Jump into summer reading with books by Soontornvat, Siddiqui & Yang

Summer is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with books. The following books — one standalone and two series — are great options heading into June.

CITY OF WISHES (LEGENDS OF LOTUS ISLAND #3), by Christina Soontornvat, Scholastic Paperbacks, March 5, 2024, Paperback, $7.99 (ages 8-12)

During the New Year break, Plum and her friends travel to fancy, fashionable Nakhon City. There they’ll stay with Sam and his mother, the powerful Lady Ubon.

At first, Plum is dazzled by how big and exciting Nakhon City is. She’s never experienced anything like it! But under the glittering surface, secrets lurk. A storm is brewing, and Plum will have to harness all of her growing powers to survive it. —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Paperbacks

Christina Soontornvat’s, Legends of Lotus Island series is a great entry point into fantasy for middle readers. Like the first two books, City of Wishes is less than 160 pages. It has short chapters and there are illustrations sprinkled throughout, roughly every other chapter. My 10-year-old has moved on to harder books, but that hasn’t stopped her from loving this series. It’s engaging enough that she wants them to be made into movies. “They’re that good!”

ANY WAY YOU LOOK, by Maleeha Siddiqui, Scholastic Press, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)

What do you do with the wrong kind of attention?

Ainy is excited for summer! She plans on working at her mom’s clothing store, having adventures with her best friend, and maybe even starting to wear the hijab—just like her big sister.

Everything changes when a boy from her community starts messaging her and following her around, even showing up at the store while she’s working! Ainy knows his behavior isn’t okay, but she can’t find the words to tell the people around her how the unwanted attention makes her uncomfortable.

Finally, Ainy decides that she needs to start wearing the hijab to get him to leave her alone. She’s always used fashion to express herself, so maybe now she can use it to become invisible.

But things don’t get any better—and Ainy starts to realize that she’s lost her own sparkle along the way. Maybe she can’t handle this all on her own. With the help of her best friend and her sister, Ainy must find a way to stand her ground and get the respect that she knows she deserves—no matter how she looks. —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press

There’s been a lot of buzz for Any Way You Look and for good reason. It’s an engaging read that empowers young readers to stand up for themselves.

FRONT DESK BOOKS 4 AND 5, BY KELLY YANG

If you’re looking for an excellent group of books for the summer, Kelly Yang’s Front Desk series — Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player and Top Story — is a great option. The series follows Mia Tang, a girl whose family immigrated to the United States from China in hopes of better opportunities. Yang balances heavy topics — poverty, racism — with humor, and her books are filled with hope.

KEY PLAYER (FRONT DESK #4), by Kelly Yang, Scholastic Press; Reprint edition, May 7, 2024, Paperback, $8.99 (ages 8-12)

The Women’s World Cup is coming to Southern California, and everyone has soccer fever―especially Mia Tang! The U.S. team is playing China in the finals, and Mia feels like her two identities are finally coming together. But when her P.E. teacher gives her a C, Mia tries to pull up her grade by scoring interviews with the championship teams. It’s not so easy when . . .

1. 1. 1. The two teams are hunkered down in secret hotels in Pasadena and not taking any media requests.
      2. Mr. Yao is back at the motel―as a co-owner! Jason is sure his dad deserves a second chance. Mia is not so sure.
      3. Mia’s parents are trying to buy a house of their very own, which turns out to be a LOT harder than they thought!

As Mia aims for her goals, she’ll have to face strikers from all corners, as well as her own fears. But if anyone can find a way to win big, it’s Mia Tang! —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press

TOP STORY (FRONT DESK #5), by Kelly Yang, Scholastic Press, Sept. 5, 2023, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)

Mia Tang is at the top of her game!

She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story―one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco . . .

1. 1. 1. Mia’s camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion?
      2. Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend?
      3. Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason―gulp―that she has a crush on him?

Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell a top story, it’s Mia Tang! —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.