Category Archives: Young Adult/Teen 12-18

Review: Call Me Iggy by Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , ,
Call Me Iggy by Jose Aguirre cover shows a girl with a cross-body bag and a boy with a hoodie and backpack.

Call Me Iggy
Jorge Aguirre
Illustrated by Rafael Rosado
First Second
Published February 13, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Call Me Iggy

Ignacio “Iggy” Garcia is an Ohio-born Colombian American teen living his best life. After bumping into Marisol (and her coffee) at school, Iggy’s world is spun around. But Marisol as too much going on to be bothered with the likes of Iggy. She has school, work, family, and the uphill battle of getting her legal papers. As Iggy stresses over how to get Marisol to like him, his grandfather comes to the rescue. The thing is, not only is his abuelito dead, but he also gives terrible love advice. The worst. And so, with his ghost abuelito’s meddling, Iggy’s life begins to unravel as he sets off on a journey of self-discovery.

Call Me Iggy tells the story of Iggy searching for his place in his family, his school, his community, and ultimately—as the political climate in America changes during the 2016 election— his country. Focusing on familial ties and budding love, Call Me Iggy challenges our assumptions about Latino-American identity while reaffirming our belief in the hope that all young people represent. Perfect for lovers of multigenerational stories like Displacement and The Magic Fish.

My Review

This is such a sweet story. Iggy accidentally wakes the ghost of his grandfather and the two agree to help each other. Iggy needs help learning Spanish and getting the girl he’s interested in, and in exchange, Abuelito would like Iggy to find an orchid field where the family can scatter his ashes.

Sometimes Abuelito’s help leads to disastrous (but funny) consequences. At other times, he helps Iggy see things in a new way or challenges the views he holds about himself, his culture, and his family.

The story takes place during the 2016 presidential election, so some scenes reference some of the campaign speeches and rhetoric that some voters ascribed to. Iggy’s parents share their views on the political climate, and so does Iggy’s friend Marisol, who could be deported under the new presidential administration.

As a character, Iggy demonstrates so much growth and new confidence through the conversations he has with his grandfather and his friendship with Marisol. I loved the illustrations of his different expressions. Those paired with the dialog made for an incredibly moving story and a pretty quick read.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. I can see the comparison to The Magic Fish, though there are no fairytales in this book. It has some of the same feeling of searching for one’s place in the world. Readers looking for a sweet romance or story about finding where you belong will enjoy this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
Iggy and his family are Columbian-American. Marisol and her family are undocumented Mexican immigrants.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Iggy’s grandfather teaches him his favorite swear word in Spanish. He and Iggy use the word several times.

Romance/Sexual Content
A boy and girl have romantic feelings for one another.

Spiritual Content
Iggy knocks over his grandfather’s urn, spilling his ashes, and his grandfather’s ghost appears, offering Iggy a deal: Spanish lessons and help getting the girl he’s crushing on in exchange for his finding a place to scatter his grandfather’s ashes.

Violent Content
Includes racist quotes from one of Donald Trump’s campaign speeches. Some other minor characters make racist comments. Iggy helping a girl pick up her school papers becomes a racist meme shared online. Characters assume Iggy is Puerto Rican and speaks Spanish.

Drug Content
At one point, Iggy’s father asks him if he’s using drugs. He’s guessing– there’s no evidence to make him think this.

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 CALL ME IGGY in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Review: The Boyfriend Wish by Swati Teerdhala

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The Boyfriend Wish
Swati Teerdhala
Katherine Tegen Books
Published February 13, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Boyfriend Wish

A charming romantic comedy about a South Indian American teen girl who makes a wish upon a flower for her perfect boyfriend…and then a new boy moves in right next door. With love triangles, prank wars, and a sizzling sweet romance—this is perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon and Jenny Han.

Deepa’s a hopeless romantic. And even though Deepa’s checklist for the perfect boyfriend is a mile long, her mom and dad’s fairy-tale love story makes her feel like romantic success ought to be a family trait. It’s why when her grandmother gives her a jasmine flower with the promise that it will fulfill her heart’s greatest desire, and then a new boy moves in across the street, Deepa knows—he must be her wish come true.

Rohit checks off every box on Deepa’s timelessly handsome, a thoughtful listener, and a romantic who knows his flowers. Deepa’s next-door neighbor (and constant tormentor) Vik also surprisingly approves, though she knows it shouldn’t be a mark against Rohit.

Is it luck or is it magic? Deepa doesn’t want to take chances, so when her grandmother warns her that the wish is only permanent if she seals it with a kiss, she knows she needs to move quickly. Rohit is the right boy in every way, so then why does Deepa not feel like he might not be the right choice?

My Review

This is such a perfect Valentine’s Day book, which is why I’m posting about it today. I enjoyed the whole book, but I think the second half is where all the pieces really come together. In the first half, I found myself wanting to know more about Deepa’s sisters and wanting to understand the connections in the neighborhood a little better. As I crossed into the second half, I felt like I started to see all those connections and relationships more clearly.

The whole setup with the wish adds a dash of whimsy to the book, but it doesn’t dominate the story. This reads like a contemporary romance with a fun cast of characters and a girl whose heart wants what it wants. I loved Deepa’s character. She’s hyper-organized and an overthinker, which automatically endeared her to me. She’s also funny and thoughtful, so it was easy for me to root for her from the first page to the last.

I totally see the comparison to Sandhya Menon’s books here, and I actually thought it had a similar vibe to TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT PINKY, which is probably my favorite of her books so far. If you’re looking for a romance that’s more sweet than spicy and has a great family and friend group included, check this one out.

Content Notes for The Boyfriend Wish

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Most characters are South Indian American. One girl character is interested in dating another girl.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used somewhat infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. Mentions of attraction between two girls.

Spiritual Content
Deepa’s grandmother tells her that the last blossom of the season has the ability to grant someone’s wish. Deepa wishes for the perfect boyfriend and then wonders if the boy who mysteriously shows up next door is the boyfriend she wished for.

Violent Content
Characters play paintball. The neighborhood engages in a prank war, in which they are assigned a person to prank (all participants have opted in), and the best prank wins. Pranks are not harmful but can be embarrassing, such as getting a pie to the face.

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 BOYFRIEND WISH in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Review: With a Little Luck by Marissa Meyer

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

With a Little Luck (Fortuna Beach #2)
Marissa Meyer
Feiwel & Friends
Published February 13, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About With a Little Luck

After being magically gifted with incredible luck, a boy discovers this gift just may be a curse when it comes to love, in this YA novel by #1 New York Times -bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

Jude is determined to fly under the radar. He just wants to draw his comics, host regular D&D night with his friends, work at his parents’ vinyl record store, and escape high school as unscathed as possible. That is, until the night he comes across a mysterious twenty-sided dice and finds himself inexplicably gifted with a bout of supernatural good luck.

Suddenly, everything Jude has ever wanted is within reach. His first art submission is accepted to his favorite fanzine. He helps his friend’s song become a finalist in a songwriting competition. And he’s the 100th caller to a local radio contest, winning him a pair of coveted concert tickets, which he uses to ask out the popular girl he’s been crushing on since elementary school. For a few blissful weeks, he feels invincible.

But when he loses the magic dice at a local music festival, his luck takes a turn for the worse. He struggles to reclaim his good fortune while fighting off long-buried feelings for his best friend―who is definitely not the girl he’s supposed to be in love with. Can Jude risk stepping into the spotlight long enough to win the true girl of his dreams? Or is he doomed to be unlucky in love forever?

My Review

It’s pretty rare to read a romance that’s written entirely from the boy’s point-of-view, and I thought it was a cool choice to make with this book. I’ve read several books featuring characters playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), but it’s also less common for the Dungeon Master to be the point-of-view character, so that was another fun element of this book.

Another great, unexpected thing that WITH A LITTLE LUCK has is graphic novel panels showing the way the D&D campaign and its backstory play out. I thought that was a really clever way of differentiating the game from the real-world scenes, and it made them dynamic and entertaining while also drawing us deeper into Jude’s character since he was supposed to have drawn the panels.

As a D&D player (and occasional DM), I appreciated the way the panels also gave us a lot of information about the campaign without weighing the scene down or distracting us from the plot of the overall story. The panels kept it separate but still allowed for it to be the focus in the right places.

I also felt like this story had a good mix of predictable and unpredictable moments. I mean, it’s a romance, right? So we know there will be some romantic moments, and there are. Some of them I totally saw coming, and others were much more unexpected. I think the balance of those kept the story feeling fresh and fun.

Altogether, this was a very cute, upbeat romance. I definitely think fans of the first book in the series will appreciate this one, and so will fans of Jenna Evans Welch and Kasie West.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Ari, Jude’s best friend is Latina. One minor character is nonbinary.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Jude finds a twenty-sided dice that seems to make him incredibly lucky.

Violent Content
None.

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 With a Little Luck in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Review: Sick!: The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs by Heather L. Montgomery and Lindsey Leigh

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Sick!: The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs
Heather L. Montgomery
Illustrated by Lindsey Leigh
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published February 20, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Sick!

When a super sickness lands on the land, when a parasite becomes more than a pest, when an infection ignites an epidemic, what’s a body to do? Your body is an animal body, so why not ask the animals?

Follow the scientists, around the world and into their labs, who are studying animals and the germs that attack them. From fungus-ridden frogs with fevers to bacteria-resistant buzzards and everything in-between, animals have A LOT to teach us about infections. But-reader beware!!-the story of germs is filled with twists and turns.

In this fascinating, highly visual nonfiction book packed with colorful, comic-style art, you’ll discover not only the cool ways that animal bodies (and our bodies) fight back against pesky pathogens but also the amazing and surprising ways we can learn to work together with germs.

Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs is written by Heather L. Montgomery with graphic novel-style art from Lindsey Leigh.

My Review

The book begins with a note to readers warning them that not all the questions raised in the book have answers. There are lots of mysteries scientists still explore today and lots of things we can only guess at understanding. With my expectations appropriately tailored, I jumped into reading this book– and was hooked on the fascinating facts inside it.

For most of the book, each chapter focuses on one type of animal and the different pests– pathogens and parasites– that attack it. We learn what the animal has done to adapt to the invaders or, in some cases, what we suspect might be happening. From frogs and alligators to chimpanzees and bats, the book explores facts about lots of different types of animals. It also mentions ways in which our discoveries about these animals’ disease-fighting adaptations may be used to create treatments or vaccines for human diseases.

I found this to be super fascinating stuff. Because I read a pre-release, unfinished copy of the book, I couldn’t see a lot of the final illustrations. A few of the sketches that I could see were a little challenging to interpret. I don’t know if any of the artwork I was looking at is final, though, so it could be that the finished images relate information much more clearly.

On the whole, I think this is a great introduction to animals and diseases and how different species interact. It’s very upbeat and fun, so this isn’t something that intends to scare anyone. It’s engaging and definitely the kind of book that could spark a deeper interest in biology or medicine.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
The text briefly mentions some scientists of diverse backgrounds.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
References poop, as you might expect in talking about animals and the transmission of parasites or germs.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Brief descriptions of territorial battles between alligators that leave the loser short a limb and the methods vultures use to get into carrion. Some brief descriptions of the ways germs and parasites destroy their hosts.

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 this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays

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

Review: The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton

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

The Absinthe Underground
Jamie Pacton
Peachtree Teen
Published February 6, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Absinthe Underground

Moulin Rouge meets Holly Black in a thrilling sapphic friends-to-lovers romantasy!

For Sybil Clarion, the Belle Époque city of Severon is a wild, romantic dream, filled with cafés, cabarets, and glittering nightclubs. Eager to embrace the city’s freedom after running away from home, she’s traded high-society soirées for empty pockets and barren cabinets. At least she has Esme, the girl who offered Sybil a home, and maybe—if either of them dared—something more.

Ever since Esme Rimbaud brought Sybil back to her flat, the girls have been everything to each other—best friends, found family, and secret crushes. While Esme would rather spend the night tinkering with her clocks and snuggling her cats, Sybil craves excitement and needs money. She plans to get both by stealing the rare posters that crop up around town and selling them to collectors. With rent due, Esme agrees to accompany—and more importantly protect —Sybil.

When they’re caught selling a poster by none other than its subject, Maeve, the glamorous girl doesn’t press charges. Rather, she invites Sybil and Esme to The Absinthe Underground, the exclusive club she co-owns, and reveals herself to be a Green Faerie, trapped in this world. She wants to hire thieves for a daring heist in Fae that would set her free, and is willing to pay enough that Sybil and Esme never have to worry about rent again. It’s too good of an offer to pass up, even if Maeve’s tragic story doesn’t quite add up, and even if Sybil’s personal ties to Fae could jeopardize everything she and Esme have so carefully built.

Jamie Pacton, author of THE VERMILLION EMPORIUM, dazzles in this lavish and decadent LGBTQ+ fantasy romance that will leave readers utterly enchanted!

My Review

I don’t know how Jamie Pacton does it, but both times I’ve read her fantasy books, I’ve fallen deeply into them and not surfaced until the story concluded. I love this immersive fantasy world inspired by 1890s Paris.

The chapters alternate point-of-view, flipping back and forth between Esme and Sybil’s perspectives. Esme is organized and orderly. Sybil is pure creative chaos, but somehow, the pair really works. I liked the differences between them and watching them navigate those differences in their friendship and as participants in a dangerous heist.

The girls pine for one another a lot throughout the story, which was okay, but sometimes felt a little bit distracting from the other elements. The romantic arc progressed perfectly, though. I loved that– it’s so sweet.

The Fae elements felt both magical and otherworldly, which I find I really like as well. The magic elements were used in very cool ways in connection with the plot.

All in all, this is another hit for me with this author. I think fans of Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fae series or Roshani Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves books will very much enjoy this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Sybil, whose family is wealthy, has had past romantic relationships with people of all genders. Esme, who grew up poor and in an orphanage, would like a romantic relationship with a girl.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two girls. The story hints they slept together but does not show this.

Spiritual Content
Contains Fae and characters who can use magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to physical abuse. Two characters get into a fight, and one is stabbed with a knife.

Drug Content
Characters drink a strong alcoholic drink called absinthe.

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 this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

20 Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books Coming Winter 2024

Lists, News and Fun, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

20 Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books Coming Winter 2024

I’m scurrying to catch up from a long Christmas celebration with family and friends, but at last– here I am with a list of young adult books coming out in January and February that I can’t wait to read.

As you can tell from the list, my interests generally land somewhere near contemporary romance and fantasy. I’m also trying to catch up on the Remixed Classics series, which I’ve only read a couple of novels from so far. (I loved both the books I read.)

Note: This list contains affiliate links that don’t cost anything for you to use but do generate support for this blog when you use them to do your shopping. Thanks!

20 Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books Coming Winter 2024

Diary of a Confused Feminist by Kate Weston

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Fifteen-year-old Kat journals her adventures pursuing a feminist mindset, something she’s still trying to wrap her brain around. Hilariously awkward and relatable.

Published January 2, 2024 | My Review

Sky’s End by Marc J. Gregson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A seventeen-year-old desperate to save his family joins a team of elite hunters tasked with taking down the giant monsters threatening the floating cities of his people. Packed with adventure and high-stakes danger.

Published January 2, 2024 | My Review

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Theater. After school jobs at the family business. Dungeons and Dragons. Fake dating. I think I’ve always been okay with fake dating as a trope, but this book made me love it.

Published January 9, 2024 | My Review

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A young adult reimagining of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE in which a transgender boy longs for freedom to be himself and finds the unexpected possibility of solace in a wealthy young man named Darcy. Part of the Remixed Classics series, a project I want to follow more closely.

Published January 23, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Summer Queen by Rochelle Hassan

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: In the sequel to THE BURIED AND THE BOUND, Leo, Aziza, and Tristan face a new threat from the fairies of the Summer Court. I devoured the first book in the series and must have more.

Published January 23, 2024 | My Review to Come

Destroy the Day (Defy the Night #3) by Brigid Kemmerer

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Prince Corrick, a captive with few options, must ally with a rebel leader to escape. Tessa, his love, is stranded unless she agrees to her own unlikely alliance. Back at home, Corrick’s brother is on the run and unable to help anyone. I’ve followed this series since the beginning and I have to know how it ends.

Published January 23, 2024 | My Review to Come

My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Wade agrees to help shy Brady learn to be popular in a bid to get his ex back that could backfire when Wade realizes he may be falling for Brady. The cover copy describes this one as MY FAIR LADY meets SHE’S ALL THAT. Wouldn’t it be loverly!

Published January 23, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Dark Fable by Katherine Harbour

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A lonely orphan is invited into an elusive magical family only to learn there are dangerous secrets within. I’m getting CARAVAL vibes maybe? I need to check this one out.

Published January 30, 2024 | My Review to Come

No Time Like Now by Naz Kutub

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Described as a “timely twist” on A CHRISTMAS CAROL, this is about a boy with the ability to give more life to any living thing… who gave away more than he has left and now has to collect some of the time back. Sounds super unique.

Published February 6, 2024 | My Review to Come

All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: The thrilling conclusion to a trilogy that’s packed with betrayal, magic, romance, and possibly revenge. I’ve only recently started reading this series, and I’m unbelievably hooked.

Published February 6, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Cursed Rose (Bone Spindle #3) by Leslie Vedder

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This is the finale I’ve been long anticipating to a gender-bent reimagining of Sleeping Beauty with a bit of a Little Red Riding Hood mash-up. The Spindle Witch has our four heroes in her sights. Fi, who broke the prince’s curse, is caught by a curse of her own. I absolutely cannot wait for this book.

Published February 6, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Hailed as a MOULIN ROUGE meets Holly Black sapphic romantasy. I’ve loved everything Jamie Pacton has written so far.

Published February 6, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Boyfriend Wish by Swati Teerdhala

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A wish for the perfect boyfriend appears to deliver him right next door. Ooh, and there’s a prank war! This is a rom-com for me.

Published February 13, 2024 | My Review to Come

Call Me Iggy by Jose Aguirre and Rafael Rosado

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A boy tries to win over the girl of his dreams with advice from the ghost of his grandfather. For fans of THE MAGIC FISH, which I adored.

Published February 13, 2024 | My Review to Come

With a Little Luck (Fortuna Beach #2) by Marissa Meyer

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A boy with magic lucky dice seems to have it all until he loses them. How can he win the girl of his dreams now? Sounds like a sweet music-filled romance.

Published February13, 2024 | My Review to Come

This is How You Fall in Love by Anika Hussain

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Fake dating– maybe friends to lovers? Since those are two of my favorite rom-com tropes, I predict I’m gonna love this one!

Published February 13, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Someday Daughter by Ellen O’Clover

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: An estranged mother and daughter reconnect on her mom’s book anniversary tour, where she faces truths and possibly finds love? O’Clover’s debut absolutely blew me away, so I can’t wait for this.

Published February 20, 2024 | My Review to Come

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A teahouse by day becomes a vampire haven by night, and its owner will do whatever it takes to save her establishment. This promises swoony romance and a dangerous heist. All I can say is, “Yes, please!”

Published February 20, 2024 | My Review to Come

Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: The cover copy is giving me some Beauty and the Beast vibes. A girl is sentenced to a year in a secluded castle after breaking an anti-magic rule. She’ll only survive by uncovering her host’s secrets and facing his past.

Published February 27, 2024 | My Review to Come

Daughter of the Bone Forest by Jasmine Skye

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A princess desperate for magical allies in a war teams up with a magical girl desperate to save her grandmother. Romance, political intrigue, dark fantasy. I am intrigued!

Published February 27, 2024 | My Review to Come

What are your most-anticipated young adult books coming winter 2024?

Are any of the books I listed above on your reading list? What’s coming soon that you can’t wait to read? Is there anything I need to add to my reading list?

Leave a comment and let me know!