Best of 2023 & Award Winners (J)

"First-generation Filipino siblings, JJ and Althea, struggle to belong at school. JJ wants to fit in with the crowd, while Althea wants to be accepted as she is. But between the leftover Filipino food their mom packs for their lunches to having a last name that nobody can pronounce, any sense of belonging seems like a long shot. To make matters worse, they have to help their parents run the family food truck, dressing up as a dancing pig and passing...

"It's not easy being a Remarkable in the Unremarkable world. Some things are cool--like getting a pet hellhound for your twelfth birthday. Others, not so much--like not being trusted to learn magic because you might use it to take revenge on an annoying neighbor. All Nic Blake wants is to be a powerful Manifestor like her dad. But before she has a chance to convince him to teach her the gift, a series of shocking revelations and terrifying events...

“Another beautiful book by Jack Cheng.” —Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery Award-winning author of Hello, Universe Creative and brave sixth grader Andy Zhou faces big changes at school and at home in this new novel by the award-winning author of See You in the Cosmos , for fans of When You Trap a Tiger and The Stars Beneath Our Feet Andy Zhou is used to being what people need him to the good kid for his parents and now grandparents visiting from...

"If Tehzeeb wants to be the best mehndi artist in town, he needs to practice. Luckily, his friends and family can't get enough of the dazzling daisies and pretty peacocks he draws on their hands. Tehzeeb can't wait to show off his henna skills at his cousin Rahima's wedding...until his favorite uncle tells him mehndi isn't for boys. Rahim needs Tehzeeb's help--and his talents. Can he find the courage to be his true creative self?"--

The third book in the early chapter book series The Nguyen Kids features the youngest sibling, Jacob, and continues the series' exploration of social justice themes, specifically gender expression and identity, with a supernatural twist. BOOK 3: THE MYSTERY OF THE PAINTED FAN Excerpt: When I shut the door, I hold my painted fan. I breathe in and out. I wonder . . . will Grandma Nội help me? Thoughtful and creative, Jacob is tired of being the...

Nothing has gone right for twelve-year-old year old Lawrence since his Pop went away, but after getting expelled from school for fighting he discovers the world of chess and things begin to change.

Once was, once wasn’t. So began the stories Marjan’s father told her as a little girl—fables like the story of the girl who sprung a unicorn from a hunter’s snare, or the nomad boy who rescued a baby shirdal. Tales of extraordinary beasts that filled her with curiosity and wonder. But Marjan’s not a little girl anymore. In the wake of her father’s sudden death, she is trying to hold it all - her schoolwork, friendships, and keeping her...

When twelve-year-old River's only friend is kidnapped and dragged to the terrifying spirit world of The Otherwoods, they have no choice but to face the world's monsters and their own fears to become the hero they were destined to be.

"When plans for a ball run a-fowl, Princess Magnolia accepts the help of a valiant new hero to save her secret decorations--and the entire evening!"--

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson brings readers a powerful story that delves deeply into life’s burning questions about time and memory and what we take with us into the future. It seems like Sage’s whole world is on fire the summer before she starts seventh grade. As house after house burns down, her Bushwick neighborhood gets referred to as “The Matchbox” in the local newspaper. And while Sage prefers to spend her time shooting...