Chasing Beverly by Ashlynn Cubbison - OPTIONAL

Chasing Beverly by Ashlynn Cubbison, 308 pages. Acorn Publishing, 2019. $24.

Language: R (84 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When business finally introduces Beverly and Gavin, both of them know that their lives -- in their companies and beyond -- have been changed. While Gavin is ready to pursue what is obviously forming between them, Beverly can’t see past her baggage and the inevitable heartbreak it will bring them both.

The story was okay. It’s an enjoyable fluff read but not something that kept me on edge needing to know what was going to happen next. As I read, I was annoyed with a lot of the chapter breaks. I can understand Cubbison purposefully interrupting things that I wanted to know more about in order to keep readers in suspense, but the problem is that she wouldn’t go back address those things until several chapters later -- if at all. I also found Gavin to be too perfect and unrealistic. Even with the cliffhanger ending and several unresolved questions, I am not going to read the sequel. The mature content rating is for sex; the violence rating is for a horrific car crash description as well as mentions of domestic violence and suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford - ADVISABLE

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford, 432 pages. Inkyard Press, 2019. $14.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Nor and Zadie have been prepared their entire lives for one of them to be chosen as the most beautiful girl in Varenia and the future queen of Ilara. As the day of the choosing ceremony gets closer, Nor tries to ignore her desire to leave, knowing that she will never be chosen, and Zadie has to accept everything that leaving her world behind will mean, knowing that she will probably be chosen. But, after the ceremony, when their fates are sealed, these two stubborn sisters find a way to take hold of their own fates despite being raised to be biddable beauties.

While I think the story got a little slow in the middle, the rest of Nor’s story was exciting to follow. I was eager to see how her future unraveled, especially when she and her sister, Zadie, made decisions to change everything that was expected of them -- something I wish I was brave enough to do more often in my own life. However, the resolutions near the end included enemies being taken care of too easily, so I’m both curious and wary as to where the sequel will take this story.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Life and a Glass of Milk by Vansh Sharma - OPTIONAL

Life and a Glass of Milk by Vansh Sharma, 82 pages. POETRY. Aurora House, 2019. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Looking at life through the eyes of a 12yo, everything seems a little simpler. Life may not always be easy, but there is companionship and beauty all around.

The best part of this book is that it is a real example of how you can be a poet -- or any kind of writer or artistic creator -- at any age. I thought that the poems were pretty good for a 12yo, and the illustrations were decent, too. Sharma obviously loves to write poems, and I hope that his voice continues to develop as he continues writing. I didn’t connect with and love a lot of the poems, but they aren’t bad.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Kriss: The Gift of Wrath by Ted Naifeh - OPTIONAL

Kriss: The Gift of Wrath by Ted Naifeh, 115 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Oni Press, 2019. $15.

Language: PG-13 (10 swears, 0 “f”) ; Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Kriss struggles to understand what the purpose of his life is in a village that continually rejects his efforts. Listening to the voice that tells him that he comes from the northern kingdom, Kriss prepares himself to leave -- though one friend in the village isn’t ready to say goodbye.

Honestly, I’m still confused about what the story was about and where it was going, but I’m not as upset as I usually am about a book I didn’t understand. Instead, I find myself intrigued. I want to read more of Kriss’s story and see how this fits into the bigger picture of his life. As Kriss searched for answers of where he came from and where he is going, that desire was lit inside of me as well. Hopefully, we all get those answers sooner rather than later.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner - ADVISABLE

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner, 272 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster), 2019. $21.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Moth has never fit in -- and her newly discovered witch heritage isn’t really helping. Now Moth feels trapped between two worlds, not knowing where she belongs or what is right.

Moth’s story is a fun afternoon read with a good message and fun illustrations. While we might not all struggle with learning how to use magical powers, fitting in and finding a place to belong in life is a struggle for everyone. As Moth makes mistakes and gathers courage to stand up for herself, she will inspire the heroine or hero in each reader to be the best they can. 

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke - OPTIONAL

The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke, 339 pages.  Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2018.  $19.  

Content: Language: PG-13 (15 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13  

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Frey is a Boneless Mercy, a person who helps mercifully end people’s lives who are dying from disease or physical limitations.  She is part of a close-knit group of other Boneless Mercies, but Frey longs for a different kind of life, a life where she will be known for her heroism and bravery.  Frey convinces her other Mercies to hunt a beast that is terrorizing a village in the hopes of changing her fate.  

I was drawn to this book because of it’s fantastic cover and the premise sounded intriguing.  I was disappointed by the unfolding of the story because it was all action and plot lines with no character development.  The relationships have no depth or growth and there is a very high death count and slit throats.  

Reviewer, C Peterson.    

My Unedited Writing Year by Hope Lyda - GIFT

My Unedited Writing Year by Hope Lyda, 368 pages. NON-FICTION. Harvest House Publishers, 2019. $20.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: GIFT - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Lyda gives readers 365 invitations to get the creative juices flowing and to assure you that you are, in fact, a writer. With any sort of prompt you can think of -- from making lists to free writes to what if scenarios to writing prayers and blessings -- Lyda plans to help you stretch those writing muscles.

Creativity is not something that Lyda is in want of, but I have discovered that I don’t have as much of it as I thought -- though I suspect that I have more now after accepting some of the Lyda’s invitations. I loved going through the invitations to write from Lyda and that they were all so different. Writing ended up being addictive for me, and I would do several prompts in a row, even when I didn’t have time to. The various prompts helped to stretch the way that I think and engaged my mind with new thoughts. I love this book and think that it is a great undertaking for writers and those who don’t call themselves writers alike. However, I have advised that it not be bought for a library because it invites readers to write within its pages to fully engage with the prompts and the 365 prompts encourages readers to use it as a guide and companion for an entire year, both aspects of which break common library policies.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Altered by Vicki Stiefel - NO

Altered by Vicki Stiefel, 396 pages.  Afterworld Publishing, 2019. $1.

Language: R (95 swears, 5 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Kit miraculously survives fall she and her sisters were in, her first thoughts are about her sisters -- did they survive, too? -- and how to continue to survive the new situation she’s in. Only once Kit meets Rafe and is out of immediate danger does she start to realize something isn’t right about the world around her. Kit bides her time, waiting for more information, but then she plans on making her own decisions regardless of the plans others have made for her.

I found the premise exciting and enjoyed chunks of the book, but I think it was poorly executed overall. Out-of-character moments were confusing and frustrating as I tried to understand the world being created; contradicting and unaddressed details were merely distracting at first but became annoying as the problem persisted; and I didn’t like how this strong-willed woman allowed the many inequalities in her relationship go unaddressed. I also did not appreciate the graphic sex scenes.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson – ADVISABLE

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, 453 pages. Margaret McElderry Books (Simon), 2019 $18  Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG13 (implied intimacy); Violence: PG13(scary demons/killings).

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MEDIUM

Elisabeth was raised in a library, one of five in the kingdom. The books in this library are no ordinary books, they are grimoires, and many of them are very dangerous. Elisabeth is well into her training to become a Warden and be in charge of keeping them, luckily she seems to have a way with them. Her life is turned upside down when a Malefict, a book that is out of control, goes on a rampage. Elisabeth discovers a dark and horrible plot. Nathaniel is a dark wizard, whose very power comes from Demonic energy. He has his own issues and problems and doesn’t want to get mixed up with Elisabeths wild accusations. Will she be able to convince him or have to try on her own.

Despite deals with demons and one mention of bisexuality (which had nothing to do with the story, and I think was thrown in to make the story more edgy), this is actually a fairly wholesome book. It features a strong female lead, who is both brave and adventurous. It reminds me a bit of the two main characters in Howls Moving Castle. The book is quite long but very readable and fast paced. This was a thoroughly well written and enjoyable read. I think teen readers will enjoy the story and of course, as librarians, we like books about libraries and books (even if they can turn into evil monsters).

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

War’s Ending by A. J. Park - HIGH

War’s Ending by A. J. Park, 586 pages. Emerald Lake Books, 2019. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Shalyrie loves the excitement of visiting new colonies in her uncle’s kingdom, and Newport is beautiful. But Shalyrie was not expecting the excitement to include attempts on her life and the tragedies of war. Finding fear and the unknown on every side, can Shalyrie find a way to encourage and foster peace?

I was quickly sucked into the story as I started reading, and I mostly stayed engrossed for the rest of the time I followed Shalyrie and her friends through their battles. At one point, the story seemed to get a little repetitive with several consecutive attempts on Shalyrie’s life, but then the story moved on and became engaging again. Overall, I took pleasure in reading how Shalyrie and her friends dealt with the challenges they faced and how Shalyrie would not abandon her beliefs, even as keeping them became more difficult. We could all be a little more like Shalyrie.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman - AVERAGE

Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman, 336 pages. JIMMY Patterson Books (Little, Brown and Company), 2019. $18.

Language: R (265 swears, 46 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Aidan finds himself alone at a hotel in New York during spring break as he waits for his family to show up the following day. So he decides to look for a hookup on an app. He falls asleep in his hookup’s hotel room and wakes up to find that the guy is dead. Shot through the head. And now the dead guy’s cell phone is ringing.

Aidan's story was enjoyable to read because it moves quickly through twists and turns without being choppy or disorienting, which kept me immersed the whole time I was reading. Going through the unexpected with Aidan was exciting and up until the end, like Milman didn’t know how to make resolutions interesting to the reader, but everything up through the climax was well done. I even found myself laughing aloud at some of the snarky and random thoughts Aidan had. However, despite all of that good, I felt that the outrageous amount of swearing put a damper on all that was fun about the book. If I wasn’t reviewing this book, the swearing would have deterred me enough to put it down without finishing. The mature content rating is for drug use, masturbation, sex, and statutory rape; the violence rating is for criminal activity, murder, suicide, and acts of terrorism.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhatena - OPTIONAL

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena, 374 pages.  Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2018.  $18.  

Content: Language:  PG (4 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Zarin and Porus are killed in a car accident and when the Saudi Arabian religious police come to question why they were together in the car in the first place, the story begins.  Zarin is an orphan who lives with her mentally ill and abusive aunt and her sometimes kind and protective uncle.  They treat Zarin as though her beauty is a sin which pushes Zarin to use it to get what she wants from men.  Porus is a kind empathetic teen who falls for Zarin’s sassy ways, but his humble life isn’t exciting enough for Zarin until her world is shaken and she needs someone she can rely on.  

This book is hard to read because it’s depressing and the characters aren’t easy to relate to, even though you do have deep empathy for their situation.  The cultural rules about religion, dating and appropriate relationships is interesting.  There is a lot of sexual content including a non-graphic description of a person raped after being drugged, a lot of sex talk, teen boys who sexually shame women and infidelity.  There is also a graphic car accident description and a graphic death explained during a story.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson.

If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka - HIGH

If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, 359 pages. Viking Press (Penguin), 2019. $18

Language: R (51 swears; 4 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Cameron is a popular girl at a fancy LA prep school who has no pangs of conscience about being one of the mean girls in her school.  When her crush, Andrew, walks away from a relationship with her because of her bad attitude, Cameron decides to take a lesson from Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew”, which she’s studying in English class, and apologize to all the students she’s bullied.  She works hard to make amends to the students she’s hurt and discovers a whole new group of friends, a new boyfriend, and a few things about herself along the way.

I thought this book was going to be tough to read—I really disliked the main character, Cameron, at the beginning.  However, it really drew me in and I thought the authors did a great job showing Cameron’s growth throughout the book.  I think teen girls that don’t mind edgy content will really like this book.  That said, this book’s first word is a swear word and it is liberally sprinkled with more swear words throughout.  It has a lot of teen drinking, teens “hooking up” for casual sex, and some drug use.

Reviewer: M. Wilson

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu - AVERAGE

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu, 256 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL, Lion Forge, 2019. $12.

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Nova, a witch, goes to investing a tip of something strange going on in the forest, she doesn’t expect to find her old, werewolf friend, Tam. Tam is determined to defeat the demon causing mischief in the forest, and Nova won’t let them do it alone. But now they’re starting to wonder if they have taken on more than they can handle as they find out the demon isn’t acting alone.

While magic and supernatural troubles make things difficult for Nova and Tam, they also have to deal with problems we all encounter in our non-magical lives, like finding acceptance from others and ourselves. The encouraging uplifting story coupled with enchanting illustrations made this graphic novel a fun read.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Wild Lands by Paul Greci - HIGH

The Wild Lands by Paul Greci, 384 pages. Imprint (Macmillan), 2019. $18.

Language: PG-13 (23 swears, 6 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS  - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Siblings Travis and Jess are headed into the ravaged countryside in search for anyone or anything that may have survived the rending of the earth and the collapse of the government. While they find a few sympathetic souls, they are mostly surrounded by dangers lands and terrifying strangers.

The character development is excellent in this book.  Travis and Jess are tested by the desolate and ruined land; they find hope and friendship in a group of fellow teenage wanderers, but they also find much conflict. Their journey takes them through challenges physical, mental, and moral. Travis steps up to the task of taking care of his sister, while Jess shows amazing resolve and grit through the challenges she is faced with. Dylan is a truly frightening character because he posses some power to ""know"" what is happening before hand. Greci has developed a world that is altogether too real and possible. His description of the land is almost like another character.  He has created a frightening landscape with his firsthand knowledge of the wilderness of Alaska. I would highly recommend this novel to those who love a high adventure, thrill ride of survival through the wild lands of Alaska.

Jessica Nelson Media Specialist

Friend or Fiction by Abby Cooper - ADVISABLE

Friend or Fiction by Abby Cooper, 263 pages. Charlesbridge, OCT 2019.  $17.

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Jade’s best friend recently moved away, but it really doesn’t matter because they had a fight before she left anyway.  Now Jade occupies her time with writing stories about an imaginary best friend, Zoe, who does everything with Jade and they get along perfectly.  At night she comes home and shares her stories with her Dad who is battling cancer. Then one day a boy in her school “borrows” Jade’s notebook of Zoe stories and promises her a big surprise in return.  Monday morning who should be at Jade’s school – a girl named Zoe who looks like, sounds like, and acts like the Zoe Abby created.  Everything seems to be perfect, until it isn’t.  What does it mean to be best friends anyway?

Cooper’s book has a lot to recommend it, especially taking a hard look at what it means to be a friend or a best friend.  About letting others be who they are, not what you want them to be.  Or letting go of your assumptions about the people around you whom you have slotted into little boxes. A nice slice of your students should enjoy this.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones - HIGH

I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones, 272 pages. Sourcebooks Fire, 2019. $13.

Language: R (93 swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Neither Lena nor Campbell want to be at the football game, but Lena is using it as a cover to see her man and Campbell got guilted into volunteering at the concession stand. When things go south at the big rival game, Lena and Campbell have no one to help them escape the chaos except each other. They might not have chosen one another as friends, but this night of terrifying situations is not one Lena or Campbell want to spend alone.

Segal and Jones beautifully crafted a glimpse into the lives of the two main characters, Lena and Campbell. Readers only get to experience this one night with them, and, while I like how they wrapped the story up, I wish that I got to spend more time with these characters and see the further impact this night had on their lives. I love the contrast between Lena’s and Campbell’s voices in their alternating chapters and the different perspectives they share with each other throughout their time together. While the entire narrative takes place in one night, the lessons that can be taken away by readers are numerous. The mature content rating is for drug use, and the violence rating is for shooting and rioting.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Project Me 2.0 by Jan Gangsei - OPTIONAL

Project Me 2.0 by Jan Gangsei, 250 pages.  Aladdin (Simon), 2019.  $19

Content: G (fart jokes, shorts fail)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Anna Murphy moves back to town after being gone for five years, Farley, 11, decides its time to improve himself.  He finds a self-help site online and when he clicks on the link and fills out the forms, he finds himself with his own self-help guru – a little 8 bit surfer dude Online Master, Tomy, who isn’t going to actually leave Farley alone until he accomplishes the entire program.  Now Farley has to keep Tomy secret from his family and actually figure out how to improve himself.  And it may not be in the ways he thinks.

Thinking about it after the fact, I kind of like the idea of a little guru in my pocket.  Oh, it would be super annoying, but it would ultimately WORK (I hope). Gangsei manages to write a book about a middle grade boy that isn’t about his being involved in a sport or obsessed with a video – just a book about a kid who wants, somewhat reluctantly, to be a better version of himself. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Bookwanderers by Anna James - ADVISABLE

The Bookwanderers (Page & Co #1) by Anna James, 281 pages. Philomel (Penguin), 2019.  $17.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Tilly, 11, has lived with her grandparents above their bookshop ever since her mother disappeared when she was a baby.  As she is wandering around the shop one day her hears her grandmother talking to a old-fashioned dressed woman who disappears as Tilly rounds the corner. Then a atrange girl with red braids appears as Tilly tries to find a quiet spot, followed soon a very energetic blond girl in a blue dress and white apron. What secrets have her grandparents been hiding from her all of these years?  When Anne pulls Tilly and her friend Oskar into her book for a trip to Green Gables, Tilly suddenly needs answers!

Kids ready for a trip through the pages of a book will love Tilly and her adventures.  Since the villain of the piece is still out there, I am sure there will be a sequel.  I love this particular plot theme and James does it very well.  

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Mending the Mind by Courtney Peppernell - ADVISABLE

Mending the Mind (Pillow Thoughts III) by Courtney Peppernell, 206 pages.

Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2019. $17.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Peppernell has a beautiful way with words and a style that feels poetic, even if what she offers is not always set up in a structure that looks like a typical poem. She shares thoughts about heartbreak, encouragement, fear, and our impact on others throughout the five sections the thoughts are separated into. Readers are never told the full story, though a narrative is strung through the background of Peppernell’s poetry -- we understand and feel with Peppernell, even without all the details.

While I love poetry, I often have a hard time staying engaged through an entire book of poems, so I was surprised to find that I wanted to keep turning the pages until I had finished all of Peppernell’s words. I enjoyed the pensive and positive state her words helped me find within myself. Each of her poems are easy to read and relate to -- the kind of honest and sincere thoughts you want to read more of because they feel like truth.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen