Flamer by Mike Curato

Summary from Goodreads:

Award-winning author and artist Mike Curato draws on his own experiences in Flamer, his debut graphic novel, telling a difficult story with humor, compassion, and love.

I know I’m not gay. Gay boys like other boys. I hate boys. They’re mean, and scary, and they’re always destroying something or saying something dumb or both.

I hate that word. Gay. It makes me feel . . . unsafe.

It's the summer between middle school and high school, and Aiden Navarro is away at camp. Everyone's going through changes—but for Aiden, the stakes feel higher. As he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can't stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.

Review:

This book is stunning. The artwork just called to me in a way only some graphic novel artwork does. When I learned that this author/artist is the same one who does the picture books, Little Elliot, it all weirdly clicked for me. I love those books too! I remember telling my friend at a library conference, after picking up Little Elliot, Big City, that this author was going to be HUGE. I just knew it. As a children’s librarian, you sometimes just know which books are going to make it and take off.

I’m so excited to see Curato branch out. This was powerful stuff. Some of it was hard for me to read. There were moments I had to take a breath and put the book down. It got dark. When you’re a kid and it’s not just one bad thing, but several in a row, and each feels like the end of the world….I know what it feels like. I’ve never been that kid alone at the chapel with a knife, but my heart ached for him. And I can see so many hearts aching for him and relating to him.

Not all of this is dark. Some of it is boating under the stars and camping. Some of it is inappropriate dick jokes and camping with friends. Some of it is guys growing up in the woods and figuring out who they are. But some of it is feeling all alone and not knowing how to move forward. And some of it is just learning to go one day at a time and seeing that things aren’t always as bad as they originally seem.

What really makes this book stand out is the art. Curato captures facial expressions and humor so well. It’s like he’s been doing this for years. It was like reading a real pro (like Jennifer L. Holm or Lincoln Peirce). And then there’s other pages, where you get these backdrops of the scenery, and it’s beautiful, like something from a fantasy graphic novel. And then comes in the fire metaphor adding a whole other layer. I keep going back to flip through the pages. That’s how visually appealing the whole thing is. It’ s not every day I’d want to return to such a story. 

This was a dark, yet at times humorous story about growing up. It’s not what I expected. It’s both powerful and beautiful. I can see this story helping a lot of people. The artwork is so impressive, I keep returning to it, wanting to look at it some more. I give it a 9/10.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Summary from Goodreads:

After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America's favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.

Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn't expect? That she may just find inspiration-and love-in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn't fit, maybe it's time to design your own.

Review:

I don’t read a lot of Adult Fiction. And when I do, it isn’t typically Romance. However, I love Julie Murphy. She has yet to write anything I haven’t liked. And while I’m not a huge Cinderella fan, I do tend to like Project Runway-oriented shows and stories, so when I got this book for review, it called to me. I also love the cover. I love everything about a plus-size Cinderella. I wish there was a character like Cindy on a show like the Bachelor.

This all being said, I really enjoyed reading this. I needed something light and fluffy. This fit the bill. It reminded me a little of the YA series: The Selection, where I ended up liking more of the contestants than I thought I would. I didn’t hate Cindy’ s step mom or step sisters like you usually do in Cinderella retellings, and this was nice. There was a little more female empowerment and a little less slut-shaming than you tend to see in reality shows about finding Mr. Right.

I’m not sure all the “stolen” moments between the love interests were believable. Like they seemed to get away with quite a bit. With that many cameras and crew people around, would sneaking into hiding places so many times really have been possible? I’m not so sure. Also, there love was bit instant for my liking. I found Cindy way more interesting than Henry. I found Henry’s backstory and family interesting, but all of his time with Cindy seemed kind of generic. I get that a lot of it was on TV, but still…

There’s a lot of little fun details in this book. It was fun reading the behind the camera moments of things, like how the show set everything up -from the dates, to the make up. I liked reading about the crew and how they bet on the girls. The fashion tidbits were fun.  I guess all in all, this was just a fun, light read (though there is a lot of mention of Cindy losing her dad).

Was there anything that really made it stand out as Adult instead of YA? Not really (besides the age of the main character, who was just out of college). And okay, there’s some adult relationship stuff, but it’s not really present. It read very much like a YA book in that regard. I can see a lot of Murphy’s YA fans loving this. I give it a 7/10.

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Summary from Goodreads:

Wunder is gathering in Nevermoor ...

Morrigan Crow may have defeated her deadly curse, passed the dangerous trials and joined the mystical Wundrous Society, but her journey into Nevermoor and all its secrets has only just begun. And she is fast learning that not all magic is used for good.

Morrigan Crow has been invited to join the prestigious Wundrous Society, a place that promised her friendship, protection and belonging for life. She's hoping for an education full of wunder, imagination and discovery - but all the Society want to teach her is how evil Wundersmiths are. And someone is blackmailing Morrigan's unit, turning her last few loyal friends against her. Has Morrigan escaped from being the cursed child of Wintersea only to become the most hated figure in Nevermoor?

Worst of all, people have started to go missing. The fantastical city of Nevermoor, once a place of magic and safety, is now riddled with fear and suspicion…

Review:

I was surprised by how much I loved this book. I really enjoyed the first book, but I was putting off reading book 2 for some reason. I guess it’s often the case that sequels are typically weaker than their predecessors in the kid lit world of fantasy novels. I was pleasantly surprised though here. The world building continued to impress me. It didn’t end with book one. Now that the chosen few kids passed the trials, we really get to see what the kids learn in this crazy, magical world of secret abilities.

And oddly, this book 2 reminded me a lot of Chamber of Secrets. There was this same sense of prejudice and ostracizing going on. Morrigan, like Harry, has to prove herself over and over, in a world where it just seems like it would be so much easier for her to be evil. I found myself relating to Morrigan. Who hasn’t been judged for something they cannot control?

On top of that, this is a book where other strong friendships are formed. I loved watching Morrigan branch out a bit. Of course the school, the transportation, and the world were fascinating. But, behind it all, were the relationships. The families and the friendships were just so good. There’s also the overarching villain and supspenseful mystery that involved teachers, creatures, and eventually peers being kidnapped.

There’s mythological markets, secret passages, insane maps, rescue missions, blackmailing, bullying, dragons, propaganda, and Wunder. It’s hard to put this book down. I cannot wait to read the next installment. I already ordered it, so it’s just a matter of time at this point.

All in all, I highly recommend these books to fans of middle grade fantasy. I give this one a 9/10.

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo

Summary from Goodreads:

From two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall comes a fantastical meditation on fate, love, and the power of words to spell the world.

We shall all, in the end, be led to where we belong. We shall all, in the end, find our way home.

In a time of war, a mysterious child appears at the monastery of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing. Gentle Brother Edik finds the girl, Beatryce, curled in a stall, wracked with fever, coated in dirt and blood, and holding fast to the ear of Answelica the goat. As the monk nurses Beatryce to health, he uncovers her dangerous secret, one that imperils them all--for the king of the land seeks just such a girl, and Brother Edik, who penned the prophecy himself, knows why.

And so it is that a girl with a head full of stories--powerful tales-within-the-tale of queens and kings, mermaids and wolves--ventures into a dark wood in search of the castle of one who wishes her dead. But Beatryce knows that, should she lose her way, those who love her--a wild-eyed monk, a man who had once been king, a boy with a terrible sword, and a goat with a head as hard as stone--will never give up searching for her, and to know this is to know everything. With its timeless themes, unforgettable cast, and magical medieval setting, Kate DiCamillo's lyrical tale, paired with resonant black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall, is a true collaboration between masters.

Review:

At this point, Kate DiCamillo could write anything and I’d buy it for my library and most likely want to own it too. I loved this. There’s something so special about the characters DiCamillo writes. She can write believable children who dream about stories and mermaids. And she can write about laughing kings who have abandoned the throne for the woods. Then there’s monks who write prophecies who have soft spots for girls who aren’t supposed to know how to read. And you can’t help but love all of them! How does she do that?

At first, this book comes off as something light. You think it’s about monks who are afraid of a tenacious goat and a girl with amnesia. But, then it gets seriously dark. There are robbers who kill parents. And there are soldiers who kill children. And you learn that Beatryce can’t remember because she wants to not remember the terrible things of her past.

But, there is also a monk who risks everything to help a child. And an old king who risks coming back the life he despises to save the child. There’s humorous goat that protects the motley crew. There’s also the errand boy who learns to read. Beatrice learns the power of words and friendship. And I guess this story has a little bit of everything: lightness, darkness, adventure, humor, love, friendship, family, prophecy, and power.

There’s a moment when Beatryce tells the evil King in power a story about a mermaid and I can’t help but think about Scheherazade. There are certain classical elements to this story that also remind me of The Canterbury Tales and the kids book The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz; however, this book is all it’s own. I can see kids discussing this one for years to come. I give it 10/10.

As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson

Summary from Goodreads:

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES
The highly-anticipated finale to the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series, the instant bestsellers that read like your favorite true crime podcast or show. By the end of this mystery series, you'll never think of good girls the same way again...

Pip is about to head to college, but she is still haunted by the way her last investigation ended. She’s used to online death threats in the wake of her viral true-crime podcast, but she can’t help noticing an anonymous person who keeps asking her: Who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears?

Soon the threats escalate and Pip realizes that someone is following her in real life. When she starts to find connections between her stalker and a local serial killer caught six years ago, she wonders if maybe the wrong man is behind bars.

Police refuse to act, so Pip has only one choice: find the suspect herself—or be the next victim. As the deadly game plays out, Pip discovers that everything in her small town is coming full circle . . .and if she doesn’t find the answers, this time she will be the one who disappears. . .

Review:

I DEVOURED this book. I’m so bummed that the series is over now….I think it’s over? The way that this author could connect 3 different cases together was insane. Also, the character growth was remarkable. Poor Pip had serious PTSD after book 2, and who could blame her? But, for the police to not take her seriously again after everything she was correct about before? I was so angry for her. I didn’t blame her for her feelings in this book.

However, this book takes on a whole new level of darkness that I was not expecting. The first half reads like the others in the series, where Pip solves a mystery (and rather quickly because this one involves her). But the second half of the book is about something else entirely, and I feel like I can’t exactly give away what it is here without a HUGE spoiler. Just know that this book is in a definite gray zone when it comes to a moralistic black and white, and I was here for it.

After Pip solves the mystery, that involved stalkers, kidnappings, trophies, and duct tape, the second half of the book is un-put-down-able. I literally told Nick at one point I’d be late for dinner. I couldn’t stop reading. Think about a high suspense morally ambiguous show on Netflix, multiply it times 20, and then add your favorite characters from this series. It was that good.

Again, I can’t really say too much here without giving anything way. Just know that it’s super high suspense and really good. I recommend these books to fans of Truly Devious and E. Lockhart and Courtney Summers. All in all, I give this one a 10/10.

Pax: Journey Home by Sarah Pennypacker

Summary from Goodreads:

From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes the long-awaited sequel to Pax; this is a gorgeously crafted, utterly compelling novel about chosen families and the healing power of love.

It’s been a year since Peter and his pet fox, Pax, have seen each other. Once inseparable, they now lead very different lives. Pax and his mate, Bristle, have welcomed a litter of kits they must protect in a dangerous world. Meanwhile Peter—newly orphaned after the war, wracked with guilt and loneliness—leaves his adopted home with Vola to join the Water Warriors, a group of people determined to heal the land from the scars of the war.

When one of Pax's kits falls desperately ill, he turns to the one human he knows he can trust. And no matter how hard Peter tries to harden his broken heart, love keeps finding a way in. Now both boy and fox find themselves on journeys toward home, healing—and each other, once again.

Review:

Both the first Pax book, and this sequel surprised me in pleasant ways. I’m not typically an animal book reader. But, I love these books. There’s something so clever about the way Pennypacker writes the point of view of Pax. If you’ve ever owned a dog, and thought they could just read your mind….it’s like that, but even more believable.

Anyway, it did take me a little longer to get into this book. It was somehow darker and more intense than Book 1. Peter had a lot to go through, and I found myself enjoying the fox chapters more, which are much briefer and more hopeful. Pax has no idea that the water is polluted. And he wouldn’t just leave his new family like Peter decides to do. I guess part of my initial problem was that I was angry with Peter and I wasn’t sure I wanted a second book where I was just going to be upset with the kid the whole time.

I’m glad I kept reading though. Of course I wasn’t upset with him the whole time. Of course, my heart ached for Peter and I wanted him to get through all of his grief and find help and friendships along the way. Then there’s the whole wanting him to reunite with his furry friend. The moment they see each other again for the first time was just magic. I pretty much clutched the library book to my chest and took a deep breath before I could keep reading.

Maybe this book has a deeper meaning for me now that I have a dog again. Maybe I connected to it so strongly because my community has terrible water, and this past year my husband and I had spent some money on a fancy water filter. Regardless, I found myself really connecting to this book and feeling sad when it was over -the true markings of a wonderful kids book. The few sweet illustrations by Jon Klassen are interwoven between the pages again. Writing this review now, after having read two more books since, I still feel drawn to this book. It’s just so heart-warming.

You cannot read this book without reading the first Pax book. And if you haven’t read Pax, what are you waiting for? I give this sequel a 9/10.

City of Illusion by Victoria Ying

Summary from Goodreads:

It's been a peaceful three months since Hannah Morgan and Ever Barnes saved their beloved Oskars, and activated the powers of their city's Megantic. Ever now lives with the Morgan family and the two children watch over and learn more about Oskar (the Megantic) every day.

But their conflict-free days come to an abrupt end when Mr. Morgan is captured while on a family trip to nearby Alexios, and the kids get into a spat with a group of street magicians who con Hannah out of her pocket money. Chifa and Tanan were never planning to make friends while performing their tricks, but when Hannah and Ever learn of their connection to Vash, they realize there's much more at stake than a few coins.

If Hannah and Ever want to find out what Vash is hiding and save both Oskars and Alexios before time runs out, they'll have to learn to trust Chifa and Tanan, and most importantly, find a way to work together.

Review:

This was a fun sequel to City of Secrets. But, you definitely need to read the first book for this one to make sense. It didn’t amaze me like book 1 did, but it was still a book I finished in one sitting, and I can see kids loving it and finishing it up just as quickly.

What makes this book (and its predecessor) stand out is the artwork. The art is just stunning. After a couple pages you forget you are reading a book. It’s like you are watching an exceptionally well done anime.  The art did not lose any of its magic here. It still has the same magical effect.

I didn’t learn to love the new kids/characters as much as the originals. But, maybe I wasn’t supposed to. I guess it’s hard to love characters originally working with the bad guy…I feel like this book in large part exists as a way to give the reader more info about the world/cities it all takes place in. We learn more about the machines/robots. We learn about the mythology behind everything. And we learn more about Hannah’s and Ever’s parents’ involvement in things. But, as I’m learning with all kids adventure graphic novels, not enough is learned! I want more.

I loved all the scenes that took place on the farm. It was fun to watch the city kids experience a more rural lifestyle (even though they were visiting another city). And it was interesting getting the same princess/mythology story in so many different ways (through the artwork, the ballet, and the people). It’s clear that the author has a lot of this story mapped out. And I cannot wait to see where everything goes. All in all, I give this one an 8/10.