YA Pick: Dreamwalkers

"Mystical, magical and ethereal...a compelling tale of desert magic, dangerous government secrets, the all-in chemistry of first love and the power to control the world of dreams." --from the cover, Young Adult Books--What We're Reading Now 

Dreamwalkers

by Leslie Rush

Champagne 

2020

355 pages

ISBN: 9781946802606

Available October 20, 2020

 

Mystical, magical, powerful and ethereal, Dreamwalkers is a compelling tale of desert magic, dangerous government secrets, the all-in chemistry of first love and the power to control the world of dreams set in an enchanted land where rugged, often unforgivable, terrain hides danger and government secrets are safe.

Sixteen year old Vivan Night Hawk is working in her mother’s crystal and tarot shop in the tourist-friendly square of tiny Zia, New Mexico. After a worn leather jacket arrives in the shop, Vivi claims it as her own because it reminds her of her father. One lone feather in the pocket holds a special magic. Vivi begins dreaming more detailed and vivid lucid dreams. Vivi learns her power to dream is handed down from her Apache father. She practices controlling her dreams, stepping in and out of them, and seeing her (dead?) father who warns her that her genius little brother Brian is in danger. Dad tells her bad people are coming for Brian because they believe he is the dreamwalker, not VIvi. Vivi meets cute guy Lucas who also shares the power of lucid dreaming. He tells Vivi both of their fathers are MIA or presumed dead. Lucas convinces Vivi that their fathers are alive, and using their powers of lucid dreaming, they have to find out what happened to them. The closer the two get to answers, the more danger they are in. It is not only bad people trying to control them. A decades old secret government project surfaces, and the kids are in a fight for their lives.

Dreamwalkers is set in a color drenched, panoramic tourist town in the mountains of New Mexico, and brought to life with lush details: the scent of sage, mesquite, pinon, and cottonwoods.The author captures the beauty of mountain sunsets and the threatening power of a desert thunderstorm. Dreamwalkers captivates readers with enchanting imagery and the slippery magic of New Mexico as the author uses broad brushstrokes of prose and descriptive hues evocative of master painter (and New Mexico favorite) Georgia O’Keefe. 

Highly, highly recommended for fans of romance, YA fans, and any reader who loves an evil and corrupt government cover-up and a great story. For middle school and older. No sexual content. A few sweet kisses.

YA Pick: Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy

Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy

Kelly Jensen, editor

Algonquin Young Readers 

2020

256 pages 

ISBN: 9781616209674

Available August 18, 2020 

Sometimes painful, sometimes funny, Body Talk is about acceptance and love. 

An anthology of personal stories of struggle and strength, love and acceptance, power and and self-assurance, this collection will touch the lives of all readers whether they are going through their own struggles or if someone they love needs a helping hand and a healing heart. 

Each story is different and about different forms of body acceptance. Weight is only one topic considered. Others include birthmarks, scoliosis, body hair, "junk," menstruation, asexuality, self-love, self-acceptance, is it okay to use the word "fat?," being too skinny, and even the practice of marketing products to those who identify as female and charging them a "pink tax." 

Sometimes painful, sometimes funny, Body Talk is a must-have for any non-fiction collection in the high school and college library. Celebrity voices Aly Raisman and Tyra Banks, YA writers Kara Thomas and  Julie Murphy and Alex Gino, agent Eric Smith and podcasters, editors, activists and social media persons speak their truths in truly refreshing, remarkable ways. 

Highly recommended grade 8 and up (depending on your community). Middle school libraries in progressive, forward-minded communities may be fine with this purchase. Real health and real sex talk. 

 

YA Pick: The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling

by Wai Chim

Scholastic Press

2020

336 pages

ISBN: 9781338656121

Available November 10, 2020

Sixteen-year old Anna Chiu has all the responsibilities of and adult She's only in high school and should be worried about grades, clothes, learning to drive, figuring out her next move: college or career? and of course, first love. But Anna is in charge of her entire household. Due to her mother's mental illness, Anna must care for her younger siblings, take care of her mother, work in her family's restaurant and continue to be a competitive student in every class. Her father's expectations are exceedingly high, and it's easy to feel anxious and overwhelmed. 

Mental illness and the stigma attached to it is rarely addressed in the Chinese American community (author Wai Chim is first generation Chinese American), but this YA novel illustrates the need for more understanding and empathy within the affected family and the larger community. The sweet romance between Anna and Rory is a plus and keeps this heavy subject from being overly preachy or didactic. 

And there's little in the world more powerful than a good dumpling! 

Recommended for any romance fan. 

A solid choice for YA romance collections grades 9 and up. 

Picture Book Pick: Non-Fiction: Building Zaha: The Story of Architect Zaha Hadid

Building Zaha: The Story of Architect Zaha Hadid

by Victoria Tetntler-Krylov

Illustrations by the author 

Orchard Books

Scholastic

2020

48 pages

ISBN: 9781338282832

Available December 1, 2020 

Beautifully illustrated and lovingly designed, worthy of approval from Zaha herself, this biography/picture book celebrates the life and designs of architect Zaha Hadid. 

Zaha loved math and solving problems and had a mind for design. She saw beauty and art in nature and in building and couldn't pass a construction site without stopping to sketch it. 

Leaving her home in Baghdad, she studied architecture in London and made quite a splash with her unconventional building designs. She entered contests and her designs won. As she became more famous, she received phone calls from other countries to design buildings that imitated flight or moving water. Soon, Zaha designed an art gallery in the United States, and from there, she was jet-setting around the world designing projects for housing and public use. She won the Pritzker Prize, the most prestigious award for architecture, and she was the youngest person ever to win. 

The picture book is a MUST HAVE for any biography section and celebrates achievements by a woman in history in a field mostly populated by male counterparts. Hadid stood alone as a titan of design for her unique perspectives in building. 

Highly, highly recommended grade 3 and up. Younger kids will enjoy hearing the story. With author's note, timeline and bibliography. 

YA Romance: As much As I Ever Could

As Much As I Ever Could

by Brandy Woods Snow

Filles Vertes Publishing 

2020

300 pages

ISBN: 9781946802583

A satisfying summer romance set in picturesque Edisto--a small beach town--what could be better than that? 

CJ doesn't drive. After a horrific car accident that kills her mom and sister, CJ suffers survivor's guilt. Her father becomes a shell of a man--sad. silent, unreachable. He drops CJ off at a small grocery store in Edisto, South Carolina, where she'll be staying with her Memaw for the summer. 

While waiting for her ride,  CJ meets locals Jen and Bo and hot guy Jett. Although instantly attracted to Jett, CJ is less inclined when she finds out he's a hot shot driver destined for NASCAR. 

Jett has his own problems, but with CJ's friendship, he begins to open up and deal with problems. Both characters help each other which is a fresh look at YA romance. CJ is no princess waiting to be saved. She is much stronger than she is vulnerable. Even in moments she seems weak, there is an underlying strength. Teen readers and romance readers need more stories where women are portrayed as strong even if they appear broken, 

Edisto is a compelling setting in that it sets up for the perfect beach read. Throw this novel into your beach bag and hit the beach. It has all the summer vibes necessary for a smoldering romance that is hard to resist. 

Perfect for anyone who loves a small town romance or readers who love tales of the South and fast cars! 

Recommended grade 9 and up and for all romance fans. 

Best Picture Book of 2020: The Worrysaurus

The Worrysaurus

by Rachel Bright

Illustrated by Chris Chatterton

Scholastic

Orchard Books

2020

32 pages

ISBN: 9781338634082

Winsome rhyming lines which sound like music by Rachel Bright and cute, captivating illustrations by Chris Chatterton make this picture book perfect! If you can only buy one book as a gift for a child, this is the one! 

Poor little Worrysaurus! He has planned such a fantastic day: he's packed his snacks and art supplies and begins his adventure, but it isn't too long and he gets anxious and begins to worry. He questions whether has has enough snacks or enough water.

He meets a little lizard who claims there might be a storm coming, and Worrysaurus starts to think of all the bad things that could happen. He feels a worry butterfly in his belly but remembers his mother's wisdom: 

"If it's not a happy ending, then it hasn't ended yet." 

What a beautiful sentiment! With that memory, Worrysaurus holds all his special items and toys and his worry begins to fade away. He shares his lunch with the lizard and realizes he has the power to calm the butterfly feeling in his own belly. 

In an anxious world, children will need to learn coping skills. The Worrysaurus teaches them about being anxious and worried, but learning to calm down. Because Worrysaurus seems like a cartoon or stuffed animal, kids won't take the story as a sermon. Young readers will empathize with Worrysaurus and want him to be okay. What a postitive picture book! 

Highly, highly recommended! FIVE STARS! This one will win awards and be the runaway picture book of the year! 

Series Pick: Tyrannosaurus Wrecks (Book 6)

Tyrannosaurus Wrecks

by Stuart Gibbs 

A Funjungle novel (Book 6)

Simon & Schuster 

2020

321 pages

ISBN: 9781534443754

An exciting mystery for middle grade/young adult readers who crave solving a case(s) that is/are tangled and full of suspicion. Stuart Gibbs is the master of entertaining stories and a cast of characters that are engaging and smart. 

When Sage invites Teddy to his family's ranch, no one suspects trouble. Somehow someone stole a 500lb. dinosaur skull worth millions in the middle of a rainstorm without leaving any clues! Sage's family was hoping/counting on the dig to help them save their cattle ranch. Teddy reluctantly agrees to help solve the mystery.

Meanwhile his old frenemies, the Barksdale twins contact Teddy. Their cat was swallowed by an anaconda and they want to know how to get their cat back.  Teddy's famous girlfriend Summer wants to help solve the T-rex case, but also wants to stay out of the public eye. 

Readers learn about smuggling and illegal trafficking of exotic pets, but this does not hurt the story. In fact, the two cases will keep readers guessing and Teddy is in more danger than ever before.

This is books 6 in the Funjungle series, but readers do not have to read the books in order, but really, why wouldn't they want to read them all? 

Highly recommended grade 5 and up and anyone who loves mysteries. An author note about animal trafficking and reptile and exotic pet smuggling is included as well as a note that dogs and cats need homes and love also. A caution to do research before purchasing any animal is included and I thank the author for this. So many times, parents buy/get pets for their children without doing proper research and then give them up or worse, set them free in the wild where the animal may not be able to care for itself.