(2) 4-6 His father, the police chief, is dead, and eleven-year-old Nnamdi knows who murdered him--the Chief of Chiefs, an infamous criminal in their Nigerian province. Vowing to bring justice, Nnamdi is unsure how to proceed until a supernatural encounter on the day of his father's memorial celebration leaves him in possession of an artifact known as an Ikenga, a "place of strength." With the Ikenga, Nnamdi gains the ability to shapeshift into a seven-foot-tall shadowy being who carries a strength--and a rage--similar to his favorite comic-book character, the Incredible Hulk. Simply nicknamed "The Man" by the local ­newspaper, Nnamdi becomes a crime-fighting vigilante. But as The Man's anger ­threatens to consume him (including a violent confrontation with his best friend), Nnamdi is also running out of time to fulfill his promise of bringing his father's murderer to justice. The story puts its readers on a roller coaster of action as Nnamdi battles to harness his newfound power as a tool for good. Peppering her work with Igbo phrases, folklore, and local pop references, Okorafor (Akata Witch, rev. 5/11; Akata Warrior, rev. 9/17) succeeds in imbuing West African culture throughout the origin story of a memorable new superhero.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) YA In this sequel to Dear Martin (rev. 11/17), we are reintroduced to Quan, best friend of that book's protagonist. Dear Justyce opens with a flashback to Quan and Justyce's (then aged nine and ten) first meeting at a park where Quan has run to escape his mother's abusive boyfriend. The novel then fast-forwards to an incarcerated Quan, remembering the day his father was arrested two years after that meeting. While in custody, Quan writes to Justyce at Yale. Through "snapshots" and letters we learn the circumstances and decisions that led to Quan's arrest as well as the ups and downs of his friendship with Justyce. When Quan professes that he didn't commit the crime for which he was incarcerated, Justyce becomes committed to clearing his name. While we learn Quan's story largely through third-person narration, including some interspersed poetic text, it is the letters Quan writes to Justyce that are most powerful. Teens can relate to the feelings of alienation, loneliness, and confusion that lead Quan to make many of the choices that he does, even as the book explores the various ways our current justice system disenfranchises young people of color.

Reviewer: Nicholl Denice Montgomery | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) 4-6 In 1725, twelve-year-old Oliver is sentenced to seven years of indentured servitude in the American colonies. His cruel master instills fear in Oliver and his new friend Bara, an enslaved African boy, causing them to flee into the swamp. This sequel to The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts is again replete with Dickensian incident, and narrator Oliver presents a vivid picture of colonial life.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt

(3) YA When Lexi was twelve, her brother committed a gruesome crime that made him infamous and her a pariah; since then, she's hidden her identity at a different school every year. Now a senior, Lexi has found a place to belong (and a guy to like), but her secret still haunts her. This raw novel makes Lexi's grief and inner turmoil palpable.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(2) YA Relationships between Pirates Cove Projects kids (So Done) in the talented and gifted program and those who aren't have become strained. Best friends "Simp" and Rollie still hang out during neighborhood basketball; unfortunately, the league unofficially requires working for the local drug dealer, and escaping that life is easier said than done. Fans of Jason Reynolds and Angie Thomas will enjoy this rough and relatable novel told in alternating third-person narratives.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) YA Special Reports series. This excellent, extensively researched and well-balanced series unpacks the details behind trending topics and current events. Topics covered include the relationship between the Trump administration and Vladimir Putin, the role of fake news and information harvesting via Facebook, and the Mueller report. Sidebars, photographs, and individual profiles are featured throughout. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Keyser provides a broad but thorough introduction to the origins and implications of rape culture in America. She approaches this complex, controversial topic with authority and approachable language, using both academic and popular sources to build a case for dismantling systemic misogyny and violence. A first-rate resource for young researchers, activists, and news consumers alike. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(2) YA Since her death in a car accident, Beth Teller's police officer father is the only one still able to see her, which seems only to intensify his grief. In an attempt to snap him back to his normal self, Beth pushes him to investigate possible arson in a small Australian town. This well-crafted novel, featuring two Australian Aboriginal voices, is a welcome #OwnVoices offering and a compelling mix of supernatural elements and Aboriginal history.

Reviewer: Anastasia M. Collins | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) YA Twins Ezra and Ellery are sent to their grandmother in small-town Vermont after their mom enters opioid rehab. There, true-crime aficionado Ellery researches two local mysteries--while finding herself on the receiving end of some pretty creepy threats. Ellery's narrative alternates with the viewpoint of Malcolm, a boy who has been implicated in one of the prior crimes. This is an enjoyably twisty whodunit that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) YA Miller explores the rise in hate groups and related crimes in the United States. Supported by well-captioned photos, graphs, and sidebars, the straightforward text provides the legal definition of a hate group, discusses the evolution of hate groups, and touches on historical context. Though an adequate overview, the analysis is oversimplified, giving the impression that the rise in extremism is only a phenomenon since the 2016 election. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Monique Harris

(4) YA Overachieving June hears voices; hospitalization begins a journey toward treatment. Her boyfriend, Nick--a good guy stuck in a bad job--is jailed for stealing cars. When Nick heads to the Ozarks to disappear, June follows. This star-crossed love story feels a touch overdramatic but is lifted by empathetic portrayals of mental illness, rural poverty, and the titular pair's deep mutual affection.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) 4-6 Moving with her mom to a homeless shelter, Lizzie spends a lonely summer staring at the horses at nearby Birchwood Stables. Then Joe the manager hires her as a working student--but if Lizzie can't earn one thousand dollars, the horse she loves will be sold. Trustworthy adults and a beautiful setting counterbalance the hard knocks Lizzie faces, resulting in a warm, deeply satisfying novel.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Stephen Collins. Frank's parents won't buy him a pet; what choice does the animal-obsessed baby have but to secure the cash by robbing a bank? Whalley's rhymes sing ("Past every camera, gate, and guard, / the baby crawled unseen. / There were no bars or laser beams / he couldn't fit between"), and Collins's crisp, droll art seems inspired by Dan Yaccarino's style.[orig. review said: "...art seems to be built on Yaccarino-ian geometries." I get it, but not sure other will]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 1-3 Translated by Sophie B. Watson. Illustrated by France Cormier. A boy and his elephant friend spend a rainy morning in a museum, where--rather than damaging art as the guard expects--they foil a robbery. This short book (translated from the French) has plenty of fun. Everything in the illustrations is just a little off-kilter, and much of the humor comes from the juxtaposition of the deadpan text with the slightly exaggerated art.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Alex T. Smith. After bus driver Bert discovers a tiny boy angel in his pocket, Bert and his wife Betty, the cook at St. Mungo's School, care for the angel. At school the students love "Angelino"--but then he is kidnapped by young criminal K, and the race is on. The homey British setting and diction add to the appeal of this witty and wonderfully outlandish, but tender, tale.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(2) K-3 Time to Read series. In each of these lively beginning-chapter-book whodunits, Detective Paw, a Hercule Poirot–esque canine, and Patrol Officer Prickles, an action-oriented porcupine employing crime-fighting gadgets, follow the same procedural pattern to solve a robbery (Bank) and a band instrument theft (Drumsticks). Given the illustrations' visual hints, young readers may well guess the straightforward outcomes, but in doing so they’re also working each case and learning that reading is an active process. Review covers these Time to Read titles: Detective Paw of the Law: The Case of Piggy's Bank and Detective Paw of the Law: The Case of the Stolen Drumsticks.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(2) K-3 Time to Read series. In each of these lively beginning-chapter-book whodunits, Detective Paw, a Hercule Poirot–esque canine, and Patrol Officer Prickles, an action-oriented porcupine employing crime-fighting gadgets, follow the same procedural pattern to solve a robbery (Bank) and a band instrument theft (Drumsticks). Given the illustrations' visual hints, young readers may well guess the straightforward outcomes, but in doing so they’re also working each case and learning that reading is an active process. Review covers these Time to Read titles: Detective Paw of the Law: The Case of Piggy's Bank and Detective Paw of the Law: The Case of the Stolen Drumsticks.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) YA When Cade stumbles upon a girl half-dead in his family's Texas-border cornfield, he heeds her request to hide her. Cade enlists best friend Mateo's help, and the boys enfold Jane Doe in their world of football games and dances. But Jane is certain her past with a Mexican drug cartel will catch up with her. High-school romance mingles with dark suspense in Banerjee's debut novel.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(2) 4-6 As seventh grader T'shawn works up the nerve to ask his widowed mother for money to join a diving team, his estranged older brother, Lamont, is released from prison and moves home. Tension rises as both brothers struggle to adjust. This first-person account of life on Chicago's South Side covers topics including cancer, homelessness, sickle cell disease, and domestic violence. None of the issues reaches a neat resolution, resulting in a thought-provoking novel.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(4) YA Rebellious, horse-crazy British teen Jay escapes the unloving, shady relatives who've been raising her just to cash in on her horseracing skill. Jay's empathic way with the equine allows her to break into the misogynistic racing world, but not without added complications involving criminal gambling and animal abuse. Though a bit soap opera–ish, this novel offers plenty to keep the attention of horse-loving teens.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin