Back of Book: 

The legend of King Arthur lives on... in her. 

Ari Helix has been running her whole life. A fugitive refugee in the territory controlled by the tyrannical Mercer Corporation, she's always had to hide who she was. Until now. When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to ne the forty-second reincarnation of King Arthur. 

The wizard Merlin has been waiting for centuries for a king who can break the curse that's aged him backward into a teenager. He's trained dozens of Arthurs over the centuries, but never a girl. Could Ari finally be the one? 

Ari wants nothing to do with Merlin's talk of quests and knights and dragons. She just wants to use her new power to find a way home. But the Mercer Corporation has been hiding a terrible, world-destroying secret—and it will do anything to stop her from discovering the truth. 

My name is Ari Helix. I have a magic sword, a cranky wizard, and a revolution to start.

Book Number: One 

Genre: Young Adult | Science Fiction | Dystopia | Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQIA+

Review: 

​Honestly, March was a pretty lackluster reading month and I only read three five star books, so it was pretty much a no-brainer of what I would feature this April.  

Ari and her brother, Kay, have been on the run from the tyrannical Mercer corporation for quite some time now. Desperate to escape from their pursuers, the two find themselves on Old Earth. On the long-abandoned planet, Ari pulls a mysterious sword from the stone. Not long after, she meets a young redhead who proclaims that he is The Merlin, and that she is actually the 42nd reincarnation of the great King Arthur. He seems to believe that she is destined to save the universe, but she's more concerned with rescuing her moms from Mercer's evil clutches. But who says that the two's goals can't align with one another? 

I've been in a bit of a rough reading patch, so I'm ecstatic that this book pulled through! I am usually a huge fan of King Arthur retellings, so I was excited to find myself in possession of this sci-fi remix of the classic tale. Set in a futuristic queernormative universe in which King Arthur is actually a young pansexual girl and Merlin is a seventeen-year-old who is aging backwards, I was hooked from the very start of this unique novel. This book definitely has a niche type of humor, but it worked well for me. 

I found myself liking Ari and Merlin from the get-go. Ari is a snarky, impulsive young girl and I couldn't help but smile at her carefree attitude and her willingness to take things into her own hands. Merlin is an awkward teenager who was blasted from the past and is now trying to catch up with what is normal. The fact that his magic is music based like in the Disney movie is quite funny, though it was a bit eccentric at times (Merlin singing Katy Perry is truly an image I never thought I'd have). My heart also really goes out to this version of Merlin. Not only does he have to worry about aging backwards and trying to grapple with a futuristic society, he also has had to deal with the pain of losing forty-one versions of his beloved Arthur. I can't imagine living through all that heartbreak. I thoroughly enjoyed the company of both our protagonists and was satisfied no matter the perspective I was in. It isn't always the case that I like them equally, so this was a plus. 

The queernormative nature of this futuristic universe is so refreshing. Among the main found family, one is pansexual, several are gay, one is bi, one is nonbinary, one is asexual, and I'm sure I'm missing a few off the top of my head. Things such as genderfluidity, having two moms, and passionate make-out sessions between people of the same sex happened without anyone batting an eye. I can't wait until we actually hit this point in our society. For now, I'll just be refreshed by these fictional worlds that showcase my dreams for someday. 

This book is also rather fast-paced, which had me wanting to keep turning the pages. Honestly, I expected the book to end on like three different occasions; there are so many mini climaxes in this book, which made the last third so easy to plow through. The ending of this book sets up for book two, but if the author's would have cut this book at a certain point, it would have made for a great stand alone. We'll have to see where my opinions lie when I finish the second book. 

Despite this book's lighthearted nature, it does tackle many serious topics. Racism, corrupt government intervention, capitalism, colonialism, and many other such topics are explored in this book, which I think balanced the humor nicely. I know that this isn't the most popular opinion, but it worked awesomely for me. 

The way that this book retells the King Arthur mythos is also quite unique. Essentially, Merlin, Morgana, Arthur, Gweneviere and the Knights of the Round Table are stuck in this cyclical cycle where they all come back again and again until they unite humanity once and for all. This causes Merlin to be very paranoid about Ari falling in love with Gweneviere and Lancelot breaking her heart and other such things that happen in the original story. I think this added a bit more urgency to this book, as well as another layer of humor. As per usual, no one really knows which side Morgana is on, and the Lady of the Lake is helpful when she wants to be (which is practically never). I love seeing different people's take on these beloved characters, and I feel that Capetta and McCarthy did something really interesting and unique with this classic myth. 

Also, the romance subplots in this book are beautiful, yet heartbreaking. I'm hoping that things work out for everyone in the end, but I fear for these character's happiness. Please let them be happy!

Overall, I really enjoyed "Once & Future" and its unique take on the King Arthur mythos. I love the queernormative universe, the humorous writing style, as well as the original take on iconic characters (as per usual, Merlin is my favorite). I found myself rooting for Ari, Merlin, and the rest of the gang as they fought against the corrupt corporation that controls their world. I think this book could have been a great stand alone, but I am intrigued by the ending that the authors set up. The sequel will certainly be different than this one, but we'll see if it holds up to the precedent that the first book set. 

Back of Book: 

My Fair Lady meets the classic teen film She's All That in this charming and swoony new rom-com from Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country. Perfect for fans of What If It's Us and She Gets the Girl.

Wade Westmore is used to being in the spotlight. So when he’s passed over for the lead in the spring musical, it comes as a major blow—especially when the role goes to his ex-boyfriend, Reese, who dumped him for being too self-involved.

Shy sophomore Elijah Brady is used to being overlooked. Forget not knowing his name—most of his classmates don’t even know he exists. So when he joins the stage crew for the musical, he seems destined to blend into the scenery.

When the two have a disastrous backstage run-in, Elijah proposes an arrangement that could solve both boys’ problems: If Wade teaches Elijah how to be popular, Wade can prove that he cares about more than just himself. Seeing a chance to win Reese back, Wade dives headfirst into helping Elijah become the new and improved “Brady.”

Soon their plan puts Brady center stage—and he’s a surprising smash hit. So why is Wade suddenly less worried about winning over his ex and more worried about losing Elijah? 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review:

I read a few amazing theatre romances last February, so it was really hard to narrow it down to just one. "My Fair Brady" was just so good, though! 

Wade Westmore is the definition of a theatre kid. He craves attention, is addicted to musicals, and pouts around when he isn't given the lead role during his final production as a high schooler. Not to be dramatic but losing a dream role to an ex-boyfriend is quite painful. Now, Wade is stuck with Reese rehearsal after rehearsal. Elijah Brady, on the other hand, has never been noticed before in his life. It's not like he isn't trying to make friends, but nobody is interested in a shy gay boy like him. Joining the stage crew of the musical seems like the perfect way to blend in while also branching out. When the two run into each other (literally), Wade and Elijah strike up a deal. Elijah wants to learn how to be more confident while Wade wants to prove to Reese that he cares for other people more than he cares about himself. As Wade works to help out the new and improved "Brady," the two boys may learn more about themselves than they bargained for. 

As a lover of all things theatre and musicals, I was so excited to read this one. I'm not super familiar with "My Fair Lady," but that never once lessened my joy of reading this story. This has got to be the most theatre-filled theatre romance I've ever read, so it is no surprise that I ended up loving this book, despite all of the teen drama that ensues. 

Wade and Elijah's relationship starts out pretty akin to Galinda and Elphaba's in the musical "Wicked." Wade is a popular kid who wants to win the attention of Reese (who I suppose is the Fiyero in this situation). Elijah, just wants to learn how to fit in. Wade takes on Elijah as a pity project in order to gain Reese's attention, but Reese ends up catching the hots for Elijah. Let's just say, there are a ton of complex teen emotions flying high in this book. I think this is also the first love triangle romance I've read where all three of them have feelings for each other. 

This book had me feeling so nostalgic for my time I spend doing theatre productions in college. The way that it talks about being on stage, seeing the cast list posted, and all of the emotions that happen on closing night really hit me in the feels. I can say with certainty that I teared up by the end of this book just on the vibe of closing night alone. Following all the different theatre kids, both the actors and the techies, was truly a joy as a person who has been on both sides of the stage. 

I relate a ton to Elijah as a person. He is anxious about pretty much everything, from having conversations, to ordering at restaurants, to learning to drive. I am an introvert who pretty much shuts down in all social settings, so I really relate to Elijah on a personal level. Just remember, everyone ISN'T always watching. 

The romance in this book wasn't overly suffocating. This book is more a journey of two teens learning who they really want to be in this world. Yes, Wade wants to woo his ex and Elijah is looking to experience stereotypical high school things, but the romance elements of this book are rather subtle compared to many romances. Wade and Elijah's relationship is quite the bromance, and I loved seeing the two of them pulling each other out of their comfort zones in various ways.

The camping scenes in this book also brought back many nostalgic memories of camping with my best friends. There is a part of me that hates camping, but I always think back on it so fondly. I don't think you could convince me to go camping in Minnesota during March. As a Minnesota girl, that sounds like torture, even if one has a heater and a cabin. The scenes that go down between Wade and Elijah while they are camping are so wholesome, and I love the wonder filled side of Wade we get to see while the boys are out in the middle of the woods. 

This book also very briefly brings up some societal issues. One of the characters is transgender and talks about her experiences. Another thing that this book examines in great detail is the toxicity of popularity. There is a huge difference between being confident and being popular. There is also a huge difference between the good type of popular and the bad type of popular (which Elijah definitely learns about firsthand). Prom is another huge part of this book, and unfortunately, this book doesn't rain on its parade as much as I would have liked. Luckily, the school seems more queer normative than many places, which was nice to see. It did make me sad that Elijah didn't fight harder to avoid all the prom "rites of passages" that society seems to press onto teenagers (such as getting a hotel room). 

Overall, I loved reading every part of "My Fair Brady." This book was truly a deep dive into nostalgia for me. From the theatre elements to the camping trip to the Galinda and Elphaba coded nature of Wade and Elijah's relationship, it all brought back so many happy memories for me. I love how much of this book is directly centered around theatre; it is truly a love letter to theatre kids new and old. I would definitely recommend.

Back of Book: 

Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, this suspenseful queer YA romance from critically acclaimed author K. Ancrum reimagines the tale of Icarus as a star-crossed love story between a young art thief and the son of the man he’s been stealing from.

Icarus Gallagher is a thief.

He steals priceless art and replaces it with his father’s impeccable forgeries. For years, one man—the wealthy Mr. Black—has been their target, revenge for his role in the death of Icarus’s mother. To keep their secret, Icarus adheres to his own strict rules to keep people, and feelings, at bay: Don’t let anyone close. Don’t let anyone touch you. And, above all, don’t get caught.

Until one night, he does. Not by Mr. Black, but by his mysterious son, Helios, now living under house arrest in the Black mansion. Instead of turning Icarus in, Helios bargains for something even more dangerous—a friendship that breaks every single one of Icarus’s rules.

As reluctance and distrust become closeness and something more, they uncover the bars of the gilded cage that has trapped both of their families for years. One Icarus is determined to escape. But his father’s thirst for revenge shows no sign of fading, and soon it may force Icarus to choose: the escape he’s dreamed of, or the boy he’s come to love. Reaching for both could be his greatest triumph—or it could be his downfall. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

Did January feel like it went on forever for anyone else? I dunno why, but I think with everything going on in the world plus the dreary weather, I feel like the start to 2025 has been a bit of a drag for me. Anyway, at least I read quite a few books this month! 

Icarus Gallagher is many things, but he mostly sees himself as an art thief. It is his job to steal priceless artifacts from Mr. Black—his father's worst enemy who was involved in the death of Icarus' mother—and replace them with nearly perfect replicas that his father crafts. Icarus is good at what he does, not just the thievery, but also not letting others get close enough to him to discover his family's secrets. That is, until he meets Mr. Black's secret son, Helios. Icarus quickly finds himself drawn to this mysterious boy whose father hides him away in the deepest depths of the household. Not wanting Helios to turn him in, Icarus reluctantly agrees to spend time with the lonely boy. As they spend more time together, Icarus begins to forget his rigorous rules and finds himself enjoying the boy's company. As the two learn more about each other, they both begin to realize that they might just be the solution to each other's unfortunate circumstances. 

I'm pretty sure I won't be able to capture the true beauty of this book, but I'll certainly try my best. I expected this book to be good (it has been one of my most anticipated reads for over a year now), but it somehow managed to exceed my expectations. It's full of suspense, hilarious dialogue, and heartbreaking instances that look into some of the darker parts of humanity, such as domestic abuse. Also, I've came to realize that thrillers that deal with victims of domestic abuse escaping from their abusers hit me really hard and keep me flipping the pages faster than I often think possible. 

"Icarus" deals with many complex family relations. Icarus definitely has a strained relationship with his father and their "family business." This creates a ton of tension and a poor home life for Icarus. Helios and his father's relationship on the other hand is downright evil. Both boys have reasons for wanting to escape the lives they are trapped in, which not only creates a super suspenseful atmosphere in this book but also allows for great learning opportunities for the audience.  

Mental and physical abuse can be hard to spot from the outside, but this book does a great job of pointing out that most of the time, close friends are the ones to realize what is truly going on. Icarus obtains quite the support group by the end of this tale, and this novel truly paints a wonderful picture on how important a sense of community can truly be. 

The representation in this book is also super important. I think this is the first work of fiction that I've read in which one of the main characters is intersex; I hope this becomes more common in literature eventually. I love how the reveal is done in this book; it is handled with such finesse. Icarus also has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which is the first time that I've seen this syndrome addressed in a book. I love seeing both of these communities represented in YA literature, which is just another reason that I fell in love with this book. The fact that Icarus and Helios both have differences that make them unsure about themselves was very inspiring to see. They both do a great job of realizing that these things are a part of them and that they need to embrace all parts of each other to truly find love. 

All the allusions to the Greek mythos in this story were awesome. I must say, I was waiting this entire book for Icarus to take his iconic fall, which really added to the suspense for me. I didn't know that the love interest in this book is named Helios going into it, so I pretty much squealed out loud when I saw this fact. The reason that these two are named Icarus and Helios is also really solid, though super petty on their parent's part. Honestly, this kind of just added to the charm of Icarus and Helios' relationship. 

A super niche part of this book that I found quite interesting is the fact that Icarus was raised a devout Catholic. Seeing him grapple with his religious beliefs and his queerness was something that I wasn't quite expecting in this book. I feel that it added another layer of depth to this book that I greatly appreciated. 

Overall, "Icarus" is an absolute banger of a book. It's full of suspense, heartfelt moments of community, diverse elements, and swoon worthy romance. I am happy to report that this book is better than I thought it would be, and my expectations were pretty high going into it. It's a relatively quick read, but one that will impact me forever. I am adding this to all my LGBTQIA+, intersex, EDS, and disability rec lists immediately. I can't wait to share this one with all the peoples! 

Back of Book: 

When he dies, I fall out of time. 

Amy Lin never expected to find a love like the one she shares with her husband, Kurtis, a gifted young architect who pulls her toward joy, adventure, and greater self-acceptance. On a sweltering August morning, only a few months shy of the newlyweds' move to Vancouver, thirty-two-year-old Kurtis heads out to run a half-marathon with Amy's family. It is the last time she sees her husband alive. 

What follows is a rich and unflinchingly honest account of her life with Kurtis and the vortex created by his death. Here After is an intimate story of deep love followed by dizzying loss; a memoir so finely etched that its power will remain with you long after the final page. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Adult | Memoir 

Review: 

Happy new year! I can't believe that it is already 2025! My reading life wasn't super strong at the end of the year, but I did get a couple of five stars before the end of the year. I debated going back into the reserves for this month's book, but I read a memoir that I couldn't help but recommend this month. It helped me through some tough times, so maybe it will help some of you guys through some rough times too.  

I checked this one out from the library after a bookish event in which several of my local librarians recommended books. This one stood out to me because it was short, a memoir, and touched on the topic of grief. Little did I know that tragedy would impact my life this past weekend and that this would be the perfect book to get me through it. After reading this book, I immediately want to purchase it so I can reread it the next time I am faced with death in my life. This book did a great job of letting the tears flow freely and really had me reflecting on the things that we often take for granted in life. Human lives are truly fragile things and devastating events can happen at any moment, even when we least expect them. 

Amy and Kurtis both seem like fantastic people, and it saddens me greatly that Kurtis was taken from this world so young. I see a lot of myself in Amy, especially when it comes to her worrisome ways. She is definitely more pessimistic than I am, but I still found myself connecting with her and her writing on a very intimate level. Kurtis, on the other hand, really reminded me of my boyfriend, who I love with all my heart. Kurtis is a runner, is super indecisive, and always knows how to keep the mood light. He is also a musician who is quick to smile and won't back down from a chance to make others laugh. All of these things also apply to my boyfriend, which I must admit, did not make this the easiest book to read. But it did make it very relatable and so easy to picture what went down in Amy's life happening to me.

 It is hard to imagine the vortex that losing one's husband would leave, but this book did a very good job of helping me visualize this situation. I know that l would struggle just as much as Amy did and I would channel my thoughts in writing, too. I hope that this book was just as therapeutic for her to write as it was for me to read.  

Overall, "Here After" is such a raw and insightful memoir that looks deeply into the eyes of grief and showcases how one never really makes it to the other side; grief is forever. I relate to Amy immensely as a human, but I've luckily never had to go through anything as heartbreaking as she has (and hopefully I won't have to for a very long time). This is definitely one that I'm going to buy in the near future so that I can revisit during the difficult times in my life. If you read memoirs, I would recommend this one with no stipulations. 

Back of Book: 

If you asked seventeen-year-old Cass Williams to describe herself, she’d happily tell you she’s fat, queer, and obsessed with the Tide Wars books. What she won’t tell you—or anyone in her life—is that she’s part of an online Tide Wars roleplay community. Sure, it’s nerdy as hell, but when she’s behind the screen writing scenes as Captain Aresha, she doesn’t have to think about her mother who walked out or how unexpectedly stressful it is dating resident cool girl Taylor Cooper.

But secretly retreating to her online life is starting to catch up with Cass. For one, no one in her real life knows her secret roleplay addiction is the reason her grades have taken a big hit. Also? Cass has started catching feelings for Rowan Davies, her internet bestie… and Taylor might be catching on.

As Cass’s lies continue to build, so does her anxiety. Roleplaying used to be the one place she could escape to, but this double life and offline-online love triangle have only made things worse. Cass must decide what to do—be honest and risk losing her safe space or keep it a secret and put everything else on the line.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

It's time for the last Book of the Month of 2024! I had some pretty stellar reads this November, so it was a tad hard for me to choose just one book. I had to give the honor to "Out of Character." ! I loved the fact that it took place in Minnesota and I related so hard to many aspects of the story. 

Cass Williams is a fat, queer nerd who is absolutely obsessed with her favorite book series "Tide Wars." Though she is beyond willing to tell most everyone she knows that she is a diehard fan of the duology, she is not ready to admit that she spends much of her free time roleplaying on Discord with fellow nerds across the world. When she writes as Captain Aresha, it allows Cass to forget about her parent's divorce, her not-so-unrequited crush, and the schoolwork that she struggles to remember to do. But keeping her online life a secret is starting to have its complications. How is she supposed to keep her stress reliever a secret when it is starting to consume so much of her life? 

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. From the nerdy fangirling over a book series, the Minnesota setting, the online roleplaying, the messy queer love triangle, Cass dealing with her parent's divorce, and all the other elements at play in this book, I just ate up every piece of it. If I ever met Cass in real life, we definitely would be friends (though hopefully she wouldn't keep as many secrets from me as she did to all the characters in this book). 

Hmm, where to start? I think I'll go with the roleplaying realm. I love the little groupie that made up of Cass, Rowan, Autumn, Holly, and Carina. The dynamic between all of these girls felt so familial and  I adored how the shared so much of their real lives with each other, even though they initially only started as an online roleplay group. Nerdy communities are truly the best (I can't get enough of geeking out about my favorite games, books, etc with my friends and family), so it was so fun to read through all their group chats. Also, I love that Miller decided to include segments of the actual roleplay in the novel. They always did a great job of reflecting what was going on in the main story and added an extra level of depth to this book. 

Now let's chat about the Minnesota vibes. As a Minnesota girl myself, I loved all of the references to Minnesota life, including the weather, the touristy things to do in the state, and the "Minnesota Nice" condition. Much of this story felt even more personal just because it was set in my home state, which was awesome to experience. I haven't read too many book that take place in MN, so this was refreshing. Also, shoutout to totdish (tater tot HOTDISH is truly a Minnesotan staple *chefs kiss*). 

Cass goes through so much throughout this book. From her parent's divorce, to her newly requited crush with Taylor, worrying about keeping her grades up so she can get into her dream college, and trying to balance her roleplay time with the her "real" life, Cass really can't catch a break. I found so many of her experiences to be relatable, and I felt so seen when it came to Cass' toxic overthinker mode. She would overthink practically every situation, which only added to her stress level, which made me feel so darn understood. Fellow overthinker for the win! 

I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters in this book. Cass' nerd group is totally awesome, especially Rowan, who plays Cass' love interest online and is one of the members of the real world love triangle situation that this book has going on. The way that Cass and Rowan interact is so pure, and I love all their inside jokes. Cass' dad, who she calls "Cool Dad" was one of my favorite characters. He is caring and stern, yet also such a goof. I wish that everyone would be blessed with at least on parent like him. Some of the side characters were absolute hoots such as Tate and Greg. They could be so weird sometimes, but mostly in a good way. 

Taylor wasn't my favorite character, but I understand the character growth that Cass went through needed her to be as she was. Taylor tried to move her and Cass' relationship along rather quickly, which made me uncomfortable. For once though, Cass felt the same way I did! It's been a while since  I've read a character that was willing to address the fact that she didn't want a super fast, physically charged relationship. She legitimately wanted to love the person for who they were before diving into everything else that a relationship entailed, which I feel is so rarely done in romance books. So thanks for that! Literally almost every aspect of this book made me feel super seen as a person. 

There are so many things that I could talk about with this book, but I don't think that I should drag this on for too long. 

Overall, I love "Out of Character" and was presently surprised that this one hit me so hard. I adore the characters, the real-world problems, the nerdy community, the Minnesotan location, the humorous banter, the intermingling of the digital elements, and the writing style. This is one that I will definitely be recommending, especially when it comes to books featuring queer, lesbian, and plus sized main characters. If you love a nerdy romance, I can't recommend checking this one out enough! 

Back of Book: 

"I'm trying to get back to the person that I was but it's harder than I'm willing to admit..." - "I'm Trying" (The Have Not, Track One) 

Cam Donovan was getting along just fine living as a normal teenager with her father in Arizona, far from her D-list celebrity mother Jackie Jenson and whatever reality show or perfume line she was involved with at the moment. But when Cam's father dies, she finds herself uprooted to Los Angeles and thrust into the spotlight she has never wanted. Between navigating her rocky relationship with her mother, trying to control a new feeling of anger that constantly threatens to bubble over, and struggling to ignore her feelings for the attractive (but not single) waiter at her new favorite diner, Cam refuses to acknowledge that she is on the brink of an inevitable breakdown. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance 

Review: 

October was a bit of a journey when it came to my reading life. Most of the books I read were pretty mid, but all of the five stars I read were spectacular. However, I have to give the crown this month to Beth Crowley, one of my favorite singers, who finally came out with her debut novel! I have been excited about this one for so long, so of course I have to scream about it to anyone who will listen. 

Cam Donovan has always done a good job staying out of the spotlight. That is, until her father dies from a chronic illness and is forced to move to Los Angeles with her mother. Now, in the midst of learning to cope with an immense amount of grief, she is also forced to learn how to deal with being highlighted across social media and gossip columns that discuss every piece of what she views as her not so interesting life. Cam also can't help but develop a crush on the cute boy, Milo, who works at her favorite diner. However, Milo isn't exactly single, which adds another layer of anger to Cam's already fragile existence. Can anything go her way? Or is it inevitable that all the stress is going to lead to a breakdown unlike any that she has experienced before?

I have been waiting so long for this book, so I am stoked to say that Beth Crowley has finally published her debut novel! I first came across Beth's work as a songwriter who writes songs based on the popular books that she reads. Beth's lyrics are always amazing, so I knew that her writing would be no different. And she even wrote a soundtrack to go with "The Have Not." The songs are just as wonderful as the book, and it was so much fun listening to the tracks as I read the book. These songs will also be a constant reminder of her book as I listen to music from now on, which means this book will stick with me in a way that most books don't have the opportunity to. Seriously, go check out her work!

One of the things that really sticks out in this one is the humor. Cam is such a sarcastic character who tends to resort to dark humor when things hit a little too close to home. As alluded to earlier, Cam goes through a whole bunch of unfortunate circumstances throughout the book, so her sharp tongue often gets her in trouble. I love the banter between her and her half-brother, Charlie, as well as with Milo, the boy that she is crushing on. The yams joke is truly hilarious and I couldn't help but laugh at the "go get 'em, bro" bit every time it graced the page. Cam's humor might be a bit niche, but I found it to be absolutely hysterical.

The aspects of change and grief are so realistic and raw in this novel. Everything that Cam goes through with losing her father, having to move to LA, and being thrust into the spotlight is overwhelming in every possible way imaginable. It broke my heart to watch Cam fall apart more and more as the story progresses, but the messages that this book portrays makes it totally worth it. The scenes towards the end of the book when Cam reconciles with her mother are truly heartwarming, and they filled me with so much hope for the future.

The romantic elements of this book didn't hook me as much as the familial elements or the trajectory towards self-discovery, but I still enjoyed them immensely. Milo is a sweet boy, even if his taste in women is slightly sketchy. The banter between him and Cam is funny and I will always remember the yams bit that the two of them share. The fact that there is a bit of a love triangle in this book is also fun; I also thought it was hilarious that Cam says that love triangles are her least favorite book tropes. Honestly, understandable.

The importance of the arts in this story is awesome. Cam is an aspiring artist, her best friend, Mei, is a stage actress, and Milo is in a band (go Discount Curses!). Pairing these artistic elements with the backdrop of Los Angeles and the aspects of being related to a celebrity, made the atmosphere of this book really interesting in a bunch of different ways.

Overall, I'm so glad that "The Have Not" is finally in my hands. I have been waiting a long time for this moment, and it did not disappoint. I love the cast of characters, the heartfelt messages, and the accompanying soundtrack is top-tier. Beth Crowley's work is truly stunning and I hope that she gets around to writing another novel at some point. I will treasure this book forever, and I can't wait to recommend this one for all eternity.

Check out Beth Crowley's music!: https://www.youtube.com/c/bethjcrowley

Back of Book: 

“Only the most powerful and honorable semidioses get chosen. I’m just a Jade. I’m not a real hero.”

As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all―they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.

Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others. His best friend Niya―daughter of Tierra, the god of earth―is one of the strongest heroes of their generation and is much too likely to be chosen this year. He also can’t help but worry (reluctantly, and under protest) for Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival who is a shoo-in for the Trials. Teo wouldn’t mind taking Aurelio down a notch or two, but a one-in-ten chance of death is a bit too close for Teo’s taste.

But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. In fact, he chooses two: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and… Teo. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained, for fame, glory, and their own survival.

Book Number: One

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

I read the final book in this duology in September, so I literally can't keep myself from featuring it this month. I love Teo and the gang so much; they just fill me with such joy. And plus, it's still Latinx Heritage Month for another fifteen days. . . :) 

Teo, the seventeen year old trans son of the goddess Quetzal, has finally come of age that he could be chosen to compete in the Sunbearer trials. But he's not worried. As a Jade, he knows that the only way he'll be participating in the trials is through spectating. The prestigious children of the major gods, referred to as Golds, have trained their entire lives for this competition, but as the son of a minor god, or a Jade, Teo knows his place on the hierarchical god chain. Teo is a bit worried about his best friend Niya, who is a Gold child of the god Tierra. But when the day for the selection comes, something unprecedented occurs: not only is Teo selected to compete, but another Jade by the name of Xio is, too. Can the three underdogs survive these dangerous trials, or will they end up on the bottom of the totem pole and end up as a sacrifice to the great god Sol?  

After reading "Cemetery Boys," I was ecstatic to read any book by Aiden Thomas. And "The Sunbearer Trials" did not disappoint! Once again, Thomas hits gold with a fantastic fantasy read featuring Mexican culture, a transgender protagonist, and important societal issues in a magical setting. One of my favorite things about Thomas' writing style is their humor. There were so many times that this book had me cackling and my sister literally turned to me and was like, "Are you okay?" I love the witty way that the dialogue is written and the banter between friends seems so authentic between Teo, Xio, and Niya. Also, there were some sneaky pop culture references to the most random of things which often had me giggling. 

Despite this book taking place in a magical world, there are many modern issues that this book addresses in a nonchalant way including themes such as gender identity, unjust social hierarchies, and self identity. Both Teo and Xio are transgender, so they have some really solid conversations between bros about transitioning and becoming proud of their image and themselves as people. The social hierarchy between the Golds, Jades, and Obsidians is also highly problematic. The Golds never interact with mortals and believe that they are superior to them, while the Jades are viewed as lesser to the Golds. The Obsidians have been cast out of society in its entirety, leaving them destitute and angry. I think that this scenario is easily compared to many things happening in our world and leaves room for many intriguing discussion points. 

Another thing I love about Thomas' books is the Mexican culture and folklore. Though Thomas constructs their own mythological world in this one, Mexico's influence is breathed into every single page. All of the gods/dioses are named in Spanish, Mexican food is everywhere, and our main character is even part Quetzal! The quetzal has got to be my favorite bird, and I loved seeing them be such an important part of this story. I also like how Teo's wings added to the gender dysphoria that he felt, because he was born with the brown wings of a female quetzal. I thought that this was a brilliant way to enhance the gender themes in this book while taking advantage of the magical setting. 

The biggest downfall of this book had to be it's predictability. That was "Cemetery Boys'" one major flaw, too, so this might be a weakness in Thomas' writing. However, I feel that the writing style, the creative story plot, the humor, and all the other elements make up for this minor flaw. I would love to see Thomas shock me one of these times, but I guess we'll see. 

Overall, I love "The Sunbearer Trials" in its entirety. Fantasy is my favorite genre and any time I can get fantasy books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters, I truly am a happy camper. After two reads, I'm pretty confident that Aiden Thomas will be an auto buy author from here on out. This book is often pitched as "Percy Jackson" meets "The Hunger Games," and I'd say this tagline is actually pretty accurate. It combines the demigod status and humor of "Percy Jackson" and the high stake games that  these kids have no choice to compete in from "The Hunger Games." If this sounds like a fun combo, then be sure to check this one out! I cannot wait to get my hands on the second installment! 

Back of Book: 

A series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother...

Book Number: One 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 

This month, I read a highly anticipated series by one of my favorite authors, Alexandra Bracken. It is hands down, one of the best books that I've read this year, so I would be a fool not to showcase it as the book of the month. 

Tamsin Lark was born without a trace of magic inside of her into a world that is thriving with it. Her guardian, Nash, was a Hollower, a person who hunts and sells magic relics, so she is too. When Nash vanishes one day without a trace, she is forced to continue on his line of work with only her brother, Cabell, to assist her. After a chance encounter with her rival, Emrys Dye, leads her to discovering a magical ring that might be the only hope of breaking the curse that has plagued her brother for as long as they can remember, Tamsin is desperate to get her hands on it. But Tamsin and Emyrs aren't the only one's after the ring. Other Hollower's start to pursue the rumors that the ring might be in Avalon, leaving Tamsin no choice but to accept Emyrs help to stay one step ahead of the other relic hunters. But when they finally make it to the mysterious Avalon, they could never have predicted the dark predicament that they find themselves in. . .

When I say that this book was amazing, this is an understatement. I know that many people complain about the length of Bracken's books, but I eat up every single page and get frustrated every time I have to put her massive tomes down and pursue another aspect of life. "Silver in the Bone" was no exception and may be my favorite of her books to date. It is so full of surprising twists, complex character development, and dark fantasy vibes that are paired perfectly with Arthurian folklore. 

The romance in this one is also superb. It is such a slowburn, which is understandable due to the length of the book. Tamsin and Emyrs banter is hilarious to read and I loved their chemistry from the very beginning. Some of the early moments with them were great including when he nursed her back to health and the classic "there's only one horse" moment. I love how stubborn Tamsin is and how charming Emyrs is; they really make for quite the pairing. The moments they shared in part three were magnificent, and the scene they shared has to be one of my all time favorites when it comes to the big romantic reveal. I can't wait to see how their relationship evolves in the sequel. 

Since I've alluded to the ending, I have to take a moment to say how shocked and devastated I was by literally everything that happened in part three. Everything was so unexpected and I didn't want to face the possibility that much of it was actually happening. I was literally devastated by the events that occurred after the group returned to the tower and everything that happened after that was truly a wild ride. I'm not going into detail, because spoilers, but dang, I was not ready for the ending of this. And yes, it does end on a cliffhanger. Luckily, I restrained myself from waiting to read "Silver" right when it came out, and I can advance to the sequel immediately. 

I just want to take a moment to shout out the way that Bracken dealt with Avalon. Everyone knows some aspect of King Arthur's story, and I think it was neat how she brought character's from our modern world to the Otherworld of Avalon. It made for an interesting juxtaposition and kept me very intrigued to see in which ways the two worlds were going to collide. I also love the Nine of Avalon and the strong relations they have to one another, the kingdom of Avalon, and King Arthur himself. The themes of sisterhood and loyalty in this book are very important, and the Nine did a great job of introducing this early on in the story. The amount of backstabbing that happens is also insane, and I literally saw none of them coming. 

Overall, "Silver in the Bone" is one of the best books I've read in a long while and I seriously can't wait to dive headfirst into the sequel. I'm digging the characters, the complex magical worlds, and the unexpected twists and turns. I love Alexandra Bracken as an author and her work only seems to be getting better and better. Now, on to "The Mirror of Beasts!" 

Back of Book: 

Set against a sizzling-hot Greek summer filled with sunshine and souvlaki, Rufaro Faith Mazarura’s Let the Games Begin is a page-turning debut rom-com about two strangers at the top of their game.

Athens, 2024. Olivia Nkomo has always been ambitious, smart, and an overall go-getter. Now that she’s graduated from university, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to land her dream job at the Summer Games. The first step? Securing her new internship, which will put her in the center of all the action, where she hopes to run into some of her favorite athletes.

Ezekiel “Zeke” Moyo, the heartthrob star runner of Team Great Britain, is more than ready to claim his title as the fastest man in the world, following in the footsteps of the greatest athletes of all time. His future to the finish line is looking bright―despite his recent breakup with celebrated gymnast Valentina Ross-Rodriguez constantly making headlines.

When Olivia and Zeke collide―literally―on the first day of training, sparks fly. As the games grow closer, so do Olivia and Zeke. But the competition starts stirring up uncomfortable memories from Zeke’s past... and Olivia’s internship doesn’t turn out to be what she expected. Will they be able to overcome these hurdles and achieve their dreams? Or will it come at the cost of their budding romance?

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Adult | Contemporary | Romance | Sports 

Review: 

In the spirit of the Olympics, Mazarura's sports romance is the perfect book to feature this month. I really didn't read anything that really stood out last July anyway, so I'll take this opportunity and run with it! 

Zeke has a pretty good chance of winning win gold during his third Olympic games. Olivia is an ambitious woman on the fast track to obtaining her dream job of working at the Olympics. But both of their dreams are shaken when the two literally collide on the day before the opening ceremony. After their initial negatively-charged meeting, the two end up in a series of chance encounters that keep each other on their minds. Neither one wants to admit it initially, but Zeke and Olivia are both are quickly falling for each other. Unfortunately, they've both been hurt in the past before, and are hesitant to take things too far. The Olympic games only last for so long, and as soon as they are over, Olivia and Zeke must return to their separate lives and careers. Can their feelings persist past the games, or will this be just another summer romance for the duo?

I was shocked by how much I enjoyed reading this book. I adore both Zeke and Olivia; he is such a nervous guy who happens to be an overactive worrier and Olivia is such a headstrong gal with ambitions that she will plan years in advance in order to fulfill. These two couldn't be more different personality-wise, but their entire dynamic works so well together. Their banter is golden and I really enjoyed the moments that gradually ended up pushing these two together.

One thing I appreciated about this book is how much we got to learn about both the romantic interests. The book is told in both Zeke and Olivia's POVs, so we get a deep dive into both of their innermost turmoils and emotions. Some readers may find this annoying, but I loved having a front row seat into these two's minds to see what they were thinking and how their feelings were developing for one another. Zeke's anxieties felt very applicable to most humans, and I totally related to the panic attacks that he experiences. Olivia is a toxic over planner, which is another attribute that I myself possess. I relate to many aspects of both of these characters, so this most definitely helped grow my love for this book rather quickly.

I also really like the look into how people of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are viewed in sports and in the media. Certainly some people still have outdated views towards these people, so I'm glad that this is a topic that Mazarura was willing to tackle. The influence of social media on these athlete's lives was another fascinating topic to explore. Olivia is faced with discrimination in her career field, too. She came to Greece for an internship, but it was given biasedly to a rich, white, young male instead. Olivia has also been treated horribly by some men during her career; Mazarura did a great job of highlighting many of the struggles that Olivia faced in an empowering, hopeful way. The heavy expectations Olivia feels from her Zimbabwean immigrant parents is another pressing point brought up in this book that I feel many people can relate to.

The writing is often introspective and the story often dwells inside of Zeke's and Olivia's heads. I loved experiencing their internal monologues and the fact I got both sides of the story was very refreshing. I ended up taking so many pictures of quotes from this book due to how much I related to many of their thoughts. Some of Zeke's and Olivia's thoughts so perfectly mirrored some of my own opinions on romance and life that it felt as though they were taking the words out of my head at times. The author most definitely wrote out some of these emotions much more eloquently than I ever could have. I've never experienced the art of falling in love and things such as kissing described in such a exquisite way before reading this story. I found the words to flow so beautifully, and the figurative language used to describe things was spot on. Long story short, I really enjoyed the prose in this book.

Overall, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed reading "Let the Games Begin." It is such a cute story, that includes real-life issues that anyone can relate to, likable characters, and maximum summer vibes. After finishing it, I could literally already reread this book to annotate many passages with my thoughts and opinions. There were so many things that made me feel seen, and that's coming from a cisgender white girl who would never dream of running for fun. I really adored this new adult romance and really appreciated how the romance aspects were addressed. A perfect summer read for anyone, but especially if you are a fan of the Olympic games!

Back of Book: 

Now that Wren Martin is student council president (on a technicality, but hey, it counts) he’s going to fix Rapture High. His first order of business: abolish the school’s annual Valentine’s Day Dance, a drain on the school’s resources and general social nightmare—especially when you’re asexual.

His greatest opponent: Leo Reyes, vice president and all-around annoyingly perfect student, who has a solution to Wren’s budget problem. A sponsorship from Buddy, the anonymous “not a dating” app sweeping the nation. Now instead of a dance-less senior year, Wren is in charge of the biggest dance Rapture High has ever seen. He’s even secretly signed up for the app. For research, of course.

But when Wren develops capital F-Feelings for his anonymous match, things spiral out of control. Wren decided a long time ago that dating while asexual wasn’t worth the hassle. With the Dance rapidly approaching, he isn’t sure what will kill him first: the dance, his relationship drama, or the growing realization that Leo’s perfect life might not be so perfect after all.

In an unforgettably quippy and endearingly chaotic voice, narrator Wren Martin explores the complexities of falling in love while asexual.

Book Number: Stand Alone

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

June was such a wonderful reading month; I truly felt blessed by the book gods! I read nine five-star books, so it was very difficult to decide which one to feature. I would highly recommend most of the books I read this month. Without further ado, let me introduce you to a lad named Wren Martin. 

Wren Martin hates two things with a burning passion: his school's Valentine's Day Dance and the student council vice-present, Leo Reyes. As the newly not-elected president of the student council, Wren finally has the power to take things into his own hands. The first thing on his agenda is to abolish the school's dance that drains the school's financial resources and is a social nightmare for minority groups (especially people like him who are asexual). Unfortunately, things don't go as planned when Leo steps in with a solution to Wren's budget problem: a sponsorship with an app called Buddy that is designed to help people connect anonymously (though Wren knows that it's really a dating app in disguise). Somehow, Wren finds himself not only in charge of orchestrating the biggest dance Rapture High has ever seen, but he also finds himself downloading Buddy and discovering things about himself that he never knew.

Literally every part of this book is just so wholesome. I love all of Wren's relationships with his germaphobic dad, his pushy bestie Ryan, his archnemesis Leo, his anonymous Best Buddy, and let's not forget his five pet chickens. The relationships that he forges throughout this novel are precious, and I found much of it to be relatable.

The entire premise of this story is so funny. I mean, an asexual teen wants to destroy the town's Valentine's Day Dance because he finds it awkward and heteronormal, and therefore, severely problematic. However in doing so, he finds himself as head of the dance committee and downloading the accursed Buddy app that he is embarrassed to be found within throwing distance of. And then he ends up developing a crush on his anonymous pal. This is truly the set-up for a hilarious rom-com that had me laughing aloud, smiling from ear to ear, and covering my mouth to prevent myself from squealing aloud. This book is seriously wholesome and dopamine for my soul.

Though the overarching story plot was a bit predictable, that didn't take away any of the joy from reading this book and watching as Wren puts together all of the pieces himself. The anonymous Best Buddy thing was pulled off so well, and it was nice to see different sides of Wren when he is in person versus when he is anonymously communicating online. This really had me thinking about the different personas that we wear on a daily basis and how first encounters can really shape how we see a person potentially forever.

The romance in this book was giggle-inducing, but I think my favorite thing about this novel was watching as Wren came into his true self. He has many self-doubts and insecurities that he works on overcoming as the novel progresses. Some of these things include making decisions about college, grief from losing his mother, insecurities about his asexual identity, and much more. This is a great coming of age novel which also brought me so much joy and happiness from all the romantic nonsense that surround these harder hitting topics.

Overall, "Wren Martin Ruins It All" is such a wholesome, lovable rom-com that just filled me with joy the whole way through. I love the in-depth characters, the asexual representation, the real life issues, the adorable romance, and every other piece to this beautiful puzzle. I can't recommend this one enough and I know it will be on all of my Pride lists for the foreseeable future.

Back of Book: 

Lab Partners, Love, and Visions of the Future. 

Strailer's a young elf who loves friends and fun. When the lab instructor pairs him off with "The Ice Queen" Lilliana, he hopes his charms can melt her icy exterior.

 Lilliana likes things done right and keeping Strailer on-task will only slow her down. While the chemistry between them is undeniable, he also brings a beaker full of chaos. She's seen visions of her future—including her love life—and she knows Strailer's not in it. 

But when the elf of Lilliana's dreams arrives in Valley Glen, it's not as perfect as she had hoped. He brings trouble that could upend all of their futures. Will Lilliana follow her visions without question, or let her heart lead her down the right path? 

Book Number: Prequel

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance

Review: 

Where in the world did May go? I can't believe that it is already over. My reading life was pretty lackluster last month, so I'm going to be featuring an indie book that I really enjoyed in the anticipation of the third book in the series releasing on the seventh (though it is technically already available if you can't wait to get your hands on it). I myself am not actually caught up on this series, but I hope to get to reading the rest of the installments very soon! Without further ado, here's the prequel to the Valley Glen Elves series, Love and Lab Extractions! 

Lilliana is a perfectionist. She rewrites her papers multiple times to make sure that her handwriting is always legible. She always does assignments day in advance so she can turn in her absolute best. She avoids group projects like the plague. That is, until she is forced to do a project with the grades notorious flirt, Strailer. But when she starts spending time with him, she realizes that there is much more to him then that meets the eye. Just as her feelings for him are beginning to grow, she receives a vision that pushes her away from him. When a mysterious stranger comes to town, Lilliana and Strailer's relationship only becomes more tense. Will Lilliana find the strength to follow her heart's desires, or will she force herself to give up on Strailer to maintain her image of perfection?

"Love and Lab Extractions" is the prequel to the "Valley Glen Elves" series and let me just say I am hooked! I love Su's writing style, the world they have created, and the romance was phenomenal! I received this book for free after signing up for her newsletter, but I am most definitely going to check out the other books as they release.

I really relate to Lilliana as a person, so it was easy for me to like her from the get-go. I to am a toxic overachiever that always strives to do my best, does way too much work during group projects, and finishes my tasks days in advance. And when Strailer entered the scene? I knew I was going to love this book! Strailer was such a good book boyfriend. Yes, he's quite flirty, but he's also caring, compassionate, and quite hilarious. It made me so mad that Lilliana resisted her feelings for him, but the build up and the tension was so good that I'll forgive her.

I love how every elf has unique powers that are limited to each individual. Lilliana gets visions of the future and Strailer can move things with his mind. The fact that everyone had different abilities keeps it fresh and I found that I never knew what 

powers they would possess. I could see this being a major part of the main series.

Overall, I just found "Love and Lab Extractions" to be so darn enjoyable! The romance is top tier, the worldbuilding is amazing, and I didn't dislike any of the characters (minus the one creepo, but that's to be expected). I can't wait to get more of this series and will totally recommend this book to people who can't get enough fantasy romances!

Back of Book: 

Death is permanent. Even if it hasn’t happened yet.

With just a touch, George experiences a person's future death. High school is hard enough, but sixteen-year-old death witch Georgiana “George” Colburn can’t seem to catch a break. Even Jen’s ghost, the recently deceased popular girl who ignored George in life, won’t leave her alone. George is convinced her life can’t get any worse. That is until she bumps into the new student and experiences his death at her hand.

When a coven mate, Trixie, offers to help her with her magic, George finds herself with a new friend and crush, but she knows even if she found the courage to ask her out, a relationship is impossible: she’d never be able to touch her. With the help of her friends, George must face her fears and learn to embrace her powers to unlock the secrets of her magic before blood stains her hands.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review:

I've been doing a bit of a reading experiment, so my reading has been quite hectic this month. Despite this, I still had some really awesome reads this month. My favorite ended up being the first book I read this month, which doesn't happen all that often. Unfortunately for you guys, "Touch of Death" doesn't realease until September 17th, 2024, but one can never start building up hype for an amazing book too early. 

Georgiana "George" Colburn has a unique ability even among her fellow death witches: she experiences the death of any person that she touches. Understandably, this can get in the way of  blending in as a normal high school student and creates a bit of an awkward dynamic with her first crush. When she accidentally brushes into the new student, Silas, she experiences a death like no other: she is the one that kills him. Riddled with confusion, George is filled with despair, knowing that she is to become a murderer. Luckily, her friends Felix and Trixie are there to help her through the tough times and crack the mystery surrounding the new boy and her mysterious deathly powers. 

I love the trio in this book. George, Felix, and Trixie are such a fun group of kids and I really enjoyed my time with them. George is a bit of a loner due to her powers, but her bond with Felix is so wholesome. The fact that he is a popular kid who also happens to be the school flirt just makes their friendship all the more precious. Trixie perfectly rounds out the group with her studious ways and quick wit. They all had interesting attributes to add to the group, and I found the chemistry between the three of them to feel completely organic. 

One of the things I love the most about this story is the unique magic system. I don't think I have ever read a book that dove so deeply into witchcraft and covens. I was enraptured by the magic that George and Trixie study and I found it really neat that all of the witches have affinities towards different types of magic. 

This book is also a coming of age story, which I really appreciate. George and Trixie work to become official witches and gain additional powers attributed from the Goddess. George also has to learn to cope with her dark powers and what it means to truly be herself. Even though I am not a magical death wish, there are still many of her struggles that I can heavily relate to. Her bubbling crush for Trixie is also such a prominent part of her growing up; Trixie is her first crush, after all! I found their feelings for one another to be so darn cute, and I couldn't get enough of their moments together. 

Overall, I found "Touch of Death" to be a touching tale of friendship, acceptance, and the tribulations of growing up with a magical twist. I really enjoyed the characters, the world-building, and the mystery elements of the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and am excited to see what other magical concoctions Munsell will develop in the future! 

Back of Book: 

When Griffin's first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, his universe implodes. Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But now, the future he's been imagining for himself has gone far off course.

To make things worse, the only person who truly understands his heartache is Jackson. But no matter how much they open up to each other, Griffin's downward spiral continues. He's losing himself in his obsessive compulsions and destructive choices, and the secrets he's been keeping are tearing him apart.

If Griffin is ever to rebuild his future, he must first confront his history, every last heartbreaking piece in the puzzle of his life.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

I read books by three of my favorite authors this month, but there is a clear winner even among my favorites: History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera. 

History Is All You Left Me follows Griffin right after he looses his first crush, ex-boyfriend, and best friend Theo in a tragic drowning accident. Griffin may have been across the country when it happened, but that doesn't mean Griffin wasn't expecting Theo to come back. Now, Griffin is consumed by grief, giving into his destructive streak and obsessive behaviors like never before. His situation is only made worse due to the one person who knows exactly what he's going through: Theo's current boyfriend, Jackson. In order to get past this immense wave of grief, Griffin must first look to his and Theo's complicated history in order to claim the future that he doesn't feel he deserves. 

I've read They Both Die at the End, so I was prepared for the emotional damage that Silvera delivered in this novel. This one didn't have me sobbing by the end, but I was still an emotional mess and there was countless times in this book that I gasped, put my hand to my mouth, and even found it physically hard to swallow. I have to once again say, no one packs a punch like Adam Silvera does. 

In the beginning of this one, I loved reading about Theo and Griffin first falling in love and dating. It felt so organic and I really enjoyed getting to know these two dorks and their weird quirks. I'm always down for a nerd moment surrounding Harry Potter, and this book had plenty of those. The hopeful start to their relationship really had me rooting for them, despite the fact that I already knew it wouldn't work out for them in the end. 

The way that Silvera arranged this book is pure genius. The "Today" chapters line up splendidly with the "History" chapters, which both packed an emotional punch and elaborately worked together to move the narrative forward in a brilliant way. I could tell their was much thought put into the arrangement of these chapters, and I appreciate when as a reader, I can feel the time put into a story. Also, the fact that all of the "Today" chapters are told with Griffin talking directly to Theo is another amazing choice that really made me connect to the complicated relationship that these two had with one another.  

Griffin is such a messy character, which made him feel so real! His relationships were a bit of a disaster, his compulsions were real, and the things that he said were so vulnerable. The fact that he also had OCD (which I wasn't aware Silvera had until I read this book), was a bonus in my opinion, and really added layers to Griffin as a character as well as his relationships with Theo and Jackson. My heart really goes out to Griffin, and I can't compliment Silvera enough for how he wrote his character. 

Despite being gifted this book quite some time ago, I experienced this story at the perfect time in my life. I am a young college student who is currently wrestling with many of the emotions that are explored in the first couple of "History" sections in this book. I too am part of a trio of besties in which I fear third-wheeling the final member. This is such a legit issues that I'm surprised hasn't come up more frequently in the books I've read. I felt my current predicament and mindset often reflected in Griffin's thoughts and felt oddly seen; it's been a while since I've related so heavily to what a character was thinking and feeling. Hopefully, for all our sakes, the situation with my group ends much less painfully than what happened with Griffin's crew. 

History Is All You Left Me is such a beautiful book that deals with really complicated subjects such as first love, growing up, moving on from grief, mental health, and trying to find happiness when your entire world seems to shatter. I'm pretty sure that every single one of Silvera's books will destroy me in one way or another, so I'll of course be happy to read every last one of them. If you like emotional stories or need a book that will probably make you cry, I can't recommend this one enough!

Back of Book: 

In scenic Granite Harbor on the coast of Maine, life has continued on—quiet and serene—for decades. That is until a local teenager's body is found brutally murdered and hung in The Settlement, the town's historic archaeological site. The way the body is displayed, hung from a handmade wooden structure, and the singular gruesome clue left inside the corpse, signal that this might not have been the killer's first victim.

Alex Brangwen is adjusting to life as a single father and the town's sole detective after a failed career as a novelist. This is his first murder case, and as both a parent and detective, Alex knows the people of Granite Harbor are looking to him to catch the killer and temper the fear that has descended over the town. But his skills as a detective are rudimentary, and he worries that they are more novelist's intuition than investigator's expertise.

Isabel, a single mother attempting to support her family while healing from her own demons, finds herself in the middle of the case when she begins working at The Settlement. Her son Ethan, and Alex’s daughter Sophie, were best friends with the victim. When another teenager is found murdered, the body left with the same gruesome detail, both parents are terrified that their child may be next.

As Alex and Isabel race to find the killer in their midst, the town’s secrets, past and present, begin bubbling to the surface, threatening to unravel the tight-knit community. At once a page-turning thriller and a captivating portrait of the social fabric of a small town, Granite Harbor evokes the place and atmosphere of a Jane Harper mystery with a terrifying villain reminiscent of Thomas Harris's Buffalo Bill.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Adult | Mystery | Thriller | Horror 

Review: 

February was a bit of a rough reading month for me. I only read one book that I gave a five star rating to, so that is the book that I'm going to feature now. Please note that it doesn't come out until April 30th, 2024! 

I won this book from a giveaway and it wasn't a big priority of mine to read. But then I got a glimpse of the first two chapters through a FirstLook on BookishFirst, and I was hooked. I was so glad that I had this book sitting at my house, because I couldn't wait to see what happened in next! 

Granite Harbor is a small town in Maine with an elaborate history. Everyone knows each other so when a highschooler turns up dead, the town is in disarray. Alex, the town's local detective, is put in charge of his first murder case and he is desperate to find the killer before more of his daughter's friends are murdered. Isabel is a single mother who is thrown into the case when the victim's body is found at the location of her work site and her ex begins to investigate the case. Alex and Isabel must band together to discover who the killer is before it is too late for their own children. 

I'm not usually a huge fan of thrillers, but the small town atmosphere of this one paired with the super unique personality of the serial killer hooked me from the beginning. The fact that the book starts out in the murderer's perspective was so trippy and by the time they found the body and we learned about the mysterious circumstances surrounding the victim's death—there was no stopping me from eating this book up! 

My favorite thing about this book was how Nichols implemented the serial killer's backstory. He gave us so much lore about "the boy" and it was so interesting to learn about the messed up incidents that "the boy" experienced that led him to be the person he is today. Learning about "the boy's" mentor was especially enlightening. It was especially cool to experience the dramatic irony of knowing more than Alex does as the story progresses. The only downfall of this is that it did make it pretty obvious who the killer is, but I feel the reveal was still exceptionally done, so I didn't mind in the slightest. I must admit though, Nichols did a great job of giving similar traits to random side characters that "the boy" possesses, to try to hide who it was a bit. 

I found most of the characters in this one realistic and I found Alex and Isabel's relationships with their kids to be so wholesome. Their kids, Ethan and Sophie, might not always agree with them, but as parents, they were always doing everything that they could to keep their children safe. 

Overall, I was completely enthralled by Granite Harbor, which came as a pleasant surprise to me. I loved the small town setting, the crazy logic of the serial killer, and the teamwork that Alex and Isabel used to crack the case. Despite some semi-predictable parts, I still loved the reveals and was surprised by the events that unfolded. I think I need to give thrillers a break and approach them with a more open mind, because I really enjoyed this novel. I would recommend to anyone who loves books involving crime, serial killers, and horrific murders (or anyone who is looking for a well crafted mystery). 

Back of Book: 

Dying has its perks... mostly. Bullied teen, Ember O'Neill goes from the weird girl to the tyrant of her school when she is resurrected from a deadly prank. Now secretly supernatural, she dethrones the school drama queen and snags the hot new guy, but her reign is at risk when the Order, a heretical sect, sends an assassin to eliminate her. Ember must expose her powers, potentially losing all she has gained, in order to save herself and her friends as her killer closes in.

Book Number: One 

Genre:  Young Adult | Fantasy | Paranormal 

Review: 

This month I'm actually going to be featuring a book that I read back in December of 2023. If you have been keeping tabs on me at all, you probably know that I am a part of Kerrie Faye's Street Team for her debut novel, Dead Girl. It releases at the end of the month on February 26th, and I can't wait for it to hit the shelves, so that more people can read it! 

Dead Girl is an urban fantasy that follows a girl named Ember who gains unique powers after a near-death experience. Ember uses her newly acquired abilities to get revenge on those that have bullied her and wronged her in the past. In this story, the underdog truly does prevail. Eventually, the more fantastical elements of the plot seep in and we are introduced to secret assassins, angels and demons, and supernatural abilities. 

One of my favorite things about this one is the characters. I love Erick and his supreme nerdiness. He also calls Ember "Warrior Princess," which I found really fun and cute. Hallee is the thrid member of the trio and she was a great addition to the story. Apart from the main three, my favorite character was Derek, who is one of the book's love interests. I usually hate the savior trope, but I came to really like Derek, so I let it slide. 

Something that I found really unique about Dead Girl is the fact that there are four possible love interests. There's Erick, the childhood best friend (that Ember has no interest in), Derek, the cute college student, Logan, the hot new guy in town, and Adam, the sexy entity that shows up in her dreams. I couldn't bring myself to like Logan at all, so I was rooting for him to fail the whole story. In the end, I'd say that Derek is my favorite, so I hope that he wins in the long run. Dead Girl is only the first in the series, so I guess I'll have to wait to find out. 

I know that Dead Girl will always hold a special place in my heart for many reasons. Yes, it may be the first Street Team I was a part of but it's also much more than that. I can't recall a book that threw me more out of the loop than this one. When I started reading it, I thought it was a contemporary novel, but it ended up being an urban fantasy, which honestly made my brain explode. I had such a fun time reading this one, and I can't wait for the rest of the series! If you are a fan of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, or an underdog tale, look out for the release of Dead Girl on February 26th! 

Back of Book: 

The hilarious and heartbreaking confessions of a figure skater turned collegiate hockey player who's terrified of checking... and is desperately in love with the captain of his hockey team.

Eric Bittle is a former Georgia junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and amateur pâtissier. But as accomplished as he is, nothing could prepare him for his freshman year of playing hockey at the prestigious Samwell University in Samwell, Massachusetts. It's nothing like co-ed club hockey back in the South! For one? There’s checking. Second, there is Jack—his very attractive but moody captain.

A collection of the first half of the mega-popular webcomic series of the same name, Check, Please!: #Hockey is the first in a hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life.

Book Number: One

Genre: Young Adult | Graphic Novel | Webcomic | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

I can't believe that 2023 is already over! I read so many amazing books, met some pretty cool authors, and broke into the online world of books. It's been quite productive, and I hope that 2024 will be just as great. The January 2024 Book of the Month is one of my newest obsessions, even though they are by no means new releases. 

Check, Please! follows a figure skater turned collegiate hockey player Eric Bittle whose passions are baking and vlogging. Upon arriving at Samwell College, Eric is ecstatic to meet the team, but soon comes to realize that being on a college hockey team is nothing like the co-ed team he used to play on. He's dubbed "Bitty" by the boys and is pushed to conquer his fear of checking and to face his moody captain, Jack. Thus begins Bitty's freshmen year at Samwell and a whirlwind of crazy shenanigans featuring the Samwell's Men Hockey team. 

When I read the first volume of Check, Please!, I tried to act so nonchalant about it. I was like, "It was pretty fun, but it did have some minor issues structurally and it wasn't as much as a romance as I expected it to be." Well, forget that. I have since fallen into Eric Richard Bittle's trap and would literally do anything for this dude. He is so precious and it literally broke my heart whenever anyone was mean to him. His hobbies are awesome; it is so fun to watch him vlog, bake, and tweet all day long. Plus, he's addicted to pop music and Beyoncé, which is hillarious due to the people he hangs out with. He is always there for both the team and his followers, and my whole heart goes out to him. 

I could rant about Bitty for hours, so we're going to move on to other reasons that I'm addicted to this series. I really love the bonds between the entire team. They do some pretty crazy things together, but in the end, they are always there for each other. I always love when media features such an awesome friend group, and the team is the perfect example of this. Each member has their own quirks and personality, but they are such a fun group to read about overall. 

One of my favorite things about this series is despite the fact that it is a cozy, college romance, it also tackles some really heavy topics. It touches on themes of identity, toxic media presences, bullying, substance abuse, and homophobia. This series would have been beautiful as just a fluffy romance, but adding hard hitting issues just makes it all that better in my opinion. I must admit that many of these issues aren't heavily hit on until years three and four, but many appear in the first volume. 

I love the romance in this series. We may only get crumbs in book one, but the crumbs are gourmet! It's cute, it's wholesome, there's pie, I mean, what's not to love? I feel the romance builds up in a realistic way and that the hurdles that have to be overcome are realistic and don't shatter the magic of the bond. 

I seriously love Check, Please! so much and I would love to find someone who is willing to love it with me. My sister is currently reading them right now, so I guess we'll see if I have someone else in my corner real soon. I can't scream my praises about this one enough. Honestly though, there isn't much risk involved with this one. It's a webcomic so you can literally read it for free online at https://www.checkpleasecomic.com/ and test it out. So what are you waiting for? Click that link, please! 

Back of Book: 

A funny, heartfelt YA romance about finding love—and lots of grilled cheese sandwiches—in the place you least expect it, from rising talent Deya Muniz.

Lady Camembert wants to live life on her own terms, without marriage. Well, without marrying a man, that is. But the law of the land is that women cannot inherit. So when her father passes away, she does the only thing she can: She disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage to start over as Count Camembert.

But it’s hard to keep a low profile when the beautiful Princess Brie, with her fierce activism and great sense of fashion, catches her attention. Camembert can’t resist getting to know the princess, but as the two grow closer, will she able to keep her secret?

A romantic comedy about mistaken identity, true love, and lots of grilled cheese.

Book Number: One 

Genre: Young Adult | Graphic Novel | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

I laughed so hard reading this wholesome, romantic graphic novel!

Lady Camembert doesn't need a man in her life. She's turned down marriage proposal after marriage proposal, but when her father gets sick the stakes are raised. Women aren't allowed to inherit a family's wealth, so Lady Camembert restarts her life over as Lord Camembert in the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage. She knows that she'll have to lay low in order to keep her identity a secret. But all of Camembert's plans fly out the window when she meets the royal princess, Brie. As Cam's relationship with the princess grows deeper, she begins to worry that her secret will be revealed. But even more pressing then the fact that she is a girl, how is she supposed to keep her feelings hidden from Brie?

Everything about this book is such a blast. The art style is magnificent, the humor is spot on, the romance is adorable, and the amount of cheese present in this book is astonishing. While reading this graphic novel, I got the same unhinged experience that one gets when reading manga. The facial expressions are overdone (I love how demonstrative they are), the things that were said were totally out there (completely off the wall), and I love how inclusive all the characters are (unhinged in the most perfect way). The entire premise is super funny, with Cam always trying to hide who they truly are all while Brie's feelings are growing and growing. And the fact that all the characters are named after cheese? 10/10! The fact that other characters are named after things much less appealing than cheese, such as brussel sprouts, also made me giggle.

The friend group in this story was also a highlight for me. I love their shared interest in fashion and how much of activists they all are. It is so cute to see Cam being treated as one of the girls by everyone. I also really love how Ricotta is so confused and unobservant about everything. Zola is fierce and independent and a true fashion designer. I think that they are all fabulous characters and it is so fun to read about them.

Something that I found really cool about this book is that a bunch of it is based on Muniz's personal experiences, which I think is really neat. They most definitely had some very cute romantic moments in their everyday life, and I think it is awesome that they decided to share them with the reader community.

"The Princess and the Grilled Cheese" is such a fun story and I would totally read anything else Muniz publishes. The novel is funny, wholesome, adorable, and really unique. This graphic novel has got to be one of my favorites and will be high on the list of books that I recommend to people if they want to read a lighthearted graphic novel. It truly is a jolly good time until the very last page!

Back of Book: 

Eighteen-year-old Rory Quinn-Morelli doesn’t want to die; she wants refuge from reality for even a minute: the reality where she survived the car crash eight months ago, and her best friend, Liv, didn’t. Yet her exasperating mother won’t believe the Xanax incident was an accident, and her therapist is making it increasingly hard to maintain the detached, impenetrable “cold girl” façade she adopted from Liv. After she unintentionally reconnects with Liv’s parents, Rory must decide: will she keep Liv’s and her secrets inside, or will she finally allow herself to break? And if she breaks, what will she unearth amid the pieces?

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | LGBTQIA+ | Mental Health 

Review: 

Cold Girls" is truly an emotional roller coaster. When I first saw the cover, I just assumed it was a lesbian romance, but it's much more than that. It's a story of love, loss, and new beginnings. My sister asked me how the book was and I described it to her as a mix of "Looking for Alaska," "You've Reached Sam," and "We Are the Ants." If you've read any or all of those books, you know what kind of a read "Cold Girls" is.

"Cold Girls" follows our protagonist Rory after her and her best friend, Liv, get in a terrible car crash. Rory was the only one who walked away alive. "Cold Girls" is told in alternating time periods of the adventurous times "Before" and the broken remains of the time "After" the accident. The two interweave together beautifully, until at the very end, the reader gets a full picture of Rory and Liv.

I found this book especially interesting because I could relate to both Rory and Liv as people, even though the entirety of the book follows them doing things that I could never even imagine doing myself. Rory is a homebody that loves to read, listen to movie soundtracks, and spend time with her Italian grandparents that live with her. Liv on the other hand loves to go out on the town, attend parties, and get a little drunk in the process. But beneath her wild side, she hides deep insecurities. Despite their differences, these two become fast friends after being assigned the only two female tenors in their school's choir. Their friendship felt organic and you gradually learn more and more about how their chemistry develops as the story progresses.

I love how much rep this book has. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community were front and center, which is always a win in my book. It also delves into the deep depths of mental health, which is also something that we need more of in the book industry. I really love how diverse Rory's friend group is and how realistic their falling outs and coming back together are.

Overall, this is a book that hits you in the feels when you least expect it to. One moment it's making you laugh, the next moment you're trying to catch your breath, and before you know it, there are tears in your eyes. I loved "Cold Girls" and I feel like it will be a book that I'll recommend to specific types of people for a long while. Please go check out "Cold Girls" if it at all interests you!

Back of Book: 

Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.

When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.

Book Number: One 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Historical 

Review: 

Hey guys! I won The Scarlet Alchemist and got the amazing opportunity to read it before its publication date. It releases on October 3rd (only two more days to go!) and I hope that you go check it out because it was seriously one of the best books I've ever read! 

The Scarlet Alchemist takes place in an alternate version of China's past in the year 775. It follows a young woman named Zilan, who wants nothing more than to become a royal alchemist to support her aunt and uncle. She gets the chance to travel to the capital and compete against the best of the best. But she never could have guessed what greeted her upon her arrival. The Crown Prince himself  starts taking interest in her; he believes that his life is in danger and that Zilan's alchemy is the one thing that can save him. 

I love, love, LOVE, the magic of this world. Baker plays with the concept of life alchemy, which involves gold that bestows immortality, using one's chi to accomplish various feats, and even resurrecting those that have perished. I think that alchemy is super interesting, and the way that Baker played with the boundaries between life and death really knocked my socks off. 

The characters in this one were a ten out of ten for me. I think Zilan is fierce, protective, and loyal to the end, which makes for a very strong protagonist. I think that her cousins Yufei and Wenshu, are both super creative, with Yufei being the pretty yet dangerous sibling and Wenshu being the dorky, nerdier sibling. I loved this trio, but my favorite character by far was the Crown Prince, Li Hong. He is naive  in the goofiest ways, yet charming as heck. Besides, he loves ducks, so bonus points to him! 

The final element I want to highlight, is the writing itself. The Scarlet Alchemist is super intense and I was flying through the pages as I read it. I was desperate to see what happened next; it really kept me on my toes! I think one of the most suspenseful things about this book, is the fact that Baker was willing to kill any character at any moment. And I mean anyone. I suppose this is what happens when the world is so heavily tainted with life alchemy; the characters can almost always be brought back within a moments notice. But when things go wrong, boy do they go wrong! 

I gobbled up every part of The Scarlet Alchemist. It was my first read by Kylie Lee Baker, but I can already tell you that I will be buying the rest of the trilogy as they come out. It will be agony to wait another whole year for its sequel to release, but I'm so excited that I know it will be worth it! If you love complicated fantasy worlds, intricate familial conspiracies, and romantic suspense novels, then The Scarlet Alchemist is the perfect read for you! 

Back of Book: 

Sam Sylvester has long collected stories of half-lived lives—of kids who died before they turned nineteen. Sam was almost one of those kids. Now, as Sam's own nineteenth birthday approaches, their recent near-death experience haunts them. They're certain they don't have much time left...

Still, Sam begins to settle into their new hometown with the help of their neighbor, Shep, whom Sam can't stop thinking about. Yet the past keeps roaring back—in memories and in the form of a thirty-year-old suspicious death. Sam can't resist trying to find out more about the kid who died in Sam's new home and who now seems to guide their investigation. When Sam starts recieving threatening notes, they know they're on the path to uncovering a murderer. But is Sam also approaching their own end? 

The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester explores healing in the aftermath of trauma and the joy in living a full life. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Mystery | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

I loved reading The Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester; let's get into it. 

This story features a nonbinary protagonist named Sam who is a little bit too obsessed with children who have died before their nineteenth birthdays. Sam is just recovering from their own traumatic experience that almost made them one of those kids. After moving to a new town, Sam believes that the Incident is behind them, but after the news gets out, Sam starts recieving death threats from an anonymous stranger. And then they start investigating a murder of a boy named Billy that died in the very house that Sam has just moved into. As the story progresses, Sam begins to suspect that maybe, just maybe, they'll still end up in an entry of in their book of half-lived lives. 

This book really surprised me for several reasons, namely the amount of positive representation, the thrill of a ride, and all the modern references.

 Firstly, Sam themselves is not only queer and nonbinary, but they are also an autistic protagonist. Reading about an autistic character that was over the age of twelve was refreshing and completely new experience. Sam's neighbor, Shep, is also a Latina, queer gal who I just fell in love with. She was super sweet and a bit quirky, which was great. Their are also many other side characters who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

I usually don't love thrillers/mysteries, but MacGregor managed to keep me completely engaged all throughout. The mystery element wasn't obvious from the get-go, though I must admit their were predictable elements. MacGregor surprised me with multiple scenes and they really got my heart beating as I wondered if the characters I had come to love would be okay or not. 

Lastly, I wanted to touch of the modernity of this novel. Many novels include shoutouts to pop culture items, but this book kept catching my by surprise with the things that Sam referenced. The references to Among Us, gaslighting, and How to Train Your Dragon made me smile and I thought it added a nice touch to the book. 

Overall, I really loved The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester and recommend that anyone who has any interest go check it out! It truly surprised me in many great ways and I felt super attached to the characters by the end of the book. What are you waiting for? Go pick it up and read it! 

Back of Book: 

Every Friday night, best friends Delia and Josie become Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood, hosts of the campy creature feature show Midnite Matinee on the local cable station TV Six.

But with the end of senior year quickly approaching, the girls face tough decisions about their futures. Josie has been dreading graduation, as she tries to decide whether to leave for a big university and chase her dream career in mainstream TV. And Lawson, one of the show's guest performers, a talented MMA fighter with weaknesses for pancakes, fantasy novels, and Josie, is making her tough decision even harder.

Scary movies are the last connection Delia has to her dad, who abandoned the family years ago. If Midnite Matinee becomes a hit, maybe he'll see it and want to be a part of her life again. And maybe Josie will stay with the show instead of leaving her behind, too.

As the tug-of-war between growing up and growing apart tests the bonds of their friendship, Josie and Delia start to realize that an uncertain future can be both monstrous... and momentous.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance 

Review: 

I'm a little late to the party this month, but I'm here now. This month I wanted to feature a chill feel-good  novel about two best friends trying to figure out how to sustain their relationship now that high school is ending and everything starts changing in their lives. 

This novel follows Josie and Delia, two girls who have been best friends for as long as they can remember. These girl's friendship spans to more than just watching movies and sharing each others secrets; they bond together over cringey horror movies that they critique on a television show they created together called Midnite Matinee. As the novel opens, the girls are getting closer and closer to the end of their senior year—and the rest of their lives. Delia is convinced that they will work on the show together forever, but Josie hosts a secret desire for more. She wants to become a famous TV star, but how can she abandon Delia? And when Josie meets Lawson. . . it's even harder for Josie to think about leaving. 

I love this novel for many reasons, but one of my favorites has to just be the subject matter. It is about two best friends trying to navigate the water of their futures, which is something I feel everyone can relate to. I also love the fact that the novel is so heavily focused around the television industry. I think that was super interesting to read about and experience with the girls. A good portion of this novel takes place at a horror convention, and the girls wander around dressed up as their characters and get a first hand look at what some of the industry entails. 

Another thing I loved about this novel was that both of the girls had realistic issues that only added to the authenticity of the novel .Delia's father left her and her mother alone several years before the novel begins, which leaves Delia with severe abandonment issues. This only amplifies the fear that Delia feels when it comes to the possibility that  Josie could leave her and the show. Josie not only feels guilty about leaving Delia, but also feels pressured by her parents to accept a deal they obtained on the Food Network. Choices are a prevalent part of both of their journeys, and neither one wants to make these difficult decisions. 

And lastly, I really enjoyed the romance! Lawson was such a likeable love interest. He's into mixed martial arts, which was super interesting and not something I've ever seen done before in any of the books I've read. He is such a sweet boy and seeing him fight is so weird, but oddly rewarding. Plus, his MMA abilities come into use later in the novel. . . but I won't spoil how! He loves pancakes, fantasy novels, and corny jokes, what's not to love? 

Anyways, those were some of my favorite things about Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee. It was a sweet read that was both super funny and touching. I would recommend it for anyone who loves a good romance, has an interst in show biz, or is standing at a crossroads of their own. 

Back of Book: 

Wren owes everything she has to her home, Hollow’s End, a centuries-old, picture perfect American town. Tourists travel miles to marvel at its miracle crops, including the shimmering, iridescent wheat of Wren’s family farm. Until five months ago.

That’s when the quicksilver mercury blight first surfaced, poisoning the farms of Hollow’s End one by one. It began by consuming the crops—thick, silver sludge bleeding from the earth. Next were the animals. Infected livestock and wild creatures alike staggered off into the woods by day—only to return at night, their eyes, fogged white, leering from the trees.

Then, the blight came for the neighbors.

Wren is among the last locals standing. And the blight has finally come for her, too. Now, the only one she can turn to is the last person she wants to call: her ex, Derek. They haven’t spoken in months, but Wren and Derek still have one thing in common—Hollow’s End means everything to them. Only there’s much they don’t know about their hometown and its renowned miracle crops. And they’re about to discover that miracles aren’t free.

Their ancestors have an awful lot to pay for, and Wren and Derek are the only ones left to settle old debts.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 15+ 

AR Level: 5.0 Points: 12.0 

Review: 

For this edition of the Book Nerd's Corner Book of the Month, I'm going to be focusing on a novel called What We Harvest. I was a little wary when I first picked this book up, but it ended up blowing my expectations out of the water. 

What We Harvest tells the story of Wren and her childhood best friend, Derek, as they struggle to save their families farms from a dangerous disease called the blight that has been poisoning anything it touches, be it plant, animal, or human. It is a modern story with a post-apocalyptic feel, meaning that it feels familiar, yet is full of suspenseful action scenes. Throughout the book, Wren and Derek learn more and more about the blight, leading them to realize that it is much more than they ever expected it to be. 

This story can be a bit difficult to pinpoint why it is so good, but I'll try to hone in on a couple of my favorite things. First off, it was a bit predictable at times, yet it kept surprising me time and time again. Right from the get-go I was shocked; I really thought that this book was going to be science fiction, but after reading a few pages, it became clear to me that it was more of a spooky fantasy read. This book was way more suspenseful than I thought it would be, with many scenes causing my heart to race and others causing me to wonder if any of the characters could possibly make it out of a situation alive. I mean, half the book has to be the characters running away from zombie-like creatures, so one can understand why I questioned for their safety. 

My favorite part of What We Harvest has to be the characters. I have always been a sucker for fast paced reads with high intensity situations, but I usually do not get as attached to the characters as I did with this book. Wren and Derek were fully fleshed characters, with an intricate relationship that existed long before the story started long before the first page. I really appreciate how Fraistat drops hints and pieces of their past, so the reader can feel like they have known Wren and Derek through the entirety of their childhoods. I also appreciated how controversial the parents were throughout the book; Wren and Derek never knew if their families could be trusted or not, which only added to the suspense. 

The other thing I especially enjoyed about this book was the themes. I loved the family ties, along with the importance of friendship, but my favorite themes have to deal with the greed and foolishness of humanity. Wren has to face the fact that her family has exploited the gift that was bestowed upon them and pay for the consequences. This gives the novel many themes often present in science fiction novels about the corruptness of humanity, which I believe is always an important message to remind people of. 

I feel like I rambled a bit about this one, but it was a bit hard to place my finger on all of the reasons I found this book so amazing. It was Fraistat's debut too, which made it that much more impressive. Anyway, if you love thrillers or suspenseful science fiction, you should give this book a try! 

Back of Book: 

The day the rains came was like any other, blistering air coating the canyon in a heavy stillness. . . 

Just as the rains come after ten long, dry years, a young wizard, Wayland North, appears, to whisk Sydelle Mirabil away from her desert village. North needs an assistant, and Sydelle is eager to see the country—and to join him on his quest to stop the war that surely will destroy her home. But North has secrets—about himself, about why he chose Sydelle, about his real reasons for the journey. What does he want from her? And why does North's sworn enemy seem fascinated by Sydelle himself?

Through a journey that spans a country, magic and hard-won romance are woven together with precision and brilliant design by a first-time novelist.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 14+ 

AR Level: 5.2 Points: 13.0 

Review: 

So I may be featuring another Alexandra Bracken book this month, but I love her writing so it's fine. 

Brightly Woven is a fantasy novel that relies heavily on its romance element. It tells the story of Sydelle, a 16 year old girl from a small village who dreams of a more exciting life. She always wanted to leave Cliffton, but she never expected being kidnapped by a charming young wizard named North to be her ticket out. Taken against her will, Sydelle finally gets to explore the greater world. But why did North pick her? As the story unravels, the reader learns more about the country of Palmarta and the magic that is contained within the world. 

Personally, I thought the trio present throughout this novel were a hoot. Sydelle is so fiery and passionate, North is charming and mysterious, and Owain is giant oaf that may or may not be in love with his horse. The dynamic between the three characters is priceless, and I often found myself laughing aloud (especially at North's comments). The weirdest thing about the trio is probably how quickly Sydelle went from hating her companions to loving them, but honestly. even that seemed pretty legit. She was kidnapped right as her home was under siege so most of her negative feelings came from leaving her family, not from the dislike of North, 

I also thought that the world was very solid for a stand alone novel. There are two goddesses that are worshipped by the multiple kingdoms present on the continent. There isn't too much backstory, but it was never confusing when they started talking about Astrae (Magic)  and Salvala (War). The world was filled with magical spells, talismans, and creatures, so it felt fully fleshed, though not super in-depth. 

I have been a huge fan out Alexandra's Bracken for quite some time now and her newest book, Silver in the Bone, just came out; I'm super excited to read it, but I figured I'd try to play some catch-up with her other books first. I hope that you take some time to check out any of her books! 

Back of Book: 

A heartfelt novel about love and loss and what it means to say goodbye. 

Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes.

Heartbroken, Julie skips his funeral, throws out his belongings, and tries everything to forget him. But a message Sam left behind in her yearbook forces memories to return. Desperate to hear him one more time, Julie calls Sam's cell just to listen to his voice mail recording. And Sam picks up the phone. 

The connection is temporary. But hearing Sam's voice makes Julie fall for him all over again, and, with each call, it becomes harder to let him go. 

What would you do if you had a second chance at goodbye? 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 13+ 

AR Level: 3.9 Points: 11.0 

Review: 

Welcome to May everyone! I have to feature You've Reached Sam this month because I just had the opportunity to meet the author, Dustin Thao, a couple of days ago at a convention. I loved reading his debut, so I figured there is no better time to feature it as my Book of the Month! 

You've Reached Sam is ultimately a story of loss. The book opens with a montage of Julie falling in love with her boyfriend, Sam. But the ending of the prologue lets the reader know that Sam is now dead, without giving any details of how. Chapter one shows Julie throwing away anything that reminds her of Sam. Full of regret, Julie desperately calls Sam's number just hoping to hear his voice one more time. But then the impossible becomes possible when Sam picks up the phone. As the story advances, the reader follows Julie as she deals with her guilt surrounding Sam's death and her slow progress of letting him go and moving on with her life. 

Julie is not the most likable protagonist in the world, but I feel you have to cut her some slack due to the immense grief and guilt she is experiencing. She makes some questionable decisions (such as throwing away all of Sam's stuff), but I feel many people would have reacted similarly in her situation. She is also an aspiring writer, which was fun to read. Sam on the other hand, is incredibly charming and it always made me smile when Julie talked to him. Sam is incredibly musical and I love how music connected the two of them. Despite the cuteness of the two of them together, this is NOT a romance, but a showcase of the struggles of a grieving teenager. 

The writing in this book is quite simplistic, but I never lost sight of Julie's voice throughout. I liked how easy it was to read, especially because it covers such a trying topic. Forewarning, this book did have me breaking down into tears, so if you aren't in the mood for a sad novel, Sam's story is not for you. 

Overall, I thought that You've Reached Sam was beautifully written despite it simplistic nature. I really appreciated the struggles that Julie went through during the novel, but one of my favorite things is that Sam struggles just as much as Julie does despite the fact that he is dead. I really hope you give Thao's debut novel a try. I found it worth every minute of my time and I think many people could use another realistic story of love and loss. 

Back of Book: 

All Jin Wang wants is to fit in. When his family moves to a new neighborhood, he suddenly finds that he's the only Chinese American student at his school. Jocks and bullies pick on him constantly, and he has hardly any friends. Then, to make matters worse, he falls in love with an all-American girl. . . 

Born to rule over all the monkeys in the world, the story of the Monkey King is one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables. Adored by his subjects, master of the arts of kung-fu, he is the most powerful monkey on earth. But the Monkey King doesn't want to be a monkey. He wants to be hailed as a god. . . 

Chin-Kee is the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, and he's ruining his cousin Danny's life. Danny's a popular kid at school, but every year Chin-Kee comes to visit, and every year Danny has to transfer to a new school to escape the shame. This year, though, things quickly go from bad to worse. . . 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 14+ 

AR Level: 3.3 Points: 1.0 

Review 

I know that it's April, but this book is no joke! American Born Chinese is a pretty popular book, yet many people haven't read it before for the simple fact that it is a graphic novel. 

This novel weaves together three stories about finding out who you truly are and embracing your identity. The first showcases the Monkey King that wants to be a god. The second is about a young Chinese immigrant, Jin Wang, who just wants to fit in with the rest of his classmates. The final story tells of a young teenager named Danny who is embarrassed due to his Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee, who fits many of the negative Chinese stereotypes. The three stories have very different feels to them, but come together to showcase a wonderful message. 

I thought that I knew exactly where this book was going when I was reading it, but Yang surprised me time after time. I believe this is the first time that I have ever featured a graphic novel, but I have been coming to really appreciate them lately. American Born Chinese has got to be the best one I have read so far, for the sole reason that I loved the story and the content found within. I feel we can all relate to feeling like we don't fit in and trying to change oneself to blend in. This book shows the consequences of trying to run away from ones true self, which is great topic to for teens to grapple with. 

I think graphic novels are great and if you have never checked one out, I would recommend Yang's American Born Chinese. It is a complex story simply told and I feel most that anyone can relate to it, no matter their age. 

Back of Book: 

Meet Jack Reynolds. Making people laugh is his life's work. Jack's wacky MyTube channel is really starting to take off. The only problem is, for the truly epic posts, he needs a collaborator. And, well, he doesn't exactly have any friends. So Jack has to swallow his pride and join the new afterschool club, Speed Friendshipping. But who would make the best partner in comedy?

- Brielle, Miss Perfect candidate for student body president?

- Mario, whose mom won't even let him have a smart phone?

- Or Tasha, the quiet, mysterious girl with a shaved head and a crocheted hat for every day of the week?

One of these kids could help catapult Jack to internet fame. . . or even become a true friend. But what will it cost him to go viral?

With an unfailing knack for the middle-grade voice, Arianne Costner, author of My Life as a Potato, explores themes of friendship, belonging, and the ways social media can put pressure on today's kids. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 4.5 Points: 8.0 

Review:  

This month I'll finally be featuring another children's book! When I saw that my library bought Arianne Costner's newest book, I couldn't walk out without it in my hand. 

Our protagonist's name is Jack, and as you have probably surmised from the title, he's the class clown. He lives to make people laugh and he spends most of his time uploading funny videos onto his MyTube account (pretty much YouTube but also different) with his "best friend", Zane. So when he learns of the school talent show, Jack knows that they have to do something that will blow their classmates (and the internet) away. The problem? Zane doesn't want to be his "friend" anymore. So Jack reluctantly attends Speed Friendshipping to try to find a new partner to help him. What starts as a ploy for internet fame turns into an endeavor to acquire lasting friendships, but unfortunately for Jack, he has never been able to keep friends for long. Will Jack be able to find a partner for the talent show? Or will his yearning to become internet famous lead to his undoing? 

This book reminds me of Posted by John David Anderson. They both focus on the toxicity of social media and technology on school campuses and how hard it is to keep friends. Confessions of a Class Clown is aimed at a younger audience and is much funnier, but the same essential messages were present. 

I love how funny Costner is. There is no author that can get into the head of children like she does. This book was just as funny as My Life As a Potato, which was a relief, because I love that book. I thought it was cool how Ben (My Life As a Potato) and Jack were complete opposites, yet had the same sense of humor. I love the way she brings her characters and I'm really excited to see what Costner has coming in the future. 

Confessions of a Class Clown is a quick, fun read that focuses on the power of friendship and the consequences of technology when used in a negative way. A perfect read for kids and adults alike, just be prepared to have yourself a couple of laughs! 

Back of Book: 

A modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice for a new generation of love.

Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn't want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid, who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and who dresses like he belongs in the seventh century.

When a surprise engagement is announced between Khalid and Hafsa, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 14+ 

AR Level: N/A Points: N/A 

Review: 

Hey guys! Sorry for the late arrival this month, but I've been a bit preoccupied. This month, I'm presenting a Muslim retelling of Jane Austen's classic, Pride and Prejusdice. I read that book late 2022, so reading Ayesha at Last was super fun. 

Ayesha at Last showcases a unique love story between Ayesha and Khalid. Their feelings toward one another mirror Elizabeth's and Mr. Darcy's, but their circumstances are completely their own. Ayesha and Khalid meet one another when working on a campaign to help out their local mosque. Ayesha fills in for her irresponsible cousin, Hafsa, and misleads Khalid into thinking that she is indeed Hafsa, not Ayesha. As their feelings for each other grow, it becomes harder for Ayesha to reveal her secrets. But when Khalid's arranges a marriage between Hafsa and Khalid. . . Well, I'm sure you can see how this would complicate things. 

As you have probably realized by know, I love to read novels about different cultures and immersing myself into other's experiences. Ayesha at Last was a great retelling of a classic in a different time period and through a different lens. This allowed one to see how similar circumstances would play out in modern times, and let me tell you, the parallels to Pride and Prejudice were well executed. 

Another intriguing part about this story, is how differnt Ayesha and Khalid are. Ayesha's family isn't as strict about Islamic principles as many other fictional Islamic characters I've seen, and yet Ayesha still feels pressured into being a teacher for her family's sake, even though her heart lies elsewhere. Khalid on the other hand, has been raised to dress up in traditional garb and goes as far as to not touch women. He has never questioned the fact that his mother will be the one to pick out his wife. Until he meets Ayesha. 

At it's center, Ayesha at Last is an amazing romance that I enjoyed immensely. It was fun to learn more about Muslims daily lifes and see a twist on a beloved classic. 

Back of Book: 

I could hand you a braid of sweetgrass as thick and shining as the braid that hung down my grandmother's back. But it is not mine to give, nor yours to take. Wiingaashk belongs to herself. I offer, in her place, a braid of stories meant to heal our relationship with the world. 

As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer is trained to use the tools of science to ask questions of nature. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces plants and animals as our oldest teachers. Kimmerer brings these lenses of knowledge together to show that when we listen the languages of others, we are capable of understanding the generosity of the earth and learning to give our own gifts in return. 

Adapted by Monique Gray Smith with illustrations from Nicole Neidhardt, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults highlights how acknowledging and celebrating our reciprocal relationship with the earth results in a wider, more complete understanding of our place and purpose. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 13+ 

AR Level: N/A Points: N/A 

Review:  

Welcome to 2023! To start off the new year, I'm going to feature a book that touched my heart and opened my eyes all through the teachings of plants. 

Braiding Sweetgrass is a book filled with ideas derived from native ideas, values, and observations. I read the young adult version of the novel, but I assume that the knowledge provided remains as pure and thoughtful as the original version. It also included beautiful illustrations that accompanied the stories and stunning photography to let you experience the beauty of the natural world at your fingertips. This novel highlights The Honorable Harvest and The Thanksgiving Address, ideas that most people have never even heard of, but that many indigenous people live by. 

I know that last month I also featured a book about Indian culture and ideas, but I really think that we can all learn from their worldviews. If you haven't read a book about Indian customs, Braiding Sweetgrass would be a wonderful introduction to their customs, history, and ideas. And if you're like me and have indulged a bit into this culture, there are still many valuable lessons to be taken away from this book. 

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a botanist who takes her scientific knowledge and expertly pairs it with her native teachings to give a fresh interpretation of the natural world around us. This book is hard to summarize because it is told in a series of short stories showcasing the experiences she's had throughout her life. I hope that you can bring yourself to read this masterful creation that you can tell is very close to the author's heart. 

Back of Book: 

Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi's hockey team. 

Yet even as Duanis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FMI investigation of a lethal new drug. 

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims. 

Now, as the deceptions—and deaths—keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she'll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she's ever known. 

Firekeeper's Daughter is an electrifying thriller layered with rich exploration of the modern Native experience, a reckoning of current and historical injustices, and a powerful celebration of community. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 14+ 

AR Level: 5.1 Points: 20.0 

Review:  

Firekeeper's Daughter is a novel I've been wanting to read since it's release back in 2021, and I was not disappointed! 

This is the story of a young Ojibwe girl living on the border. Daunis participates in her tribes activities, she speaks the language, she considers the Elders her friends, and yet her tribe won't accept her due to the scandalous way she came into this world. Her two families don't get along, but she tries to please all of them as best as she can. Life seems mundane to Daunis until she meets Jamie, a new recruit on her brother's hockey team. She's always stayed away from the hockey types and their clingy girlfriends, but Jamie is different. They grow closer after Daunis witnesses a terrible tragedy on the reservation. Daunis agrees to work with the FBI as an undercover investigator to try to get to the bottom of her communities deaths and the drugs surrounding them. 

Boulley's writing is comical and dramatic, but despite this, it's totally authentic. I feel that Daunis is a perfect example of what a young woman living on the edge of her Ojibwe tribe would feel and do. This book did a great job of representing Ojibwe (and all native cultures) and I hope that people are learning many things when they read novels such as this. Diversity in novels is becoming much more prominent and I hope that aspiring Indian authors will follow in her footsteps. 

I must admit, I love a good romance, and I what happens between Daunis and Jamie is unpredictable. Daunis falls for Jamie before she can even think about the consequences, and as the book progresses, their relationship becomes. . . complicated. And the ending? *chefs kiss* 

This book is awesome because it had so many flavors throughout it. I didn't expect this book to turn into a full fledged mystery, but it did. It read like a thriller after a certain point in the book and I couldn't have put it down if I tried. I flew through this semi-lengthy novel in just over a day (and I would have finished it in one, but I read the first couple of chapters a different day than the rest of the novel). Fire Keeper's Daughter read itself for me. 

I couldn't recommend this novel enough. I loved learning about the culture and the story was one of the most endearing I've read in along while. Boulley is releasing a companion novel sometime next year, and I can't wait to dive back into this world she's created. Part love story, part coming of age, part thriller, Firekeeper's Daughter has all the elements of an exciting read! 

Back of Book: 

We here at Last Friend Inc. are collectively sorry for this loss of you. Our deepest sympathies extend to those who love you and those who will never meet you. We hope you find a new friend of value to spend your final hours with today. 

On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to deliver some bad news: They're going to die in less than twenty-four hours. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news is there's an app for that. It's called Last Friend. and through it, Rufus and Mateo meet up for one final epic adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 13+ 

AR Level: 5.5 Points: 11.0 

Review:   

Sorry for the late entry guys, I've been under the weather for the last couple of days and didn't feel up to writing. But I'm here to present one of my favorite books ever: They Both Die at the End. 

This is the story of two young gentleman who have been told something that you'd never want to hear: you'll die within the next 24 hours. Mateo and Rufus are as different as night and day, but they have this one thing in common: they'd spend their last day alone without the Last Friend app, an app designed to bring people together on their End Days. Using this app, they meet up for one final adventure, for an End Day to remember. 

I love this book for so many reasons. It's one of those books that I cherish dearly and it's hard to put those feelings into words. I think that the premise of this book is really unique; I mean, a company can reliably predict when people die. How is this possible?  I think this concept is neat, so that's one reason I love it. The characters are also stellar. Mateo is a quiet, young man, who's fear gets in the way of him wanting to try new things. Rufus is a bit more on the wild side, making the pairing quite entertaining. I think it's makes for an interesting ride when you put starkly different characters in the same situations. 

Another cool thing about this novel, is the alternating point of view. The book is told mainly in Rufus and Mateo's perspectives, but scattered throughout are many others. Silvera weaves all their tales together into one masterful work that connect in more ways than you'd ever expect. 

I first read They Both Die at the End before it became a series of books known as Death-Cast. I read its prequel, The First to Die at the End this month and I couldn't restrain myself from showcases them this month. It truly is hard to describe these books magnificence without spoiling too much. Either way, they're very unique, feature memorable characters, and end in ways somehow unpredictable (the title doesn't give it all away!). :)

Back of Book: 

Mason and Ty were once the very best of friends, like two nerdy sides of the same coin. . . until seventh grade, when Ava Petrakis came along. Now Mason can trace everything bad in his life to that terrible fight they had over the new girl. The one thing he'd give anything for is a do-over. But that can't happen in real life—can it?

As a science kid, Mason knows do-overs are impossible, so he can't believe it when he wakes up from a freak accident and finds himself magically transported back to seventh grade. His parents aren't yet divorced and his beloved sheepdog is still alive. Best of all, he and Ty haven't had their falling-out yet.

It makes no logical sense, but Mason is determined to use this second chance to not only save his friendship (and his dog!) but do other things differently—like trying out for the football team and giving new friends a chance. There's just one person he'll be avoiding at all costs: Ava. But despite his best efforts, will he be able to stop the chain of events that made his previous life implode?

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 11+ 

AR Level: 5.2 Points: 8.0 

Review: 

Heya people! I've read a bunch of deep and dark books this month, but I'm going to keep things light with some classic Korman! 

Operation Do-Over is the story of a high school senior named Mason. In the past, he's made mistakes which ruined his friendship with his best friend, Ty, along with any chance he had with the girl of his dreams, Ava. He'd do anything to go back and fix the errors of his ways. When he gets into a tragic car accident and he thinks his life is truly over, he wakes back up in his seventh grade science lab. He knows that this must be a death-inspired-hallucination. Or is it? Mason has been transported back to just weeks before his fall out with Ty. This time around, can Mason save his friendship without ruining anything else? 

I've read many of Korman's books, and this one did not disappoint. I really liked the subject matter in this one. Obviously time travel is impossible as of now so we can't go back and fix our mistakes. But we all have things that we regret doing or things that we wish that we would have done. How nice would it be to have a second chance? Mason learns though, that going back in time isn't necessarily all good. What if he changes something for the worse? What it, after everything he does, his parents still get divorced and his dog still gets run over? I think that this book is a great reminder to seize the opportunities you have in life while they are presented. 

The characters in this book aren't always likable, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Mason seemed like a senior/seventh grade boy who made decisions that he wasn't proud of later on. I mean, the entire basis of the plot is the fact that two best friends fall in love with the same girl and can't figure out how to remain besties. It's interesting because Korman typically writes books about young children, so seeing the story told in the voice of a twelfth-grader-stuck-in-the-body-of-a-twelve-year-old was both intriguing and refreshing. Ty and Ava both helped diversify the cast, alongside the teachers and other students that were present. 

To me, this book had another level of humor because my brother's name is Mason and he has a good friend named Ty. The friendship that the two felt in the novel was so authentic. They played Fortnite in their basements, were both complete science nerds, and even had a secret handshake. These two had a bond and it was really interesting to see how easily their friendship fell apart and how hard it was to put back together again. 

I hope that you guys give this book a read. It is really different than many of Korman's other books (which were all spectacular in their own regard) and I feel that it was really refreshing to read. Pick up Operation Do-Over today! 

Back of Book: 

Failure is not an option. 

The future of the planet will soon be in the hands of four kids. Sure, they'll be the best in the world. . . but can they save the world? 

Earth is about to go dark. Without a new power source, life as we know it will be toast. A global competition is under way to determine which four kids will join the secret mission that might just save us all. They will venture to the far reaches of space and they must be prepared to face anything. 

Anything. 

But first the team needs to be chosen. Project Alpha is a competition of physical challenges, mental puzzles, and alliances. The battle is fierce, and only four will make the cut an become Voyagers. . . 

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 4.7 Points: 7.0 

Review: 

Howdy folks! This year we're going to end the summer with  four children as they travel through space as they try to save the world!

Voyagers is set in the not so distant future, a future in which Earth is rapidly going dark. The only way to save it is to find the Source. But where is the Source? On a planet many light years away from Earth. The only people suited for the job are a group of four young children. But which kids will be chosen to save the world? A competition between eight youths is about to begin and none of them could have ever guessed what was about to happen next. . . 

I really liked the Voyagers series and I believe that it was pulled off wonderfully for having six different authors write it. Each author wrote the characters in their own way, but there wasn't too many instances where the characters felt terribly off. The inside jokes were present throughout the entire series and the tiny details were consistent throughout. This isn't always the case for series that are structured like this. I really appreciate the communication these authors had with each other. 

Now then, another thing I loved about this series were the characters. I know I say this almost every month, but well developed and likable characters are imperative to a great novel. Dash was a really cool main protagonist who had some highly unique problems throughout this series. He is kind, yet authoritative. The kind of kid you wouldn't mind taking orders from. I won't talk about the kids anymore because I don't want to spoil who makes it. But I will say this: there's also a robot called STEAM and a dog named Rocket that accompanies the kids on their voyage, which added a bunch of flavor. 

I must say there were many predictable elements to this series, yet I don't think that dragged it down in any way. Many details were heavily foreshadowed from one book to the next and there were many times when the authors alternated perspectives to give you inside knowledge on certain things. Either way, I truly believe that the Voyagers are a series worth reading. I enjoyed them more than I thought that I would and I'm glad that I finally got around to reading them. 

All the authors present in this series are masters of their craft. D. J. MacHale, Robin Wasserman, Patrick Carman, Kekla Magoon, Jeanne DuPrau, and Wendy Mass all astonished me with their ability to jump into the heads of these young individuals as they traveled through space. I hope that you'll deem this series worth a shot and take a ride to the farthest corners of space. 

Back of Book: 

She wouldn't be Zhanna. She'd use an alias. A for Anna. A for alive.

When the Germans invade Ukraine, Zhanna, a young Jewish girl, must leave behind her friends, her freedom, and her promising musical future at the world's top conservatory. With no time to say goodbye, Zhanna, her sister Frina, and their entire family are removed from their home by the Nazis and forced on a long, cold, death march. When a guard turns a blind eye, Zhanna flees with nothing more than her musical talent, her beloved sheet music, and her father's final plea: "I don't care what you do. Just live." 

Told in verse by award-winning author Susan Hood (Lifeboat 12) with Zhanna's son, Greg Dawson, this is the moving true story of how piano prodigies Zhanna (alias "Anna") and her sister, Frina, outplayed their pursuers by hiding in plain sight. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 11+ 

AR Level: N/A Points: N/A 

Review: 

Summer's almost over folks! This month I'm going to focus on a book that really stood out to me. It's an exquisite novel about WWII told in prose and poetry. 

Alias Anna is the story of a young Jewish girl named Zhanna during World War II, who escapes the Nazis by hiding in plain sight. I don't want to say too much about how she does so, but it was a miracle that she survived and I'm grateful that her risky plan ended up working out in the end. 

This book is amazing because it tells of a very unique story of a pair of sisters endeavoring to survive trying times all in the form of poetry! Susan Hood uses more than fifteen different types of poems to advance the story, some of them so beautifully crafted that they left me open-mouthed. Greg Dawson, Zhanna's son, adds the authenticity to the novel. He has delved deeply into his mother's past and provided direct wording from letters and interviews from his mother. 

My favorite part about this novel is that it is all real. It is a true story of how two young girls escaped the Nazis. I've read many a novel about World War II, but this one was different in many ways. I love how prominent music was to the girls and how imperative it was to both of their survival. 

This book was brought together by two masters of their craft, and I'm so glad that they decided to collaborate. It is such a beautifully told story and the reasoning behind the decisions made were superb. I hope that you decide to check it out for yourself. It's a little hard to describe the magic of this book so, I hope you'll bring it upon yourself to read it. 

Back of Book: 

Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild. 

At his grandfather's house three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be—with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox. 

Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own. . . 

From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the essential truths that define us and the devastating costs of war. Pax is destined to become a beloved classic. 

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 5.3 Points: 8.0 

Review: 

This month I'm featuring a touching novel about the unbreakable bond between a boy and his fox. 

In this story, a young boy by the name of Peter has had his pet fox, Pax, since he was a young kit. Peter saved Pax's life long ago and they have been tightly knit ever since. Then one day Peter's dad joins the war effort and forces Peter to move in with his grandfather. The worst part is: he's not allowed to bring Pax with him. Peter dumps his fox into the wild, a chaotic place that Pax has never experienced on his own. Peter moves to his grandfather's house, but can't stop thinking about Pax. That's when he decides to set off on a quest to find Pax. As Peter journeys to find his companion, Pax learns the dangers of the outside world, and both man and fox discover things that they never knew about themselves. 

Pax is overall a very simple story that is kinda predictable the whole way through, but the writing is exquisite. I find it amazing the way Pennypacker writes in Pax's perspective. He doesn't talk and his thoughts are instead portrayed as intense instincts or emotions. I really appreciate it when authors write in the perspective of animals and try to stay as authentic to the species as possible. When Peter talks to Pax, Pax doesn't know what is being said, but he can tell what Peter wants and how Peter feels at the moment. The relationship between these two is immense and anyone who's had an animal companion can relate. 

Pax is a novel that can be enjoyed by fairly young readers but older readers can also connect to the messages sprinkled throughout the book. Sarah Pennypacker also decided to write a sequel about the same characters if you are interested. The second novel has slightly heavier themes because both Peter and Pax have grown. I would heavily recommend reading it also, even though you could only read Pax and feel you've read a complete story. 

Pax is the perfect story for animal lovers who want to try something new. I hope that you'll consider reading this short duology about the indestructible relationship between a boy and his fox. 

Back of Book: 

Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Ana's parents died while on a scientific expedition two years ago, and the only family she's got left is her older brother, Dev, also a student at HP. (And they've heard all the Harry Potter jokes already, so don't go there.) 

Ana's freshman year culminates with the class's weekend trial at sea, the details of which have been kept secret. She only hopes she has what it'll take to succeed. All her worries are blown out of the water when, on the bus ride to the ship, Ana and her schoolmates witness a terrible tragedy that will change the trajectory of their lives.

But wait, there's more. The professor accompanying them informs Ana that their rival school, Land Institute, and Harding-Pencroft have been fighting a cold war for a hundred and fifty years. Now that cold war has been turned up to a full broil, and the freshmen are in danger of becoming fish food. 

In a race against deadly enemies, Ana will make amazing friends and astounding discoveries about her heritage as she puts her leadership skills to the test for the first time. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 5.2 Points: 13.0 

Review: 

Hey everyone! This month I read some pretty great teen books, but I want to keep it user friendly, so I'm going to feature Daughter of the Deep this month. 

Daughter of the Deep is a story of a student named Ana Dakkar who attends the legendary school named Harding-Pencroft. And no, it's not like Hogwarts. They don't learn magic or anything like that. They are raised to be the next generation focused on marine based careers. The overall plot follows Ana and her freshie classmates as they battle their rivals: the students of Land Institute. It's based off of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which I have yet to read, but if you had, this book should feel nostalgic reading this book. It's even more involved than I thought it would be. 

This book features a wide cast of characters from a friendly dolphin, an autistic best friend, and even Ana herself. She is of Indian descent. It's really interesting to see so many different types of people and animals interact in one novel. I really liked Ester, who is one of Ana's best friends, who happens to be autistic. I've only read around three books with autistic characters, so it was awesome to see another rep. 

The Daughter of the Deep is actually quite a bit different than any other Rick Riordan book I have ever read. Ana is a girl—unlike Percy Jackson, Magnus Chase, and most of Riordan's other protags—which is an obvious difference. Ana does still have the iconic snark that most Riordan protagonists have, so I was laughing throughout the entire thing. I really enjoyed seeing her journey, especially because she was so different. She's a Dolphin at HP, which means she excels in communications and languages, which was another thing I really appreciated about her character. 

Overall, Daughter of the Deep wasn't my favorite book by Rick Riordan, but it was still a phenomenal novel which I hope will get some sequels some day in the nearish future. I enjoyed my plunge, will you dare to dive 20,000 leagues with Ana? 

Back of Book: 

The first time I heard about Planet Choom, we'd been on Mars for almost a year. But life on the Mars station was grim, and since Earth was no longer an option (we may have blown it up), it was time to find a new home.

That's how we ended up on Choom with the Zhuri. They're very smart. They also look like giant mosquitos. But that's not why it's so hard to live here. There's a lot that the Zhuri don't like: singing (just ask my sister, Ila), comedy (one joke got me sent to the principal's office), or any kind of emotion. The biggest problem, though? The Zhuri don't like us. And if humankind is going to survive, it's up to my family to change their minds. No pressure.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 9+ 

AR Level: 5.0 Points: 9.0 

Review: 

Sorry guys, I've been a tad bit slow this month, but bear with me. This month I'm doing a book that's a little bit different. Let me tell you all about it. 

Pretty much this is one of the stories where humans have completely destroyed Earth and have to figure out how they're going to survive as a species. This book takes an interesting approach to this issue. A select group of humans travel to a planet by the name of Choom. To their dismay, it's inhabited by giant mosquito like creatures called the Zhuri. When they arrive though, they discover that the Zhuri despise humans. This is the story of Lan and their family trying to earn their place on a planet that wants nothing to do with them. 

I think that this book is truly astounding, both in its story and the magnificent writing that Rodkey possesses. It is truly a comical book of an awkward Earth family trying to fit in with creatures that are somehow stranger than they are. I loved the dynamic of their family. The strong mother who holds the family together. The accident prone father who's trying to get through a day of work without losing an arm. The moody older sister who life is always so much worse than everyone else's. And finally Lan, who is a little bit of a clown, but overall just wants to help save the human race. Their family is full of unique individuals and I couldn't help falling in love with each and everyone of them. 

I find Geoff Rodkey's writing fascinating beacause his descriptions are pretty vague and yet I feel that I can image everything perfectly. For example, there is a species in this book called the Ororo. Rodkey pretty much describes them as walking marshmallows and. . . that's about it. I also love how he doesn't give too many details about the actual family. It makes it easier to image that they could be any type of family, even your own. 

Geoff Rodkey's The Chronicles of Egg is one of my favorite series of all time, so when I saw this book, I just had to read it. It was somehow even better than I expected it to be. It is quite a bit different than the things that I usually recommend, but sometimes, you need to read that book that's a bit out of comfort zone. I sincerely hope that you'll give it a try. 

 Back of Book: 

With multiple starred reviews, don't miss this humorous, poignant, and original contemporary story about bullying, broken friendships, social media, and the failures of communication between kids. From John David Anderson, author of the acclaimed Ms. Bixby’s Last Day.

In middle school, words aren’t just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. The right words can win you friends or make you enemies. They can come back to haunt you. Sometimes they can change things forever.

When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to communicate: leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on, and soon all the kids in school are leaving notes—though for every kind and friendly one, there is a cutting and cruel one as well.

In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school and sits at Frost’s lunch table. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it’s clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won’t easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 5.1 Points: 12.0 

Review: 

It has been quite some time since I've read Posted, but I oftentimes still think of it. This past month, I didn't read a single book that I believed worthy of being crowned Book of the Month, so I looked back through some of my favorite books and decided to go with Posted. 

It is the story of a school that abuses their phone privileges so severely that all phones are banned on school grounds. A group of friends find a new way to communicate: sticky notes. After some time, they start finding stick notes that weren't left by them and quicker than they thought possible the entire school is leaving messages. There's sticky notes on lockers, bathroom stalls, under bleachers; everywhere you look there is a sticky note. They've started an amazing form of communication. Or have they? Things start getting out of hand due to the fact that no one can trace who wrote the messages plastered everywhere. War ensues between the friend group and the school, and Frost must find a way to stop the sticky note war once and for all. 

Posted is a splendid book that showcases the power of words and the cruelty of middleschoolers when left unchecked. In a school where they're banned from technology, they find another way to be mean to each other: through anonymous letters left on sticky notes. It is a little hard to read this book because I've seen some of the cruelties it describes in person and I know that students can truly be this vicious to one another. 

In the novel, friends turn against friends, voicing their hidden thoughts on paper, the ones that they would never have the nerve to say in person. Things that they possibly don't even mean. I love the uniqueness of all the characters, how some of them are totally sports jocks and others are totally D&D nerds. The relationships they have between each other is priceless and it made me a tad sad to see some of these relationship deteriorate as the story progresses. This story truly showcase the hardships of fading friendships and the trying journey of discovering new besties along the way. 

It's been a while since I've read Posted, but it holds a special place in my heart nonetheless. I hope that you'll give Frost, Deedee, Bench, and the rest of the gang a read. They go through quite the adventure and do many wild things throughout the novel. Happy reading! 

Back of Book: 

Willie has always survived. No matter what life in Glory, Texas, has thrown at her. The sickness that swept through the state and turned most living creatures into terrifying shakes. Her own mother succumbing to the disease. Her father disappearing into saloons and gambling and liquor. Willie survives. And she'll make sure her younger brothers and sister do, too.

Then her good-for-nothing father steals a fortune from one of the most merciless shake hunters in town, and Willie is on the hook for his debt. With two young hunters as guide, Willie sets out across the desert to find him, and make him pay up.

But the desert holds many dangers—and the shakes are only a few of them. This is no place for the weak. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 13+ 

AR Level: 4.9 Points: 13.0 

Review: 

This month I present to you Devils Unto Dust, which isn't quite like any other novel I've read before. I shelved it in Spooky Fiction, but it's also has a bit of a science fiction vibe with a serious shout out to the western genre. It was quite unique and I'm so glad that I gave it a read! 

The story of this one is actually quite simple: Willie, a girl living in an alternate reality of the 1870s has to find her trouble-making father who just ran off with another man's fortune. The only problem is, Willie has never left the walls of her town due to the shakes. Devils Unto Dust takes place in a world where disease runs rampant; one wrong move and you could become a zombie-like creature with no will of your own. Willie hires a duo of shake hunters to escort her through the desert and her quest begins. 

I really loved the family dynamic in this book. Willie and her brother, Micah, do disagree about many things throughout the story, but in the end, everything that they do is for their family (which translates to their little siblings; they couldn't care less about their father). The two hunters in the party are also a set of siblings, making the family connections abundantly clear throughout this novel. The cast of characters worked well together and everyone served their purpose (even the nerdy doctor kid!). 

I went into this book thinking that it was going to be another low quality read, mostly because many others that I purchased at the same time didn't amount to much. I was happily surprised. I always appreciate when books exceed my expectations by a landslide. I think one of the main things that made it different for me were the fact that it was set in the past and yet still had a dystopian flare to it. I love a good dystopian story and it was really interesting to see one pulled off with no technology in it. 

Overall, I thought that Devils Unto Dust was a thrilling, fast-paced novel that came out of nowhere. I'd never heard the name Emma Berquist before this, but I'm excited to check out her future books! 

Back of Book: 

Hermes here. The Greek god— 

No. Don't put down the book—

I'm talking to you. 

I bring you a story that tells of the quick and the dead: 

the tale of a girl as precious as amber, 

the tale of a boy as common as clay. 

Rhaskos works in the stables. Worth less than a donkey, much less than a horse. But Rhaskos is clever and talanted, and beloved of his mother—who was been forced away from her son but is willing to do anything for him. 

Melisto is a girl. Wealthy, privileged, intended for a stifling marriage and dangerous childbirth. But first she is to spend a season serving Artemis, goddess of the hunt, as one of her little bears—a season for which she she may not return. 

From the exquisite pen of Laura Amy Schlitz comes a masterpiece of storytelling; the tale of a boy and a girl, told not just in their voices, but also in the voices of gods and mothers and the philosopher Sokrates. It brings to vivid life a world two millennia gone and wraps its readers up in an improbable, indelible friendship that crosses the boundaries of class, gender, and even of life and death. 

There they are: 

the girl as electric as amber, 

and the boy, indestructible as clay. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 11+ 

AR Level: 5.0 Points: 13.0 

Review: 

Every book that I read last month was amazing, so it was really hard for me to pick this month. I ended up going with Amber & Clay. It was the last book I read of the moth and it was such a beautifully written novel. 

Amber & Clay is the story of two children, one a slave boy, mistreated by everyone around him, and the other, a rich young maiden who is pampered yet wants more in her life. This story tells the tale of their unlikely meeting and how far they will both go to achieve their dreams. Rhaskos learns that there is more to him than being a slave, while Melisto finds the group that truly cares about her. 

One of the main reasons that I love the book is the fact that it is a historical novel set back in ancient Greece, which in itself is awesome. Schlitz put in her research to try to make this book as true to the time period as she could, but she also wasn't afraid to make things up when no answers could be unearthed. The way that she weaves all of the evidence of the past into one coherent story filled with magic and wonder is quite an impressive feat. 

Another thing so wonderful about this book is the side characters. The Greek gods implement their opinions from time to time, with Hermes being the narrator of the story. His witty comments are quite comical and tell you much about the story before many of its events unfold. The philosopher Sokrates is also another major player in the story. He teaches Rhaskos about the world around him, even though he is a slave. The nuggets of wisdom displayed by Sokrates throughout this novel is another major perk for me. 

Amber & Clay is a beautiful story told both in various types of poetry alongside prose. It is a novel that weaves together dozens of characters stories into one magnificent plot line focused around Melisto and Rhaskos. I hope that you guys will consider diving back into the time of ancient Greece and discover Schlitz's version of the past. 

Back of Book: 

Trespassers will be turned to stone

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary is one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite . . .

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, powerful forces of evil are unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives, to save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world. 

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 4.8 Points: 11.0 

Review: 

Welcome to 2022 everyone! I'm going to start out this year with one of my favorite series of all time: Fablehaven. The last book in its sequel series, Dragonwatch, just came out last October and I finally just got around to reading it, so I figured that this would be the perfect time to feature it. 

Fablehaven starts with two siblings, Kendra and Seth,  going to visit their grandparents while their parents go on vacation without them. At first they are extremely bored, but they soon realize that their grandparent's ginormous territory isn't what it first appeared to be. It's actually a sanctuary that's sole purpose is to protect the magical creatures that live on it. Seth wants to discover all that there is to know about these creatures, while Kendra believes that these creatures could be dangerous and should be left alone. The siblings find themselves entwined in the magical world around them. As long as they follow the rules, nothing bad can happen. Right? Unfortunately, rules are never followed and Kendra and Seth find themselves having to battle the forces of evil. . . or have the world be destroyed. 

The Fablehaven series starts out pretty simple, but eventually evolves into a huge battle between the forces of good and evil. Seth and Kendra both befriend many mythical creatures, encompassing naiads, satyrs, unicorns, and even talking fruit. The Fablehaven series is proceeded by its sequel series, Dragonwatch, which is just as spectacular. It shows what happens when dragons decided they make the rules, not humans. These series are two of my favorites ever; I seriously hope that you consider reading them. 

Kendra and Seth are both very dynamic characters in their own regards. Kendra starts out as a goody-two-shoes who doesn't want to step outside of her comfort zone, while Seth is a daredevil who doesn't care about what others think and is a rulebreaker at heart. They both change dramatically, pushing aside their fears and doubts to save the world on multiple occasions. I highly relate to Kendra and her ways of being the "good kid". She makes her fair share of mistakes as the series progresses, but she tries her hardest to stay out of trouble. Unlike her brother, who causes about 90% of the problems that are encountered throughout the series. I love them both in turn, and I feel that there is a bunch to be learned form both of them. All the supporting characters are spectacular too, especially because most of them are mythical creatures. 

As you can probably tell, I could rant on and on about the Fablehaven series for forever, but I'll spare you guys that experience. I hope that you will give Fablehaven and Brandon Mull's other books a chance. I have suggested them to a few people already, who have since fallen in love with them. I hope that you will have the opportunity to do the same. 

Back of Book: 

It's the first real summer since the devastating accident that killed Cedar's father and younger brother, Ben. But now Cedar and what’s left of her family are returning to the town of Iron Creek for the summer. They’re just settling into their new house when a boy named Leo, dressed in costume, rides by on his bike. Intrigued, Cedar follows him to the renowned Summerlost theatre festival. Soon, she not only has a new friend in Leo and a job working concessions at the festival, she finds herself surrounded by mystery. The mystery of the tragic, too-short life of the Hollywood actress who haunts the halls of Summerlost. And the mystery of the strange gifts that keep appearing for Cedar.

Infused with emotion and rich with understanding, Summerlost is the touching middle grade debut from Ally Condie, the international bestselling author of the Matched series, that highlights the strength of family and personal resilience in the face of tragedy. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 4.1 Points: 6.0 

Review: 

I have barely had any time to read these past few months, so I'm going to display pretty much the only book that I read last month. 

Summerlost is a story of healing, recreating bonds, and making new friends in a time where it's hard to keep on living. Cedar's brother and father were recently killed in a tragic car accident. Now, it's Cedar's first summer without her entire family. She's practically just dragging through life until the day she sees a young boy, dressed in a funny costume with a feather in his cap. But that's not what catches her interest. What does is the fact that the boy looks happy. Cedar hasn't experienced joy in such a long time, so she follows him. She discovers that he works at the local Shakespeare festival. Cedar scores an unlikely job with him, and they soon become fast friends. Leo is the best friend that she has ever had,  yet the events of the summer seem to be trying to rip them apart as they try to discover the mystery of the theater's biggest actress. 

I'm a huge fan of theater and Shakespeare, so this book drew me in as soon as I knew that this was a center point. The best thing about this novel though, was seeing how Cedars' family, the Lees, grow back together after their family was ripped apart at the seams. 

Cedar was a highly realistic character, even though the book was told in spurts of short chapters. Cedar may have made many mistakes over the summer, but they were all part of her growth as an individual and as a member of the Lee family. These events also allowed her to move on from the tragedy she was facing. Leo was also such a great friend, even though he talked her into a few situations that got Cedar into spots of trouble. I wouldn't recommend following these kids as role-models, but their was much to be learned from their situations they went through. 

Overall, Summerlost was a sweet book about healing, growth, and moving on from tragedy, while also embracing the wonder of the theater and the magic of friendship. Ally Condie wrote a spectacular novel and I can't wait to try out more of her books. 

Back of Book: 

Within Cole Matthews lies anger, rage and hate. Cole has been stealing and fighting for years. This time he caught Peter Driscal in the parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk. Now, Peter may have permanent brain damage and Cole is in the biggest trouble of his life.

Cole is offered Circle Justice: a system based on Native American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal offender, the victim, and the community. With prison as his only alternative, Cole plays along. He says he wants to repent, but in his heart, Cole blames his alcoholic mom, his abusive dad, wimpy Peter (everyone but himself) for his situation.

Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by a mysterious white bear of Native American legend. Hideously injured, Cole waits for death. His thoughts shift from anger to humility. To survive, he must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life. Rescuers arrive to save Cole's body, but it is the attack of the Spirit Bear that may save his soul.

Ben Mikaelsen paints a vivid picture of a juvenile offender, examining the roots of his anger without absolving him of responsibility for his actions, and questioning a society in which angry people make victims of their peers and communities. Touching Spirit Bear is a poignant testimonial to the power of a pain that can destroy, or lead to healing. 

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 11+ 

AR Level: 5.3 Points: 9.0 

Review: 

This month, I'm going to feature a novel that my siblings have been pushing me to read for quite some time now. 

Touching Spirit Bear is the story of a young man dealing with the horrors of his past. After Peter received permanent brain damage from the incident in which Cole smashed his head against the sidewalk, Cole is guaranteed jail time. Or is he? Instead, he is offered the opportunity to be banished to a remote Alaskan island for a year to reform himself. Cole accepts this chance, thinking that he'll just escape the first moment he can. After all, he is a stronger swimmer. Once there, things don't go as planned. Cole is mauled by a bear, an unlikely circumstance that might just be the beginning of his journey to heal. 

This book is great because it addresses many complicated topics. Child abuse and negligence is a prominent issue in the world. It also shows how a person can change after doing something horrendous, while still paying for their mistakes. Their also many native views presented throughout this book. They aren't touched on too much, but just being exposed to the idea that we are all connected to the Earth and one another is a good experience. 

I think that Cole is one of the most dynamic characters that I have read about. He starts as an absolute jerk who blames everyone that he knows for everything that has ever went wrong in his life. By the end, he learns to forgive the people who have wronged him and take responsibility for his own actions. He discovers much on the island and starts to heal his soul in the process. I must say, the journey that he goes through might have been faster then most people's journeys, but maybe that's true if you get left on an island by yourself for over a year.  

Touching Spirit Bear is a touching novel that I liked way more than I expected to. It is a novel of finding yourself and forgiving others. Much can be learned through this book and I'm glad that I finally gave it a read. I hope that you consider giving it a read too. 

Back of Book: 

Times have been tough for Ash lately, and all he wants is for everything to go back to the way it used to be. 

Back before drought ruined the land and disease killed off the livestock. Before Ash’s father went off to war and returned carrying psychological scars. Before his best friend, Mark, started acting strangely.

As Ash trains for his town’s annual Stag Chase—a race rooted in violent, ancient lore—he’s certain that if he can win and make his father proud, life will return to normal. But the line between reality and illusion is rapidly blurring, and the past has a way of threatening the present.

When a run in the mountains brings Ash face-to-face with Bone Jack—a figure that guards the boundary between the living world and the dead—everything changes once more. As dark energies take root and the world as he knows it is upended, it’s up to Ash to restore things to their proper order and literally run for his life. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 11+ 

AR Level: 4.2 Points: 8.0 

Review: 

In the spirit of October, this month I'm going to feature one of my books that resides in the Spooky Fiction section. This month I present Bone Jack, a thrilling novel starring some pretty cool folklore. 

Bone Jack is about a young boy named Ash who despises how his life has turned out. Everything has changed, and none of it is for the better. His father has been impaired by the damages of war, the land around the town has been ravaged by disease, and his best friend, Mark, has been acting just plain strange. Ash thinks that winning the annual Stag Chase will fix all of his problems, but Mark thinks differently. He's been talking about dark spirits in the woods, and warns Ash that running in the Stag Race would be disastrous. Ash doesn't know what to believe when things start to take impossible twists. 

This book is both suspenseful, spooky, and a bit dark. It really shows the darker side of people and how far they're willing go to get what they desire. The warnings that Mark leaves for Ash sent shivers down my spine, and plain out disturbed me at times. Throughout the novel, you get a feeling that something atrocious is lurking up ahead, but you never quite know what's going to happen. 

This book greatly reminded me of The Haunting of Gabriel Ashe by Dan Poblocki, which was one of my Books of the Month last year. It has the same suspenseful vibe and a similar story structure, yet has a completely different overlying problem and ending. The fact that their is a mysterious figure prowling the woods doesn't help but add to the similarities either. 

I hope that if you give Bone Jack a chance in the near future. It reminded me of several books that I have read in the past, yet still seemed fresh and different to me. It's a short read that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page. 

Back of Book: 

Thirteen-year-old Nat Beacon loves a lot of things: her dog Warbucks, her best friend Chloe, and competing on her wheelchair racing team, the Zoomers, to name a few. But there’s one thing she’s absolutely OBSESSED with: MUSICALS! From Hamilton to Les Mis, there’s not a cast album she hasn’t memorized and belted along to. She’s never actually been in a musical though, or even seen an actor who uses a wheelchair for mobility on stage. Would someone like Nat ever get cast?

But when Nat’s family moves from California to New Jersey, Nat stumbles upon auditions for a kids’ production of Wicked, one of her favorite musicals ever! And she gets into the ensemble! The other cast members are super cool and inclusive (well, most of them)— especially Malik, the male lead and cutest boy Nat’s ever seen. But when things go awry a week before opening night, will Nat be able to cast her fears and insecurities aside and “Defy Gravity” in every sense of the song title? 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 4.7 Points: 8.0

Review: 

This is a book that I had really been looking forward to reading. I was totally stoked when I saw that it was among the books in the new section of my town's public library. And the hype that I felt wasn't for nothing. 

The Chance to Fly is about a girl named Nat who, as you can obviously tell from the cover, is in a wheelchair. She is also obsessed with musicals more than anything else, so when she sees an audition flyer for the musical Wicked, she just knows that she has to sign up. She eventually gets in, but as the production progresses, she learns that being in a play isn't as easy as she first thought. Especially for someone in a wheelchair like her. 

This book is amazing because it breaches a subject that most novels don't: disability. Nat is a strong protaganist that wants to prove to her parents that she can be independent and do normal things, just like everyone else. Ali Stroker is an actual Broadway performer who is in a wheelchair, so she personally knows the struggles of what it takes to get on the big stage. This makes the book feel very athentic and well structured. 

This book would be great for many readers who want to know more about the everyday life of people with disabilities. There are several jokes that would take a little bit of musical experience to get, but I have only listened to the Wicked and Hamilton soundtracks a few times and I think I caught most of them. Even if you aren't familiar with Wicked, the book does a very good job at explaining the plot line and the characters. 

I hope that you all decide to give The Chance to Fly an opportunity to win the place in your heart, too. I really enjoyed this book and was laughing out loud in multiple different circumstances. A thouroughly enjoyable read that was very educational at the same time. Are you willing to give Nat a chance as she struggles to follow her dreams, no matter how difficult they'll be to achieve? 

Back of Book: 

The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's waiting for Candice Miller.

When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. Grandma tried and failed. But now Candice has another chance.

So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues in the letter. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the summer ends?  

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 11+ 

AR Level: 4.2 Points: 12.0 

Review: 

This month I decided to tackle a few longer series that I have been meaning to read for a while. Therefore, I didn't read too many other books this month. I read The Parker Inheritance at the beginning of the month and I knew immediately that it was going to be this month's winner. 

In this novel, two children, Candice and Brandon, are trying to solve the mystery of a lifetime. After finding a letter addressed to her grandmother, she finds a puzzle that her grandmother suffered many consequences for trying to solve. Instead of giving up, she turns to her new friend Brandon and they set off following a trail of long hidden clues. 

This book is often told from Candice's point of view, but it also alternates into Siobhan's, the girl that was described in her grandmother's letter. It is also told from the perspective of some of Siobhan's closest friends and allies. This gives you the inside story on the case that Candice and Brandon are trying to crack. This portion of the book takes place in the 1950's and shows the injustice that these colored folks faced on a daily basis. It is also the key to learning who left the fortune and the clues behind, and why in the world they would do so. 

I feel that this book did an awesome job of portraying darker times in American history, one where the color of your skin determined how you were treated. It shows the daily struggle that these people had to persevere through, and how their descents still face this prejudice today. 

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery was in-depth, the characters were unique, and the alternating point-of-view made this book seem shorter than the three hundred or so pages that it actually was. I must give a warning to you though; this book contains some semi-major spoilers to Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game. This is a very famous book that shouldn't be spoiled, so if you have any interest in reading it, you should do so before you read this book. I stopped before any spoilers were revealed and read it quick and it only took me a couple of hours. I think that it was worth it and would recommend reading it first instead of spoiling another wonderfully crafted mystery. 

Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance was an awesome read that I would prescribe to anyone who loves mystery or historical fiction books. This was my first book I've read by him and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed. I hope to read more of his books in the future. Please give The Parker Inheritance a try if you're interested! 

Back of Book: 

Be careful. Your next step could be your last. 

Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have been walking to and from Woodridge Academy together since elementary school. But their routine is disrupted when bully Chad Hilligas challenges Marshall to a fight. To avoid the conflict, Marshall takes a shortcut home through the off-limits woods. Tamaya, unaware of the reason for the detour, reluctantly follows. They soon get lost. Bigger trouble than anyone could ever have imagined. 

In the days and weeks that follow, the authorities and the U.S. Senate become involved, and what they uncover might affect the future of the world. 

In his wry style, Louis Sachar explores timeless themes of friendship, family, and doing the right thing. Fuzzy Mud is a mystery-thriller that engages both the mind and the heart. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 5.0 Points: 5.0 

Review: 

With summer finally starting, I have had a lot more time on my hands to read. I read many good books this month that you should totally take time to check out and read if your interested. Fuzzy Mud was by far my favorite book that I have finished in the past month. It was a quick read that kept my heart pounding until the very end. 

This is the story of a girl named Tamaya that has always walked to school with her great friend, Marshall. Lately though, Marshall has been acting different; mean even. Tamaya doesn't understand what could possibly be wrong when one day Marshall decides to take a "shortcut" through the forbidden woods on their way home one day. In these woods the truth is revealed and dangerous secrets are uncovered. And obviously the fuzzy mud comes into play, too. 

Tamaya, Marshall, and Chad are an unlikely trio that accomplish amazing things together. Tamaya is your average kids who doesn't have many friends for the sole factor that she is a "good kid". And why is that a bad thing? Marshall has a lot hidden under his harsh exterior which I think is really cool to uncover as the book progresses. Chad at first seems to only be a jerk kid that attacks people for no reason. But if you have read as many books as I have, you know that there is always a reason (and a big one at that) for the ways that these characters act. The three together make a dynamic team that you can't help rooting for in the end. 

This book keeps the tension high through several different ways. The writing itself is high intensity, but the way that the illustrations in this book are used really create a heightened atmosphere. After getting a little under halfway in the book, I don't think I could have put it down if I wanted to. I don't think that I have been this into a book in over a year now. 

Louis Sachar is the renowned author of Holes, but the other books that I have read by him are just as good. He now officially claimed the title of Book of the Month twice now, but his books are just so good I can't help but select his magnificent works. I hope that you will read this book, whether you are a fan of his Holes and his other novels or a fan waiting to be made. Fuzzy Mud is a little bit of everything, from science fiction to mystery to adventure. If you want an exciting read, this book is for you. 

Back of Book: 

Forging documents, smuggling people over the border, carrying coded messages for the French resistance—the teenagers of Les Lauzes find ways to help the refugees in their midst. For the first years of World War II, the remoteness of their village offers them a certain amount of protection, and the townspeople take on the task of sheltering Jewish children rescued from French concentration camps. But as the Nazi occupiers infiltrate every corner of France, the noose tightens, and the operation becomes increasingly dangerous. 

First, a policeman is sent to spy on their doings and uncover the village "scoundrels"—the teenagers, pastors, and others who have been aiding visitors. And when the Gestapo arrives with a list of names, the young people must race against time to get their new friends to safety. 

Based on a true story, Village of Scoundrels tells how ordinary people opposed the Nazi occupation and stood up for what was right, in spite of intensifying peril. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 9+ 

AR Level: 5.8 Points: 9.0 

Review:  

This month has been the exact opposite of what April was. I read very few books and none of them were even five stars. So for this Book of the Month, I'm going to feature another book that I read in April. 

This is the story of a group of children in Nazi occupied France during the duration of World War II. These children are trying to help their fellow friends that are Jews stay out of the hands of the Nazis. This involves forging documents, hiding children in the woods, carrying secret messages, and smuggling Jews into the neighboring Switzerland that remains unoccupied. While all this hullabaloo is going on, Perdant, an inspector that is trying to find undesirables, arrives in their cozy village of Les Lauzes. They must do all that they can to outwit this man and protect their friends. 

I really appreciate all of the children in this novel and the roles they all played. Philippe moves refugees, Celeste transports messages, Jean-Paul forges documents, and Jules is the very scoundrel himself. These kids run a tight-knit operation to do all they can for the Jews that are in hiding all throughout their village. And some of them are on the run themselves. This book includes an epilogue that tells about the real people that inspired each character, which I found just fascinating. After reading this, I discovered that there were so many small incidents that occurred throughout the book that actually happened to the people in real life. I think that this added a whole other level to the amazingness of this novel. 

I have read quite a few of Margi Preus' books, including Heart of a Samurai and Shadow on the Mountain. Village of Scoundrels is by far my favorite of her books. The characters in this one are so diverse and all play an important role as an individual and as a whole. I love how all of their stories come together to form a masterpiece. If you are a fan of historical fiction, I would totally recommend Village of Scoundrels to you. 

Back of Book: 

Sonia and I have a lot in common. Our parents are divorced. Our dads are gay. We both love barbecue potato chips. But she is different from me in at least one way: You can't tell how she's feeling just by looking at her. At all.  

When Bea's dad and his wonderful partner, Jesse, decide to marry, it looks as if Bea's biggest wish is coming true; she's finally (finally!) going to have a sister. 

They're both ten. They're both in fifth grade. Though they've never met, Bea knows that she and Sonia will be perfect sisters. Just like sisters anywhere, Bea thinks. But as the wedding day approaches, Bea makes discoveries that lead her to a possibly disastrous choice. 

Making a new family brings questions, surprises, and joy in this brilliant modern classic by Newbery Medalist Rebecca Stead. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 9+ 

AR Level: 4.2 Points: 6.0 

Review: 

This April has been a really great month for me. I read so many books that were worthy to be the Book of the Month, but I ultimately gave it to this one because I believe that it is the book that could be cherished by the most people. 

In this book, Bea is just a young girl growing up in New York. Her life has changed drastically since her parents divorced, but she still gets to see both her parents all the time. But she learns that some kids aren't so lucky. This is the story of Bea getting the one thing she's always wanted: a sister. Her dad is getting remarried to Jesse, who is a great guy and is probably my favorite character in the entire book. He goes through a lot and his story is one that I feel everyone should know about, because it happens to a lot of people. 

This book does a really good job of addressing some pretty heavy topics in a pretty friendly manner. It talks about the struggles of divorce, the joy of finding love, and the importance of accepting our differences as people. Bea is such a sweet girl, who at age ten, gets to experience some very hard lessons. 

I haven't read very many books by Rebecca Stead, but I have been impressed by her work. She writes touching novels with important messages that can be read by younger audiences and understood. I will look forward to reading more of her books in the future. 

I believe that this novel is an important one. It's a pretty short book that only takes a couple of hours to read. I'm hoping that you'd be willing to take a few moments out of your life to experience the joys and struggles of Bea's life alongside her. 

Back of Book: 

I would say it's a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness.

Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history—that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper's great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made—and then broke—a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn't exactly the forgiving type.

The fiend has reawakened with one purpose—to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his future without a side of eternal servitude, thanks.

Little does Prosper know, the malefactor's control over his body grows stronger with each passing night, and there's a lot Alastor isn't telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host. 

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 5.7 Points: 13.0 

Review: 

I think next month I should solidly shoot for having a singular book take this title, but hey, all of the best books that I have been reading lately have been series. And Prosper Redding is no exception. 

Pretty much there's this twelve-year-old kid who is the only member in his family's history that is unlucky, unspecial, and unlikely to ever do anything important in his life. Until he discovers that a demon-prince named Alastor is living inside of him. Then it is up to him to discover how to rid the world of this pesky being before he does anything unforgivably evil. In this novel, he pretty much spends all his time trying to get rid of this demon that is trapped inside of him while trying to not expose himself at school. But in the second book, The Last Life of Prince Alastor, the heat really turns up and an epic adventure follows. 

I loved this book for many reasons. It is similar to many other books that I have read but also has a very unique sense of humor to it. I mean, who doesn't like to see a centuries old demon trying to learn about the modern day world? Alastor speaks in oldish-English and also has trouble identifying the purpose of many modern objects he encounters. Hearing Prosper arguing with Alastor in his head is always a funny experience to watch. 

I feel that Alexandra Bracken is the queen of ultimate backstabs and it is really interesting to see how all of the loyalties switch and change throughout this duology. It really keeps you guessing. Who can poor Prosper trust? 

From the author that brought you The Darkest Minds, (another amazing series that I totally recommend checking out one day), comes another humorous adventure that really keeps you guessing. I feel that they would be great Halloween reads in October, but read them now anyway, because they are that spectacular. I would recommend The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding and The Last Life of Prince Alastor to anyone who needs a good laugh or a good cry, loves a spooky sense of fantasy, and wants a novel that makes you think about that fine line between good and evil. 

Back of Book: 

Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.

It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.  

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 4.6 Points: 7.0 

Review:  

Well, I'm breaking my own rule right now. I said that I would't put out  any super popular books as my Book of the Month. And here I am putting Holes as it. Pretty much I just really wanted to put a book that I had actually read this month. And Holes certainly deserves to be here. 

You might already know the story plot but it pretty much goes like this. Stanley Yelnats has been unfairly sent to a camp for juvenile delinquents. His job is to dig a hole everyday. But why dig holes? There is something more going on at Camp Green Lake, but what? It seems that the warden of the camp is searching for something. Stanley and his new friend Zero set out on an epic trek through the desert to find out just what she is looking for. 

This book is really fun because it has an air of mystery to it, but that isn't the whole gist of the book either. It also alternates between Stanley and his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather, who is also named Stanley. This gives you some insight on his family history and it all ends up being tied into the actual story plot in the end. And Stanley and Zero might just have bigger connections to each other than they ever could have imagined. . . 

I really enjoyed Holes and if you are a fan of the movie of the same name, you will probably be a fan of this novel. But I've never even seen the film, so maybe I'm not the best judge of that. It also has a little heard of sequel called Small Steps. It is about one of the kids at the camp called Armpit a few years after he has been released from Camp Green Lake. I have just started the sequel, but I'm enjoying it so far. I hope that you'll take a chance and dig into these exciting novels too. 

Back of Book: 

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb?

Join his adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons—and becomes a hero. This action-packed, hilarious, and perfectly illustrated novel is a modern classic beloved by millions across the globe. 

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 8+ 

AR Level: 6.6 Points: 5.0 

Review: 

This month I read some really great books, but I just felt that none of them were right for the Book of the Month. I feel that everything that I read this month needs a certain person to love them, so we are revisiting one of my favorite series How to Train Your Dragon. 

In this first book, it is just about a young viking who is just trying to fit in with his village and complete a rite of passage. But sadly, things don't go young Hiccup's way. He encounters one problem after the next one. And of course, there are dragons! 

The characters in this series are some of my favorites. Hiccup and his best friend, Fishlegs, are pretty much the village losers, which I can find pretty relatable. They both have sharp wits and sly tongues, which makes them quite the duo to be around. Toothless, Hiccup's dragon, is such a sass that doesn't listen to anything that anyone tells him. He is hilarious and I feel that anyone could grow to love the little guy. You don't meet any of the villains in this book, but they are all spectacular and actually have reasons for their malice, which I can appreciate. Yet I still like them. It's nice when their is likable villains. 

Overall, I think that How to Train Your Dragon is a fun read for all ages. The first novel is just a fun romp that doesn't accomplish much, but it is still good. The rest of the series starts gradually progressing towards the actual objective. There is twelve of them though, so the series is a bit lengthy. The illustrations by the author are also super superb and bring the characters to life. They might not be the most spectacular drawings you have ever seen, but they fit the story wonderfully. I would recommend these books for anyone who loves fantasy, dragons, and stories of adventure. Especially if you love the movies with the same name. They have many similarities, but also many differences, so I would highly recommend. So, will you explore the archipelago on the wings of dragons? Make sure to check out the rest of the series if you enjoy the first! 

Back of Book: 

Four children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to find the tastiest confection in the country. Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Lightning Chew?

Logan, the Candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by touch alone?

Miles, the boy who is allergic to rowboats and the color pink?

Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy like it's a feather?

Or Philip, the suit-and-tie wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook?

This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations. 

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 9+ 

AR Level: 5.0 Points: 15.0 

Review: 

Happy New Year everyone! I have been working on a series that is taking me a while to read, so sorry about no new books in a while. To start the new year off, I am featuring a mystery series about one of everyone's favorite things: Candy! 

I found The Candymakers to be a mind-boggling book. It starts in the main character, Logan's, point of view. It brings you to a certain point in the story plot, and then repeats the same section from all of the characters perspective. All of the characters had so many secrets that you never would have guessed. It does a really good job of showing you how much an author can really hide from you about their characters and the overall story plot. It blows my mind all of the things that she concealed from us. 

All of the characters are super interesting and unique. Logan, Daisy, and Miles all become fast friends, though they are still skeptical of Philip. Personally, I like Philip the best. He was just snobby enough, while still being a likable person. I really love his backstory and he is overall interesting in every aspect. 

Another fun thing about this story is that it takes place in a candy factory. It is really fun to see how certain types of candy are made. The people that work at the factory also have their own unique personalities that make you love them, even if they aren't that important of characters. And a friendly competition is always fun to read about. 

I think that The Candymakers is a beautifully crafted book by Wendy Mass. I have read other books by her, but this series is by far my favorite work. The book is a bit lengthy, but it is totally worth reading every page. With magnificently crafted characters and a mystery hanging in the air, The Candymakers is a sweet read to the very end. Make sure to check out the second one if you enjoy this novel. 

Back of Book: 

The Titanic is meant to be unsinkable, but as it begins its maiden voyage, there's plenty of danger waiting for four of its young passengers. Paddy is a stowaway, escaping a deadly past. Sophie's mother is delivered to the ship by police— after she and Sophie have been arrested. Juliana's father is an eccentric whose riches can barely hide his madness. And Alfie is hiding a secret that could get him kicked off the ship immediately.

The lives of these four passengers will be forever linked with the fate of Titanic. And the farther they get from shore, the more the danger looms. . . . 

Book Number: One 

Age Level: 9+ 

AR Level: 5.7 Points: 5.0 

Review: 

Finally guys, a book of the month that isn't realistic. I've had quite a few of them recently. This month we are going to finally feature a historical fiction book. 

So this book is about the Titanic. Obviously. It starts with introducing you to the four main characters: Paddy, Sophie, Alfe, and Juliana. Paddy is a stowaway, hiding from the horrors of a past life. Sophie has been arrested due to her suffrage obsessed mother, and is being shipped back to America, where she truly belongs. Juliana has a crazy rich father who needs to get to America to make an important deal with a client. She is a bit of a snob, but I came to like her eventually. And Alfie. . . he's an attendant on the Titanic that could easily be thrown overboard for the secret that he harbors. They are all very different, but they all form an unlikely friendship that changes them for the rest of their lives. The book then moves on to their experiences during the voyage, until the fateful day that the ship went down. 

I expected this book to just be another Titanic  story, but it really isn't. So much happens on this ship. Including the unmasking of a famous serial killer. . . It is so intense due to the murderer side arc, and just the fact that Paddy is being chased the entire time. He is such an unlucky boy, which is ironic, because he is Irish. This series stays very historical to the actual sinking of this "unsinkable" ship. It is very depressing, and in the end when the ship went down, it did bring tears to my eyes. Seeing all these people that I had grown to love go through that struggle was hard to witness. I didn't cross check all the information that occurs in this series, but it seemed right to me. 

Gordon Korman is such a splendid author, and I have loved many of his books including Schooled and The Unteachables. Going back and reading these books did not disappoint. They have the iconic dramatic flair and wacky characters of any other Korman novel. Unsinkable is a great start to an amazing series that highlights a tragic event that could easily had been prevented. Make sure to check out the rest of the Titanic series, if you enjoy this book! 

Back of Book: 

Ben Hardy believes he's cursed by potatoes. And now he's moved to Idaho, where the school's mascot is Steve the Spud! Yeah, this cannot be good.

After accidentally causing the mascot to sprain an ankle, Ben is sentenced to Spud duty for the final basketball games of the year. But if the other kids know he's the Spud, his plans for popularity are likely to be a big dud! Ben doesn't want to let the team down, so he lies to his friends to keep it a secret. No one will know it's him under the potato suit . . . right? 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 4.4 Points: 7.0  

Review: 

I know, it seems a little strange. You might be thinking, "My Life as a Potato, THAT'S what she picked for the book of the month?"  But honestly, hear me out. This book was so good and if you give me a chance to explain, it could become your favorite book of the month too. 

Pretty much there's this kid named Ben who believes that his entire life has been cursed by potatoes. And now he has to move to Idaho, the land of the potatoes. Seems like a disastrous thing, right? While he actually ends up becoming popular, something that Ben could never have accomplished at his old school. But when he accidentally causes the current mascot to sprain his ankle, he has to step in as Steve the Spud. This will immediately make him the laughingstock of the school. Or will it? Does anybody really need to know? 

My Life as a Potato is a really great realistic story. Ben is such a relatable character and the conversations he has with his friends are legit conversations that I have had with mine. It is the story of a kid who wants to fit in and be popular while trying to do the "lamest" job on the sports team. In the end, Ben realizes some very important lessons that I believe everyone can grow from. 

My Life as a Potato is an outrageously funny read about a middle schooler living the life of an undercover potato mascot. Ben spends the entirety of the book harboring this humongous secret. Can Ben Hardy make it through the school year without getting mashed?  

Back of Book: 

Five years. That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, crisscrossing the nation. It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash.

Coyote hasn’t been home in all that time, but when she learns the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished - the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box - she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it.

Along the way, they'll pick up a strange crew of misfit travelers. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. And then there's Gladys....

Over the course of thousands of miles, Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all...but that with friends by her side, she just might be able to turn her “once upon a time” into a “happily ever after”. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 4.7 Points: 12.0 

Review: 

The month of September hasn't been overly promising. There was only three singular books that got five stars this month. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise was the most obvious pick out of them. Hands down. 

In this novel, Coyote has been living in a bus for the last five years with her father, Rodeo. They have been traveling to nowhere specific, just away from their old lives. Their old town, their old house, even their own names; all left behind. They have left it all in the past. The only contact that Coyote has with the past is a weekly phone call with her grandmother. On one such call, her grandmother tells her that her favorite park back home is being destroyed. This shouldn't seem like that big of a deal, right? Wrong! Coyote buried a memory box there with her mother and sisters. And she would do anything to get it. Unfortunately, Rodeo would never take her there. So she devises a plan to get them there without him realizing. . . and she only has four days to do so. 

This book has a ton of character that can teach you so much about the life that we are living. Coyote is wise beyond her years because she has seen so many different situations over the time that they have traveled. Along the way, she picks up quite the crew. A young musician trying to find a way back to his love, a family that just needs a fresh place to start over, and even a homeward bound goat. With this fun array of characters, what could possibly go wrong? 

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is certainly a book that has it all. With its funny quirks and its touching family history, you're in for a wild ride, as you embark in an astounding journey aboard the school bus, Yager. 

Back of Book: 

What goes bump in the night? If you're lucky I do. 

Penhallow is the last of his kind. The stone gargoyle—he'd prefer you call him a Grotesque—fearlessly protects his Boston building from the spirits who haunt the night. But even he is outmatched when Hetty, his newest ward, nearly falls victim to the Boneless King, the ruler of the underworld.

Then there's Viola, the mysterious girl who keeps turning up at the most unlikely times. In a world where nightmares come to life, Viola could be just the ally Penhallow needs. But can he trust her when every shadow hides another secret? Can he afford not to? 

Award-winning author Paul Durham delivers a twisted tale about a lonely gargoyle who isn't alone at all. 

Book Number: Stand Alone (For Now) 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 5.2 Points: 8.0 

Review: 

Interestingly, The Last Gargoyle was another book I finished towards the end of the month. And once I did, I knew that it just needed to be the next book of the month. It was that good. 

This book was intriguing to me for a few reasons. One, the cover art just draws you in. It was splendidly done and really captures Penhallow. The other big one was the subject matter; gargoyles. For gargoyles being such a big mythological creature, I've never really read any books about them. Dragons, fairies, even nixies and kelpies I've read a few about. But gargoyles, literally none. 

Pretty much this book is about a gargoyle (although he prefers the term Grotesque) named Penhallow. He is the last  Grotesque left in Boston, due to his two best friends being murdered. It's up to him and his new friend, Viola, a mysterious violin player, to figure out who killed his friends. Can they figure out who is causing terror in the city? Or is Boston going to be left without a protector to save them? 

Penhallow is such a fun protagonist due to his witty sense of humor and his tendency to forget things at the most important times. He pretends to be fierce and always acts as though he can do anything, even if he really can't. But he also has an air of sadness around him. I mean, he is the only one of his kind and he's invisible to almost anyone. Wouldn't you be lonely? 

The Last Gargoyle is a spectacular read with a hint a mystery, an aura of spookiness, and a whole realm of fantasy. You wouldn't want to miss out on Penhallow and his touching story, where a lonely gargoyle learns that he doesn't have to be alone after all. 

Back of Book: 

Rion Kwirk comes from a rather odd family. His mother named him and his sisters after her favorite constellations, and his father makes funky-flavored jelly beans for a living. One sister acts as if she’s always onstage and the other is a walking dictionary. But no one in the family is more odd than Rion’s grandfather, Papa Kwirk. He’s the kind of guy who shows up on his motorcycle only on holidays, handing out crossbows and stuffed squirrels as presents. Rion has always been fascinated by Papa Kwirk, especially since his son—Rion’s father—is the complete opposite. Where Dad is predictable, nerdy, and reassuringly boring, Papa Kwirk is mysterious, dangerous, and cool.

Which is why, when Rion and his family learn of Papa Kwirk’s death and pile into the car to attend his funeral and pay their respects, Rion can’t help but feel that that’s not the end of his story. That there’s so much more to Papa Kwirk to discover.

He doesn’t know how right he is.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Age Level: 10+ 

AR Level: 5.3 Points: 13.0 

Review:  

I just finished Finding Orion yesterday and can I just say, that it was a great way to dive into some new content. I have been rereading books for the majority of the summertime and most of them were long fantasy series, so this one was an a great change of pace. 

It is a great realistic book but yet it feels magical. It is about a boy names Rion Kwirk and he believes he has the weirdest family ever. And then one day, as if things couldn't get any crazier, a clown shows up on his porch proclaiming that his grandfather has died. The family proceeds to the funeral where they are greeted with a ginormous surprise. Papa Kwirk isn't in the coffin. The family sets out on a scavenger hunt to find the ashes of their recently deceased family member. Along the way they encounter mind boggling, scary, and death defying experiences and in the end everyone learns a little more about themselves. 

The characters were a fun group of people. The roster included: a clown bearing bad news, a man whose goal in life is to make funky flavored jelly beans, and a missing ferret. You are sure to fall in love with the Kwirks as much as I have. 

With this narrative told in the point of view of the only "normal" Kwirk, you will most certainly have the family adventure of a lifetime and even discover a thing or two about yourself. 

Back of Book: 

By reading these words you have nominated yourself to recover the Key Word. Move swiftly. The knowledge you now possess marks you for prompt execution. The first syllable is "A." 

Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes. 

Book Number: One