Format: Young Adult

Our Wicked Gifts

Our Wicked GiftsOur Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield
Published by Random House Genres: Supernatural, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

Meet the Winters, a wealthy, beautiful, fashionable family whose ancestor made a deal with the devil to secure power(s) for herself and her descendants. Cicely, the POV character, has a strained, to put it mildly, relationship with her mother Allegra. Cicely is able to connect to the Ruin, a dark magical realm, by using an insect as a conduit and her connection becomes stronger but more fraught when she discovers that Soren, a boy her family murdered four years earlier lives on in the Ruin. Even more fraught is her reluctant acceptance of the love she feels for him despite his vow to destroy her family.

Blending romance, mystery, fantasy and the perpetually popular trope that rich people are terrible, Foxfield has created a fast-paced, if uneven, romp through the exploits of the billionaire class. The characters are so relentless it’s hard to say whether they even need the gifts delivered through the ancestral Faustian bargain; one can picture them succeeding in wealth, though perhaps not happiness, just fine on their own. This YA dark fantasy will be popular with fans of The Inheritance Games, or any reality TV show in which everyone looks fabulous all the time (there is a lot of sartorial detail). It’s worth noting that the book has beautiful sprayed edges with a dragonfly motif.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Thornbird

ThornbirdThornbird by E. Kennedy, Elle Kennedy
Published by Delacorte Press on June 30, 2026
ISBN: 9798217026500
Genres: Psychological thriller
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

After the death of her grandmother, Ryan Shipley must move in with her aunt in Starling, Tennessee on the 10th anniversary of the Gabriel Thorn murders. The problem is that Ryan Shipley is actually Gabrielle Thorn, Gabriel’s daughter. Gabriel pled guilty to the murder of 7 women, including Ryan’s mother, and is set to be executed by lethal injection. Ryan must conceal her true identity in order to protect her aunt and cousins from further harassment – the town has a grim fascination with the murders, which includes teens throwing house parties to celebrate the execution, and a particularly zealous podcaster/forum poster by the name of Zed. Ryan attempts to live a normal life, but secrets have a way of getting out. Especially after the families of the victims offer a $1m reward to whoever can locate the remains of the victims.

The novel is clearly interested in critiquing true crime fervor. Positioning Ryan as the main character gives the reader a rare moment to consider the family of the perpetrator, who are often victims themselves. Though the premise at times strains credulity (surely sending her back to her hometown where she has to conceal her identity is not safe for Ryan?), the number of times Ryan has to hear classmates and neighbors callously discuss the crimes should be an eye opener for readers, and allow them to reflect on real life discussions. Ryan’s own PTSD, including recurring nightmares, is thoughtfully explored without feeling voyeuristic. Descriptions are at times gruesome. Multiple 3rd act twists muddy the resolution, but the core of Ryan’s story and healing will stick with a reader.

The novel also has one more secret: the identity of its author. E. Kennedy is the YA thriller pen name for adult romance author Elle Kennedy of Off Campus fame. This background becomes clear in a romance subplot between Ryan, Everett, the handsome star quarterback, and Chase, the motorcycle-riding bad boy with a heart of gold. The romance at times feels too tropey for the greater story about grief, but it does provide some levity between extremely tense scenes. Kennedy’s time in romance lends itself well to pacing emotional tension, romantic or not. There is one sex scene in the later half of the book that gestures toward specific actions without being overly explicit.

Recommend to thriller readers who enjoy Karen M. McManus and Holly Jackson ready for dark commentary on the genre and more psychological themes.

Three stars.

Reviewed by Kristin Arsenault, Mountain Valley High School, Rumford.

Our Aimless Nights

Our Aimless NightsOur Aimless Nights, Volume 1 by Jan Mitsuko Cash, Koumori
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Our Aimless Nights” is a young adult romance manga by Koumori. Chika is a chatty and popular girl and Waya is a quiet and reserved boy who don’t interact much at their high school, but after Chika runs into him at his night job at a store they start to develop feelings for each other. There are the typical misunderstandings and silly situations that pop up in romance stories, but this wholesome manga will keep readers rooting for the cute couple. A recommended purchase for YA manga collections.

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

four-stars

Call of the Dragon

Call of the DragonCall of the Dragon by Natasha Bowen
ISBN: 059389815X
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Call of the Dragon” is a young adult fantasy novel by Natasha Bowen. In the land of Kwa, the people are protected from evil by two dragons who hold up the earth and sky. Moremi is a teenager forced to pledge to the dragons, despite her lack of piety. She is surprisingly marked by both dragon gods, which is unheard of. When the king tries to take the gods’ power for himself, the dragons leave and Moremi must get them back. The world uses a magical system based on West African traditions and myths, which is very interesting and I wished it was described more. The characters fell a little flat, but the premise is very interesting.  A suggested purchase for YA fantasy collections.

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

three-stars

Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic

Ambrosia Lee Drops the MicAmbrosia Lee Drops the Mic by Patricia Park
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic” is a young adult coming-of-age novel by Patricia Park. Ambrosia has been acting since she was young, but she is now considered “too fat” to get roles and struggles with the rejection. She goes to a stand up comedy show and meets a Korean American stand up comedian who suggests that she try it herself. The story is a compelling look at racism, fat-shaming, and growing up Asian in America. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections.

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

four-stars

Holloway

HollowayHolloway by Elana K. Arnold
ISBN: 0062990888
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Holloway” is a young adult fiction novel by Elana K. Arnold. Set in 2021, Nora is an autistic Jewish teenager dealing with the death of her mother (who held anti-vax beliefs and died from COVID-19). She goes to France to spread her mother’s ashes when she gets lost in a forest, running down a dark holloway, and is suddenly transported back to 1946. She ends up in an asylum and meets others who help her navigate and understand her past trauma. A moving novel with a very interesting plot. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections.

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

 

four-stars

Medicine Wheels

Medicine WheelsMedicine Wheels by Byron Graves
on June 2, 2026
ISBN: 0063160420
Genres: Cultural / Indigenous, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Medicine Wheels” is a young adult realistic fiction novel by Byron Graves (Ojibwe and Lakota) about Bryce, an Ojibwe teenager who is dealing with the death of his father and his mother’s subsequent incarceration for drug possession. He is staying on the Reservation with his grandparents in his father’s old room and reconnects with old friends while learning how to skateboard. Graves does an excellent job at making the reader feel invested in the story. The characters are interesting and believable and readers will also learn a lot about issues that Indigenous people face. This is a must-buy for YA fiction collections.

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

four-stars

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and JayThe Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass
on January 27, 2026
ISBN: 0063312484
Genres: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay” by Ryan Douglass is a reimagining of the Great Gatsby with a queer romance. Nick is a young adult who is forced to leave Oklahoma after his father is killed in the Tulsa Race Massacre by white supremacists. He tries to find his place in Harlem and gets a scholarship to West Egg Academy, where he meets Jay Gatsby, Jr. and starts to fall for him. The premise is interesting and fits a lot of history into it, but at times the characters felt a bit thin. A suggested purchase for YA collections, especially where historical fiction is popular.

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

three-stars

Our Wicked Histories

Our Wicked HistoriesOur Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith
on July 30, 2024
ISBN: 0593703952
Genres: Horror, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Mystery, Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Our Wicked Histories opens with none of Meg’s popular friend group, led by the Wren twins, having talked to her since she was suspended from school for an incident Meg can’t fully remember. Depressed and tired of being alone, Meg decides to accept a surprise invitation to the enigmatic twins’ ancestral vacation home in the Irish countryside for Halloween. Meg thinks she is willing to do whatever it takes to mend her friendships, but this vacation will have her questioning who her friends really are and if being accepted by her peers is worth sacrificing her character and possibly her life.

This immersive YA novel is full of plot twists told by a cast of unreliable characters, including Meg and the Wren twins, in an isolated gothic setting. Our Wicked Histories is a successful addition to the dark academia trend and is a recommended purchase for collections serving youth in 8th grade and up where dark academia, horror, and/or gothic novels are in demand.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston

four-stars

Who’s All Going (to Die)?

Who’s All Going (to Die)?Who's All Going (to Die)? by Lisa Springer
ISBN: 059390057X
Genres: Horror, Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Who’s All Going (to Die) is a YA novel about a group racially diverse largely affluent teens who have been invited to “The Dream,” a new luxury wellness resort on a private island off of Bermuda. There are multiple red flags starting upon the teens’ arrival to the resort, such as being encouraged to drink and engage in drug use during an island-wide party the first night. The situation escalates in danger upon the teens’ meeting guru Juniper Moon, the face of the wellness resort. Moon doses the teens with psychedelic mushrooms without their knowledge or informed consent, performs shock treatments, and encourages the teens to offer up their possessions to her under the guise of uncluttering their lives.

Two-thirds of the way through the novel there is a drastic increase is deadly “accidents” leading up to a Lord of the Flies-esc escalation in violence, mob mentality, and gore. This sudden shift from the slow pacing and lack of suspense featured throughout most of the book is jarring for the reader. Who’s All Going (to Die)? also could have benefited from a more succinct beginning.

The book is an optional purchase for libraries looking to expand their collection of YA novels featuring influence culture or horror. Recommended for youth in 8th grade and up.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston 

two-stars