RENEGADE GIRLS by Nora Neus, art by Julie Robine

 

Helena "Nell" Cusack is used to leaving Chicago each summer to visit her aunt and uncle in New York City. This summer promises to be different in several ways. One, the adults in her life believe this is the summer Nell should be looking for a fine young man to marry, but that's not what Nell wants. Two, with the recommendation of her uncle and aunt, Nell will be working this summer. It's not a huge job, but it should be interesting. Three, Nell comes to recognize things about herself that she has long kept hidden.

Nell will be writing a society column for the New York Chronicle. She doesn't think her articles are very important. She wants to be more of a journalist. Nell sets her sights on being a stunt-girl reporter uncovering topics that will make a change in the world.

For her first article she goes undercover in a garment factory to reveal the horrible working conditions, child labor, and low pay. The article begins to convince those in the middle and upper classes that things like the making of their clothes is taking a toll on the underprivileged working class. As Nell continues to write her articles, she invites a new friend to act as photographer to add proof to the stories. 

In her graphic novel author Nora Neus highlights the history of the real-life stunt girl Nell Nelson and photographer Alice Austen. Set in the 1800s, this book reveals a piece of history most readers will find fascinating.

WHEN WE GO MISSING by April Henry

 

Willow has been volunteering at Finding Home, an animal shelter. for quite a while. She enjoys helping Mrs. P the elderly woman who created and runs the place. It also gives Willow a chance to get away from her ailing mother and her domineering stepfather. 

Dare is a new volunteer at Finding Home. His hours are required by the court after an incident involving his father's car. He would have gone to jail if it wasn't for his lawyer mother and a forgiving victim. Dare isn't fond of animals, so he's nervous and a bit stand-offish when he first arrives.

Eventually, Willow begins to warm up to Dare. He is willing to walk the dogs and take them to a nearby dog park which leaves Willow free to do other chores. As the days pass, the two begin to revamp the shelter's website with suggestions from Dare. The changes result in more adoptions than before he arrived.

When Willow stumbles across a camera memory card, she realizes she has discovered a mystery. When she opens the card on her computer, she is shocking to find hundreds of pictures of young girls. Some seem posed, others caught by surprise, and some look terrified. When the police appear to be doing nothing, Willow enlists Dare's help to unravel the mystery.

WHEN WE GO MISSING by April Henry will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Each character has a secret they are reluctant to share. The suspense Henry creates is typical of her many mystery novels for teens. 

THE SCOTT FENWICK DIARIES by Kristin Nilsen

 

First, thank you to Media Masters Publicity for the advanced copy of THE SCOTT FENWICK DIARIES, and the opportunity to review this adorable book.

After years of worshipping singer Rory Calhoun posters in her bedroom, seventh grade Millie finally has a crush IRL. Is it her imagination, or is Scott Fenwick glancing her way from time to time in social studies? Her best friend Shauna seems to think Scott likes Millie, and she's suggesting ways to let him know she's into him, too.

Now begins the note passing, texting, waving back and forth in the hall at school and even while shopping at Target. Turns out they have a lot in common, however, sometimes communication gets lost in translation.

Author Kristin Nilsen combines middle school love life with hilarious viewpoints, quirky family members, loveable pets, and life questions in this laugh-out-loud new novel. With a release date in July, THE SCOTT FENWICK DIARIES is sure to delight readers.

ONCE FOR YES by Allie Millington

 

ONCE FOR YES is by Allie Millington, the author of OLIVETTI. Once again Millington focuses on an inanimate object as her main character. This time a four story, brick apartment building named Odenburgh shares its story. 

News travels fast that the Odenburgh has been sold and will be torn down to build a newer, more modern living community. The Odenburgh is a proud, old building. Even though it's a bit run down, and the tenants have many complaints, there's a loyalty to the old structure.

One girl in particular, Prue Laroe, is devastated to hear the news. She lives in the Odenburgh with her parents and older sister. It is the last place she saw and talked to her other sister Lina. Soon eleven-year-old Prue will be as old as Lina was when she left.

Prue meets Lewis, who lives in the apartment building across the street. Together, they try to come up with a plan to save the Odenburgh. It turns out Lewis was friends with Lina. He doesn't want to lose his last contact with her either.

ONCE FOR YES is told by the Odenburgh. The building lends a hand whenever possible to create reasons it should be saved. Along with the building and Prue and Lewis, readers will meet other unique tenants, each with their own quirks and personalities. 

This reader strongly suggests finding a copy of ONCE FOR YES. It is a wonderful story you won't soon forget.

FITTING INDIAN by Jyoti Chand, art by Tara Anand

 

First, thank you to Media Masters Publicity for providing a review copy of FITTING INDIAN. It tells a powerful story.

Nitasha wishes her parents were not so strict. They want her to be the perfect Indian daughter, but they don't understand the pressures she faces at school to earn top grades and fit in with friends who are white and able to do whatever they want. Nitasha also lives in the shadow of her brother and his successful career as a doctor.

Feeling abandoned by her best friend, Nitasha has turned to alcohol and cutting to relieve the pressure. She has a crush on Henry, but he doesn't seem serious about her, plus she knows dating is frowned on in her culture. When a video of her trying to impress Henry goes viral, shame leads to Nitasha deciding suicide is the only answer.

Fortunately, her brother finds her in time, and she wakes up in the hospital. After a 72-hour psychiatric hold, Nitasha goes home to an over-vigilant mother and a father who refuses to talk to her. Talking to a therapist reveals that the Indian culture doesn't acknowledge mental health issues as worthy of discussion or even treatment in some cases. With the help of a childhood friend, Nitasha opens up and decides therapy is just what she needs. 

Author Jyoti Chand uses her own personal experiences to create Nitasha. Direct, straightforward dialogue reveals the difficulties in addressing mental health issues and the problems that causes in families. The graphic novel format makes FITTING INDIAN relatable for any reader.

DISTRESS SIGNAL by Mary E. Lambert

 

DISTRESS SIGNAL by Mary E. Lambert will keep you on the edge of your seat. A class field trip into the desert has four students running for their lives.

Lavender has been looking forward to the science field trip, but things aren't working out how she planned. She thought she would be sitting on the bus next her BFF Marisol, but Marisol is hanging out with someone else. Rachelle has never been Lavender's favorite person. Why is Marisol so interested in her?

As they board the bus, Lavender ends up sitting with John and watching as Marisol and Rachelle laugh and carry on all the way to the desert. Lavender has a plan to get even with the girls, unfortunately, a flash flood warning has her desperately rethinking her plans.

Lavender attempts to warn the girls, but the flash flood ends up separating Lavender, Marisol, Rachelle, and John from the rest of their class. They manage to survive the flood only to face a dwindling water supply, little food, cold nights, and even a bear. 

Author Mary E. Lambert takes readers on a survival adventure in the mountainous desert. Her characters learn to depend on each other as they discover what true friendship means. DISTRESS SIGNAL is perfect for middle grade classrooms and libraries.

GHOST BOOK by Remy Lai

 

July Chen is being visited by what she thinks is a ghost. Actually, it's a boy named William who claims he isn't a ghost, in fact, he isn't really even dead. He tells July that he is stuck between the living and the dead.

July's father seems to be convinced that ghosts don't exist, so she must pretend that she doesn't believe in them either. She befriends William and agrees to help him continue his journey from living to dead. He is in great danger because it is Hungry Ghost Month. He is being threatened by a Hungry Ghost. Little does July know that if she helps William, it could mean her own death.

GHOST BOOK is a graphic novel by Remy Lai. The colorful graphics will take readers into this ghost story as they travel with July as she tries to rescue William.