Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris - OPTIONAL

Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris, 352 pages. St. Martin’s Press, 2019. $20.

Language: R (14 swears, 23 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Auschwitz should have been the worst of it. Cilka should be grateful that time is behind her. But moving from one hell to another isn’t much cause to celebrate. Now in a Siberian labor camp, Cilka has to face the same choice she lives with the shame of making in Auschwitz: will she fight to live or let herself die?

I hate to say that this book was beautiful and I love it because of the true cruelty of things that were done during and after WWII, but I don’t know what else to say. Morris made the tragedy and harsh realities beautiful as she shared truth and fiction of what did and could have happened in Cilka’s suffering through back-to-back injustices. Reading and knowing that the challenges faced by Cilka and those around her were real situations faced by real people made their story both harder and more necessary to read. This is a story of strength, endurance, and love. This book is only marked “optional” because of the frequent use of the f-word, otherwise I would have marked it “advisable.” The mature content rating is for frequent mentions of rape; the violence rating is for gore from fights, mining accidents, and work in a hospital.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Batman: 100 Greatest Moments by Robert Greenberger - OPTIONAL

Batman: 100 Greatest Moments by Robert Greenberger, 304 pages. NON-FICTION. Chartwell Books (The Quarto Group), 2019. $25.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

While all Batman fans might quibble over some of Batman’s “greatest moments,” the 100 moments compiled in this book unarguably illustrate how great Batman is -- and has been for decades. This book is great for Batman fans interested in the history and evolution of Batman through the years, as Greenberger’s focus is on the non-fiction, outside-the-comic aspect of the Batman series.

Obviously, I should have read the description of the book more carefully because I was under the impression that Greenberger had compiled a graphic novel mash-up of Batman’s best moments through the years. The introduction hyped me up as it gave a summary of Batman’s evolutions, but I was overwhelmed with disappointment to see more words than pictures in the first chapter. Thankfully, Greenberger still includes pages from graphic novels to illustrate the 100 greatest moments -- they just come after the explanations and descriptions. Overall, the book is pretty cool, but I think it’s best suited for niche comic lovers and not the general, casual peruser.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Lucy the Octopus by Richy K. Chandler - ADVISABLE

Lucy the Octopus by Richy K. Chandler, 136 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2018 $19.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Being cool is a big deal. As uncool as Lucy is, she doesn’t have any friends and even her family wouldn’t be upset if she forgot where she lived and didn’t come home. Despite the opinions and actions of those around her, Lucy finds ways to thrive and pursue her dreams. Others can knock her down, but Lucy is the kind of octopus who gets back up and keeps going through prejudices, bullies, and sea monsters.

While this book exaggerates the need to be cool, I think it honestly reflects how it can feel to be labeled as “uncool” in school. I love that Lucy’s experiences highlight how optimism and talent can thrive despite bullying from others and encourage readers to find success being themselves -- even if it takes longer and is harder than looking for acceptance with the “cool” crowd. Throughout life, there are many times that we might feel excluded and picked on like Lucy, and I hope that we can all be a little more like Sydney: brave enough to be someone’s first friend and not care about the construct of being “cool.” Both the story and the illustrations were amazing and made me want to keep reading through the end.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Earnest Ink by Alex Hall - OPTIONAL

Earnest Ink by Alex Hall. EBOOK. Nine Star Press, 2019. $6. 

Language: R (128 swears, 9 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In a splintered and chaotic world, Hemingway knows to keep his head down, especially because of the magic talent that makes him famous. But Hemingway can’t sit back when his best friend, Grace, goes missing and it appears that the serial killer at large has her.

I felt that the beginning was slow, but that is forgiven in everything that comes after the set up. The characters, despite occasional magical ability, felt real as I read because there are so many facets to each personality. Everyone is complicated and dealing with the national and personal tragedies the best way they can. Now I’m trying to decide if this book is one that is more satisfying after a second read through. I was shocked by the reveal of the serial killer’s identity, and I wonder if I missed the clues given or if there were no clues to miss. Thinking back over the book, I can’t think of clues pointing me in the right direction, which would be disappointing. I hope that I just missed the clues because I liked reading this book and don’t want to be upset at Hall for denying readers the potential satisfaction in solving the mystery first. The mature content rating is for mentions of orgasm and sex; the violence rating is serial killer violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Colorful Family Table by Irene Godofsky Moreno - OPTIONAL

The Colorful Family Table by Irene Godofsky Moreno, 256 pages. BenBella Books, 2019. $20.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS, ADULTS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Moreno’s life has a lot to do with food as she is a health coach, recipe developer, food blogger, and food photographer. In this cookbook, she shares her ideas for healthy eating with each recipe -- recipes that are beautifully illustrated with her own photographs in such a way to make you race into the kitchen to try them yourself.

I like balance in my diet, and I often eat a little of everything. Moreno’s recipes are vegan friendly, and I have no doubt that they are delicious as is. However, they would also be easy to substitute non-vegan products into, should you feel the need. Writing-wise, I felt that Moreno became repetitive in her assurances that following the recipe would result in edible food every time a surprising ingredient was included. Recipe-wise, this book is filled with amazing things I can’t wait to try. 

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Beast of Rosemead by Lucy Tempest - ADVISABLE

Beast of Rosemead by Lucy Tempest, 421 pages. Folkshore Press, 2019. $13.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Bonnie wakes up in an unfamiliar room and without any memory of how she got there, she quickly jumps to the logical conclusion that she’s been kidnapped. As she makes her way to escape, she hears the voice of her father downstairs and discovers that both she and her father are safe. However, reality does not get much better as Bonnie learns of the Beast and faeries that plague this new place she is in and threaten everyone she loves -- trouble that only involves her loved ones because of her selfish dreams.

This retelling of Beauty and the Beast was a pleasure to read because of Tempest’s combination of details from the familiar story and unique twists that adapt the story to a new magical world. My understanding of how Beauty and the Beast should go didn’t make the book predictable. In fact, my expectations for upcoming details only made the changes Tempest made more exciting as I watched the old story unfold in new circumstances. I also loved this retelling because of the fun I had while reading it, often forgetting myself enough to laugh aloud in public as well as private.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Diamond City by Francesca Flores - HIGH

Diamond City by Francesca Flores, 400 pages. Wednesday Books (Macmillan), 2020. $19.

Language: PG13 (12 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Aina kills for one of the most feared men in the city, but she knows she’s close to becoming his equal and someone who is feared for her own reputation, not her employer’s. This job is her ticket out. Killing one more person should be easy, but, as Aina thinks she’s stepping closer to her dream, she discovers that she’s been living in a nightmare.

If you pick this book up, you better have time to read it all the way through -- there are no good stopping points in Aina’s fast-paced story. Though a couple inconsistencies pulled me out the story briefly, I was enjoying myself enough to move on and lose myself again in the world Flores built. As Aina struggles with self-worth and finding purpose in life, readers can work through these issues with her, reflecting similar ponderings in their own lives. While this message is an undertone to the story, I found myself reading simply for the pleasure of a thrilling read with surprises I couldn’t predict. The mature content rating is for innuendo and mentions of sex; the violence rating is for murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Rose that Blooms in the Night by Allie Michelle - ADVISABLE

The Rose that Blooms in the Night by Allie Michelle, 199 pages. POETRY. Andrew McMeel Publishing, 2019. $15.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Love can be found in many places and can be both devastating and rapturous. While love is most often viewed as what can be found between two people, love is also something that we need to find within ourselves for ourselves. Loving yourself will lead to more fulfilling love with others.

Michelle goes on a journey about love and loss and beauty, and readers are able to feel the truth of her words resonate inside them. I found that I connected with the poems in the first half of the book more than the second half -- I paused more often after poems to understand why the words had pierced my heart -- and Michelle’s writing was such that I had to finish, both satisfied and saddened when the last poem was read.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey - AVERAGE

Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey, 384 pages. Inkyard Press, 2019. $19.

Language: R (57 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Darcy hides her real life from everyone but her closest friend, choosing instead to live in the pages of fictional stories. She’s learned to package her life nicely and keep everything separated as it should be, until things start to unravel with the threat of her eighteenth birthday and a new, responsible apartment manager. Maybe things aren’t as perfectly cut as Darcy pretends they are.

Having finished the story, I love how the title encapsulates so much of what happens between the covers of this book. We’re all a little lost, as Darcy and readers discover on their journey together. Without having experienced many of the things Darcy has to deal with in her life, I feel a kinship with her as the words that helped her were able to touch me, too. I found that this book is about learning how to deal with seemingly impossible situations and trying to understand that this life is about trying, learning, and doing better today than you did yesterday -- ideas that we all need to learn to apply in our lives. And I appreciate that Namey was able to all of this and more with real, relatable, non-excessively-dramatic conflict. The only reason I have marked this book as "optional" is because of the language.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler - HIGH

We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler, 304 pages. Razorbill (Penguin), 2019. $18.

Language: R (25 swears, 13 “f”); Mature Content: PG (Sex off the page); Violence: PG (Abusive father)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS  - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

While Catherine's mother battles cancer, Catherine knows she can no longer stay with her abusive father without her mother.  Clutching her mother's brooch, she flees her home in search of a better life. Catherine soon becomes Victoria and begins the life of her dreams with the VanDrexel Family Circus. Fast forward 50 years to Victoria's granddaughter Callie.  Forced to begin a new school, Callie uses the wisdom of her grandmother to help her navigate the halls and social life of her new school.  Callie follows in her grandmother's footsteps as an accomplished tight rope walker, but longs to join the circus once again.

We Walked the Sky is a beautiful novel told in the present and past.  Two girls, generations apart, learn to accept a new life, embrace challenges and find family in unexpected places."      This was a very endearing novel.  Each characters was well rounded and developed. I loved how Callie would read a message or quote from her grandmother, then the next chapter would flashback and tell the story of how it came to be.  The overall message of finding family in unusual places is well written, but I feel like the author could have accomplished this without so many swears.  Despite that, students will really enjoy this book.          

Jessica Nelson Media Specialist

The Haunted by Danielle Vega - HIGH

The Haunted by Danielle Vega, 256 pages. Razorbill (Penguin), 2019. $18.      

Language: PG (34 swears, 4 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (Paranormal activity, violence to a baby)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS  - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Hendricks Becker-O'Malley is ready for a new start.  Her and her family have moved from Philadelphia to New York to start fresh and escape a tragic event involving Hendricks and her ex boyfriend.  The family moves to a ""fixer-upper"" the town calls the Steele House, which Hendricks soon learns through her classmates, it is said to be haunted. Not thinking much of the rumors, Hendricks continues life as the new girl in town but is soon hearing voices and seeing things.  Is she crazy? Hendricks befriends her mysterious neighbor Eddie who tells her the history of Steele House.  Determined not to let the past repeat itself, Hendricks attempts to rid the house of ghosts, but will she survive herself?

I enjoyed this haunted story of Hendricks and Eddie.  I fell into this book right from the beginning and was able to read it quickly. It had great pacing to keep my attention and very realistic teen characters.  I enjoyed the references to pop culture throughout the book which made an old fashion ghost story seem more relevant.  I also really liked the ending.  It was a good conclusion to a very catastrophic event.

Jessica Nelson Media Specialist

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking up With Me by Tamaki and Valero-O'Connell - HIGH

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, 304 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. First Second, 2019. $18                        

Language: R (17 swears, 9 “f”); Mature Content: NC-17 (Sex off the page, abortion, sleeping with a married man); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Frederica Riley is in love with Laura Dean, but Laura Dean keeps breaking up with her.  Freddy's friends cannot understand why she would keep going back to a girl who may be cute, popular and funny but is really thoughtless and can even be mean. Freddy decides to consult a mystic but is not too thrilled with the results of her visit.  She is also losing all of her friends in the mean time, especially her best friend Doodle. With the help of the advice columnist, Anna Vice, Freddy starts to understand what the important things in life are, and realizes a relationship with Laura Dean may not be that healthy after all."   "This novel may be important for certain students to read.  It shows how a same sex relationship can be very toxic and hurtful to be involved in.  I like how this book shows the main character Freddy going back to Laura Dean, but through the help of her friends, it shows why she shouldn't and what kind of person Laura Dean really is.  Sometimes it is hard to see this when in the relationship.

Some of this book was confusing because of the names and pictures.  The main character is named Freddy but I found myself forgetting she was actually a girl because of her name.  Her best friend is named Doodle and is a transgender character but it was hard to remember if he was a boy or a girl because of the pictures and his name. This book also talks about some heavy topics which some students may not be comfortable with. Overall, I liked the book and I feel like it has a good message that some students will really connect with.    

Jessica Nelson Media Specialist                                                                   

Grimoire Noir by Vera Greentea and Illustrated by Yana Bogatch –ESSENTIAL

Grimoire Noir by Vera Greentea and Illustrated by Yana Bogatch, 275 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. First Second (Macmillan), 2019 $18  

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13 (Kidnapping, Drowning).

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL:  AVERAGE

Bucky is a 15 year old with a big problem. His little sister is missing and it feels like no one is doing anything about it. She can’t have gone far, the small town where they live is protected by a magical barrier, a barrier meant to keep witches, like his little sister (and his mom) inside. In fact, all of the women in the town are witches, their power manifesting in a variety of ways. So Bucky, with a bit of help from his former best friend, Chamomile, decides to investigate But the witches of the town don’t take kindly to becoming suspects. In the meantime the entire town is flooding as his mother’s grief manifests as a magical rainstorm, and his father doesn’t want Bucky involved in the investigation.

First off the artwork in this book is just incredible. Some of the creepiest and most beautiful I have ever seen. The characters are just luminous. This was the perfect spooky read I have always wanted. Not nightmare inducing but still very chilling. I could not put this book down. The story was interesting and full of lots of little characters and details which helped to make the whole town seem very plausible. I think teen readers will love this, and since its fairly G rated, with no swearing or mature content, it’s a great fit for a school library as well. My only complaint is that cover is so dark, this book may be passed over, going unnoticed.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho –NOT RECOMMENDED

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho, 420 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2019 $19  Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG13 (romance); Violence: PG13 (Killing)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS -NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Jihoon is a teen with a lot of personality living in Seoul, South Korea. One night something unexpected happens, not only does he see a monster, but a girl his age fighting it. After he intervenes he meets Miyoung. She is a secret a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox devours the energy of men and in doing so can live forever. During the encounter she loses her fox bead, which is her soul, and later on uses it to save Jihoons life. Now the pair are connected, and both might perish because of it. Worst of all is that Miyoungs mother, is apt to intervene, which would result in the death of Jihoon. Will the pair be able to figure things out, will their friendship and their possible romance survive?

Modern Seoul is combined with legend and lots of culture for a very cool scene. The story is very interesting at first, learning about the two characters, and the other legendary creatures. But about halfway through it gets very repetitive with both characters feeling very ill and nothing much happening. I honestly didn’t even care to read the ending at that point, though things wrapped up nicely. If this book was half the length, I think I would have enjoyed it more, there just wasn’t enough world or interest to hold me for 420 pages.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Caster by Elsie Chapman – ADVISABLE

Caster by Elsie Chapman, 336 pages. Scholastic, 2019 $18  Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13(violent magic/injuries).

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Aza has real magic, but it comes with the price both physically and environmentally. She has no choice but to use it to help earn money that her family needs. When she accidentally stumbles on an opportunity to make more than enough money, it will test the very limits of both her power and her strength. But she walks a fine line, as real magic wielders are illegal and can even result and having your arms removed or worse.

This book has an interesting concept, especially the part where the magic effects the environment, which poses an interesting question to readers. There's a huge focus on the past which is a bit of a deterrent, even though it's a motivation for the main character, because you feel like you missed reading a previous book in the series, which there isn't one. When the action picks up it's pretty interesting and fun to read. The main ending was neat and I loved it, but then it continued with a ploy for a second book, which was jarring and maddening. 

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman - ESSENTIAL

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, 512 pgs. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012. $18.

Language: G; Mature Content: PG-13 (racism); Violence: PG-13 (combat and an assassination) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS—ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL—HIGH

In the kingdom of Goredd, an uneasy alliance has existed between dragons and humans for decades. Dragons are able to take on human form and walk among their human counterparts in the market, at the universities, or at the royal court. As the anniversary of the treaty between the two groups approaches, celebrations are planned at the same time tensions increase.

Seraphina Dombegh has earned a place at court because of her exceptional musical talent, but lives in fear as she feels threatened by both dragons and humans. She has a secret to protect and knows that if found out, the factions would seek to harm her.

When a member of the royal family is murdered and it appears that a dragon may be responsible, Seraphina joins forces with Prince Lucian Kiggs, captain of the Queen’s Guard, to investigate the tragedy and protect the peace and her life.

An original fantasy that mixes mystery, race relations, and romance. The main characters are intriguing and Seraphina’s battle to protect her secret while coming to terms with her own identity is well narrated. Worlds within worlds are created that are complex and rich with detail. As with most books that are written as part of a series, the first in this set unloads a great deal of information setting up future plot. This can cause some confusion and disconnection for the reader, but overall, does not present too much of an obstacle.

Reviewer: AEB

Nocturna by Maya Motayne - OPTIONAL

Nocturna by Maya Motayne, 480pgs. Balzer + Bray, 2019. $19.

Language: R (100+ no ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use); Violence: PG-13 (combat, assault, murder (off-page), mention of torture and child abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS—OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Prince Alfehr returns home after three months away to take up his duties as the crown prince. He was never supposed to be king, but when his brother was assassinated, he was forced to take on the mantle. Deep in his grief he begins to dabble in dark magic in an effort to bring his brother back. Finn Voy has the ability to alter her appearance at will and uses this magical ability often to commit criminal acts that enable her to survive. When Alfie’s dark dealings collide with the illicit exploits of Finn, they unlock true evil that threatens everything and everyone. With the future of the kingdom at stake, they must find a way to work together to vanquish the darkest of powers.

An intriguing premise gets quickly bogged down in a wordy and overwrought book. What could have been an exciting journey through a land full of magic becomes tiresome as simple conversations drag on for pages and violent confrontations between good and evil rapidly become stale. It is notable that a fantasy book has Latinx characters and settings, which is important and much needed for the representation that is lacking across all genres. Readers of fantasy will be able to find enough redeeming qualities to see the book through to the end; however, patience will be a necessity.

Reviewer: AEB

Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya - ADVISABLE

Each Tiny Spark Pablo Cartaya, 315 pages. Kokila (Penguin), 2019. $17.00

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Emilia Rosa Torres is easily distracted. Besides her ADHD, she has a lot going on - her father is recently returned from deployment, her mother is working out of town, and her homework is tricky - especially her social studies assignment: to make a travel guide of her town Merryville. Emilia's abuela is from Cuba, so she decides to focus on the local grocery store and Spanish speaking members of the community - where they work and what brought them there. Her choices put a strain on her friendship with Clarissa, her dad just isn't the same anymore - and he won't talk about it. 

Full of lots of current issues - immigration, school boundary changes, culture differences, post deployment syndrome, and family dynamics, there's a lot going on. This is a great opportunity for the hispanic child to see herself in Emilia. Cartaya has interspersed the dialogue with Spanish, which, in context doesn't need to be translated - it contributed to the multicultural feel of this book. I would have liked to see more welding, it wasn't really that important to the plot. Includes an author's note which contains a list of resources for more information about the topics covered, and a challenge to be the spark that makes a difference.

Lisa Librarian

The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey - ADVISABLE

The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey, 336 pages. Swoon Reads (MacMillan), 2019. $18


Language: G (0 'F'); Content: G; Violence: PG13 (kidnapping, knife violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

After a carriage incident right outside his manor, Lord James Ellerby takes in an injured young woman who awakens with no memory of who she is or how she came to be there. The only clues to her identity or the horrific nightmares she wakes from nearly every night. The entire Ellerby family befriends Beth--as she calls herself--and begins to try and unravel the mystery of who she is. Dangerous forces are definitely at work, and the race is on to solve the mystery before somebody else gets hurt.

This is the second Anstey novel I've read and this one was far superior to the last. I really enjoyed the story (and the romance!) that unfolded in this period romantic mystery. There are great twists and turns, interesting characters, and the book is 100% clean for language and sexual content. I think this will be a big hit for mystery or romance fans.

Reviewer: TC 

Indebted by Charmayne Hafen - OPTIONAL

Indebted by Charmayne Hafen, 300 pages. Capture Books, 2018. $15.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Princess Wren is trapped in her own castle by her grieving father after the disappearance of her mother. But after years of acting in secret to find happiness where her father would forbid it if he knew, Wren finds word about a contest. A contest she is determined to win to show everyone that she is more than a princess.

Hafen writes as an emergent writer, with an appealing but unpolished story. Her writing finds a space between genuine and forced, especially with the Christian theme she wants to highlight. With prayers, scriptures, and discussions of belief, Hafen successfully communicates her values to readers. However, though the intent is genuine, the execution seemed forced. Dialogue was stilted, and the characters didn’t always seem to respond naturally according to the way they were written. The story isn’t bad, it just comes across as choppy, occasionally inconsistent, and a little cheesy at times. The mature content rating is for brief nudity.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen