Review: Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Pet (Pet #1)
Akwaeke Emezi
Make Me a World
Published September 10, 2019

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About Pet

A thought-provoking and haunting novel about a creature that escapes from an artist’s canvas, whose talent is sniffing out monsters in a world that claims they don’t exist anymore. Perfect for fans of Akata Witch and Shadowshaper.

There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with this lesson all their life. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colors and claws, who emerges … Continue reading

Review: Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi

Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi

Travelers Along the Way (Remixed Classics #3)
Aminah Mae Safi
Feiwel & Friends
Published March 1, 2022

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About Travelers Along the Way

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. This thrilling female-led Robin Hood remix reframes the legend’s tales of the Third Crusade from a Muslim perspective, rewriting its origin’s male and overwhelmingly white Euro-centric narrative.

Jerusalem, 1192.
 The Third Crusade rages on. Rahma al-Hud loyally followed her elder sister Zeena … Continue reading

Review: The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst

The Faraway Inn
Sarah Beth Durst
Delacorte Press
Published March 31, 2026

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About The Faraway Inn

After a devastating heartbreak, a teen girl decides to spend her summer helping her eccentric great aunt manage her quaint Vermont inn–but this fixer-upper is hiding a magical secret–in this cozy and irresistable new fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.

Sixteen-year-old Calisa is desperate for a change of scenery after her lying ex ruins her perfect Brooklyn summer. When her parents suggest she head to rural Vermont to help her great-aunt run her cozy bed and … Continue reading

Review: Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff

Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff

Too Bright to See
Kyle Lukoff
Dial Books
Published April 20, 2021

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About Too Bright to See

A haunting ghost story about navigating grief, growing up, and growing into a new gender identity

It’s the summer before middle school, and eleven-year-old Bug’s best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. For Moira, this means figuring out the right clothes to wear, learning how to put on makeup, and deciding which boys are cuter in their yearbook photos than in real … Continue reading

Review: Song of the Yellow Dragon by Ying Ping Low

Song of the Yellow Dragon by Ying Ping Low

Song of the Yellow Dragon
Ying Ping Low
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Published May 12, 2026

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About Song of the Yellow Dragon

Two children search for a legendary dragon’s magic in this enchanting fantasy, perfect for readers ages 9-13!

There is a secret that every child knows: Magic is real. But by the time children turn thirteen, they forget that magic is anything but make-believe.

Mengyao wants to remember. Born in a village nestled in a secluded vale, Mengyao wants to hold on to magic and become a Divine Healer. But with her thirteenth birthday fast approaching, she is losing hope.

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Review: If You Were Here by Abigail Johnson

If You Were Here by Abigail Johnson

If You Were Here
Abigail Johnson
HarperCollins
Published April 28, 2026

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About If You Were Here

A charming and emotional standalone grumpy/sunshine romance set during a Nantucket summer. Lili needs Wren’s help to complete her father’s research and save her family’s reputation–but working together leads to more discoveries than either of them bargained for.

Lili Gardner hasn’t been back to Nantucket, her dad’s favorite place, since her parents divorced six years ago. But Dad passed away recently, leaving her a house on the island and an unsolved mystery about a maligned Gardner ancestor. Lili … Continue reading