Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: a story of immigration, family, and finding home by Zahra Marwan. PICTURE BOOK. Bloomsbury, 2022. $19. 9781547606511
Friday, March 24, 2023
Where Butterflies Fill the Sky by Zahra Marwan - ADVISABLE
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Hoops by Matt Tavares - ADVISABLE
Nikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholy - ADVISABLE
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Parachute Kids Betty C. Tang - ADVISABLE
I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman - HIGH
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Occulted by Amy Rose, Ryan Estrada and Jeongmin Lee - ESSENTIAL
HANGED! Mary Surratt & the Plot to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln by Sarah Miller - ESSENTIAL
Monday, March 20, 2023
Silver in the Mist by Emily Victoria - ADVISABLE
Friends Like These by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez - NO
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes - ESSENTIAL
The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill - OPTIONAL
The Hope of Elephants by Amanda Rawson Hill, 475 pages. Charlesbridge, 2022. $18
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Vicious by V.E. Schwab - HIGH
The Queen's Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz - ADVISABLE
Friday, March 17, 2023
We Are All So Good At Smiling by Amber McBride - HIGH
We Are All So Good At Smiling by Amber McBride , 283 pages. Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. 2023. $18.
Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Suicidal thoughts (nondescriptive) and clinical depression). Violence: PG (talk of cutting, undescribed)
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Two depressed teens 18yo Whimsy and Faerry meet at a mental hospital and then become neighbors and attend high school together. They’re both suffering from depression and memory loss from when they were young children. They’re not sure what they’re not remembering but it’s bothering both of them to the point of despair. They become friends that want to help each other and understand each other’s problems. They need each other to process the trauma they’ve been through and to help the lost information resurface.
The writing is metaphorical and beautiful. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the story. I like Whimsy and Faerry, the two main characters. The two main characters are black and they attend a predominantly white school.
LynnDell Watson, Delta HS Librarian, Delta, Utah
The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim - OPTIONAL
The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim, 378 pages. Kokila (Penguin Random House), 2022. $19
Language: PG (5 swears); Mature Content: PG (Creepy guy flirts with her); Violence: G.
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Chloe Chang has recently graduated from high school. Although she has been accepted into a fashion design school, she and her mom can’t afford the tuition. When Chloe’s friends give her a 23andMe DNA kit, Chloe is contacted by a cousin and she is invited to Korea to meet her father’s family and what follows is a K-drama type storyline. Chloe is impressed by all of her father’s family’s money, but more importantly Chloe wants more information about her father and a connection to her grandmother. Chloe naively and slowly over the course of the ENTIRE book realizes that her family only wants her because she is a donor match for a sick uncle.
Who doesn’t love a little K-drama romance story? Which is what got me into this mess of a book. Chloe is likable enough, at first. Then it quickly digresses to Chloe making desperate “like me” decisions with a family she has only known for two weeks. Chloe disregards her mother, who as a single parent raised Chloe by working hard as a nurse, not to mention the plot flaw of her mother not sharing anything about her father or his family without a viable reason, setting up Chloe’s naivety. I could continue, but you get the idea. Ridiculousness abounds, and I won’t even mention the lame last paragraph of the book, which is what–setting up a second book? Chloe is Korean-American.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell - ADVISABLE
Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell, 352 pages. HarperTeen (HarperCollins Publishers), 2023. $20.
Language: PG (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Having been through several attempted apprenticeships already, Clara is losing hope that she will ever control her magic well enough to be recognized as a witch. When Clara accidentally curses her father, she is desperate to save him – desperate enough to promise her estranged best friend all of her magic in exchange for his help.
I loved Clara’s magic and all the flowers that randomly popped up to give insight into how Clara was feeling and how her magic worked. The story was engaging and hopeful, even as Clara struggled with a voice we have all heard: the voice in our minds telling us that we can’t, that we always mess up, that we will never be good enough. Bakewell introduces a magic system that is based heavily on confidence, which forces Clara to live with – but not be controlled by – her doubts. My one hang up with the story was that Xavier is said to be 16 years old, which means Clara is about that age as well, but they were introduced as having so much history together that I couldn’t imagine them to be that young by the time age was finally mentioned.
Clara is depicted as White on the cover, Madam Ben Ammar has “deep brown” skin, and Robin has “golden-brown” skin. The language rating is for use of a British swear word, the mature content rating is for alcohol use, and the violence rating is for fantasy violence and curses.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Night Spinner by Addie Thorley - ADVISABLE
Night Spinner (Night Spinner #1) by Addie Thorley, 400 pages. Page Street Publishing, 2020. $19.
Language: PG13 (15 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Once lauded as Enebish the Warrior, Enebish (18yo) is now hidden away in a monastery by the grace of her older sister, Ghoa – kept far away from the people that now know her as Enebish the Destroyer. When Ghoa visits and gives Enebish an inch of freedom, Serik convinces Enebish to take a mile – and doing so will change the course of her life yet again.
Enebish’s story has abundant conflict but is unclear about which parties are “good” and “bad.” Thorley writes in such a way that we know more lurks beneath the surface of what Enebish (and the reader) sees, and we turn pages desperately in order to find the missing information. I love the magic system and the complicated characters, I love that the once powerful and confident Enebish is now limping and ashamed and has to discover how to regain the confidence that was once taken for granted, and I love that her story is not over yet.
Enebish describes herself as having “dark” skin, and Temujin is described as having “polished copper” skin. Skin colors of all shades are mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, innuendo, and illegal activity. The violence rating is for weapon use, mentions of child abuse and murder, and fantasy violence.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Carnival Quest by Brandon Mull - ADVISABLE
Carnival Quest (The Candy Shop War #3) by Brandon Mull, 400 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $20.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
When a carnival comes to town, it’s obvious that magic is involved – and there are rumors that not all of it is fun and games. Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon (now sixth graders) are able to go through the magic barrier that surrounds the carnival to investigate where their magician friends cannot. But every secret they find leads to more – can they stop the malevolence before it stops them?
While I’m sure that reading the prequels makes the magic candy more relevant, I enjoyed this conclusion to the trilogy even without that context. I love the concept of the magic carnival and the secrets around every turn that felt natural in such a chaotic and mischievous setting. The characters are clever and dedicated to their quest, even as they tease and try to be home in time for curfew. Mull has put together a fun magical adventure that is enjoyable for all ages.
Nate, Summer, and Trevor are depicted as White on the cover, though skin tones were not mentioned much in the text. The violence rating is for mild fantasy violence.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher - HIGH
The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher, 320 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2023. $20.
Language: R (48 swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Coming up on the one-year anniversary of her mother’s death, Madeline just wants to spend the summer before senior year remembering, especially since she and her dad are at her mom’s favorite Ren faire. But new management has changed everything about the faire, and there is a bard calling Madeline “Gwen” for no apparent reason, and he insists on taking all the time that Madeline was going to spend by herself. The bard is making himself important to Madeline, and she is desperate to stop him.
Once again, Schumacher has crafted a brilliant story that addresses grief. Watching Madeline struggle to remember her mother and to push away anyone else that fate might take away from her next time is painfully relatable. However, Schumacher uses Madeline’s story to also address issues of body image and self-consciousness for both boys and girls. Fate rolls the dice for each of us, but it’s our decision to treat the result as a curse or a blessing.
Madeline/Gwen, her father, Arthur, and Tim are White. Martin is described as having a “dark brown complexion,” Adelina has “brown” skin, Noah has “olive” skin, and Bre has “dark brown” skin. Fatima is implied non-White. The mature content rating is for innuendo and mentions of sex and alcohol.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds - HIGH
Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz - HIGH
Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz, 448 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2023. $20.
Language: R (89 swears, 30 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
This ball is the best chance for Anaïs to solidify a marriage that her parents want for her, but Anaïs is tired of being looked down on for her culture and magic. The night only gets worse when bombs go off at midnight and Anaïs dies after having watched everyone else die. Anaïs wakes up from her nap before the ball and lives the horrific night over again. Every night, Anaïs dies; and, every night, Anaïs grows less confident that she can stop the cycle.
While this story is fun and enjoyable, those words don’t encompass the depth of Anaïs’s story. She struggles with the never ending cycle of death, with reasons for attempting to save the people who conquered and look down on her people, and with building relationships that no one else remembers. The secrets and plots that she uncovers go deep, and she can’t do it alone – but what if Anaïs can’t find a perfect solution? When do you choose to accept mistakes you can live with and let time move forward?
Anaïs is implied White, but skin tones throughout the book are not explicit. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, innuendo, intense makeout scenes, partial nudity, and implied sex. The violence rating is for gun use, fantasy violence, blood and gore, suicide, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Monday, March 13, 2023
All This Time by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott - OPTIONAL
Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai - OPTIONAL
Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, 352 pages. Algonquin Books, 2023. $29.
Language: R (77 swears, 29 “f,” 1 “c” + Vietnamese swears); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: ADULT - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Phong is desperate for the better life that America promises for his family, but his visa is continually denied without proof that he is Amerasian. Dan has returned to Vietnam with his wife, Linda, hoping to heal his memories of the war. As these families search for the truths that were lost to war, they must also accept that war and truth are not pretty.
My understanding of the Vietnam war has always been small, glossed over between lessons on WWII and the Cold War. Nguyá»…n forces her characters and readers to face the effects of the Vietnam war on the people who stayed long after the bombs stopped. I enjoyed seeing how Vietnamese culture changed over time, even as I wanted to weep for all those who lost loved ones and struggled to make the best decisions they could. These intertwined stories are engrossing because they are gritty and real, even when they are uncomfortable.
Phong is half Black and half Vietnamese, Dan and Linda are White, and the majority of the other characters are Vietnamese. The mature content rating is for mentions of drugs and pornography, alcohol use, nudity, masturbation, sexual harassment, prostitution, mentions of rape, and oral and vaginal sex. The violence rating is for mentions of bombs, grenades, gun use, child abuse, domestic violence, suicide, self harm, war memories, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks - OPTIONAL
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks, 304 pages. Henry Holt and Co./MacMillan Children's Publishing Group. 2023. $16
Language: R (110 swears 12 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (Implied sex and undescribed kissing) Violence: PG13 (A fatal shooting with description of blood when finding the victim.)
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
At Urban Promise Prep school, strict rules keep the students in line, even to the point of harassment. Donations are given to the boys’ school in large amounts but students are told no when they ask for help with extracurricular activity funding. On a day when Principal Moore sent three teens to detention, he ends up being fatally shot and those three young men are blamed. 17yo Trey, J.B., and Ramon have to work together to clear their names. They also need help from others to get to the bottom of the mystery.
I liked the mystery and the story behind it. I enjoyed how the suspense built throughout the story. The alternating narrative made the book more interesting. Main characters are a mixed ethnicity, white, Black, Mexican American
LynnDell Watson, Delta HS Librarian, Delta, Utah
The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen - OPTIONAL
Saturday, March 11, 2023
The Island by Natasha Preston - HIGH
The Island by Natasha Preston, 336 pages. Delacorte Press/Simon & Schuster. 2023. $11.
Language: R (121 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: R (Bloody deaths)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Teen influencers arrive on an island after being invited for a fun-filled weekend to post online reviews and build excitement for the upcoming opening. The island is an amusement park and resort all in one. The six influencers have a variety of online posts and followers. Before they can enjoy much of the island, the killing starts. One by one, people are being chased and killed. Those who remain must work together to outsmart the killer and survive until help arrives.
I enjoyed the premise of inviting influencers to review and build hype about a new place. The mystery was fun and suspenseful. I liked learning about each character’s background.
LynnDell Watson, Delta HS Librarian,
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco - ESSENTIAL
Friday, March 10, 2023
The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep by Allan Wolf - ESSENTIAL
The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep by Allan Wolf, 402 Historical Fiction Candlewick. 2020. $15
Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13 (Murder and cannibalism)
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS, ADULT - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep chronicles the ill-fated Donner Party as they cross the Salt Lake Desert and break ground through Weber Canyon as part of a shortcut that ended up taking twice the time. The group gets caught in an epic and early snow storm that keeps them from crossing the Sierra Nevadas while also burying their livestock, thus wiping out their primary food source. In order to survive, the Donner Party resorts to cannibalism.
Narrated by Hunger puts an interesting and poetic spin on this tale of survival. There are entries from clearly labeled and varied voices from the pioneer group. These succinct and well written entries make the characters relatable, real, and very readable. There isn't a ton of print per page, so it isn't a daunting read. I have read three other books about the Donners, and was wowed by this one. Though this would be historical fiction because of poetic license, it was well researched. Even the Notes section, with bios, timelines, and statistics, was engaging reading. Primarily white /European settlers along with two Miwok Indians.
Michelle in the Middle
Race Against Death by Deborah Hopkinson - ADVISABLE
Thursday, March 9, 2023
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - OPTIONAL
Poe: Stories and Poems by Gareth Hinds - ADVISABLE
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Man Made by Gabrysia May - ESSENTIAL
CS - Middle School Librarian
Some Kind of Hate by Sarah Darer Littman - ADVISABLE
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
The Headmaster's List by Melissa de la Cruz - HIGH
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
LynnDell Watson, Delta HS Librarian, Delta, Utah
Monday, March 6, 2023
Henry Hamlet's Heart by Rhiannon Wilde - OPTIONAL
Language: R (100+ swears, 25 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (brief teenage nudity, frequent teenage drinking, a couple fade-to-black moments of sexuality); Violence: PG (frequent punches between friends and a tense/verbally abusive parental relationship);
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Serious, studious, and prone to overthinking, Henry Hamlet is in his last term as a high school student in Brisbane, Australia. He doesn’t know what to do next. He doesn’t want to think about life or school after graduation. All he knows is Lennon, sporty, mysterious, & popular, is his best friend and has been forever. That will never change, unless Henry does the unthinkable and falls in love.
A delightful, swoony, best friends-to-lovers queer romance from a debut author and I was all heart-eyed reading it. Initially, I was worried that it was going to be tragic, but the author perfectly captured the angst and longing in unrequited love with some beautiful turns of phrase. There is a significant amount of language, which I chalk up to the Australian culture & setting and the moments of sexuality between Henry and Lennon were tasteful and subtle.
Reviewer: Kiera, BookswithBeddes
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson - HIGH
Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #2) by Holly Jackson, 397 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2020. $18.
Language: R (52 swears, 36 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Pip recorded her experience with the Andie Bell case and published it as a true-crime podcast. Fans are calling for a second season, but Pip doesn’t want to go through that again – to be that obsessive person again. But then Connor’s brother, Jamie, goes missing, and he begs Pip to take up the case. Welcome to season two.
As Pip resists attaching herself to the case and then gives in to the obsession that took over last year, this book gets darker than the first. Pip struggles to define truth, justice, and morals for herself as she finds herself diving back into unsavory secrets around town – and unsavory parts of herself. I don’t agree with all of Pip’s conclusions, which makes me more excited to read the next book and see how Jackson resolves the issues – if they are resolved. This new mystery for Pip fights against time and is just as engaging as her first case.
Pip, her mom, Connor, and Connor's family are White. Pip's stepfather, Victor, is Nigerian, and Pip's half-brother is half Nigerian. Ravi and his family are Indian. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, mentions of drug use, illegal activity, and discussions of sexual assault and rape. The violence rating is for mentions of suicide, gun use, murder, and discussions of death.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Wyoming Wild by Sarah M. Eden - OPTIONAL
Wyoming Wild by Sarah M. Eden, 256 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $17.
Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
In the span of a couple days, US Marshal Hawking discovers that he has a corrupt sheriff and that someone is planning to assassinate him. With no idea where in the territory to start looking for a sheriff gone bad, Hawk follows the warning telegram looking for the informant. Liesl (23yo) risks her safety every day trying to help the people her father is taking advantage of, but sending that telegram could cost her life, especially when a certain US Marshal tracks her down.
Eden has written other books about members of Hawk’s town, and they are fun but not necessary to read before this one. I loved that the strong marshal is paired with a strong woman, rather than a demure doe who has to be saved. Both Hawk and Liesl do some of the brave saving, making a partnership where both are respected and heard. Their story has action on top of the romance, making it easy to justify reading just one more chapter.
Liesl and her family, Hawk, and most of the characters are White. There are a couple people of color mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and illegal activity. The violence rating is for implied domestic violence, gun use, assault, attempted murder, blood, and death.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Saturday, March 4, 2023
The Imagineering Story by Leslie Iwerks - GIFT
The Reluctant Baronet by Elizabeth W. Watkins - OPTIONAL
The Reluctant Baronet by Elizabeth W. Watkins, 192 pages. Covenant Communications, 2023. $15.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Entering her third season, Selina is desperate to marry so that her beloved home doesn’t fall to the current heir – a cousin who wants to tear the house down. Selina has agreed to be courted by Mr. Hallett, but he starts to pale in comparison to the new Sir Parkinson, First Baronet of Oakhurst Park. But lurking under the surface are plots of greedy men that threaten the unwitting members of the ton.
Watkins’ attention to details shows her great dedication to research and accuracy, and I appreciated it at some points of the story more than others. Admittedly, I skimmed a few pages of those historical details, but the overall story was enjoyable. I liked the mystery and intrigue woven through the story as well as the requisite happily ever after.
Selina and most of the characters are English, except that Russell and his uncle are Scottish. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and drug abuse. The violence rating is for medical malpractice, attempted murder, and attempted suicide.
Reviewed: Carolina Herdegen