Every family has a story of courage somewhere in its past. For the Swarts, theirs begins in 1912 in the Netherlands. Inspired by the experiences of the author's own ancestors, eight-year-old Helena Swart is at the center of it all in Penny S. Ledbetter's De...

Mark Binder’s The Worst centers on an ordinary eighth-grader who navigates the awkward world of a small New England middle school along with his tight-knit group of friends. Calling themselves Team Bomb Shelter, these clever middle schoolers use an ironic scale to rank their daily...

Surviving Summer Camp is an adventure novel for preteens and young adults by Paul Breau. Edward "Eddy" Martin is quite an introverted twelve-year-old. He isn't like his overconfident sixteen-year-old brother, Adam, or his playful little nine-year-old brother, Callum. Eddy doesn't enjoy the outdoors. But after...

Hoodwinked: A Deer Mouse Tale of Courage is a children’s picture book written by Carolyn McBee with illustrations by Lily Boen. It follows the unexpected adventure of Clarence Rodentia, a deer mouse who wishes to return home. On Clarence’s 35th day (Independence Day), he ventures...

Quest for the Code by Heather Bradley follows two girls, Brenda and her best friend Arpita, as they try to decode a note they found by coincidence. These two best friends liked to play detectives, and having this strange note blow their way was like...

It is the first day after Christmas at Oakdale Middle School in Chicago, and pressure is already mounting on Grace, a seventh-grader. Her friend Andy is not happy about how his reunion with his absent biological mother, Angela, went. He wants Grace to help him...

The Substi-Tooth, written by Kristin Manty, is a picture book for young children. One day at the beach, Austin and his mom are soaking up the sun. Austin is flying his kite and building sand castles, whilst also working on an important task. He has...

In Pannell and Sigfusson’s The Big Dream, Brandon is a downtown schoolboy whose final English grade depends on an essay about his summer plans. He thinks his ordinary routine cannot fill the assignment until GameTeck announces a remote-operated car race in Riverside. The contest offers...

The Further Adventures of Erig the Earwig by Andy Evans is a well-written book that takes children on a trip into nature to learn about insects, their unique behaviors, and features. Andy begins by introducing two best friends, Erig, an earwig, and Bob, a copper...

Love You, Love You 'Night by Kristi Cromwell is a well-written book that offers children a comforting bedtime story filled with love and allows them to bond with their parents or guardians. It is Emily’s bedtime, but she is not ready to go to bed...