Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Look on the Bright Side is a refreshing, heartfelt story that celebrates friendship, honesty, and growing up. Williams and Schneemann craft an authentic portrayal of teens navigating love, identity, and change with humor and heart. The expressive art and inclusive storytelling make this a perfect read for middle and high school students exploring what it means to truly support one another.
Fairest of All offers a haunting backstory for Disney’s Evil Queen, exploring how heartbreak and manipulation led her down a path of darkness. Valentino balances fantasy and tragedy, showing how grief and insecurity can transform love into obsession. While the story could dive deeper into the Queen’s inner turmoil, it’s still an engaging read for fans of fairy tale retellings and moral complexity. Perfect for readers who enjoy exploring what makes a villain.
Nurah and her family move from Karachi, Pakistan, to Peachtree City, Georgia, where she struggles to fit in while holding on to her cultural identity. Her accent, clothing, and faith set her apart from her peers, but swimming becomes her refuge and strength.
In this companion to Marshfield Dreams, Ralph Fletcher returns with more heartfelt reflections on his childhood in Marshfield, Massachusetts. As the oldest of nine children, he captures the “in-between” years of adolescence—balancing responsibility, curiosity, and the chaos of growing up in a large family during the 1950s and 60s.
This fast paced and emotionally resonant novel follows a middle schooler discovering his strength on and off the track. A powerful and relatable story that keeps readers turning the pages.