Auriane Desombre's middle grade debut is a reverse parent trap: what if two potential step-sisters worked together to break their parents up? Autumn has lived with her mom and brother in New York City her whole life. She and her BFF Saskia finally get to explore the city just the two of them-- well, a [...]
How do you put into words a book that touched your heart? I adored David Levithan's Answers in the Pages, but I knew this review would be incredibly difficult to write. Levithan captures the heart and humanity of an often-discussed issue in an accessible and easily digestible way. It put into words that feeling, deep [...]
Tae Keller's Jennifer Chan is Not Alone is an engrossing and relatable novel for middle grade and adult readers alike. Insightful and incisive, Jennifer Chan is Not Alone tackles crucial topics with authenticity and vulnerability. Mallory has survived middle school--so far-- because her best friend Reagan has taught her how to fit in. Mallory's world [...]
Sixth grader Winnie Zeng has two goals: survive middle school and beat her longtime opponent David at Chinese school and piano competitions. To prepare for middle school, Winnie has studied comic books and anime. The only problem is that one common thread in those stories is magical powers, and she obviously doesn't have those. Or [...]
Lies, privilege, and family drama combine into one explosive novel from Julie Buxbaum. In Year on Fire, friend group Paige, Arch, and Immie have their lives turned upside down days before the first day of Junior year by a single kiss. When the girl's bathroom is set aflame and rumors of arson start swirling, the [...]
Does My Body Offend You? by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt is a fantastic YA novel that tackles tough, relevant topics in an engaging and engrossing way. Full of visceral moments that will pull you right back into those high school days, where at any moment you could be forced to stand and have your [...]
Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti is a masterpiece of magical realism, transporting the reader to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas and into a game of chance betwixt Life and Death. Life and Death meet each year to play the card game Lotería with the highest of stakes: a person's life. If Life wins the game, the person [...]
Tess Little's The Last Guest is a provocative mystery dripping with intrigue, perfect for armchair detectives. The morning after an elite Hollywood director's birthday party, he's found dead by his own party guests. When the police rule his death a murder, all eight guests are under suspicion. Each has a motive and opportunity-- who is [...]
Kristin Miller's The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives takes readers into a prestigious gated community in San Francisco, where what's inside the gated community may be more dangerous than what's outside. Georgia St. Clair has been dubbed the Black Widow after two of her husbands mysteriously died early in their marriage. Erin is the president [...]
Jackie Fraser's The Bookshop of Second Chances is a meandering novel that explores what happens when one woman takes a leap of faith and changes her life, without really intending to. Thea is recently separated from her cheating spouse when she receives notice that she's inherited a house in Scotland. She sets out to sort [...]
Paw Prints in the Sink 