Nala was hoping to find love this summer, but she never thought she'd find it at an Inspire Harlem event. The activist organization is her cousin-sister-friend Imani's thing. Tye is perfect and she can't believe he's into her, so she pretends to be a vegetarian and acts like she's volunteering at a local retirement home instead of just hanging out doing puzzles with her grandmother. At first being with Tye is better than her wildest dreams. But soon she gets tired of pretending to be someone she's not. What will happen when Tye finds out she's been lying to him? Why shouldn't she be enough as she is? Soon her dream summer turns into a nightmare.

The theme of the novel is captured by the title and watching it all unfold was incredibly moving. Topics ranging from self-image to activism are explored without it ever feeling preachy. Every character is well-drawn and layered and the way the plot all comes together is masterful. I absolutely adored this novel and highly recommend it

Love Is a Revolution by Renée Watson

Erica's Picks
7th - 8th
​tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, family life, issues fiction, People of Color, romance, social justice, summer vacation

Lucely's father runs a ghost tour business where he fools tourists with hidden speakers and fake ghost sightings. But Lucely is the real deal. She sees ghosts of her family members every day. No one outside of her family knows except for her best friend Syd. When Lucely's ghost family is threatened, Lucely and Syd try to save them. But playing with spells they don't understand has dire consequences. Soon the whole town is overrun with evil spirits and they realize that they are in far over their heads.

This story has a little bit of everything from the mystery of who is messing with the town and how to save it to the all the thrills and chills you'd expect to find in a ghost story. There's more than a few laughs as well. Lucely and Syd make a great team and there's a wonderful cast of supporting characters from Syd's grandmother (who is a real witch) to Lucely's cousin who was a champion fighter before her death. Of course my favorite is the cat, Chunk, who belongs to Syd's grandmother and saves the day more than once.

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega 

Erica's Picks
4th - 6th
​Tags: adventure, animals, family life, People of Color, supernatural

When Thom's super strength first showed up, it was bad enough. She used to love playing soccer, but now she either barely taps the ball or hits it so hard it injures people. Then her mother moves her across the country and she struggles to fit in. At her old school there were plenty of Asian-American kids, but at her new school it makes her stand out as she gets bullied for her 'strange' ways. Then she accidentally unleashes the Monkey King and her life is changed forever. She's heard the stories about how he's a trickster, but he seems nice enough. And he's the only one who seems able to help her with her powers. Soon she discovers all the stories her mother told her are true and she has no idea who she really is or who she can trust.

This fantasy story based on Vietnamese mythology drew me in from the first page. Thom is a great character and it's easy to relate to her struggle to fit in and confusion over who to trust. The Monkey King is charismatic, but mischievous. Her new neighbor seems nice but is clearly hiding something. And Thom's mother loves her but refuses to tell her anything about her father. It certainly kept me guessing and resulted in a few surprises. A fun adventure story for all. 

Girl Giant and the Monkey King by Van Hoang 
Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th grade
​tags: adventure, animals, fantasy, fast-paced, People of Color, retellings, sports

Ailey knows he has the moves to make the Scarecrow in his school's production of The Wiz really shine. But at his audition, his mind goes blank and he completely chokes. He isn't looking forward to telling his family, but when he gets home there's much bigger problems: his grampa is in the hospital. Grampa tells Ailey about the time he met Bojangles and was given a pair of tap shoes and invited to audition, but he never worked up the courage to try. It's his biggest regret in life. When Ailey finds the tap shoes in the closet and makes a wish, he's transported back in time. He has the chance to change his grampa's life, and maybe his own too.

The author's love for history shines through. I love how the characters are named after Alvin Ailey, Benjamin Banneker, Mahalia Jackson and more (there's a list in the back with brief bios of their real-life counterparts). Henderson also does an amazing job conveying the tap sequences through onomatopoeia (I would love if it was made into a movie just so I can see the dances). Ailey's love for his family is the moving force behind the novel and a great warmth radiates from that. It' would make an excellent read-aloud with plenty of jumping off points for discussion.

The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson 
2nd - 4th
Erica's Picks
​tags: family life, historical fiction, People of Color, SEL

Everything changes for Maya when the world drains of color one day. At first, she thinks it's just a weird fluke. But soon she discovers the truth her parents have been hiding from her: Orishas and the stories her father tells her are real, he's a guardian of the veil, and dark forces are threatening to invade her world. Not only is Maya a descendant of the gods, but her two best friends are too. And it's a good thing they are because Maya will need their powers as they journey across the veil into the Dark on a quest to save the world.

This story is based on the Yoruba gods from Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Much like Percy Jackson, the main characters are children of those gods and mortals. The threat of the darkbringers and the Lord of Shadows is scary, although traveling through their land makes Maya seem them in a new light. I loved learning about Yoruba mythology through this book and the adventure kept me turning the pages. A promising start to a new series.

Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron 
Erica's Picks
​4th -6th
tags: adventure, fantasy, friendship, People of Color, retellings

Eleven year old Danny still believes in fairy dust, much to the dismay of his social worker. When Danny injures himself trying to fly, she has to find a new foster family for him. She urges him to forget about the fairy tales his older sister used to tell him before she disappeared. But Danny knows his sister is waiting for him in the world of Rio Luna, if he can only find a way there. No one believes him, until a field trip to the New York Public Library leads him to a copy of the original Rio Luna book that's glowing. There he finds a kid his age and her aunt, who agree to help him on his quest. Along the way they encounter fantastic creatures and sights and many dangers. But nothing can stop Danny on his quest to find his sister.

This will appeal to all book lovers who have ever wanted to escape into the world of their favorite story. There's a great cast of characters from Danny and Glory to Prince Llewelyn the Jackalope. The story is a bit slow to start, but once Danny finds the magical book and his quest begins the plot speeds along with fantastical creatures, magic, and adventure.

The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Córdova 
3rd - 5th
​tags: adventure, animals, fairy tales, fantasy, People of Color

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

An evil tsar, a misunderstood witch, a plucky orphan, and a wolf in disguise: get ready for a classic fantasy adventure that will transport you to a fairy tale Russia. Zima has never trusted humans, especially Baba Yaga, but when her pack is threatened she makes a deal with the witch and they trade bodies for a spell. Nadya also braves the woods to seek Baba Yaga's help, but doesn't realize it's really a wolf in Baba Yaga's body. Nevertheless they team up to fight the evil Tsar, save Nadya's friend, Zima's pack, and the magical woods they call home.

I love a good Baba Yaga story and this one certainly fits the bill. It has plenty of adventure but nothing too scary for younger students and a lot of heart. It would make a great read-aloud. The illustrations throughout capture the fairy-tale feel of the book. All the characters are great but my favorite was the wolf, Zima. I love how the author captured the world through her eyes and fellow animal lovers will appreciate her too.

A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton
Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th
​tags: animals, fairy tales, fantasy, retellings

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