When Amari's genius older brother goes missing, she never gives up hope of seeing him again. But she never expected that he'd send her a magical message along with an invitation to join the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari has her eyes opened to the magical world that's been hiding in plain sight her whole life. She joins the summer program to train future agents, but she's warned that if she fails she'll have all her memories of the supernatural world erased before she's returned to her normal life. Amari is determined to stay in the program and learn the truth about her brother's disappearance, but it isn't easy to be the new scholarship kid competing with legacy candidates whose parents work for the bureau and have been studying their whole lives. Amari finds unusual and mysterious allies, but will it be enough when the same threat that her brother fought comes back to endanger them all?

This has a similar vibe to Harry Potter with a normal kid attending a magical school so that it's sure to appeal to Potterheads. But the story stands fully on its own with a unique setting and characters that in many ways surpasses Harry Potter's world. For starters this world is much richer for the diversity of its characters and its acknowledgement of real-world problems and how they filter into even magical worlds. The characters are fully developed, even the unsympathetic ones. The similarities between Amari's world and ours resonate on a powerful level as Amari fights stereotypes and discrimination in both. Highly recommended for young fantasy fans.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston 

Erica's Picks
3rd - 7th
​tags: adventure, fantasy, fast-paced, friendship, People of Color, social justice, supernatural

Sy Montgomery is a master of nonfiction and research for her books has taken her all over the world from the Australian outback to the cloud forests of Papua New Guinea. Along the way she has learned transformative lessons from the animals she has encountered. Some close to home, like her beloved dogs and pig, and some far away like tree kangaroos and tarantulas. Through these animals, Montgomery tells us the story of her life and how all lives are connected. She shares these poignant stories with the reader so that they can become better creatures and take care of each other and all animals on this planet we share. Highly readable and strongly recommended for animal lovers, but keep the tissues handy.

How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery

Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
tags: animals, biography, nonfiction, tear-jerker

As the youngest of four sisters, Primrose is used to being forgotten. She isn't expecting a huge celebration for her sixteenth birthday, but even she is surprised when her family doesn't acknowledge it at all. When her mother informs her that she will not be allowed to come out into society until her older sister is married, she contemplates a plan she would never have dared before. Prim and her best friend decide to sneak out in disguise and go to the infamous Vauxhall Gardens for their own birthday celebration. But when the night turns dangerous and Prim becomes entangled with a snooty gentleman she isn't sure whether it will turn out to be the best or worst night of her life.

This book is light, fluffy fun for those looking for a historical romance in the style of Jane Austen but with a more modern sensibility. Great to read over a cup of tea and a tray of biscuits.

Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan

Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
​tags: historical fiction, romance

Fanciful Wendy and practical Lily are best friends as well as step sisters. At least they used to be. Now their parents are fighting and Wendy is going to spend the summer in New York with her father while Lily stays behind with her mother and baby brother Michael. The night before Wendy leaves, adventure flies through the window. Lily warns Wendy not to follow him, but soon she's flown off with Peter and Michael. Lily teams up with Peter's shadow to follow them. Wendy and Michael soon discover the lost boys aren't what they were expecting while Lily teams up with other native children who have been stolen by Peter over the years so that he can play "Indian" with them. Will the sisters be able to unite and save their baby brother, or will they be stuck in Never Never Land forever?

This thoughtful retelling of the Peter Pan story by an author who is a citizen of the Muscogee nation takes the familiar story and reframes it through a modern lens. The beats and feeling of adventure remain, but the new protagonists provide a different perspective. Both Lily and Wendy turn out to be capable heroines and even characters who make mistakes have the possibility of redemption. A wonderful adventure for a new generation of readers.

Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th
​tags: adventure, family life, fantasy, People of Color, retellings

Hark grew up an orphan in a cruel world. His only friend is Jelt, and even he is willing to put Hark's life on the line for a good enough pay day. Which is how Hark ended up exiled on an island, caring for the old priests who went crazy after the death of their gods fifty years ago. The stories of the gods are terrifying, but with the passage of time some have started to forget or dismiss them as fairy tale. Still, those brave and stupid enough to go diving for their remains can make a fortune selling god parts and harvesting their powers. When Hark makes a life-changing discovery he isn't sure who to trust: his best friend, the old priests, the new zealots, or the genius scientist. His decision will affect not just him, but the whole world as a new reign terror from the gods threatens to begin.

I am in awe of Hardinge's imagination and world-building. The gods have a whiff of Cthulhu about them, but the details of the world are unique. I was completely transported to this strange and terrifying setting as I read. The book has plenty of action, but it does not skimp on character development or haunting questions of morality. Highly recommended for fans of YA speculative fiction.

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge

​Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
tags: adventure, dystopian, fantasy, fast-paced, horror, mythology

Elfie has never fit in at Cottonwood Elementary and never made any friends, despite her cousin being in the same grade. The students there are too chaotic, break the rules, and don't care enough about their grades in group projects. Which is why she's so excited to start at the local private school where everyone wears tidy uniforms and the curriculum is challenging and everything will be perfect. Then Elfie gets kicked out on her very first day. While she's waiting for the school's honor code review board to sort out the misunderstanding, she has to go back to Cottonwood. Slowly Elfie's perfect life unravels until she's left with a bigger mess than ever. But if she can learn to accept the imperfections, she might just be able to turn the year around.

This book had me laughing from the first page as I recognized my own younger self. Luckily for Elfie she progresses far faster than I did and reading about her emotional journey is at turns heartwarming and hilarious. A warm and wise novel for children especially recommended for over achievers and perfectionists who will empathize with Elfie and learn some important lessons as they read and laugh their way through her story.

Elfie Unperfect by Kristin Mahoney

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th
​tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, family life, People of Color, school stories, SEL

When Lydia's mother dies after a long battle with cancer, she moves in with her aunt Brat. Brat and her wife have an odd life, living on an old farm with a retired farmer. They seem to have their hands full with people and animals to take care of, so Lydia is surprised when they decide to adopt a second dog. Lydia is not a dog person and this one acts bizarrely and pees all over the house. But he has a strange charm and soon worms his way into all of their hearts. But just as Lydia starts to feel settled in to her new life, her world threatens to be turned upside down once again.

This is the kind of heart-warming, emotionally intelligent story that I've come to expect from Leslie Connor. The characters are warm and well-drawn and welcome the reader in with a friendly embrace. Even when bad things happen, good people step up to make them right. Excellent for anyone looking for a tear jerker with a happy ending, especially dog lovers.

A Home for Goddesses and Dogs by Leslie Connor

Erica's Picks
4th - 6th
​tags: animals, character driven, contemporary fiction, family life, SEL, tear-jerker