Source: MSL Book Review

A House of Vipers

A House of VipersA House of Vipers by Emma Jackson
Published by Delacorte Press Genres: Mystery, Psychological thriller
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Meddlehart Academy is an exclusive, elite boarding school nestled in the mountains of Colorado. It is also the last place Lawson Heyward was seen alive. A year and a half after his disappearance the night of prom, his younger brother Sutter and his friends Carter, Greyson, Fallon, and Margot set out to find him and the legendary founder’s treasure he was hot on the trail of. To do so, they must join the secretive treasure-hunting Order of the Vipers and endure their initiation trials. Meanwhile, someone who seems to have all the answers keeps leaving them notes with clues. Who could it be?

The story is told in a 3rd person, multi-POV style through the core trio of the quintet: Sutter, Fallon, and Grayson, who also happen to be in a love triangle. Readers who favor the  found family trope will enjoy this crew. Each of them (save Carter) suffer from alienating home lives that make Meddlehart a home away from home. Sutter’s father is overbearing in maintaining the patriarchal status-quo. Margot’s family seemingly cares more about their business ventures than her. Grayson found his mother dead from an overdose and his famous father is neglectful, contributing to his depression and deep anger. Fallon’s parents died in a car crash, leaving her with intense abandonment trauma. The friend group largely reads as white, Carter is described as having dark-brown skin. The plot itself revolves around Sutter, but Fallon is the heart of the novel (and not just because the romance subplot hinges on her decision between the two boys). Her Hermione-like bookwormishness and rule-following is the moral center of the group.

Dark academia abounds in this story, which starts with a morose tone of a cloudy day and dives deeper and darker as the mystery unfolds. Light violence at the beginning (fistfights) makes way to murder (off-page), but isn’t gruesomely described. The ending satisfyingly resolves both the mystery and the love story, but is not all happy endings. Perfect for fans of We Were Liars, This Place Kills Me, and One of Us is Lying looking for their next fix.

Reviewed by Kristin Arsenault, Mountain Valley High School, Rumford

four-stars

Lovely Recipe

Lovely RecipeLovely Recipe: (A Graphic Novel) by Myra Rose Nino
Published by Random House Graphic ISBN: 0593180593
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Lovely Recipe” is a young adult graphic novel by Myra Rose Nino. Sofia needs help with figuring out how to cook her late grandmother’s recipe. She seeks help from her classmate Anna Marie, whose parents own a restaurant. They butt heads at first since they have very different personalities, but eventually a friendship and romantic relationship blossom. Themes about grief, family traditions, avoiding assumptions by putting yourself in another’s shoes are important and addressed well in this book. Characters and plot felt realistic. Illustration style was colorful and warm and added to the feel of the story. A recommended purchase for YA graphic novel collections.

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

four-stars

Some of Us Are Brave

Some of Us Are BraveSome of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi
Published by Quill Tree Books on 2/10/26
ISBN: 0063389533
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Summer is winding down in Houston and kids are enjoying the last part of summer before school starts, including playing soccer at the local rec club. Soccer is on the minds of Cody and Yasir, two boys competing for team captain.  Mona is also at the field, but only because she is babysitting her little brother Omar while their parents are away. The kids try to focus on soccer, but the weather reports of tropical storm Harvey are becoming more concerning to those living in the low-lying areas of Houston.  When Harvey makes landfall, Yasir, Cody, and Mona are driven from their homes and find themselves forced to survive the storm together.  Cody, Yasir, and Mona were not friends before the storm, but they know their survival depends on them becoming a team.  The situation is life or death, and the three older kids are able to help each other work through their fears, one step at a time.

Readers who enjoy realistic fiction with strong characters will enjoy this book.  There is depth and growth to these protagonists.  Mona and Yasir build their confidence and leadership skills and Cody decides to turn over a new leaf, leaving behind his bullying behaviors and disdain for foreigners that he inherited from his father. The chapters are relatively short and are told from the perspective of one of the older kids.  Mixed in throughout the book are weather reports that are based on real weather reports Houstonians would have heard at the time.  Readers might also enjoy learning about flood myths from different religions and cultures that are woven into the text throughout the novel.  This book would be a great addition to libraries serving students in 4th-7th grade.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

five-stars

Love in Ruins

Love in RuinsLove in Ruins by Auriane Desombre
Published by Delacourte Romance ISBN: 0593807588
Genres: LGBTQ+, Mental Health, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Natalie Campbell is a rising high school sophomore excited about the summer ahead: a class trip to Greece with fellow history nerds, including her best friend, Liam. She’s hoping that her recent diagnosis of OCD, and the support of her therapist, will help her feel a sense of control over her symptoms, instead of them ruining the trip.

What she doesn’t plan for is to fall for someone. Melanie is the daughter of one of the trip guides, and the two girls share an instant attraction. But Natalie’s OCD, which primarily takes the form of negative intrusive thoughts, has gotten in the way of relationships in the past, and isn’t sure she deserves another chance. Still, she can’t quite stop flirting with Melanie, either. Between academic competitions, touring historical sights she’s dreamed of all her life, tensions in the friend group, and the increasing spiral of negative thoughts, Natalie has to figure out how to face her demons and be the best friend, and maybe even girlfriend, she can.

While packed in a fun, fairly breezy sapphic summer romance, Desombre handles the nuances of dealing with OCD, and particularly OCD characterized by negative self-talk, in a way that many teens will be able to relate to. The sense of place is palpable – the group travels to several different tourist spots and historical landmarks, and the reader feels as immersed in the Greece experience as Natalie is, lending to the summer vibe of the book.

While not a must-have purchase, this novel is a nice addition for libraries looking to bump up fun summer YA offerings, especially with a sapphic plot, or diversify beachy travel reads.

Four stars.

  • Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library
four-stars

Unfathomable: 20 Wild (But True) Stories About The OCean

Unfathomable: 20 Wild (But True) Stories About The OCeanUnfathomable: 20 Wild (But True) Stories About the Ocean by Mary Boone, Max Temescu
Published by Bright Matter Books on 2/17/26
ISBN: 0593904753
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

This middle grade nonfiction book has twenty short chapters containing weird but true ocean-related stories.   From exploding whales to underwater cities, readers will be introduced to events and information they likely have never heard of before.  Some of the stories are included because they are fantastical and hard to believe, others are more informative and connect the interesting story to on-going research or important concepts like climate change.   The chapters are short and can be read in manageable chunks and there is a table of contents to direct readers who don’t want to read the book cover to cover or in order by chapter.  There are sidebars which break up the text, but they are usually sentences taken directly from the text and don’t offer any new or interesting information.  There is also a thorough list of sources at the end as well as a glossary.  The glossary contains many new terms, but the terms aren’t bold or italicized in the text, so readers wouldn’t necessarily know to refer to the glossary. Readers who love learning about the ocean will enjoy this book, but it’s not an essential addition for a nonfiction collection.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

two-stars

Stuck Up and Stupid

Stuck Up and StupidStuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice, Kate Rice
ISBN: 1536239038
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

“Stuck Up and Stupid” is young adult romance novel by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice. Loosely based on “Pride and Prejudice,” Lily is looking forward to spending the summer at the beach in Australia. Unfortunately, when Dorian, a hollywood star, rents space on the beach and takes over, their personalities clash. But is there romance brewing? The setting was interesting, but the chemistry felt flat. An additional purchase for YA romance collections.

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

two-stars

Red Star Rebels

Red Star RebelsRed Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman
on February 3, 2026
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Red Star Rebels” is a young adult science fiction novel by Amie Kaufman. Hunter is the rich heir of a billionaire family. He travels to Mars to meet with his mom and sister. Cleo is a teen who has been living in secret on Mars trying to eke out a living while avoiding her shady past. When the Mars base goes on lockdown due to a criminal takeover, Hunter and Cleo must work together to save themselves. Kaufman’s trademark humor makes this a fun read, though predictable at times. A suggested purchase for YA science fiction collections, especially where Kaufman is popular.

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

four-stars

Shiny Happy People

Shiny Happy People by Clay McLeod Chapman
on November 11, 2025
ISBN: 0593904087
Genres: Horror
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Shiny Happy People” is a young adult horror novel by Clay McLeod Chapman. Kyra is a high school student who refrains from using drugs (due to her absent mother’s addiction), unlike many of her fellow students. Kyra’s brother starts acting strangely in a body-snatcher type way, so she starts investigating. An interesting premise that falls a little flat, though the message that there is power in being yourself is a good theme. This YA horror is an additional purchase where YA body horror is popular.

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

three-stars

Into the Wild Magic

Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
four-stars

“Into the Wild Magic” is a middle grade fantasy novel by Michelle Knudsen. Bevvy is a sixth grader who is used to being bullied. She loves fantasy books. She meets Cat, a new student, at her favorite tree and wonders if they could be friends. Cat is brusque and doesn’t plan on making any friends. Cat has magical powers and creates a magical portal to an alternate world called LorelKey. The world-building in the story is well done and interesting. I liked the themes of believing in yourself and your own strengths and that a person’s identity doesn’t make them a bad person; their actions do. A suggested purchase where middle grade fantasy is popular.

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

four-stars

Philomena and the Big Bad Mimi

Philomena and the Big Bad MimiPhilomena and the Big Bad Mimi by Geneviève Jannelle, Jasmine Mirra Turcotte
ISBN: 1525315188
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

No one will play with Philomena at recess because every time someone tells a story, the Big Bad Mimi takes over Philomena’s mouth and she just has to tell a story about her instead. The Big Bad Mimi makes it hard for Philomena to listen to others. Philomena decides to ask an adult for help so that the other children will enjoy spending time with her again. After getting some help from a tiny creature called a Yoo-yoo, Philomena learns that other people might have interesting things to say too. 

This short picture book has bright and engaging illustrations. It would be a wonderful choice for a teacher or parent who is helping a child work through feelings of self-centeredness. It gives adults child friendly language to use with young children and a simple tool to practice listening to others. Many children will be able to relate to the feeling of the Mimi taking over.

Reviewed by Rebecca Duquette, Pittston Randolph Consolidated School 

three-stars