Format: Young Adult

The Wolf-Girl, the Greeks, and the Gods: A Tale of the Persian Wars

Format: Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
two-stars

A book that blends history and mythology, this is a read that would be appealing to patrons who want to learn a more realistic perspective beyond just Greek gods and their powers. 

The story opens with Gorgo, daughter of the Spartan king whose mother’s dying words are a warning of the Persians coming to take over Greece. Eventually becoming the queen of Sparta herself, the reader is able to gain an understanding of events, both real and fantastical, that lead the small, ragtag army of Spartans and Athenians to defeating the mighty Darius the Great and King Xerxes of Persia. Features of the book include beautiful illustrations, a cast of characters list (though not as extensive as is needed for the story) and multiple maps to track the progression of battles. Though marketed as a graphic novel, the book is actually quite dense and text heavy, making it a slower and un-bingeable read. This along with gory battle descriptions makes it better for tweens and teens instead of the publisher recommended age group of 9-11. Overall, only add this book to your collection if you have exhausted other resources on Greek mythology and ancient wars. 

 

Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Unhallowed Halls

Published by Delacorte Genres: Horror, Supernatural
Format: Fiction, Young Adult
four-stars

Page is struggling emotionally and physically after she unintentionally caused a terrible accident at school. When she receives a surprise scholarship to Agathion College, a boarding school in the Scottish moorlands, she takes the opportunity to leave Florida and dedicate her mind to her studies. Once there, she is immersed in rigid academia, a dreary yet beautiful campus, and a new group of friends. Things are strange from the start though, and Page feels increasingly unsettled as students randomly “graduate”, teachers seem possessed, the mascot pig won’t stop screaming at her,  and her Samhain birthday is mentioned by the faculty far more often than it should be. What is Agathion College hiding?

The first half of this book is so fun; the mood is perfect, the character development is excellent, and the foreboding gloom keeps the pages turning. The second half loses momentum somewhat but certainly not enough to discourage dark academia, classical studies, and/or demonology fans from devouring it in a few sittings.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars
Love Requires Chocolate

Love Requires Chocolate

Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield
on August 20, 2024
ISBN: 0593571541
Genres: Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Love Requires Chocolate” is a YA romance novel by Ravynn K. Stringfield. Whitney is a Black American teen who is doing a semester abroad in Paris. She has a huge list of must-dos while she is there, as well as creating a play about her idol, Josephine Baker. Things aren’t shaping up the way she pictured: her roommates are standoffish and her French tutor, an older French teen, Thierry, is grumpy and only doing it to end his suspension from the soccer team. They strike a bargain where Thierry will help her with her list and she will give him a good review to have him reinstated. Lots of fun scenes where we learn about Paris. I enjoyed Stringfield’s attention to the Black history of Paris. Some parts of the plot seem a bit rushed, but the book is a happy and engaging romance. An additional purchase for YA romance collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

A Constellation of Minor Bears

A Constellation of Minor BearsA Constellation of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson
on September 24, 2024
ISBN: 0063334224
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
five-stars

A Constellation of Minor Bears is about Molly, her brother, Hank, and their best friend, Traylor. All of their lives changed when Hank’s climbing equipment failed and he fell way too far, Traylor helpless to stop his best friend from breaking his body and seriously injuring his brain. Hank spends weeks in a coma and then months in rehab. While his life hung in the balance Molly made a promise to the universe she doesn’t know if she can keep anymore: If he wakes up, she’ll continue on the path her parents set for her to become a doctor but when he wakes up she starts to realize medicine might not be right for her. The plans they all made for their futures suddenly change, especially their plan to hike the Pacific Crest Trail together the summer after graduation.

As the book opens, Molly and Traylor graduate while Hank is stuck in summer school. Molly and Traylor head off on their dream hike without Hank. Molly can’t contain her anger towards Traylor: she can’t help but feel he should have been able to save her brother from falling—but meanwhile Traylor is in love with her, imagines a future for them. Can Molly move on and figure out what she wants next? Or will she continue to carry her anger? As Hank decides to join Traylor and Molly the tension builds between the characters who are all struggling with life that looks different from how they thought it would.

Ferguson’s strategic and artful storytelling bring this story to life. From switching perspectives between the main characters—Molly, Hank, and Traylor—to going back and forth in time, to developing metaphors around song making and bears, to writing about characters who are on a metaphorical journey while also on a literal hiking adventure, Ferguson brings many plot lines, themes, and important conversations together in an engaging and natural way. Reminiscent of Nic Stone, Aiden Thomas, and Angie Thomas, Jen Ferguson uses a character driven story to help readers think about privilege, intersectionality, advocacy, body image, racism, native land, and more. Every library that serves secondary students needs a copy of this book.

There are so many reasons to love this book: It’s a great conversation starter for so many important topics. It also has something that can appeal to so many kinds of readers—those who love hiking, the outdoors, and the wilderness; those who love a romance; and those that love books that are strong on character development, show characters overcoming their grief, or coming of age tales. There is something for everyone! This would be a fantastic addition to any secondary library and would be a great choice for any program, book club, or required or choice reading. Five stars - Can’t recommend enough!

Reasons to read:
-A book featuring Indigenous characters written by an Indigenous author
-Important topics from fat phobia, homophobia, privilege, land back movements, MMIW, grief, disability representation, coming of age, romance, friendship, and found family.
-Something for everyone — romance, outdoors, coming of age, character driven plot, action & adventure
-Written in partnership with We Need Diverse Books and Heartdrum — Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Native focused imprint of HarperCollins
Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

five-stars

Desert Echoes

Desert EchoesDesert Echoes by Abdi Nazemian
on September 10, 2024
ISBN: 0063339633
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Desert Echoes” is a young adult fiction novel by Abdi Nazemian. The book switches between freshman year and junior year for Kam, detailing the start of his relationship with his eventual boyfriend Ash, and when his boyfriend goes missing, and then years later, facing the disappearance and accepting his emotions. Kam has amnesia as to why Ash disappeared. The book seemed like it was going to be more of a mystery, but it is mostly an emotional rollercoaster of Kam’s past relationship and tugging at your heartstrings as more facts come to light. At times the switch from present to past seemed confusing, but it was an interesting way to set up the novel. The book deals with a lot of difficult topics, like grief, abuse, and racism. A suggested additional purchase where Nazemian’s books are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Lucy, Uncensored

Lucy, UncensoredLucy, Uncensored by Mel Hammond, Teghan Hammond
on October 8, 2024
ISBN: 0593814053
Pages: 252
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Lucy, Uncensored” is a young adult realistic fiction novel by Mel Hammond and Teghan Hammond. The main character, Lucy, is excited about getting out of her small town and going to college to study drama with her best friend, Callie. When they visit the college, Lucy hears transphobic talk and wonders if she really wants to go here (since Lucy is a trans woman). They look into going to another LGBTQ+ friendly drama program, but the school is an all-women school and they don’t know if they will let a trans woman in, so they go on a road trip to see the college.

The book does a very good job making Lucy and Callie’s friendship seem real and well-developed. Readers may be stung by the transphobic and anti-queer comments that Lucy and Callie face throughout the book, but it did seem realistic and helped set the tone for why Lucy is looking for a place to be her authentic self. I enjoyed the theme that being yourself is important and matters and that true friends and family will rally behind you. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Diet Soda Club

Diet Soda ClubDiet Soda Club by Chaz Hayden
Published by Candlewick Press on October 8, 2024
ISBN: 1536223123
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Diet Soda Club” is a young adult realistic fiction novel by Chaz Hayden. The story is about Reed, a teenager who has been taking care of his 10 year old sister, Beatrice, who has has spinal muscular atrophy (which the author also has) while their mother has been mostly absent. When their mom goes on an extended vacation for weeks and they are left without food and money, Reed finds a way to make some cash. Unfortunately, it’s illegally making and selling fake IDs.

The friendship between Beatrice and Reed wil inspiring and strong, despite all of the difficulties that they face. A story about siblings, family, and friendship, with well-written characters, albeit with some belief-suspending plot points, this is a suggested purchase for libraries where YA realistic fiction novels are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Heart-Shaped Lies

Heart-Shaped LiesHeart-Shaped Lies by Elizabeth Agyemang
on November 26, 2024
ISBN: 0593484495
Genres: Mystery, Psychological thriller
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
three-stars

Elizabeth Agyemang’s debut YA novel, Heart-Shaped Lies, adds a few twists to a familiar story. Three very different girls discover that behind his popular YouTube prank-star persona, their dream-boy, Tommy, is rotten to the core. Classic “John Tucker Must Die” revenge story, right? Not quite. When Tommy is actually found dead after his cheating and disturbing class prank are revealed, the girls believe they are suspects and work together to clear their names.

The publisher’s blurb refers to this story as a “tongue-in-cheek” mystery, but don’t expect humor. The first half of the book has solid character development, it explores these young women’s unique obsessions with public image and how Tommy uses that to manipulate them. The power he has over them creates a real tension in the story. Unfortunately, that tension is broken when Tommy’s death and the damaging content on his phone irreparably harms the girl’s public personas. What’s left is a finger-pointing whodunit with a Scooby-Doo style murderer reveal. It is possible that it was the author’s intention to satirize the popular teen-girls-solving-murders trend in YA literature by having these obviously innocent characters implicate themselves by interfering with a police investigation, but their choices often felt out of character and their omissions about the night of the murder unnecessarily stretch out the story.

There is an uncomfortable balance in the tone of Heart-Shaped Lies. In some ways it is a very realistic story that could educate young women about common red-flags in abusive relationships. But Tommy’s cartoonishly villainous behavior, it being set in a fictional Disney World, and reveal of the real killer make the plot unbelievable. Is this a revenge story? No. Is it a mystery? Kind of. Is this an empowering story for girls? Maybe?

Though it is only Tommy engaging in most of this behavior, be aware that there is physical abuse, emotional abuse, alcohol use, drug use, and mentions of sexually-explicit images throughout the novel. Ultimately, this isn’t a must buy, but Agyemang might have a promising future in YA.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

three-stars

Sunrise Nights (Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallero)

Sunrise Nights (Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallero)Sunrise Nights by Brittany Cavallaro, Jeff Zentner
on July 9, 2024
ISBN: 0063324539
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Sunrise Nights is a young adult romance uniquely told in prose and verse. Main characters Florence and Jude meet at an art summer camp where on the last night campers have a “sunrise night” where they can roam freely around the town as long as they make the check-ins until sunrise. Florence and Jude meet on a sunrise night and decide on a whim to spend it together and then not talk to each other again, leaving their connection in the hands of fate. Florence is faced with losing her sight and Jude is struggling with big changes in his family. In one night they become close with lots of “will they / won’t they” tension— but then they part ways when the sun comes up. Throughout the next year we follow Florence and Jude as their lives continue and they think about each other. As the book unfolds between sunrise nights and the year apart, prose and verse, Florence and Jude, we are pulled along on the characters’ journeys to discover each other and themselves. I’d recommend this for any secondary collection that’s looking for more romance and especially for those who like novels in verse. While only sections of it are in verse, those sections draw readers in and help change up the pace in an engaging way. This is also great for those who don’t want much physical intimacy as the most that happens between the characters is kissing (though there is mention of a side character and teen pregnancy). I really enjoyed what felt like realistic twists and turns between the two characters and how they developed individually and in foil to each other. The book captures the feeling of summer, possibility, all-nighters, and young love. Four stars.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

four-stars

Songlight

SonglightSonglight (The Torch Trilogy, #1) by Moira Buffini
on September 3, 2024
ISBN: 0063358212
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Elsa lives each day with a life altering secret.  She possesses the power of songlight.  The ability to connect telepathically with others holding the gift.  Unfortunately, in the dictatorship of Brightland, those with the gift are ruled “Unhuman” and people are rewarded for turning in torches, those with songlight.  Once discovered, torches are marked for a procedure rendering them into a thoughtless state of servitude.  The only other person to know of Elsa’s secret is Rye, who shares the same gift and also a blossoming relationship.  

Everything falls apart when Rye is betrayed, sparking a chain of events in Elsa’s life that puts not only her life on a dangerous path, but the entire path of societal authority.  In her state of grief, Elsa cries out with her songlight only to “harmonize” with Nightingale, a girl hundreds of miles away.  Both girls benefit from the dangerous connection, but Nightingale also has a secret.  Her father is the head of a government group in charge of rooting out Unhumans, and he doesn’t know about his own daughter’s gifts.  

Buffini’s first book in what will be a trilogy introduces great notes of fantasy, dystopian society, star crossed lovers, danger at every corner, adventure, human rights, and so much more. There are diverse characters and multiple viewpoints.  The book does contain sexual assault, adult relationships, and is heavy on the cursing, making it more appropriate for a mature YA audience.   

Reviewed by Heidi Kopishke, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport, ME.

five-stars