Review: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

The Stonekeeper - Amulet 1 - Kazu Kibuishi

The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1)
Kazu Kibuishi
Graphix
Published September 29, 2015

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About The Stonekeeper

Graphic novel star Kazu Kibuishi creates a world of terrible, man-eating demons, a mechanical rabbit, a giant robot—and two ordinary children on a life-or-death mission.

After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids’ mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into … Continue reading

Review: Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston

Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston cover shows a girl with a hand extended over a glowing ball. Swirls of light extend out from the ball, circling around her, lifting her hair.

Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1)
B. B. Alston
Balzer + Bray
Published January 19, 2021

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About Amari and the Night Brothers

Quinton Peters was the golden boy of the Rosewood low-income housing projects, receiving full scholarship offers to two different Ivy League schools. When he mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari Peters, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal. Why isn’t his story all over the news? And why do … Continue reading

Review: Everyone Wants to Know by Kelly Loy Gilbert

Everyone Wants to Know by Kelly Loy Gilbert cover shows a girl and boy standing back to back. She faces the camera.

Everyone Wants to Know
Kelly Loy Gilbert
Simon & Schuster
Published June 13, 2023

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About Everyone Wants to Know

This ripped-from-the-tabloids young adult drama by the critically acclaimed author Kelly Loy Gilbert about a girl’s famous-for-being-famous family fracturing from within as their dirty laundry gets exposed.

The Lo family sticks together. That’s what Honor has been told her whole life while growing up in the glare of the public eye on Lo and Behold , the reality show about her, her four siblings, and their parents.

Their show may … Continue reading

Review: No Perfect Places by Steven Salvatore

No Perfect Places by Steven Salvatore

No Perfect Places
Steven Salvatore
Bloomsbury YA
Published May 30, 2023

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About No Perfect Places

From lauded author Steven Salvatore comes a YA about twins whose incarcerated father dies and leaves behind a life-changing secret.

When their father was imprisoned for embezzlement, twins Alex and Olly Brucke lost everything except their strong bond with each other. But after their dad dies unexpectedly, the twins start to fracture. Alex is spiraling, skipping classes to get drunk or high. Olly is struggling with a secret his dad ordered him to keep: they have a secret half-brother, Tyler.

So when Tyler shows up in their lakeside town for … Continue reading

Review: Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliot McLemore

Venom and Vow by Anna-Marie and Elliott McLemore

Venom & Vow
Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliot McLemore
Feiwel & Friends
Published May 16, 2023

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About Venom & Vow

Keep your enemy closer.

Cade McKenna is a transgender prince who’s doubling for his brother.
Valencia Palafox is a young dama attending the future queen of Eliana.
Gael Palma is the infamous boy assassin Cade has vowed to protect.
Patrick McKenna is the reluctant heir to a kingdom, and the prince Gael has vowed to destroy.

Cade doesn’t know that Gael and Valencia are the same person.
Valencia doesn’t know that every time she … Continue reading

21 Underhyped Middle Grade Books Worth Reading

21 Underhyped Middle Grade Books Worth Reading

21 Underhyped Middle Grade Books Worth Reading

I recently realized it’s been a while since I shared a list of the books that I loved that just didn’t seem to get the hype they deserved. Some of these middle grade books were published during the early days of Covid, when authors canceled book signings, school visits, and other bookish events. A few of these underhyped middle grade titles are from the ancient days before the pandemic changed life as we knew it. Others were published more recently– perhaps a victim of Barnes & Noble’s switch to carrying mostly paperbacks? I’m not sure what the deal is, but I am sure these books deserve more attention … Continue reading