Author Archives: Kasey

About Kasey

Reads things. Writes things. Fluent in sarcasm. Willful optimist. Cat companion, chocolate connoisseur, coffee drinker. There are some who call me Mom.

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. … 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 →

Review: Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

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Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Simon Sort of Says
Erin Bow
Disney Hyperion
Published January 31, 2023

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About Simon Sort of Says

Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the story in which he’s the only kid in his class who survived a school shooting.

Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National … Continue reading →

Review: The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa

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The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa

The Ribbon Skirt
Cameron Mukwa
Graphix
Published November 12, 2024

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About The Ribbon Skirt

A joyful coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel by debut Indigenous creator Cameron Mukwa about the journey of a two-spirit kid who wants to create a ribbon skirt for the upcoming powwow.

Ten-year-old Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt, a piece of clothing typically worn by women in the Anishinaabe tradition, for an upcoming powwow. Anang is two-spirit and nonbinary and doesn’t know what others will think of them wearing a ribbon skirt, but they’re determined to follow … Continue reading →