Reviews written by Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer

"I want to believe." Agent Scully's take from the X files is shown here when a mysterious girl shows up in a field, the very same place where there was a rumored UFO sighting 50 yrs ago, and claims to be an alien. What worked: I really...

What worked: Insightful tale of a rebellious teen who is sent to a wilderness survival camp in the middle of the Utah desert. Wren's tale is one that teens can relate to. Her struggles to 'fit' in when she moves to a new home leads her to make some bad...

Keira Braidwood's whole dream is to go to Paris. She's saved for this event and has images of the French exchange student Jacques inviting her to go. The dream is shattered on Prom when Levi, her autistic brother, has a meltdown and the so-called 'cute' French guy shows his true...

What worked: Encouraging info for girls on growing up. Mayim is like that cool older sis that tells you what to expect with your changing body without being preachy. This book's contents are broken down by such topics as how our bodies work; how we grow; how we learn; how...

What worked: I really loved the Parisian setting and the lush descriptions of food. The scenes where Clara is helping in a Parisian bakery use most of the senses so readers actually feel they're right there. And omg, I so want some un chocolat chaud! There's so...

What worked: I loved this mix of short stories that reflect the diversity of the Latino culture. The stories deal with contemporary issues like deportation, health issues, gentrification, young undocumented students, and the misconception that all Latinos are brown and poor. I really liked this as I hate when some...

Charlie Dean is obsessed with fashion. When an opportunity to win a an art scholarship to a prestigious school comes up, she's in. Not even her less than stellar home life will stand in her way. John-Thomas Smith could care less about fashion but wants to go...

Dee Moreno makes a deal with a demon only to 'lose' her heart. That's part of the demon's deal. He grants her the wish she wants and she hands over her heart. In exchange she has to help him stop creatures from escaping from voids that pop up in Seattle....

Paige Nolan's parents, world-renowned journalists, are captured by terrorists. She assumes they are dead. Then out of the blue she encounters Madden Carter, an undercover operative, who hints that her parents might still be alive! In exchange to reopen her parents case, Madden gives Paige a mission to go to...

What worked: This story is inspired by true events that happened in the South where a school's Prom was segregated. I liked that we're introduced to a diverse character who encounters racism and prejudice in her new school in a small Georgia town. Anges "Nes" Murphy-Pujols is...

At the beginning of their relationship, Natalie and Dan had a great connection but later this dissolves into fights and accusations. Natalie comes up with a way to show Dan how much she destroyed her after they finally do break up. What worked: I really love...

Kyla Cheng comes right out and says she doesn't expect readers to like her. All that matters to her is being on top of the game. She's tops in her exclusive Park Slope, Brooklyn high school. She's pretty, has a great group of friends, and a very cute 'guy' friend....

One stormy night, things in an Irish town go missing. Some are material, while others are much more personal. Later, some teens find a spellbook that promises if they conjure a spell that it will return what they lost but at a cost. What worked:...

Camilla’s mother is a famous Mexican telenovela actress. After her secret of taking anti-depressives is leaked to the media, her mother decides to take a sabbatical. Then her agent tells her of an opportunity to star in an US TV series. The catch though is she’s supposed to play a...

Valencia Paine is confined to her house, away from the growing unrest outside. Her father is a scientist who plays a huge part in the creation of hybrids. Valencia refuses to stay hidden and sneaks out where she runs into Mateo, someone who has personal ties to the hybirds and...