Via vivid prose, Yoo (From a Whisper to a Rally) depicts the events surrounding the acquittal of the four police officers who brutalized Black motorist Rodney King in 1992 L.A. By centering the violent attempted arrest of Black 21-year-old Marquette Frye in 1965, the author contextualizes the history of the LAPD’s racist policing and emphasizes how incidents such as King’s were not isolated. King’s case, along with the 1991 killing of Black 15-year-old Latasha Harlins, had far-reaching implications that would impact L.A.’s Black and Korean communities and led to the death of Korean American 18-year-old Edward Jae Song Lee during the 1992 L.A. Riots. Tensions between the communities are equitably highlighted as Yoo outlines the system that still denies both groups basic rights by recounting details from King, Harlins, and Lee’s lives. Moments of solidarity are peppered throughout, as when Black residents protect a Korean-owned music stall from destruction amid societal unrest. Yoo’s message of empathy, progress, and resilience following tragedy prove resonant in this moving account that remains relevant to contemporary society, in which smartphones have replaced camcorders in individuals’ quest to expose police brutality and systemic racism. Includes abundant back matter. Ages 12–up. Agent: Tricia Lawrence, Emily Murphy Literary. (May)

Correction: The text of this review has been updated for clarity.

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

Stylish, rotoscope-esque illustrations by Kuo (Luminous) give this inspirational picture book poster-like visual impact as Messner (The Next President) explores the career trajectories of several dozen scientists and researchers of various backgrounds and birth dates. They’re pictured first as children, “building stuff,” “taking things apart,” “sewing and knitting,” and more, and then as scientists in adulthood as newspaper-like text draws a direct line between their early interests and their professional arcs. On one page, a young James West takes apart his grandfather’s pocket watch, a young Grace Hopper disassembles an alarm clock, and a young Ayah Bdeir explores the inner workings of a portable radio. A page turn shows the trio as adults: microphone innovator West with components of his invention, coding pioneer Hopper in front of a computer, and computer engineer Bdeir with educational toys she developed. Including figures iconic and lesser-known, this pep-talk-like work suggests that STEM careers might have seeds in childhood passions, inviting readers to consider how, if their own interests align, “you might just be the next great astronaut.” Ages 8–12. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

Japanese American basketball player Wataru Misaka (1923–2019)—the first player of color to compete in what is now the NBA—is the focus of this tenacity- celebrating biography. Describing him from the jump as an energetic kid, Kim notes how when his Issei parents “couldn’t afford expensive sports equipment... that didn’t stop Wat.” Excluded from whites-only sports leagues, Misaka played basketball in leagues formed by the Japanese American community, played on his junior high and high school teams, and, after his father’s death, additionally worked to support his family. Subsequent pages outline America’s entry into WWII and Misaka’s being taunted by racist basketball fans during college games before being drafted into the U.S. military, where he learned to speak Japanese in the Military Intelligence Service Language School and later traveled to Japan to interview survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast. Though his professional career with the New York Knicks was brief, his indomitable spirit broke new ground in basketball. In paneled digital illustrations, Iwata’s use of blurred backgrounds and inset scenes centers the visual narrative and adroitly moves events forward with dramatic side lighting. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note and sources conclude. Ages 6–12. (June)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

Using alternating POVs set in three timelines, Fung (Living with Viola) crafts a poignant tale of generational strife, rebellion, and self-acceptance, inspired by the creator’s family history. In 2000 Toronto—rendered in bright fuchsia hues—Chinese Canadian 16-year-old Roz wants to be thin. Her mother, Lydia, often chastises her about her eating habits, claiming that she knows all too well what it’s like to be a “big girl.” Soft orange washes then depict 1972 Hong Kong, during which 16-year-old Lydia’s passion for dance is repeatedly shot down by her critical mother Mei Laan, who insists that Lydia should be searching for a husband. Then, in a teal-toned 1954 Guandong, 16-year-old Mei Laan longs to be free from the political and economic instability of her home; Mei Laan’s upcoming arranged marriage brings about lasting consequences that all three generations must confront in 2000 upon her unexpected arrival to Toronto. Tensions run high as the family contends with secrets, beauty standards, and their own self-worth. Via emotional character interactions, Fung emphasizes the internal conflict each of the family members experience as their stories overlap, adding resounding depth to this powerful and vividly illustrated graphic novel. Ages 12–up. (July)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

Bringing together 19 Indigenous creators, Pete (The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories), who also contributes, assembles 11 comics that celebrate queer, Native youth and nerd culture in this illuminating graphic novel collection. In “Amplification Adaption” by Em Matson and Nipinet Landsem, members of a rock band must quickly problem-solve when their drum kit is stolen just before a competition. Gillian Joseph and Wren Rios’s “Uncured Horror” follows a group of girls who create a website where members can post reviews of Native horror films. Some entries, such as Autumn Chacon and PJ Underwood’s “Airwave Pirates,” act as history lessons for readers unfamiliar with Native customs; others, as in Ida Aronson and Tate Allen’s “Bvlbancha Forever,” express their desire to “make the ancestors proud, and become proud ancestors for the next generations.” The contributors, many of whom are two-spirited—including Allen, Joseph, and Matson—represent myriad tribal nations, such as Choctaw, Pomo, T’Sou-ke, and more. Illustrations range from computer generated to hand drawn, and some are rendered in bold swathes of color while others ground the kaleidoscopic predecessors with monochromatic hues. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

In Franklin’s contemporary fairy tale, a group of teen girls struggle to acclimate to society following years living in the wild. After a period of familial trauma and parental neglect, 16-year-old Eden moves in with her kind uncle and reinvents herself as Rhi. While working at a wildlife preserve, Rhi comes across a quartet of teen girls exhibiting wolf-like behavior, the smallest of whom is caught in a bear trap. During the transpiring media spiral, the world eagerly waits to learn the girls’ mysterious identities. As Rhi earns the teens’ trust, she learns that they were raised by a man they call Mother, who believed they were the long-lost princesses of a mythical land called Leutheria, and that they must return there to save their home. The group also believes that Rhi is their prophesied fifth sister, prompting her to wonder whether the girls are victims of a kidnapper’s lifelong deceit, or if they speak the truth—and Leutheria is where she belongs. Shallow character development and caricature-like villains hamper deeper examinations of themes surrounding identity, sexual violence, truth, and trauma, which are explored via multiple alternating POVs in this jam-packed debut. Characters are racially diverse. Ages 14–up. Agent: Danielle Burby, Mad Woman Literary. (June)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

A teenager navigating a difficult homelife finds solace in basketball in this gritty debut, set in 1970s Brooklyn. Claire is the youngest of four and the only daughter in her Irish Catholic family reared by an alcohol-dependent mother and emotionally withdrawn father. From an early age, her brother John coaches her in basketball, teaching her how to play and how to employ her skill beyond the blacktop. Claire uses basketball to escape the trauma she experiences at home, such as her brother Bobby’s physical abuse and her mother’s drinking (“I start thinking about whether it’s a drinking night or not. My mother is not an everyday drunk.”) Newly passed Title IX provides hope for Claire’s future as a collegiate student-athlete, and this goal steers her away from following in her mother’s footsteps. Via period-typical prose—Bobby is often referred to as “crazy” or “mental”—Hill depicts a working-class family dealing with substance use and mental illness. While Claire’s choppy stream-of-consciousness narration often evokes detachment, the text is bolstered by Hill’s descriptions of the ways in which sports help Claire maintain and repair bonds, break destructive patterns, and build boundaries. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jennifer Unter, Unter Agency. (May)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

Lynn weaves historical fiction, fairy tale lore, and simmering romance to craft an electric and harrowing Dust Bowl–era debut. When teenager Stella Fischer meets handsome drifter Lloyd, he quickly endears himself to her family. Stella has no patience for romance, however; she’s too busy brewing and selling moonshine in secret to raise money. After the family invites Lloyd to stay with them as a hired hand, he repays them by revealing a place in the woods full of resources the family sorely needs. Further discoveries reveal a portal to a lush, phantasmagorical mirror world filled with food, trees, and sunshine, all presided over by a mysterious man who conjures dazzling visions at will. But there’s a price to pay for entrance into this dreamworld. As old debts come to light, Stella must protect the people she loves at all costs. With one foot entrenched in the brutal reality of the Great Depression and the other in a fantastical utopia, the novel never sacrifices the urgency of human need while establishing its supernatural charm. A passionate romance between the white leads, enlivened by snappy banter and rock-solid emotional stakes, adds further depth to this vibrant tale. Ages 13–up. (May)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

First love, betrayal, and grief intertwine in Larsen’s swoony debut romance. High school senior Nellie Samsin can’t wait for graduation, which is only 10 days away. She’s spent all of high school solely focused on academics, leaving her little time for romance. Her best friend Britta is determined to not let Nellie graduate without having been kissed, so she orchestrates a scheme to have Nellie’s crush Sterling be her first. Nellie’s childhood friend Jensen, meanwhile, is enraged by Britta’s antics, especially since his crush on Nellie is so obvious it’s almost comical to him that Nellie hasn’t figured it out yet. Jensen even writes bestselling fantasy romance novels under the pseudonym Jen Dimes, born from his love for Nellie and secretly edited by Nellie’s father. A last-minute yearbook assignment between Nellie and Jensen ignites a spark between them, but complications, such as her father’s sudden death, threaten the teens’ budding relationship. In this sweet entry into the teen romance canon, Larsen utilizes high-intensity drama that puts Nellie and Jensen through the wringer. Yet, as the white-cued pair grow closer, their undeniable chemistry propels this amorous tale to a satisfyingly romantic resolution. Ages 13–17. (July)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink

A group of 14-year-olds turned loan sharks open a bank at their school in Irish author Quigley’s freewheeling debut. Finn, who has “nerves of steel,” has come up with a foolproof plan: he’s going to lend classmates money for a profit, made via interest and late fees, “just like a proper bank.” With the help of Koby, the brains behind the operation, Finn convinces his cousin Emily, athletic Gabe, tech genius Pablo, and narrator Luke to join his scheme. Though Luke is wary of Finn’s plotting, he can’t pass up the opportunity to earn extra cash to help his financially struggling household. The teens soon invest in a launch of the school-based dating app developed by goth girls Jo and Lucy, and agree to fund influencer Paddy’s venture to generate viral animal videos by buying her piglets. But as their deals get bigger, the potential risks pile up, forcing each friend to consider how far they’re willing to go to support one another’s plots before there’s no turning back. Luke’s level-headed first-person narration grounds the madcap situations. Their scheme rapidly spins out of control, delivering a high-concept read that’s less financial primer and more cautionary tale. Ages 12–up. (May)

Reviewed on 04/19/2024 | Details & Permalink