All’s Faire in Middle School is a graphic novel. Imogene, who goes by Impy, has always been homeschooled, but this year, she’ll be attending the local middle school. Fitting in proves to be a challenge, in part because Impy’s family work at the Ren Faire. So while she can juggle and sword fight and insult passersby with Elizabethan flourish, Squire Impy doesn’t understand the rules of middle school, where cliques rule the day instead of queens. Being the new kid is harder than slaying dragons. Booked is a novel in verse about a boy who loves soccer, hates reading the dictionary, and hopes to impress the prettiest girl in his class. All while navigating his parents’ separation. Ungifted is a lot of fun! Thanks to a chance mix-up, Donovan (wreaker of havoc & troublemaker extraordinaire) finds himself transferred into an elite school for super geniuses. It’s a nice place, so he floats along, partly because he doesn’t want the superintendent to find him (due to past havoc & attendant trouble), partly because he kind of likes the kids in his class.

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In Here Lies the Librarian, Peewee is doing just fine, dressing like a boy, working in her big brother’s automotive shop. But then their town sets out to hire a new librarian, and Peewee’s whole way of life takes an interesting (if unwanted) turn. Wonder at the Edge of the World is about Lu Wonder, who lives in a Kansas town set ablaze by racial conflicts. Abolitionists and slave owners are at war, and nobody is safe from the fallout, especially Lu, because the one stirring up trouble is on a personal vendetta against Lu’s father, the famous (and discredited) explorer who discovered Antarctica. Historical fiction with a twist of black magic threading through it. Pitting science against impossible things. Finding wisdom and kindness in other cultures. Doing the right thing even when it’s terrifying. The Courage of Sarah Noble is classic for good reason. Eight-year-old Sarah accompanies her father on a long trek through wild country. She’s along to cook and to be company for him. The plan is to build a new house so everything’s ready before bringing the rest of the family. The trip takes courage. As does meeting their new neighbors, for there’s an Indian settlement close by.

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Short was one of my favorite reads of the year when I read it. When her younger brother wants to audition for a part in a summer production, Julia’s mom makes her try out, as well. It’s The Wizard of Oz, and they’re cast as munchkins. Because… Julia’s short. In Alan Cole is Not a Coward, Alan’s older brother bullies him into a game of Cole vs. Cole. If Alan looses, Nathan will out him as gay to the whole school. This was a tough one for me. Dysfunctional families make me sad, and Nathan’s pretty much a jerk because their dad’s an even bigger one. But Bell balances all that cruelty with enough warmth and humor that readers who struggle alongside Alan are stronger for the journey. The Sand Warrior kicks off the 5 Worlds graphic novel series. Three kids with very different backgrounds are going to try to save the world (times five). Good stuff.

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