Format: Young Adult

Six of Sorrow

Six of SorrowSix of Sorrow by Amanda Linsmeier
Published by Delacorte Press on June 25, 2024
ISBN: 0593707761
Pages: 336
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

Reminiscent of 1996’s The Craft meets Grady Hendrix’s My Best Friend’s Exorcism, Six of Sorrow will resonate with anyone who’s lost a friend group and misses that connection. Once part of a group of six best friends, Six of Sorrow follows Isabeau and her remaining best friend Reuel, who celebrate their shared sixteenth birthday together. Reuel disappears later that night, a tragedy which brings the rest of the young women back together. One by one they disappear and come back sick, plagued by wasting illnesses and ripped fingernails. Their mothers are clearly hiding a secret, but the girls know it’s up to them to stop the supernatural entity stalking them.

This is a story of female friendships, a metaphor for inherited trauma, and a look at navigating romantic relationships in high school. Readers will connect with Isabeau’s pain over losing her friend group as well as her moments of self-doubt. Linsmeier expertly describes Isabeau’s feelings of isolation and her insecurities coming from a low-income home. Isabeau learns that keeping a friendship requires work, but that a broken one can still be fixed. Occasionally the clunky descriptors of clothing and house decor are awkwardly shoehorned in and can take the reader out of the moment. The stuttering plot struggles to keep pace throughout the story, flipping between Isabeau discovering the source of their curse to days of attending school and worrying about art class projects.

Despite its flaws, this book is a great pick for teenagers, especially those interested in “witchy” vibes or stories that have an urban legend flare to them. There is positive LGBTQ representation and the core friendship teaches the reader the importance of found family. The fantastical elements in the story make it a fun novel that will personally resonate with many readers.

Reviewed by Raechel Moore, Maine State Library, Augusta

four-stars

Looking For Smoke

Looking For SmokeLooking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
on June 4, 2024
ISBN: 0063318679
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
five-stars

If you’re a fan of teens solving crime like One of Us Is Lying, Promise Boys, or A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this debut is for you. While it has many similarities with these popular titles, what makes Looking For Smoke stand out is how it’s rooted in Indigenous culture and traditions. For example, the novel opens with the main characters at a Powwow where they are recipients of a giveaway. Unlike what many of us think of when we hear giveaway, this one is a Native American tradition where family members honor a dead relative by giving things away to others in need. Shortly after the giveaway the teens realize that they haven’t seen Samantha, one of the recipients. A few of them go looking and find her murdered. As the other recipients of the giveaway, they all become suspects. Told in alternating points of view this story will have you guessing who you can trust, what’s real, and who’s really behind the string of disappearances of Native women in the town. These disappearances also exemplify and bring up the important issue of MMIW (missing and murdered Indigenous women) which is thoughtfully highlighted in this story. Content warnings include domestic violence, parental neglect and abandonment, abuse, addiction, drugs and alcohol, violence, and murder. This book has five stars from me!

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

five-stars

The Diablo’s Curse

The Diablo’s CurseThe Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa
on February 20, 2024
ISBN: 0593378059
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
three-stars

Introduced in Gabe Cole Novoa’s The Wicked Bargain, Dami – a shapeshifting nonbinary demon, stars in the standalone novel, The Diablo’s Curse. Novoa sets up a fascinating and tense dynamic between the novel’s main characters, Dami and Silas. Silas’s family has been cursed with deadly bad luck and Silas made a deal with Dami to save his life. In a quest to become human, Dami must forfeit all of the deals they made as a demon, but Silas refuses because without the protection of the deal he will die. Dami agrees to help Silas reunite Captain Kidd with his long missing treasure (thus ending Silas’s family curse) in exchange for ending the deal.

Despite mysterious enemies, hidden treasure, multiple riddles, time running out before Dami reverts to a demon, and a reluctant romance igniting between Dami & Silas – this is a shockingly slow paced read. Stuck on a magically hidden island for most of the book, Dami and Silas aimlessly wander for clues while sniping comments at each other. Side characters are introduced to nudge the plot along, but the relationship between Dami & Silas is why readers will finish the story.

Smoke smartly borders flashback chapters, Spanish phrases are seamlessly integrated into the dialog, and Dami’s ability to shapeshift adds to their gender presentation in a very authentic way (even though it mainly serves as an infinite clothing glitch to make rope from). This novel lacks broad appeal but it has plenty of style that will definitely attract teens who like light historical fantasy, snarky romance, and queer representation. This isn’t a must-buy, but should be added to collections where The Wicked Bargain was well received.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, ME

three-stars

How the Boogeyman Became a Poet

How the Boogeyman Became a PoetHow the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith
ISBN: 0063296004
Pages: 345
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“How the Boogeyman Became a Poet” is a young adult memoir in verse by Tony Keith Jr. The memoir begins in school where Keith’s first poem seemed to just burst out of him. He deals with the challenges of school with hiding the fact that he is gay, dealing with discouraging teachers, being black, and more, but while the memoir may show harsh parts of Keith’s life, it also manages to be uplifting. The boogeyman is the parts of Keith that the world would rather not see and it gets released through his poetry. Photos and scans of his written poetry are interspersed throughout the book. A recommended purchase for YA biography collections.

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

four-stars

Snowglobe

SnowglobeSnowglobe by Joungmin Lee Comfort, Soyoung Park
ISBN: 0593484975
Genres: Psychological thriller, Science Fiction, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In this ambitious young adult Korean sci-fi thriller the entire world is a frozen wasteland with the exception of the Snowglobe, a domed climate-controlled area where the elite live. Chobahm is a teen who lives in a frozen settlement outside of Snowglobe and works with everyone else in the settlement at a power plant where they produce electricity by running on treadmills. The people who live in the frozen lands all live for their favorite television shows starring the residents of Snowglobe. Chobahm, who looks identical to the biggest star in Snowglobe, Goh Haeri, is offered the opportunity to secretly take the her place before the public discovers Haeri committed suicide. Believing this could be her chance at achieving her dream of being a director, Chobahm eagerly takes over Haeri’s life in Snowglobe. Soon she discovers the dangers of investigating what was really going on before Haeri’s death and the dark secrets hidden behind the glamor of Snowglobe.

Quick paced and full of intrigue, Soyoung Park’s Snow Globe has all the appeal of a K-drama infused with mystery, class struggles, and the allure of fame and fortune. Many plot points are left unresolved in this novel, leaving plenty of room for further development in the second book of this duology. 

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston

four-stars

Under This Red Rock

Under This Red RockUnder This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on March 19, 2024
ISBN: 0063230410
Genres: Mental Health, Mystery, Psychological thriller, Realistic Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In this suspenseful young adult novel, sixteen year old Neely does her best to hide her audio and visual hallucinations because her father and brother cautioned her never to let people know about their shared symptoms of mental illness. Neely is under constant pressure not to reveal the severity of her hallucinations while trying to fit in with her peers and not worry her grandparents. Desperate to find some meaning in life after her brother’s suicide, Neely starts working in the local caves, the only place she doesn’t experience hallucinations. Neely quickly develops a crush on her coworker, Mina, but doubts anyone could care about her in return if she told them about her hallucinations. When Mina goes missing, Neely realizes she’s missing chunks of time and her hallucinations are getting worse. Fearing a complete mental break and desperate to find out what really happened to Mina, Neely works to put the pieces together even if she can’t trust her memory.

A long list of heavy subjects such as depression, untreated mental illness, suicide and suicidal ideation, torture, rape, murder, drug use, and gaslighting all contribute to the somber and at times, bleak tone of this young adult novel. Vulnerable and dealing with unprocessed trauma and untreated mental illness, Neely is a tragic character in desperate need of something positive in her life. Under This Red Rock is recommended for readers who enjoy unreliable narrators, mysteries, and realistic fiction.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston

four-stars

The Reappearance of Rachel Price

The Reappearance of Rachel PriceThe Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
on April 2, 2024
ISBN: 0593374207
Genres: Mystery, Psychological thriller
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

YA thriller powerhouse, Holly Jackson, has done it again with the perfectly twisty mystery, The Reappearance of Rachel Price. The story’s protagonist, Bel, has grown up in the shadow of her missing mother, Rachel, whose disappearance has fueled media cycles, conspiracy theories, podcasts, and even stalkers. Bel is bitter about all things Rachel, believing that her mother abandoned her as a baby and left her father, Charlie, to be accused of her murder. Reluctantly, she agrees to participate in a documentary to help fund her grandfather’s medical care, but as the title states – Rachel reappears. Bel should be relieved that her mother didn’t abandon her, but the story of Rachel’s kidnapping doesn’t quite add up. Is Bel onto something or is she letting her resentment towards Rachel build yet another wall to keep her safe?

Bel is a complicated, sometimes unlikeable young woman, who swears a lot and pushes people away like it’s her job, but her character is grounded and feels believable considering her background. Unfortunately, none of the other characters, even important ones, are developed as fully. While the twists of the plot and jaw dropping reveals will be enough to keep most readers interested, the middle of the book does feel slow and the ending requires some suspension of disbelief.

Jackson’s reputation (which guarantees this title will be checked out until it falls apart) is enough to make this a must-purchase for all YA collections, but remind readers to go into it with an open mind – this is very different from A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, as it should be!

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

The Notes

The NotesThe Notes by Catherine Con Morse
on April 30, 2024
ISBN: 0593711386
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Notes” is a young adult novel by Catherine Con Morse. Claire Wu is a Chinese American piano student at a prestigious music boarding school. When a renowned piano teacher, Dr. Tina Li, joins the faculty, Claire wants to impress her. Things seem to be going well when Claire begins to receive mysterious notes telling her to be careful of Dr. Li and not to fall under her spell. The book does a good job of accurately portraying the pressures of high school and the difficulties that Claire feels about not being “Asian enough” and falling below her high expectations of herself. Some plot points don’t seem to get resolved, but readers will still enjoy Claire’s growth. A recommended additional purchase for YA collections where realistic fiction and mysteries are popular.

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

three-stars

What’s Eating Jackie Oh?

What’s Eating Jackie Oh?What's Eating Jackie Oh? by Patricia Park
on April 30, 2024
ISBN: 0593563417
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“What’s Eating Jackie Oh?” is a young adult realistic fiction novel by Patricia Park. Jackie is a 3rd generation Korean American high schooler living in NYC. She attends a science school and her parents are pressuring her to be perfect and get good grades so that she can go to an IVY League college, but Jackie actually enjoys cooking. While helping out at her grandparents’ deli, she is scouted for a teen cooking show. Jackie is able to find her own way and learns who she wants to be as the book goes on.Serious topics like hate crimes, undocumented immigrants, and food insecurity are handled briefly, but really well. Jackie is a likeable and smart character and readers will enjoy following her journey. Recommended for YA fiction collections.

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

four-stars

Wild About You

Wild About YouWild About You by Kaitlyn Hill
on May 21, 2024
ISBN: 0593650956
Genres: Adventure, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
three-stars

Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill is a grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity (only one tent), opposites attract, annoyances-to-lovers reality show romance that is very aware of its tropes. The protagonist, Natalie Hart, is a bubbly, make-up loving, romance reading, aspiring actress who recently lost her college scholarship due to her worsening anxiety. She is paired in an “Amazing Race” style show with the curt, nature-loving Finn, who was planning to do the show with his recently deceased father. The two immediately clash when Finn doesn’t take her seriously as a partner, but as real world stressors are revealed (finances, grief, mental health) the characters form an organic friendship that turns into a sweet & supportive relationship. 

Kaitlyn Hill is known for her reality show romances and fans of this sub-genre will enjoy the “behind the scenes” scenes. This title is good for aspirational YA readers who want a more mature romance, but aren’t ready for the content in adult romance. The characters are 19, in college, and though they share a bed for most of the novel, the physical contact doesn’t get past heated kissing on the page. 

Wild About You has good character growth, but maximizing tropes clearly steered the plot development. Because this will only be enjoyed by a specific kind of romance reader, it is not a necessary purchase.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

three-stars