Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Selznick’s Wonderstruck is a beautifully illustrated exploration of connection, identity, and resilience. Told through both prose and breathtaking pencil drawings, the dual timelines of Ben and Rose converge in a moving, unexpected way. Each character’s search for belonging feels heartfelt and timeless. This book invites readers to slow down, notice details, and experience the wonder of storytelling in both words and images.
Will Chambers is the only “round kid” in a school full of thin ones. He hides behind oversized hoodies and avoids the cafeteria, struggling with shame and self-doubt. When a cruel comment in fourth grade triggers years of pain, Will begins to spiral, using food restriction to cope.
Teen Josie Black, known as J.B., begins noticing strange memory lapses that her mother dismisses as stress. When she investigates, J.B. uncovers a shocking secret—she has been unknowingly trained as a spy by her mother and a covert organization.
Aida Salazar’s Ultra Violet is a brave and compassionate story in verse about growing up, finding identity, and redefining masculinity. Elios’s voice is authentic and funny, offering boys permission to feel and be kind. A must-read for middle schoolers finding their place in the world.
Jacqueline Woodson’s Before the Ever After is a powerful novel in verse that explores the unseen costs of sports through the eyes of a young boy watching his father fade from repeated head injuries. Told with honesty and hope, it invites readers to reflect on family, memory, and resilience.