(4) YA After six prodigious high-school hackers are tricked into creating an apocalyptic computer virus, they must set aside their disparate backgrounds to hack into a giant company and undo the damage they caused. At times the reliance on tropes makes the characters and plot feel a bit shallow, but the breakneck pace and enjoyable banter ensure an entertaining ride throughout.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) YA Disillusioned Eli teams up with two other high-school hackers to expose the bullies who drove a fellow student to suicide, but as their plan spins out of control, he realizes that the situation wasn't as black-and-white as he was led to believe. At times, the character interactions feel forced, but the high-stakes plot crescendos to a satisfyingly chilling conclusion.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) 4-6 Legendtopia series. In Urth, at hokey fantasy-themed restaurant Legendtopia, Kara Estrada accidentally stumbles into the world of Heldstone and unleashes a wicked sorceress on "Urth," whom she must defeat alongside Heldstone's clueless Prince Fred. In Queen, Kara and Fred search for Kara's lost father back in Heldstone. Silliness abounds during the fantastical quests, but there are heartfelt moments within the humor. Review covers these Legendtopia titles: The Battle for Urth and The Shadow Queen.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) YA In this companion to The Forgetting, Samara is one of the Knowing, humans on a foreign planet who cannot forget anything. But Samara considers this "punishment" and flees to Canaan "to Forget." Beckett is from Earth, sent to Samara's planet to find the lost colony of Canaan. Their chance meeting and burgeoning attraction lead them to uncover dark secrets of each society in a fast-paced, twisting plot made vivid by enthralling prose.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) 1-3 Cici: A Fairy's Tale series. Illustrated by Tyler Page & Cori Doerrfeld. When Cici's mother starts dating popular classmate Kendra's father, Cici can't resist using her newly discovered fairy powers for revenge (Sight). When Cici and Kendra (now friends) go camping, Cici connects with a forest sprite (Perfect). These early, brightly illustrated graphic novels realistically portray a Latino family of divorce; the fantasy twist adds levity. Review covers these Cici: A Fairy's Tale titles: A Perfect View and Truth in Sight.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. In Sofia's large Hispanic family, even a mundane event--here building a time capsule (Abuela's) and shopping for school supplies (Shopping)--can cause excitement. Though the stories' initial scenarios are amusing, the light plots are low-stakes. The accessible English texts are peppered with Spanish words in pink type and amusingly illustrated. Discussion and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: Abuela's Special Letters and Shopping Trip Trouble.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. In Sofia's large Hispanic family, even a mundane event--here building a time capsule (Abuela's) and shopping for school supplies (Shopping)--can cause excitement. Though the stories' initial scenarios are amusing, the light plots are low-stakes. The accessible English texts are peppered with Spanish words in pink type and amusingly illustrated. Discussion and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: Abuela's Special Letters and Shopping Trip Trouble.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ana Aranda. Three nervous goats decide to prevent the hungry chupacabra from eating them by offering it silly things to swallow instead. Aranda's vibrant watercolor and gouache illustrations turn a potentially scary story into a colorful romp, though the enjoyably absurd scenario is limited by the attempt to have all the potential foods sound similar to chupacabra (candelabra, cucaracha, etc.).

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 4-6 100 Dresses series. Illustrated by Lissy Marlin. In If the Magic Fits, spunky servant Darling has learned that she can use a closet of illusion-weaving dresses to magically disguise herself. But there are still many secrets in the castle to uncover, including a thieving ghost and revelations about Darling's own heritage. The upbeat tone and gradual world-building are engaging even in moments where the plot otherwise wears thin.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) 4-6 Legendtopia series. In Urth, at hokey fantasy-themed restaurant Legendtopia, Kara Estrada accidentally stumbles into the world of Heldstone and unleashes a wicked sorceress on "Urth," whom she must defeat alongside Heldstone's clueless Prince Fred. In Queen, Kara and Fred search for Kara's lost father back in Heldstone. Silliness abounds during the fantastical quests, but there are heartfelt moments within the humor. Review covers these Legendtopia titles: The Battle for Urth and The Shadow Queen.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) K-3 Family Snaps series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. A young boy is uncomfortable around his elderly great-grandfather, but his mother cleverly explains how each of Poppy's quirks, such as failing memory and wrinkly hands, can be explained by a lifetime of love. With expressive illustrations providing some humor to keep the saccharine analogies from growing tiresome, the purposeful book could quell some young kids' fears of the elderly.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 4-6 Lowriders series. Illustrated by Raúl the Third. In the second graphic novel, Lupe, Elirio, and El Chavo Flapjack set out in their magical lowrider to find their cat and meet mythological characters such as La Llorona, the Chupacabra, and an angry Aztec god. Energetic pen drawings keep the story hopping even when the plot feels somewhat disjointed. The frequent Spanish expressions are translated on each page. Glos.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) 4-6 Allie has never won anything, despite belonging to a family of intense overachievers. When she learns about a creative competition at her school, she becomes determined to win it, no matter the cost. The comically dramatic first-person voice and lovably flawed characters keep the moral about friendship from becoming clichéd, instead turning it into an optimistic, relatable unifying theme.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) YA When seventeen-year-old Gabriela Santiago's brother is wounded in Afghanistan and left in a coma, she's determined to fulfill his request--that she hike Spain's Camino de Santiago--even if she has to do it with her brother's detestable best friend, Seth. The lush setting and grounded characters are skillfully rendered with a mix of heartfelt realism and thoughtfully evocative prose.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) YA Internment Chronicles series. The floating city of Internment is ruled by a cruel monarch, but Morgan and her friends discover an equal threat in the manipulative king of war-torn Havalais. It is up to the teenagers to save Internment from falling from the sky. Though the plot is sometimes hampered by Morgan's lack of agency, her loving, complicated relationships will keep readers glued to the page.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Cici: A Fairy's Tale series. Illustrated by Tyler Page & Cori Doerrfeld. While dealing with her parents' divorce, Cici learns that she is a fairy and must decide whether to keep her powers. This graphic novel with a Latina main character deals well with the pain of divorce. Though the logic behind the fantasy elements is shaky, the expressive illustrations are at their best when portraying Cici's friends and family as she sees them--with animal attributes.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) 1-3 Cici: A Fairy's Tale series. Illustrated by Tyler Page & Cori Doerrfeld. When Cici's mother starts dating popular classmate Kendra's father, Cici can't resist using her newly discovered fairy powers for revenge (Sight). When Cici and Kendra (now friends) go camping, Cici connects with a forest sprite (Perfect). These early, brightly illustrated graphic novels realistically portray a Latino family of divorce; the fantasy twist adds levity. Review covers these Cici: A Fairy's Tale titles: A Perfect View and Truth in Sight.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lisa Ericson. Strange bird Bizzy comes to town looking for an odd duck to be her friend, but unfortunately, Dill is merely a normal duck who pursues normal activities such as...juggling peanuts and riding unicycles? This cheerful tale of a friendship defying expectations zips along, reaching new heights of zaniness with each page; the cartoonish illustrations pop with color, enthusiasm, and eccentric detail.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Oliver Dominguez. When Dominican American boy Luis's beloved brother, Nico, joins the army "to see the world," Luis begins to paint in the neighborhood alley, creating a mural that mimics his brother's travels. As he worries that his brother will not return, his art brings the neighborhood together in a touching finale. Dominguez's sweeping full-spread illustrations skillfully evoke the tight-knit Latino community and the family's bond. Glos.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) PS This bilingual edition includes Spanish text alongside the original English. The cheerily packed spreads (à la Richard Scarry) focus on a mixed-race family (and pet alligator) going about the day in a bustling, refreshingly diverse neighborhood. Most word choices are familiar, with some unconventional terms (e.g., "hearing aid loop sign"; "geodesic dome") making appearances.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie