Prepared by
Revised
May 2, 2022
Fiction
Loyalty
2022
To avenge his father, Noah becomes a spy for the British during the American Revolution, witnessing firsthand the hypocrisy, lies and allegiances that come with war, and must determine for himself where his loyalty truly lies.
The Ogress and the Orphans
2022
When a child goes missing from the Orphan House in the town of Stone-in-the-Glen, the mayor suggests the kindly Ogress is responsible, but the orphans do not believe that and try to make their deluded neighbors see the real villain among them.
Falling Short
2022
Best friends Isaac and Marco-- one athletically gifted and one academically gifted-- have more in common than they realize when their goals intersect, forcing them to find a way to support each other so they don't fall short.
What Lives in the Woods
2021
Ginny, an aspiring mystery writer living in upstate Michigan for the summer while her father restores a 1930s mansion, becomes convinced rumors about the house and the forest next to it being haunted are true, and she plans to investigate.
Lexile level
590
Starfish
2021
Bullied and shamed her whole life for being fat, 12-year-old Ellie finally gains the confidence to stand up for herself, with the help of some wonderful new allies.
Heather W loved this! Find out why »
Take Back the Block
2021
Sixth-grader Wes Henderson sets out to save the Oaks, the neighborhood where he's lived his whole life, from being sold to a real estate developer.
Lexile level
760
Ophie's Ghosts
2021
Discovering her ability to see ghosts when a cruel act ends her father's life and she is forced to move in with relatives in 1920s Pittsburgh, young Ophelia forges a helpful bond with a spirit whose own life ended suddenly and unjustly.
April O loved this! Find out why »
Wayward Creatures
2021
Damaging both the land and his life after accidentally causing a forest fire, lonely 12-year-old Gabe crosses paths with a coyote named Rill and discovers that sometimes it only takes one friend to find the place where you belong.
Too Bright To See
2021
In the summer before middle school, 11-year-old Bug must contend with best friend Moira suddenly caring about clothes, makeup and boys; a ghost haunting; and the truth about Bug's gender identity.
Chaz C loved this! Find out why »
The Ice Cream Machine
2022
One of the world's most favorite frozen treats is the star of these six original-- and totally unique-- stories filled with unforgettable characters in unusual situations.
Omar Rising
2022
Seventh-grader Omar must contend with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school in Pakistan.
The Last Mapmaker
2022
Joining an expedition to chart the southern seas, 12-year-old mapmaker's assistant Sai, posing as a well-bred young lady with a glittering future, realizes she's not the only one on board harboring secrets when she discovers the ship's true destination.
Graphic novels
Just Roll with It
2021
Maggie, who struggles with anxiety and OCD, gets through her first year of middle school by making friends, finding the best after-school clubs and using her 20-sided dice to help her make decisions.
Lexile level
370
Death & Sparkles 1
2021
This zany-yet-philosophical graphic novel buddy comedy is about the unlikely friendship between Death, a grim reaper who's never had a friend, and Sparkles, The Last Unicorn, a celebrity influencer who is somehow immune to Death's touch.
Wingbearer
2022
When a sinister force threatens the life-giving magic of the Great Tree, Zuli, along with her guardian owl, Frowly, must get to the root of it, and so embark on an epic journey to find the truth.
Annie C loved this! Find out why »
Nonfiction
The Curse of the Mummy
2021
J 932.014 FLE
This thrilling true story follows two Brits who were plagued by mysterious illnesses, accidents and death after uncovering Tutankhamun's tomb, which is said to be cursed, while battling for ownership of the treasures within.
Born on the Water
2021
J 973.0496 HAN
Stymied by her unfinished family tree assignment for school, a young girl seeks Grandma's counsel and learns about her ancestors, the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States.
Lexile level
860
Kate F loved this! Find out why »
More Than Just a Game
2021
J 796.323 MOO
Celebrates the history of basketball from a Black perspective, revealing how it changed Black communities and how they made the sport into what it is today.
Recommended for
Meredith R
I work in youth services, and love books that pack an emotional punch, coming-of-age stories and graphic novels. If I'm not at the library or reading with my spoiled cat, I'm probably out hiking— preferably someplace with pine trees and mountains— with a very large Thermos of coffee in tow.
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