By Nico

Who wouldn’t want to live forever? But for the Evers, stuck forever in the bodies of their twelve-year-old selves, it’s much more like a curse—thanks to their outward age, they’re never able to get real jobs or stay in one place for longer than a few years, no matter how old they are inside. Enrolled yet again at their favorite boarding school, the prestigious West Archer Academy, there’s no reason to believe their lives are going to change.

No reason, that is, until Ivy Stewart appears as the roommate of one of the Evers. She looks identical to Grace, an Ever who vanished without a trace years ago—and might be the key to learning what happened to her.

Ivy doesn’t want anything to do with immortal twelve-year-olds or vanished friends. She’s at West Archer because it’s the next step of her grand plan that ends with her on the Supreme Court. But the Evers refuse to leave her alone—and soon, she finds herself sucked into a mystery that means far more to her than she ever could’ve imagined.

Stacy McAnulty, also the author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, weaves another clever, multilayered story that combines magic, mystery, and friendship into a unique concoction that I couldn’t put down. The whole idea of this book—immortal, brilliant twelve-year-olds at an elite middle school—instantly caught my attention, and it didn’t disappoint. The characters all clash and connect in believable ways, forming a central set of personalities that kept the story moving at a fast pace. I particularly liked Ivy and Abigail, who both felt really relatable—Ivy’s determined view of her future, and Abigail’s desperation to find the lost Ever, made me root for both of them equally, and watching those goals clash made me never quite sure where the story would go next. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Full of twists and cleverness, I highly recommend Forever Twelve to readers ages ten and up. 

By Nico

The land hovers in an uneasy truce. The powerful giants live in lush gardens spun from magic woven from human lips. And every day, the world becomes a little colder…

On her own in the frigid winter, Lyriana is determined to get her younger brother Zave to Orphan’s Garden, a half-myth oasis beyond the reach of the giant’s powers. If she fails for too much longer, they might not survive.

Brob is a giant, but he’s no longer welcome among his people, either—he and his family are exiles from the lifesaving gardens, sentenced to a soon-to-be-fatal existence in the cold. Luckily, he has a plan: the garden he built years ago from the frost and pooled magic, an impossibility he’s certain no one else knows about. He certainly doesn’t expect—or want—humans among its trees.

But though Lyriana and Brob are at odds, they may need each other to save the garden that has become both of their home.

Within the opening pages of The Song of Orphan’s Garden, I found myself wondering: where have all the other fantasy novels in verse been? This lush, thoughtful book has the feel of a fairytale while being wholly original, and I truly enjoyed it. I love the way Hewitt uses verse in this book—to convey alternate points of view, to create lyricism, and perhaps most of all to separate the perspectives of Lyriana and Brob that was distinct without becoming jarring. Plus, the entire setting is just cool (no pun intended), the sense of an uneasy peace as palpable through the pages as the unique take on something as set as the seasons. I’ll definitely be looking to read more of Hewitt’s books in the future! I highly recommend The Song of Orphan’s Garden to fans of lyrical middle-grade fantasy books and stories where the setting feels as though it has a character of its own.

Thank you to Feiwel and Friends for the gifted copy! All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

adventure / ​ages 9+ / fairy tales / fantasy / fiction / friends / in verse / middle grade /
standalone / siblings

By Nico

Five years ago, the gods granted twelve-year-old Faron Vincent the ability to draw on their vast power to drive out the colonizing Langlish Empire and save her homeland of San Irie. Now seventeen and nowhere near recovering from the trauma of the war, Faron is just trying to figure out what to do with her life—all while still being heralded as the divine savior of her people. Only her older sister, Elara, understands at least some of what Faron is going through, but Elara has other plans, too. She’s determined to

During the war, the only thing Faron could count on was her protective love for Elara. So when a peace summit gone wrong leaves Elara bonded to an enemy dragon, Faron knows immediately that she’ll do whatever it takes to get her sister safely home. Even if that means disobeying the direct orders of the gods and seeking help from a powerful entity who could destroy them all.

Meanwhile, isolated from her friends and family among the very people she would’ve given her life to defeat, Elara grapples with defining herself beyond the shadow of her sister’s power as she attempts to uncover the latest Langlish plot and better understand their greatest weapon—their dragons. A challenge that would be difficult enough without her sharp-witted and inconveniently pretty co-rider, Signey Soto.

Faron and Elara will have to find themselves to save each other—and their failure could cost San Irie its independence, and each other their lives.

Intense, fast-paced, and fiercely defiant, So Let Them Burn was absolutely incredible. It’s rare that I read a book which I truly fall in love with from the first page, but this book refused to allow the alternative to even be an option. With impossibly vibrant characters, a delicious flip on the chosen one trope, and a keen commentary on colonialism, I’d be astounded if this doesn’t make it into my top ten books of this year.

There is so much to love about this book, but its true heart lies with Elara and Faron’s messy, fraught, and profoundly loving relationship. Both could so easily become cookie-cutter characters—the chosen one years later, the two-dimensional older sister—and yet they bloom to life thanks to Cole’s deft writing and the emotions that carry them off the page. I love Faron’s stubborn determination, struggle to define herself, and fierce diatribes, but I’d be lying if I said Elara wasn’t my favorite character in So Let Them Burn. Her feelings and motivations are so multifaceted and authentic as she attempts to carve out space for herself in the world, while simultaneously fighting to save everyone she holds dear. I cannot find words to express how much I resent that ending, and how much I need the sequel right now!

I also have to give a shout-out to the worldbuilding. Dragons are plentiful in fantasy; a unique system which they are central to is far more difficult to come by. Similarly, the push-pull of the different forms of magic within the world—dragons, astrals, the gods—lent San Irie and Nova a depth and complexity that I couldn’t resist. I am so excited for the next book in this series!

​I highly recommend So Let Them Burn to readers ages thirteen and up looking for a gripping, multilayered, irresistible fantasy novel that will make you remember what books are for. 

By Nico

The Haunting of Lake Lucy will be released on May 14, 2024.

Jayce is just expecting to enjoy a normal vacation with his family and twin sister, Evie, at a summer house on Lake Lucy. But that’s before he starts seeing odd lights and movement in the windows of the abandoned house next door…oddities that call to mind the ghost that lurks in the corners of his dreams.

With Evie’s help, Jayce starts sending letters to the ghost to uncover the truth about it—and what it wants from him. But to do that, he’ll have to truly understand the story behind the haunting of Lake Lucy. And that might prove far more dangerous than he could’ve expected.

The Haunting of Lake Lucy is a fast-paced novel-in-verse that I highly enjoyed. I love novels in verse, but as someone who often steers clear of stories whose central plot reduces me to tears, I often sample the genre somewhat liberally. The Haunting of Lake Lucy satisfied my wish for an interesting, multilayered verse book that left me excited and wishing I could read more. Green’s well-written, descriptive verse propels the story forward and dropped me directly into Jayce’s thoughts and feelings, a level of personal intensity lent by the format which truly brought the story alive. It took me a few poems to orient myself to the characters and setting, but once I’d gotten to know them, I was able to truly absorb myself in the story. The setting felt particularly well-imagined to me—the mythos surrounding Lucy and the descriptions of the lake were notably vivid—and helped immerse me in the story. Although parts of this book were definitely creepy, I still found it appealing and engaging as someone who doesn’t always like horror-leaning stories (I’d place the level of creepiness around, or slightly less than, books like The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle and The Thickety). Overall, I recommend The Haunting of Lake Lucy to readers ages eight and up.
 
Thank you to Sandy Deutscher Green for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

By Nico

There are countless stories about the del Cisne family, about sisters who grow up into swans. Blanca and Roja del Cisne know every one. And though the verity of each individual tale is nothing if not debatable, that hardly matters, because the sisters have been raised on the truth behind ever story: the knowledge that, every generation, two del Cisne girls are born. And before the youngest reaches adulthood, one of them will be transformed into a wild swan.

Soon, Blanca or Roja will leave her human sister behind and take, unwilling, to the skies. And there is no way of knowing which one of them it will be.

Blanca: pale-haired, kindhearted, who always smiles and helps others, a perfect fairy-tale princess.

Or Roja, her sister. Red hair to Blanca’s blonde, mistakes and manipulativeness to Blanca’s perfect smiles. The perfect, fairy-tale witch. The perfect swan—the one no one but their father will miss.

Despite their differences, their bond is unshakable, and Blanca and Roja are determined that neither of them will fly away on a swan’s white wings. But when the swans come despite all their efforts and two local boys are tangled in the magic of the wood, Blanca and Roja must find their own ways to outwit the magic that would tear them apart forever.

​A stunning, atmospheric ode to sisterhood, Blanca & Roja is one of the most exquisite fairytale reimaginings I’ve read in a long time. McLemore (whose also wrote the equally amazing novels Lakelore and When the Moon Was Ours) weaves together ‘Snow White and Rose Red’ and ‘The Wild Swans’ into something utterly unlike either of them, a truly original fairytale with such depth and complexity that I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. Their writing is utterly beautiful, lyrical and poetic, and it pulled me completely into a world full of strange magic and unexpected twists. The conflicts and relationships between the four primary point-of-view characters were phenomenal, particularly Blanca and Roja—the distinct and incredibly realistic mix of love and secrets between them truly made both of their characters come alive. I highly recommend Blanca & Roja to readers ages eleven and up, particularly those who love books with elements of fairytales. 

By Nico

Emily and Thomas know every nook and cranny of the castle where they've grown up. As the children of the nobles who own the castle, they've spent as much time exploring as they have on their lessons, even if their rather boring mother would prefer otherwise. 

So they're quite surprised when they discover Meg, an ornery scribe, who writes and illustrates the castle's proclamations and invitations in the castle basement. Although at first they have their doubts about Meg and her stories, she soon sweeps them up in an unbelievable tale about when she was a girl and a dragon lived in the castle, a tale full of adventure, danger, friendship, and love. Perhaps most unbelievably of all, it's about Emily and Thomas's mother--and once, long ago, she and Meg were friends. 

Now, though, they haven't spoken in years. And as Emily and Thomas hear more of Meg's story, they formulate a plan to reunite the friends once more. 

I couldn't help but love A Dragon Used to Live Here. With whimsical pen illustrations and a clever, witty storyline and characters, this book is perfect both to read independently or as a read-aloud. I really enjoyed the 'story within a story' format of the book; Meg's tale about her and Emily and Thomas's parents never felt awkward or out of place, instead integrated naturally into the story's dialogue in a way which helped move the book keep moving at a fast pace. With a quirky twist on the familiar elements of classic fairytales and strong characters, I highly recommend A Dragon Used to Live Here to readers ages seven and up, particularly as a read-aloud book. 

By Nico

For as long as she can remember, Cordelia and her fellow triplets have been hidden deep in the enchanted forest, protected by their mom from the dangers she insists are beyond its walls--dangers she's too secretive to tell them the truth about. But Cordelia has always found her own ways to escape, because she can turn into any animal she chooses, and flying over the wall in bird-shape to explore the forest is one of her favorite pastimes. 

All that changes when unfamiliar soldiers encroach on Cordelia's home, kidnapping her mom and older brother and leaving the triplets fleeing deep into the forest. It turns out that one of them is the heir to the throne of the kingdom beyond the forest--but no one knows which of them is eldest, and their mom refuges to divulge the truth. And with good reason: ever since the magical Raven Crown broke, battle after battle has broken out over who holds the throne, and no ruler has survived more than a few years. 

Fleeing is the only way for Cordelia and her siblings to survive, but she swiftly realizes that their mom was keeping other secrets, too--and that ending the kingdom's constant conflict might be the only way to ensure her family's safety. Can Cordelia transform not just into animals, but into a hero? 

​I've loved some of Stephanie Burgis's earlier middle-grade fantasy novels, including The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, and so I was excited to read this one! I wasn't disappointed. The magic system managed to be both familiar and unique, with Burgis's strong descriptions and very practical day-to-day applications making it feel distinct and creative. I particularly liked Cordelia's ability to transform--the way her abilities were altered and limited by the different shapes she took, and the fluidity of her transformations, were especially intriguing. She and her siblings were all strong characters, and the way they played off one another was delightful; although they easily could've felt like classic 'very different' siblings, their dynamic was so realistic it brought them to life. I recommend The Raven Heir to readers ages nine and up, particularly those who like sibling relationships and fantasy quests. 

By Nico

Lark Mairen knows that Fae magic is dangerous. In fact, she's far better acquainted with it than most--for generations, her family has raised the Shadowbred horses ridden by humans and Fae alike in the twice-yearly Wild Hunt, a ritual that chases stray magic from the border between their worlds and maintains their long-held peace. 

But when her beloved older brother, Galin, disappears in the wake of the Wild Hunt, trusting a Fae boy called Rook is Lark's only hope of saving him. Yes, Fae bargains are dangerous, but Lark is willing to do anything to get Galin back, even fixing a mysterious, shattered clock which everyone seems to be searching for. 

Except as unrest grows between the worlds and Lark begins to realize not all is well in the Fae world, she might be the only one who's brave enough to stop it--particularly when she understands the real reason Galin disappeared. 

Perfect for lovers of middle-grade fantasy which is both familiar and unique, Lark and the Wild Hunt was a fantastic read. The worldbuilding was detailed and interesting; from the Shadowbred horses to the clock Lark repairs, the setting was engrossing and fully imagined. I particularly loved the Fae and their world, which was whimsical and mysterious and never predictable in the best possible way. Lark's love for Galin and determination propel the story forward, and she and the other characters--especially Galin and Rook--kept surprising me, creating twists when I least expected them. Adam's awesome twist on the lost family trope was definitely one of the story's highlights! I highly recommend Lark and the Wild Hunt ​to readers ages nine and up. 

By Nico

Nic Blake is a Manifestor—which, up until now, hasn’t meant a whole lot other than always needing to move when Unremarkable, non-magical humans figure out that there’s something weird about her and her dad. But today is Nic’s twelfth birthday, and she’s hoping that the hellhound pup her dad gives her isn’t the only present he’s planning. She’s been asking him to teach her how to use her magic for years, and maybe now he’ll deem her old enough.

But before she can start pestering her dad again, Nic’s life is utterly upended when her favorite author and a mysterious women crash into her life—and bring the Remarkable police not far behind them. With her dad imprisoned for a crime Nic’s certain he couldn’t have committed and no idea who to go to, Nic teams up with her Unremarkable best friend and a twin brother she never knew she had to clear her dad’s name the only way she knows how—by finding the weapon the Remarkables think he stole before he's sentenced to a terrible fate.

Pursued by the Remarkable police, Nic and her friends must uncover the truth about everyone from a resentful ex-Chosen One to a group of dangerous, magic-wielding Unremarkables if she wants to save her dad in time—but that might mean learning truths about herself she’d have rather stayed hidden.

​Witty, fast-paced, and exciting, Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy was utterly awesome. Nic is a fiery, fierce, adventurous heroine who I couldn’t help but love; her determination and passion drive the story through all its twists, and I’m so glad I get to follow her through more books in the series! The supporting cast particularly shone as well, especially the adults like Nic’s parents and the ex-Chosen One (one of my personal favorites!), who felt in some ways as fleshed out and vivid as the story’s protagonists. From the first few chapters there was clearly so much depth to their history and stories, and I can’t wait to get to know all of them better in the sequel. As someone who loves subverted tropes, I particularly enjoyed Thomas’s reimagining of the classic Chosen One into something unique and far more interesting, bringing extra depth to a tale that raised interesting questions about the way we tell stories. Indeed, the unexpected depth to what easily could’ve been a straightforward story was part of why I loved it so much; as in Thomas’s other books, she doesn’t shy away from the reality of being a Black kid in America, an honesty seen too rarely in contemporary fantasy novels that only became more powerful through Nic’s indignance that that the Remarkables didn’t use their magic to help Unremarkables in the larger world. Although very different from Angie Thomas’s other books, it shares their self-awareness, powerfully realistic characters, and engrossing writing—all the hallmarks of what make Thomas’s books so amazing. Action-packed and clever, I highly recommend The Manifestor Prophecy to readers ages nine and up. ​

​By Nico

Everyone believes that Quinton Peters is dead, but his younger sister, Amari, has never been convinced. He just disappeared--she's sure he's out there somewhere. So when she discovers a suitcase from Quinton with her name on it--and an invitation inside from somewhere called the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs--she's certain that whatever it means, it holds the key to discovering what really happened to Quinton. 

But the Bureau, an organization which keeps magic and the magical world hidden from everyone else, isn't exactly handing out information about the disappearance of one its top agents--even if Amari is his sister. It quickly becomes clear that if Amari is going to learn what really happened to Quinton, she's going to have to compete for a spot in the Bureau against far more experienced candidates--not all of whom think Amari deserves a place here at all. 

Amari must forge some unlikely friendships and uncover the plans of one of the most dangerous magicians of all time if she wants to find a place at the Bureau, and learn what really happened to Quinton. But doing so may destroy her tentative acceptance in the Bureau--and keep her from seeing the most perilous deception of all. 

I've heard so much about Amari and the Night Brothers​, and I'm so glad I finally read it--it not only lived up to my high expectations, but exceeded them. Many of Amari's story elements are familiar, but Alston's strong characters and absorbing world-building make them feel utterly new, creating an exciting page-turner that left me wishing I already had book two. I utterly loved this world--full of small, quirky details and stunning descriptions, I was completely engrossed in the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Its flaws and prejudices made it deeper and layered, and helped it feel far more realistic than an idealistically perfect society. Amari's determination and love for Quinton truly drive this story, and I'm glad I'll be able to enjoy more books about her--and the supporting cast (particularly Elsie and Dylan), who are equally awesome! This story had more than one twist that truly surprised me, and I loved how the mystery of what really happened to Quinton unfolds. I highly recommend Amari and the Night Brothers to readers ages ten and up who love fantasy books full of clever plotting and strong characters. 

​By Nico

Every magical school needs a good beastkeeper--and Inglenook School of Magic is no exception. Twelve-year-old Autumn Malog's family has cared for Inglenook's beasts for generations, and she's grown up looking after dragons protecting their well-cared-for gardens and striking up a friendship with the boggart, one of Inglenook's most mysterious and temperamental creatures. But ever since her twin brother, Winter, went missing last year, everything has been different. Everyone else believes he's dead, devoured long ago by the ferocious Hollow Dragon, but Autumn has never been convinced. She's certain he's alive somewhere, and she's spent every moment since trying to figure out what really happened to him. And she's sure she saw him in one of Inglenook's mirrors...

Autumn doesn't have any real clues, though--not until Cai Morrigan, the Inglenook student prophecized to defeat the Hollow Dragon, agrees to help her find Winter. But nothing is as it seems, and as Autumn and Cai follow a trail of clues leading from the Hollow Dragon's forest to within the walls of Inglenook School, they must also uncover its far deeper secrets before it is too late--for Winter, and for all of them. 

The School Between Winter and Fairyland is a fast-paced fantasy novel that puts a new twist on the classic tale of the Chosen One. The worldbuilding is excellent, full of small details--like the gardening dragons--that make the setting unique and interesting. I particularly liked the different creatures that Autumn's family cares for, which are all drawn from various mythology but with a new spin on their characteristics and personalities. The characters are also excellent, particularly Cai--I've read a lot of stories with Chosen Ones, but Fawcett's twist on this trope is different in the best possible way! I recommend The School Between Winter and Fairyland to readers ages nine and up, particularly those who enjoy books about magic schools. 

By Nico
​
Mayhap Ballanstain knows she must always obey her parents' four last rules:
 
Do not leave the house.
Do not go into the grass.
Wait for us.
Sleep darkly.

Those last words from sisters Mayhap, Winnow, and Pavoinne Ballanstain have been framed on the wall of their bedroom since their parents disappeared into the strange, swaying silver grass which surrounds Straygarden Place. But Mayhap would have known better than to enter the grass even without the warning: it is thick and strange, reaching to the roof and slipping in through open windows and unattended keyholes.

Do not leave the house.

Mayhap and her sisters have never had a reason to leave Straygarden Place. The house provides for their every need: making them food, dressing them in the morning, and even giving them droomhunds so that they can sleep without the blinding white light which disturbs the dreams of any Ballanstain.
Do not go into the grass.

But when Mayhap's older sister, Winnow, does just that--and returns dramatically changed--Mayhap must learn the truth about Straygarden Place, their parents, and herself.

Wait for us.
Sleep darkly.

Having read and loved Hayley Chewins's first novel, The Turnaway Girls, I found myself with high expectations for The Sisters of Straygarden Place--and it exceeded them all. The Sisters of Straygarden Place blew me away, its immersive, expansive prose pulling me into it from the first page to an atmospheric world full of floating trees and silver grass and strange, unquenchable magic and twined with mystery. There was nowhere where this book felt slow or confusing--indeed, any time where this book was anything less than engrossing, twisting, and full of hidden magic. It brims with the strange and the unexpected, with startling revelations and brilliant imagery, but what drives it are the underlying threads of discovery and emotion which make Mayhap--indeed, all the characters--shine so brightly. They feel so real I could touch them and talk to them, and I knew and believed in every one of them by the end of this story. I highly recommend The Sisters of Straygarden Place to readers ages ten and up, particularly those who find atmosphere and characters crucial to a story as well as a plot full of the startling and beautiful. 

By Lina

Omar has lived in a Dadaab, a Somalian refugee camp, for most of his life, and he can hardly remember a time before he lived in the A3 block, in the tent he shares with his little brother Hassan across the road from their guardian, Fatuma, making meals out of the scant rations and waiting for the day when he, Hassan and Fatuma will be selected to leave for America, where everyone is rich. Where he won’t have to sleep on the ground anymore. Where he can get medicine for Hassan, who barely speaks and used to get terrifying seizures. Where his life can really start. 

When you live in a refugee camp, you spend a lot of time waiting. But that doesn’t mean Omar isn’t busy–he gathers water, plays soccer with his friends, tells stories to Hassan, and studies with his friends Jeri, Maryam, and Nimo. And he’s never stopped looking for his mother, who he hasn’t seen since fighting broke out in his village when he was a little boy. 

As he grows up, Omar experiences danger, disappointment, and the fear that he’ll never leave Dadaab. Yet he also learns that in a world where he sometimes feels powerless, the loyalty and love that connect him with Hassan and Fatuma, his friends, and his community have a power of their own. 

I don’t usually read graphic novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one, a story of growing up that is both universal and powerfully unique. 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. (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 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 would highly recommend When the Stars Are Scattered to readers ages nine and up, especially for books groups and discussions. 

By Lina

​Former best friends Cora Hamed and Quinn McCauley haven't talked in almost a year. That's how long it has been since Cora's older sister Mabel was killed in a school shooting, a tragedy made even worse by the fact that the shooter was Quinn's older brother. 

What sort of traitorous sister would talk to Quinn after that? Cora ignores Quinn completely, throwing herself into school and Quiz Bowl practice--and trying not to think about Mabel's lip gloss and stuffed animals in their shared bedroom which she can't bring herself to pack up. 

No one at school talks to Quinn, and no one in Quinn's family talks about what Parker did. Her mom blames her dad for owning guns in the first place, her dad blames the terrible things Parker read online, and secretly, Quinn is certain that it was her all own fault for not preventing the shooting when she had the chance. It's been almost a year since it happened, and when she thinks of her brother, Quinn is still torn between horror and fury and treacherous threads of love for the boy Parker used to be. 

But soon, none of that will matter. Because Quinn has a plan to fix everything. The only problem is that she needs help from someone else to execute it, someone she trusts who is smart and imaginative and would understand just how important this is. And there's only one person who fits that description.

Cora is a very smart, very logical person who is very sure that she will never be friends with Quinn ever again, and at first she ignores Quinn's attempts to reach out. Besides--time travel? Changing the past to fix the future? It seems impossible--but maybe only the impossible can make things right. And working with Quinn on her plan isn't betraying Mabel, since they're trying to save her, right?

As Cora and Quinn brainstorm, research, and experiment, flickers of their old friendship begin to resurface, and their growing closeness seems like less and less of a problem--after all, soon enough they'll have fixed the past, and there'll be no reason for them not be be best friends anymore. But wormholes are considerably harder to come by than they expected, as is overcoming the grief, anger, and blame which is still between them.  

Time travel itself might not fix everything. But trying to figure it out might just be the key to finally beginning to heal. 

The Shape of Thunder both exceeded my high expectations, and was completely different from what I was expecting, and its exploration of loss, friendship, grief, and healing is original, timely, and ultimately hopeful. The plot is relatively straightforward, yet the story has striking depth, and is written with compassion, eloquence, and a laudable willingness to explore complexity. I really loved Cora and Quinn, each of whom are flawed and struggling, but also full of love, loyalty, and determination, and are distinct both from each other and from the protagonists in the many other books I've read. The supporting characters are also excellent, and Mabel and Parker (or rather, the other characters' memories of them) are particularly skillfully portrayed and interestingly layered. The Shape of Thunder is an excellent selection for book groups or discussion, and the Author's Note includes resources for how to get involved in ending gun violence. A heartbreaking, beautiful story about friendship, tragedy, the love which can tear us apart, and the love which puts us back together again, I would highly recommend The Shape of Thunder to readers ages ten and up. 

Note: Jasmine Warga is also the author of Other Words for Home. 

By Lina

Aspiring writer Jo March is excited to start eighth grade, but she's also unsure what the year is going to bring--how might she have changed by the time school is over? After all, she feels like a much different "J" than she was last year. But with her sisters Meg, Beth, and Amy at her side, she knows she can face anything--even if Amy is irritating sometimes. 

And the year does turn out to be a good one. The four sisters have fun creating Halloween costumes, decorating hospital rooms for the holidays with their mom, Marmee, telling ghost stories, and more--even if worries about their dad, who's deployed overseas, and Beth, who's in remission, are always present. And when their neighbor's grandson Laurie moves in partway through the school year, they quickly discover a new friend to include in their adventures. Jo is even recruited for her school's newspaper club by a girl named Freddie, where she hones her writing skills and meets other writers. 

Jo and Freddie bond over their shared love of writing, and Jo begins to realize that she's attracted to her new friend, which feels....confusing. Things are made even more so when Laurie tells Jo that he likes her--she doesn't want to ruin their friendship, but she knows she simply isn't attracted to him. 

Jo's family has always been close and supportive--but will they treat Jo differently if she tells them she's gay? What if her world does change this year after all? And is change necessarily a bad thing?

There have been many adaptations of Little Women over the years, but while I was at first a bit dubious about the idea of having a version set in the modern day, I ended up really enjoying Jo. The characters are distinct, realistic, and relatable, and I really appreciated how Gros deftly makes them believable modern kids while staying true to Lousia May Alcott's original characters (I especially liked Jo, a talented budding writer and caring, loyal sister who's determined to be her true self). Similarly, many of the themes and story threads from Little Women are included, but their transposition into the current day feels natural and not at all jarring. I don't read graphic novels too often, but I quite enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to readers who usually read traditionally formatted books as well as graphic novel fans. I read it in a book group where we compared and discussed several different versions of Little Women (both books and movies), which was super interesting--I would highly recommend doing so to other book groups! Jo is an excellent pick for readers ages nine and up looking for a fast, fun, satisfying read.