Illustrated by Julia Kuo 4 stars Inspired by American folklore and the origin of the Bing cherry, Kuo and Blackburne create an original tall tale that tells a larger-than-life version of the story of Ah Bing. The book wonderfully encapsulates Asian-American identity and the blending of cultures. Includes themes of ingenuity, perseverance, community, discrimination, and…
Read More
4 stars Mia doesn’t feel fully connected to her Jewish identity. She looks different than most of the kids at her Jewish day school (some of whom are quick to point it out) and she feels disconnected from her Muscogee identity. So she decides to visit her father in Oklahoma to learn more about Muscogee…
Read More
Illustrated by Mercè López 4 stars Ritu loves the sun, but her grandmother keeps telling her to come into the shade before her skin gets too dark. This confuses Ritu. Isn’t her skin beautiful? Ritu finally finds a way to tell her grandmother how she feels and show that brown skin is beautiful. Lyrical and…
Read More
by Natsumi Hoshino Translated by Nan Rymer 3 stars A adorably sweet story about Plum the cat and the shifting dynamics in the house when she brings home a stray kitten. Includes relatable moments of life with a cat from waking you up for playtime to trying to dress them in cute outfits to the…
Read More
Story by Katarina Illustrated by Ryosuke Fuji Translated by Kevin Gifford 4 stars An action-packed volume with cool world building and fun humor. Rakuro (player name Sunraku) loves “trash games”, the more bugs, the better. But when he tries the god-tier Shangri-La Frontier, his whole world changes. Using the skills and experience he’s gained from…
Read More
5 stars An adorably sweet, cozy little adventure. The Skeleton has a wonderful life tending her garden, drinking tea, and enjoying her alone time. Then one day, a black cat shows up and asks to be friends. The Skeleton isn’t so sure, but the Cat is quite convincing. Join them on their day-to-day adventures as…
Read More
by Haro Aso Illustrated by Kotaro Takata Translated by Nova Skipper 5 stars A strange and fascinating storyline. Akira and his friends continue their travels, crossing off items on their Bucket List as they go and (rather halfheartedly) looking for a way to stop the zombie apocalypse. This time they set their sights on reaching…
Read More
by Joy Harjo Foreword by Sandra Cisneros 3 stars Spanning the first 50 years of her poetry publications, Joy Harjo shares some of her most well-known and influential poems in one collection. The selections cover many events in Harjo’s life, from romantic relationships to the death of her mother, 9/11 to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each…
Read More
Adapted by Nancy E. Krulik 3 stars I grew up loving The New Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley. I honestly didn’t even realize they started as The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley. This is the first I’ve read in this series. After seeing there was a mystery featuring sharks, I knew I had to start…
Read More
by Haro Aso Illustrated by Kotaro Takata Translated by Nova Skipper 5 stars I think this is my favorite volume so far. Surprisingly sweet, action-packed, and plenty of humor. It’s the final showdown in the “Hometown of the Dead” storyline. Will Aikira and his friends be able to outsmart their nefarious counterparts to save the…
Read More