Post-It Note Reviews: Quick Looks at New Books

If you told me my dogs were secretly powerful witches who only used their powers to generate new and strange ways to get me sick and keep me home from work, so I’d be forced to stay in bed with them all day, I’d believe you. This school year has been ROUGH for me. And the worst part? I’m too tired/too unwell to even read a lot! Rude little dogs. This is all to say that this roundup of reviews is not giant, despite my TBR Mountain Range being giant. But! I’m glad to have made a little progress and share those books I did read with you here.

All descriptions from the publishers. Transcriptions of my scrawled notes after the summaries.

Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson (ISBN-13: 9780399545467 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 10/10/2023, Ages 10-13)

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson brings readers a powerful story that delves deeply into life’s burning questions about time and memory and what we take with us into the future.

It seems like Sage’s whole world is on fire the summer before she starts seventh grade. As house after house burns down, her Bushwick neighborhood gets referred to as “The Matchbox” in the local newspaper. And while Sage prefers to spend her time shooting hoops with the guys, she’s also still trying to figure out her place inside the circle of girls she’s known since childhood. A group that each day, feels further and further away from her. But it’s also the summer of Freddy, a new kid who truly gets Sage. Together, they reckon with the pain of missing the things that get left behind as time moves on, savor what’s good in the present, and buoy each other up in the face of destruction. And when the future comes, it is Sage’s memories of the past that show her the way forward. Remember Us speaks to the power of both letting go . . . and holding on.

(POST-IT SAYS: As achingly lovely and powerful as you’d expect it to be. Friendship, sexism, identity, and community are all addressed in Woodson’s trademark beautiful, lyrical style. Not to be missed.)

Sparkle by Lakita Wilson (ISBN-13: 9780593465752 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 10/24/2023, Ages 8-12)

After twelve-year-old aspiring superstar, Sparkle Moore, is diagnosed with alopecia, she must navigate family, friends, and her own self-esteem with the added challenge of losing her hair. Perfect for fans of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! and From the Desk of Zoe Washington.

Sparkle Moore is destined to be a star. Her mother is determined to turn her and her younger sister, Nova, into social media influencers and budding superstars. And after her dad has lost work as a sitcom actor, Sparkle wants to do whatever she can to help her family financially, too.

But at the onset of middle school, Sparkle begins losing her hair—first her lashes, then her eyebrows, and then small circular bald spots appear in various sections on her head. It’s hard enough having to go to school and hide her diagnosis from her friends—all while they’re trying out for big roles in the school play—but Sparkle quickly has to deal with weird medications, itchy wigs, and lost opportunities her mom has wrangled, including a big shampoo commercial.

Despite everything she might do to hide what’s happening, and all her work keeping her friends together, when Sparkle’s secrets start coming to the surface—Sparkle has to come to terms with the changes in her life and show her classmates and her family what she can do with or without hair.

(POST-IT SAYS: Readers will love to see a social media influencer starting to build her brand and love to see how Sparkle handles her new diagnosis of alopecia. Lots of emotional ups and downs with her mother, her friends, and other kids at school as Sparkle grapples with losing her hair and finding her confidence.)

Lunar New Year Love Storyby Gene Luen Yang, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781250908261 Publisher: First Second Publication date: 01/09/2024, Ages 14-18)

Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, and falling in love.

She was destined for heartbreak. Then fate handed her love.

Val is ready to give up on love. It’s led to nothing but secrets and heartbreak, and she’s pretty sure she’s cursed—no one in her family, for generations, has ever had any luck with love.

But then a chance encounter with a pair of cute lion dancers sparks something in Val. Is it real love? Could this be her chance to break the family curse? Or is she destined to live with a broken heart forever?

(POST-IT SAYS: A total delight. Great characters, a really solid and multilayered plot, and so much heart. A wonderful journey of growth, love, and forgiveness. And the illustrations! Especially the lion dances! Amazing!)

The Fifth Hero #2: Escape Plastic Island by Bill Doyle (ISBN-13: 9780593486412 Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Publication date: 01/30/2024 Series: The Fifth Hero #2, Ages 8-12)

FOUR KIDS. ONE EARTH. AND YOU ARE THE HERO THEY NEED. From the creator of the interactive Escape This Book! series, join the climate superheroes as they master the powers of earth, wind, sea, and creatures and use YOUR help to choose the right story line and save the planet!

The Calamity Corporation is determined to destroy Earth. Their latest plot leaves “ugly” animals in the cold—literally. Any less-than-cute critter will be frozen and blasted into space. Luckily, five climate heroes have the skills to save the day.

JARRETT can talk to animals…even if they don’t always listen.
MALIK masters water…but the floating garbage is a challenge.
FREYA ‘s wind power everyone away..sometimes too powerfully.
AGNES can dig up dirt and soil any evil plan.
And YOU are THE FIFTH HERO!

Make three decisions in this interactive adventure to help the heroes put the Calamity Corporation on ice. Choose incorrectly and it’s game over. But choose wisely, and you might save the planet—and the story!

(POST-IT SAYS: An action-packed race to save animals in this near-future world ravaged by climate change and human greed and carelessness. Will satisfy readers who love the pick a path format.)

Ghost Roast by Shawneé Gibbs, Emily Cannon (Illustrator), Shawnelle Gibbs (ISBN-13: 9780358141808 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Publication date: 01/02/2024, Ages 13-18)

Ghost Roast delivers a paranormal adventure full of first crushes, lost histories, and the impossible task of fitting in when your dad is a professional ghosthunter. A stand-alone YA graphic novel from authors Shawneé and Shawnelle Gibbs and artist Emily Cannon!

For as long as she can remember, Chelsea Grant has tried everything she can think of to distance herself from the disastrous damage her father does to her social life. It’s not easy to shake her reputation as Ghost Girl when Dad keeps advertising his business as a “paranormal removal expert” in big, bold, loud letters all over New Orleans!

This year, Chelsea’s all grown up, attending one of the most prestigious high schools in the city, and she’s finally made friends with the popular crowd. Things are looking up—until a night on the town backfires spectacularly, landing her in hot water at home. Her punishment? Working for her dad at Paranormal Removal Services. All. Summer.

Worst of all, her new job reveals an unexpected secret she has to keep: While Dad hunts ghosts with his own DIY tech, Chelsea can actually see them. And when she meets Oliver, a friendly spirit, at the fancy mansion her dad is getting a handsome fee to exorcize, she realizes she has to save his after-life, even if it risks everything her father’s worked for.

(POST-IT SAYS: Looks whimsical, but is really deep! Chelsea’s ability to see and communicate with ghosts helps her piece together the history of a plantation/manor and its lingering inhabitants. Lots of intrigue and suspense.)

Slugfest by Gordon Korman (ISBN-13: 9780063238091 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Publication date: 01/09/2024, Ages 8-12)

From Gordon Korman, the New York Times bestselling author of Restart, comes a hilarious new story about a group of underdogs who come together when they are forced to attend summer school—for failing PE.

Yash is the best athlete at Robinette Middle School—so good, in fact, that he’s already playing on the high school’s JV sports teams. Imagine his shock when he learns that his JV practices have kept him from earning a state-mandated credit for eighth-grade PE. To graduate, he has to take Physical Education Equivalency—PEE, also known as “Slugfest”—in summer school.

Yash gets to know his fellow “slugs”: Kaden, an academic superstar who’s physically hopeless; twins Sarah and Stewart, who are too busy trying to kill each other to do any real PE; Jesse, a notorious prankster; Arabella, who protests everything; and Cleo, a natural athlete who has sworn off sports.

But when one of them tries to blow the lid off a scandal that could make all their time in summer school a waste, Yash is forced to take drastic action.

Teaming up with the most hapless crew in school can really surprise a person. And their teacher might be hiding the biggest surprise yet. . . .

(POST-IT SAYS: Can’t ever go wrong with this author! Loved this tale of unlikely companions coming together in summer school to work together and learn from one another. Funny and insightful as always.)

Who Got Game?: Basketball: Amazing but True Stories! by Derrick D. Barnes, illustrated by Jez Tuya (ISBN-13: 9781523505548 Publisher: Workman Publishing Company Publication date: 01/02/2024 Series: Who Got Game?, Ages 8-12)

From superstar author Derrick Barnes, here is a middle-grade celebration of the people and stories that helped shape the game of basketball, from unsung pioneers to unforgettable moments of the game.

Capturing all the joy and energy that mark the sport of basketball, bestselling and award-winning superstar author Derrick Barnes shines a light on the amazing ballers, buzzer-beaters, and record-breakers who haven’t always gotten the attention they deserve. Who Got Game? Basketball, the second book in his sports series, following Who Got Game? Baseball, weaves together great storytelling, lively illustrations, and a far-ranging selection of facts, stats, sidebars, and quotes.

Middle-grade readers will discover the highest-scoring game in NCAA history. The influential center, George Mikan, who created the modern big man role, and 5’3″ Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player ever to star in the pros. The pioneering Senda Berenson Abbott, creator of the women’s game. The legendary Rucker Park b-ball court in Harlem, New York. Plus the first African American players and coaches, greatest comeback victories and earth-shattering slam dunks, longest winning streaks, and so much more. This book will hit you like a three-pointer from half-court!

(POST-IT SAYS: Kids will love this look at players and achievements in basketball’s history. Told with great enthusiasm and filled with bright illustrations, it’s as fun as it is interesting. Wish more women had been included!)

Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani (ISBN-13: 9780525555063 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 01/23/2024, Ages 8-12)

A hopeful and heartwarming story about finding joy after tragedy, Amil and the After is a companion to the beloved and award-winning Newbery Honor novel The Night Diary, by acclaimed author Veera Hiranandani

At the turn of the new year in 1948, Amil and his family are trying to make a home in India, now independent of British rule.

Both Muslim and Hindu, twelve-year-old Amil is not sure what home means anymore. The memory of the long and difficult journey from their hometown in what is now Pakistan lives with him. And despite having an apartment in Bombay to live in and a school to attend, life in India feels uncertain.

Nisha, his twin sister, suggests that Amil begin to tell his story through drawings meant for their mother, who died when they were just babies. Through Amil, readers witness the unwavering spirit of a young boy trying to make sense of a chaotic world, and find hope for himself and a newly reborn nation.

(POST-IT SAYS: A powerful story of upheaval, trauma, and hope. The twins befriend a boy living alone in the camps and wonder more than ever about division, safety, and shared humanity. A moving examination of life after Partition.)

Chasing Stars by Meg Gaertner (ISBN-13: 9781631637902 Publisher: North Star Editions Publication date: 01/01/2024 Series: Harbor, Ages 9-13)

Growing up comes with growing pains no matter what, but for twelve-year-old Libby, the changes feel like more than she can bear.

After an incident caused by his worsening dementia, Libby’s grandfather comes to live with her family, a move that ripples out into other changes. Libby’s dad quits his job to become the grandfather’s primary caretaker, while her mom picks up the financial slack by working extra shifts. Meanwhile, Libby’s older sister and ex-best friend, Erica, packs for a move to boarding school to make room in their modest family home. Libby feels like her cozy world is crashing down around her. But how can she keep up when she’s the only one standing still?

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

(POST-IT SAYS: Touches on just enough “serious stuff” (family issues, sibling drama, feeling overlooked) to keep the interest of older readers. A fast-moving look at growing pains and changes.)

Exposed by Keith Wain (ISBN-13: 9781631637940 Publisher: North Star Editions Publication date: 01/01/2024 Series: Harbor, Ages 9-13)

Elias and Ty have been best friends ever since they discovered a shared love of exploring abandoned places: Elias, for old treasures and artifacts, and Ty, for hauntings and other strange events he can film to build his popularity. So when rumors start spreading about a nearby vacant lot and the odd lights seen there at night, the two friends know they need to investigate.

To their surprise, Elias and Ty find a bloody tent buried in the lot. They wonder who put it there, and why? Their investigation leads the friends to uncover mysteries even stranger than ghosts, and what starts as a simple search for answers turns into a dangerous mission when it becomes clear there are people who want to keep the lot’s secrets buried. Elias and Ty must race to uncover and expose these secrets before others can stop them from speaking out for good.

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

(POST-IT SAYS: A fast-paced plot packed with mystery and lots of dialogue will help readers fly through this story of danger, secrets, and investigation. A compelling if not entirely believable plot that’s filled with risks and reveals.)

Riding Wild by Michelle L. Brown (ISBN-13: 9781631637988 Publisher: North Star Editions Publication date: 01/01/2024 Series: Harbor, Ages 9-13)

Twelve-year-old Victoria “Vic” Smith is not excited about summer in Willow Falls, Oklahoma. Uprooted from her friends and her home, Vic is staying at her grandpa’s cattle ranch there while her mom works and saves up money for a new house. At least the town holds rodeos where she can show off her barrel-racing skills on her trusty horse, Buddy. But otherwise, Willow Falls seems to have nothing but mean girls and mysteries about her dad’s past, a past her mom won’t say a word about.

When Vic discovers that her father had been a famous bull rider, she knows she has to try the sport that he loved so much. But bull riding is dangerous, predominantly done by boys and men, and something her mom is vehemently against. Can Vic convince her mom to give her this chance to know the father she lost long ago?

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

(POST-IT SAYS: I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book set around rodeos before! Nice story of coming around to accepting a new place and new people all while learning a new sport.)

Sun Don’t Shine by Crissa-Jean Chappell (ISBN-13: 9781646034307 Publisher: Regal House Publishing Publication date: 01/16/2024, Ages 12-18)

Sixteen-year-old Reece is an expert at keeping secrets. She has to be, since her father abducted her ten years ago. For as long as she can remember, she’s been on the run, sneaking food out of the dumpster and sleeping in the woods. Every time she moves, the same rules apply— cut your hair, change your name, and, above all, don’ t let anybody get too close. Reece has no choice except to obey Dad’s orders. When Reece meets her first real friend, a boy named Shawn, she begins to realize that everyone else has secrets too. And the deadliest secret of all is the one her father has kept from her all these years.

(POST-IT SAYS: High intensity family drama and a life built on a lie will draw in readers. Reece has had a hard life on the run and those who like stories full of peril and hardship will enjoy this fast-paced read.)

Filed under: Book Reviews