The Renegades Renegades book #1 by Marissa Meyer Adventure Dystopian Science Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Nova is an Anarchist looking to bring down the groups of superheroes known as The Renegades. In trying to do so, she joins the Renegades as a superhero where she must go undercover and discover information to bring down the Renegades once and for all. It was very imaginative and fun to read. For … Read more
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw Adventure Historical Fiction Mystery Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) What would it be like to live in the time of Queen Tiy, mother to Amenhotep IV? Ranofer does just that. He is a young Egyptian boy, who longs to be a goldsmith like his father. Unfortunately, his father dies and leaves Ranofer in the grips of his half-brother, Gebu. Ranofer’s life becomes miserable until … Read more
House Arrest House Arrest #1 by K.A. Holt Diary Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) The main character, Timothy, struggles with a difficult life. He has an absent father, and a mother who always has to work so they can pay for his at-risk brother. Timothy gets into trouble trying to find money for his brother’s medication, putting him on house arrest. When things finally seem to get better, Timothy has … Read more
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera Dystopian LGBTQ+ Romance Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) “They Both Die at the End” is about a world where you get a call on the day you will die. The two main characters get the call and decide to befriend each other on their last day. They spend the whole day together fitting in as much as possible, while letting themselves let go … Read more
When We Collided by Emery Lord Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) “When We Collided” is a book about two teenagers who meet after the main character (Vivi) moves to California for the summer. She’s dealing with bipolar disorder and her new love interest (Jonah) is dealing with grief after the loss of a family member. They quickly fall in love, but it might just break them, or it will … Read more
Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) “Lily and Dunkin” is about two middle-schoolers who have to learn to deal with life while finding themselves. Lily is a transgender girl trying to embrace who she is, and Duncan is a boy who is dealing with mental illness. They slowly figure out who they are and grow together even through the tough years of middle school. … Read more
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo Adventure Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” is a book told about a rabbit (Edward Tulane). He lives very comfortably in a home with a loving family. He gets used to a set routine and way of life. One day he gets lost and starts to learn more about life and how different people live it. Eventually he … Read more
Catherine’s War by Julia Billet illustrated by Claire Fauvel translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger Graphic Novel Historical Fiction WWII/Holocaust (for grades 5+, teens, and adults) In 1942, teenager Rachel Cohen finds herself at the Children’s Home boarding school in Sevres France, after her parents send her there for her safety. World War II is being fought throughout France and the Germans are invading. As a Jewish person, Rachel is in an even more dangerous position and … Read more
Possums Are NOT Cute! And Other Myths About Nature’s Most Misunderstood Critter by Ally Burguieres Nonfiction (for 5th grade – adult) * * * * Stars (Great!) Ally Burguieres got involved with wildlife rehabilitation (specifically helping opossums survive illness, injury, and loss) and never looked back! She discovered that many of the ideas people held about opossums were misconceptions – they were not ugly, dirty, or aggressive. In fact, they were adorable, clean, shy, and … Read more
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides Realistic Fiction (for older teens + adults) Review #1 “The Virgin Suicides” is about 5 teenage girls (the Lisbon sisters) who live in a strict household. A group of anonymous boys watch the girls as they commit suicide one by one. Over the course of a year, the boys slowly fall in love with the idea of the Lisbon girls. They watch from afar to find out why they … Read more