Bad Girl Blues

Sally Warner. HarperCollins Publishers, $15.95 (224pp) ISBN 978-0-06-028274-5

Quinney Todd, the level-headed middle-grader introduced in Totally Confidential, finds her friendships in trouble in Bad Girl Blues by Sally Warner. She, Marguerite and Brynn have always been best friends, but then Marguerite starts acting reckless. Brynn wants nothing to do with Marguerite, but Quinney doesn't have that option because her parents take Marguerite in to shield her from her own father's anger. A subplot includes Quinney's volunteer job at an animal shelter. ( June)

Featured Children's Reviews

Sara Andrea Fajardo

“Up and down the crooked spine of the Andes... playing an epic game of paka paka con la papa, potato hide-and-seek,” travels agronomist Alberto Salas (b. 1943), questing for Continue reading »

Laura Gao

High school sophomore Kirby Tan is a skilled competitive climber, an activity she picked up from her late thrill-seeking father. When her dynamic move at the Texas Youth Fall Continue reading »

K O'Neill

O’Neill (The Moth Keeper) crafts a pastoral fantasy exploring gender identity and what it means to be one’s true self in this tender graphic novel. Young Rowan, who has dark Continue reading »

Aron Nels Steinke

Jewish sixth grader Mira, portrayed with brown skin, lives with selective mutism, a condition that prevents her from speaking in certain social settings. To cope, Mira channels Continue reading »