Soman Chainani

1 week ago | kirkusreviews.com | Jack Cheng |Soman Chainani |Iacopo Bruno

Riveting, inspiring, and sometimes hilarious. If you made a recording to be heard by the aliens who found the iPod, what would you record? For 11-year-old Alex Petroski, it's easy. He records everything. He records the story of how he travels to New Mexico to a rocket festival with his dog, Carl Sagan, and his rocket. He records finding out that a man with the same name and birthday as his dead father has an address in Las Vegas.

1 month ago | kirkusreviews.com | Christopher Cyr |Soman Chainani |Iacopo Bruno

Rich and strange (and kitted out with an eye-catching cover), but stronger in the set pieces than the internal logic. Chainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied. Every four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school.

2 months ago | kirkusreviews.com | Louis Sachar |Soman Chainani |Iacopo Bruno

An intriguing variation on border stories that looks at the challenges surrounding an intentional family separation. A nonbinary tween explores their identity after they move from Mexico to the U.S. with half their family. Twelve-year-old Ave lives in Mexicali, Baja California, with their dad, Rodolfo, older sister, Cruz, younger brother, Ramón, and mom, Joss.

2 months ago | oagamut.com | Soman Chainani |Tomasz Jedrowski |Jenn Bennett |Natalie Akins

Categories: As Valentine’s Day approaches, people often connect with their loved ones through the typical cards and chocolates. However, a captivating book can be an even more magical experience for yourself or a literary friend! Try one of these reads to celebrate love in all its forms. Perfect on Paper by Sophie GonzalesA mix of dry wit and poignant emotion, the book centers on Darcy Phillips, creator of a relationship advice service in the empty Locker 89 at school.

2 months ago | kirkusreviews.com | Betty Tang |Soman Chainani |Iacopo Bruno |Louis Sachar

by Betty C. Tang ; illustrated by Betty C. Tang ‧Tugs at the heartstrings and will spark important, age-appropriate conversations on pertinent, broadly relevant topics. Three siblings continue their immigrant journeys in 1980s California.