Dead Flip by Sara Farizan

4 stars An entertaining 80s/90s throwback with a fun Goosebumps-vibe for a YA audience. In 1987, Cori, Maz, and Sam are the best of friends. But after Sam goes missing, nothing is the same. Flash forward five years and Maz and Cori no longer see each other. That is until Sam comes back. Now they’ll…

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Becoming a Ballerina: The Story of Michaela Mabinty DePrince

by Laura Obuobi Illustrated by Olivia Duchess 4 stars An absolutely stunning picture book biography of Michaela Mabinty DePrince. The story follows DePrince’s life from her time at an orphanage in Sierra Leone, her adoption and moving to the US, her passion for ballet growing up, and her success as a ballerina. It also explores…

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Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome (Sarai Gonzalez #1)

by Sarai Gonzalez and Monica Brown Illustrated by Christine Almeda 4 stars A nice, upbeat chapter book about working together, helping others, and what it means to be awesome. When she learns her grandparents will have to move from their home, Sarai Gonzalez uses her skills in baking, dance, and problem-solving to help them. I…

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Felicity by Mary Oliver

4 stars I have been enjoying slowly making my way through Oliver’s collections. While I absolutely adore her nature poetry, I was pleasantly surprised by this collection’s themes of love and relationships. Wonderfully crafted, these short poems leave the reader with a wonderful sense of calm. A sweet collection celebrating the joys of love and…

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Cat + Gamer Volume 3 by Wataru Nadatani

Translated by Zack Davisson 5 stars Another fantastic volume featuring Musubi and his human Riko… now with a new addition to the family! Meet Soboro, the newest furry member in the household. Follow along as she gets the lay of the land, interacts with her new human, and takes her role of annoying little sister…

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The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Vol. 1 by Kore Yamazaki

Translated by Adrienne Beck 2 stars Definitely weird but not in a way that worked for me. Chise is enslaved then sold to a mage, who takes her on as his apprentice… and also a future wife? Okay story. There were parts I liked. Cool fantasy world-building. The plot was a bit confusing. There are…

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