Okay, fine, I love to bawl my eyes out right before bed. 😭 A beautiful, heartbreaking, elating, devastating, and hopeful story about family in all its forms. These kids deserve the world and each other. 🩵

It was a strange feeling to read this story about German POWs in lower Michigan during WWII. I never knew POW camps existed in Michigan until I was an adult, and to discover this story has a connection to the teeny (teeny) tiny town I spent my early childhood in was just bizarre. I enjoyed the verse and the POVs of these two characters. I did not enjoy the very abrupt ending, though it's certainly fitting in any book on WWII.

The setup for this book is truly unique; told over the course of a six hour, twelve mile, world record-breaking swim Tully recounts what has brought her to this moment interspersed with the physical and mental struggle of swimming a marathon. I appreciated the way the story was told, but struggled with Tully‘s selfishness in regard to her friend Arch. It certainly looked hopeful at the end, but I had hoped for a more in depth reconciliation.

My friend published a graphic novel! 🤩 I am simultaneously creeped out, intrigued, and wanting to take notes. It feels like there‘s a lot of lore beneath the surface and I‘m anxious to find out what it all is! Loved the visuals of the tomb and the lonely eyeball (!). I‘m looking forward to part two!

A sweet friendship story between new kid Linus and resident weirdo (affectionate) Etta. I loved their friendship, their quirks, and their hand signal 😍, but struggled with the bet storyline. Normally, that setup would prevent me from reading the book at all. Its resolution wasn‘t unexpected, but it did fit the characters well.

Absolutely freaking adorable! Love the vending of gender norms, standing up to bullies (and friends and parents!), and making new friends while being true to yourself. Lots of great support from family and friends (eventually). So sweet!

A wholly unique world and magic system that relies on wizard speech (similar to ASL) and runes. I love the hearing difference and ASL rep throughout, complete with arrows signifying signs in the illustrations. The story has a satisfying end point while raising new questions that beg to be answered in another volume.

Tony Weaver‘s message to embrace your weird is a valuable one! His sharing of his mental health journey in middle school is just as important. I loved seeing him climb out, make friends, and use his ideas to make a difference.

I decided to read this on Thanksgiving to remind myself of all for which I am grateful. Estelle‘s story is devastating, as all Holocaust memoirs are. Being told in graphic novel format makes the story more accessible and forces the reader to confront the travesties occurring right before their eyes.

The fae/gods/etc are a tricky folk. Yet another reminder not to make deals, wishes, or eat food from strangers in the woods! Loved the illustration style and enjoyed the hopeful tone.

My favorite book of the year! Drew‘s voice is so dryly funny it set me off over and over again. I can‘t get over the reviews interspersed in the text giving it all an over the top feel. Serious “Shameless” vibes made me guffaw on more than one occasion. I loved the fierce protectiveness of the siblings and the insane plan they pulled off together. Amazing! 😂

This reads like a magician‘s tell-all of how the tricks are done. It‘s absolutely fascinating, but with added rage when you realize how spiritualists have manipulated vulnerable people out of their money for 150 years. I had no idea Houdini was so wrapped up in exposing the frauds, and learning about Rose Mackenberg (an undercover female detective) in the late 1800s was genuinely inspiring.

Natalie Lloyd‘s brand of magic always feels so organic and unique. The Witching Wind is no exception! Grayson, Roxie and their friends are so sweet and supportive of each other. I loved that what they found wasn‘t quite what they spent so long looking for, but each was exactly what they needed. 🦋

There‘s some fun banter between teammates (heh, “an appointment”, sure Seiji) and solid character introduction, but the issue ends before the first bout, so I‘m left here wanting more.

I love the premise of this book, and wish the execution flowed more smoothly to tell it successfully. The dialogue felt clunky at times, and the climax was undermined by how it was told to the reader. We need more stories about residential schools and the horror that affected children experienced within them, and I wish that had been told more effectively in this one.

A light-hearted mystery reminiscent of The Lost Library. Rami is the only one who can see Blue, the ghost of a young girl who looks eerily similar to the subject of the stolen painting. He teams up with Veda to discover the thief and the two end up on an adventure that will have long-lasting effects on their community. A fun almost-ghost story about the beauty of friendship and the universal need to be accepted as we are.

Nonononono this feels like Sirius Black falling through the Veil. I do not accept this turn of events and need Call to start channeling Constantine to undo it! 😭

Fascinating and presented in an engaging and interesting way! 🎨

A fun mashup of a truly impressive slew of characters staying in the same hotel. When dreamers dream these guys get to have all the fun!

I love feminist retellings of old stories. Too often they‘re told only through a male lens and the egregious wrongs against women become simply part of the story. I loved that Young Hag and the Witches‘ Quest pointed out the wrongs and held the men committing them accountable! It‘s also a fun take on the tales of King Arthur and Camelot! 🗡️

I liked it more than I didn‘t like it, but I had to keep stopping to figure out who was narrating and which person that was every chapter. I‘ve finished the book and I still couldn‘t tell you which one is Canadian. But, I did enjoy their dynamic, and their friend groups were fun.

I laughed allll the way through Phil and Jackson‘s revenge plot; there is just something about terrible people getting what they deserve! 😈 Also, Ronnie 100% stole the show for me; she is unapologetically vengeful and it is simply delightful. The audio narration is stellar and even though I legitimately shrieked when I opened the box from Inkyard (thanks for the free copy in exchange for a review!) I am so glad I listened to this one. 💛

A survival story that flips the script on what survival looks like for each of us. I was on the edge of my seat during Ash‘s adventure (especially at the end!) and my heart hurt for their hurt. I loved this solitary adventure surviving in the wild! 🌲

Love this unique adventure of finding yourself imbued with mythology, twisty storylines, and my favorite character: Limbo. 🐕

Whaaaaa?! I really shouldn‘t be surprised that Cassandra Clare and Holly Black can write a captivating edge-of-your-seat adventure! I am fully invested in these characters. Every time I figure something out I‘m surprised by something else. I already got my hands on the next one and can‘t wait to get started. Thanks for the new obsession, Brie!

As if middle school isn‘t difficult enough, she gets to add in being the new kid, and a new sensation: a knife twisting in her gut that portends needing a bathroom like yesterday. Even if every preteen isn‘t experiencing Crohn‘s there are many other things that they likely don‘t see represented in media that make them feel “weird”. Books like this could give them hope enough to ask for help.

I stayed up WAY too late reading the whole second half of this! What a world the authors have created! The friendships, mentorships, and betrayals are so much fun to figure out and I‘ll be honest: I did not see the twist at the end coming at all! This was recommended to me by my niece 🐝 who says she loves it more than Harry Potter, and she‘s sold me on the entire series. Checking out book #2 today!

What fun! Honestly, this book has just enough of everything: just enough impetus to justify Sarah‘s actions, just enough backstory on each kiddo to illustrate growth, and just enough unbelievable-ness to make it super fun! It‘s a perfectly balanced adventure wrapped in a mystery encased in heart. The Deltas are going places! 🧩

Wow, what a gut punch of a book! I was enthralled with the first part and how it re-examined events that actually happened with a slight refocus. It was captivating and left me sitting with my mouth hanging open more than once. I liked the first part better, but I was equally as devastated with the second. 🐺

Joe‘s situation goes from bad to worse until he‘s surviving on his own as a kid. The hits just keep coming and all he can do is keep going. Joe‘s description of life coming at you and watching his desperation grow as he fought to keep his living circumstances a secret was so vivid. I won‘t forget about his story anytime soon. 🌪️

This is a book about feeling your emotions, treading water through the sadness, and finding the people who make you feel safe enough to share what you‘re going through. I grew to love Winnie and her grandmother and it was a hopeful message. 🌈

I really enjoyed Hector‘s story! I never totally guessed what was going on, and the ending was definitely satisfying. This would make a great serialized show! I liked the surprise series kickoff at the end as well. I would enjoy spending more time in this universe! Read the second half of this one on a road-trip to get our new puppy! 🐶

My adult brain couldn‘t let go of the ridiculous-ness of the premise, but it was a fun story and I learned a bit about roller derby, too. Lots of threads were left untugged that I wish had been explored. Perhaps they will be in future volumes.

A fun, spooky story for the middle grade crowd (or scaredy-cat adults like me)! This tale moves fast; from making friends to saving the day, Jerry doesn‘t let up for a second! Loved the rep, Paul, and girls saving the day! Oh, and definitely squealed at the Supernatural reference. 🐉

A cute summer camp switch story featuring friendship, cooking, and vampires! 🧛‍♀️

Hank has my whole heart! This poor kid is put in impossible situation after impossible situation. It was absolutely maddening to see adults treat an 11-year-old kid like he‘s supposed to be able to make decisions way above his maturity level. I appreciated the realistic and hopeful nature of the ending. 💙

I love books that go in a completely different direction than I expect. I was purely along for the ride with this one! The use of (and lack of) color made for a beautiful story, as well as the message. I love Mags! 💙

A solid story about facing your fears. A few parts were a bit clunky, but overall I really liked it!

Picture: We took out the boat for the first time in years. A little freaky to be in 121 feet of water! 😳 #lakesuperior

It's not often that a book surprises me, but this one sure did! I loved Dally's adventures, especially those on a pirate ship!, and her exploration of her family history. There were so many surprises in the very last few chapters that my mind is still reeling. I need to get my hands on a print copy so I can check out that family tree!! Thanks to Libro.fm and Candlewick for the advanced listening copy!

Once I started making progress I couldn‘t stop reading! This book is like a roller coaster; there‘s always something happening that stars ✨ requires ✨ you to turn the page. I loved watching Wes, and those around him, learn about himself and how he relates to the world around him. 🛹 📸 🩰

This book is ridiculous. lol I thought the writing was a little stilted, but intermediate chapter books often have that feeling. The adventure was amusing, and it was rewarding to see the boys‘ friendship blossom. Prince Brat‘s transformation was the most dramatic, but Jemmy learned some things about himself and what he wants from life, too. While reading it I wasn‘t feeling too impressed, but looking back at it as a whole has me feeling nostalgic

Reading these makes me so upset that the show was cancelled after only one season! This world is so unique and detailed and fascinating. Lockwood, Lucy, and George are such a funny little trio; I can‘t wait to see what else they get up to in future books. 👻 ⚔️ 💀

When I was ten years old my then fifteen-year-old cousin was admitted to a lock-down facility for non-compliant youth because she would not treat her type 1 diabetes and seemed to be literally wasting away. I have no idea if her experience was anything like Jake‘s, but his story painfully illustrates how lonely and difficult that healing process must have been. I‘m grateful for this look into the psyche of someone living with anorexia nervosa.

I was on the edge of my seat throughout this story! Kimberly Brubaker Bradley always succeeds in creating characters that leap off the page, but Miri did so and then dragged me back in with her. The ending went faster than I expected, but I still enjoyed it very much.

I enjoyed this much more than the first book in the series. The characters felt like real people and the magic is so cool and unique! I am struggling a bit with the ending. It‘s not at all what I expected and while it‘s hopeful it‘s also messy and sad. Not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was hoping for. I do enjoy this world and it‘s magic, though.

I adore this book! Sure I had to stop reading because I saw something moving in the hallway, and sure my fear of “someone in the mirror” was reawakened, and sure the description of “not quite a ghost” turned my stomach, but it‘s inspired by The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (love it!) and the doctors are enRAGing, and Violet learns to stand up for herself. 👻

This book is an amazing resource; I‘m so glad it exists. My heart hurts for those individuals who have attempted binding with ace bandages or duct tape (!!). Hopefully the information contained in this slim graphic novel will prevent the injuries that can be caused by binding unsafely.

Oh, how I loved this! I knew on the first page I was going to and then it surprised me and twisted a bit and got BETTER and now I‘m absolutely head over heels. Such a wonderful evisceration of beauty culture wrapped in fairy and folktales with people getting what they deserve! 🧜‍♀️🦭

Wow; this one packs a punch! It's a pleasure to watch young Sophie grow and learn to accept what's best for others isn't always what's best for you. I adored her and elder Sophie's friendship and watching them struggle through the early stages of dementia was heartbreaking. Older Sophie's stories associated to each word were devastating and eye-opening to her listeners (young Sophie and me).

This was quite fun! I never connected as much as I hoped I would, but I still appreciate the adventure, camaraderie, and silliness.