The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, A Rún, Vol. 4

by Nagabe Translated by Adrienne Beck 4 stars This series always knows just how to pull me in. Reunited with Teacher after the devastating events in the village, Shiva easily returns to her life on the Outside. But her aunt hasn’t found the transition quite as simple and acts on her mistrust of Teacher. In…

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Every Day, Chemistry by Julia Sooy

Illustrated by Bonnie Pang 3 stars A adorable exploration of chemical reactions in everyday life. From baking to cleaning to breathing, Sooy shows how we interact with chemistry every day and how necessary it is to so many different activities. This is a wonderful introduction to thinking about chemistry for young readers. The simple text…

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The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, A Rún, Vol. 3

by Nagabe Translated by Adrienne Beck 4 stars The mystery continues with more delightfully creepy adventures in the Outside. Shiva’s aunt has come back to claim her, but strange things start happening in their village. Teacher continues his search for Shiva and Shiva’s aunt reveals an unexpected secret. Picks up right where the last one…

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If You’ll Have Me by Eunnie

4 stars Reliable, dependable college student Momo is always there when others need her but has a tendency to ignore her own needs. When she strikes up a friendship with the alluring PG, she doesn’t expect it to go anywhere. But as the two grow closer, they must confront their separate pasts and how they…

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Avatar: The Last Airbender: My Cabbages!

By Rebecca Gyllenhaal and Jessica Yang Illustrated by Bonnie Pang Based on the animated series by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko 5 stars Absolutely hilarious. Follow Aang and his friends’ journey to defeat the Fire Lord from the perspective of Merchant Cai, the cabbage merchant. Cai dreams of selling his cabbages throughout the Earth…

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The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún, Volume 2

by Nagabe Translated by Adrienne Beck 4 stars Another eerie and intriguing volume in the series. When we last left Shiva and Teacher, a strange new Outsider had touched Shiva, cursing her; and those within the Inside had seen a girl in the forest and viewed her as a threat. Now the unexpected duo must…

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The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún, Volume 1

by Nagabe Translated by Adrienne Beck 4 stars In a world divined between the Outside and the Inside, a little girl finds herself in the care of one of the Outsiders, a humanoid beast who could curse her with a single touch. Follow their unexpected friendship as they navigate the Outside and the evils it…

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Cat on the Hero’s Lap Vol. 2 by Kousuke Iijima

Illustrated by Shiori Translated by Alan Cheng and Rowena Chen 4 stars Another hilarious volume of adventures with Red, Grace, Aina, and, of course, Mr. Cat. The party continues their quest to defeat the Demon King, leveling up, encountering new foes, and meeting some new cats. Includes many relatable cat ownership situations such as going…

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Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George

Illustrated by Mae Waite 5 stars A poetic celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture and history. Follow a young girl’s journey to become a hula dancer, learning about her heritage, culture, folklore, and the natural world of her island home through dance. Absolutely gorgeous. The artwork is breathtaking. Each page is packed with color, emotion,…

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Not Perfect by Maya Myers

Illustrated by Hyewon Yum 4 stars While Dot recognizes she is good at many different things, she strives for perfection. When the class is assigned to make a poster of someone they admire, she wants hers to be perfect. Things don’t go as planned, but sometimes imperfections can spark creativity and a new way of…

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