(2) 4-6 On the morning after Andy Zhou's grandparents arrive in Detroit from Shanghai for a six-month stay, his best (and only) friend convinces him to bleach his hair. "We're going into middle school. This is our chance to make a statement." The scheme goes wrong, however, and Andy is left with blotches of orange hair, making him the target of bullying at the start of sixth grade. Middle school brings other challenges: grappling with his social life, racial microaggressions, and his grandfather's worsening health, Andy develops trichotillomania, a disorder that causes him to pluck his hair when he feels anxious. Cheng draws from his own personal experiences in creating an introspective, believable narrator whose internal monologue is often riddled with self-doubt. Although Andy struggles to find his voice, he's keenly attentive, translating his observations into doodles that open each chapter. After a rocky start, things begin to look up when an unexpected friendship with his bully emerges as they bond over anime and their families' respective cultural beliefs and customs, and Andy's artistic gifts are noticed by a supportive teacher. An afterword provides resources on various related topics, including body-focused repetitive behaviors, eating disorders, and bullying.

Reviewer: Kristine Techavanich | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(3) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Alex makes audio recordings to send into space to inform intelligent beings about life on Earth. Book-smart Alex is clueless about his mom's troubles, his dead father, and why his older brother never visits. On a road trip from Colorado to Albuquerque to Las Vegas, he realizes that the truth he's been seeking is in the bonds with his family, friends, and beloved dog, Carl Sagan.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider