers: A Graphic Novel by Kiel Phegley, illustrated by Jacques Khouri
A Junior Library Guild Selection
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8
Evan just wants to win a game. Bobby would rather fight than win.
Hockey—and life—keep handing them both losses. Their team, the Strikers, has a roster of rejects in hand-me-down coats but lacks good equipment, a deep bench, and a coach who shows up on time. Their town of Flint, Michigan, has been down on its luck their whole lives.
The boys may not understand each other, but together, they’ll find their reasons to keep taking the ice.
Strikers is a hilarious, hard hitting, and moving story about how to stay on your skates when you only see L’s in your future.
“Persistence in the face of defeat and disappointment defines a season of sports and adolescent life.” — Kirkus Reviews
Timothy Dinoman and the Attack of the Dancing Machines by Steve Thueson
From the Series Timothy Dinoman
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8
Tech celebrity Ellis Heron is about to throw a worldwide party to celebrate his success. So when Timothy Dinoman discovers crooks have been using robots with Heron tech, he’s excited to stop whoever is stealing from the famous inventor. He’ll catch a thief and save Heron’s celebration! But what if Heron’s robot dance squad hides a sinister secret?
Don’t miss the other adventures of Timothy Dinoman: super spy, iguanodon, and good friend with good manners. Whenever master criminals threaten the planet, Timothy jet-packs to the rescue. With elite combat skills, a positive outlook, and help from his tech-expert pal Jen, he is Earth’s best defense against its worst, rudest bad guys.
“A high-octane adventure fueled by humor, whimsy, and teamwork.” —Kirkus Reviews
The Robot Makers Series by Podoal Friend, illustrated by Hong Jong-Hyeon
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8
When soccer fanatic La Ion transfers to a new school, he only wants to find his next teammates. But a sign for a soccer club leads him to a robot soccer crew, with human students behind the controls. The mix-up draws La Ion into a rivalry with a club of battle-robot makers and a series of intense competitions. La Ion might join kicking and screaming, but he’ll step up to the challenge—and discover the concepts behind robotics, coding, and more.
New in Picture Books
I Ship: A Container Ship’s Colossal Journey by Kelly Rice Schmitt, illustrated by Jam Dong
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
Made of steel, / colossal, / strong, / I ship around the world.
Come aboard a massive container ship as it pulls into port, loads up with cargo, and heads out to the open ocean. The ship’s voyage includes starry skies and stormy seas, swift currents and unforeseen delays. Through it all, the crew keeps working—with goods to keep the world going, they must carry on.
Rhythmic text from Kelly Rice Schmitt and delightfully detailed illustrations from Jam Dong provide a riveting look at the journey of one mighty ship.
“An informative peek at our global infrastructure’s major lifeline.” — Kirkus Reviews
Sensitive by Sara Levine, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 4
“You feel way too much.” / “Will you stop being dramatic?”
This tender picture book follows a girl who is told she is too intense, too sensitive, too much. She’s told to grow a thicker skin, but the words of others slip right through. They somersault around inside and press against her heart.
What can she do to stop the hurt?
She needs to take time alone to think and read, rest and create.
Thoughtful text, detailed collage illustrations, and an unexpected word puzzle combine in Sara Levine and Mehrdokht Amini’s moving portrayal of a girl who discovers that what others call a weakness can also be a gift.
“This story highlights the importance of taking control of a narrative as well as the healing power of artistic pursuits . . . A healing, positive assertion.” — Kirkus Reviews
The Power of Snow by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Bryony Clarkson
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 4
On a snowy day . . . Two flakes play. Four flakes sashay. Eight flakes twirl. Sixteen flakes swirl. At this rate, how long will it take to surpass 100 snowflakes? How about 1,000? Or even 16,000?
Experience a snowstorm that brings together playful rhyming verse with the power of exponential growth! Bob Raczka’s clever rhymes come to life in the dynamic illustrations of Bryony Clarkson. The artwork includes the precise number of snowflakes mentioned in the text, starting with 2 and ending with an astonishing 16,384!
“[T]his arrangement is a delightful, rarer find that jumps from simple counting to exponential growth.” — Booklist
Find more Lerner new releases here!