As a non-Muslim reader, I feel honored to have read this book and to have been invited to witness one of the most sacred traditions in Islam through Adam and Zayneb’s perspectives … More Love From Mecca to Medina by S.K. Ali
I Capture the Castle is, at its heart, a love story, but not in the way I expected it to be. Yes, there are plenty of heart flutters and first kisses, but as I mentioned above, this is not your ordinary fairy tale, and not every character gets that famed happily ever after—at least, not in the traditional sense. … More I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
‘The Boy Who Lost His Spark’ is a chapter book disguised as a picture book. Younger readers will enjoy the story when read aloud, and the illustrations are captivating for all ages. As the reader gets older, they will learn new ways to appreciate the beauty of the prose, allowing for the audience to grow into the book. … More The Boy Who Lost His Spark by Maggie O’Farrell, illus. Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini
Jonathan Bécotte has approached a complex and highly personal experience with an endearing sense of childlike wonder. This is a story that not only retells the shared experiences of queer youth, but actively engages the reader in the emotional toll of coming out. … More Like A Hurricane by Jonathan Bécotte, transl. Jonathan Kaplansky
Review by Gabrielle Tselos Illustrated by Yong Ling Kang Tundra, April 4th, 2023 32 pages, hardcover, $23.99 CAD, 9780735271340 Ages 3-7 years Picture book, realistic fiction “My grandma was discombobulated by changes to her routine. But I was patient. Eventually, we found plans that worked for everyone.” The Care and Keeping of Grandmas tells the … More The Care and Keeping of Grandmas by Jennifer Mook-Sang, illus. by Yong Ling Kang
Review by Audrey Wahking With collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofia Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, Joelle Shusterman Simon & Schuster, 2022 423 pages, hardcover, 24.99 CAD, ISBN 9781534499973 Young adult, 15-18 years old Fiction, sci-fi, anthology of short fiction “Everyone makes pleasant little digital drawings,” continued Af Klint. “It’s clear where our new … More Gleanings by Neal Shusterman
Review by Alicia L’Archevêque Tundra Books, Penguin Random House, 2022 48 pages. Hardcover. CAN. $24.99. ISBN: 9780735270251 3-7 years old (Preschool-Grade 2) Fiction, Picture Book “That night, before he said good night to the mountain, the boy drew it once more. And, this time, he was completely satisfied.” Like a mountain, this book proves that … More The Boy and the Mountain by Mario Bellini, illus. Marianna Coppo
Review by Audrey Wahking Red Deer Press, 2021 444 pages, paperback, $14.95 CAD, 978-0-88995-641-4 Young adult, high school Realistic Fiction “Twenty,” I called out in a gasp. The boat picked up a little. My legs seared and my breathing was like rapid bursts. In and out. In and out. I kept sliding and pushing. Keep … More When You Least Expect It by Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Review by Evelyn Hussey Illustrated by LeUyen Pham Candlewick Press, 2020 32 pages, hardback, $22.99 CAD, 9781536201994 Picture book, ages 5-8, grades K-3 Mari is very small, but she has a big message to share with the world. She has made a sign reading ‘Love is Powerful’and goes with her mother to the Women’s March. … More Love is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer, illus. LeUyen Pham
Kaila Johnson reviews ‘Spells for Lost Things’ … More Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch
YOUNG ADULTING 