I bawled when I finished this book. And then I bawled again telling my boyfriend about it. JACQUES COME BE MY FRIEND.

I feel like I must be getting braver in my old age because I'm finding scary books easier to read than I used to. This one I read in an afternoon, and I enjoyed it! I don't know that I'll be looking at dolls the same way again, but it was creepy in all the right ways for those who like creepy stories.

I quite enjoyed this novel-in-verse about a boy who is trying his hardest to keep his family together, which at the moment consists of him, his boy and his very sick brother. His father took off some time after the father was born. Timothy is on house arrest after stealing a wallet and using the money to pay for his brother's medicine. This means he has to keep a journal which will be read by his probation officer, therapist, and the judge. Your heart will break for Timothy as he tries to navigate the stuff life has thrown at him. His love for his brother is my favorite part of the book--he is willing to do all the things related to having a trach that need to be done.

This is the take of Knud Pedersen and his friends, who stood up to Hitler and the Nazi regime after Denmark peacefully let them occupy their country. Their tale of sabotage and standing up for what you want will resonate with kids, particularly because they were quite young when they started. I love the Hoose includes that he was able to interview Pedersen for the book, and that he wasn't able to write it right away due to publishing constraints.

I loved this one! It will definitely be embraced by your Raina Telgemeier fans. It covers roller derby and the changes that happen in middle school friendships. Astrid is a very likable character who tries hard at something she loves, even if she isn't that great at it. An excellent choice.

Cynthia Lord writes another beautiful story, this time set in the blueberry barrens of Maine. Growing up here, I had never really thought about how blueberries were picked, and only very recently learned that migrant workers often did the hard work of raking. Learning a bit about their lives, combined with a story about loving a dog and it's a winner for me!

What a strange delightful little book. So weird and yet compelling and familiar. I almost want to revel in its strangeness again.

A light, fluffy fantasy about kids with "wonky" magic. In this world, magic is divided into five categories, and if you don't exactly fit, then you're weird. This book is about kids trying to adjust to being the "weird" ones. I enjoyed it.

What is this book? It is creepy and captivating. Steve just wants his younger brother to be okay, for life to go back to normal. He thinks the mysterious angel of his dreams will help him get there. However, their offer to fix his little brother might be more than meets the eye. Klassen's illustrations enhance the story, bringing it to life. Comparing it Coraline feels apt.

Magical. Two people of marginalized cultures come together in friendship. I loved it.