Illustrated by Manuela López 3 stars Emily likes to have everything a certain way and that includes the cupcakes she makes for the Mini Cupcake Club. Now the stakes are even higher when she and her friends get a commission to make cupcakes for the middle school dance. Will things go as perfectly as Emily…
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Illustrated by Coma Hashii Translated by Jocelyne Allen 3.5 stars I have really loved this series, but I’m conflicted on the last volume. There are so many wonderful characters in this series and I have really enjoyed getting to know them and watching them grow. The ending was so sweet. I love how things wrap…
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Illustrated by Vali Mintzi 5 stars A beautiful story of hope and light in dark times and the power of books. When war reaches their home in Damascus, cousins Nour and Amir band together to create a secret library. Together with their friends and neighbors, they collect books from abandoned homes and bombed buildings to…
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Illustrated by Xindi Yan 5 stars A touching story filled with sweet moments and delightful humor. Laila is used to translating things from English to Chinese for her parents. But one day, she decides to do something bigger. She sets out to teach them English. Together, the family learns from one another, figuring out all…
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Illustrated by Alex Merry 5 stars A hilarious and sweet story. Told from the perspective of an autistic child, we learn about Johnny, who is neurotypical. Because of this, Johnny does things differently than the narrator. He doesn’t show up at the right time, he varies his routine, he speaks in idioms, and wants to…
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by Annelise Ryan 3 stars A cozy mystery with a cryptid twist. Cryptozoologist and bookstore-owner, Morgan Carter, is hired to help the police with an open investigation. The bodies of animals and humans have been washing up on the shores of Lake Michigan with mysterious injuries and Morgan is tasked with determining if their deaths…
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3 stars A sweet story based on the author’s memories of attending Pride parades with their mothers. To be in the parade, Emily knows you have to be loud, proud, and colorful, but is Emily enough of those things to participate? With the encouragement of Mama and Mommy, Emily learns there is no one way…
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3.5 stars Wei has always loved lion dancing. But after his father’s death, Wei quits his team and gives up on his dream. Years later, Wei gets a second chance at lion dancing. Will he be able to push through all of the obstacles to do what he loves? A nice story about what it…
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Illustrated by Hala Tahboub 5 stars An absolutely beautiful story about being there for those you care about when they’re grieving. As different people in his life experience loss, the narrator wants to help them, but they all seem to need different things. The narrator learns there is no one-size-fits-all approach and that just being…
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Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell 5 stars A beautiful story of grief, loss, and remembering. The narrator and her grandfather have a special box of treasures that is all their own. Together, they add to the collection. But when her grandfather passes away, the narrator doesn’t want to open the box anymore; it will just…
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