Reviews written by Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer

I fell in love with Gayle Forman's romantic coming of age story JUST ONE DAY and couldn't wait to read what really happened that one fateful day in Paris. Let's just say I wasn't disappointed! JUST ONE YEAR shows us what happened through the...

I'm a huge sucker for realistic portrayals of teens dealing with modern day events. In this case being captured by Somalian pirates. What worked for me had to be the writing style that is courageous in thinking outside of the box. It's fast paced...

Derek Fitzpatrick’s world turns upside down after he finds out a so-called harmless prank leads to his expulsion from an exclusive Prep School. He ends up finding himself moving with his dad’s younger new wife to a suburb of Chicago where he meets Ashtyn Parker. Ashtyn...

This is the perfect companion novel to My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century! A sweet romance that is sure to appeal to younger readers and teens too. What worked for me had to be the fun, adorable spin on the time travel premise. Too often...

I'm a huge fan of graphic novels especially ones with a paranormal flare. In MY BOYFRIEND IS A MONSTER, there's a fun twist on the whole boyfriend idea. In book 6 we meet Staci Glass who's used to being stuck in the middle of her friend's conflicts. ...

I first read the blurb of MARGOT in a recent issue of PEOPLE magazine. The whole premise of 'What if' the older sister of Anne Frank survived, intrigued me. All I knew was I had to read this book. What worked for me was the...

I admit it. In the recent influx of dystopia stories I find one big thing missing: diversity. As a former bilingual teacher and also someone with Mexican heritage, I wanted to see more than just the usual Anglo characters. KILLER OF ENEMIES introduces readers to...

This non-fiction story is like Liam Neeson's film TAKEN but in this case what makes it even more frightening is it's real. Sophie is educated and from a middle class family in the UK. Growing up with an abusive father makes her feel as if she's 'unloveable' and...

I've been a huge fan of this series since the first book came out. I even made sure to come an extra day during last year's ALA event just so I could grab a copy of the next book in the series. What can I say?...

I'm a huge fan of Donna Jo Napoli's YA historicals so I was excited to be able to review her latest. SKIN introduces us to sixteen-year-old Sep who wakes up one morning to white lips. She's horrified. Her mother let's her borrow some candy pink...

I'm a huge fan of the Lux series so when I was sent an ebook galley I was beyond excited! I even purchased the book in print. I'm that much of a fan! Readers finally find out what happens to Katy in the jaw-hanging ending...

I'm a huge fan of stories that weave in surrealism in a world filled with magic and darkness. Off the bat I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of faery stories other than those by Holly Black. But with INDELIBLE I found myself drawn into the...

This is a fun time travel series perfect for tween and younger readers. In the first book we're introduced to Mira who finds out her missing mother is in fact a time traveler on an important mission. Now Mira goes to Rome with her brother and father in...

I'm a huge fan of Janet Gurtler's novels. Her writing wraps around you like a visit with a best friend. You laugh, cry, and feel the love. Her books are just like that. You don't want them to end. HOW I LOST YOU...

The whole premise of gargoyles being protectors intrigued me. Add to that the rich Parisian setting. I also love historical paranormals. When I read a blurb for THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURSED in the June/July issue of JUSTINE magazine, I knew I had to read it. ...