Mahalia wanted a big Sweet 16 party like her friends, but it wasn't in the budget. She knows it's too late for a Sweet 16-- but what if she threw herself an epic coming out party? A party to end all parties, a party that celebrates being young and queer and full of joy? She [...]
Jesse Q. Sutanto's Well, That Was Unexpected is a YA rom-com that hits the mark perfectly. Sharlot's life is turned upside down when her mother finds her in a compromising situation, and subsequently takes her to her mother's birthplace of Indonesia for the summer. Sharlot thinks this is the worst punishment ever... until she discovers [...]
Ebony LaDelle's Love Radio is a love letter to Detroit, to young love, and to figuring out how to love yourself. Prince Jones may only be in high school, but his status as a DJ giving love advice has elevated him to nearly local celebrity levels. Danielle Ford has all but withdrawn from her former [...]
Maggie Stiefvater whisks readers away to long ago Scotland in Bravely, a novel continuation of the Pixar movie Brave. As a longtime fan of Brave, I was both ecstatic and apprehensive about a novel continuation. The same conundrums that put fear in the hearts of readers as their favorite books are adapted into films persists [...]
It's almost June, somehow, and I just finished my first semester as a graduate student. I'm working towards earning my Master of Fine Arts in writing for children and young adults, and so I have been doing a LOT of reading. Here are my top reads of 2022, so far: Picture Book: Fry Bread, Kevin [...]
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 [...]
Novels in verse are books with a full and complete plot told in poetic verse. These novels lend themselves to topics that have emotional depth and resonance. Novels in verse can also be laugh out loud funny, and have all the great qualities prose novels have as well, including well-developed characters and an interesting plot. [...]
The past few years have demonstrated our need for a better understanding and taking care of mental health. Thankfully, there are many children's books that focus on this topic in a compassionate and approachable way, making this big concept topic accessible for people of all ages. Here are some of my favorites! You can view [...]
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 [...]
Paw Prints in the Sink 