New Middle Grade and Chapter Books, June 2023

Chupacarter and the Haunted Piñata by George Lopez and Ryan Calejo, illustrated by Santy Gutierrez
ages 8 – 12
PARANORMAL
In this second book, Carter returns to live with Jorge just when an arsonist who might be a piñata monster is burning down the town’s stores. Jorge’s super smart friend Liza is driven to solve the case before her dad, the butcher whose shop recently burned, moves them across the country. Along with Ernie and Carter, the four friends search for clues, and soon, everyone is a suspect. But, the friends don’t guess who the real culprit is until it’s too late — and they’re captured. I love that this illustrated middle-grade book is such a reasonable length– and that the pacing makes it zip along so quickly. The writing is fantastic, and Jorge’s narrative voice feels authentic and compelling, interspersed with words in Spanish.

The Last Comics on Earth by Max Brallier and Joshua Pruett, and illustrated by Jay Cooper and Douglas Holgate
ages 8 – 12
SCIENCE FICTION (graphic novel)
review written by Jemma Taylor
This comic-within-a-comic details the story of four friends who decide to write their own ending to their favorite unfinished superhero comic. It’s funny, quirky, and cheesy in the best way possible. Will these friends and their superhero personas be able to rewrite the cliffhanger, or will their friendship break before that happens?

The Sea of Terror (Once Upon a Tim #3) by Stuart Gibb
ages 7 – 10
FUNNY
These books just keep getting better and better! The knights, including Tim and Belinda, who are still in training, are sent across the Sea of Terror to retrieve the kingdom’s golden fleece coat and a precious amulet. Of course, Tim’s nonviolent methods for defusing situations don’t always go over well with the others — and in trying to prove he’s not scared, he makes reckless decisions that get him into trouble…like tying himself to the mast when sailing by the sirens’ dreadful songs. You’ll love the IQ BOOSTERS, which are impressive vocabulary words throughout which are always explained as well as the exciting, fast-paced adventure that’s funny and even meaningful. (Let’s all learn to be smart and not rush into danger.) But after the exciting fight scene and resolution, a mutiny happens, and Tim and friends are tied up in a boat and sent over a waterfall…

The Kingdom Over the Sea by Zohra Nabi
ages 8 – 12
FANTASY
On her deathbed, Yara’s mother gives her directions to travel to another world. Yara arrives by magic and is surprised to learn that magic and sorcerers are real. She also learns that the sorcerers are in hiding because the alchemists want all sorcerers eradicated. Yara accidentally frees a jinn named Ajal, finds a hidden sorcerer community, and learns she has BIG magic that she can barely control. She also discovers that the alchemists are poisoning the sorcerers, which she and her friends try to stop. They sneak into the alchemist’s stronghold, where she learns the biggest secret of all; one that will change her life and might just save them all. Amazing– I couldn’t put this mesmerizing story down.

The Gray by Chris Baron
ages 8 – 12
REALISTIC / ANXIETY / MENTAL HEALTH
Chris Baron packs a lot of meaningful themes and topics into this hopeful, complex story about mental health, abuse, death, Jewish wisdom, friendship, bullying, and family. Sasha is a Jewish boy with severe anxiety he calls the Gray. He’s sent to his aunt’s for the summer. There, Sasha is bullied by a group of small-town kids. He asks the town’s outcast, a kid named Eli, to be his bodyguard. As Sasha practices his strategies for the Gray and spends time with Eli and Ivy, he soaks in the stories his aunt tells him, particularly about the smallest drop of water changing a large stone. Just when he learns what happened to Eli’s brother and bravely tries horseback riding with help from Eli, Eli and his horse disappear. Sasha risks everything to search on horseback, knowing that the Gray will make it next to impossible. Ultimately, this is a hopeful, complicated story about Sasha learning to accept who he is. As Sasha takes small steps– that add up to small and big moments of courage–you can’t help but cheer him on. And if you’re like me, you’ll greatly appreciate Baron normalizing anxiety, taking medication, and using grounding strategies like 5-4-3-2-1. 

Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr
ages 8 – 12
FANTASY
In this unique and heartstopping adventure, two siblings’ dad tasks them with protecting a magical book before he’s arrested. The book opens the gate to death and grants immortality, and the country’s evil dictator wants those powers for himself. In a desperate attempt to figure out who to trust and what to do with the book, the siblings separate to find a way to save their country and either keep the book safe or destroy it for good.

Punk Rock Unicorn by Dana Simpson
ages 8 – 12
FANTASY (graphic novel)
It’s beyond impressive that Dana Simpson continues to write and draw books that are consistently hilarious and exceptional. In this quirky and witty book, Phoebe tries out for the school play where she’s going to play a unicorn, and Marigold is in a mollusk phase. (You can’t make this stuff up!) Plus, you’ll read stories about procrastination, neighing, camp, and staring a punk band. And can I just say, the unicorn names are SO clever! Don’t miss this latest hit in the series!

You Are Here, edited by Ellen Oh, written by Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Lê, Ellen Oh, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan
ages 8 – 12
REALISTIC
It’s a day at the Chicago airport. Twelve Asian American kids at the airport are either traveling or, in one case, accompanying his mom to work. They all experience racism and feel scared and uncomfortable. In each case, the kids find their inner strength, either with help or by themselves. The stories are exceptionally written and put us in the children’s shoes so we can see how harmful and hurtful racism is. While these are short stories, this is most meaningful when you read all of the interconnected stories as a cohesive story.

Suee and the Strange White Light (book 2) by Ginger Ly, illustrated by Molly Park
ages 8 – 12
MYSTERY (graphic novel)
review written by Jemma Taylor
This graphic novel is a riveting mystery that you won’t be able to put down. Suee and her friends in the Zero Detective Club set out to solve the kidnapping of a former classmate, the case of the missing neighborhood cats, and the peculiar white light that seems to be enrapturing all the adults in the area.

Family Style by Thien Pham
ages 12+
MEMOIR
In Thien Pham‘s immigration story, he begins with his life in a refugee camp where he played and watched his parents be entrepreneurial. When they immigrate to the US, he learns English slowly and makes friends as he watches his parents be entrepreneurial by starting their own bakery after working hourly jobs. When he is an adult, Thien becomes a citizen to vote. I love how the earthy color palette and gorgeous illustration style help to narrate Pham’s personal memoir.