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Review: Leap by Simina Popescu

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Leap by Simina Popescu

Leap
Simina Popescu
Roaring Brook Press
Published November 12, 2024

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About Leap

A coming-of-age graphic novel following two dancers at a conservative performing arts school―exploring friendship, first love, and what it means to fall out of step with your own dreams.

Ana has been studying contemporary dance since she was little, but her heart isn’t in it anymore. Instead her focus is on Carina―a beautiful, ambitious ballerina whose fear of being outed keeps Ana in the closet and their fragile relationship from seeing the light of day. Risking her own career, Ana gives up more and more in order to fit into the shadows of Carina’s life.

Sara, on the other hand, is fielding whispers she may be the best dancer their school has produced in years. Much of that is thanks to her mentor and instructor, Marlena, who plucked Sara from the classical track and encouraged her to blossom as a contemporary dancer. Sara has always been in awe of Marlena, but recently, that admiration has sparked into something more, and Sara’s not sure what to do about it.

As junior year at their performing arts school begins, Ana and Sara are assigned as roommates. What starts off as a tentative friendship soon becomes a much-needed anchor.

My Review

It was so fun reading a dance book this week. Earlier tonight (the day I’m writing this), I started taking a tap class, which marks the first dance class I’ve taken in a long time. I’m excited about it. So the timing of reading Leap was really great for me.

One of the things that’s truly incredible about this graphic novel is the way that the panels capture the motion of dance. Some characters are in a contemporary dance program, and others are in a ballet program, so it shows two different kinds of dance, and I think the illustrations differentiate them well. I only spotted one panel in which I think the position of a dancer’s foot wasn’t right for the ballet move that she seemed to be performing.

The story is really sweet, too. It follows two characters. One, Ana, is in a long-term relationship that started out really well but has hit some bumps. The other character, Sara, has a huge crush on someone she shouldn’t, and she’s trying to understand her feelings and figure out what to do. When the girls become roommates, they bond as friends, and it isn’t too long before they begin speaking hard truths to one another. I loved getting to see their friendship flourish and to see the journey they each had with dancing.

I think readers who enjoy books in international settings or books about dance and relationships will find a lot to love in Leap.

Content Notes for Leap

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Ana and some other characters are queer.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A few F-bombs and some other swearing used somewhat infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two girls.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
One character makes some negative comments about her body. Ballet instructors also say cruel things to the dancers about their weight and bodies. Some homophobic comments, usually well-meaning, but hurtful. The girls talk about someone whose career was ruined after she was outed.

Drug Content
Characters drink alcohol in several scenes. (They’re underage.)

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: Wrong Answers Only by Tobias Madden

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

Wrong Answers Only
Tobias Madden
Page Street YA
Published October 8, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Wrong Answers Only

Marco’s always done the right thing. But now it’s time for wrong answers only.

Marco should be at university, studying biomedicine. Instead, he’s been sent to live on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean with his estranged uncle, all because of a ‘blip’ everyone else is convinced was a panic attack. (Which it most definitely was not.)

And even though Marco’s trip is supposed to provide answers – about himself, about his family – all he finds on board the Ocean Melody are more and more questions.

But then his best friend CeCe proposes a new plan: for someone who has always done the right thing, in every possible way, it’s time for Marco to get a few things wrong. And hooking up with a hot dancer from the ship is only the beginning . . .

My Review

Sometimes it’s nice to read a story about a messy main character who really doesn’t have it all together. That’s exactly what this is. Marco is super smart, and super in denial about his anxiety over leaving for college. He seizes an opportunity to join his estranged uncle aboard a cruise ship in a desperate bid to avoid facing his fears. With his best friend at his side, he makes some impulsive choices. I liked that he doesn’t completely abandon his principles. He needs something different and outside his comfort zone, but he still keeps his head for the most part.

The cruise ship atmosphere is really fun, and something that’s more unusual for a young adult novel. I think I’ve only read two other books set on a cruise ship, so it was a fresh, welcome setting for me as a reader, too.

I also like that this book doesn’t tread all the obvious paths that a story like this might take. A lot of Marco’s conclusions rang true, which made it really easy to cheer for him as he untangles some of his feelings and decides what moving forward looks like for himself. Marco also has a big Italian family, which was fun to read since I come from a big Italian family, too.

I think many people in those early post-high school days will identify with the confusion and pressure Marco feels. I think this would make a perfect summer read or a great book to snuggle up with on a late fall evening to remember the feel of baking in the summer sun on a beach.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Marco and several other characters are gay. His best friend, CeCe, is Australian and Filipina.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A handful of F-bombs and some other swearing used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two boys. Kissing between a boy and a girl. References to sex. Some brief sexual comments or innuendo.

Spiritual Content
References to God more in a colloquial sense. The family attends a mass together. Two characters very briefly discuss their beliefs about whether someone exists after death.

Violent Content
The ship on which Marco travels encounters a storm and some rough seas. At one point, a man grabs Marco on the dance floor. He quickly shoves the man away.

Drug Content
Once Marco turns eighteen, the legal drinking age in Australia, he drinks alcohol. He gets drunk more than once and sometimes does some things he regrets later while he’s intoxicated. In one scene, a few of his friends invite him to do drugs with them, but he refuses.

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: Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

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

Night of the Witch
Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
Sourcebooks Fire
Published October 3, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Night of the Witch

A witch and a hunter. Vengeance is their mission. Love is their destiny.

Fritzi is a witch. A survivor of a brutal attack on her coven, she’s determined to find her only surviving family member and bring the hexenjägers—zealot witch hunters—to justice for the lives they ended. To do this, she will need to take down their leader—Kommandant Dieter Kirch.

Otto is a hexenjäger and a captain, the second in command to Dieter Kirch—but that’s just his cover. Years ago, the hexenjägers burned his innocent mother alive, and since then, he has been planning a move against the witch hunters that tore his family apart. And now, the time has come for them to pay for what they’ve done.

When Fritzi and Otto are unexpectedly thrown together, neither is sure they can trust the other despite their common enemy. But all they have is one another, and they both crave revenge. As truths come to light and trust shifts, Fritzi and Otto uncover a far more horrifying plot at the center of the hexenjäger attacks . . . but their own growing feelings for each other may be the most powerful magic of all.

My Review

The story alternates points of view between Fritzi and Otto. Fritzi is the daughter of a powerful witch, but she doubts her own power because of a mysterious voice in her head she’s been taught not to trust. Otto also doubts the authorities in his life. First, because his father was cruel and then because he doesn’t even believe witches exist. He is sure the people the soldiers burn are innocent. And he’s determined to save as many as he can.

I really enjoyed the way the story is anchored both in history and folklore. It felt very immersive. I also liked that Otto separated his trust in the church from his own personal faith. It allowed the story to explore ideas about faith as something separate from an institution. I really liked how the narrative explored that theme with both Fritzi and Otto.

Something about the story reminded me a lot of the duology that starts with GIVE THE DARK MY LOVE by Beth Revis. Plotwise, the two have very little in common. The fact that both stories contain a strong, magic-oriented heroine alongside a politically strong/savvy hero might be why I kept making that connection.

The story is also a bit dark– delving pretty unflinchingly into the history of the witch trials in Europe. It’s got a pretty fiery romance in it, too, so it’s not all grim.

In any case, I think fans of that duology or of European history in the late 1500s will find this an engrossing story. I am really glad I read it, and I think if there’s a follow-up book, I’ll be sure to read that, too.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Major characters are German.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. Kissing between two girls. In one scene, two characters have sex in a bathing pool.

Spiritual Content
Fritzi hears a voice telling her to sever her connection with the Well, which she has always been taught represents good magic, and draw from wild magic, which she’s been taught is evil. Fritzi and her coven worship three goddesses: the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. Otto is part of a witch-hunting unit of soldiers under the Catholic church.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Witches and suspected witches are burned at the stake. Most scenes reference this without describing it, but there are brief, graphic descriptions in a couple of places. Graphic descriptions of torture. One scene describes a boy torturing and killing a kitten. Battle scenes.

Drug Content
Characters drink beer as a part of their meals.

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 NIGHT OF THE WITCH in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Stateless by Elizabeth Wein

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stateless
Elizabeth Wein
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published March 14, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Stateless

When Stella North is chosen to represent Britain in Europe’s first air race for young people, she knows all too well how high the stakes are. As the only participating female pilot, it’ll be a constant challenge to prove she’s a worthy competitor. But promoting peace in Europe feels empty to Stella when civil war is raging in Spain and the Nazis are gaining power—and when, right from the start, someone resorts to cutthroat sabotage to get ahead of the competition.

The world is looking for inspiration in what’s meant to be a friendly sporting event. But each of the racers is hiding a turbulent and violent past, and any one of them might be capable of murder…including Stella herself.

My Review

I’ve been a fan of Elizabeth Wein’s books since first reading CODE NAME VERITY. I missed a few of her books since then, but when I saw that STATELESS was coming out this spring, and that it was about a lady pilot, I had to read it!

This book delivers a rich historical setting in a 1937 Europe still reeling from the first World War. Already, the tension is building toward World War II. The whole story is from Stella’s point-of-view, which I loved.

Stella has both a sharpness and a softness that I really liked. She’s a woman, a rarity in the world of aeroplanes and pilots of her day. She’s aware that everyone from her colleagues to the press to her own family members will treat her differently because of her gender. Sometimes she second-guesses herself. Sometimes she worries about being too emotional. But she also recognizes her strengths and finds ways to create space for herself.

When Stella witnesses one of her fellow race participants attacked by an unidentified plane, she realizes reporting everything she saw may place her own life at risk. Instead, she begins to quietly investigate the other racers and support staff, trying to identify the murderer before he or she has a chance to strike again. That part of the story had me turning pages as quickly as I could. The tension ratchets up so quickly in some scenes. I held my breath as all the pilots gathered, ready to take off from one of their stops. I felt like I couldn’t breathe until I knew they would all escape.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a little bit less violent than CODE NAME VERITY, but still delivered that same rich historical setting and unforgettable characters. I think Elizabeth Wein’s fans and fans of historical fiction will be absolutely delighted with this one.

Content Notes for Stateless

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Characters are from different countries in Europe. One of the pilots is Jewish.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently. A couple instances of British swear words.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
The pilots attend a vigil for a missing comrade. One, a young Jewish man, does not attend the church service as entering a Christian church isn’t permitted per his family/faith.

Violent Content
Pilots discuss battles and a murder case that were recently in the news. Stella sees what appears to be one pilot sabotaging another, causing a fatal crash. Other pilots experience evidence of sabotage in their aircraft. A man shoots multiple people. Multiple planes crash.

At one point, Stella listens to a soldier recount being shot down and gravely injured in an attack.

Drug Content
Characters smoke cigarettes.

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 STATELESS in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Voyage of the Sandpiper by Jessica Glasner

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Historical, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

The Voyage of the Sandpiper
Jessica Glasner
Hope House Press
Published July 17, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

About The Voyage of the Sandpiper

“Your life will never be exciting if you’re afraid to risk becoming cold and wet. You and I, we throw caution to the wind! We swim to the greatest depths! We face the sea!”

Summer, 1939. When fifteen-year-old Agatha’s mother falls gravely ill, she is shipped off to the coast of Maine to live with her aunt, Edith Philipa Gordan, an eccentric writer who hasn’t finished a novel in decades and paints birds obsessively. What begins as a dull summer immediately takes a turn towards adventure with the arrival of Edie’s old beau, Horatio Macleay, and his handsome nephew.

With WWII looming on the horizon, Agatha and her new group of friends s race against time and across continents to complete their mission before it is too late. Along the way, Agatha learns the importance of trusting in the perfect timing of God and discovers the power of hope.

Write caption…

My Review

I think my favorite thing about this book is the time at which the story is set. If you read historical fiction at all, you’ve probably read at least one book about WWII– there are tons of books that focus on that time period, and it’s easy to understand why.

I liked that THE VOYAGE OF THE SANDPIPER showed events leading up to the war. There were a couple of moments where things came up that I had never thought about, known, or realized before. (For instance, when Germany adopted laws stripping Jewish citizens of certain rights, one character speaks against it, and another responds pointing out that she’s an American and making a comparison between the German laws against Jews and the Jim Crow laws against Black Americans. I can’t believe I’ve never thought of those two things side by side before– both horribly wrong. I just hadn’t considered them both in the same breath.)

Another thing I liked was the slow burn romance. There’s some tension and attraction, but so many other thing are happening. It wouldn’t have felt authentic at all if the characters stopped in the midst of a crisis to explore their feelings for one another. I think it would have been more satisfying if there had been a more active resolution to that part of the story, though.

I do wish that Agatha (who’s called Piper in the book) had more of an active role in the story. In terms of the active, heroic role, the story belongs more to her aunt Edie, and Agatha functions more as a sort of sidekick. I found myself wishing that it had been Agatha in the driver’s seat for some of the big intense moments in the story, instead of Agatha waiting to hear how her aunt manages to save the day.

I thought the spiritual elements were well-integrated into the story and felt natural to the characters. And I enjoyed the evolution of the characters and their relationships with one another. Overall, I think this is a nice read for historical fiction fans, and does a great job exploring some events leading up to WWII.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Representation
Some characters are Jewish. All are European or American.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Some attraction between Agatha and a boy.

Spiritual Content
Agatha and her aunt depend on their faith and take courage from reading the Bible to face their fears. A couple times, the story shows Agatha reading the Bible and how the scriptures specifically apply to situations she faces.

Violent Content
A brief description of a concentration camp. Situations of peril or urgency.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Journey by Alleece Balts

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Contemporary, New Adult 18up, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

The Journey (The Crowd #2)
Alleece Balts
Published on August 23, 2017

Amazon | Goodreads

About The Journey
At nineteen years old, Ella Parker is a star on the rise. With her vocal training at Juilliard underway, she’s more than prepared for a glittering performance career with the rock band Wicked Youth, and anticipating the prospect of becoming engaged to her billionaire boyfriend… Someday.

But when she collapses on stage during a summer concert and receives a chilling diagnosis, the promise of someday suddenly slips away.

Forced to confront her darkest fears, Ella must not only find the courage to go on after her once certain future has disappeared, but also to track down her runaway friend, Lucas, before time runs out.

My Review
The Journey feels like a much more mature story than its predecessor, The Crowd. Ella’s graduated from high school and both touring as a professional singer and attending Julliard. Her boyfriend, Jack, manages a large company but makes sure to slip away for time with Ella, especially when she needs him.

The story largely revolves around Ella’s relationships with Jack and her mom and her search for Lucas, who disappeared after a tragic incident which left police hunting for him. Ella struggles with her grief over her dad’s death as she faces her own health crises. She worries she’ll be putting her family and Jack in the same situation—forcing them to be crushed by grief if they lose her the way she was when her dad died.

The emotional journey is deep and it’s definitely what connected me to Ella. I liked the unexpected resolution and the way Ella grows and changes as a result of her trials. There were some fun side characters, too, like Archer, Ella’s chauffer and bodyguard.

If you like sweet romance stories with a strong musical theme, The Journey delivers both. I think you could read this one without having first read The Crowd, the first book in the series, but it’s worth checking out both, especially if, as I mentioned, you like sweet romance and music in your literature.

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Cultural Elements
All major characters appear white and straight.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Some vague reference to Jack’s past, in which he had a lot of relationships.

Spiritual Content
Ella prays a few times for God’s guidance.

Violent Content
A fatal car accident occurs, and Ella hears a description of the injuries of one of its victims. Reference to a boy getting attacked by several others—no details of the event.

Drug Content
Vague/brief reference to Jack’s wild past, which includes some substance abuse.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.