The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

3 stars A little bit cottagecore. A little bit romance. Plenty of magic. When introverted librarian Kiela is forced to flee the Great Library of Alyssium due to violent political upheaval, she sets out with Caz, a sentient spider plant, and a few crates of spellbooks to travel to her childhood home on an outer…

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She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor

4 stars A fantastically crafted story. Najeeba has heard the Call and knows it is time to travel the Salt Roads. But only men and boys are supposed to experience the Call. Follow Najeeba on her unprecedented journey beyond her home to travel the Salt Roads with her father and brothers, change her family’s prospects,…

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Monster Cats Vol. 1 by Pandania

Translated by Minna Lin 4 stars Absolutely adorable! I’ve really been enjoying the Yokai Cats series and was excited to see this collection of monster cat stories. Nice variety of monsters including a vampire, a yeti, a mimic, a dryad, a slime, and so much more. Find out what it’s like to live with a…

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Sparks Volume 1: Portals by Revel Guts

4 stars This is absolutely adorable and I loved it and I need more immediately! I was not familiar with the webcomic before seeing this volume, but am so glad I stumbled across it at the library. So worth the read! At a magic academy with graduation just around the corner, underperforming student Philo isn’t…

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Hilda and Twig: Hide from the Rain (Hilda #6) by Luke Pearson

5 stars A brand-new adventure featuring Hilda and Twig. This is everything I love about the Hilda series. Cozy, adventurous, humorous, and sweet. Back in the wilderness, Hilda is on the lookout for adventure. Twig just wants to make it home in one piece. When the pair get caught in the rain, they seek shelter…

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Puzzled: A Memoir about Growing Up with OCD by Pan Cooke

4 stars Pan deals with many issues growing up from friendship struggles to body image issues to dealing with bullies. But Pan has a secret. There is an underlying puzzle that intrudes his thoughts and he cannot seem to solve it. Follow Pan on his journey to understanding himself as he navigates the world with…

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Quiet Karima by Nidhi Chanani

3 stars “Without silence, there’s no music.” A sweet story celebrating sound and silence. Follow Karima as she goes about her day, taking in the sounds of the world. Though everyone calls her Quiet Karima, that is not all she is. Being quiet allows her to hear the music all around her and to create…

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Emilio Sloth’s Modern Manners by Renée Ahdieh

Illustrated by Alea Marley 3 stars A cute picture book that celebrates friendship, taking your time, and minding your manners. Follow Emilio Sloth on his journey to meet a friend for teatime. Along the way, he greets old friends and makes new ones, always polite and mindful of being on time. Goes through some polite…

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Things that Go Bump in the Day

by Melinda Beatty Illustrated by Charlene Chua 3.5 stars A sweet little story about an adorable vampire child trying to get some sleep and his ever-reassuring mother explaining away the sounds in the day. A cute bedtime story full of humor. Nicely written. I really enjoyed the spin on what noises would be scary to…

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