Really dig the cover on my Friday morning book.

I wanted to like this YA fantasy more than I did. It had ALL the right ingredients—forbidden magic, archaeology (yes, archaeology), strong female characters, revenge, ghosts, evil—but while I mostly enjoyed it, I was also able to put it down and not miss it. I did finish it and I did like the writing but I‘m not sure I‘m curious enough about where the story goes next to continue the series when book two comes out. Maybe?

Almost caught up on reviews…this YA story is tricky. Solid writing & an interesting premise—one of four girls chosen to protect her town from evil discovers everything she knows or think she knows is wrong—don‘t quite make up for the story. The book touches on a number of important subjects including trauma, cults, and misogyny, amongst others, & will surely find an audience even though it likely won‘t be for everyone. An ok read. On sale 2/22/22.

I‘ve seen a lot of early buzz about this gothic described as “Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca” & while it definitely reads like a debut (it takes a little while to get going & the writing is choppy in places) I enjoyed the story about a girl from a disgraced family who marries herself off as quickly as she can in order to escape her family‘s past. You know this can‘t be good & it isn‘t. If you like gothics, this one is a solid read. On sale 5/10/22.

When her beloved uncle dies, Tuesday finds herself adrift, wondering about the cryptic poem he wrote while in the hospital. When the land where they used to go camping is threatened by development, Tuesday vows to find a way to preserve it. This love letter to Zion National Park and the natural world is also a compelling story about grief, conservation, hope and fighting for what you believe in. Another great MG read. On sale 3/8/22.

Is this middle grade book as cool & raucous & fun as the title suggests it might be? Yes, yes it is. London knows how to tell a good story and this one about rival gangs and their dragons is a lot of fun. Throw in a family with one kid in law enforcement, one a dragon thief and one who failed his dragon riders exam and you have an excellent recipe for disaster. And did I mention there‘s a stolen dragon too? A solid start to a new series.

I mean, yeah, I liked it because I‘ve enjoyed Fence since the first issue of Pacat‘s comic. Brennan‘s second, and last, book based on the comic sees the Kings Row fencing team at a training camp in France. Yes there‘s fencing but the focus is really on the friendships, romances, & rivalries within the team & with others. Snarky, funny, frustrating, bemusing—it‘s all the things you‘d expect from a teen sports drama. A fun read.

Looking through the NYT list of 100 Notable Books, I realized I had more than one on my shelves. Picked the tagged book to read first.

Fantastic memoir about “growing up a queer Chinese-American immigrant in Texas.” Aimed at a YA audience, Gao‘s memoir touches on important themes including immigration, sexuality, assimilation & racism. It‘s a powerful story about identity & belonging, about leaving home & about how hard it can be to go back (even for a visit) & how a pandemic can make your hometown, Wuhan, a household name for all the wrong reasons. On sale 2/15/22.

With her mother on bed rest, Harriet is shipped off to her grandmother‘s for the summer. Initially I excited about it, Harriet soon discovers there‘s a mystery to be solved & friends to make. There‘s a lot to like about this story but I was disappointed the main character‘s tendency to lie, something featured prominently in the the first third/half is the book, was never really addressed or resolved in a meaningful way. On sale 2/1/22.

This was a super fun, sure to delight young readers, book premised on the idea that the world renowned animals who were the first to ever ride in a hot air balloon were also superheroes rooting out injustice & foiling nefarious plots. Throwing in a couple of adventurous kids, Ben Franklin, and yeah, someone‘s whose motives are less good, and you have a great adventure. Using text, illustrations, & comics panels, this is a fun one. On sale 3/8/22.

Two warring families, a curse, an unlikely friendship, and an adventure filled with magic and danger combine in a fun middle grade graphic novel by Rex Ogle writing as Terciero. Two princesses set out to do what neither of their parents have been able to accomplish—overcome fear and mistrust to settle a long simmering conflict. Friendship, trust, overcoming differences, doing the right thing—lots of great themes. Also, ballet! On sale 3/15/22.

Today‘s #NCBD haul included a new one from Schwab which is awesome. This comic falls between Vicious and Vengeful and I‘m looking forward to another great story. It‘s raining, I have a cup of tea, and I‘m ready to dive in!

Wow wow wow, this novella is dark & gothic & murder-y af & I loved every single word. A monster, a sorcerer, a dying city, & a diabolical plan combine in this debut which reads like anything but—the writing is excellent & really assured. If you‘re a fan of The Library at Mount Char you will almost certainly like this book. Likewise if you‘re a fan of horror. No sooner did I finish it than I wanted to start over & read it again. It‘s that good.

A day early but I‘ll take it. I love Anders‘s writing and I‘m excited to read her short story collection. #BookMail is the best mail!

Sky is determined to make his senior prom a special one so of course that means he is going to ask his crush, Ali Rashid, to go with him. That is until a homophobic e-blast revealing his plans for an epic promposal goes viral. It sucks and Sky doesn‘t know what to do until his friends, Ali, and many of his fellow students encourage and support him as he fights back. I really enjoyed this YA contemporary story, Couch‘s debut. A good read.

Delightful start to a new MG graphic novel series featuring a quiet girl who suddenly finds herself in the middle of an incredible adventure when 10 of her favorite characters—from comics, books, tv, video games—leave their own worlds and appear in hers. Suddenly life isn‘t too quiet and Kip must choose—better to keep these characters around or to send them home. Great illustrations and an entertaining story. On sale 1/4/22.

I‘ve complained about Inkyard Press before, I don‘t think their books are edited well, but I must say that I really enjoyed this book about a Twainese-Canadian family that moves to Hong Kong when Mom gets a big promotion. Middle school is difficult enough without getting uprooted but Holly-Mei is determined to make the most of it even if one of the most popular girls in the school seems to have it out for her. Another fun read. On sale 4/5/22.

The first in a new early chapter book series featuring a plucky heroine, her service dog (the main character has juvenile arthritis) & the mystery of a missing cat. With advice about how to make observations & to solve mysteries and illustrations scattered throughout, this is a quick fun read and sure to be a hit with young readers. (The progress bar at the end of each chapter will also probably be a hit.) On sale 4/5/22

Time to catch up on some reviews…this one is a super fun middle grade adventure with fantastic illustrations. Think 101 Dalmatians with spunky kids instead of Dalmatians and a shoe loving meanie instead of a fur loving egomaniacal badie. In this story, a battle over a pair of flying shoes, sure to be the winning entry in the Gold Shoe Award competition, leads to all sorts of intrigue, hilarity, danger, and, of course, adventure. A fun read.

Four day weekend ✅

Windy, rainy day ✅

Accumulating snow in the weekend forecast ✅

500+ page book to keep me company while I stay inside ✅

Some of my favorite reading conditions! ❤️🌨📚☕️🌨❤️

I enjoyed this contemporary YA about a girl who is the model student her parents expect her to be by day and a highly successful gamer by night. Trying to keep the two sides of her life secret becomes even more difficult when she gets the chance to participate in an eSports competition & runs into an old friend. A fun story about what it (often) means to be a girl gamer, following your dreams, & being true to yourself.

Believing that joining the army offers her a path to acceptance and success, a young girl does just that only to discover that nothing is as it seems and that she must choose between her heritage & the empire she fights for. Delving into identity, war, colonization, & nationalism, this YA graphic novel tackles some important themes. On sale 2/1/22.

Edwardian England—magical, mysterious and, oh so murderous—is fantastically fun in this story about a non- magical baronet who somehow finds himself working as a liaison to a secret magical society. No sooner does he learn that magic is a real thing in the world, than he is attacked, condescended to by his counterpart in the society, & then…well, you‘ll see. The middle gets a little soggy but I enjoyed the banter, the flirting & the magic.

The human spirit is a remarkable thing & this wonderful middle grade novel, based on the author‘s life, about being Jewish in Italy in the lead up to WWII, & then during the war, is a testament to resilience, courage, compassion, & hope in the midst of horror & tragedy. Seen through the eyes of a child who doesn‘t always understand what is going on, this story offers a compelling look, the moments of joy & those of fear, at life during this time.

“Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca” is the description on the back.

Yes please! Excited to start this one.

A boy goes missing and his parents find a strange note. Was he kidnapped? Did he run away? Everyone has a theory of course. Honestly, I wanted more of a thrill from this thriller. The writing was ok, the characters recognizable (not a bad thing in of itself, they just didn‘t stand out), and the solution to the case handled rather neatly. In the end, I didn‘t like nearly as much as I thought I would.

This MG book is hard to rate—I didn‘t love the story, it was a little too on point sometimes. I also had issues with the superhero/villain plot line which wasn‘t necessary but…BUT…I loved the themes & ideas, what Wallace was writing about—body positivity, friendship, fat shaming, bullying, trust, relying on yourself, consent, finding your people. So many important topics, so for that reason it‘s a pick even if I wanted more. On sale 1/25/22.

Started this yesterday and really enjoying it so far.

Gorgeous, emotional, hopeful, this book is deserving of all the accolades it has garnered. Tien, the son of Vietnamese refugees, reads fairy tales with his mother to help her learn English. He turns to fairy tales again to find the words to come out to his family. A wonderful story about identity, family, love, friendship, belonging & acceptance, courage & hope. A gorgeously illustrated graphic novel which also celebrates the magic of stories.

Young readers have a fantastic new fantasy series to look forward to in March of 2022. Marjorie Liu, writer of the mega award winning Monstress (as well as Marvel), has crafted a marvelous story, inspired by a photo of her cousin, about a young girl being raised by mystical bird spirits who must venture into the unknown to solve a mystery that threatens her safe haven. Goblins, dragons, a witch-queen. Lots to love in this one. On sale 3/1/22.

Starting this one tonight.

This is a pandemic book, first drafted in 2015, about survival, hope, the best & worst of people, & forging connections under the worst circumstances. Billed as a “postapocalyptic queer romance,” it‘s a story about 2 teens who have lost everything, who struggle with what their new reality demands of them & who have no reason to trust each other, but somehow build a connection & find a way to hope. A fast read, I really enjoyed it. On sale 3/8/22.

I loved Caletti‘s A Heart in a Body in the World & the conversation we had about it was one of the best ever in my book club. Unfortunately, I‘ve not enjoyed her subsequent books quite as much. In this one, Sydney is spending the summer with her Hollywood starlet mother. And her mother‘s sketchy boyfriend. I wish there was a better story to this YA story about body image, attraction, harassment and, art. Important topics, ok execution & story.

The story of Sabriel‘s parents is filled with danger, adventure, romance &, of course, magic. In other words, it‘s everything you would expect from a fantasy written by Nix. I really enjoyed this prequel to Sabriel & the opportunity to spend more time in the Old Kingdom series. Fans of the series will surely love it. For those just discovering the series, this book stands on its own & is a great introduction. Definitely recommended.

Visited my friends at the store and came home with a new book and a stack of ARCs. With rain in the forecast until tomorrow morning it‘s not a question of if will I stay inside with a book, it‘s which book will I read first?!? Decisions, decisions…

(As a bonus, the tagged book came with an enamel pin of a cat with a knife in its mouth!)

This is a heady YA read steeped in physics (the author has a master‘s degree from Oxford & has published in quantum physics) about time travel, family & friendship, violence & gangs, wrong place/wrong time & more. Great characters, fantastic voice, & a really intriguing plot make for an interesting story. This is a great one for teen readers who like their science fiction fully informed by the possibilities science illuminates. On sale 12/7/21.

Another winning title from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. I love these books, the opportunities given to a truly diverse group of authors who write stories inspired by cultures & traditions from around the world. Kim‘s MG debut stars Riley Oh, a girl with no magic, & her sister who is about to be initiated into the Gom clan—“a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches.” Of course unexpected things happen. A fun story with great characters.

#BookMail

A prequel to Sabriel and the Old Kingdom series? Yes please! Perfect reading for a cold, overcast day.

Inspired by the author‘s experience as a recent immigrant attending an elite boarding school, this is the story of a group kids, each with their own secret, who come together and find friendship, understanding & the freedom to be themselves when they are selected to be part of a writing group at school. The good, the bad & the ugly of high school are all here in this YA story. On sale 2/15/22.

Not much happens in this beautifully written book about a Black immortal who wakes up in 1930s Los Angeles without remembering much of her past or who she really is. It nevertheless managed to hold my attention. I think that‘s because the story is populated with interesting characters, the premise is intriguing, & the writing really is THAT good. Bottom line, I didn‘t mind the languid pace of the book, liked the characters, and enjoyed the story.

We watched the new movie last night & I have to say the cinematography was amazing. It‘s a gorgeous film & worth watching for that reason alone. Very cool, if occasionally discordant, soundtrack as well. BUT, it‘s only Part 1 & I don‘t remember what happens next—I read the book ages & ages ago—so I‘m going to start a reread this weekend. (Reading my movie tie-in edition from the last time around of course.) I need to know what happens next!

Starting the day with some YA science fiction.

The cover on tonight‘s book is really eye-catching. 😍

I loved this book based on a character introduced in one of the Star Wars Visions anime shorts. This story of a mysterious, nameless man wandering the Outer Rim haunted by his past & uncertain of his future is richly imbued with everything that makes Star Wars…well, Star Wars…while expanding on the currently known universe in exciting ways. Dark & filled with mystery & adventure, this story of Jedi & Sith is fantastic.

Gino has penned another winner with this MG story about two friends, both nonbinary, navigating family, friendship, & school. When the borough of Staten Island launches an essay contest to help pick the subject of the borough‘s next statue, Sam & TJ write about Alice Austen, a famous photographer who lived with her female partner for decades in the early/mid 1900s. Will they win?!? A great story with fantastic characters. On sale 4/5/22.

Did not love this book. The lives of a wealthy woman "giving
back" by teaching in a high school, a teen addicted to
video games, & a guy who makes a living as a chalk artist/
bartender/member of a theatre troop intersect in expected & unexpected ways. I thought the writing was just ok (surprising since the author had previously been nominated for the National Book Award) & the story of the unremarkable. Friends in my book club liked it though.

Today‘s reading is a YA book based on the author‘s experience attending an elite boarding school after living in the United States for only four years. In his note to readers, the author talks about his conflicted feelings about the school where a difficult freshman year was followed by three fantastic years. He also notes there are descriptions of physical & sexual abuse, hazing & homophobia. I‘m anticipating an intense, emotional story.

Married a year with no baby to show for it, Ada finds herself
accused of being barren & a witch, the latter of which is a hanging offense in this 1890s America. Abandoned by her husband, Ada leaves town to protect her family & eventually finds her way to the Hole in the Wall gang & a chance for a better life. I really enjoyed this “feminist western” that explores gender, fertility, family, survival & more. A very timely (unfortunately so) story.