Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Kroscozka

This complex graphic memoir tells the story of Krosoczka’s childhood, up to his high school graduation. The author was raised mostly by his grandparents, due to his mother’s heroin addiction. He doesn’t flinch away from the darker details, but paints a courageous picture of both the difficulties and the warmth of the family surrounding him. Recommended for teens and adults, but not for Krosoczka’s younger fans!

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Spensa has dreamed of being a fighter pilot like her father ever since she can remember. Unfortunately, her father fled from a pivotal battle and was shot down by his own squadron and branded a coward, so the likelihood of her being allowed to attend flight school, much less pilot a spacecraft, seems pretty low. Spensa knows that her father was a hero, not a coward -- and she also knows that she could be the best pilot on the planet if they would just let her. Can her sheer determination to find a way or make one get her where she wants to go?

This is a fast, gripping read. I never liked Spensa much, but in spite of that, I found myself wanting her to succeed. (And many of the secondary characters were a lot of fun.) The plotting is all you might expect from Sanderson, with twists and turns galore. Improbable points in the worldbuilding turn out to fit perfectly within the book's internal logic later on, and the book is wrapped up satisfactorily, though the promised sequel can't come soon enough. If you enjoy sci-fi, or Sanderson's other books, don't miss this one.

(Reviewed from an advance copy, courtesy of the publisher.)

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Ya Glaser

It's summer, and the Vanderbeeker siblings have no intention of taking on a gardening project, as Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet encourage them to do. But when a sudden health problem besets Mr. Jeet, they have a change of heart. They ask the distracted minister of the church they attend if they can create a garden in a overgrown lot, and he doesn't actually say no, so they charge ahead with their plan. But many challenges beset them -- and even if they manage to complete the project, will Mr. Jeet be well enough to enjoy it?

Another charming Vanderbeeker story! Of course, as I'm a big fan of The Secret Garden, to which this book obviously owes a debt, my fondness for it may not come as a surprise. I thought some of the gardening elements may have been a little bit simplified and smoothed out for the intrepid Vanderbeekers, but it's a sweet book, bubbling over with goodwill and enthusiasm, much like its young protagonists. Recommended if you liked the first book, or if you enjoy middle grade realistic fiction with a wholesome vibe.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P.! by Alex Gino

Jilly P thinks she knows a few things about interacting with people who are Black and Deaf -- she has Black family members, and a Black, Deaf online friend. But when her baby sister is born deaf, she finds she still has a lot to learn about that, and about other things happening in the world as well.

This was a good, quick read, with great characters. It's didactic in spots, but the author's note makes it clear that it was written with didactic intent. I thought it was interesting that Jilly and her friend never had to face up to the low-level bullying that they were doing in their chat room, but maybe that's a topic for another book -- after all, everybody in this world still has things to learn.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

It’s 3:00 in the morning when Granny tells Louisiana to get in the car, because the day of reckoning has arrived. It’s time to break the curse that hangs over them. Shortly after crossing the state line from Florida to Georgia, Granny’s teeth begin to bother her so much that she can’t continue on. After some emergency dental surgery, Granny and Louisiana land at the Good Night, Sleep Tight Motel — and that’s just the beginning of Louisiana’s story. There will be tears and songs and cake and forgiveness before it’s all told, not to mention friendship and several bags of peanuts.

Sometimes I read a quirky Southern story with an obnoxiously folksy feel to it, and I wonder why I bother. But then I pick up a book by Kate DiCamillo. And when tears are rolling down my face as I turn the final page, I remember. Doggone it, Kate, you did it again.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

The Long-Lost Home by Maryrose Wood

Plucky governess Penelope Lumley is exiled to Russia, while the Incorrigible children are back at Ashton Place, at the mercy of the enigmatic Edward Ashton. Moreover, the curse on the Ashton family seems to be coming to a head. Will all of the disparate elements come together in time?

This book does a good job of tying up all of the loose ends of the series. If you’ve enjoyed it up to this point, you should find this a satisfying read. It’s been a while since I read the last book, so some of the details were a little hazy — I recommend having the other books fresh in your memory, if possible.

Side note: The author dedicated the book to Katy, or Katherine Kellgren, audiobook narrator of the first five books in the series, who passed away earlier this year. There’s a touching author’s note at the end. It brought a tear to my eye, for sure.
(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Six students in a Brooklyn elementary school are given one hour a week to just talk together, with no adults present. As they share their stories, friendship and understanding develops among them.

I was skeptical of the premise at first — that it would be allowed, and that it would result in the deep discussion that happens in the book. Woodson sells me on that, at least with this group of characters. There’s not much plot to this book; it seems to be mostly focused on showing how many current events and concerns relate to kids on a personal level. As an adult reader, I thought the lessons being imparted were a little too obvious, but I’d be interested to see how kids react. The writing is strong, though the decision to represent dialogue with italics rather than quotation marks bugged me. Recommended to readers of realistic juvenile fiction, particularly teachers, as I can see this being useful in a classroom setting.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll

At first, teens Doris, Nell, and Grant seem to have nothing in common beyond their summer job at a thrift store that sells the contents of suitcases left at airports. As they get to know one another, a deep friendship develops, and they find that they can help each other through the difficulties they are currently facing.

This is a nice, feel-good story. There’s some romance, but the book is much more about friendship and dealing with one’s past. I found the writing a little pedantic in places, exhibiting a tendency toward unnecessary explanations (see what I did there?). And the chapters were written from the point of view of the three main characters, but I didn’t find their voices very distinctive; several times I had to look back and see who was talking now. (Also, I could have done without the chapters from the perspective of the suitcase — I found that a little too precious.) But despite some quibbles, I found it an enjoyable read, over all. I’d recommend it for younger teens.

(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

When Louise's younger brother is cast as the Tin Man in their high school production of The Wizard of Oz, he's one of three minority students cast in major roles, and some members of the community are not happy about it. In her position as reporter for the school newspaper, Lou has a front-row seat to the rising tensions, and reflects on the many ways racism affects her life and the lives of those around her.

I love the premise of this book, with elements of theatre and journalism along with deep, important themes. However, I found the writing a little choppy, the dialogue a little stilted, and the characters not entirely relatable -- I never caught the emotion between the main character and her romantic partner, for instance. Perhaps because of those shortcomings, the book felt very message-y. I did learn some interesting (and unpleasant) stuff about L. Frank Baum, who was apparently racist in the extreme. We do need diverse books, and readers can learn a lot from this one -- I'm just hoping for better writing in future efforts along this line.

(Reviewed from an advance copy obtained through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.)

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

I can’t even begin to summarize this sequel to Strange the Dreamer without spoiling some aspect of the previous book, so I’m not going to try. I’ll just say that this book is even more tightly written than the first. It’s a gripping, intense read, and it builds beautifully on the elements introduced in the first book. Of course, it’s essential to read the first book before trying this one, but I highly recommend both.

(Reviewed from my personally purchased copy.)