Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Nat is nervous about moving to New Jersey, away from her California home and her best friend Chloe.  Her dad signs her up for a wheelchair track team, but at the first practice she sees a flyer for the activity she really wants to try: a production of Wicked for middle school kids.  Although she’s never acted, she loves singing and musical theater, and, against her parents’ wishes, decides to audition.  To her delight, she gets a part in the chorus and finds her tribe with the theater kids, including Malik, her first crush.  When a fire at the theater threatens to put an end to the play, Nat is unwilling to let go of her dream of performing on stage.  She and the other kids rally to put the show together, and Nat gets her chance–both literally and figuratively–to fly.  Includes a note from the authors about how they met and collaborated.  288 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  Attention all middle school theater kids: here is a book about you that will have you on your feet by the last page, applauding Nat’s courage and determination to succeed.  Readers will build empathy for what it is like to be in a wheelchair, and may let go of some limiting beliefs about people with physical disabilities.  Be sure to look for YouTube videos of some of the performances of co-author and Tony Award-winning disabled actress Ali Stroker.

Cons:  Due to my mediocre knowledge of musical theater, I didn’t get the references of all the chapter titles (which are lyrics from various musical songs).

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  When Simon’s new fifth grade teacher begins the first day of school by jumping on his desk and rapping about being a scholar, Simon is excited.  An aspiring rapper himself, he sometimes struggles with being brave enough to speak or rap publicly.  When Mr. James announces a class project that involves a presentation and picks Simon to go first, school suddenly doesn’t seem so exciting anymore.  Simon decides to research homelessness, and his dad introduces him to Sunny, a homeless man who helps keep their street clean.  As Simon gets to know Sunny better, he learns that there’s a lot more to him than being homeless.  Sunny helps Simon find his voice and the courage to do his presentation, which in turn leads to new ways for Simon to help Sunny and other homeless people in his community.  240 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  Debut author Dwayne Reed is also a rapping teacher who seems to have a good understanding of the kids from his Chicago community.  Simon’s raps, interspersed through the text, are a fun addition that also help move the story along.  Although the tone is light, some serious issues are addressed at a level that is just right for the intended audience.

Cons:  It was clear that Bobby, the class bully and Simon’s nemesis, was having a tough time at home, but there weren’t enough details given to make him a more sympathetic character.

Published by Versify

Summary:  As if immigrating from Haiti isn’t hard enough, Gabrielle has to move to America by herself, her parents promising to join her soon, but admonishing her not to get into any trouble lest she get sent back.  Her aunt and uncle make her feel welcome, but Gabrielle gets bullied because of her accent and other connections to Haiti.  When she meets a witch who promises her three wishes to help her fit in, it’s hard to say no.  Of course, there are always strings attached to such propositions, and when Gabrielle wishes to speak flawless English, she loses her ability to speak Haitian Creole.  Gabrielle’s new friendships with Carmen, a Mexican-American girl in her class, and Rocky, a talking rat who wants to be a rabbit, help her to feel stronger.  When the witch threatens to take away Gabrielle’s family and her essence, she has to find the courage to fight back and to express who she really is.  256 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  What starts as an ordinary middle grade novel about immigration quickly takes a detour into some fun magical realism.  Plenty of readers will relate to Gabrielle’s middle-school wish to blend in, and the ending will show them that being yourself is more important than being popular.

Cons:  The whole be yourself/find your voice message got a little heavy-handed toward the end.

Published by Walden Pond Press

Summary:  Cooper’s had to deal with a lot of difficult changes in his family over the last few years; in the opening pages, he’s in the yard venting his anger.  The new girl next door sits on a swing and watching him…as usual.  Her odd behavior leads Cooper and his sister Jess to investigate, and they learn that the crest on the jacket she wears has been found on clothing at disasters going back to the nineteenth century.  Strangest of all is the fact that only Cooper, Jess, and Cooper’s new friend Gus seem to be able to see the girl or the renovations done to the derelict house that she’s moved into.  As they get deeper into the mystery, they discover a supernatural world called the In-Between and learn that they may all be in danger.  Can the three of them solve the mystery in time to avert the next disaster? 320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  A well-crafted spooky tale with plenty of plot twists that will keep readers guessing right up until the end.  The family issues of divorce, an absent father, and Jess’s diabetes add some depth to the story.

Cons:  I saw some reviews that recommended this for kids as young as 8, but the complicated plot and somewhat creepy story would probably make it a better choice for older readers.

Published by Salaam Reads

Summary:  At the start of this sequel to Amina’s Voice, Amina Khokar is finishing up a month-long trip to Pakistan.  She’s grown to love the country, as well as the aunt, uncle, and cousins her family has stayed with.  When she gets back home to Wisconsin, she feels out of place and like her friends don’t understand her.  A new boy named Nico proves to be a good listener, and his interest and talents with music production encourage her to pursue her songwriting.  A social studies project about Malala and other famous Pakistani women as well as an original song help Amina to feel like she can embrace both the Pakistani and American parts of her life while helping people in both countries to be a little less afraid of one another.  288 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Amina’s Voice has long been my go-to book for describing my personal experience with the “mirrors and windows” analogy about books (I learned a lot about Islam from this book and was surprised by the parallels between Amina’s Muslim community and the Presbyterian church I grew up in).  So I’m delighted that there’s a sequel, which I enjoyed at least as much as the original.

Cons:  I found out that I’ve been pronouncing Amina wrong for the last four years (it’s AH-mee-nah, not ah-MEE-nah).