A Witch Alone Apprentice Witch #2 by James Nicol Fantasy Juvenile Fiction Mystery Tween Young Adult Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Arianwyn’s experience with the forgotten glyphs brings her to the attention of the High Elder, who wants her to go on a quest to retrieve a special book that is supposed to contain more of them. Although Arianwyn will have companions, they aren’t allowed to reveal the true purpose of their mission. … Read more
Space Boy (series) by Stephen McCranie Graphic Novel Mystery Realistic Fiction Science Fiction Teen Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing) When Amy’s father loses his job at the mine, the family is forced to leave the mining colony and return to Earth – a journey that will require them to be cryogenically frozen (so they will not age) and will take 30 years. By the time they arrive, Amy’s best friend Jemma will … Read more
The Companion by Katie Alender Mystery Suspense Thriller Teen * * * Stars (Pretty good) After a terrible car accident leaves Margot an orphan, she is taken in by a wealthy family who knew her father. Thinking she has found a new home, Margot discovers that her role is different than she expected. The Suttons’ hospitality is conditional. They expect Margot to be a companion to their teenage daughter, Agatha, who has a mysterious illness … Read more
Better Together by Christine Riccio Funny LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Romance YA (older teen) * * * Stars (Pretty good) Two sisters, separated in early childhood, are reunited in their young adulthood at a retreat where they form a plan to get revenge on their parents, whose poor decisions have torn their family apart. Jamie, the older sister, is an aspiring stand-up comedian, who was just evicted from her apartment after bombing her first long set. … Read more
The Apprentice Witch Apprentice Witch #1 by James Nicol Fantasy Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Something goes horribly wrong during Arianwyn’s assessment and it’s only through her powerful and respected grandmother’s influence that she’s given a position as an apprentice witch in the town of Lull, bordering the Great Wood (where all manner of dark and dangerous magical beings lurk). Despite her test results, Arianwyn does admirably well in her new position. … Read more
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley Realistic Fiction Romance (sort of) Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Rachel and Henry were best friends for years and just when Rachel decided to declare her love for him, pretty, perky Amy came along and swept him off his feet, but was wrong for him in so many other ways. Rachel moved away and successfully put Henry out of her mind and started dating someone else, … Read more
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson LGBTQ+ Magical Realism Realistic Fiction Science Fiction Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Henry Denton has been abducted by aliens countless times. They perform all kinds of experiments on him, then return him to Earth – naked and inconveniently far from home. He made the mistake of talking about it once, which earned him eternal bullying and the moniker “Space Boy.” Now the aliens have given … Read more
Ash and Quill Great Library #3 by Rachel Caine Fantasy Suspense Thriller Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) #3 in the Great Library series – Jess and his friends narrowly avoid capture by the Library’s High Garda, but land themselves in the hands of a whole city (Philadelphia) of book burners. When their attempts to convince the Burners to aid them fail, they come up with another escape plan, but at a terrible cost … Read more
What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy Funny Science Fiction Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Eddie, Rosa, Trevor, and Brad (among others) are vying for a coveted space on NASA’s Interworlds Agency team. After a battery of tests measuring not only their mental and physical aptitude, the ranks have been thinned. Those who are ultimately selected will undergo a rigorous training program that will teach them how to pilot a spacecraft, survive outside of … Read more
Long Distance by Whitney Gardner Graphic Novel Mystery Science Fiction Tween * * * Stars (Pretty good) Vega’s dads have just moved their family to Seattle, Washington, and they’re sending Vega to camp so she can make some new friends. Vega isn’t super keen on this idea. Although she misses her bff, Halley, Vega doesn’t think she needs any more friends in her life. Camp Very Best Friend is definitely weird. The counselors are creepily … Read more