Source: MSL Book Review

Our Aimless Nights

Our Aimless NightsOur Aimless Nights, Volume 1 by Jan Mitsuko Cash, Koumori
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Our Aimless Nights” is a young adult romance manga by Koumori. Chika is a chatty and popular girl and Waya is a quiet and reserved boy who don’t interact much at their high school, but after Chika runs into him at his night job at a store they start to develop feelings for each other. There are the typical misunderstandings and silly situations that pop up in romance stories, but this wholesome manga will keep readers rooting for the cute couple. A recommended purchase for YA manga collections.

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

four-stars

Queso, Just in Time

Queso, Just in TimeQueso, Just in Time by Ernesto Cisneros
ISBN: 0063092247
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Queso, Just in Time” is a middle grade science fiction novel by Ernesto Cisneros. Queso is a 12-year-old boy who is still grieving the death of his father two years ago in an armed robbery. After making a wish on a moonbow that he wishes he could see his dad once more, he time travels back to 1985 and meets his father as a child! Queso soaks in seeing his father and beloved grandparents and wonders if he can somehow change their future. This emotional and beautiful book is a must-buy for middle grade fiction collections.

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

four-stars

Call of the Dragon

Call of the DragonCall of the Dragon by Natasha Bowen
ISBN: 059389815X
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Call of the Dragon” is a young adult fantasy novel by Natasha Bowen. In the land of Kwa, the people are protected from evil by two dragons who hold up the earth and sky. Moremi is a teenager forced to pledge to the dragons, despite her lack of piety. She is surprisingly marked by both dragon gods, which is unheard of. When the king tries to take the gods’ power for himself, the dragons leave and Moremi must get them back. The world uses a magical system based on West African traditions and myths, which is very interesting and I wished it was described more. The characters fell a little flat, but the premise is very interesting.  A suggested purchase for YA fantasy collections.

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

three-stars

Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic

Ambrosia Lee Drops the MicAmbrosia Lee Drops the Mic by Patricia Park
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic” is a young adult coming-of-age novel by Patricia Park. Ambrosia has been acting since she was young, but she is now considered “too fat” to get roles and struggles with the rejection. She goes to a stand up comedy show and meets a Korean American stand up comedian who suggests that she try it herself. The story is a compelling look at racism, fat-shaming, and growing up Asian in America. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections.

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

four-stars

Holloway

HollowayHolloway by Elana K. Arnold
ISBN: 0062990888
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Holloway” is a young adult fiction novel by Elana K. Arnold. Set in 2021, Nora is an autistic Jewish teenager dealing with the death of her mother (who held anti-vax beliefs and died from COVID-19). She goes to France to spread her mother’s ashes when she gets lost in a forest, running down a dark holloway, and is suddenly transported back to 1946. She ends up in an asylum and meets others who help her navigate and understand her past trauma. A moving novel with a very interesting plot. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections.

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

 

four-stars

Black Hands: Builders of our Nation

Black Hands: Builders of our NationBlack Hands: Builders of Our Nation by Carole Boston Weatherford, R. Gregory Christie
Genres: Cultural / African American, History
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Black Hands: Builders of our Nation” is a non-fiction picture book about how Black people helped build the United States, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Readers see as Black hands survived the Middle Passage and arrived as slaves in the Americas and then as they build the White House and Capitol, and then through the Civil Rights movement and beyond as lawmakers, astronauts, scientists, athletes, and doctors. The painted illustrations are bright and beautiful and the information is presented in a simple and rhythmic way. Historical references are included in the back of the book for more detailed information about the illustrations. A must-buy for non-fiction picture book collections. This book is recommended for ages 4-8.

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

four-stars

Medicine Wheels

Medicine WheelsMedicine Wheels by Byron Graves
on June 2, 2026
ISBN: 0063160420
Genres: Cultural / Indigenous, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Medicine Wheels” is a young adult realistic fiction novel by Byron Graves (Ojibwe and Lakota) about Bryce, an Ojibwe teenager who is dealing with the death of his father and his mother’s subsequent incarceration for drug possession. He is staying on the Reservation with his grandparents in his father’s old room and reconnects with old friends while learning how to skateboard. Graves does an excellent job at making the reader feel invested in the story. The characters are interesting and believable and readers will also learn a lot about issues that Indigenous people face. This is a must-buy for YA fiction collections.

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

four-stars

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and JayThe Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass
on January 27, 2026
ISBN: 0063312484
Genres: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay” by Ryan Douglass is a reimagining of the Great Gatsby with a queer romance. Nick is a young adult who is forced to leave Oklahoma after his father is killed in the Tulsa Race Massacre by white supremacists. He tries to find his place in Harlem and gets a scholarship to West Egg Academy, where he meets Jay Gatsby, Jr. and starts to fall for him. The premise is interesting and fits a lot of history into it, but at times the characters felt a bit thin. A suggested purchase for YA collections, especially where historical fiction is popular.

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

three-stars

Clock Hands

Clock HandsClock Hands by Marieke Nijkamp, Sylvia Bi
on April 21, 2026
ISBN: 0063027135
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Clock Hands” is a middle grade graphic novel set in the world of “Ink Girls,” but can be read on its own. The author is Marieke Nijkamp and the illustrator is Sylvia Bi. In this world you have to pay to become an apprentice in a guild and many cannot afford to. Vale wants to be a metalworker, but cannot afford it until Maestro Giuseppi moves in and asks Vale to help him build an astronomical clock. The guilds don’t like this and retaliate.

The book is beautiful and does a good job showing how societal classes keep the lower classes down. This is an emotional story with difficult themes, but it is an important one. A recommended purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections, especially those that have “Ink Girls.”

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

four-stars

Katie the Catsitter: Villain Con

Katie the Catsitter: Villain ConVillain Con (Katie the Catsitter #5) by Colleen A.F. Venable
on June 30, 2026
ISBN: 0593570413
Pages: 218
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Villain Con” is the 5th book in the middle grade graphic novel series “Katie the Catsitter” written by Collen AF Venable and illustrated by Stephanie Yue. In this book, Katie is helping her mentor Madeline run for Mayor of NYC, but when the current mayor bans super heroes, everything is thrown off! A fun mix of adventure, humor, and middle school friendship issues. The illustrations are bright and add to the humorous nature of the book. Animal lovers will get a kick out of the different cats’ personalities.

This book is a recommended purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections, especially those that have the previous books.

four-stars