Rory is not excited to start middle school. For one, he still can't say his 'r's, which makes even saying his name an opportunity for ridicule. Secondly, his best friend Brent has betrayed him and started hanging out with the same jerks who make fun of his speech. Lastly he found out that at the end of the year he needs to give a big oral presentation in front of the whole school.

Then, after making fun of Rory and ditching him yet again, Brent gets in an accident. Suddenly the whole school is obsessed with Brent and full of sympathy for him. But Rory still doesn't know if he can forgive Brent for how he acted. When Brent ends up changed and becomes the brunt of ridicule himself, will Rory stand up for him, or enjoy the poetic justice?

I loved this story of friendship, resilience, and doing the right thing even when it's hard. As someone who went to speech therapy for her 'r's for years, I could definitely relate to Rory. The complexity of Brent and Rory's relationship and how it changes is really compelling. Sports fans will appreciate the parallels Rory draws between his story and Muhammad Ali and music fans will appreciate Rory's love of classic rock and electric guitar. A moving story without simple answers that deserves a wide audience.

The Way I Say It by Nancy Tandon

Erica's Picks 
3rd - 5th grade
tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, disability, friendship, issues fiction, school stories, SEL

Ophie learns she can see ghosts on the night her father dies. He warns Ophie to take her mother and hide, saving their lives, but their house is burned down by the same thugs who killed him for daring to vote. Ophie and her mother flee the South to Pittsburgh, where family takes them in. Although not everyone is thrilled at their arrival.

Ophie goes to work with her mother in a large mansion full of ghosts and secrets. She is determined to get to the bottom of what happened there, even though she must hide that she can see the dead residents of the house. But restless dead are dangerous, and secrets can't stay buried forever.

This is a great ghost story for middle grade readers, striking a perfect balance between supernatural horror and the all-too-real horror of life in 1922 for a young black girl. Ophie is a strong protagonist and readers will enjoy getting to the bottom of the mystery at the heart of the story with her. Young readers will be moved by the injustice she faces and the resilience she shows in the face of it.

Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland

Erica's picks
4th - 6th grade
​tags: character driven, family life, historical fiction, horror, issues fiction, mystery, People of Color, supernatural

Etan loves spending time at his grandfather's shop. Ever since his mother went to stay in the hospital, he hasn't felt like speaking much. Etan's grandfather understands and doesn't try to pressure him or make him feel guilty. So he's happy to help his grandfather's friend by making a grocery delivery to a house on the outskirts of town. When he gets there, he discovers it's the home of "the creature," a girl with a skin condition who was bullied so badly she's now home-schooled. Etan quickly befriends her, even when his classmates tease him for it. Everyone is excited for The Battle of the Bay with the A's pitted against the Giants in the World Series, but soon something will happen that will take everyone's minds off baseball and their own problems as they have to face the power and brutality of nature.

There's so many aspects of this book to love from the incorporation of Jewish folklore and the golem to the way Etan and Malia's friendship blossoms. There's just a hint of magical realism but it's mostly grounded in history. Of course people familiar with Bay Area history will know what to expect as the Battle of the Bay looms closer, but for many readers it will be a surprise. A novel in verse, it is a quick but impactful read that I highly recommend, especially for locals.

​The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th grade
​tags: character driven, disability, family life, friendship, historical fiction, magical realism, mental illness, novels in verse, People of Color, SEL

Some animals are easy to love, like the adorable hummingbears who nest in shimmering bubble nests in willow trees and coo gently to each other. Tourists flock to Perchance during their annual migration and the town depends on money from this event.

Some animals are harder to love, like the screechers. With coarse hair and tusks at the end of their long, ugly snouts they'd have trouble winning any beauty contests. But the real reason the people of Perchance hate them is the horrible, eye-watering stench they give off when startled, which is often. Their meat is no good, but with a bounty out on the stinky eye-sores, they have been hunted to near-extinction anyway.

Willodeen isn't your average villager though. She loves all creatures, even the smelly ones. So when a baby screecher mysteriously appears, Willodeen knows she must care for it and hide it from the other villagers. When she discovers a connection between the screechers and hummingbears, she realizes that revealing her secret might be the only way to save Perchance. But as hard as standing up to the adults in the village is, getting them to actually listen is even harder.

Applegate delivers another home run in this gentle story of the interconnectedness of all creatures. It would make a great read-aloud and the short chapters and charming illustrations make it an appealing choice for readers transitioning into longer chapter books. 

Willodeen by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Charles Santoso

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th grade
​tags: animals, fantasy, friendship, SEL

 As we lose those who suffered the horrors of World War II, it is more important than ever to preserve their stories and their voices. Lia Levi's Just a Girl is just one of those many sacred voices we look to uphold for future generations.

 Telling her experience of growing up in Italy during WWII, Levi invites the reader to experience her past through her lens as a young girl of Jewish faith. Perfect for younger readers, Levi's account communicates the collective fears and anxieties of living through the war -- in hiding at a Catholic boarding school, no less -- while still making room for the simple joys and miracles she witnessed during a complicated time where the world changed before her eyes. 

Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II by Lia Levi
​Jennie's Picks
4th - 6th
tags: biography, global perspectives, history, survival

Jacob is Cassidy's best, and only, friend. He's smart, funny, cute and would probably be too popular to hang out with Cassidy. If it wasn't for the fact that he's dead and no one else can see him. Ever since Jacob saved Cassidy from drowning she's been able to part the veil between worlds and see the ghosts beyond. Mostly they just play out their final moments over and over again and are tied to the place where they died. But Jacob is different. Jacob can follow Cassidy wherever she goes, talk to her, and even read comics as long as Cassidy turns the page for him. Cassidy is still trying to figure out her new abilities when her parents surprise her with a trip to Scotland to film their supernatural investigations show. Of course, they have no idea their daughter can actually see ghosts and Cassidy has never met anyone else with her abilities, until she meets Lara in Edinburgh. But there are far more ghosts in a city as old as Edinburgh than her suburb back home in America. And not all of them are trapped in the veil or as friendly as Jacob.

I loved traveling the streets of Edinburgh with Cassidy! The characters are all well drawn (especially my favorite, Jacob) and while Cassidy's parents are oblivious to her abilities they're not complete idiots either and have a good relationship with her. It's classic middle grade spooky but not too spooky without a hint of romance and focused instead on issues of friendship and family. The most ghastly descriptions are safely ensconced in historical detail which adds a bit of distance but still not recommended for the super squeamish. Supernatural fans will find much to enjoy though.

City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab​

Erica's Picks 
4th - 7th
tags: friendship, fast-paced, global perspectives, horror, summer vacation, supernatural
​

When Beatryce is discovered by a monk and a goat she is sick and doesn't remember any details of her life, but she does know how to read and write. This shocks everyone as it is illegal for girls to have this knowledge. The monk tries to protect her by shaving her head and dressing her in robes, but soon the king himself comes looking for her, the girl prophesied to dethrone him. Beatryce has a fierce protector in the goat and makes new friends along the way, but will it be enough to save her from the king?

This is an admittedly unusual premise for a children's book, but DiCamillo and Blackall are masters of their craft and they do not disappoint here. The story reads like a classic fairy tale and the cast of quirky characters is sure to draw fans. The moral at the heart about the power of love and story is definitely one I can get behind. My prophecy is that will become a classic and be read aloud by generations.

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th
​tags: adventure, animals, fairy tales, historical fiction

​Jordan loves her basketball teammates and playing with them at practice, but after she became paralyzed from the waist down she hasn't been allowed to play in official games. Jordan is having difficulty adjusting to life in a wheelchair, but things change when she comes across a wounded baby elephant on her way home from school. She takes the elephant home to her mother, a veterinarian, and quickly forms a strong bond with the animal. Soon Jordan is back to competing, this time in water polo, and what starts as a hard year turns out to be the most magical of her life.

I love Marshmallow! This sweet, intelligent creature is sure to win over animal lovers. Jordan's profound sense of loss when she can't play basketball with her team and her commitment to learning a new sport will resonate with sports fans as well. The drawings have a beautiful, dreamlike quality while remaining rooted in real-life, which is perfect for the magical realism of the story. I love that the author includes the occasional word in Indonesian and all the details of the setting. A great comic book with wide appeal.

Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th
​tags: animals, character driven, comics, magical realism, disability, friendship, global perspectives, People of Color, school stories, sports

Del and Alma are cousins and best friends and soon they will live in the same building, above the Curious Cousins Secondhand Shoppe. Alma is excited to live closer to her family, but at first it feels like she doesn't belong. Del can't wait for Alma to move in, but she wishes Alma believed in magic like she does. When the best friends get in their first big fight and Del's magical earrings go missing will they be able to work it out or will the move turn out to be a disaster?

I love the family relationships in this book between the cousins but also the grandmother and great-aunt who run the shop and all the other relatives that live in the building. The story switches between Alma and Del's perspectives so you can see both sides of the story and understand where their disagreement is coming from. I love the way it depicts life in a big city and the hints of magic throughout. A warm, wise, wonderful book for the early chapter book crowd

Hand-Me-Down Magic #1: Stoop Sale Treasure by Corey Ann Haydu, illustrated by Luisa Uribe

Erica's Picks
2nd - 4th
​tags: character driven, family life, People of Color

Charise has always been a bad sister. From the moment her younger brother was brought home, she was jealous of how much attention he got. As he got older and ruined her drawings, tried to steal her cat, and made her look bad with his natural ease around others she only grew to resent him more. And yet he kept coming back and trusting her. But when a game goes too far and he gets really hurt Charise tries to change. Can she be the big sister she wants to be? Or is she destined to be bad forever?

I've read a lot of stories about "bad" siblings, but they usually aren't from that sibling's perspective. This one is even more unusual because it's a memoir. It's brave of Harper to tell this story where she isn't shown in the best light and I really appreciate that she did. Harper gives insight into what was going on in her head when she did the things she did and it's a great exercise in empathy. This is an excellent choice for anyone who has experienced a difficult sibling relationship and fans of memoir comics in general. 

Bad Sister by Charise Mericle Harper, illustrated by Rory Lucey 

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th
​tags: character driven, comics, contemporary fiction, family life, SEL