The Wishkeeper’s Daughter by Michele Ashman Bell starts with a loss. Twelve-year-old Pippa Rowe loses her mother and finds herself alone in the world. It is then that the mirror in her bedroom begins to glow and speak her name, pulling her into Wishmoor Academy,...

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...

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...

The Blind Boy Who Saw The Invisible King by Austin M. Kairnes III centers on Joe, a blind boy who is very determined to find a mythical king hidden in a mountain castle. Joe believes this Invisible King holds the secret to his purpose and...

The NOLO: Legend of the Lost by Liz Fahey centers on Eduardo and Dalton, two boys who quickly develop a close friendship after meeting and exploring their surroundings together. Their adventures take them through places like Boot Hill Cemetery and the hills around their town....

The Spirits of '76 by T. W. Fitzhugh is the first book in the Spirits of the Revolution series. The Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle in the American Revolutionary War, is drawing near. Just 11 years old, Emmeline is fed up with other people...

The Stars Are Always There by Jaime Maria Merrill is a compelling read, with a fast-paced plot and vivid writing that brings the events to life. The summer isn’t going well for Jess Lindsey, a month short of her twelfth birthday. Her parents have just...