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

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 

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

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 

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

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter - HIGH

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter, 291 pages. Simon, 2022. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 15 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

11th grader Emilie has the perfect Valentine’s Day planned out – she is going to tell her boyfriend that she loves him and has the perfect present chosen. Instead, she catches him kissing his beautiful ex. Worst of all, that isn’t the last of the bad day. The next morning – that bad day starts all over. And then again. Finally, Emilie has had enough and sabotages everyone around her all day, dragging in Nick, her science lab partner and boy whose car she crashes into every day, along with her into her plan to do as much damage as possible. The next morning – it’s the 15th. Now what is Emilie going to do?

Fast paced and compelling – I finished in one afternoon. Of course, this is a take on Groundhog’s Day, and I didn’t mind at all. Watching Emilie pick up her life after she trainwrecks everything and finally figures out the real lessons she needed to learn was a lot of fun. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon - HIGH

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon, 419 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2022. $16

Language: PG-13 (20 swears, 3 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (Sexual jokes throughout the book and making out briefly described); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

 In order to escape dramatic events that unfolded at her high school, Barrett Bloom goes to college. At first glance, college seems like the perfect thing that Barrett needs, but when little details start making her first day of college worse and worse- Barrett struggles to be an optimist. One of those details being, her frenemy from high school is her roomate. When it seems Barrett can't take it anymore, she goes to sleep, and wakes up in the same day... the cursed first day of college. Can Barrett make it out of the loop she's mysteriously caught in? Or will she have to find join in living every single day the same? 

See You Yesterday is a cute novel, good for cuddling by the fire on a cold autumn day. Barrett can be relatable at times and she can also seem annoying. This book is good to read for the romance, the cute little scenes of Barrett and her love interest are awesome, but the overall plot is rather boring and overused. I mean, Groundhog day, Happy Death Day and The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things all have the same plot. Barrett Bloom is described as curvy, with wavy dark hair and pale skin. Miles (her love interest) is Asian.

Kenzie Hoehne 

Beach Read by Emily Henry - HIGH

Beach Read by Emily Henry, 361 pages. Berkley, 2020. $16 

Language: R (128 swears, 15 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (unfaithfulness, explicit sex, alcohol); Violence: PG (fire mentioned) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

January's life has been a fairytale. A romance author, she believes that love can conquer all, including two times beating her mom's cancer and giving her the most gorgeous boyfriend. However, all of that is quickly turned on its head when her father dies suddenly from a stroke and January finds herself spending her summer in the mysterious lake-house once shared by her father and his other lover. To make things even better, her next door neighbor is the moody Gus, her college nemesis and whose stories are dark, philosophical contemplations in comparison to January's "Happily Ever After's." Unable to bring herself to write, January and Gus make a bet: Gus will write the romance, and January will write in Gus's normal style, and the winner of this will settle the case of the collage competition once and for all. 

I picked up this TikTok-recommended novel with a bit of apprehension, but was pleasantly surprised! The writing is thoroughly enjoyable to read as it is creative, funny, and poetic all at the same time. Not only is this story a romance, it is an exploration of grief and betrayal. The characters are all very lovable and realistic, so you're not experiencing unbearable second-hand embarrassment for them! The reader must be aware, however, of the couple sex scenes in the book that do not fade to black and are rather explicit. 

 Reviewer: Sierra 

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco - OPTIONAL

Kingdom of the Cursed (Kingdom of the Wicked #2) by Kerri Maniscalco, 433 pages. Little Brown and Co., 2021. $19

Language: R (23 swears, 6 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (described sex, sex talk); Violence: PG-13 (blood and violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Welcome to Hell. As one might expect, deception, lies, and manipulation flow seemingly the lifeblood of the underworld and as she navigates through these unpleasant, although not unexpected, obstacles, Emilia finds herself encountering clue after clue that points her to unforeseen truths. More than just the question of her twin's murderer, she must unravel the mystery of herself. Who is Emilia di Carlo? And when all is said and done, will her strengthening alliance with Wrath impact her duty to her mission?

This novel was leaps and bounds better than the first. The character development as well as worldbuilding was exceptional and time after time I am wildly impressed by Maniscalco's talent at weaving the threads of an intricate mystery. At the core of it, that is truly what this book is and the execution there of was magnificent. However, one must be aware going into this of some of the mature content: there are many sexual encounters with rather explicit descriptions with both our main characters and unnamed characters in select settings. There are also many sexual comments made in conversation.

Sierra Finlinson 

Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke - HIGH

Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke, 340 pages. Hyperion (Disney), 2021. $12

Language: PG (25 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing, smoking alcohol); Violence: PG (some peril) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Sam Knox has a gift for reviving old books, she even is in charge of a quaint like bookshop. Her life is simple, and she is happy that way- in previous years she has hunted down mysterious treasures with her best friends, siblings, Bennett and Joana. But when Sam and Joana got in an explosive fight, she's decided books are her only friend, books don't judge or criticize they are comfort and an escape for Sam. Turns out that comfort and peace of mind don't last very long because... When mysterious men burn down her beloved bookshop, Sam is forced back into the world of treasure hunting, because if she doesn't find what the fire starters are looking for, they will just create more destruction.

Curse of the Specter Queen is a very cute novel! It has it's flaws but all in all, it was a fluffy adventure story. I loved the main character Sam, is a very capable heroine with a heart of gold and she is an old soul like me. I loved Bennett and Joana's brother sister relationship and I loved the writing style of this novel. It is a bit predictable and the plot is very flat, but I think it's the perfect book to cuddle next to a fire this upcoming fall season with a mug of hot chocolate!

Kenzie Hoehne 

Thorn by Intisar Khanani - ESSENTIAL

Thorn by Intisar Khanani, 512 pages. Harper Teen, 2020. $19

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (domestic violence, rape, violence against animals, human trafficking–all off page, violence against women–on and off page)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS–ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

15yo Princess Alyrra longs to escape her abusive home, but being married off to the prince of a neighboring kingdom is equally daunting. In route to her new life, Alyrra falls victim to the magic of the Lady and finds her life transformed. As she embraces her new role and is thrilled to leave the intrigues of palace life behind, she soon realizes that danger lurks and her newfound happiness may not be worth the destruction of those she was bound to.

A beautiful retelling of Goose Girl with a large cast of well-developed characters. Adventure abounds, but a deeper story guides the journey of Alyrra and those around her. Heavy topics such as violence against women and treatment of those in poverty are done in a way that younger readers will be able to understand and will aid in the development of compassion and empathy.

AEB

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany Jackson - HIGH

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany Jackson. 416 pages. Katherine Tegen Books (Harper), 2022. $16

Language: R (65 swears, 35 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (alludes to sex); Violence: R (belt beating, bloody mentioned, suicide by gun, pieces of bodies metioned) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In 2014, there was a devastating accident and a survivor covered in blood limping home – a tragedy that ruptured the town. Researchers are discussing the events before the accident to try to understand what happened. The non-linear timeline moves back and forth between events before the accident and the research discussion and 17yo Maddy is the focus of everything that happened. She’s been forced by her father to hide her African American roots because he’s white and their community is extremely racist. One day she’s running in gym class when rain starts to fall. Her perfectly and intentionally straightened hair goes into its natural Afro state. Gossip starts, bullies taunt and her dad whips her for revealing her secret. After a “bullying Maddy” video goes viral, some students want to prove that the town isn’t racist by holding one prom, all inclusive. After a horrible joke and an even worse prank, Maddy’s true powers come out, practically decimating the town. 

Kenny fell in love with Maddy too conveniently and easily. Maddy’s so powerful, but she stands by doing nothing, holding Kenny’s hand the entire time, while Officer Ross beats Kenny with his baton. Also, the comment made that lumps all American citizens into people that don’t understand or are dumb is rude, but partially true: “Comprehension is key, and that hasn’t exactly been mastered by the citizens of this country”. Overgeneralization, but that does show the high extent of racism in the book's community. An excellent "Carrie" remix. The build up of suspense was what I liked the most. 

 LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra - ADVISABLE

Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra, 352 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2022. $19.

Language: PG-13 (17 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG-13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Adopted by the royal family when she was young, Katyani (18yo) has grown up alongside the princes. She is both sister and bodyguard, preparing to be Prince Ayan’s advisor someday. When the princes are sent to gurukul to increase their spiritual power, the queen insists that Katyani accompany them. When Katyani returns home, nothing will be the same.

Every time I thought I knew where the story was going during the first half of the book, Mehrotra pivoted the story – the surprise kept me wanting to know where we would go next. The teachers in the book focus on spiritual power and ethics, and then Mehrotra throws Katyani into a series of trials. Readers must navigate the gray spaces between right and wrong with Katyani, wanting to win the right way for the right reasons.

Katyani is described as having “tawny brown” skin, and Ayan and Bhairav are described as having “bronze” skin. They and everyone else are implied Indian. The mature content rating is for innuendo and nudity. The violence rating is for sword use, persistent murder and war, and blood and gore.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston - ADVISABLE

Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston, 339 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster), 2021. $19.

Language: PG13 (28 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Victoria (18yo) and her dad have always loved vampires – even before one showed up on the news to show the world they exist. While her dad has always said that he’d rather be a werewolf than a vampire, Victoria would rather he be alive. Chemo has stopped working, and Victoria is determined to not give up hope while her dad still breathes. If anyone can find a vampire in New Orleans, it’s Victoria – she just needs to get there.

I was at war with myself throughout this entire book about whether I wanted vampires to be real like Victoria believed or to be a skeptic like her friend, Henry. The not knowing kept me on the edge of my seat even as I worried with Victoria about her father. Fuston discusses grief through Victoria’s denial and through several other characters who try to help her throughout the book. Emotions are complicated and intense, but that doesn’t mean that they are bad.

Victoria and her mom are described as having pink skin, her dad and Jessica are described as having an olive complexion, and Henry is part Japanese. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mention of drugs and nudity, and innuendo. The violence rating is for mentions of vampire feedings and murder as well as for blood.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw - HIGH

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw, 320 pages. Disney Press, 2022. $15

Language: G (0 swears,0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (child kidnapping); Violence: PG-13 (ripping dolls apart)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Sally is the happiest she’s ever been, now that she’s Jack’s new bride. She is unsure of how well she will do as queen even though Jack reassures her. After their honeymoon travels, Sally ventures into Dream Town and accidentally leaves the door open. A monster travels to the different towns causing everyone to sleep. Even her beloved Jack, the Pumpkin King, won’t wake up. Sally feels guilty for causing this problem, especially because she had wished to be alone since she felt too inadequate to be queen. She goes to Dream Town hoping for the community to help her bring the monster, the Sandman, back but no one wants to talk about him. Then she’s summoned to the Governor’s house and her world changes. 

I love the descriptions of the holiday towns. Each holiday has a completely themed town based on its holiday events and colors. Dream Town is all about cozy sleep with its lavender crops, Dream Sand Factory and Lullaby Library. I love the description of Dream Sand: a blend of stardust, moonbeams, and a pinch of yawns. Such a cozy, fun read with a bit of suspense and a nice twist!

 LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian 

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther - HIGH

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther, 360 pages. Sourcebooks Fire, 2021. $10 

Language: R (22 swears, 7 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex, teens drinking,); Violence: PG (hitting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

18yo Meredith heads to Martha’s Vineyard for a family wedding; she’s with her mother and father and they’re all missing Claire, Meredith’s deceased sister. On the ferry ride to the vineyard, Mer accidentally kicks a guy in the face when she’s climbing down. Later, she’s going to talk to her grandparents at the farm on the vineyard when she sees that same guy already talking to them; his name is Wit - the stepbrother of the groom. The wedding couple want to remember and honor Claire so they’ve planned a game of Assassin and everyone will fight to win with water guns. Mer and Wit decide to help each other with info as needed during the game. As Mer learns to deal with her grief, she’s able to repair relationships and build new ones. 

I liked the cute romance in the story. The dynamics between Mer and Wit are charming. I also enjoyed the large family events that are traditional. It portrays a sense of belonging. Ethnicity of the characters is predominantly white. 

LynnDell Watson; Delta HS Librarian 

I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn - HIGH

I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn, 408 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2022. $17

Language: R (23 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (underage marijuana use); Violence: PG (arguing)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

16yo Melody, Korean American, is caught by a police officer smoking her first joint with her friend Sophie. The next day she discovers that her parents have decided that they all need to be together so she’s moving with her mom to Korea and away from New York City. Melody and her mom have a close relationship but everything in Melody’s life changes once they’re in Korea. Her father is strict and gruff, her grandparents seem cold, distant and uncaring. She does make some friends and her Dad encourages socializing, which helps ease the family tensions and the homework stress. Her relationship with Sophie is strained too and Melody wants to figure out how to pursue her dream of becoming an interior designer while mending relationships with the people she cares about and navigating two countries as her home.

I love the descriptions of each setting the main character is in. I also like the relevance of family contention and teen angst that takes place as Melody’s father tries to completely control her and she discovers her mother keeping secrets. She sees her grandfather treat her father the same way her father treats her and she wonders why he does that to her when he seems to dislike being treated like that. Great insight into Korean culture through Melody’s experiences as she visits places and tries new foods. I also liked the mix of ethnicities.

LynnDell Watson