Tough baseball games are nothing for Shane Woods, a 12-year-old boy who loves pitching and hanging out with his friends. But soon, Shane’s secret—that he is transgender—may come out thanks to a school bully.

Shane’s proud of who he is and who he has become—thanks to his supportive mom (but not his father, who thinks this is a phase he will grow out of). Shane’s good friend Josh has always been there for him, but Shane wonders if he can share his secret with him. And when Shane’s story does come out, Josh is angry and upset that he didn’t open up to him.

Shane finds refuge in drawing his graphic novel—the images of which are scattered throughout the book, paralleling his own story of betrayal, exclusion and misunderstanding. He also seeks support through a gay-straight alliance, where he meets a trans girl who befriends him.

Much like the characters in his graphic novel, Shane forges ahead, learning to be at peace with himself while working toward his future, the ultimate unknown. The Other Boy offers an honest portrayal of a challenging journey, featuring a very likable, believable and real lead character.

In light of the infectious and extraordinary joy that young Judith brings to her Aunt Cora’s life, the fifth grader has earned the nickname “Jubilee.” But Jubilee holds trauma deep within, as she hasn’t spoken a word—except when alone or with Dog—since her mother broke their relationship and dropped her off to live with Aunt Cora. She communicates entirely with gestures, taps and doodled cartoons.

As fifth grade begins, Jubilee is paired with talkative Mason for a class project, and a tentative friendship blooms. But Jubilee is consumed with questions about her mother’s estrangement. Through pain and confusion, Judith embarks on a journey of self-discovery, searching for answers to the tenacious question that has shattered her world since her early ages: “Why did my mom abandon me?” Allowing herself to break free from the barriers of difference and solitude, Jubilee discovers that her world is full of love and compassion—a feeling she once doubted and debated in her most private moments.

Patricia Reilly Giff, author of Newbery Honor book Lily’s Crossing, touches upon the torment of abandonment and its influence on young people. In this tale told through the eyes of a developing fifth grader, Giff sensitizes the overwhelming feelings that come with desertion and insecurity. Affording Jubilee the gifts of humor and artistic expression, Giff allows her heroine to step outside of her comfort zone and take control of her personal happiness. Jubilee’s illustrations throughout the book offer a deeper look into her extraordinary heart.

Entering a new grade, learning to cope with peers and bullies and balancing academics and personal family struggles are all challenges faced by children. Jubilee is an exceptional story about self-discovery, forgiveness and the art of letting go. It's also about the power everyone holds within themselves to see the world not for what it is, but for what it could be.

Twelve-year-old Florian Bates has recently moved to Washington, D.C., where both his parents work in art museums. His new school is Alice Deal Middle School, where he is in seventh grade along with his new best friend, a dynamic black soccer player named Margaret. He’s learning a new language (Romanian), of which he has mastered just one phrase, which translates to “My hovercraft is full of monkeys.”

Oh, and one more thing: Florian has a new job. He’s a covert asset for the FBI.

Florian was recruited into the agency thanks to his remarkable observational abilities, which rival the great detective Sherlock Holmes. Florian’s skills are all based on the fundamental philosophy he developed called T.O.A.S.T, which stands for the “Theory of All Small Things.” He tells Margaret, “That’s how I read people and places. The idea is that if you add up a bunch of little details, it reveals the larger truth.”

Of course, what use is a detective without a mystery? And luckily for Florian (and his fans, of which there are bound to be many), there is no shortage of cases to solve. It helps to have a father in museum security and a mother who specializes in art history and forgery. And when several valuable impressionist paintings disappear from the National Gallery of Art, Florian and Margaret put their observational skills to work to help find the thief.

This intriguing, lighthearted mystery features an appealing middle school friendship with a bit of art history and FBI lore thrown in for good measure. Framed! would make a great selection for pleasure reading, while also offering a number of STEM connections for classroom use. Let’s hope the T.O.A.S.T. mysteries keep coming!

Deborah Hopkinson lives near Portland, Oregon. Her most recent book for young readers is Steamboat School.

Of course you’re named William Meriwether Miller when your dad is a Lewis and Clark scholar. What Will doesn't expect is to go on a road trip that follows the Lewis and Clark Trail with the same father who left 15 months ago and started a new life. In fact, it’s the last thing Will wants to do, particularly because he’ll be missing out on the summer All-Star team. And please, don’t let it be “educational.”

Starting at Fort Mandan in North Dakota, the father-son duo drive, hike, camp, paddle and explore the same route the Discovery Corps trekked to the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. While the Lewis and Clark expedition took 18 months to travel 4,000 miles, Will and his father complete it in close to two weeks. Along the way, Will encounters people and situations that remind him of Sacajawea, York the slave, Seaman the dog, the Nez Perce Indians and others who helped Lewis and Clark on their travels. Interspersed segments of Will’s summer assignment paper and postcards to his mom fill in additional historical facts.

More than a re-creation of Lewis and Clark’s great American adventure, this thoughtful middle grade novel considers the cost of their voyage, especially on Native Americans. Like the original explorers, Will grapples with difficult choices when faced with unforeseen adversity. As Will learns more about himself, readers will learn a bit of U.S. history while considering their own resolve.

In the land of Ferenwood, rainlight pours through the air, magic is currency and color is everywhere. Alice Alexis Queensmeadow covers her embarrassingly colorless body with billowing skirts and bangles, but nothing can cover the pain she’s felt ever since her beloved father disappeared three years ago. The highlight of her world is the upcoming Surrender, a ceremony in which 12-year-olds are given assignments based on their magical abilities. 

When Alice’s Surrender offering goes wrong, she’s consoled by a boy named Oliver, whose mysterious task (and even more mysterious talent) could bring her father home. Alice and Oliver must travel through the parallel world of Furthermore, a wonderland where doors appear out of nowhere, rulers measure time and pocketbooks are books made of actual peoples’ pockets.

In language drenched with the pain of loss—and then the joy of recovery—Tahereh Mafi presents a novel that’s unique in its emotional resonance. An omniscient narrator intervenes with occasional observations as Alice and Oliver negotiate challenging physical landscapes and the even more challenging landscapes of the heart.

Jill Ratzan enjoys sharing stories with readers of all ages in central New Jersey.

This article was originally published in the September 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Twelve-year-old Reena is shocked when her parents decide to move the family to a small coastal town in Maine. She and her little brother, Luke, are excited, if a little nervous, to explore their new home. But their parents have another surprise in store when they volunteer the kids to work for Mrs. Falala, a prickly old woman who lives with a motley assortment of animals. 

Reena and Luke soon discover that Mrs. Falala needs help from each of them. Luke teaches Mrs. Falala to draw, and Reena takes on the task of readying Zora, a very stubborn cow, for the fair. Reena comes into her own in the barn, building confidence as she gradually gains Zora’s trust. 

Reena is a witty but gentle narrator, well attuned to the feelings and insecurities of others, even adults. The relative simplicity of the storyline, coupled with Reena’s mature observations, translate well to the book’s structure, a series of poems. Some poems are strictly narrative, while others are more abstract, providing a good balance of familiarity and challenge for readers. Award-winning author Sharon Creech delivers another charming and satisfying novel-in-verse, perfect for independent young readers.

This article was originally published in the September 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

From the Newbery Medal-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall comes a new gem about a wise poet, two resilient children and the dog they all love. 

Teddy is an Irish wolfhound with a love for words, instilled in him by his owner, Sylvan. Rescued from a shelter and taken home to Sylvan’s secluded cabin in the woods, Teddy grows up with words and soon learns to use them himself. Although Teddy can understand words, Sylvan teaches him that there are only two kinds of people who can understand him: poets and children. 

When wandering around the woods in a snowstorm one day, Teddy finds two stranded children, Nickel and Flora, and tells them that he will rescue them, just as Sylvan once did for him. They follow him back to the cabin, where they begin to realize that the healing they seek can be found in each other. 

The Poet’s Dog is sweet and heartwarming, while the simplicity of Patricia MacLachlan’s prose allows for the poignancy of the story to shine through. This is an unassuming masterpiece, the kind that endures and will be cherished by generations of children, becoming dog-eared with age and love.

This article was originally published in the September 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

BookPage Children's Top Pick, September 2016

After Jennifer L. Holm’s son read her Newbery Honor-winning novel Turtle in Paradise, he asked his mom to write about Turtle’s cousin Beans. The result is a fast-paced prequel, Full of Beans, set in Key West, Florida. It’s hard to believe, but during the Great Depression, the bankrupt, stinking city was too poor to pay for garbage collection.

Enterprising, observant Beans Curry is sifting through rubbish, collecting condensed-milk cans for a seedy cafe owner, when he spots a newcomer who seems to be walking around in his underwear (actually Bermuda shorts, which Beans has never seen before). In a novel overflowing with historical details, this man is the real-life Julius Stone, sent from Roosevelt’s Federal Emergency Relief Administration to spruce up the island city and turn it into a tourist destination.

At first Beans doubts both the man’s sanity and mission. What’s more, he’s preoccupied with his own worries as his unemployed father heads to New Jersey in search of work. Beans’ ongoing moneymaking efforts end up backfiring, and his angst intensifies when Stone confesses that the federal government may find it cheaper to simply abandon Key West and relocate its residents than try to save it. 

Inspired by her ancestors (Holm’s great-grandmother moved to Key West in the late 1800s), the author seamlessly weaves Beans’ story with local color (sea turtles caught for stew meat, Cuban cooking, wooden houses threatened by fire) and Depression-era history.

Full of Beans’ extensive cast features Beans’ brothers and lively pals, who eventually find their calling as the Diaper Gang, as well as brief appearances by Ernest Hemingway and Robert Frost. Like Turtle, Beans is a spunky character with a feisty voice. A movie lover who dreams of Hollywood fame, he is a memorable tour guide who offers a fascinating glimpse into how Key West became a vibrant vacation and cultural mecca.

This article was originally published in the September 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

From the author of Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy comes the story of a girl struggling to navigate the twists and turns of a destiny she never knew she was meant for, set against the backdrop of a vividly realized Victorian England.

Annabel Grey is a proper young lady. She knows everything there is to know about high society life, from ballrooms to curtsies, and her biggest worry is whether or not she’ll receive those long-coveted emerald green ice skates for her 13th birthday. But Annabel’s carefree life is snatched away one fateful day when her mother suddenly announces that she must go abroad, leaving Annabel with two mysterious old aunts she’s never met before. Just like that, our unlikely heroine finds herself plunged into a world of magic she never knew existed, with the weight of its future resting entirely on her shoulders. But with the help of a wild girl who possesses some unknown magic of her own and a foul-smelling, twinkle-eyed troll, Annabel just might be able to defeat the dark forces threatening the existence of good magic, and even find a way to embrace the power within herself.

At the heart of this fast-paced fantasy adventure lies the story of a girl trying to figure out just who she is, where she comes from and where she should go from there. It’s a coming-of-age story with charming characters, excellent world-building rich in folklore, a relatable heroine worth rooting for, a dastardly villain and more than a touch of magic. This story will take readers on an extraordinary journey, all the while reminding them that true magic lies in everyday acts of friendship and kindness. 

A school with a robotic vice principal/operating system? A robot student in the homeroom and lunchroom? Oh—ZARK! What kid wouldn’t love that?

That’s the unusual situation when “Fuzzy,” a $6 million government-issue robot, shows up at Vanguard One Middle School. Supposedly, as seventh-grader Max and her classmates believe, Fuzzy is part of a Robot Integration Program (RIP) at their high-tech school. But as Max and Fuzzy become friends—and traverse the halls and tween-angst world of middle school—Max unveils a more nefarious plot by none other than the school’s sinister, omniscient and computerized Vice Principal Barbara.

Kidnapping attempts, code cracking and even military intrigue intertwine in this highly creative middle grade novel from Tom Angleberger, author of the Origami Yoda series, and Paul Dellinger, a writer of science fiction and fantasy.

At the heart of it all, though, is a story of young friends navigating the rough waters of tweendom and middle school, all with “Big Brother” or, in this case, Vice Principal, watching, grading and, quite possibly, thwarting their every move.

Fuzzy is a tech-infused wild ride, with some suspenseful moments and brilliant twists—an ideal book for reluctant readers, young science fans and really anyone who wishes their best friend were a robot. 

Children have a wealth of meaningful, important books from which to choose, but sometimes kids just need an insanely funny read. “Nothing too sad” is a request I have heard on many an occasion. Debut author Paul Gamble delivers on this request with The Ministry of SUITs.

Set in Northern Ireland, the story begins with Jack Pearse and his best friend, David, as their school bus is stopped by a bear in the road. Jack, always curious, gets out to see what’s going on. After fending off the bear with a wooden chair, Jack is invited by a mysterious man to join the Ministry of SUITs (Strange, Unusual, and Impossible Things). At first, Jack isn’t so sure about joining, but when a suspicious “supporter” of his school starts installing thick carpets on the floors and providing new uniforms that are exactly like their old ones, Jack figures it might be time to investigate.

Gamble packs in all the weird things you can think of: dinosaurs, pirates, dimensional time shifting and even Cthulhu. Oddball footnotes and excerpts from the Ministry handbook add to the overall inanity, making this the perfect laugh-out-loud read.

Jennifer Bruer Kitchel is the librarian for a Pre-K through 8th level Catholic school.

This article was originally published in the August 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

For readers unfamiliar with Louise Erdrich’s Birchbark House series, Makoons, the fifth book, is a fine place to start, standing well on its own while continuing the narrative.

Think Little House on the Prairie from a Native-American point of view. Like Laura Ingalls Wilder, Erdrich seamlessly blends fascinating details of everyday life and historical facts about an Ojibwe tribe living in the Great Plains of Dakota Territory in 1866.

While the series’ first three books center on a girl named Omakayas, books four and five follow her twin sons, Chickadee and Makoons. In book five, Makoons has largely recovered from a serious illness that developed while his brother was kidnapped, and now these two reunited halves of one soul are learning to be buffalo hunters. The book starts with Makoons’ ominous vision that he and his brother will become strong hunters, but will never be able to return to their beloved homeland back east and will be able to help save some, but not all, of their family. Despite these forebodings, Makoons is never bleak or harsh. Its twin heroes are playful young men who love a good prank, which means there’s plenty of fun in their saga.

After the big hunt, while everyone is turning 30 killed buffalo into food, hides and more, Makoons and Chickadee adopt an orphaned buffalo calf. The brothers name him Fly, and his ultimate fate adds to the novel’s many tightly woven threads.

It’s no wonder Erdrich’s writing is so authentic; her maternal great-grandfather was part of some of the last buffalo hunts along the Milk River in Montana. Erdrich also includes her own illustrations and a glossary and pronunciation guide of Ojibwe words.

This article was originally published in the August 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Ted Gerson has honed his skills at online escape-the-room games to extreme sharpness—nothing gets past him. When his great uncle dies and leaves him the contents of his apartment, Ted has high hopes; although it looks like a hoarder’s paradise, he thinks there might be some actual treasure from his great uncle’s service in World War II. His mother is more concerned that this was a practical joke intended to get the place cleaned out for free. But as Ted, his best friend, Caleb, and new-girl-in-town Isabel get to work, they find that the apartment itself is eerily similar to an escape-the-room game.

Debut author Denis Markell keeps the mystery interesting by introducing bad guys who might actually be good, and there are many nods to history and classical literature mixed in with the puzzle-solving fun. Information about Japanese internment camps is introduced gently enough that some readers will be inspired to learn more on their own. 

Click Here to Start combines history, mystery and friendship, and fans of Ellen Raskin or Blue Balliett will find it irresistible.

This article was originally published in the August 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.