Books can serve as mirrors for readers who are looking for authentic reflections of their own experiences. In Good Different (Scholastic, 2023)—Meg Eden Kuyatt’s debut novel-in-verse—the book also served as a mirror for the author, who learned while writing the story that she is on the autism spectrum just as her character Selah discovers the same thing. Kuyatt’s genuine, [...]

David Bowles’ character “Fasting Coyote”—based on the real life of poet and ruler Nezahualcoyotl—pulled off many of his amazing accomplishments while still a teenager, so it’s little wonder that Bowles’ action-packed YA book is relatable to a teen audience. In The Prince & the Coyote (Levine Querido, 2023), Bowles relates the absorbing story of this little-known but highly [...]

What could be better news for middle grade readers than a new novel by Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee? How about that the book is the start of a new series by the bestselling, groundbreaking fan favorite—complete with illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat! Published in January, The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum (Random House, 2024), launched Yee and Santat’s quirky collection [...]