(2) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Disappointed Rescue becomes a service dog rather than a seeing eye dog; meanwhile, human Jessica learns her leg has been amputated. Brought together, they form a powerful, caring bond working as a team. Based on a true story, the quiet and stirring text pairs beautifully with the spot art and full-page illustrations, which use color and white space to convey time, meaning, and emotion with great effect.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) YA As Nest, Q's sometimes-girlfriend, lies in a coma following a suicide attempt, Q recalls a long walk they shared years earlier, during which Nest confided in him the beauty and terror of her bipolar disorder. Like the walk, the narrative is meandering and memorable; a heartbreaking novel with a realistic assessment of the limitations of love in redeeming the mentally ill.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Angus wakes up angry. After he yells at his pets, Angus packs a backpack and heads to the city. Just when Angus realizes that he's hungry and afraid, his mother appears with his beloved pets and a sandwich. The text is superbly paced, with repetition that reflects growing tension. Generous white space brings into focus small moments, both tough and tender, between child and parent.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(4) YA This debut novel jumps between first-person narrators Erik (sexually abused after his father's death) and Thorn (blamed by his parents for his sister's death). The story reaches a crescendo when the teens finally meet--on opposite ends of a gun outside an elementary school. This unflinching exploration of loss, abuse, and mental illness occasionally stumbles under the weight of its stylistic techniques.

Reviewer: Emily Coolidge Toker