Format: Fiction

The Revenge Game

The Revenge GameThe Revenge Game by Jordyn Taylor
on November 7, 2023
ISBN: 0593563646
Pages: 320
Genres: Psychological thriller, Realistic Fiction, Suspense
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Prep school junior Alyson is a romance novel enthusiast, but hasn’t had a boyfriend despite having some serious crushes. She falls for a senior lacrosse player (and eventual missing person in a subplot that is told Carrie-style with interviews and news articles) named Riggs and can’t believe it when she finds herself in what seems like a relationship straight out of one her favorite books. But is it, though? Piece by piece the female students put together clues that the males have been using them to rack up points according to the sexual acts they engage in. Alyson is convinced that Riggs can’t be part of it, even though his own father’s game is still admiringly talked about. The girls band together and reciprocate with their own game: they publicly humiliate boys, whether or not there is proof that they are involved in the game.

A meta-romantic thriller with a likeable cast of female characters (it should be noted that we only get tiny glimpses of even remotely likeable males), The Revenge Game is a little overblown, but its value lies in the more subtle signs of red flags in Riggs and Alyson’s willful determination to ignore them in the name of love. Recommend to those looking to explore generational toxic masculinity and/or those who might enjoy a solid tale of revenge.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance

Caught in a Bad FauxmanceCaught in a Bad Fauxmance (Joy Revolution) by Elle Gonzalez Rose
ISBN: 0593645790
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction
Format: Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

For years, Devin Baez’s family and Julian Seo-Cooke’s clan have hated each other with a mutual loathing that peaks during the annual Winter Games at their Florida camp compound.  They earnestly compete – and audaciously cheat – to win the top prize and bragging rights. But it has been four years since Devin and his papi, twin sister, step-mother and step-brother have been to camp, four years since Devin’s mom died. Facing that loss is hard enough without having to deal with the smarmy, ultra-rich Seo-Cookes and their despicable father who stole papi’s invention and made millions off it without so much as a share to the Baez’s. So when Julian asks Devin to pretend to be his boyfriend in order to snub an ex, Devin shockingly says yes, if secretly only to get the inside scoop on how to defeat the insufferable family once and for all. The stakes are high, shenanigans ensue, and a romantic happy ending satisfies. This is a fun and clean romance that sometimes splashes into more serious moments of grief and familial discord. The secondary characters, especially the touching relationship between Devin and his twin sister Maya, bring weight to what could be a trope-filled enemies to lovers story. Instead this fauxmance to romance rises to the top with its mix of sweet emotions, funny pranks, and a fabulous comeuppance.   Reviewed by Melissa M. Orth, Richmond Middle/High School, Richmond, ME

five-stars

Wishing Season

Wishing SeasonWishing Season by Anica Mrose Rissi
ISBN: 0063258900
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Eleven-year-old Lily struggles to accept the death of her twin brother, Anders. She is ambivalent about summer vacation at her home on Deer Isle, Maine, an island acessible by bridge. Her single mother is deeply depressed following Anders’ death from cancer four months earlier. Lily discovers she can go to a space in the field behind her house that she calls the overlap, and Anders shows up. The two talk together, and this lessens Lily’s grief. But as the weeks go by, Anders appears less frequently which causes Lily to panic. Meanwhile, Lily makes new friends like Ms. Turner and her chickens and Quinn, a high schooler.  Her mother becomes more functional. This is a deeply moving story and the island setting is authentically described. This book belongs in every Maine library but not sure every reader will enjoy it. However, the reader who needs it will find it comforting. The author, Anica Mrose Rissi grew up in Deer Isle, Maine.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

All That Consumes Us

All That Consumes UsAll That Consumes Us by Erica Waters
on October 17, 2023
ISBN: 0063115964
Pages: 416
Genres: Horror, Romance, Supernatural
Format: Fiction, Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

Erica Water’s new gothic, dark academia novel, All That Consumes Us, is at times confined by genre tropes, but slowly it becomes its own contemporary hybrid. Tara Boone, a struggling 17 year old freshman at a private southern college, is accepted into an elite and secretive society, Magni Viri, after the tragic death of one of its members. Tara is in the Jane Eyre mold: a penniless, functionally orphaned girl with big dreams who is held back by self-doubt. At first it is difficult for Tara to fit in with the seemingly privileged and supernaturally talented Magni Viri students, but she will do anything for the guaranteed success promised to all its graduates – or will she?

The combination of Tara’s insecurities and the obfuscations of everyone around her make the middle of the book drag, but fortunately, genuinely surprising plot twists emerge. In true gothic fashion, Tara believes she is being haunted and her increasingly restless nights cause the atmosphere of dread to swell like a cicada’s whine. Unlike its genre’s predecessors, All That Consumes Us is refreshingly diverse. Though underdeveloped, the main lovestory is queer and there is purposeful diversity in the side character’s race, gender, class, and ability. This book will be appreciated more by future English majors who have read the heavily referenced The Secret History & Jane Eyre, but at its core this is an atmospheric ghost story lush with spooky, autumn vibes that many readers will enjoy.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

The Haunting

The HauntingThe Haunting by Natasha Preston
on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0593481518
Genres: Horror, Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

It’s been a year since Penny’s boyfriend’s father was arrested for the murder of five local teens, and Penny is desperate to reach out to Nash and ask his forgiveness for disappearing from his life. Nash is hurt and reluctant to get involved again, especially after the way he and his sister have been treated by the town as though they are somehow as guilty as their dad. But when a copycat killer shows up and the body count starts rising, Nash and Penny put their difficult year behind them to take down the new murderer.

This tribute to the Scream series reads like a sequel but is not one,  so it feels as though the reader should have more background information than is given. While many thrillers feature people making questionably endangering choices, the teens in The Haunting have so little sense of self-preservation it comes across as silly. Fans of slashers might enjoy this, but slow-pacing and a disappointing ending really weigh it down.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

two-stars

Wander in the Dark

Wander in the DarkWander in the Dark by Jumata Emill
on January 30, 2024
ISBN: 0593651855
Genres: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Fans of Emill’s debut, The Black Queen, will enjoy this tense thriller about a Black teen accused of killing a white classmate. Amir and Marcel Trudeau are half-brothers with a tense history due to a childhood secret they share.  When Amir is accused of killing Chloe Danvers, who was Marcel’s best friend, the two must reconcile their differences and prove Amir’s innocence.

While the murder mystery will appeal to fans of the genre, the book offers more in the shape of great characters, interesting family dynamics, and a look at the racism that persists within our schools and the lengths administrators and parents will go to protect their kids and students from consequences for reprehensible behavior. This will be easy to recommend to fans of thrillers as well as those seeking social justice books.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten free Library, Bath

four-stars

If I Have To Be Haunted

If I Have To Be HauntedIf I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
Published by Harper Teen on September 14, 2023
ISBN: 0063252767
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Sixteen year old Chinese American Cara Tang is a ghost speaker – which means she can see and talk to ghosts, and even help them to pass on – just like her grandmother, Laolao and her mother. Only her grandmother is in fact a ghost, and her mother doesn’t want anything to do with her powers. And she would prefer Cara keep her head down, focus on school and forget about her powers as well. Which becomes impossible when she finds the body of her nemesis, Zach Coleson, under a tree in the woods behind her house. They’ve been sworn enemies since they were little, but Zach has been bitten by the Signet Snake, a monster of chaos determined to end the world, and Cara is the only one who can save him. After a brutal fight with her mother, and with a little help from Laolao, Cara and Zach’s ghost set off on a quest to find the antidote in seven days before it’s too late for Zach to be resurrected. This is a great fantasy YA read with its snappy dialogue, lush world building, romantic tension, magic and monsters. Cara’s struggles with self acceptance and growth, especially as it relates to growing up with a Chinese tiger mom is another highlight of the story. A solid pick.

 

Recommended for grades 7 – 12

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

 

Lee Remick, York Middle School, York

four-stars

Creeping Beauty

Creeping BeautyCreeping Beauty by Andrea Portes
Published by HarperTeen on August 22, 2023
ISBN: 0062422472
Pages: 336
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
one-star

In the retelling of the fairy tale classic, Creeping Beauty by Andrea Portes introduces us to Bitsy, who is most definitely not your typical princess. She is not beautiful or patient, but she is smart. She doesn’t believe in the class system, and prefers to either hang out with her servants, or read her books in peace. Having to do anything related to being the daughter of the king annoys her, especially having to spend time with the men her father wants to marry her off to. An attempt to flee from one such suitor leads her to a room in the castle she’s never seen before, complete with a spindle. She pricks her finger and finds herself waking up in an alternate world. This is where the story starts to fracture and the plot goes awry. The story line becomes hard to follow, the world building falls flat and we are introduced to ill defined characters who disappear without another mention. The book also flipped back and forth between reading as an adult book then back to juvenile fiction. This unfortunately isn’t anything I would spend any book budget money on.

 

Lee Remick, York Middle School, York

one-star

Everyone’s Thinking It

Everyone’s Thinking ItEveryone's Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni
on September 5, 2023
ISBN: 0063225670
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Cousins Iyanu and Kitan have drifted apart, despite being two of the few Nigerian students at the elite high school Wodebury Hall. Iyanu has her passion for photography and Kitan has found her place in a popular trio led by the abhorrent yet irresistible Heather. When Iyanu has an important set of film negatives stolen, only to be later distributed with cryptic, condemning messages about the student they feature, the cousins must rekindle their friendship and find out who took the negatives and why.

Told in alternating perspectives, this book has wide appeal thanks to a fun mystery, great characters, and lots  of drama. There’s a lot going on; classism, Blackfishing, biphobia, and panic disorders, to name just a few of the issues. It would be a lot at once, but Omotoni has created enough relatable (and a few unrelatable, in a  Heathers or Mean Girls way) characters to disperse the weight of it all and keep the book light, despite the serious themes. There really is something for everyone in here so it will be easy to recommend.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Her Dark Wings

Her Dark WingsHer Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury
on July 7, 2022
ISBN: 0593705580
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Corey and Bree have been inseparable since they were little, at least until Bree started dating Corey’s boyfriend. Their friendship crumbles and Corey is left feeling conflicted when Bree is found dead after drowning at a party. Corey is then whisked to the Underworld, where she encounters  Hades, Hermes, and the Furies and is forced to choose a path forward after the betrayal and death of her friend.

Her Dark Wings is a vague retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth so fans of retellings or Greek myths might enjoy the references. Otherwise, the book is murky and the characters make strange, impulsive decisions and, ultimately, achieve little growth or redemption. The Olympian element is fun, but the human characters would have benefited from more development.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

two-stars