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Review: A Wish with Wings by Sarah Guillory

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A Wish with Wings by Sarah Guillory

A Wish with Wings
Sarah Guillory
Roaring Brook Press
Published May 19, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About A Wish with Wings

A tender tale of courage, hope, and holding onto yourself even when everything around you seems to be falling apart — perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Barbara O’Connor.

Everyone says twelve-year-old Evan Calais is feral. She likes to spend her time outside, fishing and having mud fights in her small town of Little John Island, Louisiana. But when a sinkhole causes the town mine to collapse, trapping all forty-eight miners, everything in her life comes to a standstill. Because Evan’s dad is one of the miners trapped inside.

Evan seeks solace the only way she knows how—in the outdoors—and comes upon the most peculiar thing. An egg.

It’s a large egg. And it’s alone. So while Evan waits for her dad to come home, she also finds herself caring for the strange, abandoned egg. If this egg can hatch…maybe her dad has a chance of coming home, too. But as she incubates the egg, Evan will need to make a big decision. For she has a secret—she might know what caused the cave-in.

Sarah Guillory’s latest middle grade novel is a deeply heartwarming exploration of the importance of imagination, the freedom in nature, and the power of the truth.

My Review

In 2023, I read Nowhere Better Than Here by Sarah Guillory, which I really enjoyed. I tend to love Southern fiction, especially stories that emphasize preservation and depict life in rural communities. Guillory does this really well in both books of hers that I’ve read.

In A Wish with Wings, Evan’s dad is trapped in a salt mine following an accident. While the story centers on her and her family, it introduces readers to life in a small mining community, where most families depend on the mine. It also showcases a rural Louisiana setting and highlights the endangered whooping cranes.

I liked Evan as a character. There’s something about a strong-willed, messy little girl protagonist that never gets old for me, especially in a Southern setting. It’s easy for me to relate, I suppose. I also like how her relationships with others change throughout the course of the story. At the beginning, she strongly dislikes her dad’s Aunt Tildy, who seems to constantly chastise her for her unruly behavior. As Evan spends more time with Aunt Tildy during the family crisis, she comes to view her differently and develops more respect and understanding for her.

Evan finds Sofia, a girl known for her obsession with caring for farm animals, annoying and avoids her, until Evan finds herself in desperate need of help caring for an egg. As she gets to know Sofia, the two find common ground.

An Author’s Note at the end clarifies some of the choices that Guillory made in the story, such as having Evan take an egg from a wild nest, and why someone should not do that. She also includes a bit more information about whooping cranes and what to do if you spot one in the wild.

I can’t think of another novel that I’ve read that includes a child whose parent works in a mine, especially in contemporary fiction, but I think it’s an important experience to show in a middle grade story. Fans of books by Kate Messner or Nancy Cavanaugh will want to put this on their reading lists.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Evan makes a wish and believes that when her egg hatches, her dad will wake up.

Violent Content
References to injuries and death from a mine collapse. Injuries to a parent, visiting a parent in an uncertain condition in the hospital.

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: Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

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Deathly Fates
Tesia Tsai
Wednesday Books
Published April 12, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Deathly Fates

“Rich and wholeheartedly poignant. Deathly Fates sings with profound spirit, exploring the consequences of war and the scars cut by nobility during trying times. An entrancing world that will certainly linger.” —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.

As a corpse-driving priestess, a holy servant paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. But when her beloved father collapses due to his declining health, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.

But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince’s head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying’s commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won’t stay alive for long―not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.

In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. But as they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince’s death―secrets that could endanger both Siying’s father and their entire kingdom.

My Review

The idea of benevolent reanimation of the dead drew me to this book. Usually, that’s something pretty soundly reserved for the villains, or heroes slipping toward a villain arc. Here, it’s more of a compassionate relocation effort to allow burial rites to be performed in someone’s hometown. It’s a fascinating premise.

Some moments in a book beg to be acted out on screen. The moment that Ren, the dead soldier she’s been sent to recover, speaks to her, making a joke and sending her spinning into shock, has to be one of those. I loved that.

The relationship between Siying and Ren was a lot of fun. I loved seeing it unfold. His playfulness disarmed her and helped her unbend. Her seriousness made him work for things he might have otherwise considered out of his reach.

Siying is also dealing with a lot of grief over her parents. Her mom has died and left her to care for her dad, who is in fragile health, and her younger sister. That felt very raw and present throughout the story. At first, she’s desperate to bring Ren home because the money it will bring could save her father’s life. Eventually, she wants to save Ren for his own sake, in addition to using him as a vehicle to help her dad. I found the slow-burn romance between Siying and Ren really sweet.

Throughout the book, Siying encounters many different faces of grief. She meets a woman lost in despair and rage over the death of her infant daughter. She visits a healer banished after being wrongfully blamed for her mistress’s death. A whole village shares its grief over family members executed as traitors by an unjust ruler.

The echo of the weight and power of grief, both to cause further harm and to motivate people to protect one another, rings throughout the whole book. As Siying faces her own grief, she has to decide how she will respond.

Conclusion

All in all, I liked this book more even than I predicted I would. The characters are engaging, the fantasy landscape intriguing, and the pacing kept me hustling to read one more chapter until the end. I think fans of Lori M. Lee and Joan He will enjoy this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Siying is a priestess of an order that uses spells and sacred objects to reanimate the dead and walk them to their homes, so the families can bury them and grieve. Evil spirits of the dead emerge when someone dies in dark circumstances. These spirits can drain the qi (life force) and harm or kill anyone they encounter. Siying must refill the prince’s qi by collecting and purifying the qi of these spirits.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to war and the deaths of soldiers. References to death by suicide and murder. Battles between Siying and powerful evil spirits bent on killing her.

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: Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen

Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , , , ,

Wilderness Hacks
Joslin Brorsen
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published March 31, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Wilderness Hacks

Hatchet meets Survivor in this high-action, humor-filled middle grade adventure about two kids stranded in the wilderness, whose annoyance with each other rivals the roaring rapids and ferocious predators they must face.

12-year-old Sadie Hahn didn’t plan to eat grubs on camera to win a contest. And she definitely didn’t plan to win first prize—a guest appearance on a Youtube show hosted by America’s favorite 13-year-old survivalist Radley Shaw. But she’ll do anything to cheer up her little brother Silas, who’s too young to qualify.

Rad has millions of followers and exactly zero real-life friends, so the contest is a great chance for him to hang out with kids his own age. But it’s hate-at-first-sight when Silas throws a wrench in his plan and Sadie decides Rad is just a clueless poser who doesn’t know the first thing about survival.

Disaster strikes when their scripted rafting trip turns into a real fight for survival. Lost in the mountains, Rad and Sadie must find shelter, build a fire, forage for food and try not to become food for a hungry predator. But can they stop bickering long enough to hack it in the wilderness? And will that be enough to keep them alive?

My Review

I love it when a story with two points of view features characters whose personalities are very different from one another. In this book, Sadie is cautious and methodical, while Rad is working really hard to be cool on camera. Both of them are working through big feelings about their dads. Sadie is grieving her dad’s death. Rad misses his dad, who seems increasingly absent from his life.

The friendship between the two gets off to a rocky start. Sadie clocks Rad as attention-seeking and spots him cutting corners rather than practicing real survival skills. (For example, the fish dinner Rad’s team prepares includes a store-bought, filetted fish instead of the fresh catch Sadie pulled from the river.) Rad feels like he can’t get a break. No matter what he does, Sadie is angry with him.

Once the two are truly lost in the woods, they must put aside their grievances and find a way to work together. Sadie realizes that Rad knows a lot about survival and challenges him to showcase it more authentically on his channel. Rad encourages Sadie to explore her complicated feelings about being in the wilderness after her dad’s death.

I liked the character growth in both Sadie and Rad. The bond they formed through their experience felt authentic. There’s a scene near the end that reminded me a lot of Hatchet, which was a nice moment. I’m a little puzzled by the comparison to the show Survivor, since there is no competition element here. I guess it’s meant to be a reference to being in the woods with a stranger?

In any case, Wilderness Hacks is a fast-paced, entertaining story that will make a perfect summer read.

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. Sadie and Rad witness the death of an adult and find the body of another person. They hear what they think might be wolves eating someone’s remains. They don’t see anything, but they’re pretty creeped out. A mountain lion attacks hikers. Some brief description. References to the death of a parent.

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: Song of the Yellow Dragon by Ying Ping Low

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

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

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 hope.

Young emperor Kai is on the run from traitorous advisors. He’s searching for the fabled Dragon’s Pulse, a magic capable of defeating his enemies. On the brink of his thirteenth birthday, Kai doesn’t have much longer. So when he meets Mengyao—the girl whose name is mentioned in his legend—he forces aside his instinctual distrust and recruits her to help him on his quest.

On their perilous journey, Kai and Mengyao find aid in unexpected forms like a jade hare, a moon goddess, and a handful of promises. But as enemies close in and time runs out, secrets that will reshape the fate of their kingdom forever come to light.

My Review

This is such a charming book. I loved the voice it’s written in. At times, the narrator speaks directly to the reader or reminds readers about something happening far from the main characters. The tone is almost playful, keeping the story light even though some serious events occur.

I loved the bond between Kai and Mengyao. They have very different personalities, so at first, I wasn’t sure how they could get along. But it made sense that their differences would work together to make them a strong team. I enjoyed watching them push each other and keep each other safe, even as they pretended to ignore one another.

As the story reaches its most desperate moment, many threads weave together, revealing new elements that reshape the narrative as a whole. I love it when that weaving together is well done, as it is here.

I also enjoyed the way that the story uses magic. In the book, children know and recognize magic around them until they turn thirteen. They can ask the wind for help if they’re lost. Mushrooms will tell them whether they’re poisonous. But once a child turns thirteen, they look back on those experiences as childish and overly imaginative. That looming forgetting of magic created an interesting deadline for Kai and Mengyao. I loved how the author used that to add tension and keep the story whimsical.

I have a feeling this is going to be one of those books that doesn’t get nearly enough visibility as it deserves. If this isn’t already on your reading list, please check it out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 13.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
References to spiritual beliefs and practices. Supernatural beings offer help in times of need. An ancestor has a power that can help in a crisis. A deity intervenes to protect someone.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to murder (happens before the story begins). Someone tries to poison children. Soldiers burn down a building. References to a murder plot. Soldiers chase children with intent to harm them.

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: If You Were Here by Abigail Johnson

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

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

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 is determined to finish his life’s work, and convinces her mom and sister to spend the summer in Nantucket with her while she looks for answers, and for a connection to her dad.

Wren McCleave has a passion for history, but his father refuses to showcase anything real in their tourist trap of a “museum.” So when Lili asks Wren for help with her research, Wren can’t resist the opportunity to throw himself into something real, even if he dislikes tourists on principle.

Lili and Wren only have a summer to find out the truth about Lili’s ancestor. But the most surprising truths they uncover aren’t about the distant past, but about themselves right here in the present, and about what they want out of the future.

My Review

If you’re looking for a summer beach or vacation read, this one would be perfect. It takes place during the summer on Nantucket, in a small island community. Expect pizza on the beach, boat trips, and plenty of simmering romance.

I really enjoyed Johnson’s debut novel, so when I saw that she had a new one coming out this summer, I really wanted to read it. I like the way that she writes tender moments and the scenes filled with yearning, where the characters haven’t figured out how to be together yet and aren’t even sure their feelings are reciprocated. It’s so easy to get lost in the anticipation of those moments.

Wren has needed a wheelchair since an accident years before the story begins. For the most part, though, this book really doesn’t focus on his disability. There are a couple of scenes where it becomes a focus. At one point, Lili invites him to a place that isn’t accessible. She feels horrible when she realizes, and the two have a conversation about that. For the most part, though, we are busy thinking of Wren as a potential museum curator who is struggling to set boundaries with and express his wishes to his family.

Lili also has some family relationship matters to sort out. She’s trying to solve a mystery her dad left behind, which leads her to grapple with some of the wounds in the relationships her dad left behind. The story doesn’t explore him as a character in depth beyond his obsession with his family history. Lili’s relationships with her mom and sister are important, and she wrestles with how to balance those connections with her passion to uncover the past.

Wren and Lili have a little bit of a grumpy/sunshine vibe going, especially at the beginning of their connection. I love that they bond over their shared love of history. The relationship isn’t without its bumps and flaws. I could see part of the story being challenging for some readers, especially those who prefer neat, simple romances. But I appreciate that mistakes were made, and consequences happened. I like that Lili and Wren each had to reckon with the fallout of their choices, and that leads them to reconnect with other characters in ways that they needed to. Sorry that’s so vague– I don’t want to spoil anything.

All in all, this was a fun summer romance. It feels like a perfect book to take on vacation or to the beach for an afternoon.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to an accident in which Wren broke his back. (Happened before the story began.)

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: Journey to Tomioka by Laurent Galandon and Michaël Crouzat

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , ,

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

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

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, all Osamu has left is his grandmother, Bā-chan, and his big sister, Akiko. As he withdraws into his own world, he befriends friends yōkai―spirits only he can see.

Then, tragedy strikes again, and Bā-chan dies. Osamu and Akiko are determined to return her ashes to their family farm in Tomioka, a town within Fukushima’s forbidden zone. There, the siblings will face dangerous radiation and yōkai, both friendly and deadly―but they’re willing to risk it all to make it home.

My Review

This book draws attention to the victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The story follows Osamu, a young boy who shows kindness toward the yōkai, mythical creatures that live in his home and community. When his grandmother dies unexpectedly, he convinces his sister that they should bring her ashes home to her farm in the area still evacuated since the nuclear disaster.

Along the way, they meet a man who lives in the forbidden zone and cares for the animals living there. The story gently encourages readers to question our relationship with nature and our short attention spans for tragedies happening elsewhere.

At one point in the story, Osamu’s sister notes that his personality changed in the wake of the tsunami. He went from being an outgoing kid with lots of friends to being much quieter and more internal. A doctor, she says, diagnosed him with Autism, but she feels that’s inaccurate, because he used to have friends. I think I get what she’s trying to say, but I kind of wish this had just been left out of the book. It’s a small comment, and there’s so little context. I could see people feeling like this is saying that people with Autism can’t have friends or be friendly, which isn’t true.

All in all, I appreciate the author for bringing the Fukushima nuclear disaster to the forefront of conversations through this book and for highlighting some of the victims who are too often neglected, namely, children and animals.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Osamu believes in the existence of yōkai, mysterious supernatural creatures and spirits from Japanese folklore. He speaks to some who live in his home and leaves an apple for one living near a tree. He later encounters a being representing radiation.

Violent Content
References to the death of a grandparent and caregiver. References to the deaths of parents in the tsunami. These are not shown on the page.

Osamu breaks a window in an abandoned shop. He and his sister evade rescue workers and their cousin’s fiancé, Seiichi, and venture deeper into contaminated spaces, risking exposure to radiation.

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.