By Ella

​A century ago, the kingdom within the Mirrorwood was cursed. Its perfect prince was replaced by a demon one; a wall of thorns was raised to protect the outside world from his dark magic, though it can't prevent some of it from slipping through. The land lives in fear of that magic and the demon prince, and awaits the day when a beautiful princess will enter the Mirrorwood and break the curse at last. 

Fable is hardly a beautiful princess. She doesn't even have a face of her own--she's blighted, cursed by one of the Mirrorwood's twists of dark magic, and unless she wishes to fade into nothing, she has to constantly steal the faces of others. But it's a tenuous existence, even with her family's love and support--she's constantly afraid that a blighthunter will find her and kill her, or, even worse, punish her family for harboring someone blighted. 

When a determined blighthunter's apprentice, Vycorax, pursues Fable and her trusty cat into the Mirrrorwood, she knows she has to act--or risk never seeing her family again. Her only chance at a free, happy life is to slay the demon prince and break the curse herself, even if that means confronting the Mirrorwood's most dangerous beasts, bargaining with ancient powers, and trusting someone she's been taught her whole life to despise. 

But not all evil has horns. And in the Mirrorwood, nothing is as it seems...

Clever, absorbing, and uniquely imagined, I'm so glad I read The Mirrorwood! Mirrorwood! Although the premise easily could have fallen into a straightforward, cliche tale of heroism, Deva Fagan makes it so much deeper and more interesting, propelled by twists I never saw coming. I loved Fable and all the supporting characters, particularly Lyrian and Vycorax, who were layered and often did what I least expected them to, surprising me in the best possible way. The worldbuilding was light and evocative, and I particularly enjoyed reading about the Withering and the Subtle Powers, which helped give the Mirrorwood a unique flavor. I highly recommend The Mirrorwood to readers ages ten and up who enjoy middle-grade fantasy like The School Between Winter and Fairyland. 

By Ella

Rhaskos. A Thracian slave, worth far less than the animals he cares for. Separated from his mother, forced to serve a master who curses him and beats him. He draws horses in the dirt, and dreams of freedom.

Melisto. She caused her mother no end of trouble as a baby. She has never stopped. The future looks as bleak to her as a stretch of flawless fabric: what everyone expects, and so easily ignored. Serving Artemis as a Little Bear might be the first and last chance, however temporary, for her to be herself.

Against the backdrop of ancient Greece, told in poetry and prose and in fragments of the past, this is the tale of a boy and a girl whose futures are dark to them—and who might, through the impossible friendship they form, at last find the peace they have both been searching for.

Amber & Clay is unique and utterly absorbing, blending historical fiction, magic, and archaeology into something almost improbably powerful and beautiful. I’ve read a handful of books which use both prose and poetry, and honestly none of them have pulled it off very well; there always feels as though there is an abrupt shift when transitioning from one to another. But Schlitz’s prose is so lyrical and deliberate that the story flowed seamlessly from one style to another, and brought the book together more fully and made it feel more concrete rather than splintering it into sections. Not only that, but this ranks among one of the most excellent historical novels I have read (it’s set in Greece, particularly the Athens area, around the fifth century BCE)—not just for how it feels as though it stays utterly true to the time period, but because the feelings and conflicts and dreams of Rhaskos and Melisto are so bright and evocative in my mind that they might be living next door, not twenty-six centuries ago.

To be honest, of all the books I’ve reviewed, Amber & Clay is one of the hardest to describe. Its scope feels enormous, and yet deeply personal; its struggles, concrete and yet ephemeral. So much happens, but it isn’t the tale of the vast shifts of war and politics occurring in the background. It isn’t even a grandiose interpretation of what it must’ve been like, growing up without any chance at having rights. Instead of seeking to change the world, Rhaskos and Melisto both simply seek to live with it: to live in a society which they see not as unjust and discriminatory as we do now, but simply as how the world is. This crucial and too-unique nuance lends the story a vibrant realism which it might otherwise lack, and helps every detail of the story, its characters, and its setting shine with power and truth. Amber & Clay is, quite simply, extraordinary—I highly recommend it to readers ages eleven and up.

By Ella

Note: For this review, I used pronouns consis-tent with Ana's perceived gender identity at the beginning of the book. 

Twelve-year-old Ana Jin might be last year's US Juvenile girl's figure skating champion, but that doesn't mean she likes the dresses most skaters are forced to wear during competitions. Far from it--and when Ana discovers that the program she's expected to perform at nationals this year is princess-themed, she can't figure out why it feels so wrong to her. Sure, Ana has never liked wearing dresses, but no one else at the rink seems to have a problem with it. Why should she?

But everything changes when Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy who's just starting to learn how to skate. Especially when he mistakes her for a boy--and Ana doesn't correct him. Somehow, this feels way better than everyone just assuming she's a girl. But what does that even mean? 

As the nationals qualifier draws nearer, Ana must figure out who she really is--and decide whether the world knowing her identity is worth sacrificing years of training in an uncompromisingly gendered sport. 

​I can't believe it took me two years to read Ana on the Edge. Thoughtful, lovely, and utterly affirming, Ana's journey is both beautiful and fast-paced, and even if I had wanted to put it down (I didn't!), I don't think I could have managed to. I absolutely loved this book. From the first page, Sass waves together figure skating, friendship, family, change, and understanding one's own identity into a story so relatable and realistic that I feel as though I could meet Ana on the street. The characters are all layered and complex, and their interactions and conflicts were spot-on. I particularly loved Ana, whose gradual understanding of her nonbinary identity felt incredibly true, and whose questions, concerns, and feelings over the course of this story made me fall in love with her. The window on the world of ultra-competitive figure skating was also very interesting, and the nuance of Ana's worries about how her mom will pay for her increasingly expensive coaching made it feel both immediate and very real. This is one of the very best realistic fiction novels I've read in a long time. Heartwarming, authentic, and beautifully true, I highly recommend Ana on the Edge to readers ages ten and up, particularly those who love realistic fiction or are considering their own gender identity. 

By Ella and Lina

​​It's hard to believe we've already reached the end of our 2022 wrap-up! To finish off our top ten on a high note, we have two utterly amazing middle-grade books: a realistic fiction story, and a graphic novel. 

Thanks for reading about our favorites--here's to another year full of books as amazing as these ones! 


Favorite Graphic Novel: When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

I usually prefer prose books over graphic novels, but every so often I'll come across one whose beautiful illustrations and powerful story utterly absorb me. When Stars Are Scattered was one of those, a story of growing up that is both universal and powerfully unique. 

​​In fact, I realized partway through reading it that I was experiencing the same feeling of total immersion in a story, oblivious to anything around me, that I usually only get when reading standout books in prose!

The bright, evocative, emotional artwork is gorgeous, and the writing is crisp and concise, creating a vibrant, compelling, sometimes heartbreaking story about childhood in a refugee camp, based on coauthor Mohamed’s own life. The characters are deftly woven and immensely believable, and it’s a fast, satisfying, and deeply important read.

At once a powerful personal story and an ode to the resilience and courage of the millions of people living in refugee camps today, I highly recommend When the Stars Are Scattered to readers ages nine and up. 



Favorite Realistic Fiction: Summer of Brave ​by Amy Noelle Parks

I usually read more fantasy than realistic fiction, but some of my favorite books are unexpected finds from this genre. Summer of Brave was one of those. Unflinching, realistic, and beautiful, Summer of Brave manages to say so much in a relatively short book, and I loved every word of it.

Many books, especially contemporary novels, feel almost overwhelmed by their themes, becoming preachy and contrived instead of creating a meaningful story too. Summer of Brave never even considered stumbling into that territory--and yet is one of the deepest and most thematically complex books I can remember reading recently. Navigating friendships, feminism, academic pressure, divorce, girls in STEM, and so much more is tied together into a quiet but brave story which gains its power from both when Lilla speaks up and when she feels she must remain silent.

I loved Lilla, the protagonist. While many books about bravery present it from a single angle, which includes becoming constantly, effortlessly confident, but this book doesn't--Lilla remains quiet and shy while still becoming brave, a powerful and too-rare nuance which was part of why I loved her character so much. I also loved how Lilla feels the seemingly conflicting pressures to be 'girly' and smart and groundbreaking, and her struggle with what everyone seems to think is the 'right' way to be a girl. The depth of her character (and all the supporting characters) truly made this book come alive for me, and even when the characters' decisions weren't objectively 'right', I couldn't help but understand where they were coming from. I highly recommend Summer of Brave to readers ages ten and up. 

By Ella and Lina

​We're on to the second half of our favorite middle-grade fantasy novels, and the second-to-last section of our favorite books of 2022! 

​Check back tomorrow for our final two books: our favorite graphic novel and our favorite realistic fiction book. 


Healer and Witch by Nancy Werlin

Historical fantasy is probably one of my favorite subgenres under the fantasy/sci-fi umbrella--these books often by necessity of the genre blend atmospheric settings and character-driven stories with the usual magical elements found in fantasy books. Healer and Witch by Nancy Werlin is one of those stories that reminds me just why I love historical fantasy so much. Set in sixteenth-century France, this quiet but powerful novel blends feminism, self-discovery, and magic in a way that feels stunningly unique. 

Werlin's writing is, quite simply, exquisite. Simple and unadorned, it perfectly evokes the time and Sylvie's character as a girl who is far from naive, but nonetheless is largely ignorant of the world, and creates a story full of a broad range of emotions and details which truly make the story come alive, helping to anchor it in the time period. 

If the prose anchors Healer and Witch, though, Sylvie, the protagonist, is unarguably the force that drives it. Her journey toward understanding, self-discovery, and in a way independence in a land that would rather stifle, confine, and condemn her for her abilities and simply for being a woman weaves the heart of this book, giving the story an emotional depth and complexity that truly make it shine. There are such subtle but beautiful threads of feminism in her story, such determination and depth, that I couldn't help but fall in love with both Sylvie and her story. I highly recommend Healer and Witch to readers ages ten and up. 



The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu

Some of my favorite books this year were ones that I picked up with high expectations, whether they stemmed from previous books by the same author or praise I'd heard concerning them--books like The Sisters of Straygarden Place and Raybearer. The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy, though, was one book I picked up with essentially no expectations--and which utterly blew me away. 

There is so much to love about this book. Simultaneously an engrossing, nuanced story full of magic and mystery and a deep, thoughtful exploration of the stories our society tells us--and who, ultimately, they truly serve, the ending alone of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy inspired such a range of emotions in me: rage at the villains, surprise at the twists (those twists!), and a blend of awe and love for the protagonist, Marya, whose courage and determination is still strong in my memory all these months later. 

Marya herself is one of the highlights of this book, a strong, flawed protagonist who finds herself coming to terms with a world that would rather she stay silent, and a society designed to keep her that way. She is forced unequivocally into a role that goes against who she is, but instead of resigning herself to it she continues to search for the system's cracks, and her development over the course of this book is a true joy to watch. 

What perhaps stuck out to me most, though, is the depth of this story, and the quiet, thoughtful vein of feminism that is present throughout. This reflective, almost philosophical undertone--perhaps best epitomized by the lingering question, 'who does the story serve?'--creates an undercurrent of questioning and cross-examining patriarchy and predominant narratives that both inspires and empowers, and never even considers veering into a preachy or contrived vein. Marya's evolving understanding of the world along these lines intertwines with the narrative, giving the story new resonance and deepening, not stealing the spotlight from, its strong and resounding voice and plot. I highly recommend The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy to readers ages ten and up. 

By Ella and Lina

It's hard to believe we're already halfway through our top books of 2022! Today we're highlighting two of our favorite middle-grade fantasy novels that we read in the past year; check back tomorrow for two more brilliant reads. 


The Sisters of Straygarden Place by Hayley Chewins

I adored Hayley Chewins's first novel, The Turnaway Girls; full of magic, atmosphere, and thoughtful, feminist undertones, it was practic-ally an automatic Book of the Year back in 2020. The Sisters of Stray-garden Place, her second book, utterly blew me away. 

From the first page, Chewins's immersive, expansive prose pulled me into an atmospheric world full of floating trees and silver grass and strange magic as twined with mys-tery as its heroine, Mayhap. There was nothing predictable or cliche about this story, in the best possible way; each word was unexpected and beautiful, each twist startling, each description stunningly crafted and unique. 

Mayhap--indeed, all the characters--shine so brightly, and the plot, which kept quite honestly surprising me, felt fully driven by their feelings and choices: choices that were not always perfect, but which reflected their dreams, fears, experiences, and desires so deeply that every character, every sentence, of this book feels utterly alive. 

The Sisters of Straygarden Place is relatively short when it comes to page count, but its depth could belong to a much longer book. It's now been eight months since I last read this book, and I still find myself recalling its quiet beauty. It's a book about magical grass and uncovering secrets, yes--but far more than that, it's about sisterhood and belonging, discovery and love. It's a story for anyone who has ever felt alone, or anyone who wants to feel like they belong. It truly has earned itself a permanent place in my heart, and so I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers ages ten and up. 



The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud

It's a rare book that has me quite literally laughing out loud for almost the entire book--all while delivering a fast-paced story full of action, danger, and adventure. But The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne managed it several times over, earning it a well-deserved spot in my top ten. 

​From the opening lines onward (no, seriously--the opening of this book is absolutely hilarious), I was taken off-guard in the best possible way by Scarlett's perfectly executed, sardonic, dry sense of humor, giving the narrative a voice both wholly unique and an utter pleasure to read. I don't often come across books where the protagonist springs fully to life in my mind just from hearing the way she speaks, but Scarlett pulled it off beautifully, and the ingenious personality which she imbued the narrative with helped make the entire book utterly delightful to read. 

But giving Scarlett all the credit for her improbably relatable character would be to ignore the other primary character, Albert. They are in many ways polar opposites, with Scarlett alert, driven, and sarcastic where Albert is dreamy, hopeful, and oblivious, and though the sharp contrast between them is a well-trodden trope, Stroud makes the conflicts between them feel unique, blending gratifying authenticity with unrestrained humor. 

With clever twists, action, adventure, and an interesting and distinct setting, my interest never lagged--and unlike too many books with utterly brilliant beginnings, all of these things were carried wonderfully through the final page. I highly recommend The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne to readers ages ten and up. ​​

By Ella and Lina

​As you know, we also love & review many YA (young adult, or books generally for readers ages twelve and up) books on our blog. So we wanted to take today to highlight two of our absolute favorites in YA fantasy, both of which we read & reviewed in the past year. 

​Check back tomorrow for two more of our favorites, this time middle-grade fantasy! 

​
Girls at the Edge of the World by Laura Brooke Robson

Evocative, atmospheric, and thoughtful, I knew Girls at the Edge of the World was going to be one of my favor-ite books this year immediately after reading it. Bright, multifaceted charac-ters, luminous worldbuilding, and a deft philosophical undercurrent make it an undeniable standout--at once a story of struggling, shining girls in a darkening world, a defiant queer romance, and an ode to living life to the fullest and the things that make it worth living at all.

It's a fast read, the writing light but deft, and while there are familiar elements to the storyline, the plot and characters feel fresh and original, dodging clichés with unexpected twists and a distinctly witty, thoughtful narrative. It's also a piercing, contemplative look at heteropatriarchy, religion, colonialism, and how economic and class divides are displayed and exacerbated by climate change--all without being remotely preachy or contrived. I especially loved the flyers, a blend of art and athletics, stardom and symbolism constantly training to bring the city together and earn their own survival; there's believable competitiveness and drive within the troupe, but also fierce loyalty and palpable caring between its members. I highly recommend Girls at the Edge of the World to readers ages twelve and up. 


Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Particularly excellent books are often described as 'unable to be put down.' Raybearer ​was, for me, one of the rare books where this was absolutely true. From the first page, the world and characters are all-absorbing, and I was so glad to discover that there was a sequel--only for that, alas, to end as well. 

In Raybearer, Ifueko delivers one of the rarest kinds of stories: one that combines exquisite writing and a vivid, atmospheric world with one of the strongest, most fierce, most utterly sympathetic protagonists I've ever had the pleasure to encounter, whose refusal to let her future and fate be controlled by another secure the story both in unexpected twists and startling, inarguable realism. With such a unique and multilayered storyline, full of twists I very honestly never saw coming, it feels as though it should be plot-driven, but it never feels that way; Tarisai is undeniably the driving force in this book, and I absolutely fell in love with her and her story. 

However, I would be remiss to ignore all the other characters in favor of Tarisai, because every character in Raybearer truly feels distinct, and their relationships and conflicts often carry the story as much as she does. Every glowing description and quiet interaction is beautiful and vivid, and Tarisai's world manages to feel both as personal and expansive as our own. 

I struggled to write a review for Raybearer that truly encapsulated how much I loved it, and I find myself doing the same thing here. This book is full of emotion and strength, feminism and defiance, a stunning tale of a girl who refuses to be quiet, and a world full of magic and mystery but also deep, ingrained flaws. Raybearer is utterly beautiful, remarkable, and all-absorbing, and I highly recommend it to readers twelve and up. 

By Ella and Lina

Welcome to our ten favorite books of 2022! In no particular order, here are our first two: our favorite series, and our favorite novel in verse. 

Check back tomorrow for two more of our favorite reads! 


Favorite Series: Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L. D. Lapinski

I personally love series, especially in the fantasy genre. They have a particular skill at sweeping you up completely into a story, immersing you completely in another world--or, in this case, a number of other worlds. 

I read the first book in the series, Strangeworlds Travel Agency, back in January, and quickly devoured the second and third books in the series, The Edge of the Ocean and The Secrets of the Stormforest. When I found myself considering my favorite books at the end of this year, I knew indisputably that the Strangeworlds Travel Agency series had to be on the list. 

​There are so many things to love about these books! To begin with, I love the style. Lapinski's writing has a quirky, almost old-fashioned feel which remains firmly grounded in the present day, and not only did it make me want to keep reading as soon as possible, it brought a special glimmer of magic to the story, not unlike what Flick sees when she looks through a magnifying glass for the first time. Even the oddest, most far-fetched worlds feel believable and intriguing, and the almost whimsical originality of so much of the books--enchanted suitcases! shrinking worlds! giant merpeople!--made every twist and turn unexpected and delightful. 

Flick, Jonathan, and (beginning in the second book) Avery are one of my favorite sets of middle-grade protagonists. I truly felt as though I was getting to know them better as the series progressed, like beloved friends I wish I could spend more time with. But I would be remiss if I only focused on the protagonists, because there is so much depth to the supporting cast as well. The nuances of character relationships, old conflicts, and the different societies of all the worlds they travel through make every interaction sparkle and propel the fast-paced plot forward through all manner of unexpected twists and turns. 

I absolutely loved the entire Strangeworlds Travel Agency series--I highly recommend them to readers nine and up! 



Favorite Novel in Verse: Wave by Diana Farid

We read a number of amazing novels in verse this year (and even made a list of some of our favorites), but one was a clear favorite: Wave by Diana Farid. 

Eloquent, heart-wrenching, and tender, Wave is a standout for several reasons. Firstly, Ava is a believable, multilayered protagonist; despite differing ages, decades, and interests, her insecurities and victories ring piercingly true to me as she grapples with the tension between her own vision for her life and future and those which others push her toward.

The characters are deftly drawn and distinct, and the relationships between them truly make Wave shine; the connection Ava develops with an elderly, poetry-loving patient is particularly touching, while her bond with Phoenix centers and grounds the story---just as it does Ava herself.

I've never surfed (personally, I think it sounds terrifying!), but Farid's exquisite free verse turns the ocean into a friend, a sparkling world so beautiful that I found myself rereading passages again and again, and feeling the sea to be a home, just as it is to Ava. And the story's moving, lyrical exploration of grief and healing mark it as a modern Bridge to Terabithia, one as perfect for book groups and discussions as it is for someone searching for a simply beautiful read. I highly recommend Wave to readers eleven and up!