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

When We Were Monsters

When We Were MonstersWhen We Were Monsters by Jennifer Niven
Published by Knopf on September 2, 2025
ISBN: 1524713023
Genres: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars
The select high school students chosen for their private school’s prestigious ‘Jan Term’ are excited to work with this year’s mentor, actor and writer Meredith Graffam. Among the students are Effy, a serious writer working through the unrelenting grief of losing her mother in an accident that sent her father to prison, and Arlo, not as serious but working through some severe grief of his own. Did Graffam know these two were ex-lovers and the relationship ended poorly? Perhaps. She seems to know a lot about each student and is prepared to leverage this knowledge to get results. As Graffam’s assignments get more wild and dangerous, the Jan Term students begin to suspect that she might not be exactly who she claims to be.

Told from Effy’s and Arlo’s points of view, this atmospheric thriller will be a hit with Dark Academia fans, though some might find the villain a little too ludicrous to truly invest themselves in the story. 

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

(S)kin

(S)kin(S)Kin by Ibi Zoboi
on February 11, 2025
ISBN: 0062888870
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
“(S)KIN” is a YA fantasy novel in verse by Ibi Zoboi. Marisol is a Black teen girl and a soucouyant, a being from Caribbean that sheds its skin during the new moon and feeds on the energy of their enemies. Genevieve is a mixed-race teen living with her white father and white stepmother, but has dreams about her mysterious Black mother. Both teens meet and their stories begin to intertwine. The themes of colorism, mother-daughter relationships, and figuring out who you want to be are well done and readers will enjoy the quick story filled with secrets. A must-buy for YA fiction collections where Zoboi and novels in verse are popular.

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

four-stars

Love Unmasked

Love UnmaskedLove Unmasked by Becky Dean
on July 15, 2025
ISBN: 0593647874
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
“Love Unmasked” is a YA romance novel by Becky Dean. Evie is a student visiting Venice, Italy with her art and architecture class. She is a hug fan of a book series set in Venice called “Elven Realms.” When she hears rumors about a secret Elven Realms club in the city, she decides to try and find it. The story is a fairly predictable romance, but fans of YA cozy romances, gentle mysteries, and travel will definitely enjoy this one. The pacing was good, and a lot happens considering this all takes place within a week. This is an additional purchase for YA collections where cozy romances and travel fiction are popular.

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

three-stars

Predatory Natures

Predatory NaturesPredatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith
on July 8, 2025
ISBN: 0593814312
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
“Predatory Natures” is a YA horror novel by Amy Goldsmith. The main character is a teenager, Lara, who is taking a break from school after doing badly on her exams and working a short-term job on a luxury train. Surprisingly an old friend that she had a falling out with is also working on the train. There are also some mysterious twins, Gwen and Gwydion who are supposedly transporting scientific samples, and staff are told to stay away from them. What is really happening on this train?

Lots of descriptive passages, with intermingled flashbacks helped build the tension and atmosphere, but occasionally were a little confusing. We learn about Lara’s past abusive relationship through these flashbacks. Meanwhile the plant samples take over the train and control others (similar to Lara’s abusive boyfriend). An interesting YA horror with a lot of darkness, this is a suggested purchase where YA horror (especially psychological) is popular.

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

three-stars

Lady’s Knight

Lady’s KnightLady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner
Published by Harper Collins / STORYTIDE on June 3, 2025
ISBN: 0062893394
Pages: 416
Genres: LGBTQ+, Romance, Historical Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Gwen has always wanted to be a knight but, aside from the fact that she’s a woman and only men can be knights, she was forced to become a blacksmith when grief over her mother’s death left her father unable to work (technically she wasn’t supposed to do that either, but townspeople turned their heads, because a smithy is, after all, a village necessity). That said, she just might have fashioned herself some armor and be planning to compete in the first round of eliminations at the Dragonslayer Tournament, simply to experience jousting once in her life. She’ll wear her helmet, and nobody will know.

Castle-dwelling Lady Isobelle, on the other hand, is used to having the freedoms bestowed upon the wealthy. Until her dowry and hand in marriage are offered up as the grand prize in the Tournament. For the first time, she can’t power her way through a problem by sheer force of will.

When Isobelle discovers Gwen’s secret, she enlists her – disguised as Sir Gawain – to be her champion. Winning could mean Isobelle’s freedom, and Gwen’s triumph – but being found out would spell disaster for them both.

A fabulous, irreverent, feminist sapphic romance in mostly-medieval-but-sometimes-not setting where there might just be dragons left to fight after all – and not just metaphorical ones. A fun and engaging read with two terrific main characters and distinct, three-dimensional secondary characters. Fans of Tamora Pierce and Lex Croucher will love this epic tale of daring, bravery, betrayal, heartbreak and – maybe, because no spoilers here! – a happy ending.

5 stars/cream

–   Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

Dead Happy (HappyHead #2)

Dead Happy (HappyHead #2)Dead Happy (HappyHead, #2) by Josh Silver
on May 2, 2024
ISBN: 0593812069
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Horror, LGBTQ+, Mental Health, Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Dead Happy picks up directly at the end of the first book in this YA duology, HappyHead, with the chosen ten teens regaining consciousness on a flooding boat approaching Elmhallow. Seb has no choice but to fake a relationship with Eleanor as the teens are forced to complete increasingly disturbing and violent challenges for bloodstones under the rule of a perfectly reformed HappyHead couple. When Seb finds out that Fin is also on the island they decide to escape no matter the cost.

Dead Happy is a dark survival drama in the vein of Squid Games and the Hunger Games series with elements of horror such as torture, animal death, gaslighting, and homophobia. The romance between Seb and Fin continues to be the backbone of the duology and remains strong throughout the second novel. Dead Happy moves at a relentless pace, keeping the reader on edge throughout the novel as did HappyHead. Recommended for all teen collections where survival stories or romance are popular genres.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston Maine

five-stars