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Review: Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B. B. Alston

Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,
Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B. B. Alston

Amari and the Despicable Wonders (Supernatural Investigations #3)
B. B. Alston
Balzer + Bray
Published August 27, 2024

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About Amari and the Despicable Wonders

The highly anticipated third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Supernatural Investigations series that began with Amari and the Night Brothers!

Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Nevermoor.

War has come to the supernatural world, and Amari’s two worst enemies are leading the charge.

Elaine Harlowe has manipulated her way into becoming prime minister, using her mind control ability to force the Bureau to take up her vicious grudge against magiciankind. Meanwhile, Dylan Van Helsing, the newly crowned leader of the League of Magicians—and Amari’s former partner—is after a destructive new power that would not only ensure the magicians’ victory . . . it would make him invincible.

With neither the Bureau nor the League safe for Amari, and her newly returned brother, Quinton, determined to keep her out of the fray, she and her friends decide to find a way to end the war on their own.

So when they learn that the only way to stop Dylan is to find powerful magical inventions known as Wonders, they go after them. But wielding these items comes at a terrible cost, and Amari will have to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice . . . because the Despicable Wonders will demand everything.

My Review

I loved the first two books in this series, so the third was high on my reading list. It took me longer than I expected to finally get a chance to read it, though.

I didn’t hear a lot of buzz about the book when it came out. I think the publication date got pushed back a bit, which could have meant that the advance reviews were spread out more or something? I’m not sure what happened. At any rate, I pretty much went into the book without knowing anything more than the cover copy.

The first two books delivered fast-paced, high-stakes magical stories that kept me on the edge of my seat. This book unfolded a little more slowly and didn’t feel as focused on a single issue. I still enjoyed the magical world and the characters who joined Amari’s team. In particular, a ghost named Peekaboo and Amari’s best friend from her neighborhood both have significant roles in the story. There are some sweet and sad moments, too, with some other characters.

Amari is a great character. She continues to grow and reflect on her choices throughout the book. I liked that the things she experiences in this book make her think differently about some of the judgments she made regarding her brother’s behavior and his choices. I also like that Amari isn’t a one-girl show. She needs her friends, and they’re always stronger together.

This was a nice continuation of an engaging series. I think series readers will enjoy getting to see more of Amari’s adventures and the development of her friendships. The author just announced deals for books four and five in the series, so it looks like there will be more to come as well.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Hints of a crush between Amari and another character.

Spiritual Content
Characters have magical abilities. Magical creatures such as fauns exist and were brought to life by magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to torture (not shown on scene).

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Pretty Girl County by Lakita Wilson

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Pretty Girl County
Lakita Wilson
Publisher
Published July 1, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Pretty Girl County

The glitz of Gossip Girl meets the hustle of Leah Johnson’s You Should See Me in a Crown in this charming and hilarious story of ex-BFFs from PG County, Maryland, perfect for fans of Joya Goffney and Elise Bryant.

Girls like Reya Samuels always come from Prince George’s County. Reya is rich and she’s not afraid to show it—she wears designer clothes, drives a custom pink Audi, and lives in a neighborhood tucked behind a fancy cast iron gate. She works hard, but she can get anything she wants with a snap.

Sommer Watkins is from Seat Pleasant, where the cast iron gates are significantly smaller—and attached to the windows, where most folks are still trying to make ends meet. Every day for Sommer is a hustle, working at her dad’s bookstore, and using her art skills to scrounge up enough scholarship money for her dream school, Spelman.

Reya and Sommer used to be BFFs—back when Reya lived in Seat Pleasant, too. Now the girls are from different stratospheres—but when Reya desperately needs help to prove to FIT admissions officers that she has what it takes to make it in fashion, the only person who can help is Sommer. Reya promises to help Sommer in return—she’ll pay her for her services, helping Sommer afford the school her parents can’t.

As the girls work together, slowly they begin to trust each other again. But when new relationships push them both, and Sommer’s dad’s bookstore is suddenly in danger of closing, old wounds bubble up. Can the girls find a way to repair their friendship and stay true to themselves along the way?

My Review

This is such a great story of friendship. The story alternates between Sommer and Reya’s points of view. At the beginning of the story, their old friendship has ended, and Sommer isn’t interested in renewing it or connecting with any of Reya’s new friends. An opportunity associated with a schoolwide fashion show changes that, though.

The story has great pacing in terms of relationship development. The ways that Reya and Sommer’s friendship changes and each girl’s romantic opportunities develop feels natural and easy to follow. Each relationship faces challenges, and in both cases, the girls have to ask themselves hard questions about who they are and what they want their lives to look like.

It took me a minute to get into Reya’s character, but I ended up being really glad that the story was divided between both girls. I like the lessons that each of them learned.

Pretty Girl County is also a pretty lighthearted story. Sure, there’s some relationship drama and some family struggle. But this is the kind of book that anyone could read. It would make a great choice for a reader aging up into young adult books.

Also, bonus: there’s a fabulous reading list of books by Black authors in the back that’s worth checking out as well. The characters mention many of those titles as they work at the bookstore or talk about their own reading. I’ll definitely be adding some of those titles to my own reading list! The ones I’ve read already have all been well worth the time.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
One instance of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
References to church.

Violent Content
Some classist comments.

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.

MMGM Review: Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner

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Free Piano (Not Haunted)
Whitney Gardner
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published July 1, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Free Piano (Not Haunted)

From beloved graphic novelist Whitney Gardner comes a big-hearted, touching, and spooky coming-of-age story about a young aspiring songwriter who forms a ghostly partnership with the pop star who haunts her secondhand piano.

The piano is free, but fame has a price.

On the sleepy streets of Cascade Cove, lonely Margot knows that when she stumbles across a discarded synthesizer with a “not haunted” sign, she’s discovered the key to realizing her dreams. Determined to become a real songwriter and earn her absent father’s admiration, Margot dives headfirst into trying to gain followers and fans online. But her musical journey takes an unexpected turn when she realizes the (not haunted) piano is very much…haunted.

Enter Vision, teen pop sensation of 1979 whose untimely demise left her spirit intertwined with the keys of her synthesizer. Though Margot and Vision couldn’t be more different, the girls form an unlikely bond fueled by their shared passion for music.

But as Margot’s obsession with fame and recognition grows, she may come dangerously close to losing what she loves about music…and herself.

My Review

I didn’t realize right away that the author of Free Piano also wrote the young adult novel, Chaotic Good, which I really enjoyed. Once I figured that out, I was eager to see how she handled a story for a younger age group and in a different medium, since this is a graphic novel.

I loved Margot’s friends, who have a social media channel called Sons of Smash. They are goofy kids with inside jokes who remind me SO MUCH of some of the guys I was friends with around that age. So their antics cracked me up quite a bit.

I also loved that the ghost-inside-the-keyboard wasn’t what I expected. I pegged the book as a sort of musical inspiration story where the ghost helps her compose a breakout hit, but one that’s true to herself. The idea of whether Margot should write a song suited to what she thinks other people want versus finding her own style and voice does come up in the story. We do get the positive messages about how chasing likes or views on social media only leaves us feeling worse, but doing what we love lifts our mood.

Margot also wrestles with her relationships with her parents in some believable ways. Her mom, whom she lives with, isn’t as available as Margot wants, and she takes out her frustration over her absent dad on her mom sometimes. Her relationship with her dad is much like her relationship with social media. She feels like in order to get her dad’s attention, she has to be something different than she is, so she tries really hard. I loved watching her figure out what she wanted and how to change her own behavior to better achieve the goals that matter to her.

All in all, what a fun summer read. I love the light-hearted approach to talking about social media and divorced parents that still offers wisdom and celebrates music.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Margot encounters a ghost in her piano. Her friend’s aunt offers advice on using stones, herbs, and salt to “cleanse” the item, possibly getting rid of the ghost.

Violent Content
Margot’s two friends have a social media channel where they post videos of them smashing things. They only smash things they have permission to destroy.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. 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: Knocking on Windows: A Memoir by Jeannine Atkins

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Knocking on Windows: A Memoir
Jeannine Atkins
Atheneum
Published August 5, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Knocking on Windows: A Memoir

Acclaimed author Jeannine Atkins revisits her past in this brave and powerful memoir-in-verse about memory, healing, and finding her voice as a writer, perfect for fans of Amber Smith and Speak.

Night darkens the window to mirror.
I’m back in my old bedroom.

Six weeks after the start of her freshman year of college, Jeannine Atkins finds herself back in her childhood bedroom after an unimaginable trauma. Now home in Massachusetts, she’s struggling to reclaim her life and her voice. Seeking comfort in the words of women, she turns to the lives and stories of Sylvia Plath, Maya Angelou, and Emily Dickinson. Through raw and poignant letter-poems addressed to these literary giants, Jeannine finds that the process of writing and reflecting has become not only a means of survival but the catalyst for a burgeoning writing career.

Inspired and ready to move forward, she enrolls in her state university, where she feeds her growing passion for writing in fiction seminars. But she finds that she’s unable to escape the pervasive misogyny of her classmates and professors, who challenge her to assert her own voice against a backdrop of disbelief and minimalization. This time, though, Jeannine is not willing to go down without a fight.

A searingly honest memoir told through gorgeous verse, Knocking on Windows stands as a beacon of hope and a celebration of the enduring spirit of survivors of sexual assault—and of writers.

My Review

Since assault is one of the topics that I struggle to read about, I always approach books like this with caution. I love that it’s told in verse and that so much of the book focuses on finding and holding onto hope in the midst of hard times/trauma/processing hard feelings.

For example, Jeannine writes often about her admiration for and study of the work of Sylvia Plath. As she reads her work and learns about her life, she struggles to hold both her genius and her mistakes in her hand at the same time. That can be uncomfortable, but it’s SO real. It feels especially real to me right now.

In one poem, she talks about studying literature in college (in the 1970s) and how work by women tends to be trivialized. One of her peers talks about how he doesn’t want to read about bodies or boyfriends because it makes him uncomfortable.

At one point she shares a story about a girl and her mother and the difficulty of their relationship. One of her classmates minimized the experience, but others push back. “I see myself, [in the story]” one classmate tells the group. The professor agrees.

Which highlights, to me, the importance of writing about uncomfortable experiences and reading about them.

This is NOT to say you shouldn’t have boundaries and be safe. Please do that. There is a very real difference between discomfort and trauma. Discomfort can be okay (when you’re safe). Trauma isn’t okay.

Conclusion

Knocking on Windows is the first book by Jeannine Atkins that I’ve ever read. I checked my library to see if they had more of her work, but it looks like if I want to read more, I’ll have to buy it! I do want to read more.

Readers who enjoy verse memoirs or reading about writers or writing will find lots to love in this one. I love the way she connects the work of other writers with her experiences and thinks about those writers as living breathing people, too. This book gave me lots to think about. I will probably read it more than once, when all is said and done.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief description of rape and reporting it to the police. References to the assault and how others respond to Jeannine’s experience. She also describes Sylvia Plath’s experience when someone attacks her.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
See above.

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.

MMGM Review: The Space Cat by Nnedi Okorafor and Tana Ford

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The Space Cat
Nnedi Okorafor and Tana Ford
First Second
Published August 12, 2025

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About Space Cat

Invaders from outer space have descended on Nigeria. They have no idea whose home they’re messing with.

Ah, yes, the luxurious life of a well-loved cat. It’s the best. And Periwinkle has it the cushiest. But there’s more to this pampered pet than meets the eye. He’s not just a house cat. He’s a space cat. By day, he’s showered with scritches, cuddles, and delicious chicken fillets. By night, he races through the cosmos in his custom-built spaceship.

Between epic battles with squeaky toys and working on ways to improve his ship, Periwinkle is never bored. And when his humans decide to leave the United States and move to the small but bustling town of Kaleria, Nigeria, he’s excited to explore his new home—even after he learns that many Nigerians hate cats. After all, a born adventurer like Periwinkle doesn’t shy away from new experiences. But not everything in Kaleria is as it seems. Soon enough, Periwinkle finds himself on his most out-of-this-world adventure yet, right here on Earth.

My Review

This funny graphic novel reads like a love letter to a cherished pet. The human characters, Nnedi and her daughter, don’t know their clever Periwinkle came from space and sneaks out in her spaceship to race another space cat at night. But they love her anyway.

The whole story is narrated by Periwinkle. She’s a smart, curious cat who takes readers on a fun adventure from her comfy apartment, to outer space, to Nigeria. I love her secret lair in the closet where she builds her spaceship.

The plot is evenly paced, with never a dull moment. And the engaging illustrations add to the humor of the story.

Certainly cat-fans will want to check this one out, but I think Space Cat will have broad appeal. It’s a fun, international (and intergalactic) adventure!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Mentions of prejudice against cats and owls in Nigeria. The cat sees a group of people threatening to kill an owl.

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

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Four Eids and a Funeral
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jairgirdar
Feiwel & Friends
Published June 4, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Four Eids and a Funeral

Ex-best friends, Tiwa and Said, must work together to save their Islamic Center from demolition, in this romantic story of rekindling and rebuilding by award-winning authors Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé & Adiba Jaigirdar!

Let’s get one thing straight: this is a love story.

These days, Said Hossain spends most of his time away at boarding school. But when his favorite hometown librarian Ms. Barnes dies, he must return home to New Crosshaven for her funeral and for the summer. Too bad being home makes it a lot harder to avoid facing his ex-best friend, Tiwa Olatunji, or facing the daunting task of telling his Bangladeshi parents that he would rather be an artist than a doctor.

Tiwa doesn’t understand what made Said start ignoring her, but it’s probably that fancy boarding school of his. Though he’s unexpectedly staying through the summer, she’s determined to take a page from him and pretend he doesn’t exist. Besides, she has more than enough going on, between grieving her broken family and helping her mother throw the upcoming Eid celebration at the Islamic Center—a place that means so much to Tiwa.

But when the Islamic Center accidentally catches fire, it turns out the mayor plans to demolish the center entirely. Things are still tense between the ex-friends but Tiwa needs Said’s help if there’s any hope of changing the mayor’s mind, and Said needs a project to submit to art school (unbeknownst to anyone). Will all their efforts be enough to save the Islamic Center, save Eid, and maybe save their relationship?

My Review

This is such a sweet story. The book is broken into different parts or acts, and most begin with a memory of an Eid celebration from the past. These memories highlight the trajectory of Tiwa and Said’s friendship, including how they drifted apart.

I liked the cast of characters, including the cat Laddoo. It was easy to keep track of who everyone was and how they were connected because each one felt distinct, even down to the mayor with his plastic smile and the grumpy receptionist who loved lemon bars.

I also like that the romance element proceeds at a sensible pace. Said and Tiwa have some fences to mend, and the story allows them to do that and to sift through what went wrong between them and why. It makes the shift in their feelings organic and believable. So I thought that was really well done.

The setting is also integrated into the story really nicely. The authors do a great job showing the sense of community among the families who attend the Muslim Center and the character of the small Vermont town. It made me want to visit that part of the country, especially a town with a mural festival!

All in all, I enjoyed this book. I’ve read other solo projects by both authors. I recommend Jaigirdar’s contemporary romance novels for anyone who enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for something more intense, definitely check out Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Àbíké-Íyímídé.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Talk about dating and marriage.

Spiritual Content
Tiwa and Said’s families celebrate Eid together in scenes spanning several years. References to prayer and study of the Quran.

Violent Content
Some racist microaggressions. (Tiwa, a Black Muslim, is treated differently than others sometimes because of her race. People assume she’s not a Muslim.)

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.