Tag Archives: family

Review: Let’s Get Together by Brandy Colbert

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Let's Get Together by Brandy Colbert

Let’s Get Together
Brandy Colbert
Clarion Books
Published September 9, 2025

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About Let’s Get Together

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award–winning author Brandy Colbert gives The Parent Trap a fresh, funny, and delightfully unexpected update in this story of two girls—one raised by her single father, the other in the foster care system—who meet by chance . . . only to discover they’re identical twins.

Kenya Norwood likes things just the way they are. She’s lived all her life in Pasadena with her dad and grandmother, she’s attended the same school with the same friends since pre-K, and whether it’s at outdoor club or her … Continue reading →

Review: Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

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Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

Change of Plans
Sarah Dessen
Simon & Schuster
Published May 5, 2026

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About Change of Plans

From acclaimed and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen comes a “sweet, nuanced, and reflective coming-of-age love story” ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about an unassuming girl who learns to stand on her own while falling in love during a life-changing summer.

Finley has always felt most comfortable in someone else’s shadow. Fortunately, she’s got Colin, her magnetic boyfriend, who sweeps her along for activities, friendships, and future plans. Then she goes on a last-minute trip … Continue reading →

MMGM Review: When You’re Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim

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When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim

When You’re Brave Enough
Rebecca Bendheim
Viking Books for Young Readers
Published April 7, 2026

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About When You’re Brave Enough

A heartfelt, gorgeously written debut middle grade novel about best friends, first crushes, and coming out—perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Jake Maia Arlow.

Before she moved from Austin to Rhode Island, everybody knew Lacey as one half of an inseparable duo: Lacey-and-Grace, best friends since they were toddlers. Grace and her moms were practically family. But at school, being lumped together with overeager, worm-obsessed, crushes-on-everyone Grace meant Lacey never quite fit in—and that’s why at her new middle school, Lacey plans to reinvent herself. This … Continue reading →

Review: Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang

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Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Yang

Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood
Qian Julie Wang
Doubleday
Published September 7, 2021

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About Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood

In Chinese, the word for America, Mei Guo, translates directly to “beautiful country.” Yet when seven-year-old Qian arrives in New York City in 1994 full of curiosity, she is overwhelmed by crushing fear and scarcity. In China, Qian’s parents were professors; in America, her family is “illegal” and it will require all the determination and small joys they can muster to survive.

In Chinatown, Qian’s parents … Continue reading →

Review: Creepy Kid by Caleb Roehrig

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Creepy Kid by Caleb Roehrig

Creepy Kid
Caleb Roehrig
HarperCollins
Published August 25, 2026

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About Creepy Kid

A hilariously creepy middle grade novel from award-winning author Caleb Roehrig! Poe has spent his whole life wishing he could meet a ghost, but when he moves into a real-life haunted house, he discovers that communing with the other side might be a little more than he bargained for.

Twelve-year-old Edgar Alden, also known as “Poe,” has always been an outcast. Obsessed with the macabre, he’s never remotely hit it off with other kids. Only Grandma ever really understood his love for the … Continue reading →

Review: The Leak by Kate Reed Petty

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The Leak by Kate Reed Petty

The Leak
Kate Reed Petty
Illustrated by Andrea Bell
First Second
Published March 16, 2021

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About The Leak

In this middle-grade graphic novel, Ruth, a young journalist, is determined to uncover a secret that threatens her town.

Ruth Keller is brash and precocious; she argues with her dentist, her parents, and her teachers. So, when she discovers a strange black slime in the man-made lake of her suburban neighborhood, she decides to investigate. Fortified by the encouragement of those around her, Ruth seeks the truth at all costs, even if it means taking on the rich local country club … Continue reading →