Young Adult Titles

Watership Down (graphic novel) – book review

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Watership Down Graphic novel adaptation by Richard Adams, James Sturm, Joe Sutphin Adventure Fiction Fantasy (because, talking rabbits) Graphic Novel * * * * Stars (Great!) This is an excellent graphic novel adaptation of Richard Adams’ book, “Watership Down.” It captures the personalities of the rabbits and the urgency of their perilous quest to find a new, safe home to call their own, when developers destroy their old home. Adams created a wonderful world, mythology, … Read more

Lumara – book review

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Lumara by Melissa Landers Fantasy Supernatural Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) Talia Morris has been wronged by Mystics before and when she learns that her boyfriend, Nathaniel IS one and hails from Lumara, a famous Mystic island enclave, she’s a lot of things. Shocked, distressed, furious… But she agrees to give his family a chance when he invites her to attend his cousin’s wedding on the island. Things seem to be going well … Read more

D&D Dungeon Club: Roll Call – book review

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D&D Dungeon Club: Roll Call by Molly Knox Ostertag and Xanthe Bouma Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Jess and Olivia have been best friends for a long time and have been playing D&D together for much of that time. Now that they’re in 8th grade, Olivia has a plan to start a D&D club at school and bring in other folks to join the campaign. Jess is NOT on board … Read more

What the Hex – book review

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What the Hex? Witches of Brooklyn bk #2 by Sophie Escabasse Fantasy Graphic Novel Mystery Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Effie is miffed because her friend Berrit made a new friend over winter break and has been completely ignoring her. It’s hard to compete with Garance, who is cool and French and a great artist. Everyone else seems to like her a lot. These sorts of mundane concerns are distracting Effie from … Read more

Witches of Brooklyn – book review

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Witches of Brooklyn Witches of Brooklyn bk #1 by Sophie Escabasse Fantasy Graphic Novel Supernatural * * * * Stars (Great!) Effie arrives at her elderly aunt’s house in Brooklyn in the middle of the night accompanied by a man from child/social services. Although Effie’s aunt Selimene is her only surviving relative, Selimene has received no prior notice of the situation and is not prepared to take her niece in. After a lot of yelling, … Read more

Body Market – book review

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The Body Market Unplugged trilogy, book #2 by Donna Freitas Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Skylar makes it out of the app world and once again inhabits her body in the real world. It’s both amazing and terrifying. She discovers that her family are way more powerful and politically connected than she knew (in both the real and virtual worlds), and her sister, Jude, has orchestrated a plan to sell the bodies … Read more

Mars One – book review

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Mars One by Jonathan Maberry Realistic Fiction Romance Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Tristan and his family are part of the Mars One mission – something they signed up for as a family a long time ago. They’ll be among the first colonists to go to Mars. And when they do, they’ll be leaving Earth and all of its entanglements behind forever. Tristan will have to leave his friends, and most particularly … Read more

Amy’s Big Brother – book review

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Amy’s Big Brother by BonHyung Jeong Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) In this companion novel to “Kyle’s Little Sister,” we meet Amy’s big brother, Andrew. He thinks his little sister is super annoying (she is always in his business) and is thrilled that they’re going to different schools now that he’s in middle school. Andrew’s main love is basketball, until he meets Hannah. Now she’s all he can think about! … Read more

Not Sew Wicked Stepmom – book review

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Not Sew Wicked Stepmom by Mo9Rang (original story by Iru) Fantasy Manga * * * Stars (Pretty good) Baekhap Lee used to design children’s clothing in her previous life. When she dies, she is reincarnated/transported into the body of Snow White’s evil stepmother (Abigail Freidkin). She finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage – something the body’s previous spirit cared about – to King Sabrian Freidkin – but Baekhap only cares about her stepdaughter, Blanche, … Read more

Refugee High – book review

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Refugee High: Coming of Age in America by Elly Fishman Nonfiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) A reporter spends a year (2017-2018) following the lives of students at the Roger C. Sullivan High School. The students are all refugees whose families have fled bad situations in their homelands. They all come from different nations and cultures, and they speak different languages, but they share a common experience of being in a foreign place where … Read more