Format: Young Adult

Grin

GrinGrin by D.W. Gillespie
Published by Delacorte Press on August 26, 2025
ISBN: 0593814886
Genres: Horror, Psychological thriller
Format: Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

Middle schooler Danny can’t believe his mom is actually going to let him stay with his uncle Bill for a week. Bill owns a retro-style arcade, full of every 80s and 90s game imaginable, and Danny has high hopes of beating them all. When Bill shows Danny the new game he managed to track down, Grin, Danny realizes it’s the same one his favorite YouTuber has just described as being rumored to be haunted. As Bill falls deeper and deeper under Grin‘s trance, Danny has to figure out how to save him and destroy the game, once and for all.

Gamers will love this thriller and its numerous references to old school games. The suspension of disbelief is easy enough to roll with thanks to Grin‘s pace and setting, and Gillespie does a good job making Bill menacing while possessed but ultimately redeemable. Suitable for both middle and high school readers.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday

The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a TuesdayThe Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney
ISBN: 0593811518
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday” is a young adult realistic fiction novel by Kelsey B. Toney. Delia is a teen who has very painful menstrual periods. When her period starts early and she desperately needs to go into school to stay in her program, she tries a THC tincture that ends up getting her expelled. We follow Delia as she goes to a public school and as she learns that there may be a reason behind the extreme pain she feels (beyond the dismissive “periods stink” mindset). This humorous coming-of-age story will appeal to teens, especially those with chronic illnesses. The parts about chronic illness and interacting with doctors felt very realistic (which makes sense that the author has experienced life with endometriosis). A recommended purchase for YA collections. For ages 12-18.

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

four-stars

Capitana

CapitanaCapitana by Cassandra James
on February 4, 2025
ISBN: 0063345617
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Capitana” is a young adult adventure romance (first in a duology) by Cassandra James. Ximena is a teenager in a prestigious school to become a pirate hunter. Her parents were executed as pirates, so she is really trying to prove that she is different from them. When a legendary long-dead pirate reappears, Ximena sees her chance to prove herself, but she is in competition with an annoying (yet handsome) classmate. An interesting pirate adventure with romance. The characters felt a little flat, but the action and plot twists keep things moving. Readers looking for a swashbuckling adventure with a female lead will enjoy the ride. Aimed at ages 14-18, this is an additional purchase for young adult collections, especially where pirates are popular.

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

three-stars

Kirby’s Lessons For Falling (in Love)

Kirby’s Lessons For Falling (in Love)Kirby's Lessons for Falling [in Love] by Laura Gao
on March 4, 2025
ISBN: 006306779X
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (in Love)” is a young adult graphic novel by Laura Gao. Kirby Tan is a teen rock climber (one of the best at her school), but after an injury, she is sidelined and needs to join a different after school activity for extra credit. She ends up in the newspaper club and is partnered with Bex Santos to be in charge of a romance advice column. Bex and Kirby are total opposites, but they work together to go the extra mile to help their classmates find love (sometimes with unfortunate results).

Readers will enjoy the two main characters, who feel and act like real teens, and their relationship issues. Some of the situations felt a little over-the-top, but the genuine emotions move the plot along. Illustrations are mostly black and white with limited colors and the style is simple, but interesting and active. A recommended purchase for YA graphic novel collections.

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

four-stars

Fitting Indian

Fitting IndianFitting Indian by Jyoti Chand, Tara Anand
on May 13, 2025
ISBN: 0063237539
Genres: Immigrants, Mental Health, Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Fitting Indian” is a YA graphic novel by Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand. Nitasha is an Indian American teenager who feels like she is letting down her more traditional Indian parents and will never live up to the example set by her doctor older brother. She drinks alcohol and cuts herself to deal with the pain. When a drunken moment is shared virally, Nitasha feels like she has disappointed everyone and tries to kill herself. We see Nitasha get help through therapy and from her friends and family and learn how a culture of ignoring mental health continues harming generations. The book deals with a lot of serious topics and is a powerful and needed story. This is a recommended purchase for YA graphic novel collections.

There is a trigger warning at the beginning of the graphic novel about the serious topics covered, which is helpful. The illustrations areĀ  bright and beautiful and do an excellent job capturing the character’s facial expressions.

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

four-stars

Every Borrowed Beat

Every Borrowed BeatEvery Borrowed Beat by Erin Stewart
on March 11, 2025
ISBN: 0593710665
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Every Borrowed Beat” is a young adult contemporary romance by Erin Stewart. Teen Sydney received a donor heart in a transplant months ago and thinks that she has found out who her donor was. She travels to her memorial to learn about her, while pretending to be an online friend of Mia (her possible donor). She meets Mia’s friends and learns a lot about who Mia was, but she is still hiding that she might have Mia’s heart. Stewart does an excellent job portraying the complicated feelings that come with receiving transplants, especially from donors that died.

Author Stewart details in her acknowledgements (and thanks) all of the people who helped her create a realistic and comprehensive novel involving organ transplant, including a transplant coordinator, Donor Connect, and a heart transplant survivor. This book is a suggested purchase for YA collections where realistic fiction is popular.

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

three-stars

Love Craves Cardamom

Love Craves CardamomLove Craves Cardamom (Love in Translation, #2) by Aashna Avachat
on May 20, 2025
ISBN: 0593571584
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Love Craves Cardamom” is a young adult romance by Aashana Avachat, and is the second book in the “Love in Translation” YA series (standalone romance stories by different authors. The first book was set in Paris, France with different characters). Archi is an Indian American student focused on spending her study abroad working and learning at a museum in Jaipur, India. While there, she meets a handsome young gardener named Shiv, but she has sworn off romance after a bad experience while dating her ex-boyfriend. While Shiv introduces her to the beauty of Jaipur and Archi learns more about Indian culture, romance starts to bloom, but of course there is a twist!

A predictable, but fun YA romance that shows what it is like to be an American teen and first gen immigrant being from and learning about both cultures and includes good information about the theft of Indian art/antiquities during colonialism. A suggested purchase for YA romance collections.

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

three-stars

After Life

After LifeAfter Life by Gayle Forman
on January 7, 2025
ISBN: 0063346141
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“After Life” is a young adult novel by Gayle Forman. Amber died years ago at the age of 17 in a hit-and-run accident while riding her bike, but now she rides back home like nothing happened (still age 17) and without knowing anything about her death. She wants to see her boyfriend, Calvin, and her parents are obviously shocked by her reappearance/resurrection, while her younger (now her age) sister Missy, seems to be handling it well. Forman changes from past perspective to current easily without too much confusion. We see how those in the community were affected by grief over Amber’s death. An emotional story with several different points of view. A suggested purchase for YA fiction collections.

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

three-stars

Somadina

SomadinaSomadina by Akwaeke Emezi
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on April 15, 2025
ISBN: 0593309073
Pages: 300
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Somadina” is a young adult fantasy novel by Akwaeke Emezi. Somadina and her twin brother, Jayaike, inherit great magical powers which causes a hunter to kidnap Jayaike and Somadina decides to go after him. This West African inspired fantasy world is very well developed and will immerse readers in Emezi’s novel. Somadina faces danger, abuse, and other trauma, and being othered. The novel feels a little short at just under 300 pages and I could have read more. A very interesting and well-written YA fantasy. A suggested purchase for all YA collections, especially those who have Emezi’s other novels.

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

four-stars

Kill Creatures

Kill CreaturesKill Creatures by Rory Power
on June 3, 2025
ISBN: 0593302311
Genres: Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Kill Creatures” is a dark young adult thriller novel by Rory Power (author of “Wilder Girls”). Nan’s three friends disappeared on a hike a year ago and suddenly one of them shows up alive. Nan was sure that she murdered all of them and doesn’t know what happened. Nan is a super unreliable narrator with dark thoughts and and stalkerish tendencies. The book contains several trigger warnings for the reader. An additional purchase forĀ  YA collections where dark thrillers or true crime are popular.

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

three-stars