The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons - OPTIONAL

The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons, 438 pages. Abbie Emmons, 2023. $29.

Language: R (188 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

On her eighteenth birthday, Orca is sure her father will finally allow her to leave their island to see the Otherworld. But he doesn’t. Orca isn’t strong enough for that world. When her father leaves the island for a few days, Orca is determined to prove herself capable, and what better way than to nurse a strange man that appears on her doorstep back to health?

Jack and Adam are complete opposites, and I appreciated the contrast they illustrated with their different perspectives as I thought about who was right and why. But I am not a fan of love triangle they presented. The love triangle was the bane of my reading time, the reason I resisted turning pages. The happily ever after worked out well enough, but part of me thinks it wasn’t the right ending. Overall, Orca’s story was well-written despite me not agreeing with choices made by the characters and author.

All the characters are implied white. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol and underage drinking, nudity, innuendo, and mention of sex. The violence rating is for blood and fist fighting.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Dragon’s Promise by Elizabeth Lim - ADVISABLE

The Dragon’s Promise (Six Crimson Cranes #2) by Elizabeth Lim, 482 pages. Knopf Books (Random House), 2022. $20.

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Dragon pearl in her possession, Princess Shiori will do whatever it takes to return it to its rightful owner—anything to fulfill her stepmother’s dying wish. From the underwater kingdom of Ai’long to the skies above the Tambu Isles, Shiori will face dragons, demons, and death in her quest, but nothing will deter her from continuing onward.

The retelling of “The Wild Swans” was fully encompassed in the first book of this duology, so I wondered how well this sequel would fit next to it. Lim’s writing fully embraces the feel of a fairy tale, especially in the end. I love how the ending wraps up in a fable-esque way. Shiori’s quest requires determination, sacrifice, and trusting her loved ones enough to help her. Sometimes we focus too much on a hero or heroine and forget the power of working together, and Lim highlights the strength of family and friends working together.

Shiori is depicted as Asian on the cover, and all the characters are implied to be similar. The mature content rating is for alcohol use. The violence rating is for blood, attempted murder, fantasy violence, and mentions of suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim - ADVISABLE

Six Crimson Cranes (Six Crimson Cranes #1) by Elizabeth Lim, 464 pages. Knopf Books (Random House), 2021. $20.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISALBE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

While Shiori (16yo) is not happy about her arranged marriage, she didn’t mean to ruin the betrothal ceremony by running into the lake and nearly drowning. Her father, the emperor, is still not pleased by the offense caused—especially when she claims to have seen a dragon. Now Shiori has to spend every day embroidering an apology tapestry, forcing her to spend time with the stepmother who hates Shiori for no reason and might actually be a demon.

This is the most beautiful retelling of The Wild Swans that I have ever read. I loved learning about Shiori’s kingdom and culture, about the dragons and magic, about the strength of familial love and loyalty to their people. The stakes are high as Shiori gives everything to break the curse placed upon her and her brothers, and I felt the pressure with her through the last battle. The end of this book tied up all the ends of the original fairy tale, making me wonder what the sequel will be able to add.

Shiori is depicted as Asian on the cover, and all the characters are implied to be similar. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, innuendo, and sexual harassment. The violence rating is for assault, blood and gore, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Missing Dead Girls by Sara Walters - OPTIONAL

Missing Dead Girls by Sara Walters, 240 pages. Sourcebooks Fire, 2023. $9 

Language: R (77 swears 79 'f'); Mature Content: R (detailed sex, underage drinking, drug use) Violence: PG-13 (bloody death, murder-suicide) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Missing Dead Girls opens with a text accusation and a photo of a dead body that states, “Tillie Gray killed Madison Frank”. Time moves back to when 17yo Tillie moves to Willow Creek and she’s trying to find her place in this new town. For some reason that Tillie can’t comprehend, Madison befriends her and they become more than friends. Both girls have secrets that they’re keeping that could destroy their lives. Little by little, the secrets are revealed and they’ll need to decide how far they will go to keep their secrets hidden. Twisted mean girl behavior turns into deadly deception. 

A very ominous ending left me with a feeling of mean girls to the core in this book. The premise is creepy and disturbing. I like the author’s notes that state how important each of us are, and our experiences are valid, and we’re all deserving of respect and love. Sienna has brown skin, Emma is white, Madison is white, Gigi is Korean American. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

The Chaperone by M. Hendrix - OPTIONAL

The Chaperone by M. Hendrix, 448 pages. Sourcebooks Fire, 2023. $15 

Language: R (50 swears 4 'f'); Mature Content: R (underage drinking, implied gang rape, drug use, implied rape, touching genitalia.) Violence: PG-13 (homemade bomb description, missing girls, death by poisoning) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Stella is a 17yo teenager living in New America with her mother, father, sister 7yo Shea, and 60 year old Sister Helen, the family chaperone. When Sister Helen collapses and dies, after giving Stella a pendant and saying the word Angel, Stella is distraught. Stella knows that she needs to stay pure so she’ll be eligible to marry soon, since girls don’t have many options besides becoming a wife and having children. She searches for reasons to continue to live at home but doesn’t find much that keeps her happy. When Stella discovers a way to get out of her situation, can she trust it or will her plan implode and make her life worse? 

The author repeats the concept of having to be pure for marriage as though readers won’t understand the first few times it’s mentioned. Dystopian novel that didn’t really pull my interest. Bonita is Black, Mateo is Latino and Stella is white. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

The Fire of Stars by Kirsten W. Larson and Katherine Roy - ESSENTIAL

The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of by Kirsten W. Larson, Illustrated by Katherine Roy. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books LLC, 2023. $19. 9781452172873

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Cecilia Payne loved science from her childhood, whether biological or physical. She worked hard to win a scholarship to Cambridge. One day, she heard a lecture on astronomy by Arthur Eddington, which drew her into the new field of study called astrophysics. Celia joins the astrophysics team at Harvard because Cambridge did not want a woman working for them.  She made her life focus on what elements made up the stars. Celia became the first person to discover the recipe for what makes the stars.

Larson writes a beautiful history of the life of Cecilia Payne. Although dealing with two interwoven, complicated stories, she writes in a concise manner that children will understand. Many pages of her life story are mimicked by the story of the birth of a star. Facts on her life and the life cycle of a star are given at the end of the book.

MOMMMAC

Holly Horror by Michelle Jabes Corpora - HIGH

Holly Horror by Michelle Jabes Corpora, 320 pages. Penguin Group PYRG/Penguin Workshop, 2023. $19 

Language: PG-13 (22 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (brief kiss) Violence: PG (mention of death by shotgun wound, no details) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

16yo Evie and 10yo Stan just moved into Hobbie House in Ravenglass, Massachusetts with their divorced mother. The locals call it Horror House because of a death and disappearance happening to its residents. The story alludes to something that happened to Evie in the past and one of the reasons the family of three moved to have a better life. Evie sees a shadow, hears voices, and sees creepy things that make her feel that the house is haunted. When the hauntings start taking over her life, danger comes for Evie and Stan. When Stan goes missing, Evie does everything in her power to find him. 

I enjoyed the spookiness of the story. I like how the author portrayed each family member as individuals with different personalities and issues. I like the evolution of the mystery. Evie is white. Desmond is black. Tina is Latina and Birdie is Korean. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Wilds of the United States-An Animals Survival Field Guide by Alexander Vidal: ESSENTIAL

Wilds of the United States-An Animals Survival Field Guide by Alexander Vidal. PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION Chronicle Books LLC, 2022. $23. 9781452184494

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

This stunning guide book a non-fiction masterpiece. The illustrations are simple yet captivating. Each page is a different ecosystem. It lists different animals that live in that area and gives brief interesting facts about how they survive in the wild and/or the adaptations that they use that are unique to that animal. With kids' attention spans getting shorter the information is just perfect and yet they will learn so much about different animals on each page. 

I cannot get enough of this book. The bottom color strip on the bottom of the page is color coded to the different areas in North America. It also has a visual symbol for each fact depending on the things they do to survive. For example: foraging, hunting, field signals, shelter, uniform, navigation, athletics, performance, toolkit, survivalists, community and wilderness experts. I highly recommend this book. they are all animals 

Emilee-Library Media Specialist

¡Viva Lola Espinoza! by Ella Cerón - OPTIONAL

¡Viva Lola Espinoza! by Ella Cerón. 400 pages. Penguin Young Readers Group, 2023. $12 

Language: PG (7 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G (Adult drinking); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Lola's final grades for junior year have arrived, and to her dismay, her Spanish grade is a C. Not only do her parents (and Lola) dislike this in terms of academia, but it also hurts personally because her parents are both Mexican. Lola's father decides the best consequence for her disappointing grade is to send her to Mexico to live with her mother's family over the summer, and she can't come home until she's fluent in Spanish. The more she struggles to communicate and adapt to her family, the more she learns about the family curse. With flavors of Pride and Prejudice laced throughout, Lola must uncover who she is and how deeply family connections run. 

¡Viva Lola Espinoza! doesn't apologize for its Latino roots and uses lots of Spanish without translations, so that made reading difficult for me who is not fluent in Spanish -- Spanish-speakers likely will enjoy that element. I found that the Pride and Prejudice elements were unnecessary and overloaded the storyline. Lola's growth and development were dependent on the men in her life a little too much. She didn't need them because she was strong enough on her own. The Darcy character's tendencies were unjustified to me, so I wasn't rooting for him and Lola to be together. I didn't love the males in the text overall: they seemed sexist to me. I think students would benefit from this text in terms of exposure to diversity and for students to feel seen, but otherwise it can borderline condone some harmful relationships in my opinion. Lola and her family are Latino. Her friend Anna is Latina and Lesbian. 

Lisa J HS ELA Teacher 

How Do You Spell Unfair?by Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison - ADVISABLE

How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Frank Morrison. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2023. $19. 9781536215540

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

MacNolia Cox worked diligently to become the first African-American to win the Akron, Ohio spelling bee in 1936. Many citizens in her town rejoiced with her and helped her earn money to attend the National Spelling Bee. She memorized one hundred thousand words in preparation for the contest. Many came out to see her off on her trip. But, when she crossed the border into Maryland, she found racism on every side. 

Weatherford beautifully tells a story that all should hear. Throughout this story, I like the way the author used spelling words to emphasize her narrative, such as: How do you spell nervous? How do you spell surprised? How do you spell discrimination? Etc.

MOMMMAC

Unlawful Orders by Barbara Binns - ADVISABLE

Unlawful Orders: a Portrait of Dr. James B. Williams, Tuskegee Airman, Surgeon, and Activist by Barbara Binns, 306 NON-FICTION Focus Scholastic, 2022. 19 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (racial violence)

BUYING ADVISORY:  MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen, an all-black flying force, fought heroically for the right to fly and become officers. Unfortunately, even though Blacks were fighting for America, prejudice, segregation, and violence against them still ran high. James Williams refused to give in to the bigotry at Freeman Field that led to the desegregation of the US armed forces. 

 The title is a little misleading. This is really a biography instead of just the incident with unlawful orders at Freeman Field. However, the story is a powerful reminder that racism was ugly and real and so much more harsh and prevalent than I had realized. The author presents a balanced and fair story with plenty of pictures that help this inspiring story hit home. 

Michelle in the Middle

The Race of the Century: The Battle to Break the Four-Minute Mile by Neal Bascomb - ADVISABLE

The Race of the Century: The Battle to Break the Four-Minute Mile by Neal Bascomb, 208 pages. NON-FICTION Scholastic Focus, 2022. $19

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS- ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

In 1954, breaking the 4-minute mile barrier created stiff competition. The short list of men included: John Landy, Wes Santee, and Roger Bannister. These men trained vigorously with that goal in mind. Each man endeavored to remove obstacles to reach this goal such as: sickness, anger, media ribbing, politics, bad weather, etc. Roger Bannister trained to be a doctor at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington at the same time he trained to break the 4-minute mile. He did not accomplish this on his own.  Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway were his pacemakers who pushed him to victory. On May 6, 1954, in Oxforshire, England, Bannister broke the barrier at 3:59:4.

While this well-researched book clarified the intensity of the race to beat the 4-minute barrier, it did so blandly. I felt no desire for anyone to win as the book plodded along in a pedantic fashion. Maybe an athlete who likes statistics would like this.

MOMMAC

Creeping Beauty by Andrea Portes - OPTIONAL

Creeping Beauty by Andrea Portes, 368 pages. HarperTeen (HarperCollins), 2023. $20.

Language: PG13 (20 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The birthday of the princess, Bitsy, is approaching, and the king seems overly anxious about marrying her off. Bitsy runs to hide in a corner of the palace, and she stumbles upon a spindle. Upon touching it, she falls, opening her eyes in a place unfamiliar to her.

Sleeping Beauty does not have as many successful adaptations as some of the other fairy tale classics, and I found myself intrigued by Portes’ take on it. Portes tells the story in a causal stream of consciousness tone that I didn’t love because it breaks the fourth wall, but I tried not to let it bother me. Bitsy experiences adventure in a way that is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland while her parents experience her sleep with a hint of The Frog Prince. Overall, I think I would have liked the fairy-tale-combining story except that the ending isn’t an ending at all. I have so many more questions.

Bitsy is implied white, though her father is described as having “olive” skin. There are also other mentions of various skin tones. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, nudity, and innuendo. The violence rating is for weapon use, mentions of cannibals, blood and gore, suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou - OPTIONAL

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou, 352 pages. Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill, 2023. $17 

Language: R (107 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (detailed kissing) Violence: R (bleeding, dead security guards, bloody injury, bloody death with details, bloody shootings, torn out throats.) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

18yo Io lives with her sister Ava in the half-sunken city of Alante. The eldest sister, Thais, raised them after their parents died but left abruptly two years ago to be on her own. The three sisters are descendants of the Fates who decide the lives of others. Io is an investigator trying to solve murders and Ava is a performer at the Mob Queen’s casino. Thais is the fiancé of Io’s number one suspect and high-ranking politician. When Io finally discovers the truth behind the murders, it’s going to alter her life and all that she believes in. 

So many descriptions of magic-born abilities that it became confusing. Slow building story, so it took a while to draw me in. I enjoyed the characters Io and Edei and the prophecy that ties them together. Edei had brown skin but ethnicity predominantly falls to white 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto - HIGH

Bonesmith (House of the Dead Duology) by Nicki Pau Preto, 464 pages. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2023. $20 

Language: R (39 swears 9 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing) Violence: PG-13 (bloody death) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Wren is competing in the Bonewood Trials where her father instructed her to not just pass, but pass spectacularly to impress her grandmother, the overseer of the trials. When Wren is double crossed, she’s exiled to the Breachfort which is pretty much ignored by everyone because it’s supposedly desolate. She’s doing her guard duty diligently and when the visiting Prince Leo is kidnapped, Wren goes after him to save him. Julian is an ironsmith with the group who kidnapped Prince Leo but when the group tries to assassinate Julian, he and Wren end up falling in a deep crevasse together. The two of them are born enemies but are forced to work together to save themselves, rescue the Prince, and figure out why someone was targeting Julian. 

Amazing world-building. I enjoyed the character depth, development and growth. I love the characters of Wren, Julian and Prince Leo. Wren is fair-skinned. Julian has pale skin. Prince Leo has caramel-colored hair and light brown skin. Wren’s father has olive skin. Commander has ruddy brown skin. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Crash From Outer Space by Candace Fleming

Crash From Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell by Candace Fleming, 288 pages. NON-FICTION Scholastic. 2022. $20 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Strange wreckage was discovered in a field in Roswell, New Mexico. Claims of UFOs, government coverups, and alien bodies soon began circulating. Explore the stories, scams, facts, and theories behind the explosion of the UFO movement. Whatever you may have heard about Roswell will be covered in this book. Plenty of pictures make it more relatable. The informative read lets you draw your own conclusions. If you are into history or UFO's, this could be your book. Unless you count ET, the culture or race of the main characters is mostly caucasian. 

Michelle in the Middle

Cloud Town by Daniel McCloskey - OPTIONAL

Cloud Town by Daniel McCloskey, 222 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Abrams/Amulet. 2022. $25 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

High Schoolers, Pen and Olive live in Cloud Town, a landmass that drifts above the earth. All is not well there because of the hurricanes that manifest themselves as monsters. They are nearly squashed by one until saved by a giant android Care Corp Storm Catcher. Both Olive and Pen are changed by this moment and have to navigate the mean girls at school as well as the threat to their world. 

The two main characters are unlikely but interesting heroes with difficult family backgrounds. The art is done all in shades of blue. A few of the characters weren't fully fleshed out and the art, while fun, can be overwhelming in some frames. This may appeal to readers with strong sci-fi leanings. Races are varied and include aliens. 

Michelle in the Middle

Lowriders to the Rescue by Cathy Camper, and Raul the Third - OPTIONAL

Lowriders to the Rescue by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Raul the Third, 140 pages.  GRAPHIC NOVEL Chronicle/Blue Apple. 2022. $23 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Sokar, a monarch butterfly, is trying to get help for her family and finds three activists who can help her: Lupe, an impala, Flapjack, an octopus, and Elirio, a mosquito. Lupe, Flapjack, and Elirio share a love of lowriders and helping others while watching out for the environment. 

I liked that Sokar and her family are Arabic and that the Lowriders are Latin. It's fun to have the words and foods in those languages and the translations at the bottom. I learned a lot. The story is heavy on environmentalism and wraps up a little too nicely, but it's well-intentioned and a quick read. 

Michelle in the Middle

You Won't Believe Me by Cyn Balog - OPTIONAL

You Won't Believe Me by Cyn Balog, 368 pages. Sourcebooks Fire. 2023. $9 

Language: R (62 swears 1 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing) Violence: PG-13 (abduction, gaslighting, catfishing, bloody deaths, electric shock) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

16yo Willow wakes up chained to a bed in a house she doesn’t recognize. She doesn’t understand her circumstances or surroundings but her memories come back a little at a time. Her captor tells her the pandemic has gotten worse and created zombies and the only way they can stay safe is to stay away from the rest of civilization if there’s anyone else alive. Willow goes along with it all until things don’t seem to be adding up. When Willow makes a few discoveries of her own, she becomes determined and desperate to escape. 

I enjoyed the details about the Everglades. This is a quick read book. The storyline is interesting, especially the ending. August is white. Lavani is Indian American. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Borrow My Heart by Kasie West - ESSENTIAL

Borrow My Heart by Kasie West, 288 pages. Delacorte Press/Random House Children's. 2023. $12 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

17yo Wren is waiting for her friend Kamala to finish her shift at the coffee shop when Asher and Dale arrive to meet a girl that Dale assumes is catfishing Asher. Dale wants to document Asher’s disappointment when the girl doesn’t show up but Wren steps in and pretends she’s the girl that Asher is waiting for, in hopes of sparing him the humiliation. Wren and Asher hit it off and she actually starts to like him. He shows up later at the animal shelter where she works and the dog that hates everyone except Wren ends up liking Asher too. The charade keeps going until Wren is afraid to tell Asher the truth because she likes him and it’s mutual. 

An absolute delightfully fun read. I like how Wren had to deal with real life issues because of her mom abandoning them when she was ten and having to work with trust issues by learning to set up healthy, realistic boundaries. Bean is the funniest dog. Asher is white, Kamala is Indian, Wren is white. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Recognize! by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson - ADVISABLE

Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, 145 pages. SHORT STORIES. POETRY. NONFICTION. Crown Books, 2021. $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

With 33 collaborators, this anthology reaches out to readers through nearly every possible format. Artwork, poems, essays, short stories, letters, comics, historical texts, and even an interview all work together to emphasize our wholeness as people.

Each contribution in this collection is an exclamation point to the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” Readers struggle with the authors as they try to put into words their feelings and experiences, as we learn to recognize what the issue is and how to address it. Because, in the end, we are each of worth and are never less than all of who we are. The mature content rating is for mentions of drugs and alcohol. The violence rating is for mentions of threats, assault, guns, shootings, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

 

The Black Queen by Jumata Emill -- HIGH

The Black Queen by Jumata Emill, 392 pages. Delacorte Press (Penguin Random House), 2023. $19. 

Language: R (100+ swears, ~50 'f'); Mature Content: R (Teens drinking, driving under the influence, and hiding marijuana; multiple references to a specific relationship in which a teacher is sleeping with a student; multiple discussions of adultery and abortion); Violence: R (Murder of main character; crime scene details; 3 uses of the N-word; multiple anti-Black characters spewing racist beliefs; gang rape; reference to use of date rape drug; reference to character committing suicide due to bullying; several references to child molestation of a main character by uncle many years before; description of attempted murder by choking from viewpoint of victim; description of near-death by falling)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Privileged, beautiful, and white, Tinsley McArthur always knew she'd follow in the footsteps of the other women in her family and become homecoming queen of her Mississippi high school. But when new rules level the racial playing field, and Nova Albright -- gorgeous, poor, and Black -- wins instead, Tinsley is furious. The night of homecoming, fueled by anger and vodka, she declares that Nova should be murdered and her body dumped in a nearby slave graveyard. Her rant, filmed and posted to social media without her knowledge, goes viral. The next morning, the world learns that Nova has, indeed been killed -- in exactly the way Tinsley detailed.

Duchess Simmons, Nova's grieving best friend, has seen the racism inherent in the justice system -- after all, her own father is something rare: a Black cop among the many white ones in their town. She is determined not to let Tinsley get away with Nova's murder, despite her skin color, money, and social standing. But it turns out that solving Nova's murder, and proving it, is far more complicated than Duchess could have imagined. And when she teams up with an unlikely ally, she may lose everything: her pops, her girlfriend -- even her life.

As far as teen murder mysteries go, The Black Queen definitely holds the reader's attention. It is full of twists and turns, and the scandalous revelations throughout ensure the pacing doesn't sag. Many of those revelations are pretty dark (see the content warnings above), so readers who are young, immature, and/or triggered by any of these topics should definitely find something else to read. Those who can handle the content, however, will find a suspenseful (if occasionally preachy) mystery novel with interesting characters and a plot that will likely keep them guessing until the end.

Sydney G., Certified Library Media Specialist

The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown - ADVISABLE

The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown, 256 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $20.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Juniper (11yo) lives with her family in the woods because Society is bad and mean. But then Hawk gets so sick that their mom, Clara, doesn’t know what to do, so the family leaves the woods to take Hawk to a doctor. Juniper learns that she has an uncle and cousins—and she experiences for herself what her parents meant when they warned her about Society.

Juniper’s story is an extreme example of truths we often forget: the world is better when we are kind to ourselves and those around us. No one wants to be mocked or made to feel worthless, and we forget that another person’s worth does not take away from our own. Though, unlike Juniper, we know how to use a toilet and to not get into fights in school, we can learn from Juniper’s humility and confidence.

Juniper is depicted as white on the cover, though her dad is described as having “light brown” skin in the text. The majority of characters are implied white. The violence rating is for arrow shooting and shin kicking.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata - OPTIONAL

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata, 250 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Viking (Penguin). 2023. $23 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Nayra is under a lot of pressure as she fasts for Ramadan. She is bullied by other girls at school and has friendship problems with the only other Muslim in her school, and has strict parents. She is even considering transferring schools until she meets a djinn named Marjan. 

I really liked the Muslim viewpoint about fasting and the cultural insight into Muslim life, which is fascinating. Though I liked the insertion of the djinns, I think I would have liked the story better without it. The djinn story was too similar to Nayra's and Rami's and sometimes the art was a little hard to follow. I would have liked to see Nayra solve her problems on her own because she was a strong character. Mayra and her friend, Rami, are Muslim. 

Michelle in the Middle

You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith - OPTIONAL

You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith, 336 pages. Inkyard Press, 2021. $19.

Language: R (112 swears, 20 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Adam and his mother have been desperately trying to keep his father’s pinball arcade afloat, but it’s getting harder—especially when his ex-friend’s, Whitney’s, family is taking over the town with their gaming cafes. As much as Adam and Whitney now butt heads, they are both trapped by their father’s dreams, determined to see them through whatever it takes.

The overarching pinball analogy throughout the book with excerpts from a repair book were my favorite parts. I love pinball, but I had no idea it was so relatable to real life. My love for the game has grown. I feel the book’s summary was misleading by making the snowed-in portion of the book seem more involved than it was. Yes, it was critical in the relationship between the main characters, but it was a very small portion of the book page-wise. Overall, this is a story about surrounding yourself with good people who will build you up and about allowing yourself to follow your own dreams.

Adam is Palestinian-Sicilian, and Whitney is implied white. The mature content rating is for underage drinking and mentions of sexting.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright - ESSENTIAL

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright, 240 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2022. $18. 9781629729855

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sang Ly (29yo) lives with her husband and their sick son in the dump. They work hard to pay their bills and feed their son, but they’re still behind on rent. And then Sang Ly is given an opportunity to learn how to read, which would make it possible to teach her son to read and improve his life—if she can overcome the obstacles that stand between them and that hopeful future.

This amazing tale is based on a true story, and Wright has adapted it for young readers, but I felt so much hope and inspiration from Sang Ly’s story that I am going to read the full version next to get all the details left out of this version. Sang Ly—and readers—learn the lessons that come from life’s difficulties, from literature, and from how we choose to react to both. Before this book, I didn’t know that a literal dump could be so beautiful, but it has been.

All of the characters are Cambodian. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol abuse. The violence rating is for blood, mentions of gang violence and human trafficking, gun use, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester - HIGH

Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester, 352 pages. Clarion Books, 2022. $20.

Language: R (55 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The water is where 17yo Verónica feels alive—partially because she is in love with the mermaid tourist attractions their town is known for and partially because she doesn’t feel her limp from hip dysplacia in the water. They’re having mermaid tryouts this summer, but Verónica hesitates to go. Her parents have worked so hard for their children to have a better life, and she’s already disappointed them recently; Verónica can’t tell them she wants to be a mermaid.

I love how Sylvester brings fantasy and magic to life in this realistic fiction book; it’s a perfect blend of both, inviting readers to find the magic in their own lives. Verónica is strong, capable, a dreamer, and proud of her heritage, but she doesn’t know how to be all of those things at once. As readers follow her journey, Verónica confronts the waves she feels are pushing her down and learns to take control of the tide of her life.

Verónica and her family are Peruvian, Alex is half Mexican, and the other characters include a variety of diverse races. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, mention of drugs, partial nudity, innuendo, groping, and mentions of sex and rape.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson - OPTIONAL

The Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson, 288 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The art exhibition in Manchester has attracted the affluent and middle class, artists and laymen, royalty and criminals. Inspector Martin Harrison is head of security, doing his best to be the opposite kind of man as the father he shares a name with, and Rosanna is an artist, thriving due to her employer’s ability to predict which exhibition pieces will fetch good prices when reproduced. Fate brings the two together, but it will take more than pretty words to separate the known facts from the hard truths they get tangled up in.

Both of the characters jump into love quickly, which made the inception of their relationship feel unrealistic, but that foundation of their relationship was necessary for the rest of the story—and how the rest of it unfolds is worth the suspended disbelief. Anderson explores discussions of art with the reader by juxtaposing Martin’s and Rosanna’s opinions, which I loved. Art is brought to life in a way that I have never experienced in an illustration-less book, rounded out by the suspense of chasing down the bad guy.

All of the characters are English. The mature content rating is for kissing and innuendo. The violence rating is for physical abuse, illegal activity, and gun handling.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Little Like Waking by Adam Rex - OPTIONAL

A Little Like Waking by Adam Rex, 400 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan Publishing), 2023. $21.

Language: R (32 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Each day is as perfect as the last and the next—Zelda (18yo) even manages to somehow easily avoid a collision between her bike and a car. The weird part is when a boy she has never seen before shows up during the not-accident. Seeing him shifts Zelda’s view of her reality, as if everything is too realistic—or not realistic enough?

Rex’s narration style is unique because his setting is unique, and I can’t decide whether I like it or absolutely hate it. It works for the story, despite being random and unexplainable in ways that would normally annoy me as a reader. But the random elements as well as the occasional shifts from text to graphic novel pages tell the story well—and I even laughed a couple of times. Don’t let the unconventionality of it scare you away.

Zelda is depicted as white on the cover, and Langston is depicted as Black. The mature content rating is for partial nudity and kissing. The violence rating is for mild fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen