The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horowitz Fantasy Juvenile Fiction YA Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) 12-year-old Clementine is going to be the next Dark Lord Morcerous, after her father Elithor. And while she’s received endless instruction in her future responsibilities, her heart, her nature aren’t exactly suited to being really evil. To make matters worse, her father has been cursed by a power-hungry witch who intends to force him to cede … Read more
Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh Science Fiction Suspense Thriller Young Adult * * * Stars (Pretty good) Spheres, marble-like objects, suddenly appeared all over the planet one day and people discovered that different colored spheres gave them different abilities, gained by “burning” two spheres of the same color. 17-year-old David Sullivan’s (Sully) claim to fame is being swindled by a billionaire who bought an ultra-rare sphere off him, only to cancel payment when it didn’t … Read more
Unlocked Keeper of the Lost Cities #8.5 by Shannon Messenger Adventure Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) “Unlocked” by Shannon Messenger contains files on the characters in KOTLC, along with exclusive illustrations, records, and much more. There is a short, 400- page novel at the end of the book. As some of the last books in the series have had a sort of downward trend, I wasn’t sure what to think … Read more
Max & the Midnights: Battle of the Bodkins Max & the Midnights #2 by Lincoln Peirce Adventure Fantasy Funny Illustrated Fiction Juvenile Fiction Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) Max and her friends are back in this second Midknights book. They’ve all started down the paths to their future careers – Max is in knight school, Millie is learning magic, Kevyn is starting a Library, and Simon has discovered he has a gift with … Read more
Game Over MindWar #3 by Andrew Klavan Adventure Christian Science Fiction Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) This book especially caught my interest because it captured a supernatural fiction, suspense thriller and science fiction all in one. This book is number three of three in a trilogy. The book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story from the beginning to the end. Rick Dial is … Read more
#murdertrending #murdertrending #1 by Gretchen McNeil Horror Mystery Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) When Dee Guerrera wakes up, she’s about to be murdered by a celebrity serial killer in his deadly maze on the prison island Alcatraz 2.0. But somehow she survives and the killer doesn’t. That’s when she meets some of the other inmates – all convicted for grisly crimes and sentenced to live out the rest of their days on … Read more
The Tea Dragon Tapestry Tea Dragon Society #3 by Katie O’Neill Fantasy Graphic Novel Juvenile Fiction Teen Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Characters come together from the two previous books (The Tea Dragon Society and The Tea Dragon Festival) and continue to learn more about themselves and their tea dragons. Beautifully illustrated (the tea dragons themselves are so adorable!). Love the sense of love, community, and acceptance in these books. They just … Read more
Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte & Ann Xu Graphic Novel Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) When Cici’s family moves from Taiwan to Seattle, Cici is worried about adjusting to life in a new place, but her transition is pretty seamless. She makes friends right away and does well in school. Her parents work long hours, though, and they all miss A-má (Cici’s grandma/father’s mother) who stayed behind in … Read more
Max & the Midknights #1 by Lincoln Peirce Adventure Fantasy Funny Illustrated fiction Juvenile Fiction Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) Max has no desire to be a troubadour like Uncle Budrick, but kids always end up following in the footsteps/trades of their families, so it seems inevitable. That all changes when they visit Byjovia – the kingdom where Budrick grew up and discover that the good and benevolent king has been supplanted by … Read more
Class Act sequel to New Kid by Jerry Craft Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) It’s a new year and students have returned to Riverdale Academy Day School for more adventures. The school is attempting to be more diverse and to bring awareness about and sensitivity to issues surrounding diversity. Some of these endeavors are more successful than others. Jordan Banks, who featured prominently in Jerry Craft’s previous book, “New … Read more