(2) YA Illustrated by Maia Kobabe. When the frat boy who raped her sister, Nor, is found guilty in court, Em feels vindicated and amazed, for it was her drive for justice that first energized her family to prosecute him. Then the judge stuns her family by sentencing the convicted rapist to serve no time at all. Em is shattered, and so is Nor, who suffers the unbearable fallout of misogynist bullying when the case is over. As Em tries to process the egregious injustice, she learns about Marguerite de Bressieux, a legendary fifteenth-century knight celebrated as the avenger of rape survivors. Writing a verse novel about Marguerite and her revenge becomes both therapy and obsession until Em quite literally falls on a sword and has to be rescued. McCullough evokes the fiery rage and hopelessness her protagonist feels about America's justice system, and especially in realizing that "our world had already decided" that a boy like the one who raped her sister "could take what he wanted from a girl like Nor." Both in the first-person prose account and in the verse novel (with characterful, medieval manuscript–like decorations), McCullough sustains a one-note pitch of outrage up until the final pages, when, through Em's friend and family members, she offers some nuanced, constructive critique of Em's "tunnel vision."

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(2) K-3 Framing the book as an autobiographical recollection, Raschka provides a guide to "Saint Spotting," a sort of game he and his mother would play while visiting a (saints-having) Christian church and looking for the images of saints throughout. For each of the thirty-plus saints shown in small, icon-like watercolor vignettes, Raschka provides a thumbnail, child-friendly description of how the saint is generally portrayed ("Saint Nicholas's symbol is three bags of gold, which he gave to the poor") and why he or she is remembered ("Our story of Santa Claus comes from him"). While the tone is always gentle and devout, Raschka is honest about the gruesome appeal of some of the hagiographical detail, such as Saint Lucy's eyes on a ­platter and Saint Sebastian's piercings ("Saint Sebastian was always my favorite, because he's easy to spot"). When the narrator and his mother get to the front of the church and the images of Jesus and Mary, Raschka explains the Crucifixion well enough but, oddly, omits any mention or image of the Resurrection. But the book is respectful, agreeably idiosyncratic, and conveys much of the mystery of a space deemed sacred. The tall and narrow orientation of the volume suggests both a church spire and a tourist's guidebook and definitely invites opening.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(2) YA In this impressionistic verse novel, "voices" refers to Joan of Arc's messages from the saints; people testifying for and against her; Joan herself; and objects made sentient (dress, sword, fire, etc.). Elliott adheres to medieval poetic forms while highlighting contemporary themes such as gender identity, cross-dressing, and sexuality. Strong rhythm, rhyme scheme, and repetition make for a reading experience that resonates with the rigid social structures of Joan's time and her own compulsions.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(1) YA In this engrossing first-person, present-tense verse novel, Hemphill reimagines the fifteenth-century life of French martyr Joan of Arc from thirteen when "Jehanne" is first called by God, to leading troops on the battlefields, to being burned at the stake at nineteen. The spare, propulsive free verse reinforces Jehanne's passion for her unconventional life; the intimate narrative style makes her a sympathetic, relatable figure. An author's note separates fact from fiction. Additional historical context is included. Bib.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) K-3 This elegant book succinctly relates Assisi's choice to leave his wealthy family to found a monastic order that preached respect for all creation; the text also describes his canonical miracles and his lasting impact on Christianity. The main narrative is accompanied on each spread by a quotation from his namesake Pope Francis and a well-reproduced period painting (source information provided).

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) YA Is there "no such thing as unconditional love"? Sixteen-year-old Nina reflects on this conviction through a consuming relationship and breakup, her work at a high-kill animal shelter, and her knowledge about female saints and martyrs. With explicit descriptions of sexuality--and its consequences--and disturbing imagery of tortured women and suffering animals, this is a challenging but unapologetically feminist read.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA In their working-class Massachusetts town, Callie da Costa's older sister Tess is widely seen as prophetic--and when miracles occur in the wake of Tess's sudden death, her path to sainthood seems assured. Callie, who's always been unfavorably compared with Tess, is sure the truth is more complicated. Somewhat uneven pacing doesn't detract from this strong debut's unusual premise and powerful sense of place.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(2) YA In 1962 Colorado, the Mexican American Soria family has the power to work miracles. Daniel Soria has broken a taboo by falling in love with one of the pilgrims seeking the family's help and has exiled himself to the desert, starting a chain of events that will upset their dysfunctional community. Paying homage to Latin American magical realism, Stiefvater employs evocative and philosophical prose and matter-of-fact strangeness.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(4) YA Translated by Daniel Hahn. Orphaned Samuel, homeless and hungry, stumbles into a small Brazilian town and makes an unlikely home for himself inside the giant, hollow head of an unfinished St. Anthony statue. There, inexplicably, he can hear the private prayers of the townspeople. A strange and satisfying read that will please fans of Gabriel García Márquez but feels like a mismatch for a young adult audience.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(1) YA Illustrated by Hatem Aly. In thirteenth-century France, peasant Jeanne has visions of the future; William, illegitimate son of a crusader knight and an African "Saracen," has supernatural strength; Jacob, a learned Jewish boy, has healing powers. Together they try to thwart King Louis's plan to burn all the Jewish texts in France. An ambitious mash-up of medieval saints' lives, the Joan of Arc legend, and elements of The Canterbury Tales. Bib.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Great Women series. The lives of six diverse, inspirational women--three of whom (Goodall, Yousafzai, and Winfrey) are still living--are summarized in this series, which aligns to Common Core Standards. Though only broadly chronicling their challenges and/or accomplishments, these offerings may spur interest in further study. The archival photographs included are noteworthy, and lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Great Women titles: Anne Frank, Jane Goodall, Malala Yousafzai, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, and Rosa Parks.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Devout Catholic Mary has been doing a lot of helping in her Minnesota family since her father moved to North Dakota for work, and praying to patron saints helps Mary. This summer, as a junior bridesmaid, Mary will help her anxious cousin Eden with her wedding. Earnest, often funny narrator Mary satisfyingly learns to speak up for herself in this warm family drama.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) YA Diary of a Haunting series. Plagued by visions and bizarre physical symptoms, blogger Laetitia fears she is possessed. Others suggest her suffering indicates a divine calling, and her death weeks later--as a martyr of a Black Lives Matter–like movement--seems to confirm this interpretation. Verano's exploration of faith and timely social justice concerns adds some depth to an otherwise run-of-the-mill gory-horror thriller.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(2) K-3 Translated by Laura Watkinson. Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri. This beautifully illustrated German import tells of the kindness and generosity of the fourth-century saint who became the model for the modern Santa Claus. The clear, engaging text highlights some better-known legends surrounding Nicholas of Myra, including his performing miracles to aid sailors and starving people. Luminous paintings on full-bleed double-page spreads capture the saint's humanity as well as the Greek-Turkish Mediterranean setting.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. Grahame's classic story of a sociable, genteel, poetry-spouting dragon and the Boy who befriends him has been reissued in a seventy-fifth anniversary edition, admirable in its modest presentation: sixty-four generously typeset pages adorned with Shepard's iconic illustrations. A cogent and fascinating introduction by children's literature scholar Leonard S. Marcus outlines the book's publishing history.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2013

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tonya Engel. One of Mexico's most beloved stories is treated both reverently and poetically in this retelling. Bernier-Grand's rich language captures the humility of the poor Aztec Juan Diego who witnessed apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in sixteenth-century Mexico. Engel's soft illustrations have a luminous feel perfectly suited to this religious miracle story.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(4) 4-6 Demi tells the influential Catholic saint's story with her signature paintings featuring elaborate borders and gold accents. The somewhat wordy text makes this picture book most appropriate for older readers. Without a bibliography or source notes, lines such as "now that he owned nothing, he felt richer" are difficult to attribute.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher. Grandma Lupita tells Rose and a friend the story of Juan Diego, summoned in 1531 by the Lady of Guadalupe to build a church. Juan Diego struggles to attract support from his town, but he eventually succeeds by way of a miracle. The illustrations capture the tenderness of the story and accurately depict the time period, but the decorative borders are distracting.

Reviewer: Belinda Arrendondo

(2) K-3 Illustrated by David Diaz. Martín de Porres (1579–1639), a beloved Peruvian Dominican monk, was canonized in 1962 as the patron saint of universal brotherhood. Schmidt's graceful account of his life focuses mostly on Martín's impoverished youth among Lima's slaves and Indians. Diaz's visualization of this story is magnificent: rich in Latin American hues, the mixed-media art extends the text on each lovely spread.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pamela Dalton. Paterson's reworking of Saint Francis of Assisi's famous prayer is poetic, contemporary, and deeply reverent: "We praise you for our Sister Earth...as she sustains our bodies with food and our souls with beauty." Dalton's remarkable cut-paper and watercolor illustrations elegantly reinforce the tone of Paterson's words. Appended author's and illustrator's notes tell more about their creative process.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth