Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) 12-year-old Louise Montgomery can sing like the angels, but she has a sensory processing disorder that makes her extremely sensitive to noises and crowds, so performing is a real problem. Her single mother keeps scheduling gigs, though, because they need the money. One night, Louise crashes their truck on her way to pick her mom up from work … Read more
Slay by Brittney Morris Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Teenager Kiera Johnson is the developer of the online RPG SLAY, which she created initially to showcase her character, Emerald, but which has become a phenomenon in its own right. It celebrates Blackness and Black culture and Black history and provides a safe place for Black gamers to come together and slay without having to deal with all the racist crap that’s thrown … Read more
All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater Supernatural * * * * Stars (Great!) The Soria family of Bicho Raro, Colorado, is known for its ability to perform miracles on the pilgrims (lost souls) who seek them out. Members of the family are able to release the darkness inside of those who request their help, but the pilgrims are responsible for achieving the second miracle themselves. If a Soria attempts to interfere in any way, … Read more
Legends of Morana by Ella Selvaggio Adventure Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Legends of Morana is a book about a realm of dragons. This book is by a local author, and the suspense is woven throughout the story is written extremely well. Appollo and his friends live peacefully in a cave. Then Appollo finds a dragon egg, which then hatches into a dragonet named Blaze. Strange events start happening after … Read more
Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee & Susan McClelland Biography Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Sungju Lee was just shy of 10 years old in 1997 when his family was forced to leave Pyongyang, North Korea. His parents said they were going on “vacation,” but they were really leaving their home for good. Sungju didn’t discover the truth until much later. Even though Sungju’s parents were supposed to receive rations for their work, … Read more
Obsessed by Allison Britz Biography Nonfiction Allison is 15 when she has a vivid dream that awakens her obsessive compulsive tendencies. Prior to that she’s a high-achieving student, athlete, popular, normal. Suddenly, everything around her holds danger and she has to avoid everyday objects like pencils and socks and sidewalk cracks, or perform little rituals to offset their toxicity. Her weird behavior distances her from her friends and family who don’t understand what is happening … Read more
Father and I Were Ranchers Little Britches #1 by Ralph Moody Biography Nonfiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Little Britches is a book that depicts strong emotions. Ralph and his family move to Colorado for Ralph’s father’s lungs. They think they are journeying to a developed ranch, and instead, they find a three-room cabin. The story continues with Ralph’s family trying life on the ranch, from scratch. They have to raise … Read more
Girl on Fire School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1 by Jeremy Whitley Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Tara Smith has a very carefully regimented life and plans to keep her head down and get through high school so she can achieve her dreams of heading into space. But after missing her alarm one morning, her day snowballs out of control, culminating in her self-immolating, passing out, and waking up in the … Read more
Mindwar by Andrew Klavan Adventure Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Mindwar by Andrew Klavan is a book that is amazing! Rick is the football star of his team until a car accident happens. Rick is mad at himself, and at his dad, who left his family earlier. Then the FBI finds Rick. They send him on a mission, into the Realm. Will Rick survive? Will he find out the truth about … Read more
The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill Fantasy Graphic Novel * * * * Stars (Great!) Rinn is out gathering herbs and vegetables one day when she comes across an ancient shrine and disturbs a sleeping dragon. The dragon, Aedhan was charged to look after the shrine and Rinn’s village, but fell into an enchanted sleep – 80 years ago – from which he has only just now been awakened. Rinn convinces Aedhan to return … Read more