(2) 4-6 Soon-to-be sixth grader Tasha lashes out at her neighbor and grandmother-figure Cap'n Jackie before leaving for summer camp, but she returns to find Cap'n Jackie in a rehabilitation center, nearly catatonic, after breaking her hip. Schmatz lays intricate character groundwork for her small cast. Readers will find an emotional punch; a nuanced, character-driven plot that doesn't stray from a middle-grade perspective; and a thoughtful exploration of grief and pain.

Reviewer: Anastasia M. Collins | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(2) YA Fifteen-year-old orphan Kivali, possibly dropped on Earth by an alien lizard race, is a "midrange bender": an androgynous youth forced to choose a gender pre-puberty; Kivali wonders if it's really imperative to identify as only girl or boy, straight or gay, human or lizard. A distinct dystopian world, a gender-fluid protagonist, and socially conscious writing provoke questions about Kivali's (and the reader's) reality.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2015

(1) YA Eighth-graders Travis and Vida ("Velveeta") are hurting from losses in their lives: Travis's beloved dog has disappeared and his alcoholic grandfather has summarily moved them from their old house; Velveeta's friend and mentor has just died. Schmatz eloquently brings two ordinary young people to life on the page. The book is powerful: unique and original, believable and poignant.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011

(4) YA Grade-school friends Maxie, a cartoonist, and Rick, an inventor, are reunited several years after a gay-bashing incident forced Rick to leave town. The book takes an even darker and more unexpected turn as Maxie realizes that Rick isn't quite the same boy he used to be. Though the story's pacing is occasionally off, Maxie's cartoon sketches add another dimension to her first-person narration.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) YA When Orithian (Rith), already stressed by his messy family life, has visions of a Bible-quoting old man, he's convinced he's just seeing things. Investigating the provenance of his unusual name leads Rith to questions about his absent father and his Christian faith--questions that seem related to the mysterious visions. An unusually nuanced examination of belief distinguishes this thoughtful novel.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl