The best book I read in February (2024)

[C.J.]

Hello, everyone! It's time to chime in again, so recommend your favorite middle grade reads from this past month.

Topping my list was Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston, which I *finally* got around to reading. It has that whole "magicians live alongside us" vibe (much like the Harry Potter books or Keepers of Lost Cities series), so if you're hankering for a magic school series, this one's shaping up to be great. I also thoroughly enjoyed Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, in which the MC goes from being an only child to blending with a family of free-schoolers in a new neighborhood in NYC. I also adored Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker, in which a boy named Ware has a very different summer from the one his overprotective parents planned. And I took an immediate liking to The Expeditioners and the Treasure of Drowned Man's Canyon S.S. Taylor, which has secret societies, puzzles & riddles, and a race to find treasure, all in a steampunk setting. Definitely worth checking out if you're still looking for your "X" book in the A to Z Challenge!

[Angela]

My favorite February read was Undercover Latina. It was a suspenseful, action-packed spy story that also honestly explores issues about racism and privilege.

[Justine]

I read The Last Mapmaker. I love the Thai representation in this story. European colonialism during the age of sails is well-known, and I enjoyed this twist using Thailand as the dominant nation. The author has made several nautical terms in the story, which conjures a good picture of the crew sailing in a tallship.

[Elza]

I must have been in the mood for Drama because I ended up reading a couple that were really exceptional.

The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet by Jake Maia Arlow was a story rich with intersectionality and coming of age awkwardness. An amazing Upper MG pick that would be perfect for fans of Jules Machias.
Contemporary Drama / Disability & Illness (anxiety, Crohn's disease) / LGBTQ+ Identities / Religion (Jewish) / Romance / Coming of Age (facing big changes and accepting chronic symptoms / changes to family unit / forming community / learning self-acceptance)

Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson is full of high fashion glamour and high-stakes drama as Macy attempts to win BFF status at her new school in Maryland through a life pieced together with lies.
Contemporary Drama / Fashion / Friendship / Mental Illness (anxiety) / Dysfunctional Family (absent parent, depiction of arguing in the family / conversation about divorce)