Books & Books

Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis

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Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis
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Be forewarned: begin reading Aaron John Curtis’s Old School Indian and you’ll quickly fall into a conspiratorial relationship with the protagonist Abe’s alter ego, Dominick Deer Woods, a poet, and a tell-it-like-it-is fella. Suffering from a life-threatening illness baffling his doctors, Abe goes home to the Ahkwesáhsne reservation to see his family and escape the isolation of his marriage. Dominick Deer Woods’s familiar tone when schooling the reader on the true history of Indigenous peoples in America is brutal, funny, and heart-wrenching. It’s an honor to witness Abe’s journey to remember and embrace his past while seeking clarity for the future. Old School Indian is gorgeously written and brutally beautiful.

Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis, (List Price: $28, Zando – Hillman Grad Books, 9781638931454, May 2025)

Reviewed by Mitchell Kaplan, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

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Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
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Gorgeous, timely, and moving; each and every page of Dreamers is a masterpiece. The story is my favorite part because it is familiar, and yet, I’ve never seen it so dazzlingly portrayed. It’s a subtle and sweetly told vignette in the life of an immigrant that I think will spur important conversations for little readers.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, (List Price: $18.99, Neal Porter Books, 9780823440559, September 2018)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Islandborn by Junot Díaz

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Islandborn by Junot Díaz
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It means the world that stories like this exist throughout children’s literature these days, and Islandborn is a book that tells the tale so wonderfully. This is the story of an immigrant who moved here as a baby, or maybe even a child born in the States, who is surrounded by talk of “home” and of the “old days” all their life. This is the story of how that can be alienating and painful and how learning more about where and who you’re made of can bring you strength and joy untold. The illustrations are vibrant and lovely, each page full of story and tiny, beautiful details.

Islandborn by Junot Díaz, (List Price: $17.99, Dial Books, 9780735229860, March 2018)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante

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The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante
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The Grief Keeper is an incredibly unique and powerful debut novel; my heart is still in my throat even a day after finishing it. Marisol is a wonderful character, and her journey to and in America, as an immigrant and grief keeper will captivate you. I really enjoyed the unique premise of grief keeping and Villasante’s careful but frank investigation of what it truly means for a human being to be illegal.

The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante, (List Price: $19.99, Nancy Paulsen Books, 9780525514022, June 2019)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in , Florida

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Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

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Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne
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I read Beetle & the Hollowbones in one sitting over morning coffee. The art and story charmed me to no end! This middle-grade graphic novel is a perfect recommendation for fans of Corpse Bride and Halloweentown, a creepy-cute and sweet tale of growing up, friendship, magic, and love. A must-read for fellow year-round Halloween lovers!

Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne, (List Price: $12.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781534441545, April 2020)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Beatrice Likes the Dark by April Genevieve Tucholke

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Beatrice Likes the Dark by April Genevieve Tucholke
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Far and away one of my favorite picture books of the year! Beatrice Likes the Dark is a beautifully illustrated, sweet story of sisterhood. Each page is full of heart and whimsical detail. Your inner baby goth or any year-round halloween lovers in your life will need to own this one!

Beatrice Likes the Dark by April Genevieve Tucholke (List Price: $18.95, Algonquin Young Readers, 9781643751573, September 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Pizza! by Greg Pizzoli

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Pizza! by Greg Pizzoli
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Okay, here is the non-fiction picture book I’ve been craving… I mean, it’s Pizza! A Slice of History! I can’t imagine any kid turning this one down for it’s subject matter alone, but topped with the vibrant illustrations of award-winning favorite, Greg Pizzoli? A real treat.

Pizza! by Greg Pizzoli, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780425291078,  August 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books and Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman

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The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman
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Whimsical and sweet, The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back is about acts of kindness and generosity. Beautifully illustrated, and written like a classic fable, this one will make a lovely read-aloud and gift. We should all be so lucky to come across the mouse with boots on his feet, a hat on his head, and a house on his back when we’re in need.

The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman, (List Price: 18.99, Candlewick, 9781536216790, August 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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That’s Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed

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The Darkening by Sunya Mara
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I love this book!! And I’m so glad it exists. My first grader is having all kinds of big thoughts about her name and how it is spelled or pronounced and the same for all of her friends’ names, too. It’s a great conversation starter for discussing how fun and vibrant it is to embrace our differences and how important it is to ask for and give respect to each other, too..

That’s Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed, (List Price: $17.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593405178, July 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Rosie and the Pre-Loved Dress by Leanne Hatch

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Rosie and the Pre-Loved Dress by Leanne Hatch
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I love the concept behind this adorable story. We’re big fans of recycling, reusing and giving new life to old things in our household, and I think anyone open to the idea would enjoy having this book in their at-home story time rotation.

Rosie and the Pre-Loved Dress by Leanne Hatch, (List Price: $17.99, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 9780593354483, June 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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Book Lovers by Emily Henry
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A May 2022 Read This Next! Selection

Emily Henry has done it again and stolen my heart completely with her two main leads. In this one, a literary agent and a book editor end up stuck together in his tiny hometown, which happens to be the whimsical setting in the bestselling book she agents for– one he gave a scathing rejection to upon their very first meeting. It’s a “we think we’re enemies” but are actually idiots-to-lovers who perfectly fit each other kind of story. Henry is the unquestioned queen of banter, but this is probably her wittiest, most laugh-out-loud funny book to date. I had so much fun reading BOOK LOVERS.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry, (List Price: $17, Berkley, 9780593334836, May 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell from Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R. M. Romero

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The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R. M. Romero
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Lovers of history, poetry, and myth will find themselves in awe of R.M. Romero’s young adult debut. The story of Ilana Lopez, a Jewish Latina from Miami sent to stay with her aunt in Prague, is inspired by the author’s very real time spent restoring Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe, and rings true because of this even through its layers of story magic. The Ghosts of Rose Hill is by turns glittering, dark, enchanting and haunting.

The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R. M. Romero, (List Price: $18.99, Peachtree Teen, 9781682633380, May 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Reclaim the Stars by Zoraida Córdova

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Reclaim the Stars by Zoraida Córdovas
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Reclaim the Stars is a knockout collection of young adult SFF short stories from voices of the Latin American diaspora. Each story feels personal, powerful & stands strong on its own, but I love the marvelous tapestry this book creates by binding them all up.


Reclaim the Stars by Zoraida Córdovas, (List Price: $19.99, Wednesday Books, 9781250790637, February 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida


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Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos

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Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
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This wordless, gorgeous graphic novel is stunning in its delivery of a story that lives so close to my heart: exile and assimilation after leaving 1960s Cuba. On a personal level, this book’s very existence feels like a major triumph but I think it will reach any reader who picks it up. Hand Isla to Island to fans of Victoria Jamieson & Nidhi Chanani. I can’t wait for more work from Alexis Castellanos!

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos, (List Price: $12.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers 9781534469235,  March 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell from Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL

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Oona and the Shark by Kelly DiPucchio, Raissa Figueroa

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Oona and the Shark
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Oona is back! And with sharks! What could be better?! I am endlessly charmed by the gorgeous illustrations in these wonderfully written picture books. Kelly DiPucchio and Raissa Figueroa are a picture book dream team.

Oona and the Shark by Kelly DiPucchio & Raissa Figueroa, (List Price: $17.99, Katherine Tegen Books, 9780063071421, January 2022)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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