Educating Elizabeth by Jennifer Moore - OPTIONAL

Educating Elizabeth (Blue Orchid Society #4) by Jennifer Moore, 224 pages. Covenant Communications, 2023. $16.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

22yo Elizabeth has worked hard to build her school for girls, with the help and support of many friends and patrons. She’s ready to sit back and enjoy the fruits of her labor, but obstacles continue to come out of nowhere, eating through her funds and taking away her students. Her school will not fail, even if she has to ask for assistance from the relentless tease Lord Chatsworth.

This series focuses on a sisterhood and how they help support each other to accomplish their goals, and I appreciate that Moore celebrates women without bashing on men. On the contrary, it’s hard not to love the men who seem to be honorary members of the sisterhood. Besides the adorable love story, this book is also about family sticking together despite the difficulties of change. Love can always make more room.

The characters are all English. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, partial nudity, and innuendo.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Terrible Tide by Suzanne Meade - OPTIONAL

A Terrible Tide by Suzanne Meade, 185 pages. Second Story Press, 2021. $12 (paperback)

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Celia is set to celebrate her 13th birthday in 1929 in her small Newfoundland village. Instead, however, the entire community gets a disaster – an earthquake followed by a tsunami. Unsure what exactly has happened to them, the village tries to pick up the wreckage and begin again. Celia is comforted by her dog, who rescued Celia when she was swept out to sea in the tsunami. She waits to see how the others will recover and what choices her parents will make for their family.

What a great choice for a classroom read aloud! Meade has a great sense of timing for each chapter. I do not think students will pick this up on their own, however – historical fiction is a hardsell, unless you are Lauren Tarshis. Audiobook provided by libro.fm. Narrated by Dana Puddicombe

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

A Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford - OPTIONAL

A Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford, 384 pages. Inkyard Press, 2023. $20.

Language: R (48 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

After three years of hiding from the plague, 17yo Seraphina is anxious to be able to leave the castle again, but the king isn’t so keen on popping their secure bubble. Meanwhile, 19yo Nico is working for Lord Crane in gratitude for taking him in when he lost everything—and everyone—to the plague. In this world where everyone is starting over, Seraphina and Nico have to decide whether to be pawns or to take their lives into their own hands.

For the first half of the book, Rutherford builds a compelling tension of the unknown for readers. Through each chapter, readers can feel that something bad is happening, but they don’t know what. Each change in perspective comes at a cliffhanger placed at the perfect moment readers are desperate to return to. When the unknown becomes known, the characters focus on overcoming the obstacle, and a little of the magic was lost for me. The story ends well, but the first half was more enjoyable.

Seraphina is Jewish and is depicted as white on the cover. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and innuendo. The violence rating is for death, self-harm, gun use, murder, and blood and gore.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Cavalho - OPTIONAL

Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Cavalho, 394 pages. Inkyard Press, 2022. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

17yo Lari Ramires and Pedro Molina are the grandchildren of two pastry bakeries in Orlinda, Braizil. Both bakeries are just across the street from each other. Their grandmothers were the best of friends, but an argument made them rivals for generations. Lari’s world changes when her grandmother passes away. A big supermarket chain has come into Orlinda and has offered to buy out small businesses. Both Lari and Pedro’s lives has turned upside down with both families trying to keep their bakeries going and competing with the big supermarket chain.

Rebecca Carvalho creates an entertaining romance between two characters that are challenged with learning how to get along not only for themselves, but for their families as well. Can they do that? A must read to know how it ends. Carvalho also entertains the readers with her knowledge of mouth watering Brazilian bakery pastries too. While the story is entertaining, I did feel that the consistent arguing that took place was too petty. I get that it was the ""drama"" of the story, it was too much. I did enjoy reading how the it ended.

Laura Trujillo 5th Grade DLI English Teacher 

Under the Java Moon by Heather B. Moore - ADVISABLE

Under the Java Moon by Heather B. Moore, 384 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $27.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Rita was four years old, her world started changing. Changes began with the building of a bomb shelter in the backyard and the word “war.” Then her father leaves in the middle of the night with the navy, and Rita joins the rest of the neighborhood in a long walk to become prisoners of a war they’ve only heard about on the radio.

Moore’s writing bleeds. Not only does her writing illustrate the time and energy she has put into research to give readers the right context and the most accurate information to tell the story in a real way, Moore’s writing also pulls at the emotions of readers. The miracles feel more miraculous and the terrors feel more terrifying because of the reality shared in these pages. It’s hard to believe that such a favorable outcome could come from a WWII story. I learned things about WWII and about hope that I never knew before.

Rita and her family are Dutch. The majority of characters are Dutch, Javanese (and, more generally, Indonesian), and Japanese. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol, drugs, and bordellos as well as for innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, gun and bomb use, death, discussions of war, mentions of torture and genocide, physical abuse, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen 

I Kick and I Fly by Ruchira Gupta - AVERAGE

I Kick and I Fly by Ruchira Gupta, 336 pages. Scholastic 2023 $19

Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (use of drugs and alcohol, physical fighting); Violence: PG-13 (human sex trafficking mentioned, not described)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Living in Bihar, India, 14yo Heera and her family are living in poverty. Heera is lucky that she has been able to continue to go to school. Most girls her age are not able to continue their education. School is one place where she is guaranteed to have a daily meal. Heera’s parents and Heera are faced with the reality of having to sell Heera to a sex traffic trade in order to repay loans. Heera is presented with an opportunity to continue schooling and learning sport of martial arts. It is an opportunity for her to learn how to protect herself. Kung Fu also teaches Heera the value of herself and her body. Her friend is not so lucky.

Ruchira Gupta, an advocate for human and sex trafficking, portrays an incredible story of a young, determined, strong, and heroic character. The book raises awareness and reality of human sex trafficking. Gupyta’s draws the readers into the life of Heera in India. Although, it is unfortunate that Heera’s character and her family experience of life in poverty, I enjoyed reading how Heera is able to hold on to hope and self empowerment. Story takes place in Forbesganji, Bihar, India. The characters in the story represent a family of Eastern Indian culture.

Laura Trujillo 5th Grade DLI English Teacher 

Neverwraith by Shakir Rashaan - OPTIONAL

Neverwraith by Shakir Rashaan, 400 pages. Entangled Teen, 2023. $13 

Language: R (92 swears 5 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (underage drinking, kissing); Violence: R (bloody hitting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

17yo Zahra Yasir has moved to Oakwood Grove to live with his uncle. He had to leave Atlanta, where he lived with his Nana. He doesn’t know why he was forced to leave, other than his Nana telling him he was in danger. Now that Yasir is in Oakwood Grove, he’s dealing with new problems with bullies coming out of the woodwork. He feels changes in himself and he’s trying his best to get a grip on life and keep calm. When some of his past is revealed, Yasir starts to wrap his head around the importance of standing by the people he loves. 

The slang is difficult to get used to. The story didn’t pull my interest until the last third of the book. I was relieved when the characters stopped saying that everything would be revealed later and finally started explaining what was happening to the main characters. The characters are predominantly Black. Taylor has tawny skin. Kendyl is Afro-Latina. Ms. Tyler has beige skin. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller - ADVISABLE

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller, 267 pages. Random House, 2022. $18

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Mallory (12yo) and Reagan are best friends and getting ready to start 7th grade when Jennifer moves in next door to Mallory. Mallory and her mom meet their new neighbors and Mallory ends up really liking Jennifer, much to her surprise. Mallory knows it’s going to be tricky when school starts because Reagan will not like this new development. Mallory doesn’t know what to do so she does nothing. She doesn’t tell Reagan about Jennifer, and she completely ignores Jennifer which is confusing because Jennifer thought they were friends. Unfortunately, it makes Reagan suspicious and she knows something’s up and targets Jennifer. Reagan continues to make things hard for Jennifer until the incident in the bathroom. After the incident, Jennifer disappears. 

Keller writes a timely story about friendship and finding your voice. Mallory is a nice person, but hides behind Reagan until Jennifer disappears and then she asks for help from classmates that are at odds with each other. I found that to be a great example of courage and the reader will appreciate the effort it took. The chapters alternate between Now and Then which can be confusing at times, but Jennifer’s journal entries throughout the book are important and give the reader a better understanding of her. While this wasn’t a favorite of mine, I found that I appreciated it, particularly after reading the author’s notes at the end of the book. They give insights to her experiences in middle school and are worth reading. 

Reviewer: RB 

The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson - ESSENTIAL

The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson, 383 pages. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Ryanna is a 12yo girl from Los Angeles who lost her mother when she was three. She has had no involvement with her mother's family and is surprised when her father receives a letter from them. She is invited to spend the summer with her grandparents who live in a place that used to be a summer camp. Ryanna finds a treasure map left by her mother and spends her summer trying to find the treasure and getting to know her family. 

I fell in love with this book! As you read, you get to experience the carefree days of living at a summer camp and spending time with family. The mystery part of the book kept my attention. Definitely worth reading! Ryanna is presumed white. Some of her cousins are Asian and Black. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian 

Courage to Dream by Neal Shusterman and Andres Vera Martinez - OPTIONAL

Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust by Neal Shusterman, illustrated by Andres Vera Martinez, 245 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Graphic (Scholastic), 2023. $15

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Holocaust related deaths) Violence: PG (mild fighting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Explore the Holocaust and Jewish mythology through five stories. 

As someone who has read both a lot of books about the Holocaust and a fair amount of Jewish mythology, the book made sense. I don't think most children will understand much of what they are reading. This is a case where the background knowledge should have been given at the front of each story, instead of at the end of each as it is. Even then, the examples are not helpful. There isn't much from the cover to explain that the stories are all a mix of history and magic -- so this can't be used for a Holocaust historical fiction book, for example. If I taught a high school level Holocaust class or a Jewish studies class, this would be a rich book for exploring the two topics together. The characters are Jewish and German. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Sign of the Slayer by Sharina Harris - OPTIONAL

Sign of the Slayer by Sharina Harris, 464 pages. Entangled Teen, 2023. $19 

Language: R (227 swears 20 'f'); Mature Content: R (sex with some details); Violence: R (bloody deaths) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

18yo Raven is on a band trip with her Atlanta high school band and she’s surrounded by friends. When something attacks the bus out of the blue, the passengers have no idea what’s happening. Raven is the lone survivor and is taken to a hotel where she can recover. She discovers that her rescuer, who she calls Pretty Boy, wants to erase her memories from the attack. Raven avoids losing her memories and discovers that her rescuer is the 23yo vampire Prince Khamari and he's taking her to the Slayer Academy to teach her about the skills that she never knew existed. 

I enjoyed the humor. The mystery surrounding the attack and the Slayer/vampire society was interesting. I like Prince Khamari’s character because he’s the most complex character in the book. Raven is Black. Deidra is white. The chosen one is a white man. Khamari has mahogany skin.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

FYI - this is a Buffy-verse novel, if you were wondering --Cindy

A Lady’s Promise by Ranee S. Clark - OPTIONAL

A Lady’s Promise by Ranee S. Clark, 200 pages. Covenant Communications, 2023. $16.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

On her third season, Isabella (20yo) is conscious of her aunt’s desire to not be so involved in society events. Isabella asks her friend Preston to help her find a husband, and he proposes himself. Preston wants to bestow his wealth on Isabella as a tribute to her late father, but he also wants to prevent his little brother, Prince, from continuing to be so wasteful with his wealth. If Prince doesn’t shape up, then Isabella will inherit everything.

The majority of conflict in this book stems from Clark’s characters hurting emotionally. I love that she doesn’t shy away from the messiness of misunderstandings and forgiveness, even without the pretty resolutions we are used to reading in the book world where everything can turn out perfectly. While there is a happy ending, it’s only possible because the main characters choose to make peace with the things they can’t change.

All the characters are English. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and innuendo.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott, Nicole Andelfinger, and Chris Chalik - ADVISABLE

The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1) by Michael Scott, adapted by Nicole Andelfinger, illustrated by Chris Chalik. 247 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House Graphic, 2023 $24. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (fighting mythical creatures, some explosions) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

15yo twins Sophie and josh get drawn into a mystic battle when Josh's boss, Nicholas FLamel, gets attacked by an evil magician with golems. Running for their lives, the twins accompany Flamel to a world they had no idea existed - where all the things they thought were myths are actually real. They only have a week to help Flamel retrieve a book that was stolen, or Dee will die and evil will consume Earth. 

I have always liked The Alchemyst series. Andelfinger does a good job of distilling the action of the novel to a few pages. I do not like the illustrations - everything feels rushed and half drawn. That may be me being picky, though. The main characters are all white. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Trespassers by Stephanie Black - ADVISABLE

The Trespassers by Stephanie Black, 288 pages. Covenant Communications, 2023. $16.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Only the members of Rayna’s family have known of her uncanny ability to sense life around her, but they don’t know how that ability has evolved. On the day of her father’s death, Rayna (31yo) desperately searches the internet for answers. But internet searches are monitored, and Damon is sent to evaluate the level of threat Rayna poses.

Black has consistently written interesting thrillers, and I was excited to meet her new character with an unexplained power to throw an extra game piece into play. The mystery’s conclusion is satisfying, and I am hoping this turns into a new series because Black is sure to take unexpected turns with the new supernatural avenues made possible by Rayna’s world. The only thing I didn’t like in this book was the underlying romance; Rayna and Damon’s beginning is not the greatest for a functional relationship.

Rayna and Damon are implied white, and Maggie is Black. The majority of other characters are implied white. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol and sexual harassment as well as for discussions of pregnancy and miscarriages. The violence rating is for death, gun use, mentions of suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Part of Your World by Liz Braswell, and Stephanie Kate Strom, illustrated by Kelly Matthews & Nichole Matthews - ADVISABLE

Part of Your World (Twisted Tale Graphic Novel) by Liz Braswell, adapted by Stephanie Kate Strom, illustrated by Kelly Matthews & Nichole Matthews. 156 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Disney/Hyperion, 2023. $22.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

It has been 5 years since Ursula defeated Ariel, captured the Sea King, bespelled and married Prince Eric, and took control of the kingdom. Ariel is now the ruler under the sea, but without her voice, she communicates in signs. Then a seagull tells Ariel that Eric has remembered something from before and Ariel takes a chance to go to the surface and see if she can rescue her father. 

I really enjoyed reading this as a graphic novel - more than I liked the novel itself. There are a couple of rough plot points, but the whole is pretty delightful. All of the main characters are portrayed as white. 

Cindy, Library Teacher 

The Dread Penny Society by Sarah M. Eden - OPTIONAL

The Dread Penny Society by Sarah M. Eden, 400 pages. SHORT STORIES. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $26.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Penny dreadfuls were popular short, serial stories in the United Kingdom, and Eden has tried her hand at writing several. While these short stories are read in installments throughout Eden’s series “The Dread Penny Society,” this compilation allows readers to get the complete penny dreadfuls all together. Ranging in style, as if written by different authors, and tone, readers never know what’s going to happen next.

These short stories lose some of their power in mirroring and giving insight into Eden’s focus characters in the Dread Penny Society series when they are taken away from the context of those novels Eden originally put them in. However, I did enjoy being able to read the stories in full without waiting for the next installment. Putting the penny dreadfuls together also better illustrates Eden’s skill in writing vastly differing styles.

The majority of characters are implied English and Irish. The language rating is for use of British swears, the mature content rating is for criminal mischief, and the violence rating is for weapon use and fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Frenemies With Benefits by Lydia Sharp - HIGH

Frenemies With Benefits by Lydia Sharp 400 pages. Entangled Teen, 2023. $12 

Language: R (261 swears 104 'f'); Mature Content: R (detailed sex); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

18yo Jessica is graduating from high school in Pittsburgh and she’s shy and innocent but wants to break through her inhibitions and insecurities. When Ben jokingly offers to help her, she shrugs him off but eventually reconsiders. They’ve been sort of enemies within the same friend group for the past year and Jessica isn’t sure why Ben wants to help her. When they fake date, she sees the side of Ben that he’s kept hidden from her - smart, kind, and gentlemanly. Can they continue with this charade without falling for each other? 

I like that the publisher states where to check for content warnings/elements of concern before the reader starts the book. The banter between Jessica and Ben is funny and clever. I enjoyed the cute romance parts. Andrew is Brazilian. Rayna has olive-toned skin. Jeremy has dark brown skin. Jessica has porcelain skin. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Library

The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden - OPTIONAL

The Queen and the Knave (The Dread Penny Society #5) by Sarah M. Eden, 368 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $17.

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The final installment in which our heroine engages her foe in multiple skirmishes and must decide whether to pay the demanded price for victory: Móirín (27yo) has been the Dread Master behind the scenes of DPS, with her only goal being to help the poor and downtrodden. But her family and friends are disappearing, the enemy is always one step ahead, and Móirín starts to wonder if she can save anyone or if she has only doomed them all.

Eden has saved the best for last. While I have not loved all of the books in this series, the last stand of Móirín and her Dread Penny Society members was well written and engaging. The Tempest, as she is called, is a formidable foe, and Móirín’s struggles to defeat her and save everyone else takes everything she has. Sometimes we think we can—or have to—take care of our problems on our own, but Móirín’s story helps us to accept that we can’t do everything alone.

Móirín and her brother are Irish, Stone and Celia are Black, Vera and her father are Russian, and the rest of the characters are either explicitly or implied English. The mature content rating is for illegal activity, and the violence rating is for gun use and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen - ADVISABLE

Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen, 334 pages. Scholastic Press, 2023. $18. 

Content: G (mild threats, panic during the evacuation) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

12yo Hazel stows away on the Titanic so she can come to America and earn money to send back to her widowed mother and brothers in England. Charlie, a porter on the ship, discovers her secret and helps her many times throughout the voyage. While on the ship, she also meets Sophia, a wealthy girl in first class, and her nanny. Worried that a couple is trying to steal Sophia’s money, Hazel gets herself into some sticky situations. With the help of an older friend, Mrs. Ableman, she also learns about icebergs and the trouble they can cause in the open water.

I liked reading a story about a character on the Titanic and learning about icebergs. I felt some of the subplots were overemphasized instead of focusing on the concerning facts Hazel discovers about the ship itself. The main character and supporting characters appear to be white. 

Paula, Teacher Librarian

Rook by William Ritter - OPTIONAL

Rook by William Ritter, 368 pages. Algonquin Young Readers, 2023. $19.

Language: PG13 (24 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Suddenly thrust from the position of assistant to paranormal detective with an uncontrollable paranormal sight ability, 17yo Abigail is overwhelmed by the world and the responsibility presented to her. While struggling to accept this new lead role, Abigail is also asked to keep a new project from her fiancé, unofficially investigate a murder, and somehow deal with her very human parents who have no idea of the paranormal work Abigail has been doing. Piece of cake.

Presented as a standalone in the world of Ritter’s Jackaby series, I was able to read and enjoy this book without the context of the other books. However, if the other four books are as good as this one, I would have loved to have all the backstory instead of only the necessary pieces explained here. Ritter can seamlessly go from profound to laugh-out-loud funny in a single page, and the whirlwind of a mystery demands attention the whole time. 

Abigail and her family are English, and everyone else is implied American—or comes from a fantastical race like elves, trolls, et cetera. The mature content rating is for discussions of illegal activity and for kidnapping. The violence rating is for discussions of murder, blood and gore, corpses, assault, gun use, and fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen