My Own Lightning follows the author’s previous Newbery-honored novel, Wolf Hollow, with a more hopeful conclusion. My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk. Dutton, 2022, 307 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 The Trauma Last Year Annabelle McBride’s life is just now settling down to normal after the psychotic bully Betty Glengarry disturbed her family and rural community. Betty’s gone, but the memory of her aimless cruelty remains—especially what she did to Toby, the traumatized Great War veteran whom Annabelle befriended, now buried in Wolf Hollow. And someone else remains: Andy Woodberry, Betty’s accomplice in many of her mean schemes. These memories are not far from…

Rip to the Rescue is a true-to-life World War II adventure featuring heroic teens and one heroic dog. Rip to the Rescue by Miriam Halahmy. Holiday House, 2022, 194 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-14 London Under Fire For 13-year-old Jack, there’s one good thing about the London Blitz: it’s given him a purpose. He’s tall for his age and Air Raid wardens haven’t questioned him too closely about it, so when German bombers are flying overhead and incendiary bombs splintering all around him, he’s pedaling messages from one fire station to another. The half-deafness that made him an outcast at school is a positive…

Richard Adams’ classic tale employs noble themes of vision, courage, and sacrifice among some of the most humble and ordinary of animals in their quest for a home. *Watership Down: a Novel by Richard Adams. Scribner, 2005 (reprint). 476 pages. Reading Level: Teens, Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 12 and up The scene is shocking: a peaceful meadow, once green with rolling hills, now churned up with mud and covered with blood and mangled fur. Is it a dream, or a vision of things to come?  Fiver, the runt of his rabbit clan, is known as a dreamer. The larger rabbits don’t take him very seriously, but Hazel, Fiver’s older…

Tim Ladwig illustrates two well-known Biblical texts, using Black families in urban settings in these picture books. *Psalm Twenty-Three, illustrated by Tim Ladwig. Eerdmans, 1997. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture books Recommended For: All ages The text of this book is Psalm 23, but Ladwig juxtaposes it against an urban Black child’s daily life. The contrasts are striking and make this psalm relevant to those of us who aren’t shepherds. Indeed, the Lord is with us in the valley of the shadow of death, even if that valley looks like a dangerous street with thugs. The Lord uses His people to guide one another, and places children in families for…

When Daddy Prays shows a child’s view of his pastor father, praying during all of life. Beautifully illustrated. *When Daddy Prays by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Tim Ladwig. Eerdmans, 2002. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture books Recommended For: Ages 4-8 “When Daddy prays/ my fear of darkness disappears/ and angels tiptoe down the hall.” Daddy prays about all of life in this lovely, lyrical picture book. For mercy during fears at night, tense school bus stops, and feverish heads. Giving thanks for food and sunshine and health. Each prayer and vignette is its own poem through a child’s viewpoint, save the first poem which is the Daddy’s prayer. Tim…