The Central Children’s Department’s Book Awards of 2024 – Blog

The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale (2023) by Jon Klassen

In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night. Can brave Otilla save them both? Steeped in shadows and threaded with subtle wit — with rich, monochromatic artwork and an illuminating author’s note — The Skull is as empowering as it is mysterious and foreboding.

Lunar Boy (2024) by Jessica Wibowo

Indu, a boy from the moon, feels like he doesn’t belong. He hasn’t since he and his adoptive mom disembarked from their spaceship — their home — to live on Earth with their new blended family. The kids at school think he’s weird; he has a crush on his pen pal, who might not like him back; and his stepfamily doesn’t seem to know what to do with him. Worst of all, Indu can’t even talk to his mom about how he’s feeling because she’s so busy. In a moment of loneliness, Indu calls out to the moon, begging them to take him back. And against all odds, the moon hears him and agrees to bring him home on the first day of the New Year. But as the promised day draws nearer, Indu finds friendship in unlikely places and discovers that home is more than where you come from. And when the moon calls again, Indu must decide: is he willing to give up what he’s just found?

Goblin Market (2022) by Diane Zahler

In this story inspired by Polish folklore, two sisters face a goblin prince in the dark forest.

Snapdragon (2020) by Kat Leyh

Snap’s town had a witch. At least, that’s how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a crocks-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online — after doing a little ritual to put their spirits to rest. It’s creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it’s kind of cool, too. They make a deal: Jacks will teach Snap how to take care of the baby opossums that Snap rescued, and Snap will help Jacks with her work. But as Snap starts to get to know Jacks, she realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic — and a connection with Snap’s family’s past.

I WAS: The Stories of Animal Skulls (2024) by Katherine Hocker

Strong, smooth domes — skulls are more than remnants of creatures that used to be. They are artifacts that allow us to travel back through time. Every ridge, hollow, and crevice of a skull reveals something about an animal’s habitat, food source, and skill set. By observing the characteristics of six different animal skulls, readers can learn about the lives once led by a lynx, a deer, a beaver, a hummingbird, a wolf, and an owl. Katherine Hocker’s lyrical text and Natasha Donovan’s fluid artwork, paired with sound scientific data and back matter resources will ignite a child’s native curiosity and encourage mindful observation of the wonders hidden in nature — and ourselves.

On A Mushroom Day (2024) by Chris Baker

Structured around a walk in the woods, On a Mushroom Day is an artful introduction to the wonderful world of mushrooms.

The Queen in the Cave (2022) by Júlia Sardà

Once upon a time, there were three sisters: Franca, Carmela, and Tomasina. This is their story of adventure and discovery, a tale of hidden mysteries and new wonders, of finding a strange world beyond home and unlocking the secrets inside themselves.

The Clackity (2022) by Lora Senf

To rescue her aunt from the ghost of a serial killer, 12-year-old Evie Von Rathe embarks on a journey into a strange world filled with hungry witches, ghosts, and a story thief, all while trying to fulfill her deal with the Clackity.

The Secret Library (2024) by Kekla Magoon

Finding a mysterious letter from her late grandpa, Dally is led straight to a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time, and she must find the courage to write her own life story as she “checks out” adventure after adventure.

The Mossheart’s Promise (2023) by Rebecca Mix

The mold takes all. 12-year-old fairy Canary Mossheart knows this better than most. A few years ago, the mold took her papa, and even her famous, former-chosen-one Gran never found a cure. So when Ary’s beloved mama falls ill, Ary decides it’s taken enough. Armed with only a bucket and a prayer, she sneaks out to find a magical, underground lake whose healing waters are straight out of Gran’s adventures. But when Ary gets there, the lake’s bone dry, and instead of healing waters, she finds a terrifying secret: Her entire world is actually trapped inside a giant terrarium — one they were meant to leave centuries ago. Worse, Gran knew and hid the truth, dooming Ary and her generation to a dying, rotting world. Now, allied with only her doomsday-obsessed frenemy, a timid pill bug, and a particularly grumpy newt, Ary has one week to unravel the clues and find a way out of the terrarium — or they’ll be trapped for good.

The Carrefour Curse (2023) by Dianne K. Salerni

When 12-year-old Garnet finally gets to meet her magical extended family she discovers they’re all trapped in the ruins of their crumbling manor, and Garnet must break a curse that has decimated three generations of Carrefours.

Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest (2021) by Phoebe Wahl

Little Witch Hazel is a tiny witch who lives in the forest, helping creatures big and small. She’s a midwife, an intrepid explorer, a hard worker, and a kind friend. In this four-season volume, Little Witch Hazel rescues an orphaned egg, goes sailing on a raft, solves the mystery of a haunted stump, and makes house calls to fellow forest dwellers. But when Little Witch Hazel needs help herself, will she get it in time? Little Witch Hazel is a beautiful ode to nature, friendship, wild things, and the seasons, that only Phoebe Wahl could create: an instant classic and a book that readers will pore over time and time again.

Evergreen (2023) by Matthew Cordell

To deliver her mother’s delicious soup to her sick Granny Oak, Evergreen the squirrel must face her fears and make the journey, during which she meets other forest dwellers, including some who want to get their hands on her soup!

Oak: The Littlest Leaf Girl (2024) by Lucy Fleming

High up in the leafy branches of a tree lives a leaf girl named Oak and her family. Oak loves nothing more than playing with her animal friends of the forest — dancing with Squirrel and holding toadstool tea parties with the bumbling bugs. But as the season begins to change, and a slight chill fills the air, the usual bustle of the tree begins to slow. As winter approaches and the family prepares to make their annual move from the tree to an acorn on the forest floor, Oak doesn’t feel ready to leave and stubbornly clings to her branch. But soon the glowing light from the acorn below beckons, and she realizes that change is just an opportunity for new adventures — and that the meaning of home is wherever loved ones are.

Summer is for Cousins (2023) by Rajani LaRocca

Ravi spends summer vacation with his cousins sharing in all their favorite activities, including eating ice cream.

Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock (2023) by Jesús Trejo

Today, little Jess has a big job to do. He’s helping Pap̀á at work, and he’s in charge of the water jug — which is also a magical clock! When it’s empty, Papá explains, the workday is done. But what about all these thirsty animals? Soon, the water is gone, but the day is not over yet. Will Jess be fired?! Or is the jug not really magical after all?

Emergency Quarters (2024) by Carlos Matias

Ernesto has waited his whoooole life to become a niño grande — a big boy. Now he’s finally old enough to walk the six blocks to school without his parents. Every morning, his mom hands him a shiny new quarter and reminds him they’re for emergencies. If Ernesto needs her, she’s only a pay phone call away. But each day reveals a tempting new treat to enjoy with his friends: crisp packs of baseball cards, arcade games, hot tamales, and fresh juices! Ernesto has the coins jingling in his pocket, so how will he choose to spend them?

I’m Sorry You Got Mad (2024) by Kyle Lukoff

Jack wants to apologize for hurting Zoe’s feelings. He just can’t seem to find the right words. Turns out there’s more to an apology than just saying “I’m sorry.”

We Are Definitely Human: A Book (2024) by X. Fang

When three mysterious visitors from “Europe” crash-land in Mr. Li’s field, he does what any good host would: he invites them back to his farmhouse and offers to help fix up their “car.” No, there’s nothing strange about these guests at all. Just like other humans, they “make business”, “play sportsball,” and “wear hat.” As the townsfolk also come to the aid of the visitors and the gathering turns into a little party, interplanetary relations reach an all-time high.

Welcome to the Woofmore (2024) by Donna Gephart

At the grand opening of the Woofington, Rufus and his boss Ms. Coco strive to create the perfect experience for their canine guests as they deal with unexpected challenges including pup-parazzi and fleas.

The Woofmore is Not Haunted (2024) by Donna Gephart

Spooky-story author Silas Fang visits The Woofmore to take a break from all things scary, so when a newspaper mistakenly places the hotel on a list of haunted houses, it is up to Rufus to overcome his fears and prove to Mr. Fang the hotel is not haunted.

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All (2024) by Chanel Miller

New York Times bestselling author and artist Chanel Miller tells a fun, funny, and poignant story of friendship and community starring Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old sock detective bent on returning all the lonely only socks left behind in her parents’ NYC laundromat.

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir (2023) by Pedro Martin

Pedro Martin grew up in the U.S. hearing stories about his legendary abuelito, but during a family road trip to Mexico, he connects with his grandfather and learns more about his own Mexican identity in this moving and hilarious graphic memoir.

To Catch A Thief (2023) by Martha Brockenbrough

11-year-old Amelia thinks of herself as devoid of talent, but when the dragonfly staff goes missing seven days before the Dragonfly Day Festival, she takes it upon herself to catch the thief and save her town.

Extra Normal (2023) by Kate Alice Marshall

Charlie Greer is nothing special — at least not compared to her adopted siblings. Her younger sister is a ghost. Her brother Mateo is a werewolf. Gideon is the product of seriously sketchy experiments that gave him telekinetic powers. Even her parents work for the Division of Extranormal Investigations tracking down all things supernatural, alien, and otherwise unusual. Charlie’s mom says her superpower is maturity — which doesn’t really count. But what Charlie lacks in powers she makes up for by keeping the household running. Now, with her parents off on their first vacation in years, it’s up to her to take care of her siblings and make sure nothing disrupts the trip. But then the new neighbors arrive. The Weavers are a nice, normal couple. Too nice and too normal. And for some reason, they don’t seem to want Charlie to see inside their house. She’s certain they’re hiding something. Charlie has to uncover what’s going on with the Weavers and stop their plans — without letting Mom and Dad find out anything is wrong.

Ferris (2024) by Kate DiCamillo

During the summer before fifth grade, Ferris Wilkey has her hands full with her little sister terrorizing the town, her Aunt Shirley moving into their basement, and her grandmother seeing a ghost — one who has wild, impractical, and illuminating plans.

Lunar Boy (2024) by Jessica Wibowo

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Too Much! An Overwhelming Day (2023) by Jolene Gutiérrez

Sometimes everything is too much! Too loud, too bright, and all too overwhelming. Writing from her own experience with sensory processing disorder, Jolene Gutiérrez’s compassionate picture book explores the struggles of a sensorily sensitive child and how they settle themselves. Joined by Angel Chang’s beautiful illustrations, young readers will learn that it’s OK if some days are too much.

The Last Stand (2024) by Antwan Eady

A little boy is excited to work alongside his Papa as they collect eggs, plums, peppers, and pumpkins to sell at their stand in the farmer’s market, but when Papa cannot make it to the stand, his community gathers around him with dishes made of his own produce.

Bite By Bite: American History Through Feasts, Foods, and Side Dishes (2024) by Marc Aronson

American food and, by extension, American identity is much broader than the phrase “as American as apple pie.” In a series of meals that take readers from pre-1492 through today, the text explores this country’s identity and history through the lens of food, highlighting how cultures and histories mix to create the rich tapestry of America.

The Little Regent (2024) by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade

The Little Regent begins with a short blurb, offering context on the Yoruba tradition of regency: “Among the Yoruba tribe of West Africa, when a king dies without a son, his daughter will rule until the kingmakers choose a new king. These female rulers are called regents.” The story begins when Abioye is declared the temporary ruler of her West African village following her father, the king’s death, much to the chagrin of the village chiefs. At first, Abioye is afraid — she is only seven after all, and has no idea how to rule. But her mother reminds her of her father’s wise words: “Those who will rule must first learn to serve.” The next day, the little regent abandons her stuffy meetings with the chiefs — where she feels that she isn’t serving anyone at all — and wanders about the village, taking in the problems of her people and trying to understand how she might serve them. In the meantime, the chiefs complain that Abioye is a bad ruler who skips her meetings and walks about the village like a commoner. The time comes for the villagers to vote for a new king, but they refuse. With Abioye’s help, the village has flourished: the fishers catch more fish, the cooks have clean water, and the children have a place to play while their parents go to the big market. Abioye has proven that she understands what it means to serve her people, and her people demand to keep her. For the first time in the village, a female regent becomes king. This is an empowering princess story that breaks away from Eurocentric tropes and sends the message to all children — regardless of gender — that their voices and actions are valuable and powerful. The Little Regent touches on themes of service in leadership, gaining respect rather than demanding it, and gender equality. Yewande sets the tone with a hint of folklore and fable-esque nostalgia and builds a lively and immersive setting with details of West African culture that speak to her own Nigerian heritage. It also ends with a significant message that honoring the legacy of our loved ones for the betterment of ourselves and those around us sometimes means breaking with tradition.

Growing Up Under A Red Flag (2024) by Ying Chang Compestine

This is a memoir of Ying Chang Compestine’s childhood growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution.

Averil Offline (2024) by Amy Noelle Parks

12-year-old Averil is on a mission to find the creator of the phone app her helicopter parents use to keep track of her.

Basil and Dahlia: A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness (2024) by Joy McCullough

Rather than be split up into different foster homes, 12-year-old Basil and his 11-year-old sister Dahlia leap off a train which jump-starts an adventure of ever-increasing mishaps and lands them in the kitchen of a cruel celebrity chef.

The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby (2023) by G.Z. Schmidt

When six-year-old Beatrice Willoughby vanished at the Amadeuses’ annual All Hallows Eve party, people in the tiny mountain town of Nevermore were quick to whisper: They were always odd. Their house is full of dark magic. And when Mort Amadeus was pegged for the crime, the Amadeuses, once the center of society, retreated. They closed their doors and disappeared from life. People almost forgot. Until 13 years later, when six envelopes land at the doorstep of six households in town: “We cordially invite you to a celebration on the 31st of October this Saturday evening at the Amadeus household.” So begins the mystery of who was really responsible for the missing girl 13 years ago. Was it Duchess von Pelt, whose face no one has ever seen? Mrs. Raven, the keeper of the local inn? Wormwood, the Amadeuses’ mysterious caretaker? Dr. Foozle, the town pharmacist? Count Baines, who seems to know when unlucky things are about to happen? Judge Ophelius, who presided over Beatrice’s case originally? Mr. and Mrs. H, a couple who no one can ever quite remember? Or somehow, might precocious, 11-year-old Dewey and his storytelling dad, Chaucer, be somehow mixed up in all this? The guests must work together to identify the guilty party among them throughout the evening — but beware the ticking clock because at midnight, everything is going to change! Told from different perspectives, this is a sly, darkly funny mystery. Filled with strange characters and set in a mansion deep, deep in the woods, G. Z. Schmidt has crafted an unforgettable puzzle, perfect for reading on a dark autumn night.

Rose Wolves: Book 1 (2023) by Natalie Warner

One day, Immie picks an unusual flower from an unusual bush. When the flower blooms into a fantastical creature, Immie must go on a journey to return the magic, even if it means losing a friend. Join Immie and the rose wolves as they learn about family bonds, independence, and the wonders of nature!

The Belly Song (2024) by Mother Moon

Sing along in this joyful celebration of your baby’s perfect belly inspired by the song from TikTok trailblazer, Mother Moon!

The Coolest Beard (2023) by Betty Tekle

Isaac wants to grow a beard just like his dad, who always seems to be the coolest person in the barbershop, but after trying for weeks with no success, he discovers other ways to imitate his father’s coolness.

Luna’s Red Hat: An Illustrated Storybook to Help Children Cope with Loss and Suicide (2015) by Emmi Smid

It is a beautiful spring day, and Luna is having a picnic in the park with her family, wearing her Mum’s red hat. Luna’s Mum died one year ago and she still finds it difficult to understand why. She feels that it may have been her fault and worries that her Dad might leave her in the same way. Her Dad talks to her to explain what happened, and together they think about all the happy memories they have of Mum.

A Terrible Thing Happened (2000) by Margaret M. Holmes

After Sherman sees something terrible happen, he becomes anxious and then angry, but when a counselor helps him talk about these emotions he feels better.

The Line Tender (2019) by Kate Allen

Following a tragedy that further alters the course of her life, 12-year-old Lucy Everhart decides to continue the shark research her marine biologist mother left unfinished when she died years earlier.

El Deafo (2014) by Cece Bell

Starting a new school is scary, even more so with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest. At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here she is different. She is sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends. Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear, she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in the school — in the hallway, in the teacher’s lounge, even in the bathroom! This is power, maybe even superpower. Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, a listener for all. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different … and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding what she wants most: a true friend?

The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions (2018) by Anna Llenas

One day, Color Monster wakes up feeling very confused. His emotions are all over the place; he feels angry, happy, calm, sad, and scared all at once! To help him, a little girl shows him what each feeling means through color. As this adorable monster learns to sort and define his mixed-up emotions, he gains self-awareness and peace as a result.

Shark Teeth (2024) by Sherri Winston

Seventh-grader Sharkita “Kita” embarks on a tumultuous journey to keep her family together while handling the consequences of her mother’s alcoholism.

The Outsmarters (2024) by Deborah Ellis

11-year-old Kate lives with her grandmother who runs a junk shop in a big old house on the outskirts of town. It sometimes feels sad to be in the business of collecting other people’s leftover stuff, but Kate knows sad. She’s a bit lonely and she doesn’t remember her mother, who left long ago. Still, Kate dreams that one day her mother will return, and when she does, she’ll need money. So Kate sets out to make some, just in case. At first, she wants to offer psychiatric advice, like Lucy in the Peanuts cartoon. Gran squashes that idea: “You are not a psychiatrist. You’ll just get sued.” But what about a philosopher, who Gran says is just someone who thinks deeply about important things? “I do that all the time,” Kate says, and soon she opens up a Philosophy Booth to provide answers to life’s big and small questions for $2 a pop. But who can answer Kate’s questions? Where does her grandmother go in her truck at night? And why won’t she talk about Kate’s mother? These are hard questions to answer, and Kate gets help from two kids who come into her life. Myndeelee, who moves into the house behind Gran’s, and Brandon, who Gran seems to hate, though Kate can’t figure out why.

Keep It Like A Secret (2024) by John David Anderson

After his sister and best friend, Claire, leaves home after a fight with their mother, Morgan has one chance to convince Claire to come home and put their family back together. Claire has her own plan for the day she told Morgan she wanted to spend with him — one that will change things between them forever.

Kyra, Just For Today (2024) by Sara Zarr

At the start of seventh grade, Kyra believes her alcoholic mother, who has been sober for five years, has relapsed and with no one to count on, not even her best friend, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all.

Extra Normal (2023) by Kate Alice Marshall

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The Girl Who Kept The Castle (2024) by Ryan Graudin

Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed. And it is up to Faye, the daughter of West’s groundskeeper, to inform the wizard that he is a ghost who has lost all of his magical powers. (But not before the wizard tries transforming her into a cat!) To make matters worse, the enchanted castle of Celurdur — the only home that Faye has ever known — will fall apart at the next full moon if its foundation spells can’t be renewed. After (sort of) accepting his demise, West decides to host a competition to choose his successor. Faye finds herself fighting to keep the tournament running smoothly behind the scenes: putting out kitchen fires, feeding the compost dragon, and making sure competitors stay away from the cockatrice pen. But killer roosters soon become the least of her worries. A servant of the evil Shadow Queen has sabotaged the contest — set on destroying not just Celurdur but the entire kingdom of Solum. It is up to Faye to stop him, but she’ll need more than a mop. Will a maid’s magic be enough to save everything she loves from utter destruction?

The Weirn Books 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods

In the Night Realm, vampires, shifters, weirns, and other night things passing for human prowl the streets — but they still have to go to school! Ailis and Na’ya are pretty average students (NOT losers), but when a shadow starts looming and a classmate gets all weird, they are the first to notice. It gets personal, though, when Na’ya’s little brother D’esh disappears. It’s time to confront the secrets of the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods!

Orphans of the Tide (2021) by Struan Murray

When a mysterious boy washes in with the tide trapped inside the belly of a whale, Ellie must prove that he isn’t ruled by the Enemy even if it means revealing her own dangerous secret.

Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans (2023) by Isi Hendrix

Life is tough for 12-year-old orphan Adia. Her aunt and uncle believe she’s an ogbanje, a demon-possessed child that brings misfortune wherever they go, and Adia can’t disagree, especially when she suddenly manifests mysterious powers that she can’t control, causing an earthquake in her village. So when Adia is offered a kitchen apprenticeship at the faraway Academy of Shamans, she flees with nothing but a pouch of change, her cat Bubbles, and the hope that someone there can figure out what’s wrong with her, and fix it. But just as she’s settling in, Adia stumbles upon a shocking secret. Unlike her, the kingdom’s emperor really is possessed by a demon more wicked than any other, and he’s on his way to the Academy for a visit! Joining forces with a snarky goddess, a 500-year-old warrior girl, and an annoying soldier-in-training, Adia must travel through hidden realms to exorcise the emperor and save her kingdom. But to succeed, she first must come to understand the powers inside her. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm (2024) by Siobhan McDermott

An outsider in her village above the cloud sea, 12-year-old orphan Yeung Zhi Ging’s only hope of escape is to win the single invitation to train as a Silhouette: an apprentice to the immortals. After her ill-fated attempt to impress the Silhouette scout leads to a dragon attack on the jade mountain, Zhi Ging is sure that her chances and her life are over. But the scout spots her potential and offers her protection and a second chance. She’s in.

The School for Invisible Boys (2024) by Shaun David Hutchinson

When the normally unseen sixth grader Hector discovers he can turn invisible, he learns that he is not the only invisible boy at his school and there are worse things than bullies lurking in the halls.

Select (2023) by Christie Matheson

12-year-old Alex loves playing soccer, and she’s good at it, too. Very good. When her skills land her a free ride to play for Select, an elite soccer club, it feels like a huge opportunity. Joining Select could be the key to a college scholarship and a bright future — one that Alex’s family can’t promise her. But as the team gets better and better, her new coach pushes the players harder and harder, until soccer starts to feel more like punishment than fun. And then there comes a point where enough is enough, and Alex and her teammates must take a stand to find a better way to make their soccer dreams come true

Island of Whispers (2024) by Farnces Hardinge

When his father is killed unexpectedly, Milo must take over the Ferryman’s role and guide his father’s spirit on the dangerous journey to the Island of the Broken Tower.

Not Nothing (2024) by Gayle Forman

When troubled 12-year-old Alex is assigned to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living facility, he forms a unique bond with a Holocaust survivor and learns lessons that change the trajectory of his life.

The Sky Over Rebecca (2023) by Matthew Fox

Ten-year-old Kara follows mysterious tracks in the snow that lead her across time and space from modern-day Sweden to 1942 Germany where two siblings are hiding from the Nazis.

A Pocketful of Stars (2023) by Aisha Bushby

When 13-year-old Safiya’s mother falls into a coma, Safiya comes to terms with their complicated relationship and discovers more about herself through dreams that transport her to her mother’s childhood in Kuwait.

The Spirit Glass (2023) by Roshani Chokshi

Corazon Lopez looks forward to her 11th birthday, when she can finally be trained in wielding babaylan magic and use it to bring her parents back to life.

With A Little Help From My Friends (2019) by John Lennon

In this gorgeously illustrated picture book, the universally loved words to the song “With a Little Help from My Friends” come vividly to life, showing that sometimes, all you need is a little help from your friends!

How Dinosaurs Went Extinct (2023) by Ame Dyckman

When a child in a museum asks how dinosaurs became extinct, Dad comes up with a list of silly answers.

You Don’t Want A Dragon! (2020) by Ame Dyckman

A boy is thrilled to have a dragon of his own, but quickly discovers that dragons are not appropriate pets. 

The Graveyard Book (2017) by Neil Gaiman

Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy — an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack — who has already killed Bod’s family. The Graveyard Book, a modern classic, is the only work ever to win both the Newbery (U.S.) and Carnegie (U.K.) Medals.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: The Beginning (2018) by Brandon Montclare

The life of child genius Lunella Lafayette is turned upside down when a red-scaled beast is teleported from the prehistoric past and becomes her best friend.

The Witch Boy (2017) by Molly Knox Ostertag

In 13-year-old Aster’s family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn’t shifted … and he’s still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help — as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family.. and be truly himself.