Review: Three Things I Know Are True

Three Things I Know Are True
by Betty Culley

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 7th, 2020

In Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley, everything changes after Liv’s brother, Jonah, accidentally shoots himself with his friend Clay’s father’s gun. Now he requires 24/7 care to stay alive. When their mother decides to sue Clay’s family, Liv becomes torn between her love for her brother and her friendship with Clay. Written in verse, Three Things I Know Are True is a poetic gem. It grippingly displays the aftermath and misery of a gun accident. Liv’s character is beautifully developed throughout the novel, encouraging the reader to root for her through every step. Three Things I Know Are True is truly unique and highly recommended.

                                                                      

Review: The Meaning of Birds

The Meaning of Birds
by Jaye Robin Brown

Publisher: Harperteen
Publication Date: April 16, 2019

From the moment they met, Jess and Vivi were inseparable. Vivi helped Jess with her anger and taught her to channel it into art. Jess’s whole future was planned with Vivi. But in their senior year of high school, that all fell apart when Vivi suddenly died. Jess is lost in her grief and anger and falls into self-destructive patterns. She can’t turn to art, because it reminds her of Vivi. All that comes out is anger and pain. Luckily, Jess meets a mentor who helps her find a new outlet for her emotions. THE MEANING OF BIRDS tells Jess’s story in the present peppered with flashbacks to her past with Vivi in an emotional journey of grief and healing. 

Jess has anger issues and doesn’t always make smart choices, which is exacerbated by losing her girlfriend. This is nicely juxtaposed with scenes of how Vivi helped her with those flaws, which helps the reader empathize with Jess’s loss. Their relationship was really cute and sweet, although Vivi’s character seems a little flat to me. I like Jess’s stylish and fierce best friend Cheyanne, but it bothered me how Jess doesn’t always respect her disinterest in dating. After Jess pushes Cheyanne away in anger, Jess starts to hang out with their mutual friend Levi more. He’s nice and helps her with some issues, but his character annoys me. I don’t like how Jess knowingly leads him on, but after Vivi’s death, she makes some really stupid mistakes. Overall, I did enjoy reading this. I like Brown’s writing style and the pacing of the book. THE MEANING OF BIRDS is a sad but lovely story about grief, love, and ultimately, healing. 

Review: What If It's Us

What If It's Us
by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: October 9, 2018

WHAT IF IT'S US is the story of two boys’ summer in New York City. For Arthur, who’s

only in the city for the summer, anything could happen between his law-firm internship and love for Broadway. But Ben disagrees with the fact that anything could happen, as he’s stuck in summer-school with his ex-boyfriend. But when the two of them meet-cute at a post office as Ben tries to ship off a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things, both of their worlds seem to change in a way they never thought possible. That is, until they get separated. Then reunited. Then go through a multitude of do-over dates. As the summer begins to come to a close, Arthur and Ben must try to figure out just the right amount of love they are able to give to each other before it is too late. Or is it already too late? 

There were so many amazing parts to this book. For starters, the characters. Both boys are unique in a way I have rarely seen characters be. Arthur is an aspiring Yale student with ADHD whose sky-high grades and fancy internship make him seem like a serious and strict student. But really he is a nerdy and talkative boy who is never afraid to speak his mind about injustices and who raves about Hamilton and his other favorite Broadway shows on the daily. Ben is a handsome and well put together boy who could’ve easily been one of the popular kids. But inside he is a boy who struggled at school, who wrestles with how to represent his heritage every day, and who secretly spends hours alone in his room working on his book and playing the Sims. The author also created some of the best side characters I have ever read too. Dylan, for example, is the coffee-loving and always-joking friend of Ben’s who constantly has a new girlfriend. Only he also suffers from life-threatening panic attacks. I was in love with how realistic these characters were, and how they each felt like people I see daily, from girls obsessed to social media followings, to secretly grieving boys.

These characters and their traits of course went greatly with the overall feel of the book.

They were constantly joking, but were serious, went on cutesy dates, but had deep conversations about identity and worry. It is no surprise that they went along beautifully with the city of New York. Through the bustling streets and constantly moving crowds, I always felt like I was with them as the story progressed, almost like I was a friend of theirs. This is what I think made the plot feel especially special. In no sense did it feel like the plot was happening to them as twists and turns just fell casually into their laps. It felt like they were real people finding their way through the awkward days of a beginning of a relationship, with nothing too dramatic happening to make them feel fake, and nothing too boring to make the plot feel like it was not progressing.

Of course this review would not be complete without mentioning the beautiful writing of

Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli. Like watching a swoony sitcom, their writing was some of the more immersive prose I’ve read in ages. Written in the voices of their main characters, two teen boys, but still filled with beautiful and relatable sentences, it often felt like we were getting to look out of Arthur and Ben’s eyes in real time. In a world where contemporary books can often come off flat, this was amazing.

I hope that you enjoyed this review! As a fan of both of these authors, I was so excited

for this book, and justifiably so. If you love cute LGBT contemporary romances that tell stories way deeper than the romance of two boys, that are bound to make you swoon over the smallest of gestures, this is definitely the book for you. Filled with modern-day references and current issues, WHAT IF IT'S US is not a book to be missed. 

Review: These Rebel Waves

These Rebel Waves
by Sara Raasch

Publisher: Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
Publication Date: August 7, 2018

THESE REBEL WAVES tells the interwoven tale of three people whose lives are dependent on the rulings of two countries, Grace Loray and Agrid. Adeluna fought as a soldier for the magic-filled island of Grace Loray during the war that ended five years ago. She thought she was able to save the people from Agrid’s oppression, but when a Agridian delegate vanishes during peace talks, everything she worked for may soon be erased. Devereux is one of Grace Loray’s stream raiders, a pirate who deals in the island’s magical plants. But when Agrid accuses him and the rest of the stream raiders of kidnapping the delegate, he agrees to help Adeluna find him. Benat is the crown prince of Agrid. But unlike his magic-fearing people, he believes it could be used to heal. So when his father gives him the job of reversing Agrid’s fear, he must decide if changing his people’s lives is worth potentially losing his. But as new information is revealed and more players join the game, the three of them must decide how much they are willing to pay for peace.

This book has all the elements of a blockbuster novel, and it delivers excellently. Starting with the setting itself, the author clearly put a lot of research into it. From the lush plants that could be found around the island to the extremist church group that controls Agrid, readers are quickly immersed in how well developed everything is. While reading, I always found myself being sucked in to the author’s descriptive prose that makes you feel like what she was describing was actual history. Things like extreme and cultish religion can be hard to portray in books, but the author still found a way to do it excellently. This includes a multitude of magical experimentation which Raasch describes in a way that makes it sound like she was conducting them herself. The author also did an amazing job making sure that Grace Loray’s side of things wasn’t too biased, so their government didn’t seem like they were the absolutely good guys and that they could do no harm. I found that balancing and providing two sides to the coin like that enhanced the book beautifully and made it feel so much more real.

Another part of this book that I absolutely adored were the characters. None of them felt fake and overdone. None of them felt incomplete and undeveloped. A problem that frequently arises with books like this, is that the author often makes the characters tragic and overload them with dark and depressing backstory. And though these characters did have that, none of them used it to overload their personalities. It never felt like the only things that made up the characters were where they came from. Rather, these backstories helped guide the characters to where they might be, giving us insight to what they might do later on.

Adeluna, for example, was a character who was everything a typical badass female lead could be: smart, strong, and beautiful. She also plays the role of the sheltered-princess type despite fighting in a disastrous war. But what made her so different than other characters is that she not only showed that she is beyond and better than that, but she also showed that even ‘perfect’ girls can be wrong, and have faults. An example of something I found that made her different than other characters was something that occurred early on in the book. Adeluna is in an intense fighting scene (that I won’t describe even though it happens very early on) during which she does some complex moves. Typically when an ex-soldier-warrior-princess-like character does this, they do it perfectly. But though Adeluna did execute the move with finesse, she did think at one point "Oh, I wonder if I still remember how to do this. It’s been a while after all." I’m paraphrasing of course, but I found this thought to be interesting because it is so rare to see doubt in fighting ability from a character type like hers. This was just one example of many of how the author truly went beyond the standards of characters in typical fantasy novels to make hers unique.

Of course, no good cast of characters would be complete without an equally excellent plot. And the author delivered this perfectly, taking readers on a thrill ride which combined adventure, political intrigue, a slow building romance, and just a dash of magic to make the perfect novel for fantasy lovers. Readers will fall in love with the subplots of this book and the terrifying flashbacks that will integrate an element of surprise into the book that readers won’t see coming.

I would recommend this book to fantasy lovers, but also to people who enjoy reading books that feel like they were inspired by history. Also, if you love seeing LGBT characters and romance featured in fantasy, you will be happy to know that THESE REBEL WAVES features this (which isn’t typical in pirate fantasy like this). THESE REBEL WAVES is a book that won’t let you down if you are looking for a breathtaking adventure that will leave you begging for more.

Review: The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
by Lauren James

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: July 3, 2018

The only life that Romy Silvers has ever known is the inside of a massive spaceship tasked with colonizing a new Earth-like planet. Still, when her two astronaut parents are killed, leaving her by herself on the Infinity, she feels utterly alone besides the brief messages from her therapist on Earth as she continues her journey. But that all changes when NASA alerts her that another ship, the Eternity, will be joining the Infinity. When Romy begins to exchange messages with its charismatic captain, J, she thinks nothing could go wrong now that she has this newfound friendship. But as the two of them get closer to meeting, Romy realizes that J’s mission might be one she could never have imagined.

Surprisingly for such a short book, it was amazing. The author included so many cool aspects that you would never expect to see in a sci-fi. For one, the plot was full of constant twists despite the fact that Romy is living alone in a giant spaceship. The author was able to accomplish this through email-like messages as well as notifications from the ship itself. It would be revealing too much to say exactly what was transpiring through the messages, but it would not be an understatement to say they added to the overall eerie feeling of the book. The setting itself also made the whole book feel mysterious as the ship was riddled with strange malfunctions and breakdowns.

The plot also featured heavy reference to a supernatural TV series that Romy really likes called Loch and Ness. When I first began reading this book, I was surprised by the heavy references to this series as the main character often fangirled about it and even wrote fanfiction! I was shocked because I never believed this sort of aspect could be included in a sci-fi book. And not only was it included, but it was an important plot device that was used throughout the book. But this was not the first part of this book that left me shocked.

In terms of characters, Romy was one that I found to be pretty unique in YA. For one, despite the fact that she has lived her entire life in space, she is pretty much like any other teenage girl. She fangirls, she gets lazy, she has homework sent to her, etc. But she also gets anxiety. This was one of the surprise aspects that I mentioned earlier. Who would expect to read about a character that suffers from panic attacks in a sci-fi book? And not only was it written about, but it was written about well. I loved how authentic the author made Romy’s experience feel. And the author didn’t make it feel like a plot device, nor did she use it like a fun little thing to add. The author wrote about Romy’s anxiety as just another part of her life. Readers who relate to her will be very surprised by the author’s honest portrayal as they gain representation in a genre that doesn’t typically deal with issues like this.

The only negative thing that I have to say about this book is that the antagonist seemed too much like a cookie-cutter type of villain. Despite this, he still provided for great plot advancements and twists that readers will never see coming.

I recommend this book for sci-fi lovers looking for a new twist on the genre. James is truly innovative with this book and even readers who don’t typically read sci-fi will enjoy it greatly. This book is great for fans of HONOR AMONG THIEVES or BRIGHTLY BURNING because of the space-ship setting.

Review: Always Forever Maybe

Always Forever Maybe
by Anica Mrose Rissi

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 5, 2018

ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE by Amica Mrose Rissi tells the beautiful story of a girl falling in love for the first time... and all that comes with it in this case. What starts out as a storybook romance, a fairytale connection, soon takes a turn. Bee first starts cutting her family from her life, than her best friend, and one by one she becomes more and more alone, even though she seemingly has everything she’s always wanted. 

This book shows us how devastating love and physical attraction can truly be, but also how sometimes it takes tragedy to finally see the light. I couldn’t put this book down until it was finished, and I thought it was very well written and truly draws you in.

Review: Mariam Sharma Hits the Road

Mariam Sharma Hits the Road
by Sheba Karim

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 5, 2018

MARIAM SHARMA HITS THE ROAD by Sheba Karim is a profound, thoughtful, and above all, fun trek through the American south as three Pakistani-American teenagers go on the road trip of a lifetime. One is a passionate environmentalist trying to make peace with a father who abandoned her, one is a devout Muslim struggling to accept his own homosexuality, and one is an atheist thrown out of her house by Muslim parents after a scandalous photo of her makes its way to Times Square. Together, they are three emotionally messed up teenagers who are coming to terms with their lives and choices, all while on an often hilarious, always exciting trip from New Jersey to New Orleans. At its heart, MARIAM SHARMA HITS THE ROAD is a book addressing important issues such as Islamophobia, homophobia, parents, growing up, and being grateful for what you have.

Review: Crossing the Line

Crossing the Line
by Simone Elkeles

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 12, 2018

CROSSING THE LINE by Simone Elkeles is a novel written from two different perspectives. One narrator, named Ryan, is a teen who crosses the border from Texas into Mexico to learn to box and to escape his family. The other narrator is named Delilah, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer. When the two meet, they become entangled in a dramatic tale of murder and betrayal set amidst the drug wars of the US/Mexico border.  

The double narrative was a pleasant change from the straightforward single narrator of most novels. The author captured both sides of the story well, and the plot was never stagnant. It was a fast-paced and exciting tale of life on the border.

Review: Summer of Salt

Summer of Salt
by Katrina Leno

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 5, 2018

SUMMER OF SALT is a surreal, yet very comforting novel about magic. Georgina and Mary are twins, daughters of Penelope Fernweh, but they could not be more different. Penelope owns the only inn on the island of By-The-Sea, and Georgina and Mary work there during the summers, when hobby ornithologists come, looking for a bird who may or may not be three hundred years old – it’s likely – and may definitely totally possibly be a long-lost family member. The bird’s name – it has a name, oh yes – is Annabella. Every single woman in the Fernweh family is magic, including Georgina’s mother (expert potion-maker) and sister (Mary can float). Except Georgina. 

Georgina has no idea what she can do. All the Fernweh women have discovered their powers by their eighteenth birthday at the latest, if there are any powers. Georgina is seventeen, and hasn’t felt or seen any ounce of her own magic in the world. And she feels worse knowing Mary’s kind is extremely obvious. Mary’s kind is so obvious, in fact, that she has to learn to control her powers, or risk floating a few inches of the ground as she introduces herself to her college roommate when she and Georgina leave after the summer is over. This is their last year on the island, and every year without fail, Annabella comes on a certain date of a certain month, and with her arrive the inn guests. But this year, Annabella is late. 

Oh, and, this is the year Georgina decides to fall in love. 

SUMMER OF SALT is so sweet, and so deep. Even with all the chaos that love brings, there is a strong innocence there too. When Georgina kisses Prue for the first time, I was practically willing it to last longer. Everything on the island of By-The-Sea is so quaint, I myself fell in love with the town, as well. Some books you read, you appreciate the story but don’t feel in the story, you feel connected but not empathetic. This book is rare, because it is not like that at all. I felt inside the story, inside their bodies and minds. Each time I read parts of it, in the comfort of my bed, on the sofa with light streaming onto the fabric, in the bath, even, I smelled the salt and the brine, heard the waves, felt the floods. To me, the ocean smells like gasoline, feels like wind, and sounds like birds, so I was able to project some of my senses onto the novel too. Even though I live far closer the beach than a Midwesterner might, Summer Of Salt induced ocean-related nostalgia in me as well. 

Not only did Katrina Leno write the descriptions well, she wrote the characters supremely. Mary was so many stereotypes and clichés all rolled into one, Peter was average and slightly pathetic, Vira seemed like Katrina was trying to hard to give our main character a “weird friend,” Prue seemed like the “perfect, dolled up” love interest, and Harrison was sort of useless and distant, but of course, when sh%t hits the fan, every single main character shows their true colors. Vira became, in a couple of choice words, effortless and bad%ss. Mary was more fragile and humane than I think any of us were expecting. Peter was anything but average, yet still pathetic, in the pitiful, troubled way. Harrison grew into one of the best friends Georgina could ever have. And we discovered Prue has motion sickness. 

This book was feminist and humanist, and ended strongly and gently. Simply put, I loved it.   

Review: Questions I Want to Ask You

Questions I Want to Ask You
by Michelle Falkoff

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 29, 2018

QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK YOU by Michelle Falkoff is about Patrick "Pack" Walsh, a high school senior. On his eighteenth birthday he recieves a letter from his mother who he thought was dead. This leads Pack to investigate and hunt for his mom. I enjoyed reading this book.  There are a few really good plot twists. I liked the characters a lot. Overall, it was a good book that I definitely recommend!

Review: All of This Is True

All of This Is True
by Lygia Day Peñaflor

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 15, 2018

When four teenagers befriend their favorite YA author, they don’t suspect that anything will go horribly wrong. Miri Tan just figures that her plan to get to know the author has been successful. Soleil Johnston is happy because the mysterious new boy Jonah Nicholls has started to hang out with them. Penny Panzarella hopes that with their newfound friendship, she can show her school that she is more than just an airhead party girl. Yet things can’t always go your way, and the teens figure that out when author Fatima Ro’s pleas for them to be "transparent" with her turn into her manipulating them so they become the plot of her newest book. And we all know you can’t write a book without a good twist.

This book has so many amazing aspects. For one, it has an amazing method of communicating the story: through "documents" gathered about what happened. These documents include transcripts of interviews, diary entries, and snippets of the book that Fatima wrote on the protagonists. I really enjoyed this because it made you feel a lot like you are actually in the story and experiencing it just like a real scandal is going on.

On to the actual story. At first I was a bit bored. Peñaflor pretty quickly revealed what the big "twist" was that made the group so scandalized. After I read this, I figured what more could they do? But this idea was quickly dismissed in the middle of the book when things began to pick up. This was very interesting because a lot of times when authors reveal the twist too early, the rest of the book feels pale and weak in comparison. In this book, the author did the opposite of that. The author even made it so readers feel almost like they are spoiling the book for themselves through the "excerpts" of Fatima Ro's book.

Another great aspect of this book was the characters. I don’t think I have ever read more relatable characters in a YA book before. The three main girls were all book nerds in love with YA (which many readers could relate to) who each have different distinct teen personalities from the suck up, to the victim, and the one who just wants to fit in.

Overall, I recommend this book for fans of ILLUMINAE because even if they are not in the same genre, they utilize similar methods of storytelling. Also, this book is best for teenagers because of references to rape and mild violence.  

Review: A Lite Too Bright

A Lite Too Bright
by Samuel Miller

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 8, 2018

A LITE TOO BRIGHT by Samuel Miller is the story of Arthur Louis Pullman the Third. Arthur’s grandfather was an author and his only book became one of the most famous books ever written. But five years before Arthur the Third’s story takes place, his famous grandfather, severely disabled by dementia, sets off on a bizarre trip across the United States and turns up dead two thousand miles from where he began. At the beginning of the novel, Arthur Louis Pullman the Third discovers a clue left for him by his grandfather and begins on an adventure that would finally teach him the truth behind his grandfather’s life.

Miller’s debut novel was a delight; equal parts charming, intriguing, thrilling, and puzzling. Arthur’s journey is fast-paced and exciting, and Miller’s writing is extraordinary. Often incorporating bits of writing from the style of Arthur’s grandfather, Miller’s skillful writing pulled me in and kept me interested. The settings of the places Arthur visits are described so vividly, I felt like I was there with him. A LITE TOO BRIGHT is a figurative journey inside a literal journey, and Miller executes the story to perfection. In addition, the themes discussed in this novel are powerful and immensely meaningful, such as loss, healing, family, friendship. For any readers interested in mysteries, adventure, or just really good writing, A LITE TOO BRIGHT is a must read!

Review: Here So Far Away

Here So Far Away
by Hadley Dyer

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: March 20, 2018

Meet George. Her real name is Frances, but no one calls her that. George is your typical high school senior; she drinks, she parties, she stresses out about college. However, when George gets isolated from her best friends after a sudden falling out, her life is dramatically changed. After being estranged from her friends, George goes to work for a benign 82-year-old and his messy house, farm, and pet pig. Through this work, George becomes closer to the town’s newcomer, Francis. Their bond grows past their shared name, which eventually raises many issues, such as a large age gap and the fact that Francis works for George’s father. With a second half full of twists and turns, HERE SO FAR AWAY by Hadley Dyer is a very enjoyable and exciting book.

Despite her reliance on young adult book cliches, Dyer manages to turn a somewhat plain storyline into something that rises above similar books. Through strong writing, addictive subplots, and down to earth characters, HERE SO FAR AWAY is a book that would definitely be enjoyed by most. With a strong sense of nostalgia throughout, Dyer roped me in from the get-go. Despite originally being hesitant about its less-than-original premise, I was thoroughly surprised and even impressed by this roller coaster tale of redemption, unrequited love, grief, and ultimately, the power of friendship.

Review: Shadow Girl

Shadow Girl
by Liana Liu

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: December 19, 2017

SHADOW GIRL by Liana Liu is about a girl who just graduated college named Wei. She goes to a big mansion for one month over the summer to tutor a rich man's daughter (Ella). At first everything seems perfect. But Mei starts hearing strange noises and tensions start rising in the house. This novel is really a coming of age novel that is written perfectly. It's not just any dry coming of age book; there are many side plots but it isn't confusing. I enjoyed the writing style very much. The plot twists kept me reading way past the time I was supposed to be asleep. This was truly a good book.

Review: Now Is Everything

Now Is Everything
by Amy Giles

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: November 7, 2017

NOW IS EVERYTHING by Amy Giles is a dark family drama that deals with abuse, love, and sisterhood. Protagonist Hadley is willing to do anything to protect her younger sister, Lila, from her violent father, but as the stakes increase, she senses she’s running out of time. I’m not going to say much more than that, because the book is, in some ways, a mystery. I enjoyed reading about Hadley and Lila’s relationship; it is incredibly genuine and heartbreaking how much they care about each other. Hadley also explores a forbidden romance with Charlie Simmons, who becomes her confidante and ally; I loved their relationship as well.

I generally lean towards dark material in my book choices, but the graphic violence in NOW IS EVERYTHING was a lot to handle even for me. Hadley is also suicidal at some points in the book, so readers should be conscious of this. Because of the suicidal themes, violence, and substance abuse, I would recommend this book for older teens.

Review: Otherworld

Otherworld
by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: October 31, 2017

When Simon’s best friend, Kat, is diagnosed with “Locked-in” syndrome, Simon is horrified. Fortunately, there is an experimental technology that puts a patient's mind in a virtual world, free to do whatever they want while crippled in the real world. In order to communicate with Kat, Simon sends himself into the virtual world and tries to bring her mind back to her body. 

This book very quickly became one of my favorite books of all time. Most of the characters are well developed by the end of the novel, and most characters serve a purpose that is essential for the plot. One thing I really enjoyed about OTHERWORLD is that the romance (which seems almost mandatory in most new Science Fiction books) does not seem forced; Simon develops a romantic relationship with his best friend, not someone who he just met. To me, this book clearly draws inspiration from both READY PLAYER ONE and The Matrix. It raises questions such as “at what point is something artificial alive?”, and “is humanity becoming too dependent on technology?”. One of my favorite aspects of OTHERWORLD is that it has the potential to be realistic. The only unrealistic aspect is the advanced technology, but it is within reason that it is something humans can invent in the foreseeable future. OTHERWORLD is full of conspiracy theories that keep readers questioning what they think they know. 

The story ends with a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait until the next book comes out. This book reminded me of READY PLAYER ONE and The Matrix.

Review: The Afterlife of Holly Chase

The Afterlife of Holly Chase
by Cynthia Hand

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: October 24, 2017

Holly Chase is dead. Kind of. For the past five years, she’s been stuck in a limbo working for Project Scrooge as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past. This year’s assignment is different from the rest, though. For one, he’s super cute…

THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE is a delightful twist on A CHRISTMAS CAROL. It’s the perfect fun and easy YA novel. Cynthia Hand has a distinctive style. Though her characters can sometimes border on clichés, she makes up for it with witty dialogue and plot twists. The novel will appeal to anyone who’s in the mood for some Christmas romance, humor, and ultimately heartbreak. 

Review: The Glass Spare

The Glass Spare
by Lauren DeStefano

Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publication Date: October 24, 2017

THE GLASS SPARE tells the story of Wil, a princess of Arrod with a dark secret. Kept hidden from the public eye to serve as a spy for her father, Wil is attacked and almost killed when she discovers that her touch turns living things to stone. And not regular stone, but gemstone. First, she finds it amazing and tests her limits but then tragedy strikes, sending her on the run. Her search for a cure now puts her in the path of a cursed prince who hopes to use her for his own goals. Now she must decide: help a kingdom at the brink of war save itself, or betray her family forever?

Paired with an entertaining steampunk-like world and great storytelling, this book was amazing. I love that the author found a way to make the book really feel alive. The dynamic between Wil and her three brothers was so entertaining and each one was unique; by the end of the book you will wish that you had brothers like them. The side characters all felt fully fleshed out with their wants and little quirks shown proud to the reader. The author does a great job at showing the different sides of the world, from rich castles to impoverished cities--you can really travel the world with this book. Honestly, my only complaint with this book is the length and how I wish it could have been longer. But, this does mean that there was not a dull moment throughout the whole novel.

If you are interested in reading a fantasy novel reminiscent of King Midas, you won’t be let down with this book. And of course, if you love strong friendship and romance, you won’t put down this novel!

Review: The Last Namsara

The Last Namsara
by Kristen Ciccarelli


Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: October 3, 2017

THE LAST NAMSARA follows the story of Asha, a dragon slaying princess, disliked by her own people because of the crime she committed as a child that almost destroyed the kingdom. To make up for her mistake, she must kill dragons to protect her people. To top it all off, in order to unite the broken kingdom, she’s being forced to marry a man she hates: Jarek, the cruel commandant. However, the king gives her a choice: she can either marry Jarek or slay the most powerful dragon to gain her freedom. 

Ciccarelli nails it with this fantasy novel. It’s got the perfect amount of our favorite fantasy clichés (sword wielding princesses and fire breathing dragons) but mixes things up with an uncommon romance between a princess and her betrothed's slave. Complex characters, forbidden love, a compelling plot and beautiful writing make THE LAST NAMSARA the perfect fall fantasy read for fans of ERAGON and THRONE OF GLASS. 

Review: They Both Die at the End

They Both Die at the End
by Adam Silvera

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: September 5, 2017

Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio know they are slated to die today. They don’t know how or exactly when, but sometime in the next 24 hours, they will meet their end. They resolve to make the best of their last day together and figure out just how much living they can fit in before they die.

THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END is beautiful, funny, and ultimately devastating. The author, Adam Silvera, succeeds at creating characters that are incredibly real and complex. Mateo and Rufus’s personalities carry the novel, and you will come to adore both of them. One of the best things Silvera does is he explores the darkness of Mateo and Rufus’s fate but does not let it overtake the entire novel, as authors are sometimes tempted to do; he still makes plenty of room for witty humor and hints of romance. This book is a 384-page rollercoaster that will whisk you away to an alternate universe, make you fall in love with the characters, and then leave you sobbing—and it’s absolutely worth every minute.