Books of the Week of March 1st, 2025

A group of children investigate the threat that prompted large-scale evacuations in this powerful and dramatic companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Alone told in multiple POVs.

After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat.

And as they begin to investigate, they start to discover that there’s less truth and more cover-up to what they’re being told. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late? This is the powerful and dramatic companion novel to the New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Alone, from award-winning author Megan E. Freeman!  

About the Author:

Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week to teach poetry, and she has been a writer ever since. Her New York Times bestselling novel in verse, ALONE, won the Colorado Book Award, the Illinois, Japan, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Vermont Children’s Book Awards, the High Plains Book Award, is an NCTE Notable Verse Novel, and is included on over two dozen “best of” and state reading lists. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and the author of the poetry chapbook Lessons on Sleeping Alone. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan is nationally recognized for her work leading workshops and speaking to audiences across the country. Megan used to live in northeast Los Angeles, central Ohio, northern Norway, and on Caribbean cruise ships. Now she divides her time between northern Colorado and the Texas Gulf Coast. Visit her online at MeganEFreeman.com.

This spring a new picture book invites children, ages 4-8, to see the world from unique perspectives and embrace curiosity as a path to growth and joy. From the author of No One Owns the Colors, How Do I Wonder? By Gianna Davy, is a beautifully illustrated book combining lyrical text with vivid, inclusive imagery to inspire readers to ask playful yet profound questions like “Do snails view turtles as slow?” and “Why is water wet?” This approach encourages young minds to explore endless possibilities, spark imaginative thinking, and connect to the world in novel ways.

How Do I Wonder? is a treasure trove of prompts and illustrations designed to captivate young readers and spark lifelong curiosity. This enchanting book demonstrates that joy can be found in questions, not just answers, and that a simple “what if” can lead to a world of discovery. She hopes that How Do I Wonder? will inspire curiosity and wonder in everyone who reads it. 

Young children will love this book! It is fun to read and encourages curiosity. I highly recommend it for young children!

About the Author

Gianna is a lifelong dancer, artist, and educator whose career spans performance, teaching, and creative pursuits. Raised in Oakland, CA, she began as a Bay Area ballerina, performing with renowned companies like Smuin Contemporary Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and Robert Moses’ KIN. Her 16-year dance career instilled a belief in the power of play to nurture authenticity and artistry. For over 25 years, she has shared her passion for art and movement with students of all ages and abilities, and as co-founder of the Healdsburg Dance Collective, she promotes community engagement through dance education and performances.

Gianna is the author of the popular children’s book, No One Owns the Colors, a jewelry maker inspired by nature, and a proud mother of two. A graduate of St. Mary’s College with a BA in Performing Arts, Magna Cum Laude, and NYU with an MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Summa Cum Laude, Gianna now combines her diverse expertise to support individuals with complex communication needs through relationship-based therapy. She lives in Northern California with her family, a beehive, two cats, two chickens, and a flourishing garden.

History is alive with magic. That’s what zany Tía Xia is always telling cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy. Daredevil Jorge couldn’t be more different than his cousins: Camila is a dreamer who adores animals and Siggy is an aspiring influencer who has an exclusive party to attend. And their aunt has many secrets, including a mysterious diamond-encrusted sword that Jorge definitely wasn’t supposed to see. But when the three stumble upon a time portal in their aunt’s yard, they are transported back to 1862, a past filled with wonders—and dangers. To return to the present, they must race to deliver the sword to General Ignacio Zaragoza in time for the historic Battle of Puebla in Mexico: the foundation of the holiday Cinco de Mayo. As their journey to Mexico takes them through the Civil War–era United States, the cousins see just how much US history has been shaped by Latin communities. They must find the power within themselves to make sure things happen as they’re supposed to, without altering the past. Such a fun and engaging read for middle schoolers!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Emma Otheguy is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture books A Sled for Gabo and Martina Has Too Many Tías, the bilingual picture book Martí’s Song for Freedom, and the middle grade novels Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene, Cousins in the Time of Magic, Silver Meadows Summer, and, with Adam Gidwitz, The Madre de Aguas of Cuba, part of the Unicorn Rescue Society series. She lives in New York City.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to facilitate this weekly featured book post. Images were also provided. Happy Reading!