​Canada, as well as some states, has adopted school policies requiring the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives, culture, and history. These curricula can be enhanced with the use of First Nations and Native American children’s and YA literature. To highlight authenticity and accurate representation of the diversity of North American Indigenous People, the authors' and illustrators' identities, as well as the specific cultural perspective reflected in each text, are included. While the focus is typically on books published in the current year (2025), titles from 2020–2024 are also included due to the limited number of new releases reflecting this representation.

Fierce Aunties. Laurel Goodluck. Illus. by Steph Littlebird (2025). Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
This book is an anthem for fierce aunties, those formidable women who give support to children everywhere. Their presence helps children believe they can do anything. Specifically, Goodluck highlights how aunties share knowledge, carry history, give pep talks, and know what is needed. Those characteristics are reinforced with the repetitive phrase "Fierce Aunties!" Littlebird’s illustrations are colorful and bold, just like a fierce auntie. In the Author’s Note, Goodluck shares memories of the fierce aunties on whose shoulders she stands. Gr 2 Up
 
The author, Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, ND and Tsimshian, AK), and illustrator, Steph Littlebird (Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes, OR), bring an intertribal perspective to this text.

Grandma’s Tipi: A Present-Day Lakota Story. S.D. Nelson. (2023). Abrams Books for Young Readers.  
Clara and Juniper spend their summer with unci (grandmother), learning from her extended knowledge. Under unci’s guidance, the girls set up and bless the family tipi. Through the figures painted on the side and evening storytelling, they learn about their ancestors. When their dreams are painted on the tipi, they add to the family storyline. At summer’s end, Clara’s parents promise her a return visit to a fall powwow so she can wear her new beaded, buckskin regalia. Nelson’s illustrations portray the delight the girls experience as they deepen their bond with unci. The Author's Note describes the history of tipi, including traditional and contemporary uses. This book will bring back memories for all who spent an extended time in summer with a grandparent. Gr 2-5
 
Author S.D. Nelson (Standing Rock Sioux, Dakotas) brings a Lakota perspective to this text.

​Returning to the Yakoun River. Sara Florence Davidson & Robert Davidson. Illus. by Janine Gibbons. (2022). Highwater.
This childhood memoir describes a family's summer fish camp on the Yakoun River. While the father fishes, the children play, Tsinii (Grandfather) shares wisdom, and the reader learns about fishing, rooted in long-held traditions. The children help to preserve the fish through brining and smoking. In the evening, stories and songs passed down through the generations are shared. Gibbons used thick borders and deep colors to reflect Haida traditions and portray the interconnectedness of people and the earth in the illustrations. The Davidsons depict additional Haida traditions of carving, jigging, and dancing in companion books to this series. Gr 1-5
 
Authors Sara Florence Davidson and Robert Davidson (Haida, BC), along with illustrator Janine Gibbons (Haida Raven of the Double Fin Killer Whale White Clan, Brown Bear House, BC), bring a Haida perspective to this text.

What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me. Alexis Bunten. Illus. by Nicole Neidhardt. (2023). Christy Ottaviano Books.   
Pia rushes to the Native American Center after school to witness the inauguration of Deb Haaland as the US Secretary of the Interior. Pia notices Secretary Haaland’s ribbon skirt, a symbol of the interconnectedness of life. Later that evening, Pia and others create ribbon skirts to include as part of their regalia, thus showing their strength and connection to their ancestors. The back matter of the book offers a deeper insight into Secretary Haaland's achievements, inspiring women and girls of all backgrounds. Neidhardt’s illustrations show the characters in positions of strength and hope. Also included is a history of ribbon skirts and their importance to many Native American and First Nations people. Gr 2-6
 
Author Alexis Bunten (Aleut/Yup’ik, AK) and illustrator Nicole Neidhardt (Diné [Navajo] of the Kiiyaa’áanii clan, AZ) bring an intertribal, urban perspective to this text.

Yáadilá! = Good Grief! Laurel Goodluck. Illus. by Jonathan Nelson. (2025). Heartdrum. 
Bahe takes Nali’s (grandmother) hand as they say goodbye to her sheep camp. On the car ride home, Bahe and his sister fight in the back seat, causing their mother to exclaim, “Yáadilá!” the Dine expression for “Good Grief.” The next day, Bahe begins a secret project with “Yáadilá!” called out by family members as he accesses materials from around the house. When the diminutive replica of the sheep camp is revealed, the family is overwhelmed by Bahe’s thoughtfulness. Goodluck inserts interruptions by the phantom narrator who delivers a pronunciation lesson for “Yáadilá!” and an offer for further assistance. The facial expressions of the characters in Nelson’s illustrations deeply portray the feelings of loneliness, exasperation, satisfaction, and love. An author’s note and Diné glossary of definitions and pronunciations are included in the appealing back matter. Gr 2-5
 
Author Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, ND, and Tsimshian, AK) and illustrator Johnathan Nelson (Diné [Navajo], AZ) bring a Diné, Navajo perspective to this text.

JoJo Makoons and the Used to Be Best Friend. Dawn Quigley. Illus. by Tara Audibert. (2021). Heartdrum. 
In the first of this beginning chapter book series, JoJo has a “home best friend,” (her cat Mimi) and a “school best friend” (Fern). However, she believes Fern no longer wants to be her best friend. JoJo sets out to make new friends, but her way of thinking about the world does not always support her endeavor. Through JoJo’s storytelling, the reader is introduced to Ojibwe and Michif words (with pronunciations) and JoJo’s interconnected relationships with family and friends. Quigley supplies a glossary to assist the reader in understanding the Ojibwe and Michif languages. Audibert’s illustrations engage the reader to better understand the story. Young readers can follow JoJo’s continued story in subsequent books. Gr K-3
 
Author Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, ND) and illustrator Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey/French, NB) bring an Ojibwe perspective to this text.

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Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories. Dan SaSuWeh Jones. Illus. by Weshoyot Alvitre. (2021). Scholastic.  
Jones categorizes ghost stories from First Nations and Native American communities into chapters entitled “Ghosts,” “Spirits,” “Witches,” “Monsters, and “The Supernatural.” Each story is prefaced with naming the storyteller, their tribal membership, the essence of the tale, and how they acquired the story. Alvire’s black-and-white sketches encapsulate the soul of each story, whether contemporary, mythological, or spiritual. Additional resources and further readings are encompassed in the back matter. Readers who enjoy scary or supernatural stories will be intrigued by the commonality across cultures. Gr 6 Up
 
Author Dan SaSuWeh Jones (Ponca, OK) and illustrator Weshoyot Alvitre (Tongva, CA) bring an intertribal First Nations/Native American perspective to this text.

​Two Tribes. Emily Bowen Cohen. Colors by Lark Pien. (2023). Heartdrum.  
In this graphic novel, Mia, who lives with her Jewish mother and stepfather, just became bat mitzvah. However, she does not know the Muscogee side of her identity. She secretly takes her bat mitzvah money and buys a bus ticket to her father’s home in Oklahoma. While there, Mia reconnects with her family and learns about Muscogee traditions. However, when her mother discovers Mia has traveled without permission, she flies to Oklahoma to retrieve her. Family drama ensues, and Mia works to convince her parents and rabbi that she has “two tribes” and needs to honor both parts of her identity. The facial expressions in Cohen’s illustrations depict the range of emotions for all the characters. This book can provide the reader with an example of how a middle schooler can negotiate identifying with “two tribes.” Gr 5 Up
 
Author Emily Bowen Cohen (Muscogee, OK) brings a Muscogee perspective rooted in both urban and rural experiences to this text.

We Still Belong. Christine Day. (2023). Heartdrum. 
Seventh-grader Wesley has planned her day. Her poem about Indigenous People’s Day will appear in the school paper, it will be read by everyone, and she will receive extra credit for having it published. Then she will ask her crush, Ryan, to Tolo, the school dance where girls ask boys, and he will accept. Her glorious day will end with her family attending an intertribal powwow. However, nothing goes to plan, leaving Wesley to question her place in the world. With the support of her intergenerational family and those with whom she interacts at the powwow, Wesley comes to realize she does matter in her Upper Skagit community and her middle school. This book will appeal to all middle school students who are searching for their place in the multiple spaces in which they occupy. Gr 5-8
 
Author Christine Day (Upper Skagit, WA) brings an Upper Skagit perspective to this text. 

​Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants. Robin Wall Kimmerer. Adapt. by Monique Gray Smith. Illus. by Nicole Neidhardt (2022). Zest.  
Adapted from the New York Times Bestseller, this young adult version weaves together scientific and indigenous medicinal knowledge. Gray adapted the text to portray the interconnectedness of humans, earth, and ancestral knowledge for the young adult reader. Green, black, white, and grey illustrations, as well as notes of wisdom, are interspersed throughout the text. Additionally, vocabulary definitions and thought-provoking questions are introduced, which can be used in classroom book discussions. The calm radiating from this book further grounds the reader in indigenous ways of knowing. Gr 8 Up
 
Author Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi, Great Lakes, upper Mississippi, and Great Plains Region, WI), adapter Monique Gray Smith (Cree, Lakota, Scottish, Lake Superior Region, CAN), and illustrator Nicole Neidhardt (Diné [Navajo] of the Kiiyaa’áanii clan, AZ) bring an intertribal First Nations/Native American perspective to this text.

​Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Reader’s Edition). Anton Treuer. (2021). Levine Querido. 
Treuer adapted his adult version of the same title, written in an informative, engaging, and thoughtful style, for young adult readers. The topics of terminology, history, religion, culture & gender, powwow, tribal languages, politics, economics, education, social activism, and perspectives are addressed in a Q&A format, thus making it easy for the reader to reference a specific theme quickly. The questions can be used for classroom discussions, the basis for student research, or as a reference when studying Native American History. Although Treuer addresses issues that relate to all Native American Tribes, many of the specific examples are from the Ojibwe perspective. Gr 8 Up
 
Author Anton Treuer (Ojibwe, MN) brings an intertribal Native American perspective to this text.

​Powwow: A Celebration through Song and Dance. Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane. (2020). Orca.  
Through colorful photographs, Pheasant-Neganigwane describes the origins, culture, songs, dances, and regional diversity of Powwow. Because Powwow was banned by the Canadian government until 1951 and suppressed by the US Government, Powwow is a relatively new celebration in First Nations and Native American cultures. Since that time, Powwow has expanded to include small local celebrations to large competitions. The reader gains a deeper understanding of Powwow, its regalia, food, songs, and dances. The glossary and resources add to the reader’s background knowledge of Powwow. Gr 4 Up
 
Author Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane (Anishinaabe, Great Lakes Region, CAN) brings an intertribal First Nations and Native American perspective to this text.
 

​The Witness Blanket: Truth, Art and Reconciliation. Carey Newman & Kirstie Hudson. (2022). Orca. 
The Witness Blanket describes the creation of the art installation in response to the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report (Canada). Artist Hayalthkin’geme (Carey Newman) collected artifacts from survivors of the Residential Schools to create a mixed-media blanket of solid objects. Although each object represents life in the residential schools, it is the woven story that depicts the heartbreak, trauma, and resilience of the survivors displayed through this symbolic blanket. Completed, the 13 panels of the blanket stretch more than 39 feet and weigh more than two tons. The Witness Blanket, related stories, and resources may be viewed at: https://witnessblanket.ca/. Gr 6 Up
 
Author Carey Newman (Kwakwaka’wakw from the Kukwekum, Giikxam, and WaWalaby’ie clans and Coastal Salish, BC) brings an intertribal First Nations perspective to this text.

​Author Bio
Sharryn Larsen Walker, Professor of Literacy Education at Central Washington University, is a former member of the Notable Books for a Global Society Committee and a current member of the Green Earth Book Award Selection Committee. 

This curated collection for our youngest readers offers playful language, engaging formats, and themes that reflect the everyday wonders of a child’s world. Carefully selected for their developmental value, these titles support early language growth, connection, and curiosity.
​Chelsey Bahlmann Bollinger 

Banana Bop! A Monster Show. Sandra Boynton. (2025). Simon & Schuster.
Boynton’s offers a delightfully absurd story of a group of silly, wide-eyed monsters who put on a show starring a banana. The monsters bop and dance across the pages, using the banana in all sorts of imaginative ways. For example, the monsters use the banana as a phone to “la, la!” to one another during the show. The humor is perfectly tuned to toddlers’ love of repetition and surprise, making it an ideal read-aloud for moments filled with giggles. The illustrations include bold lines, playful colors, and endearing expressions, which bring the monsters’ antics to life with irresistible charm. 

Beep! Beep! Vehicles on the Go. Byron Barton (2025). Greenwillow Books.
Barton delivers a vibrant and engaging board book using bold colors and distinctive, intentionally imperfect illustrations. He captures the attention of toddlers and preschoolers with a variety of familiar vehicles, from trucks and trains to cars and buses. The simple, repetitive text provides a valuable opportunity for teachers or families to practice using possessive nouns by saying phrases such as “my truck” or “my train.” Additionally, the book encourages readers to talk about plural forms of vehicles by using expressions like “more cars” or “more buses.” 

Cousins! A Big Family Story. Laura Lavoie. Illus. by Luisa Leal. (2025). Roaring Brook Press.
Illustrator Luisa Leal’s cheerful, big-eyed character illustrations capture the joy, chaos, and love that come with spending time in a big extended family. The story follows a lively group of cousins as they enjoy a day full of fun and familiar childhood activities. “The kids’ table is the best place to be!” is a shared experience between the cousins. The day ends with a cozy, laughter-filled sleepover, bringing a heartwarming close to their shared adventures. Lavoie’s rhythmic, playful text reflects the energy and excitement of cousin gatherings, while Leal’s colorful illustrations bring each moment to life with warmth and personality. This book is sure to resonate with any child who treasures time with their cousins, offering a joyful celebration of family bonds and traditions. 

How to Spot a Mermaid. Jane Yolen. Illus. by Sally Deng. (2025). Chronicle Books.
Yolen’s newest book is whimsical, beautifully illustrated, and invites readers into a world of gentle adventure and imagination. The dust jacket captures the reader’s attention with an image of a curious child explorer peering through binoculars, unaware of the mermaid just behind them. Beneath the jacket, a hidden treasure awaits: a stunning double-page spread of an underwater mermaid scene. The story unfolds as a playful guide for spotting mermaids, beginning with practical advice: “find a nearby body of water, lake, stream, or sea, and come prepared.” This book encourages readers to look closely, wonder freely, and believe in magic. 

Maisy Loves Birds. Lucy Cousins. (2025). Walker Books.
Lucy Cousins introduces readers to the joys of birdwatching through her signature bold gouache illustrations and clear, child-friendly language. Maisy begins by explaining what birds are and how delightful they sound in the morning when she wakes up. She then introduces a variety of bird types, from seabirds to birds of prey, and even birds that can’t fly, offering engaging facts perfect for curious little learners. The book also explores what birds need to live, including what they eat and drink, where they rest, and how they build their nests using twigs, feathers, and other natural materials. This book would pair nicely with an outdoor activity where children search for items to make a nest. Maisy also shares tips on how to attract birds to your garden and invites readers to look for birds around them, just like she does in her own garden. 

Papilio. Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser. (2025). Viking.
This story is a creative collaboration born from a walk between three friends who decided to write and illustrate a story together. The result is a beautifully layered picturebook told in three distinct parts, each reflecting the unique voice and artistic style of its contributor. Together, the three authors guide readers through the transformation of Papilio, a curious caterpillar, into a vibrant butterfly. Each section essentially is its own chapter and is written from the perspective of Papilio at each stage of metamorphosis. For example, the first section is focused on the caterpillar stage and is written from the caterpillar’s perspective, and Papilio eats and eats and gets “a full belly” and says, “time to turn to jelly!” as the chrysalis stage comes next.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Jungle Hide & Seek. Eric Carle. (2025). Penguin Random House.
With a playful lift-the-flap format, this book brings Eric Carle’s signature collage-style artwork to life in a tactile, engaging board book experience. Young readers are invited to explore different areas of the jungle, each page featuring layered cutouts of trees, grasses, and winding trails that offer a sensory-rich adventure. For example, readers are asked, “Who prowls around the jungle tail swishing to and fro?” and readers can trace the path which leads little fingers to open the flap shaped like a rock to reveal “the panther keeping it low.” The interactive design encourages prediction, observation, and surprise with every turn of the page. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Vegetable Garden. Eric Carle. (2025). Penguin Random House.
Featuring one of children’s literature’s most iconic characters, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Carle introduces a different vegetable on each page: carrots, tomatoes, peas, and more, along with a simple search-and-find challenge that encourages children to count vegetables hidden in each garden scene. This board book not only supports number recognition and counting skills but also introduces young readers to healthy foods in a fun and engaging way. For example, readers might be excited to see the purple flowers that later turn into purple eggplants, and then are encouraged to count how many are on the page.

These Are My Rocks: A Story About Collecting. Bethan Woollvin. (2025). Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.
Woollvin invites readers into the whimsical world of a passionate collector. Told through a direct, conversational tone, the narrator shares their eclectic and often surprising collections, from tiny trinkets and towering objects to pointy, prickly, stinky, and even wobbly things. The story begins with the reader being asked to turn on the light, revealing a room filled with curiosities both ordinary and odd, including an impressive rock collection. With each turn of the page, the narrator guides readers through their treasures, encouraging curiosity, observation, and the joy of collecting. The bold, graphic illustrations and clever use of perspective bring the collections to life with humor and charm. The book ends just as it began, with the reader being asked to turn off the light, creating a sense of cozy closure. 

You and Me, Anemone: A Story About Friendship and Personal Space. Rachel Vail. Illus by Chris Raschka. (2025). Greenwillow Books.
Rachel Vail’s thoughtful text and Chris Raschka’s textured illustrations, crafted from embroidery floss, yarn, watercolor, and gouache, come together to create a picturebook that is visually rich and full of feeling. The story follows two underwater creatures as they learn the give-and-take of friendship and personal space. With scenes centered around sea anemones, readers learn that while some creatures enjoy closeness, others prefer space but can still coexist harmoniously. Raschka’s mixed-media illustrations bring texture and movement to the page, and a peek beneath the dust jacket reveals a beautifully stitched underwater scene that echoes the book’s message. The endnote includes a warm and informative note from the author, who explains that sea anemones close up when touched and relates this to how people may also need space at times.

Your Farm. Jon Klassen. (2025). Candlewick Press.
Klassen creates a gentle, visually striking board book that builds a farm scene piece by piece. Each element, including the sun, tree, barn, horse, hay, truck, stool, and fence, is introduced with a pair of expressive eyes. With a rhythmic text, readers are invited to take ownership of the farm, repeating the phrase “this is your…” as each new piece is added. The story begins and ends with the sun, framing the day’s rhythm, and as night falls, all the parts of the farm close their eyes and think about tomorrow. This soothing narrative arc makes it an ideal bedtime read, offering a sense of calm and closure. 

Chelsey Bahlmann Bollinger is an Associate Professor in the Early, Elementary, and Reading Department at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She enjoys sharing joyful reading experiences with her two young readers at home.

Sandip Wilson
​Novels in verse presenting complex topics, characters, and plots in an accessible format engage young people and inspire their critical thinking. The books have characteristics that appeal to readers of all ages such as visual qualities of the lines on the page, the different poetic styles and structures that authors use, and the rhythm of the language. The books reviewed here, narratives on contemporary and challenging topics, offer insights into characters, experiences, and places. They make good choices for reading aloud and small-group and independent reading.

​13 Ways to Say Goodbye. Kate Fussner. (2025). Harper Collins.
Twelve-year-old Nina has the chance to complete her sister, Lily’s list of thirteen things she wanted to do before she was thirteen and before she died when Nina was ten. Nina “never liked/ alone, never knew/ my way,” and wanted to do what Lily did although her sister Nina to be herself, but this summer she travels alone to Paris to visit Aunt Renée, learn French, go to art class with Madam Toussaint, and do things on the list. Aunt Renée shows Nina notable places and introduces her to French-speaking Sophie, also in the art class. Madam Toussaint, a stern and knowledgeable task master, holds her classes in galleries and museums. While Sophie excels in using media, Nina struggles with developing her skills, but with Sophie, she has the adventures on the list. As she crosses off an item, she relives memories of her family, until Lily appears in a climactic memory, encouraging Nina in her affection for Sophie and her artwork. GR 5-8 

All the Blues in the Sky. Renée Watson. (2025). Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
Sage relives the night, on her thirteenth birthday, one month ago, when a hit-and-run driver killed her best friend, Angel Rodriguez, who was on her way to Sage’s house to celebrate at Sage’s birthday. The tragedy haunts Sage, leaving her feeling sad and guilty. Part of a grief counseling group at school with her teacher, Mrs. Carter, and friends Ebony, Zay, and DD, she learns that grief results from many kinds of loss; people experience it in many ways. She learns that grief is like hunger. Eating one day doesn’t mean she isn’t hungry the next. As she experiences moments of happiness along with sadness, Sage learns that grief comes and goes in waves; yet, she fears that Angel died without knowing how much Sage loved her until she makes discoveries about Angel in this novel of friendship, discovery, and rising through deep sorrow. In the back matter, Renée Watson shares experiences of death and dying in her author’s note. GR 6 Up 

All the Love Under the Sky. Kip Wilson (Ed).  (2025). Nancy Paulsen Books.
This collection of stories in verse, by children’s and young adult authors, shows the language of love in different situations and times. Stories of legend and myth such as “The Bridegroom’s Oak” are among stories that contain myths, such as “Borrowed Blossoms,” which tells the story of a musician and warrior prince in ancient Mexico who live in cities at war, yet the young men come to love each other during the prince’s diplomatic visit. “The Water Clock” is the story of a twelfth-century Indian mathematician, Leela, who fell in love with mathematics at six and at seventeen with Xiang, a visiting Chinese scholar, when asked to help with his translations. Other stories show how love “stretches across generations,” complex love of family relationships, unconditional love of grandparents, the fresh romance of young people, and a turnabout story about losing love in “Not So Sweet (An Anti-Cupid Story).”  Author notes follow each story and longer author biographies are in the back matter. GR 9-12

Away. Megan Freeman. (2025). Simon & Schuster/Aladdin.
Twelve-year old Ashanti, whose mother is a medical doctor, fourteen-year old Grandin, who works on the family farm, twelve-year old Harmony, aspiring journalist, and eleven-year old Teddy, movie maker, are among families of a river valley in Colorado transported to a camp far from their home because of mass contamination to land and water. This companion novel to Alone (2021), told in alternating chapters of the characters’ voices, recounts their lives cut off from the outside world and closely guarded by the governors who give them updates on the growing tragedy of the valley. They become suspicious when Ashanti reports that her doctor mother says she has seen none of the illnesses the governors report. Their suspicion that photos showing devastation to forest, farms, and property are doctored is confirmed by mountain people not evacuated. As they discover the truth about events, they learn their purpose and who is responsible for the evacuation in this science fiction mystery thriller about community and collaboration.  GR 5 Up 

The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez. Jasminne Paulino. (2025). Putnam.
Seventh-grade student Alex wants to get into the science class and out of the SC, self-contained classroom, but his teacher, Ms. Sharon, tells him the science class will be too much for him, since he loses control when overwhelmed. His mother wants to keep him safe in the SC, but his father believes “we need to try/ we won’t know anything/ if we don’t try.”  Through his insistence, Alex is offered a place in the class, but loses Chase’s close friendship, who feels left out. When Alex learns that Ms. Rosen is introducing iCreate, a science club, for all the students, Alex believes he has found a way for both of them to become part of the school’s science community, but he has to overcome the fear he feels with Richard and Leonard’s daily harassment and bullying. Alex learns the power of his efforts in this novel, which includes dialogue in Spanish, and explores friendship, self-discovery, and determination. GR 5 Up

​Glitch Girl. Rainie Oet. (2025). Kokila.
J— tells their story from the fifth grade through the seventh grade, including their friendship with Garrison, a crush on Junie, and their struggles at school where they fail classwork and are put in detention for outbursts and disorderly conduct.  They find solace, escape, and expression in creating theme parks with Coaster Boss, a computer game in which they create roller coasters and other adventures for the guests that populate the parks, but finds a glitch in their disasters. While J— suffers sadness they can’t explain, their mother supports their activities and their father is a harsh judge of their gestures of identity. In seventh grade, J— meets someone much like them and discovers that, “The reason I am bad is because I–ADHD, girl-boy, hated by Junie–/ am a glitch.” He stands up to his parents and their purposeful punishment as they develop a new friendship. The back matter includes an author’s note with interviews of the real people who were Junie and Garrison.  GR 5 Up

It's All or Nothing, Vale. Andrea Beatriz Arango. (2025). Random House.
Puerto Rican Middle-school student Valentina Camacho Guitiérrez, a nationally ranked fencer, challenges herself to reach that caliber again after being sidelined four months because of injury to her legs, but pain persists as she practices.  Coach, friends, and family urge her to be kind to herself; yet, remembering her mother’s mantra, all her nothing, she pushes herself, motivated by the ability, ease, and power of the new fencer, Myrka, who, for Vale, is a competitor. Encouraged by her family’s evening salsa dancing and her physical therapist, she builds her spirit and strength and discovers her attraction to Myrka, who openly wants to befriend her.  Since Myrka is Cuban, they share cultural practices in this novel that reveals the culture of fencing and perspectives on friendship, healing, and self-discovery.  The back matter includes an author’s note in which Beatriz Arango explains her research into fencing. GR 5 Up 

Octopus Moon. Bobbie Pyron. (2025). Nancy Paulsen Books.
Pearl does not look forward to the fifth grade. After a satisfying summer, loving her work at the Gulfarium, an aquarium where her mother works in Crescent Bay, Florida, and watching her favorite animals, the loggerhead turtles and the octopus thinking of her new school fills her with dread. “A dark fog creeps in,” making her feel sad, separate from friends, Rosie and Mia, and activities she has known her whole life, and leaving her guilty about her fear. As her sadness deepens, failing classwork and unable to get out of bed, her parents take her to see Dr. Jill. in this novel of second chances, courage, managing illness, and self-discovery Dr. Jill helps Pearl recognize her depression as an illness and Pearl becomes involved in fundraising for the Gulfarium. The back matter includes an author’s note where Bobbie Pyron describes her childhood anxiety and depression. GR 3 and Up 

Radiant. Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. (2025). Dutton Books for Young Readers.
Cooper Dale, a fifth grader in 1963, wants to shine, radiant and brilliant in her class with Mrs. Kneeland, but wealthy Wade Carter calls her names and makes fun of her daily, making her reticent. Bold in her artwork, she questions the concept of color, flesh, a pink. Since her flesh is brown, she thinks other colors for flesh should be included. She says that Peter Pan and Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz could be any color since the books make no reference to their color.  Her mother serves as housekeeper for Mrs. Carter, but when she is diagnosed with cancer, Cooper’s mother does much more for her family and Cooper sees Wade, sad and withdrawn, in a new way, challenging her ideas about him.  With Hakim, the other black student and new in the class, her sense of herself shifts as she helps her mother and Wade’s family deal with their bereavement in this novel of self-discovery and meaning of radiance. Back matter includes the section “With Gratitude.”  GR 4-6 

Safe Harbor. Padma Venkatraman. (2025). Nancy Paulsen Books.
Middle-school student, Geetha, and her mother immigrated to the New England coast from Chennai, India, but misses the books, family, and smells of home. She feels out of place in her new school, where she is bullied daily by smiley-faced girl surrounded by her clique. Geetha befriends Miguel, also a new student, whose scientist mother emigrated from Mexico. Finding solace in playing her flute and running along the beach, she finds a suffering young harp seal, almost strangled by a cord that has caused a deep cut. When she tells Miguel about the injured pup, the two rush to help and with the support of Miguel’s mother; they get the baby to the center for rescued seals. In daily visits with the seal, Geetha finds her voice in the healing power of her music and she recruits other students to clean the beach in this novel of friendship, overcoming bullying, and adapting to a new life. The backmatter includes an author note explaining real events that emphasize the urgency of addressing human-made pollution endangering life.  GR 5-8 

​The Trouble with Heroes. Kate Messner. (2025). Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
Thirteen-year-old Finn Connelly looks forward to his summer, but when he kicks over a gravestone of Edna Grace Thomas, “Queen of the High Peaks,” a climber of the 46 peaks of the Adirondacks, his summer plans change. He is tried as a vandal, Finn agrees to climb the peaks over the course of the summer, if Edna’s daughter vows to drop the charges. Compounding this Herculean task, he has to take Edna’s dog. A poet and a baker who loves to invent kinds of cookies, Finn is not the strong person his father was, a hero, a fireman who pulled people from the 9/11 Twin Towers bombing. Finn believes he is not a hero; he failed physical education class, cannot find a purpose for the poetry project, and misses his father as much now that he is dead as he did when he was alive, helping other people but absent from his family. The novel, written in first-person, chronicles Finn’s climbing the peaks helped by Edna’s book, as he discovers his resourcefulness in helping his family and his affection for the dog. The back matter includes an author’s note explaining her experience as a 46er. GR 5-8 

​Sandip Wilson, past-President of the CLR SIG and past-chair of the NBGS Award Committee, is a professor in the College of Science and Humanities at Husson University, Maine.