(2) 4-6 On the morning after Andy Zhou's grandparents arrive in Detroit from Shanghai for a six-month stay, his best (and only) friend convinces him to bleach his hair. "We're going into middle school. This is our chance to make a statement." The scheme goes wrong, however, and Andy is left with blotches of orange hair, making him the target of bullying at the start of sixth grade. Middle school brings other challenges: grappling with his social life, racial microaggressions, and his grandfather's worsening health, Andy develops trichotillomania, a disorder that causes him to pluck his hair when he feels anxious. Cheng draws from his own personal experiences in creating an introspective, believable narrator whose internal monologue is often riddled with self-doubt. Although Andy struggles to find his voice, he's keenly attentive, translating his observations into doodles that open each chapter. After a rocky start, things begin to look up when an unexpected friendship with his bully emerges as they bond over anime and their families' respective cultural beliefs and customs, and Andy's artistic gifts are noticed by a supportive teacher. An afterword provides resources on various related topics, including body-focused repetitive behaviors, eating disorders, and bullying.

Reviewer: Kristine Techavanich | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) 4-6 Shabazz's X: A Novel told her father Malcolm X's story; this affecting novel covers Shabazz's mother's life from age eleven to just before high school. Readers watch Betty struggle with the harsh realities both of her family situation and of the larger community in 1940s black Detroit. In an engaging first-person voice, the authors portray Betty as a relatable preteen while laying the groundwork for her remarkable later life. Timeline.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) 4-6 In 1954 Detroit, twelve-year-old Marjorie Campbell knows that the U.S. is in a "cold war," but it can be hard to tell who the enemy is. When classmates start a "slam book" about a new German student, Marjorie is torn. Her authentic first-person voice guides readers through the confusion of the McCarthy era by thoughtfully examining perception and truth. An author's note adds context. Bib.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Horace J. Edwards and the Time Keepers series. Twelve-year-old Time Keeper Horace (The Secret of the Scarab Beetle) finds a new time portal, landing him and his friends in 1920s Detroit. There they find Horace's mentor, who instructs them to find and protect the powerful Benben Stone to prevent further destruction of portals and save the Time Keepers from a mysterious threat. Unfortunately, this second book's lackluster plot detracts from the historical intrigue.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(2) YA After landing in New York from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola's mother is detained. Fabiola continues alone to her aunt and cousins in Detroit, where she receives a crash course in cultural differences and learns her family is involved in the drug trade. Throughout the story, Fabiola turns to her Vodou faith to reunite with her mother. Zoboi's YA debut is equal parts gritty and transcendent.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(4) YA Dark Roads series. These "map-your-destiny" novels focus on a teen who uses drugs and sex to cope with her parents' divorce (Skeleton); a young Latino man dealing with being gay (Bloodline); and the son of an addict changing his own fate (Fade). The racy, graphic books can be melodramatic, but they raise worthwhile questions about choices and consequences. There are three other fall 2016 books in this series. Review covers the following Dark Roads titles: Bloodline, Fade to Black, and Skeleton Princess.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) YA Detroit teen Astrid's father lost their money betting on the Titans, mechanical metal racing horses. So when Astrid gets a chance to race for the prize money herself, she takes it. The races are full of action and danger, but Astrid's relationships with her friends and her Titan are the emotional core to this sci-fi girl-and-horse story heavily indebted to The Scorpio Races.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) YA Hoop City series. Utilizing hard lessons learned on the streets and on the courts, the protagonists in this hi-lo series struggle to overcome pressures from their family and high school situations in the rough parts of town. Basketball action and simple, formulaic storytelling may help struggling readers forgive the novels' overt preaching moments. There are three other fall 2015 books in this series. Review covers the following Epic Press: Hoop City titles: Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Adjusting to middle school and her friends' changing interests and priorities is hard enough, but Brianna Justice, class president, also has to raise money for the class trip from Detroit to Washington, DC. Mature, clipboard-carrying Brianna thinks big and not only gets her class to DC but gets herself involved in politics while there. A smart, standalone follow-up to President of the Whole Fifth Grade.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor