YA Librarian Reviews

Caraval – Read It and Rate It

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Caraval Caraval series, bk #1 by Stephanie Garber Adventure Fantasy Mystery Romance Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) “Caraval” by Stephanie Garber follows sisters Scarlett and Donatella Dragna, who live under their abusive father’s control. Both of them dream of attending Caraval, a magical performance where the audience participates in a game. Just as Scarlett is about to enter an arranged marriage to escape their father, she receives an invitation to … Read more

Survivor Wants to Die at the End – Read It and Rate It

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The Survivor Wants to Die at the End Death-Cast #3 by Adam Silvera LGBTQ+ Romance Science Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) On Earth, where death runs rampant, a large company called “Death-Cast” seeks to fix that problem by predicting the deaths of those who sign up. Many people find this program to be a blessing, ensuring that they can say their goodbyes and find peace before death. Others find it to … Read more

Sorceress Comes to Call – book review

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A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) Cordelia’s mother Evangeline is a sorceress who often makes her behave by taking control of her body. She’s not allowed any privacy, and if her mother disapproves of anything she does she is punished by being made to be obedient. It is the most horrible feeling/experience. When their current benefactor stops paying the bills, Evangeline decides that it’s time for … Read more

Wrong Way Home – book review

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The Wrong Way Home By Kate O’Shaughnessy Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Frankie (Fern) and her mom (Jamie) live in an “off-the-grid, self-sustaining community” run by Dr. Ben. On the “Ranch” they eschew technology and practices that are harmful to the Earth, and chemicals that are bad for the environment. They grow their own food and make their own clothes – all under Dr. Ben’s guidance. Fern worships Dr. Ben and when … Read more

Seagarden – book review

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Seagarden Plotting the Stars #2 by Michelle A. Barry Fantasy Mystery Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Myra and her friends saw their secret moon garden destroyed when it was discovered. They’ve started another one, but it’s not ideal. What’s worse is that Myra’s Botan magic seems to be going wrong when she tries to use it (something to do with the trauma of what she experienced with the previous garden). They’re still … Read more

Bunnybirds – book review

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Bunnybirds by Natalie Lim Fantasy Graphic Novel Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) The Bunnybirds exist in a joyful state where nothing really seems to bother them. This isn’t really true, but that’s the facade they are supposed to project – especially their Princess. But when other members of the flock start disappearing and the Princess Aster starts having prophetic dreams about what’s happened to them, it’s hard to be joyful. When the King … Read more

Nothing Special – book review

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Through the Elder Woods Nothing Special, v. 1 by Katie Cook Adventure Fantasy Funny Graphic Novel * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Callie’s dad has a magical items shop, and he regularly goes through the gate (she’s not allowed) into another world where he retrieves these objects. The reason of WHY she’s not allowed beyond the gate is a discussion they’ve tabled until she’s older, but before they can have that talk, he disappears. … Read more

All Better Now – book review

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All Better Now by Neal Shusterman Science Fiction Thriller The world has barely recovered from COVID when the next virus attacks. This one, known as Crown Royale, is also devastatingly lethal for some folks, but those that survive – and even those that don’t, in their last minutes – experience a complete change in perspective. They become kinder, gentler, more helpful people. Two factions are arising – those that think the virus is a positive … Read more

Partition Project – book review

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The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Maha is initially unenthusiastic when her Dadi (grandmother) comes from Pakistan to live with their family in the US. Not only does she have to give up her bedroom and move into the attic, but since Maha’s parents are both very busy (dad is a doctor and mom is a nutritionist) they make Maha responsible for Dadi – she is supposed … Read more

Miles Away from You – book review

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Miles Away from You by A. B. Rutledge LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Miles and Vivian were brilliant together. They created a website that attracted millions of creative, artistic people like themselves, and they were so very, very in love. But then Vivian tried to kill herself by taking too many pills and she wound up in a coma – neither dead nor alive. Her ultra-conservative parents swooped in and … Read more