2024 Summer Reading Book List

Get ready for an exciting summer of reading! I’ve curated a selection of books to keep you entertained, inspired and engaged throughout our summer break.

Grab a book from the list, find a comfy spot and let your summer adventure begin.

Happy Reading!

Middle grade book list

Bea and the New Deal Horse by L.M. Elliott (Historical fiction):This fits snugly within the canon of plucky girls overcoming massive trials. Written in the vein of A Little Princess or Anne of Green Gables, this title sets the titular Beatrice in the depths of America’s Great Depression. Bea’s father abandons her and her younger sister Vivian on the farm of a distant and rather prickly acquaintance, Mrs. Scott. Although she’s hesitant about the two foundlings, Mrs. Scott soon finds a use for them on her floundering farm. Once Bea, who is white, reveals her innate horse training sense, there’s hope and great risk on the horizon as the women try to save the farm through taming a traumatized horse. Bea’s journey is gorgeously told through refined but accessible writing. The conflicts are heartbreaking without a heavy hand. The scenes of horse jumping are equally exhilarating and exhausting, enough to make any horse skeptic a full-on fan. With a dash of social issues through veterans, racism, and the Hoover/FDR presidential race, Elliott’s novel is as informative as it is entertaining (from School Library Journal).

Drawing Deena by Hena Khan (Realistic fiction):Deena, a seventh grade Pakistani American girl, has such stress and anxiety over things like growing up, her family’s finances, and not feeling quite as mature as her cousin, that she grinds her teeth at night and has trouble eating breakfast first thing in the morning. When she tries to use her artistic talents to help her mother’s clothing business, she quickly hits some snags with family and friends. Can she get past her worries and find her voice to express her feelings? (from School Library Journal).

It’s Boba Time for Pear Li! By Nicole Chen (Realistic fiction):Ever since Pearl visited a café in Taipei on a family trip, she’s been smitten with amigurumi, a Japanese style of crocheting or knitting. Her techie parents encourage her to take up coding, like her sister Jade, while Kendall, the popular girl at school, dubs her creations “dolls.” Besides her best friends Priya and Cindy, the only person who truly believes Pearl’s amigurumi has merit is Auntie Cha, the shop owner of her refuge, Boba Time. When the shop is under threat of closing, Pearl sees an opportunity to test her amigurumi skills. Can selling her art save her favorite shop? Pearl’s drive to prove herself to her parents thrusts her unsteadily into the job market and its very real struggles: balancing work and family, money management, even the pitfalls of turning your passion into your job. Pearl grapples with the contradiction of being both selfless and selfish, eventually coming to acknowledge the people around her and how she’s underestimated them. Ultimately, finding and using her voice isn’t as scary as she suspected (from Booklist).

Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz (Historical fiction):A determined refugee will do whatever it takes to get back to his parents—even becoming a British spy in Nazi Germany. When 11-year-old Max Bretzfeld, a Jewish boy from Berlin, is sent to England on the Kindertransport in 1939, he’s accompanied by two tiny men on his shoulders whom only he can see. The German kobold and Jewish dybbuk rarely interact with Max, but they comically comment on his circumstances. And such circumstances! After a working-class upbringing, he’s fostered in England by Jewish baron Lord Montagu. Most of the white non-Jewish people Max encounters are shudderingly classist, racist, and antisemitic, but after a childhood in Nazi Germany, this is hardly new. Nonetheless, he’ll do anything to get back to his parents, and thus, Max sets out to become a spy. While it may be hard to convince British intelligence to send him back to Germany, Max will do whatever it takes (from Kirkus Reviews).

Mission Manhattan, City Spies book 5 by James Ponti (Mystery):In this fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies take on New York City in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls.
The City Spies head to the Big Apple when a credible threat is made to a young climate activist who is scheduled to speak in front of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. With Rio acting as alpha and a new member in their ranks, the team’s mission to protect a fellow teen takes them on an exciting adventure in, around, and even under the greatest city in the world as they follow leads to the outer boroughs, the UN Headquarters, and even the usually off-limits stacks that extend deep under the main branch of the New York Public Library (from the publisher).

Paige Not Found by Jen Wilde (Adventure fiction): Paige Wells is almost 12 when she discovers she has a device in her brain that monitors her activity, hormones, and location in an effort to collect data from minors with autism. This has Paige reeling as she begins to question what is real and what else her parents could be lying about. When the company that created the device announces its merger with a social media platform notorious for selling personal data, Paige and her best friend Mara seek out the other children with autism who are part of the program. The group bond as they seek to stop the merger and take down the tech giants. Paige is an unlikely hero, struggling with anxiety, friendships, and gender identity and sexuality questions throughout the story. Her fierceness, bravery, and passion make rooting for Paige irresistible. The premise is dark, and what should feel like science fiction is made all the more sinister because of its realism; the companies and technology depicted are fictional versions of real-life counterparts. The triumphant group of underdogs deliver a swift, clean resolution, keeping the book from veering excessively grim (from School Library Journal).

 

The Fight for the Hidden Realm by Siobhan McDermott (Fantasy): Twelve-year-old orphan Zhi Ging escapes her small glass-making village to become an apprentice to the immortal Cyo B’Ahon scholars. But once she arrives, Zhi Ging discovers that she can stay in the underwater city of Hok Woh only if she passes 12 challenges. If she fails, she will be exiled. And there is more-Hok Woh is under threat from the mysterious Fui Gwai demon. Will Zhi Ging be able to pass her exams and uncover the villain? Obviously; and it’s a fun ride. In the best wizard boarding school tradition, there are magical feasts (sau bao and congee with duck egg!), cool dormitories, sports competitions (dragon boat), high-stakes challenges, and a mysterious enemy who shows their face in the final chapters. This is a magical setting where readers will want to live, with weird, tangible charm (from School Library Journal).

Sona and the Golden Beasts by Rajani LaRocca (Fantasy): Sona lives a quiet life in Devia as the daughter of a Malech farmer, part of the colonial ruling class in a country conquered long ago. She knows that music is forbidden in Devia, as the local population of Devans used it to spin their magic, but Sona can’t help herself from singing; she hears melodies all around her, emanating from and connecting her to every living thing and corner of nature. This gift leads her to rescue an orphaned golden-eared wolf pup, but when a determined hunter comes calling to finish off the enchanted creature, Sona and her ailing ayah’s Devan grandson go on the run to protect the pup and find a fabled cure to restore the beloved woman’s health. Earth-shattering secrets are revealed, fabled creatures appear at every turn, and Sona must face the truth about the Malech rule of her cherished homeland. The stellar South Asian–inspired story is rich in historical detail and mythical lore, offering a rip-roaring adventure story while also gently introducing readers to matters of entrenched racism and the costs of colonialism (from Booklist).

The Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelly (Realistic): After 13-year-old bird lover Nina discovers rare whooping cranes nesting near her summer camp, she must keep them safe—and secret. Ever since a mockingbird sang her name and led her to his nest, Nina has been obsessed with birds—she finds them easier than people. Nina has trouble with boundaries and making friends: “It’s like there are rules everyone knows but me.” She decides to try Aunt Audrey’s summer camp in Bee Holler, so she can bird-watch, but she feels like an outsider among the other campers. When Nina spots a whooping crane in an off-limits area of camp near a marsh, she can’t risk telling Aunt Audrey and being sent home for breaking camp rules. But whoopers haven’t been seen in her part of Texas for 100 years! Nina must trust fellow new campers Georgie, Emma, and Ant with her discovery if she’s going to solve the mystery of where the birds came from. Doing that just might help Nina figure out friendship, too—if they don’t get kicked out of camp first (from Kirkus Reviews).

You Are Here: connecting flights (short story collection):In this collection of linked short stories, a nasty storm strikes Chicago’s (fictional) Gateway International Airport, delaying flights and suspending travel plans. Twelve-year-old Paul and his family, who are flying to Thailand to visit family, are stopped by security when his grandfather’s remains, which his grandmother is trying to bring aboard the plane, trigger an alarm; then Paul’s missing little sister causes subsequent delays. In the midst of the chaos, readers meet eleven other Asian American young people throughout the airport who find themselves in situations where they witness and experience (and also stand up to) racism: Mindy, an adoptee from Korea who doesn’t feel ready to visit the country of her biological origin; Ari, who is tired of explaining that she is Jewish and Chinese; Jane, whose Gonggong (grandfather) was attacked for simply being Asian. Oh and the other eleven short-story authors — who include Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Linda Sue Park, and Christina Soontornvat — paint a picture of what it means to navigate being Asian American in a post-2020 world, where the burden of being blamed for COVID-19 is thrust on young shoulders (from Horn Book Magazine).

Abandon Ship! By Michael J. Tougias and Alison O’Leary (Narrative nonfiction): The story of the fates of passengers on a British former luxury liner torpedoed by a German U-boat in September 1942 off the west coast of Africa. The Laconia, with nearly 3,000 passengers aboard—Italian POWs, Polish guards, British military personnel, and civilians—was traveling from Egypt to England via the Cape of Good Hope. After being hit by the German submarine, survivors scrambled to board the insufficient number of lifeboats and rafts. After realizing the POWs—Germany’s allies—were onboard, along with women and children, U-boat Cmdr. Hartenstein tried to save as many people as he could and radioed for assistance. However, during the rescue, an American plane bombed the U-boat, forcing another evacuation of the frightened passengers. The personal stories of a few of the British survivors of varying ages and backgrounds will especially grab readers’ attention. This powerful account of human resilience and behavior during crises will inspire contemplation of the impact of war (from Kirkus Reviews).

Lucky Scramble by Peter Raymundo (graphic novel):Despite qualifying for the Speed Cubing National Championships in Las Vegas, twelve-year-old Tyler Goodman and his mom don’t have the money to get him there. That is, until the retailer CubeMania offers him one of their coveted all-expenses-paid sponsorships! But getting to Vegas is just the beginning: There are hundreds of speed cubers from around the country, and each has something to prove. Like Dirk, who’s certain he’s about to nab his third straight National Championship trophy. Lizzy and Izzy Peterson, twins who crush cubing competitions with the exact same moves and times—until one of them decides to break the mold. Renowned eight-year-old prodigy Eli Newton solved his first puzzle cube at five, yet his dad seems much more excited about the sport and there’s something . . . off about his cubes. And then there’s Miles Oldman, the first American to solve the cube in under 40 seconds, who’s back decades later to set some new records. As Lucky Scramble moves with lightning speed between the stories of these six contestants—plus that of CubeMania’s founder and CEO Victor Chen—puzzle cube devotees and fans of graphic novels alike won’t be able to resist racing through the pages until the very last cube has been solved (from the Publisher).

Money Out Loud: all the Financial Stuff No One Taught us by Berna Anat (nonfictionAnat, daughter of immigrants who grappled with financial challenges, offers a relatable perspective as the first in her family to attend college. Penned as an engaging, informal, first-person narrative, the text addresses the specific concerns of BIPOC teenage girls, providing them with tools to navigate their financial journey. The content covers a spectrum of financial aspects, from practical advice on saving, spending, banking, investing, and taxes, to thought-provoking discussions on giving back and the costs of borrowing for college. Additionally, it provides insights, such as ways to reward oneself while managing debt and increasing savings. The book delves into societal issues such as wealth disparity, income inequality, and the complexities of capitalism. These discussions add depth to the financial advice provided, fostering a well-rounded understanding of the current economic landscape (from School Library Journal).

The Curse of the Mummy by Candace Fleming (narrative nonfiction):Grave robbers had been looting Egyptian tombs for thousands of years and British and French politics dominated Egypt at the turn of the century with little oversight of the ransacking. Despite this disarray, Tutankhamun’s tomb remained hidden and largely untouched until 1922, when it was unearthed by Howard Carter, an archaeologist seen as a disreputable outsider in Europe’s snobbish Egyptology scene. He was working for the hapless Lord Carnarvon, a British noble who fancied excavation as a hobby. Together they would toil away for years, excavating the hundreds of treasures while battling local and international politics over ownership rights. With swiftly moving text, Fleming covers many aspects of the story, including the gruesome mummification process, ancient Egyptian history, as well as the discriminatory policies of colonial rule (from School Library Journal).

Young Adult book list

Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall (Mystery): The James women are special; some people in Bittersweet Hollow, WV, even call them witches. The talent of Linden, the third of four sisters, is feeling and tasting people’s emotions and the ability to influence people’s feelings. The previous summer, she disappeared on Solstice when she and classmates gathered in the woods to call up the Moth-Winged Man, a local folk legend in their parts. She was found suffering from amnesia. A year later, Linden discovers her friend Dahlia’s body in the woods and is determined to find her killer. Dahlia’s case is tied to a young boy who went missing in the same area almost 20 years ago, and the Moth-Winged Man myth. The teen’s investigation leads to her family being vilified, their business vandalized, and her life threatened. Throughout, she struggles with her relationship with Cole, the local golden boy, who seems to shun her since her disappearance. Aided by her three sisters and their supernatural talents, along with their Aunt Sissy’s willingness to share family secrets, Linden slowly unravels where folklore meets reality and the sacrifices her family has made. The story flashes back and forth from the present to the night she went missing as she recovers more of her memories. The writing is tense and suspenseful with each new discovery bringing more questions (from School Library Journal).

Borderless by Jennifer De Leon (Realistic fiction): For seventeen-year-old Maya, fashion is her passion, and her talent for making clothing out of unusual objects landed her a scholarship to Guatemala City’s most prestigious art school and a finalist spot in the school’s fashion show. Mama is her biggest supporter, taking on extra jobs to pay for what the scholarship doesn’t cover, and she might be even more excited than Maya about what the fashion show could do for her future career.  So, when Mama doesn’t come to the show, Maya doesn’t know what to think. But the truth is worse than she could have imagined. The gang threats in their neighborhood have walked in their front door–with a boy Maya considered a friend, or maybe more, among them. After barely making their escape, Maya and her mom have no choice but to continue their desperate flight all the way through Guatemala and Mexico in hopes of crossing the US border (from the Publisher).

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli (Fantasy): Rune Winters is living a double life. By day she is an airheaded debutante flitting from party to party and by night she is the Crimson Moth, a masked crusader dedicated to rescuing witches from the clutches of the Blood Guard. Gideon Sharpe took control of his life the day that he helped overthrow the corrupt Witch Queens, sisters who ruled over their island kingdom with the magic afforded them by their blood. Witches need their own blood, or that of another person, to cast their spells, leaving behind an intricate tracery of scars visible to the naked eye. A captain of the Blood Guard, Gideon is convinced that all witches are evil and need to be rounded up and punished. Rune and Gideon will stop at nothing to see their missions completed. When they both decide that cozying up to their own worst enemy is worth the risk, they didn’t count on actually beginning to care for each other. Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will not be able to put this book down (from School Library Journal).

Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru (Fantasy): Five hundred years after the Stitching, an event that gathered the clouds together, causing constant rainfall and the world’s drowning, 18-year-old Jin Haldar is just trying to keep her younger sister alive. With both parents’ dead, Jin scrabbles for a living running their inn while desperately searching for ways to pay off the Navy’s conscription taxes, lest she be forced to join and see her sister shipped off to an orphanage. When a drifter arrives at the inn with a plan to dive down and raid the drowned ruins of Las Vegas for a hidden cache of gold, Jin knows that signing on ensures an opportunity to pay off a lifetime of taxes and carve out an existence beyond mere survival. But the pirates and other seafaring dangers that Jin must face to claim her bounty have nothing on Jin’s true fear: diving, the thing that killed her father. The cinematic story line, electric prose, and creative and lived-in worldbuilding make Thiru’s debut a thrilling adventure on the high seas, a striking portrayal of trauma and hope in dystopian times, and a thoroughly compelling read. Jin’s family ancestry traces back to the Himalayas (from the Publishers Weekly).

Killing Her Twice by Stacey Lee (Historical fiction): Sisters investigate the murder of rising film star Lulu Wong in this story set in L.A.’s Chinatown during the golden age of Hollywood. After their father left home to undergo treatment for tuberculosis, 19-year-old May Chow and her 18-year-old sister, Gemma, took over his flower-selling business in order to support their family, which also includes 12-year-old Peony and Ma, who’s expecting a fourth child. With the country still gripped by economic depression, money is tight, and the girls’ meager earnings barely make ends meet. Making matters worse is news of a proposed train station in Chinatown that would effectively destroy the community. Thanks to prejudice and discrimination against Chinese Americans, influenced in part by negative media portrayals, the city council largely ignores residents’ concerns and opposition to the station. When May and Gemma stumble across Lulu’s body in an abandoned lot in Chinatown, the scandal fuels even more negative feelings toward the neighborhood. Aware that prejudice and police corruption might allow Lulu’s murderer to escape justice, Gemma decides to conduct her own investigation with help from Peony, a mystery novel aficionado, and May, whose sense of familial duty competes with her desire to honor her dear childhood friend Lulu. This twisty mystery, brought to life by a vibrant cast and abundant historical details, will keep readers in suspense until the very end (from Kirkus Reviews).

The Melancholy of Summer by Louisa Onomé (Realistic fiction): After her parents go on the run following charges of fraud, a Nigerian Canadian 17-year-old finds herself suddenly without adult support in this tenderhearted novel of family and trust by Onomé (Twice as Perfect). Thanks to her friends, Summer Uzoma always has a couch to crash on, but internalized shame surrounding her parents’ crime follows her wherever she goes. Unbeknownst to her friends, Summer has been visiting her old house, searching for clues about her parents’ whereabouts. She’s certain all her problems will be solved when she comes of age in a few weeks, but after a social worker intervenes, Summer is placed in the care of her 20-year-old cousin Olu, a famous musician from Japan who is currently living in Port Credit and hiding struggles of her own. Now Summer must face the reality of her parents’ actions and learn how to move forward with her life. Summer’s visceral wrestling with guilt and shame, her trauma-informed abandonment issues, and her wariness to open up to others coalesces into a pacey, well-crafted character study that explores one teenager’s pursuit of safety and home amid life-changing circumstances (from Publishers Weekly).

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson (Thriller): When Annabel “Bel” Price was 22 months old, she was left alone in the back seat of her mother’s car, with the adult nowhere to be found. Sixteen years later, the prickly 18-year-old’s mother is still missing, and Bel’s big questions-Was she abandoned? Was her mother abducted?-have never been answered. The arrival of a film crew, which is working with the Price family to record a documentary about the mystery, exacerbates unhealed wounds and dredges up long-buried memories and old conspiracies. Bel is convinced that her mother ran away; the town believes that Bel’s father killed her, even though he was exonerated; and Bel’s paternal grandfather, who has dementia, doesn’t remember anything. It’s only when Bel’s mother suddenly reappears that the real mystery begins. Via Bel’s acerbic multilayered first-person narration, Jackson keeps the intricate plot-punctuated with twist after shocking twist-firmly in hand, doling out clues that will have readers guessing right along with the characters (from the Publishers Weekly).

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal (Horror): There are vampires in White Roaring, and by night, Arthie’s tearoom, Spindrift, caters to them (illegally). Arthie, who came to the British Empire–like Ettenia as a child, following the brutal colonization of her homeland, forged a living in White Roaring, where she would never be powerless. Spindrift is the seat of her power; the city’s laws may not be kind to immigrants (or vampires), but Arthie trades in secrets and favors. So, when Spindrift is threatened, she cuts a deal with an enigmatic figure from the city guard who almost certainly has ulterior motives. With her livelihood on the line, Arthie assembles a crew for a heist that could not only save Spindrift but also expose the rot at the very core of their nation—if they survive (from Booklist).

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’ (Mystery): A mystery upends a London girl’s attempts to heal her grief-stricken life. Recently orphaned Sade Hussein, a wealthy Nigerian British Muslim 16-year-old, was home-schooled before she entered the Alfred Nobel Academy, an international boarding school. There she meets Elizabeth Wang, her roommate and “house sibling,” a role describing those assigned to help new students acclimate. Sade soon becomes familiar with the school cliques, including the infamous—and beautiful—Unholy Trinity, comprising Persephone Stuart, Julliette de Silva, and queen bee April Owens (who used to room with Elizabeth). Sade’s new friendship with her roommate is abruptly interrupted when Elizabeth goes missing, and the Unholy Trinity approach Sade, curious about what might have happened. Meanwhile, Sade is investigating with Basil dos Santos, Elizabeth’s best friend, when a music box belonging to the missing girl mysteriously appears on Elizabeth’s bed. When attractive playboy athlete Jude Ripley shows an unwanted interest in Sade, one of her new friendships is negatively affected. Along with dealing with a missing roommate and complicated social dynamics, Sade, who struggles with panic attacks and night terrors, is haunted by a ghost girl, who visits her in regular nightmares and begs her for help (from Kirkus Reviews).

Wild Poppies by Haya Saleh (Realistic fiction): Until war came to Syria, 15-year-old Omar lived happily with his 12-year-old brother Sufyan, six-year-old sister Thoraya, and their parents in the Syrian city of Raqqun, attending school, playing soccer, and helping his father tend the family farm. But when bombing begins and their father is killed by shrapnel, the boys move with Thoraya and their diabetic mother to a relative’s packed country home in village Al-Nuaman-“the poppy flower.” There, each family worries about food, water, and medicine, and the brothers clash over how to care for their loved ones. Clever, moody Sufyan, who sees Omar as a weakling and a coward, starts disappearing on increasingly risky missions to meet their needs. Often-unsure-of-himself Omar, meanwhile, steadfastly queues in hope of buying rationed supplies, and tries unsuccessfully to rein in Sufyan’s potentially dangerous activities. When Sufyan’s unwitting connection to a religious extremist group leads to his kidnapping, Omar and two friends set out to find him, taking a treacherous journey through the wilderness (from the Publishers Weekly).

Danger and Other Unknown Risks by Ryan North and Erica Hendeson (Graphic Novel): Marguerite is the Chosen One on a quest to eliminate a dark magic that could destroy an already fractured world. Raised by her uncle Bernard, who survived the cataclysmic arrival of magic in 2000 AD, Marguerite utilizes a singular spell and a talking dog companion, Daisy, in pursuit of three magic totems across magically separated realms. The titular “other unknown risks” come from changes between realms: Marguerite’s spell has a different effect and cost everywhere she goes. Each realm’s inhabitants wield their own unique spells to help and hinder. Daisy and Marguerite have a close bond, reinforced in dire and lighthearted scenes. This is as much a road trip buddy comedy as it is an epic quest. Detail and lighting are applied according to mood, with Henderson expertly sliding between casual travel vibes and high-stakes encounters. Flashbacks to Marguerite’s upbringing with Uncle Bernard flesh out both their characters, while subtle clues hint at game-changing twists to come (from School Library Journal).

Safe Passage by G. Nery and David Brame (Graphic Novel): Darius, a Black 15-year-old living in the South Side of Chicago, wants one thing—a safe place to live with his unemployed stepdad and younger half sister, Cissy, following the death of his mother. When his best friend, Booger, shares a plan to get quick, easy money, Darius reluctantly agrees. Despite Cissy’s disapproval, the boys skip school to take a bus across town to investigate an armored truck that got into a traffic accident; they hope to grab some of the money they expect to find flying around. Things get out of control when Cissy sneaks along to keep an eye on them, and Booger brags about their journey on social media, putting targets on their backs. They have to use their street smarts and follow the survival rules Darius’ stepfather taught them for navigating territories controlled by microgangs to try to make it safely back home. In this fast-paced story, each decision the characters make is critical. Despite the difficult situation the kids are in, Neri provides small pockets of hope and light. Brame’s evocative digital black-and-white illustrations bring the setting to life, emphasizing the emotional intensity and high stakes. Somber with a sprinkling of optimism and a firm grounding in unconditional familial love (from Kirkus Reviews).

The Bones of Birka by C.M. Surrisi (Narrative nonfiction): In 1871, a Swedish entomologist named Hjalmar Stolpe went to the island of Björkö in the northern Baltic Sea to search for bits of amber. Instead, he found what would become one of the greatest archeological sites, the Viking town of Birka that included a burial mound of what appeared to be a high ranking warrior, called Bj 581, dubbed the King of Birka. Given what was known about Viking society and the limits of scientific inquiry at the time, it was assumed that Bj 581 was male. However, with the development of DNA analysis and osteology (the study of bone), modern scientists, like Dr. Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson, have been able to determine that Bj 581 was, in fact, biologically female. Surrisi begins with an engaging synopsis of many related aspects including, but not limited to, an introduction to Viking society, archeological techniques developed by Stolpe himself, and the history of Birka. Much of the second half of the book discusses the many upset reactions from the archeological community to this discovery and the scientists’ efforts to defend their finding. (from School Library Journal).

The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming (Narrative nonfiction): A thrilling account of how teen girls helped break Nazi code intercepted during World War II. Through impeccable research and magnetic writing, Fleming uncovers the lives of young women who were recruited to live and work at Bletchley Park in the UK countryside, often leaving their homes for the first time, without knowledge as to how they would be aiding the war effort. From all walks of life and with different skills to commend them, the Wrens, part of the female branch of the UK’s Royal Navy, were sworn to secrecy and threatened with treason charges and death if their mission was ever revealed to their families. Readers are given a mix of personal stories set against the backdrop of major World War II events, such as the London Blitz, Pearl Harbor, and D-Day. The teens’ efforts influenced these monumental milestones, and the gravity of their work was not lost on them. Still, they were young women who played pranks on one another, liked to dress up for local dances, and got homesick. Intermingled throughout are “Top Secret” chapters that feature in-depth explanations of the type of work the Enigma girls (named after the Enigma machine they used to break Nazi code) did, such as illustrating the difference between codes and ciphers and how to decipher coded messages. Fleming captures the emotional and psychological burdens that these teenagers carried and balances it with detailed descriptions of the technology used to carry out their lifesaving tasks (from School Library Journal).

 

Rising Class: How Three First-Generation College Students Conquered Their First Year by Jennifer Miller (Narrative nonfiction): This is a wonderfully pieced together narrative of three students’ experiences as first-generation college students in the midst of a pandemic. Though the focus is not on the pandemic itself, the lives of the students are obviously impacted from the unsettled state of the world during 2020 and beyond. The flow and organization of this informative book allow readers to get immersed in the lives of each of the three students, their friends, and families. Readers will often find their hearts aching and want to help these students as they share intimate and vulnerable parts of their experience. This will not only inform prospective students of a small variety of options and experiences but provides a very deep dive into those three experiences (from School Library Journal).

Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo (narrative nonfiction): An engaging tale of one enslaved couple’s journey to freedom and a love that conquered all. What do enduring love and devotion look like, and how can determined lovers overcome their circumstances? Woo, the author of The Great Divorce, answers those questions by taking readers on a gripping adventure with Ellen Craft (1826-1891) and William Craft (1824-1900), who risked their lives to escape slavery in Georgia in 1848. Ellen, who “could pass for White,” disguised herself as wealthy “invalid” Mr. Johnson, and William played the role of Johnson’s devoted slavAe. Along their journey from Macon, Georgia, and up through Philadelphia, Boston, and Halifax, they evaded nosy onlookers and determined slave catchers working under the aegis of the Fugitive Slave Act. The Crafts also joined the abolitionist speaking circuit. Speaking to packed halls, they risked being caught and returned to their owners, one of whom was Ellen’s half-sister. Sheltered and celebrated by local abolitionists, the Crafts learned to trust those working within the abolitionist system. They agreed to lead public lives, and eventually, they landed in England, where they settled, started a family, and continued to share their story (from Kirkus Reviews).