Stories are magical, for both the young and old. Here you can find book reviews for specific age groups, topics, or learning experiences. There are also booklists and lesson ideas for educators, librarians, and families.
Each year I make a conscious effort to read more books, especially in a particular genre or format. The range of books that I enjoyed this year surprised me. Perhaps it is due to my working with high school students that my mind has been opened to more young adult books, or because I have a tween at home, I am more in-tune with what middle grade books can offer this age range and their caregivers. If you're looking for something new to read in the new year, consider my list below. If you've read any of them, please comment as I love hearing what others think about the books, too!
As a teacher and librarian, I get asked that question quite a bit. The quick answer is: I read what interests me. The longer answer is: I read with young people and educators in mind. What benefits would readers gain from this book? I am of Iranian descent so other authors who are Iranian are on my radar to read and support. I also seek out stories from other people's cultures and perspectives that are different than mine. Non-fiction books that cover a range of topics, especially about history and science, infatuate me. What I love about books is the various formats that a person can tell and take in a story: a novel-in-verse, a graphic novel, a nonfiction narrative, or a traditional chapter book.
Below, I have compiled my favorite books that I read in the year 2024. Some of these were published prior to 2024, however, I finally got to read them so they made the list! Many of them have been awarded literary honors, however, a good deal of them have not. Even if they haven't been selected for awards, they deserve to be widely shared.
Each category is intended to inform the audience's age for which the book was written:
Young Adult: usually ages 14+, depending on the book's content, definitely for ages 18+, i.e. adults
Middle Grade: usually ages 9-13, depending on the book's content, some adults will enjoy these, too
These books made me cry, laugh, jump out of my seat, think and have conversations about the subject matter and characters. They taught me about the world, others' experiences and connections between myself and the subjects of the books. If you've read any of these or have recommendations for me, please leave a comment!
The First State of Being by award winning author, Erin Entrada Kelly is unlike any book I have ever read. It's difficult to review the book without giving away spoilers that are important to the experience of reading the story. I will do my best!
The story is set in multiple times, both in the past (1999) and in the future. Kelly seamlessly takes the reader from the characters in the past to the future where their stories intertwine. Ridge, the mysterious teenager who appears one day in the apartment complex of neighbors, 12 year old Michael and his 15 year old babysitter, Gibby, changes their lives forever. The reader is right alongside Michael and Gibby as their minds are flooded with questions: Who is he and why is he there all alone? What is he wearing and how can Michael and Gibby keep him from getting kicked out by their complex manager?
As the story unfolds, readers dive into the personal lives of the main characters. Themes of friendship, crushes, family and trust abound in this story. It would be fitting for a book club since there is so much to discuss with other readers. I would definitely add this book to my school library and gift it to the middle grade readers in my life.
The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann provides an intriguing look at who becomes these important roles in our society. As a librarian myself, I know that the journey one takes to get to that work is incredibly different for each person. I enjoyed the short snapshots of these people, both in their library work but also as individuals.
The authors also delve into the lives of booksellers, with whom I am less familiar. I was surprised to learn about booksellers outside of the independent bookstore world. At times the big-box stores and corporations get a bad reputation for wiping out smaller bookstores and this book gave some of those booksellers a chance to give their perspective. The rich descriptions of the bookstores and libraries themselves did cause me to seek some out while vacationing in the areas that were cited in the book. To my delight, they were just as charming and special as the authors described. This book is a great read for adults who are interested in the literary world on the end of getting books out to readers and making connections with communities that last a lifetime.
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar is already one of my favorite books of 2024. When I was entering middle school, I read a lot of Judy Blume and Ann M. Martin books because they wrote about real growing pains that my friends and I were experiencing. Now I can add Ultraviolet to that group of stories that encapsulates what it's like to be 13, developing first crushes, heartbreak, and learning how to navigate your emotions without hurting others.
In this novel in verse, Salazar follows Elio, a Mexican-American boy who has a core group of friends and looks to his dad to teach him what it means to "be a man." According to his dad, it's not allowing yourself to feel any negative emotions and to embrace a macho attitude. Thankfully, Elio's mother steps in and gently guides him to fully embrace the changes he's going through and to allow himself the time and space to heal from being hurt. Elio's two younger sisters, who typically get on his nerves, turn up for him when he is at his lowest point.
My favorite part of this book is how Salazar writes authentically from the perspective of teenagers. Their dialogue is completely believable, even using the most up-to-date slang of our current times: "no cap" and "rizz" make their way into the conversations throughout the story. She also weaves in the power of social media, group chats, and consent into the tale as Elio faces big decisions over how to deal with his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend who is taunting him. Elio's problems are realistic so readers can possibly work through similar issues they are having through the story.
As a teacher, parent, and school librarian, I would highly recommend this book to upper middle grade readers (6th grade and up). The story's open and honest conversations about bodies and hormones between the grownups and teenagers can show readers how to respectfully have these important conversations by using accurate language and some humor, at times. I also appreciate Salazar showcasing a broad range of side characters who are also dealing with similar coming-of-age feelings. The last part that I especially enjoyed is how much Spanish is used in the story. Being an immigrant myself, I can attest that hearing your ancestral language is powerful, using it yourself is even more moving, and finally seeing it printed in a published book is beyond feeling seen. It signifies your experience as a person with a another language and cultural background that is just as a part of your identity as any other part.
Be sure to checkout this novel as it is released in April of 2024 and Salazar's other books. She is a master storyteller who will have you laughing at one point and reaching for the tissues at another. For a read-alike to this book, I suggest the young adult book by Lamar Giles, Not So Pure and Simple:
Thanks to Net Galley for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
Banned Books Week is held every September, yet in these past few years, it has become even more important to educate the public about. Celebrating the freedom to read is a cornerstone of a free community. When others dictate what is or isn’t available to read based on biased opinions, it is dangerous. I teach my older elementary school students about the history of banning books and they are continually shocked by how it starts small, but then grows to epic proportions. Student lessons on this even reach our present-day times when book bans and challenges are at the highest levels on record.
As an educator and librarian I am trained on how to select the best books for my school’s library collection. A book that I will definitely be adding and reading with students is the humorous, yet informative picture book, This Book is Banned.
From the start of the story the narrator is speaking directly to the reader, warning them that they will never make it to the end of the book because an arbitrary decision to ban the book’s topics will keep them from reaching its conclusion. Through humor, the writer demonstrates how book bans affect people’s ability to choose for themselves.
The hand-drawn illustrations by the artist, Julia Patton, are detailed and they help the information get through to the reader in a funny way. Readers will want to go back and look at the images again and discuss what they see.
I highly recommend this book for elementary students and the larger community. It sends an important message while entertaining the reader about this topic. Very rarely do picture books do this well. It would benefit the reader to supplement this book with further research into the current situation in which books are being banned, especially books by people whose perspectives are not widely shared.
Thanks to NetGalley for sharing an ARC of this book with me.
Here is an interview of the author, Raj Haldar, as he discusses what brought him to write about this topic and a video of him reading aloud the book:
Listen to and/or read NPR's All Things Considered news broadcast about This Book is Banned.
Middle grade readers can continue their study of this topic by reading the following chapter books:
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