Literacy Now

It’s almost time for the school year to end and summer reading to begin. Encourage students to head to their local library and sign up for a summer reading program. Here are just a few of the new fiction and nonfiction books recommended to jump-start students’ summer reading.

Ages 4–8

Chuck and Woodchuck. Cece Bell. 2016. Candlewick.

When first-grader Chuck brings his pet Woodchuck for show-and-tell, everyone is delighted and agrees Woodchuck should come to school every day. Woodchuck is especially kind to Caroline, and helps shy Chuck and Caroline become friends by the end of the school year. Young children will connect with this story, illustrated with humorous ink and digitally colored cartoon art, about making friends, which can take some time and require intervention by a friendly third party (such as Woodchuck).

I Won a What? Audrey Vernick. Ill. Robert Neubecker. 2016. Alfred A. Knopf/Random House.

Imagine going to a carnival and winning not a goldfish but a whale! That’s exactly what happens in this story when a young child throws his ping-pong ball into a fish bowl and comes away with Nuncio, a whale. Will the boy’s parents allow him to keep Nuncio? How can they accommodate such an enormous pet? Computer-generated cartoon art in vivid colors makes this humorous book a great spring-into-summer read.

Long Road to Freedom (Ranger in Time#3). Kate Messner. Ill. Kelley McMorris. 2016. Scholastic.

This third book in Messner’s popular series takes time-traveling Ranger, a search-and-rescue golden retriever, to a plantation in Maryland in the mid-1800s, where he helps two slave children make a daring escape and assists them on their journey North. Messner tackles an important topic with just the right amount of danger and suspense for the intended audience. Her detailed research adds a layer of authenticity to the story, and young readers who want to learn more about this time period will be interested in her research notes, suggestions for further reading, and sources. A full-page black-and-white drawing in each chapter adds interest. This book is a good pick for history buffs, dog lovers, and fans of time travel.

Oh No, Astro! Matt Roeser. Ill. Brad Woodard. 2016. Simon & Schuster.

Astro the Asteroid is just trying to keep to himself out in space. When a wayward satellite knocks him off course, Astro finds himself hurtling through space and heading toward Earth at breakneck speed. Vivid computer-designed illustrations in red, blue, yellow, black, and white create a cohesive feel to this picture book. Additional space facts at the end of the story are a perfect entry into some follow-up nonfiction space stories for young readers.

Ages 9–11

Anything but Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic. Mara Rockliff. Ill. Iacopo Bruno. Candlewick.

This picture book biography tells the story of Adelaide Herrmann (1853–1932), the first (and one of the only ever) known woman magician. From a young age, Addie wasn’t one who accepted the idea girls couldn’t do certain things, and she explored many new and adventurous opportunities before marrying magician Alexander Herrmann. Bruno’s pencil and digitally colored illustrations dramatically (and literally) set the stage for this entertaining biography. When her husband dies unexpectedly, Addie decides that the show must go on, and she performs as the magician. Rockliff keeps the text short but includes back matter that explains more about Addie’s significance in history and provides an invitation to visit her author’s website to check out one of Addie’s famous tricks.

Pink Is for Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfectly Pink Animals (The World of Weird Animals). Jess Keating. Ill. David DeGrand. 2016. Alfred A. Knopf/Random House.

Think pink is just for princesses? Think again! This fascinating nonfiction picture book introduces readers to 17 unique pink animals from around the world, including aquatic animals like the blobfish and pygmy seahorses and terrestrial animals like pink land iguanas and pinktoe tarantulas. Each two-page spread features a full-page photograph of the animal, a short introductory paragraph, and a sidebar identifying common name, species name, size, diet, habitat, and predators/threats. Further, a fun fact is included for each animal along with a cartoon. Back matter contains a world map indicating where to find each animal, a glossary, and a short list of additional resources for readers who want to learn more about these perfectly pink animals.

The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank’s Window. Jeff Gottesfeld. Ill. Peter McCarty. 2016. Alfred A. Knopf/Random House.

This picture book is told from the perspective of the horse chestnut tree outside of Anne Frank's attic window during World War II before Anne and her family were discovered and taken to a concentration camp. When the horse chestnut tree died, saplings grown from its seedpods were sent to a variety of locations including New York City, at the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood. McCarty’s intricate brown ink drawings add a sense of somberness to this tale. This is a worthy companion text for middle-grade readers who may have learned about Anne Frank in school. An extended author’s note provides more context for the reader and gives information about how saplings from this tree have been sent all over the world.

The Wild Robot. Peter Brown. 2016. Little, Brown.

When Roz the Robot is activated for the first time, she finds herself on a remote island with only wild animals inhabiting the area. Although rejected by the animals at first for being a “monster,” Roz quickly wins them over with her robot skills and charm, and soon they are treating her more like a friend and less like an outsider. Brown’s first venture into writing chapter books for middle-grade readers is a delightful tale of friendship, acceptance, and making tough decisions. His cartoon-style illustrations in black and white are interspersed throughout the text. In “A Note About the Story,” Brown tells how he came to write this “robot nature story.” A great pick for readers who dream of adventure—and robots.

Ages 12–14

Lily and Dunkin. Donna Gephart. 2016. Delacorte/Random House.

Timothy McGrother knows in his heart that he is a girl and that his name should be Lily. He longs to wear dresses and do “girl things” with his big sister, Sarah. Norbert (“Dunkin”) Dorfman, who suffers from bipolar disorder, has just moved to Lily’s Florida neighborhood after a painful family event. He’d like to be friends with Lily, but he also longs to fit in with the basketball team. Told in alternating chapters from Lily’s and Dunkin’s points of view, this story of friendship and finding your true self is a wonderful middle-grade novel that doesn't shy away from tough topics.

Super Gear: Nanotechnology and Sports Team Up. Jennifer Swanson. 2016. Charlesbridge.

What exactly is nanotechnology, and how does it relate to sports? In this nonfiction book, Swanson takes an in-depth look at how nanotechnology scientists and engineers are changing the face of athletics in the 21st century by designing better running shoes, tennis rackets, swimsuits, and other sports-related equipment. This reader-friendly introduction to nanotechnology breaks down the science and describes the processes of nanomanufacturing in a clear and understandable way. Packed with photographs, diagrams, and text boxes, this book will appeal to athletes and sports enthusiasts—and the curious. Back matter has an author’s note, glossary, resources (books and websites), source notes, a lengthy bibliography, and an index.

Ages 15+

Doping in Sports: Winning at Any Cost. Stephanie Sammartino McPherson. 2016. Twenty-First Century.

Teens are bombarded with messages to “just say no” to drugs, yet every year another professional athlete is outed for saying yes. This nonfiction account tackles the important topic of doping or using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in athletes at all levels—from high school to the pros. McPherson offers a historical perspective on the development and use of PEDs interspersed with many vignettes of athletes from a variety of different sports. Back matter includes a timeline, detailed source notes, a glossary, an index, and additional resources to complement the information in the text.

The Great American Whatever. Tim Federle. 2016. Simon & Schuster.

Sixteen-year-old screenwriter-wannabe Quinn Roberts is dealing with some tough issues: His sister was killed in a car accident; his single-parent mom is having a hard time coping with life, not to mention the bills that are piling up; and he’s trying to figure out how to tell his mom and best friend that he’s gay. This coming-of-age story, told with Federle’s humorous and sometimes sarcastic voice, explores themes of living through loss, friendship, and first romance and should appeal especially to teen readers who are trying to find their way in life.

Jennifer W. Shettel is an associate professor at Millersville University of PA, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate course in literacy for preservice and practicing teachers. Prior to joining the faculty at Millersville, she spent 16 years as an elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist in the public schools.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

From her time as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature to her work promoting summer reading, Kate DiCamillo is a champion for kids. Talking with Kate about writing, her latest bestseller Raymie Nightingale, and her work in getting kids—and the adults who care for them—excited about summer reading was an honor.

***

How can adults be summer reading champions for the kids in their lives?

One thing is to take kids to the library! My mother did that for me and my brother. Parents can make the decision to get to the public library once a week. You can even load up the car and take all the kids in your whole neighborhood to the library—my mom used to do that for our neighborhood.

That leads right into my next question! Kids often want to know about what grown-ups were like as children. So, Kate, did you participate in summer reading programs as a kid?

Yes, I did. They had prizes for reading, can you believe it? I got a prize for the thing I most wanted to do. It seemed ridiculous to get prizes for reading. I participated in summer reading every summer, because the library was always a haven.

Related to that—what are some of your favorite memories of your childhood library or, especially, of your school libraries?

When you say “school library,” I can remember it all exactly. I can remember where I’d stand to check out books. I was given free reign of the library, and that’s very important for kids: choice. Choice is important for the kids, like me, who loved to read, but it’s also important for the kids who don’t know they love to read—yet. The library was a place I could be seen for who I was. There was always a sense of safety and of being seen.

That’s so true! Why are libraries especially important for kids during the summer?

Choice! It’s choice. You can read for yourself. And the privilege of the library is you can go anywhere into a library and they’ll help you. It’s a privilege, but it’s also a joy. It’s astonishing that a public library is there—you can walk in and read whatever you want, it’s such a joy!

Because we are talking about summers, may I ask why you chose to set your new book, Raymie Nightingale, during the summer?

Ha! That’s a good question! Raymie isn’t autobiographical, but it certainly has autobiographical elements. It has something in children’s lives that perhaps happens only in summer: long, unoccupied stretches of time.

Yes, the narrative couldn’t have happened if it wasn’t summer! Their friendships, their adventures—summer helps it all unfold.

Yes, exactly. It is as close as I’ve ever come to putting myself in a book, but I’m not sure I thought about why it was set in the summer!

Thank you so much for chatting with me today! I always like to wrap up with a question from a kid! One of my patrons, Audrey, is sure that she is your biggest fan. The Tale of Despereaux is her favorite book of all time. She wants know why you started writing.

What a good question. It’s because I was a reader. It’s because I was sick as a kid and learned to live in my head. It’s because my father left. I often say I like a hole to write into, an absence. You get told stories and so you tell them back. I became a writer because I love stories and stories matter.

***

What an amazing way to end an interview with a favorite writer!

In May, DiCamillo’s publisher, Candlewick Press, hosted a free live webcast with DiCamillo from Edgewood School in Woodridge, IL, where she talked about the importance of summer reading and encouraged students nationwide to sign up for the summer reading program at their local public libraries. Response was tremendous: 975 schools signed up for the webcast, with an estimated reach based on classroom tallies at around 50,000 students and viewers in all 50 states.

Hear more about Kate's role as a National Summer Reading Champion, as well as her Top Ten Reasons for joining a summer reading program and her 2016 recommended summer reads here.

Angie Manfredi is the Head of Youth Services for the Los Alamos County Library System in Los Alamos, NM. She loves when children shout “LIBRARY LADY!” at her in the grocery store and is dedicated to literacy, education, and every kid’s right to read what he or she wants. You can read more of her writing on her blog, Fat Girl Reading, or find her on Twitter.

The natural world abounds with fascinating animals, and many wander into books for young people. Here we feature fiction and nonfiction titles where animals are the main focus or play an important supporting role. Whether they are cuddly and adorable or a reminder of the wildness of nature, animals of all sorts intrigue those of us who walk upright.

Ages 4–8

A Beetle Is Shy. Dianna Hutts Aston. Ill. Sylvia Long. 2016. Chronicle.

This excellent writer–illustrator team uses their sixth title to highlight the seemingly infinite variety of beetles and the characteristics and behaviors that make them so interesting. Sticking to the pattern used in their earlier nature-themed books, A Beetle Is Shy begins by identifying one attribute of beetles—shyness—before covering several other attributes of beetles, and then circling back to the declaration that while some beetles are shy, others are quite bold. Well-chosen words describe various beetles and their life cycles, and acknowledge they can both help and harm. Young readers are sure to be intrigued to learn about places where beetles serve as a food source for humans. The extraordinarily detailed watercolor illustrations perfectly complement the text, placing readers into the beetles’ interesting world. Particularly noteworthy is one illustration showing the North American Featherwing Beetle next to a needle and thread, a terrific depiction of size when compared to an ordinary household object since this beetle is so tiny. A double-page spread at the end of the book features 28 beetles whose sometimes drab, sometimes iridescent colors not only highlight their differences but provide evidence of Mother Nature’s fondness for her own jewels.

Cat Nap. Toni Yuly. 2016. Feiwel & Friends.

Young cat-lovers will readily relate to this color-drenched picture book with its depiction of the behavioral differences between a kitten eager for play and an older, sedate cat—quite possibly mirroring the differences between the behavior of adult humans and toddlers. While Cat clings to his daily routine, filled with plenty of naps, Kitten simply wants a playmate. The wily Cat tolerates the upstart’s attention before suggesting they play a hiding game, but Cat only hides briefly before Kitten finds him. Quickly growing weary of the game and Kitten’s attention, Cat heads off for a well-deserved nap, only to find that Kitten has chosen his preferred napping place as a bed. This adorable read-aloud offers plenty of interesting visuals and text to hold the attention of young children before naptime.

Ages 9–11

Bad Kitty Goes to the Vet. Nick Bruel. 2016. Roaring Brook.

Anyone who has tried to wrangle a cat into its carrier for a trip to the vet knows this story. There's just something about an impending trip to the doctor that causes many cats, including Kitty, to freak out and head for parts unknown or to lash out viciously. The book's cover foretells the plot: It features an illustration of Kitty, fur bristling, tail pointed skyward, and eyes bulging as a hand with a thermometer approaches and bandages fly through the air. Poor Kitty has lost her appetite, which prompts her human companion to schedule a trip to the veterinarian. Readers will laugh at the collection of protective equipment gathered to get her into the carrier, including padding, duct tape, and even a welding mask. After her appointment, Kitty dreams of her future if she doesn't change her behavior toward Puppy, her constant, seemingly clueless victim. Filled with humorous illustrations depicting Kitty at her best and her worst, the book also weaves in interesting information about veterinarians and pet care. Although there is sweetness kneaded into the storyline, Bad Kitty doesn't disappoint fans as she reverts to normal Bad Kitty behavior. Anyone who needs a pick-me-up will enjoy this book, filled as it is with snarky humor and a cat that lovingly epitomizes the worst in feline behavior.

Fabulous Frogs. Martin Jenkins. Ill. Tim Hopgood. 2016. Candlewick.

Although most of us will never see more than a handful of them, there are more than 5,000 species of frogs in the natural world. Beginning with the enormous Goliath frog and concluding with the intriguing Australian water-holding frog and one common frog that most readers are sure to recognize, this book presents plenty of interesting information about these amphibians. An index encourages readers to revisit the text to think more deeply about how frogs breathe, the sounds they make, and other characteristics and behaviors. This well-designed celebration of frogs, with its lively text and stunning mixed-media illustrations, will make readers wish there were even more frogs on its pages. Even the endpapers feature tadpoles and egg tape strips. Fabulous Frogs will appeal to anyone interested in frogs but will also kindle interest in others, who will find the information hard to resist. As a passionate introduction to frogs, the book will intrigue young readers while avoiding overwhelming them with too many details.

Lucky. Chris Hill. 2016. Chicken House/Scholastic.

In the tradition of the well-loved Redwall series, this chapter book follows the adventures of Lucky, a red squirrel who has been separated from others like him. Instead, he finds himself surrounded by large gray squirrels in unfamiliar terrain in Albion Park. Fortunately, First Daughter befriends him, and Lucky becomes fast friends with the athletically-gifted Nimlet. To Lucky’s dismay, the gray squirrels are engaged in plots of intrigue and political posturing, and he becomes caught up in the conflict between the Northender squirrels and the Cloudfoots. Readers will enjoy the resemblance to humans borne by different characters in the story, populated as it is with villains, a slightly-ditsy heroine who ends up saving the day, and unexpected sources of betrayal. The antics of the neighborhood dogs and a fox add humor to this story that will leave readers chittering for more.

Prairie Dog Song: The Key to Saving North America’s Grasslands. Susan L. Roth & Cindy Trumbore. Ill. Susan L. Roth. 2016. Lee & Low.

History is filled with periods when humans have carelessly destroyed the environment, subsequently threatening the existence of the animals that depend on certain habitats to survive.  An excellent reminder of what happens when certain species are removed from their habitats, this book describes how the intrusion of humans on prairie grasslands and deserts of North America caused many native flora and fauna to disappear. Decades after this loss, a scientist happens upon an area in Mexico where the grasslands still thrive. He comes to realize the importance of a keystone species such as prairie dogs. The book tells the story of this special area, now preserved and populated with species that thrive there, through "Prairie Dog Song," a song about what happened, and additional text that expands on the events described in the song. The stunning illustrations, created in paper and fabric collage, are filled with thousands of paper strips representing the prairie grass. This book would be a great introduction to a unit about the interconnection of species and serves as a cautionary tale for those who support the eradication of wolves and other species. As often as humans lay waste to the world around them, they can also heal its wounds.

Ages 12–14

Maybe a Fox. Kathi Appelt & Alison McGhee. 2016.Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum/Simon & Schuster.

Jules and her older sister Sylvie are very close and enjoy living on their rural New England property with their father and spending time with their friend Sam. While Sylvie races through life, inspired by the speed of Florence Griffith-Joyner, Jules loves rocks and spends hours sorting and categorizing them. When Sylvie disappears one day while running through the woods, the family is devastated. But Senna, a young red fox, watches over Jules and leads her to the truth about her sister. Loss is threaded through this book as each of the characters is coping with grief and the absence of loved ones. For instance, Elk, Sam's older brother, has returned safely from Afghanistan, but without his best friend Zeke. In the end, the characters find comfort in the realization they have one another and the knowledge that those who left them mattered and are still with them in some way. The sound of one farmer’s continuously blasting gun foreshadows the book's conclusion.

Terror at Bottle Creek. Watt Key. 2016. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Thirteen-year-old Cort has had it with both of his parents. After his mother wants nothing to do with his father because she’s fed up with the rural lifestyle that comes with being married to an Alabama swamp guide, his father still has hopes she’ll come back to him. As the town prepares for an impending hurricane, Cort and the two Stovall girls are separated from the adults. They head into the swamp in order to stay as safe as they possibly can from Hurricane Igor, a category three hurricane that causes storm surges and makes it impossible for them to return to the safety of the Stovall house. Not surprisingly, as the youngsters seek higher ground among the area's mounds and trees, other species have the same idea, and they end up competing for sanctuary with wild hogs, a bear, snakes, and alligators. The book is fast-paced, filled with plenty of action, and features a never-say-die protagonist whose fears and heroics are quite believable. Readers will come to realize that sometimes the decisions made under pressure may not be sound ones but seem to be the only options. The author effectively captures the sights, sounds, and smells associated with a hurricane as well as the efforts citizens make to keep their property safe. Readers will worry no one will leave that swamp alive since all of the characters come far too close to nature.

Ages 15+

The Killing Jar. Jennifer Bosworth. 2016. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Seventeen-year-old Kenna Marsden has unusual and somewhat frightening gifts that she has never harnessed. Several years ago, with only a touch, she killed a boy who had tortured and killed her sister's cat and its kittens. Since then, she has kept this ability a secret. But when her twin sister and mother are assaulted and killed after her performance at a folk music festival, her special powers awaken again, and she revives her family members. Unsure what to do with Kenna, her mother sends her off to Eclipse, a local commune where she can learn how to make the most of her powers. Despite how comfortable she feels with others like her, including the grandmother she never knew existed, Kenna remains wary and curious about their strong connection with moths. When she eventually learns the secret behind the attractiveness and youthfulness of those who live in the commune, she is understandably horrified. Teen readers will appreciate Kenna’s dilemma as she vacillates between her strong feelings for Blake, the kind-hearted boy next door at home, and for Cyrus, who gently teaches her about her heritage at the commune. The passages in which Kenna explores and then learns to rein in her powers as well as her struggles with the alluring nature of a blissed-out life are particularly well-written. It’s interesting to ponder how an entire society exists right below the surface of Kenna’s mundane one and speculate about what started all the moth-worshipping.

Barbara A. Ward teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in literacy at Washington State University, Pullman. She spent 25 years teaching in the public schools of New Orleans, where she worked with students from kindergarten through high school at several ability levels. She is certified in elementary education, English education, and gifted education. She holds a bachelor's in communications, a master's in English Education from the University of Tennessee and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

With the popularity and proliferation of book series, fitting recommended titles into just one review was impossible. This post features both the latest books in episodic series that can be read in any order and first books in new series. We have included a picture book and some early chapter books for younger readers and books with complex plots in a variety of genres for older readers. All will leave readers eagerly waiting for the next book in the series.

Ages 4–8

Bear & Hare, Where’s Bear? Emily Gravett. 2016. Simon & Schuster.

In this third Bear & Hare picture book, the two friends play hide-and-seek. As Hare counts from 1 to10, Bear hides behind a floor lamp. He chooses equally poor hiding places during two more turns. Bear isn’t good at seeking either. He looks for Hare inside a teapot, under a rug, behind a picture, and in an obviously empty bed. Observant children will notice that Bear actually is close to discovering Hare just as he gives up and snoozes in the bed. Tired of waiting to be found, Hare also gives up and goes in search of Bear. Gravett’s text is spare, and her illustrations rendered in pencil, watercolor, and wax crayon, featuring the two friends at play against expansive white backgrounds, are expressive and warmly humorous.
—CA

Buster the Very Shy Dog in the Great Bone Game (Buster #3). Lisze Bechtold. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

In the two short chapters of this beginning reader, Buster, the brown, big-eyed, very shy puppy who comes to live at Roger’s house, must deal with Phoebe, a bone-collecting dog. “Rich is when you have lots of bones,” according to Phoebe. Phoebe tricks Buster out of his bones by offering lessons in training the bones to stay. Next, Phoebe involves Buster in her plan to steal the enormous bone of an enormous dog, Gregory, who lives next door, using her train-a-bone-to-stay trick. The plan goes awry as Phoebe is caught with the bone in her mouth. Buster, however, now feels as rich as Phoebe because he has a new friend. Bechtold’s ink-and-watercolor cartoon-like illustrations clearly express the different personalities of the three dogs and the humor of their interactions.
—CA

March of the Mini Beasts (The DATA Set #1). Ada Hopper. Ill. Sam Ricks. 2016. Little Simon/Simon & Schuster.

Gabriel Martinez, Laura Reyes, and Cesar Moreno are second graders at Newtonburg Elementary School. Calling themselves the DATA (Danger! Action! Trouble! Adventure!) Set, they hang out in their super futuristic treehouse and solve mysteries. After Dr. Gustav Bunsen, a mad scientist neighbor, uses his growth ray machine on their plastic toy animals, they come to life and begin to grow exponentially, and the children must find a way to take care of them. When Dr. Bunsen uses his time portal machine on Stego, Gabe’s favorite toy, the dinosaur gets whisked back to the Jurassic period, and so do they. In Book 2, Don’t Disturb the Dinosaurs (2016), the DATA Set must figure out how to return home from the Age of the Dinosaurs. With short chapters, numerous black-and-white illustrations, and fast-paced adventure, this series is a good choice for readers ready for transitional chapter books.
—NB

Ages 9–11

Audacity Jones to the Rescue (Audacity Jones #1). Kirby Larson. 2016. Scholastic.

Well-read because she spends so much time in the Punishment Room (the library) of Miss Maisie’s School for Wayward Girls in Swayzee, IN, 11-year-old orphan Audacity (“Audie”) Jones is curious to see more of the world. When mysterious Commodore Crutchfield comes to the school seeking an orphan to assist him in a special mission, Audie eagerly volunteers. All she knows is that the mission involves a trip to Washington and has something to do with President Taft. As this humor-filled melodramatic adventure story unfolds, Audie is aided by Min, her clever cat, who has stowed away in the auto they are traveling in, and friends she makes in DC., including Juice, a newsboy, and Daddy Dub, his grandfather, who live in the White House stables. Together they foil the plan of the commodore and his accomplice, Eva Finch, to kidnap President Taft’s niece. The author’s note makes clear what is fiction and what is fact in this first adventure of Audacity Jones.
—CA

A Dragon’s Guide to Making Your Human Smarter (A Dragon’s Guide #2). Laurence Yep & Joanne Ryder. Ill. Mary GrandPré. 2016. Crown/Random House.

In this sequel to A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans (2015), Miss Drake, a 3,000-year-old dragon who can disguise herself as a human, arranges for Winnie, her pet human, to attend The Spriggs Academy, an extraordinary school for humans and magicals. Granddad Jarvis is plotting anew to kidnap Winnie, and Miss Drake and her cronies are intent on foiling his plan. When Nanette, Winnie’s nemesis at school, traps her into assisting in her magic act at the Halloween Festival and the trick goes terribly wrong, Granddad Jarvis finally has the evidence he needs to step in legally and have the court declare Winnie’s mother unfit. If Winnie can discover the secret word that Great-Aunt Amelia, his sister, used to control him, can a miracle happen to keep her, her mother, and Miss Drake together? Adventure, magic, humor, and charming black-and-white spot illustrations pull readers through action-packed chapters told from the alternating perspectives of Winnie and Miss Drake.
—NB

Ages 12–14

The Great White Shark Scientist (Scientists in the Field). Sy Montgomery. Photographs by Keith Ellenbogen. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

In her latest Scientists in the Field book, Sy Montgomery introduces readers to the great white shark. She follows the work of shark biologist Dr. Greg Skomal and his research team during a summer as they video record and tag great white sharks in the waters off Cape Cod and then gets a close-up look at great white sharks in a dive in a submersible cage with Mexican biologist Erick Higuera off Guadalupe Island. By including numerous quotations, Montgomery shows the researchers’ enthusiasm in spite of the often routine and disappointing nature of their work (limiting weather conditions, infrequent shark sightings). The book contains an abundance of color photographs taken by Keith Ellenbogen from both the research vessels and a small spotter plane. One- to four-page inserts at the end of chapters provide additional information on research and conservation efforts related to the great white shark. Back matter includes shark maps, a bibliography, web resources, acknowledgments, and an index.
—CA

Poison Is Not Polite (Wells & Wong Mystery #2). Robin Stevens. 2016. Simon & Schuster.

In 1930s England, the Detective Society duo of Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong (joined by boarding school chums Kitty and Beanie) unexpectedly take on a new case during a holiday at Fallingford, the country estate of Lord and Lady Hastings, Daisy’s parents, when a houseguest, Denis Curtis, falls ill at Daisy’s 14th birthday party and dies. The Detective Society believes the unlikeable Mr. Curtis, who had a keen interest in the valuable antiques and paintings in the mansion as well as in Lady Hastings, was poisoned with arsenic-laced tea. Severe flooding has isolated Fallingford—no one can leave and the police cannot enter. It is up to the Detective Society to examine the motives and opportunities of all suspects and identify the murderer before the police arrive, particularly because Lord Hastings looks like the prime suspect. Readers who missed the first book, Murder Is Bad Manners (2015), will want to read it while they wait for the next book in the series. 
—CA

Ages 15+

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1). Cassandra Clare. 2016. Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster.

It is five years after the Dark War (in the final book of The Mortal Instruments series), and there are new Cold Peace laws to prevent Shadowhunters from mixing into faerie business. Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn are parabatai, shadowhunters sworn to be platonically loyal to each other forever. Living in the Institute in Southern California, Emma and Julian illegally investigate recent murders of mundanes and faeries for clues to the unsolved murders of Emma’s parents years before. In an illegal bargain between Julian and the King of the Hunt, who kidnapped Mark, his half-fey brother, five years earlier, Mark is returned to them for two weeks to help solve the murders. Emma, Julian, his family, and Cristina, a visiting Shadowhunter from Mexico, face a deadline as they search for the complex truth against a ticking clock with them as the next victims. Throughout the novel, refrains from Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “Annabel Lee” resound like a haunting melody, providing clues about the murders, but nothing prepares Emma and Julian—and the reader—for the truth as it explodes into the final chapter. The Dark Artifices trilogy promises to keep excitement running at a high pitch for Cassandra Clare fans.
—NB

Shades of Darkness (Ravenborn #1). A.R. Kahler. 2016. Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster.

Kaira Winters transfers to Islington Arts Academy, in the woods of Michigan, as a junior visual arts student to escape from what happened to her at her former school. She strives to put the past behind her by throwing herself into her coursework and preparing for her senior project show, a paint and collage display of her life in tarot cards. However, Kaira can’t escape the crows that have followed her to the boarding school; she sees them everywhere, on her windowsill, on buildings, and in her nightmares. Remembering what happened previously, her number one rule is to never fall in love again but, when Chris, an enamored classmate, wants to get to know her better, her resolve falters. After two girls commit suicide, Kaira feels responsible for not protecting them. Is there something cosmic at work here, a power that demands payment to even the score? When her academic advisor and literature teacher insists that she attend his independent group study on arcane aspects of mythology, the unimaginable happens and changes everything. The book ends with a totally unexpected twist, leaving loose ends that whet the reader’s appetite for Book 2.
—NB

Nancy Brashear is Professor Emeritus of English from Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa, CA. Carolyn Angus is former director of the George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, CA.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

Follow clues, break codes, decipher maps, complete puzzles, and gather evidence—readers can do all this and more as they read well-crafted mystery and detective stories. Whether they are reading chapter books as beginning readers or novels as mature teens, readers will enjoy trying to solve the mysteries within the pages of these recently published novels.

Ages 4–8

The Case of the Feathered Mask (The Mysteries of Maisie Hitchins #4). Holly Webb. Ill. Marion Lindsay. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Twelve-year-old Maisie Hitchins is concerned when a rare tribal mask belonging to Professor Tobin, a lodger in her grandmother’s boarding house, is stolen on the eve of his special exhibit at the British Museum. How do a feather, a mysterious stranger, Dacre’s Museum of Curiosities, and a boy from the past tie into a story that began years ago in the Amazon? In this latest book in the series, amateur sleuth Maisie takes on new challenges to solve this crime, one clue at a time. Short, action-packed chapters, accompanied by pen-and-ink line drawings, make this an ideal book for newly independent readers, as well as an engaging read-aloud.
—NB

Hamster Holmes: On the Right Track (Hamster Holmes #3). Albin Sadar. Ill. Valerio Fabbretti. 2016. Simon Spotlight/Simon & Schuster.

Famous inventor Springy Beaver thinks someone is stealing his ideas. Tools and notebooks have gone missing, and now he’s discovered paw prints in his workroom. Is the culprit after his secret invention? Hamster Holmes and Dr. Watt, his firefly sidekick who communicates using Morse Code by flashing his light on and off, are on the case. (Readers can use the Morse Code chart in Hamster Holmes’s office to decode what Dr. Watt is communicating in the cartoon illustrations of this Ready-to-Read book.) Holmes and Watt seem to be on the right track when they identify the culprit as a weasel, but the weasel prints turn out to be fake. Not to worry: With more sleuthing and clever deduction, Homes and Watt solve the case.
—CA

The Mystery of the Secret Society (Greetings From Somewhere #10). Harper Paris. Ill. Marcos Calo. 2016. Little Simon/Simon & Schuster.

Eight-year-old twins Ethan and Ella have just arrived in Greece with their parents. They soon are involved in more interesting things than sightseeing. After exploring the archaeological dig their parents are working on, the twins discover mysterious carvings on a tunnel wall. Why does the coin Ethan’s grandfather gave him match these carvings? What is behind the hidden door they unlock? What are they supposed to do with a secret notebook from the Society of Apollo? With short chapters, an abundance of illustrations, lively adventures, and just the right amount of danger, books in this series of mysteries the twins encounter as they travel around the world are perfect chapter books for beginning readers.
—NB

The Video Game Bandit (Hardy Boys Clue Book #1). Franklin W. Dixon. Ill. Matt David. 2016. Aladdin/Simon & Schuster.

The Bayport Bandits baseball team is holding a fundraiser. When it’s time for bidding on the biggest prize, a ZCross5000 video game system, they discover the item has gone missing. Frank and Joe Hardy must work quickly to identify suspects and recover the ZCross5000 before all the team supporters leave the auction. On page 65, readers are challenged to solve the mystery of the video game bandit before they read the final chapter to find out whether they were as successful as the Hardy Boys in solving the case. In Book #2 of this new series, The Missing Playbook (2016), Frank and Joe solve the mystery of The Bayport Bandits’ missing secret playbook.
—CA

Ages 9–11

Doom at Grant’s Tomb (Eddie Red Undercover #3). Marcia Wells. Ill. Marcos Calo. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Eddie Red, NYPD’s youngest undercover employee, uses his photographic memory and quick-draw artistic skills to solve crimes. When mysterious notes directed at Eddie are delivered to the police station, he is brought in to solve the mystery. How are a renowned art thief from Eddie’s past, the Irish Republican Army, the Trojan Horse, and a duchess connected? In cat-and-mouse code-breaking challenges from the illusive “Fox,” Eddie follows a trail of clues that take him to historical monuments and city landmarks to save lives and stop heists. This latest book in the Edgar-nominated mystery series, filled with maps and puzzles, will hold the attention of readers until the end. A short epilogue includes “How to Be a Cryptographer” instructions for breaking codes.
—NB

Friday Barnes Girl Detective (Friday Barnes #1). R.A. Spratt. Ill. Phil Gosier. 2016. Roaring Brook.

Eleven-year-old Friday Barnes is a self-educated genius and a lover of mystery and detective stories. When Friday solves a jewelry theft, she uses the $50,000 reward for one year of tuition at Highcrest Academy, an elite boarding school. There she makes her first friend, her roommate, Melanie, and faces her first nemesis, the school’s previous top student, Iain Wainscott. Gaining a reputation for sleuthing by solving typical school-related mysteries, including proving that the school dog was responsible for eating a student’s missing homework, Friday takes on the case of a student-terrorizing yeti monster in a swamp on the school grounds. The mixing of plenty of humor with Friday’s erudite deductive skills makes this an engaging detective story. The surprising cliff-hanging ending will leave readers anxious for the next book in the series.
—CA

Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter. Beth Fantaskey. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Isabel Feeney, 10-year-old newsgirl, dreams about becoming a writer like her hero, Maude Collier. When a murder occurs in the alley right next to her newsstand and her favorite customer, Miss Giddings, is a prime suspect, Isabel feels compelled to prove her innocence. Befriended by Maude Collier, the only female crime reporter at the Chicago Tribune, Isabel launches her own secret investigation. The more clues she uncovers, the more danger she faces as she inadvertently steps into the mobster scene of the 1920s. This mystery is a page-turner with plenty of clues to keep readers engaged. With its Historical Note at the end on female crime reporters from the 1920s, this mystery would be an interesting addition for Women’s History Month bookshelves in schools and libraries.
—NB

Ages 12–14

Defender. Graham McNamee. 2016. Wendy Lamb/Random House.

Tyne “Tiny” Greer, 6-foot-6 high school basketball star, is an unlikely person to solve a murder that occurred in “The Zoo,” the tenement where she lives with her mother and father, the building superintendent. Her focus is on getting a college sports scholarship, the only hope she has of escaping the poverty in which she has been raised. When she discovers a body in a crumbling basement wall, her father insists that she saw only a pile of trash and that side effects of pain pills she’s taking for a knee injury have caused her to hallucinate. Aided by Stick, her boyfriend, Tiny returns to the site for a closer look, delves into dangerous family secrets better left alone, and tips the delicate balance of her family dynamics.
—NB

The Lie Tree. Frances Hardinge. 2016. Amulet/Abrams.

Rev. Erasmus Sunderly, a gentleman natural scientist, has whisked his family away from Victorian London to the remote island of Vane, ostensibly to participate in an archaeological dig, but more likely to escape scandal involving an accusation of faking fossil finds. Fourteen-year-old Faith has a keen curiosity in her father’s work, but is discouraged from pursuits considered inappropriate for females. She is aware her father is in conflict with the men involved with the dig, and when he asks her to help spirit away one of his living specimens in a dark cave along the coast, she is eager to assist him. Soon after, Rev. Sunderly is found dead. Suicide? After examining his research notes about the Mendacity Tree (a tree that must be kept in the dark, grows when fed lies, and bears fruit that, when eaten, imparts secret truths), Faith sets out to use the hidden tree to prove that her father was murdered. The writing is beautiful, the setting is superbly developed, the characters are well rounded, and the story is a complex blending of fantasy and historical mystery. The Lie Tree is a satisfying read for readers age 12 and up.
—CA

Ages 15+

The Darkest Corners. Kara Thomas. 2016. Delacorte/Random House.

When 17-year-old Tessa returns to her hometown for her father’s funeral, she reunites with her former best friend, Callie. Together, 10 years earlier, they identified the man who murdered Callie’s cousin and helped put him on death row. The girls haven’t spoken to each other since. Tessa, abandoned by her family and sent to live with her stern grandmother in another state after the trial, sees life through the lens of loss. Callie is popular but numbs herself with alcohol. What happens when Tessa and Callie finally speak about the events of that traumatic night in their young lives? What did they really see? Where are Tessa’s mother and sister, and how do they fit into the events of that night? Readers follow Tessa as she searches for the truth and discovers things about herself and others that she never expected right up to the final page of this dark thriller.
—NB

The Incident on the Bridge. Laura McNeal. 2016. Alfred A. Knopf/Random House.

When 17-year-old Thisbe’s car is found abandoned on the bridge, a witness reports seeing her standing near the guardrail. Everyone assumes that she committed suicide. There is no doubt that after Clay, a popular boy at her school, seduced and then dismissed her, Thisbe changed from a serious student to a lost party girl. But was that enough to prompt her to jump? What if she didn’t? Only her younger sister is adamant that Thisbe, who is afraid of heights and water, must still be alive somewhere. This well-written haunting novel, told from rotating points of view of key characters, layers in complicated teen and family relationships with each page turn.
—NB

The May Queen Murders. Sarah Jude. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Sixteen-year-old Ivy is from Rowan’s Glen, where people live shrouded in superstition. Shortly after Ivy discovers that her cousin Heather has a secret lover, Heather is discovered dead from belladonna poisoning. Ivy begins delving into her death. Other unexplained things are happening, too, like ritualistic slaughters of family pets and sightings of the legendary ghost, Birch Markle. After several more Glen girls are killed, the town is on lockdown even though the May Queen celebration is still scheduled for the first time in decades. As she explores the myths and relationships of those around her, Ivy finds she’s the next target. With twists and turns, the book takes readers down dark paths to learn the truth.
—NB

Nancy Brashear is Professor Emeritus of English from Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa, CA. Carolyn Angus is former director of the George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, CA.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.