This posting includes a mixed-bag of ten titles including; middle-age readers, fiction YA fiction and nonfiction, a poetry anthology. It’s great to be able to dig into some very appealing book with a 2025 publication date, and I look forward to reading new releases as the months roll by, some that dig into such tough topics (e.g., grief, racism, missing Indigenous women, and gay love).
ALONE byMegan E. Freeman / verse novel / 2022
When an emergency announcement forces everyone in town to evacute, twelve-year old Maddie finds herself to be the only living resident. She has only herself )and a rottweiller companion) to rely on. How will Maddie survive from day to day? Will encounters with blizzards, looters, fires, flood, dogs over the years defeat her? How will she get through hunger, fear and loneliness? (“I do have to give myself pep talks. I do have to keep myself company.” p.253). Will she ever come to be rescued ? Survival stories of hope and resilience (Hatchet; Island of the Dolphins) have great appeal for many readers. Freeman’s free verse style enhances the pace, the tension and the introspection of this courageous young teenager. I look forward to reading Megan E Freeman’s recent release, Away, a companion to Alone.
DEAR MANNY by Nic Stone (YA) / 2025
This novel is the final instalment in the remarkable trilogy of titles that ignites thought for young adolescent readers about racial discrimination. Nic Stone’s first two Dear books have been widely banned across the US, since it deals with the loud cry that Black lives and Black history should be eliminated e in public education. In Dear Martin, Justyce McAllister, an honour student, and loyal friend has left his rough neighourhood and is inspired to write a journal letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he experiences police violence and racial injustice. In Dear Justyce. an incarcerated teenager writes letters to his best friend about his experiences in the juvenile justice system, an experience that deems to rob Black boys of their childhoods. Now with Dear Manny, we are introduced to straight and white Jared Peter Christensen who is running for president of Junior Class Council at his college He is running on a platform focuses on increased inequity and inclusion on campus. His competition is John Preston LePlante IV who is compaigning against ‘representation matters’ claiming that DEI means ‘didn’t earn it’. A third opponent, Dylan Marie Coleman, a sharp, scrupulous Black girl, enters the race challenging Peter’s privilege, values and loyalties, especially since he has developed a crush on his opponent. In this novel, Jared writes letters to his best friend trying to confront his beliefs and hidden secrets , just as readers of this novel will question democracy, the principals of the American constitution . The multimodal format (letters, text messages, transcripts and third-person narrative) are masterfully handled by an important bestselling author. Nic Stone’s books are essential reads to dig into matters of race, class and justice. that are indeed challenging matters of contemporary society.
FIND HER by Ginger Reno / 2024
Wren’s mother. a victim. of Missing Indigenous women has been missing for a number of years. Wren is very close to her grandmother. Elisi, who brings comfort and wisdom and lessons of Indigenous ways to her granddaughter who has hopes of being reunited with mother. Wren’s father, a policeman, who is dutiful to the demands of his job, but also troubled by the disappearance of his wife. Disturbing news of lost and cruel treatment of pets in the Oklahoma community, spurs Wren on to become detective and find out who s behind these tragic events. Find Her is a mystery story. The tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Movement (MMIWG) filters throughout the story of through the quest of a tenacious Cherokee middle school young teenager hoping to seek justice and answers to animal abuse. Bravo to author Ginger Reno for presenting readers with a sensitive, compelling novel about injustice and hope.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY by Maria Marianayagam / 2025
What would you do if you won a million dollars? Who wouldn’t want to be the one to discover the million dollar prize-winning wrapper of a popular chocolate bar? Would you still claim the prize if you stole the chocolate bar? Ajay (pronounced Ah-jay) Anthonipillai is burdened with the choice of revealing his secret discovery. His modest family from Sri Lanka is struggling to make ends meet and sure could use the prize money. But Ah-jay is faced with the dilemma of telling the truth knowing that the theft is against the Ajay’s ethical upbringing as well as the rules of mastering karate. Ajay’s Tamil parents, wanting the best for Ajay and his sister have have strict rules: Straight A’s only; There is no such thing as no homework dy; never owe anyone anything. Now that he is in grade 8, Ajay is determined to once again be recognized as student-of-the-year like he was in grade 7. Only top marks will do. Marianayagam has told an compelling story about ethical choices, family values and the pressure of being a young teenager. Readers will likely be on Ajay’s side as he gets more and more caught in up in web of lies. Readers will likely wonder… ‘will Ajay ever cash in the prize?’ Should he? Bravo to Maria Marianayagam for a terrific story that will strike the chord of many teenagers who are challenged to balance academics, bullying and family expectations. Bravo to Maria Marianayagam for a terrific debut novel portraying the dynamics of a contemporary Tamil family.
excerpt, p. 182
“I had all these reitauls because I wanted to my life to be perfect. Perfect student. Perfect son. Perfect everything. And what about my life is perfect anymore/ Nothing. I was a thief. And now I’d nearly killed someone.
RUN AWAY WITH ME by Brian Selznick (YA) / 2025
Yes, you can sometimes judge a book by its cover. The image on Run Away With Me depicts, in. dream-like image, two boys kissing and this illustration sits atop fragment of the cityscape in Rome. This cover is a preview to this remarkable story about a growing love between two boys who experience the wonders and history of Roman art and history. Flipping through the book, readers will encounter 95 pages of black and white pencil drawings that establish the setting and adventures that will unfold as the narrative proceeds. (another 20 or so black and white images appear at the conclusion of the book). That these stunning drawings are created by master illustrator Brian Selznick assures readers that they will be experiencing a powerful creation of words and pictures.. Selznick is known for his art for the novels by Andrew Clements (e.g., Frindle, Lunch Money; The School Story,). His marvel of book, exploding with fantasy realistic images is The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007), the Caldecott winner . Other titles that balance Sleznick’s brilliant art and verbal text style include Big Tree, The Marvels and Wonderstruck.
When his mother is assigned to work in a museum dedicated to the preservation of books, sixteen year old Danny is spending the summer in Rome. Walking the streets of the city, Danny hears a voice call out ot him which leads to an encounter with a beautiful boy named Angelo. The two teenagers end up spending time together and Angelo who seems to know much about the ancient city, its architecture and monuments and serves as a Danny’s (and the readers’s) tour guide to the wonders of the sights and secrets and stories of the city. A strong friendship develops. Moreover, Danny develops a strong attraction to Angelo and falls in love for the first time (“So what could we do with the pain growing in our bodies that threatened to overwhelm us if we thought too much about it? (p. 207) Danny and Angelo make the most of their time together, even though Danny knows that his vacation days are limited and he will have to return home. Brian Selznick tells an exotic story of gay love filled with adventure mystery, passion. His art work, as expected, is astonishing. Bravo to you Mr. Selnick for your first venture into YA fiction.
Excerpt (p. 140)
“Did you ever notice that everyone things that their own ife is normal, but each persons’ life is so different?”
“I auppoaw.”
“So what is normal, really? I’d say nothing. Nothing is normal.”
THE SHAPE OF LOST THINGS by Sarah Everett /2024
Canadian author, Sarah Everett, received high praise (and a Governor General Award) for her novel The Probabilty of Everything. The story presents an unusual and powerful approach to grief. It was on my 2023. list of favourites and I was very pleased to discover The Shape of Things, another original story by this gifted writer. The world changed for Skye Nickson when her father absconded her older brother Finn. There have been no answers to the mysterious disappearance of her brother who she hadn’t seen in four years. One day, Finn is found but his reappearance also holds mysteries. Sky is convinced that this quiet, secretive teenager is not the brother she fondly remembers joking with and having secrets with. Is it possible that this Not-Finn is someone else entirely? Skye is determined to find out the truth, with determined sleuthing and with the help of her old Polaroid camera. The Shape of Lost Things is another original compelling story from a mighty fine novelist.
Excerpt, p. 254
“And I don’t know if this means anything except that sometimes another thing that can change is how peole look to us, depending on how close or far or wide or grainy or clear the picture we have of them is.”
WORDS WITH WINGS AND MAGIC THINGS by Matthew Burgess; illus. Doug Salati /Poetry / 2025
There are so few poetry anthologies for young people published each year and I’m drawn to new collections designed to delight and enhance the wonder of words. The title of this anthology had appeal. The book is organized into 7 sections, each with a title that begins with a word that begins with “W” (Welcome, Wonder, Wild, Where, Windows, WHOOPS & Whallops; Whispers and Well Wishes. A noteworthy feature of this publication is that each section is introduced with two full page spreads, first introduced by a die-cut page followed by a fantastically illustrated scene. Despite the division of sections, the tone of the book, however, seems constant (most any poem could appear in any section). The poet expands and explodes the familiar (e.g., the number zero; dancing, a stone, ducks, trees, puddles etc.) often exploding at times into absurdity which is the stuff of ‘magical, nonsensical, poetry (e.g., ‘A Dragon Pinata;’; ‘Alligators on the A Train’ ; The Hungry Yeti’; ‘Ice-Cream’; ‘Primordial Slime’. The marvelous art work by Caldecott-winning illustrator (Hot Dog), Doug Salati is adventurous and fanciful and are poems unto themselves (thought: it might be fun to have students create poems from the magical art work that appears throughout. I read the the poems in Words with Wings and Magic Things in chronological order and I have a hunch that young readers will delight in some of Matthew Burgess’s pieces, but will be puzzled by the narrative and message of a number of poems. Praise goes to any book that enhances the wonder of words. This is a worthy new collection for reading aloud with a group of youngsters in classrooms or side by side with an adult.
Excerpts
> from opening page: ‘Whispers and Well Wishers’
Summon up your deepest wish and toss it in the well –
The truest source within your heart where all the magic dwells.
> from ‘Me in this Tree’
“All I want to do today
is to myself in a different way”
> The Tomato
Plump in the palm, ripe to the brim, topped with a cap/ as if ready to spin, glowing as if with/ some sunset within, /I had to say ‘thank you’ / before I bit in.
> from ‘The Tiger in My Belly’
There’s a tiger in your belly
You’re the one he’s rooting for
If you ever need some strength,
Close your eyes and hear him ROAR.
FYI
The following two novels are parallel in their telling of two girls who deal with the death of their best friends and the challenging journey of living with sorrow, moving on, but never forgetting the love s0meone who has passed.
ALL THE BLUES IN THE SKY by Renee Watson (free verse) / 2025
Thirteen year old Sage is mourning the loss of her best friend who was killed by a drunk driver on the morning she was on her way to Sage’s birthday. This novel, presented in free verse deeply reveals Sages’ grief, especially by attending Grief Group counselling sessions where others share their stories of deal with those in their life who have passed. As the novel unfolds we learn about Sage’s dream of becoming a pilot, her first kiss experience and her encounters with friends and family who help to heal Sage on her journey. “I hope this book reminds every reader in the midst of sadness and grief, there can be joy and goodness.” (from Author’s Note. page 182)
Excerpt 179
… it’s okay to cry,
it’s okay to be angry,
it’s okay to love.
… its’ okay to feel all.
TELEPHONE OF THE TREE by Alison McGhee
Ayla and Kiri were faithful friends with a special devotion for each other. Their bond is reinforced by their admiration of trees – They each want to be a tree when they grow up) The two a special connection throughout their childhood, until one day Kiri was killed in an accident. Ayla is struggling to accept Kiri’s death and is convinced that they will return to celebrate their eleventh birthday. One day, Ayla discovers a mysterious telephone that appears in the limbs of a tree. The telephone serves as a vehicle for people in the community to ‘call[ their loved ones’ who have passed on. This poetic narrative is presented in passages that are each one page. Telephone of the Tree presents readers with an emotional account of death, loss and remembrance and the importance of moving on despite the grief that may smother us
The premise of this story was inspired by the story of the wind phone in Ostsuchi ,Japan created by artist Itaru Sasaki who built the phone booth so he could speak to his cousin who had passed in the Earthquake Tsunami disaster in 2011. Villagers were drawn to the disconnected rotary phone to connect with people they had lost in their lives. Special Note: The picture book The Phone Booth in Mr Hirota’s Garden by Canadian author, Heather Smith; illus. Rachel Wanda.
SHOUT OUT!
EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT RACISM I LEARNED IN SCHOOL (YA / Nonfiction)