Staff Picks Youth Fiction

The Gray

by Chris Baron

Whenever Sasha feels overwhelmed by all that he sees, hears and feels, he goes to a place he calls the Gray, where it is hard to distinguish reality from fantasy. His therapist and parents feel it would be helpful for him to go stay with his aunt and get back to nature. That also means getting away from all the screen time that Sasha has been doing as the area has no wi-fi. Things don’t go smoothly as Sasha has trouble with a bully, an unfriendly boy, and falls off a horse. All of this helps him to grow and change but does it help him enough when the going gets really rough?

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Fiction

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen

by Isaac Blum

Hoodie’s entire Orthodox Jewish community has moved to the non-Jewish town of Tregaron. The people of Tregaron aren’t happy that so many Orthodox Jews are moving in at once. When Hoodie falls for the non Jewish daughter of the mayor who is trying to kick Hoodie’s community out of town, life gets rough. Things get even worse when the town is hit by anti-Semitic crimes that escalate into a deadly shooting. Should Hoodie abandon his community for his first love, or should he stick by them through the good and bad?  This book will open your eyes to things that some in the Jewish community (and many other groups as well) are experiencing today.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Shelter

by Christie Matheson

Posted in: Youth Fiction

The Cardboard Kingdom: Snow and Sorcery

by Chad Sell

The Cardboard Kingdom: Snow and Sorcery by Chad Sell is the third installment of the graphic novel series. The Cardboard Kingdom is a neighborhood group of kids with big imaginations who like having adventures together. In this book, some kids from across town want to join the kingdom, but no one can seem to get along. A battle is brewing to settle things once and for all, unless they can find a way to live together in harmony. With slimy snowball attacks, elaborate costumes, and a whodunit mystery, this story has all the excitement to make you keep reading!

Recommended by: Erin Cady, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Babble: And How Punctuation Saved It

by Caroline Adderson

A humorously written story about the town of Babble. No one could understand each other and they all talked all the time in monotone, but never listening. The first few pages are one long run on sentence because there is no punctuation. Luckily, a young girl comes along and begins to share strange objects with all the town people. With the period they can stop talking and listen. With the question mark they can have a discussion. Other punctuation marks are given out such as commas, quotation marks, apostrophes, and very importantly exclamation marks. A very fun way to emphasize the importance of using punctuation but also the importance of communication in understanding each other. 

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian 

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War

by Monica Montanes

With Francisco Franco in charge in Spain anyone who was different was in danger. Anyone who had fought for freedom had to flee the country. Different is told through the voices of seven-year-old Socorro and nine-year-old Paco who are siblings. Because their father had to escape Spain because of his political beliefs, the family must hide the truth and keep secrets in order to survive. They can’t ask for more food or better treatment because someone might find out why their father isn’t home anymore. After 8 years a letter finally arrives from the father reuniting them in Venezuela. Different is based on the author’s family history.  

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian 

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Wonka

by Sibeal Pounder

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Tiger Daughter

by Rebecca Lim

Tiger Daughter is a middle grade novel about immigration, mental health, family, and feeling like the cultural other. Students Wen Zhou and Henry Xiao dream of going to a special academy to study but there are language barriers, patriarchy, and a death in the family in their way. Read it to find out what happens.

This book is available at the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e-audiobook.

Recommended by: Jackie Boyd, Communications Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Treaty Words: For As Long As the Rivers Flow

by Aimee Craft

Treaty Words: For As Long As the Rivers Flow by Aimee Craft, illustrated by Luke Swinson, is a beautiful look at the Indigenous culture. A grandfather and his granddaughter spend time together in nature appreciating their relationship with each other, their culture, and the earth. It is a short story with colorful art on every page so it will appeal to children of all ages, either reading independently or aloud. It would be a wonderful way to start a conversation about Native American heritage and caring for the environment. The author’s note at the end adds context and could provoke further research.

Recommended by: Erin Cady, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Ghost Book

by Remy Lai

July Chen’s mother died when she was born. July can see ghosts, but it seems that no one at school can remember her. During Hungry Ghost Month she tries to summon the Hungry Ghost so the kids might finally remember her. Instead she attracts the attention of a wandering soul still connected by a red thread to his body—that of 12-year-old William Xiao, who has many near-death accidents. The two become friends and discover how their fates are connected. An adventure with colorful graphics and thoughts on love, death, memories and friendship.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Fiction