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: They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran

They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran

They Bloom at Night
Trang Thanh Tran
Bloomsbury
Published March 4, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About They Bloom at Night

The author of the New York Times bestselling horror phenomenon She Is a Haunting is back with a novel about the monsters that swim beneath us . . . and live within us.

Since the hurricane, the town of Mercy, Louisiana has been overtaken by a strange red algae bloom. Noon and her mother have carved out a life in the wreckage, trawling for the mutated wildlife that lurks in the water and trading it to the corrupt harbormaster. When she’s focused on survival, Noon … Continue reading

Winter 2025 Backlist Reading Check-in and Life Update

Winter 2025 Backlist Reading Check-In

Winter 2025 Backlist Reading Check-in and Life Update

This will be the whale shark of blog posts because I read a lot of backlist titles in January and February. I was sick for most of February, so I ended up taking it easy and doing a lot more mood reading than I usually do. Plus, as I heard the news about removing Black History celebrations and mentions of women leaders in STEM from websites and government programs, I only felt more determined to read more about both of those things.

Because this list includes so many books, I’m breaking it into subsections. Click the links to jump directly to a subsection that interests you, or feel free … Continue reading

Review: Hidden Figures: Young Readers Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly

Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly

Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space (Young Readers Edition)
Margot Lee Shetterly
HarperCollins
Published November 29, 2016

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About Hidden Figures: Young Readers Edition

The uplifting, amazing true story—a New York Times bestseller

This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It is the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. Now a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.

Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil … Continue reading

Review: Divining the Leaves by Shveta Thakrar

Divining the Leaves by Shveta Thakrar

Divining the Leaves
Shveta Thakrar
HarperTeen
Published March 4, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Divining the Leaves

From critically acclaimed author Shveta Thakrar comes a beautifully imagined contemporary fantasy about two teens, one a believer of magic who yearns to belong, the other a skeptic searching for an escape, who find themselves embroiled in a twisty world of court intrigue when they venture into a forest ruled by yakshas, mysterious woodland spirits drawn from Hindu and Buddhist folklore.

Plant-loving Ridhi Kapadia and popular Nilesh Batra were friends once.

Now, seventeen and alone, Ridhi blends natural perfumes, wears flower crowns, and … Continue reading

Winter 2025 Picture Books On My Radar

Winter 2025 Picture Books on my Radar

Winter 2025 Picture Books On My Radar

I don’t spend a lot of time talking about picture books, but there have been some really cute ones coming out lately. Also, my littlest is nearing the age when she’ll be leaving those behind, so I think I’m feeling a bit nostalgic about the days when it was predominantly what we read together.

These are just a few picture books that came out this past winter that we read together and enjoyed. Let me know if you’ve seen or read any of the books on this list. If you’ve read other great picture books that came out this season, please leave a comment … Continue reading

Review: Warrior of Legend by Kendare Blake

Warrior of Legend by Kendare Blake

Warrior of Legend (Heromaker #2)
Kendare Blake
Quill Tree Books
Published October 29, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Warrior of Legend

Reed is officially a member of the immortal order of the Aristene. She even has a new name: Machianthe. It’s everything she’s ever dreamed of—so why isn’t she happy?

Maybe it’s because every hero she helps can only find glory at the cost of their life. Or maybe it’s because she can’t stop thinking about the prince she left behind.

Now Reed looks for any opportunity to help with low-risk hero’s trials. And a princess looking for a glorious marriage? Nothing could … Continue reading