(2) YA In this novel in verse set in 1989, sixteen-year-old Helena lives in Leipzig, East Germany, during a period of oppression when citizens inform on their neighbors. But times are changing, and peaceful protests against the government are gaining momentum. Helena finds solace in music and begins to fall in love with a fellow piano student, but she's pressured to spy on him and reluctantly reveals his plans to escape. As weekly peace prayers at the Saint Nicholas Church turn into a massive march, Helena chooses to confront her betrayal and her fears, and act: "There comes a time / when every voice / must cry out, a time // when every person must lean / into their fear, spread their wings / and rise up. // That time / is now." Green conveys Helena's anxieties and hopes in equal measure in lyrical free-verse passages that flow together like a musical composition. She balances discussion of the political upheaval of the time just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall with a sensitive exploration of Helena's personal struggles and emotional growth. An author's note with historical background, a glossary, and selected sources are appended.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(3) YA Illustrated by Jade Orlando. Alexander introduces young activists from around the world. Twenty-seven profiles include well-known figures, such as the Parkland school-shooting survivors, but most of those featured will be new to readers--and the work and passion of those lesser-known activists is no less inspiring. Causes range from environmental justice, immigration reform, and indigenous rights to literacy, poverty awareness, anti-racism work, LGBTQIA rights, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention. These young adults provide a road map for tweens and teens interested in effecting change. The accompanying portraits are stylized but recognizable; lots of colorful spot art adds energy to the pages.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 This large collection celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of Peirce's semi-autobiographical Big Nate comic. A mix of daily and Sunday strips (black-and-white and color) from each year are dated and occasionally annotated with Peirce's memories or artistic advice. Combined with an illuminating foreword by his agent plus an in-depth Q&A with fellow cartoonist and author Jeff Kinney, this book is a must-have for aspiring artists.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 1-3 Emu Club Adventure series. Eleven-year-old Stuart, his best friend, and his little sister form the Exploration-Mystery-Unbelievable Club and set out to look for a missing video game controller. Their sleuthing leads to an underground tunnel...and the discovery that aliens are plotting to take over Earth--aided by Stuart's dog. This "Official Emu Club Report" of the unapologetically over-the-top mystery is amusingly narrated and illustrated.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(3) 4-6 EMU Club Adventure series. The EMU (Exploration-Mystery-Unbelievable) Club tackles another mystery, this time using their wont for supernatural rationales to figure out why time moves differently in various parts of the school. As in their first caper, when the club investigates the question, they discover the answer may jeopardize the very existence they know. More humor and lighthearted adventure presented with cartoon illustrations and handwritten text.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(4) 4-6 Middle schooler Michael G--a.k.a. G-Man--recounts his superhero origin story in journal entries and black-and-white line drawings (mining Wimpy Kid territory). Along the way, G-Man and friends save the day by defeating villainous Mister Mental. The narrative borrows heavily from countless other superhero origin stories; while there's not much new here, fans of the genre will find G-Man's adventures entertaining.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) K-3 Farley the dog searches for his long-ago buried bone in the flower bed, under a train set, in the sandbox, and in a fort, succeeding only in making his human family mad. When he slinks off to his "Special Place" to escape their ire, he remembers where the bone is. The text is plodding, but goofy Farley's predictable antics liven up the energetic illustrations.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Henry Cole. In her third outing, spunky little cat Bo sails to Italy. There she and her owner explore the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Roman Colosseum. Bo also has a run-in with a circus lion and discovers two of her long-lost siblings. Travelogue-like descriptions tend to slow down the large-format chapter book's action. Full-page and spot illustrations show scenes of Italy--and cats.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Russell Dietrich. With Carisa Dixon. This cookbook posits that beans are a mainstay for a healthy approach to food. The high-energy text features puns ("let it bean," "peacasso"), games, activities, and other ways to amuse oneself while cooking ("Chant 'Pancakes! Pancakes!' as you combine the flour..."). Bean-green illustrations of cartoon legumes appear with photographs of some of the finished products. Grownup help is required for most recipes. Ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 In the latest Dinotopia installment, Professor Denison and Saurian Bix venture eastward to Chandara, exploring Dinotopia along the way. Creative settings and unusual creatures may hook some readers, but the story often halts in favor of description and much of the narration reads like summary. Lifelike illustrations and diagrams and are the book's greatest strength.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 A little boy in cowboy gear pretends he is rounding up rustlers and roping steers. The boy and his real world are drawn in detailed black line, while the imaginary bank robbers, horses, and covered wagons are drawn in red. Despite the over-sweetness of Anglund's drawings and the somewhat condescending tone, the book still manages to have child appeal.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: April, 1959