(2) 4-6 Unable to afford an apartment, Felix and his loving but irresponsible mother live in a van. Felix sets out to win his favorite game show's junior tournament, thinking the cash prize will solve his problems. Felix is engaging both as he keeps a sense of humor and when he realizes he can no longer rely on the adults in his life. Nielsen's eye for detail brings the story to life.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(3) YA Isolated by guilt and anxiety since her sister's death, Vancouver sixteen-year-old Petula De Wilde finds YART (mandatory Youth Art Therapy) utterly useless--until newcomer Jacob Cohen, who has a prosthetic arm, unites YART's attendees. But there's a secret behind Jacob's own guilt. Well-drawn characters and nuanced representation of life with an anxiety disorder keep a familiar plot from feeling predictable.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) YA Snotty rich girl Ashley isn't happy that nerdy Stewart and his dad (who's dating her mom) are moving in. Life briefly looks up for Ashley when she starts dating popular Jared, but Stewart discovers she might need to be saved from Jared, an aggressive and homophobic bully. The well-drawn characters learn important skills and lessons in this candid look at a modern family.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(3) YA Thirteen-year-old Henry and his father are trying to start over after his older brother shot his bully and then committed suicide. At his therapist's behest, Henry keeps a journal about his life in a new city as he attempts to cope with the psychological and practical fallout from "IT." Henry's story offers a heartrending look behind an all-too-familiar headline.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) 4-6 Ambrose, an allergic misfit with an overprotective mother, is taken out of public school when bullies sneak a peanut into his sandwich. After becoming unlikely friends with his neighbor's son, a reformed ex-convict, and visiting the West Side Scrabble Club, his confidence soars. The smart chapter titles are creatively formed from Scrabble letters. It's a laugh-out-loud funny--and encouraging--story. Glos.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Louise-Andrée Laliberté. When five-year-old Astrid's morfar (grandfather) dies in Sweden, her mormor (grandmother) moves in with Astrid's family. Mormor's traditional ways cause problems for Astrid, but when Mormor finds a replacement for Astrid's lost teddy bear, grandmother and granddaughter reach a new understanding. The text is overly long, but the soft illustrations lend comfort to this story about loss and love.

Reviewer:

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Louise-Andre Laliberte. Hank's imaginary dog Fergus is so real to him that when Cooper moves next door, Hank rebuffs him, particularly when he challenges Fergus's existence. The boys exchange barbs until one day they exchange gifts and, predictably, become friends. Cartoon-style art in pastel colors, though somewhat repetitive, is especially effective at picturing the shifting, shadowy appearance of the imaginary dog.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian