Love Requires Chocolate

March 20, 2025March 20, 2025

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

“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.

A Constellation of Minor Bears

March 18, 2025

A 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

Desert Echoes

March 6, 2025

Desert 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.

Lucy, Uncensored

March 6, 2025

Lucy, 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.

Diet Soda Club

March 4, 2025

Diet 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.

Heart-Shaped Lies

February 28, 2025

Heart-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

Sunrise Nights (Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallero)

February 28, 2025

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

Songlight

February 28, 2025

Songlight (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.

The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge

February 22, 2025February 22, 2025

The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge by Matthew Hubbard
on April 30, 2024
ISBN: 0593707176
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars
Ezra’s self-esteem has been ripped to shreds through his secret relationship with closeted football player, Presley. After Presley cheats on him and Ezra’s best friends Lucas and Finley also find themselves breaking up with their boyfriends, they each devise a plan to get revenge on their exes. Through the use of an anonymous TikTok account, Ezra sets his plan into motion. Soon enough though, the social media presence takes on a much larger purpose–exposing their Alabama school district’s “Watch What You Say” policy that seeks to silence queer voices.

One of the most endearing elements of this story is Ezra’s relationship with his Dad, who is delightfully supportive and encouraging. His Dad’s determination to get him to love himself as he is gives the story an extra injection of heart. This book will appeal to teens not just because of its LGBTQ+ themes and its dash of romance, but because it reminds them that they have the power to make significant change no matter who or where they are. The way that Ezra and his friends use civil disobedience to fight back against an administration that continually gaslights them by claiming they are on their side, threatens them, and uses the tired argument that the district’s mission is to protect family values is inspiring. There are consistent reminders to queer students throughout the book that they are enough and that they must continue to fight for visibility no matter who is trying to push them back into the closet. A call to action in our present times indeed.

Grades 9-12

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

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