Format: Young Adult

Costumes for Time Travelers

Costumes for Time TravelersCostumes for Time Travelers by A.R. Capetta
Published by Penguin Random House on May 27, 2025
ISBN: 1536233714
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Calisto (they/them) lives in Pocket, the town that all time travelers but one must pass through on their way to any other when. They love their town, their family, and their job at their grandmother’s shop, Costumes for Time Travelers. Despite Pocket being only a stop on the journey for most travelers, Calisto never wants to leave.

Fawkes is the exception to the rule: somehow, and nobody quite knows why, Fawkes can travel to any when without passing through Pocket. In fact, he’s never been there until now. When Fawkes and Calisto meet, it’s the first time for Calisto, but not for Fawkes, who has been dipping in and out of time for his entire life, and therefore already knows at least some of what the future has in store for the two of them.

Unfortunately, Fawkes doesn’t arrive in Pocket alone: he’s being chased by Time Wardens, who see time travel as an aberration that must be stopped, no matter who or what that will erase. Not only Fawkes himself, but all time travelers – and Pocket itself – are at risk.

Fawkes and Calisto must rush through whens and wheres from the modern Stanford campus to ancient Greece on a mad dash to save what they love. Including, it turns out, each other.

Costumes for Time Travelers is an engaging, original story that feels like a tumble thorough childhood – playful, magical, and just the right mix of fantasy, adventure, villainy and a touch of pure love. Calisto and Fawkes are likeable, complex characters and secondary characters are well thought out and three dimensional. The world-building is deftly developed. A beautiful cover makes it an eye-catching addition to the shelf.

Highly recommend for older MG and teen readers who love adventure, fantasy, good/evil storylines, and gentle romance.

5 stars/cream

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

Leaving the Station

Leaving the StationLeaving the Station by Jake Maia Arlow
Published by HarperCollins on August 19, 2025
ISBN: 0063078775
Genres: LGBTQ+, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Zoe’s first semester at college was a disaster. She was supposed to have been figuring out how she wanted to present to the world – definitely more masc than she allowed herself to be in high school – and meeting her first girlfriend. Instead she met Alden, and was instantly, confusingly, attracted to him. But as their romantic relationship developed, Zoe began to realize that it was not straightforward attraction; it was more that she wanted to embody his masculinity. This was exciting but also deeply confusing, and between the relationship and inner turmoil, Zoe found herself increasingly isolated, missing classes, and generally…failing. So when Thanksgiving break arrives, she boards an Amtrack train to travel back to Seattle, with no intention of returning but hoping she will have figured out a way to explain that to her parents by the end of the four day cross-country journey.

On the train she encounters Oakley, who appears to be a beautiful loner with her life utterly together. But as they get to know each other it becomes clear that Oakley has her own complicated problems that she’s both running from – and heading towards.

Arlow’s sophomore work is a nuanced YA novel that hits the balance between grappling with some big issues – gender, identity, religion, sense of self and belonging – while also being a genuinely enjoyable read. There is some romance (Zoe and Oakley are definitely attracted to each other, and they do act upon that, but not with a this-will-end-happily-ever-after default expectation, because of what of what they are each grappling with outside of the train journey), and excellent supporting characters. The experience of all this playing out over four days in a distinct and unusual environment adds a layer of fun.

This book will fit well in any library’s YA collection. Zoe’s feelings, and her struggles with identity, will no doubt resonate with the teens who need to see that on the page; other readers will enjoy it for the sapphic romance in an unusual setting. Highly recommend; 5 stars.

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

Angelica and the Bear Prince

Angelica and the Bear PrinceAngelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen
on October 7, 2025
ISBN: 0593125479
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Angelica and the Bear Prince” is a YA graphic novel by Trung Le Nguyen. Angelica (“Jelly”) is a teenager getting over a mental burnout after taking on too many things by herself. She speaks with a counselor and has now just one additional thing on her plate: an internship at a local theater. Jelly has strong memories of this theater as a child and wants to do her best to help. She has also been exchanging online messages with a theater fan account based on the theater’s mascot, Per the Bear Prince. Readers will follow Jelly as she deals with the grief from the death of her beloved grandmother, along with her relationship with her best friend, and her mysterious online friend.

Nguyen does a great job of exploring teenage anxiety, expectations, grief, family dynamics, and friendship. The anonymous online account did make me hesitate a little, since it’s usually not a good idea to share personal information with strangers, but her friend brings up the concerns I had in a conversation with Jelly. A must-buy for all YA graphic novel collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

four-stars

Love at Full Tilt

Love at Full TiltLove at Full Tilt by Jenny L. Howe
on July 22, 2025
ISBN: 0593809106
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

Jenny L. Howe, the queen of plus sized rom coms, has done it again with her first YA romance, Love at Full Tilt. In their last hurrah before going to college, Lia invites her best friends, Tess and Issy, to help her compete in a scavenger hunt style competition at the most magical place on earth, Fableland (Disney World). Lia believes that the grand prize ($50,000) is the only thing that can free her from her suffocating parents and the life they have planned out for her, but tensions rise when her friends don’t take the competition seriously and Lia teams up with a handsome local, Mason.

Mason is a balanced match for Lia. She is loud – He is quiet. She is a dreamer – He is a realist. And though this romance takes place in less than a week, there is something about the setting and competitive atmosphere that makes this whirlwind insta-love feel believable. For a romance set at a Disney World-like theme park, Howe expertly crafts a sweet romance without letting it get too saccharine. Themes of abandonment, anxiety, and false assumptions are very present in the plot. Lia is aware that her friends have outgrown the Fableland magic that used to hold them together and struggles with feeling left behind as they get ready to go to college without her. Her mother has extreme anxiety that controls Lia’s entire life and even threatens to end the trip if Lia isn’t in constant contact with her. And instead of confronting the people she loves, Lia often assumes the worst and runs away.

Lia being plus sized (and this being prominently featured on the cover) will be a breath of fresh air for readers who need it most and will hopefully be a window for others to learn about the accessibility issues and harassment that people with bigger bodies too often face. Though there are mentions of having previously lost her virginity and one PG-13 make out session, the story is appropriate for the younger audience this may attract. There is a saturation of romcoms at the moment and many teens may not pick it up because of its setting, but Love at Full Tilt is worth purchasing to increase the body-diversity in your romance collection.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

The House of Quiet

The House of QuietThe House of Quiet by Kiersten White
Published by Delacorte Press on September 9, 2025
ISBN: 0593806573
Genres: Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
two-stars

It’s a dark world in which parents can register their children for a procedure that will imbue them with an ability that could increase their odds of a better future, and Birdie’s parents opted in for their younger daughter Magpie. Birdie has  been searching for her sister ever since Magpie underwent the mysterious operation. Hearing that she might be in The House of Quiet, a brooding house full of powerful teens set in the middle of a peat bog, Birdie worms her way in as a maid to discover what really happened to Magpie.

Fans of Kiertsen White might be taken aback by the pacing of this YA dystopian novel, which is a truly slow burn. It moves along glacially, and while the worldbuilding and characters try their best to carry the story, the questions just keeping mounting with very little resolution. Readers who enjoy dream sequences might enjoy it, but that seems, perhaps, too niche to consider this one essential for a library collection.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

two-stars

Difficult Girls

Difficult GirlsDifficult Girls by Veronica Bane
on July 8, 2025
ISBN: 0593903986
Genres: Mystery, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane  

This young adult thriller about a teen looking for a fresh start in her summer job at an amusement park with a sinister past ultimately falls flat.  

After surviving a scandal at her high school, Greta is excited for a fresh start working as an usher at Hyper Kid Magic Land. She’s making new friends, flying under the radar and even talking to her “celebrity” crush, one of the main stage performers. But when Greta is the last one to talk to her coworker that goes missing, in the same way one of the most famous performers did years ago, she may not be as far away from trouble as she thinks… 

This book was commendable in that it addressed victim blaming and misogyny in school administration and discipline tactics. Though overall, the mystery itself was disjointed and concluded in a way that was both rushed and incredibly drawn out. This may appeal to younger middle schoolers that are just dipping their toes into the young adult section. It has a very mild romance and a main character that reads a lot younger than her age, but teens will likely find it too simple and too spelled out. In conclusion, consider only if your middle schoolers have run through all your other thrillers.  

Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Kill the Lax Bro

Kill the Lax BroKill the Lax Bro by Charlotte Lillie Balogh
ISBN: 059389927X
Genres: Mystery, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Kill the Lax Bro by Charlotte Lillie Balogh 

A teen murder mystery filled with wit, classic high school stereotypes and nostalgia for the 90s, this read will keep students theorizing what really happened long after they finish the book.  

When the body of star lacrosse player, Troy Richards, is found at the schoolwide lock-in the night before graduation, a ragtag group of five teens is shocked… or are they? After all, they consist of the ex-best friend, the girlfriend, the overachiever, the troubled teen and the quiet freshman who had come together in the previous weeks to pull pranks that would finally hold “untouchable” Troy accountable.  So sure, everyone had their own reasons to hate him, but did someone take it too far? 

With an eye-catching title and trendy 90s thriller premise, teens will naturally gravitate towards this book. Multiple POVs push the story along, with each unique perspective offering clues to what really happened and potential motives. Where the novel falls short is in its vague ending; it’s not clear who exactly committed the murder or if everyone worked together. While some teens may find this frustrating, it does make the book great for discussion and practicing critical thinking skills.  Overall, though this might not be the most clear-cut novel, it will no doubt get lots of circulation in young adult and high school collections. 

 Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

Everything She Does Is Magic By Bridget Morrissey

Everything She Does Is Magic By Bridget MorrisseyEverything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey
on September 9, 2025
ISBN: 0593898435
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

Everything She Does is Magic is a dual point of view sapphic romance about two teens—one who is a witch and one who doesn’t believe in witches. Darcy and Anya live in Fableview, the quintessential Halloween town where they celebrate to the nines: costume parades, haunted houses, painting Halloween scenes, Halloween dances, and more. Darcy’s parents own an art shop in town (Pam’s Paints) and have her life plan all laid out for her: she’ll take over the store and all of the activities and traditions, and her parents won’t have to change a thing—but Darcy finds her resistance and resentment growing. Anya is Darcy’s opposite in every way — brooding where Darcy is bright and happy, a witch where Darcy is a mortal, and an outcast where Darcy would love for less of the town to know her. Anya has to find a protector — a mortal who swears to protect her—by her next birthday, and the clock is ticking. Maybe Darcy can show Anya how to live a mortal life. As the two spend more time together, their feelings grow, but so do the complications in both their lives. Can they be brave and pursue their dreams?

I really enjoyed Anya and Darcy and the ways they changed and challenged each other. Anya turns everything Darcy thought she knew upside down, and it’s exactly what she needs to be honest about her life and her place in the world around her. Anya needs to break out of her shell a bit more—after living with many relatives for a year or so at a time, Anya is used to not having friends—but maybe Fableview is where Anya can finally find her people.

I also loved the friendship between Darcy and Grace, Darcy’s best friend. Grace is your classic ride or die f,riend and the friendship between them is the one we all hope for, a friend who roots for you, who knows you better than yourself, and would do anything for you.

My favorite part was the Halloween vibes: There were so many events and elements that helped you feel in the Halloween spirit. Darcy is sick of it, but Grace loves it and Anya is experiencing  it for the first time so they show Darcy how magical it still is and we as readers are also swept up in the magic.

With under 300 pages and a sweet romance, this one will fly off the shelves. This would be a great pick for any collection that serves teens, especially those who are into paranormal romance. This was a 4-star read for me.

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

four-stars

The Weaver Bride

The Weaver BrideThe Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic
Published by Delacorte Press on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 0593572416
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Weaver Bride” is a YA fantasy romance (with some dystopia in for a good mix) by Lydia Gregovic. The main character, Lovett, is a silkwitch with magic that allows her to unlock doors. She hides her powers because silkwitches are required to marry a weaver sorcerer by the time they turn 21 or they are banished. When her power is found out by a weaver, she makes a bargain to enter a silkwitch competition to find out who killed his sister.

A dystopian fantasy romance in the vein of “The Selection” with an interesting magic system and great descriptions of the setting. The author does a good job of immersing you into this world. This is a suggested purchase for YA collections where fantasy romance is popular.

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

four-stars

Cry Out Loud

Cry Out LoudCry Out Loud: (A Graphic Novel) by Tara O'Connor
ISBN: 0593125533
Genres: Horror
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Goodreads
five-stars

This graphic novel is set on a remote island in Ireland and the illustrations perfectly complement the creepy horror story. When Nell is suspended from school, her mother ships her off to distant relatives in Northern Ireland whom she’s never met. Nell soon learns that there is a long-time ritual sacrifice being planned to keep Banshees at bay and she is at the center of everything. Nell meets a ghost and somehow travels back in time. She learns about (and meets) more family members – including her mother as a young girl. She also learns why she is at the center of a family ritual to keep banshees at bay. Will Nell find a way to break the cycle? This suspenseful graphic novel is perfect for mature middles schoolers and YA readers.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars