Reviews written by Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer

Laia lives in the Empire's impoverished backstreets under the rule of the harsh Martials. When her grandparents are murdered and older brother Darin is captured, she flees under the catacombs of the city only to run into the Resistance. Laia agrees to go undercover as a slave...

Ruth Carver's nickname is 'Ruthless' as she takes charge and goes after what she wants. She's ambitious and tough. Little does she know that those traits will come in handy after she's abducted by a serial killer who wants to break feisty girls. Ruth will be his...

Kayla comes back to her small town with a terrible secret. Some of the town let her know how much they dislike this and a few others hope she'll come clean with what she knows of that fateful night. Kayla knows if she keeps the secret, maybe her...

Fifteen-year-old Miriam hates being the only Egyptian in her school. She longs to fit in and not have to hear yet another mean comment thrown her way. Then she goes to a party only to get busted and sent to jail. She knows she's in trouble with...

Harper Price is back sassier than ever and she’ll need that as there’s more drama going down in her Alabama town. This only makes her more determined to help David, her new boyfie, and make sense out of her Paladin calling. Then her missing friend Bee shows up...

One thing I hate more than anything are stories that reinforce cliche and stereotypes on mental illness. Or worse, depict them as serial killers. So when I find a book that shows readers a more realistic portrayal, I want to share it with everyone. MADE YOU UP...

All it took was one glance and sixteen-year-old Juliet's life was forever changed. I REMEMBER YOU takes a familiar premise of time-travel and gives readers an unique twist with an amazing voice and addictive chemistry. I love a good time-travel story and this one fit the...

I'm a huge fan of graphic novels and one of my favorite publishers has to be First Second books. WHAT WORKED: This is interesting twist on a man being offered a chance to fulfill his childhood wish of being a sculptor. Only in this case he...

One of the best parts of being a Cybils judge has to be having the opportunity to read amazing YAs. One such book DEATH SWORN caught my attention with it's story of a girl raised to topple an Empire and then being forced to live among assassins. When I...

What worked: I loved Hocking's Trylle series and was really excited to revisit this world. We're introduced to Bryn Aven, a protector of the kingdom of Kanin. Problem is she's never felt like she has fit in as she's half Kanin. This makes...

Brewer brings us a new tale that is psychological horror with a dash of STAND BY ME. This time readers are introduced to Stephen who ends up Spencer, a small town with a horrific urban legend that the whole town seems to believe. What worked: ...

What worked: This is a quirky tale set in an equally quirky town where most of the residents have some kind of paranormal ability. Reminded me of a TV series I really loved back in the 90s--Eerie, Indiana. Only in Utopia, Iowa the protagonist is a teen boy...

It's so refreshing to read a novel that gets the whole Latina experience. Quintero shows us sixteen-year-old Gabi, who's sassy, smart, hilarious, loyal, and struggles with her love of nom-worthy Mexican food. A chica after my own heart. What worked: Just about...

What worked for me had to be the rich language and world building that starts right on the very first page when readers get a glimpse of one elaborate design created on Princess Lia's back. Readers see how tightly controlling Lia's world is and how she wants nothing more...

I'm a huge fan of Knowles's YA novels. She nails the voice of teens without being preachy or patronizing. Her latest READ BETWEEN THE LINES takes a common rude gesture and shows how it affects some in this one small town. This novel is...