$7.99
ISBN: 9780060577339
Availability: Backordered
Published: Katherine Tegen Books - March 14th, 2006
Septimus Heap, the seventh son of a seventh son, is born with magical powers. His exciting adventures as apprentice to ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand take him through a wondrous world reminiscent of Harry Potter, Eragon, or Howl’s Moving Castle, as he and his friends flee assassins, conjure spells, and battle evil wizards. First in a seven-book series, Magyk will give young fantasy fans lots to look forward to. ~ Reviewed by Digby Baker-Porazinski
$17.99
ISBN: 9781646140084
Availability: IN WAREHOUSE - Usually Ships in 1-5 Business Days
Published: Levine Querido - September 8th, 2020
A beautiful story of brotherhood, friendship, and the difficult intersection of imagination and reality. Jadran and Josh find an injured crane and run away from home with it in an attempt to help it catch up with its migrating flock. Their motives are complicated by their strained family life - Jadran has an intellectual disability, and the boys' mother has just decided to move him out of the family home and place him in a residential care facility. They're desperate to believe that reuniting the crane with its family will help them figure out how to repair theirs. This book is a heart-wringer, and nuanced in its exploration of how children can be left behind, emotionally or physically, by their families. ~ Reviewed by Nadja Tiktinsky
$17.99
ISBN: 9781499811810
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Yellow Jacket - May 4th, 2021
What I love about this book is that it feels so ordinary, packed with regular-life stuff like a school play, best friend drama, a nasty older sister, and homework anxiety. It's certainly a shock and a source of Big Feelings to Izzy when her dad comes out as trans, but all that normalcy works as insulation for the reader. Hagger-Holt does a great job of letting Izzy work through worries, fears, and even terrible thoughts while never wavering in her sense of certainty that her family is strong and that things will be alright. This is, of course, a great pick for a reader with a trans family member, but any kid is sure to see themselves reflected in this story that is, at heart, about understanding that parents are people too, and that their wants and needs are valid even if their kids feel embarrassed by them. ~ Reviewed by Nadja Tiktinsky
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250766564
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) - March 16th, 2021
The Firekeeper’s Daughter is perhaps one of the most ambitious and impactful young adult books I’ve ever read. This debut follows 18-year-old Daunis, a biracial Native American that feels both connected and disconnected to the white and indigenous sides of her family, and gets involved in a widescope FBI drug investigation related to drug use and deaths within her community. Part crime-mystery, part coming-of-age, this book shines a light on the trauma of the past--both Daunis’ trauma and the violence inflicted on Native American tribes for centuries--while also breaking your heart every chapter with loss, violence and grief that goes on with unrequited justice. And yet, when you reach the end of this beautiful book, you’ll find yourself feeling an immense amount of love and hope for Daunis and her family. Finished it in one day, but this book will be on my mind forever. ~ Reviewed by Kirstin Swartz
$12.99
ISBN: 9780062990464
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: HarperAlley - September 1st, 2020
In a world that has been plunged into darkness and is now lit artificially, young Bea finds herself holding the last vial of sunlight in existence. From its awe-inspiring illustrations to its wholly original fantasy plot (think The Hobbit meets The Dark Crystal), it is impossible for me to overstate just how much I enjoyed this graphic novel. Action-packed, heart-felt, and surprisingly funny, I challenge anyone to not be utterly delighted by Lightfall. ~ Reviewed by Virginia Edinger
$18.99
ISBN: 9781338540697
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Scholastic Press - October 6th, 2020
As a middle-schooler who was obsessed with niche history, I can assure this will hook any child fascinated by disaster (I'm looking at you Titanic fanatics!). This verse novel covers the events of the 1889 Great Flood of Johnstown, Pennsylvania in the voices of six children (all inspired by real people) who lived it. Flooded's poetic narratives perfectly encapsulate the devastation and recovery of what was, at the time, the largest loss of civilian life in America. ~ Reviewed by Virginia Edinger
