Nearly 25 years after the publication of Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s beloved trilogy becomes a quartet with this Christmas-themed holiday companion.

Shiloh and his boy, Marty, are inseparable as always—except that Shiloh is afraid to cross over the bridge that leads to Judd Travers’ house. It’s been a year since Marty rescued Shiloh from Judd, and he seems to have found a soft spot in his neighbor’s harsh exterior. Amends have been made, and Marty has been spending time at Judd’s to help with the other dogs. The town even begins to see a very different man as well.

The community has also welcomed a new preacher to town, but soon Marty’s sister, Becky, begins to fear eternal damnation, and the preacher’s daughters, Rachel and Ruthie, seem to be afraid of their father. Marty has a lot of questions about the world but isn’t sure the preacher, who seems better versed in atoning for sins, is the one who can answer them. More questions arise when a fire starts in the neighborhood and accusations fly, blaming Judd for starting it.

The Prestons prepare for Christmas, the community helps those that suffered from the fire, and Marty continues to work in the veterinarian office, thinking he may want to be a vet and help animals. But one day, Ruthie and Rachel are too scared to go home, and Judd helps by sharing the story of his youth and the importance of dreams.

Naylor gently writes of compassion and understanding, the importance of love over fear and the bonds between dogs and their people. A bit of adventure and a few mysteries make A Shiloh Christmas perfect for cozying up in front of the Christmas tree.

It’s one thing to think that you’re different, that you can do things that other people can’t. It’s quite another to be proven correct. In A Sliver of Stardust, written by Marissa Burt, Wren Matthews learns at the worst possible moment that she is part of a unique group of people who are able to harness and manipulate Stardust, the elemental magic that forms the basis of the universe. Along with her sometimes-friend/sometimes-enemy Simon and the mysterious Jack, Wren is catapulted into a world she never knew existed.

As Wren begins to grasp the reality of her new existence, she realizes that not everything to do with harnessing this elemental magic is going to be fun. Things quickly begin to fall apart at the Crooked House, the headquarters of the Fiddler Council, who are the authority of all users of Stardust. Wren finds that she has abilities that set her apart from the other Fiddlers, which draws the attention of the Fiddler Council. And with everything that's happening at the Crooked House, that kind of attention is never a good thing.

Reminiscent of A Wrinkle in Time and inspired by the rhymes of Mother Goose, A Sliver of Stardust is a wide-reaching story that follows Wren through adventures in a world much like ours—but is very different. Full of twists, turns, betrayals and redemptions, A Sliver of Stardust will make you look at everything around you just a little bit differently.

Jayson Barnes’ nickname on the basketball court is Snap, because he moves so quickly when stealing the ball. But when his mother dies, he begins stealing in real life to hide the fact that he’s living alone. He gets away with taking small items from the corner store, but eventually he needs new basketball shoes and tries to lift a pair from Foot Locker. Finally caught, he's placed with the Lawtons, a wealthy family on the other side of town. All at once, Jayson has a new school, a new family and, worst of all, new teammates. Without his old team, which was sure to be the best in the league, how can Jayson hope to make it to the tournament?

There’s a reason Mike Lupica is one of the most popular sports writers for children: The basketball scenes in Fast Break, though acted out by characters in middle school, are as riveting as watching a Final Four game. Jayson’s passion and talent are treated as seriously as if he were already a professional player, which will resonate with readers who understand his commitment to a sport. Besides the basketball games, the strongest moments are between Jayson and his foster mother, Carol. Jayson’s wariness and Carol’s warmth are believable, and their gradual bond is touching. While the provided age range is 10 and up, independent readers as young as 8 could read the book without much trouble.

Though somewhat formulaic, Fast Break is heartfelt and fun, especially for young sports fans.

Native-American author Joseph Marshall III has written many books for children and adults about the Sioux nation’s history and culture. In his latest book, In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse, Marshall deftly weaves an old story into a contemporary boy’s life, giving the tale a true sense of immediacy.

Jimmy McClean lives on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and even though his name doesn’t sound very native, he knows more about his heritage than most kids—especially the two bullies he deals with at school every day. Jimmy’s strategy is avoidance and anger, but neither is working, and summer offers a much-needed respite. 

Jimmy’s Grandpa Nyles tells him that learning about his ancestor Crazy Horse might help him with the bullies next time he encounters them. Jimmy’s skeptical, but he’s more than enthusiastic about going on a trip with his grandfather and seeing the places where Crazy Horse lived and fought. At each stop along the way, Grandpa Nyles tells about the hero’s childhood and the battles he led, allowing Jimmy to slowly soak in the lessons about being brave when you’re scared and being proud of who you are. By the time Jimmy starts school the next year, he’s ready. He calmly faces his enemies just as Crazy Horse did: afraid but determined to stand up for what’s right.

Marshall’s simple framework of weaving the stories about Crazy Horse with the self-discovery of a modern-day boy make this book a fine read. This is a wonderful introduction to the history of the American West as seen through the eyes of the Sioux people.

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

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

In 1915, a few days after Germany torpedoed the Lusitania, Alfie Wheatcroft hears the sound of a crying child while fishing with his father. The two discover a sickly 12-year-old girl and bring her to their home on England’s Bryher Island. There, Alfie and his parents nurse the young girl back to health. Lucy—named after one of the few words she utters—remains a mystery: She refuses to talk and carries around a German monogrammed blanket. Assuming the worst, the townsfolk ostracize the Wheatcrofts for harboring an enemy. Only time will tell whether or not Lucy will share the real story behind her identity, as well as the unexpected act of kindness she received in the midst of war.

Acclaimed author Michael Morpurgo pens a spellbinding story within a story. Set prior to America’s involvement in World War I, Listen to the Moon is nothing short of extraordinary, a masterfully woven tale of history, the negative aspects of war and a subtle yet persistent message that love prevails. Morpurgo closes with background historical information, the perfect endnote to this outstanding piece of literature.

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Beast the dog decides that he’s had it with people, friends and everything else. He’s a loner now, and nothing is going to change that.

Dropped off at the Green Meadows Rescue Group after his third failed adoption, Beast—renamed Webster by the shelter, though he’s nicknamed Bad Hat by the other dogs—is malnourished, distrustful of humans and ready to give up. While the homemade treats are nice and the beds are comfortable, he’s always looking for the first possible chance to break out and make it on his own. He’s tried being a good dog, and it just isn’t working for him. As his time at the shelter grows, Webster finds himself drawn to the dogs around him, each with their own unique story of how they ended up at Green Meadows. When Webster finds a way to escape, however, he discovers that freedom isn’t as perfect as he expected.

Narrated from Webster’s point of view and filled with the voices of an eclectic menagerie of animals, Webster: Tale of an Outlaw is tense, exciting and heartwarming. Webster is both brash and broken, and author Ellen Emerson White captures his voice perfectly. Readers will identify with the feeling of sometimes wanting to leave everyone else behind and with the joy of being accepted for exactly who you are.

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Oh, how I wish I had a friend like Miss Petitfour, who follows “a strict schedule of fun and more fun.” As her name implies, she’s partial to sweets, and on windy days she uses her tablecloth like a parachute so she and her 16 cats can take to the skies.

The five gentle stories in The Adventures of Miss Petitfour, each starring this eccentric cat lady, remind me of some of my favorite childhood tales with heroines like Miss Piggle-Wiggle and Pippi Longstocking. One scene with an exploding confetti factory could have come directly from Roald Dahl.

This is the first children’s book from Canadian poet and novelist Anne Michaels, and she seems like a natural, writing in a style that’s full of humor, puns and all sorts of literary lusciousness. There’s sophisticated amusement as well, making this book the perfect read-aloud, with quirky lists and nimble use of language.

Adding to the charm are a multitude of color illustrations by British illustrator Emma Block, whose drawings bring Miss Petitfour and her feline troop to life, making them soar through the sky, cats clinging together like the colorful tail of a whimsical kite.

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Magnus Chase has been on the run for quite some time, ever since one mysterious night, two years ago, when an explosion killed his mother. Left homeless and alone in Boston, he’s become adept at surviving the toughest of circumstances, and for any other teenage protagonist, doing so would be enough to drive the narrative. But this is a novel by Rick Riordan, author of such myth-inspired, best-selling series as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Kane Chronicles and the Heroes of Olympus. Like those previous stories, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer is inspired by mythology—this time the stories of the Norse gods.

The first installment in a planned trilogy, Riordan’s latest is fast-paced and full of action. Only in a world built by Riordan would a character turn 16, summon a sword so powerful it has a soul, then go to battle with a fire-wielding, flame-throwing Lord of Muspellheim—all within the first four chapters. Magnus is on a quest to find out who he is and how he can save the world. Whether he’s checking in at Hotel Valhalla, convincing a Valkyrie to go deep-sea fishing for Jormungand the World Serpent or trekking through the Nine Worlds, Magnus has the miraculous ability to stay one step ahead of disaster.

As irreverent as he is witty, Magnus is a delightfully crafted character who endears himself to the reader from the very first page.

Gary Paulsen has long been beckoned by nature, and throughout This Side of Wild, he recounts numerous tales from his decades of outdoor adventures. The one constant throughout this collection of short, true-life stories is Paulsen's ever-evolving and maturing relationship with the animals he both raises at home and encounters out in the wild, all of whom seem to know far more than humans assume.

In select snippets from his lifetime of interacting with animals, Paulsen describes preparing to dogsled the Iditarod through the Alaskan wilderness and facing off with a murder of smart, mischievous ravens. He writes reverently about a dog named Gretchen that figured out her own special means of communication and then trained her human companions how to speak it. And he affectionately honors the sickly, nine-pound toy poodle that once saved his life from an overly curious grizzly bear lurking near his own backyard.

Famously known for his YA novel Hatchet, the three-time Newbery Honor Award winner Paulsen reflects on his 70-plus years of living with, among and through animals in This Side of Wild. And all the while, his keen observations encourage readers to reflect on the “humanity” and wisdom of the animal kingdom’s creatures, both the domesticated and the wild. The writing perhaps ventures into the land of the slightly mystical, but for anyone who’s ever grown close with an animal, the connection is undeniably real.

Suzy has just started seventh grade when she realizes she’s become invisible—not really invisible, but close enough—by being very quiet.

She hasn’t said one word since her best friend, Franny, died while swimming in the ocean, a tragedy that didn’t reach Suzy for two whole days. The girls had grown apart in the months before the accident; actually, Franny had done all the growing apart. Franny used to love hearing Suzy spouting facts, but all that changed, and the newly boy-crazy Franny dumped Suzy for the popular girls. Both girls behaved badly in the fallout, one spitting and the other sabotaging a locker with disks of frozen pee. Yes, pee.

Now that Franny’s gone, Suzy digs for answers. How could an excellent swimmer like Franny have drowned? Why would Suzy’s mother throw up her hands with a “sometimes things just happen”? Suzy is determined to get to the bottom of her friend’s death, and everything points to venomous jellyfish. As Suzy learns, people are stung by jellyfish 23 times every five seconds. When Suzy tries to sneak off and visit a jellyfish expert in Australia, the plan—and Suzy’s silence—comes apart.

Ali Benjamin’s debut novel surprises with a mix of schoolgirl drama and profundity after the loss of a friend. It convincingly and positively explores issues of divorced parents and gay siblings, adding greater depth to an already important novel.

Billie B. Little is the Founding Director of Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, a hands-on museum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

A reader could not ask for a more charming pair than Diva and Flea, from the gifted storytelling team of Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi. Both Diva and Flea live in Paris, but their lives differ greatly: Flea is a street cat with a sense of humor, while Diva is a little dog with a big sense of duty and slightly shaky nerves. What adventures await these new friends?

Willems, best known for the Pigeon (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!) and the Elephant and Piggie series, has a talent for bold, funny stories with poignant messages. DiTerlizzi, co-creator of the Spiderwick Chronicles, is known for his captivating, detailed illustrations. As a team, they tell a story that is quirky and sweet, enchanting and funny. Willems chooses words and clever phrases that appeal to children, but also add literary flair and absurdity for older readers. DiTerlizzi’s familiar style captures the sights of Paris, giving us a peek into Parisian life. French words interspersed throughout add an exotic flair (and up the book's educational ante), and the portrayal of everyday human trappings (the subway, coffee shops) viewed through animal eyes will have readers smiling at their bizarre take on our world.

Short chapters make The Story of Diva and Flea accessible for independent readers moving into longer, more involved books, and beautiful illustrations will make it a treasured favorite. Readers young and old will be enchanted by these two new friends as they help each other learn and grow, side by side.

Steve’s family has just welcomed a new baby, so all should be well. But it isn’t. The baby—who disconcertingly remains unnamed for many pages—is very ill, with an undisclosed congenital disorder, so his parents are constantly worried, stressed and distracted. It isn’t until young Steve begins to have inexplicable and surreal dreams that his life begins to change . . . not necessarily for the better.

The “angels” in his dreams tell Steve they can help the baby; all he needs to do is say yes to them. It sounds simple enough, but as his dreams take a sinister and unexplainable turn, Steve starts to question what is real and what is imagined.

The angels morph into wasps, which hatch a creepy plan to replace baby Theo with a new, healthy baby. But there are costs, and Steve soon decides he must try to thwart them. The story comes to a dizzyingly scary climax in a page-turner older children and even adults won’t be able to put down.

To say this book has “buzz” is both a pun and an understatement. The combination of a Printz Award-winning author and Caldecott Award-winning artist is synchronicity at its best. Jon Klassen is a master of dark illustrations, so his spare, creepy illustrations set the tone for Kenneth Oppel’s intensely creative text.

Comparisons to Neil Gaiman abound, placing Oppel securely in the realm of the master of Gothic and atmospheric tales. This is one scary—yet in its own way, touching—book. Readers will want to see more from this author, but they’ll never look at a wasp in the same way again.

The Doldrums is a whirlwind of an eccentric adventure tale centered on Archer B. Helmsley, the 11-year-old grandson of a pair of world-famous explorers thought to have disappeared on an Antarctic iceberg. He lives with his parents in his grandparents’ museum-like home, brimming with artifacts from their travels, including a stuffed ostrich, badger and giraffe that Archer occasionally talks to. Archer is bored and lonely; his overprotective mother barely lets him out of the house, fearing that her son has inherited the dangerous wandering genes of his forebears.

And indeed he has.

Luckily, the virtually imprisoned Archer discovers two trusty sidekicks: neighbor Oliver Glub and Adelaide Belmont, who has just moved from Paris with her wooden leg, reportedly the result of an unfortunate encounter with a crocodile.

Archer notices many mysterious details surrounding his grandparents, including mysterious trunks of belongings delivered by a man with an eye patch. As a result, he remains hopeful that his relatives are still alive, and of course decides to investigate for himself.

First-time novelist Nicholas Gannon has created a lavish, fun-filled romp that’s complemented by delightfully detailed full-color and black-and-white illustrations. Fans of Polly Horvath’s Everything on a Waffle and Lemony Snicket books are likely to be attracted to this novel with its likable young heroes and a cast of suspicious and nervous-Nelly adults. However, readers may ultimately be disappointed that there’s a lot more planning and plotting than actual adventure. The trio never makes it to the Antarctic, although absolute chaos erupts in the final wild scenes set in a museum, including tigers on the loose.