Staff Picks Youth
October 2019
Tumble and Blue
by Cassie Beasley
For generations, members of the Montgomery family have received supernatural gifts, some lucky others not so lucky. There’s only one day in a century when a Montgomery can change their luck, under the blood moon deep in the Okefenokee swamp. Only one member of the family knows how to get to the island where luck can be changed. The one person is Granny Eve, who is grandmother and sole caretaker of our hero, Blue. Blue knows that his gift is pure bad luck, and he’s determined to be the one who gets the location out of Granny. But he has to contend with countless other cousins, Aunts, and Uncles who have arrived with the same goal in mind. One afternoon, he slinks out of the house, looking for some peace and meets his new neighbor, Tumble Wilson. Always ready for adventure, Tumble promises to help Blue explore the swamp and reverse his luck. This book is great for fans of adventure, spooky stories, and weird tales.
Recommended by: Kara DeCarlo, School Liaison
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Bone’s Gift
by Angie Smibert
One part historical fiction, one part mystery, one part supernatural tale: this book adds up to a real page-turner. Set in a coal mining town in West Virginia just as the United States is entering World War II, you may think our main character has enough to deal with. 12 year-old Bone Phillips comes from a family with peculiar gifts; an Uncle who can heal animals, a Grandmother who speaks to plants. Bone can see the stories in everyday objects, just by picking them up. One day Bone finds a note that says her mother died as a result of using her own gift. Bone is determined to solve the mystery of her mother’s death and bring her father home from training to go to the front lines. A beautifully written tale that draws you into a world where ghosts may be real and there’s no problem that can’t be solved with a little help from some friends.
Recommended by: Kara DeCarlo, School Liaison
Posted in: Youth Fiction
August 2019
The Pet Project: Cute and Cuddly Vicious Verses
by Lisa Wheeler
What is the perfect pet for me: pony, tiger, bear, monkey? A girl takes a serious, research-based approach to finding the ideal pet for her and her family. Each poems shows the struggles of owning each type of different pet in amusing ways as our young scientist learns about each type of animal. Told in poetic verse, each report and its rhyme scheme has a great flow to present the girl’s humorous findings on each potential pet. Wheeler’s verses will often teach some small lessons about animals to get kids enthused about certain pets to do more research. Illustrator Zachariah OHora’s adorable illustrations on each animal will make this a favorite for before-bed storytime. Perhaps along the way, the girl in this book will inspire budding scientists to conduct their own animal research!
Recommended by: Alex Pappas, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover
by Cece Bell
Rabbit has a sleepover planned for his best friend Robot in this adorable easy reader. Rabbit wants this to be the best sleepover ever for Robot and him so he plans in advance how every minute of the day is spent and how to maximize their time together. Sadly, despite Rabbit’s good intentions, life is quick to change and Rabbit has to learn to adapt his plan to save the sleepover! Cece Bell is renowned for her hit graphic novel El Deafo and Rabbit and Robot shares similar adorable illustrations that can simultaneously show the warmth of Rabbit and Robot’s friendship and Rabbit’s stress as he tries to be the best sleepover host he can be for his best friend. Rabbit and Robot share a sweet story and provide a valuable lesson in responsibility and adapting to changes for young learners.
Recommended by: Alex Pappas, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
My Pet Human
by Yasmine Surovec
A perfect transitional book for those hopping between easy readers into beginning chapter book, My Pet Human is told from the other side of the tail as a grumpy needy cat leaves the life of a stray to join a human household. Unfortunately, humans are tough to train: they have short attention spans, require lots of care, can be stuck in their emotions, and just don’t understand what “MEOW!” means. Yasmine Surovec’s charming pencil drawing illustrations accompany the amusing story of our unnamed stray cat adjusting to living with a human family. As our cat and humans get closer together, we also watch as the freshly moved in family adjust to their new community and grow to make new friends: animal and human alike which gives the book a sweet, fulfilling vibe.
Recommended by: Alex Pappas, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Be Prepared
by Vera Brosgol
A memoir about the author herself, Be Prepared is a great selection for graphic novel fans, specifically fans of Raina Telgemeier. Vera seems split into two different worlds: those of her traditional Russian family and her American school. Sadly, Vera’s inability to fit into either have her feeling lonely and unwelcome so Vera’s mother tries something new for Vera and her brother: Russian summer camp! Vera isn’t exactly cut out for summer camp as she is also in the awkward age where she has slightly aged out of the program for younger kids and as a middle schooler is a bit too young for the high school crowd. Vera’s struggles to find her place amongst strangers is a relatable experience for every middle schooler who has the same doubts. Her humorous take on the camp around her and character growth throughout our story are inspiring even amidst the not so great outdoors.
Recommended by: Alex Pappas, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Gods and Heroes: Mythology around the World
by Korwin Briggs
Disney’s Hercules and Rick Riordan’s works have shown us that gods are not as different as humans and that is one of the best parts of reading Korwin Briggs’s book on mythology. Briggs take us all over the world as we get a quick briefing on some well-known gods such as Zeus and Isis but also get some information on lesser-known gods such as Celtic god Cú Chulainn and Mesoamerican twin gods Hunahpu and Xbalanque. Every profile on the gods is around 5 pages with a quick snippet of relatable stories either displaying some of their characteristic, origins, or major achievements. Additional illustrations supplement stories and provide a consistent tone to the characters even though going from one profile might mean shifting from the wide-open fields of North America to learn about the White Buffalo Calf Woman of the Lakota people and then traveling to the sparkling waters of the Polynesian islands as we learn of Māui’s amusing exploits. Pages are supplemented with additional passages to describe the surrounding culture of the gods to give additional context. These fast-paced high interest profiles are perfect for quick reading and reluctant readers on some fascinating subjects.
Recommended by: Alex Pappas, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Dream Big
by Joyce Wan
A wondrous introduction to some of the finest ladies to grace the planet in an introductory board book format perfect for little learners. Using repeated short sentences, Wan invites readers to “Dream Big” or “Dream Fast.” The text is accompanied by Wan’s drawings of known revolutionary women such as Rosa Parks and artist Frida Kahlo among other less known brilliant women such as mountaineer Junko Tabei and architect Zaha Hadid. Wan’s illustrations are beyond cute enough to appeal to the picture book crowd but the message added to it will empower youngsters to dream big themselves. Profiles on each of the women portrayed in the book will inspire further reading.
Recommended by: Alex Pappas, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Cucumber Quest
by Gigi D.G.
Got a video game fan in your family? Introduce them to the wonderful world of Cucumber Quest! Drawing inspiration from traditional video game quests: Gigi D.G. takes a lot of traditional video game logic and turns it on its head in what is one of the funniest graphic novel series for any reader. Cucumber just wants to go to school but Cucumber’s greedy Dad forces him to become the hero of legend and save his kingdom from the Nightmare Knight (because money and fame). Cucumber’s sister Almond is jealous because she wants to join him and put her sword skills to work so she tags along. Along their attempts to fulfill their mission, they encounter villains who are either: humorously incompetent, not really that bad, or both. The Nightmare Knight towers above the entire scene watching Cucumber and his ever-expanding crew traverse the world to finish his quest and while the Nightmare Knight seems to be a typical big bad, his heart just doesn’t seem into it? Gigi D.G.’s artwork is energetic and packed with color and life and perfectly supplements the equally colorful cast of characters during hilarious and heartfelt moments. Cucumber Quest is an adventure worth taking over and over again.
Recommended by: Alex Pappas, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Insignificant events in the life of a cactus
by Dusti Bowling
Aven Green is an 8th grader who was born without arms – something that has never stopped her from anything in her life. She moves to Kansas with her parents who have taken jobs as managers of Stagecoach Pass, a rundown Western theme park out in Arizona. Having to deal with the many stares and questions of new schoolmates, Aven sorely misses her old life back in Kansas. However, her unflinchingly optimistic spirit, accompanied by her infectious and indomitable sense of humor, keeps her looking for the silver linings in her new life in Arizona, such as making friends with the cute but prickly Connor (who has Tourette’s syndrome) or enjoying the ability to wear flats all year-round. But the most fascinating thing is the unusual mystery at the heart of Stagecoach Pass: the disappearing tarantulas, a missing photograph, and a secret necklace. Aven is determined to get to the bottom of the secret.
Recommended by: Emily Meszaros, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction