The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor Graphic Novel Historical Fiction Tween Grades 6+ * * * * Stars (Great!) It’s 1885, and Mei lives in a logging camp with her father who runs the kitchen, while she makes the most delicious pies. She sees all of the inequalities between the white workers and the Chinese ones (and other people of color), though – in pay, room and board. She also sees it … Read more
Miss Quinces By Kat Fajardo Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Tween (grades 6+) * * * * Stars (Great!) Suyapa loves manga and drawing comics and wishes she could go to summer camp with her friends (who are into the same things), but her mami is very strict (she says NO, absolutely not), and the family is going to Honduras to visit family. While they are there, Suyapa learns that her mami has planned a surprise … Read more
Furyborn Empirium trilogy, book #1 by Claire Legrand Adventure Fantasy Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Rielle Dardenne and Eliana Ferracora are centuries apart. But they are more connected than they ever thought. In this story the two girls find they have great power that can destroy or save the world. I enjoyed this very much because it keeps you on your toes and always wondering. I enjoy many fantasy books, … Read more
A Discovery of Witches All Souls trilogy, book #1 by Deborah Harkness Adventure Fantasy Romance (for older teens, adults) Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Diana Bishop is a historian and a witch. In this story, Diana unexpectedly discovers a bewitched manuscript, forcing her into the world of magic and magical creatures. Along the way she gets help from Vampire Matthew Clairmont. This story is rated 5 stars becuse Deborah Harkness was … Read more
Shadow and Bone Shadow and Bone/Grisha trilogy, book #1 by Leigh Bardugo Adventure Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Alina Starkou was once an orphan, but then on a trip through the Shadow fold forces her to reveal her unique power that throws her into the world of Grisha. Along the road of finding out what powers she holds, she thinks there is more to the story of the darkling than … Read more
Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl Adventure Fantasy Mystery Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This book is about 5 friends who go back to a mansion for a friend reunion. Around midnight they get into a car crash and realize that they are living the same day over and over. It is up to them to figure out how to get out of the Neverworld and back into real time. who will make … Read more
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Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier written by Jim Ottaviani illustrated by Maris Wicks Biography Graphic Novel History Nonfiction Tween (grades 5+), Teen, Adult * * * * Stars (Great!) This nonfiction graphic novel written from the point of view of astronaut Mary Cleave, tells the story of how women made their way into space (specifically looks at the history and achievements of Russian and American female astronauts)! It was initially a struggle to get … Read more
Alone by Megan E. Freeman Novel in Verse Realistic Fiction Survival Suspense Tween (grades 6+) * * * Stars (Pretty good) Maddie and her friends plan a sleepover at her grandmother’s apartment while grandma is away. Everyone is supposed to lie to their parents about where they’ll be, so Maddie’s parents, who are divorced, each think she is staying with the other one. Their plans fall through, so Maddie winds up being the only one … Read more
Dear Student by Elly Swartz Realistic Fiction Tween (grades 4-8) * * * Stars (Pretty good) Autumn is starting 6th grade with a lot of life changes. Her dad recently joined the Peace Corps to make a difference in the world, and as a result, the rest of their family has had to move out of their big house and into a small apartment. Her best friend also just moved across the country, and Autumn … Read more