Matteo

Leali (The Civil War of Amos Abernathy) tackles the booms and busts of small-town life alongside themes of acceptance in this feel-good, Pinocchio-inspired tale. When 11-year-old white-cued adoptee Matteo Lorenzini's Black best friend--and secret crush--Omar Jones made the Creekside Blue Whales baseball team last year, it caused a rupture in their friendship. But this year, Matteo is on the team as well, and Omar now defends Matteo from their teammates' bullying. Baseball and school life soon become the least of Matteo's worries, however, when he starts sprouting leaves and bark every time he lies in an attempt to avoid embarrassment. He confides in his Latinx-cued best friend Azura Gonzalez, who speculates that Matteo's foliage woes could be connected to Creekside's beloved and ailing giant oak tree. While Matteo and Azura try to figure out the connection between his powers and the tree, he uses his abilities to scare bullies, reconnect with Omar, and uncover more about his birth family's past. Though the story's many plot threads get a bit woolly, Leali sensitively renders Matteo's worries about his changing body and budding sexuality via a sweet fairy tale--like atmosphere, charming characters, and fantastical premise. Ages 8--12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (May)

"The tree chose me to stop the lies and find the truth." Every small town hides secrets, but in Creekside, they're rooted as deeply as the beloved ancient oak that watches over the town. For 11-year-old Matteo Lorenzini, the tree is not just history, but entwined with his own story in more ways than even he knows. But the tree is dying, and as the day it's slated to be cut down approaches, strange things start happening that Matteo can't explain. In working to save tree and town alike, he must discover not only who he is, but who he was in order to stop the blight of secrets. Much like leaves changing color with the seasons, this story smoothly and without any fanfare shifts from baseball bildungsroman to a riff on the story of Pinocchio to fabulism. Although the descriptive prose is a bit clumsy at times, the plot quickly gains momentum that builds to a wonderfully touching ending. Complex issues such as family relationships, masculinity, homophobia, bullying, mental health, and more are tackled with sensitivity and grace. Young readers will find it easy to empathize with bright, passionate, insecure Matteo, and the supporting characters' rich inner lives provide great depth to the story. Matteo is White; the secondary cast is racially diverse. Tear-jerking and heartwarming in equal measure. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.