Allie Abraham works on blending in. A Circassian with reddish-blond hair and hazel eyes, it is easy for this sixteen-year-old cheerleader, academic standout, and school choir member to ignore her Muslim heritage. Allie's non-practicing Muslim father believes that this will protect her from discrimination.
However, Allie is drawn to the culture and religion of her grandmother. She wants to learn Arabic, study the Qur'an, begin a habit of regular prayer, and dress modestly. She meets with a group of forward-thinking Muslim young women who practice their faith in modern America. She's an All-American Muslim Girl.
Publicly acknowledging her heritage is a challenge. She hides her newfound interest in Islam from her father, walks a fine line with her boyfriend whose father is a well-known and bigoted news personality. She deals with classmates who mock her faith and other Muslims who condemn her for not being Muslim enough. What to do?

​This collection of short stories paints miniature portraits of an assemblage of Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. While the practice of faith varies within the Muslim community, each unique Eid observance is memorable.
The anthology contains lighthearted as well as poignant glimpses into the culminating observance of Ramadan with descriptions of private prayer, public celebrations, distinctive clothing, special food, and gifts. Readers meet a recent convert to Islam who fasts and samples spicy fare for the first time. For others Eid is bittersweet, reviewing celebrations from years past and remembering absent family members. ​ Some stories follow the journey to be with family: taking the subway to the Bronx or sitting in the car’s back seat with siblings while traveling to Sydney, Australia. I loved the descriptions of clothing: choosing to wear a hajib for the first time or fashioning a unique gown from a thrift store purchase.

A possible solution presents itself. Jude loves theater and movies. She learns that the school is staging a production of Beauty and the Beast. Summoning her courage, she auditions for a part in this fairy-tale musical. Can a girl from Syria can make it onto the stage in Ohio?

When times are tough, when days are dark, when "normal" is a fleeting memory, some may wonder if there is anything that will bring a bit of cheer to world weary souls. The answer is yes. Baloney and Friends is here to dispel some of life’s hopelessness.

This collection of graphic novel shorts begins with the introduction of four slightly zany cartoon characters. Readers meet Baloney, the pig and star of the book. He is joined by friends Peanut D. Horse, Biz E. Bee, and Krabbit a rabbit. Krabbit lives up to his name often responding with a sarcastic “whatever."

Readers are treated to a selection of stories interspersed with mini comics. Follow Baloney as he entertains his friends with tricks which may or may not be magical. The gentle humor continues as he struggles with fear of the unknown and feelings of sadness. Pizzoli has created a winsome collection of tales with precisely the right amount of snark.

Mia and Ben are best of friends. Inseparable, the duo can frequently be found designing and flying their own paper planes.
When Ben's family moves far away, the two are worried about the fate of their friendship. The distance between the two seems insurmountable. Then a small but remarkable thing happens. One smashed air ship and and a plane lacking wings bring the two together, joining forces to solve a problem. The challenge to construct a flight-worthy aircraft unites Mia and Ben. They also work out the challenge of their geographical separation with paper. Intricately folded paper.

With slightly greyish hues Jones' color palette has a muted quality that captures a sense of loneliness. The wide expanse of sky emphasizes the distance separating Mia and Ben. Images of flight emerge throughout the pages: geese soaring through the air, an airplane making dizzying dives in the skies, and boats gliding across the water.

Established author Cynthia L. Copeland’s first graphic novel sparkles with wit and warmth.

​Twelve-year -old Cindy navigates a tightrope of middle school complexities: shifting alliances among the microcosm of students, moving from platonic relationships to the first stirrings of romantic interest, and a growing awareness of the world beyond junior high school.

Divided into the three seasons of the school year, Cub introduces fresh-faced and free-wheeling Cindy entering seventh-grade. An individualist, she's not part of the vicious circle who take pleasure in taunting other students. She copes by appearing "dead," that is invisible and unresponsive to personal attacks.

There are traditional youth organizations with badges, bake sales, and award ceremonies. But what about those who don't fit neatly into a group structure?  is there a place for them?

Meet four girls who appear to have little in common. Lane DiSanti, artist and instigator, lives with her wealthy grandmother while her parents work out an impending divorce. Ofelia Castillo, aspiring journalist  struggles under the watchful eye of over-protective Cuban American parents.  Cat Garcia feels pressure from her close-knit family to participate in a local contest. She'd rather spend her time birdwatching. Gourmet chef Aster Douglas lives with her African American grandfather, a researcher and retired college professor.  Her widowed mother is overseas.

Penny Rose is lonely. In the past, she has always enjoyed friendships with other children in her neighborhood. Now everything has changed. Her family moved and she can't connect with any of her new classmates. She spends her free time sequestered in the shed in her family’s backyard, creating a collection of tiny robots from found objects: outdated technology, broken bits and pieces, even a set of false teeth. She names each creation and fills her days tinkering with these mini-friends.

Then she meets her nerdy neighbor Lark. A budding ornithologist, Lark has a yard brimming with an incredible collection of birdhouses created from assorted curiosities that the birds leave for her,

​The girls want to dress up as robots for Halloween.
​Although their plans fall through, young readers can create a cardboard robot costume and make their own magic.

Nina Soni’s life just got more complicated. She accidentally destroys her best friend's art project. Nina fears that Jay will no longer be her friend. She is stymied when her teacher assigns a Personal Narrative Project. She has nothing to write. Her life is as boring as plain rice.
​Then she discovers an interesting phenomenon that will be the basis for her person narrative. To her dismay, she learns that her idea is the same experiment used by  Jay at last year's science fair. She is discouraged.

When her sister's birthday party plans fall through, Jay and Nina come together and develop a clever solution to the birthday dilemma. Upon reflection, Nina realizes that retelling events of the past twenty-four hours will make an interesting writing project. 

Reynolds has penned a novel comprised of interconnected stories. Read independently they are insightful vignettes, zeroing in on the ten city blocks students attending Lattimer Middle School traverse each day. Collectively the stories reveal the hearts of those bound together by geography. The lives of these unique individuals intersect in unexpected ways.

In the push and pull of everyday life, we meet students affected by life-altering events such as sickle cell anemia, cancer, dementia, incarceration, and gay-shaming.

These ten blocks are jam-packed with a rich assortment of sensory details.

Morag Hood is back with another inventive tale of friendship. She still manages to spend some time in at the grocers where Carrot and Pea hang out. However, for this book broccoli and cheese play a supporting part.

Starring roles belong to two aardvarks. Aalfred and Aalbert. Name spelling is a playful nod to the species nomenclature.

Although the two aardvarks have neighboring burrows, they have never met. Each has a very distinct lifestyle, one active during the day and the other nocturnal. They seem destined to remain apart.

Until an observant bird decides to intervene.

A note about the primarily blue and orange color palette. These are traditionally referred to as complementary colors. This color scheme emphasizes contrasts between the two mammals.

Betty and Maud are best friends. The girls love to spend time together and always include their favorite soft toy animals. Betty brings her squishy yellow Duck. Maud has her huggable snuggable Penguin.

Because the girls are so fond of one another, they assume that Duck and Penguin share similar feelings.
Not so. Not so at all.

While the girls are having fun, Duck and Penguin are engaged in minor warfare: stomping on sand creations, hurling eggs, tagging with copious amounts of paint.

Betty and Maud are oblivious to their stuffed animals’ animosity, exclaiming, "They love each other so much."