All posts by 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.

Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell by Lydia Corry

Review: Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell Story by Lydia Corry

Biography, Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, , , , ,

Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell (Inspiring Women Artists #2)
Lydia Corry
Godwin Books
Published May 19, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell

Dive into the childhood of the legendary singer, songwriter, and performer Joni Mitchell.

Joni Mitchell is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer whose music has touched generation after generation. Her millions of fans are accustomed to seeing her with a guitar in hand, mesmerizing crowds of festival-goers and music-lovers alike. But now it’s time to introduce readers to a new side of Joni, from before the fame and widespread adoration.

Get ready to explore Joni’s childhood, growing up in small towns on the vast Canadian prairie. As a young girl she fell seriously ill with polio. However, like all great artists, this setback was unable to extinguish the creative flame in Joni’s spirit. With unmatched determination and stubborn perseverance, Joni not only gets back on her feet but finds new passions to pursue. From painter to poet to songwriter―this is Joni Mitchell’s story as a young girl and the childhood experiences that shaped her.

My Review

This sweet, graphic biography of Joni Mitchell honors not only her musical contributions but also recognizes her as a painter. I love that many of the illustrations were inspired by art that Joni Mitchell herself created. The story mainly focuses on Mitchell’s early life, with chapters showing her childhood and teen years, followed by a few highlights of her adult life.

This is part of the “Inspiring Women Artists” series that began with a graphic biography of poet Emily Dickinson. Both books offer a lovely introduction to iconic artists and are unusual in that they include so many of the artists’ own words. I love that Corry used quotes from interviews and songs throughout the book.

The pages show some light humor, especially as Joni’s parents try to determine what to make of Joni’s artistic expression. In a more somber chapter, the story also includes Joni’s battle with polio.

Give this book to young aspiring artists, readers who enjoy biographies, or readers who prefer lighter graphic novels. It’s an easy read and an absolute delight.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 7 to 11.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

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: The History of Everything by Victoria Evans

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

The History of Everything
Victoria Evans
HarperAlley
Published February 18, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The History of Everything

Best friends Agnes and Daisy must learn to say goodbye in this coming-of-age YA graphic novel perfect for fans of Booksmart and Pumpkinheads from debut creator Victoria Evans.

Daisy and Agnes have always had each other.

And that’s all they’ve ever needed—or wanted, at least. So when Agnes’s mom drops the bombshell that she and Agnes are moving at the end of the summer, the girls are crushed.

All seems lost until the pair unearth “The History of Everything,” an old friendship scrapbook with the ultimate bucket list to make their last summer together unforgettable. But when Daisy starts dating a charming drummer, her social calendar suddenly has less room for her best friend. Insecurities bubble to the surface, and Daisy and Agnes begin to question if their friendship is meant to last the summer, much less forever.

In this tender graphic novel debut, Victoria Evans delves into the heart of a best friendship and explores what it means to grow up without growing apart.

My Review

I love that this story centers on a best friendship between two girls in high school. We’ve seen this kind of story done for middle grade readers before, but I love that this is aged up for a teen audience and still keeps the friendship the focus of the story. Right from the beginning, it’s easy to feel the long history of Daisy and Agnes’s friendship. They have rituals, they have inside jokes, and a highlight reel of memories they share together. As a reader, it was easy to feel a part of their story.

When Agnes learns she’s moving at the end of summer, it kicks her focus on her friendship with Daisy into high gear. Suddenly, she’s looking to the friendship as an escape from the problems she doesn’t want to face. And she needs their summer adventure to perfectly recapture the high points of the friendship.

The problem, of course, is that people don’t stay the same. Daisy still thinks of Agnes as her best friend, but she’s caught in the grip of a huge new crush, and she wants to widen her social circle, instead of keeping things just her and Agnes.

The tension builds to an explosive level as Agnes’s move date draws near. I felt that rising tension so much in the scenes leading up to that moment. Even before the characters’ frustrations spill over, you feel it coming.

I also loved the homage to early 2000s Goth fashion. That was a really fun element to the story that I hadn’t expected. The color palette reinforces the difference between the girls’ personalities, too. The illustrations are super expressive, so even in panels without text, lots of story is going on.

If you’re looking for a story that dabbles in a bit of romance on the side, but mainly focuses on the evolution of a childhood best friendship, definitely grab this graphic novel.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
One panel shows a kiss.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Last Best Quest Ever by F. T. Lukens

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

The Last Best Quest Ever
F. T. Lukens
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published May 26, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Last Best Quest Ever

A fraudulent teen quester must team up with a brooding, royal rival on a perilous adventure to save her brother’s life in this cozy young adult romantasy full of mythical creatures by the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This is Ever After.

Seventeen-year-old Ellinore has the best questing record of anyone in the kingdom’s history. She also has a secret: her fame is built entirely on lies. Tired of the charade, she shocks the kingdom by retiring at a royal feast. But her plans for a quiet life are disrupted when her twin brother Zig bets his life that Ellinore can retrieve the horn of the mythical Elder Beast. To save Zig, she reluctantly sets out on one last, perilous quest.

Accompanying her are Zig, determined to help despite his recklessness; Aven, her envious rival eager to prove their superiority; an ambitious bar maiden turned adventurer; and a young, magic-wielding bard. Together, they face an arduous journey fraught with mythical challenges and shifting alliances. As they search for the Elder Beast, Ellinore grapples with her growing feelings for Aven, her fear of losing Zig, and her identity as a reluctant hero.

With time running out, Ellinore must confront not only the legendary creature but also her own truths. Can she save her brother, embrace her potential, and finally decide her path?

My Review

This was my most-anticipated read for 2026, so I was delighted to get a free copy from the publisher. I’ve been a huge fan of the author’s books since I first read Spell Bound in 2023. I think all three of their books that I’ve read would be considered contemporary fantasy, so I was excited to try this more traditional fantasy story. Though the story doesn’t make any overt Dungeons and Dragons references, it very much felt like the kind of quest one might play.

I grew up reading Blue Moon Rising by Simon R. Green, and though this story is more on the cozy side of fantasy, some of the humor reminded me of that book. I love a fantasy that pokes fun at genre tropes, and Lukens does that beautifully, if more subtly here.

The romance between Ellinore and Aven develops believably. It takes some time for Ellinore to recognize the feelings she’s having about Aven, and then it takes time for the two to actually talk about or acknowledge their feelings, but things roll out in a satisfying way.

I wish that the whole confrontation to acquire the horn of the Elder Beast had a little more going on in it. I won’t say it was anti-climactic, but it definitely kept to the cozy fantasy landscape rather than building to a peak of tension. The confrontation between Ellinore’s party and the mages toward the end of the book is really funny, though. I appreciated the humor in that scene and the tension that built up in that moment quite a bit.

All in all, I would say this only further cements my love for Lukens’ books. I think I have copies of the two they’ve written that I haven’t read, so hopefully I’ll get to those soon.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Mythical creatures and the use of magic. Some creatures are deities and created others. There’s a simple heirarchy in the story that’s very easy to follow.

Violent Content
Situations of peril and brief battle violence. It’s all pretty PG level.

Drug Content
References to visiting a tavern where people are presumably drinking alcohol, though none of the main characters do this.

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: The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America by David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America
David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published April 21, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America

A thoughtful, poignant look at the AIDS crisis in the United States that includes primary source interviews, history, medical research, and cultural touchpoints.

The AIDS crisis in America is complex and composed of countless individual stories of grief, love, and advocacy. Its history shows the power of youth activism, how creativity and community can be vehicles for social change, and how bigotry and misinformation led to inequality in care.

The early days of the AIDS crisis saw LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities making strides in the fight for equality. As many people in positions of power were slow to act or actively didn’t pay attention until their own communities were affected, the fight for equality turned into a fight for their lives. Grassroots efforts filled in gaps where mainstream medicine and politics failed, and over time, a cultural shift of awareness emerged, which led to more research and more treatments. And while the disease has transitioned from a death sentence to one that people can live full lives with, there are still people dying of HIV/AIDS today because they can’t access the care they need. The fight may have begun decades ago, but is not yet over.

Award-winning author David Levithan and University of Cambridge PhD Gabriel Duckels detail a brief history of the epidemic, touching on key moments and figures, such as Ryan White, ACT UP, Larry Kramer and Anthony Fauci, Pedro Zamora from MTV’s The Real World, and the Names Quilt. Threaded throughout are poems, essays, and other creative works, in addition to first-person interviews and narratives. The most important takeaway is that we must remember. We need to know what happened and why. Our voices are powerful, and they can make a difference.

My Review

This book is an intricate tapestry describing the nation’s history with AIDS as well as sharing deeply personal reflections and experiences and poetry, essays, and other creative works. The book describes the creation of the Names Quilt, which is made up of large fabric squares each representing the life of someone lost due to AIDS, and the book made me think of the quilt as well, because of how it’s pieced together and shares so many stories.

Some chapters outline the progression of research and treatment for AIDS during a short span of years. Juxtaposed with those are poems, interviews, and personal essays in which people share their own experience as a person who contracted HIV, the family member of someone with HIV, and/or an activist fighting for people with HIV/AIDS to have better access to treatment and to eliminate the stigma surrounding the diagnosis.

I think the authors did a great job trying to make sure that they presented information in context. For example, in the chapters talking about the work of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the authors highlight both the ways in which Fauci helped people gain better access to treatment and responded to harsh criticism from activists. But the authors also clearly point out the criticism of Dr. Fauci’s leadership and the cost of the decisions he made to those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during that time.

The book explores the connection between the late/marginal response by the government to what amounted to an epidemic and the stigma that patients faced as a result of their diagnosis. The illustration of that connection feels particularly timely, as the culture and/or those in power embrace the stigmatization of certain groups today. It’s just as harmful now as it was then.

All in all, this is a powerful account of both history and humanity. It’s compelling and rich in its celebration of art, love, and life. What an incredible accomplishment. I won’t be at all surprised to see this book on awards lists later this year.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to sex. References to sexual assault. References to sex work. No sexual contact shown on page other than kissing.

Spiritual Content
References to personal faith. Reference to protests when the Catholic church said that using contraception was wrong. Reference to religious groups that cared for people with AIDS.

Violent Content
References to sexual assault. Descriptions of homophobia and transphobia. References to assault. Brief use of the f-slur.

Drug Content
References to drug abuse.

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: The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

Blogger's Favorites, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Deya Muniz
Little, Brown and Company
Published May 9, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A funny, heartfelt YA romance about finding love—and lots of grilled cheese sandwiches—in the place you least expect it, from rising talent Deya Muniz.

Lady Camembert wants to live life on her own terms, without marriage. Well, without marrying a man, that is. But the law of the land is that women cannot inherit. So when her father passes away, she does the only thing she can: She disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage to start over as Count Camembert.

But it’s hard to keep a low profile when the beautiful Princess Brie, with her fierce activism and great sense of fashion, catches her attention. Camembert can’t resist getting to know the princess, but as the two grow closer, will she able to keep her secret?

A romantic comedy about mistaken identity, true love, and lots of grilled cheese.

My Review

As a pretty devoted cheese fan, I really enjoyed this playful book. The character names and places are all cheeses or cheese-related. I loved the emphasis on grilled cheese.

I also like that the story explores Cam’s choice to live publicly as a man as a complicated experience. It begins as a necessity for her financial survival and ultimately becomes a vehicle through which she influences others and finds love.

The illustrations, like the story, have a really playful feel to them. I love the images that show details about fashion and how the Princess uses fashion as a part of her activism. The color palettes of both main characters– soft pinks and light colors for Princess Brie and bolder, darker colors for Count Camembert– contrasted well and balanced nicely on the pages.

Overall, I had a great time reading this one. I would absolutely pass this book to anyone who enjoyed The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used once.

Romance/Sexual Content
Two characters fall in love. References to women needing to marry to rule or inherit wealth.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis

Book Review and Content, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

The Danger of Small Things
Caryl Lewis
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published March 24, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Danger of Small Things

Set in a world where bees are at risk of extinction, this startling YA dystopian is perfect for fans of Meg Rosoff’s How I Live Now and Sarah Crossan, described by the author as a love letter to her daughter. 

Imagine a world where honeybees have died out. It’s a patriarchal world where famines are rife. It’s a world without art, without books, without plays. Girls are sent away from home, forced to pollinate crops by hand with brushes and to marry as soon as they can. Inhabiting this world is Jess and her friends Cass, Deva, and Ruth. But even if one fourteen‑year‑old knows that brushes weren’t invented for pollinating, can she really stoke a revolution?

Caryl Lewis: ‘As a beekeeper, I am acutely aware of the interconnectedness of everything and have long been frightened of how we, as humans, set ourselves apart from nature. We do not seem to understand that in destroying nature, we destroy ourselves. My daughter is growing up in what feels like a much more hostile environment facing climate instability, the rise of misogyny and the roll back of women’s bodily rights. I wanted to comfort and empower her and let her see that our greatest weapon in a floundering world is the imagination.’

My Review

I’m really fascinated by the fact that the author is herself a beekeeper, and that her experience inspired the story. Certainly, exploring the extinction of bees and its impact on global food supply is a timely one. In this story, Lewis connects this with a society that uses the food shortage to create a government system that uses its girls and women as labor before pressuring them into a life of raising the next generation of laborers.

Some elements of the story left me wanting more information about the larger world beyond the town where Jess lived. Where did the leaders go when they left the village? Who did they trade with?

I was a bit worried about Jess’s relationship with the guard. I think she was supposed to be thirteen or fourteen, and he was seventeen or eighteen. Nothing romantic happens between the two of them, though, and it doesn’t seem like Jess thinks of him in that way.

All in all, I think the concept of this book is very relevant. I could see readers who enjoy dystopian fiction liking this one a lot.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to kissing. Vague references to sexual abuse. (Not shown on the page.)

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to riots and political unrest. Some instances of homophobia.

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.