These three books poignantly explore characters whose relationships to the past heavily influence their present.

Fodor, Kate & Laurie Petrou. The Rehearsal Club. 352p. Groundwood. Feb. 2025. pap. $17.99. ISBN 9781773069913.
Gr 5 Up–Pal (short for Paloma) has just moved to New York City from Arizona with her parents, and it’s a big adjustment. Her older sister Naomi already lives in the city as a resident of “The Rehearsal Club,” a women’s boardinghouse for aspiring performers. A budding comedienne, Pal, 12, loves the club and dreams of living in such a place where there are supportive friends, humor, and all things performance. Naomi sneaks her little sister into the club as an unsanctioned guest. Pal is supposed to lay low and not attract attention to herself, but, in her usual way, she ignores all directives and stumbles upon a mystery surrounding a former resident. Why did Posy get kicked out of the house back in 1954? In a series of back-and-forth chapters between that year and the present, the book introduces readers to Posy’s roommate Olive, and are gradually drawn into their story. This book is a delightful collaboration of two authors who know a lot about show business, and the cast of characters is diverse. One character uses they/them pronouns and is an introvert, characteristics that are nicely integrated into the storyline. Along with a pleasantly satisfying conclusion, the book includes an afterword that explains the real Rehearsal Club and its role in NYC theater. VERDICT Readers who love mysteries, along with singing and dancing, will enjoy this clever story that opens an intriguing window into theater history.–Anne Jung-Mathews

Mackler, Carolyn. Right Back at You. 240p. Scholastic. Mar. 2025. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781338734218.
Gr 4-8–Twelve-year-old Mason has been instructed by his therapist, Barb, to write a letter about his unhappy life to “anybody or nobody,” so he writes a letter to Albert Einstein and hides it in his closet. Mason is distraught by his parents’ recent separation and the relentless bullying he’s getting at school. Much to his surprise, he finds his closet letter gone, with a letter to him in its place, supposedly from a girl named Talia in 1987. Talia is also 12, also a baseball lover, and is dealing with her own middle school worries including being ditched by her best friend and getting teased for being half-Jewish. Initially skeptical, both Talia and Mason come to believe they’re in a wormhole, time-travel situation. While not Jewish, Mason lives in New York City and knows many Jewish people, so he and Talia bond over discussions of antisemitism, bullying, parental issues, and sibling difficulties. Mackler (Not If I Can Help It) imbues humor throughout, such as Mason trying to explain Google, Amazon, and smartphones to a confused Talia. As the preteens’ friendship grows, they find more in common than they originally thought, and help each other with their respective issues. VERDICT Through authentic and likable characters, readers will learn much about the Holocaust and antisemitism, as well as the importance of leaning on friends and family for support.–Michele Shaw

Stuart, Dean. Cassi and the House of Memories. illus. by Dean Stuart. 272p. Viking. Feb. 2025. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780593351123.
Gr 4-7–Cassi is a young girl who loves her grandfather Charlie very much. She enjoys talking with and playing hide-and-seek with him. Sometimes, though, Grandpa forgets things, and when that happens, it can be scary for both of them. Stuart takes readers on a journey into Grandpa’s memories along with Cassi, expounding why memories can be so difficult to traverse. This is an elegantly written and beautifully illustrated look into the early stages of dementia through the eyes of family. The characters are charming and easy to recognize, even when the story shifts to the past. Charlie’s story, though not told chronologically, is thoughtfully tied together with images from his past. The artwork is a stunning watercolor display, showcasing all the emotion within the story. The memories are abstract at times, but easy to follow with Cassi as guide. The linework is both simple and complex, keeping readers in the point-of-view of a very young girl whose imagination is alive and thriving. As Cassi navigates through her grandfather’s triumphs and losses, readers are treated to the spectrum of color and a wonderful play on shadow and light. Meanwhile, the dialogue is fun and fast-paced enough to maintain interest throughout. VERDICT An absolutely delightful and touching family story with wonderful art, and a must-have for all shelves.–Lauren Sullivan