Molly's Reviews

After a car accident, Lou Montgomery's life changes radically: she's removed from her mom's care, placed with her aunt and uncle, and diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. These changes are accompanied by a cast of new and lovable characters, including Lou’s funny, fabulous, theatrical best friend Well. Thought-provoking in its exploration of disability, wealth, and familial relationships, this novel about a young girl's journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance is perfect for fans of So B. It, Out of My Mind, and Counting By 7s. —Molly

When a boy’s stutter isolates and embarasses him, his dad says, “Let’s go somewhere quiet,” and takes him to a river. Based on his own childhood experience, Jordan Scott’s prose is full of beautiful imagery, and the quiet love the father shows is deeply touching. Sydney Smith’s gouache and watercolor paintings deftly capture the boy’s emotions from loneliness to anxiety to tranquility. The perfect pick for those looking for #OwnVoices stories of disability infused with pride and strength. —Molly

What might it be like to be in an art class being taught by some of the greatest artists alive today? Well, it would be a lot like reading You Are an Artist! Former museum curator and current host of the PBS Digital Studios series “The Art Assignment” has spoken to a wide range of artists, asking them about their work and their process and having them create art assignments for the audience to complete. The assignments range from sculptural (like “Embarrassing Object”) to performance (“Become a Sci-Fi Character”) to photographic (“Sorted Books”) to textile (“Make a Rug”), are usually flexible in terms of medium, and require no formal artistic skill. Combining full-color pictures of contemporary art; art history; and a variety of fun, thoughtful, and inspiring project ideas, this book is perfect for artists both practiced and emerging. 

For this excellent graphic novel memoir, Victoria Jameison worked closely with Omar Mohamed, a Somali refugee and founder of the nonprofit Refugee Strong, to tell Mohamed’s story of growing up in a refugee camp, which included caring for his younger brother Hassan, who has a developmental disability. The characters are deeply relatable, and the realities of refugee life are presented without being overwhelming or melodramatic. A great choice for fans of nonfiction and historical fiction graphic novels like March and White Bird.

This debut middle grade graphic novel features a political coup, a religious order where women spin magical blue thread, a trans protagonist, and a vibrant, jewel-toned world. It’s also a refreshing switch on the traditional ‘girl disguised as a boy’ trope, with twins Hawke and Grayson assuming the identities of Hanna and Grayce in order to escape the coup and join the aforementioned religious order. This beautiful book is perfect for fans of The Witch Boy and The Nameless City.

This inspiring tale chronicles the March of the Mill Children, a trek from Philadelphia to New York made by child workers of textile factories and led by iconic labor activist Mother Jones. Mother Jones’ narration and a color palette made up of shades of gray and muted colors transports readers to turn-of-the-century America, in the union halls and factory floors where Jones spoke to workers. Perfect for teaching young activists the importance of strikes and collective action.

In this lovely, spirited ode to the majesty of nature, Sanna’s illustrations are graceful and whimsical, with beautiful color choices and entertaining cut-out features. Mother Earth is a dark-skinned youth with round cheeks and long, flowing black hair who starts the book asleep under a bed of snow, then wakes to celebrate her way through the seasons, before settling in for her winter nap. An excellent read-aloud for nature-loving families looking forward to Earth Day, which turns 50 this year!

“Haiti is free! Freedom Soup for everyone!” Belle and her grandmother sing and cook for New Year’s Eve. On pages full of sunny yellows and sky blues, the story of the Haitian Revolution rises in the steam from the soup pot. Charles’ text is richly poetic and Alcantara’s illustrations dance across the page. An excellent choice for discussing the cultural significance of food and a filling tale of intergenerational learning sure to be loved by all who partake.

Are you a student of design? A lover of understated luxury? I dare you to walk away from this book of impeccable interiors—wall treatments that will saturate your senses, mid-century modern delights at every turn—by Christiane Lemieux, founder of DwellStudio. If you appreciate timeless design, you’ll want this gorgeous book on your coffee table.  —Molly

It should be no surprise that artistic icon Marina Abramovi´c’s writing voice is lucid and that her stories captivate as well as devastate. In this book that will appeal to students of spirituality and art, Abramovi´c includes diary entries from performances that touch on the transcendent states she reaches while performing. If you enjoy Patti Smith’s memoirs or Kim Gordon’s Girl in a Band, you will devour this book. —Molly