Category Archives: By Genre

Review: The Secret Investigator of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill

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The Secret Investigator of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill

The Secret Investigator of Astor Street (A Piper Sail Mystery #2)
Stephanie Morrill
Blink YA
Published August 5, 2025

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About The Secret Investigator of Astor Street

After high school graduation, Piper Sail isn’t quite sure what her future holds—until a possible murder case lands in her lap. Filled with both the glitz and glamor of high society and the dark mafia underbelly of 1920s Chicago, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Maureen Johnson.

Piper Sail knows what she to become a detective. After all, she already solved the case of her … Continue reading →

Review: Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying

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Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying

Hungry Ghost
Victoria Ying
First Second
Published April 25, 2023

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About Hungry Ghost

A beautiful and heart-wrenching young adult graphic novel takes a look at eating disorders, family dynamics, and ultimately, a journey to self-love.

Valerie Chu is quiet, studious, and above all, thin. No one, not even her best friend Jordan, knows that she has been binging and purging for years. But when tragedy strikes, Val finds herself taking a good, hard look at her priorities, her choices, and her own body. The path to happiness may lead her away from her hometown and her mother’s toxic … Continue reading →

Review: The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick by Larry Hayes

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The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick by Larry Hayes

The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick
Larry Hayes
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published August 5, 2025

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About The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick

‘I absolutely loved this book! Genuinely chilling and a little bit gory … such a fun read’ – Jennifer Killick, author of Crater Lake.

By night, Finn has horrible nightmares. By day, they come TRUE! A gripping horror story for readers of 10 and over.

Finnegan Quick is haunted by nightmares. They’re so bad, he’s terrified of going to sleep. Because Finn’s dreams change the waking world too. He’s already lost his mum, his dad, his dog, even his shadow. … Continue reading →

Fabulous Early Middle Grade Graphic Novels

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Fabulous Early Middle Grade Graphic Novels

Fabulous Early Middle Grade Graphic Novels

My littlest is seven, and quite a reader. Keeping up with her reading keeps me on my toes. Lately, her favorite kinds of books to read are graphic novels. We’ve discovered some adorable chapter book-length graphic novels, but she blows through those in a blink. I wanted to try to find some longer graphic novels for her, which meant looking through middle grade titles to find some that are well-suited to her age. The age range for middle grade books is eight to twelve, so this means looking for books geared toward readers at the younger end of that age spread.

A few books in this list are … Continue reading →

Review: A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury

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A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury

A Mastery of Monsters
Liselle Sambury
Margaret K. McElderry
Published July 29, 2025

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About A Mastery of Monsters

Ninth House meets Legendborn in this thrilling first book in a dark academia fantasy series about a teen who’s willing to do anything to find her brother—even infiltrate a secret society full of monsters.

When August’s brother disappears before his sophomore semester, everyone thinks the stress of college got to him. But August knows her brother would never have left her voluntarily, especially not after their mother so recently went missing.

The only clue he left behind was a note telling her to stay safe … Continue reading →

Review: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

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The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Avi
Scholastic, Inc.
Published October 27, 2015 (Orig. 1990)

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About The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is excited to return home from her school in England to her family in Rhode Island in the summer of 1832. But when the two families she was supposed to travel with mysteriously cancel their trips, Charlotte finds herself the lone passenger on a long sea voyage with a cruel captain and a mutinous crew. Worse yet, soon after stepping aboard the ship, she becomes enmeshed in a conflict between … Continue reading →