Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke

 

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Curse of the Specter Queen 

by Jenny Elder Moke

    Curse of the Specter Queen was a page turner that kept me up past my bedtime.  It's the story of Sam, Samantha, a young girl who works in her friend's family's rare book shop.  One day a mysterious package arrives and with it, a whole lot of trouble.  

    Sam and her friends must decipher a series of codes to uncover the mystery and save the world from a terrible monster.  Every chapter brings them farther from home and closer to danger.  Who can they trust?  

    Readers will enjoy getting to know Sam and her friends through their escapades that lead them from their home in rural Illinois, to a trip on the RMS Olympic to the streets of Dublin.  This book is appropriate for middle grade readers, yet will definitely appeal to young adults as well.  I have pre-ordered it for the library, and I hope you will too!

The Tragedy of Dane Riley by Kat Spears

 

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The Tragedy of Dane Riley 

by Kat Spears

    Spears is the master of character development and Dane Riley is no exception.  This modern look at Hamlet grabs the reader from the start and doesn't let go, even on the last page.  Dane is the kind of kid you want to bring home to fix him dinner; you want to wrap him in a bear hug and not let go.  His heartbreaking grief at the loss of his father coupled with his genuine attempts to navigate his senior year will have you calling your son just to tell him you love him!

    Caring about what happens to Dane isn't the only compelling reason to read The Tragedy of Dane Riley.  I also became attached to his crush, Ophelia, his friend group, the Extreme Sports Asians, and the coyote, which just may be the reincarnation of his Dad.  And even though I'm just as horrified as Dane that his Mom took up with his Dad's best friend, I could even sympathize with her wanting to have her happy son back.

    The Tragedy of Dane Riley is an edgy, honest look at depression, grief, loss and relationships that will have you cheering for the underdog!  I would recommend this book for high school students as it refers to underage drinking and drug use.  There is also a considerable, and appropriate, use of curse words.  

What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo

 

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What Big Teeth

By Rose Szabo

What Big Teeth is essentially a story about family.  When we meet Eleanor, she has been away at boarding school for so long that her memories of what it is like to live in the mansion at the edge of the sea with a house full of relatives is vague.  Vague, but unsettling.  Something doesn't seem quite right.  And there's a memory that's lingering in the corner of her subconscious.  Something that if she could remember, might help her understand why she was sent away in the first place.

As events unfold, we discover that being a Zarrin is dangerous and that everyone in the family has a secret identity.  What is Eleanor's?  When her grandmother dies, she sets about trying to figure that out.  And in the meantime, she must also discover who she can trust; it's not always your family.

What Big Teeth is a suspenseful coming of age tale that is Little Red Riding Hood meets Dracula meets Twilight!  It is an age-old tale with a fresh spin.  I would recommend it to readers who like a good monster story, but read it with the lights on!

Flight of the Puffin by Ann Braden

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Flight of the Puffin

by Ann Braden

Flight of the Puffin is the story of how kindness can change the world, one person, one note at a time.  Libby is a young artist who just wants to create and share the colors that she sees in the world.  Jack is trying to save his little world, even if it means going against some powerful adults.  Vincent is the child of an artist, but has the heart of a scientist.  He is obsessed with triangles and puffins!  And T is trying to find a place in this world.  Braden weaves together these stories in an unforgettable tapestry of love, forgiveness, bravery and spunk that leaves the reader feeling much better about the state of our world.  Sometimes an author's second book does not live up to the first, but not here!  Braden has masterfully brought to life her characters in exactly the way that she did in The Benefits of Being an Octopus.  Reading the last page was like saying goodbye to your best friend.  I was sad it was over, but knew that this story will stay in my heart forever.  Flight of the Puffin is exactly the medcine we need after such a tumultous 2020.  I recommend it for any reader who believes in the power of kindess and wants to make the world a better place, from 8 to 80!  It is already preordered for my library!

The List of Things That Will Not Change By Rebecca Stead

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The List of Things That Will Not Change

By Rebecca Stead

Some of the list of things that will not change include; Mom loves you more than anything, Dad loves you more than anything and we are still a family, but in a different way.  These are some of the things that Bea is thinking about as her parents go through a divorce.

This middle grade novel has all of the heart that we have come to expect of a Rebecca Stead story.  The characters are well developed and believable.  The story will appeal to younger readers and many adults.  And what I particularly liked about it was that it wasn't all gloom and doom or sunshine and kittens.  It was a very real look at what happens with family dynamics after divorce.

Readers should know that the parents split up because Dad is gay.  

I loved this story of Bea and her family.  I found myself wanting to spend more time with them days after I had read the last page!  This is definitely going into my collection, and I can't wait to share it with my students!

Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan

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I received an Advanced Reader's Copy

of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Ignite the Stars 

by Maura Milan

Ia is a rebel, a soldier, the protector of the disenfranchised.  She's out to save the world from the corrupt Commonwealth.  Her world is very black and white; what she believes to be the right way, and everything else is evil.  And she is willing to do whatever it takes to bring down those who go against her.

And then she is captured.  Her punishment?  To train with the Royal Star Force, the very entity that she has been fighting all these years.  And while she attends classes with other students, her world becomes more shades of gray.  

Ignite the Stars is a masterful tale of justice, friendship and courage.  One of the subplots is that Ia's roommate isn't what she claims to be.  She is hiding a secret about her identity that threatens to destroy everything that she has worked so hard to achieve.  I think students will connect Brinn's situation with what is currently happening in our own country, and that will lead to some great discussions!

I loved Ignite the Stars, and I think it will appeal to a variety of readers!  There is just enough romance to satisfy romance readers.  All the girls are kick-ass, which will appeal to readers who like strong girl characters.  And there are detailed descriptions of jet fighters and epic battles to appeal to readers of action and adventure!  I am definitely purchasing this title for the library, and I think my readers are going to keep it off the shelves!

The Opposite of Here by Tara Altebrando

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I received an Advanced Readers Copy 

of this title in exchange for a fair review.

The Opposite of Here 

by Tara Altebrando

The Opposite of Here is the story of Natalie.  Natalie is grieving over her boyfriend, who has recently died in a car accident.  In an effort to cheer her up, her parents take her on a cruise for her 17th birthday with three of her closest friends.

On the first night of the cruise, Natalie meets a charming young man, who mysteriously disappears.  She quickly learns that this young man is not what he appears to be.  She also suspects that her friend Nora is hiding something from her.  Is she just hyper-sensitive after Paul's death.  Or is she starting to question everyone around her?

Altebrando has created a vivid image of life on a cruise ship for a teenager.  I loved the way the story was interspersed with scripts from two-line plays; which was the girls' assignment from their film teacher.  I also appreciated all of the nods to other works of art that take place on a boat, and yes, I would include the classic Love Boat as art, don't judge!

That being said, I didn't feel that I got to know any of the characters.  I didn't relate to Natalie at all, and I found her friends to be insipid.  I think that the ending was meant as a cliffhanger, but it wasn't compelling enough to hold my interest.

I think the story was interesting and there were many plot twists, but I wasn't sold on any of the characters, and I think the ending was a let down.  I think there might be some interest among high school girls and anyone who has ever taken a cruise.  I will not likely buy it for my middle school library.