Review: Missing Clarissa by Ripley Scott

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Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones cover shows a long gold chain with a blue teardrop stone and the title in capital letters on pieces of duct tape.

Missing Clarissa
Ripley Jones
Wednesday Books
Published March 7, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Missing Clarissa

In a gripping novel perfect for fans of Sadie and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, two best friends start a true crime podcast—only to realize they may have helped a killer in the process.

In August of 1999, dazzlingly popular cheerleader Clarissa Campbell disappears from a party in the woods outside the rural town of Oreville, Washington and is never seen again. The police question her friends, teachers, and the adults who knew her—who all have something to hide. And thanks to Clarissa’s beauty, the mystery captures the attention of the nation. But with no leads and no body, the case soon grows cold. Despite the efforts of internet sleuths and true-crime aficionados, Clarissa is never found—dead or alive.

Over twenty years later, Oreville high-school juniors and best friends Blair and Cameron start a true crime podcast, determined to unravel the story of what—or who—happened to this rural urban legend. In the process they uncover a nest of dirty small-town secrets, the sordid truth of Clarissa’s relationship with her charismatic boyfriend, and a high school art teacher turned small-town figurehead who had a very good reason for wanting Clarissa dead. Such a good reason, in fact, that they might have to make him the highlight of their next episode…

But does an ugly history with a missing girl make him guilty of murder? Or are two teenage girls about to destroy the life of an innocent man—and help the true killer walk free?

My Review

One of the things I’m really curious about with this book is why the cover design doesn’t feature the face of Clarissa Campbell, the missing girl. Since the story became largely focused on understanding her and her life, I guess I wondered why her face wasn’t on the cover.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book going in. The cover didn’t give me a lot to go on, but the writing immediately pulled me into the story.

So, the book has an interesting style. It’s primarily from Blair and Cam’s points of view, but in a head-hoppy way. Like, one sentence might be from inside one girl’s head and the next might be inside the other’s. There are a couple brief scenes or paragraphs from other characters’ points of view, too.

It took me a little bit to get used to that style, but I actually enjoyed it once I got a feel for it. I liked both girls. They’re both really different and the kinds of different that makes them a great team.

In terms of the mystery elements, I felt like the story was very well organized. The mystery surrounding Clarissa’s disappearance felt to me like a long thread that Cam and Blair kept pulling and chasing down as it unraveled. It was easy to see their thought processes and how one clue led them to another, but I didn’t find the revelations to be obvious, either, if that makes sense?

All in all, I liked this book a lot. I found the characters compelling, and the mystery captivating. I can totally see fans of SADIE by Courtney Summers or THE AGATHAS by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson loving this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Cam is a lesbian and biracial– white and Latine.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two girls. References to sex. Rumors about a teacher having sex with students.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Cam and Blair learn to shoot at a range. A car runs Cam and Blair’s vehicle off the road at night. A man ties a girl up with a clothesline and tosses her in the basement. A man shoots another man. Someone shoots a man in the knee.

Drug Content
Cam and Blair attend a party in the woods and drink beer there. References to a party in the woods the night Clarissa was last seen where teens drink alcohol.

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 MISSING CLARISSA in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

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Ophelia After All
Racquel Marie
Feiwel & Friends
Published February 8, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Ophelia After All

A teen girl navigates friendship drama, the end of high school, and discovering her queerness in Ophelia After All, a hilarious and heartfelt contemporary YA debut by author Racquel Marie.

Ophelia Rojas knows what she likes: her best friends, Cuban food, rose-gardening, and boys – way too many boys. Her friends and parents make fun of her endless stream of crushes, but Ophelia is a romantic at heart. She couldn’t change, even if she wanted to.

So when she finds herself thinking more about cute, quiet Talia Sanchez than the loss of a perfect prom with her ex-boyfriend, seeds of doubt take root in Ophelia’s firm image of herself. Add to that the impending end of high school and the fracturing of her once-solid friend group, and things are spiraling a little out of control. But the course of love–and sexuality–never did run smooth. As her secrets begin to unravel, Ophelia must make a choice between clinging to the fantasy version of herself she’s always imagined or upending everyone’s expectations to rediscover who she really is, after all.

My Review

I don’t think I’ve ever read a debut so wise as this one. While Ophelia is herself a romantic, her story doesn’t truly center around a romantic relationship. It explores romantic feelings– both hers and some of her friends’. But the story truly shines as one of self-discovery. Ophelia wrestles with her own expectations for herself and the challenges of navigating close relationships as those expectations or feelings change.

Ophelia has a large and loud friend group, but the relationships aren’t all equally shared. Not only did this feel very real to me, because it’s hard to imagine a homogenously friendly group that size, but it deepened each of those characters because every relationship with Ophelia was individual, and impacted the group differently. It created a lot of tension and opportunity for ripple effects in that tension, which really made the big moments in the book even bigger.

I feel like I spent a long time on the edge of my emotional seat holding my breath and rooting for Ophelia to finally spill her guts and talk about the things she was holding back. I love the scene where things do come out and how wild and dramatic it was. I felt like it was the perfect scene for the story as a whole.

I think readers who enjoyed CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY by Steven Salvatore or HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE by Dahlia Adler will enjoy this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Ophelia is Latine and white. She has a diverse group of friends. Some are black, Latine, and LGBTQIA+

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. Kissing between two girls. Brief reference to sex. Some conversations about asexuality.

Spiritual Content
Reference to family members who are homophobic for religious reasons.

Violent Content
Some homophobic comments.

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 OPHELIA AFTER ALL in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music

Biography, Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, , , , ,

Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music
Rebel Girls
Published March 7, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music

TRUE STORIES OF WOMEN WHO RAISE THE ROOF!

This collection features 25 stories of extraordinary women in music–women who have moved hearts and minds with their lyrics, uplifted other musicians, and gotten people to jump, dance, and sing along with their music.

Belt out pop anthems with Lizzo, bang on the drums with Nandi Bushell, and write country hits with Dolly Parton. The women in this book come from all around the world. They play different instruments, experiment with new sounds, and stand out in their genres. But one thing is true of them all: They rock!

With a foreword by iconic rocker Joan Jett and activities curated by Gibson Guitars, this book will have readers everywhere jamming out! Plus, scannable codes let you listen to more stories on the Rebel Girls app.

My Review

I’ve come across a lot of books by Rebel Girls, but this is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to read one, and I felt really excited about that. I love that they publish so many collections of biographies about women and the ways they’ve impacted the world. That’s such a great thing to celebrate.

So, REBEL GIRLS ROCK contains 25 one-page biographies of women in the music industry. I loved seeing familiar names on their list, like Ella Fitzgerald, Dolly Parton, and Lizzo. I also loved learning about women in the music industry who were new to me. Though most of the women in the book are musicians, there are producers and DJs as well.

Rebel Girls has an app that can supplement the stories in the book, too, which is a cool idea. I didn’t know anything about the company that makes the Rebel Girls books until I looked them up as I was writing this review. The Los Angeles Business Review has an article that does a really good job covering the Rebel Girls founders and company goals.

The reading age for this book is a little younger than I expected, but I think it’s very well targeted for readers in middle elementary school. The biographies are told in story form and just long enough to hit some high notes. A perfect step up for readers who loved the She Persisted book series.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 10.

Representation
Features biographies of woman of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds. One featured musician is a transgender woman. Another is deaf.

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 which help support this blog. I received a free copy of REBEL GIRLS ROCK in exchange for my honest review.

Review: When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn

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

When Sea Becomes Sky
Gillian McDunn
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published February 28, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About When Sea Becomes Sky

In this heartfelt summer story, acclaimed author Gillian McDunn paints a stunning portrait of the bond of siblings and the love we’ll always carry with us.

Bex and Davey’s summer in the saltmarsh is different this year, thanks to the record-breaking drought. Even the fish seem listless–and each day the water level lowers farther. When they discover a mysterious underwater statue, they’re thrilled at the chance to solve the puzzle of its origin. This is the summer adventure they’ve been waiting for.

When they learn of a development plan that will destroy their special spot, they’ll need to act quickly. Unfortunately, sometimes progress happens whether you’re ready or not. What will it mean if Bex and Davey lose their corner of the marsh where otters frolic and dragonflies buzz–their favorite place to be siblings together?

As Bex and Davey attempt to save the statue and their beloved marsh, they come to see that the truth is not as simple as it seems . . . ultimately discovering so much more about life, permanence, love, and loss than they ever expected.

Award-winning author Gillian McDunn crafts a gorgeous story of love and siblinghood, of secret statues and island life, of holding on and letting go.

My Review

I’ve been a fan of Gillian McDunn’s books since her debut, CATERPILLAR SUMMER. That one was really special to me because of the main character and her bond with her family over fishing– something also special to me. So while I am always on the lookout for her next book, and I’ve enjoyed all of them, I don’t go into the books with the expectation that they’ll replace CATERPILLAR SUMMER in my heart.

This one really came close, though! You know that feeling, reading a book, where the setting becomes part of the story, and the characters feel so real you can’t help but get lost in what they’re feeling, and you catch yourself not breathing because you’re waiting for something to happen? Yeah. WHEN SEA BECOMES SKY definitely achieves that.

I really liked the way the environmental dilemma resolved and the way all the pieces of the story fit together. There are a lot of things that at first don’t seem related to one another that we discover are actually connected. I loved that, too.

This is a sad book. By the time I got to the Author’s Note, I was outright bawling. I think when an author can do that to you (I’m totally looking at you, Ashley Schumacher!!) and you love the book even more, that’s a great book.

I think readers who loved NEST by Esther Ehrlich or THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH by Ali Benjamin.

Content Notes for When Sea Becomes Sky

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Major characters are white.

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 which help support this blog. I received a free copy of WHEN SEA BECOMES SKY in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Finally Seen by Kelly Yang

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, ,

Finally Seen
Kelly Yang
Simon & Schuster
Published February 28, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Finally Seen

From the New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk comes a gripping middle grade novel about a young girl who leaves China to live with her parents and sister, after five years apart, and learns about family, friendship, and the power of being finally seen.

My sister got to grow up with my parents. Me? I grew up with postcards from my parents.

When ten-year-old Lina Gao steps off the plane in Los Angeles, it’s her first time in America and the first time seeing her parents and her little sister in five years! She’s been waiting for this moment every day while she lived with her grandmother in Beijing, getting teased by kids at school who called her “left behind girl.” Finally, her parents are ready for her to join their fabulous life in America! Except, it’s not exactly like in the postcards:

1. School’s a lot harder than she thought. When she mispronounces some words in English on the first day, she decides she simply won’t talk. Ever again.

2. Her chatty little sister has no problem with English. And seems to do everything better than Lina, including knowing exactly the way to her parents’ hearts.

3. They live in an apartment, not a house like in Mom’s letters, and they owe a lot of back rent from the pandemic. And Mom’s plan to pay it back sounds more like a hobby than a moneymaker.

As she reckons with her hurt, Lina tries to keep a lid on her feelings, both at home and at school. When her teacher starts facing challenges for her latest book selection, a book that deeply resonates with Lina, it will take all of Lina’s courage and resilience to get over her fear in order to choose a future where she’s finally seen.

My Review

FINALLY SEEN is the first book by Kelly Yang that I’ve ever read, though her books have been on my reading list for a while. I absolutely loved this one.

Lina is thoughtful and deep, and her relationships with her family members and friends are often complex and layered. I really enjoyed the development of her connections with her sister and with her teachers at school.

I also loved the way books, especially graphic novels, featured in the story as tools to encourage empathy and understanding. Reading the book FLEA SHOP became an important moment for Lina in her own journey toward feeling truly seen. I loved that the story explored the impact of stories in that way and that books were part of helping Lina find her voice.

Reading didn’t only impact Lina, though. Her classmate and friend also found comfort and courage through reading, and when their parents read the books important to their kids, they learned some powerful lessons, too. That was one of my favorite things, too. As a big believer in adults reading things their kids are interested in, that definitely resonated with me.

All in all, FINALLY SEEN is a fantastic book. I can’t wait to read more by Kelly Yang.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Lina and her family have emigrated from China to southern California.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Lina briefly wonders if she feels attraction toward a boy in her class. She decides it’s only that he is doing something cute rather than that she thinks he’s cute.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Lina reads a book in which classmates make racist comments to a Chinese American girl. Lina encounters racist comments from her father’s employer and her classmates.

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 FINALLY SEEN in exchange for my honest review.

Review: It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li by Nicole Chen

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , ,

It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li
Nicole Chen
Quill Tree Books
Published February 28, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li

This middle grade contemporary follows a big-hearted Taiwanese American girl as she aims to gain her family’s acceptance and save her favorite boba tea shop by selling her handcrafted amigurumi dolls.

Pearl Li is ready to spend the summer before seventh grade hanging out with her two best friends, crocheting the cutest amigurumi dolls, and visiting her favorite tea shop, Boba Time. Its quirky owner, Auntie Cha, is the only adult Pearl can confide in about her art—if only her tech-obsessed family would understand her love of crafts!

After Pearl learns of Boba Time’s financial troubles, she decides to sell her amigurumi to raise money for the shop. But as she navigates the ups and downs of running a business, Pearl realizes that monetizing her passion is more complicated than she could’ve ever imagined. Can Pearl save Boba Time before it’s too late?

My Review

I feel like KidLit just keeps surprising me in delivering stories in which kids get to celebrate really cool hobbies. I don’t think I’ve ever read a middle grade book about someone who crochets before, so I totally enjoyed that aspect of Pearl’s story. One thing I loved were the descriptions of her creativity with her amigurumi designs and the way her friends and customers reacted to her creations.

Another thing that I treasure about this particular story is that it celebrated both girls who code (through Pearl’s older sister, Jade) and girls who craft, and found a way to connect the value of both in terms of both being creative pursuits. I liked that Pearl learns to view her art in a new way and to view her sister and mom’s coding in a new way, too.

The relationship between Pearl and Auntie Cha was also super special. I loved that it models mentorship and having great adults in your life outside the family, too. The story also keeps Pearl at its center as the active character making choices and learning without it becoming her mentor solving her problems. I thought the balance there was perfect.

I also enjoyed learning a bit about the art of amigurumi and about Boba tea as well. All in all, IT’S BOBA TIME FOR PEARL LI was a delight to read. I think readers who enjoy books like MORNING SUN IN WUHAN by Ying Chang Compestine will enjoy the celebrations of creativity and community in this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Pearl and her family are Taiwanese American.

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 which help support this blog. I received a free copy of IT’S BOBA TIME FOR PEARL LI in exchange for my honest review.