(2) K-3 Illustrated by Yas Imamura. When her family must flee their beloved home in Kurdistan, young Mevan's status as a refugee makes her feel smaller and smaller until she makes herself invisible. The family travels from Azerbaijan to Russia to the Netherlands, where a kind man sees her, despite her ability to hide herself, and gives her the perfect gift -- a red bicycle -- making her feel "a hundred feet tall." This true story, gently told in the third person and coauthored by Babakar herself, is brought to life through evocative mixed-media illustrations, which capture the deep loneliness of leaving a home full of friends and family. The illustrations shift from the lush greenery of Kurdistan to the stark concrete of Soviet Bloc apartments to a colorful and joyous double-page spread when Mevan first rides her bicycle. An epilogue and author's note describe more of Babakar's experience as a young refugee and tell her story of returning to the Netherlands as an adult and reuniting with the kind apartment manager who gave her the bike. A reflective story about the isolation of life as a child refugee and about the enduring effects of an act of kindness.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(3) K-3 Adapted by Sarah J. Robbins. Illustrated by Joanie Stone. The Pakistani activist's memoir moves from childhood to her shooting by the Taliban to being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The message that "one child...can change the world" makes for an inspiring, upbeat read. Adapted from I Am Malala, this "first chapter book edition" features large type, short chapters, and spot illustrations. More on the Nobel Prize and a pronunciation guide are appended. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. During the Korean War, a U.S. lieutenant purchased a scrawny, skittish racehorse to haul supplies. In straightforward text, McCormick describes the training, feeding (eggs, coffee, Coca-Cola, and whatever else could be found), and notable accomplishments of "Private (later Sergeant) Reckless." Illustrations in a palette of predominantly greens and browns employ replicas of historical artifacts to further set the scene for this engaging historical anecdote. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(2) 4-6 In April 1943, the Gestapo arrested pacifist Lutheran minister Dietrich Bonhoeffer for attempting to assassinate Hitler. Alongside Bonhoeffer's religious calling and theological contributions, McCormick chillingly details Hitler's rise to power. When Bonhoeffer could not gather support from the religious community to fight Hitler, he decided to "sin boldly." Questions of moral authority drive the story; archival photographs supplement the text. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) YA McCormick's novel draws on hundreds of hours of interviews with Arn Chorn-Pond, who was eleven in 1975 when the Khmer Rouge gained control of Cambodia. Written in realistically halting English, the narrative might be unreadable if not for Arn's brash, resilient personality. McCormick creates an unflinching, riveting portrait of genocide as seen through a boy's eyes.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2012

(2) YA A Baghdad firefight leaves Private Matt Duffy injured and two Iraqi civilians dead. Since Matt sustained a traumatic brain injury, what happened is a mystery. McCormick takes readers inside Matt's damaged mind as he tries to process the details. Did he pull the trigger? Is he a child killer? As with all the questions in this hard-hitting novel, the answers are complex and heartbreaking.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2009

(2) YA McCormick's searing novel, told in a series of poetic vignettes, gives voice to Lakshmi, a thirteen-year-old girl from Nepal who is forced into prostitution in India. Lakshmi's education at the hands of Happiness House's cruel madam is brutal. Readers will admire Lakshmi's bravery and be relieved when she risks trusting the American man who promises to take her to a clean, safe place.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2006

(4) YA High school freshman Toby is trying to adjust to his new, fatherless life--mainly by convincing himself that his dad will come home, his older brother's drug use isn't a big deal, and throwing out his mom's American Express bills is a good idea. Though too many issues leave a few plot points dangling, Toby's struggles with his life ring true.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(2) YA During long psychotherapy sessions at Sea Pines, a "residential treatment facility," Callie barely speaks but remembers bits and pieces of the weeks leading up to her arrival, slowly filling in the picture of a family effectively incapacitated by her little brother's severe asthma. First-time author McCormick creates a sensitive portrayal of a young girl's illness and her difficult path to recovery.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2000