Category Archives: By Age Range

Review: The Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner

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Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki Wegner cover shows the silhouette of a tyrannosaur head partly filled with a jungle of plants. The dinosaur's teeth hold the word hunted.

The Deadlands: Hunted (The Deadlands #1)
Skye Melki-Wegner
Henry Holt & Co.
Published April 4, 2023

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About The Deadlands: Hunted

Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park in this action-adventure middle grade debut series by Skye Melki-Wegner about five outcasts ― and former enemies ― who are the only hope to save their warring kingdoms from impending doom.

“My favorite middle grade book of the year.” ― New York Times -bestselling author Amie Kaufman

Battle rages between the dinosaur kingdoms of Cretacea.

When the Fallen Star struck, it brought death and despair, ash and toxic rain. But some dinosaurs survived . . . and were changed. Their minds grew alert. They learned to speak. To dream. To wage war.

As the two remaining dinosaur kingdoms fight for territory, Eleri, the disgraced son of a prince, is exiled from his home for saving an enemy soldier. Banished to the merciless Deadlands, a terrifying desert full of tar pits, poisonous gas, and ruthless carnivores, he must join forces with a group of questionable allies―including the enemy soldier he saved―to avoid becoming prey.

When Eleri and his fellow exiles discover the horrific truth behind the war, the unlikely heroes must do all they can to save their kingdoms from a lurking predator. . . and a secret plot that might destroy them all.

My Review

This is such a clever book! I super enjoyed the fact that all the main characters are dinosaurs. It was like WARRIORS, but all dinos. The setup of the conflicts and lore about the herds, alliances, and kingdoms was woven into the story and introduced at a nice pace.

The story follows both Eleri, an oryctodromeus, and Zyre, an anurognathid, though more chapters are told from Eleri’s point of view. I really enjoyed both of them as characters. Zyre observes silently, trying to make some hard moral choices and needing to survive as a small animal.

Eleri is a tunneling dinosaur who longs to be a storyteller. He believes that his herd doesn’t love or value him because he isn’t a gifted warrior. What it takes him a long time to realize, though, is that he is a gifted strategist. I loved the way he interacted with the other characters, especially Tortha, the triceratops, and Sorielle, the ankylosaur. Tortha focuses on her identity as a warrior, and Sorielle has a mind for math, so altogether, they make a great team.

The beginning pages have a list of the types of dinosaurs, descriptions of them, and what alliances they’re part of, if any. I still had to do an image search for some of them because I wasn’t sure what they looked like. I kind of wish there had been line drawings of each type or something included with the descriptions. But thankfully, a quick internet search gave me what I was looking for.

All in all, I thought this book was really nicely done. I’ve got a review copy of the second book, so I’ll be reading that one pretty soon, and I’m looking forward to it! Readers who enjoy books featuring animals as main characters should definitely check out this series.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
All characters are dinosaurs.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
The Sauropods (long-necked dinos) have a kind of spirituality and speak in a stilted way. They are storytellers, and the lore about them is that they used their long necks and tails to sweep stars across the skies.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to battle scenes. Some brief descriptions of predators or rivals attacking the main characters. The descriptions are not overly graphic.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm by Kimberly Behre Kenna

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Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm
Kimberly Behre Kenna
Black Rose Writing
Published August 3, 2023

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About Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm

Jett Jamison can’t catch a break. Her home in small town Wisteria is noisy as a zoo, and her mind buzzes with bits of a traumatic memory she’d rather forget. She’s filled a shoebox with one hundred thirty-three to-do lists, her roadmaps to peace, but they only lead to dead ends. Sister Gia, master gardener and cat-whisperer extraordinaire, suggests a book by an anonymous author, but it’s disappeared from all local libraries, and nobody wants to talk about it.

Enraged at the injustice, Jett continues to dig for answers and is drawn into a censorship battle with a high-profile radio host. Her peaceful protest backfires big time, and the town goes berserk. Now, for peace to be within reach, Jett must either face up to her past or remain forever bound by silence much more suffocating than the din in Wisteria.

My Review

Throughout this book, Jett’s anxiety felt palpable. She tries her best to manage by making everything in her life absolutely predictable. It doesn’t work, especially not in her family full of nonconformists and free spirits.

What Jett does find, however, is a friend and mentor who gives her the space to be anxious and afraid. With Sister Gia, Jett slowly begins unpacking some of the secrets she’s kept deeply buried. I loved the way their relationship evolved and that Jett consistently stayed in an active role in the story rather than showing up and letting an adult lead her to all the answers. Sister G does say lots of wise things, but it’s Jett’s actions and interpretations of that counsel that helps her break through the things holding her back.

I enjoyed the more mystic representation of the Christian faith, as well. Catholic mysticism seems to be a faith sweet spot for me, so I was pretty excited to find that very nonjudgmental, connect with your body, listen to one another kind of approach here.

The only thing I wish had had more screen time is the confrontation between Jett and her family. For so much of the story, Jett seems to be crying out for more structure and stability in her life, and her parents kind of treat that need like a character flaw. I wish that when Jett finally spoke with them about what had been going on inside her, they realized she’d been asking for safety and stability and that they could find some ways to meet her halfway in that.

Conclusion

On the whole, I really enjoyed the book. It’s a really quick read– perfect for readers looking for shorter books and interested in deeper topics. I think fans of CHIRP by Kate Messner would like this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 13.

Representation
Major characters are white. Jett has panic attacks and anxiety.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Two characters talk about the fact that a girl was sexually assaulted. No graphic description of the event, but it obviously caused lasting trauma.

Spiritual Content
Jett’s family is against participation in organized religion. Jett befriends a nun who shares her beliefs on prayer and spirituality with her. Jett mentions praying and feeling like no one is listening. Later, she prays in Sister Gia’s garden and feels the plants answer her.

Violent Content
Brief, vague references to sexual assault.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of JETT JAMISON AND THE SECRET STORM in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Cursed by Marissa Meyer

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

Cursed (Gilded #2)
Marissa Meyer
Feiwel & Friends
Published November 8, 2022

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About Cursed

Before the Endless Moon, when the Erlking means to capture one of the seven gods and make a wish to return his lover, Perchta, from the underworld, Serilda and Gild attempt to break the curses that tether their spirits to Adalheid’s haunted castle. But it soon becomes clear that the Erlking’s hunger for vengeance won’t be satisfied with a single wish, and his true intentions have the power to alter the mortal realm forever. Serilda and Gild must try to thwart his wicked plans, all while solving the mystery of Gild’s forgotten name, freeing the ghosts kept in servitude to the dark ones, and trying to protect their unborn child.

Romance, danger, and Serilda’s journey to find her power as a woman, a mother, and a storyteller make this reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin one that Meyer fans—old and new—will treasure.

My Review

So I listened to CURSED as an audiobook from my library, and I had to return it mid-read and then wait for my name to come up in the holds list again. All that to say that my reading was a bit choppy, which might have affected how I feel about the pacing, so I’m not going to pass any judgment there.

When I finished reading GILDED, I knew I had to read the second book. I love the way the author took a simple fairy tale story and reimagined it into this whole complex world with history and mythology and bigger reasons for things to happen. And, of course, where the Rumpelstiltskin character isn’t the villain. I thought that was an interesting change.

In CURSED, all the pieces set up in GILDED begin to move toward their final positions. Gild and Serilda try breaking their curse. The Erlking puts his plan to change the mortal world forever into place. So much happens in this book. There is truly never a dull moment.

As with the first book, I liked both Gild and Serilda’s characters, as well as others in the story. I enjoyed seeing Serilda begin to think of herself as a mother and to experience the joy and grief that comes with that transition. Because of that and the fact that Serilda is kind of on her own through the whole book, behaving independently, I think this is really more of a crossover book rather than true young adult literature.

In any case, I enjoyed reading it a lot. I think fans of Marissa Meyer will love it, and I think readers who didn’t get into CINDER because of the sci-fi elements will enjoy this duology for its more traditional fairytale feel.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Major characters are white. Two women, minor characters, get married to one another.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. References to sex (Serilda is pregnant). Two women get married.

Spiritual Content
The story contains characters who are essentially ghosts, including five children who were murdered so the Erlking could hold their spirits captive to control Serilda. Other characters called Dark Ones, belong in the underworld as servants of the god who rules there.

The story also contains mythical creatures and monsters, some of whom become Serilda’s allies, and some of whom fight against her. Some of the monsters are pretty creepy, like the ones that dig talons into someone and transmit their worst nightmares into their minds to paralyze them.

During the full moon, the veil between the mortal and immortal world falls, and Dark Ones and ghosts have the ability to interact with humans and living creatures.

In Serilda’s world, there are seven old gods who were once prayed to and worshipped. She tells stories about them and eventually encounters them.

Violent Content
Battle scenes and some references to torture.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog.

Review: Roll for Initiative by Jaime Formato

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Roll for Initiative
Jaime Formato
Running Press Kids
Published September 27, 2022

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About Roll for Initiative

Perfect for fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Raina Telgemeier, and Jessica Kim, a heartfelt coming-of-age middle grade novel about finding your voice and believing in your best geeky self.

Riley Henderson has never taken a bus to school in her entire life. Or made an afterschool snack, or finished her homework on her own, or—ewww—done her own laundry. That’s what her older brother Devin was for.

But now Devin’s gone. He’s off in California attending a fancy college gaming program while Riley is stuck alone in Florida with her mom. That is, until a cool nerd named Lucy gives Riley no choice but to get over her shyness and fear of rejection and become friends. The best part is . . . both girls are into Dungeons & Dragons. In fact, playing D&D was something Riley and Devin used to do together, with Devin as the dungeon master, guiding Riley through his intricately planned campaigns. So, of course, Riley is more than a little nervous when Lucy suggests that she run a campaign for them. For the chance at a friend, though, she’s willing to give it a shot. 

Soon, their party grows and with the help of her new D&D friends, Riley discovers that not only can she function without Devin, she kind of likes it. She figures out that bus thing, totes the clothes down to the laundry room and sets up her D&D campaigns right there on the slightly suspect folding table, makes her own snacks and dinner— the whole deal. But when Devin runs into trouble with his program and returns home, it’s pretty clear, even to Riley, that since he can’t navigate his own life, he’s going to live Riley’s for her. Now she has to help Devin go back to college and prove to her mom that she can take care of herself . . . all before the upcoming Winter-Con.

It’s time to Roll for Initiative.

My Review

Oh my gosh, this book! It’s got so many great layers. First, I really enjoyed the way the Dungeons and Dragons games were captured in the text. The Dungeon Master’s narration is written in italics, so it feels really atmospheric and stands apart from the characters’ dialogue and questions. I thought that was super clever.

The story contains some really great character arcs and contrasts, too. For example, there’s a strong contrast between Devin and Riley. At first, Riley sees herself as kind of a bumbling goof next to her brother, who has everything hyper-organized and planned to within an inch of its life. As she begins to stretch her wings and builds some confidence in herself, she begins to see that her style– more creative and spontaneous– is both valuable and valid. She starts having her own preferences instead of deferring to his.

She also notices similarities between her brother and her friend, Hannah, though at first, she thinks they’re nothing alike. Once she sees the common ground between them, it really helps her formulate how to break through the fog of fear and grief her brother is caught in.

I loved the creativity of the D&D games, and the ways the characters interacted came across as so genuine and full of heart. I would play tabletop with Riley any day of the week. Readers who enjoy video games or D&D should obviously check this one out, but I think it would also appeal to readers in late elementary school navigating changing friendships.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Two of Riley’s friends are Black.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
“Heck” is used a few times, but nothing stronger.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some descriptions of game characters’ actions in a role-playing game.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Sorceline Book 2 by Sylvia Douyé and Paola Antista

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Sorceline Book 2 (Sorceline #2)
Sylvia Douyé
Illustrated by Paola Antista
Andrews McNeel Publishing
Published August 22, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Sorceline Book 2

Return to the Island of Vorn, where mythical creatures roam free and only the brightest students are invited to study them! Follow along as the kids (and creatures) of Professor Balzar’s famous school of cryptozoology unearth the long-hidden secret at the heart of their story.

Sorceline has proven herself a star student at Balzar’s prestigious academy—but her gifts might have gotten the best of her. As Sorceline fights for her life, her classmates must work to uncover her origin story, revealing details of her past that may offer a key to their present.

At the back of the book, enjoy an illustrated bestiary along with behind-the-scenes bonus material!

My Review

This graphic novel begins right where the first book in the series left off: Sorceline is in a deep sleep, and the professor and her friends must figure out how to wake her. As they pursue a cure, they run into pieces of other mysteries and dangers.

I felt like I got to know the characters better in this book, even though much of the story is about the quest to find and stop a bad guy from the past. I liked the way the relationship between Sorceline and Merode developed– he’s one of my favorite characters.

Though it’s a pretty short book at just over 100 pages, a lot happens in those few chapters. The panels are gorgeous, showcasing lots of mythical creatures and beautiful forest scenes. I’m super glad I read this one. It’s definitely a series I want on my library shelves!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
The main character is white-passing. Other characters are POC.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
A boy has a crush on one of the girls.

Spiritual Content
Characters have the ability to perform magic and encounter magical creatures.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. A vampire tries to bite Sorceline so she’ll never grow up. She faces a deadly enemy.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of SORCELINE BOOK 2 in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Raven Throne by Stephanie Burgis

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,

The Raven Throne (The Raven Crown #2)
Stephanie Burgis
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Published August 8, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Raven Throne

The unmissable sequel to The Raven Heir and conclusion to the epic middle-grade fantasy series perfect for fans of Abi Elphinstone and Piers Torday.

Cordelia has been crowned The Raven Queen. But with new power comes new danger.

Once their triplet Cordelia became The Raven Queen, Giles and Rosalind knew they would have to learn to behave at court. No more fighting for Rosalind and no more singing for Giles. What they didn’t foresee was having to foil a plot against their sister.

When Cordelia falls into an enchanted sleep and cannot be woken, Rosalind and Giles must quest across the kingdom to seek help from the ancient spirits of the land. But their family’s greatest enemies lurk at every turn, and it will take all of the triplets’ deepest strengths to fight against them.

A thrilling finale to the magical and mystical series.

My Review

I’m a huge fan of Stephanie Burgis’s middle grade novels (I know she has adult fiction, and I’ve bought a copy of one of her books, but I haven’t read it yet. It looks really fun, though!), and THE RAVEN HEIR, the first book in this duology was one of my favorite books from last year. So it was a pretty big no-brainer that this one was going to be on my reading list this year.

When I think about this book and the story it tells, the first word that comes to mind is “ambitious.” I feel like this was a hard story to tell because it’s got a lot of political intrigue and a pretty large cast of named characters, and there’s a lot of action to wrap up in a single less-than-300-page novel.

For the most part, I think it’s a success. I got chills as Ros and Giles confronted the forces they needed to in order to save the day (I’m getting chills again writing about it), and I cried when Cordy named her sister a knight. There were some really great moments like that throughout the book. I loved the theme of the messages people speak about us versus what we believe about ourselves. Powerful stuff.

That said, I did find the opening to be a little confusing because of the number of named characters participating. There are six family members plus various lords and ladies at court, attendants, and relatives. I had a hard time keeping those more minor characters straight, though as I got deeper into the story, it got easier.

Conclusion

THE RAVEN THRONE is the second book in The Raven Crown duology. If you haven’t read THE RAVEN HEIR, which is the first book, I recommend you start with that one before reading this one.

On the whole, I still enjoyed a lot of elements of this book. It’s one of the few about triplets that I’ve ever read, and the relationships between the siblings are still one of my favorite parts. I think fans of UNICORN QUEST by Kamilla Benko or THE FIREBIRD SONG by Arnée Flores should check out this duology.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Major characters are white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Cordelia, the Raven Queen, has made a pact with the spirits of the land that she’ll listen to them and protect them. She and her triplets have magic abilities.

Violent Content
Situations of peril and brief moments leading up to battle. One scene describes a battle with nature. In one scene, a woman disappears into a crack in the ground. A man is surrounded by tree growth.

Drug Content
None.

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