Best Reads of Fall 2024

Of the 65 books I read, these were my favorites. Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Picture Books

I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I never ever ever EVER tell my students to say they're sorry. If they are truly sorry, then they should apologize without me making them. And if they aren't ... then we have other problems. Hoping this book will help with a conversation that too many kids need to have ... empathy is sorely lacking these days.

 

I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Deep breath. Be here now.

 

Look by Gabi Snyder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

LOVE the illustrations!

Lunch Every Day by Kathryn Otoshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm crying a little right now after finishing the book.

Chapter Books / Graphic Novels

Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rare is the graphic novel with Newbery-worthy writing. This one packed a few gut-punches, not the least of which Weaver tried to end his life as a kid. Jesus.

p. 33: What if instead of one plant, we're actually gardens. What if we're a combination of many things? Some parts are massive centerpieces, and others are accents, but every detail is important. If the possibilities are endless ... what could I be? What seeds have I been planting? What will bloom in me?

p. 231: They both had feelings. Just because those feelings weren't the same doesn't make either of them wrong for having them.

p. 261: They say everyone is the hero of their own story. But if you're the hero, somebody has to be the villain.

Nonfiction

Evidence!: How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of Cholera by Deborah Hopkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love plagues.

 

Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! by Claudette Colvin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Is "Where is Japan?" really a "big" question?

That is my only issue with this book ... which is not the first to point out that Rosa Parks was inspired by Claudette. I like that this included her being annoyed about Rosa becoming a celebrity.

 

A Tree Is a Community by David L. Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Such a fun book! Love the evocative language and gorgeous illustrations.

 

Hello, I'm a Sloth by Hayley Rocco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been doing a sloth fiction v. nonfiction unit for years, but this book taught me a few things I didn't already know - unfortunately, many of them were in the back matter, which I generally don't read out loud to the students. However, these facts were in the main text:

- they swim well because of being GASSY
- there are six kinds
- beetles live in their fur
- people are building rope bridges for them

Will definitely be adding to my K lesson and probably using for Mock Sibert with 2 and 3 this year.

 

Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disgusting and gross yet very informative. Too long for Mock Sibert, but I will consider purchasing for my 1st grader who loves blue whales. Although he may be traumatized by her dying.

Question: King crabs live in the deepest darkest most pressure-filled levels of the ocean? How are we catching them to eat?

 

Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube by Kerry Aradhya
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A few years ago, cubes were the rage in my elementary school. Not so much now, but maybe I'll shepherd in a resurgence by reading this to the kids for Mock Sibert. Will also have them play with tangrams and pentominoes.

 

Butt or Face?, Vol. 2: Revenge of the Butts by Kari Lavelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Will Lavelle win our Mock Sibert for the second year in a row? Time will tell!

 

Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis by Lesa Cline-Ransome
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All kids should know who John Lewis was! And as a librarian, I was happy with the way they cited the quote sources. However, while I know that his faith was important to him, the mentions of God rankled. "God's gonna take care of his children" ... and let them get their skull cracked on a peaceful march?

For Grownups

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such fun! (said in Miranda's mom's voice)

 

Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The flashback structure was effective, but OH! How evil was her mother?

 

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Completely original premise, but I am conflicted about the ending. And unsure why it switched POV? Still, a good read that I would recommend.

 

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

McAllister skillfully revealed information as Jen moved backwards in time, and I really enjoyed the book overall. But the ending was unsatisfying (even though it was meant to tie things up neatly). And I was puzzled by the Pauline bit.

Mock Newbery 2025 - December List

I missed the first meeting, and was dismayed by how many books I thought were subpar were kept on the list. But that's ok. There is time to cut them! I read 11 (and abandoned 1) of the 19 books on the list, and here's what I thought of the ones that weren't discussed in October:

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So good. The story just flowed, even if the time travel mechanics didn't QUITE make sense. But will they ever? I did appreciate that they did extensive research in the future on locations, to make sure nobody apparated inside a tree or under water. And Ridge's studied "slang" was hilarious. There was a good balance of adventure and FEEL-ings.

Most of all, I LOVED THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, my alma mater, and the mention of the Christiana Mall ... I literally JUST took a photo of it from the highway a couple of weeks ago to send to my family as R. and I drove home to RI from DC.

VERDICT: Keep



And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fipps describes Joe's hunger and fear effectively ... reading this book was was very stressful! And underscores why I don't think teachers should have their kids do stuff for Mother's Day and Father's Day. Because some parents SUCK. But this book doesn't.

p. 11: The longer I wait for her, / the more nervous I get / that she won't ever return, / and yet / the more I fear her coming home.

p. 24: Nobody even looked at us. / We were invisible. / People didn't want to see us, / because if they did, / they'd get scared that one day / they could be us.

p. 142: For some reason the game Rock, Paper, Scissors / pops into my head. / Hakeem's strong / like a rock. / I'm a lightweight / like paper. / Paper beats rock. / But Hakeem's words cut like scissors. / 'Cause they're true.

Quibble: Would 6th graders really be sitting crisscross applesauce on carpet squares for a readaloud?

VERDICT: Keep

Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well written, because Fleming, but I had a hard time remembering who was who and what their jobs were. Also, many of the jobs were confusing. How was Mavis able to figure out Italian phrases if she didn't speak Italian? I did not understand the Bombes or Baudot-Murray code even though Fleming tried to explain.

Anyways, may we never ration, because 1 egg, 2 ounces of butter, and an ounce of cheese is pretty much my typical breakfast.

VERDICT: Drop

  

Other drops that had been keeps, all of which I'm fine with:

• Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt 
  
  
• Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz 
  
  
• Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol 
  
  
• The Selkie’s Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan

Mock Newbery 2025 - October List

I wasn't able to attend the first meeting of the season, but I still want to share my opinions! Because I am judgmental! I read 11 (and abandoned 1) of the 17 books on the list, and here's what I thought of them. I missed the meeting because I had an event, but I've added the discussion results.

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So so many kids have parents who just can't take care of them ... it makes me sad, and it makes me wonder just how many of my students are in situations they shouldn't be. I am thankful that Choldenko chose to make Hank's new classmates kind v. including any bullying. I could only handle so much angst.

VERDICT: Keep

 

Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A return to old form for Lowry ... this read like a book from my childhood. LOVED young Sophie's narration. Not sure if my students would understand Sophie Gershowitz' stories.

p. 7 - "Begin on the day that is different."

VERDICT: Keep

 

Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's a Gary Schmidt book. Maybe I have read too many of them.

VERDICT: Keep

 

The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We never found out what the rites were!

Agree with another reviewer that the Spirit storyline could have been edited out.

VERDICT: Keep

 

Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hit and miss, like most books in the genre, but I appreciated that Watson used different poetic forms throughout, and Holmes' collages are lovely.

VERDICT: Drop

 

Olivetti by Allie Millington
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Have I really never read a book with a sentient typewriter before? Great idea. But the book, sadly, disappointed me. Really did not like that the Everything That Happened was some giant secret nobody talked about. And the climax after the road trip? Really?

p. 35 - "But humans will believe anything. Especially if it means they can get what they want."

VERDICT: Keep

 

Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wish the spooky wallpaper girl had shown up earlier. She went from a flicker to a bitch to a gross entity to nothing in the matter of several pages. And we don't know who she was or how she got there. And she ended up having nothing to do with Violet's fatigue? Frustrating.

Also, Violet managed to not see her little brother - who lives in the same house - for DAYS?

VERDICT: Drop

 

The Selkie's Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was interested to read this because Nova Scotia and selkies, but it was just kind of boring. Some great sentences, though, like "Here the air’s flavored with the salty scent of sea wrack. Sandpipers stitch the hem of the waves, probing for prey with their bills." That's some poetry right there.

VERDICT: Keep

Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Vordik's demise was quite nasty. As are most of the characters. This was fine for a middle-school graphic novel, but I'm not sure why it is on Newbery lists. I am realizing that one thing my students are missing out on with their reliance on graphic novels for almost all of their reading is that they rarely read descriptions of scenes or actions. It's just all dialogue.

VERDICT: Keep

 

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I cannot picture handing this to any of my students.

Ghosts that only Charisse can see. Charisse only reading the Bible and Leaves of Grass. "Every good story is a love story." Uncle Ted's painting of the history of the world. "Mysterious Barricades." Astral projection.

Pinky, on the other hand, would be a hit with my kids. She needs her own early reader.

VERDICT: Keep

The Color of Sound by Emily Barth Isler
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Too much description too often of the music AND the colors. I wish Isler had picked one or the other. Especially since so many of the music details will be lost on the intended readers. "[H]is grin like a glittering arpeggio" ... what does that even mean? Let alone the references to specific composers and pieces. I've played some, so I got some. But my students ... nope.

Also, her conversations with Shanna don't seem to have made any difference in the future, so what was even the point?

I wish the supernatural stuff had been cut and way more attention given to the past and its repercussions earlier on in the book.

VERDICT: Drop

DNF: 

• Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz (No thank you on the creatures) 
  VERDICT: Keep

Best Reads Late Summer 2024

I kept up with the recommendation summaries on my school blog, but not on my thoughts here. Not that anyone is really looking for them, but I am a completist and must now catch up on the past two years.

For Grownups

All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella’s Stepmother by Danielle Teller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I still can't believe the Abbess took away the brewery. What a bitch.

Picture Books

Touch the Sky by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could find nothing wrong with this book and look forward to using it at school for Mock Caldecott and SEL readalouds, as the kinetic illustrations support a story about grit in a VERY relatable situation.

 

The Squish: An Uplifting Story of a Sand Castle Learning Resilience for Kids by Breanna Carzoo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fall 7 times, stand up 8!

 

Lucky Duck by Greg Pizzoli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love that all the bad luck comes together! And students will love looking for the little bug friend in each spread.




Finding Grateful by Dianne White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Recently, while glaring at the dishes in the sink - there are ALWAYS more dishes appearing in the sink - I decided to reframe the situation as "Aren't I lucky to have whatever food I want whenever I want it? Aren't I lucky to have a partner who helps cook it? Aren't I lucky to have running water? Aren't I lucky to have a dishwasher to deal with most of the dishes?"

A couple of weeks ago, after attending a mindfulness workshop with friends, I started thinking about how I could incorporate some of the principles to calm my students the f*ck down. This book will help. I may pair it with "Now" by Antoinette Portis.


Nana in the Country by Lauren Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very sweet follow-up to "Nana in the City." Not sure if will resonate with my students, but we'll see.

 

 

No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I question the sanitation levels of having a stray cat in the library, I liked the muted palette and the theme of encouraging emerging readers.

 

 

The Blue Pickup: A Charming Picture Book About Fixing, Family, and Joy in Jamaica for Kids by Natasha Tripplett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very sweet, and I love that it is a girl learning how to fix cars. Not sure how into it my students would be ... would be more inclined to buy if I had any from Jamaica.

My Book and Me by Linda Sue Park
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What librarian won't like this book? I think I will use this for Mock Caldecott for K and 1, and to introduce the book talk assignment for 3-5.

Chapter Books 

Ava Lin: Best Friend by Vicky Fang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Delightful. I laughed out loud when she stuck the special pebble in her ear since she had her pocketed clothes confiscated after a laundry incident.

Unfortunately, very few of my first graders would be able to read this. But I'm going to get it for those few.

 

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So so many kids have parents who just can't take care of them ... it makes me sad, and it makes me wonder just how many of my students are in situations they shouldn't be. I am thankful that Choldenko chose to make Hank's new classmates kind v. including any bullying. I could only handle so much angst.

 

Tree. Table. Book.: A Heartwarming Story of Memory, Friendship, and Love Across Generations for Kids by Lois Lowry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A return to old form for Lowry ... this read like a book from my childhood. LOVED young Sophie's narration. Not sure if my students would understand Sophie Gershowitz' stories.

p. 7 - "Begin on the day that is different."

Nonfiction 

  José Feeds the World: How a Famous Chef Feeds Millions of People in Need around the World by David Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Jose. I love World Central Kitchen. I love this book.

Two picture book biographies about Jose are out, and I think this one is better geared towards kids and better as straight nonfiction. Lots of details shared concisely with bright artwork. Will definitely use for Mock Sibert and have video cued up to show Jose in action.

ETA: Just realized the illustrator lives in Spain. Which means this can't win a Sibert. Boooooo.

 

The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America’s Cook by Emma Bland Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had to call my mom a couple of years ago because the recipe she gave me for Irish Soda Bread called for "an egg" of shortening. I think kids will be amazed that recipes used to be so loosey-goosey. Or maybe they won't. But I'm thinking I can read this for Mock Sibert and then have some kind of recipe-reading lesson. Too bad we aren't allowed to bring in food these days.

 

One Day This Tree Will Fall by Leslie Barnard Booth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I suspect this may be taken both literally and figuratively ... one of those books that has a calming effect.



The Sea Hides a Seahorse by Sara T. Behrman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gorgeous illustrations and fantastic action verbs and vocabulary. But the school librarian in me is leery of having a picture of seahorses mating (even when tastefully done) in the collection. Also, it isn't straight nonfiction, so I wouldn't be sure where to shelve it.

Best Reads of the First Half of Summer 2024

It is summer, which means I order dozens of books to prep for Mock Caldecott, Mock Newbery, and Mock Sibert! These were my favorites from the past five weeks. Plus a bunch of grownup entertainment. All images and summaries from Goodreads.

Picture Books

Ploof by Ben Clanton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SUPER adorable, but I'm not sure if I will use as a readaloud because of all the blowing ... students are so germy. I suppose I could paperclip those pages and skip them ...

 

Bubbles by Ben Clanton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet. Are board books appropriate for school libraries? May go ahead and add.

 

Spider in the Well by Jess Hannigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cuckoo bananas. Echoes of Klassen's of "I haven’t seen any rabbits anywhere. I would not eat a rabbit. Don’t ask me any more questions." I'm sad Hannigan lives in Ontario, because that means I can't use this for Mock Caldecott.

 

Go and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not sure playing Go and Get would work with a class of 20 kindergarteners, but I think reading this book will!

 

Jump for Joy by Karen Gray Ruelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet. And I really liked the way the text was mirrored between Joy and Jump. But I can't help but wonder ... where does Jump live, and who is feeding him?

 

Built to Last by Minh Lê
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aw, it's a metaphor! Will my students understand? Not sure if I completely understood all of their creations and how they fell apart, honestly, but the illustrations are A plus.

Early Readers

Orris and Timble: The Beginning by Kate DiCamillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the Kate DiCamillo I know. Sweetly serious and made me smile.

 

 

Chapter Books

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So good. The story just flowed, even if the time travel mechanics didn't QUITE make sense. But will they ever? I did appreciate that they did extensive research in the future on locations, to make sure nobody apparated inside a tree or under water. And Ridge's studied "slang" was hilarious. There was a good balance of adventure and FEEL-ings.

Most of all, I LOVED THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, my alma mater, and the mention of the Christiana Mall ... I literally JUST took a photo of it from the highway a couple of weeks ago to send to my family as R. and I drove home to RI from DC.



And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fipps describes Joe's hunger and fear effectively ... reading this book was was very stressful! And underscores why I don't think teachers should have their kids do stuff for Mother's Day and Father's Day. Because some parents SUCK. But this book doesn't.

p. 11: The longer I wait for her, / the more nervous I get / that she won't ever return, / and yet / the more I fear her coming home.

p. 24: Nobody even looked at us. / We were invisible. / People didn't want to see us, / because if they did, / they'd get scared that one day / they could be us.

p. 142: For some reason the game Rock, Paper, Scissors / pops into my head. / Hakeem's strong / like a rock. / I'm a lightweight / like paper. / Paper beats rock. / But Hakeem's words cut like scissors. / 'Cause they're true.

Quibble: Would 6th graders really be sitting crisscross applesauce on carpet squares for a readaloud?

Nonfiction

The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants by Philip Bunting
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is so adorable. Too bad Bunting is Australian, so I can't use it for Mock Sibert. But I'm adding it to my wishlist for the general collection. And maybe I will read it to K during our nonfiction unit.

 

Determined Dreamer: The Story of Marie Curie by Deborah Hopkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Concise, accessible account of Curie's life (although maybe a bit too long to read to my restless students as a Mock Sibert). The fact that will stick with me is that she boiled down literally tons of ore dust over the course of four years to isolate a whopping Cheerio-weight of radium. And the information about her helping to bring X rays to the WWI battlefields was new to me.

For Grownups

Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oooh, I should have seen the big twist coming, but Clare was too clever for me! Great read, and I want Murray to be my neighbor.

 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hoo wee! What a read! So well paced. Recommended for summer entertainment - at the beach or on the futon.