19 Fantastic Books for Your Spring 2021 Reading List

Lists, Middle Grade 8-12, News and Fun, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,
19 Fantastic Books Coming Spring 2021

19 Fantastic Books for Your Spring 2021 Reading List

It’s finally spring! And there are so many amazing books coming out this season. What’s on your Spring 2021 Reading List so far?

My list feels completely out of hand, packed with so many amazing books to read and so many more that I hope I’ll be able to squeeze into my reading time. I’ve broken the list into two groups: middle grader for readers 8-12 and young adult for readers 12+. You can also find this list on Bookshop, where you can browse either the whole middle grade or young adult list and support indie bookstores.

8 Middle Grade Books for Your Spring 2021 Reading List

Breathing Underwater by Sarah Allen

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Sisters. Photography. A cross-country road trip in an RV to reclaim lost memories.

Available March 31, 2021

Thornwood by Leah Cypess

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A young princess desperate to protect her older sister from the curse that will put the whole kingdom to sleep. The first in a three-book series of fairy tale retellings.

Available April 6, 2021

Girl Warriors: How 25 Young Activists are Saving the Earth by Rachel Sarah

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Tells the story of 25 female activists under 25 years old who are making a difference for the planet.

Available April 6, 2021

Ways to Grow Love by Renée Watson

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Ryan Hart is back with new adventures like waiting for a new baby, summer camp, and hoping her new recipes turn out great.

Available April 20, 2021

Six Feet Below Zero by Ena Jones

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: “A dead body. A missing will. An evil relative. The good news is, Great Grammy has a plan. The bad news is, she’s the dead body.” (from Goodreads)

Available April 20, 2021

Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Friendship, magic, and a quest through a portal to find a missing twin brother.

Available May 4, 2021

Glitter Gets Everywhere by Yvette Clark

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A New York City newbie battles grief over losing her mom, starting over, and discovering how to remake her family in this heartwarming debut.

Available May 4, 2021

The Firebird Song by Arnée Flores

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A mysterious message, a missing princess, and a powerful sorceress who must be defeated.

Available May 4, 2021

11 Young Adult Books for Your Spring 2021 Reading List

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Set in Paris and features an American ballerina and a charming French boy.

Available April 6, 2021

Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Best friends and theater buds discover they have a crush on the same boy.

Available April 20, 2021

These Feathered Flames by Allison Overy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Notes.

Available April 20, 2021

Sky Breaker by Addie Thorley

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Called WICKED SAINTS meets the Grishaverse. The first book in the duology was inspired by THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

Available May 4, 2021

The People We Choose by Katelyn Detweiler

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Unexpected love, family, and friendship.

Available May 4, 2021

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Sci-fi fantasy with mind-blowing twists from the author of DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE about a girl who only remembers her missing sister.

Available May 4, 2021

Lucky Girl by Jamie Pacton

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: An underage winning lotto ticket holder frantically hides the truth from her hoarder mother and suspicious small-town neighbors.

Available May 11, 2021

Every Body Shines edited by Cassandra Newbould

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: “An intersectional, feminist YA anthology from some of today’s most exciting voices across a span of genres, all celebrating body diversity and fat acceptance through short stories.” (from Goodreads)

Available May 11, 2021

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Opposites Hani and Ishu fake date for personal gain… and then start to develop feelings for each other.

Available May 25, 2021

The Hollow Inside by Brooke Lauren Davis

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A small town. A family that must be taken down. Secrets that change everything Phoenix believed to be true.

Available May 25, 2021

Misfit in Love by S K Ali

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A summer of love goes sideways at Janna’s brother’s wedding.

Available May 25, 2021

What’s on your Spring 2021 Reading List?

Have you read any of the titles on my list already? Are there any on your list that I didn’t mention? Leave me a note in the comments!

Review: Breathing Underwater by Sarah Allen

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , ,

Breathing Underwater
Sarah Allen
Farrar Strauss & Giroux
Published March 30, 2021

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Breathing Underwater

Olivia is on the road trip of her dreams, with her trusty camera and her big sister Ruth by her side. Three years ago, before their family moved from California to Tennessee, Olivia and Ruth buried a time capsule on their favorite beach. Now, they’re taking an RV back across the country to uncover the memories they left behind. But Ruth’s depression has been getting worse, so Olivia has created a plan to help her remember how life used to be: a makeshift scavenger hunt across the country, like pirates hunting for treasure, taking pictures and making memories along the way.

All she wants is to take the picture that makes her sister smile. But what if things can never go back to how they used to be? What if they never find the treasure they’re seeking? Through all the questions, loving her sister, not changing her, is all Olivia can do—and maybe it’s enough.

Breathing Underwater is a sparkly, moving middle grade novel from Sarah Allen, and a big-hearted exploration of sisterhood, dreams, and what it means to be there for someone you love.

My Review

I love so many things about this book. The relationship between sisters Olivia and Ruth. The road trip. Olivia’s photography. The descriptions of the places they visit. The perspective of someone watching a beloved sibling struggle with depression.

Some parts of the story are hard and sad. Ruth’s depression is so present and real. Olivia’s love for her sister, her frustration and grief over the things she’s lost in her relationship with Ruth because of her illness, and her agony and guilt over feeling invisible and lost as her family focuses on her sister’s needs all felt so real and searing and raw.

In spite of those hard/sad things, though, Olivia is a bright, optimistic person at heart. She rallies and tries again. She finds beauty and humor. And she watches the people around her, looking for the ways they reach her sister that seem to work and to help. I love her ingenuity and her love for her sister.

I think fans of CHIRP by Kate Messner or ASTER’S GOOD RIGHT THINGS by Kate Gordon will love this story.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Olivia’s sister Ruth has been diagnosed with depression.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A pedestrian has a near accident with a car.

Drug Content
None.

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

16 Amazing Books to Read for Women’s History Month

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

March is Women’s History Month, and in honor of the rich history we have of amazing women, I wanted to share a list of books about female heroes you may or may not know about already. I usually focus on fiction here, but lately I’ve found myself drawn to many of these stories myself, and I wanted to share them. In my glorious plans, I had hoped to share this list early in the month, but it just did NOT work out that way for me.

You can also find this complete list on Bookshop, where you can browse and purchase books while helping to support indie bookstores.

Note: This post contains affiliate links which don’t cost anything for you to use, but help support this blog. All opinions my own.

16 Amazing Books to Read for Women’s History Month

Hannah Senesh: Her Life and Diary, the First Complete Edition by Hannah Senesh

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: I first learned about Hannah Senesh through a biography about her called So Young to Die. Her life story is amazing, and her poetry really moving. As a young woman, she volunteered on a mission to rescue fellow Jews from the Nazis during World War II.

Available June 15, 2021

Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law that Changed the Future of Girls in America by Karen Blumenthal

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Title IX is the law that made it illegal for discrimination based on gender in education programs that receive Federal assistance. Learn how it came to be and the fight to get the law passed so girls could have access to sports and other programs.

Published July 1, 2005

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Vol 1: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Elena Favilla and Francesca Cavallo

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Read stories of 100 amazing women from around the world accompanied by illustrations from 60 female artists.

Published December 1, 2016

The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor by Sonia Sotomayor

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: The story of the first Latina and third woman appointed to the Supreme Court in her own words.

Published September 17, 2019

Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by Ann Angel

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Tells the story of one of rock-and-roll’s most compelling female icons. Packed with photos and stories from friends and band mates. A must-read for music enthusiasts.

Published October 1, 2010

#notyourprincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: An eclectic combination of poetry, essays, interviews, and art that express what it’s like to be a Native American woman.

Published September 12, 2017

Hidden Figures (Young Readers’ Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Tells the story of four African-American women who played essential roles in the NASA space program.

Published November 29, 2016

A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II by Elizabeth Wein

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: In World War II, the Soviet Union became the first nation to allow women to fly combat missions. These are the stories of those fighters. Also, it’s written by the author of CODE NAME VERITY.

Published January 22, 2019

Radium Girls (Young Reader’s Edition): The Scary But True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark by Kate Moore

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: How women workers fought for change in regulations and nuclear research and saved lives.

Published July 1, 2020

Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O’Brien

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: “The untold story of five women who fought to compete against men in high-stakes national air races in the 1920s and 30s — and won.” (from Goodreads.)

Published August 7, 2018

The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: The inspiring story of the first 22 years of Hellen Keller’s life in her own words.

First Published in 1902

Because I Was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages edited by Melissa de la Cruz

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: True stories about challenges, obstacles, and opportunities these women faced due to their gender.

Published October 3, 2017

This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Written as a letter from the iconic Civil Rights activist to today’s young readers as inspiration and a call to action.

Published November 10, 2020

Vote!: Women’s Fight for Access to the Ballot Box by Coral Celeste Frazer

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: Learn about the 70 year fight for women’s suffrage and how the success of those leaders led to today’s #MeToo, #YesAllWomen, and Black Lives Matter movements.

Published August 6, 2019

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: Malala believes all girls have a right to an education. She refused to be silenced, even after she’d been shot in the head by the Taliban. Here, she tells her inspiring, unforgettable story.

Published October 8, 2013

Irena’s Children (Young Readers’ Edition): A True Story of Courage by Tilar J. Mazzeo

Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: During World War II, Irena Sendler worked with an underground network to rescue 2,500 Jewish children from Nazi occupied Poland. I couldn’t put this book down.

Published September 27, 2016

Review: A Walk Toward Peace: The True Story of Peace Pilgrim by Kathleen Krull

Biography, Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,

A Walk Toward Peace: The True Story of Peace Pilgrim
Kathleen Krull
Illustrated by Annie Bowler
Flyaway Books
Published

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Walking Toward Peace

She gave up everything: her home, her possessions, even her real name. She called herself Peace Pilgrim, put on her sneakers, and started off on her quest to walk thousands of miles all around America. Step by step, mile after mile, Peace Pilgrim traveled tirelessly, inviting everyone she met to consider a world where each person and each nation chooses peace.

This true story about a little-known woman who sacrificed everything for her convictions inspires us to step out for what we believe in, gathering others to join us along the way.

My Review

What an awesome, inspiring story! As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew I wanted to read it. I had heard of Peace Pilgrim before but didn’t really know much about her, and this book is a really great introduction that makes her story really accessible to young readers.

The images are bright and simple but evocative. I really enjoyed the way they brought the words to life.

At the end of the book, there’s a one page, more in-depth biography of Peace Pilgrim, which is especially great for readers at the upper end of the target audience (as well as for curious parents!).

All in all, I’m super glad I read this book and think it’s a great one to add to your bookshelf, library, or classroom.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 6 to 10.

Representation
Peace Pilgrim was a white American woman.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
The story vaguely mentions that many people were talking about whether the country should go to war.

Drug Content
None.

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

Spotlight: Healers: Secrets of the Academy by L. L. Smith

Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, News and Fun, , , , , ,

Healers: Secrets of the Academy
L. L. Smith
Published January 21, 2021

Amazon | Goodreads

About Healers: Secrets of the Academy

The students of SalVaneerie Academy face a gruesome end at the hands of Shadow Knights! This army of mysterious and hollow Knights close in from the Dark Forest surrounding their campus. Healers, Warriors, and Brains must band together to repel these Shadow Knights and uncover their peculiar origins. Will Nicole amass enough friends to repel the attack? Will Hunter be able to overcome his performance anxiety? Will Theodore be able to discover the truth he seeks? Find out, inside!

Map of the Academy

I love when books have a map included, so I wanted to be sure to share this one in my post. When I’m reading a book with a map, I find I flip back to the map as I’m reading to help me visualize what’s happening. Do you find that you use maps when they’re available?

About L. L. Smith

Amazon Author Page | Instagram

L L Smith: small-town living and music binging. Self published two books deep and counting. He’s ready to share some laughs, gasps, and tears with reader folk from all walks of life!

Healers: Secrets of the Academy Tour Stops

Here are the other stops on the Healers: Secrets of the Academy blog tour through Breakeven Books. Lots of these stops are Booktubers, so if you’ve been thinking about finding new bookish channels to follow, be sure to check them out!

March 21

Kitty n Shadow Hobby Room on YouTube

Kathryn Books Blog

Breakeven Books Livestream on YouTube

March 22

Leosthetics Blog

March 23

One Book More Blog

March 24

Her Bookish Obsession Blog

What Polly Reads Blog

March 25

Penned by KDB Blog

The Story Sanctuary Blog – you are here!

March 26

Paperback Mo on YouTube

Roro Is Reading Blog

March 27

Kristi Reads on YouTube

Enchanted Reader on YouTube

After Tour Posts

Pablo Suarez on YouTube

BunnyCakes Tomes of Endless Wonder on YouTube

Kasandra on YouTube

Middle Fantasy on YouTube

Review: Knight’s Ransom by Jeff Wheeler

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

Knight’s Ransom (The First Argentines #1)
Jeff Wheeler
47North
Published January 26, 2021

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Knight’s Ransom

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. A brutal war of succession has plunged the court of Kingfountain into a power struggle between a charitable king who took the crown unlawfully and his ambitious rival, Devon Argentine. The balance of power between the two men hinges on the fate of a young boy ensnared in this courtly intrigue. A boy befittingly nicknamed Ransom.

When the Argentine family finally rules, Ransom must make his own way in the world. Opportunities open and shut before him as he journeys along the path to knighthood, blind to a shadowy conspiracy of jealousy and revenge. Securing his place will not be easy, nor will winning the affection of Lady Claire de Murrow, a fiery young heiress from an unpredictably mad kingdom.

Ransom interrupts an abduction plot targeting the Queen of Ceredigion and earns a position in service to her son, the firstborn of the new Argentine dynasty. But conflict and treachery threaten the family, and Ransom must also come to understand and hone his burgeoning powers—abilities that involve more than his mastery with a blade and that make him as much a target as his lord.

My Review

Once again Jeff Wheeler returns to the world of the Kingfountain books, this time to tell a story of knights and lords and ladies in the vein of King Arthur tales. KNIGHT’S RANSOM follows the boy Marshall, nicknamed Ransom for his childhood spent as a captive of the king, from his boyhood into his middle twenties. Chapters are from his point-of-view, but between them are journal entries from Claire, his childhood companion and the woman he grows to love.

Other than the obligatory battle scenes, the story is pretty gently told with a lot of narrative and internal monologue keeping us pretty close to Ransom’s view of things. From early on in his life as a knight, Ransom experiences the sound of rushing waters when he fights. He begins to be more curious about the source of that experience and what it might require of him, but the story doesn’t really center around that. It’s more about the politics of the kingdom and Ransom’s role in the events unfolding, but it seems as though the series might pursue Ransom’s gift more in a follow-up book.

I think my favorite parts were the journal entries by Lady Claire. She’s feisty and frank and smart. I think she’s perfect for Ransom, who’s steady and often outwardly very calm.

Fans of Wheeler’s books will love visiting the world of Kingfountain again, and new readers who enjoy King Arthur-esque stories will find a great story landscape within KNIGHT’S RANSOM.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Takes place in a country similar to UK. Few race details given.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Ransom uses a two-handed sword called a “bastard” sword, so that word appears regularly.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief kiss between boy and girl. A woman tries to seduce a man.

Spiritual Content
Ransom’s people worship the Lady of the Fountain. Ransom himself hears rushing water in battle or feels a warning when danger is near.

Violent Content
Several scenes show graphic battles.

Drug Content
Ransom accompanies a prince and his friends to a tavern where they drink alcohol. Ransom stays sober to protect the prince.

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