Reviews written by Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer

What worked: Fun, engaging contemporary romance set during a whiteout in Atlanta, Georgia. All the stories are intertwined and come together in a satisfying conclusion. Stevie and her girlfriend Sola have a big fight and Stevie tries everything she can to make things right with...

What worked: Fun, engaging witchy tale where a teen is suddenly uprooted from her Californian home to a coven. Emsy loves surfing and hanging out with her girlfriend. When her parents tell her they have to move back to a coven, she's shocked and then...

What worked: Bittersweet and heartbreaking at times story of firsts that also is filled with hope. This is an amazing prequel to THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END. I couldn't put this story down! Silvera starts at the very beginning of Death-cast and how the first 'Decker's life is intertwined...

What worked: Powerful, poignant coming-of-age story. Seventeen-year-old Avery moves from DC to a small town in Georgia to help her dying grandmother. There are many secrets that include intergenerational trauma. One of those secrets involves a tragedy with Avery's family and anger that continues to haunt the family. ...

What worked: Hilarious take on a modern-day Lord of the Flies. I'd say this is more satire on what would happen if the top Influencers ended up on an island to be part of a very popular music fest. Only in this case, it's nothing like they'd hoped. ...

What worked: Intriguing witchy mystery set in an academy. The graphic novel format adds to this engaging tale perfect for the Halloween season! This story is mostly about friendships within the Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft and how Abigail, a young witch, refuses to back...

What worked: Condensed biography on the life of New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. There is a brief history of AOC's life and what helped her decide to run for office at an early age. Readers learn about her family background in the Bronx and her desire at an early age...

What worked: Powerful, inspiring book on Political activist Stacey Abrams told through the point of view of other Black women leaders from generations past. These women include Ida B. Wells, Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Septima Poinsette Clark. I really loved the insights from these other Black women...

Bittersweet, poignant companion novel to THEY CALL ME Güero. In this novel readers learn more about Joanna 'Fregona' Padilla who is Güero's girlfriend. Her nickname means she's strong and tough, but Güero knows the truth. Joanna is loyal to her band of girlfriends, her family, and to him. ...

Seventeen-year-old Casey hears and sees flashes of a past that take her off guard. She's attending NYU and should be having the time of her life. Add to this she's dating one of the most eligible guys in NYC. Her father and stepmother think she really has dissociative personality disorder...

Three years ago, Margot's fiance, Harry, was listed as missing in action. Now she receives a letter saying he did survive the Great War. Margot has conflicting feelings that have to do with a big secret that she's afraid to reveal. She's afraid by revealing this secret that the carefully...

What worked: Haunting, powerful portrayals where future technology offers not only innovation but hope. This collection of short stories is both insightful and gives a sucker punch with their versions of a future world. So many emotions are sure to arise by reading this collection. ...

Willow only wants to spend her senior year in Paris with a cousin and isn't too happy when her mother informs her they need to take care of business in Salem. Mason is a foster kid who has been bounced around after his addicted mother leaves him. Both come together...

What worked: I love books in verse. They Call Me Güero introduces readers to Güero, a light skinned twelve-year-old Mexican American boy. He navigates seventh grade and his life with poetry. There's so much to love about this novel. This generation's Gary...

Seventeen-year-old Cecelia ends up living with her famous mystery writer grandmother Maura after the death of her mother. The seaside town had a whole Veronica Mars vibe going for it. The teens at the local high school also had their own group of Mean Girls. The real mystery happens when...