Children, LGBTQ+, Middle Grade Fiction

To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer

Grades 3 – 5 

To Night Owl from Dogfish

Avery Bloom and Bett Devlin’s fathers fall in love and send the girls away to sleep-away camp in order for them to bond. However, they can’t be more different: Avery is bookish and shy, and Bett is fearless and outgoing. Despite this, though, they start writing each other letters and refer to themselves as Night Owl and Dogfish. Can they get over their differences and become the family their dads always wanted?

Children, Middle Grade Fiction

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Grades 4 – 6

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Sixth grader Merci Suárez is not like the other kids in her private school because she is on scholarship and doesn’t have a big fancy house or other luxuries. Then her classmate Edna Santos begins to focus on the new boy, who is Merci’s school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, causing Edna to be jealous of Merci.  On top of everything, Merci’s grandparents are becoming very forgetful, and she is trying to figure out why. Read Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, a coming of age story you’re sure to love!

Animals, Children, Graphic, Series

Narwhal’s Otter Friend by Ben Clanton

Grades 2 – 3

Narwhal's Otter Friend (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #4)

The latest book in the Narwhal and Jelly series by Ben Clanton, Narwhal’s Otter Friend is a funny and clever book about Narwhal and Otter, two new friends who meet and decide to go on an adventure together. It sounds like an awesome idea, until Jelly finds out and gets jealous. Will the three friends be able to play together? Read Narwhal’s Otter Friend by Ben Clanton to find out!

Children, Middle Grade Fiction

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Grades 4 – 6

Front Desk

Ten-year-old Mia Tang lives in a hotel where she manages the front desk, (when she’s not at school), while her immigrant parents clean the rooms. Their boss, Mr. Yao, is not a very nice man and is constantly giving them trouble. Mia is ashamed that she lives in a hotel and not a house like her classmates, and keeps this a secret from them. That’s not the only secret she’s keeping, however: her parents hide immigrants at the hotel, and if Mr. Yao finds out, they could lose their jobs. Mia has a lot on her plate, and thinks that entering a writing contest to win their very own motel would solve all of her problems. Will she be able to save up enough money and pull it off? Read Front Desk by Kelly Yang to find out!

Animals, Children, Picture Books

Chicken Talk by Patricia MacLachlan

Grades K  – 2
Chicken Talk
Chicken Talk by Patricia MacLachlan is a funny book about chickens who write messages to their farmers! At first the family is puzzled at who is writing the messages, and when the kids figure it out, they worry no one will believe them. Then the chickens become the talk of the town and people come from far and wide to see what the chickens’ next message will be. Find out for yourself in Chicken Talk by Patricia MacLachlan!

YA Fiction

Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia

Grades 9 – 12

Broken Beautiful Hearts

Peyton was a star soccer player with a scholarship in reach, and a boyfriend named Reed she adored. Now she has a torn knee ligament and her life doesn’t seem so perfect anymore. The catch? Reed pushed her down the stairs, causing her injury, but no one believes her. Enter Owen, a classmate of Peyton’s who is also a local MMA fighter. She begins to have feelings for him, but is determined to repress them. She wants to move on from her past, but will she find the strength to do so?

Netgalley Reviews, YA Fiction

Everywhere You Want to Be by Christina June

Grades 9 – 12

Everywhere You Want to Be

I couldn’t put this book down! Matilda (Tilly) Castillo has temporarily moved to New York for the summer to partake in a contemporary dance competition led by a famous dancer, with dreams of making a career out of dancing. The problem is that Tilly’s mom is expecting her to attend Georgetown in the fall. Full of drama between her new nemesis and dance teammate Sabrina and love she never expected to find, Everywhere You Want to Be is a true winner! Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.