The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams

Set in 1944 in Sutton, N.Y., against the backdrop of WWII, this moving examination of pain and power stars bookish, white 13-year-old Poppy Fulbright, who must navigate the painful death of a friend, her brother's all-consuming grief, and their father's sudden illness while managing the family's magical, moody bookshop, which appears to individuals throughout time who need books and community. Despite the promise that she and her brothers, nine-year-old James and 18-year-old Allan, would adhere to the shop's generations-old rules--including never using its magic for their own gain--Poppy begins to suspect something is amiss when the store begins acting out of character. Worried that Allan is at fault and determined to set things right, Poppy enlists the help of Theo Devlin, a young white shopkeeper at another magical store who understands Poppy's heartache; 14-year-old Ollie Bell, the energetic, light brown-skinned courier who delivers to the shop; and regulars at the shop whom Poppy has come to consider family. Just as the sentient, time-traveling bookstore functions as a comforting haven, Thompson's poignant debut offers an opportunity for readers to gently explore the ways in which people respond to and accept loss. Ages 8-12. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Oct.)

Gr 4-6--If you had access to forbidden magic and could use it to save a life of a close friend, would you do it? The Fulbright family has run the Rhyme and Reason Bookshop for three generations--one of a handful of bookstores that exist outside of time and maintain the world's magic. But the Dark side of magic is always looking for a way in. It has found one in Poppy's older brother Al, who is devastated by the death of his best friend on a World War II battlefield. The Dark tempts Al to use the store's magic to save his friend, which is absolutely forbidden. Poppy is similarly tempted when their father is struck by a mysterious illness, but she has a closer relationship to the bookstore, and knows she must stop Al, no matter what the cost. She is helped by old friend Ollie Bell and new friend Theo Devlin, plus the shop's many customers, who come from various times and backgrounds. Poppy is a likable and realistic character, with a strong sense of duty that adds gravity to the hard decision she must make. She and her family are white, Ollie is Black, and the rest of the cast is diverse. VERDICT A cozy fantasy with a heartbreaking twist.--Mara Alpert, Los Angeles P.L.