Tag Archives: book review

Superb for the Job: A Review of Sheba the Alley Cat

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Sheba the Alley Cat 
Lauren Fornoles 
Illustrated by Natalia Gubanova 
Little Leaflet Press 
Ages: 4+  
Available: October 6, 2026 

When Sheba, a black cat, sees a job opening in the Meow Times for a ‘friend and travel companion’ for Hilda Broomwick (who seems nice and is totally not a witch), she finds an opportunity to see the world outside her humdrum alley. She packs her things and makes her way to the address listed in the paper: a house covered in cobwebs and has only one lit window. Despite her lack of travel experience, Sheba’s enthusiasm and bone-collecting skills might land her the job of a lifetime. Natalia Gubanova’s use of dark blue sky, pumpkins outside Hilda’s house, bats flying all over the place, and Hilda’s overall witchy appearance create a gentle Halloween theme. The hand-drawn look of Gubanova’s digital illustrations and muted colors generate a serene and charming atmosphere. Lauren Fornoles’s positive phrasing about Sheba’s excitement for the job complements Gubanova’s cute-spooky drawings. When Sheba reads “Welcome” near the front door, she fails to see the bottom text that reads, “if you dare,” creating depth to the story’s humor. The underlying message of being appreciated for one’s unique traits adds an emotional layer to the otherwise whimsical text. Sheba feels discouraged when she tells Hilda she hasn’t had a lot of travel experience. However, when Hilda mentions she needs special bones for her spells, Sheba realizes she can make a personal contribution, and her confidence returns stronger than ever. In short, Sheba the Alley Cat is a sweet seasonal story with a dash of social emotional learning, great for a Halloween collection or story time. 

A Just-Reformed Overachiever: A Review of Jubilee Foster is Totally Fine

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Jubilee Foster is Totally Fine
Elise Bryant 
Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins 
Ages 13+ 
Available: January 26, 2027

Sixteen-year-old go-getter Jubilee Foster has her life under control. But her perfect life comes crashing down when from out of nowhere, she gets hives all over her body and can’t completely get rid of them. As her illness gets worse, Jubilee refuses to put her routine and relationships in jeopardy and act as selfish as her mother did when her mental illness took over. However, Jubilee will eventually need to attain the hardest goal a human powerhouse like her can accomplish: ask for and accept help. Bryant’s grounded dialogue makes every character soulful and three-dimensional. Jubilee’s feelings, especially those about Nate, her rival-turned-sweetheart, her mother, and her medical misfortune, take center stage in the story. When she realizes how her actions and words affect the people around her, the issues don’t quickly resolve themselves, which makes the story true-to-life. James Junior, Jubilee’s youngest sibling, is embarrassed that he needs extra help with his reading skills but didn’t tell his sister because he didn’t want to bother her busy schedule. It parallels Jubilee not wanting either of her siblings to tell her father about her hives because it would take time away from his work. Both James Jr.’s and Jubilee’s issues aren’t completely resolved, but it doesn’t deter from the story’s hopeful ending. The story features mostly Black and mixed-race characters. Jubilee Foster is Totally Fine, an enemies-to-lovers and medical drama, will make readers cry tears of frustration and happiness with every page turn.  

Finding Perseverance Through Friendship: A Review of Dasia (Forever)

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Dasia (Forever) 
Nic Stone 
Illustrated by Simone Douglas 
Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books
Ages: 10+ 
Available: October 6, 2026  

13-year-old Dasia Monae Riley is not supposed to have visitors while undergoing bone cancer treatment. This doesn’t stop 14-year-old fellow cancer patient Jameson “Jimmy” Jeffs from entering her room, unnoticed by the doctors and nurses, and having a conversation with her on a lonely July night. As the two girls talk, Dasia realizes she has more in common with Jimmy than she first thought. Little does she know that one night in spectral Jimmy’s company will change her life forever.

This magical realistic middle grade fiction novel, a spin-off of Stone’s the Dear Martin series, is part prose and part verso libre poetry in the form of Dasia’s unsent letters to her incarcerated older brother, LaQuan. The letters give readers a glimpse of Dasia’s life prior to induction chemo, feelings and experiences that she’s rarely shared with others except for Jimmy. Simone Douglas’s black-and-white illustrations, mainly seen as margin doodles in Dasia’s letters, accurately capture her sometimes-extreme emotional state. Stone gives the intense topic of childhood cancer gravitas and is not shy in including the isolation and pain associated with it, while Jimmy’s encouragement for Dasia to keep going and Dasia’s resolve to still fight her cancer, even at her lowest point, provide the reader hope. Extensive prior knowledge of the Dear Martin series isn’t required to understand Dasia’s narrative. Its powerful message of optimism in the face of illness is strong enough to stand alone. In short, Dasia (Forever) is an emotionally charged tale that will tug a reader’s heartstrings. 

Living in Agony and Remorse: A Review of Find My Way Down to You

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Find My Way Down to You
Julian Winters
Viking, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Ages: 13+
Available Now

For the first time since the untimely death of his boyfriend, London, 18-year-old August’s life turns upside down when he meets a mysterious “ferrier of souls” named Cary, whom August follows into a forbidden place: Aides, the Underworld, where mortal souls spend eternity after they die. Seeing an opportunity to find London, August frequently visits the extravagant Aides looking for his lost love, with Cary as his reluctant guide. After five visits to Aides, August is presented with a choice, as per the rules: choose a lonely life without his old boyfriend or pursue his budding feelings for the moody Cary.  

Julian Winters’s contemporary prose emphasizes how grief impacts August’s life. Its omnipresence is evident when August oversleeps, is late to his work shift, mentions blaming himself for his boyfriend’s death in several chapters, and seeing an old photo of him and London leaves him in emotional turmoil. It’s heartbreak at its bleakest. However, this plot doesn’t just have doom and gloom. August’s interactions with Cary and other Aides characters breathe fresh air and excitement into an otherwise depressing story. Same-sex relationships and attractions are included without value-judgement, giving both the characters and readers room to explore their own feelings. Readers don’t need to be extremely fluent in afterlife mythos, especially Greek mythology, to follow the narrative. Even Henri, one of the other soul ferriers, mentions that everything found in Wikipedia about the underworld gets things “wrong.” Emotionally raw and rife with dramatic intrigue, Find My Way Down to You is a weighty rainy-day YA romantasy that is guaranteed to make readers cry.  

The World Around Us: A review of Maptacular!

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Maptacular!
Laura Baker
Illustrated by Jorge De La Paz
Lonely Planet Kids
November 10, 2026
Age 8-12

Most maps divide the world by country borders, but what if it were split by favorite ice cream flavors, tallest trees, or global distribution of video gamers? Prolific children’s nonfiction author, Laura Baker, along with travel guide powerhouse Lonely Planet, offers middle grade readers this fascinating, infographic-like twist on cartography. Maptacular! features 70+ maps with chapters focused on countries, people, nature, transportation, history, and technology, then subdivided further into 2-page spreads exploring a single topic or question, such as “Do You Need a (School) Uniform?” or “Marco Polo’s Voyage.” The amount of easily digestible text varies from spread to spread, but most include a helpful key for understanding the map and fun facts associated with the topic, like that Australia is home to 28 million people and 40 million kangaroos (p24). Without a strong narrative structure, the title allows for consuming intriguing details at a reader’s own pace, either moving slowly through the ideas and images, or dipping in and out like a reference text, while wildly varied topics nurture curiosity about both the earth and the global community. Baker introduces deeper topics for consideration in age-appropriate ways, like that maps are organized the way they are (with Europe in the center) because they were developed by European explorers, gently encouraging readers to look at other things from a new perspective. De La Paz uses graphic design-inspired digital images in a candy-colored palette to clearly express the facts of each topic. Clean image overlays help simplify complex ideas, like the way Mercator Projection maps stretch out the land at the top/bottom of the globe. The inclusion of several wayfinding aids, an about section (explaining the parts of each spread), a world map, glossary, and resource list support both new nonfiction readers and those looking to dig deeper into a topic.

A vivid, info-packed guide for geography buffs and fun fact collectors alike.

Searching for Security: A Review of Comet’s Nine Lives

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Comet’s Nine Lives
Jan Brett
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Ages 4-8
Available: October 6, 2026

 

When his first life slips away from him after eating some foxgloves, Comet the cat needs to find a home to keep his other eight lives intact. As his efforts turn into one misadventure after another, losing more lives in the process, Comet’s goal of finding a suitable shelter seemed further than ever. However, the safety he sought may be closer than he first thought. 

Jan Brett’s signature intricate and realistic art style shines once again in her latest picture book. Her trademark serene and cool watercolor illustrations and borders, which include seashells, sea creatures, seaweed, and wooden planks, capture the coastal ambiance of the story’s island setting. The watercolor paint isn’t super vibrant, but it is smooth and calm. Comet’s antics portrayed in the pictures spark exciting action despite the lack of bright colors. Brett’s prose doesn’t talk down to her audience. She uses sophisticated language in some areas, especially when a dog character feels outraged or frightened of Comet’s unwelcome presence. For instance, in one scene where a health inspector comes to an ice cream parlor and sees Comet, he proclaims, “Feline residues! Maximum infractions!” As Comet loses each life, Brett’s wording makes apt descriptions that match the situation presented in the illustrations. Overall, Comet’s Nine Lives is an exquisite read sure to charm both parents and young readers alike. Jan Brett fans would be proud to include this book in their collections. 

One Beary Cute Story: A Review of Mr. Crump, the Heartless Grump

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Mr Crump, the Heartless Grump
Pog
Illustrated by Stephanie Leon
Floris Books
Ages 4-7
Available August 18th, 2026

Mr. Crump is, frankly, a total grump. He has no manners, no patience, and absolutely no enjoyment of things like pigeons at the park. But the second he gets home, Mr. Crump suddenly becomes soft, snuggly, and sentimental—just like the enormous collection of stuffed teddy bears filling his house! One fateful Halloween, a group of trick-or-treaters mistake his beloved bears for treats and make off with the entire collection! Left with just Captain Snuggles, his oldest and most prized teddy, Mr. Crump begins to learn what it means to care for others. With his newfound generosity, the town discovers there’s more beneath his curmudgeonly exterior, and the children now know that Mr. Crump is far from a grump.

One of the most striking features of Mr Crump, the Heartless Grump are Stephanie Leon’s pencil illustrations. The soft lines give the characters depth and texture, while the color palette mirrors emotion. The town’s colors lean cooler, more muted, and a little distant, resembling Mr. Crump’s gruff, closed-off personality. But inside his home, everything warms up. There’s a gentle, golden glow that makes his space (and his bears) feel safe, tender, and inviting.

Paired with author Pog’s playful, slightly silly language and distinct vernacular, Mr Crump, the Heartless Grump feels lively, cozy, and inviting, making it a great choice for younger readers and especially strong as a read-aloud tale.

This Wood Make a Great Read: A Review of I Am Not Boring

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I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log
Lena Podesta
Ten Speed Young Readers
Ages 3-5
Available May 26th, 2026

This log wants you to know that it is NOT boring! It might not talk, or sing, or eat, although countless creatures like fungi, lichens, and bugs make it their dinner. He might just sit there, but its cozy insides make for a great skunk home, and its mossy outsides are the perfect perch for a bird friend. The life of a log may not be glamorous, but it sure is useful.  

In tandem with the quirkiness of her characterizations, Lena Podesta’s illustrations bring our narrating log to life in a way that makes it feel anything but boring. The wood is textured with colored pencils, and the surrounding flora & fauna, with that same sketchbook-esque style, add depth and movement to each page. The animals are drawn in a playful, cartoon-like style that keeps the story fresh, fun, and approachable. The scientific concepts are woven in smoothly, and it helps that the log itself has a bit of an attitude, making this an engaging, entertaining blend of both non-fiction and narrative picture book. 

The backmatter includes all of the log’s roles: house, food, gardener, and helper, and Podesta’s author’s note adds a nice personal touch, sharing how she grew up flipping over logs and ended up discovering just how much life they can really hold. I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log is a fun, informative read, bringing charm & wit to a topic we rarely see explored in science class. Maybe logs aren’t so boring after all! 

From A Rocky Start to Solid Pals: A Review of Still Friends

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Still Friends
Troy Wilson
Illustrated by Mike Deas
Orca Book Publishers
Ages 3-5
Available May 19th, 2026

On a routine trip to the neighborhood park with his owner, one friendly (and inquisitive!) pup notices a lone girl sitting on the bench. He wants to play, but she doesn’t move (or talk!). Nothing but stone-cold silence. But as the seasons pass and the months go by, he learns to appreciate her stability. She doesn’t make him go to the vet, or scold him when he eats a dropped hot dog, and maybe, after all, he can learn to love her for exactly what she is… rock solid.

The charm of this picture book lies not just in its endearing, offbeat premise—unlikely companionship between a statue and a dog—but also in its world. Quirky characters, like a recurring flock of nosy pigeons, the stern lady manning the hot dog cart, and a family of birds who just won’t stop eating seeds, let the story come alive; perfect small details for eagle-eyed younger readers. The words are simple and sparse, yet still emotionally resonant. Deas’ soft pastel and watercolor illustrations bring a warmth and nostalgia to the story, with thoughtful usage of white space and sketchily drawn lines that feel lived-in and familiar, keeping each page spread from feeling too cluttered with the chaos of this faux-Central Park.

All in all, Still Friends is a tenderly funny read, inviting young audiences to reconsider what friendship can look like—and how sometimes, the most unexpected companions are the ones who stay.

The Nature of Healing: A Review of To the Last Gram

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To the Last Gram
Shreya Davies
Illustrated by Vanessa Wong
Difference Engine
Ages 13+
Available May 12th, 2026

To the Last Gram follows eighteen-year-old Divya as she reflects on childhood insecurity and navigates her teenage years in a body that never feels quite right. What begins as an awareness of her weight quickly spirals into portion control and exercise obsession as Divya’s relationship with food—and herself—becomes more and more turbulent.

Shreya Davies approaches Divya’s coming-of-age story with a careful balance of honesty and tact, detailing the gradual descent into anorexia in a way that feels both deeply personal and painfully recognizable. What seems to linger most is the graphic novel’s understanding of food as something far more complicated & complex than just sustenance. Within Divya’s Indian-Singaporean upbringing, food is seen as love, ritual, and expectation; it’s something you can’t easily turn away from. That tension sits at the heart of the story, exploring Divya’s struggles in a cultural way, a narrative that’s seldom explored this carefully. Vanessa Wong’s illustrations carry that same emotional weight, their limited color palette and careful attention to the characters’ expressions highlighting just how quietly painful and incredibly nuanced disordered eating can be.

Although the story ends with hope, it never simplifies recovery. Davies leaves space for relapse, uncertainty, and for the ongoing nature of healing, being far from linear. To the Last Gram is unflinchingly honest and incredibly human: a resonant read that explores something sadly so many young adults face.