Unputdownable.
Macy lifts her voice as she attempts to save her school library in Newbery Medalist Alexander’s latest novel in verse.
On her birthday, Macy receives an “unputdownable” book—the first of the Mighty Zora series. She’d love to go straight to the library to check out Book 2, but she’s stuck practicing violin, listening to her little brother’s freestyle rapping, and doing homework assigned by her poet father. When she finally makes it to the school library, there’s a “CLOSED” sign on the door. Outraged, Macy learns of an upcoming school board meeting about budget cuts, so she rallies fellow students. But she struggles with nerves as she attempts to pen a poem to express her feelings at the meeting. Alexander’s lyrical free verse paints Macy as relatable and funny and gives each character their own arc, especially her playful and joyous father (perhaps a reflection of the author). Inventive visual design aids in the storytelling, with words stretching, shrinking, and scattering across the page in bursts of motion. Dynamic black-and-white spot illustrations imbue Macy and her world with softness and humor while portraying her as a force to be reckoned with; her initial fears will resonate with readers, who will cheer her each step of the way. Macy and all primary characters are Black.
Unputdownable. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780316442169
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode.
A long-running series reaches its closing chapters.
Having, as Kline notes in her warm valedictory acknowledgements, taken 30 years to get through second and third grade, Harry Spooger is overdue to move on—but not just into fourth grade, it turns out, as his family is moving to another town as soon as the school year ends. The news leaves his best friend, narrator “Dougo,” devastated…particularly as Harry doesn’t seem all that fussed about it. With series fans in mind, the author takes Harry through a sort of last-day-of-school farewell tour. From his desk he pulls a burned hot dog and other items that featured in past episodes, says goodbye to Song Lee and other classmates, and even (for the first time ever) leads Doug and readers into his house and memento-strewn room for further reminiscing. Of course, Harry isn’t as blasé about the move as he pretends, and eyes aren’t exactly dry when he departs. But hardly is he out of sight before Doug is meeting Mohammad, a new neighbor from Syria who (along with further diversifying a cast that began as mostly white but has become increasingly multiethnic over the years) will also be starting fourth grade at summer’s end, and planning a written account of his “horrible” buddy’s exploits. Finished illustrations not seen.
A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Nov. 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-451-47963-1
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018
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