(2) 4-6 Ebony (Eb) and De'Kari (Flow), both seventh graders, are suspended from school after a fight in the cafeteria that neither thinks is their fault. On the surface, this looks like a case of two unruly adolescents acting out. Flow is hurt and angry that Eb ruined the shoes his deployed father gave him; Eb says, "It was all just an accident! / Nobody was trying to mess up / his Stupid Ugly Shoes." Over the course of their two-week suspensions, both narrators have the opportunity to reflect and to rethink their actions. Are they really "bad kids," or are they just kids dealing with bad situations? This engaging verse novel reveals the complexities of their home lives, which, despite the kids' enmity, have similarities and are intertwined in surprising ways. Their alternating narratives employ authentic language and tone that give readers the opportunity to empathize with them as their stories unfold. Baptist (The Swag Is in the Socks, rev. 11/21) explores the effects of parental absence, inequitable school discipline, and social issues such as gang violence. This story will resonate with readers struggling to express their emotional lives in ways that society deems appropriate.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) 4-6 Sixth grader Zoe dreams of becoming a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, but her family's unreliable old computer is cramping her style. She has her sights set on the Horizon WordPro GT laptop, and since her parents won't buy one for her, she takes matters into her own hands. A school fundraiser offers Zoe the perfect opportunity: top prize for selling the most tubs of cookie dough is, in fact, the Horizon WordPro GT. Determined to walk away with the computer and defeat her nemesis, Zoe is laser-focused on winning and will do whatever it takes to come out on top--even if it tests her relationship with her best friend. Zoe's experiences are relatable; her passion for both her short- and long-term goals is believably conveyed. Baptist uses humor to explore themes of navigating family, school, and community; this story will resonate with anyone who has dreamed of winning big.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Darnell Johnson. Kai Donovan, an African American boy whose family members can all dance, feels he doesn't belong because he just can't. The last time he tried the Electric Slide, he knocked his little cousin over. Granddad has given each of Kai's siblings a dance-related nickname--D.J. Groove, Miss Boogie, and Baby Bounce--but so far, Kai has none. When a wedding invitation arrives from his aunt, Kai worries, knowing the Electric Slide will surely happen at the reception. He asks one of his sisters for lessons and practices diligently. On the wedding day, Kai surprises his whole family--and Granddad finally gives him the perfect nickname. Johnson's colorful cartoon illustrations convey the family's verve and exuberance as effectively as they do Kai's worry and concern. Baptist's conversational text gives each character a distinct personality. This uplifting story of one kid's struggle to fit in with his own family will resonate with readers who have similar insecurities. And the centrality of the Electric Slide might prompt readers to turn on the tunes and get their own groove on.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(2) 4-6 From the author of Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero (rev. 9/20) comes another relatable story that effectively combines the humor and pain of coming of age. Xavier Moon lives with his sister and great-aunt; his parents are both incarcerated. A quiet boy with a pronounced stutter, he prefers to take in the neighborhood action from his bedroom window. But on the day after his twelfth birthday he receives a package from his peripatetic piano-playing great-uncle, Frankie Bell. Inside are some fancy socks and a not-so-sweet letter challenging him to step out and "get your sad self together." Day after day, more socks arrive, all with bright colors and bold patterns. Xavier is about to embark on a new school year--seventh grade--and his number one goal is to be accepted into the Scepter League, an elite afterschool club for which only the most confident, popular boys are chosen. Will Uncle Frankie Bell and his mysterious socks make the difference? Readers get a front-row seat to Xavier's journey to find confidence and follow his dreams in this thoughtfully written book with lots of Black boy joy thrown in for good measure.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) 4-6 Isaiah Dunn is not your typical hero. Heroes usually win, but Isaiah seems to experience a lot of losses: losing his father on Thanksgiving Day, losing his home, and almost losing his mother to depression and alcoholism. He has also lost his ability to write poetry--an outlet that had once allowed him to express his emotions, experiences, and anxieties. Isaiah connects to his dad's memory through the stories his father wrote for him in a notebook, featuring a superhero also named Isaiah. This notebook is Isaiah's prized possession, and he takes it with him everywhere, savoring the stories within. Achingly realistic, the novel shines a light on children living with the secret burden of homelessness and its impact on a child's social and emotional development. Isaiah assumes a lot of responsibility and pressure to try and solve his family's problems--taking care of his younger sister, trying to earn money for a place to live--leaving very little time to just be a normal kid. For Isaiah, there are many obstacles to becoming the superhero in his dad's stories, but he learns that sometimes the most heroic of superheroes needs a little help. In this moving tale of life, loss, and the love of words, Isaiah learns that perseverance and vulnerability are real superpowers and that family and community are the real wind beneath a superhero's cape.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020