Book Reviews

Middle Grades

–Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{black writers, fantasy} ٭٭٭٭

–The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier (pub. 2014, KZ’s comments 2021): _{home, story/truth, desire, life/death, supernatural} ٭٭٭

–The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling (pub. 2020, KZ’s comments 2021): _{grief, PTSD, trauma, anxiety, survival, reflection, desert, solitude vs. loneliness} ٭٭٭٭

–Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, _{Newbery Honor} (pub. 2020; KZ’s comments 2021): _{abuse, healing, voice} ٭٭٭٭٭

–I Can Make this Promise by Christine Day (pub. 2019; KZ’s comments 2021): _{Native American history/culture, identity/adoption, changing relationships} ٭٭٭٭٭

–Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee (pub. 2019; KZ’s comments 2021):  _{friendship, doubt, strength, bullying, harassment} ٭٭٭٭

– Violets Are Blue by Barbara Dee (pub. 2021; KZ’s comments 2021): _{secrets, friendship, family, divorce, being weird, theater, makeup}٭٭٭

– Mary Underwater by Shannon Doleski (pub. 2020, KZ’s comments 2021): _{science, abuse} ٭٭٭

– Taking up Space by Alyson Gerber (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{body image, basketball, friendships, cooking, family, mother-daughter relationship, health}

– Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson (pub. 2015 _{Graphic Novel}, KZ’s comments 2021): _{friendship, identity, truth, change, sport, strength} ٭٭٭

–Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! by Sarah Kapit (pub. 2020, KZ’s comments 2021): _{autism, baseball, bullying, family relationships, choice, control} ٭٭٭

–When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller (pub. 2020 _{*Newbery Winner*}, KZ’s comments 2021): _{grief, identity, coming of age, Asian folklore} ٭٭٭٭

– You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly (pub. 2018, KZ’s comments 2021): _{friendship, isolation, change, trauma, bullying, board games, social group, public speaking, regret} ٭٭٭

– Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte (pub. 2020, KZ’s comments 2021): _{grief, communication, deafness, isolation, community, native peoples, OWN voices}

–The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother) by David Levithan (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{truth, public opinion, brotherhood, family} ٭٭٭

– Bea is for Blended by Lindsey Stoddard (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{family, teamwork, girl power, bullying, strength/confidence, gratitude, sports, blended families} ٭٭٭٭

–Right as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard (pub. 2019, KZ’s comments 2021): _{grief/loss, gentrification, belonging, moving, divorce/separation} ٭٭٭٭

– Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson _{Newbery Honor Graphic Novel} (pub. 2015, KZ’s comments 2021): _{friendship, identity, truth, change, sport, female strength} ٭٭٭

– Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga _{Newbery Honor} (pub. 2019, KZ’s comments 2021): _{home, language, dislocation/refugees, empathy, cultural perspective, middle east/syria} ٭٭٭٭

–The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman (pub. 2018, KZ’s comments 2021): _{identity, family, World War II, Judaism, bat mitzvah, adoption} ٭٭٭٭

–Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wokenstein (pub. 2020, KZ’s comments 2021): _{grief/death, nature, terminal disease, jewish traditions} ٭٭٭٭

– Pippa Park Raises her Game by Erin Yun (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{belonging, authenticity, friendship, Korean culture, economic&social status} ٭٭٭

Young Adult

– What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold _{NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST} (pub. 2017, KZ’s comments 2021): _{womanhood, body, art, identity, sexuality, love, motherhood} ٭٭٭٭٭

– Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{black writers, anxiety, empowerment} ٭٭٭

–Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum (pub. 2016, KZ’s comments 2021): _{romance, grief, new school, step family} ٭٭٭

– The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle (pub. 2017, KZ’s comments 2021): _{neurodivergence, adhd, autism, dyslexia, drug therapy, intelligence} ٭٭٭

– Mazie by Melanie Crowder (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{(gender) barriers/expectations, dreams, identity, theater/stage life} ٭٭٭٭

–Once upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{Latinx, coming of age, mending relationships, multiple cultures} ٭٭٭٭

–This is My Brain in Love by I.W. Gregorio (pub. 2020, KZ’s comments 2021): _{mental health, love, independence, entrepreneurship, family, anxiety, depression}٭٭٭

–One of the Good Ones by Maika & Maritza Moulite (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{black writers, history, grief, BLM} ٭٭٭٭

– American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{identity, Indian culture, objectification, cultural awareness, art, romance, expectations of others} ٭٭٭

– Jackpot by Nic Stone (pub. 2019, KZ’s comments 2021): _{love, friendship, money, belonging, choices, luck, poverty, wealth, responsibility}

– Biggie by Derek E. Sullivan (pub. 2015, KZ’s comments 2021): _{obesity, dating, goals, baseball, perfection, anxiety, identity, social media} ٭٭

– The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen (pub. 2011, KZ’s comments 2021): _{perseverance/determination, loss/overcoming, friendship/teamwork, disabilities, hopes/dreams, sports} ٭٭٭٭

–Impossible Music by Sean Williams (pub. 2019, KZ’s comments 2021): _{identity, music, communication, Deaf culture, art, community} ٭٭٭

ADULT FICTION/ NONFICTION

-Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (pub. 2019 w/ 2020 transl., KZ’s comments 2021): _{isolation and connection, anxiety and depression, literary structure, family & relationships} ٭٭٭٭

–The Marriage Code by Brooke Burroughs (pub. 2021, KZ’s comments 2021): _{food, multicultural romance, arranged marriage, tradition, family} ٭٭٭

–French Exit by Patrick DeWitt (pub. 2018, KZ’s comments 2021): _{dark comedy, family relationships, high society} ٭٭٭٭

–Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tchida (pub. 2020, KZ’s comments 2021): _{technology, identity} ٭٭٭