Post-It Note Reviews: Soccer, the Apocalypse, a Reunited Family, Witches, and More!

It’s a good thing I started adding books to this post in October, because November has not been a productive reading month for me. That said, I am very grateful for the books here that managed to hold my wandering attention and pull me into their fictional worlds.

All descriptions from the publishers. All scrawled post-it notes transcribed after the description (carpal tunnel claw, sorry!).

The Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines by Janet Sumner Johnson (ISBN-13: 9781645952053 Publisher: Pixel + Ink Publication date: 11/12/2024, Ages 8-12)

A kidnapping, a clue hunt, lots of family tension, and a literary find for the ages weave together in the thrilling second book of the Winterton Deception. Perfect for fans of Knives Out, The Inheritance Games, and The Westing Game.

After the incredible events of the last official Winterton Bee, Hope and Gordon Smith have discovered that having an extended family isn’t so bad . . . and maybe their famous relatives’ lives aren’t so charmed. But Hope is still hiding a secret, and it’s a big one.

When Elizabeth Springer goes missing just before the Winterton’s big Thanksgiving celebration—their first reunion since the spelling bee—Hope knows it’s time to come clean. Her secret may be the only thing that can save Ms. Springer. But none of the Winterton clan want to hear it. Worse, they accuse Hope of making up the whole thing as an attention-grab.

Poised to give up on her new-found family, Hope gets a cryptic coded letter with instructions on how to find James Winterton—her long-estranged grandfather. Whatsmore, the letter hints that the Wintertons had more secrets than just a hidden treasure. Now Hope and Gordon face the impossible task of convincing their family to follow a shifty clue to find the man they want to see least, in order to save the woman who’s been lying to them for years.

With even more family intrigue and peppered with delicious literary what-ifs, the second installment in the middle grade The Winterton Deception series delivers another twisty, electric puzzle mystery young sleuths will eagerly devour.

(POST-IT SAYS: The Winterton family is back with secrets, deceptive identities, clues, mysteries, treasures, ciphers, puzzles, and more. Fast-paced and smart, readers will race through this to see how it all works out. Builds on people and situations from book one, so best to start there.)

The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen (ISBN-13: 9780063266599 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 10/29/2024, Ages 8-12)

The bestselling author-illustrator of Garlic and the Vampire, Bree Paulsen, brings her fantastical storytelling and warm, sparkling artwork to this story that celebrates the bond between sisters.

In a city powered by magic and still recovering from a bloody war, Ada is concerned about her younger sister Safi’s developing powers. She understands that Safi could learn how to control her magic under the apprenticeship of a king’s magician. But with the memories of war still fresh, Ada is conflicted by this prospect—despite her knowing that she can’t keep Safi safely at home with the threat of deadly, power-thieving liches prowling the kingdom. 

When a traveling group of magicians comes to the city to perform, they immediately recognize Safi’s talents and offer to take her on as an apprentice. Safi is thrilled about her new adventure—even if that means leaving behind Ada and their sickly father. And Ada is right to worry about her sister, for there may be monsters hiding behind friendly faces…

(POST-IT SAYS: Serious in tone, this story tackles grief, loss, war, betrayal, and found family. Safi’s strong magical powers make her a target, but sister Ada knows to stay alert and help keep her safe. Beautiful art helps lighten the grim story.)

Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho (ISBN-13: 9780063206809 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 09/24/2024, Ages 13-17)

It’s Black Friday—and the apocalypse is on sale!

Ever since the world filled with portals to hell and bloodthirsty demons started popping out on the reg, Jasper’s life has gotten worse and worse. A teenage nobody with no friends or family, he is plagued by the life he can’t remember and the person he’s sure he’s supposed to be.

Jasper spends his days working as a checkout clerk at the Here for You discount mart, where a hell portal in aisle nine means danger every shift. But at least here he can be near the girl he’s crushing on—Kyle Kuan, a junior member of the monster-fighting Vanguard—who seems to hate Jasper for reasons he can’t remember or understand.

But when Jasper and Kyle learn they both share a frightening vision of the impending apocalypse, they’re forced to team up and uncover the uncomfortable truth about the hell portals and the demons that haunt the world. Because the true monsters are not always what they seem, the past is not always what we wish, and like it or not, on Black Friday, all hell will break loose, starting in aisle nine.

Rising star Ian X. Cho delivers an unforgettably freaky and hilarious YA debut with Aisle Nine, perfect for fans of Grasshopper Jungle or The Last of Us.

(POST-IT SAYS: Visions of an impending apocalypse drive Jasper to team up with others in hopes of closing open portals to hell. Full of dark humor, weird demons, and satire, Cho creates a nightmarish world that doesn’t actually seem that far-fetched.)

Lucy, Uncensored by Mel Hammond, Teghan Hammond (ISBN-13: 9780593814055 Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Publication date: 10/08/2024, Ages 14-18)

A road trip through gender identity, self-expression, and the thorny process of figuring out where you fit after high school as an out-and-proud transgender teen.

Lucy imagines college as more than a chance to party with other drama nerds and be roommates with her best friend Callie. College will be her fresh start. For the first time, she’ll be able to introduce herself as Lucy to people she hasn’t gone to school with since kindergarten. Plus, she happens to live an hour away from one of the most prestigious theater programs in the country. She’s always dreamed of going to Central, but when she finally has a chance to visit, it’s not what she imagined.

While Lucy and Callie are on their campus tour, two kids from their high school make the typical transphobic comments Lucy’s gotten used to in her small town. She starts to worry that her dream school might end up being High School 2.0. What if she belongs somewhere else? Somewhere that she can truly have a fresh start?

When Lucy finds a beautiful school with a great theater program on a list of the most LGBTQ+ friendly colleges, it seems like fate—except that the school is hundreds of miles away. And there’s something unexpected about it: it’s a women’s college. As far as she can tell, they’ve never admitted a trans woman. Will they let Lucy in? There’s only one way to find out: road trip!

(POST-IT SAYS: A nuanced look at a trans teen hoping to live life as her authentic self. Despite transphobia, harassment, and other struggles, this is ultimately a joyful, hopeful look ahead to better times after high school.)

The Best Friend Bracelet by Nicole D. Collier (ISBN-13: 9780063326163 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 10/15/2024, Ages 8-12)

A tender, funny story about making—and keeping—friends, perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski.

At Hurston Middle School, best friendship is a big deal. And Zariah Brown makes the best best friendship bracelets in town. Business is booming; Zariah can hardly keep up with orders. 

The problem is, Zariah doesn’t have a best friend of her own. As the entire seventh grade gears up for their big Pajama Jam weekend, it seems as if everyone else is paired up except her. 

So Zariah pours her heart and soul into making the ultimate friendship bracelet, using a set of beads gifted to her by a mysterious woman. But the bracelet turns out to be a tiny bit . . . magical. In fact, anyone who puts it on instantly becomes Zariah’s best friend. Now all she has to do is find the perfect best friend and get the bracelet on them. Easy, right? 

It turns out finding the ideal friend isn’t so simple, and things quickly spin out of control. Will Zariah ever find her true BFF, or is she destined to be alone forever? 

(POST-IT SAYS: Friendship isn’t always easy, even when it seems like a wish come true. Zariah, queen of the best friend bracelets, just wants a BFF of her own, but finding one requires seeing past preconceived ideas and getting to know people. A great look at being yourself.)

Ain’t It Funny by Margaret Gurevich (ISBN-13: 9780593659434 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 10/15/2024, Ages 9-12)

For fans of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl comes an honest and heartfelt novel about a girl who’s determined not to let her growing anxiety and OCD hold her back from using stand-up comedy to bring her parents back together.

Eleven-year-old Maya’s life is bit of a mess. Her dad just moved out to pursue his stand-up comedy dreams, her mom seems more preoccupied with running the family’s Russian deli than getting Dad back, and Maya’s anxiety and germ worries have only been heightening. Her grandma always tells her “slozi goryu ne pomozhet”—tears won’t help sorrow—but right now it’s hard to be strong.

So when her teacher Ms. Banta announces the sixth-grade talent show, Maya sees an opportunity. If she can perform stand-up comedy in the show, she can prove to her mom and dad that comedy has a place in all their lives and try to bring them together again. But conquering her fears amidst her family falling apart and a growing hot-hot-hot feeling inside is easier said than done…

In this authentic novel full of both humor and heartbreak, Margaret Gurevich crafts a story about comedy, fractured family, and learning how strength comes in many forms.

(POST-IT SAYS: Maya, the daughter of a comic, may be honing her own comedy skills, but what’s not funny is her parents’ separation and Maya’s soon-to-be-diagnosed GAD and OCD. Russian Jewish Maya has a great family who works to learn more about her mental health and get her help. Sensitive and well-written.)

The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett (ISBN-13: 9780063256613 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 10/22/2024, Ages 8-12)

From the award-winning author of The Probability of Everything, which has been called “one of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever)” (Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book Club) and “Powerful” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), comes a heartfelt exploration of family and change as twelve-year-old Skye reunites with her older brother, Finn, after he spent four years on the run with their father. 

Skye Nickson’s world changed forever when her dad went on the run with her brother, Finn. It’s been four years without Finn’s jokes, four years without her father’s old soul music, and four years of Skye filling in as Rent-a-Finn on his MIA birthdays for their mom. Finn’s birthday is always difficult, but at least Skye has her best friends, Reece and Jax, to lean on, even if Reece has started acting too cool for them.

But this year is different because after Finn’s birthday, they get a call that he’s finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls and losing his new expensive gifts, and he doesn’t seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets.

As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely? And if everyone else has changed, does it mean that Skye has to change too?

(POST-IT SAYS: A really moving look at parental abduction and how deeply it alters everyone in the family. Finn’s return should be joyful, but he’s a different person now, one who Skye suspects is not even the real Finn. Tense, emotional, and captivating.)

The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez (ISBN-13: 9781643753980 Publisher: Workman Publishing Company Publication date: 09/17/2024, Ages 9-13)

A powerful story about family, fútbol, and playing like a girl, perfect for fans of Front Desk, The Academy, and, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret from the award-winning author of Furia.

At thirteen years old, Valeria “Magic” Salomón is already the best soccer player her town has ever seen. She has talent in spades and an abuelo whose tough-love coaching and lessons about “strength and honor” have made her the star of the Overlords, the top boys’ team in the state. 

But everything changes at the State Cup semi-final when Valeria gets her first period while Wearing. White. Shorts. After her team is unexpectedly eliminated, she goes from their secret weapon to their scapegoat. Soon, she doesn’t have a team at all anymore. She’s not sure she has a relationship with her grandfather either.  

Valeria’s a fighter, however. And with the help of her grandmother and support of her cheerleader BFF, she finds herself on a girls’ team for the first time. But the Amazons aren’t exactly excited to have her there. After all, Valeria’s spent years ignoring their existence. With the next tournament looming on the horizon, Valeria has a month to figure out her place on her new team and learn how to play like a girl. 

The award-winning author of Furia returns to the world of  “the beautiful game” in this uplifting, heartfelt novel about family, self-confidence, and the power of second chances. 

(POST-IT SAYS: Excellent book. Val grapples with so much—playing on the boys’ team, getting her period, moving to the girls’ team, her complicated family dynamics, and more—but gets through it all with support and honesty. Well written with easy wide appeal.)

Bird Nerd by Jennifer Ann Richter (ISBN-13: 9780823456567 Publisher: Holiday House Publication date: 10/22/2024, Ages 8-12)

Thoughtful, nerdy fifth-grader Nyla sets out to win her school’s bird watching competition, while balancing old friends with new in this heartfelt debut.

Nyla Braun has always been called a nerd at her Philadelphia school. But that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her nerdy hobbies, especially when she has best friend Tasha by her side. When a birding tournament between Nyla’s class and a class from a suburban school is announced, Nyla sees her chance to get the respect she deserves. If they win, that is. The Burb Birders will be tough competition.

With the contest underway, Nyla soon catches the attention of the most popular girl in class, who also wants to win, setting off a chain of small disasters as Nyla tries to balance old friends and new and the pressure to be cool when you really just want to be yourself.

Told with warmth and gentle humor, debut author Jennifer Ann Richter’s Bird Nerd combines a deep love of nature and birding with the story of a young girl learning to discover her own confidence and values.

(POST-IT SAYS: About birding, yes, but mostly about friendship, popularity, and being deeply interested in a “nerdy” subject. A solid friendship/family story with lots of realistic ups and downs.)

History Smashers: Salem Witch Trials by Kate Messner, Falynn Koch (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9780593705285 Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Publication date: 08/13/2024 Series: History Smashers Series #9, Ages 8-12)

Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about the Salem Witch Trials in the hit History Smashers nonfiction series. Perfect for fans of the I Survived books and Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales.

In 1692, a few paranoid Puritans accused their neighbors of being witches sending the town flying off the (broomstick) handle. Before it was all over, dozens of women in Salem, Massachusetts were executed—burned at the stake. RIGHT?

WRONG! There was some serious witch worry, but no one in the United States was put on a pyre (though the truth isn’t much better). And women weren’t the only ones caught in crossfire…maybe don’t read this one aloud to your dog.

What really happened? The truth is historians aren’t totally sure. But it is certain that religious beliefs, a changing world, and a few super nosy neighbors collided to spell disaster for one New England town. No joke!

From award-winning author Kate Messner comes the acclaimed nonfiction series that demolishes everything you thought you knew about history. And bust more puzzles of the past in History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People, The Mayflower, and The Underground Railroad among others!

(POST-IT SAYS: I am super late to this series—this is the first one I’ve read! A mix of primary sources, conversational asides, historical documents, and cartoon panels, this thorough and engaging look at history is a great next step after I Survived.)

Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis (ISBN-13: 9780063314450 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 10/29/2024, Ages 8-12)

“Intensely readable.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

When her unconventional parents finally agree to settle down in one place, twelve-year-old Cayenne’s dreams come true—but the reality of fitting in is much harder than she imagined. Acclaimed author Jessica Vitalis crafts an unforgettable historical novel-in-verse about belonging, family, and social class, for fans of Lisa Fipps’s Starfish and Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home.

As Cayenne enters seventh grade, her parents decide it’s time to stop living in their van, roaming from place to place. Cayenne hopes that this means she will finally belong somewhere and make some friends. But it turns out that staying in one place isn’t easy at all.

When her social studies class studies the Titanic tragedy (the wreckage has just been discovered and her teacher is obsessed), Cayenne sees more and more parallels between the social strata of the infamous ship and her own life. Will she ever squeeze her way into the popular girls’ clique, even though they live in fancy houses on the hill and she lives in a tiny, rundown home with chickens in the front yard? Is it possible that the boy she likes actually likes her back? Can she find a way to make room for herself in this town? Does she really want to? Maybe being “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Set in the mid-1980s, this literary novel is for readers of Megan E. Freeman’s Alone and Erin Entrada Kelly’s We Dream of Space. 

(POST-IT SAYS: Set in 1985, Cayenne doesn’t have an easy go of it, with her family’s poverty and itinerant lifestyle making her not fit in. Told in verse with a Titanic through-line, readers will root for Cayenne to feel it’s okay to not fit in.)

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