Staff Picks Youth Fiction
August 2020
Oliver the Curious Owl
by Chad Otis
Oliver is so inquisitive that he does not ask “who” like the other owls but wants to know the “what, when, and where” of the big world that is out there beyond his tree. Along with his friend, Bug, who accidentally starts them on their adventures, Oliver discovers many new places and things before he and Bug decide it is time to return to the best place, home.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
I Promise
by Lebron James
The perfect back to school book to inspire students to try their best in school as excelling at school is the way to success. With simple rhyme scheme and colorful illustrations representing diversity, this book encourages readers to strive for greatness through accountability and achieving goals.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Monkey with a Tool Belt Blasts Off
by Chris Monroe
When the Moon Malt machine at the Superstar Space Station and Snack Bar breaks, Chico Bon Bon and sidekick Clark the elephant rush to the rescue. While Chico Bon Bon puzzles over how to fix the malt machine, he takes the time to fix other things, such as a droid’s underwear. Then the cutest alien in the universe pops out of the malt machine, so that fixes that, but can Chico Bon Bon and Clark repair her spaceship so she can get home? A story of ingenuity and can do attitude as everyone helps each other. A series available on Netflix. Also read Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Silly School Mystery.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
June 2020
Mommy’s Khimar
by Jamilah Thompkins - Bigelow
This book is about a little girl from Africa who likes mommy’s Khimar or Hijab. She likes to look inside mommy’s closet and count the Khimars, there are so many colors. She wears them without her mom seeing her and when she wears her favorite yellow Khimar (hijab) she becomes a queen with a golden train or a superhero in a cape that can run at a speed of a light, but at night mommy’s Khimar makes her feel she is safe and that mommy is always around.
Recommended by: Ghada Rafati, Patron Service Clerk
Posted in: Youth Fiction
I See the Sun in Turkey
by Dedie King
Posted in: Youth Fiction
May 2020
All the Greys on Greene Street
by Laura Tucker
When Olympia’s (Ollie) father leaves in the middle of the night, supposedly with another woman and leaves her Mom depressed and unable to get out of bed, Ollie and her friends, Alex and Richard, try to keep everything together. With the mystery about a piece of art and mysterious people hanging around the neighborhood, friendship and family become the cornerstone of solving the unending crisis her life has become.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Small Spaces
by Katherine Arden
From the book cover to the last page this is a spooky book. Ollie prevents a woman from throwing a book into the creek as she mutters about being safe by staying in small spaces. Captivated by the story about a sister and her two brothers, one who is blamed for the other brother’s death, Ollie becomes enthralled with the ghost story. The next day her school takes a field trip to Smoke Hollow, a local farm, which ties in with the story she has been reading. When she comes across the graves of the people she’s been reading about, she begins to understand the story is not just in the book but is happening around her. After the bus breaks down and darkness is falling, she and two friends, heed the warning to RUN and stay small. After reading this book, readers will want to read the follow up with the same characters at a ski lodge, Dead Voices. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Front Desk
by Kelly Yang
Mia Tang is a 10-year-old who has a lot of responsibility. While her parents clean the rooms of the hotel, she runs the front desk. With kindness and ingenuity, she tries to overcome many obstacles not only for herself, but for her parents, and the hidden immigrants. Can she overcome the mean hotel owner, Mr. Yao, and achieve everyone’s dreams? Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Drum Roll, Please
by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
Melly, a drummer, is off to band camp for two weeks with her best friend, Olivia. The changes in her life in that short amount of time will have monumental impact on her, her parents, and friends, old and new. Fans of Raina Telgemeier and Tim Federle will enjoy this book. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Van Gogh Deception
by Deron Hicks
A thrilling page-turner of a story as the main character, a young boy found standing in the National Gallery with no memory tries to unravel who he is and why people are so interested in him. Named Art by his foster family, he realizes he knows a lot about artists even though nothing about himself. So along with his foster sister they return to the area of the National Gallery where he was found, and the mission impossible cat and mouse game is on. QR codes allow readers with proper devices to view the artwork being talked about in the story. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction