Children & YA Staff Picks
An illustrated memoir about the 2015 mass shooting on a college campus in Roseburg, Oregon, Kneely brings to light the reality survivors face, from PTSD to survivors guilt. A harrowing read, but an important one, this graphic memoir teaches us about fear, our inner strengths, and ultimately, hope.
- Jen
A pretty direct commentary on the state of compassion in the world colored with a few bright bursts of hope. For anyone who knows "a heart's a heavy burden," but would choose one anyway.
- Stacey
13-year-old Tien wants to come out to his mother, but literally lacks the words — she hardly speaks English and the words in Vietnamese don’t appear to exist. The strongest shared language they have is in the fairy tales they read together at night. Can mother and son use these ultra-hetero, Vietnamese-European mashup stories to communicate? Central themes: wanting to tell people things you cannot, the intervention of a key side character, and love that conquers all.
- Rachael
13-year-old Moth Hush from Founder's Bluff, Massachusetts has her dream come true when she finds out that she's a witch! Now, she goes on a journey to discover the truths of her town, her family, and herself.
- Halle
"How does the internet work?" This book has answers! Hidden Systems presents complex systems in an illustrated, understandable way. If you (or your kiddo) have a lot of how-stuff-works questions, this book will be right up your alley.
- Murphy
A richly illustrated Mesoamerican myth about the light of the moon. A perfect addition to a bedtime story collection, and a good primer for diving into more tales from the Sea Ringed World.
(The Spanish edition of this title is also available here: Noche Antigua)
- Stacey
"This seems like a great book apart from the fact that it recommends the T." - Stacey
The Olympians have always hogged the spotlight when it comes to mythology. Yet the world of the Norse gods is in many ways more interesting. It is darker, funnier, and more psychologically complex. But the defining feature of these tales is a recognition of impermanence that also makes them deeply poignant. Pair with the d’Aulaires’ companion volume of Greek myths.
- James
Horses! Friendship! Drama! Boarding School! Queer crushes! This book is everything I needed. Follow along as Abby navigates the horse show circuit and something even more intimidating... middle school drama. Kudos to Jessica Burkhart for writing characters that are intriguing, realistic, and oh so human. The emotional stakes are obvious and it's so easy to be invested in the outcomes for Abby and her friends. Plus there are horses!
- Kendall
This June, let your spirits be buoyed by a winning tale of a family’s first pride parade. Simple text tells a straightforward tale of love and acceptance, but the complex, inclusive illustrations leave room for elaboration for the curious reader.
- Rachael
Lauren Magaziner's magical adventures will keep you laughing from beginning to end -- and you'll also be cheering on Marina and her squad as they tackle a dangerous quest to save the kingdom. (And for avid series readers, Mythics book #2 just came out!)
Reading this feels as if you are reuniting with an old friend. Hayes' ability to tell a story with not only her words, but also her intentional use of color creates a tale that both children and adults can find warmth in. Go ahead and take a little sun with you for this summertime.
- Jane
If you have an anxious little human in your life, or if you might be an anxious human yourself, this book is for you. Gustav Is Missing! is a wonderful, mushroomy reminder of how we grow through what we go through.
- Murphy
An adventure, a mystery, and a series of puzzles all rolled into one story! If you enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society, Greenglass House, or Ravenfall, you'll love Winterhouse. Join Elizabeth Somers as she is mysteriously sent away to a majestic hotel full of interesting people. When she comes across a book of puzzles in the hotel library, she makes it her mission to solve the problems within it so that she can figure out what exactly is going on in Winterhouse. Because things there are definitely...not normal.
Camp is the best place to make new friends and be your true authentic self. The authors create this wonderful camp space where all the characters make friends and learn that it's okay to be discovering identity. Camp Quiltbag is a safe space for all.
- Hazel