You Go First

You Go First
by Erin Entrada Kelly

Charlotte and Ben live more than a thousand miles apart and have never met.    However, they are connected through their regular online Scrabble games.  When Ben faces an unexpected challenge at home, he feels the need to connect more with Charlotte, unaware that she has also recently encountered struggles of her own.   This story, which alternates between the two narrators, tells of the difficulties that Charlotte and Ben face at school and home over the course of a week. 

This is a powerful story and many readers will be able to connect to the different challenging situations, including struggles with family, school, and friends, that Charlotte and Ben deal with. 


Author's website: http://www.erinentradakelly.com/

The Mad Wolf's Daughter

The Mad Wolf's Daughter
by Diane Magras

When knights capture her father and brothers, young Drest is determined to rescue them before it is too late.  In order to do so, she must make a dangerous journey to the castle where they are being held.  She finds help in an unlikely source, an injured knight that was left behind after her family was captured, but can she really trust him with her seemingly impossible task?

Set in Scotland in 1210, The Mad Wolf's Daughter is an action-packed story full of adventure!   I'm looking forward to the sequel to this exciting book!

Author's website: https://www.dianemagras.com/

Book trailer:

Shouting at the Rain

Shouting at the Rain
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Storm-loving and frequently barefoot, Delsie is facing a summer of questions and challenges.   One of her best friends has suddenly abandoned her, choosing to instead spend her time with a new, mean girl.   Delsie, after spending her entire life living with her grandmother, is starting to wonder about her mother and why she left her so many years earlier.   As Delsie struggles to find answers, she is drawn to a new boy in town, Ronan, who comes with similar struggles of his own.

Shouting at the Rain is a wonderful, emotional story!   Many readers will be able to connect to Delsie and some of the issues that she, and her friend Ronan, are working through. 

Author's website: https://www.lyndamullalyhunt.com/

Book trailer:

Skylark & Wallcreeper

Skylark & Wallcreeper
by Anne O'Brien Carelli

When Lily and her grandmother are forced to evacuate a nursing home during Superstorm Sandy, her grandmother gives her a pen to take care of.   However, Lily later realizes that she has lost the pen that her grandmother entrusted her with.  What is so special about the pen?  Will Lily be able to find it?  

Alternating between 2012 and 1944, this historical fiction tells the story of two brave girls and their dangerous work during World War II.  This fantastic story will be a great choice for readers who enjoy books that are set during World War II!

Author's website: https://www.anneobriencarelli.com/

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective
by A.B. Greenfield
illustrated by Sarah Horne

Ra, a Pharaoh's pampered cat, prefers to spend his days lounging by the pool.   His spoiled, uneventful routine is disrupted by the kitchen cat Miu, who requests his help in solving the mystery of a missing amulet.   Reluctant at first, Ra, along with his dung beetle buddy Khepri, agree to investigate the crime and help Miu prove that a young servant was not the culprit.   Will this team of detectives be able to solve the case?

With entertaining characters and many humorous moments, this fun mystery will be a great choice for many readers!

Author's website: https://www.amybutlergreenfield.com/

Book Trailer:

Nightbooks

Nightbooks
by J.A. White

Alex loves to write scary stories, but he never imagined he would be trapped inside one!   On a late night trip to the basement of his building, he is magically lured to the apartment of Natacha, who soon reveals herself to be a witch.   In order to survive, Alex must read one of his creepy stories to Natacha each night, but soon finds himself running out of ideas.   With the help of Yasmin, another captive of Natacha, will he be able to find a way to escape? 

Nightbooks is a wonderful, yet eerie, selection from this year's MSBA list!  The dark, magical tale will be a fantastic choice for readers looking for a creepy story! 

Author's website: http://jawhitebooks.com/

Lifeboat 12

Lifeboat 12
by Susan Hood

Ken Sparks is being sent away.   It is World War II and he is one of 90 children selected to travel on the SS City of Benares, which will take them from London to Canada.   The beautiful ship is quite different from life in wartime London, with plenty of food for the travelers as well as other luxuries  never experienced by Ken and the other children escaping the war.   At first, it is a dream come true, until a torpedo changes everything and forces Ken, and the other passengers, to struggle to survive.

This outstanding historical fiction, told in verse,  is based on real life events.   I found myself eager to learn more about the City of Benares after reading this book.  This selection from the MSBA list is a great choice for fans of historical fiction as well readers who enjoy stories about shipwrecks and survival!

Author's website: https://susanhoodbooks.com/home

The House in Poplar Wood

The House in Poplar Wood
by K.E. Ormsbee

Twins Lee and Felix are only allowed to leave their house together once a year, on Halloween.  They live on opposite sides of the same house, with Felix unable to leave Poplar Wood.    Their mother, who works for Memory, is unable to see Felix and their father, who serves Death, can never see Lee.  This is how it has always been for Felix and Lee, because of the Agreement their parents made years earlier.   Felix and Lee tried to break the Agreement once before, with disastrous results.   Now they have been offered another opportunity to break the Agreement that has controlled their lives, but it involves working with Gretchen Whipple, whose family is the sworn enemy of the twins.  Will Lee and Felix accept the dangerous risk of destroying the Agreement so that they can bring their family together? 

This story is a great choice for readers looking for a creepy book!   It is a good blend of action, mystery, and suspense.   A wonderful selection from the 2019 - 2020 MSBA list!

Author's website: http://www.keormsbee.com/

Poetree

Poetree
by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds
illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani

Can a tree write poems?  After poetry-loving Sylvia attaches one of her poems to a tree, she is delightfully surprised to find, when she returns the next day, that a different poem has been put in its place.  Did the tree write back?   Unable to stop thinking about this special tree, Sylvia continues to share her poems.  A surprising, yet sweet, twist brings the story to a heartwarming conclusion.

This is a wonderful book that combines a sweet story with beautiful poetry!

Author's website: https://shaunalavoyreynolds.com/

Can I Be Your Dog?

Can I Be Your Dog?
by Troy Cummings

Desperate for a home, Arfy, who lives in a cardboard box, sends letters to residents of Butternut Street, hoping that someone will take him in.   His hopeful requests for a home are, sadly, met with rejections from each person he reaches out to.   Will Arfy ever find a home?

What a sweet story!  Told in letter format and accompanied by bright, engaging illustrations, Can I Be Your Dog is a wonderful story that will spark conversations about what we can do to help homeless animals like Arfy. 

Author's website: http://www.troycummings.net/