Grace is starting seventh grade on some rocky ground, learning a new status quo after her parents' divorce and navigating the fallout of her best friend leaving her in the dust. Joining the fencing club to try and meet new people seems scary at first--as scary as standing up to her mom when she doesn't like how she's being treated--but fencing, and her new friends, help Grace stand tall and keep her feet steady. A wonderful debut middle grade read that doesn't shy away from the rougher side of a complicated mother-daughter relationship. 

 If we hadn't been reading this for book club, I would've DNF-ed it when they started hurting the dogs 

I love this book. Something about the language, something about the exploration of connection and emotion, something about star-crossed lovers finding hope in words. 

 The speculative meta-fiction web of "Death of the Author" immerses you into two worlds: one present, one future, and both familiar at their core. Okorafor's introspective lens asks questions of culture and community, of purpose and path, of legacy and (as anything referencing the 'death of the author' theory must) of intention. The exploration of the feedback loop between art and author is intriguing to experience with Zelu as she wrestles with having given this piece of herself to the world and watching the world make it their own. While the final reveal did knock me a step out of the story (meta-fiction *shakes fist*), this is one I will keep thinking about for a long time 

 Both a great Mai side-quest adventure AND an important conversation about confronting toxic culture. With the Royal Fire Academy as a backdrop, Mai reconciles the trauma she experienced during her own time at the school, standing up for the new generations of Fire Nation kids by refusing to conform to those same "traditions." 

 A great middle grade read tackling some harder topics- Lucy's complicated home life and dealing with her dad's alcoholism was handled with grace and built to a realistic (but not picture perfect) resolution. Representing anything auditory in a visual medium is always challenging and I enjoyed how Willis and Cormarie chose to visualize the music within the story. 

 K O'Neil's work always blows me away, every detail creating such a warm and inviting world to explore. A Song for You and I is a charming and heartwarming read following the unlikely friendship of a novice ranger and a shy musician who are both seeking truer versions of themselves. The art is beautiful and the message in Rowan and Leone's story is powerful. 

 No one hits the combo of visual storytelling quite like Lucy Knisley. The artwork is gorgeous, the characters are relatable, and I love love love reading along with Jen as she figures out the ups and downs of her changing life. The personal touches throughout this series with Jen's notebook and drawings add a fun layer to this story familiar from following Knisley's work. Selfishly wishing we could stay on Peapod Farm just a little bit longer...one more chapter?