Book Review - The Queen of Nothing

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

The Queen of Nothing

by Holly Black

Jude Duarte, High Queen of Faerie, has been exiled by High King Carden to the mortal world until pardoned by the crown. When Jude’s twin sister Taryn shows up announcing her husband Locke is dead, she asks Jude to pretend to be her in the trail. Returning to Faerie is risky for Jude. If anybody discovers she isn’t Taryn, she could be killed for coming back before allowed. Jude, though, is eager to return, but her homecoming proves anything but simple.
Jude’s story that started in The Cruel Prince, and continued in The Wicked King does not disappoint in its ending. Characters that are loved and loved to be hated are back and true to form. There are many surprises throughout the book, including a few draw-dropping ones. A fantastical read that will have readers turning the pages to find out how it all ends.

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Book Review - Since You’ve Been Gone

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

Since You’ve Been Gone

by Morgan Matson

Emily has no idea where Sloane has gone. Her friend just disappeared without any warning or explanation. As Sloane was always the one planning what the girls would do, Emily feels lost without her. That is until a to-do list shows up in the mail from Sloane containing tasks like “Hug a Jamie” and “Steal Something.” Emily hopes that by doing completing Sloane’s challenges, she will get clues to what happened to her or that she will be there in the end. As Emily makes her way through the list, she finds herself growing and forming new relationships.

The story alternates between Emily’s life in the present without Sloane and memories of when Sloane, which helps support the feelings she has of not having her friend around. Even though Sloane leaves Emily without warning and no contact other than the letter, readers will find she is a great friend in the way her to-do list helps her. Those who Emily meets away are as superb as Emily. By the end of this book, readers will wish one of their friends would give them a list like Sloane gave Emily.

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Book Review - Game Changer

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Game Changer

by Tommy Greenwald

An incident at football camp has landed thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood in a coma. His family, friends, and classmates support Teddy and his recovery by flocking to his bedside and posting on an online page set-up for him. Teddy's teammates say what happened to Teddy was an accident, but others think there is more to the story. It doesn't help that some of the players are being slightly suspicious.

Multiple voices tell this story in various formats such as dialogue, texts, transcripts, newspaper articles, and posting on social media. Readers will be turning the page to find out what exactly happened to Teddy and if he will recover while trying to put the pieces together themselves. Despite many of the character's connection to football or questioning the safety of it, this is more than just a sports story.

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Book Review - The Art of Breaking Things

📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

The Art of Breaking Things

by Laura Sibson

Seventeen-year-old Skye wants to survive her senior year and get out of her hometown by way of art school. When her mom’s ex-boyfriend Dan pops back up into their lives, Skye’s plan slowly starts to change. Skye feels she needs to get away now more than ever, but how can she leave her sister Emma with him there? Something happened with Dan the last time he was around, something Skye hasn’t exactly shared. She’s spent the years since numbing the pain with drugs and alcohol, but now that he is back, something needs to change, and her art may be the key.

The Art of Breaking Things is a powerful story dealing with a difficult topic that isn’t for every reader. Dan hurt Skye in a way that no person should hurt another, especially when one is a child. The picture it paints about one’s life after abuse is heartbreaking and done brilliantly. Readers will feel for Skye and her struggle between sticking to her plan and wanting to protect her little sister.

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Book Review - The Losers Club

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

The Losers Club

by Andrew Clements

It's the first day of school and Alec has found himself in the principal's office for reading in class instead of paying attention. There, the principal informs Alec that summer school is in his future if he doesn't get his act together. When Alec's brother reminds him about attending the extended day program this year, Alec is excited. He thinks it means three uninterrupted hours of reading after school instead of reading in class. But recreational reading in the extended day program isn't an option, not unless Alec starts a club for it. To deter people away, Alec calls his reading club The Loser's Club, but things don't exactly go as Alec planned.

The Losers Club is an enjoyable read with wonderful and relatable characters. There is more to this story than just reading about kids reading. Alec also has to deal with several dilemmas. From dealing with a bully named Kent (especially since they both have a crush on Nina) and making sure his grades are high enough to avoid the homework room. Whether you are a book lover like Alec or not, you should give this book a try.

As this story contains many readers, there are many books mentioned within, with a complete list in the back

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Book Review - Suggested Reading

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Suggested Reading
by Dave Connis
Clara Evans shouldn't be reading her private school librarian's e-mail, but she does. In it, she discovers a list of "prohibited media" that will be put into effect this school year. As an avid reader and lover of books, she is shocked and angered by this list. After pulling the books from the shelves, she is supposed to distribute them to her tiny libraries. Instead, she opens an underground library right under the administration's nose. Now she is circulating dozens of banned books to her friends and classmates, developing new relationships all because of the books. When a horrible incident occurs, Clara blames herself and begins to wonder if maybe the books should be banned.
Suggested Reading is a fictional story, but many of the books on the school's list are often frequently challenged. This has happened in school (public and private) as well as public libraries across the country. When it comes to Clara, she isn't the most likable character, but any reader will feel her anger of the prohibited media list. Her friends and allies she finds along the way are all more enjoyable than Clara and help shape the story.

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Book Review - Allegedly

📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

Allegedly

by Tiffany Jackson

When she was nine-years-old, Mary B. Addison killed a three-month-old baby, allegedly. As she wasn’t saying much, the media filled in the blanks and blasted the main piece of news, a black girl killed a white baby while under the care of the black girl’s mother. Convicted by the jury, Mary was sent to Juvie then released to a group home. Now at sixteen, Mary finds herself pregnant. Upon hearing that there is a good chance her child will be taken from her once born, Mary decides it may be time to speak up and tell the truth about what happened that night. However, she doesn’t know what to do when her fate lies in the hands of somebody who can’t be trusted, her mother.

A compelling read that will have readers wondering what’s going to happen next. Jackson wonderfully writes Mary in a way where readers will be indecisive. They won’t know if they should feel for her and her situation or believe she did it and that she is getting what she deserves. Despite everything, Mary is an inspiring character in that she isn’t trying to let her situation keep her down. Readers should be aware that there are some sensitive topics, as well as content they may find inappropriate for them and foul language throughout the book.

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Book Review - Drama

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Drama

by Raina Telgemeier

Callie may not sing well enough to be in her school’s musical, but that doesn’t stop her from being a part of the production by doing stage crew. As the cast and crew get ready for Moon over Mississippi, the drama unfolds both on and off stage. Even Callie is involved with romantic excitement involving a long-time crush, and twin brothers who are new to the school.

Fun and entertaining this story will keep you guessing what will happen until the very end. The author has filled the book with so many likable characters, with Callie at the heart of the story. There are some awkward moments throughout the story, but it makes the story feel more realistic. Delightful illustrations help tell the excellent story. Fans of Raina Telgemeier’s other works, who won’t be turned away by the LGBT+ characters, should be sure to read this book.

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Book Review - The Poppy War

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Book Review from the Bookster

Title: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang & Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller

Book Edition: Audiobook (Physical Copy Available)

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, & War. (Magic Realism)

Warnings: Violence, drugs, and child soldiers.

Series: Yes. Book 1 of 2 of the Poppy War.

The Poppy War is a dark read with a focus on religion, social class, and politics. The book reads like a pseudo history book based in Asia and when ruling families still controlled the empire. When the religion was polytheistic and changed regionally so that these gods were brought to life by what the region focused on the most (a fishing region has a god specific in help of fishing that they prayed and gave tribute too). The origin stories of the gods and heroes are a major part of the world and where the possible magic realism comes in. As the main character discovers through meditation and spiritual awakening the world of the gods. Although, her actions do have real world effect it’s not the majority belief that magic or the god’s ability are real. (Similar to the Boxer rebellion were they trained themselves spirtualy to be able to fight against those that where conquering their land. Read-Alike: Boxer by Gene Luen Yang.)

The main character Rin lived in the country side as a war orphan putting her in the lowest of the social scale in a society where upward progression is pretty much a fantasy that the nobles use to keep the lower class from rebelling. By scoring high on the Keju she becomes an enemy to the social order and is dragged in to politics of the land.      

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*Please note UPL does not currently own this title but those interested are encouraged to ask about inter-loaning it from another library. Also, Bookster listened to this on a different platform and it is not currently available through Nassau Digital Library.

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Book Review - Truly Devious

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Truly Devious

by Maureen Johnson

Aspiring detective and true-crime enthusiast Stevie Bell is thrilled to be attending Ellingham Academy in Vermont. The school was founded in the early 20^th century by Albert Ellingham and was closed temporarily when his wife Iris and daughter Alice went missing - the only clue a riddled letter signed Truly Devious. The case has remained unsolved and Stevie is determined to solve it. As Stevie tries to work the case, new mysteries seem to unfold.

If you are looking for a great mystery read, look no further. This page-turner will have readers wondering what happened to Iris and Alice. Stevie’s story in the present time alternates with a storyline at the time of the disappearance. The first in a planned series (The Vanishing Stair is out now) means not everything, if anything at all, is concluded in this book. There is still though, many twists and turns to keep readers occupied.

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Book Review - Summoner: The Novice

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Book Review from the Bookster

Title: Summoner: The Novice by Taran Matharu & Narrated by Ralph Lister

Book Edition: Audiobook* (Physical Copy Available)

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, & supernatural

Warnings: Demons.

Series: Yes. Book 1 of 2 of the Summoner.

The Novice is a nice easy read for those who want a younger version of John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series. Based in the middle ages, orphan Fletcher goes on a journey of magic and discovery when he is given a book to summon demons. The ability to summon demons has its on math behind it and those the highest numbers are the best summoners. Fletcher is outcast in the town that he is raised in and outcast in summoning school he is brought to. As summoners are never found in the region he came from and if anyone found out about his criminal record he would everything.  

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*Please note the Bookster listened to this in audio not via Nassau Digital Doorway. The library does not currently own this title in audio form.

Book Theme Graphic - One Story Multiple Perspectives

YALSA 2019 Teens' Top Ten

The winners of the 2019 Teen's Top Ten have been announced!

How many have you read?

Did your favorites make the top ten?

For more information click here!

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Book Review - Before I Let Go

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Before I Let Go

by Marieke Nijkamp

Shortly before Corey is set to return to the small Alaskan town she once called home, she learns that her best friend Kyra has drowned. Corey returns to attend Kyra's funeral, where she discovers the town she once knew has changed. The people there also seem to think that Kyra's death was meant to be.

Alternating between chapters of the present and before, this story is one you have to pay attention to. Readers will find themselves just as puzzled as Corey as to what is going on in the place she called home for so long and the people who still live there. Nijkamp also brilliantly set this story in a remote town, as any other location would not give this story the same feeling.

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Book Review - What Goes Up

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

What Goes Up

by Kate Kennedy

NASA’s top-secret Interworlds Agency (IA) is looking for recruits; Teen recruits to be exact. Rosa and Eddie are among the group of teens participating in a series of tests to join the program. When aliens from an alternate Earth show up, well, not in peace, Rosa and Eddie must travel to their planet along with two other recruits and their instructor Reg, to help save their own planet.

A fun, humorous, and entertaining science fiction novel. Rosa and Eddie differ from one another but make quite a pair. The other characters in the story are equally enjoyable. The dynamic between them all is done so brilliantly and readers may find themselves wishing to be among them.

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Book Theme Graphic - Mental Health: Break the Stigma

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Book Review - Love From A to Z

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Love From A to Z

by S.K. Ali

After getting suspended from school for confronting her racist teacher, Zayneb heads early to visit her aunt in Doha for spring break. Adam is also flying home to Doha, Qatar for spring break, with the secret that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November. When Zayneb is boarding the plane, Adam notices that she has a marvel and oddity journal just like him. The pair run into each other again when it turns out Zayneb’s aunt is friends with Adam’s family. Their chance encounter on the plane and seeing each other again is both a marvel and an oddity for each of them.

Zayneb and Adam’s perspectives are alternated to tell this tale. The format is unusual, as it is supposed to be a transcribed version of their journals with their marvel or oddity as the chapter heading. While both Zayneb and Adam can be intriguing at times, Adam’s sister easily steals the scenes she appears in. Some of the other characters are forgettable and may be confusing to keep track of. Zayneb is Muslim and of Middle Eastern descent, which causes her to deal a lot with various forms of racism throughout the book and her inability to stand for it is inspiring even if her direct actions aren’t the wisest.

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Book Review - A Blade So Black

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

A Blade So Black

by L.L. McKinney

Seventeen-year-old Alice Kingston is a Dreamwalker: fighting nightmares in Wonderland before they can cross the veil into the human world. Her mission began the night her father died and she was saved from a Nightmare that crossed over by Addison Hatta. Addison's job is to find people like Alice and train them to fight the Nightmares. For Alice, it isn’t so much the fighting that is challenging, but that her mother watches her like a hawk. When a mysterious person shows up claiming to be The Black Knight and poisons Addison, Alice finds herself on a life or death adventure to save him.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland mixed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this book, which is the first in a series, is one you’re likely to love or hate. Fans of Alice and her Wonderland adventures will love the Wonderland setting and nods to the original story. While some references may be lost on those unfamiliar with it, the story itself will be unaffected. This Alice is a rebellious, kick-butt, strong-willed black girl whom readers will root for.

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Book Review - Fresh Ink

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Fresh Ink

edited by Lamer Giles

A collection of diverse short stories written by young adult authors including Jason Reynolds, Melissa De La Cruz, Nicola Yoon, and its editor Lamer Giles. These stories are diverse in genre (realistic fiction, historical fiction, etc.), protagonists (various races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations), and style (prose, graphic novel and play).

For those who enjoy reading, but find themselves too busy with school to read a full length novel, this collection of short stories is one to pick up. Readers can read the entire collection or only those that interest them. Some readers may want to skip certain stories if they are uncomfortable with the topic as well. Every reader though is likely to find a story they find wonderful and enjoyable.

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Banned Books Weeks

Book Review - Totally Middle School

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Totally Middle School

edited by Betsy Groban

Lois Lowry, Katherine Paterson, Linda Sue Park, Gary D. Schmidt, and more shares stories of middle school and those of middle school age. Some stories are in prose, while others are in formats such as comic panels or poems. The characters and themes are also diverse despite the overall theme of middle school.

If you find yourself too busy to read a full-length novel with school going on, you may want to consider this collection of short stories. You don’t have to read them all and only read the ones that interest you. In fact, some stories are better off skipped over. However, Lois Lowry’s “Letters” Hena Khan's “How to Make S’mores”, and "TBH I Need HELP!!" by Katherine Paterson and Jordan Paterson are must-reads. The book is broken down into three sections Family, Friends and Fitting In, and Finding Yourself, so readers can get an idea about what the stories are about.

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