Lion Dancers by Cai Tse

3.5 stars Wei has always loved lion dancing. But after his father’s death, Wei quits his team and gives up on his dream. Years later, Wei gets a second chance at lion dancing. Will he be able to push through all of the obstacles to do what he loves? A nice story about what it…

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Off Menu by Oliver Gerlach

Illustrated by Kelsi Jo Silva 3 stars A nice story of a community coming together to fight unfairness and corruption. Soup grew up in The Brazen Manticore, a restaurant run my the infamous Trysil Heldritch. She loves cooking and being a chef in its kitchen, but when she sees a different side of her boss…

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Adventure Time: The Fionna and Cake Compendium Vol. 1

5 stars Fast-paced adventures featuring battles with the Ice Queen, an epic Card Wars tournament, and mini-quests. This volume compiles Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake #1-6 (Natasha Allegri, Betty Liang), Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake: Card Wars #1-6 (Jen Wang, Britt Wilson), and a variety of short comics (ND Stevenson, Lucy Knisley, Kate…

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The Race by Édouard Manceau

Translated by Sarah Quinn 3 stars A strange but entertaining read. Manceau describes a race between caribou from an outsider’s perspective who knows nothing about races. This leads to some humorous descriptions and interpretations (the finish line, the starting pistol, the lineup at the start of the race). The pictures are fun and give a…

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Athena the Brain (Goddess Girls Graphic Novels #1)

Created by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams Adapted by David Camptiti Illustrated by Eduardo Garcia 2 stars Athena has just found out some shocking news. She’s the daughter of Zeus and now she’s being summoned to Mount Olympus Academy. She’ll meet new friends (and enemies), create some exciting inventions, and try to get the hang…

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Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Promise, Part 2

by Gene Luen Yang Illustrated by Gurihiru 3 stars Continues the story established in Part 1. I checked out the first two books from the library together and didn’t realize there was a third book, so I was thinking this would wrap up more quickly. Still, this one offers a nice break from the major…

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Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams

Illustrated by Kitt Thomas 4 stars A sweet story about a love of words, perseverance, and using your words to help others. Stacey loves learning new words. When she’s asked to participate in a spelling bee, she jumps at the chance to learn even more. But will her fear of making a mistake get in…

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Hoop Dancer Determination (Jake Maddox Sports Stories)

by Stacy Wells Illustrated by Jesus Aburto 3 stars Nice story overall. Tobias loves hoop dancing, but is self-conscious about what his peers will think. Will he face his fears and showcase his skills at the talent show? A nice way to learn about some of the basics of hoop dancing. Tobias must deal with…

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Wei Skates On by Nathan Chen

Illustrated by Lorraine Nam 5 stars A fantastic story about accepting your mistakes, working hard, and finding joy in doing what you love. A nice message that winning isn’t everything. The story doesn’t deny that winning feels good. But the emphasis is on doing what you love, trying your best, and making yourself proud. The…

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Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione

4 stars This was such a sweet book! Basil dreams of being a fabulous magiculinary chef. But first, she must become top student at Porta Bella Magiculinary Academy and earn the scholarship that goes with the title. When she meets Arabella Oregano, the daughter of a famous chef, things start to heat up. Basil must…

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