By Lina

Sixth-grader Peter is good at lots of things, from making jokes to quoting lines from his favorite classic movies. But fitting in? Not so much--having autism spectrum disorder makes it hard to fly under the radar when you're surrounded by elementary school bullies. When his parents announce their latest solution—spending the summer with a grandmother he’s never met on the remote Johnson Island—he has no reason to believe that summer on some island in the middle of nowhere will be any different than the misery of elementary school. 

However, life on Johnson Island isn’t nearly as terrible as Peter (or Pete, as everyone on the island seems to insist on calling him) was expecting—especially once he meets witty, sarcastic twins Kat and Sofia, who appreciate his sense of humor and retro movie t-shirts. Before he knows it, he’s playing manhunt and having water gun fights with the other island kids, and learning about all of Johnson Island’s quirky traditions—and for the first time, he begins to feel that he belongs. The islanders have been financially struggling ever since weed management company Meta-Gro abruptly ended all research at their facility there, but the community has remained tight-knit and welcoming. And while yes, Gram makes Pete learn to swim and do chores (weeding every day!), it’s really not so bad with two new friends at his side. 

Yet there’s something strange about Johnson Island—and when a spontaneous bet leads Pete and the twins to discover the secret behind Meta-Gro’s hurried removal from the island, they’re forced to face off with a failed experiment worthy of any of Pete’s favorite movies. Except….can a quirky, nerdy underdog really be the one to save the day? 
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A perfect read to for the beginning of summer, The Summer My Grandmother’s Yard Tried to Kill Me is a delightful debut! Pete’s well-rounded character, quirky narration and consistent sense of humor make him irresistible; it’s incredibly satisfying to watch him grow and ultimately triumph over the course of the story as he learns the importance of accepting and celebrating yourself for who you are. Details such as Pete’s impressive knowledge of classic movies, the islanders’ unique, often amusing slang words and phrases, and the island traditions bring the story to life. It’s a fast, fun, engaging read; older middle grade readers will enjoy reading it on their own, while it’s also a great story for younger ones to read with their parents. And I thoroughly enjoyed it as a high schooler as well! Full of deft humor, quirky, caring friendships, and winning characters, I would highly recommend The Summer My Grandmother’s Yard Tried to Kill Me to readers ages eight and up. 

Note: Check out our interview with the author, Harry Harvey! 

By Ella

​If Barclay Thorne had his way, his life would be spent peacefully hunting for mushrooms in his hometown of Dullshire, never straying into the dangerous Woods that lie on the brink of his peaceful, wonderfully boring village. The Woods, after all, represent everything he and Dullshire hate most--lawlessness, nonconformity, and magic. 

Dullshire has lots of rules, but among all of them, that one's the most important: absolutely no magic. It's because of the magical Beasts--and the Lore Keepers, misguided humans who live in the Woods and actually bond with the foul creatures--that Barclay is an orphan. Ever since, he's been determined to do his absolute best to follow every one of Dullshire's rules, though there are some, like never running, that he has some trouble with. 

Still, it's Barclay's worst nightmare come true when a mushroom hunting mission goes wrong, and one of the beasts bonds--with him. Cast out of Dullshire, his mushroom hunting future gone in a blink, Barclay is determined to dissolve his bond with the beast and get his life back on track, even if that means seeking out the dangerous and powerful Lore Keepers in the Woods. 

But when Barclay discovers a plot that endangers the new place he's starting to wonder if he can find for himself, it's up to him to accept who he might just be becoming before Dullshire itself is destroyed. 

The Accidental Apprentice is a light, humorous fantasy novel that nimbly avoids any expected clichés with unexpected freshness and creativity. Barclay's stubbornness is commendable, his resolve relatable, and his development both a joy to read about and full of realism. I loved this world, from Dullshire to the depths of the Woods, and some of the supporting characters particularly stuck out to me. I highly recommend The Accidental Apprentice to readers ages eight and up looking for a whimsical, funny fantasy novel full of adventure. 

By Lina

“…all I want/is to stretch my wings/to ride the fickle currents/beyond the reach of any cage.” 
- Melanie Crowder, Audacity 

Clara Lemlich has never been free. Not free to read the books she hides from her father and studies late into the night, gathering scraps of knowledge when no one is watching. Not free to live as a full citizen of the Russian Empire, instead forced to live in poverty in the Pale of Settlement, which Jewish people are restricted to at the turn of the twentieth century. Not free to dream of a life where she is not forbidden from the beauty of written words, and where she could save lives as a doctor. 

When antisemitic violence forces her family to flee to America, the grueling journey brings them to New York City’s Lower East Side, a land of angular buildings and filthy tenements, and Clara is once again trapped by poverty and the duties of a good daughter, who must provide for her family as they struggle to survive. Where immigrant girls work quietly, meekly, in rows upon rows of factories, not protesting the exploitation they face because they know how easily they can be replaced, and because every penny counts. Where her dreams no longer seem quite so impossible. 

Clara bristles at the injustices the other factory workers seem to take in stride, and soon becomes involved in the developing labor movement in the area–but she quickly learns that protesting will put her dreams of an education in jeopardy. Should she ignore injustice in favor of a hard-won opportunity for education? Or should she give up her beloved ambitions to fight for a cause that has already grown close to her heart? 

I loved Audacity the first time I read it, and after a recent re-read, it remains one of my favorites. Its stunning, lyrical prose ranks it among one of the most beautifully written free-verse books I've read yet; while the writing is remarkably spare, the imagery and historical detail are evocative and absorbing.  Clara’s courage, kindness, and unflagging determination make her immensely sympathetic, and it’s a joy to watch her develop over the course of the story, as the young girl who splinted birds’ wings and hid from anti-Jewish mobs becomes an infamous labor leader whose concern for her fellow workers and immigrants is matched only by her fiery determination for action–now. I also appreciated how Audacity thoughtfully explores the risks and sacrifices activists must make, as Clara struggles to balance her family’s needs, the injustices she longs to combat, and real danger to herself and her fellow factory workers if they step out of line. 

I had never heard of Clara Lemlich, a real-life labor organizer, before reading this book, and I’ve since researched more about her–she’s a fascinating person, and I highly recommend learning more about her. (The historical notes and interviews with some of her family members at the end of the book are a great place to start!) While fictionalized, Audacity remains true to the essence of Clara’s work and early life. Eloquent and inspiring, I would highly recommend Audacity to readers ages eleven and up, especially for book groups or discussions. 

​By Ella
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The last thing twelve-year-old Flick expects when she moves to the village of Little Wyverns--a far cry from the city life she's grown up with--is a travel agency. And not just any travel agency. Strangeworlds isn't the kind that brings you to the places Flick has always dreamed of going: other continents, countries, cities. Once you've joined the mysterious Strangeworlds Society, you can travel through portals hidden in suitcases into other worlds.

At first, Flick is dubious. After all, if magic were truly real, wouldn't everyone know? But then the Strangeworld Travel Agency's young Head Custodian, Jonathan, shows her some of the other worlds. And Flick discovers, to her astonishment and delight, that it's all true. There are worlds out there--nonsensical worlds filled with eerie forests, scorched deserts, and the most peculiar of impossibilities. Worlds which she can now step into.

And she's going to, because Jonathan needs her help. His father disappeared into one of the suitcases months ago, and he needs Flick's help to find him.

Together, Flick and Jonathan set out on a journey leaping from world to world. But something has been happening to the different places they visit. Things have been changing. And it's up to Jonathan and Flick to figure out what--even as she realizes that all is not as it seems.

Strangeworlds Travel Agency is a fun fantasy novel with the quirky, almost old-fashioned tone of books like The Emerald Atlas and The Box and the Dragonfly. It effortlessly leaps between the modern day and the strangest of strange worlds, carried by two characters--Flick and Jonathan--who make that leap just as effectively, never seeming jarred or out of place in either setting. No matter what Flick does at the travel agency or in other worlds, it always feels natural when she returns home to her irritating younger brother and unpacking moving boxes. I also love the worlds Flick and Jonathan travel into, which are varied, mysterious, and often completely unexpected--they truly made this book come alive. I recommend Strangeworlds Travel Agency to readers ages nine and up looking for immersive, likable fantasy novels.