The Other Side of the River
Alda P. Dobbs

The story begins in October 1913. Petra Luna has safely escaped the dangers of the Mexican Revolution along with her grandmother and younger siblings, Amelia and Luisito. The children's mother is dead. Their father and cousin, Pablo, are missing. Hunger and fear of smallpox cast a shadow on the family's early days in America. Eventually, twelve-year-old Petra Luna leads the group to San Antonio. Her family depends on her, and Petra Luna works hard. She overcomes danger and obstacles in her quest to build a better life for all of them. The Other Side of the River tells the story of those who immigrated to America over one hundred years ago. It is both heart-wrenching and hopeful. It also reminds readers of the challenges faced by immigrants throughout the world today. This book is appropriate for independent readers ages 8 and up.

Hollow Fires
Samira Ahmed Hollow Fires

This young adult mystery, based upon a true story, falls into a similar vein as books like The Silence That Binds Us and Firekeeper’s Daughter. Safiya is a Muslim teen in her last year at a prestigious high school. She aspires to become a journalist. An Iraqi American boy named Jawad goes missing under concerning circumstances, not long after an incident in which he brought a handmade costume jetpack to school and his teacher called a racially motivated bomb threat on him. Safiya is visited by the lingering spirit of Jawad as he urges her to find his body and connect the dots to find the person behind the recent string of xenophobic hate crimes happening around their town. Hollow Fires is primarily fronted by Middle Eastern characters and provides insight into just how prevalent and insidious white supremacist activity can be. 

Jen

Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune
Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty

This is one of those rare PERFECT picture books. The text is spare but fun, the rhymes are well-done, the illustrations are bright and beautiful, the story is unusual enough to be interesting, and the message is spot on. When Blue Baboon finds a bassoon and plays it out of tune, other nearby musicians are less than thrilled, which sets Blue Baboon on an adventure. I'm already planning Story Time and can't wait to hand sell this gem!

Note: this book will be released September 6.

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