Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Blackout is a simple, effective picture book about a city family who finds connection when their power goes out. This story highlights the beauty of slowing down and making memories, transforming a power outage into a neighborhood party under the stars. It’s a great read for children and a helpful reminder for adults about setting aside the hustle and bustle.
Mission Defrostable is a delightfully rhyming picture book adventure perfect for PreK-3rd grade. Join Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast as they race to save the fridge from a mysterious frost! Kids will love the awesome characters and mystery, while adults will appreciate the humor and clever wordsmithing. A top-notch, highly recommended read for any classroom library!
The Spirit Bear Series is a powerful duology exploring the impact of violence and the long road to redemption. Protagonist Cole Matthews’ journey, from isolation in Alaska to confronting his past in high school, is a great read for teens, emphasizing accountability and the profound connection between self-healing and changing one’s community.
Silence can be deadly. The Silent Patient explores the mystery of Alicia Berenson, a famous painter who shoots her husband five times and never speaks again. Equal parts psychological study and literary puzzle, the novel mirrors themes from “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Greek mythology. It’s a haunting, thought-provoking read that turns the tables on the reader and is a perfect addition to any syllabus exploring human psychology.
A masterpiece of survival and truth. Five Little Indians follows five residential school survivors as they navigate the aftermath of institutional trauma in Vancouver. Spanning decades, this polyphonic narrative refuses to gloss over history, delivering an unforgettable look at resilience, friendship, and reclamation. It is an essential read for history, sociology, and literature classrooms seeking deep empathy and systemic understanding.