identity/coming of age

Sofia is an 9-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. On select Saturdays, Sofia shares her favorite books with kids! She is one of the most well-read elementary schoolers that we know, so she is...

Sofia is an 9-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. On select Saturdays, Sofia shares her favorite books with kids! She is one of the most well-read elementary schoolers that we know, so she is...

Sofia is an 9-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. On select Saturdays, Sofia shares her favorite books with kids! She is one of the most well-read elementary schoolers that we know, so she is...

A Place Inside of Me Author: Zetta Elliot Illustrator: Noa Denmon Published: July 21, 2020 by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) Summary: In this powerful, affirming poem by award-winning author Zetta Elliott, a Black...

Sofia is an 8-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. On select Saturdays, Sofia will share her favorite books with kids! She is one of the most well-read elementary schoolers that we know, so she...

Sofia is an 8-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. On select Saturdays, Sofia will share her favorite books with kids! She is one of the most well-read elementary schoolers that we know, so she...

Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History Author: Walter Dean Myers Illustrator: Floyd Cooper Publication Date: January 24, 2017 by HarperCollins Summary: In this picture book biography, the late New York...

We at Unleashing Readers would like to introduce you to Sofia, an 8-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Sofia will be writing a new column called Sofia’s Kids’ Corner. On select Saturdays,...

This is My America Author: Kim Johnson Published: February 28, 2017 by Balzer + Bray GoodReads Summary: Dear Martin meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting YA novel that explores the racist injustices in...

“Something Old, Something New: Five Classics Reimagined as Middle-Grade Books” There’s something utterly compelling about reimaginings. It’s like meeting up with an old friend many years down the road—the...

Bird Hugs Author and Illustrator: Ged Adamson Published: February 1, 2020 by Two Lions GoodReads Summary: Bernard isn’t like other birds. His wings are impossibly long, and try as he might, he just can’t seem to...

Just Like Beverly: A Biography of Beverly Cleary (Growing to Greatness) Author: Vicki Conrad Illustrator: David Hohn Published August 13th, 2019 Summary: Just Like Beverly follows the life of beloved children’s...

My Name is Wakawakaloch! Author: Chana Stiefel Illustrator: Mary Sullivan Published August 27th, 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers Summary: In this lighthearted picture book, the intrepid, determined, and savvy...

Feral Youth Authors: Shaun David Hutchinson, Brandy Colbert, Suzanne Young, Tim Floreen, Justina Ireland, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Stephanie Kuehn, E.C. Myers, Marieke Nijkamp, Robin Talley Published: September 5, 2017 by...

The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik Author: David Arnold Published: May 22, 2018 by Viking Guest Review by Natalia Sperry Summary: This is Noah Oakman → sixteen, Bowie believer, concise historian,...

Thunderhead Author: Neal Shusterman Published: January 9, 2018 by Simon & Schuster Guest Review by Natalia Sperry Summary: Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at...

Picture Us in the Light Author: Kelly Loy Gilbert Published: April 10, 2018 by Disney-Hyperion Guest Review by Rachel Krieger Summary: Danny has been an artist for as long as he can remember, and it seems his path is...