Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig - ADVISABLE

Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig, 400 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2026. $20

Language: PG (12 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing in dreams, Off page sex in a dream, over clothes chest touching) ; Violence: PG (off page deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: HS - MANY; MS - SEVERAL

20 yo Christine’s love of music was inspired by her deceased musical father who promised that she would be visited by the angel of music. She believes the angel has come to her to build her singing voice and help her become a great and famous singer. She’s never seen her teacher and only hears his voice as he gives her instructions. Her dreams seem to be coming true when the lead vocalist loses her voice and Christine is thrust into the leading role. Strange, dangerous things start to happen in the opera and Christine begins to doubt whether or not her teacher is truly an angel. The Rosa Josephine is the signature rose of the Phantom. The Phantom tells the story of Josephine creating the rose to emulate her love for Napoleon, which is interesting.  

I like how Raoul stands up to his mother when she belittles Christine.  Beautiful confectionary-like descriptions of costumes. When Madame Giry tells the story of helping a young Erik run away from the carnival, my heart went out to him and I feel like she was very brave to help.  I especially like this retelling of The Phantom of the Opera because of the thorough descriptions of Christine’s thought process helping her to make the choices she made.

The ethnicity is predominantly white with Italian lead singers. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High Librarian

Girls of Dark Divine by E.V. Woods - ADVISABLE

Girls of Dark Divine by E.V. Woods, 389 pages. Random House Children's Books, 2025. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (alcohol abuse); Violence: PG-13 (child abuse, alcoholic rages, sick torture, revenge plots of murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

New Kora is home base to one of the most extraordinary performing dance companies: Malcom's Marionettes.  People from around the world attend their awe inspiring performances.  How can all the dancers perform so beautifully and with such perfect precision? The secret: each dancer is under a dark curse which literally takes over their bodies every night the curtain raises on the stage.  Emberlyn is the lead dancer.  Her fellow dance mates are more than part of the performance, they are her "sisters".  Emberlyn wants to escape this torturous lifestyle of supposed glitz and glamor, but how can she leave her sisters behind to endure the abuse and alcoholic rages of Malcolm?  The curse prevents her from literally being able to voice the torture and abuse to an anyone outside the Marionettes.  Perhaps the answer is not to escape, but to actually end the reign of "The Puppet Master", Malcom, and finally put an end to this nightmare. 

Although this book contains abuse, torture, alcoholism, etc, the heroine of the book, Emberlyn, teaches us all that selfless love is the highest form of love and in this novel, ultimately conquers evil. I loved the internal struggles Emberlyn finds herself in.  I loved her relationship with the other dancers and especially her romance with her hero, Etienne. The message in the end of the novel helped soften the abuse and violence.  Rising about our worst nightmares takes a lot of courage, a lot of self reflection, and a lot of support and love from others. The girls seem to be about high school aged.

S. Lewis

The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends by Jamie D’Amato - OPTIONAL

The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends by Jamie D’Amato, 336 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2025. $21.

Language: R (207 swears, 105 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Last semester at college was rough for Brennan, and he wasn’t sure if he was even going to make it to age 19, and now, after being hit with a car and coming back to life, he might be a 19-year-old vampire forever—though not a very good one. Going from being vegetarian to drinking animal blood was unpleasant, and then Brennan gets caught on his first attempt to steal donated human blood by none other than Cute Library Blanket Guy. Somehow, college just got a whole worse.

This fun take on modern vampirism includes social media and a hundred Twilight references, making the story light and entertaining amidst the very real challenges of mental health, family drama, and your boyfriend’s friends not approving his relationship with you. The love story was adorable, and the determination of humans and young, weak vampires to team up to thwart the big bad was just epic enough to fit the vibe.

Brennan is White and bi, Cole is described as having “light” skin and is gay, Marisela is Latina, Sunny is Korean and part of the LGBT community, and Nellie is Black and part of the LGBT community. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, drug use, illegal activity, innuendo, kissing, partial nudity, and mentions of condoms, orgasm, and sex. The violence rating is for blood and gore, mentions of suicide, assault, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce - ADVISABLE

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce. 293 pages. Penguin, 2024. $12 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

16yo Riley is in trouble with her parents, she took her mom's car without asking and drove - without a license - out of town to see Waitress with her best friend Hoshiko. Now she's grounded for 8 weeks and must work at her dad's gaming store after school. Nathan also works there, she knows him from school, but he's not a theater kid, he's a D&D player, so they aren't friends. But when her ex suggests she's unable to find a new boyfriend, and the girl Nathan likes doesn't seem interested, the 2 decide to fake-date to make Sophie and Paul jealous. 

I think guys would like this darling romance, too. There's a bunch of Dungeons and Dragons play, and Boyce doesn't make the boys hopeless nerds. Riley's love of theater is fun with tons of Broadway references. The romance is slow and, while predictable, builds to a great ending. The main characters are white, their friends are multi cultural and include a gay couple. 

Lisa Librarian 

Night Owls by A.R. Vishny, - OPTIONAL

Night Owls by A.R. Vishny, 368 pages. HarperCollins, 2024 $20. 

Language: R (22 swears 6 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (vampires luring men and the ensuing "kisses) Violence: R (bloody fighting, vampire violence, demons) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

18yo (sort of) Clara and Molly run an historic movie theater in Manhattan. Boaz is one of their employees, he runs the ticket booth. Clara and Molly are Estries - undead, vampire-like girls who can turn into owls and feed on Jewish men. Boaz has a family curse - he can see and communicate with ghosts. His Aunt has a ring, passed down through the family that helps focus the ghost sightings, and she has a successful cable tv show where she is a medium. Clara has a lot of rules to keep she and Molly safe - they've "lived" together like this for over 100 years. One of the rules is no romance. But when Molly finds a girlfriend, who disappears, they blame Boaz. And even though he denies it, and is infuriating, Clara finds herself falling for him. 

Who knew that Jewish theater had an underground in New York City full of demons and monsters and the Prince of Demons himself? This stand alone horror, romance, mystery was spine tingling with some good scares, and a great plot. Written for a Jewish reader, there's not a glossary or pronunciation guide for the yiddish, but context was well developed so I had no trouble because of my lack of background knowledge. I especially loved all the nods to early (1910-1930s) motion pictures. Boaz, like me, was a real film nerd, so I totally connected as he geeked out about certain movies. Highly recommended as a great thriller. The characters are Jewish and monsters. 

Lisa Librarian 

Your Blood My Bones by Kelly Andrew - OPTIONAL

Your Blood My Bones by Kelly Andrew, 356 pages. Scholastic Press, 2024. $13.

Language: R (22 swears, 6 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (some kissing, one passionate kiss that is interupted); Violence: PG-13 (Animal death, blood, violence, poisoning, cults, bones, murders, gore, paranormal activity)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

After learning of her father's death and that she is the last surviving Westlock heir, 18yo Wyatt returns to her childhood home intending to burn it to the ground. It has been five years since she was last at the farm.  But before she burns it down, she finds that her childhood best friend Peter is chained in the basement. After freeing Peter she begins to piece together what was happening at the farm during her childhood all without her knowledge and understanding. Peter, semi-immortal, has suffered hundreds of ritualistic deaths at the hands of a cult who were attempting to create wards to keep hell contained. And her father was the steward at the center of it all. Peter knows that the only way to free himself is to kill Wyatt and end the Westlock line. Reluctantly Peter and Wyatt work together as Wyatt learns to use her inherited powers from her alchemist father and witch mother to rebuild the spells and protect the world from the darkness that lives in the forest.

The author's prose is beautiful. The suspense is just right.  Her descriptions are rich and vivid. I was quickly immersed in the world she created. If you are looking for an addition to your horror section, I would recommend this book.

Wyatt, Peter and James are white.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart - ADVISABLE

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart, 304 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), NOV 2024. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 13 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (kidnapping, drinking, making out mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (druggings, dead victims implied, lots of fear)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Something is going on with Jessa’s good friend Tiny and Jessa, the good girl, is desperate to bring together her girlfriends to see if they can get through to Tiny to help her. Their slumber party night attracts unwanted guests - not only Jess’s brother, who knows better, but Tiny’s controlling boyfriend, and the creepy neighbor who also goes to Jessa’s school. It also turns out to be the night of a giant storm that knocks out power and phones all over. Then Jessa is kidnapped - and enters into a totally different kind of nightmare.  Someone thinks Jessa is the perfect girl and has gone to great lengths to groom her into the perfect wife. Jessa has had enough!

Fans of a Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and such should enjoy this psycho-fueled romp. Not quite a middle school library book, though. Bummer. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller - OPTIONAL

The Darkness Within Us (companion to The Shadows Between Us) by Tricia Levenseller, 336 pages. Feiwel (Macmillan), 2024. $19

Language: R (62 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing and off-page sex); Violence: R (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

19yo Chrysantha is a beast. She and her sister Alessandra are in constant competition and their father expects both of them to keep him out of bankruptcy by marrying someone rich. While Alessandra married the Shadow King, Chrysantha married an elderly Duke but she ends him within two months after their marriage. Since the Duke has no heirs, she inherits everything and thoroughly enjoys redecorating the manor and revamping her wardrobe. She also gives the servants raises and shows them appreciation for their hard work. Eryx arrives, claiming he’s the Duke’s grandson and turns life in the manor upside down. Eryx has a secret and Chrysantha isn’t going to let him get away with ruining her plans without finding out what he’s hiding.

The contradictions of Chrysantha’s character and actions are entertaining. Eryx is an interesting character and I enjoyed the unknown that went along with his secret. I liked Chrysantha’s feistiness. Pale ivory, peach, dark beige, ebony skinned, deep obsidian skin tone, golden skin are all mentioned.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare - MANY

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare 624 pages. Del Rey 2023 $21 

Language: R (31 swears 9 'f's): Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex) Violence: R (bloody deaths) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

10yo Kel and Cas are playing outside at the orphanage when the leader of the Arrow soldiers visits on the King’s orders. Kel is taken to the Castellane palace to attend dinner as a deception in place of Prince Conor, who is supposedly ill. Kel meets Conor after dinner and realizes that the prince wasn’t ill at all but dinner was a test to see if Kel could become the Sword Catcher for Prince Conor. After speaking with the prince, Kel chooses the life of being the prince’s closest companion, bodyguard and replacement if needed. Now, 23yo Kel accompanies Conor almost everywhere but he soon discovers they both have secrets they’re keeping from each other, secrets that might become dangerously fatal.

I absolutely love the character development. The complex world building flowed perfectly and the political intrigue created a dangerous and mysterious environment. The four main characters have completely different personalities with each one being interesting and having depth. Cas and the King are white. Kel and Conor have light brown skin and the Queen has russet-brown skin. Lin is pale skinned. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Foxglove (Belladonna #2) by Adalyn Grace - MANY

Foxglove (Belladonna #2) by Adalyn Grace, 464 pages. Little, Brown BFYR, 2023. $15 

Language: PG-13 (27 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: R (petting; descriptive sex); Violence: PG (death by poison) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Fate kills Lord Wakefield and then nonchalantly blames Elijah Hawthorne in a room full of witnesses who watched Elijah give the Lord a drink that’s later found to be laced with cyanide. Fate reveals that he’s Death’s brother and has never forgiven Death for taking his one true love and now he wants revenge. 19yo Signa and Death are trying to help prove Elijah’s innocence by finding the true killer. The situation grows much more complicated and truths are revealed that surprise everyone. Signa begins to doubt who she really is when memories surface from a past life and she’s unsure of her fate. 

I love the world-building with the wonderful descriptions and the prose. I enjoyed Blythe’s spunk. Signa’s strength and kindness is an inspiration. Signa is white. Death is fair-skinned. Fate has bronze skin. Blythe is white. Everett has brown skin. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

The Queen's Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz - ADVISABLE

The Queen's Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz, 384 pages. GP Putnam’s Sons/Penguin. 2020. $12. 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Brief passionate kissing and implied sex.); Violence: PG-13 (Repeated stabbing) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In the imaginary kingdom of Renovia, an assassin is after the Queen and her daughter, 18yo Princess Lilac. Caledon is the Queen’s assassin and protector. Shadow wants to be a Guild spy working for Renovia but her family is against the idea; Shadow is upset and unknowingly wanders into danger. Caledon saves Shadow’s life by protecting her from an assassin that turned out to be a member of the royal family. Cal was arrested and Shadow disguises herself as a stable boy so she can infiltrate the prison yard and free him. The two work together to find the scrolls that will protect their kingdom. They start to truly care for each other as they pose as a Lord and Lady to infiltrate the rebellion against the Queen of Renovia and more secrets will be revealed that will change their course and the kingdom’s future. 

Shadow’s stubbornness frustrated me at times but her personality created needed friction in the story. Cal is a very interesting character and my favorite in the book. I enjoy the unraveling of the mystery. The ethnicity is mixed. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta H.S. Librarian

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber - ESSENTIAL

The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2) by Stephanie Garber. 416 pages. Flatiron Books, 2022. $20 

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (bloody death) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY 

18yo Evangeline has sworn to never trust Jacks again. She has her own magic now, and she intends to use it to restore a happily ever after that does not include a certain fated Prince of Hearts. Unfortunately, things rarely go the way Evangeline plans them, and when a certain terrifying new curse is revealed she will have no other choice than to work with Jacks. However, things are different this time and Evangeline wonders if Jacks is the only person she can trust. To break the spell, the two will have to fight new foes as well as threats appearing from the past and, most of all, a dangerous magic that plays with heads and hearts. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, reading it in a single sitting! I liked it even better than the first! The plot is well-paced and intriguing, the characters well developed and likeable, and the writing is immersive and simply magical! The only disappointment is that the next book isn't out yet! 

Sierra Finlinson 

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber - ESSENTIAL

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, 416 pages. Flatiron Books, 2021. $20

Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (ungory deaths, vampires) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

17yo Evangeline believes in magic. She knows that there is truth in legend and danger in curses. Thus, when the man she loves is brought under a love spell, or so she thinks, Evangeline will seek the Fated Prince of Hearts and make a bargain to stop him from marrying her step-sister. But you cannot escape a deal made with a Fate and Evangeline will learn that her trip to the North as an ambassador and potential bride of the Prince of the North may be exactly what Jacks has been planning all along.

I love Garber's writing style. The scenes are vivid and engulfing, the characters realistic and relatable, and the plots magical and creative. Set in the same world as Caraval, this novel was thoroughly enjoyable to read. There was also minimal swearing and only brief undescriptive nudity. 

Sierra Finlinson https://www.kingsenglish.com/book/9781250268396

The Liar's Crown by Abigail Owen - HIGH

The Liar's Crown by Abigail Owen, 434 pages. Entangled Teen Publishing, 2022. $16

Language: R (100 swears, 5 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (sex extensively alluded and implied); Violence: PG-13( dead bodies, battles, fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

18yo Meren and Tabra are princesses, born twins at birth but their grandmother and years of tradition require the second born, Meren, to be a body double for Tabra - a stand-in whenever danger is present, Meren replaces Tabra for her own protection. All of Meren's life her true identity and existence has been hidden from everyone, only the royal family knows that there is two princesses instead of one. But when a handsome stranger kidnaps Maren, thinking he kidnapped Tabra, the "real" princess, chaos ensues. Meren must overcome her fears and save her sister, before the real kidnapper comes to take her away. 

The Liar's Crown is your typical young adult novel. It has your feisty princess with a sharp tongue, the handsome black haired bad boy with a heart of gold- all set in a fantasy built world full of magic and intrigue. If that is your type of thing, then by all means read away, but if you need a solid plot structure- something other than the romance and running in the woods, then find your reading enjoyment elsewhere. I enjoyed it, and I will be reading the second one when it comes out, but I do think it fell short on the dialogue and writing style and overall structure. 

Meren is described with ""long black hair, golden skin and amber eyes"" and you can imagine Tabra has the same description. Cain, a friend of Meren's is described with ""onyx colored eyes and copper colored skin."" Reven is just described with dark hair."

Kenzie Hoehne 

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace - HIGH

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace, 416 pages. Little Brown for Young Readers, 2022. $15

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (Alcohol addiction and drinking prevalent throughout, lusting, descriptions of sex) ; Violence: PG-13 (Poison and many descriptions of poisonings)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

19yo Signa Farrow was born into one of the wealthiest families imaginable. But one day, her mother dies of poison, and she is forced into bouncing around guardians, all her wanting her for one thing, her inheritance. Strangely, every guardian that Signa has been with dies mysteriously. Until Signa finds herself at Thorn Grove. It's a beautiful manor with many secrets, including a mourning ghost that only Signa can see. Signa will have to use her gifted sight to find a killer- before time runs out.

Belladonna is set in a victorian like Europe, with imagery of ballgowns, tea parties and proper manners. It's a beautiful setting, and perfect for one of mystery, intrigue and love. And although this isn't a perfect book by all means, I think the author executed what she wanted to - the message, setting and characters were thought out. What I am not a fan of, is the fluff in the middle- it didn't add anything to the plot and made it harder to get through the book.

Kenzie Hoehne 

Girl Who Heard Demons by Janette Rallison - ESSENTIAL

 Girl Who Heard Demons by Janette Rallison, 281 pages. Rally Point Press, 2017. $10

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

12th grader Adelle Hansen can hear and see demons. She has moved from school to school to get away from severe bullying. finally her family sends her to her aunt in Kentucky to finish her senior year of High School. She is determined no one will will find out her secret. When she overhear the demons excited about the death of the handsome quarterback, Levi, Adelle has to do some thing. Will she be successful? Will Levi believe her? Will he just make fun of her?

This is the beginning of a fast paced book full of adventure, mystery and romance. The book was very well written with believable, strong characters. Adelle is a strong girl, she attends church every Sunday, does not drink or do drugs, even though other characters in the book does all of those things. Janette Rallison managed to write a believable book about high schoolers, violence, mystery, attacks without resorting to swear words or super graphic explanations. The book was fast paced and really great! I could not put it down, and I read it in one sitting. I found it really refreshing that an author today could write such and amazing story without bowing to all the political correctness, woke culture, swear words and violence and racism found in so much of todays children's and YA books. I really like the spiritual aspects, that Adelle went to church, worked hard, did her best in school and was a real friend that honestly cared about the people around her. If you are looking for a great read - pick up this book. It is awesome!

Ellen-Anita, Librarian 

Breaking Time by Sasha Alsberg - OPTIONAL

Breaking Time by Sasha Alsberg. 343 pages. Inkyard Press, 2022. $20 

Language: PG-13 (27 swears 0 F’s); Mature Content: PG-13 (sensual kissing scenes, alcohol use); Violence: PG-13 (descriptive murder, intense fight scenes) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In Scotland, 1568, 19yo Cullum watches his best friend Thomas get murdered by what seems to be a superhuman being. While trying to avenge his friend, Callum gets sucked into a time warp that drops him on the highway in front of 19yo Klara in the year 2022. Klara is almost murdered by the same supernatural entity that killed Thomas (the demi-god Llaw) because she unknowingly had been given power by the goddess Arianrhod and Llaw wants the power. She must stay alive past Samhain (Scottish Halloween) or Llaw will use her powers to disrupt the very fabric of time in every universe. Klara and Callum travel to the mystic centers of Scotland to unlock Klara’s power and gain answers. Romance blooms between Klara and Callum. Sacrifices are made, but together they save the worlds. 

 It took 38 pages to become interested. The book is brain candy. Breaking time is a romance, fantasy, book with a few intense action sequences. Fans of Outlanders would like it. Descriptions of the sexual tension was very effective. The descriptions of the areas visited in Scotland were spot on. Alsberg left the ending open to a sequel. High School girls who like fantasy would probably love this book. I can’t see a teenage boy picking up this book unless they looked past the cover. 

Reviewer: Julia N. 

So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens - HIGH

So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens, 341 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2022. $20

Language: R (85 swears, 35 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (repeated horny teenage boy thoughts, off page “bedroom activities”); Violence: R (repeated bloody violence & gore, repeated mortal peril)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

What happens after an evil king has been vanquished and a magical law requires the newly crowned hero to bond with a soulmate or die? Arek is trying to figure out this whole "ruling" thing and try to find someone to bond his soul with before his 18th birthday in 3 months. He starts by attempting to woo his quest companions, but it doesn’t ever seem to go to plan. But what if his soulmate was in front of him the whole time? 

A rom-com fantasy with a gorgeous cover? Yes, please. I loved reading In Deeper Waters by the same author a couple of months ago and this book had everything I loved about the first (I should clarify, not a sequel, just the same author). The characters were well-developed, the romantic comedy was blended well with the fantastical setting, and queerness in this world is not strange or unusual, as it should be. Be aware there is a significant amount of language, repeated mortal peril, and bloody fantasy violence but it is a super fun fantasy adventure with great LGBTQIA representation. 

Reviewer: BookswithBeddes 

Playing Cupid by S. C. Alban - OPTIONAL

Playing Cupid by S. C. Alban, 263 pages. The Parliament House, 2021. $7.

Language: R (51 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Megan has been carefully upkeeping the walls around her heart since her mother died five years ago. She keeps her distance from everyone, including her father, and is counting down the days to her early graduation -- a goal being threatened by her flakey home ec partner Jay. When Megan accidentally hits a cupid with her car, he insists that she help him match his last three marks as compensation, which is exactly what this girl set against love needs.

Megan’s story is cute, funny, and imaginative with its new spin on the roles of cupid. Also, readers can learn a lot about love and trusting themselves along with Megan. Alban’s book was hard for me to read, though, because most of the humor felt like inconsistencies in the writing and negative put-downs. The mature content rating is for mention of underage drinking and drug use; the violence rating is for mention of suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia - OPTIONAL

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia, 384 pages. Katherine Tegen (Harper), 2019. $18

Language: G (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13 (fighting, murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Since her parents snuck her over the border, Daniela Vargas has set her sights on being the best Primera student and the Medio School for Girls.  On graduation day she is chosen (bought) for a rising star in the government, but her Segunda is Carmen – the girl who betrayed her the moment they set foot in the School.  Even worse, her ruse was only successful because of the help of the mysterious rebels – and now she owes them.  As Daniela learns more about her world and the rebels, she also learns more about Carmen and about the hidden desires of her heart. Can Daniela betray her family, her country, and all that she has worked for all these years?

For readers who enjoy romantic science fiction, Mejia creates a world that will be easy for them to sink into. The romantic tension between Carmen is Daniela is steamy, but not graphic. The pay out of the final twist reveal will have readers scrambling to get their hands on #2.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS