Category Archives: grades

Please, Love Me: A review of America’s Not-So Sweetheart

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America’s Not-So Sweetheart
Blair Hanson
Page Street Publishing
Age 14+
June 17, 2025

Who says a villain can’t change? But who’s to say he wants to? Teenage Alec Braud won his season of the reality show Campfire Wars by playing a dirty game of lies and manipulation, securing the $250,000 prize to help his family’s struggling wildlife rehabilitation center. Nicknamed Aleconda for his slippery behavior and an on/off showmance with the season’s golden boy, Joaquín Delgado, he left the show to vitriol from the fandom. When Joaquín invites him on a Midwestern road trip to complete a photography project for his art school application, Alec jumps at the chance to repair their relationship and rehab his reputation. An invitation to a Campfire Wars convention in New York sidetracks their plans and helps Alec see he’s not the only bad guy in town—other seasons’ villains, the shows production staff and even Joaquín prove just as devious.

Blair Hanson brings the drama in this LGBTQ+ YA romance, his debut. The emotions are messy and overly complicated, even for seventeen-year-old boys, and the relationship between the protagonists is weighted with angst. Alec’s self-doubt and neediness temper his sketchy behavior enough to have you rooting for his redemption arc, while Joaquín’s cool-kid bravado will make readers wonder if he really is too good to be true. Told from Alec’s perspective, he is the more fully drawn character, while other are a bit flat. Themes of diversity and representation (questionable in the Campfire Wars universe), integrity, healthy relationships, and the toxicity of reality TV are all woven into the plot but are often overshadowed by Alec’s desperation to prove himself worthy of love from his boyfriend, his parents, and the public. His final decision to stand up for himself as-is and his right to a healthy relationship, help to redeem both him and the plot. Just like reality TV, America’s Not-So Sweetheart is an attention-grabbing, if melodramatic, entry to the summer romance genre.

Journey From Africa to the Amazon: A Review of A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet 

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A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet 
Written by Martha Brockenbrough 
Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal 
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf 
Ages 4-8 
Available May 27, 2025 

What do the Sahara Desert, Atlantic Ocean, and Amazon Rainforest have in common? Vital, life-sustaining dust! Thousands of years ago, there was a huge lake in the African country Chad. As it dried up, the animals that died in it and became fossils have now turned into dust that moves in a giant cloud across the world. As the dust cloud moves west over the Atlantic Ocean, it helps the ocean make oxygen and softens the impact of hurricanes. Over the Amazon Rainforest, it restores the phosphorus that is washed away by the rain, allowing the forest’s plants to grow and support the ecosystem. At its peak in the spring and summer, the dust cloud can be as heavy as “almost 262 billion basketballs” (23). This dust cloud is incredibly important to the global ecosystem. 

Martha Brockenbrough uses poetic, expressive text that easily gives readers an idea of how the dust cloud works; the trout that eventually becomes dust is “gulping plankton” (5), the dust “soars across West Africa” and “paints the sky” (10). Even though there is little text on each page—nine lines at most—Brockenbrough accurately and clearly describes where and how the dust plume travels and why it is so important to the world’s many ecosystems. By doing this, she emphasizes how the natural world is connected across oceans and continents. Brockenbrough also includes detailed backmatter that explains more about how the dust is created and its impact. Juana Martinez-Neal’s stunning mixed-media drawings bring the Saharan dust plume to life. She uses a combination of realistic illustrations and specks of color that demonstrates the harmony between the dust and the life it supports. The bright, vibrant colors of her illustrations beautifully show the world’s natural diversity. A fascinating book about the importance of dust, A Gift of Dust will make a wonderful addition to lessons and programs about ecology and environmental science. 

Butler Bookshelf

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Even though it’s only April, we here at the Butler Center have received countless fantastic books for teens! From fantasy to romance, we want to share some great new teen fiction, like Love on Paper by Danielle Parker. When Macy Descanso is accepted to attend Penovation, a high-profile writing workshop program, she knows she has some big shoes to fill from her writer parents. However, when the workshop’s theme is romance and Macy’s critique partner is the (irresistably cute) son of her parents’ writing rivals, Caleb, she feels the pressure rachet up. Soon, when a classmate reveals a mystery left behind by a romantic literary giant, she knows it will be the perfect thing to distract her from her imposter syndrome. Plus, would it really be so bad to bond with Caleb, who is growing more charming by the second, over solving this mystery? Parker presents a fun summer romance, building Macy and Caleb’s relationship incrementally until they finally admit their feelings for each other. The mystery element adds an entertaining touch, propelling the story forward as the characters explore Berkeley and the surrounding area to find the prolific writer Betty Quinn’s last unfinished manuscript. Parker doesn’t shy away from heavier topics, discussing grief, complicated parental relationships, and imposter syndrome. Using thoughtful and humorous prose, Parker explores what it means to make a name for yourself, even when escaping your parents’ shadow feels impossible. Joyful, funny, and intriguing, Love on Paper is a wonderful young adult rom-com to add to any personal or public library collection!

Check out more teen fiction below!

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe
Written by Mahogany L. Browne
Published by Crowne Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Camila Nunez’s Year of Disasters
Written by Miriam Zoila Perez
Published by Page Street Publishing
Available now!

Love on Paper
Written by Danielle Parker
Published by Joy Revolution
Available now!

On the Wings of la Noche
Written by Vanessa L. Torres
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

True Life in Uncanny Valley
Written by Deb Caletti
Published by Labyrinth Road
Available now!

How To Release Your Grumbles: A Review of Grumble Boats 

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Grumble Boats 
Written by Susannah McFarlane 
Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie 
Published by Charlesbridge 
Ages 3-6 
Available April 15, 2025 

Who helps you release your grumpy feelings? Emma doesn’t know how to release her grumbles when her parents don’t let her go to the pirate party with her brother. After Emma is dropped off at her grandma’s house, Grandma sees how upset Emma is and quickly comes up with a solution. Together, they walk to the beach, draw their grumbly and grumpy feelings, and watch them sail away after folding them into paper boats. After they say goodbye to their grumbles, Emma feels much better and is ready for a fun day of playing and eating grilled cheese with Grandma. 

Susannah McFarlane presents readers with a simple yet well-written story about a young girl coping with her grumpy feelings. With straightforward text, she shows why Emma is upset and the effort that Grandma puts into cheering her up. Through Grandma’s character, McFarlane writes about an easy way to release your feelings: by drawing them out and releasing them to sea. She thoughtfully shows Grandma helping Emma move on from her grumpiness without invalidating her feelings by reassuring her that she would have been an excellent pirate as they watch their grumbles float away. There are also instructions at the end that show readers how to make their own grumble boats so they can participate in this practice in mindfulness. Ainslie’s watercolor and pencil illustrations pair well with the text to bring Emma’s world to life, illustrating Emma’s grumpy facial expressions especially well. The illustrations are detailed, and Ainslie utilizes a muted full-color palette, which has the same calming effect that Grandma’s grumble boats have on Emma’s feelings. Grumble Boats is a lovely addition to any classroom library or program to give young readers a chance to learn about healthy emotional regulation. 

Dare To Follow Your Joy: A Review of The Queen Bees of Tybee County 

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The Queen Bees of Tybee County 
Written by Kyle Casey Chu 
Published by Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Publishers 
Ages 8-13 
Available April 15, 2025 

Talented middle school point guard Derrick Chan has the perfect summer plan: go to basketball camp and practice every day so he and his best friend, JJ, can make the varsity team next year. His plan is upended when his dad can’t afford the tuition, so instead, Derrick is sent to his grandma Claudia’s in boring Heritage, GA. There, Derrick befriends roller skater Ro and queer photographer Giles. When he has an opportunity to help out with the town pageant, Derrick volunteers out of curiosity and is soon faced with an opportunity to be daring and authentically express himself to the world.  

The Queen Bees of Tybee County is an emotional and heartwarming story of one middle school boy’s journey to self-discovery. Every reader will be able to understand Derrick’s confusion and anxiety, and they’ll find comfort in the safe space that his loved ones give him to be himself. Simultaneously, Chu expertly makes Derrick’s experience specific to his queer Chinese American identity. He demonstrates the diversity of expression in the LGBTQ+ community by showing the different ways Derrick and Giles express their queerness, as well as the ways that racism has affected Derrick’s family members chasing their own dreams. All told from Derrick’s perspective, his sweet and genuine personality makes the story compelling. Community is the heart of this novel, and Chu creates a comfortable safe space in Giles, Ro, and Claudia for Derrick to explore his feelings before feeling safe to come out to JJ and his dad. Although the resolution is fairytale-esque, Chu doesn’t shy away from the reality of being queer and Chinese American by showing resistance from some townspeople when Derrick competes in the pageant. This touching story of self-love and acceptance is sure to inspire upper-elementary and middle schoolers everywhere to be proud of who they are. 

Come Find Me: A Review of Frankie and Friends: The Lost Tooth

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Frankie and Friends: The Lost Tooth
Christine Platt
Illustrated by Alea Marley
Walker Books/Candlewick
March 18, 2025
Age 5-8

If Frankie loses a tooth while she’s away from home, how will the tooth fairy ever find her? Excitement over the very first loose tooth, and anxiety over its timing, inspire imaginative problem-solving by thoughtful and determined Frankie and her friends—a group of sentient toys—to ensure a visit from the tooth fairy. The group brainstorms solutions as they prepare for a long-awaited trip to accompany Mama to a journalism conference. When Frankie loses her tooth at the conference, she is joined by other aspiring young journalists to find her tooth and guarantee it makes it to her pillow.

With gentle prose and the excitement of her young protagonist, Platt centers the joys and concerns of a young elementary schooler and the importance of friendship in this third installment of the Frankie and Friends series. Introducing potentially new vocabulary in all caps, calls out the opportunity to decode the word based on clear context clues in the text. Though there is a definition list included in the backmatter. Themes of teamwork and communicating worries are spot on for the social-emotional learning of the target age group. Digital illustrations in a hand-drawn, colored-pencil style are vibrantly hued and full of pattern. Full page, full bleed images sit alongside smaller inset drawing to break up the text into manageable chunks, and closely mirror the text to aid in decoding. Depicting sweetly expressive faces and a loving bond in the African American family, Marley’s illustrations help place the series as one to depict an ordinary, happy childhood versus struggle and strife.

The latest Frankie and Friends offers newly independent readers a spunky heroine growing into her own with the loving support of her family and friends.

What Makes Me Special?: A Review of I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods 

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I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods 
Written and illustrated by Anne Lambelet 
Published by Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe 
Ages 8-12 
Available March 4, 2025 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have nine brains or be able to shoot ink to escape dire situations? In this graphic guide, Grimpy, short for Grimpoteuthis, the scientific name for dumbo octopuses, teaches readers about his cephalopod friends and shows all the things that make them different. He introduces individual species within the cephalopod class, such as cuttlefish and coconut octopuses, showing off their fascinating characteristics and abilities, like using color to communicate and making tools out of the environment. Meanwhile, Grimpy becomes increasingly disheartened when he can’t figure out what makes dumbo octopuses special. In the end, his friends come together to share cool facts about dumbo octopuses that make them unique. Grimpy realizes that he is just as unique as his other cephalopod friends.  

By creating an amusing “tour guide” with Grimpy the dumbo octopus, Anne Lambelet successfully creates a fun and personable way to learn about cephalopods in this graphic nonfiction book. Jam-packed with interesting facts, readers will gain a thorough understanding of this class of animals without feeling overwhelmed with information. Lambelet also adds a touching storyline of celebrating each other’s differences through Grimpy and the other cephalopods sharing their unique skills. At the end, Lambelet includes a glossary with illustrations reviewing each important term introduced in the book, as well as a photograph of a dumbo octopus. Although Lambelet doesn’t have a background in marine biology or ocean science, she includes a selected bibliography of her research and a reading list for readers who want to learn more about cephalopods. Lambelet’s cartoon-style illustrations balance her informative text by bringing more humorous personality to the facts she shares. However, the red, pink, and blue color palette limits her depiction of some of the more colorful capabilities of cephalopods, like camouflage and communication. A charming adventure through the fascinating animal class of cephalopods, I’m a Dumbo Octopus! is an entertaining addition to ocean-themed lessons or programs.  

Where She Started: A Review of Janie Writes a Play 

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Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen’s First Great Story 
Written by Heidi E. Y. Stemple 
Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight 
Published by Charlesbridge 
Ages 5-8 
Available February 11, 2025 

Janie loves great stories of all forms. Constantly creating stories in her head, she loves writing down her ideas. With rehearsals about to start for her class play, Janie can’t wait to learn the story and get her part. Unfortunately, when she reads the script, she’s disappointed by its lack of a “rising plot or big moment” (p. 21), and she finds the ending unsatisfying. Later, in ballet class, Janie is disheartened by the lackluster story, but the satisfying ending of her class’s dance routine inspires her to write her own script. After a long night of writing and rewriting, Janie turns in her story to her teacher, Mrs. Jiler. She agrees to use the new play and hands out new roles. In the end, the success of her play inspires Janie to keep writing and ultimately become the beloved children’s author, Jane Yolen. 

In this imaginative picture book, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Jane Yolen’s daughter, pays loving tribute to the story of her mother’s first story. Writing about young Janie’s constantly soaring imagination, Stemple shows an appreciation for Yolen’s artistry in a manner that encourages readers to foster their own creativity. Stemple shares some insight into Yolen’s creative process, like how she would learn new words by reading books that were above her reading level. At the end, Stemple includes a brief passage about her mother’s life and work, as well as photographs of Yolen and her family growing up. Madelyn Goodnight’s bright, full-color illustrations bring whimsy to Janie’s world by showcasing her strong imagination. One side of a spread shows a regular scene at the park, with people picnicking and flying kites. On the opposite side, Goodnight illustrates what Janie sees: swashbuckling pirates and tutu-clad dinosaurs throwing tantrums. Many of the illustrations are touching references to Yolen’s large body of work. Janie Writes a Play is a delightfully fun story that encourages creativity and curiosity and serves as an amusing resource for information on a beloved children’s author that can aid in a lesson about storytelling or a program featuring Yolen’s books. 

Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about new fiction titles in our collection! These titles feature animal adventures, a school for time travelers, and dragons in London for readers of all ages. The featured title this week is Time Out! (Addy McBean) by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Stacy Curtis. In this chapter book for beginning readers, math-loving Addy McBean learns how to tell time on analog clocks and how to set an alarm. Along the way, she and her best friend, Star, become convinced that their teacher, Mr. Vertex, is getting married. Working tirelessly to look for clues, they accidentally spread the rumor to their class. In addition to learning the fun of telling time, Addy learns the importance of using facts to make a decision instead of assumptions. Curtis uses quirky digital illustrations to accompany Addy’s adventures, and Cuyler includes a character glossary and a word list to help young readers remember characters and learn new terms.

Check out more fiction below!

The Doomsday Vault (Everwhen School of Time Travel (and Other Odd Sciences) 1)
Written by Thomas Wheeler
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now

A Language of Dragons
Written by S.F. Williamson
Published by Harper
Available now

Little Head, Little Nose
Written by Yuli Yav
Illustrated by Antonia Woodward
Published by LITTLE SIMON
Available now

Time Out! (Addy McBean)
Written by Margery Cuyler
Illustrated by Stacy Curtis
Published by Aladdin Quix
Available now

A Wolf Called Fire
Written by Rosanne Parry
Published by Greenwillow Books
Available now

To Hug or Not to Hug: A review of Hugs Are (Not) for Everybody!

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Hugs Are (Not) for Everybody!
Ella Russell
Illustrated by Udayana Lugo
Owlkids Books
March 18, 2025
Age 3-7

At a magic birthday party full of both cuddlers and the squeeze-averse, an enthusiastic young guest learns that not everyone is comfortable with hugs in the same way. Hugs are for hello and goodbye. Hugs are for celebrations and congratulations. Though hugs are not always welcome. Some prefer a wave, a high five, or a bum-shaking secret handshake. As the party continues, she learns that all she has to do is ask to make everyone feel safe.

Russell gently explores boundaries and respect in this sweet and simple picture book for pre-school to early elementary years that reunites the cast from Pink is For Everybody! She centers themes of consent and body autonomy in a comfortably familiar setting, with characters in non-threatening scenarios, like arriving at a friend’s home and wishing happy birthday. Lugo amplifies the theme of individual preferences with a cast of diverse backgrounds and personalities, and a variety of layout styles showcasing different types of engagement. Her engaging watercolors, candy-hued palette, and expressive faces capture both the joy of the party and the anxiety of some partygoers. Instances of onomatopoeia and clearly delineated dialog lend themselves to exuberant storytime inclusion and will make the shiest kids feel seen.

A wholesome tale of consent that makes introducing this often sensitive topic a piece of (birthday) cake.