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“Yan’s cartoons have the look of modern animation; rendered in bright blended colors, they are sure to elicit giggles with their portrayals of Daisy’s failed attempts to engage her grandfather…Comical and heartwarming, this title should spark discussions of relationships and understanding.” — Kirkus
Hello readers,
How’s life? I have finally reached the bottom of my TBR pile and am oscillating between happiness and panic. Of course I’m pleased that it’s finally been worked through (and hasn’t fallen in me in my sleep) but I need more books! I’ll be reading the labels on canned food next…
To the books!
Ways To Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
Ryan Hart has a lot on her mind but the one thing she’s good at is making the best of things. She finds the sunshine in everything she does, even when she’s got a lot on her mind–things are financially tight for their family, her brother’s annoying, and life kind of keeps doing the unexpected about her. But Ryan keeps moving on with sunshine, no matter what.
A sparky and bright opener to a new series, this is all about loving your family and friends no matter what. Ryan is a fiercely wonderful lead character and every page of this sings with joy.
Saltwater Secrets by Cindy Callaghan
Half-sisters Stella and Josie live for their annual vacation with their dad. They have a secret place under the boardwalk there where they hide their ‘sister scrapbook’ – each page full of the memories of their summer at the beach.
But this summer is different–their secrets have been discovered, and their beloved boardwalk and the natural world about it is under threat. It’s down to Josie and Stella to save the day…
Perfect for middle-grade readers who want to make a difference this summer, this is an exciting beach read with a thread of mystery and a hint of danger.
Wherever I go by Mary Waggley Copp, illustrated by Munir D. Mohammed
(This actually came out last week, but I’m sneaking a mention for it here.)
Abia has been at the Shimelba Refugee Camp for seven years, four months and sixteen days. Just long enough for her to be a queen. Once her father weaves her a crown from the acacia tree, Abia becomes her reign. Sometimes she’s a noisy queen, sometimes she’s a quiet queen, and sometimes she’s a nervous queen dreaming of forever homes in faraway places…
A wise and respectful celebration of childhood in the most complicated of circumstances, this pairs elegant text with big, wide and honest artwork.
A Different Pond by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui
(Backlist bump!) A pre-dawn fishing trip sees a father tell his son about the connections between their pond and one from their homeland of Vietnam. Rendered in quietly elegant text and paired with absolutely stunning artwork, A Different Pond is a wonderful, wonderful thing.
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
(Backlist bump!) Malú (or María Luisa, if you really want to annoy her) isn’t have a great first day at her new school. She’s upset the Queen Bee, broken the school dress code, and disappointed her mum. But her dad reminds her that the first rule of punk is to be yourself – and so she will. And she’s not going to do this alone…
I miss Rookie quite a bit, and this makes me feel that a little less. It’s a riotous celebration of being yourself, finding your tribe, and standing up for the things you believe in.
Okay! I’m going to leave it there for now but I’ll be back in seven days with more picks. In the meanwhile you can catch up with me on social media (come and tell me what to read next! save me!) on my website, or over on the biweekly literary fiction podcast Novel Gazing.
Have a lovely week!
Louise.