Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer Wimpy Kid series, #18 By Jeff Kinney Funny Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars Great! Greg Heffley’s middle school is in trouble. There have been a lot of budget cuts and the state is threatening to close the school if they don’t bring up their test scores. Greg relays – in hilarious detail – all of the ways the school administration has attempted to cut expenses as … Read more
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Science Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) When Ryland Grace awakes from an induced coma, he finds himself aboard a spaceship, hurtling towards who knows where, on a mission to do who knows what. His two crewmates are dead, and as he recuperates from his long sleep, he slowly regains his memories. Earth is in great peril from an organism that is draining the sun’s energy, and … Read more
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran Horror Supernatural Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) Jade is coerced into staying with her father in Vietnam for 5 weeks to receive money for her college tuition from him. Her sister, brother and mother will also be traveling to Vietnam but since her parents are separated her mother and brother, who has chosen not to spend time with his father, will be staying with … Read more
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher Adventure Fantasy Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) When Princess Marra learns that her older sister is trapped in an abusive relationship, she vows to find a way to release her from her torment. This involves a lengthy quest to acquire the tools and companions she needs to do so – a bone dog, a gravewitch, her own fairy godmother (who is actually much better at curses than … Read more
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi Science Fiction Suspense * * * * Stars (Great!) Jamie Gray finds himself out of work when the food delivery startup he works for downsizes him during the pandemic. Fortuitously, an acquaintance offers him a job with an animal rights organization he works for – conveniently leaving out the fact that the “animals” are in fact not of this world and that he’ll need to travel to another … Read more
Oh, Theodore By Susan Katz Illustrated by Stacey Schuett Picture book Poetry * * * Stars (Pretty good) This book of connected poems tells the story of a boy and his guinea pig, Theodore, incorporating really well the guinea pig nature (all their noises and behaviors), Theodore’s unique personality, the care he requires, and the friendship/love that develops between the boy and his peeg. Gets my Wheek! of approval! Reviewed by YA Librarian
A History of Me by Adrea Theodore Illustrated by Erin K. Robinson Biography Picture Book * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Powerful. Based on the author’s own experiences going to school and feeling singled out as the only brown person, feeling embarrassment when learning about slavery and civil rights along with her classmates – all white. Loving to learn, grateful for the opportunities that her grandmother and great grandmother did not have, but… Having … Read more
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey Science Fiction Suspense Thriller Older teen/adult * * * * Stars (Great!) Melanie attends classes with a number of other little kids, but she’s special. They all are in some respects, but Melanie’s intelligence, determination, and self-control set her apart. As the story unfolds, told from different characters’ perspectives, readers discover that the children are different in other ways, too, ways that require them to be … Read more
The Farm by Joanne Ramos Realistic Fiction adults * * * Stars (Pretty good) Follows the stories/viewpoints of several women involved in Golden Oaks aka “The Farm,” where female surrogates carry the fetuses of well-paying customers to term – receiving bonuses for good behavior and successful births. Jane’s older cousin convinces her to interview for The Farm after she loses her position as a baby nurse, and feels she has no other viable options. When … Read more
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles Realistic Fiction Juvenile Fiction Grades 3-7 * * * Stars (Pretty good) Comfort Snowberger’s family runs Snowberger’s Funeral Home Empire in Snapfinger, Mississippi. After her great great aunt Florentine passes away, the family has to attend its own services, and each of them deal with grief in their own way. For Comfort, she loves and misses her aunt, but because her aunt was older and was always … Read more