Author Archives: bclyp

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re taking a look at some of the young adult romances in our collection. From supernatural to sci-fi to contemporary, there’s a love story to fit anyone’s tastes in this list. Our feature pick is Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker. In post World War 3 America, each 18-year-old goes through a process which identifies their soul, matching them with their past lives and, potentially, their soulmate. Sivon is terrified of the possibility of being identified as a “bad soul,” something that can mean being saddled with prison time for past crimes. The result she ends up with shocks everyone, including her, and catapults her into a life she’s totally unprepared for. On top of it all, her childhood celebrity crush is suddenly looking her way, while Sivon finds herself pining for a man who is completely, 100%, without a doubt, off limits.

Check out more YA romances below!

Love at Full Tilt
Jenny L. Howe
Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Romance
Available now!

My Return to the Walter Boys
Ali Novak
Sourcebooks/Sourcebooks Fire
Available now!

Soulmatch
Rebecca Danzenbaker
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

This Could be Forever
Ebony LaDelle
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

Till Death
Kellan McDaniel
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Entertainment Books
Available now!

Weaving Together the Past and Present: A Review of Braided Roots 

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Braided Roots: The Interweaving of History, Family, and a Father’s Love 
Written by Pasha Westbrook 
Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight 
Published by Scholastic/Orchard Books 
Ages 4-8 
Available November 4, 2025 

A young girl sits still for her father so he can braid her hair before school. As he braids, he tells her all about their mixed family history and culture. Their ancestors were Freedmen and Native Americans who walked along the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma, and her father impresses upon her that their hair is their history. This prompts the young girl to look at photographs of her relatives, reflecting on how she is connected to past generations through her braided hair. When her father finishes her braid, they celebrate their heritage with a twirl, leaving the young girl feeling like she can change the world. 

In this charming picture book, Pasha Westbrook creates a charming tale that celebrates fatherly love and blended cultural traditions. Her poetic prose artfully conveys the deep connection the young narrator and her father have with their family, comparing their braids to DNA that links them to their ancestors. Westbrook also takes care to show how close the father and daughter are; in the afterword, she writes that she modeled their relationship after her relationship with her own father, creating a heartwarming and personal element. Madelyn Goodnight’s digital illustrations are in full color, utilizing a warm-toned palette and her signature realistic style to portray the sweet, thoughtful mood of the story. Goodnight shows the main character’s passion for her history, and her illustrations incorporate Westbrook’s DNA metaphor into many pages. A touching story about familial connection going back generations, this touching scene between a father and daughter is a wonderful way for young readers to learn about Native American history, culture, and connection.  

Butler Bookshelf

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Books can be the perfect escape, so for this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re exploring the natural world through nonfiction! Whether it’s a trek through the rainforest, swimming down to the deep, dark sea, venturing back to dinosaur times, or investigating animal antics—did you know wombats poop cubes?!—there’s a little bit of science for everyone in each of these week’s picks. Our featured book is Welcome to Whalebone Mansion: Creatures That Lurk at a Whale Fall by Laken Slate and illustrated by Bindy James. Take a dive down below to see what’s lurking in the dark depths of the ocean! Sunken skeletons, “whale falls,” make the perfect nutritious hang-out spot for a slew of spooky sea creatures. From vampire squids to goblin sharks—zombie worms too!—maybe it’s time to start your Halloween celebrations a tad bit early this year! (No scuba gear necessary.)

Check out some more nature nonfiction below! 

The Forest That Grows Around Me
Charlotte Guillain
Illustrated by Vuon Illustration
The Quarto Group / words & pictures
Available now!

Farting Fish: and 49 Other Weird and Wonderful Scientific Discoveries
Alice Harman
Illustrated by Sam Wedelich
The Quarto Group / Happy Yak
Available now!

Welcome to Whalebone Mansion: Creatures That Lurk at a Whale Fall
Laken Slate
Illustrated by Bindy James
Charlesbridge
Available October 7th!

From Bam! to Burp! A Carbon Atom’s Never-Ending Journey Through Space and Time and You
Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns
Charlesbridge
Available October 28th!

3 Weeks in the Rainforest: A Rapid Inventory in the Amazon
Jennifer Swanson
Charlesbridge
Available now!

Not So Lonely: A Review of Chris Makes a Friend

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Chris Makes a Friend
Alex Gino
Scholastic/Scholastic Press
Ages 8-12
Available November 4th, 2025

Chris knows exactly what she’s going to do with her summer: the Great Summer 72 Book Challenge. She and her best friend Vicky are going to read 72 books each, one for every day of the summer. But their plans come crashing down Chris finds out that she and her sister Becca will be spending the summer with their grandparents while their mom recovers from surgery. It’s not so bad — at least Chris can still message Vicky about their progress on the GS72BC. Except Vicky is spending all her time with her new friends from theater camp, and barely messaging Chris at all. When Chris meets Mia, a fellow bookish 11-year-old, while reading in the woods, it seems like she’s finally found someone who understands her. But there’s more to Mia than meets the eye.

Chris Makes a Friend, like Gino’s other titles, focuses on the realities of being a kid with a heavy focus on diverse and authentic characters. Chris faces challenges that will be relatable to many young readers: loneliness, friend troubles, parental illness, and difficult younger siblings. As she explores the world around her and the way she (and Mia) exist in it, Chris is met with kindness, understanding, and just enough pushback to allow her to learn and grow. At the crux of the book is a question anyone can relate to — what can we do when we feel lonely?

Chris’ ever-present love for reading (and complete list of 70 book recommendations) will make hungry young readers feel at home in Chris Makes a Friend. Themes of chronic illness and disability will be familiar to some readers, while providing a window of insight for others.

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re going old school. Really old school. From the American Revolution to the Regency Era, we’re looking back at the past through some of the historical fiction in our collection. Our feature pick is Kill the Lax Bro by Charlotte Lillie Balogh. What do a jock, a nerd, a Harvard-bound overachiever, and a drug dealing skater have in common? They all hate the captain of the Hancock High lacrosse team. When he turns up dead during the school’s annual lock in, the unlikely group team up to solve his murder themselves before the suspicion falls to them. But there’s more to the story than meets the eye — and an entire semester’s worth of bad blood. This 90’s thriller is chock-full of drama, intrigue, and high school stereotypes, topped off with a sprinkling of AOL messages.

Check out more historical fiction below!

Death in the Dark
Bryce Moore
Sourcebooks/Sourcebooks Fire
Available now!

Exquisite Things
Abdi Nazemian
HarperCollins Publishers/Harper
Available September 23rd, 2025

Kill the Lax Bro
Charlotte Lillie Balogh
Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press
Available now!

Lady Knight
Amalie Howard
Random House Children’s Books/Joy Revolution
Available now!

Rebellion 1776
Laurie Halse Anderson
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Atheneum
Available now!

Search for the Truth: A Review of Through Our Teeth 

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Through Our Teeth 
Written by Pamela N. Harris 
Published by Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Publishers 
Ages 16-18 
Available September 16, 2025 

High school senior Liv Porter has been numbly floating through life since her best friend, Hope Jackson, died six months ago. The police ruled her death as a suicide, but Liv suspects that she was murdered by her boyfriend, Brendan. Struggling with anxiety since Hope’s death, Liv is determined to find out what really happened to her. One night, she lures Brendan to one of her mom’s empty properties to exact revenge and uncover the truth. But the plan goes awry when two of his friends show up—and then utter disaster strikes when people in their group start dying, one by one. Determined to survive the night and get justice for Hope, Liv exposes the lies of those she was closest to. 

Pamela N. Harris creates a twisty page-turner that explores themes of mental health, domestic violence, and cyberbullying. The action in this locked-room thriller starts immediately, gripping readers until the last page. Harris also utilizes flashback scenes every few chapters to provide more context to Liv’s relationships and slowly reveal what happened the night Hope died. The combination of past and present scenes results in each characters’ secrets being revealed in a dramatic way that hearkens back to Pretty Little Liars, mounting suspense as the reader gets closer to the truth. Mental illness is an important theme, and the novel explores anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder through multiple characters. The conversations surrounding mental illness and its treatment in the Black community can be used as a good starting point for deeper conversations with teens. Both suspenseful and insightful, Through Our Teeth allows readers the chance to explore important topics within a thrilling mystery. 

Butler Bookshelf

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With the beginning of fall comes many big changes in a child’s life, and with those big changes can come big emotions! For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re taking a look at some of our picture books about feelings. Whether you’re feeling sad, shy, angry, or excited, these books have something for you. Our feature pick is I Hate Everything by Sophy Henn. This little ghost knows one thing for certain — they hate everything. But their friend’s not so sure. Do they hate sweets? Flowers? Dressing up? As the rainbow of lovable objects goes on, the ghost realizes they may not hate everything, after all.

Check out more picture books about emotions below!

Bear Feels Sad
Karma Wilson
Illustrated by Jane Chapman
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available now!

I Hate Everything!
Sophy Henn
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Beach Lane Books
Available now!

Shy Me
Sandra V. Feder
Illustrated by Ashley Baron
Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
Available now!

Teacher Jitters
Julie Danneberg
Illustrated by Judy Love
Charlesbridge
Available now!

You Are a Burst of Color
Choi Sook-Hee
Translated by Jiun Kaier and Sarah Kiaer
Charlesbridge
Available September 9th!

Fall Semester Fun with BCLC

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Welcome back to the academic year, BCLC friends. As we all switch gears from zingy beach reads to cozy fall titles, it’s time to start marking your calendar for what we, and the greater kid lit community, have planned for fall.

September is World Kit Lit Month:

Check out all the amazing celebration suggestions from ALSC or share your own with us in the comments. You can also visit the BCLC to explore world literature with us!

Did you know that the Butler Center is home to an international children’s literature collection? Curated by years of SOIS students attending the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (see below) and some generous donors, the BCLC collection includes titles published in their original (non-English) language, international titles translated to English, as well as North American books translated into many other world languages.

Each spring, DU’s SOIS runs LIS 796: International Book Fair. The course focuses on children’s literature from around the world, the similarities and differences to books published for a US audience, how those titles make it (or don’t) into our local libraries, and how we can best share them here. The course culminates in a trip to Italy for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair for exploration, education, and celebration of the best in kidlit from across the globe. Interested in the course, watch for the fall info session in October.

Writers in Community:

Watch for News on More Bookish Fall Fun:

Dominican University’s Rebecca Crown Library will once again host a 2-week Lit Fest (visit the linked RCL site for the event promo video) October 6-17. Stay tuned to BCLC and other DU socials for details on dates, times, and specific events–including workshops, watch parties, writing sessions, and more.

Save the Date for the Butler Book Sale:

   

BCLC Fall Open Hours:

The Butler Center space and collections are open for students, library and education professional, writers, and book reviewers to explore new titles or conduct research in any of our collections. Drop in hours are Monday and Friday 9am-5pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9am-1pm, and Wednesday by appointment.
Questions about how you can use BCLC resources? Contact us at butler@dom.edu.

Butler Bookshelf

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Happy National Dog Day, readers! The Butler Center is joining this celebration of our furry friends with some hilarious and heartwarming books about dogs. We know that many young readers love playing with and reading to dogs, so what’s better than a book that can make you laugh about your pet and appreciate their companionship? One delightful picture book that portrays the special connection we can have with our pets is Hazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Matt Myers. Hazel is a sassy pooch who loves her toys, walks, and most of all, her girl, Bea! Every day they spend together is perfect in Hazel’s eyes—lots of playing, naps, and even two dinners! But when Bea’s new baby sibling comes into the picture, everything changes. Now, Bea is preoccupied with playing with the baby, and Hazel doesn’t know where she belongs in the family anymore. After a classic Hazel accident, she finds out where she fits—right in the middle, with everybody else, including the baby! Michalak’s text is funny and Hazel’s sass is sure to make young readers and their caregivers laugh out loud. She also takes care to portray the adjustment that comes along with a new family member and how that change affects the whole family, making this picture book a great resource for young kids who are about to gain a new sibling. Myers’s watercolor and ink illustrations are a cool-toned full color palette, and the classic newspaper-cartoon style pairs well with the humorous text. A fun story about a sweet and cheeky pup dealing with a major change, Hazel the Handful will entertain audiences of all ages and prompt them to give their pets some extra love.

Check out more books about dogs below!

The Dog Who Made It Better
Written by Katherin Nolte
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now

Hazel the Handful
Written by Jamie Michalak
Illustrated by Matt Myers
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

Smelly Peggy
Written and illustrated by Helen Stephens
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

What Coco Can Do
Written by Maribeth Boelts
Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

Where Are You, Brontë?
Written by Tomie DePaola
Illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now

Stories of Survival: A Review of Refugee: The Graphic Novel

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Refugee: The Graphic Novel
Alan Gratz
Illustrated by Syd Fini
Ages 11+
Available October 7, 2025

In 1939, Josef and his family flee persecution in Nazi Germany. In 1994, Isabel climbs onto a homemade boat on the shores of Cuba. In 2015, Mahmoud tries to protect his siblings as they depart Syria with their parents. Each of them hopes for a better life in a new country, unable to stay in their homes any longer. An adaptation of Gratz’s novel Refugee, this graphic novel tells three stories of children seeking refuge based on real moments in history.

Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud each have their own stories, but each focuses on the same themes of bravery, hope, and family. Interspersed with each other, readers follow all three children at the same time, which allows for parallels to form between the tales. Gratz draws all three together, revealing ties between the characters and their stories, and providing for a satisfying ending. Fini’s illustration is packed with emotion, giving readers insight into not just the young narrators, but also their families and the people they encounter on their journeys.

Refugee: The Graphic Novel is unapologetic in its depiction of suffering and trauma. Although none of the pictures are overly explicit, characters die on and off screen, are held and gunpoint and threatened, and discuss the realities of the situations they are fleeing, including concentration camps and bombings. Young readers who pick up this book should be prepared to deal with topics that are heavy and sometimes uncomfortable, and adults who give it to them should be prepared for questions about its content. Gratz provides additional information at the back of the book about the historical context surrounding the stories, making it ideal for classroom discussions.