YA Librarian Reviews

Dire Days of Willowweep Manor – book review

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The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity & Christopher Baldwin Adventure Funny Graphic Novel Supernatural Tween * * * Stars (Pretty good) Haley loves gothic novels like “Wuthering Heights,” so she’s not too traumatized when she gets sucked into an alternate/gasket universe – Willowweep Manor – that follows all the same rules as the stories she adores. Unfortunately, Willowweep Manor is under attack by an evil being from another world that is … Read more

When Stars Are Scattered – book review

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When Stars Are Scattered Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction (based on true story) Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Omar and his younger brother Hassan fled their village in Somalia when it was overrun by men with guns. They made their way, along with other refugees, to a camp in Kenya where they waited for years for something to happen – to find their mother who became separated from … Read more

Space Boy #11 – book review

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Space Boy #11 by Stephen McCranie Graphic Novel Mystery Science Fiction Teen * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The continuation of Oliver’s story as events upon the Arno unfold. His father secrets him inside the core to keep him safe while power systems all over the ship continue to fail. When Oliver can wait no longer for his family to join him, he climbs out and discovers that he’s completely alone. What could have … Read more

Wee Free Men – book review

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Wee Free Men Tiffany Aching #1 (Discworld) by Terry Pratchett Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) Tiffany Aching is a young woman with a good head on her shoulders. She’s also a fledgling witch whose world is being invaded by an evil queen whose favorite attack seems to be invading dreams. Tiffany has to use her witchy ways to defeat the queen and save her world. She has little experience in this, as she’s … Read more

Winter’s Promise – book review

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A Winter’s Promise The Mirror Visitor #1 by Christelle Dabos (translated from the French by Hildegarde Serle) Fantasy Mystery Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Ophelia isn’t pleased when she’s informed of her arranged marriage that will take her away from the work she loves – running her family’s museum and reading the pasts of objects by handling them. Her fiancé unceremoniously whisks her away to his family’s ark at the Pole where she’s … Read more

Bounce Back – book review

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Bounce Back by Misako Rocks! Graphic Novel Manga Realistic Fiction Sports (Basketball) Tween/Middle School * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Liliko’s family moves to Brooklyn New York just before she’s about to play in the championship basketball tournament with her team. She has to leave all of her friends behind and can’t lead her team to victory. But she’s hoping to join the basketball team at her new middle school (and make new friends, … Read more

In the Key of Nira Ghani – book review

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In the Key of Nira Ghani by Natasha Deen #own voices Realistic Fiction Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Nira Ghani’s parents have high expectations for her. She’s supposed to focus on her studies, get good grades, and become a doctor – something that would have been impossible if they’d stayed in Ghana. But Nira has other aspirations. She’s a talented musician and she wants study music and play trumpet professionally. Standing up for … Read more

Rogue Princess – book review

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Rogue Princess by B.R. Myers Cinderella retelling Romance Science Fiction Teen * * * Stars (Pretty good) Princess Delia has to choose a royal husband in order to solve her planet’s energy crisis, but finds herself falling for Aidan, whom she meets accidentally, when they bump into each other – he pretends to be her secret body guard (really, he’s looking for salvage he can sell to get off-planet) and she’s trying to escape her … Read more

Learning to Swear in America – book review

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Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy Funny Realistic Fiction Romance Suspense Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Yuri Strelnikov is a 17-year old boy genius physicist, on loan from Russia, whose research and theories on antimatter are suddenly in demand when an asteroid is sighted hurtling toward Earth. He and a team of scientists are responsible for finding a way to blast it out of existence or, failing that, knock it off … Read more

Wynd 1 – book review

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Wynd Book 1: Flight of the Prince by James Tynion IV + Michael Dialynas Fantasy Graphic Novel LGBTQ+ Teen/Adult * * * * Stars (Great!) When the King turns his attention to the “weirdbloods,” Wynd’s adoptive family attempts to sneak him out of town and get him somewhere safe. But the King’s henchman, the Bandaged Man, can sniff out anyone with magical blood and Wynd’s scent is particularly distictive. Their violent pursuit leaves a swathe … Read more