Review: Song of the Yellow Dragon by Ying Ping Low

Song of the Yellow Dragon by Ying Ping Low

Song of the Yellow Dragon
Ying Ping Low
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Published May 12, 2026

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About Song of the Yellow Dragon

Two children search for a legendary dragon’s magic in this enchanting fantasy, perfect for readers ages 9-13!

There is a secret that every child knows: Magic is real. But by the time children turn thirteen, they forget that magic is anything but make-believe.

Mengyao wants to remember. Born in a village nestled in a secluded vale, Mengyao wants to hold on to magic and become a Divine Healer. But with her thirteenth birthday fast approaching, she is losing … Continue reading

Review: If You Were Here by Abigail Johnson

If You Were Here by Abigail Johnson

If You Were Here
Abigail Johnson
HarperCollins
Published April 28, 2026

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About If You Were Here

A charming and emotional standalone grumpy/sunshine romance set during a Nantucket summer. Lili needs Wren’s help to complete her father’s research and save her family’s reputation–but working together leads to more discoveries than either of them bargained for.

Lili Gardner hasn’t been back to Nantucket, her dad’s favorite place, since her parents divorced six years ago. But Dad passed away recently, leaving her a house on the island and an unsolved mystery about a maligned Gardner ancestor. Lili … Continue reading

Review: Journey to Tomioka by Laurent Galandon and Michaël Crouzat

Journey to Tomioka by Laurent Galandon and Michael Crouzat

Journey to Tomioka
Laurent Galandon
Art by Michaël Crouzat
Translated by Anne and Owen Smith
First Second
Published June 9, 2026

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About Journey to Tomioka

For fans of This Was Our Pact and Hayao Miyazaki films comes a breathtaking graphic novel about siblings who risk everything to return their grandmother’s ashes to her home inside the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.

Osamu hasn’t been the same since that day. When the tsunami hit Fukushima prefecture, it killed his parents, destroyed his home, and triggered one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. Now, … Continue reading

Review: The Last Best Quest Ever by F. T. Lukens

The Last Best Quest Ever by F. T. Lukens

The Last Best Quest Ever
F. T. Lukens
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published May 26, 2026

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About The Last Best Quest Ever

A fraudulent teen quester must team up with a brooding, royal rival on a perilous adventure to save her brother’s life in this cozy young adult romantasy full of mythical creatures by the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This is Ever After.

Seventeen-year-old Ellinore has the best questing record of anyone in the kingdom’s history. She also has a secret: her fame is built entirely on lies. Tired of the … Continue reading

Review: The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis

The Danger of Small Things
Caryl Lewis
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published March 24, 2026

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About The Danger of Small Things

Set in a world where bees are at risk of extinction, this startling YA dystopian is perfect for fans of Meg Rosoff’s How I Live Now and Sarah Crossan, described by the author as a love letter to her daughter. 

Imagine a world where honeybees have died out. It’s a patriarchal world where famines are rife. It’s a world without art, without books, without plays. Girls are sent … Continue reading

20 Young Adult Books Still on My Spring 2026 Reading List

YA Books Still on My Spring 2025 Reading List

20 Young Adult Books Still on My Spring 2026 Reading List

This spring has been an incredibly rough season. From personal tragedy to unexpected home repairs, I feel like nothing in my life has gone as planned. Reading-wise, I’m way behind. There’s just no other way to say it. It takes me longer to read a book right now, and some things are just too hard to read in the aftermath of losing my dad.

These are the books I agreed to review this spring and just haven’t been able to get to yet. I want to read all of them. (I’m pretty careful about what I accept for review.) As … Continue reading