H is spooky HARVEST HOUSE, a stalker nearby, and young Native women in danger! by Cynthia Leitich Smith (YA fiction) #AtoZ

Apr9
Book cover of Harvest House, by Cynthia Leitich Smith; shows a native teen boy walking away from a haunted house, surrounded by crows; upside down image of dark-haired young woman walking through dead trees with flying crows.

She was killed at the crossroads.
He still stalks young Native women,
so her spirit lingers there and attacks!

School budget cuts mean no fall play, and Hughie is bereft. Guess the indigenous teen will have time to volunteer at the haunted house fundraiser with new pal Sam after all.

Ick – the Harvest House organizer makes the legend of a Native girl killed at the Kansas crossroads into a racist trope and asks Hughie (Muscogee) and Sam (Hispanic) to dress up as murderous savages.

Sam’s sister works at the crossroads’ Grub Pub, is stalked by a guy one night, and then saved by the intervention of …a wolf!

Hughie helps student reporter Cricket connect with local elders and area history as the teens begin researching the mystery of the crossroads.

Progress on Harvest House maze (no Indian burial ground, please), seeking info on past encounters with the crossroads stalker, trying to ask Marie on a real date – Hughie’s life is suddenly complicated and not just a little dangerous.

Why do so many weird things happen at this particular crossroads?
Will Hughie’s spring play script with non-White characters be accepted?
Will the crossroads ever be safe for young dark-haired women?

Each chapter counts down the days until Halloween, interspersed with mysterious asides from Celeste who commands animals and birds to protect young women alone at night at the crossroads.

Find the story of Hughie’s big sister Louise during their family’s first year in Kansas in Hearts Unbroken, recommended at https://booksyalove.com/?p=10216.

Do you know a local legend that’s grounded in facts?
**kmm

Book info: Harvest House / Cynthia Leitich Smith. Candlewick Press, 2023 (paperback 2024). [author site https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/ya-books/ya_index/] [publisher site https://www.candlewick.com/9781536218602/harvest-house/] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

G is for two girls, connected through time by THE MAILBOX TREE, by Rebecca Lim and Kate Gordon (MG fiction) #AtoZ

Apr8
book cover of The Mailbox Tree, by Rebecca Lim & Kate Gordon; shows leaf-filled silhouettes of two girls' heads looking down from upper corners to the outline of a large pine tree whose base is being flooded by water.

Just one tree remains,
a hope, a haven,
best place to leave a message.

Nyx wants to stay! She doesn’t care that rising sea levels threaten Tasmania, or that Dad wants to move to the Northland, or that solar radiation means no food can grow here. She escapes to the only tree left, pours her rage and sadness into the only scrap of paper she has left, and puts it in the knothole.

Bea wants to stay! She doesn’t think she’ll be less-bullied at school for her glasses and hearing loss if they move from Tasmania to Australia. Escaping to her favorite tree which never judges her, she pulls her notebook from the knothole and finds a scrap of paper with a message! So Bea writes back to the girl who also wants to stay here…

The next day, Nyx finds a book filled with blank pages of real paper in the tree – and a message from another girl who doesn’t want to move away from their island – so she writes back.

As the two tweens exchange messages via their Mailbox Tree, they realize that they live in the same place, but not the same time!

Nyx asks Bea to plant trees all around, hoping that some will survive the 50 years between their times. The trees appear overnight in Nyx’s neighborhood – a miracle?!

But Nyx also faces bushfires and storms and no electricity and no drinking water and no food supplies…

Can Bea do anything to help her friend fifty years away survive?
What place would be safe from natural and climate disasters for such a long time?
Will anyone believe Bea’s story about the Mailbox Tree and what they must do, quickly?

Told in alternating chapters by authors in Tasmania and Australia (“the Northland”), who have never met in real life either!

What message would you send back to our past?
**kmm

Book info: The Mailbox Tree / Rebecca Lim & Kate Gordon. Walker Books Australia, 2024. [Rebecca’s site https://annabelbarker.com/rebecca-lim] [Kate’s site https://kategordon.com.au/bio/] [US publisher site https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/24700] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher via Publisher Spotlight.

F is for fashion, friendship & faith ANY WAY YOU LOOK, by Maleeha Siddiqui (MG fiction) #A2Z

Apr7
book cover of Any Way You Look, by Maleeha Siddiqui; shows 3 tween girls at a clothing store counter, 1 wearing hijab with skirt & leggings, 1 with modest top & leggings, 1 wearing hijab with trendy slacks.

Summer means time for fun,
time with her friends,
time to work in her mom’s custom clothing shop at last!

Aspiring designer Ainy is eager to build up her portfolio of modest fashions and give her Amma more time to make the stylish saris, dresses, and salwar kameez so popular with the Southeastern Asian women in their Virginia suburb.

Her grandmother’s cancer took dad back to Pakistan for a time, so the new shop must succeed!

So busy now! Friend time with Safiya goes down, and stress about their biggest client’s son Yasir harassing her goes up. Maybe if Ainy starts wearing the hijab now, instead of on the first day of 7th grade, he’ll stop noticing her.

Amma says Ainy can design the bridesmaids’ dresses for Yasir’s sister – will she finish in time?
Is her crush on Izyann immodest for a good Muslim girl, even when boys and girls don’t hang out?
Big sister Bajjo suddenly stops wearing the hijab – why?

Dressmaking deadlines, financial worries, wondering if she’s choosing to wear the hijab for the right reasons…
Any way you look, this will be a different summer than Ainy expected!

By the author of Barakah Beats, recommended here at https://booksyalove.com/?p=12568.

When have you had to decide to follow your friends’ lead or not?
**kmm

Book info: Any Way You Look / Maleeha Siddiqui. Scholastic Press, 2024. [author site https://www.maleehasiddiqui.com/books-1] [publisher site https://tradecatalog.scholastic.com/tradecatalog/any-way-you-look-9781339010267.html#key-details] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

E is EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT INDIANS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK (Young Readers Edition), by Anton Treuer (YA nonfiction) #AtoZ

Apr5
book cover of Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition), by Anton Treuer; shows intricate Native American beadwork design including cattails, vines and different flowers

“When did Natives really get to North America?”
“How many tribal languages are spoken in the Americas?”
“Why is there such a fuss about nonnative people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?”

If you’ve wondered about questions like these, but didn’t know where to get reliable information, this book is for you!

Dr. Treuer (tribally enrolled Ojibwe https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/learn/native-americans/ojibwe-people) clearly and unflinchingly answers 200 questions about terminology, history, religion, culture, and identity, powwow, tribal languages, politics, economics, education, and social activism related to Native peoples of North America.

Some are fact-based like “What is a sweat lodge?” and “When did the U.S. government stop making treaties with Indians and why?”

Other answers express a range of responses, such as “What general terms are most appropriate for talking about North America’s first people?” and “Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?”

Adapted by the author from his widely-acclaimed title for adults, this book concludes with questions and answers on Perspective: Coming to Terms and Future Directions, the author’s Conclusion: Finding Ways to Make a Difference, and recommended reading for each section.

Search online for Anton Treuer to find his many videos about Native culture, Objiwe language, and more. See the publisher’s site https://www.levinequerido.com/anton-treuer for this book’s teaching guides, too.

Whatever you ever wanted to know about Indians/Native Americans/First Peoples, this book is an excellent place to start – and you’ll find answers to questions that you didn’t realize that you needed to ask.
**kmm

Book info: Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition) / Anton Treuer. Levine Querido, 2024. [author site https://antontreuer.com/] [publisher site https://www.levinequerido.com/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-indians] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

D is for Dan: MONUMENT MAKER: DANIEL CHESTER FINCH AND THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, by Linda Booth Sweeney & Shawn Fields (MG non-fiction) AtoZ

Apr4
book cover of Monument Maker: Daniel Chester Finch and the Lincoln Memorial, by Linda Booth Sweeney; illustrated by Shawn Fields; shows detailed ink sketch of the sculptor on a platform watching workers use ropes & pulleys to lift the left arm of Lincoln's seated marble statue in Washington DC's Lincoln Memorial.

Imposing, inspiring Lincoln Memorial anchors the great public spaces of Washington, D.C., but do you know who made it?

Dan Finch was just 14 when Lincoln was assassinated; fifty years later, the noted sculptor was asked by architect Henry Bacon to create a colossal statue of the beloved president for the newly commissioned Lincoln Memorial, saying “It must seem to have a soul.” (pg. 35)

Before the first bit of clay was carved, Finch researched Lincoln’s life, talked to Robert Todd Lincoln (the president’s son), and looked at plaster castings of Lincoln’s hands that had been made while the president was alive.

From a small clay “sketch” model to a larger working model to a 7 foot high model, the sculpture of Lincoln became more detailed and life-like as Finch worked in his Massachusetts studio over many months.

After the famed Piccirilli brothers enlarged that final model to carve Lincoln’s seated image from 28 huge blocks of marble, the Lincoln Memorial was officially dedicated in May 1922, seven years (and a world war) after Bacon offered Finch the opportunity to create a statue that would unite all Americans.

This wide illustrated non-fiction book turns the reader sideways for its tall double-page spreads of Finch’s famous Minuteman sculpture and the sculptor’s own awe-struck visit to the completed Lincoln Memorial, all sketched in great detail with pen-and-ink.

The extensive back matter includes a detailed timeline of Finch’s life, artistic training, and sculptures, plus notes from the author and a resources list, as befits a book jointly published by the Concord Museum of his hometown.

Have you ever visited the Lincoln Memorial?
**kmm

Book info: Monument Maker: Daniel Chester Finch and the Lincoln Memorial / Linda Booth Sweeney; illustrated by Shawn Fields. Tilbury House Publisher in association with the Concord Museum, 2019. [author site https://lindaboothsweeney.com/monument-maker/] [illustrator site https://www.shawnfields.com/] [publisher site https://www.tilburyhouse.com/product-page/monument-maker] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher via Publisher Spotlight.

C is THE CARTOONISTS CLUB at middle school – hooray! by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud (MG Graphic Novel) #AtoZ

Apr3
book cover of The Cartoonists Club, by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud; shows 4 tweens of different genders and races - drawing, jumping, laughing, and clutching a notebook tightly

Welcome to the Cartoonists Club!

Makayla imagines so many characters, but she wonders how to make a story with them.

Howard draws such funny characters, but he can’t figure out what should they do next.

Art loves to make all kinds of things, and they want to try every creative medium – all of them!

Lynda’s sketches are realistic, but she worries about making mistakes and how personal her story is.

With help from Ms. Fatima, their middle school librarian who also loves comics and graphic novels, the tweens learn how sequential storytelling works, how to make a zine from a single sheet of paper, the role of the reader’s imagination, and so much more.

A local comics convention?!
Can the Cartoonists Club go?
Can they have a table and sell their zines to everyone?

Just published this week, by the authors of Smile (Raina) and How to Understand Comics (Scott).

Visit the book’s website https://kids.scholastic.com/content/kids64/en/books/books-by-raina.html to download a free activity booklet, bookmark, and certificate.

Grab your copy today for a great friendship story, cool sequential art, and lots of insider info on how comics are created.

What’s your favorite comic/graphic novel?
**kmm

Book info: The Cartoonists Club / art & story by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud; inking by Ray Baehr; color by Beniam C. Hollman; lettering by Jesse Post. Scholastic/Graphix, 2025. [Raina’s site https://goraina.com/] [Scott’s site https://kids.scholastic.com/content/kids64/en/books/books-by-raina.html ] [publisher site https://kids.scholastic.com/content/kids64/en/books/books-by-raina.html] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

B is BUILD A GIRLFRIEND from exes’ critiques? by Elba Luz (YA fiction) #AtoZ

Apr2
book cover of Build A Girlfriend, by Elba Luz; shows a Puerto Rican teen with 3 different outfits & hair styles. The image is divided into 4 horizontal slices that have been shifted sideways so the faces, torsos, legs, and shoes don't match.

Her family is cursed!
No “happily ever after” ever.
Maybe she can create a way to keep love!

Yet again, Amelia is single, just like her mother and her three aunts – no romantic relationship ever lasts for the Hernandez women.

Much as she loves them and her sisters, the high school senior doesn’t love the idea of running their family Puerto Rican bakery someday. She itches to get out of the big house they all share, so she secretly applied for a gap year program abroad and has almost enough saved up to go!

After Amelia’s most recent breakup, her sister sets up a “Romance Boot Camp” to help Amelia harness her best qualities. Why not try out her improved outlook on some of her ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends?

One leaves her hanging on a climbing wall (that video goes viral), another embarrasses her at karaoke.

And Leon is back, two years after he broke up with her – by text! She can’t avoid him as they both work toward the bakery’s grand opening… and perhaps she doesn’t want to.

How will her family react to her post-graduation escape plan?
Why can’t she master any job at the big fair?
Is there any possibility at all to reunite with Leon?

Supported by aura readings, makeup hints, empanadas, and unconditional family love, Amelia has to stop selling herself short and go for the future she longs for.

What kind of second-chance date with an ex would you choose?
**kmm

Book info: Build a Girlfriend / Elba Luz. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. [author site] [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

A is ATLAS OF CATS, by Helena Haraslova & Jana Sedlackova #AtoZ (MG non-fiction)

Apr1
book cover of Atlas of Cats, by Helena Haraslova and Jana Sedlackova; shows multi-level cat house with 12 different breeds of cats climbing, lounging, and playing with the boy and girl seated below.

Russian Blue, Snowshoe,
Bengal, Bombay, Birman,
long hair, short hair, no hair…
so many kinds of cats!

From the everyday European Shorthair Cat that we call a Tabby Cat to the curly-coated Cornish Rex, this charmingly illustrated oversize book from the Czech Republic introduces readers to two dozen fascinating cat breeds from around the world.

Would you like a very cuddly cat? A one-person cat? A playful cat? A relaxed cat? A quiet cat? A giant cat?

Each breed’s multi-page section includes a score card for intelligence, stubbornness, personality type, tendency to wander, and cuddliness, as well as notes on their appearance and variations, origins, and temperament.

Issues of “Meow News” throughout the book highlight the world’s grumpiest cat, author Hemingway and his six-toed cats, learning balance with ShiroNeko, an ocelot dining at a restaurant, and more cat tales.

I agree with the authors – whatever their breed or appearance, the best cats are those we adopt from animal shelters! Just ask my five cats!

Which kind of cat is your favorite?
**kmm

Book info: Atlas of Cats / Helena Haraštová & Jana Sedláčková; illustrated by Guilia Lombarda. Albatros, 2022. [publisher site] [book video] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher, via Publisher Spotlight.

It’s April #AtoZ time again!

Mar31

It’s been longer than I care to say since I posted book recommendations here… life happens.

So much has happened in recent months in the US, and I wonder often what I can do to fight against the darkness.

BOOKS! I will do what BooksYALove has always done – recommend middle grade and young adult books beyond the bestsellers, especially those reflecting diverse communities and marginalized people

April’s AtoZ blog challenge http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/ is a good way for me to get going again. I’ve successfully participated every April since 2011! See all my past posts through the A2Z tag in the sidebar.

So you’ll get 26 human-written recommendations of great MG and YA books, from A to Z, every April day except Sundays.

Time to read!
**kmm

She needs his help SHOOTING FOR STARS, by Christine Webb (YA book review)

May21
Girl sitting on ringed planet above boy looking up at her, holding a star - book cover of Shooting For Stars, by Christine Webb

Her mom’s research cut short,
Sky plans to continue it –
now is her chance!

Skyler’s sole focus for years has been getting into MIT so she can further her late mother’s research on neutron stars; her dad concentrates on bacterial research for the hospital; their paths cross occasionally.

Wow – a NASA contest that could get her onboard the International Space Station with the NICER telescope! All the Las Vegas senior needs is the perfect video application… which means she needs help.

Hiring classmate Cooper as videographer is easy, figuring out the script is tricky, hearing Dad forbid her to even try for this internship is impossible!

Add in Dad dating a popular beauty influencer he met in the hospital, Cooper’s sister needing tutoring to stay eligible for volleyball, and Sky fretting about upcoming SATs as the video deadline approaches…

Is the growing attraction between Sky and Cooper real?
Why would Cooper give up on his own dream career before it begins?
Why won’t Dad let Skyler go after hers?

Happy book birthday (21 May 2024) to Shooting For Stars!

When have you taken a chance to make a dream happen?
**kmm

Book info: Shooting For Stars / Christine Webb. Peachtree Teen, 2024. [author site] [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.