(2) 4-6 This story of shifting friendships follows two seventh graders: Lily, who feels left out now that Maddie and Sasha are on an elite soccer team together; and Will, who has a crush on Lily and whose every move is fodder for his dad's podcast. There's a dance coming up, and questions of who will ask whom are on everyone's mind, aided by gossipy Sienna, who takes out her own insecurities on both Lily and Will. Entanglements and misunderstandings ensue, largely because, to its credit, the novel allows friend-group dynamics to be complicated. Maddie and Sasha seem to be closer to each other than to Lily, but Lily is the one Maddie tells about her crush on another girl. Sasha and Sienna have a secret of their own, and when it's revealed, so are more aspects of Sasha's inner life. Some of the many characters in the ensemble beyond Lily and Will are touched upon only briefly, but we learn enough about them to understand what they're all learning: that each of them is the main character in their own life.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) YA Eighth grader Emily Laurence aspires to be a social media influencer, if only her mom would let her post pictures of herself on her YouHappy account. For now, she'll have to settle for producing the Cedarview Middle School podcast. Before she can gain internet fame, Emily has a lot to juggle in the real world. She and her mom have moved in with Mom's new boyfriend and his obnoxious eight-year-old son; and a new classmate, Amelie, adds an unwelcome dynamic to Emily's friendships. Emily channels her frustrations into producing a podcast story about an upcoming climate march, but the principal thinks the topic isn't appropriate for middle school students and cancels the episode. When a school visit from (fictional) social media influencer (and Emily's idol) Asha Jamil is rescheduled for the same day as the climate march, Emily can't keep quiet about her suspicions of censorship. She tries to emulate her namesake, Emily Post -- whom our protagonist sees as one of the world's first influencers -- to help her manage with tact and courtesy. With a relatable and thoughtful main character, the story offers timely reflections on social media, complicated friendships, climate activism, and what it really means to have influence.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) 4-6 Jeremy's mom tasks him with inviting famous scientists to a symposium on her sea-bound research ship, which is testing out a tool for cleaning up the Great Pacific ­Garbage Patch. He mistakenly sends adult scientist Sidney Miller's invitation to twelve-year-old podcaster Sidney Miller, who needs to fill her summer with educational and interactive experiences so her parents don't haul her off to camp. Jeremy agrees to smuggle the younger Sidney (and her goldfish, Rachel Carson) onto the ship instead of admitting his mistake, and the two commit to keeping her presence a secret from the adults onboard. Gregarious Jeremy, who is more interested in sports than science, and introverted Sidney, who has become entranced with the concept of synchronicity, quickly go from mismatched odd couple to dedicated friends with a shared secret. They eventually get caught, of course, but not before their social media advocacy brings the media coverage Jeremy's mother needs to keep her project funded. Nuanced layers of story take the book beyond its initial quirkiness: Jeremy's reaction to his parents' divorce, Sidney's close relationship with her grandmother, the challenges of sustaining interest in long-term scientific work. The narrative's nonlinear structure, with sections alternating between Jeremy's and Sidney's points of view and flashbacks that develop the characters and reveal how they got to the ship, makes for an engaging read; and the nautical setting is richly developed.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) YA Madison Washington has always been bullied because she's skittish and quiet and dresses in 1950s attire. She tolerates the incessant taunting because she has more to worry about than her small-minded classmates. Maddy is biracial and passing as white in a small Southern town that still has segregated dances, and her abusive father is a religious, conservative fanatic who treats her Black heritage as a sin and forces her to pray in front of photos of white Hollywood stars from the past. Then an unexpected rainstorm causes her flat-ironed hair to rise, revealing that Maddy is not the white girl she has pretended to be, and the bullying intensifies. Meanwhile, a classmate captures a racist incident on video and it goes viral, so student leaders propose an integrated prom to fix the school's reputation. When several students commit a racist prank against Maddy at prom, they find out that she has another, ­supernatural secret--one that will result in a deadly incident to be pieced together years later by the true-crime podcast that serves as the book's framing device. This reimagining of King's Carrie is a thrilling, unflinching horror narrative that takes on colorism, racism, classism, microaggressions, white saviorism, and respectability politics. A perfect choice for fans of Àbíké-Íyímídé's Ace of Spades.

Reviewer: S. R. Toliver | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(3) YA This intricately plotted, irony-heavy thriller alternates between two narratives: one from the perspective of the title character, who's hell-bent on finding and killing her younger sister Mattie's murderer; and one that's the transcript of a Serial-like true-crime podcast that starts after Sadie's car is found abandoned. The narratives work in tandem to create a suspenseful picture of a brave young woman with a traumatic past.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) YA Kate expects to work behind the scenes of her school podcast--not to be chosen as a host. Meanwhile, someone is trying to sabotage her parents' marina on the lake she loves. Hosting the Advice Show helps Kate gain confidence, but as she falls for her best friend's crush, Kate also learns that giving advice is easier than following it. An appealing teen romance with a Sleepless in Seattle setup.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) YA Kaylee has largely abandoned thoughts of her birth mother, Crystal, who's in prison for a murder she claims she didn't commit. Then a podcast producer shows up asking questions about Crystal's claims of telekinesis, throwing Kaylee's personal history--and her own potential powers--into question. This engaging psychological mystery with traces of the paranormal includes dynamic formatting, with podcast transcripts, text messages, and more.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) YA Friendless, schoolwork-obsessed Frances Janvier's only nonacademic interest is her favorite sci-fi podcast. Universe City may be a monster-infested university, but it's the one place Frances can be herself. Then she meets Aled, the podcast's anonymous creator and fellow queer teen. Frances and Aled together explore a pathway to happiness that celebrates non-traditional identities and definitions of success.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Media Genius series. A wide scope of information about creating, producing, and sharing one's own podcast is divided up into five chapters that include helpful instructions, success stories, pro tips, podcast recommendations, and safety warnings for the young producer. The page design is a tad crowded, but this appropriately detailed overview will be helpful for both beginners and readers with some podcasting experience. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano