Jocelyn's Reviews

Faruqi, author of Meet Yasmin!, is back with a new heroine ready to take on the world. Third-grader Marya Khan’s family, friendships, dreams, and jealousy are immediately recognizable, as is the trouble she gets herself into. Her escapades are not only entertaining but insightful for all involved. With Bushry's playful illustrations, this chapter book is terrific for kids with big dreams. 
—JOCELYN

Tauhid Bondia’s Kevin and Miles spring to life with hijinks that are sometimes a four-panel joke, sometimes famed exploits. The adventures of these two kids involve school and family, imagined and real-life (mild) danger, and the bonds of friendship, which are tested but never broken. Bondia draws and writes in the tradition of Foxtrot and Calvin and Hobbes, building stories you can read for just a minute or for hours. Great for any kid looking for something fast, fun, and real.

—JOCELYN

Calling all nerds and storytellers! This fun new graphic novel series follows a party of teen D&D players through tabletop and real-life adventures. Xanthe Bouma’s vivid, awesome art propels you through Molly Knox Ostertag’s all-too-relatable story exploring friendship, fear, and why it can be so hard to be your authentic self in real life. I dare you to not love these characters, flaws and all. I know I am already (im)patiently waiting for the next book! 
—JOCELYN

Although she foretold the Trojan War, Cassandra was cursed by the god Apollo to never be believed. In the best historical fiction tradition, Gail Carson Levine brings to life ancient Troy, its people and its gods, while giving a legendary figure the chance to tell her own story, and maybe even change it. A vivid tale of indomitable odds for those who won’t stop fighting for a better future.

—JOCELYN

This novel has all the hallmarks of classic 1980s horror—a small coastal town, a band of childhood friends facing change come summer’s end, adults behaving strangely, timeworn photographs hinting at a centuries-old mystery—each set in motion when honeycombed caverns are suddenly unearthed at a dig site. Colin Meloy immerses the reader in a perfectly chilling, accessible horror story, with shades of The Goonies and Stranger Things. For any kid (or adult) looking for sincere scares and a book to get lost in.

—JOCELYN

It’s hard to think of a more Santa Cruz tome. Created with the first-ever Smithsonian exhibit on the history of skateboarding, Four Wheels and a Board uses photographs, artifacts, timelines, and essays to chronicle everything from the roots of skateboarding in indigenous Polynesian surf culture to the first appearances of skating in garages and on sidewalks, to female and queer skaters and skaters of color, to skating’s inclusion in today’s Olympics. Featuring pioneers who shaped the culture, this is a one-of-a-kind gift for anyone who has ever loved a skate deck.

—JOCELYN

Warning: Just looking at this book will make you drool. Esteban Castillo has followed up his already iconic book Chicano Eats with Chicano Bakes, a collection of baked goods and sweets from his childhood. From classics such as Tres Leches Cake to mash-ups like Churro Cheesecake, these recipes are clear and easy to follow, with helpful tips throughout, so bakers of any level can create delicious sweets with common ingredients. Destined to become another classic. Be sure to secure your copy for holiday (and year-round) treats ASAP! 
—JOCELYN

Art critic Lacayo uses the last works of six great visual artists—including Louise Nevelson and Henri Matisse—to explore the themes of their lives and the historical moments they lived through. Lacayo’s book is for the artist, the art lover, the person for whom the details of the painter are just as important as the technique, and those who feel that the next best thing to viewing a masterpiece is getting to talk about it with someone who knows. 
—JOCELYN

Kelefa Sanneh is so intelligent and knowledgeable that you could almost miss his wit and passion. Almost. The fast-paced narrative of his new book Major Labels at first seems to delve into the known annals and legends of modern music (rock, R&B, country, punk, hip-hop, dance, pop), but quickly shows that, in fact, Sanneh is taking us into uncharted waters: In popular music, what was and is actually popular—and for whom? And why? A one-of-a-kind, fascinating, and delightful book for every music fan. 
—JOCELYN

Not only a must for any hip-hop fan, this is destined to be an instant classic for all music lovers and historians. Jonathan Abrams’s seminal new book details the rise of hip-hop in the words of those who were there and uses those interviews to pull us into each moment itself. On the streets and at the parties, with the first beats, first rhymes, first flows, turn the pages and live the history of today’s most popular music genre. 
—JOCELYN