English & Spanish 10+ Science-Fiction Space Dystopia Folklore Storytelling Donna Barba Higuera Cover by Raxenne Maniquiz summary Latinx Heritage Month may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean that our reading lists should be any less packed with amazing Hispanic & Latinx creators. Today I have an awesome sci-fi read for ages 10…
Tag: fantasy
The Dire Days of Willoweep Manor
English 12+ Tropes Breaking the Fourth Wall Gothic Romance Stories Sci-Fi Heroines Shaenon K. Garrity & Christopher Baldwin summary I love a good self-aware book, and Willoweep (a graphic novel) has this in spades. It begins with our main character dramatically reading her book report, much to her stern teacher’s dismay. She’s ordered to explore…
Season of the Witch & Tarot for Kids
English 6+ summary If you’re like me, not only is there an entire Spooky Season, but it’s a full-on lifestyle. Season of the Witch is the perfect history book to settle in with when I want to learn more about our witchy global past. When the weather gets hotter here in western MA, I long…
The Insiders
English & Spanish MG LGBTQ Friendship Bullying Queer Friendships Latinx Family Moving New School Fantasy/Magic Mark Oshiro summary Ahh middle school. Hormones, moving to new schools, wanting to look cool…secret rooms that respond to your needs? Maybe not for all of us, but for Héctor and his new middle school this seems to be the…
The Wild Ones & a Love of Dessert
English YA Feminism Sci-Fi Fantasy BIPOC Narratives Anger Chosen Family Magic Love CW: Mentions of assault Nafiza Azad summary This. Book. Is. Everything. When a publicist got in touch and told me about The Wild Ones, I was instantly hooked. A roving band of girls that weaponize their screams in retaliation for the times they’ve…
The Adventures of Team Pom: Squid Happens
English 8+ Fantasy Synchronized Swimming Bao Friendship Social-Emotional Learning Mystery Sci-Fi Isabel Roxas summary Team Pom (comprised of Ruby, Agnes, and Roberta) is a group of misfits that’s main goal is winning the illustrious local synchronized swimming competition. Unfortunately, they need some sweet moves and an infinite supply of bao to get their creativity flowing….
Blood Like Magic
English YA Fantasy Magic Witches Black Culture & Identity Community CW: Blood, Sacrifice, Violence Liselle Sambury summary When you see this title, know that blood is very prevalent within the book. It’s the root of all magic, and used with intent for spells. It also denotes when a witch can be Called by ancestors and…
The Grumpy Fairies
English 4-8 years Social-Emotional Learning Fairies Fantasy Humor Bethan Stevens summary Alright folks, we’re about halfway through our moving process right now, and I’m definitely identifying with these grumpy fairies today. This story is really humorous and the expressions on the grumpy fairies faces are hilarious and reminiscent of those days in the classroom where…
Waking the Mountain
English 4-8 years Environmental Activism Social-Emotional Learning Magic Nature Sustainability Fantasy Marina Fonseca & Lisa Junius summary Waking the Mountain follows a magical land that used to be lush and green, but isn’t any longer. Ethereal illustrations show a journey across many broken lands, and some humanoid figures that want to restore the landscape. The…
Ophie’s Ghosts
English MG & Up Ghosts Family Parent Loss Fantasy Servitude Enslavement Moving Pittsburgh Justina Ireland summary Ya’ll, this book is sooooo good!! Ophie and her mother have moved to Pittsburgh after their house is burned down, and her father is killed by white supremacists. This evening is also when Ophie found out she can see…