Review: Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,
Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

Blood at the Root (Blood at the Root #1)
LaDarrion Williams
Labyrinth Road
Published May 7, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Blood at the Root

A teenager on the run from his past finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical . Enroll in this fresh fantasy debut with the emotional power of Legendborn and the redefined ancestral magic of Lovecraft Country .

Ten years ago, Malik’s life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.

At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself— one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.

In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what’s left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.

My Review

Blood at the Root has been on my reading list since it came out. I’ve seen some mixed reviews, but obviously nothing that dissuaded me from reading the book. This is a debut novel, and it certainly has some flaws, but I think the author does a lot of things really well.

As a protagonist, Malik has a lot of depth. He’s not perfect. He’s impulsive, quick to anger, and easily distracted by pretty girls. But he’s also passionate, self-disciplined, and smart. He’s survived and overcome trauma, from witnessing a group of assailants attack his mom to being blamed for her death to surviving in foster care. Though he annoyed me sometimes, his character was consistent, his motives made sense, and his choices drove the story forward in believable ways.

The book has lots going on. There’s the whole magic system, with some scenes devoted to showing how Black people with magic altered history. The magic users are members of different tribes and societies, so some scenes reveal those. There’s good and bad magic, some of which can cause great harm to the user. There’s a plot to find a powerful artifact that could unleash a nefarious group’s power.

Sometimes it feels like the amount of ground the book needs to cover pushes the characters to the side, especially Taye (Malik’s foster brother) and Alexis, his love interest. In a few scenes, critical things happen quickly (Malik steals a highly guarded document, and someone sees him do it, for example.) and are brushed aside or never revisited.

For the most part, though, this rich story celebrates Black culture and HBCUs. Some characters speak in an AAVE style. The story highlights relationships, like Malik’s with his grandmother, the found family relationship between Malik and his foster brother Taye, and the friendship that assures its participants that someone has their back.

Conclusion

While I think there’s room for development, I love that this book exists. I’d love to see some of the female characters push back on Malik’s tendency to objectify them. I’d also love more development of the younger female characters in general. I love the immersive celebration of Black culture. I’m interested to see where this series goes. The second book, Bones at the Crossroads is already out, so I’ve got that one on my reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used fairly frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex. A couple of scenes give a vague overview of a sexual encounter. Brief reference to a girl being a victim of human trafficking.

Spiritual Content
Characters have the ability to perform magic. References to Hoodoo and Vodun. References to Christianity. Within the magic world, there is good/safe magic and forbidden/bane magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Descriptions of death and injury from magic battles. Brief reference to human trafficking. Children have been going missing.

Drug Content
Teens attend a party where a drunk fight breaks out.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Carnival Fantástico
Angela Montoya
Joy Revolution
Published February 3, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Carnival Fantástico

An unputdownable romantasy following a young woman posing as fortune-teller at a magical traveling carnival, where the handsome boy who once broke her heart resurfaces and warns her that carnival is more sinister than it appears.

Welcome to the Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, and the perfect haven for a runaway. Using her tricks and razor-sharp wit, Esmeralda becomes the carnival’s resident fortune-teller, aiming for the lead role in the Big Top Show. Success would mean freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army.

Ignacio has defected from the army and is on the hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption. But the last thing he expects to find on his father’s trail of lies is the only girl he’s ever loved, spinning false fortunes at a traveling carnival.

Perhaps fortune has thrown them together for a reason. They strike a deal: she’ll help him expose his father if he helps her secure the main act. But old feelings don’t die easily, and the commander’s secret isn’t the only thing they’ll need to confront.

My Review

I really enjoyed the story world in this novel. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding the magic at the carnival. Wanting to understand where the magic came from, and whether it was good or bad kept me turning pages. The carnival itself reminded me a little bit more of Hotel Magnifique than Caraval, though Carnival Fantástico has some similarities to both. The romance dominates this story, which makes sense for a romantasy novel.

Periodically, notes Esmerelda and Ignacio exchanged in the past appear, shedding light on their connection. Before long, it becomes obvious that they’ve had a misunderstanding. They do eventually confront some truths from their pasts, but it takes a long time for them to question what they believe happened, even though they both based some of their understanding of events on messages from someone they both agree is untrustworthy. It requires a little suspension of disbelief, but I think it’s also supposed to suggest that the person who misled them has more power than they realize.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this one, and it made me want to go back and reread some of the other magical circus-type stories that I’ve read before. If you like Caraval or magic circus stories with a strong romantic thread, definitely take a look at this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Vague references to characters having had sex in the past.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to kidnapping, imprisonment, and enslavement. Brief descriptions of accidental injuries. Brief, scary descriptions of a powerful entity harming someone.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Mouse and His Dog by Katherine Applegate and Jennifer Choldenko

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Mouse and His Dog (Dogtown #2)
Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko
Illustrated by Wallace West
Feiwel & Friends
Published September 17, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Mouse and His Dog

Mouse lives in Dogtown, a shelter for real dogs and robot dogs, where the kibble is plentiful, and the rafters hide a secret community of mice. His unlikely best friend is Buster, a big-hearted real dog who attracts trouble like a burr to fur.

Determined to help Buster find his forever home, even if means losing his best pal, Mouse embarks on a bold quest with three of Dogtown’s “unadoptables”: Buster, Stewie–a huge, lovable dog whose ex-owner said he was mean, and Smokey–a robot dog hardwired with a smoke alarm he can’t control.

But Mouse is just a mouse, and the world is big and complicated. How’s a little guy supposed to find homes for the dogs he loves?

My Review

I have only read parts of the first book in the series, but I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to read this one, too. Mouse and Buster appear in the first book as side characters, so I love that this one gives us a closer look at them as characters.

The story really celebrates the work that dog shelters do, even while acknowledging that they’re not perfect. Dogtown hosts a community program called Reading Buddies, in which children get a chance to read to one of a selected group of dogs. It sounds like such a sweet program. I love that idea. The story also brushes by some of the challenges that the shelter faces, including not having enough kennel space for all the dogs that need homes. They also face a backlog of dogs needing to be evaluated by their trainer.

The true focus of the book though is on Mouse and his relationship with a golden retriever named Buster who can’t seem to find an adoption that will stick. The story shows two examples of dog adoptions that go awry. Adult readers will be able to read between the lines and note that in both instances, the people adopting the dogs weren’t making well-thought-out decisions. One couple wanted a dog at their wedding. Another wanted a dog for protection. In both instances, the adoptive person wasn’t thinking about the needs of the dog they’d be adopting.

All the adoption and shelter business aside, the story highlights a small community of misfits in the sweetest way. Rather than hiding all the time and maintaining nocturnal habits, Mouse forms bonds with the dogs and even a tentative connection with a few humans. Goofy, lovable Buster has poor impulse control, but champions the other dogs kept in the Dogtown basement.

Like the first book, this one contains a robot dog. This time, the dog is Smokey, a dog with a smoke alarm signal in his wiring. He’s also a sweet dog who has some things to learn. The story of Mouse seeking homes for his friends is heartwarming. I love that we get to see one of those special instances in which the dog chooses the human, too, and it’s a perfect fit. I definitely got choked up reading that part. (And I’m not a dog person.)

Conclusion

All in all, this is such a sweet story. The chapters are super short (most just a page or two), and the text is illustrated, so this has worked great for our family as a transition from chapter books to middle grade titles. I highly recommend it for dog lovers and/or younger middle grade readers.

You don’t have to read both books in order. I do recommend both, though I haven’t read all chapters of Dogtown. (I’ve read most of the book.)

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Mouse worries that if humans discover mice living in Dogtown, they’ll call in the cats to exterminate them. Mouse worries about Buster and Stewie being euthanized if he can’t find families to adopt them.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. All opinions are my own.

Review: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (The Logan Family Saga #4)
Mildred D. Taylor
Dial Books
Published January 5, 2016

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry

Mildred D. Taylor’s Newbery Award-winning masterpiece with an introduction written and read by Jacqueline Woodson, just in time for its 40th anniversary!

Set in Mississippi at the height of the Depression, this is the story of one family’s struggle to maintain their integrity, pride, and independence in the face of racism and social injustice. And it is also Cassie’s story – Cassie Logan, an independent girl who discovers over the course of an important year why having land of their own is so crucial to the Logan family, even as she learns to draw strength from her own sense of dignity and self-respect.

My Review

I first read this book in fourth grade, but I wanted to revisit the story again. I remembered it being incredibly powerful– and it is. Cassie’s strength and boldness make her such a great character as she grapples with the difference between how she sees herself and how her white neighbors treat her. Her understanding of justice and fairness and the pain she feels when the town she lives in reveals itself as an unjust, unfair place hits deep.

The story shows the ugliness of Jim Crow laws, segregation, and racism, but also highlights the power of community, family bonds, and determination. Because we see the world through Cassie’s youthful gaze, the story stays within a child’s understanding. Many of the cruel or violent acts take place off-scene and are either recounted to Cassie later or only hinted at.

The version of the book that I read included an author’s note in which Mildred D. Taylor talked about the inspiration for her book and the song by the same title that appeared in her mind one day. As the final scenes of the story played out, I thought again about the way that the characters cry out for justice in an unjust system, and how the rain, more than once, opens an avenue for justice or aid for them.

There are a lot more books in this series than I initially realized. Some are novellas. I’ve only ever read this and Let the Circle Be Unbroken, but I’m anxious to read the other stories about the Logan family.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some brief use of the n-word.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
References to attending church and revival services.

Violent Content
References to racially motivated crimes against Black people. Cassie learns that white men lit three Black men on fire in a nearby town. A white man wrenches her arm behind her back and forces her off the sidewalk before demanding that she apologize for refusing to move for a white girl. Cassie speaks up when a white store owner leaves off filling her friend’s order to assist white customers. The store owner throws her out of the shop. Cassie hears about a violent robbery. An injured boy tells Cassie that two young white men attacked him. A white man shoots a Black man on the road.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from the public library. All opinions are my own.

MMGM Review: The Lion’s Run by Sarah Pennypacker

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The Lion’s Run
Sarah Pennypacker
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Balzer + Bray
Published February 3, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Lion’s Run

The acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of Pax delivers an historical novel about an orphan during WWII who discovers unexpected courage within himself when he becomes involved with the Resistance.

Petit éclair. That’s what the other boys at the orphanage call Lucas DuBois. Lucas is tired of his cowardly reputation, just as he’s tired of the war and the Nazi occupation of his French village. He longs to show how brave he can be.

He gets the chance when he saves a litter of kittens from cruel boys and brings them to an abandoned stable to care for them. There he comes upon a stranger who is none too happy to see him: Alice, the daughter of a horse trainer, who is hiding her filly from German soldiers.

Soon Lucas begins to realize they are not the only ones in the village with secrets. The housekeeper at the German maternity home and a priest at the orphanage pass coded messages; a young mother at the home makes dangerous plans to keep her baby from forced adoption; and a neighbor in town may be harboring a Jewish family.

Emboldened by the unlikely heroes all around him, Lucas is forced to decide how much he is willing to risk to make the most courageous rescue of all.

Perfect for fans of Alan Gratz, Ruta Sepetys, and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, this accessible novel, told in short chapters, illuminates a little-known aspect of World War II history.

My Review

I could not put this book down. The author’s note at the beginning explains how Sarah Pennypacker learned about the Lebensborn program and the germination process of the idea that became The Lion’s Run.

The Lebensborn program is a part of history that I wasn’t familiar with. This was a Nazi program through which they planned to create a new generation of blond-haired, blue-eyed Germans. They did this by rounding up teenage girls who were pregnant by Nazi soldiers, imprisoning them in these Lebensborn facilities, where they were well-fed and cared for until the birth of their babies, when they were returned home. The babies were then forced into adoption.

Information about the program is pretty limited to keep the story appropriate for a middle grade audience. Lucas meets one of the moms and her baby and sympathizes with her over her situation. It’s also obvious that the girls living at the Lebensborn are well fed when everyone else in Lucas’s town is not getting enough to eat.

In terms of the story itself, I was wholly engrossed. Lucas wants to be brave and worries he isn’t. Yet, he saves kittens from drowning. He hides them, saving food from his own meager meals to give to the little furry critters. He also insists on helping adults in his life who are in the Resistance.

I loved how the story showed him processing the question of what it means to be brave and to help. What a timely message. This will resonate with both middle grade readers and older readers.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a great pick for readers interested in historical fiction, especially those who enjoy stories set during World War II. I think it’ll appeal to readers who like fast-paced stories, too.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Lucas delivers groceries to a facility for pregnant teens called a Lebensborn. He befriends one of the young mothers and her newborn. Readers learn about the German initiative to imprison these girls, who are pregnant by Nazi soldiers, for the purpose of producing a new generation of blond-haired, blue-eyed children who are forced into adoptive homes in Germany.

Spiritual Content
Lucas lives at a Catholic convent and speaks with a priest who is part of the Resistance.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. A woman tells two boys to drown a litter of kittens they find near the convent. A boy throws a rock and hits another boy in the face. A boy buries broken glass in a dirt road, hoping to damage the tires of a German convoy. The story references other Resistance members who have been sent to concentration camps, or worse.

Drug Content
Before the babies at the Lebensborn are transported to Germany, the nurses add a drug to their milk so they’ll sleep through the trip.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

January 2026 Reading Recap

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January 2026 Reading Recap

January has been a whirlwind month. I started the month with extra work from a client, which is great, but came with a bit of a learning curve. Some unexpected opportunities have come up, so I’m excited to see how those things turn out.

Reading-wise, this has been a great month. For the first time ever, I have a spreadsheet listing the unread books I own (and it’s embarrassingly long), and a plan to read more of them this year. I finished my January review requests by the middle of the month and started on February requests, though my reading has slowed down this week.

My littlest is still on a mystery reading binge, so we’re enjoying reading some middle grade mysteries together, like Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe and Finally, Something Dangerous by Doug Cornett. Our Barnes & Noble recently had a moving sale, so we picked up a few middle grade fantasies that caught her eye and some graphic novels– her favorite things to read.

All together, I read 18 books this month. Weirdly, I read more middle grade this month than young adult titles. Usually it’s the other way around. I think some of what’s driving that, honestly, is stress. Middle grade books are often a little lighter and/or shorter than young adult books, which helps me move through them. Sometimes I just do not have room to experience anyone else’s emotions, even if they’re fictional ones.

At any rate, I read some great books this month that will stick with me for a long time. I’m excited to run through the list here.

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

January 2026 Reading Recap

I, in the Shadows by Tori Bovalino

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This is the first novel I read by this author, and I enjoyed it. Great balance between ghostly mystery-solving and the slowly developing sapphic romance.

Published January 13, 2026 | My Review

Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: First time I’ve read a full-length novel by the author. I loved the way Lukoff walks readers through Bug’s journey to discover an identity that truly fits. Really nicely done.

Published April 20, 2021 | My Review to Come

Eureka by Victoria Chang

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This is the second historical novel in verse that I’ve read in a short period of time. I think this format allows authors to hone in on the emotional experience the characters have while anchoring the story in a historical setting that doesn’t get bogged down with a lot of details. I love that authors are shedding light on little-discussed, important moments in our history.

Published January 27, 2026 | My Review

The Big Bad Wolf Murder by P. G. Bell

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: What a fun ride! I love the story world. Love the characters. The mystery elements are balanced well with the fantasy and sports elements. I’m definitely going to read more by this author.

Published January 20, 2026 | My Review

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Oof. This one hits hard as it’s about a boy who survives a school shooting. I thought I was emotionally prepared for this, but it was still a hard read at times. I love the humor, the ridiculous moments, and the relationships between the characters, especially Simon and Agate.

Published January 31, 2023 | My Review to Come

Worst-Case Scenario by Ray Stoeve

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Wow! I already knew that I liked Stoeve’s writing, but I love the nuanced, tender mental health representation here. Beautifully done.

Published January 20, 2026 | My Review

The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This faith-positive, inclusive graphic novel follows Anang as they set out to create a ribbon skirt for their community’s next powwow.

Published November 12, 2024 | My Review to Come

Finally, Something Dangerous (The One and Onlys #2) by Doug Cornett

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: My daughter and I read this together after she enjoyed the first book in the series. We enjoyed the upbeat humor and mystery elements, along with the brush past gentrification’s effect on communities.

Published November 22, 2022 | My Review

Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Grab a box of tissues for this one. I must have sobbed through fully half of this story, but it’s so powerfully told and has such an uplifting, relevant message. Quindlen deftly navigates her characters’ journeys of faith and identity. Adult characters are present without stealing the spotlight.

Published January 27, 2026 (Orig. 2014) | My Review

There’s Always Next Year by Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: A perfect winter romance to read with a cup of cocoa. Great characters and lots of humor. These coauthors did a fabulous job putting this story together.

Published December 2, 2025 | My Review

Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar by Anahita Karthik

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I love an awkward narrator who is so in her own head, and Krishna is exactly that. This book has a sweet (with a hint of spicy) romance, a fun road trip, and a wonderful emphasis on family relationships and going all out for the ones we love.

Published January 27, 2026 | My Review

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah Howe and James Howe

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: My littlest and I continued our mystery binge with this classic tale of the vampire bunny who bites… vegetables! The writing feels very 1970s, but the story is still very accessible. A quick, humorous read.

Published August 8, 2006 (Orig. 1979) | My Review to Come

The Swan’s Daughter: A Possibly Doomed Love Story by Roshani Chokshi

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This is one of my most-anticipated books for 2026, and it did NOT disappoint. I’ve been longing for another fantasy novel from Chokshi since her last one. I love the rich fantasy landscape, complex characters, and delicious romance.

Published January 6, 2026 | My Review to Come

Night by Elie Wiesel (Night Trilogy #1)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I read this book for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Wiesel’s straightforward memoir of his experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald can’t help but leave a mark on anyone who reads it, and I think everyone should.

January 16, 2006 (Orig. 1956) | My Review

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (Pet #1)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This book has been on my TBR for a long time, and yet it’s so interesting to read it right now, in January of 2026, and to think about what monsters look like.

Published September 10, 2019 | My Review to Come

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: A long book (over 400 pages) with short chapters that kept me reading. I liked the exploration of myths and who wrote them, inviting readers to consider the stories in a larger context.

Published February 3, 2026 | My Review

Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Alechia Dow is an auto-read author for me. I love the playfulness and vulnerability of this story. Its uplifting message was perfectly timed. The magical setting is lovely. I really enjoyed this one.

Published February 3, 2026 | My Review to Come

City Spies: Golden Gate (City Spies #2) by James Ponti

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: After reading the first City Spies novel last year, I wasn’t sure whether I’d continue with the series. I think book 7 comes out this year, so that leaves a lot of ground to cover. This one really pulled me into the story and made me want to read more. That ending hit me right in the feels.

Published March 9, 2021 | My Review to Come

What did you read in January 2026?

What books were on your January 2026 reading list? I’d love to hear about them. Have you read any of the titles I listed? Leave a comment and let me know if you enjoyed them.