4 stars A powerful story with unforgettable characters. Alternating between three tales, follow three very different characters as they try to fit into the world around them. Jin Wang is the only Chinese-American student in a school that never lets him forget he’s different. The Monkey King masters various skills in order to distance himself…
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5 stars Warning: this book comes with all the feels and will make you seriously crave a grilled cheese sandwich every time you pick it up. I’ve read so many great books this year, but this one is my absolute favorite so far! A delightful blend of humor, cheese puns, general quirkiness, and romance. Such…
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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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5 stars This book contains a content note for depictions of disordered eating. A hauntingly beautiful story of friendship, loss, family, and healing. Valerie has always tried to be a “good” daughter. To her, that means giving in to her mother’s concerns about her gaining weight, even if it means taking unhealthy measures to comply….
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by Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt Illustrated by Rii Abrego 3 stars A sweet story with stunning artwork. This gentle fantasy follows Wisteria, a new sprite to the neighborhood. When humans came to the land long ago, sprites took a backseat and let them take over caring for the plants. But after watching a wannabe…
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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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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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Illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani 3 stars A fun spin on the Titans. Nice mix of daily life and superhero escapades. Works well for those who are at least vaguely aware of the DC characters and are accepting of changes to the universe. The story follows Mandy, who sees herself as the opposite of her mother,…
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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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5 stars A hilarious and heartwarming coming of age tale about figuring out your identity. At her old school, Huda was “the hijabi girl”. But when her family moves to a new town, she’s no longer the only one wearing hijab. She must come to terms with her identity issues and learn who she truly…
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