(2) 4-6 "It's been a pretty lousy year and a half since the Accident, and the Universe owes me one." Hercules Beal is still hurting from the loss of his parents two years before when his teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer (from The Wednesday Wars, rev. 7/07), throws him a lifeline. For his Classical Mythology Application Project, he's assigned the twelve Labors of Hercules. He must learn the myths and consider how each of Hercules's labors connects to his own life. When the sixth grader vanquishes a pack of feral "demon cats," he realizes he has performed a labor akin to Hercules's defeat of the Nemean Lion. Bravely pulling a woman from a house about to be washed out to sea is like Hercules's catching the Boar of Erymanthus. And dealing with grief is like Hercules's forcing the carnivorous birds near the town of Stymphalus out of their hiding places into the open. Although readers might wish Hercules had a couple fewer labors, Schmidt's narrative keeps readers engaged with action, humor, and frequently interspersed 150-word journal-style reflections. He also has Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer teach a valuable life lesson: "You know, Beal, you've been fighting a whole lot of monsters this year, monsters much more real than any the mythical Hercules fought...But you haven't crumbled, have you? And you haven't disappeared. You're still here."

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(1) 4-6 Color by K Czap. The Eight Bitz dance crew has one more year together before they all go off to different high schools, and they're determined to make the most of it. For protagonist Cory that means freestyling and having fun, but for team captain Tess it means pushing everyone into a tightly choreographed routine that she secretly hopes will get her into dance school. On top of tensions in the crew, Cory is having a tough time in class and is grounded until he brings his grades up. The tutor his parents hire is his prickly lab partner, Sunna--who's secretly a yo-yo prodigy. Yo-yo turns out to be a surprisingly efficient way to interest someone in math and science, but Cory's crew notices that he's passing up time with his old friends as he gets closer to a new one. Galligan's crisp, bouncy, cartoonlike style captures the story's constant motion, making for a fast-paced visual experience with yo-yo strings or b-boying limbs constantly busting out of panels. The narrative speeds along just as quickly, with calendar pages whizzing past. While the focus is on Cory, Galligan finds space to land emotional beats for several members of the large and diverse cast. The changes and challenges of middle school should resonate with many kids, and readers will cheer when Cory finds a way to bring everyone together in a whizz-bang finish.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) YA Sam, a proud nonbinary seventh grader, has to research a figure of local significance for history class, and they are determined not to write about another DSCWM ("Dead Straight Cisgender White Man"). They choose Alice Austen: prolific photographer, lifelong fellow Staten Islander, and lesbian. Along with best friend TJ, Sam dives into research, delighting at the love between women that Austen showcased in her photographs. Their teacher plans to enter the best report in a borough-wide competition, with a chance to have the subject made into a statue. Sam and TJ think it should be Alice--but with centuries of queer erasure against them, it might take a whole community to bring her story to light. Sam's confidence in their identity as a fat, nonbinary kid makes for a lovable protagonist, and their narration is funny and enthusiastic. Elements of queer theory and oft-overlooked historical facts are sprinkled into the first-person narration without feeling too preachy. The heart of this book is found in its intergenerational relationships--Sam's friendships with LGBTQIA+ elders help them learn about fat liberation, queer history, and the value of chosen family. An author's note provides more ­information about Austen and includes five black-and-white photos, three of which are ­Austen's.

Reviewer: Bodie Shanis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(3) 4-6 A middle-school project prompts violin prodigy Charlotte (known as Charlie) to research the great-aunt for whom she was named and who disappeared during the Holocaust; her persistent detective work leads to unexpected discoveries about her family. Sweet twelve-year-old Charlie's story provides an accessible entry point into the Holocaust and its connections to people living today, with a dash of hopefulness amid the difficult history.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Paige Keiser. Second grader Elizabeth (younger sister of Vail's Justin Case) confronts the inequities of alphabetical order, deals with the downside of her longer first name, and learns how excluding classmates hurts feelings and complicates friendships. Friendly halftone illustrations grace these gentle stories of classroom dynamics, family, and friendship--perfect for newly independent readers. Review covers these titles: A Is for El!zabeth and Big Mouth El!zabeth

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vashti Harrison. Teacher Ms. Curie encourages Cece's love of science. When her class gets a research assignment, Cece and friend Isaac choose to investigate whether dogs will eat vegetables. Cece's dog Einstein refuses all veggies until Cece makes a keen observation that leads to an answer. In this kid-friendly introduction to the scientific method, data collection, and persistence, cartoony digital illustrations include the kids' science-project worksheets. Glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. When a blizzard strands a young boy at home with his parents and little brother (a.k.a. "the scallywag") on the eve of his school report on Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, he reimagines his family as a restless ice-bound crew. Ebbeler's humorous and evocative illustrations complement the pitch-perfect tone of the entertaining log-style text. An author's note and supplementary information about Shackleton are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Spanish-language edition translated by Teresa Mlawer. In an unnamed U.S. city, Lola is given homework to draw "the country you are originally from," which Lola doesn't remember. The elderly apartment-building superintendent finally tells her "a monster"--a stand in for political destabilization--"fell upon our poor Island"; Lola's concluding drawing shows her homeland (likely the Dominican Republic) in its complexity. A welcome community and immigration story with vibrant illustrations of city and island life. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(2) 4-6 Sixth grader Sam Warren feels homework leaves no time for things he wants to do. With the help of his retired-lawyer neighbor, Sam and classmates put together Warren v. Board of Education. Once granted class-action status, the case is off to the Supreme Court. Though hardly credible, the story is entertaining, and readers will learn much about constitutional law and the legal rights of students. Glos.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(4) K-3 First Facts: All About Media series. These volumes provide very basic (sometimes confusing or incomplete) information about various print- and digital media and research methods. Source gives examples (e.g., books, internet, primary sources) while the meatier Opinions helps readers become critical consumers ("Ask questions to figure out the media maker's purpose"). Helpful sidebars appear throughout, and stock photos show kids working in the library and elsewhere. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: All About Media titles: Fact, Fiction, and Opinions and What's Your Source?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. When Judy Moody is assigned to do a family tree project, she discovers what she thinks is a royal relative; from there it's full-steam ahead: Judy writes to the queen, starts wearing purple, and drops British colloquialisms. But classmate Jessica also seems to know a lot about royalty...could they be long-lost relatives? Judy's fourteenth amiably illustrated episode is timely considering interest in England's current royals.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ayesha L. Rubio. Abby, who is avoiding doing her homework, secretly follows her physicist dad's instructions for making a black hole. But could there be a downside to entering a homework-free "baby universe"? While the story is somewhat contrived, its science is sound, as an author's note avers. The lovely swirls and hazes in the digital illustrations conjure something seemingly antithetical to science: magic.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Middle school is hard for seventh grader Gregory (The 14 Fibs of Gregory K). Realizing that excessive homework doesn't leave time for the things he loves, like creative writing, Gregory goes on a homework strike; as Gregory researches the problem and civil disobedience, he discovers unexpected allies and a clever solution. Pincus has keen insights into early adolescence, and Gregory is a sympathetic hero.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Harry Bliss. "My favorite pet is sheep," begins a farm boy's school paper. (The book's text resembles a child's handwriting on lined paper.) The ensuing report is made up not of traditional sheep facts but of entertaining lessons the boy learned while cavorting with his sheep (e.g., "You can't put sheep into a wheelbarrow"). New Yorker cartoonist Bliss's illustrations play like perfect punch lines.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Responsibility in Action series. A boy performs the necessary steps to complete his homework. Most kids won't find it fascinating to watch another child sit at a desk ("I sharpen my pencil. Then I set out my math worksheet"), but the clear photos will help support new readers with text/picture matching. A writing activity, word list, and "fun facts" are appended. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Benjamin Chaud. In this small-trim manual, author Cali delivers an onslaught of over two dozen outlandish explanations for neglected homework. The one-note running humor is unrelenting, but homework-averse kids will applaud the zany excuses, each made cleverer in Chaud's hilarious, detailed cartoons: e.g., the narrator has turned into an elephant to illustrate "cough medicine that my doctor prescribed had a strange effect on me."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen