Reviews written by Beth Rodgers, Staff Reviewer

“Stories Are the Heart of the World” by Laurel Goodluck, with illustrations by Nicole Neidhardt, contains many wonderfully thought-provoking lines, one of which is: “When you are in the world … wishful stories root you to your homeland.” This is exactly what the book aims to do—to instill stories, tradition,...

“Brain Quest: Learn to Write Cursive” encourages readers to take a road trip across America as they learn to read and write cursive. Since cursive is not nearly as often taught in schools nowadays, this is a good book to get started on a useful skill. The book starts out...

“Royal Summer” by Kass Morgan is for older YA readers, as Hannah, the protagonist, has graduated high school and is on her way to college in the fall. She plans to spend the summer in Scotland working as an intern for her favorite author. When her plans are derailed, she...

“Actual Factual Files: Ancient Egypt” by Ali Adams starts off with a contents page detailing at least twenty different topics to be covered throughout the pages. From knowledge of ancient Egypt to information about religion, priests, and temples, pharaohs (including female ones), pyramid building, and King Tut, there is something...

“Meet Me Under the Lights” by Cassie Miller tells the story of Eliza and Reed, two teens from rival families who find themselves drawn to each other during the summer before their senior year of high school. Their lives are intertwined, as their families have been at odds for years...

“The Boring Drawing Book” by Erica Harrison allows readers to think outside the box and delve into a variety of activities that serve to treat the condition of being bored and feeling as though there is nothing to do. The book invites readers to interact with it, completing tasks and...

“Day of Delight: A Jewish Sabbath in Ethiopia” by Maxine Rose Schur, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, shares the simple, yet sweet story of a family preparing for the day of rest by finishing lingering work, cleaning, preparing food, and bathing. The family is content with what they need to do,...

“America As It Happened: A Moment-by-Moment Journey through Time, From Prehistory to the Present Day” by What on Earth!, in collaboration with The Washington Post, is an amazingly detailed account of life from the years before 1600, through the centuries (1600s, 1700s, 1800s, 1900s, and 2000s). ...

“Written in the Stars” by Lee Heart has main character Quinn going away to summer camp not long after her father has passed away. While she thinks her mother wants her out of the house so that her mom can deal with her own grief, all might be quite as...

“Running Back to You” by Sarah Henning follows main character Millie as she struggles to find her way out of a lie and get her first kiss. When a guy in her class, Logan, asks if she’s ever kissed anyone, she doesn’t want to tell the truth, so she goes...

“How Do You Jew?” by Suzy Ultman is a celebration of Jews around the world. The book encourages readers to understand that there are so many different ways in which to be Jewish. From eating challah on Shabbat to dancing to klezmer music, singing “Dayenu” on Passover, lighting an oil...

“Sweet Babe! A Jewish Grandma Kvells” by Robin Rosenthal has readers join an excited Bubbe (grandmother) who finds much nachas (joy) in her grandchild. The book touches on Yiddish phrases, while also sharing a love of family and the power of “l’dor v’dor” (generation to generation). ...

“Meet Me at Sunset” by Lee Heart is a breezy read following main character Julie as she creates “The Plan” as a means of meeting her ultimate crush, James, when she heads to the beach with her parents over the summer. Little does she expect that she’ll have someone else...

“Trail Rides & Starry Eyes” by Katrina Emmel is a sweet contemporary romance following Cassidy Sterling, a Wyoming girl working on her family’s ranch, and Wilder Nash, a Hollywood star who is being represented by Cassidy’s uncle. When Wilder needs to learn to ride horses for his next big role,...

“Oh My Affogato! (Vacationship)” by Daphne Ang and Donna Ghorbanpoor takes readers through the breathtaking landscape of Italy, especially the Amalfi Coast. When Soraya and her friends, Mari and Anya, decide to take a trip after graduation before heading to college, their excitement is palpable. Soraya has something more up...