(3) PS Illustrated by Udayana Lugo. An encounter with a dragon serves as a thoughtful metaphor for the need to ask for help when something is wrong. Told in second person, the text encourages building a strong support network: “You have a lot of friends now, and you understand how to work together. Even if the dragon does return, you’ll never have to face it alone.” Not-too-scary illustrations use varied perspectives.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(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) K-3 Illustrated by Qin Leng. In this picture book created in partnership with the David Suzuki Institute (a Canadian environmentalist organization), twins Nakina and Kaoru know to expect adventure when their grandfather, Bompa, comes to visit, but they never know where he'll take them. Equipped with a field journal and a well-stocked backpack, the children are surprised, and maybe a little disappointed, when Bompa announces that they're staying close to home to search for insects. What could there be to learn about bugs? Bompa proves to be a wealth of information as Kaoru and Nakina find their questions along the way. They imagine themselves as dragonflies with big eyes and lightweight exoskeletons and as caterpillars eating two-hundred times their weight in food. Their curiosity ranges from the simple ("are insects animals?") to the existential ("what if we [humans] disappeared?"), and Bompa's answers illuminate the ways that insects of every kind (yes, even mosquitoes) have skills and roles to play in an ecosystem. The commendable detail and specificity in each watercolor illustration invite readers' own explorations down each divergent path and among every tall blade of grass. Back matter provides more information about specific insects, ways to help insects in a child's community, and ideas for backyard expeditions.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(4) YA Aspiring artist Isaac is the heir apparent to his parents' illegal marijuana grow-op; but when he gets romantically involved with a girl whose father is a cop, Isaac's future grows increasingly complicated. The novel twist on the star-crossed-lovers setup is perhaps more compelling than the lovers themselves, whose romantic attraction feels more like a plot device than genuine affection.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) YA Both Cole and his dad feel adrift after the death of Cole's mother. Cole, an aspiring documentary filmmaker, longs to escape his small town and its memories, but a complication in his love life might change all that. Cole's narration has an artist's eye, but the character frustratingly fails to look beyond himself and recognize the complexities inherent in others' lives.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl