Reviews written by Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer

Ruby is excited to be with her friends on a school trip to Paris. One of the things on her must-do list is to visit the catacombs. When her friend Val is distracted by a cute Parisian guy's promise of a party, Ruby's gut feeling is to make sure Val...

Introverted Astoria 'Story' is on the outside of the other Diplomat kids at her school and she can't wait to start Princeton in the Fall. She loves and knows a lot about Rome. It's one chance encounter at a gelato shop that turns her life topsy-turvy. When she bumps into...

What worked: A wicked twist on THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. This Gothic horror tale starts slowly and builds when some friends meet during Halloween at an Irish manor. Mix in some Irish urban legends of the Banshee and this is one thriller guaranteed to keep the reader...

What worked: As a former first-grade teacher, I love Little Golden Books. These books are perfect for both school and home libraries. These biographies are a great start to learning about popular celebrities and other well-known figures. In this biography readers learn about Oprah Winfrey's...

What worked: Creepy gothic horror with insects, masks, and seances. The eerie backdrop with a family house of secrets is riveting. Add to this there's an element of not knowing if what Libby is witnessing is part of her bipolar disorder or the paranormal. I...

What worked: Warm, engaging story of a Black teen whose love of Paris and Josephine Baker leads her to the city where she finds along the way just how enchanting the city really is. I really loved this romance. Whitney Curry's enthusiasm and love of...

What worked: Engaging tale of a twelve-year-old Jewish girl from Paris who flees being rounded up by Nazis during WWII. In this story, we meet Miri who lives in Paris, and the horror she witnesses as French police officers round up all Jewish citizens and send them off to Auschwitz....

What worked: I'm a huge fan of Dr. Seuss books. I used them often as a first-grade teacher. The rhyme and pacing of these books were perfect for early readers. I especially love the classic Grinch tale. So I was excited to see a new book that has been released...

What worked: Lyrical, poetic contemporary love story that spans the ages and the mystical bird that brings people together. This story has a magical sense woven throughout. First readers are introduced to Evan Taft who feels his true purpose is to take care of his...

What worked: First off, I'm a huge fan of short story anthologies. They're perfect for those who are on the go and don't have time and/or want to read long novels. FIRSTS AND LASTS is an engaging collection of fiction shorts that go over new experiences and final moments experienced...

What worked: Powerful narrative about two Jewish friends and their experiences during the Holocaust. In 1944 Rubi is picked up and thrown into a prisoner camp. He tries to escape, but when captured is sent to concentration camps during WWII. His last one is the infamous Auschwitz camp. This is...

Sixteen-year-old Will Hughes's days as an actor come to a close right when he's whirled into the schemes of Queen Elizabeth. A son of traitors, he plays along, fearing a slip will end him up in prison or worse, dead. Along the way, he meets Lord James Bloomsbury. Even though...

What worked: Satisfying conclusion to the coming-of-age romance set in Taipei. In this case, this story is about Pearl, the sister of Ever. Pearl is a music prodigy whose heart is set to attend the Apollo, an exclusive New York Summer Symphony. After a social media blowup, Pearl is...

An insightful graphic novel that shows through time the beginnings of patriarchy and those who fought against it. This graphic novel starts with those who belittled women and the comments/beliefs that resulted in women being deemed not good enough. The historical figures include those like...

Fifteen-and-a-half-year-old Amani lives with her mother and feels out of place as the only plus-sized Black girl at her prominently white private school. Her father is a researcher and often is out on assignments. Then Amani sees a strange man stalking their home. After their home in L.A. is...