CCBC Weekly Book Reviews
A First Time for Everything
After several painful experiences with middle school bullies, all Dan wants is to fly under the radar, to be quiet and unnoticed by his peers.
March 27, 2023
The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía
Vale’s dad is a folklorist and her mom a geoscientist. Although Vale, 12, enjoys Papi’s stories, trekking near their Colombian home with him and her younger brother, Julián, in search of a patasola, a one-legged woman who sucks her victims’ blood (“Kind of like a vampire, but cooler”) isn’t her idea of a good time even before an earthquake strikes and Papi is injured.
March 20, 2023
Just Like Grandma
“On the steps of a house at the end of the street … ” A patterned text begins with a series of vignettes in which Becca wants to be “just like Grandma.”
March 13, 2023
Stateless
Stella North, 17 (white), the only female contestant in Europe’s first air race for young people, represents Britain; she prefers no one know she escaped the Russian Revolution as a young child.
March 6, 2023
Evergreen
The list of things that frighten a young squirrel named Evergreen is long: “Afraid of loud noises. Afraid of meeting someone new. Afraid of heights, afraid of swimming, afraid of germs. And thunderstorms–her very worst fear was thunderstorms.”
February 27, 2023
Not an Easy Win
Lawrence is quick to defend himself when he’s taunted, which has gotten him into trouble since he and his younger sister, Nik moved with their mom to Larenville, NC, to live with their grandmother.
February 20, 2023
Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy Theories
A highly entertaining and informative book offers a comprehensive explanation of disinformation: what it is, why it’s made, how to spot it, and what makes it so dangerous.
February 13, 2023
Me and the Boss: A Story about Mending and Love
Lee’s big sister, Zora, is “the boss,” often telling him what to do and always watching out for him. At a sewing program at the library, Zora insists the librarian give Lee fabric, thread, and a needle just like the other kids, even though he’s younger.
February 6, 2023
An Arrow to the Moon
A star-crossed story of family, identity, and fate set in 1991 beautifully blends a realistic romance with mesmerizing magical realism.
January 30, 2023
Honey and Me
A coming-of-age novel follows Modern Orthodox Milla and her best friend Honey (both white) as they prepare for their bat mitzvahs and navigate the ups and downs of a school year.
January 23, 2023
Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life
A biography written in free verse and concrete poems details the life and work of Harlem Renaissance sculptor Augusta Savage, best known for creating The Harp for the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
January 16, 2023
A Rover’s Story
Mars rover Resilience (“Res”) is being built and tested primarily by NASA scientists Xander and Rania. Res’s understanding of the world is limited to the details in his coding and his observations of the humans around him.
January 9, 2023
The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey
In a companion to Your Place in the Universe, which explores objects vast in size, Chin here sheds a light on the opposite end of the spectrum: the microscopic building blocks of human bodies.
January 2, 2023
Snow Horses: A First Night Story
Tim and Tom, “midnight black” Percheron horses, love the snow. Jenny, their driver, hitches them to a sleigh decked with lights, their bridles bedecked with bells and jingling.
December 26, 2022
Squire
When Bayt-Sajji leaders announce that young people ages 12-17 from any background are now eligible to become a squire, Aiza seizes the opportunity.
December 19, 2022- More Books of the Week