The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry (Sunderworld #1) by Ransom Riggs - OPTIONAL

The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry (Sunderworld #1) by Ransom Riggs, 336 pages. Dutton BYR (Penguin), 2024. $12

Language: R (100+ swears, 15+ f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (brief underage drinking); Violence: PG (Fantasy violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Since his mom died, 17yo Larry’s life hasn’t been easy. He’s nothing but a disappointment to his motivational-speaker father--”average in every way”--and he keeps having “episodes” where he sees things from his favorite childhood TV series about a fantasy land called Sunderworld. The only one who kind of gets Larry is his best friend, Emmett--but they’re seniors in high school now, and while Emmett has become popular and well-adjusted, Larry has... not. Finally Larry can no longer ignore the visions, and it turns out Sunderland was real all along. He and Emmett find a way in together, and they realize Sunderland is in trouble. Their efforts to help, however, cause more harm than good, leaving Emmett with a damaged memory. Eventually, Larry forces his way back into Sunderworld and, with a little help from a girl named Isabel and her hippie-genius uncle, makes a plan to help Emmett get back to normal. Of course, larger forces are at work, including the plans laid in place by Leopold’s late mother, who knew a lot more about Sunderland than Leopold ever guessed.

Fans of Ransom Riggs and gritty fantasy will enjoy this book if they are prepared for a more mature read. It was a fun page-turner with a well-developed fantasy world, but it's for a more mature audience than Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children--the main characters are 17 and sweary. There are some cheesy tropes, but they're mostly tongue-in-cheek--Riggs knows what he's doing.

Larry reads white, Emmett is Black, and love interest Isabel is Latinx.

Lindsay Blowers, ELA Teacher

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, art by Ashley MacKenzie - ESSENTIAL

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, art by Ashley MacKenzie, 368 pages. Random House, 2023. $20. 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (creature violence, threats of being eaten, terrible injuries, fights with knives and swords, a murderer, deaths, talk of blood - seems like a lot buts it's not gory or excessive or even gross) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

It's very difficult to write a short summary of a story so beautiful and complex, so please excuse my very limited review. Mal and Christopher are children, Mal has a special coat that helps her to fly. She lives in the Archipelago which is like a animal preserve for magical creatures. Christopher's grandfather is the guardian, who watches the regular world side of the entrance to the Archipelago and protects it. Christopher will be Guardian some day, as was his mother. But then Christopher notices an injured Griffen near the lake, and Mal comes looking for help. The 2 children head to the Archipelago together to avoid a murderer, and try to stop whatever is killing the last magical place on earth. 

I have heard about this book for more than a year - the hype is correct, it's wonderful! An amazing adventure for a couple of brave and determined kids, who get just enough help to protect them, but not so much that they aren't the heroes. So many magical creatures, many I remember from the stories of my childhood, but many more as well. I appreciated the Bestiary at the end, with descriptions and illustrations of the impossible creatures. It is a bit violent, but not graphic or bloody - yes there are some life threatening injuries, and deaths of people and creatures we care about and a horrible villain, but upper elementary and middle school readers are going to love this. I have a couple of copies in my library already and it will be my gift of choice to the younger teens who want a book for their birthday. Christopher and Mal are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor - ADVISABLE

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor, 392 pages. G. P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin), 2025. $21 

Language: PG-13 (36 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (A few instances of passionate kissing); Violence: PG-13 (Descriptions of death, blood, and injuries) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Maeve keeps her real name a secret and moves frequently to protect her identity—ever since her father died when she was 11 and she discovered he was responsible for setting lose the Aldervine, causing the deaths of thousands of innocent people and the collapse of the connection between the three magically interconnected worlds Inverly, Leyland, and Barrow. She is content to continue hating her father and living a solitary life until she receives a seven-year-old, delayed letter from an anonymous “old friend” of her father’s who claims her father was innocent. She takes the remainder of her meager savings and is determined to get an Otherwhere Post apprenticeship by any means necessary because it is located at the former College of Scriptomantic Arts where her father worked, so she believes it holds the key to understanding her father’s past and hopefully finding the truth. As Maeve digs into the past, she discovers that uncovering the truth is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

While I found some of the world-building and plot development a little confusing at times, I loved the magical world, the mystery, and the descriptive writing. The dark academia atmosphere was completely captivating. The book had a slow start, but at the end, I couldn’t put it down. Maeve was single-minded almost to a fault and was a prickly character, but she was also courageous and it was powerful when she started learning to trust and found the strength to take charge of her own destiny, rather than remaining a victim of the past. This book had so many good elements: danger, magic, hope, and a slow burn romance with just a bit of spice. With so much potential, I found myself wanting more: more clarity, more depth, more development. These small disappointments aside, the unique world and interesting premise made this an enjoyable read. A couple of side characters are LGBT.

Marinda, librarian 

Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti - OPTIONAL

Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti, 256 pages. Random House, 2024. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

10yo Lola and her 14yo brother Alex live in a magical place with a marvelous tree in a beautiful garden. Lola is the only one who can see all the magic happening in the garden, but when the plants and the beautiful tree start to exhibit signs of some kind of blight, and then her brother gets a rash that is similar, Lola tries to find out what she needs to do. It means traveling with a fairy of sorts to a magical world that only she can save, and save her own world too.

Oh dear, the world building was too much too fast! The narrator kept referencing "The Thing That Happened" as the family event that changed their lives - I was sure it was relevant to the ending, and we would eventually find out what the thing was, but I tired of all the details and "shrouded events" long before the story picked up and became interesting. Just barely recommending because the ending was satisfying and almost made me not regret getting there. The characters are Mexican. 

Lisa Librarian  

Costumes for Time Travelers by A.R. Capetta - OPTIONAL

Costumes for Time Travelers by A.R. Capetta, 224 pages. Candlewick, MAY 2025. $19

Language: G 0 ( swears, 0  “f”); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (final battle against the Time Wardens)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Calisto loves her life in Pocket - a place out of time that time travelers enter before heading off to other times or back to their own time.  As an apprentice to her grandmother, a costumer, she sees almost everyone who enters. When the time savant, a person who can travel to anywhen in the stream arrives, Calisto is immediately drawn to him, but is being chased by the Time Wardens - a group determined to eradicate every time traveler, in order to preserve the sacred timeline.  Plus, another traveler is a danger to all times and Calisto and Fawkes will have to thwart his plans too. 

It all sounds very exciting - but the beginning build up is slow. I was hoping for a book more focusing on costuming - it is - kind of - not as much as I would have liked.  The exciting bits are slow to appear.  Calisto uses they/them pronouns, for no discernable reason - it felt like it was a way to be more inclusive. 

No ethnicities are specified in a memorable way.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Forest King's Daughter (Thirstwood 1) by Elly Blake - ADVISABLE

The Forest King's Daughter (Thirstwood 1) by Elly Blake, 382 pages. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2025. $18

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (gentle kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody hitting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Zeru is from the underground.  17yo Cassia is a princess from the forest.  Their kingdoms are enemies. When Zeru and Cassia were seven, they accidentally found each other in the forest and became friends. Zeru took a ring from a family jewelry box and gave it to his new friend Cassia, inadvertently creating a bond between the two of them. He also unknowingly started a war between their kingdoms. Ten years later, the battles continue and Cassia is captured by Zeru, so he can recover the ring for the queen of the Cryptlands.

I like how the author placed mythological statements at the beginning of each chapter, giving insight into what would happen during that chapter. I love Cassia with her gentle personality and loving kindness. The realm of Welkincaster was fun to “see” change and grow into a beautiful sanctuary. The ethnicity is full of fantasy creatures.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - ADVISABLE

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, 384 pages. Tor, 2024. $15

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (prejudice)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Kiela, an adult, lives in Alyssium and loves her job as a librarian. The only social interaction she gets is with Caz, the sentient spider plant that resides in the library too. When the library is burned, Kiela and Caz take as many magical books as they can and sail away to Kiela’s birthplace, Caltrey, which she hasn’t been to for too long a time. They move into her parents’ abandoned cottage and hope that they won’t be found hiding the restricted magical books. Kiela has always enjoyed being alone and antisocial but her new neighbors see things differently and will try to break down her barriers any way they can.

This is a sweet book. Charming, innocent and full of fantasy. The book was so relaxing to read and it truly was comforting.

The ethnicity is a variety of races, species and colors.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Chasing Eternity (Stealing Infinity #3) by Alyson Noel - OPTIONAL

Chasing Eternity (Stealing Infinity #3) by Alyson Noel, 496 pages. Entangled Teen, 2024. $19

Language: R (56 swears, 18 ‘f'); Mature Content: R (on page sex); Violence: PG-13 (bloody hitting and bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  SEVERAL

18yo Natasha and Elodie travel back to 1998 to meet Natasha’s dad before she was born. Natasha is able to convince her father that she’s really his daughter from the future. He shows her the generations’ old Timekeeper rooms that take up a floor in the building where he resides as a struggling college student to hide who he truly is. He also trains her as much as he can in the short time they’re together so she can handle her Timekeeper abilities and use them to stay safe and continue the mission of her ancestors. Natasha realizes why Arthur is determined to remake the world- he lost the love of his life. Arthur will do everything it takes, including murder, to get what he wants and Natasha will do whatever it takes to stop him.

I enjoyed the quotes from historical intellectuals. The character development is well done. I enjoyed learning about real artists and their work throughout history. The story kept my attention and it is action packed. Mason, Natasha's best friend, is Black. Natasha is white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Ruling Destiny by Alyson Noel - MANY

Ruling Destiny (Stealing Infinity #2) by Alyson Noel, 393 pages. Entangled Teen, 2023. $14 

Language: R (83 swears, 25 “f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex, off page, and underage drinking); Violence: PG-13 (bloody fight)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

18yo Natasha has been planning on visiting Renaissance Italy with Braxton but when she gets to the portal, Arthur shows her she’ll be tripping with Killian; Natasha is angry but Killian is thrilled. Braxton seems to be keeping something from Natasha and Killian keeps making remarks alluding that Braxton is hiding a terrible secret from her. She has strong feelings for Braxton but she doesn’t know if she can trust anyone. When Mason is recruited to Gray Wolf, she’s happy to see him, her trusted best friend, but worried that he’s blaming her for taking him away from his life. She’s struggling to understand her new life but now she’s even more worried on Mason’s behalf.

I enjoyed learning about the true history mixed in with the time traveling events, like the Italian Bonfire of the Vanities in 1497. The quotes from Shakespeare and other intellectuals and historical figures are awesome. The author notes at the beginning of the book that all artwork and ancient artifacts mentioned in the novel really piqued my interest. The ethnicity is mostly white. Mason, Natasha’s best friend, is Black.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Midnight at the Houdini by Delilah S. Dawson - ADVISABLE

Midnight at the Houdini by Delilah S. Dawson, 362 pgs. Delacorte Press, 2023. $20

Language: PG-13 (26 swears, no ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (attempted murder, lives in peril due to severe weather)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS–ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

In the midst of a record breaking storm, Anna finds refuge in an old hotel. As she explores, she discovers a surreal place where reality is suspended and love and fear follow her through the halls. What seemed to be her saving turns perilous as she realizes if she is unable to leave within 24 hours, she will be trapped there forever.

An intriguing plot of a hotel that lives just out of time. The characters are well developed, but the overall story is weakened by incomplete world building. Anna’s gangster father and his cronies do not add anything to the story, only seeming relevant with an underwhelming reveal at the end. Younger readers will be more likely to enjoy the romance and overlook the flaws leading to a positive reading experience.

Reviewer: AEB

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell - ADVISABLE

Impossible Creatures (Impossible Creatures #1) by Katherine Rundell, 334 pages. Knopf Books (Random House), 2024. $20.

Language: PG (4 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEAL TO: MANY

When his dad has to go on a work trip, Christopher ends up visiting his grandfather in Scotland until his father returns. Christopher is finally entrusted with the family legacy from his mother’s side and is immediately called upon to fulfill his duties. The invisible islands keeping every mythical creature safe from humankind is losing magic, and Mal needs Christopher’s help to save it all.

Heartfelt in every way—from laughter to tears—readers are caught up in the magical quest to save the Archipelago with Christopher and Mal. No obstacle will stand in their way as they push forward to their goal one step at a time. Also, the illustrations are beautifully done, bringing both familiar and unfamiliar mythical creatures to life.

Christopher is British, Mal is described as having “olive” skin, and Irian is described as having “brown” skin. The mature content rating is for alcohol use. The violence rating is for blood, assault, fantasy violence, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen 

The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza - OPTIONAL

The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza, 320 pages. Holiday House, 2024. $20.

Language: R (100+ swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG (some parental abandonment, death, grief); Violence: PG (off-page vehicular death, supernatural pain in purgatory);

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

16 yo Tegan is dead and hanging out in a perfect replica of the Marybelle Motor Lodge, a depressing memory from her former life. An angel, Zelda, informs her that this is her heaven, the place where she was happiest. Tegan disagrees and files a complaint. Zelda has one month to take Tegan back to past memories to help her see what really mattered most in her life, and in death.

What an odd read. It gave me flavors of the movie Beetlejuice mixed with the tv show The Good Place. You would think that there wouldn’t be much of a life to reflect on at 16 years, but it goes to show that there is a lifetime of emotion in every little moment, we just spend a lot of time not feeling them or pushing them aside for later. I do think this could be used in the high school AP literature classroom as an interesting companion piece to Dante’s Divine Comedy, but be aware of the rating for language.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate by Deeba Zargarpur - ADVISABLE

Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate by Deeba Zargarpur, 336 pages. Labyrinth Road (Random House), 2024. $18.

Language: PG (4 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Once a year on her birthday, Farrah (12yo) gets to see her dad. Their climbing trip this year is a little rocky, and then it takes a sudden turn for the worst when Farrah’s dad turns blue and disappears right before her eyes! Her family doesn’t believe her, so Farrah sets out by herself to find her dad, no matter what kind of magic trouble he’s involved in.

Zargarpur’s fantasy world is based in some Islamic mythology, specifically about jinn, and it was fun to see these mythical beings brought to life in a new way. Farrah’s whole story revolves around a wish to change her fate and her journey that reveals her true power—a power each of us could wield in our lives. Wishes sound great in theory, but we don’t need wishes to make our world better.

Farrah and Arzu are Muslim Afghan Americans. The violence rating is for fantasy violence and mentions of execution.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson and Tatiana Hill - ADVISABLE

Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson, illustrated by Tatiana Hill, 190 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2024. $22 

Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: PG (some same sex attraction) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Mia has been working towards representing Romania in the Olympics since she was three-years old. A horrible fall during a competition puts her out of commission as a figure skater, but then she is kidnapped by undead roller skaters and recruited for a paranormal roller derby team made up of vampires. Mia suddenly discovers that she likes being part of a team, even if she's human and they aren't. 

It's obvious that Anderson and Hill play roller derby. The art captures the ups and downs and excitement of the game. Though vampires and roller derby seem an odd pairing, it makes for a fun story. Anyone who plays roller derby is going to love it, and it's a great introduction to the game for newbies. The characters are strong and there is obviously a sequel coming, so it will be interesting to see what happens to Mia in book two. Characters come from different ethnic groups and time periods. 

Michelle in the Middle

The Diablo’s Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa - MANY

The Diablo’s Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa, 400 pages. Random House Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2024.  $20.

Language: R (66  swears, 4 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (stealing souls, one on-page non-graphic sex scene); Violence: R (frequent bloody & gruesome on-page deaths);

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Dami - a nonbinary demon who longs to be human, Silas - a cursed boy who wishes to be free of his family curse, along with Marisol - a trans-fem girl shipwrecked on a magical murderous island, band together to hunt down Captain Kidd's pirate treasure. Will they each find what they are looking for, before the island kills them all?

I liked this LGBTQIA fantasy action story, with some romantic elements, but I didn't love it. I liked the BIPOC and queer representation in Dami and Marisol’s characters. I thought it was interesting how being a demonio allowed them to shift fluidly between how they presented themselves, depending on how they were feeling. I felt like there was too much happening with the plot and the worldbuilding. My biggest complaint was the violence in the story. The repeated violent and graphic deaths on page were jarring. I could see how the action and violence in the story might be appealing to some readers, but for me, it was too much.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA  #bookswithbeddes

Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley - OPTIONAL

Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley, 400 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2024. $20. 

Language: R (64 swears 11 'f'); Mature Content: PG (References to weed, scary situations) Violence: PG-13 (Bloody beatings with some significant injuries, zombies attacking people, battle scenes with weapons resulting in injuries and deaths) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Sid Spencer grew up feeling self-conscious as one of the only Asians in town, but also feeling rather ordinary and inconsequential, especially in a town that is extraordinary. Tourists from all over come to her town of Wellsie for the magic that seeps out of the old faultline that runs through town. The magic has been sealed underground for generations, protected by the Guardians who have both magical abilities and a key that can unlock a section of the faultline. Sid’s life has been consumed by normal high school girl issues until one night a huge earthquake hits town and the magic bursts out, along with an army of the undead. Only one thing could have caused it, a rupture of the faultline. Now Sid and a rag-tag group of allies must find the stolen key and reseal the faultline before their town and everyone they love is destroyed. As the search continues, Sid discovers how extraordinary she actually is. 

I actually really liked this book. Sid is a well-written character who is funny and full of teen angst and awkwardness that is endearing instead of annoying. It’s well-paced and exciting with a few interesting twists. It also has a sweetness and a warmth that makes it more than just an adventure story. I will say, the magic took me a while to figure out and the villain is a little underdeveloped. At its heart, this is a love story, but explores all kinds of love, not just romantic love. The characters are all motivated by the bonds of love and friendship and in the end, that’s what helps them win. Sid and her non-blood related brother Matty were adopted from Korea by a white family, Shandy is Japanese and LGBTQ, Daisy and Hyacinth are black, and Angel is Mexican and LGBTQ 

Andrea R reviewer 

Elf Dog & Owl Head by M.T. Anderson and Junyi Wu - ADVISABLE

Elf Dog & Owl Head by M.T. Anderson, illustrated by Junyi Wu 232 pages. Candlewick, 2023. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (home invasion not brutal but damage, peril, dog attack). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Pre-teen Clay finds a magical dog in the woods near his home. Because of the pandemic, everyone is in lockdown, so he doesn't get to play with his friends - he's stuck with his sisters. So, a dog is a great thing! But this dog was left behind when the People Under the Mountain ventured to the surface on a hunt. Now, as Clay wanders the woods with "Elphinore" he is led to hidden places that exist alongside Clay's community, but which humans can't see. There he meets a boy with an Owl's Head, and the two become fast friends. But Amos (the Owl Head boy) knows that if they are discovered, Clay's family will be cursed and Amos will be punished. 

M.T. Anderson weaves a pandemic story that was not as weird as I expected. His world-building - within the human world - made sense. I loved the side characters, the sleeping giant was my favorite, and the story was a lot of fun. Who hasn't dreamed of stepping off a path in the woods and entering a whole other world? Junyi Wu's illustrations were plentiful and expressive. A great read for either upper elementary or middle school. Clay and his family are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Houses with a Story by Seiji Yoshida - ADVISABLE

Houses with a Story: A Dragon's Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore by Seiji Yoshida (translated from Japanese by Jan Mitsuko Cash,) 124 pages. Abrams/Amulet, 2023 (originally published in 2000 in Japan) $25.

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Senji Yoshida is an illustrator. He has always imagined the houses in the stories he's read and wanted to create illustrated houses that could be in these stories. 30 different houses are represented, with a short single-paragraph story starter a character who lives there, and something about what makes the house special. Then, the illustration itself is a cutaway (ala David Macaulay) with labels for the things we might miss or which need to be explained and a blueprint-type drawing of the layout. 

I really loved Houses with a Story! The stories themselves were intriguing, I wanted to imagine a story that would happen in the house. Except for the House of the Seven Dwarves, none of them seemed to be connected to actual stories. Includes dragons, ogres, a clocksmith, orphans, ghosts and so much more. Special pages teach about different roofs, toilets, and a glimpse into the artist's studio. A fun book that can be opened to any page and feed the reader's imagination. Most of the characters are Japanese 

Lisa Librarian 

Eden’s Everdark by Karen Strong - ADVISABLE

 Eden’s Everdark by Karen Strong, 261 pages. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Eden is still mourning the loss of her mother when she and her father travel from their home in Maryland to Safina Island off the coast of Georgia, where her mother grew up. Even though the family there does a celebration every year, Eden has never been and all she knows is that her mother had a terrible accident on the island and never returned. Eden immediately loves the island and is embraced by her mother’s family, but strange things start to happen when she finds her mother’s sketchbooks and learns of a spirit realm called Everdark. Eden has terrifyingly realistic dreams about Everdark and then accidentally crosses into the magical realm herself and is trapped by the Witch of Everdark. If she doesn’t find a way to escape soon, then she’ll die and be stuck in this spirit prison forever. Not only that, but she also discovers that all the spirits in this limbo realm cannot pass on due to the witch’s influence. Eden must not only save herself, but also finish the work her mother started by rescuing all the spirits of Everdark.

I loved that the book was entirely about an African American community and delved into the problems of slavery with Eden meeting spirit characters from throughout history who had endured slavery and racism. The descriptive writing and the fascinating premise were also highlights for me. The writing describes how grief feels in powerful language that will resonate with anyone who has lost someone they love. The story did fall flat for me with the characterization making it difficult to feel invested in the characters and to understand their motivations, especially the Witch of Everdark. While I loved how the Witch seemed like a complex villain who also had good motivations at times, there were a lot of unanswered questions about why she did what she did, as well as other world building questions throughout. In addition, the pacing of Eden’s Everdark started out slow, but then picked up in intensity about halfway through the book; however, the slow pacing at the start made it hard for me to sustain interest. The slow pace and the unanswered questions that created confusion throughout led me to rate it as only an average appeal for students even though there were a lot of elements that I liked about the book. 

The ratings of violence were PG because of some of the intense scenes of danger. 

Reviewer: Marinda 

The Shattered City by Lisa Maxwell - MANY

The Shattered City (The Last Magician #4) by Lisa Maxwell, 768 pages. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2022. $22. 

Language: R (53 swears  1 'f'); Mature Content:  PG-13 Drug use by side character, kissing; Violence: PG-13 Villain shooting himself, explosions that killed people. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

Told in alternating timelines of 1902 and 1983 Brooklyn, each time focuses on different people. Esta and Harte move forward to 1983 where they can go to the future, get away from the enemy, and figure out how to solve the problems of the Brink and the evil Nibsy Lorcan. 19yo Viola and Jianyu are in 1902 with Nibsy. All of the main characters from the past books of this series are mentioned in different timelines. The characters eventually all end up in the same timeline together. The storyline consists of turmoil and struggles to right the wrongs of the past and give freedoms to the people who have an affinity for magic.

An intelligent time travel fantasy. The many timelines, characters and struggles almost need a chart to keep track of. This is the fourth book of The Last Magician series and it just adds another layer to the whole concept and plot. If this series is going to be read, the books should be read together without much time between to help keep it all straight. I like the diversity of the characters and their strengths. The ethnicity is mixed with white, Italian, Oriental and Black. There is a lesbian couple that kisses.

LynnDell Watson, Delta HS Librarian