As part of my ongoing MSLS degree I was tasked with reviewing 15 different books for various youth demographics. This is in search of better enabling my abilities for Reader’s Advisory. Or the process of which we can accurately recommend books to patrons that both satisfy their needs and encourages their continued love of reading. The class is called Literature for Youth in Public Libraries, and it has been a blast so far. I have learned so much I didn’t know about children’s books in my four or so weeks of coursework and look forward to exploring more here on my website.
I especially love the lens at which it allows me to look back on books I haven’t thought about in years. I certainly enjoyed reading as a child and devoured books like Hank the Cowdog and Flat Stanly but as time went on I got more and more into reading classics and then adult fiction. This assignment is giving me the tools to better engage with foundational literature that I wouldn’t have valued much just a month ago. Especially because the requirement to not review books that are older than 10 years old. Reengaging with this collection has been a delightful challenge.
This page’s purpose is to serve as a reference to each review I write, grouping the books by both the assignments requirements and target age:
Books for youth in Elementary School:
The Legend of Gravity – Charly Palmer | Bluebonnet Winner 2024
Broken – X. Fang | Texas 2×2 Reading List 2026
The Eyes & The Impossible – Dave Eggers | Newbery Award Winner 2024
Star Child – Ibi Zoboi | Novel In Verse
Pig and Horse and the Something Scary – Zoey Abbot | Horror
The Unstoppable Jamie – Joy Givens | Disability or Differences
She Persisted Maya Lin – Grace Lin | Biography
The Dirt Book – David L. Harrison | Informational
TBR
My Daddy Is A Cowboy – Stephanie Seales | Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award 2025
InvestiGators – John Patrick Green | Graphic Novel
Books for youth in Middle School:
On the Wings of La Noche – Vanessa L. Torres | Pura Belpre Author Award Winner 2026
Be Prepared – Vera Brosgol | Graphic Novel
TBR
Gravesong – PirateAba | Audio Book
Scout’s Honor – Lily Anderson | Printz Honor Book 2023
The Girl Who Drank the Moon – Kelly Regan Barnhill | Fantasy