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Review: Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter

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Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter

Finally Fitz
Marisa Kanter
Simon & Schuster
Published April 23, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Finally Fitz

A bisexual teen girl tries to make her ex jealous by faking an Instagram romance that leads to surprisingly real feelings in this hijinks-filled rom-com perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and She Gets the Girl .

Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance.

But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.

Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process.

Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.

My Review

Finally my review for Finally Fitz! Oy. This book has been on my reading list since I received a finished copy from Simon & Schuster way back in April. I read What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter, so I had a pretty good feeling that I would enjoy a lot of things about this one, too, once I finally got around to reading it. And I was right.

This one started slowly for me. It took me a while to understand Fitz and really get her. In some ways, that makes perfect sense since the whole book is about how she filters herself with everyone in her life. She worries that the minute she shows her real, messy self, it’ll be too much, and people will shut her down, walk away, or deflect. Because people have done all those things.

As I started to grasp that about Fitz, I started to see the way that her sisters have left her behind (which made me want to call my littlest sister) and the way that people brush off her interest in fashion and designing clothes. It was heartbreaking. And heartbreaking. So once I hit that point, I was pretty invested in the story.

I love the relationship between Fitz and Levi. They celebrate one another’s passions and victories. They enjoy being along for the ride with the other person, even if there’s nothing in it for them. But they also know when to give one another space and be independent. They have a really cool relationship arc.

Fitz and her sisters have a cool arc, too. I like that their relationships are messy, but there’s real love there. And they keep trying. I love that.

By the middle of the book, I couldn’t read this story fast enough. It was so much fun and such a great celebration of being true to yourself and getting the support you need.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Fitz and her family as well as another character are Jewish. Dani, Fitz’s girlfriend, is Latine. Fitz and another character identify as bisexual. There are a few other queer characters.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
This one has some F-bombs. Strong profanity used pretty frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two girls. Kissing between a boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Fitz attends a Shabbat service with Levi. References to her bat mitzvah.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
References to teens drinking beer. (We don’t see them drink, but they clean up after watching a movie and throw away empty beer bottles.)

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: Goblin by Eric Grissom and Will Perkins

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,

Goblin (Goblin #1)
Eric Grissom
Illustrated by Will Perkins
Dark Horse Books
Published June 8, 2021

Amazon | Goodreads

About Goblin

Goblin is a fantasy story about overcoming great odds and about finding light in even the darkest of places.

A young, headstrong goblin embarks on a wild journey of danger, loss, self-discovery, and sacrifice in this new graphic novel adventure.

One fateful night a sinister human warrior raids the home of the young goblin Rikt and leaves him orphaned. Angry and alone, Rikt vows to avenge the death of his parents and seeks a way to destroy the man who did this. He finds aid from unlikely allies throughout his journey and learns of a secret power hidden in the heart of the First Tree. Will Rikt survive the trials that await him on his perilous journey to the First Tree? And is Rikt truly prepared for what he may find there?

“Grissom and Perkins have created my favorite kind of book. Chock full of strange monsters, big adventure, and a whole lot of heart. The perfect graphic novel for the entire family.”–Rafer
Roberts (Grumble, Minecraft, Modern Fantasy)

“Goblin is exactly what I look for in a fantasy story. Beautiful landscapes, curious creatures, and an adorable hero who rises to the challenge and happens to be a goblin!”–Claire Connelly (Black Eyes, Down with the Ship, The Long Year)

“Rikt enjoins us to delight in his triumphs, wallow in his sorrows and take pleasure in the journey that lies ahead. Grissom and Perkins show that even the smallest of us can achieve great things.”–Jeff McClelland (The Tick, Honcho, Black Terror)

My Review

My favorite part of this book is the relationship between Rikt and the wolf he calls Fish-breath. It begins as this grudging alliance, but over time becomes a close friendship. It’s so sweet, and having that second character on the quest with Rikt adds a lot of connection and engagement to what would otherwise be scenes largely without dialogue.

The illustration style reminds me a little bit of Ethan Aldridge’s style, which I absolutely love, so that’s awesome. The panels show dark, sweeping fantasy landscapes and strange, mythical creatures. I also love the way that the human characters seem distorted and strange in the story. Humans would seem really strange to a goblin, so I liked that the illustration of the human characters emphasized that. It helped me remember that we were in the point-of-view of a nonhuman protagonist.

All in all I enjoyed this story. I’m excited to read book two in the series and see what Rikt and Fish-breath get up to next.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Representation
Main character is a goblin named Rikt.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Rikt meets the Goddess he has grown up worshipping. She sends him on a quest to renew his sword at the First Tree, where all creation began. Some characters appear to have some magical ability.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief battle sequences.

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.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

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

Review: Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron

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Sleep Like Death
Kalynn Bayron
Bloomsbury YA
Published June 25, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Sleep Like Death

New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Kalynn Bayron returns to fairytales with a lush, thrilling and original YA Snow White retelling that brings a new and exciting voice to this familiar tale. Perfect for fans of Cinderella Is Dead.

Only the truly desperate—and foolish—seek out the Knight, an ancient monster who twists wishes into curses. Eve knows this firsthand: one of her mothers was cursed by the Knight and trapped in the body of a songbird. With the unique abilities to communicate with animals and conjure weapons from nature, Eve has trained all her life to defeat him.

With more and more villagers harmed by the Knight’s corrupt deals, Eve believes she’s finally ready to face him. But when Queen Regina begins acting strangely – talking to seemingly no one, isolating herself, and lashing out at the slightest provocation – Eve must question if her powers are enough to save her family and her kingdom.

My Review

Wow. I wasn’t sure in the first couple chapters of this book how closely it would resemble the fairytale about Snow White, but as the story continued to unfold, so many things fell into place in familiar yet really imaginative, fresh ways.

I was just talking with a group of bloggers about how many stories, especially fairytales, include an evil mom or stepmom, and I want to rush back to the group waving this book. In Sleep Like Death, instead of the usual bad mom, we celebrate motherhood and a community of women who mentor and care for Princess Eve. I love that there are several women Eve feels close to, and each one contributes different things to her life. Her relationship with her mom is especially sweet.

There’s a hint of romance in the story as well, and I liked the way that played out. It’s present but not forefront to the tale. This book is Eve’s adventure from start to finish, and she takes an active role at every step of the way. I love that.

I think Kalynn Bayron has become one of my favorite writers to watch because she constantly amazes me. Reimagined fairytales with fierce women at the center? Yep, she can do that. Quirky, fabulous middle grade? Uh-huh. She’s got that, too. Wild slasher novel that somehow also makes fun of itself? You bet. A reimagined classic set in 1885 London? Check!

She’s amazing, y’all. Truly.

Anyway, this might be my favorite version of Snow White that I’ve ever read. I think it’s a hard story to tell, and this version does it absolutely beautifully. If you like fairytales, definitely don’t miss this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
The main character is Black.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
One instance of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. Eve has two moms. A woman confesses to Eve that she is in love with another woman.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic. Eve can create magic from nature. For example, she pulls the night sky down and wraps a piece around her like a cloak. A mysterious Knight grants wishes for a price.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Eve and another character hunt and kill a deer. Eve and her allies battle against foes.

Drug Content
References to someone drinking too much while grieving over the loss of a child.

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 Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow

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The Cookie Crumbles
Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow
Quill Tree Books
Published June 11, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Cookie Crumbles

The Great British Bake Off meets Knives Out in this fun and propulsive middle grade novel following two best friends who must solve the mystery behind a baking competition gone awry.

Laila gave Lucy a cupcake on the second day of kindergarten, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. But the summer before eighth grade, they find out that since they live on opposite sides of town, they’ll go to different high schools. Yuck!

Then Laila’s invited to compete at the Golden Cookie competition, which awards its winner admission and a full ride to the prestigious Sunderland boarding school, and it’s the perfect opportunity. Sunderland doesn’t just have an elite culinary program; it’s also home to an elite journalism track, if only newscaster-hopeful Lucy could build up a strong enough portfolio to impress the scholarship committee.

But when one of the celebrity judges collapses after sampling Laila’s showpiece, rumors of foul play swirl, with Laila rising to the top of the suspect list. Even worse, a major storm has effectively cut off all access to the outside world.

Can the girls find the real culprit and clear Laila’s name before it’s too late?

My Review

This is the first of Tracy Badua’s writing I’ve ever read, but I enjoyed Alechia Dow’s middle grade debut last year, and I love her young adult sci-fi, so that was enough to make me jump at the chance to read this book.

The kids’ baking contest premise is super cute, and it’s clear that the authors know their way around a kitchen. The descriptions of the fancy cookies the kids bake were mouth-wateringly great. It made me want to visit a bakery immediately.

I thought the baking contest and the mystery investigation plots worked well together and were really well-balanced in the book. I never forgot what was going on with either one, and I never really felt like one got awkwardly shoved aside for the other.

The story alternates between Lucy and Laila’s points of view. Most chapters begin with a journal entry from one or other of the girls as part of their investigative process. I enjoyed both viewpoints and found both of the girls engaging.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Laila is Black. Lucy is also BIPOC. Two girls hold hands and explain they’re dating. One character has two dads.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Two girls hold hands and explain they’re dating.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A person has angry outbursts and mistreats others. A man collapses with an apparent choking or heart problem. The story explores whether someone tried to murder him.

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: Darkness and Demon Song by M. R. Fournet

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Darkness and Demon Song (Marius Grey #2)
M. R. Fournet
Feiwel & Friends
Published June 18, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Darkness and Demon Song

A cemetery-boy-turned-monster-hunter must race against time to save his recently-resurrected mother in Darkness and Demon Song, M.R. Fournet’s eerie middle grade follow up to Brick Dust and Bones.

Marius Grey’s mom is back from the dead. After hunting monsters and performing forbidden spells, Marius is just happy she’s there, helping him to take care of their Louisiana cemetery again.

But it soon becomes clear that something has gone wrong. Marius’s mother is growing more distant and strange things start happening around her. Worse yet, sometimes it feels like she’s a completely different person–one who definitely isn’t his mom.

If Marius wants to save her, he’s going to need help. Serious help. Good thing he has a flesh-eating mermaid for a best friend and a classmate with extra strong magic. Add in mysterious clues for new hunts, graveyard hopping from Louisiana to Texas, and a tough ex-hunter he doesn’t know if he can trust, and it’s clear that Marius has his work cut out for him.

My Review

The first book in this series took me completely by surprise last year. I received a copy from the publisher and really didn’t know anything about the book itself before opening it up. I’m not a big horror reader, so that also gave me pause. I couldn’t figure out how horror would work in middle grade.

Once I started reading the book, though, I totally got how it could work. It’s definitely not something I would have been able to read in elementary school myself. I have always been something of a sensitive reader. But now, reading the book, I felt like I couldn’t put it down.

Marius is such a compelling character. He’s doing everything he can do to make the world a safer place and take care of the people counting on him, from his mom to the ghosts in the cemetery in their care.

In the first book, Marius does a lot on his own or with only the help of his best friend, Rhiannon, the flesh-eating mermaid. In this second installment in the series, a community develops around Marius. Partly, this happens because his mom is back, and people try to reconnect with her as well. Partly, it happens because things go sideways, and Marius needs help.

The book focuses on some really cool relationships. Of course, we learn more about the friendship between Marius and Rhiannon. But Marius also makes a new friend his age who harbors her own secrets. He also learns to take risks by trusting a few adults in his life who have helped him in the past.

All in all, I enjoyed this second adventure into the dark, scary world of New Orleans, complete with fishing in the swamp, a Texas entrance to Hell, and an exploration of what truly makes someone a monster. I’ll be eager to see what M.R. Fournet writes next.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Representation
Marius is described as being basically shades of gray rather than a member of a specific race. Minor characters are POC.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
A magic book captures monsters through a recited spell. Marius visits various magical shops and encounters other magical creatures and people who possess magic, like witches. His family is responsible for the care of the ghosts in the graveyard where he lives. Some humans open themselves up to possession by a demon through bargains gone wrong or other circumstances.

Violent Content
Situations of peril and scary imagery, such as monsters trying to attack a child. One character relives another’s memories in Hell. Characters fight demons and other monsters.

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: Boris in Switzerland by Lucinda Gifford

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Boris in Switzerland (The Wolves of Greycoat Hall #2)
Lucinda Gifford
Kane Miller Publishing
Published January 21, 2023

Kane Miller Website | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Boris in Switzerland

A romp of a read, with an ingenious mystery to solve, and packed with endearing illustrations.

Boris is attending the Institute of International Excellence, a fancy Swiss boarding school while his parents are staying with Great Aunt Orfilia. Although worried about being the only wolf, and having to navigate around the rude vice principal, he quickly makes friends, learns how to “log in” and heli-board, and has plentiful supply of cake, Boris can’t shake the idea that something funny is going on . . .

My Review

Both the books in this series are so sweet. The plentiful illustrations show Boris, his family, and friends doing all kinds of different activities. From skiing to eating cake to horseback riding, they keep busy. The illustrations show a wheelchair user and a Black girl.

The first half of the book focuses on Boris joining a boarding school and settling in. In the second half, Boris and his friends investigate a mystery on campus. Seemingly unconnected threads weave together to reveal what’s really going on at the elite boarding school. The gentle pacing and engaging characters make this an easy book to read. Pen and ink illustrations add interest and break up the text, making Boris in Switzerland a great book for readers transitioning from chapter books to middle grade fiction.

I had a great time with this sweet, imaginative book. I hope the author writes more adventures of Boris and his family.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Boris is a wolf. One of his friends is a wheelchair-user. Another friend is Black.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Boris and his friends wonder if a ghost haunts the school. One note about wolves of Morovia specifies the kinds of scary stories wolves tell over a campfire. They’re more silly than scary.

Violent Content
Implications of child abuse. Boris learns that an adult forces a child to work and threatens to prevent them from seeing their family.

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.