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Celebrating Our Stars This Summer
We're almost half-way through 2025 already, as hard as that is to believe! And it's shaping up to be a great year for children's books with many of our titles receiving multiple starred reviews. Scroll down to look at our best reviewed books of the year and double check that you've stocked these new favorites on your shelves.
By Ibi Zoboi
★ "Bold and exciting. Readers will fly through Zoboi’s latest masterpiece and crave more stories featuring Caribbean folklore. An ambitious contemporary fantasy that will grip readers from the first page."
— Booklist (starred review)
★ “Readers will enjoy the ways the monstrous characters’ human facades shift. A vividly creative, heart-pounding poetic journey.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★ "Skillfully captures the complexities of identity and belonging, offering a powerful narrative about two girls struggling to understand who they are and where they come from."
— Horn Book (starred review)
★ “Zoboi delves into each teen’s inner turmoil, tackling themes of misogynoir, colorism, and immigration via complicated mother-daughter dynamics. [A] searing exploration of personal growth and self-discovery.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
★ “The stage is set for secrets and supernatural discoveries. The slow, methodical unraveling of how interwoven the two teenage girls’ stories is the treat of this sharp verse narrative.”
— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
★ “The verse format offers a rhythmic and accessible read while challenging stereotypes regarding colorism and racism. An essential book.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)
“Zoboi displays her immense talent in a new genre by creating a first-class, haunting urban fantasy. ”
— Shelf Awareness
"[A] rich modern take paying homage to classic portrayals from Caribbean folklore. Decadent. This fantastical novel-in-verse will please fans of contemporary fantasy and poetry alike."
— BookPage
By Michael Burgess
Illustrated by Cátia Chien
★ “In this joyous seasonal idyll, the creators capture with onomatopoeic eloquence the day’s sensations, with plenty of time to savor sounds, sights, and “summer on our skin.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
★ "This is an immersive tribute to the unique pleasures of an urban Fourth of July and a radiant celebration of all things summer."
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★ “It’s a joyful celebration of simply being alive and experiencing the world in the guileless way children do. Electric, affectionate, and enchanting.”
— Booklist (starred review)
★ "Brimming with rich sensory details, Burgess’ poetic verses combine with Chien’s marvelous mixed-media artwork to celebrate the exuberant, magical moments of summertime.”
— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
★ “An immersive celebration of summer and siblinghood.”
— Horn Book (starred review)
By Saadia Faruqi
★ "Engrossing...An authentically textured account of a young teen coping with a parent’s mental illness."
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★"A powerful and revealing read."
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
★"Faruqi’s latest takes a deep dive into what it’s like living with a parent experiencing mental illness...realistic depictions of mental illness, family struggles, and emotional growth"
— School Library Journal (starred review)
★"Thought-provoking and insightful, this novel humanizes mental illness while unflinchingly showing how families and communities are affected."
— Booklist (starred review)
★"A raw portrayal of the pain, confusion, and hurt of a memorable young teenager."
— Horn Book (starred review)