Review: The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick by Larry Hayes

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Horror, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,
The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick by Larry Hayes

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

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

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. And now they’re coming for his gran, the only family he’s got left.

Then a mysterious girl starts appearing in his dreams, helping Finn fight back against the creatures in his nightly adventures. On the first day of the new term, she turns up at school, right there in real life, in the lunch queue!

Cass tells Finn that she has come to solve the mystery of Finn’s missing parents. Together with Finn’s geeky best friend Squid, they travel through the nightmare world, battling goblins, ghosts and zombies. Finn, Cass and Squid are a sparky, wise-cracking trio, but even together, can they prove to be a match for the creatures of the night?

If Finnegan Quick is to save the people he cares about most, he has to remember the lesson his gran has been teaching him all his life. He must learn to face his fears – or be destroyed by them!

‘Stuffed full of awesome adventure and superior supernatural chills’ – Keith Gray, author of The Climbers and Creepers

My Review

This book is a little outside my usual reading choices, but I appreciate Bloomsbury sending me a copy, so I wanted to give it a try. I am a recently converted horror fan, but I am drawn more toward books that read more like… is there such a thing as literary horror? The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick is more like goofy horror?

The book opens with a recap of Finn explaining his history with nightmares changing his waking life, including sharing the loss of a pet and the disappearance of his parents. The narrative moves quickly, after all, this is simply a setup for the rest of the story. I struggled to keep up with the story in those early pages as I thought about the depth of those losses.

However, once I got into the pacing and humor of the main part of the story, I connected with the story more easily. Jokes and situational humor abound, taking the edge off the monsters and nightmares-come-to-life.

The book does answer some of the questions readers have about Finn’s nightmarish life, but it leaves plenty unanswered as a setup for the next book in the series. The ARC (advance review copy) includes a sneak peek into the second book in the series. I’m not sure if the finished copy will as well, but it seems likely.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None. A few potty humor jokes.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Finn sees monsters in his dreams which have the power to impact his daily life. If he sees something in a dream, it will be true in real life. One monster attempts to suck the soul out of a character. References to zombies.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Nightmarish monsters. A sinister woman with bandages around her eyes appears in Finn’s dreams. Finn witnesses characters experience terrible injuries. Some description of monster deaths.

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.

Fabulous Early Middle Grade Graphic Novels

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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 standalone titles, but most of them are part of a series. For the series titles, I list the first book in the series, the total number of books available, and whether the series is ongoing.

It’s also worth noting that the Dog Man series is missing from this list. That’s really only because I haven’t been able to get my daughter excited about them and so haven’t read them myself. I’ve heard good things, though.

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

Fabulous Early Middle Grade Graphic Novels

Catstronauts by Drew Brockington

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Cats. In. Spaaace! This silly series follows four cats tasked with various space missions to save the earth. Super cute. Contains some science references, but really the focus is on the cats and their roles in the missions.

Published April 18, 2017 | 7 Books | Ongoing Series

Pablo & Splash: Time-Traveling Penguins

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Full Review

What you need to know: Serious Pablo and Impulsive Splash accidentally enter a time machine and wind up on holiday with the dinosaurs. This series is lots of fun.

Published September 3, 2023 | 2 Books | Ongoing Series

Song of the Court by Katy Farina

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This is one of my daughter’s favorites. It’s a sweet story about friendship with a work-life balance lesson thrown in there as well. The author has gone on to work on a Babysitters Club Graphic Novel series spin-off, so I suspect we’ll be adding those to the reading list.

Published October 6, 2020 | Standalone

Stick and Stone Explore and More by Beth Ferry and Kristen Cella

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: These might be a little closer to the chapter book graphic novel length. This two-book series is pretty gentle and nature-focused.

Published June 7, 2022 | 2 Books | Completed Series

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia and Brittney Williams

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Full Review

What you need to know: This story centers a girl with dyslexia who’s reading struggle is starting to affect her friendships and school performance. Through the story, readers learn about tools and strategies available for kids with dyslexia. It’s an upbeat story with a positive message.

Published January 21, 2025 | Standalone

InvestiGators by John Patrick Green

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: InvestiGators Mango and Brash go undercover to stop crime and keep their city safe. Packed with pop culture jokes, references, and puns, this is a binge-worthy series. There’s also a spin-off series (Agents of S.U.I.T.) that features stories centering some of the minor characters in this one.

Published February 25, 2020 | 9 Books | Ongoing Series

The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neill

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: These books are some of O’Neill’s earlier work, but they contain the same cozy vibes and beautiful fantasy landscapes that they’re known for in later work. Also, the tea dragons are just adorable!

Published October 31, 2017 | 3 Books | Completed Series

The Space Cat by Nnedi Okorafor and Tana Ford

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Full Review

What you need to know: This graphic novel is told from a cat’s point-of-view. It’s a clever tribute to cats with a fun sci-fi twist.

Published August 12, 2025 | Standalone

Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Full Review

What you need to know: A vampire moves into Garlic’s village, and her friends (also anthropomorphic vegetables) nominate her to find out about him. After all, she should be safe since garlic repels vampires! Sweet, anxious Garlic agrees to the task. This is a charming series, perfect for fall reading.

Published September 28, 2021 | 2 Books | Completed Series

Cupcake Diaries Graphic Novels: Katie and the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This series is a graphic novel adaptation of the middle grade books by the same name. The illustrations are bright and cheery, and the pages filled with treats and stories about friendship.

Published September 13, 2022 | 8 Books | Ongoing Series

Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: After rescuing unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, Phoebe makes a wish to be best friends, and that’s just what the two become. Think Calvin & Hobbs, but with a girl and her unicorn. The tone can be a little bit snarky, but overall, the messaging is positive.

Published September 7, 2014 | 22 Books | Ongoing Series

Cat & Cat Adventures by Susie Yi

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: These short volumes follow two cats who journey to a fantasy world and solve various problems there. It’s cute and easy to read. These are another favorite in our house.

Published September 7, 2021 | 5 Books | Ongoing Series

What Graphic Novels Should I Add to My List?

Help a girl out. What should my seven-year-old add to her reading list? Are there other graphic novels that she might like, based on this list? Leave a comment and let me know about them!

MMGM Review: Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River by Nancy F. Castaldo

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Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River
Nancy F. Castaldo
Holiday House
Published April 22, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River

Dive headfirst into the history of environmental activism in the Hudson River watershed and learn how you can help organizations like Riverkeeper protect clean water around the globe!

Every inch of the United States is in a river’s watershed. But in 1966, one of our most important watersheds was dying. Dead fish washed up on the Hudson River’s shores, and the once-clear water reeked of oil. With too much pollution to support human or animal life, America’s “First River” was in too deep—until a Riverkeeper, a pioneering group of environmental activists, fought to get rivers around the globe out of troubled waters.

Nonfiction pro Nancy Castaldo showcases Riverkeeper’s achievements and the intersection of science and activism. With forty striking photographs and profiles of prominent water protectors, this resource-packed text is both a deep-dive into the history of the environmental movement and a guidebook for how individuals and communities can shape its future.

My Review

When I was a teenager, I spent several summers in the Hudson River area, and I remember locals talking about concerns regarding pollution. It seemed like that river faced/faces some similar issues to the river and lagoon system in my community, so in part I wanted to read this book for information that might help here. Also, I have read nonfiction by Nancy Castaldo before, so I knew I was in good hands.

The book profiles the history of the Hudson River and highlights the people who have made the area their home. We also get a close look at the Riverkeeper organization, including how it began and what the organization has done to help protect the river and surrounding environment.

The color photos in the book are gorgeous. (I read an ARC version that had black and white prints, but I checked out the sample pages available online.) They showcase the beautiful area and some of the people involved in caring for the river.

It’s also worth noting that the book has some incredible resources in the backmatter. There’s a glossary, a list of suggestions for readers who want to get involved in protecting rivers in their area, a timeline listing historical events, and a list of organizations protecting rivers. We are lucky enough to have a Riverkeeper chapter near me, so I’m excited to check that out.

This would be an excellent resource for readers in later elementary school looking for information on the Hudson River or who are curious about ways they can help protect the environment and why it’s important.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

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 with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Review: A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury

Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

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 and protect their remaining family. And after August is attacked by a ten-foot-tall creature with fur and claws, she realizes that her brother might be in more danger than she could have imagined.

Unfortunately for her, the only person with a connection to the mysterious creature is the bookish Virgil Hawthorne…and he knows about them because he is one. If he doesn’t find a partner to help control his true nature, he’ll lose his humanity and become a mindless beast—exactly what the secret society he’s grown up in would love to put down.

Virgil makes a proposition: August will join his society and partner with him, and in return, he’ll help her find her brother. And so August is plunged into a deadly competition to win one of the few coveted candidate spots, all while trying to accept a frightening reality: that monsters are real, and she has to learn to master them if she’s to have any hope of saving her brother.

My Review

I was really on the edge about whether or not to read this book. It’s almost 600 pages, and I tend to struggle with longer books like that. I had heard such great things about the author, though, that I decided to give the book a try.

Sometimes when I read a long book, I find myself skimming large sections and thinking the book could easily have been 100 pages shorter. I did not do that with A Mastery of Monsters. So. Much. Happens. In this book. It’s nonstop packed with action from start to finish.

August is such an intricately crafted character. She’s still reeling from grief over her mom’s disappearance, but she also has this (understandable) complex where she hyperfixates on fears of disappointing people. Those fears end up becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy as she self-sabotages again and again. Her distrust of others and lone-wolf mentality were so easy to relate to.

In the story, August becomes involved with a group called the Learner’s Society. It’s supposed to seem very high brow and elitist, and yet has these ideals of equity and inclusiveness. Right away, August has questions. It feels like a cult to her, and though she needs them to help her find her brother, she’s committed not to trust the organization. I loved that tension between her and the group.

I thought the ending was also well-balanced. It answers the questions that the premise promised and introduces a new conflict for readers to look forward to in the second book. If the next book is as long as this one, I don’t know whether or not I’ll continue with the series.

Conclusion

I enjoyed the story. I think the length was warranted. It’s just hard for me to commit that much time to one book at this point in my reading life, so we’ll see. I think contemporary fantasy fans will really enjoy this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used here and there.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters transform into monsters. If they bond with a non-monster person, through a special ritual, the non-monster can help the monster retain control of their actions and change back into a human form. A select few have the ability to control any monster, even those they haven’t bonded with. Powerful items offer the ability to control monsters.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief graphic descriptions of monster-induced injuries. Brief graphic descriptions of combat.

Drug Content
The opening scene shows a drunk college girl leaving a club and heading for her dorm. August also gets drunk to escape heightened grief or overwhelm. A couple other scenes show college students sharing a glass of wine.

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 True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

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

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

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 them!

What begins as an eagerly anticipated ocean crossing turns into a harrowing journey, where Charlotte gains a villainous enemy . . . and is put on trial for murder!

After Words material includes an author Q&A, journal writing tips, and other activities that bring Charlotte’s world to life!

My Review

I first read this book in elementary school, and I decided to revisit it as part of the reading challenges I’ve committed to for this year. One of the challenges is to revisit a childhood favorite. I chose The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle in part because I remember loving it. I also wanted to revisit the work and think about the explorations of classism and sexism.

Twelve-year-old Charlotte embarks on a journey from England to the United States in 1832. Her family’s original plan is that two other families would accompany her on the voyage, but instead, she is the only passenger on a ship crewed entirely by men.

At first, the only person on the ship she feels comfortable with is Captain Jaggery, whom she takes to be a gentleman from the way he addresses her and his dress and such. She hears rumors from the crew and others that he is a violent man who can’t be trusted, and at first, she assumes these statements are exaggerated or just the kinds of complaints one might have if one works for a captain with high standards.

Then, she witnesses some of his cruelty. She listens to him malign the crew as if they are inferior men. At first, she doesn’t push back on his behavior. As the captain’s cruelty escalates, she begins to wonder if the crew members have been telling her the truth. She also gets to know several crew members and unpacks some of the classist statements the captain made. When she experiences prejudice herself, she further examines these ideas.

I had forgotten how tightly paced this book is. The tension builds, culminating in a murder mystery with Charlotte at its center.

The vocabulary in the book will be challenging for younger readers, but the concepts in the story largely stand the test of time. Charlotte and the crew’s lone Black man become unlikely friends. She learns a lot from him, and ultimately, she faces pivotal moments where she will have to believe him and support him in return or look out for her own interests.

Readers who enjoy a tightly paced murder mystery on the high seas or a historical novel about girls challenging gender norms and finding adventure will enjoy this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very briefly.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Charlotte reads Bible passages to the crew on Sundays. They pray over a crewmate who has passed away.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. One scene shows someone whipping a bound man. A man shoots another man in the chest. He dies soon after, and someone heaves his body overboard on the captain’s orders. References to a man who was beaten so badly that he lost his arm.

Drug Content
Mentions of alcohol on board and sailors drinking rum. (Drinking happens off-scene.)

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

Belated Spring 2025 Backlist Reading Check-in and Life Update

Young Adult/Teen 12-18

A Very Belated Spring 2025 Backlist Reading Check-in and Life Update

Yet again, life got in the way of my best blogging intentions. I meant to post this spring 2025 backlist reading update early in June, but some health issues got in the way. I was finally sitting down today (late July) to do some catching up, and discovered this unfinished draft. Yikes!

I read a lot of audiobooks last spring, which was lovely. A lot of them were shorter books because my attention span just wasn’t great. But you’ll see some pretty noteworthy titles on the list, including Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Nothing But the Truth by Avi, and Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo.

I’ve been trying to read a poem every day (something that the author Shannon Reed suggested in her book, Why We Read). It hasn’t been a 100% perfect success, but I am absolutely engaging with more poetry this year than in previous ones. In April, I finished reading the poetry collection Devotions by Mary Oliver, which I absolutely loved. If you spoke to me in April, I probably recommended that you read it.

At any rate, this is a long list, so I’ll wrap up my update here. We’re all here for the books, so let’s get to them!

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

Spring 2025 Backlist Reading Check-in

Devotions by Mary Oliver

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This volume of Oliver’s poetry (selected by the author) has been the soothing balm that I need at the end of the day. As a reading project, I’m reading a little poetry each day, and Oliver’s peaceful wisdom and celebration of the natural world make a brilliant way to end the evening.

Published October 10, 2017

If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A fast-paced story about a girl who can see ghosts who stumbles into a dangerous spiritual plot. Enemies to lovers romance.

Published September 26, 2023 | My Review to Come

Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jairgirdar

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I’ve read and loved solo projects by each of these authors, so I feel no surprise at how much I enjoyed this book. I loved the arc of the story and the way that community and art feature in the book.

Published June 4, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Wild Robot Protects (The Wild Robot #3) by Peter Green

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: My daughter and I loved every book in this series, and we’re both only sorry this is the last book. Roz continues her journey to protect the animal friends and family on her island from an environmental threat. And she becomes a grandma! So sweet.

Published September 26, 2023 | My Review to Come

Amari and the Despicable Wonders (Supernatural Investigations #3) by B. B. Alston

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Amari teams up with old and new friends in a race to defeat a group of magicians who would wipe out the Bureau and all magical creatures. This book continues the series nicely and gave me a chance to get to know more about Amari’s friends. I enjoyed reading it.

Published August 27, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I was unprepared for the ways in which this book parallels some things from real life. What I love is how hopeful, whimsical, and ultimately encouraging this story is.

Published March 8, 2022 | My Review to Come

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A tightly plotted high-seas adventure that explores classism and unexpected friendships and alliances.

Published October 27, 2015 (Orig. 1990) | My Review to Come

The Tea Dragon Society Series by K. O’Neill

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Greta discovers a shop that cares for tiny tea dragons, harvesting tea that grows on their heads or antlers. The series follows several characters’ adventures with tea dragons at different points in time. All are sweet stories with all the coziness O’Neill’s readers have come to expect from them.

Published 2017 to 2021 | My Reviews to Come

Thirsty: A Novel by Jas Hammonds

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Powerful storytelling about addiction and toxic relationships and the friends who stick with you through it all.

Published May 14, 2024 | My Review to Come

The Redemption of Daya Keane by Gia Gordon

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A sapphic romance and an examination of harmful faith and family relationships. Also, made me literally laugh out loud. Fabulous, unforgettable characters.

Published May 28, 2024 | My Review to Come

Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This was another mood read for me. I have seen this book talked about in online bookish spaces, so it’s been on my list for a while. It’s one of those books where you can tell the author has a very deep personal connection to the work.

Published April 25, 2023 | My Review to Come

Witchwood (Ravenfall #3) by Kalyn Josephson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I am still working on getting current with this series! Still a huge fan of Max (the cat-who-is-not-a-cat) and Anna. I love that we’re seeing more of her coming into her own.

Published October 1, 2024 | My Review to Come

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Oof. This book hits hard. It made me think a lot about the justice system and how complex human relationships and events are.

Published May 1, 2001 (Orig 1999) | My Review to Come

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Some of the scenes are dated, but the soul of the book remains so relevant. Margaret’s anxiety about her body and her desire to make choices about her faith and her life will definitely still resonate today.

Published February 28, 2023 (Orig. 1970) | My Review to Come

The Night Country (The Hazel Wood #2) by Melissa Albert

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I feel like The Hazen Wood is the kind of story that gets into your head. It took me a while after reading that one to get back to this story, but once I started reading, I realized how much I missed it. This one is packed with more dark fairytales and treacherous magic.

Published January 7, 2020 | My Review to Come

Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos by Alex Evanovich

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I received an ARC of this book last year, but hadn’t been able to get to it until this spring. The voice is so silly and upbeat. I can easily see this series being a hit with young readers.

Published October 8, 2024 | My Review

City Spies by James Ponti (City Spies #1)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I’ve gotten a couple of the later books in the series in the mail from publishers, but didn’t know if I could dive into the series without starting at the beginning. So I finally got to the first book! This is a fun spy thriller starring a team of kids from all over the world.

Published March 10, 2020 | My Review

James by Percival Everett

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I read this book for a local book club (and then missed the discussion meeting– boo!). It’s a reimagining of the story of Huckleberry Finn but told from Jim’s perspective. The balance of storytelling to inviting readers to examine social or historical ideas is perfect. James is the kind of story you want to chew on for a while.

Published March 19, 2024

I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: One of the members of a group of KidLit bloggers that I’m in recommended this book, and I immediately put a hold on it at the library. This is the second LGBTQIA+ historical romance graphic novel that I’ve read this year, and I am loving them. This was such a fun book.

Published November 19, 2024 | My Review to Come

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This book was recently banned in my school district (even though the school board acknowledged its literary excellence). I decided it was past time for me to read the book myself. Malinda Lo is amazing. What an insightful, powerful story examining the history of homophobia and the experience of Chinese Americans in the 1950s.

Published January 19, 2021 | My Review to Come

Nothing But the Truth by Avi

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Take a big breath before going into this one. Though it was written more than 30 years ago, it’s impossible to read this and not feel the echoes of today’s fervor for nationalism. It’s not a super long read, but it’s razor-sharp.

Published January 1, 2010 (Orig. 1991) | My Review to Come

On the Block: Stories of Home edited by Ellen Oh

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I love when the stories in an anthology relate to one another in some way. In this collection, each story takes place in an apartment building. The individual stories are labeled with the apartment number. There’s a great lineup of authors represented here. Some I was familiar with, and others I immediately had to add to my reading list. If you’re looking for a great middle grade anthology about community, definitely grab this one.

Published October 22, 2024 | My Review

The Magic Fish by Trung le Nguyen

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This was one of our book club picks for our Kidlit Book Club earlier this year. It was a reread for me, but one I delighted in. I love the way the author uses color to differentiate between the stories and the way the fairytales and their evolution reflects what’s happening in the story.

Published October 13, 2020 | My Review

Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I have to have seen someone talking about this book online somewhere, but I can’t remember where. This graphic novel focuses on a village and their traditions about life, death, and rebirth. I loved the details in the illustrations and the soothing color palette.

Published January 18, 2022 | My Review to Come

What Did You Read This Spring?

Do you keep track of your spring 2025 backlist reading? What’s the best book you’ve read recently? Also, if you’re comfortable sharing, let me know how you’re doing. How’s your reading life? And life in general? Leave a comment and fill me in!