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Review: The Fall of Iris Henley by Jennifer Graham

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The Fall of Iris Henley by Jennifer Graham

The Fall of Iris Henley
Jennifer Graham
Wednesday Books
Published February 24, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Fall of Iris Henley

For fans of Megan Lally and Kara Thomas, a twisty thriller about a Texas teen accused of murder who’s desperate to clear her name.

All it takes to ruin someone’s life is the stroke of a key. Just ask Iris Henley. Her life is destroyed when someone posts an anonymous message on her high school’s subreddit thread: “Iris Henley is a killer. I’ve been too scared to come forward until now, but I saw her murder Rocky and Lynette last summer.”

Just like that, Iris loses everything. Her reputation. Her friends. Her hope of getting into college on scholarship. Even, possibly, her freedom, once the police start to investigate. After all, she’s the perfect suspect: Rocky was her boyfriend, and Lynette was her ex-best friend—and the girl he was cheating on her with. But Iris didn’t do it, and now it’s up to her to clear her name by finding out who did—before it’s too late.

Propulsive, sharp, and absolutely twisty from the New York Times bestselling author who brought readers the Veronica Mars duology, Jennifer Graham’s YA thriller is unputdownable.

My Review

I have to agree with the cover copy– I found this book unputdownable, for sure. Iris is a fabulous heroine. She’s flawed, sure, but her grief is palpable, and her desperation to recapture some kind of normal life experience in the wake of terrible tragedy makes her easy to identify with.

The cast of characters is memorable and elicited a lot of strong feelings from me. I think, weirdly, I felt the most for Lynette. She definitely made mistakes, including some really bad ones. But she read like someone reacting to trauma, and I wished that the story had explored what happened to her a little more.

On the other hand, I think it’s not a bad thing to have a character who reads like there’s more going on than the author tells us, because that’s pretty true to life. We don’t always get to know what the people around us are facing, sometimes even the people closest to us.

The stakes in this book just kept getting higher for Iris. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat as the story sped toward its conclusion. I stayed up far too late finishing this one.

All in all, I think readers who enjoyed Girls Like Us by Mindy McGinnis or books by Courtney Summers will not want to miss this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used pretty frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing, references to sex.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to murder and suicide. Online bullying. One scene shows an attempted murder.

Drug Content
Teens drink alcohol at parties in a couple of scenes. One minor character abused drugs (not shown on scene).

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 Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

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The Scammer
Tiffany D. Jackson
Quill Tree Books
Published October 7, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Scammer

A ripped-from-the-headlines thriller, following a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate’s ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move.

Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate’s brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa. But Devonte needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet—and how could she say no to one of her new best friends?

Devonte is older, as charming as he is intelligent, pushing every student he meets to make better choices about their young lives. But Jordyn senses something sinister beneath his friendly advice and growing group of followers. When one of Jordyn’s roommates goes missing, she must enlist the help of the university’s lone white student to uncover the mystery—or become trapped at the center of a web of lies more tangled than she can imagine.

My Review

I’m posting about a lot of books that are my first time reading books by authors this week, and this is no exception. Tiffany D. Jackson has been on my reading list for a LONG time, but I finally managed to read one of her books.

And, wow. You know that feeling on a roller coaster, where you’re being propelled upward, and you know the fall is coming any minute? That’s how it felt reading this book. It’s called The Scammer, and the back cover copy offers some pretty strong clues about what kind of story this is, so I had no reason to be surprised by Devonte’s behavior. But I felt like I wanted to jump between him and those girls, or at least to tell Jordyn to listen to herself so many times.

It was easy to feel Devonte’s magnetism, both in how people responded to him and in the way his character was written. While I wanted Jordyn to escape, I also felt how affected she was by his words and ideas.

I thought it was a really interesting choice to set the story on an HBCU campus. This posed some interesting questions and introduced ideas that a different setting may not have centered as easily.

The story is timely and bold. Jordyn’s hunger for connection with her peers, especially her roommates, was so powerful. Her grief was also easy to sense. The balance between the mystery/suspense elements and the romance was perfect. I felt like both fit well within the story.

I’m a huge fan of this author now, and I want to read everything else she’s written. I think I already own several more of her books, so hopefully I’ll get to those this year.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used pretty frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex. One character tells another that their family abused them, even if they don’t remember it.

Spiritual Content
One character shares some brief information about her Christian faith. Another character directs others to refer to him as a god.

Violent Content
References to death by suicide (happens off-scene). Some scenes show domestic abuse and a group attacking one person at another’s direction. References to gun violence resulting in death.

Drug Content
Some scenes show teens (college students) drinking alcohol. Someone drugs another person’s drink.

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: One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram

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One Word, Six Letters
Adib Khorram
Henry Holt & Co
Published March 17, 2026

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About One Word, Six Letters

Two teen boys grapple with identity and accountability and set off a ripple effect within their community after a school assembly is disrupted by a shouted slur.

Freshmen Dayton and Farshid couldn’t be more different—or so it seems.

When Dayton takes a dare and shouts the f-slur at a visiting author during a school event, it sets off a chain reaction that forces both boys to face parts of themselves they’d rather ignore.

Dayton, grappling with the fallout of his actions, faces rejection from his friends, disappointment from his parents, and a growing awareness of the harm he’s caused. Meanwhile, Farshid is left to untangle his own feelings—about himself and about the quiet struggle of coming to terms with his queerness in a world steeped in heteronormativity.

As their lives unexpectedly intersect, Dayton and Farshid must reckon with what kind of men they want to become and whether they have the courage to defy toxic masculinity and societal expectations.

Timely, raw, and deeply thought-provoking, this novel is perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone.

My Review

I think the way that the author chose to write this book is really interesting. First, it’s in second-person point of view (“You do this; you do that…”), which is an uncommon choice. Here, it really works to keep the narrative feeling immediate and to bring the reader as close to the story as possible. We are the protagonists, and the narrative never lets us forget that.

Additionally, the story alternates between Dayton and Farshid’s perspectives. We see both the circumstances that led Dayton to make a terrible choice and the harm that it causes.

I like that the story also highlights Farshid’s interest in boxing, a sport that not a lot of middle grade books explore. We also witness his battle with dysmorphia and how entangled that is with his identity and his fears about being outed.

I imagine it wasn’t easy to write Dayton’s perspective. While his viewpoint offers a deeper understanding into his behavior and his deep regret afterward, we are never asked to excuse what he did.

This is the kind of book that will start meaningful conversations about language and bullying and the harm that can come from using words carelessly. One Word, Six Letters is the first book by Adib Khorram that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
References to a slur. The slur itself never appears in the text.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to a crush.

Spiritual Content
References to faith and Muslim prayer practices.

Violent Content
References to a homophobic slur. Some homophobic comments and behavior. Bullying behavior.

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: Ramin Abbas has MAJOR Questions by Ahmad Saber

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Ramin Abbas has MAJOR Questions
Ahmad Saber
Atheneum Books
Published March 3, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Ramin Abbas has MAJOR Questions

An intensely brave, beautifully honest, and wryly funny story about a gay Muslim teen who has to choose between being true to himself or his faith—and his realization that maybe they aren’t as separate as he thought.

Ramin Abbas has spent his whole life obeying his parents, his Imam, and, of course, Allah—no questions asked. But when he starts crushing on the ridiculously handsome captain of the soccer team, so many things he’d always been so sure about are becoming questions:

1. Music is haram. But what if the Wicked soundtrack is the only thing keeping you sane because you’re being forced to play on the soccer team? With Captain Handsome?!

2. A boy crush is double haram, and Ramin’s parents will never accept it. But can he really be the only Muslim on Earth who feels this way?

3. Allah is merciful and makes no mistakes. Then isn’t Ramin just the way Allah intended him to be?

And so why should living your truth but losing everything—or living a lie and losing yourself—have to be a choice?!

My Review

I really appreciate that authors are writing stories that boldly ask hard questions about the intersection of faith and identity. These kinds of questions aren’t easy to answer, no matter what age someone might be, and it’s easy to oversimplify or lean on easy answers when those answers don’t directly impact one personally.

I think it’s also brave to write a novel featuring a protagonist who still feels positively about his faith despite having questions. That’s a real experience that a lot of people are having, and to find that reverently reflected in literature is so important.

Ramin is a perfect protagonist for a story like this. His relationships with his family members are tense and complicated by grief. He attends a private school for Muslim students, which is an experience many readers may not be directly familiar with, but I thought the descriptions and situations would be easy for anyone familiar with other private religious institutions to understand.

In the course of the story, he joins a soccer team and finds a place among the players. This gives the story some additional structure and offers more experience that will resonate with readers.

I also really appreciate that through the course of the novel, Ramin encounters lots of different views on practicing Islam. Some views were more restrictive, while others challenged his thinking. Ramin began to examine different parts of his faith alongside one another. He began to question whether ideas that appeared contradictory were a paradox or evidence of a need to update his ideas. I love the sensitivity with which the author explored these topics.

If you enjoyed The Golden Boys Guide to Bipolar by Sonora Reyes or Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian, add this remarkable debut to your reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Vague reference to sex. Brief mention of masturbation in the context of asking if it’s permissible in Islam.

Spiritual Content
References to some verses in the Quran. References to daily prayer practice. Ramin is a person of deep personal faith. He speaks with the Imam, asking questions about the intersection of faith and identity. He wrestles with questions about Allah’s love and judgment for sinners.

Violent Content
References to harsh judgment for sinners, such as having boiling lead poured into their ears. Some homophobic comments and statements. A student threatens to out Ramin. In an angry outburst, Ramin kicks a soccer ball through a window.

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: Some of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi

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

Some of Us Are Brave
Saadia Faruqi
Quill Tree Books
Published February 10, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Some of Us Are Brave

From the acclaimed author of The Strongest Heart comes a stirring new novel from the perspectives of three very different kids who are navigating the waters of fear and friendship through the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

It’s a humid summer in Houston, Texas, and Yasir is dreaming of being soccer team captain—if only he could get the team bully, Cody, off his back, and maybe impress his sort-of-crush, Mona. Meanwhile, Mona is turning her nightmares into art, and Cody’s home life feels as tense as the storm literally brewing down the coast.

When Hurricane Harvey makes landfall, the three kids could hardly be called friends. But as their regular lives fall apart and rising floodwaters pull them together, Mona, Cody, and Yasir will need to work as a team if they want to survive. The hurricane will churn up their deepest fears and cement their bond forever—if it doesn’t tear them apart.

My Review

My sister moved to Texas right after Hurricane Harvey passed through, but I hadn’t realized how devastating this storm was for many people living in Houston. This happened in 2017, which, it’s hard to believe, was almost nine years ago.

Writing about a hurricane and keeping the story middle grade level must have been challenging. Yet, so many children experience natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes every year. Still others wonder what that would be like.

In this book, the young characters remain at the center of the story, making decisions and facing their fears. The story alternates between Mona, Cody, and Yasir’s perspectives. Each one faces a fear of some kind, from Cody’s fear of the dark to Mona’s recurring nightmare about being trapped by a flood, to Yasir’s paralyzing fear of the water after his near-drowning the previous summer.

The storm brings these three unlikely allies together, and a tentative friendship forms. They learn to trust one another and lean on each other for support. As the storm overhead clears, they realize the work of recovery has just begun, and new opportunities emerge for them to help and support one another.

I loved the way that Faruqi uses ordinary childhood activities, like playing soccer and attending summer camp, to put the three narrators into the same orbit. I loved that Mona explores her fear of being trapped by a flood through exploring myths and faith stories about a massive flood. Her experience, and later, the boys’ experiences, model approaching fear with curiosity. I thought that was really cool.

All in all, this is a great book for young readers curious about what it’s like to survive a hurricane or for readers interested in stories about characters facing their fears.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Occasional use of faux swear words, like “frakk.”

Romance/Sexual Content
Two characters have a crush on each other.

Spiritual Content
Mona learns about flood stories from different faiths and mythologies. Yasir prays with another Muslim family in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to child abuse and adult abusive behavior. (A parent locks a boy in an outside shed overnight to punish him. References to physical violence – not shown on scene.) Reference to hurricane survivors waiting for rescue in flooded homes. A news report notes the total number of deaths resulting from Hurricane Harvey.

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: Mallory in Full Color by Elisa Stone Leahy

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Mallory in Full Color
Elisa Stone Leahy
Quill Tree Books
Published November 19, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Mallory in Full Color

A funny, poignant middle grade novel about a tween who navigates questions of identity and friendship when her anonymous web comic goes viral, from the acclaimed author of Tethered to Other Stars.

Mallory Marsh is an expert at molding into whatever other people want her to be. Her true thoughts and feelings only come out in her sci-fi web comic, which she publishes anonymously as Dr. BotGirl.

But juggling all the versions of herself gets tricky, especially when Mal’s mom signs her up for swim team. Instead of being honest about hating competitive swim, Mal skips out on practice and secretly joins the library’s comic club. There Mal meets Noa, a cute enby kid who is very sure of who they are. As Mal helps Noa plan a drag queen story time, she tries to be the person she thinks Noa wants her to be—by lying about her stage fright.

Then Mal’s web comic goes viral, and kids at school start recognizing the unflattering characters based on Mal’s real-life friends. With negative pushback threatening the drag queen story time and Dr.BotGirl’s identity getting harder to hide, Mallory must reckon with the lies she has told.

If she reveals her full self, will her friends, her parents, and her new crush accept the real Mallory Marsh?

My Review

I want to highlight so many things about this book. Mallory has this really sweet moment with her grandmother that I loved. Her grandma surprises her by having a nonbinary friend, so when Mal tries tell her about Noa, whom Mal has a crush on, she doesn’t have to stop and explain about Noa’s pronouns.

I also loved how even though Mal’s friends are upset at discovering they appear as characters in Mal’s webcomic, what Mal points out to them is that those characters have incredible strengths. Instead of the narrative twisting to be about Mal secretly making fun of her friends, it shows that the webcomic helps her process how she feels about those relationships and remind herself about the great qualities her friends have. Not just the annoying moments.

I also love that Leahy includes a drag queen story time. At first, Mal isn’t sure about this as a kid-friendly activity. But when she talks to a friend about it and then meets the drag queen, she feels differently. It’s a big celebration of books and dress-up and affirming who you are. It’s really sweet.

There’s also a little romance between Mal and Noa, whom she meets at the comic club. It’s sweet and mostly consists of blushing and butterflies-in-the-tummy with one kiss. As Mal examines her feelings for Noa, she feels pressure to label herself. Ultimately, though, she decides she isn’t sure what label fits, only that she has romantic feelings for them. I liked that she makes clear that it’s okay not to know all of who you are in middle school. It’s okay not to label yourself. Kids definitely need that message, because the pressure is real.

Another wonderful surprise about Mallory in Full Color is that it’s a companion novel to Tethered to Other Stars, the author’s debut. I loved seeing more of Wendy in this book and seeing the friend group from another angle.

There’s so much to love about this story. Each chapter opens with a page showing part of Mal’s webcomic. The robots and sci-fi elements add a lot of appeal. Readers who enjoy manga and graphic novels will enjoy reading about the creation process and the comic club discussions.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
One kiss.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some brief instances of homophobia and transphobia. Mallory is hurt when her family members say something homophobic and her dad doesn’t push back.

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 the library. All opinions are my own.