Stamped, a young-reader version of Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning, is an engaging but one-sided picture of racism in America’s past. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. Little, Brown, 2020, 294 pages, including notes and index. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Teen, ages 15-up Stamped from the Beginning: the Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America was published in 2017 and won a National Book Award for nonfiction that year. Author Ibram Kendi’s theme, in that book and in his #1 current bestseller, How to Be An Antiracist, is that the United States is so deeply steeped in racism that virtually…

Action-packed thrillers with a conscience and spiritual sensitivity, the Shepherd Suspense novels will hook teen readers. A Cross to Kill and Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff. Kregel Publications, 2019 and 2020. 250+ pages. Reading Level: AdultRecommended For: Ages 15 and up John Cross, ex-CIA-turned-pastor, “just happens” to be in the vicinity when journalist Christine Lewis is about to be beheaded at the hands of angry Middle Eastern terrorists. A dramatic car chase, life-or-death situations, and an abrupt exit from the foreign country bring John and Christine together temporarily. Or, is it temporary? Suddenly, Christine finds herself drawn to John (and likewise). And terrorists also find themselves drawn to John. Vengeance…

Purple House Press revives delightful out of print stories for a new generation. 1. What motivated you to start Purple House Press? Back in the 90s I sold out of print children’s books. My customers kept requesting the same books over and over even though they were hard to find. One of them was Mr. Pine’s Purple House, my own favorite, and when it reached the price of $300 online I decided it needed to be reprinted. Because who can afford a $300 book and if you were lucky enough to get a copy, who would let their child hold it and read it? I thought the stories would die…

Show Me a Sign explores a little-known chapter of American history from the perspective of a Deaf protagonist. Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte. Scholastic, 2020, 269 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for : ages 12-15 Mary Lambert, now 11, was born Deaf but doesn’t experience deafness as a disability. That’s largely because she is not alone: on her home island of Martha’s Vineyard, in the Year of Our Lord 1805, many of her neighbors are Deaf. In her own family, Papa can’t hear, but Mama can, and so could George, Mary’s only sibling. George was killed only recently, in an accident that Mary feels responsible…

Growing dragons in Grandad’s garden leads to predictable hijinks in this light-hearted series opener. The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd, illustrated by Sam Ogilvie. Yellow Jacket, 2020, 212 pages. Reading Level: middle grades, 8-10 Recommended for: ages 7-11 Tomas’ close relationship to his grandfather extends to working in Grandad’s garden. But even Grandad can’t identify the cactus-like plant with oblong fruit and spiky pineapple-like leaves. A bit of internet research identifies the plant as pitaya, or dragonfruit. (I looked it up myself; it’s an actual plant.) Interesting—but even more interesting when the pod Tomas took home swell, glows, and hatches into a real, sparkly, sneezing—and pooping—dragon. A small…

Ghetto Cowboy tells a heartwarming story of family, hard work, and horses in the midst of urban Philly. Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri and illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson. Candlewick, 2011. 224 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12Recommended For: Teens, ages 12-15 Coltrane’s mom is driving him to his dad’s and leaving him there? But he’s never even met his dad. Promising to do better, begging her to turn around, regretting his decision to skip school for weeks at a time…. Nothing makes a difference, and she does indeed drop him on his dad’s doorstep in Philly. Harper doesn’t want his son, either. He’s got an inner city stable…