MacMillan

Looking for a new fantasy series? Hawke's is a breath of fresh air. Told from the POV of a brother and sister, respectively, who are in the business of poison, I could hardly keep up with the many twists and turns of suspense and action. The character growth was well thought out and the world-building is complex, yet not overwhelming. - Karena

Almost everyone has seen Jaws or has some other preconceived notion about Great White sharks. However, it is only recently that scientists have even begun to understand what makes these fish tick. Casey’s immersive account of living on the Farallon Islands and participating in the shark research there is thrilling and horrifying; a truly fascinating read. - Jade

This intersectional book about period-having people needs to be read by everyone. It removes the stigma of menstruation which has plagued us all, whether you have a period or not. There are essays from a transgender man, a homeless person, a disabled person as well as 9 other voices. It changed my life. No longer will I hide my tampons! Let's have conversations. Let's make it normal. - Karena

If you're like me, Robin Williams was part of your life at some point. I, unlike a lot of kids my age, was introduced to his standup first rather than his work in Disney. It broke my heart when I heard he passed. This biography is fantastic. It tells the story of Robin the man, not just Robin the performer. Be warned, it's a five alarm snot bomb so bring your tissues. - Karena

If you're socially anxious, this book is for you. It follows tried-and-true cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to offer concrete steps towards managing anxiety. Hendriksen is a gentle, witty mentor, and her stories of challenges and triumphs inspire. For a book about anxiety, the book was a breeze to read, and I've already been seeing results in my own life going through the exercises. - Natalie

Grab your bike and hop on for a fantastical ride through the magical countryside. Polk’s choosing of the setting to be World War I was a refreshing take from current urban and medieval fantasy settings. And the story plays out more as a historical drama than an enchanting adventure, also a welcome turn. If you like your magic mixed with history, give this one a read. - Ian

A new novel in the old style of speculative fiction, answering “What if?” with real-world science and a social conscience. Mary Robinette Kowal has penned a thoroughly believable 1950’s where humanity must suddenly race to space for weightier motivations than a Cold War. Elma York, WWII pilot, computer, reluctant spokeswoman, will face disaster, loss, ignorance (her own and others’), social injustice, and disbelief in science to guarantee our survival among the stars, and that all are included. - Jocelyn

Two characters are the centerpiece in Flemming’s books, yet here it is just Reverend Claire Fergusson. Arriving home after serving as a combat pilot in Iraq, Claire, broken, with PTSD, is without an anchor in spite of being in love and about to marry police chief Russ Van Alstyne.  As a suicide investigation goes sideways, Claire falls more deeply into fear and obsession. Flemming painted this character with real human tones. By the end, I felt she had always been my friend. - Karen

The Caldecott Medal–winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee is available unabridged in a new board book, paper cut–free for a younger set of listeners. Philip Stead takes us through the thoughtful routines of Amos McGee’s usual workday at the zoo, where “he always made time to visit his good friends” the elephant (who needs a chess partner), the rhinoceros, tortoise, and penguin, and the owl (who is afraid of the dark). One morning Amos wakes up with a bad head cold and calls in sick. After waiting and worrying and missing their friend, the animals hop on the bus and pay Amos a visit, giving him the care that he has so kindly provided them every other day of the week. With all feeling much better, Amos and friends settle in for the night so that they can catch the morning bus back to the zoo, together. Always with plenty to discover, Erin Stead’s lovely pencil-and-color illustrations hold the attentions of reader and child alike, with new things to discover with every reading (look for the tiny mouse!). Preschool. - Michelle

Priyanka’s mother refuses to discuss why she left India at 18…. A pashmina shawl stowed in an old suitcase sends Pri on “journeys” to India when she puts it on, and a cry to [the goddess] Shakti for help results in a phone call from an aunt she’s never met, inviting her to her mother’s home country. The pashmina goes with her, and as aunt and niece bond, Priyanka learns of her mother’s secret past and the power of the shawl, which gives the woman who wears it a vision of how to take the next step in life… The graphic-novel format keeps the story light…sorting the players’ many journeys through actual and imaginary spaces with shifts in background color. A fantasy with humor and substance, this is a book for girls seeking empowerment and agency. Grades 4–8. —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books