Melissa McAvoy

Bruchac, Joseph. Of All Tribes: American Indians and Alcatraz. Abrams, 09/2023. 256pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-4197-5719-8. GRADES 7–12. ADDITIONAL.     The well-researched, involved, and diverse history of Alcatraz and American Indians is comprehensively presented. Bruchac summarizes centuries of problematic history, from the precolonial period though centuries [continue reading]

Albus, Kate. Nothing Else but Miracles. Holiday House / Ferguson, 09/2023. 288pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-8234-5163-0. GRADES 4–7. OUTSTANDING. Things have been rocky since Dory’s Pop headed off to war. True, the neighborhood looks out for the three kids: dinner at Caputo’s on Thursday, baked [continue reading]

Sheinkin, Steve. Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe. Roaring Brook, 08/2023. 256pp. Non-Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-250-26572-2.  GRADES 8 – 12. OUTSTANDING.   Sheinkin’s exemplary research and cinematic writing capture the layers of horror experienced by two teens caught up in Hitler’s [continue reading]

Gop, Becky Cushing. What Goes on Inside a Beaver Pond? Carrie Shryock, Illus. Storey, 08/2023. 48pp. Non-Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-63586-527-1. GRADES 2 – 5. OUTSTANDING.     A young beaver’s journey, leaving her family’s lodge and striking out to find her own home range, is exquisitely captured in [continue reading]

Ponweera, Thushanthi. I am Kavi. Holiday House, 09/2023. 272pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8234-5365-8. GRADES 4 – 6. ADDITIONAL.         Ten-year-old Sri Lankan Kavi is angry and adrift. She grieves her father’s death and resents her mom’s remarriage. Now she’s away from her village, on scholarship at an [continue reading]

Patrick, Ella. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: The Battle of Endor. TomatoFarm, Illus. Addl. Creators Powerstation Studios. World of Reading (level 2)Series. Disney, 03/2023. 32pp. Reader. Paper $4.99 978-1-368-09347-7. GRADES Kindergarten – 2. ADDITIONAL. This reader introduces young readers to the Star Wars franchise with [continue reading]

Pallotta, Jerry, and Garnett, Sammie. US Coast Guard: Alphabet Book. Vickie Fraser, Illus. Charlesbridge, 09/2023. [30]pp. Non-Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-57091-954-1.  GRADES Kindergarten – 4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.   Snippets of information about the U.S. Coast Guard (history, ships, people, and operational duties) are presented alphabetically to readers, breaking topics [continue reading]

Day, Nicholas. Mona Lisa Vanishes, The: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity. Brett Helquist, Illus. Random House, 09/2023. 288pp. Non-Fiction.Trade $19.99. 978-0-593-64384-6.  GRADES 4 – 8. OUTSTANDING.  The Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the world…but why? Welcome [continue reading]