Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Little Bones Written by Sandy Bigna  New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026. Fiction. 239 pages. Anyone who has lost a family member knows what a difficult time it can be, especially for young children. I really appreciated this compassionate book for its acknowledgment that family loss, and the grief that follows, affects people in a variety of ways. This book also does a great job recognizing that sometimes friends step in to offer comfort and a solid support system when it is too hard for the family. I think the book also addresses the fact that losses don't happen in a vacuum: people still have to work and provide for their families, children are dealing with friendships and school, and the world doesn't pause while the healing happens. Bones, trying to process the loss of a younger brother, finds some solace in her atypical hobby of collecting animal skulls, bones, and dried leaves. Disgusted by her hobbies, Edie, an unkind girl at school, gives h...

  The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan By Jasmine Warga New York: Balzer + Bray, 2026. Fiction. 229 pages. In The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan , Chase, a cheetah born in captivity at the zoo, and Finnegan, a rescue dog, have been paired together as playmates and training partners. They help each other through different struggles and learn the importance of trust and love. According to the author's note at the end of the book, this story was based on the real practice of pairing young cheetahs in captivity with dogs, as they work and play together well, encouraging each other in many different ways.  This was a cute and heartwarming book!  Animal lovers will enjoy the interesting information provided about cheetahs and dogs, including facts about real life cheetah conservation efforts.  On top of interesting facts, the dynamic between Chase and Finnegan is relatable and real, exploring themes of friendship and learning to open up and trust those closest to u...

  The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene By Corey Ann Haydu Harpercollins Childrens Books, 2026. Fiction. 336 pages. Denny is not ready to turn twelve. Her best friend Runa has assured her that everything will change when they turn twelve but Denny doesn't like how much everything in her life has changed already. Her mother, who quit drinking when Denny was born, is battling alcoholism while her dad assures her that she is the only thing that her mother needs to quit. Runa is ingratiating herself in with a new group of friends and seems to be embarrassed by Denny and their "childish" habit of writing about the magical world of Sorrowfeld. On the day of her twelfth birthday, Denny is suddenly whisked into the world of Sorrowfeld and confused for Princess Auden, who is supposed to slay the dragons that have been terrorizing the kingdom. Suddenly Denny realizes that everything she and Runa have written about in their notebook, the half-baked rules of the world they were...

Finding Lost By Holly Goldberg Sloan New York: Rocky Pond Books, 2025. Fiction. 208 pages. Middle schooler Cordy, along with her mom and little brother, Geno, are still learning how to adjust to their life after “The Accident,” a tragic boating accident that cost their father’s life. When Cordy is walking home from school one day, she finds a little stray dog who the family nicknames Lost, and as he joins their family, he helps them rediscover all of the beauty that life has to offer. Holly Goldberg Sloane delivers a heart-warming and poignant novel about loss, family, and perseverance. This was a well-written novel that could appeal to a wide range of readers. Any middle schooler will be able to relate to Cordy’s experience of dealing with change, and those who have experienced a similar loss will be sure to find solace in this beautiful story.

The Memory Spinner Written by C.M. Cornwell New York : Delacorte Press, 2025. Fiction. 281 pages. Fantasy is a genre that I don't often read. When I finish a good fantasy book, I always ask myself why I don't read more of them! This book made me ask myself that exact question. Lavender is a young girl who is struggling after the death of her mother. Her father doesn't like talking about the family's loss, and Lavender feels very alone in knowing how to grieve and cope with her feelings. Making the grieving process even harder for Lavender is the fact that she is struggling to hold on to memories of her mother.  The family runs an apothecary shop where Lavender is an apprentice. She has dreamed of her apprenticeship for a long time, putting in a lot of work to show her father she is a valuable asset. Unfortunately, while working side by side with her father, Lavender starts to notice that memories of her mother aren't the only thing she is having a hard time recallin...

The Trouble With Heroes By Kate Messner New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025. Fiction. 356 pages. Most kids look forward to summer, knowing it's a few months they will have some free time for hobbies and relaxation. Finn, the main character in the book, is facing a different summer than most of the kids his age. While Finn was spending time in the local cemetery, dealing with his own grief, he vandalized the headstone of a woman. Finn wasn't aware of this fact, but the woman whose headstone he toppled, was well-known in his community for hiking all forty-six Adirondak Peaks. Her family decides that they will waive vandalism charges against Finn, if he agrees to hike all of the same mountains their mother loved. To meet the family's request, he has to hike all of the mountains during his summer break. This novel in verse was a lovely story. I found myself cheering for Finn to make amends, while totally understanding the grief and devastation that led him to be in ...

Once for Yes By Allie Millington New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2025. Fiction. 264 pages. Nearly a year after the death of her older sister Lina, Prue Laroe is dreading turning 12. Turning 12 means that she will be the same age as Lina when she died, and Prue doesn't want that to happen. But even more changes are coming for Prue -- her family's apartment building, the Odenburgh, has been sold and is set for demolition -- meaning Prue will have to leave the places she feels closest to Lina. When the Odenburgh flashes its lights at her, Prue takes it as a sign from Lina that she needs to rally the other residents to save the Odenburgh. In her quest to save her home, Prue befriends Lewis, the lanky boy from the building across the street, not quite understanding why Lewis is drawn to the same goal as her. Demolition day nears and Prue's whole family needs to come to terms with their grief before it is too late. There have been a string of middle grade novels dealing with gentri...

  Benny on the Case By Wesley King New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 278 pages. Eleven-year-old Benny is not like other kids his age. He lives in Newfoundland in a retirement home with his mother, his best friend is a resident there named Mr. Tom, and he was born with Mosaic Down syndrome. Because Benny has Down syndrome he was placed in a special education classroom when he started school. But even though Benny looks different his Down syndrome is entirely asymptomatic, which means he has no health, speech or cognitive disabilities. Once the teachers recognized his good grades they decided to move him to a regular classroom. Benny is both excited and scared his first day of school in a regular classroom.  As he walks up to the school the first day he meets a girl named Salma who is new to the school and to Newfoundland. The two hit it off and become friends right away. Benny is excited to have a new friend at school, but things aren't look...

The Secret of Honeycake By Kimberly Newton Fusco New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2025. Fiction. 362 pages. 11-year-old Hurricane is no stranger to loss. After her father died in the Great War and her mother died of tuberculosis, Hurricane lives with her older sister Bronte in her beloved home by the coast. But then Bronte also contracts tuberculosis and is sent to a sanatorium and Hurricane is sent to live with her stuffy Aunt Claire in the city. Quiet Hurricane struggles in her new environment, not least because of her aunt's determination to make her  proper young lady. Luckily, Hurricane also has new friends in the shape of Mr. Keats, a war veteran who works for Aunt Claire; Theo, a charming young fish monger; and a stray cat that slowly warms up to Hurricane. Though so much is in flux for Hurricane, she learns to make the best of her situation. This is a charming historical fiction with a classic feeling behind it. The heartwarming sentiments will appeal to readers who like classic ...

  Loose Threads By Arien Ludin New York: Clavis Publishing Inc., 2024. Picture Book. Arien Ludin has sensitively created a comforting and loving space for children to address the subject of grief and loss of a parent. The story follows a little girl who is making a plushie bunny with her mom. Her mom falls ill and passes away quickly. The little one unravels like a ball of yarn. Her father listens to her and helps her through all of her feelings. They work together to finish the bunny and create a new "normal" while keeping her mother's memory alive. I found the inside of the front cover to be incredibly helpful. Ludin included a letter to the adult reading the story outlining helpful scripts and instructions to follow before the book is read. For example, one step is to allow the child to set the pace by having them hold the book and turn the pages when they are ready to continue with the story. It also includes discussion questions about the child's feelings at the ...

Return to Sender By Vera Brosgol New York: Roaring Brook, 2025. Fiction. 320 pages. Oliver Bakh and his mother have finally found a place to call home. After the unexpected death of his father, Oliver's mother fell into a deep depression, leaving Oliver to pick up the pieces and the pair moving from home to home. Now, things seem to be looking up, when Oliver's 96-year-old great-aunt Barb dies and bequeaths her Manhattan apartment to Oliver and his mother. Oliver starts attending an elite prep school filled with wealthy (often snobby) classmates who make Oliver feel embarrassed that he doesn't have the same expensive clothes and shoes as them. But then, a solution appears in an unlikely place -- Oliver discovers a magical mail slot in his apartment that grants his wishes. As Oliver and his new (also only) friend Collette begin to use the mail slot to grant their own wishes, they notice that every wish granted also has a adverse consequence. Can Oliver and Collette undo the ...

The Hunt for the Nightingale Written by Sarah Ann Juckes Illustrated by Sharon King-Chai Tulsa, OK: Kane Miller, a division of EDC Publishing, 2024. Fiction. 243 pages. Jasper is worried. The nightingale that routinely comes to his house each year hasn't returned this spring. Even worse, Jasper's sister, Rosie, hasn't come back from college for the weekend like she was supposed to. Jasper's parents keep crying and only telling him that Rosie has gone to a "better place," wherever that is. His only conclusion is that the "better place" must be where the nightingale is, so if he finds the nightingale, he'll find his sister as well. This book is beautifully heart-wrenching. Jasper's refusal to acknowledge that his sister has died is hard to read, yet endearing. I appreciated the descriptions of Jasper's anxiety and panic attacks, and I was impressed by the way his friend was able to help Jasper through one with coping skills he'd learned...

  Fowl Play By Kristin O'Donnell Tubb New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2024. Fiction 277 pages. Still reeling from her beloved uncle's death, Chloe Alvarez is comforted and confused when at his last will and testament reading, Uncle Will gifts her his African Grey parrot, Charlie. Charlie has a robust vocabulary and loves to make Alexa requests for her favorite songs, but when she starts saying things like, "homicide," and "cyanide," Chloe becomes convinced that Uncle Will may have met his demise by murder instead of a genetic disease, as was previously thought. Ultimately, bringing in her brother, Grammy, and Uncle Frank (and of course Charlie,) Chloe's ragtag and adoring family support her search for answers ---going on stakeouts, engaging in fast pursuits, and searching for clues. But as the suspects stack up and the mystery grows, Chole will learn that the process of death and grieving is complicated, and in the end her Uncle Will's words that, ...

Telephone of the Tree By Alison McGhee New York: Rocky Pond Books, 2024. Fiction. 201 pages. Ayla and her best friend Kiri are tree people and they always have been. On their street, people plant trees to honor loved ones who have passed on and to celebrate new babies when they are born. Ayla and Kiri's family's planted trees for them when they were born, and they love to spend time in their trees; caring for them, loving them, and encouraging them to grow up big and strong. But, one day Kiri suddenly disappears. Ayla doesn't want to talk about it, but she knows her best friend will be home for their 11th birthday. Meanwhile, an old-fashioned telephone appears in her tree, and Ayla assumes it is magical. Before long, friends and strangers start to visit the tree to use the telephone and talk to loved ones who have died. As Kiri's birthday draws nearer, Ayla starts to accept the reality of their disappearance and it becomes clear that Kiri won't be coming back. This ...

Next Stop By Debbie Fong New York: Random House Graphic, 2024. Comics. 249 pages. Pia Xing, a shy and lonely middle schooler, has been looking forward to her summer plans all year. She is going on a good, old-fashioned road trip across the country to see Lake Cessarine -- a remarkable, underground bioluminescent wonder that is said to have magical powers. When her dad has to bail on their plans, Pia is determined to go herself, joining a tour group full of strangers. Along the way, they see wild roadside attractions and Pia starts to form a friendship with Sam, whose mom is tour-guide for the group. As the bus gets closer to Lake Cessarine, it is more and more obvious what is driving Pia to keep going -- the tragic passing of Pia's younger brother has left her family broken and wracked with grief. Can the mystical Lake Cessarine grant Pia a miracle and bring her brother back? I don't know if the cover of this book -- which captures the fun, road trip California Crazy vibe -- re...

Mid-Air By Alicia D. Williams New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024. Fiction. 313 pages. 13-year-old Isaiah doesn't feel like he fits in anywhere. Boys at school tease him for being a Black boy who listens to rock music. His father has a job that means he's gone more than he's home. Even his best friends Drew and Darius aren't always his scene. The three boys want to break a world record and love to challenge each other to do stunts on their bikes and skateboards -- but sometimes Isaiah is too scared and makes excuses. But one terrible day, the three are trying a new stunt when Darius is hit by a car and killed. Now, Isaiah and Drew are trying to figure out how to go on after the death of their friend and it feels to Isaiah like their friendship won't survive. Isaiah, who is used to hiding parts of himself, doesn't have anyone to turn to and begins to shut down before he is sent to the country to stay with his aunt and uncle to heal.  This book is qui...

  And Then, Boom! By Lisa Fipps New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2024. Fiction. 244 pages. In this novel-in-verse, Joe Oak knows he's not a superhero (even if he has flown once.) Instead the "BOOMS" in his life are when unexpected and difficult things happen that blow up his life. The first difficulty begins when his mom takes off, first for days, then weeks, then months. Then when she skips out on a court hearing Grandmum and Joe end up homeless since Grandmum had used their house as collateral to pay her bail money. The "BOOMS" keep coming throughout the book, which includes difficult topics like death and grieving, homelessness and food insecurity, and abandonment. Although this book won't be for everyone, those who are ready to take on these sensitive topics will find a beautifully written story of how others' actions can impact those around them, both for the good and the bad, and surviving in the face of great adversity.

Looking for a new read? We’ve got you covered! Check out one of our Book Boxes for kids ages 9-12. Each Book Box contains a book to check out, as well as envelopes filled with fun surprises that you can open as you read along. Supplies are limited and pre-registration is required. You can register for June Book Boxes beginning May 27th and pick them up at the Children's Reference Desk, Monday through Saturday during regular library hours beginning June 3rd. Each child can only check out one book each month, so check out these book descriptions to decide which book you want! The City of Ember By Jeanne DuPrau New York: Random House, 2003. Fiction. 270 pages. It's Assignment Day in the year 241, which means 12-year-olds Lina and Doon will draw lots to be given the jobs that they will do for the rest of their lives. When Lina draws "Pipeworks laborer," and Doon draws "Messenger," they decide to trade assignments. But with resources like food and light running l...

Iceberg By Jennifer A. Nielsen New York: Scholastic Press, 2023. Fiction. 339 pages. Hazel Rothbury has to get on the Titanic . Her family's livelihood depends on it. She's going to live with her aunt in New York and start working to send money back to her mother. When she discovers that she doesn't have enough money for a ticket, she sneaks on board and stows away. Hazel has an insatiable curiosity that drives her to pursue her dream of becoming a published writer. She decides the Titanic will be the perfect first story. As she makes friends and researches the ship, she uncovers a mystery and potential crime. Even though she's a young girl, stowing away in a lower cabin, she just might be the one to reveal the truth. I've never read a Titanic story I didn't love, and this book is no exception. I found myself immediately invested in Hazel's story. We know exactly what happened to the Titanic , but what happens to this young, smart girl? As she learns about ...

A Walk in the Woods Written by Nikki Grimes Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney  New York: Holiday House, 2023. Picture Book. A week after his father’s funeral, a boy is still struggling with the reality of his father’s death, but it’s time and he opens the envelope his father left for him. When he opens the envelope, he finds a map of the woods outside his house, with a big red “X” marked for treasure. At first, he is very disappointed, because he wanted a meaningful letter with advice, but he ultimately decides to take on the adventure. As the boy starts his journey he sees all kinds of animals and wildlife around him. Finally, he gets to the spot marked on the map and he finds a metal box. Inside there are his father’s drawings of forest creatures with a story under each one. At the end, there is a note from his father inviting him to finish the story or write his own. Touched and grateful for his father’s insight, the boy begins his journey back home. A Walk in the...