The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore, TP $10.99

"Where I live, it's all about borders. And territories. And crews. When you're a little kid in Harlem, you can pretty much do anything, as long as you're careful. But when you start to get old - about my age, twelve - things start to change."

When my mom asked me what my book of the year was, The Stars Beneath Our Feet was the first book that came to mind. Then I hesitated, because it's a pretty dark book. The main character is named Lolly. His brother has just died and his whole world has changed. But it's so well-written, funny, and deep, and it really made me think, and for that reason, it really stuck with me. So while I don't recommend it for anyone under 11 or anyone who doesn't enjoy realistic fiction on tougher subjects, it's still my book of the year.

(Henry is 11 years old.)