Resistance by Jennifer Nielsen

Chaya Lindner is a Jewish teen who joins the resistance during World War II. She is a courier and is adept at moving through the ghettos with food and weapons and sometimes even people. Like all Polish Jews, she has suffered devastating loss, but she channels her anger and pain into action. She is frustrated to be paired with Esther, another Jewish girl who makes mistakes and doesn't seem cut out to be a courier. However, once the their resistance cell is shattered, Chaya and Esther take on a mission to go to the Warsaw Ghetto where armed resistance is underway. The characters are nuanced and real, and the decisions they make are made in the context of their Jewish faith. This is not an easy book to read but it is a fine story of courage in the face of terrific evil. It also may serve as a first look at Polish ghettos and the Warsaw uprising for young readers. This is a natural follow-up for students who have read Alan Gratz's books (Allies, Grenade, Prisoner B-3087) and  The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

This action-packed space adventure features a shape-shifting family of fox spirits who live on a dusty, dried up planet called Jinju. Min, the thirteen-year-old daughter, takes off on a quest to find her older brother Jun who is accused of deserting the Space Forces to go in search of the powerful Dragon Pearl. Min has spent her life hiding her fox powers, but must use Charm and shapeshifting as she roams the thousand worlds in search of Jun and the Dragon Pearl. The combination of science fiction and Korean mythology makes this a unique and exciting book. My book club students were hooked and had a lot to talk about when discussing how the Korean mythology compared to other cultures mythologies in Rick Riordan's universe. I would have preferred fewer well-developed characters and more depth to the references to Korean mythology, but sci fi space operas are not written for me. I did appreciate the presence of a gender non-conforming character who uses they/them pronouns. This book got a solid 8 out of 10 stars from 6th and 7th graders who love fantasy and sci fi books.

Imposters by Scott Westerfeld

This dystopian action adventure revolves around identical twins. Rafi is the heir to the first family, the daughter of the ruler. Her twin Frey serves as her body double, trained to kill and to prevent assassination attempts. The story revolves around Frey, who is sent to Victoria in Rafi's place. She is sent as collateral, and the first family, the Palafoxes, believes she is Rafi. Frey meets the first family's son, Col, and trusts him, but finds she is in a situation she couldn't have anticipated and must escape. It's a story that relies on action and plot twists rather than character development and world building. My middle school book club liked it but didn't love it, and I found it to be forgettable. Readers who like dystopian books may enjoy it but it does not have the complexity or character development of series books such as Warcross and Legend, both by Marie Lu.

Again Again by E. Lockhart

This is the story of Adelaide, a high school girl whose boyfriend broke up with her unexpectedly, leaving her alone for the summer walking dogs in the town where she attends boarding school. She has a brother that she misses greatly, who is dealing with drug addiction and living with their mom in Baltimore, Adelaide is needy and seems lost without a boyfriend, Those are the facts of the story--but there is no typical linear plot line here. The story unfolds in one way, then the reader is given alternate ways the story might have played out. She meets a new boy, they start a relationship. Or she meets a new boy, but he's not interested in her. They walk dogs together. Or maybe a dog attacks her. The author plays with alternate universes where any scenario is possible, and perhaps all of these alternate events happen in a parallel world. In the last portion of the book everything is turned upside down and we get a longer alternate story for Adelaide. The strong point of this book is Adelaide's relationship with her brother and the pain of addiction. For me all the parallel universes were interesting, but had the effect of making me not invested in the characters as much as I wanted to be. I know there are teens who will love the mind-bending storytelling and who will relate to Adelaide and her insecurities and her search for connection. I would recommend this book for high school students who like to be surprised.

Masterminds: Criminal Destiny and Masterminds: Payback by Gordon Korman

Spoiler alert: don't read this review if you haven't already read Masterminds by Gordon Korman. These two books complete the Masterminds trilogy, which is based on a brilliant premise for a middle school story. Our four young protagonists are part of a scientific experiment in which they were cloned from notorious criminals and then raised in a utopian society with the hope of proving that nurture would make them good people. The kids discovered this truth in book one and made a dramatic escape. In these two books, Malik, Amber, Eli, and Tori are on the run from the Osiris Project whose police force is after them, and they are desperately trying to figure out how they can live their lives with no parents, no birth certificates, no money, and little knowledge of the outside world. They drive cars, plot prison breaks, hijack planes, and hack into computer systems, in some ways using the criminal skills of the criminals whose DNA they share. These books are action-packed and wildly unrealistic, but middle school readers devour them and beg for more. Gordon Korman knows how to write for tweens and teens and this series is hugely appealing to a wide variety of kids. My one complaint about this series is that one of the female character's identifying trait is to be constantly counting calories and worrying about her weight. No male character would ever be saddled with this baggage. I hate to see body shaming and weight-obsession as as even a minor theme in a book where girls other wise are wildly adventurous and competent. 

More Deadly Than War: The Hidden History of the Spanish Flu and the First World War by Kenneth C. Davis

This book starts with a shocking story of Alaskan villages wiped out by a mysterious illness. Seventy-two out of 80 inhabitants of a village died in a 5-day period. It goes on to tell how the 1918 influenza epidemic, commonly known as the Spanish flu, actually emerged at an army camp in Kansas in March of 1918. From there, it spread to American military training camps and across the ocean to Europe, where it attacked soldiers on all sides of the Great War. One striking thing about this global pandemic is how little we know about it today, partly because governments purposely suppressed information about the disease during wartime and partly because traumatized people wanted to forget about it. Although it killed over 600,000 Americans, and millions worldwide, this global pandemic has largely been lost to history. This account deals largely with the disease and its connections to World War I. There is less coverage of how the disease affected women, children, civilians back at home, and people of color. From the vantage point of 2020, it would have been fascinating to read more about how communities handled school closures, commerce, public gatherings, and social distancing. Younger readers may get bogged down by war details in the middle, but the opening few chapters and concluding chapters are stunning. Now that we are in the midst of another disease outbreak, this very timely book will be of interest to young people and adults alike. With so much here that connects to the COVID pandemic, this is a must-have book for libraries everywhere.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

If you're looking for a funny, sweet romantic comedy, this story of social media, grilled cheese, and New York City teenagers is for you. Classmates Pepper and Jack get in a Twitter war involving their family businesses, while at the same time confiding in each other via an anonymous social media app developed by Jack. Much like the 1998 movie, You've Got Mail, readers know that Jack and Pepper are meant for each other even while their public feud and family battle heats up. There are twists and turns and family secrets that add an element of surprise. This is a romance that is appropriate for middle schoolers, and will also be enjoyed by older teens as well as adults.

Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: George and Martha Washington's Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away by Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleve

Ona Judge is an American hero that most people don't know. She was enslaved by George and Martha Washington and she dared to stand up against the president of the United States by fleeing to freedom. There is much that is not known about Ona Judge's life, but these authors have put together many puzzle pieces in order to paint a vivid picture of her life and the difficulty she faced when she dared to escape to freedom. We learn about the struggles of the enslaved people at Mt. Vernon as well as life in Philadelphia and New York City in the late 1700s. I was fascinated to learn about the evolution of abolitionist thought and how laws were made to protect slave owners, even in the north. Many Americans grow up learning only positive things about our country's founding fathers, especially George Washington, but this book shows them as the flawed people that they were. Ona's story should be widely known, and I recommend this excellent book to readers of all ages.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

Many readers know Victoria Jamieson for her wildly popular graphic novels, Roller Girl and All's Faire in Middle School. Jamieson brings her vibrant, expressive illustrations to a different kind of story to share Omar Mohamed's life with young readers. The book begins in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. Omar and his brother Hassan sleep in their own tent alone, although they are only children. A woman named Fatuma looks out for them, but she is not their mother. You find out that the boys fled Somalia together, and hold out hope that their mother is alive somewhere. Omar spends his days (which are generally long, monotonous, and filled with hunger) taking care of his brother Hassan, who does not speak and has some other disabilities. When Omar is asked to attend school he is afraid to leave Hassan even for a few hours a day. When he does go to school he discovers that he is smart and that education might be his way out of the camps if only he can get resettled in another country. Jamieson and Mohamed have told this story perfectly. This gem should be read by EVERYONE.

Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

Ellie is a middle school girl who dreams of being a chef. Worried about her grandfather's worsening dementia, Ellie and her mom move to be near her grandparents, and Ellie finds herself as the new kid in a wheelchair in a small town school that's not equipped to handle her special needs. She's living in a trailer park on the wrong side of the city, but for the first time in her life she makes some real friends and feels needed by her grandparents. Ellie's cerebral palsy is a defining parameter of her life, but it isn't the the most difficult challenge she faces. She is focused on friendship, family health issues, and winning the annual cooking contest. This book is predictable and definitely not action-packed, but Ellie is a refreshing character and younger readers will enjoy how she overcomes her challenges. Recommended for grades 3-5.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are the great great great grandchildren of the most famous crime-solving pair in history. They meet at a Connecticut boarding school. Jamie wants to be friends, but Charlotte doesn't seem interested until a fellow student is killed and both have reason to be suspects. Charlotte, with her secret crime lab and her drug habit, needs the steadying influence of Jamie, and together they dive into deep trouble to clear their own names and prevent further murders. Sherlock Holmes fans will recognize many references to his literary mysteries within these pages, and those new to the stories may develop an interest in learning more. It's fast-paced and on the more mature side due to drug use, partying and mild sexual references. Recommended for mystery lovers, grades 8-up.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

When the dead rose up from the battlefield of Gettysburg, the course of American history changed. The Civil War never officially ended, and those left alive had to learn to fight back against the "shamblers." Privileged white people in cities use less privileged people for protection. Jane is one of the less-privileged. She's African American and attends a special school that trains "Negro" girls in both etiquette and how to kill shamblers. Things get worse and worse and Jane must flee, but is there anywhere left that is safe? This book provides a blend of action, history, zombies, racial injustice, and friendship/romance. Recommended for grades 8-up.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Racist ideas are woven into the fabric of the United States of America. The ideas are so deeply ingrained in our history that many of us don't see them or understand that they affect every aspect of society today. Stamped, which claims not to be a history book, traces the history of racist ideas and how Americans, who wanted the money and power that slavery gave them, created the idea of Africans being savages. From that early premise, Reynolds takes us up through the present day showing how pervasive the idea and policies that maintain it have become. Jason Reynolds is a master writer for young people, and he speaks directly to the reader in an honest and compelling tone. Reynolds is the reader of the audiobook, and is also an excellent narrator. As an adult reader, I was alternately shocked, captivated, and enraged at how often the history I learned in school could be viewed through such a different lens. I wanted to argue, to disagree, but in the end I cannot. It will only end when we acknowledge the power that racist ideas hold and we do the hard work of dismantling this system that is really all about who has privilege and who does not. This powerful book deserves to be read slowly and carefully and to be discussed in schools and churches and communities. I recommend it for all adults, as well as students in 8th grade and up,  There's an excellent educator's guide as well.

George by Alex Gino

George knows that she is a girl, but the world sees her as a boy. Her fourth grade class is reading Charlotte's Web, and what she wants more than anything is to play the wise, kind spider in the school play. But no one, not his brother, his mom, the bullies at school, or his teacher are making things easy for her. The star of this book is George's best friend Kelly, who is accepting and guileless and courageous. She shows that one person can make a world of difference to someone in need. George's journey to becoming who she needs to be is satisfying and sweet and will inspire empathy and hope. Recommended for elementary and middle school students everywhere.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Five students are serving detention in a locked room and one of them is killed. One of them must be the murderer. But which of these teens--a jock, a princess, a brain, and a drug dealer--would have wanted Simon (the outcast) dead? That is the premise of this mystery that has been flying off the shelves of my library this year. The author got her idea for the characters from The Breakfast Club, and as you might expect, each character is much more than the stereotypes that others see. The big reveals (there are several of them) did not surprise me, but kids have been enjoying it and a movie is in the works. Recommended for 8th-up.