Margin Notes

I absolutely loved this title.

Oh Brother is a graphic memoir by Georgina (Gina) Chadderton. As the story opens, Gina is spending the summer before she starts middle school moving into a new house with her family. Her brother, Rob, is autistic and has high support needs, so their home has to be set up in very specific ways to keep him safe. Doors and cupboards are secured, and even the fridge and windows have added safety measures. Early in the story, we see exactly why. Shortly after the family moves in, the new neighbours come over to let them know that Rob has somehow made his way into their living room.

You also learn so much about autism simply through the way Chadderton tells the story. Rob does not use many spoken words, but he communicates constantly through sounds, gestures, pointing, signing, and routines his family has learned to understand. The memoir gives readers a real sense of how frustrating it can be to know what you want or how you are feeling but not always be able to make other people understand.

But this is also very much Gina’s story. We experience life with Rob through the perspective of a sister who loves him deeply and can also feel embarrassed, worried, frustrated, protective, and completely overwhelmed. That honesty is part of what made the book feel so vulnerable and important.

There is another layer, too. In the back matter, Chadderton shares that she herself was diagnosed with autism as an adult. Knowing that makes you look back at Gina’s experiences differently and further challenges any narrow idea of what autism looks like.

Published as a middle grade graphic memoir, Oh Brother could be a powerful mirror for students who have neurodivergent siblings and an equally important window for readers who want to better understand autism, communication, family, and the complicated ways we love the people closest to us.

When I saw Jason Reynolds call this book a gift, I knew I was going to love it.

Shook follows Malik “Shake” Page, an eighth grader whose life revolves around basketball. Like many athletes, he knows exactly who he is: a ball player. Then he gets injured and can’t play. Shake is confronted with anxiety, changing relationships, and questions about who he is without the sport he loves. As much as this is a story about basketball, it is also a story about identity, mental health, and resilience.

One of the strengths of Shook is its portrayal of anxiety in the context of sports. Taking away the sport around which his life revolves brings underlying anxiety to the forefront. Randall captures anxiety through both emotional and physical experiences. This helps show that feelings can be difficult to name, especially for young people experiencing them for the first time. I also appreciated the inclusion of therapy, which is presented as a normal and helpful tool for working through challenges.

This is a novel in verse that uses space purposefully. Spacing, shape, font changes, and other visual elements reinforce emotions and experiences while drawing readers into the story. These features make the book accessible while also serving as a mentor text for how writers can use text structure meaningfully and intentionally.

I would recommend Shook to readers who enjoy novels in verse, sports stories, and realistic fiction. It will resonate with athletes, students navigating anxiety, and fans of authors such as Kwame Alexander and Jason Reynolds.

“It was like the magic of a library, the way the stories there made you feel connected to characters you’ve never met…Maybe that magic worked in real life, too, letting you see the layers underneath real-life people you thought were one-dimensional. It was so unexpected. Like how you weren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover, something I was guilty of doing.” (103)

This book is a love letter to librarians. It is a letter of hope to middle school students who are figuring out who they are in the mix of their parents, siblings, friends and classmates. In ROOHI AND NATE ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE, readers meet over-achiever Roohi, who spends her time in the library to avoid the jealousy of seeing her friends move on without her, and Nate, who spends his time skateboarding and trying to dodge the comparisons to his genius older brother. This unlikely pair find themselves joining a lunch book club and connecting through the pages of a fictional text. And, yes, the book is about Roohi and Nate; but, it’s really about how libraries and books are a place for finding yourself, interpreting the world around you and (can be) a refuge from everyday pressures.

The storytelling uses dual first-person narration. Roohi’s chapters are written by Kelkar, while Nate’s are written and illustrated by Lerner. The book is filled with doodles and sketches that reflect each character’s specific style. Beyond the unlikely friends trope, the plot explores student activism. When the group learns that their librarian’s job is being cut due to budget constraints, they take action, showing how young people can use their voices to advocate for change. I also appreciated that the ending doesn’t tie everything up neatly, which reflects the complexities of real life.

Roohi’s storyline will appeal to avid readers who are always reaching for their next book, while Nate’s perspective is perfect for students who haven’t yet found themselves in reading. This book would also make an excellent read-aloud, opening up conversations about books and libraries, but also about the value of different voices, the experiences students bring with them, and what it means to shape your own story.

An Octopus Named Houdini by Zana Fraillon is a hug in book form, a slimy, wet, eight-armed, nine-brained, three-hearted, 3,154 suckered hug.

Through a tenacious octopus aptly named Houdini, this sweet, illustrated middle-grade novel in verse explores some surprisingly big questions. Is captivity ever the right choice for wild animals? Is safety always more important than happiness and freedom? Just because humans can make these decisions for other creatures, does that give us the right?

These are heavy topics, but Fraillon makes them easy to understand through the story of Houdini, an aquarium octopus with a talent for escaping, and Juno, the aquarium owner’s daughter. Before the two meet, Houdini spends their nights slipping out of the tank, collecting treasures for their den, spraying Joe, the nighttime cleaner, and making messes just to hear him roar. But Houdini is always drawn to the washroom drain, where they can hear the sea calling.

When Juno is suspended from school and has to go to work with her father, an unlikely friendship begins. Juno seems to understand Houdini in a way most others cannot. The two share an almost inexplicable, soul-level connection. Juno recognizes that humans and other creatures experience the world differently and that we could learn something by being open to new perspectives: “Sometimes Houds, people need to be shown a different way of seeing.”

Juno imagines a new kind of aquarium that might keep Houdini without depriving them of the freedom that comes from a life lived in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, like many great ideas, her plan costs too much money. But the story does not leave us without hope. The people in Houdini’s life may see things differently, but each of them cares about what is best for Houdini.

One thing I especially love, and think students will too, is the collection of fascinating octopus facts included at the beginning and end of the book. Did you know octopuses can solve problems, navigate mazes, use tools, plan ahead, and even predict what might happen to them? I didn’t.

With its short verse format, illustrations, humour, and unforgettable main character, An Octopus Named Houdini is an inviting choice for middle-school readers. It would also open up rich conversations about animal captivity, empathy, freedom, and what can happen when we learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Students are sure to fall in love with Houdini and root for them all the way through.

Releases October 20, 2026

“What separates good players from great players when the game is on the line?”

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, authored by Kobe Bryant and published in 2018, is one of the most motivating books I have read because it shows what it truly takes to become great at what you do, or even the best. As someone who plays basketball, I connected with this book because Kobe talks about the work nobody sees behind the scenes. This book is not just about scoring points or winning games, it’s about discipline, confidence, and always pushing yourself harder. He teaches the readers that “great things come from hard work and perseverance.” The book kept me interested the whole time because it felt real and inspiring.

The main themes in this book are hard work, perseverance, leadership, and self-belief. Kobe explains that talent can help, but talent alone is never enough if you do not outwork others. As a basketball player, I understand how practice, repetition, and effort can separate players from each other. Kobe believed success came from staying consistent every day, even when tired. He also shows that mistakes and losses can make you better if you learn from them. This makes the book meaningful because Kobe says, “Everything negative—pressure, challenges—is all an opportunity for me to rise.”

This book is different from a biography because it’s more like a breakdown of Kobe’s mindset, career moments, and training habits. He talks about how he prepared for games, studied opponents, and stayed focused under pressure. That part stood out to me because basketball is not only physical, but also mental. There are also many photos that make Kobe’s book more interesting and show important moments from his career. The pictures help readers feel connected to the stories. They also make the book more exciting to read overall.

In the book is Kobe Bryant comes across as determined, intelligent, confident, and extremely focused on being the best version of himself. He never accepted average effort and always wanted more from himself. As an athlete, I respect that mindset because improvement only happens when you push yourself. His attitude shows that greatness comes from discipline and sacrifice. Kobe’s mindset is clear when he says, “The thing you can control is the amount of effort you choose to put in.” I liked this book because it motivated me and made me think differently about basketball and success. It shows if you want results, you must put in the work when nobody is watching. I also liked the photos because they made the book feel more personal and intense.

However, the lessons about hard work and mindset can help anyone, not just basketball players. It made me want to train harder and stay focused on my goals. Kobe’s meaning in his writing is direct and very powerful. His word choice shows confidence and passion, which matches the way he played. He writes in a way that feels like advice from someone who has already reached the top. This shows how much experience he gained through this mindset and his many years playing basketball, helping youth and future generations learn from his mindset, techniques, and advice. A strong quote from the book is, “One thing you can control is effort.” This quote means no matter what happens, effort is always your choice.

You cannot control every result, but you can control how hard you’re willing to work. That message connects to basketball because effort matters in practice, games, and training. It also connects to school and life goals. It’s simple, but very powerful.

I would recommend this book to basketball players, athletes, teenagers, and anyone who wants motivation. It’s especially good for players who want to improve mentally, not just physically. Even people who don’t play sports can learn a lot from Kobe Bryant’s mindset. The book teaches readers to stay focused, stay disciplined and never be satisfied with average. Many students can relate to wanting success and improvement. This book can inspire a lot of people from all around the world. As Kobe would say, “It’s more than just basketball.”

Nathan Bohadur is a Grade 10 student at Fredericton High School and a passionate basketball player. He chose to recommend “Mamba Mentality: How I Play Basketball” because he believes its lessons about discipline, hard work, and perseverance can help anyone, not just athletes.  Nathan has earned both academic and athletic awards, including basketball championships and track and field honours, and enjoys spending time with his family when he is not on the court or on the track. 

The Obsession by Natasha Preston is a perfectly crafted thriller novel based around a family consisting of a mother and two daughters. The eldest daughter, Isla, is in Grade 12, but the story mainly focuses on the youngest daughter, Connie, who is in Grade 11 and just got her license. Their mom has found joy in exposing both their lives on social media and films videos, which are referred to as vlogs in the story.

Isla doesn’t mind being filmed, but Connie despises it. Yes, it got them a nice house in a wealthy neighbourhood, but is having a nice house worth risking your happiness for? Isla is about to graduate; therefore, she sets out to tour colleges. Her mother thinks that this is a perfect opportunity to vlog, so while Isla and their mom are out hunting for colleges, Connie is left alone for two weeks.

As you can imagine, Connie is overjoyed.

But that joy quickly turns to panic as the days go by while she is home alone without her family. She has her friends and her boyfriend, who she has to hide from her mother because “she doesn’t want to add a girlfriend or boyfriend dynamic into the vlogs.” But they can’t keep her safe from a potential stalker… or can they?

The writing style of this author is very descriptive and immersive. She helps you see the plot and themes through description, such as describing emotions like fear and anxiety. She puts it into words so easily, which is incredibly outstanding.

I would recommend this book to older audiences due to strong language and parts of the plot, as well as anyone with a background or interest in social media, or anyone who enjoys thrillers with a touch of romance.

Overall, I loved this book.

Margaret McLaggan, or Maggie as her friends call her, was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick in late 2010. Growing up she was an avid writer, mainly focused on the thriller genre, which ultimately led her to be interested in forensic psychology. Maggie attends Fredericton High School and is about to start Grade 11. Soon to be 16, Maggie is very close with her family and is involved with the professional wrestling community in her area, known as “Capital City Wrestling,” or CCW. Still living in Fredericton, which she has her whole life, The Obsession was her fourth book review! WOW!