Escaping Mr. Rochester by L. L. McKinney.  HarperTeen, 2024. 9780062986269  Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Format: Hardcover Genre: Historical/ Romance/ Mystery/ LGBTQIA What did you like about the book? Jane Eyre is a 19-year-old orphan living at Lowood school when she becomes governess to Adele, Edward Rochester’s ward, living at Thornfield Hall.  She develops an immediate rapport with the lonely Adele and with the cook, Emma.  Mr. Rochester is decidedly erratic, angry at one moment, ingratiating at another and mostly aloof, spending most of his tim ..read more

Behold the Hummingbird by Suzanne Slade,  illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Peachtree, 2024. 9781682636527 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Format: Hardcover picture book What did you like about the book?  Following up on their well-received 2023 Behold the Octopus, Slade and Gonzalez return with this beautiful book on hummingbirds. The lush, realistic illustrations done with pastel and colored pencils show the glowing jewel-tones of twelve individual species, with each two-page spread focusing on a specific characteristic. Slade’s text operates on two levels; des ..read more

You and the Universe by Stephen and Lucy Hawking, illustrated by Xin Li. Random House, 2024. 9780593432112  Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Format: Hardcover picture book What did you like about the book? This delightfully engaging text introduces readers to the universe and questions that the author has in relation to it.  The story discusses aspects of our universe as well as our responsibility toward it, reminding readers that we are tasked with taking care of the planet and each other. Utilizing acrylic paints, pencil and Photoshop, spirited illustrations a ..read more

The Sherlock Society by James Ponti. Aladdin, 2024. 9781665932530  Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Format: Paperback Genre:  Mystery/Adventure What did you like about the book? With the last name Sherlock, solving mysteries just seemed to be an inevitable summer job. Alex and Zoe Sherlock are looking to earn extra cash with Alex’s friends Yadi and Lina. Sure they are on a course to find hidden treasure, the mission takes a sudden turn and lands them in mortal danger. If Grandpa can keep their mom from pulling the plug, they may just survive and help save the Ev ..read more

Black & Irish: Legends, Trailblazers & Everyday Heroes by Leon Diop and Brianna Fitzsimons, illustrated by Jessica Louis. Little Island, 2024. 9781915071231  Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Format: Paperback Genre:  Collective biography What did you like about the book? Filled with inspiring biographies of amazing people who impacted not only the British Isles but also the world, this title is sure to keep readers engaged. The biographical essays are well researched with sidebar clarification of vocabulary, extra information and historical facts. Each s ..read more

Bunny and Clyde by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Scott Nash. Candlewick Press, 2024. 9781536228731 Rating:  1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Format: Hardcover early chapter book Genre: Animal fiction What did you like about the book?  “Bunny and Clyde were tired of being good.”  These two best friends – a rabbit and a chipmunk – always do the right thing: they follow the rules, use their manners, and help everyone in town.  So when they make the decision to be bad, it’s no surprise that they have no idea how to do it!  After finding inspiration in a pile ..read more

Henry and the Something New by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song. Chronicle Books, 2024. 9781797213903 Rating:  1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Format: Hardcover Genre: Realistic fiction What did you like about the book? Henry’s class is getting ready for their field trip, and Henry is apprehensive.  He briefly contemplates staying at school in the safe and comfortable library, but the prospect of seeing the dinosaur exhibit at the museum wins out.  The day presents many challenges for him; he has never ridden on a bus before, and he has a hard time expressing ..read more

Rise of the Cat (Hilo #10) by Judd Winick. Random House Kids, 2024. 9780593488126 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5 Format: Hardcover graphic novel Genre:  Fantasy, science fiction, adventure What did you like about the book? This is the tenth installment in the Hilo graphic novel series. Rise of the Cat focuses on Polly and Pip Korimako, magic-wielding cat siblings that take no guff from anyone. The story is set on the Planet of Oshun. The council of magic sends the siblings to Wombatton Academy as punishment for breaking rules. Polly proclaims: “I don’t run off wi ..read more

Built to Last by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat. Random House Children’s Books, 2024. 9780593569177 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 3 Format: Hardcover picture book What did you like about the book? This is a great picture book that is true to the partnership style of Santat and Le. Two boys have a playdate for the first time and work together to build wonderful creations. Together the boys work to create scenes from their imaginations, which inevitably end in disaster, leading to an argument. In one beautiful illustration, one of the boys reflects on the friendship an ..read more

Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson, illustrated by Tatiana Hill. Random House Children’s Books, 2024. 9780593485699 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 3 Format: Hardcover graphic novel Genre: Paranormal/fantasy  What did you like about the book? In this story, Mina is an ice skater who is struggling with disappointing her overbearing mother by leaving ice skating. She has a fall in a competition and finds herself waking up from the fall in a deserted mall, where a group of vampire roller derby skaters have recruited her to be their human jammer. The story describes a gr ..read more