Published by Walden Pond Press

Summary:  Charlie O’Reilly’s younger brother Liam went missing a year ago–but Charlie is the only one who remembers him.  His mother, struggling with depression, and his father, often away on business, assure him that he is, and has always been, an only child.  The only person who believes him is his neighbor and best friend Ana, even though she has no memory of Liam. Charlie tells Ana about the dreams he has where he is Kiernan, a boy living a tragic life first in Ireland and then in America.  When Charlie receives a mysterious note to talk to Jonathon, his kind but distant assistant baseball coach, he finally finds out what has happened to Liam. It may be possible for Charlie and Ana to rescue him, but only if they are willing to risk giving up everything they have ever known and loved.  389 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Part family story, part time-traveling fantasy, part historical fiction, this debut novel grabs readers from the first chapter and takes them on a wild roller coaster ride to a well-earned happy ending.

Cons:  There is a lot to keep track of–many characters and setting from the past, present, and an alternative world.

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Published by Greenwillow Books

Summary:  Amelia isn’t expecting much from her spring vacation week–as usual, her distant father is working, and her pleas to go to Florida have fallen on deaf ears.  She decides to hang out at the clay studio the first day, where her passion for sculpture helps her forget about her troubles. When she gets there, she meets Casey, the owner’s nephew, who is spending the vacation with his aunt while his parents try to salvage their marriage.  Casey and Amelia start hanging out at the coffee shop, making up stories about the people they see through the window. When a woman resembling Amelia appears, Casey plants the idea that she might be Amelia’s long-dead mother. The vacation week turns out to be different–and better–than Amelia expected as she enjoys her new friendship, embraces her art, and meets a woman who will change her future.  192 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This spare, beautifully-written story will resonate with many tweens, as Casey and Amelia deal with familiar issues around families and friendship.  A possible Newbery contender.

Cons:  I find this kind of book–where most of the action is internal–difficult to book talk, yet I know many kids in my school would enjoy it.

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Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

Summary:  Delsie is looking forward to her annual summer reunion with her best friend Brandy, who spends summers on Cape Cod where Delsie and her Grammy are year-round residents.  Things seem normal at first, but there’s a new girl in town, and slowly Brandy starts spending more and more time with Tressa, who turns out to be a classic mean girl. Lonely and humiliated, Delsie finds herself hanging out with Ronan, a new boy living with his fisherman father.  She learns that Ronan, like Delsie, has been abandoned by his mom. As their friendship grows over the course of the summer, they learn to value each other and their families–both blood relatives and friends who feel like family. By the end of August, Delsie feels strong enough about herself and those who love her to be able to stand up for herself and appreciate true friendship.  288 pages; grades 4-6.

Pros:  Fans of Fish in a Tree will rejoice to see a new book by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and will find many connections and lessons in Delsie’s story.  The descriptions of summer scenes on the Cape feel very real, as do the changing friendships and relationships with family members.

Cons:  Delsie sometimes felt wise beyond her years, and as the story went along, there were a few too many “teachable moments” where she or another character imparted some life lesson.

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  The story begins with Annabelle finishing up her seventh grade final exams, frustrated and feeling like she’s not very smart.  She gets some confirmation of that a few days later when her grades come out. The one thing she knows she’s good at is swimming, and she’s excited for summer swim team, which brings together year-round and summer residents in her island community.  At the end of the first practice, the high school coach approaches her to ask if she’d like to move up from the middle school team; Annabelle is thrilled when her mother and stepfather agree, on the condition that her summer reading and tutoring come first.  Swimming and hanging out with the older kids is exciting, especially when Connor starts giving her some extra attention. But some of the high schoolers’ activities are a little scary, and Annabelle finds herself in over her head when she starts to hang out with them outside of swim team, leaving her middle school friends behind.  It may not always be fun, but Annabelle’s summer before eighth grade is a memorable one, and the lessons she learns promise to serve her well as she moves into her last year of middle school. 278 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  Annabelle’s difficulties with school, her family, and friends ring true, and middle school readers will undoubtedly relate to her.  Her struggles and mistakes are ones kids will understand; she learns from them, but sometimes not as quickly as the adults around her are hoping she will.  An excellent choice for middle school summer reading.

Cons:  I wish the story had gone up to the end of the summer.

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Published by Balzer + Bray

Summary:  Shayla’s palms start to sweat whenever she thinks she’s about to get in trouble.  As she starts seventh grade, she tries to blend in and avoid trouble whenever possible.  She feels good that her two best friends always have her back–Puerto Rican Isabella, Japanese American Julie, and African American Shayla call themselves the United Nations.  But junior high brings lots of changes–Julie starts hanging around with the “Asian kids” and sometimes ditching Isabella and Shayla; Shayla discovers a love of running and joins the track team; boys enter the picture in a variety of ways; and Shayla’s older sister encourages her to become part of Black Lives Matter when a trial for a police shooting brings about a wave of protests.  Shayla ends her first year of junior high with her friendships changed but intact, a new sense of confidence, and the knowledge that sometimes it’s worth getting into trouble to stand up for what you believe. 368 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This is a great late-elementary and middle school alternative to Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give.  Shayla is a character many kids will relate to. First-time author Ramée doesn’t back down from the racial issues, but she also makes it clear there are no easy answers.  The three girls are open about the issues they face because of their race/heritage, but don’t let them stand in the way of their friendship.

Cons:  A heads-up to elementary school librarians to be aware this contains a certain amount of puberty discussion.

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