Format: Fiction

Don’t Tell A Soul

Don’t Tell A SoulDon't Tell a Soul by Kirsten Miller
Published by Delacorte Press on January 26, 2021
ISBN: 0525581200
Pages: 384
Genres: Horror, Mystery
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Don’t Tell a Soul by Kirsten Miller is the type of creepy mystery that grabs you right from the start and will have you reading late into the night. Bram is our 17 year old heroine who has suffered some serious traumas in Manhattan. The death of her father, sexual assault and addiction are compounded by the lack of support she received from her distant mother. She heads to the small town of Louth to live with her uncle in a spooky old manor he’s restoring as an inn. The locals believe the manor is cursed, as several young women living or visiting there in the years since it was built in 1890 have died there or gone missing. Uncle James’ second wife, Dahlia died there as well in a fire allegedly set by her daughter Lark, who seems to have gone insane after burning down half the manor. But Bram believes there is more to all the stories, even though she herself sees and hears the eerie things that go bump in the night. 

 

This story will give you the shivers, even as you’re rooting for Bram to solve the mystery of all the “Dead Girls”. The author also very cleverly shows us how easy it is for young women to be ignored and dismissed as crazy or hysterical even now in our society, and what the consequences are when no one listens. This book will appeal to anyone who loves a good gothic horror with a feminist twist.

 

Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

Lee Remick, York Middle School, York

four-stars

The Ravens

The RavensThe Ravens (The Ravens, #1) by Danielle Paige, Kass Morgan
Published by Clarion Books on November 3, 2020
ISBN: 0358098238
Pages: 400
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The Ravens is a delightfully campy, fast paced fantasy about a group of beautiful young women at a preppy southern university and their sorority, which is actually…. a coven of witches! The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of Vivi, a freshman who has come to college to escape her grifting, tarot card reading mother, and has no idea she possesses magical powers, and Scarlett, a junior who comes from a long line of Kappa sisters and hopes to follow in her mother and sister’s footsteps and become president of Kappa Rho Nu. The sisters soon find themselves fighting against unknown enemies who are using Dark Magic, while trying to conceal their identities as witches by balancing going to class and even navigating some romantic entanglements.  

While this book is no literary masterpiece, it was a fast, fun read and it would appeal to reluctant readers or anyone just looking for something light and entertaining. There were some great lessons in this book about sisterhood and owning up to mistakes, and the characters are all strong, empowered young women. This one will be a Netfilx movie soon I’m sure!

Recommended for ages 14 and up.

Lee Remick, York Middle School, York

four-stars

JoJo Makoons

JoJo MakoonsJo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley, Tara Audibert
Series: JoJo #1
Published by Heartdrum on May 11, 2021
ISBN: 0063015374
Pages: 80
Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Fiction, Early Reader
Goodreads
five-stars

Jo Jo Makoons introduces herself as a seven year-old first grader whose best friend is her cat, Mimi.  This early reader is the first in a new series about an indigenous Ojibwe girl who lives on a reservation.  Though not a fan of school JoJo has a great sense of humor which adds levity to the storyline.   Readers learn words, pronunciations and some Ojibwe culture while enjoying this tantalizing sixty-two-page charmer.  Eight short chapters combined with many humorous illustrations tell the story of a girl who needs more school relationships.  The after pages contain a glossary, author’s note, a letter to readers, and a short bio of the author.

Primary school libraries and all public libraries should include this first book in their collection.   Librarians will want to add other titles in the series as they are published.  JoJo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend is an excellent example of the type of diverse materials that belong in all our libraries and classrooms.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

Recommend for Cream of the Crop

five-stars