Mudlark: In Search of London’s Past Along the River Thames

by Lara Maiklem 3 stars A fascinating tour along the River Thames complete with stories from history, Maiklem’s personal life, and her adventures searching the foreshore. Follow Maiklem as she takes the reader all the way along the Thames, from the Tidal Head to the Estuary. Along the way, she recounts her discovery of long-lost…

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Speak Up! by Rebecca Burgess

5 stars What a great read. I loved this book! It tackles so many great issues (misunderstandings with parents, fights with friends, bullying, sensory sensitivities) along with an entertaining plotline about secret internet fame. Burgess provides a great example of a parent trying to look out for their child and doing what others tell them…

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The Girl Who Married a Skull and Other African Stories

3 stars I recently read The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories and absolutely loved it. So, I thought I’d read some of the earlier collections in the series. What I loved about The Woman in the Woods is that it showcases a variety of indigenous authors and artists. As far as I can…

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Three Little Vikings by Bethan Woollvin

3 stars Something’s wrong in the forest. There are strange noises and mysterious destruction, and now the treasure is missing! But each time the three little Vikings bring their concerns to the Chieftain, he meets them with the same refrain: “I know best.” This book has fantastic messages about speaking up when something is wrong,…

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Heartstopper: Volume Four (Heartstopper #4) by Alice Oseman

5 stars Another fantastic volume in the Heartstopper series. This one is heavier than the previous volumes. While the others tend to be sweet with a hint of hardship, this one really focuses on the hardships of life and relationships. It deals with some serious topics including mental health, specifically eating disorders and references to…

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Fractured: Tales of Flame and Fury by Charlotte Langtree

4 stars Received a free digital copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was immediately engrossed by this collection of powerful women risking it all the save their worlds. Rich fantasy with splendid storytelling. Each tale features a fierce woman doing whatever it takes to save the world and the people…

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The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln Illustrated by Claire Powell 5 stars An absolutely fantastic read. Lincoln creates a fun blend of The Westing Game and Lemony Snicket with a style and characters all her own. Each member of the Swift family is named by the Family Dictionary with the expectation they will live up to their name. But Shenanigan isn’t so…

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Amara and the Bats by Emma Reynolds

5 stars A wonderful picture book that tells the story of a big idea and a community coming together to make it happen. Amara loves bats. But when she moves to a new town, there are none in sight. With the help of the park ranger along with her new friends and neighbors, Amara helps…

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The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman

4 stars While I love the Heartstopper series, I wasn’t sure a companion art book would live up to it content-wise. I’m so glad I was wrong. I enjoyed this more than I initially thought I would. The book contains profiles of the characters, family trees, mini-comics, and themed artwork for different holidays and seasons….

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