A Place for Vanishing

February 21, 2025February 21, 2025

A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat
on January 16, 2024
ISBN: 0593382234
Genres: Horror
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
five-stars

After a stint in the hospital following her attempted suicide and a new bipolar III diagnosis, sixteen-year-old Libby has moved into her mother’s childhood home along with her family. Known as Madame Clery’s House of Masks, this long abandoned house known for its seances has a storied past including a long history of disappearances, most notably that of her mother’s parents back when she was a young child. Libby tries to make the best of this adjustment, knowing that voicing her concerns about the house will only drive a deeper wedge between her, her mother, and her thirteen-year-old sister, Vivi. But the bug infestations, mysterious masks, odd decor, strange noises, and unsettling blue roses adorning the property are too much to ignore. Noticing the hold the house seems to have over her mother and a change in her behavior that gets creepier by the day, Libby works to uncover the house’s secrets before it’s too late. It will take all the strength she can muster, including asking for help from her infuriatingly cute neighbor, Flynn, to save her family and herself from the same fate suffered by so many before them.

A Place for Vanishing is a deeply atmospheric tale with mental health at its core. Libby’s inner turmoil of fighting her triggers and searching to find the strength within to keep herself from falling into the despair that makes her wish she could disappear is a direct link to Madame Clery’s masks and her belief in human metamorphosis. While obvious, the weaving of the supernatural with Libby’s struggle is very well done. This page-turner offers plenty of spine-tingling, disquieting, and flat-out frightening moments, body horror, and a tiny bit of romance. Fans of gothic horror will undoubtedly gobble this one up but those with a fear of insects will want to stay far away!

Grade 8 and Up

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

Take it From the Top

February 20, 2025

Take It from the Top by Claire Swinarski
ISBN: 0063321734
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Take It From the Top

Claire Swinarski

This middle grade novel for ages 8- 12 is set at Lamplighter Lake Summer Camp, a residential musical theater camp for those with Broadway aspirations, and follows the friendship evolution of two girls over the course of six summers.

Eowyn Becker comes from a privileged family and has an older brother who performs on Broadway. Her father is often too busy managing her brother’s career to attend her performances. For her, camp is a place where the pain of her mother’s death is eased and she gets to reunite with her best friend, Jules Marrigan. Jules comes from a family that struggles financially, but her parents provide her with unwavering support for her dreams. This summer’s end-of-year production is Wicked, the girls’ favorite musical, and Eowyn and Jules earn leading roles as Elphaba and Glinda.

But when Eowyn arrives at camp, everything is wrong. Jules will barely even look at Eowyn, let alone talk to her, and Eowyn does not know why.

Told in a series of alternating chapters that flashback to past summers, the girls’ story reveals how wealth, class, money, and privilege can adversely affect a friendship. The story contains frequent references to musicals and songs, which feels a little isolating and exclusionary to readers unfamiliar with the theater world.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

Bright Red Fruit

February 15, 2025

Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo
on February 6, 2024
ISBN: 0593381238
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
five-stars

Samira has spent her whole life trying to escape a reputation she doesn’t deserve–one caused by a rumor started by a boy many years ago. Now sixteen, the aunties of her Sudanese American community continue to hold this reputation against her while her mother does nothing to come to her defense. Samira dreams of escaping from her mother’s tight grip, moving to New York, and becoming a poet. After being grounded for the entirety of her summer, Samira turns to sharing her gift of poetry in an online forum. There she meets Horus, an older guy who showers her with compliments and makes her feel special. But Horus is not what he seems, and Samira must gather her courage to break free from his manipulation and expose him for who he truly is.

This novel in verse includes a nod to the myth of Persephone, something that seems to be popping up quite a bit in Young Adult Literature. As such, it will certainly appeal to teen girls who are struggling to find themselves, are weighed down by expectations, and may be tempted to seek validation and freedom through a relationship with an older partner. Hand this to fans of The Poet X and those who enjoy coming-of-age novels.

Grades 9-12

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

Clouds in Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us

February 15, 2025February 15, 2025

Clouds in Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us by Diana Renzina, Teresa Robeson
on August 20, 2024
ISBN: 1536225371
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Nebula means “cloud” in Latin, but these little-known astronomical phenomena are different from Earth’s clouds. This book compares this astronomical feature with clouds using stunning illustrations, including a variety of photos, and informative text, especially the back matter. However, I was disturbed by the anthropomorphism with nebula taking on human characteristics. Overall, this is a good introduction to a difficult-to-understand concept. Add it to your astronomy section of the library.