Review: City Spies: Golden Gate by James Ponti

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City Spies: Golden Gate by James Ponti

City Spies: Golden Gate (City Spies #2)
James Ponti
Aladdin
Published March 9, 2021

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About City Spies: Golden Gate

After thwarting a notorious villain at an eco-summit in Paris, the City Spies are gearing up for their next mission. Operating out of a base in Scotland, this secret team of young agents working for the British Secret Intelligence Service’s MI6 division have honed their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.

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Review: Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

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Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

Deathly Fates
Tesia Tsai
Wednesday Books
Published April 12, 2026

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About Deathly Fates

“Rich and wholeheartedly poignant. Deathly Fates sings with profound spirit, exploring the consequences of war and the scars cut by nobility during trying times. An entrancing world that will certainly linger.” —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.

As a corpse-driving priestess, a holy servant paid to guide the deceased home, … Continue reading →

Review: The Lovers, the Liars, and Me by DeAndra Davis

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The Lovers, the Liars, and Me by DeAndra Davis

The Lovers, the Liars, and Me
DeAndra Davis
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published June 23, 2026

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About The Lovers, the Liars, and Me

A teen travels to Jamaica hoping to answer questions about her absent mother, only to discover more about her identity than she could have ever expected—and find herself caught up in an unexpected love triangle—in this dazzling young adult coming-of-age novel.

Jaliya Powell has never had a real adventure, a real boyfriend, or spoken up for herself. She’s never even been kissed. Despite … Continue reading →

May and June Reading Recap

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May and June Reading Recap

May and June Reading Recap

May slipped by without a moment for me to stop and recap my reading life. I feel like I blinked, and June is gone as well, so I figured I would drop both into one long reading recap.

For me personally, May was a busy month, between all the end-of-year activities at school and gearing up for summer. We had some trouble with our water softener system (another thing my dad used to take care of), so we spent several weeks drinking bottled water and juggling extra tasks related to that.

We also officially launched our new Friends of the Library nonprofit group supporting our local library branch. We’ve … Continue reading →

Review: Corpse de Ballet by Megan Kearney

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Corpse de Ballet by Megan Kearney

Corpse de Ballet
Megan Kearney
First Second
Published July 7, 2026

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About Corpse de Ballet

In her solo graphic novel debut, Megan Kearney weaves a fresh tale of dark academia and brutal competition. This psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Black Swan!

Arriving at Saint Anselmus in the middle of the year, Rosamund Hammond is ready to practice hard and prove she deserves to be there. But something at this boarding school doesn’t feel right.

It turns out that just before Rosamund enrolled, a student disappeared without telling anyone. Was it really a … Continue reading →

Review: Roar by Varsha Bajaj

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Roar by Varsha Bajaj

Roar
Varsha Bajaj
Nancy Paulsen Books
Published May 12, 2026

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About Roar

The New York Times bestselling author of Thirst brings listeners the gripping story of a boy whose eye-opening trip to a tiger sanctuary ignites his desire to join those who are roaring to protect the animals

Rohan loves animals—especially tigers—so he’s beyond thrilled when he gets to fly to India and stay near the tiger sanctuary where his grandfather works. At last, a chance to observe tigers in real life—especially Arya and her twin cubs—and when Ro finally sees them, the experience is even more breathtaking than he’d imagined. … Continue reading →