All My Friends

Written by: Hope Larson

First line: Turn it down, Kesi.

Why you should read this book: Once again, I have inadvertently read the third book in a trilogy without even knowing that the first two books existed, so I might be missing some stuff here. Young teens Bina, Lara, and Kesi have started a band called Fancy Pink and worked hard enough to get their first gig. Even though it doesn't go anywhere near as well as planned, it still leads to more opportunities, including one of their songs being licensed to appear in a hot new TV show! But their ticket to the top is complicated by boys, haters, their parents' take on the music industry, and their own lack of funds. 

Why you shouldn't read this book: Your parents never let you do anything either.

Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin

Written by: Megan Rosenbloom

First line: The brass, wood, and glass cases gave the main exhibition hall of the Mütter Museum a warm and cozy feeling—which was odd, considering it was a room full of corpses.

Why you should read this book: This seems to be the definitive work on the controversial subject of anthropodermic bibliopegy: the art, science, and history of binding books in human leather. Rosenbloom, a medical librarian, finds herself in the strange position of collecting small samples of such books for her colleague to test for authenticity, as it is only very recently in human history that chemical tests could distinguish the origin of a tanned sample of mammalian skin. In her journeys, she delves deeply into the past, particularly into the evolution of medicine and medical ethics, and connects her findings to the present and future of medicine. 

Why you shouldn't read this book: A lot of people automatically assume that this is going to be about Nazi atrocities, but Rosenbloom's research never uncovers a single example of a human-bound book from the Third Reich.

Train to Nowhere

Written by: Eve Bunting

First line: "This is our train, Marianne," Miss Rudolph says, and Nora clutches at my hand.

Why you should read this book: By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a fictionalized account of the orphan trains of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, which shipped east coast children  west to be adopted. Marianne, older, female, and not pretty, knows that she's the least desirable orphan in her group of fourteen kids who need homes, but keeps holding out hope that her biological mother will return for her as promised. As she travels down the line, Marianne has to learn to adjust her expectations and accept what the universe has to offer. 

Why you shouldn't read this book: This is the kind of story that kids will find very interesting but adults may find it sort of depressing, even if it does have an uplifting ending.

So You Want to Be a Rock Star

Written by: Audrey Vernick and Kirstie Edmunds

First line: You want to be a rock star?

Why you should read this book: A fun but silly read aloud story that discusses children's make believe as if it is the actual thing. You don't need an instrument if you can play air guitar and sneer effectively! While yelling into their fists (because they don't have a microphone) and wearing "awesome-crazy clothes," the kids in this book imagine themselves living the dream while performing for an audience of enthusiastic family members and fantasizing about the perks of success. 

Why you shouldn't read this book: You probably don't actually want your kids acting like rock stars, or, at the very least, you want them to practice the guitar first.

Nano: The Spectacular Science of the Very (Very) Small

Written by: Dr. Jess Wade and Melissa Castrillón

First line: Look around your home. 

Why you should read this book: In kid-friendly language and illustrations, this book offers an introduction to the concept of nanotechnology, beginning with a very basic explanation of atoms, molecules, and materials science. From there, it demonstrates how modern scientists can artificially manipulate naturally occurring molecules, such as graphite, to create materials with completely different properties, such as graphene. It goes on to suggest potential uses for future nanotechnology, and concludes that the child reading this book could unlock the secrets of nanotechnology in the future.

Why you shouldn't read this book: It's for very young readers. Kids over the age of eight with any interest in science will likely want more information than this book can provide.

Bruno the Beekeeper: A Honey Primer

Written by: Aneta Frantiska Holasova

First line: In his heart and soul, Bruno is a beekeeper.

Why you should read this book: A comprehensive tour through a year in the life of a beekeeper, this beautiful and informative book offers child-friendly guides to all the knowledge of the apiarist. Bruno, a bear, and his grandmother, a human, clean up in the autumn after the honey harvest, feed the bees in the winter, care for them in the spring, and harvest honey again in the summer. This book also offer wonderful charts illustrating the life cycle of the different bees in the colony, their anatomy, and the flowers they like, along with the tools of the beekeepers and everything else kids might want to know about bees and beekeeping, including Grandma's recipe for honey-sweetened gingerbread cookies. 

Why you shouldn't read this book: You hate bees. And honey. And cottagecore. And Grandma. And cookies.