27 Starred Reviews (and counting!)

Yes it's true! So far, LQ titles have amassed a collection of 27 starred reviews — even a few awards and accolades — and the year isn't over yet.

Apple (Skin to the Core)

★ “With language rich in metaphor, this is a timely and important work that begs for multiple readings.” —Booklist, starred review 

★ “A searing yet dryly funny, at times intimate and at times highly literary picture of life hemmed in by majoritarian expectations and gutted by exploitation that made staying in the family home intolerable but leaving it unthinkable.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

★ “Exceptional….Apple is a stirring depiction of Indigenous life likely to evoke empathy from and resonate with all who venture into Gansworth's world.” —Shelf-Awareness, starred review

★​ "Captivating​." —S​chool Library Journal, starred review

Bigger Than a Dream 

★ “A wondrous guide to young souls and their awakening sense of life, death, and emotion.”—Booklist, starred review 

Elatsoe

★ “Refreshing. Indigenous myths, modern-day technology, and the supernatural successfully blend to build a fast-paced murder mystery.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “A brilliant, engaging debut written by a talented author, it seamlessly blends cyberstalking with Vampire Citizen Centers and Lipan Apache stories.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Little Badger’s stunning, haunting debut brings to the fantasy genre a fresh voice and perspective, weaving in folktales, omens, and urban legends of the protagonist’s Lipan Apache culture.”—Booklist, starred review 

★ “A strong heroine, a supernatural mystery and a unique and powerful Native American voice.”BookPage, starred review 

★ “Creative and meticulously plotted...a Lipan Apache Sookie Stackhouse for the teen set.”—Shelf-Awareness, starred review 

Everything Sad Is Untrue  (a true story)

“A modern epic.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “A distinctive voice. A rare treasure of a book.”  Publishers Weekly, starred review

 “A story that soars. Readers will be transported.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

★ “At once beautiful and painful.”School Library Journal, starred review

★ “A journey as intimate as it is epic. A remarkable work that raises the literary bar in children’s lit.”—Booklist, starred review

 “Poignant and powerful. A story of heartbreak and resilience.” —Foreword Reviews, starred review  

 ”One of the most extraordinary books of the year.”BookPage, starred review

Little Fox

★ “A beautiful, fully realized dreamscape. A tender, brilliant tour de force from the Netherlands.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance

★ “Higuera’s debut is a home run, with a plot as multifaceted and compelling as her characters.” —Publisher Weekly, starred review

★ “A laugh-out-loud story about family, friendship, and the beauty in being true to yourself.” —Booklist, starred review

 The Big Questions Book of Sex and Consent

★ “A well-considered, authoritative, and exhaustive look at a very complex subject, and it will be of interest to teens, parents, teachers, counselors, and anyone grappling with what constitutes consent.” —Booklist, starred review

The Boys in the Back Row

“[An] utter rejection of toxic masculinity. At its heart, this is a beautiful celebration of the powerful, pure, and unselfconscious friendships that peak in the preteen years.”—Booklist, starred review 

  “Witty and original...a touching, honest depiction of male friendship.” —School Library Journal, starred review 

The Wanderer

“Marvelously engrossing—a triumph.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Remarkable. Brilliantly imagined. Van Den Ende’s work may evoke that of Shaun Tan or Chris Van Allsburg at his enigmatic best, but in the end, this gifted Dutch artist is absolutely sui generis.”—Booklist, starred review 

This Old Dog

★ “A lovely celebration of toddler-dog love.”—Booklist (starred review)

★ “An adorable, heart-tugging dog-and-his-girl picture book.”—Shelf-Awareness (starred review


Team LQ