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I Am Princess X

Cherie Priest

Illustrated by Kali Ciesemier 

May has had very few friends throughout her life, with the exception of Libby, who she met through their joint creativity with sidewalk chalk. Libby’s initial drawing spawned a series of written adventures about the character–Princess X–that both girls worked on together. They were the best of friends until Libby and her mom drowned, and all the written adventures were lost to Libby’s dad’s moving and carelessness. May knows her best friend is dead, but when she finds out that a webcomic about Princess X is online, she can’t help but hope that there’s something she doesn’t know. This story follows May’s quest to prove that her friend isn’t actually dead by following subtle clues in the online story within a story. The art that goes along with the fictional webcomic is beautiful and will appeal to readers who enjoy graphic novels but might be looking for something more text-heavy. Both a mystery and an adventure set in a realistic contemporary setting, this book can appeal to a wide variety of readers, although it does deal with some heavier topics such as death and grief, kidnapping, race, and divorce and other family issues, along with a few swears that make it solidly for young adult readers. The characters are compelling, from May, a stubborn but sometimes insecure teen who goes out of her way to find the truth, and Patrick, a morally gray hacker with a tendency to get in over his head, to Libby, a traumatized artist with a knack for finding her way out of some sticky situations, and Jackdaw, an outcast genius known for taking in runaways. Readers will likely find themselves drawn to the characters as well as captivated by the complex plot as May works to find her friend and put their mysterious villain behind bars. 

BIBLIO: 2015, Scholastic Books, Ages 12+, $7.99.

REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli  

FORMAT: Traditional and Graphic Novel

ISBN: 9780545907316

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The Librarian Who Measured the Earth

Kathryn Lasky 

Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes 

Eratosthenes was a Greek man from over two thousand years ago, whose endless curiosity led him to a great number of places. From a very young age, he asked questions of anyone who he thought could answer him. He asks his parents questions that they often can’t answer, and then moves on to asking teachers once he gets to school. The book goes into some detail about what he would have learned in a Greek school in this time period, as well as mentioning what questions Eratosthenes still had. He goes off to Athens to study more, and the story starts getting into all the things he researched and wrote during his time at Athens before he was invited to Alexandria to work for the King. In Alexandria, he gets to become the chief librarian and finally starts researching his favorite subject–geography. After years of hard work, Eratosthenes perfects the first geography book, complete with the circumference of the entire Earth. This book could be good for trying to teach younger audiences some geography and math. They could do experiments with measuring shadows, as well as learning about where certain cities are in Greece related to where places are today. The illustrations, done in acrylics on two-ply museum board, are bright and lively with many different elements that kids could ask questions on or observe. There are many different people in the images all depicted slightly differently, which could lead to questions like how different people are feeling or what they are doing. The book also teaches kids pronunciations for Greek words, and teaches them the definition of different words, such as Eratosthenes nickname and what gymnasium and museum originally meant, or even what they would have used to read and write. There is a lot of information in the story, and it is fairly blunt about the reality of Greek life, mentions that they have slaves and that women didn’t have the same rights or schooling as men, although it doesn’t focus on either of these topics. 

BIBLO: 1994, Little Brown & Company, Ages 6 to 11, $16.95.

REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli

FORMAT: Picture Book

ISBN: 0-316-51526-4

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Red Rose of the House of Tudor 

Kathryn Lasky

Princess Elizabeth is only 11 and longs for the King’s –her father’s– attention, although he has once again sent her away from Court. She battles loneliness, family drama, poisoning attempts, and sickness along with a great number of other schemes and maladies. Lasky excels at using a tone and language that will seem familiar to younger readers, making them care for and relate to the young princess, while still having them learn about not only her and the rest of the cast of King Henry VIII’s court, but also about his various wives, the differences between royal life and village life, and the wars and political happenings of the time. Through Elizabeth, readers learn about the other palace children and nobles, from the panicky Lady-In-Waiting, to the loyal friend Robin, to her own siblings, the frail studious Edward and the fearsome but religious Mary. Elizabeth finds herself balancing her studies with play, while trying not to run astray of her father’s ever-changing moods or her sister Mary’s wrath. She details what everyday life would have been like for a princess in the 1500s, while still maintaining a relatable character, and dealing with some adventure–of a sort. Elizabeth takes it upon herself to try and save Queen Catherine and her own tutor when Princess Mary and her friends go scheming, as well as maintaining a constant passive-aggressive battle with her sister. Throughout her story, she deals with the grief of having lost her mother, as well as four other Queens, the usual struggles of growing up, and the fear of what the changing politics could mean for her and her life. The book is well-written to teach while still keeping readers entertained and interested with Elizabeth’s funny and frank way of writing all that is happening in the various castles. The book includes an epilogue that explains what happened after the story ends, including what befalls Edward and May’s eventual bloody rule, which is harder to read than the rest of the story, but not too gruesome or dense. There is also additional information on life in the Tudor era, as well as paintings, photos, and family trees to provide more context. 

BIBLIO: 1999, Scholastic Inc, Ages 9 to 12, $10.95.

REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli

FORMAT: Middle Reader

ISBN: 0-590-68484-1

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The Mark of the Dragonfly

  Jaleigh Johnson

During one of the deadly meteors storms that are par for the course for the land of Solace, Piper finds an injured girl with only the vaguest ideas of who she is or where she came from amidst the wreck of a caravan. She quickly finds out that the girl, Anna, has someone looking for her, but he doesn’t seem friendly. The two girls sneak onto the 401, a famed steam engine that runs across the land, in order to try and get Anna back to her home, which she’s sure is the capital. The man chases them throughout, but the clever crew of the 401 manage to outthink him–most of the time at least. The book culminates in a daring rescue that teaches readers the importance of asking for help and of knowing when it’s best to rely on fighting instead of flight–contrary to Anna’s repeated mantra. Throughout the story they have to grapple with learning that people aren’t always what you think they are, even when the person is yourself. Jaleigh Johnson weaves a wonderful story about mystery, adventure, found family, and finding yourself complete with complex world-building that draws the reader into the story. The setting and different species of the world are brought up so casually that it feels natural, without leaving the reader confused about what’s happening in the world or what the setting is. Even Piper’s discovery of her own magic feels authentic and understandable, and the reveal that Anna isn’t quite human seems to fit in with what the reader already knows about her. The characters have to grapple with confusing emotions and situations that they aren’t prepared for, with elements that could appeal to readers who are grappling with loss or with feeling like they don’t belong. The reader will encounter an interesting cast of characters throughout their journey, with Piper who’s stubborn and angry at the world, Anna who manages to be both extremely smart and naive while maintaining a steady optimism despite how unlucky she seems. The crew of the 401 shows an even more motley crew with Jayne Steel, the no-nonsense conductor with a soft spot for trouble makers, Trimble, the fire-proof fireman with a penchant for explosives, and Gee, the angry but well-meaning security chief who Piper finds herself liking more and more. Middle-grade readers who love fantasy, mystery, or adventure will surely find something to love about this book.

BIBLIO: 2014, Random House, Ages 10 to 13, $8.99.

REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli

FORMAT: Middle Reader 

ISBN: 978-0-385-37615-0

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Little Thieves 

Margaret Owen

Vanja is a thief, trying to steal enough money to run away and not have to deal with her parents’ demands. There are several problems with her plan though. Her parents are the goddesses Fortune and Death, who demand she choose to serve one of them in a misguided attempt to protect her. In order to escape ever having to be a servant again, she steals her friend, the princess’, identity and masquerades as her in order to gain access to elite households, which she then robs blind. Vanja still needs to avoid a royal wedding though, and she’s managed to steal the wrong thing leading to her being cursed by another god. She’s also being tracked down by a junior prefect with the intent to arrest her, followed by a well-meaning but awfully confused shapeshifter, and  having to contend with the real princess’ anger. This story is a retelling of the Goose Girl from the servant’s perspective, with higher stakes and even more magic. Margaret Owen does a terrific job of crafting a narrator that is at once sympathetic and mean-spirited, as the readers watch Vanja stumble through complex questions and moral dilemmas. The plot is at once complicated and exciting, keeping readers in suspense as the characters find themselves having to work together to solve problem after problem, both between each other and for the whole kingdom. Though the many moving pieces can make the story hard to follow at points, everything is neatly tied up in the end, and it is a story that can lend a deeper understanding each time it’s read. Owen manages to make the story feel like a proper fairytale with the characters and language used, as well as with the romance and happy endings, while still allowing the story to be complex and meaningful. 

BIBLIO: 2021, Henry Holt and Company, Ages 14 to 18, $18.99.

REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli

FORMAT: Young Adult

ISBN: 978-1-25-019190-8

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Cy Makes a Friend

Ann Marie Stephens

Illustrated by Tracy Subisak

Cy the Cyclops has a talent for building and making things, but is upset that he seems unable to make a friend. He practices everything from his looks to his conversation in an attempt to get over his nerves, eventually building a chariot as a way to attract someone to be his friend. However, finishing it means being brave and going out to the market, which is difficult for Cy. It all pays off in the end though, as he manages to make a new friend to ride with him in their chariot. The story is aided by fun and bright illustrations that do a great job of portraying Cy’s emotion through his hands, mouth, and one eye, as well as showing clear motion. The illustrations start out utilizing a lot of white space in order to focus on Cy alone and his actions, but grow to cover more of the page and show more of his surroundings as he ventures out to try and make friends. Many of the characters that are shown are a nice nod to mythological beasts, with a glossary and the front and an illustrated guide in the back of the book to teach readers what the different creatures are. Even the chariot Cy creates to try and make a new friend is a nod to Greek Mythology, with the lightning bolt and trident seemingly referencing Zeus and Poseidon. The illustrations are also used to easily establish the conflict. There’s an illustration on one page towards the beginning that shows Cy presenting his inventions to what looks like a crowd of shadowy friends, but on the next page it shows that these are actually just more inventions that Cy has tried to make to be his “friends”, complete with painted on faces. This conflict is something that is easily relatable, no matter the age of the reader. Cy's anxiety about making friends and his fear of journeying outside of his comfort zone is something that most people have experienced. Overall, the story has a nice message about friendship, especially showing how both people contribute as Cy shares his chariot and his new friend, Phoenix, gives it wings 

BIBLIO: 2017, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95.

REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli

FORMAT: Picture Book

ISBN: 978-1-62979-578-2

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Me & Mama

Cozbi A. Cabrera 

Although half the household is still asleep, the only person Mama’s daughter wants to hang out with is her! The story shows a wonderful relationship between a child and her mother, and gives insight into what a day in their life looks like, complete with breakfast, rainy adventures, and eventually going back to bed. Cabrera does an excellent job of combining more figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, and personification, with easier comparisons. Younger readers can quickly understand the differences between Mama’s possessions (like the more breakable cup and the taller boots) and the little girls, while also being exposed to very descriptive writing (like the description of Mama’s voice, people in stores, and even the rain). While the language might be confusing in some parts, with no strict rhythm and a lot of variation in sentence structure, the illustrations go a great way in helping to visualize the more figurative language without having to spell out what it means. The illustrations are incredibly detailed, with acrylic paint taking up every page. A few illustrations demonstrate the contrast between certain objects, such as Mama and her daughter’s different cups, in which case the entire page is focused on these objects. However, most of the pages are full page or two page spreads that make it easy to read into the character’s lives outside of the story. Mama’s workplace is painted in detail, along with the kitchen, bedrooms, and living rooms, giving readers insight into what is important to the characters through paintings on the wall, books on the shelves, and other smaller details. Emotion is clearly shown through the semi-realistic style, showing, through characters facial expressions, the happiness that they are feeling. Another strength of the illustration is the way hair is painted, showing texture in a variety of styles, including braids and afros. The paintings utilize color as well, such as when the two characters are shown as a pop of color in an otherwise brown, green, and blue forest, or when the whole page is painted in dark blues and blacks as the lights are turned out. Overall, the story paints a wholesome family dynamic for young readers to relate to. 

BIBLIO: 2020, Simon & Schuster, Inc, Ages 4 to 8, $17.99. 

REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli

FORMAT: Picture Book

ISBN: 978-1-5344-5421-7

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When You Trap a Tiger Tae Keller Lily has always been quiet and sometimes feels invisible, but her ability to see invisible things only begins when her mother takes her two daughters, Lily and Sam, to move back in with her mother, their Halmoni. Lily begins seeing a tiger from the stories her Halmoni would tell, and bargains with it to try and help with her grandmother’s sickness. As she begins to find new stories and learn more about her family, Lily finds herself grappling with difficult realizations. She has a lot on her shoulders–a fractured relationship with her sister, the hope of curing her Halmoni, new friendships, new places, and finding the truth in the ever changing stories she’s told. Keller combines Korean folktales with original stories to weave a narrative about the importance of family and community, showing how friends and loved ones can help out with even the most confusing and difficult situations. Though Lily begins by feeling like an outsider, she ends the story surrounded by friends and community, and having made amends with her mother and sister. The story showcases the power of stories and knowing your family history in a way that is both metaphorical and easy to understand, while creating realistic characters with interconnected lives. Readers will likely connect with Lily’s conflict avoidant personality and frustration with her own emotions as she navigates uncertain grounds, as well as enjoy her sister Sam’s more direct and sassy personality. Other characters also have room to shine, such as Sam’s crush, the endlessly optimistic Jensen who works at the library, or Lily’s new friend Ricky who loves comic books, adventures, and chocolate pudding. The characters all go through difficult experiences such that this book could help readers cope with loss of a loved one as well as any new changes in their lives. BIBLIO: 2020, Random House, Ages 8 to 12, $16.99. REVIEWER: Katherine Camilli FORMAT: Middle Reader ISBN: 978-1-5247-1570-0