In The Whispers by Greg Howard, a boy searches for his mother with the help of mysterious beings
…of Buckingham Middle School”) teases him unmercifully for thinking his mother might still return, even four months after she vanished. Then there’s his “other condition”: Gene and “his posse of…
In Ronald Kidd’s new middle-grade novel, a boy’s journey leads to understanding
…him and ignored the others, like he was shopping for clothes at J.C. Penney.” Nate’s father prohibits music—what he calls “Satan’s tune”—of any kind. When Nate catches his mother absent-mindedly…
In Sheba Karim’s Mariam Sharma Hits the Road, three Pakistani-American teens search for America
…personality from him, especially the unkindness with which she treated her first serious boyfriend. She regrets and can’t explain her behavior, even to herself, and hopes that her uncle can…
U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith talks about inspiration, personal reflection, and recitation
To contemplate the afterlife, the vastness of the universe, and one’s place in the world might seem like a pointless exercise: given the limited breadth of human understanding, what can…
A neglected girl finds a home in Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s The War I Finally Won
…repeats several times throughout the story, but as she learns to trust Susan, Lady Thorton, and herself, she reaches a new conclusion: “You can know things all you like, and…
Tracy Barrett’s new YA novel explores the ups and downs of skydiving
…when Theo gets a longshot camp—counselor job he applied for months earlier. So he’ll be out of town all summer, leaving Clancy bored and alone. Clancy tries to focus on…
