It's Ellen's last summer before college, and all she wants is to spend the time with her best friends before everything changes. But Xiumiao seems like she's already moved on. Then Ellen gets grounded for the whole summer by her step-mother. Luckily her other best friend, Melissa finds a loophole. Ellen's parents are always on her about getting outside and exercising more, so Melissa convinces them to let Ellen out of the house for quidditch practice. At first Ellen only agrees to it because the alternative is being stuck indoors doing chores all day. But soon this all-gender, full-contact sport with a bunch of geeks running around with PVC pipes between their legs starts to grow on her. She finally understands the appeal of sports, and she starts to understand some more things about herself too. It wasn't the summer Ellen wanted or expected, but it will turn out to be one she will never forget.

There's a lot to love about this book full of enthusiastic geeks and misunderstandings. The relationships are complicated and authentic. The protagonists are on the cusp of adulthood and figuring out their identities and exploring their gender and sexual orientation in a way that will ring true to many teens. I am not a sports fan but Ellen's journey from hating exercise to enthusiastic team player was moving. As was the way the characters learned from their mistakes and false assumptions. A great summer read.

This is How We Fly by Anna Meriano
Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
​tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, family life, friendship, LGBTQ, People of Color, SEL, sports, summer vacation

Robin loves her life in Seoul. She loves going to the cafes with her friends and talking about their favorite comics. So when a vacation to America suddenly turns into a permanent relocation after her mother gets married with no warning, she is devastated. English has never been her strongest subject so getting along in her new school is difficult. Trying to find friends she can trust is harder when even her step-cousins shun her. But things start to turn around when she finds a comic club. As Robin learns more about her mother and why she decided to move, she begins to adjust to her new life.

This comic memoir is full of heart and I enjoyed reading about Robin's experience as an immigrant and her life in both Korea and Alabama. I love how she describes her mom in the afterward as "a much more interesting character than I am" and her empathy for her mother's difficult decision shines through, even as it caused her a lot of pain at the time. An insightful and moving comic.

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
Erica's Picks
6th - 8th
​tags: art, character driven, comics, family life, global perspectives, people of color, school stories

Henri is a charming, popular student, star debater, and dog walker extraordinaire. He's passionate about taking care of his neighbor's dogs, but he knows they'll trust a corporation more than some kid, so he makes a fake dog walking company complete with its own website. No one suspects he's the only employee, except for his neighbor Corinne. She has problems of her own. She knows recommendation letters can make or break a college application and hers keep saying that she's too intense and doesn't fit in socially. She promises Henri she'll keep his secret as long as he uses his popularity to reform her image. At first it's a grudging arrangement, but as they get to know each other better Henri's feelings change. Which is why it's so devastating when he has to decide between his dreams for his future and betraying Corinne.

Ben Philippe is just as charming as his protagonist, judging from this and his other book. Reading a book of his is always a pleasure. This book is a classic rom-com premise but with thought-provoking messages of society's expectations for its main characters and academic integrity. 

Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe
Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
​tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, friendship, people of color, romance, school stories

Nannerl Mozart loves to lose herself in music. Her father allows her to perform at the piano, at least until she reaches a marriageable age, but he doesn't allow her to compose. It's not proper for a lady. Meanwhile her younger brother Wolfgang Amadeus is given free reign to compose and quickly begins to outshine his older sister. Nannerl and Wolfgang have always been close, playing together and making up elaborate fantasy worlds to pass the time. But the injustice of how they are treated differently due to their sex begins to grate on Nannerl. When an elven prince from one of their stories appears to Nannerl in real life, he offers her the fame she deserves; a guarantee her name will live on forever. But what seems like a fairy tale happy ending is twisted when Nannerl discovers the price she'll have to pay.

I loved this combination of fantasy and historical fiction. I had never heard of Wolfgang Mozart's older sister before and was intrigued by her story. I was equally enthralled by the fantasy world coming to life and the twists and turns of figuring out the truth of it. Most of all I was moved by the relationship between the siblings Highly recommended.

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu 
Erica's Picks
6th - 8th
tags: fairy tales, family life, fantasy, historical fiction

Elatsoe can raise the spirits of the dead. When her faithful dog died, she called him back and his ghost has been by her side ever since. The knowledge and talent for this ritual has been passed down by her Lipan Apache ancestors from her grandmother who has a ghost mammoth companion to her famous six-great grandmother who battled supernatural creatures. But one important imperative has been passed down as well: never raise the spirits of dead humans. So when her cousin dies in mysterious circumstances, she can't bring him back. But she can make sure that he gets justice. With her powers and the help of her friends and family she discovers the secret of a powerful cabal that has been exploiting people for centuries. Her cousin is the most recent of their victims, and she is determined to make sure he's their last.

I loved the world that Little Badger created in this novel. The supernatural elements blend seamlessly with elements of the author's own heritage to create an engaging story. The main character is asexual so there's no romance slowing down the pacing. Just one intrepid teen with laser focus. All the characters are layered and well-developed and what's not to love about a spirit dog that can be by your side forever? Highly recommended. 

Elatsoe ​by Darcie Little Badger

Erica's Picks
5th - 8th grade
​tags: adventure, animals, family life, friendship, LGBTQ, mystery, People of Color, supernatural

One day Avery was sleeping in her car. The next she was a billionaire. Avery has no idea why Tobias Hawthorne chose to leave his vast fortune to her instead of his family. She's never even met him. But she was not prepared for all the challenges and danger that her new-found wealth would bring. Now she's living in a mansion filled with secret passages and Tobais's bitter relatives. Tobais's grandsons are convinced he's left them answers in the form of a puzzle and clue filled treasure-hunt. Avery teams up with the handsome Jamie to uncover the mystery, but when attempts are made on her life she realizes how deadly these inheritance games are.

This is a fun mystery full of quirky characters, puzzles, and intrigue. Even though Tobias is dead when the book begins, the eccentric billionaire plays a big role in the novel along with his passion for building secret passages and creating puzzles. He has four grandsons around the age of Avery and her sister, who all have their own unique personalities and reactions to being disinherited. On top of that there's a mystery surrounding an ex-girlfriend of the grandsons who recently died. There's a lot going on, but it all comes together in the end in a satisfying conclusion. A page-turning adventure. 

​The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Erica's Picks
7th & 8th grade
​tags: contemporary fiction, family life, mystery, romance

After the death of her sister, Violet's family moves back to the small town where her mother grew up. Violet doesn't like the creepy, old family house and she misses city life. There's something shady going on with people turning up dead in the woods. People act strangely around her because she's the descendant of one of the four founding families. When she meets the other teenage children of the founders, she discovers why. They each have their own dangerous powers, but the thing lurking out in the Gray is more dangerous still. Will they be able to put aside their differences and save their town? Or will Darkness consume them all?

This dark supernatural horror story has a palpable atmosphere that will leave you trembling as you turn the pages. The characters are well-written with their own complex backstories and motivations. The interpersonal drama is just as intense as the supernatural kind. A great book for brave readers looking to lose themselves in a story.

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman
Erica's Picks
8th grade
​tags: family life, horror, supernatural

Ever since their parents' death, Ryn and her siblings have been in charge of the graveyard. Gravedigging is an important job in a town where the dead don't always stay dead if improperly handled. These risen corpses, called bone houses, are appearing with more frequency and the whole town is endangered. Legend says that they are the result of a curse and the only way to break it is to travel to the abandoned Castell Sidi and find the black cauldron. But between Ryn and the castle is a dark forest filled with monsters.

This story, based in the same world as Lloyd Alexander's Black Cauldron, is a great fantasy adventure set in a classic world complete with ancient curses, puzzles, and trials along the way. The horror elements are truly frightening and the world is completely immersive. Both Ryn and her companion, the traveling map-maker, are great characters and I loved following their story and cheering them on.

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
​tags: adventure, fantasy, horror

Pepper may seem like she has it all, but her life is falling apart. Her parents' divorce created huge cracks in her family and now her older sister isn't talking to her mother. Her parents' fast food chain has gone national and she lives in a swanky apartment with her mother in New York City and secretly runs the company's twitter account while trying to keep up with school, college applications, and being the new captain of the swim team. Her only bright spot is the anonymous chat app where she's slowly falling in love, the problem is she has no idea who the person she's chatting to is. Jack has problems of his own. His family's small deli is struggling to get by and his more popular twin brother leaves him with all the work but none of the credit. When their signature sandwich is stolen by a big chain restaurant, he calls them out on twitter. What ensues is a messy conflict that has people all over the country picking sides and egging them on. Who will win the twitter war, and what will happen when the anonymous chat app reveals their secret identities?

This is a rom-com at its best. It's light and funny but still has a heart. The trope of enemies falling in love anonymously is well-trod from movies like You've Got Mail and The Shop Around the Corner to the musical She Loves Me (a favorite of mine). But there's a reason why this story keeps getting retold and that's because it's so satisfying. This update captures the current world of social media and is sure to capture plenty of fans as well. 

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
Erica's Picks
6th - 8th grade
Tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, family life, humor, romance, school stories

Shapeshifters, ghosts, androids, gods, MMORPGs, goblins, and more. This collection of short stories has it all. Each story is based on a traditional tale from the author's East or South Asian culture. Some stories stick closer to their traditional roots while some are set far in the future. But every one has a fantastical element that will transport you to another time and place. My favorite was Olivia's Table by Alyssa Wong but they're all great. After each story is a brief note from the author explaining their inspiration and giving you a peek behind the scenes. A must-read for fans of speculative fiction looking for a global perspective.

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh
Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
​tags: fantasy, fairy tales, global perspectives, People of Color, retellings, science fiction, supernatural