Top 20 Books of 2021: 5-1

20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1

5: Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman [Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin Random House) | Grades 5-9
Because Dr. Padma Venkatraman puts her compassionate heart on the page and makes every sentence sing. -John
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4: Starfish by Lisa Fipps [Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin Random House) | Grades 5 and Up]
Because it helps heal hearts and gives us an opportunity to think about and discuss our personal feelings about body image and bullying. -John

3: Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca [Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins) | Grades 3-7]
Because it examines and explains the mechanics of the human heart in the most poetic way. -John


2: The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene Yelchin [Candlewick Press | Grades 5 and Up]
Because Eugene Yelchin’s story of growing up behind the iron curtain is funny, sad, and hopeful. -Travis


1: The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall [Candlewick Press | Grades 3-7]
Because, in difficult times, a girl and a (literally) hard-headed goat bring hope and light. -John & Travis

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Filed under: Best of, Best of 2021
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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