Staff Picks Youth Fiction
September 2022
Barakah Beats
by Maleeha Siddiqui
Nimra, who’s in 7th grade, is going to public school for the first time. She’s excited because her best friend from preschool, Jenna, goes to the same school. But once school starts Nimra senses that Jenna isn’t as invested in their friendship as Nimra. When Nimra is asked to join a popular band with older boys she becomes conflicted trying to blend her faith, music and new friends.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Jigsaw Jungle
by Kristin Levine
Claudia’s dad, who’s a teacher, doesn’t come home after the last day of school. Claudia and her mom are frightened and anxious. They file a missing person’s report and wait to find out any information. Then Claudia hears from her dad and it turns out he’s not missing at all. He’s just gone to visit a friend to ‘think things over’. Now Claudia is confused and mad.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive as an ebook.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Chance to Fly
by Ali Stroker
Natalie is concerned for a few reasons. For one, she has just moved across the country so is the new kid in class. Secondly, she really wants to try out for a musical but isn’t sure about getting a part. Her parents seem to want her to stick with wheelchair racing instead so she has to get to tryouts on her own. Things start working out when she makes new friends but then drama strikes!
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Legend of Auntie Po
by Shing Yin Khor
Mei lives in a logging camp with her cook father who is from China. She makes the best pies ever. Her best friend, Bee, is the camp foreman’s father. When racial tumult enters the scene, Mei tries to navigate her new world. She receives comfort through her retelling of stories of the Chinese matriarch, Auntie Po, and her giant blue water buffalo, Pei Pei.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roll Coaster!
by Mo Willems
This brand-new picture book was recommended to me by friend and coworker. It did not disappoint. We all love our friend Pigeon! Pigeon is witty, adorable and loves hot dogs. In this book Pigeon mentally prepares himself to ride a roller coaster. He knows he’ll have to wait in line and need a ticket. Pigeon is very excited for how awesome the ride will be. Will the roller coaster be as thrilling as Pigeon envisions? You’ll have to read to find out!
Recommended by: Malorie Carpenter, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Surviving the Wild: Rainbow the Koala
by Remy Lai
A heartwarming and heart wrenching graphic novel about Rainbow the koala who is ready to go off and live on his own according to his mom. Rainbow has problems though with the kookaburra who laughs at him, and he can’t find a tree to live in. Rainbow runs out of water and then a bush fire overtakes the area…how can anything survive? Based on true events that happened in the outback with animals being rescued and relocated to the wild, this book introduces children to the importance of being environmentally smart. It is part of the series by author which also includes Star the Elephant.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
August 2022
A Game of Fox and Squirrels
by Jenn Reese
Sisters, Caitlin and Sam, are sent to live with an aunt they didn’t know they had after an incident with their parents. Sam just wants to go back home but Caitlin is actually happy in their new home. When something fantastical appears to Sam she thinks she’s on the right road to happiness but is she?
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
School’s In, Crabby!
by Jonathan Fenske
It’s another day undersea for Crabby and Plankton, the two unlikely friends and sea creatures with opposite personalities. After spotting a school of fish, Plankton insists on playing pretend school and making Crabby a star student. Crabby, in his usual grumpy self, tries to trick him using clever wordplay to get to recess. This is the fifth book from Geisel Award Honoree Jonathan Fenske’s early reader Crabby Book series. The colorful cartoonish characters are full of humorous expressions. Presented in simple panels with easy text, it highly appeals to emerging readers looking for funny and playful stories. The short but hilarious storyline will make readers young and old share a laugh. A fun pick for back to school season!
Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Born Behind Bars
by Padma Venkatraman
Kabir was born to his imprisoned mother in India. When he is released to the care of an uncle at age nine, Kabir not only leaves the only family he knows but has to navigate his way in a world that he is unfamiliar with. Using the knowledge and wisdom he gained from his mother and the other inmates he forges ahead.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an e audiobook.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The World Belonged to Us
by Jacqueline Woodson
A beautifully written and illustrated reminisce of a summer in Brooklyn when the author was young. The depiction of a diverse group of children all playing together from day to Mom’s calling them in at night will bring back memories of childhood for some readers and introduce how summer playtime used to be to children of today.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction