Books for kids about disability are rare and fiction about chronic illness even more so. I was delighted to find a book about Crohns disease by the always fabulous Kirby Larson and her daughter Quinn Wyatt who lives with Crohn’s. Gut Reaction (Scholastic) is about a girl who is grieving the loss of her father and coping with a new school. When her stomach troubles become worse than ever before, it becomes even harder to find new friends and achieve her hearts desire–winning a baking championship.

What if the apocalypse were funny, seems to be the jumping off place for Justin A Reynolds in his newest novel Running in Flip-Flops from the End of the World (Scholastic Press). Set in a beach town with a twelve year old friend group, it’s a fast paced romp perfect for summer reading.

Lyla Lee, the author of the chapter book Mindy Kim series, has a new series for older readers. Gigi Shin is Not a Nerd(Aladdin) is her homage to the Babysitter’s Club series. It fits the bill admirably. Gigi and her friends decide to earn money to attend a dream summer camp by tutoring kids in the library. The story has plenty of charm and the slightly larger and easy to read font will make it an appealing book for kids looking for a bridge between younger chapter books and more densely-written MG books.

Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger art by Rovina Cai (Levine Querida) is the follow up to her blockbuster debut Elatsoe. The story begins with a missing child in the heat and wilderness of south Texas, and it’s pace never flags over the next 300+ pages. It is a fantastical mystery thriller–not for the faint of heart but delightful in so many ways. Our lead character Shane can call on the ghost of her former dog the wonderfully faithful Nellie. She can also call on the ghosts of other long dead creatures to aid her in her times of need. This book is available in audio.

It’s not at all unusual for a girl to be followed or even stalked in public. I remember it happening to me. But I don’t remember it ever being the focus of a novel for MG readers. In Any Way You Look (Scholastic Press) Maleeha Siddiqui addresses the issue along side a Muslim girls decision to wear the hijab. The issues are thoughtfully addressed but the story is far from a single issue book. Any young reader with an eye for fashion will find much to enjoy.

I’m always happy to recommend a book that champions mental heath and body acceptance. The Things We Miss(Bloomsbury) by Leah Stecher take the typical coming-of-age and growing-into-self story and adds a time travel twist. A convenient magical door in a neighborhood treehouse gives JP the option to skip the most agonizing parts of seventh grade and the most uncomfortable parts of grieving her father’s death. It invites the question what is the cost of magical escape and what is the value of a painful and difficult times? This is Leah Stecher’s debut novel.

Your Vote Matters: How we elect the US President by Rebecca Katzman, illustrated by Ellen Duda is a short and highly illustrated overview of how the US government is structured, how our democracy works, and the presidential election process. Obviously this book is very timely. It’s an accessible resource for 7 to 10 year olds. If you are looking for a more in-depth book for the older end of middle grade or young adult readers please try You Call This Democracy: How to fix our government and deliver power to the people by Elizabeth Rusch. You may have missed this one the first time around because it came out in 2020. It’s very well researched and engagingly written.

Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark is a “chosen one” fantasy story set in West Africa. Abeni’s whole village is spirited away by magical forces and sent on ghost ships to distant lands. Abeni is captured by a witch and learns about her mission to return her people home. This first in a series is sure to spark conversation about the African diaspora. P. Djèlí Clark has written extensively in the adult speculative fiction sphere. This is his first book for young readers.

Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen is about a girl named Mia who is preparing for her Bat Mitzvah. She’s also coming to more deeply understand the Muscogee side of her heritage. I love how frankly and bravely Mia address people who treat her heritage unkindly. This one is a graphic novel. There is a glossary in the back for the handful of Muscogee words  in the text. This is Emily Bowen Cohen’s debut, and I certainly hope we will see more from her. It has won the School Library Journal Best Book, National Jewish Book Award, and the New York Public Library’s Best Books for Kids award.

I loved Duel by Jessixa Bagley illustrated by Aaron Bagley so much! My son was a fencer for a few years and I’m always happy to see the lesser known sports featured in a book. But even more I loved that the story was honest about the intensity of rivalry among sisters. I also appreciated that it addressed the fallout of grief, not in the moment of loss, but also long after the deceased member is gone.

I am the only person in my family who makes a living at the arts. Even though I was over 30 yrs old when I started, my dad was so nervous about my prospects, not because he didn’t want me to be a writer, he just didn’t understand anything about how careers in the arts worked. So I felt a kinship with Drawing Deena by Hena Khan. It’s about a girl who longs to be an artist. She struggles to make her family understand what art means to her and how it can be as practical a path as any to career success.

Amil and the After by Veera Hirandandani is the follow up to her Newbery Honor winning book The Night Diary. It follows the story of Amil in 1948 as his Muslim and Hindu family starts over in Bombay. like Two Tribes, this one delves into what it means to belong to more than one spiritual tradition. The largest growing ethnic group in this country is bi or multi-racial children, Just as many young readers belong to mixed faith families. I hope to see many more books covering this terrain.

Backcountry by Jenny Goebel is about a young athlete who is diabetic and has a diabetic alert dog. This thriller follows their adventure when they get lost in the snow in the backcountry. Most disability narratives focus more on the physical side and I see medical disability less often–though No Matter the Distance by Cindy Baldwin, about a girl with Cystic Fibrosis, is really well done. I liked how Jenny Goebel’s book delves into how differently Emily is treated as an athlete when people know she is diabetic even though nothing about her athletic performance has changed.  (Scholastic)

Here is a new series from the creator of the Explorer Club, SJ King. It’s called The Time Keepers, and it features time travel adventures with lots of rich historical detail. Like the earlier series there’s a nicely diverse cast and some non-fiction back matter. It’s an easier read than Kate Messner’s Ranger in Time series but a step up in reading level from Laurel Snyder’s Charlie and Mouse.

Continuing our time travel theme, there’s a new graphic novel called The History Club by Bret Baier illustrated by Marvin Sianipar. It’s about a menacing History Twister who travels through time to work evil and the History Club who thwarts him across the ages.

I’m so thrilled to see this debut graphic novel from a fellow Portlander and Filipino American illustrator and animator Zachary Sterling.  I love it that he used a Filipino word of greeting for his title Mabuhay! It’s the story of first generation siblings JJ and Althea who are working hard at fitting in at school and who dread working on the family food truck. When the monsters of Filipino mythology come for their family the brother and sister team up to protect their own. A sweet story with top notch art and, perhaps best of all, an easy recipe for chicken adobo.

On a more serious note, Neal Shusterman has written a graphic novel called Courage to Dream: tales of hope in the holocaust, illustrated by Andrés Vera Martínez. This is for the older middle grade readers. It carefully and clearly represents the horrors of the holocaust, but gives attention to the hope and courage of the Jewish community and the help of their allies. If you are looking to open a conversation about anti-semitism in the present, this might be a good place to start.

Tagging Freedom by Rhonda Roumani also intersects with the politics of the moment. It is about cousins, one in Damascas, Syria and one in the US. Kareem, the Syrian cousin, gets involved in using graffiti as a means of protest against injustice. His parents send him to live in the US with his cousin Sam who is trying to fit in with the popular crowd at school. It’s a good conversation starter about how activism changes the way people see the world.

I have a special fondness for historical fiction. Light Comes to Shadow Mountain by Toni Buzzeo is set in the 1930s during the rural electrification projects in the US. Cora can’t wait for power to come to their impoverished Kentucky town. Her mother wants to see the older way of life and the environment safeguarded. Books set in Appalachia and featuring the rural poor are few and far between. This will be a welcome addition to any classroom or library.

Books for kids by indigenous authors are also few and far between and rarest of all perhaps are those by and about Native Alaskans. Eagle Drums by Nausgraq Rainey Hopson is the story of a boy who encounters an eagle god while on a mountain expedition to collect obsidian. It features Iñupiaq cultural folklore and beautiful color illustrations. This is one of my favorite book covers this year.

I typically focus on MG books but I couldn’t pass up sharing this wonderful anthology of essays by writers of color and the work of writing as a person of color in the US. Any student who loves to write will find something of value in Writing in Color, edited by Nafiza Azad and Melody Simpson. It has craft essays on topics like “Starting from the Blank Page” or “A Unique Point of View” as well as industry advice like “Coping with Imposter Syndrome”,  “The Care and Keeping of Jealousy” and “Perseverance”. I’m a long published author myself and I found plenty of things to reflect on in these essays. It’s also a great introduction to writers of color you might want to read more of.

First up is a book with heaps of potential for classroom study. Mascot by Chareles Waters and Traci Sorell is the story of a school considering what to do about their Indian mascot. It is told in 6 points of view and captures  the many angles of the arguments pro and con in brisk vignettes which say volumes very economically. This would be a great read aloud. It would be a fabulous conversation starter in MG social studies classes. I can’t wait to see it adapted as a play. (Charlesbridge)

The second installment in the Once Upon A Horse series is The Jockey and her Horse by Sarah Maslin Nir and Raymond White Jr. It’s the story of Cheryl White, the first black female  jockey in American horse racing. Set in the 1960s, readers will love the inside view of horse racing and the grit of this remarkable girl. The story is written by Cheryl’s brother and an award winning journalist and equestrian. (Abrams)

Spooky reading season is on the way. I’m happy to see Finch House by debut author Ciera Burch filling the role of eerie but enlightening story about haunted houses, gentrification, and mysterious grandpas. Great for fans of Encanto and Coraline. (Simon & Schuster)

This Indian Kid: a Native American memoir by Eddie Chuculate is a much needed look at the world of off reservation Indians. Most Indigenous American’s live in predominantly white cities and towns. Chuculate’s memoir is a window into one boy’s journey his grandparent’s home in Oklahoma to his current home in Minneapolis. (Scholastic Focus)

Mexikid by Pedro Martin is an epic road trip story about a family of eleven who take a motor home from California to Mexico to bring their Abuelito home. It’s a fun and funny window into Mexican history, large family dynamics, and American childhood in the 70s. (Dial)

Wildfire by Breena Bard is not by a diverse author, but her subject–displacement by wildfire and the aftermath is a topic which disproportionally effects the rural poor and black and brown people. Those who have recently survived a fire will be glad to know there is just one page with flames and one with a burned out community. All the rest is the family adjusting to a new environment. Lots here to talk about as climate triggered wildfires become more common. (LB Ink)

The Shape of Time by Ryan Calejo (Amulet)

Fury of the Dragon Goddess by Sarwat Chadda (Disney Hyperion, Rick Riorden Presents)

We Still Belong by Christine Day (HarperCollins Heartdrum)

Top Story by Kelly Yang (Scholastic Press)

It’s the beginning of May, but March and April were big months for diversity in MG Lit book releases, so I’m going to recap and highlight a few standouts and ask you to mention those I’ve missed in the comments. As usual I’m going to focus on debut authors and diverse representations that most need amplification.

Happy to see a debut MG book from acclaimed Cherokee author Brandon Hobson, The Storyteller. Ziggy is already dealing with anxiety and the disappearance of his mother only makes things worse. In a search for answers about where his mother (and so many other Native women) have gone Ziggy is drawn to a nearby cave and the story tradition of the Cherokee for answers. (Scholastic Press, 4/18/23)

Books about neurodivergent girls are few and far between. I was thrilled to find Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt. Selah is an autistic seventh grader learning to embrace her inner dragon while still taking responsibility for her actions. The novel in verse format gives Selah’s story an engaging pace and emotional power. (Scholastic Press, 3/7/23)

Two graphic novels caught my eye this month, both with Asian-American protagonists. Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter is about the second oldest daughter finding some autonomy and space to make her art in a family of seven siblings. A large family is its own culture beyond race and ethnicity. I belong to a big family and found lots of scenes here that resonated. (Graphix 3/7/23) Parachute Kids by Betty C Tang is about being left in America with siblings or relatives while parents remain behind in an Asian country. (Graphix 4/4/23)

Two stories about African-American athletes will appeal to sports fans. Colin Kaepernick Change the Game by Eve L Ewing and Orlando Caicedo is a graphic novel (Graphix 3/7/23). Track and field fans will devour the story of national champion, world champion, and four time Olympian, Chanunté Lowe in her debut MG biography Boundless. (Scholastic focus 3/7/23)

And finally there are four notable additions to the genre of MG protagonist meets magical creatures and discovers hidden powers. They are Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef (S&S 4/423), Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind (Labyrinth Road RH 4/4/23), Hamara and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf (HC 3/28/23), and The Scroll of Chaos by Elie Chapman (Scholastic Press 3/7/23)

As always this is only a small sample of the diverse books published in March and April. If I’ve missed something, do mention it in the comments.

I love digging into the diverse ARCs that come to me at the bookshop and looking for new points of view at trade shows and on the on line resources available to me as a bookseller. In the last six years my own life has changed dramatically too, leaving me less time for writing blog posts. I will continue to do the diverse books roundup every other month. I’ll shift my focus slightly to newer voices and less frequently represented identities.

Here are this month’s new titles.

NO MATTER THE DISTANCE by Cindy Baldwin is her fourth book and the one that deals most directly with her own disabling condition, cystic fibrosis. The story starts on familiar MG terrain–Penny’s best friend is moving away. But then Penny finds a lost dolphin in the river behind her house and forms a strong bond with her. But the young dolphin can’t survive for long in the river. How Penny finds the strength to help her new friend to her home in the ocean is gorgeously told in blank verse. Equal parts friendship story, gripping adventure, and medical drama. On sale 2/21/23 from Quill Tree HC.

I love to celebrate a debut! THE PEARL HUNTER by Miya T. Beck is fantasy set in pre-Shogun era Japan. Pearl diving twins Kai and Kishi are identical in appearance but miles apart in personality, When one is stolen by a ghost whale the other searches the ocean for her with the help of sea dragons and supernatural foxes. This is the best fantasy book cover I’ve seen in a while. Kudos to the team at Balzer&Bray HC and congratulations Miya on her debut. On sale 2/7/23.

Another debut this month is IT’S BOBA TIME FOR PEARL LI! by Nicole Chen. It’s a charmer. It’s about a seventh grade Taiwanese American girl who hatches a grand plan to save her favorite Boba Tea shop from going out of business. In my experience, the soda fountains and pizza parlors which featured so prominently in my teenaged years have been replaced by the sushi bar and the boba tea shop for kids today. It’s a story that I think will resonate with many. I hope we see more of the enterprising Pearl Li. Quill Tree HC On sale 2/28/23

Here’s another recent development which makes me very happy. In the promo material that came along with the ARC for those last two debuts, the book was compared not to a white author with whom their work shares a few thematic threads and not a high profile diverse author with whom their book shares no themes in common. They are being compared to diverse authors who a good fit in terms of character identity, theme, tone, and setting. Hurray! Thank you to the hard working publicity teams who make it happen!

THE MANY FORTUNES OF MAYA by Nicole D. Collier is her second MG novel. There are plenty of books about kids and sports, what I appreciated so much about this one is its willingness to really interrogate the role of luck, talent, ambition, fortitude, practice, and the support of friends and family in whether we succeed or fail. Themes that will be familiar to more than just young athletes. Verisify HC. On sale 1/24/23

Janae Marks newest novel is ON AIR WITH ZOE WASHINGTON. I appreciate all three of her books for casting light on a subculture so often overlooked–the families of incarcerated and exonerated people. In this third book, she tackles the difficult road back to full employment for exonerated people. Happily for this story it involves both baking and BBQ. Katherine Tegan Books. On sale 2/14/23

I have admired the work of Lesa Cline-Ransom for many years. Her newest book is a YA novel. Set in 1930 in Mississippi it deals directly, honestly and sensitively with the lynching of black women. I mention it here because it is well within the grasp of mature MG readers and it gives important context to current events. FOR LAMB by Lesa Cline-Ransom Holiday House On sale 1/03/23

New from the very prolific Christina Soontornvat is LEGENDS OF LOTUS ISLAND: THE GUARDIAN TEST. It’s a short and sweet fantasy adventure in which Plum and her friends go to the Guardian Academy and learn to communicate with animals, meditate and fight to protect the natural world. Budding eco-warriors will love it! Scholastic Press, on sale 2/7/23

As always this is just a fraction of the new diverse titles coming out in January and February this year. Please mention any I have missed in the comments below.

A Horse Named Sky is the story of a mustang born in the Nevada wilderness who never wanted to leave home and never meant to become a leader, but learned how to find his way and fight for a family so much bigger than his own. The story is set in 1860, when our nation, like this young horse, was grappling with what it means to be free.

It’s not a perfect system. For example, leaving out Dogman and the Wings of Fire (animal-centric books) drops the numbers of white writers in the count. And any count like this is only a snapshot of what is on the shelf in a particular day. Still it’s a window into what’s happening and B&N under the new book buying policy, regarding the diversity of the collection.

Overall collection size: 1225 books

Diverse titles: 455 or 37%

not-diverse titles; 770 or 63%

There were 4 endcap displays with faced out titles.

Mystery: 30 books total, not-diverse 90%, diverse 7% and animal narrated 3%

Staff Favorites: 24 titles, diverse 100% These were all Indigenous American titles and all authored by indigenous authors.

Rick Riorden Presents books: 18 titles, diverse 100%

Spooky: not diverse 68%, diverse 32%

Total endcap faced out books: 110, not diverse 48%, diverse 51%

Obviously these results are disappointing considering the rate of diversity among MG students is pretty close to 50%. Still there were encouraging signs. The most recent statistics from the CCBC put the rate of diverse books created at 33% about diverse characters and 37% by diverse creators. So the content on the shelves at B&N fairly closely mirrors the available books.

Many of the white authored titles belonged to long dead writers who were quite prolific, Beverly Cleary, Roald Dahl etc. Among newer titles the rate of diversity was much more equitable.

There is plainly an effort to make diverse books more visible on end caps. The Staff Favorites titles were chosen for Native American history month and will change in December. On the other hand, if they are diligent about honoring Latin American history month, Asian Pacific Islander history month, Black history month, Pride month, and disability awareness month . That puts diverse titles on the end cap about half the time.

Barnes & Noble has a huge Manga section and the lions share of that section is diverse. Had I counted the MG section of those books there, I would have seen a clear majority of diverse MG books overall.

By its self my survey doesn’t prove anything, but I found it interesting to see the mix of older classics and new titles. The mix of what was faced out and not. I would encourage anyone who is concerned about diversity in publishing to take a close look at the actual numbers of diverse books at bookstores and libraries nearby. It at least gives us a factual basis on which to have a conversation.

And in the end a bookstore can only carry what sells in their local community. Much attention has been paid to the production side of the equation. I hope at least as much energy can be spent on encouraging diverse communities to come to bookstores and ask for diverse content. That’s is the only sure way to keep the progress we’ve made so far and continue it into the future.

But I’m also a full time writer and I have a big deadline in November so I’m going to skip the November reviews and write a short report on changes in how Barnes and Noble acquires MG fiction and a detailed analysis of the breakdown of titles on the shelf in my local Barnes & Noble store. I know it’s been on people’s minds and I always find gathering data a help in deciding where to expend my energies in promoting diverse literature for kids.

Here are the October new releases.

Freestyle by Gale Galligan is a sweet and funny look at the ups and downs of middle school. I appreciated the depictions of a hip hop dance crew. In addition to racial, ethnic and gender diversity its nice to see dance other than ballet presented in a graphic novel. (Scholastic)

There are several good books about Japanese internment for MG readers. What intrigues me about My Nest of Silence by Matt Faulkner is the mix of prose and graphic novel elements. I’ll be very curious to see how it does in the bookshop. It does create a conundrum about whether to shelve it in fiction or in the graphic novel section. Librarians, I’d love to hear in the comments how you are handling it. (Atheneum)

I love it when an author, who has already made a name for themselves writing about their own diverse experience, then chooses a story that transcends the subjects of race and ethnicity. A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga is an absolute charmer narrated by a fictional mars rover named Resilliance. It follows the machine’s POV as it reflects not just on its mission on Mars, but the meaning of friendship. A sweet story even non-space geeks will love. (Balzer & Bray)

The Lords of Night by JC Cervantes is a companion title to his popular Storm Runner series, set in the wolf of Aztec mythology. (Disney Hyperion)

Shad Hadid & the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije is a spin on the boy goes to wizard school story, this time it’s an Arabic protagonist and the magic is alchemy. (Harper)

The legacy of an integrated military is the result of the courage and excellence of many black servicemen and women. Dr. James B. Williams is one of the greats, his lifelong leadership in medicine and civil rights is an inspiration. Unlawful Orders: a portrait of Dr. James B Williams ,Tuskegee Airman, Surgeon & Activist by Barbara Binns is liberally photo illustrated and contains a detailed bibliography. (Scholastic Focus)

Toxic masculinity is a problem that transcends race and ethnicity and yet it is most harmful to marginalized children. Boys will be Human: A gut-check guide to becoming th strongest, kindest, bravest person you can be, by Justin Baldoni is a thorogh look at what it means to be male and how to navigate the world in a way that is life affirming for boys. I recommend it for boys older than 10. It’s a great family resource for starting important conversations.(Harper)

Better Than We Found It: conversations to help Save the World by FrederickJoseph and Porsche Joseph is daunting in its wide-ranging content. But taken a section at a time, it’s a great introduction to issues for young activists. It covers topics from disinformation and climate change to indigenous land theft and the prison-industrial complex; 16 topics in all. Another great conversations starter for kids from about 10 well through their teens. (Candlewick)

A new chapter book about a Pakistani-American girl’s attempts to find the “just right” treat to bring to her school international day. It gently tackles the ways which even a schools attempts to be inclusive can be difficult for kids to navigate. It includes a glossary, recipes, activities and an author note. (HarperCollins)

This is the third in a series of books about Ryan Hart and her family. I admit I’m partial to this series because ,like myself, it is set in Portland Oregon. The books are deceptive in their simplicity, but timeless in their loving chronicle of a contemporary black family’s life.  (Bloomsbury)

Here’s a modern take on the Boxcar Children mysteries (or the Bobsey Twins mysteries if you are very old.) Set in Canada, this is the fourth in a series about four Cree cousins from Windy Lake who solve crimes. This time it’s a mysterious accident involving a prized sled dog and some animal rights protestors on the eve of a big race. Plenty of action and adventure with a side of Cree culture and history. The author is Swampy Cree from the Treaty 5 area and a member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation. (Second Story Press)

Pippa Park: Crush at First Sight by Erin Yun is the second book in a series about a Korean American girl navigating the usual trials and tribulations of a fancy prep school, including the sports that she’s good at and the math that’s a struggle. She tries to pitch in with her family’s laundromat while still keeping up with her new friends. Back matter includes discussion questions and a glossary of Korean words. (Fabled Films Press)

Fans of historical fantasy will appreciate this mix of mythology and Jewish traditions in a story about twins, Ziva and Pesah, who face down the Angel of Death in search of a cure for the brother’s leprosy. (Versify)

The Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy is also about siblings facing down evil in a fantastical universe. Mia and Lucas grew up in a city of darkness cast by the Reaper King. With the usual protectors of the community gone 12 year old Mia must summon her own magic to overcome the dark. This is Janelle McCurdy’s debut. (Aladdin)

Here’s a story about Tony, who loves basketball and dreams of national championships. He is especially keen to carry on the legacy of his best friend who was killed by a policeman. Unfortunately his position this year is team statistician. Tony, learns there is more than one way to make your mark, and with his whole community, he navigates the particular grief of racial violence . This is the first title in a new series. (HarperCollins)

Middle school is hard enough, but then you summon a shapeshifting dog who travels you back in time. What could go wrong? Nearly everything goes hilariously wrong in this delightful identity/family/ life-choices story with the little nod to Groundhog Day. (Harper)

This book is meant to be a companion to Rex Ogles Free Lunch. It is for the more mature end of the MG spectrum and tells the story of a grandmother who transformed Rex’s life. (Norton Young Readers)

This lyrical and thoughtful novel covers a lot of ground from body image to color-ism to middle school friendships. It includes the impact of hate crimes. Though there is not perfect resolution there is much grace and hope in the ending.  This is Courtne Comrie’s debut book. (HarperCollins)

One of the iconic images of the civil rights movement is the 1968 Olympics track and field podium where two Black American athletes raised their fists while the national anthem played. This graphic novel fills in the events that brought athletes Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes to that momentous decision and the consequences that followed from it. The athletes Dr. Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes wrote the book and it was transformed into graphic novel format by the brilliant artist Dawud Anyabwile. I’m very happy to see this title on the long list for the National Book Award (Norton)

What the Fact‽ finding the truth in all the noise by Dr. Seema Yasmin is written for teens but a strong MG reader will find plenty of interest. It tackles in depth the vital question of how we know something is true with chapters on bias, social media, disinformation, noise, and how to debunk and disagree effectively. This would be a great resource for families who watch the news together. (Simon&Schuster)

If you have a career day at your school here’s a great resource for helping kids learn about a variety of careers from smoke jumper to neuroscientist. Each career gets a double page spread with a brief bio of the professional, and notes on related careers, tips for entering a profession and things a kid can try know to learn more about the job. The subjects are young and diverse in race and gender. The book is Canadian so a few slight national differences will come up for American readers. (Pajama Press)

And finally. Just in time for Halloween. Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Lain American monster stories edited by Yamile Saled Méndez and Amparo Ortiz

This short story collection is marketed for Young Adults so I’m only recommending it for the oldest end of the MG age span, and only for kids who really dig a spooky tale. A great way to introduce readers to many new authors who also have full length books. (Workman)