Chappell Roan by Harbert Day - ESSENTIAL

Chappell Roan by Harbert Day, 198 pages. Epic Ink (Quarto), 2025. $20 

Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (said once each: suicide, smoking, bare-breast); Violence: G (bullying said) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

From her early days as a little girl in a farm town in Missouri through her early struggles to break into the business to the present day success, meet the woman known as Chappell Roan and visit her highlights and low times on her road to where she is now. Chappell Roan is unabashedly LGBT and is an icon in the community. Day gives us an exuberant look at her life and career, filled with lots of photographs and side bars. Fans of the singer will enjoy reading all about her. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka - MANY

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, 368 pages. Little, Brown Books, 2024. $19.

Language: R (79 swears, 6 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Two years ago, Olivia’s parents divorced—and the prenup they had signed meant that Olivia and her mom were kicked out of the house with nothing. Olivia (17yo) doesn’t care about being an heiress, but her mom deserves to not be drowning in bills. When the perfect opportunity presents itself, Olivia puts together a crew to steal the money they need from the man who took it from them.

I love a good heist, and this team of teenagers scheme, manipulate, and improvise with the best of them. There are so many hidden agendas and unforeseen obstacles that I never knew for certain whether The Plan would work. Overall, it was an entertaining ride that occasionally stressed me out as much as it did Olivia.

Olivia is implied White, Cassidy is described as “cream pale,” Deonte is Black, and there are some Swiss family members mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, illegal activity, kissing, innuendo, and mentions of drugs and sex. The violence rating is for mentions of bombs.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Three Drops of Blood by Gretchen McNeil - HIGH

Three Drops of Blood by Gretchen McNeil, 318 pages. Disney Hyperion/Buena Vista Books. 2023. $18 

Language: R (105 swears 27 'f'); Mature Content:  PG-13 (underage drinking, relationship between teen actress and her 38 year old boss mentioned. Implied sex, intense quick kiss. Implied kiss.) Violence: PG-13 (Undescribed fatal shootings, bloody shot wound, mention of sexual assault). 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

17yo Kate enjoys her acting job until the series is canceled due to an inappropriate relationship with the producer and another teen actress on the show. Since Kate is only 17, she takes a competency test letting her continue acting without having to attend school. Her parents make her get a job and pay some bills because she took the test without their knowledge and they want her to see how much responsibility adults have to deal with on a daily basis. While Kate’s working, she witnesses a double murder but no one, not even the police, believe her. She enlists Ty, her best friend’s brother, to help find evidence. The danger multiplies and Kate and Ty do everything they can to stay alive. 

Kate’s friend Rowan is self-centered which builds Kate’s independence. The mystery becomes intense and suspenseful. I enjoyed Ty’s upbeat and loyal personality. Kate is White and Ty and Rowan are Asian. Mexican American, Latino, and Black police officers are also mentioned.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen - ADVISABLE

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen, 303 pages.  Razorbill (Penguin Random House), 2022.  $19.

Language: PG (5  swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (academic cheating, teenage relationships, slight xenophobia); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Gigi is an Asian-American high school junior who is balancing good grades, extracurriculars, and popularity, along with her parents' expectations for her. She is working with her great-aunt Rose at her traditional Chinese matchmaking service, when she gets the idea to modernize the process with an app. Gigi then uses the matchmaking algorithm to adapt a computer science project to help a new classmate make friends with a social media app called Quizlr. However, Gigi’s app is hijacked by a cheating ring at her competitive, ultra wealthy school, and Gigi's relationships start to implode one by one. Can she get it all back on track before the end of the year?

Love, Decoded looks like a rom-com but it is more about high school friendships and social drama more than any love story. This is a cute story and the conflict feels very high stakes, even though at the end of the day, it's still just high school. I appreciated the AAPI rep, however the poor v.s. the rich dynamic felt very like Jane Austen’s Emma and I was over the rich teenager first world problems. I thought focusing on Etta's story might have been more interesting and meaningful at the end of the day.

Kiera, #BookswithBeddes

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

City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer - HIGH

City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer, 384 pages. Clarion Books, 2023. $19.

Language: R (93 swears, 17 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Everyone knows that having a nightmare means that you’ll wake up as your greatest fear. Ness (19yo) is terrified of everyone who has turned into a Nightmare and everyone who might turn into a Nightmare – including her own potential to become a Nightmare. When her cowardice prevents her from doing her assigned job – again – the small, safe, windowless room she stays in is threatened. If Ness can’t find a way to function with her fear, she’s going to lose everything.

I couldn’t even get through two chapters before I had to share snippets of this book with my friends. Ness is a coward, in part, because she lives in terrifying circumstances – a reality that I cannot begin to imagine functioning well in. This reality allows the background of her story to be as entertaining as what Ness is doing in the foreground. Schaeffer makes these throwaway comments that had me laughing and engaged while Ness glossed over it. I’ve never had that kind of relationship with a story, and I loved it. And I’m still invested in the story itself. Ness’s character arc is full and natural, there are several overlapping plots and schemes to untangle, and the book ends in a satisfactory way while still leaving me excited for the sequel.

The characters are diverse in race, and Schaeffer describes skin tones of various shades. The mature content rating is for alcohol use; mentions of child trafficking, brothels, sexual assault, and sex; illegal activity; and innuendo. The violence rating is for mentions of assault, abuse, and assassination; fantasy violence; use of a range of weaponry, including guns; and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

French Kissing in New York by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau - ADVISABLE

French Kissing in New York by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau, 336 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2023. $13.

Language: PG13 (19 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Growing up in her mother’s restaurant in France, Margot (18yo) learned a lot about traditional cooking. But Margot is done with doing things traditionally. Now she’s moving in with her father in New York City where she plans to work as a cook in a decidedly non-traditional restaurant and have an epic love story – and Margot did not make a backup plan.

Like Margot, we all have to balance our dreams and plans with reality and setbacks. I loved that no one told Margot not to dream big and go after what she wanted. Her loved ones supported Margot, which sometimes meant sharing their points of view – unobscured by the big dreams Margot didn’t want to see around. The moral of the story is not to stop dreaming but that it’s okay if you go after your dream and then want to change your mind.

Margot is French, Ben is half Haitian, and Raven is described as having “dark brown” skin. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, including underage drinking, and innuendo.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels - HIGH

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels, 464 pages. Sourcebooks Fire, 2023. $19

Language: R (43 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

When a virus broke out in Europe over 40 years ago, the Arcadia was already planning on setting sail, but they were never allowed off the ship at their destination. Esther (16yo) was born here and is focused on passing her medic test and earning her way off the ship. Then a rebel gets shot, and Esther is the one taken and threatened to help him – or else – placing her in the middle of a rebellion she never wanted.

The points of view in this book take readers from rule-follower to rebel to antagonist, showing how the actions of each affects the whole. Everything is set into motion because of the risky plan executed in chapter one. As everything unravels, readers scramble to understand the whole plan – like the antagonist – while worrying about getting caught – like the rule-follower and rebel. It’s a bumpy ride aboard the Arcadia, and one that isn’t over yet.

The majority of the characters are European. Esther, May, and their family are implied white; Nik and his family are Indian. The mature content rating is for drug use. The violence rating is for gun and knife use, blood, brief description of torture, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan - HIGH

Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan, 464 pages. Inkyard Press (HarperCollins Publishers), 2021. $19.

Language: R (134 swears, 17 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Struggling to live up to her strict Bangladeshi parents’ rules and expectations, 16yo Karina dreams of being able to live her own life and make her own choices. When her parents leave for 28 days, Karina wears the clothes that she wants, breaks her 5:15pm curfew, starts fake-dating a boy, and tastes the freedom she’s always wanted. Will these 28 days of reprieve sate her need for freedom or make it impossible to go back to letting her parents control every decision?

I was in agony reading this book because the emotions are so real. Karina struggles with shoulds and with knowing what she deserves. Her Bangladeshi culture says one thing and her friends say another – thoughts in line with American culture. These clashing cultures inside Karina manifest as a desire to have positive relationships with her parents while still being happy herself. Her agony was also mine because there isn’t one right answer. No one can tell Karina how to live her best life in this scenario because only she has to live with the consequences of those decisions, and I have been there. Karina laments about why she has to choose between her parents’ happiness and her own when what she really wants is both. In an ideal world, she could have both. But we don’t live in an ideal world.

Karina and her family are Bangladeshi; Nandini is Indian; and Cora is half Chinese, half French. Mia and Tina are described as Black, and Ace and the rest of his family are described as are white. The mature content rating is for mentions of drug use, partial nudity, and innuendo. The violence rating is for jokes about murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Unite Me (novella) by Tahereh Mafi - HIGH

Unite Me (novella) by Tahereh Mafi, 197 pages. Harper Collins, 2012. $12 (paperback)

Language: R (70 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (High amounts of domestic abuse and depression/anxiety/suicidal thoughts); Violence: PG-13 (mention of lots of death)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In this short novella, we see a glimpse into both Warner and 19yo Adam's worlds. The first short story, Destroy Me, picks up immediately after Shatter Me and the second story, Fracture Me, begins during the last few pages of Unravel Me. In this we see Juliette through the eyes of the respective characters and gain new insight regarding the mechanics of this futuristic America.

I loved the opportunity to see the world through these different characters; however, the author's writing style, while complimentary to one character, was absolutely awful for the other and it felt cheap and cliché. Further, while not imperative to the trilogy, I highly recommend it. Readers may want to watch out for sensitive themes of domestic abuse and suicide especially in the first story.

Sierra Finlinson 

Ignite Me (#3) by Tahereh Mafi - HIGH

Ignite Me (#3) by Tahereh Mafi, 408 pages. Harper Collins, 2014 13 (paperback) Language: R (212 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (Graphic make out and nudity in a sexual way); Violence: PG-13 (Brief but intense fight scenes)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Juliette is dead. The sad, scared girl who was locked up and isolated died when Anderson put a bullet in her chest. At the head of the resistance now is a Juliette full of ambition and determination. She will embrace the power she has fought against her whole life, she will kill the supreme, and she will claim the man she loves.

Book #3 was a bit interesting. On one hand, the story was the best of the trilogy to read and I completed the novel in one sitting for this reason alone. Although it is mainly based around character dynamics and politics, this plot is enjoyable because the author has made them characters you like. However, as the characters change and evolve, the writing does so as well, and not necessarily is a pleasant way. Reading this, I was cringing and rolling my eyes at not only cheesy writing but also one-dimensional and shallow character responses. Regardless, I still recommend it. In comparison to the other books in the series, the characters do not deal as much with mental illness however there is a graphic make out scene near the end.

Sierra Finlinson 

A Consuming Fire by Laura E. Weymouth - HIGH

A Consuming Fire by Laura E. Weymouth, 352 pages. Margaret K McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster), 2022. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G ; Violence: PG (Mutilation and death mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In an imaginary Britain, Anya sends her sister off to give a sacrifice to the god, but when Ilva returns she has sacrificed everything and soon dies. Anya vows to kill the god so no one else will ever have to sacrifice to him again. She travels under the guise of a willing sacrifice while learning everything possible to kill the god. Along the way, she learns a great deal about herself, what it means to be a family, loyalty, dedication and love. She meets wanderers and befriends them as they teach her and protect her. She also meets the mysterious thief Tieran who is an enigma to everyone he spends time with.

I love Anya and her determination. I enjoyed uncovering Tieran’s mysterious nature while reading the story. I like how the story ended and all that was revealed throughout the book.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford - HIGH

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford, 390 pages. Inkyard Press, 2022. $20

Language: PG (4 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (infidelity and domestic abuse mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (Sacrificing animals and people, blood, gore and poison)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

All of 17y0 Leelo's life she has lived on a small island with a river surrounding it, and it's not just an ordinary river- it's a poisonous one that could kill a grown man in minutes. The islanders claim it's for their protection, but often times Leelo feels trapped. Then one day, when Leelo was taking look out on the shore and she sees a boat coming, with a man in it. Panicked because it's her duty to kill any outsiders, she freezes on the spot and even helps the man, Jaren, find shelter and food. Torn between her life of comfort and stability vs the exciting new life on the mainland Jaren starts sharing with her, Leelo will have to decide, all while hiding an outsider on a island full of people that would kill Jaren in a heartbeat.

The Poison Season was a very quick read for me, the world building was fantastic and I thought the romance was top notch. I even cried at a few parts, so nice job to the author. One thing I did not particularly like, was the ending, it all just ends with a nice pretty bow on top with not much explanation to why or how and it seemed a little lazy, but all in all a good read. Leelo is described with pale white skin and pale blonde hair with blue eyes. Jaren is described with tan skin and chesnut brown hair.

Kenzie Hoehne Reviewer 

Unravel Me (#2) by Tahereh Mafi - HIGH

Unravel Me (#2) by Tahereh Mafi, 461 pages. Harper Collins, 2013. $12 (paperback)

Language: R (177 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (Heavy themes of self-loathing and suicide, domestic violence, there is a graphic kissing scene); Violence: PG-13 (torture scene, gun wounds, people injured by Juliette)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Juliette is not alone. There are other people like her, perhaps not with her same predicament, but that are unique and different. She has a man who loves her, who can touch her, so why does she still feel this way? War is coming, and with it inevitable choices, revelations, and change. The question is: will Juliette be able to harness her power and tame her mind in time?

Mafi crafted another enjoyable read, especially through the second half, and although the first took me a decent amount of time to finish, I flew through all 461 pages of this in a single day. It's a beautiful continuation of the story. There were moments when I felt like moments or characters responses were shallow, predictable, or unrealistic, but moments were all they were and even me, being a picky reader, was able to overlook them. Like the first novel, heavy themes of suicide, self-loathing, anxiety, and depression are in this, but, unlike the first, Juliette begins to develop and understand how she might deal with and overcome these challenges. 

Sierra Finlinson 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - HIGH

Shatter Me (#1) by Tahereh Mafi, 338 pages. Harper Collins, 2011 $10 (Paperback)

Language: R (105 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (Strong and prevalent themes of self-loathing, suicidal thoughts, and domestic violence) ; Violence: PG-13 (Low body count, some undescriptive violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Asylums are for the insane, the mentally broken, and now the girl whose skin is deadly to the touch. Life has not been kind to 17yo Juliette, the events of an isolated childhood and bitter parents leading her to the cell she lives in now. However, an opportunity has arisen: become the living weapon of the Reestablishment, the dystopian dictatorship that rules this futuristic America, leave the asylum behind forever. Faced with a brutal but magnetic militaristic leader, a loyal and kind soldier, and the possibility of making a life, Juliette is thrust from a simple world of 4 walls, 1 window, and 1 girl, into a world brimming with complexity and emotion.

Mafi’s novel was an experience. I found the writing beautiful and fascinating and most of the characters complex and intriguing. Reading a library copy, I wanted nothing more than to buy my own so that I could write down thoughts and highlight statements. Absolutely gorgeous! There is one character with quite colorful language than was the reason for the mature marking regarding swearing, and there are extremely heavy themes of suicide and self-loathing as well as tragic domestic violence.

Sierra Finlinson 

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier - ESSENTIAL

Emerald Green (Precious Stone #3) by Kerstin Gier, 447 pages. Sqaure Fish, 2013. 11 (paperback)

Language: PG-13 (67 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (Use of drugs, underage drinking, non-sexual partial nudity); Violence: PG-13 (Character stabbed, fight scenes, premediated murders discussed)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

As much as she is told to otherwise, 16yo Gwen dislikes the Count. He has telepathically threatened her, dismissed her because of her femininity, and now he has named Gideon his accomplice in manipulating her. Her heart is broken, he grades are suffering, and now she must attend a ball. In the meantime, the mystery regarding the Count is revealing more leads indicating that perhaps he really ought not to be trusted. Gwyneth will need to find the information about her destiny and who she really is, learn her eighteenth century etiquette, and navigate her feelings about zat 'orrible boy once and for all!

Gier writes a magnificent finale to such a great series. As with the rest of the trilogy, the character, writing, and world building were immaculate and thoroughly enjoyable. I must recommend, after rereading it this last time, that the reader read the chapter endings that are little exerts as well as the prologues and epilogues in this series. I read them for the first time and it gave a whole new ending to the novel!

Sierra Finlinson 

The Witch Hunt by Sasha Peyton Smith - HIGH

The Witch Hunt (Witch Haven #2) by Sasha Peyton Smith, 352 pages. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. $14

Language: R (7 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (underage drinking); Violence: PG-13 (Stabbing, shooting, tied up)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In 1913, 19yo Frances is now a teacher at Haxahaven in New York. She and Maxine are traveling to Paris and picking up their mutual friend Lena on the way. They travel six days on a fancy ship then stay at Maxine’s family home once they reach Paris. Frances hasn’t told Lena and Maxine that she received a letter from Finn or that she wants to visit her father who abandoned her family when she was young. She meets her father and is underwhelmed with his reaction and his personality. Finn doesn’t evoke trustworthiness but Frances feels that she has to work with him to fix the damage the two of them caused when reaching the veil and speaking to her deceased brother William. Frances and her friends are determined to fix the magic problem caused by the veil breach and they need all the help they can get. I dislike how Frances continues to take the blame for everything even when it’s proven things weren’t her fault. I like Oliver tremendously and Lena and Maxine are dynamic characters. I enjoy the setting and the mysterious atmosphere in the catacombs and the teamwork. I also like the mixed ethnicities. LGBT characters briefly mentioned.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Sapphire Blue (Precious Stone #2) by Kerstin Gier - ESSENTIAL

Sapphire Blue (Precious Stone #2) by Kerstin Gier, 354 pages. Square Fish (Macmillan), 2012. $11 (paperback)

Language: PG-13 (48 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (sex mentioned briefly, drunk); Violence: PG (fight scene, mild blood) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Since Gwyneth found out that she is the Ruby, the twelfth and final time traveler in a secret society called the Circle of the Twelve, her life has been a rollercoaster. A friendly yet annoying ghost-demon keeps following her around, nobody will tell her what is going on, Gideon keeps her at a loss with his hot and cold behavior, and to top it all off, she how must take etiquette lessons to prepare her for a ball in the 1800th century, taught by the most in insulting instructor she's ever met, and her horrible cousin, Charlotte. Meanwhile, the mystery behind Paul and Lucy is seeming less and less black and white. Perhaps the answers Gwyneth is looking for might just lie in the past, and she is in the unique position to pursue them. Gier always blows my mind. 

The whole series takes place in little over a week! The conversational storytelling drags the reader into the book and to a world so vivid with detail, yet not overloaded with description, this novel is always more of an experience than just a book. 

Sierra Finlinson 

Ruby Red (Precious Stone #1) by Kerstin Gier - ESSENTIAL

Ruby Red (Precious Stone #1) by Kerstin Gier, 330 pages. Square Fish (Macmillan), 2011. $12 (Paperback) Language: PG-13 (32 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (cleavage mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (a few undescribed deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The flawless Charlotte Montrose has a secret mission. For hundreds of years, a time travel gene has been passed down her family tree, and she will be the last, and most important traveler yet. She has the brains, the looks, and the years of training to guarantee her success. However, it isn't her, but rather her cousin Gwyneth Shepherd that is yanked through time. A completely ordinary girl, with the exception of a rather marvelous genetic makeup, Gwyneth will have to quickly adapt to her new life of time traveling, secret societies, and an infuriatingly snobby (and frustratingly attractive) boy named Gideon.

 This trilogy is better looked at as three parts of the same book rather than individual novels. Just looking at this one, it may seem to move slowly at first, and admittedly it does, but in comparison to the full series, it sets up the system of time travel, builds characters, and establishes everything it needs to brilliantly. This is one of those books so exquisitely written that one may feel manipulated while reading in that I know exactly when the author wants me to like a character or hate them! This novel has everything a reader could want: beautiful dresses, romance, action, secret societies, and a flawlessly executed mystery!

Sierra Finlinson 

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford - ADVISABLE

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford, 400 pages. Inkyard Press, 2022. $20.

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Only those with magic are allowed to stay on the island of Endla; this means no outsiders and no one who fails to exhibit magic by age twelve. If they stay or come back, they will die. Leelo (17yo) is not ready to banish her magicless brother from the island, so she makes a sacrifice of blood and song to the forest, pleading for her brother’s magic. This sacrifice has consequences. Consequences that Leelo never imagined.

Rutherford’s world building and magic system, especially in contrast to the non-island culture, was enchanting. While the forest and its demands are not fully explained, the lack of information felt more purposeful for readers to feel like an Endlan rather than a plot hole. The denouement felt a little long, which is understandable because of all the loose ends to tie up, but the slow conclusion undermined the climax’s power. Overall, I enjoyed the story and Leelo’s growth as she uncovers her own strength.

Leelo is depicted as white on the cover, and she, her brother, and her cousin are described as pale. Jaren mentions her paleness several times, which led me to imagine him as darker skinned, though the skin tones of other characters are not mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, nudity, innuendo, and implied sex. The violence rating is for blood, mention of domestic violence, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen