YA Librarian

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Read It and Rate It

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Historical Fiction LGBTQ+ Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Aristotle Mendoza is angry. At 15 years old, his older brother’s in prison, his father seems a million miles away, and he wakes up every morning hoping the world will be different. Then one day he meets Dante. In Ari’s head, Dante’s a kid who’s his exact opposite. Ari … Read more

Aru Shah and the End of Time – Read It and Rate It

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Aru Shah and the End of Time Aru Shah series, book #1 by Roshani Chokshi Adventure Fantasy Hinduism Supernatural Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) One day three of her classmates show up at Aru’s doorstep to catch her lying. They don’t believe the “Diya of Bharata” in the museum is cursed, so they dare Aru to prove it. Overwhelmed, Aru lights the Diya with dire consequences, as she unwittingly frees the Sleeper, … Read more

Goodbye, Stranger – Read It and Rate It

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Goodbye, Stranger by Rebecca Stead Friendship Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) Bridget (Bridge) Barsamian is an accident survivor. Her life has never been the same since a near-death roller-skating accident left her paralyzed for a year. Her nurse’s words about her surviving for a reason haunt her mind and she often wonders what that reason is. 2 years ago Bridge, Tabitha (Tab), and Emily (Em) made a pact to never, … Read more

Scythe – Read It and Rate It

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Scythe Arc of a Scythe, book #1 by Neal Shusterman Dystopian Science Fiction Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) “Scythe” follows the story of 2 protagonists: Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch. The book starts within Scythe Curie’s gleaning journal where she explains the history of their civilization and how humans became immortal and created the Scythedom – an organization of Scythes. The Scythes are trained to “glean,” which is killing … Read more

You Have a Match – book review

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You Have a Match by Emma Lord Mystery Realistic Fiction Romance * * * Stars (Pretty good) When Abby’s best friends convince her to get a DNA test she doesn’t expect to find that she has a secret older sister. But the more she learns the more indisputable the facts are. After meeting Savannah (Savvy), who has a huge social media presence, Abby decides to attend the same summer camp where Savvy is working – … Read more

One of Us Is Lying – book review

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One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus Mystery Realistic Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Four high school students end up in detention together under false pretenses, and become suspects in a murder investigation when the only other teen in detention with them suddenly dies. Traces of peanut oil (he was highly allergic) are found on the cup he drank from and his epi pen is missing (as are emergency … Read more

Allegedly – book review

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Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson Mystery Realistic Fiction Suspense * * * * Stars (Great!) Fifteen year old Mary Addison is in a halfway house after being released from “baby jail” where she’s been since she was convicted (at the age of nine) of killing a baby. Alyssa (the baby) was left in Mary’s mother’s care while her parents were out, and when neither Mary nor her mother could calm her (she wouldn’t stop crying), … Read more

Vern: Custodian of the Universe – book review

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Vern: Custodian of the Universe Tyrell Waiters Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * Stars When Vern’s prospects dry up he moves back home and his grandma immediately gets him a job as custodian at a tech company called Quasar. It’s not what he’d expected. He *does* have to clean up a lot of messes, but they seem to involve weird eyeballs creeping through spatial rifts. Vern eventually discovers that Quasar is messing with … Read more

Teen Try Its: Henna Gallery (June 2023)

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Teens used henna to create temporary body art in this fun program. They also each received a custom henna design courtesy of our visiting artist, Rebecca Huston (Heathen Ink Tattoo). While waiting for their henna to dry (or to receive their designs), they created nylon tattoo sleeves. Here are some photos from the event:

Sister of the Bollywood Bride – Read It and Rate It

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Sister of the Bollywood Bride by Nandini Bajpai Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The book “Sister of the Bollywood Bride” follows the protagonist, Mini Kapoor (short for Padmini), whose older sister Vinnie Kapoor is getting married over the summer. Vinnie is known as the over-achiever Indian daughter who is currently in the second year of her medical residency. She met her future husband there and he is named … Read more