EDITOR’S NOTE

MIDDLE GRADE | Mahnaz Dar & Laura Simeon

a book bonanza

Given the abundance of riches out this season, getting our Fall Preview middle-grade selections down to a paltry 30 involved some tough choices; suffice to say, every title here is a winner.

Tell Me a Story, Please by Kyoko Hara, illustrated by Kazue Takahashi, translated by Alexandrea Mallia (Museyon, Sept. 1): In this Japanese import, first grader Yuka can’t find anyone to read to her, so she reads to herself—and attracts the attention of several curious animals. Like others in the Forest Friends series, this one exudes whimsy and joy.

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown, Sept. 27): This stirring verse novel opens in the Asante Kingdom in 1860 when it’s a British colony. Eleven-year-old Kofi loves swimming and his grandfather’s storytelling. But unimaginable changes are coming. Kofi wonders, “what am I supposed to do / when my dreams drown? // When the door / to the last sliver of hope / is sealed?” Oh, Sal by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books, Sept. 27): With his latest tale centered on the Miller family, Henkes follows 4-year-old Sal as she copes with a new baby, an irritating visiting uncle, and a lost Christmas present. With respect and empathy for his young audience, the author keenly understands that seemingly low-stakes drama can feel overwhelming to children.

Ways To Share Joy by Renée Watson, illustrated by Andrew Grey (Bloomsbury, Sept. 27): Ryan Hart has enchanted tweens since readers met her in Ways To Make Sunshine (2020), and her many fans will adore her newest outing, which sees her dealing with a host of problems, from taking part in a prank war with her brother to juggling friendships to being teased—all of which she manages with the support of those who care about her.

Undercover Latina by Aya de León (Candlewick, Oct. 11): This gripping page-turner follows Andréa HernándezBaldoquín, who might be only 14 but has been tapped for her first solo undercover mission for the Factory, which helps people of color worldwide. Able to pass as White, Latina Andréa must befriend the son of a White supremacist who has gone into hiding and is plotting violence. Buzzkill: A Wild Wander Through the Weird and Threatened World of Bugs by Brenna Maloney, illustrated by Dave Mottram (Henry Holt, Oct. 11): In an entertaining guide to the insect kingdom, Maloney instills in readers an appreciation for and curiosity about these varied and important— but largely underappreciated—creatures. Enhanced with eye-catching illustrations, this comprehensive overview written in a chatty and conversational style is filled with fascinating information and details the critical roles insects play in our ecosystem.

Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Ani Bushry (Amulet/Abrams, Oct. 18): Marya’s parents have never let her have a birthday party, but this year she’s set on hosting a henna party that will rival the shindig thrown by her wealthy neighbor Alexa. Marya is an intensely relatable tween coming into her own while coping with family drama and frenemy angst. Piece by Piece: How I Built My Life (No Instructions Required) by David Aguilar and Ferran Aguilar, translated by Lawrence Schimel (Amazon Crossing Kids, Oct. 25): David, a young man from Andorra, used LEGO bricks to build a prosthetic arm, achieving fame for his ingenuity. In this frank, engaging work, co-authored by David and his father and translated from Spanish, readers learn about what it was like growing up with a limb difference and the impact of his family’s support.

Mahnaz Dar and Laura Simeon are young readers’ editors.

THE DOOR OF NO RETURN

Alexander, Kwame Little, Brown (416 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-316-44186-5

A boy’s life is turned upside down following a wrestling match in West Africa’s Asante Kingdom in 1860. Eleven-year-old Kofi Offin loves his family, admires his friend Ama, and tries to avoid his bully of a cousin. Kofi’s teacher, Mr. Goodluck Phillip, who canes him for speaking Twi, is convinced the students must learn the Queen’s English, but Kofi prefers the stories of Nana Mosi, his grandfather and the village storyteller. The place he truly feels at home is the river, where he practices swimming and dreams of defeating his cousin in a race. But before that can happen, all attention turns to the Kings Festival, which features highly anticipated wrestling contests against representatives from their rival village. This year, Kofi’s older brother, Kwasi, has been chosen to compete. During the match, Kwasi accidentally kills Prince Yaw Boateng, his opponent and the nephew of the King of Lower Kwanta, changing the direction of their lives when the king retaliates. The immediacy of this verse novel places readers alongside Kofi, thriving as a young boy surrounded by family love and legacy before being abruptly snatched from all he has known. Alexander’s rich language is lyrical and haunting as the water, long a source of comfort for Kofi, becomes full of uncertainty and danger.

A riveting, not-to-be-missed trilogy opener that will leave

readers invested in what is to come. (glossary) (Verse historical fiction. 1018) picture books

“Readers of this collection of comic strips may find that they can’t stop quoting the funniest lines.”

crabgrass

MOONGARDEN

Barry, Michelle A. Pixel+Ink (368 pp.) $18.99 | Nov. 1, 2022 978-1-64595-126-1 Series: Plotting the Stars, 1

It’s 2448, and Myra discovers that the world of plants and growing things might exist outside of history texts. Twelve-year-old Myra Hodger is a struggling first-year student at the exclusive Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic, where students begin Creers in science, technology, and the magic that accompanies them. The calling of an individual’s Creer is reflected in Inscriptions that appear on the skin. Myra’s parents are well-known Number Whisperers, mathematicians whose passion distracts them from Myra’s growing awareness and worry that math is not her Creer; she has yet to see any sign of mathematical formulas appear on her skin. When Myra’s exploration of the school during one of her frequent hours of class-cutting reveals an astonishing hidden garden, she is drawn to the plants growing there in a profound way. But plants are now forbidden—billions of people died during a worldwide toxic mutation of plants on the Old World—Earth. The survivors live in settlements on several planets, and food is manufactured according to formulas that are now malfunctioning. Debut author Barry smoothly incorporates contemporary—and perhaps perennial—issues of elite education, pressure to succeed, corporate corruption, class divides, systemic prejudice, and environmental depredation while delivering a boarding school story in a believable offworld setting. Most characters read White.

Nicely realized, intriguingly complex, and well set up for

sequels. (Science fiction. 914) (This review is printed here for the first time.)

CRABGRASS Comic Adventures

Bondia, Tauhid Andrews McMeel Publishing (192 pp.) $11.99 paper | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-5248-7555-8

Opening this book is a risk. Readers of this collection of comic strips may find that they can’t stop quoting the funniest lines. For example: “I think complicated is just a word adults use when they don’t get it either.” Or: “Squirrels are like little super heroes, huh?” The squirrel joke, admittedly, makes more sense when it’s accompanied by drawings of a squirrel soaring aerodynamically between a power line and a tree. The premise of the strip is simple: Miles is an only child in one of the few Black families on Crabgrass Drive. Kevin is White and the middle child in a large family. The two of them become instant best friends. Some elements may feel familiar to fans of comics. Linus has his security blanket, and Kevin used to tote around a toy rabbit named Crumbs. More important, the characters are always playing tricks on each other, much like Lucy pulling away the football just before Charlie Brown kicks it. One incident involves firecrackers inside a peanut butter–and-jelly sandwich. Bondia also has some of Bill Watterson’s gift for dynamic movement and expressions. And a few moments are as poignant and bittersweet as scenes from “Calvin and Hobbes” and “Peanuts.” When Kevin’s distant father leaves his family, Miles asks, “Is it bad that I didn’t notice?” And Kevin responds, “Nah. Hardly anyone did.”

The author has learned exactly the right lessons from the

history of comics. (Graphic humor. 812)

THEY CALL HER FREGONA A Border Kid’s Poems

Bowles, David Kokila (256 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-46257-7

In Bowles’ superb companion novel to They Call Me Güero (2018), young poet Güero’s social consciousness unfolds as he navigates his first romantic relationship with the fiercely intelligent Joanna.

Seventh grade is ending, and Güero’s budding romance with Joanna is getting serious. From sharing their first kiss to meeting her parents during an awkward dinner, Güero commits to being the best boyfriend he can be. As summer unfurls, there are hangouts between Güero y los Bobbys and Joanna y las Morras, and Joanna carefully opens up to Güero. Güero even starts a band with los Bobbys! Eventually, fall arrives, and with it, eighth grade—and a drastic change as Joanna’s father falls victim to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid. As her father’s fate takes a toll on Joanna, Güero grapples with dealing with his new teachers. Tensions flare between Güero and Joanna and even among Güero’s friends. Wanting to use his privilege for good, Güero organizes a protest on behalf of Joanna’s father, but the ensuing scrutiny tests Güero, his relationship with Joanna, and his community. This rich verse novel utilizes Güero’s humorous, witty voice to the fullest via varied poetic forms. The author’s deep consideration of Joanna and the other characters is a real delight and results in a story that feels rich in scope. The inclusion of topics like the justice system, detention centers, and changes in language adds further intriguing material for discussion.

Sublime. (glossary) (Verse novel. 1014)

RUBY FINLEY VS. THE INTERSTELLAR INVASION

Bradford, K. Tempest Farrar, Straus and Giroux (208 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-374-38879-9

Eleven-year-old Ruby Finley is a gifted science student who loves bugs. Ruby, who presents as Black on the book’s cover, often stores insects in mason jars under her bed, but the latest one she finds has her stumped, especially when it melts holes in its jar and then the window screen to escape. Ruby posts pictures online and asks for help identifying the bug, but the pictures are deleted, and several White men calling themselves “agents” show up asking questions. They claim to have captured the bug, but strange things occur, including metal thefts. The town’s recluse goes missing, and on a Discord channel, Ruby picks up chatter about aliens and government coverups. In an underlying story, tension escalates between Ruby and her White science teacher, who deems Ruby’s proposed science fair project too ambitious and tries to punish her for not agreeing to an easier project. Luckily, Ruby’s parents, the principal, and her former science teacher have her back. Ruby, with the help of her friends, applies the scientific method and figures out what’s going on. Bradford challenges readers to keep up with Ruby to solve this intriguing and absorbing mystery. Bradford also addresses, with sensitivity and nuance, the ways in which Black students are marginalized in STEM fields. The author depicts a tightly knit, supportive community of color, where kids roam freely and an older neighbor is always outside to keep an eye on things.

A page-turning mix of science, science fiction, and mystery that will empower readers to pursue their own STEM

passions. (Fiction. 912) (This review is printed here for the first time.)

THE LORDS OF NIGHT A Shadow Bruja Novel

Cervantes, J.C. Rick Riordan Presents/Disney (320 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-1-368-06656-3

In this companion to Cervantes’ Storm Runner trilogy, powerful godborn Renata Santiago must unearth a way to prevent the resurrection of the Lords of Night.

Grappling with her return to relative normality, 14-yearold Ren—daughter of Pacific, the Mayan goddess of time, and heir of the most powerful shadow brujxs on her father’s side— pursues a tip emailed to her alien-sighting blog, Eyes in the Sky. Ren’s search for alien life leads her to an unsettling discovery: a strange symbol etched into a cornfield, where a sinister voice fills her head. It references the mysterious Lords of Night, nine powerful Aztec gods who were linked to fates both good and bad. Worse yet, the cinco, a rogue band of godborns, could be involved. Aided (somewhat) by her bestie Ah-Puch—the Mayan god of death and destruction, now mostly powerless from a recent misadventure—Ren teams up with Edison, a teen demon hybrid, and 11-year-old Aztec hunter Montero. Their mission: to hunt the cinco and stop their ungodly alliance with the Lords of Night even as shadows inexplicably pull Ren closer to an unforeseen fate. This volume sizzles with madcap fun, interweaving icons and figures from Mayan and Aztec mythology with dizzying results. The author excels at making these gods and goddesses cool and familiar. In the second half, many truths kept from Ren fall into fabulous place, spiraling into an exciting cliffhanger. This duology opener is accessible to readers who are new to this world.

An engrossing, god-filled delight. (glossary) (Fantasy. 812)

UNDERCOVER LATINA

de León, Aya Candlewick (320 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-1-5362-2374-3

A teen spy is on her way to take down a White supremacist terrorist. Andréa Hernández-Baldoquí is well aware that teenage girls are frequently underestimated, which is why at 14 she’s the perfect spy to uncover a White supremacist plot. Alongside her family—Puerto Rican mom, Mexican dad, and little brother Carlos—she works for the Factory, an intelligence organization that serves people of color, and now’s the time for her first complex mission: moving to Arizona and befriending Kyle Summer, the estranged son of a White supremacist who may be planning an attack in the Southwest. The catch, however, is why she was chosen: Among all their teen agents, she can best pass as White, and until she discovers intel on their target, Andréa will be posing as Andrea Burke. This fast-paced adventure, de León’s first for younger readers, takes audiences on the ride of a lifetime. Andréa spotlights racism, discovers friendship (after years of home schooling and constantly moving), develops her first crush, and deeply explores what it means to be Latine and a person of color. Social criticism is woven into a fun read centered on kids of color; the narrative is accessible and engaging, never shying away from difficult conversations about race and privilege or the many forms White supremacy can take. The cast of characters is rounded and three-dimensional, making Andréa’s story all the more believable.

An engaging, insightful adventure with a heartfelt conclu-

sion. (author’s note) (Adventure. 1014) (This review is printed here for the first time.)