(1) 4-6 When the school bus drops Lily off after the last day of fifth grade, four months after the death of her twin brother, Anders, her loneliness is so palpable that even the birds express concern. Lily's single-parent mother is absorbed in her own grief, and Lily's classmates are keeping their distance. She finds real comfort only in "the overlap," a place behind a barn where she can still see and talk to her dead twin. Otherwise, Lily soldiers on through summer alone, except for occasional interactions with a sympatico high school girl, a generous neighbor, and a bunch of chickens. The narrative slowly reveals details from the previous year, allowing readers to develop a more intimate connection to the characters and to make sense of Lily's isolation and feelings of guilt. Told in the third person, this poignant, mostly realistic exploration of processing grief is punctuated by a few observations from anthropomorphized local animals and the supernatural moments between Lily and her brother. Though Anders seems to be losing his connection to the world, he supports Lily as best he can, encouraging her to enjoy what little time they have and to find ways to go on living. This achingly sad but also hopeful story set on a small Maine island poses questions about the power of our connections--to other people, to animals, and to the world around and beyond.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(3) YA The whirlwind insta-romance of seventeen-year-old Betts and nineteen-year-old Aiden deflates just as quickly as it begins when abusive, obsessive Aiden starts showing his true colors. Fast pacing draws readers into Betts's world and reflects the intense nature of abusive relationships. Rissi sustains reader interest with dynamic secondary characters--such as Betts's best friend, Jo--who wholeheartedly support and protect Betts. Domestic violence resources are included.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Zachariah OHora. Mr. Stricter lets his class keep one of the tadpoles they've hatched. It soon becomes evident (to the students, at least) that Bruno is not a frog but a hippo. After many hippo-size problems, the class must convince a smitten Mr. Stricter to give up Bruno. In his signature style of thick black lines and bold shapes, Ohora's acrylics perfectly capture the text's ample humor.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. Anna's two best friends, Isabel and Sadie, convince her to enter her dachshund, Banana, in the Puppy Parade. But when the girls take over the preparations, Anna is afraid her friends think that Banana isn't good enough. Park's illustrations depict a diverse cast of characters (with Anna's non-white family at the center) in this friendship-affirming tale of elementary-school conflict.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. In Monkey, Anna finds herself in the middle of an unbalanced friendship trio; in Bet, she attempts to save her two friends from a bully by making a wager with him. Anna's diverse third-grade world is pleasant, as is the spot art scattered throughout, but Anna's voice feels a little too adult to be believable. Review covers these titles: Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet and Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. In Monkey, Anna finds herself in the middle of an unbalanced friendship trio; in Bet, she attempts to save her two friends from a bully by making a wager with him. Anna's diverse third-grade world is pleasant, as is the spot art scattered throughout, but Anna's voice feels a little too adult to be believable. Review covers these titles: Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet and Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. Anna's birthday wish for a pony comes true: she gets a pretty pony pendant necklace. But her best friend, Sadie, wants the necklace for herself and demands either it or Anna's dog, Banana. They fight, and Anna worries they'll never make up. Well-rounded characters, sweet spot art, and a relatable plot that avoids didacticism make this an entertaining chapter book.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano