Reviews written by Angela Blount

Suggested Subtitle: Levana’s Journey from Malignant Narcissist to Raging Sociopath. To be completely honest… I went into this series tie-in not expecting to like it. Some people love to indulge in extended villain backstory. I am not, typically, one of those people. I do, however, appreciate an...

This is a fast-paced supplemental story, ideal for diehard LEGO Ninjago fans. A 32 page segue to chapter books, this story is dense with text without being overwhelming in length. There are tone and situation-appropriate images featured on every page, which look to be taken as...

A feline-guided tour through famous sayings—all on the theme of love in its many modes of expression. This charming little hardback diverges from most in the Pete the Cat collection in that it doesn’t actually convey a plot or story. Instead it offers a wide range of...

TAKING FLIGHT is both potent and potentially worldview-expanding. Whether you’re interested in ballet or not, this YA memoir is a stirring must-read. Let me start out by saying that this reader, personally, has no particular interest in dancing of any kind. But when I came across a...

Strangely beautiful and bravely unorthodox. I hesitate to rate/review something so very experimental and artistic, but Rothfuss' work deserves discussion. The author does give fair warning in the Forward, proclaiming this is an odd book—one you may not want to read. (That's not just some reverse-psychology gimmick....

A sweet and upbeat contemporary with light romantic comedy elements—one that bridges the maturity span between Middle Grade and Young Adult. Levi starts out as a forlorn California transplant, struggling with Wisconsin’s climate and trying to fit in with the sports-obsessed guys at his new school. And...

Set in Louisiana in an ultra small-town (with the rather tongue-in-cheek name of ‘Sticks’), this YA urban fantasy presents with memorable characters and a deliciously eerie bayou ambiance. Ever since they were children surviving the abuse of their alcoholic father, Sterling has always relied on her older...

A modern take on timeless wisdom. I went in expecting a short-story collection, and immediately had to adjust my mindset. This is a book of bite-sized allegories. Which means the moral of the story (and its intrinsic acumen) is of far more consequence than the story itself....

On the surface, this contemporary YA is a blended family story. A year and a half after his mother’s death, a still-mourning 13-year-old named Stewart is uprooted from his childhood home when his father decides to consolidate households with the girlfriend he met at work. His...

The cat came back—and he’s brought a homemade friend. Pete just wants to play catch. But when all of his friends are too busy to play with him, he does the only reasonable thing a young cat can do. He builds a robotic copy of himself and...

It’s an age-old question. Who’s faster: Superman or The Flash? In order to end the argument once and for all, the Justice League proposes a challenge. The two heroes are pitted against each other in a global-scale footrace. It’s sure to be a photo finish! But...

Miranda Kane is a pinky-wiggling dyslexic witch with an eclectic pack of supernatural friends and a single-minded mother who’s bent on turning her into a winner. Though Miranda isn’t thrilled with the latest magical competition her mother has placed her in, she can’t resist the enticing offer of a free...

“This Ability, Not Disability.” Fourteen-year-old Aaron Philip was born on the Caribbean island of Antigua, but the lack of resources for combating his cerebral palsy resulted in a move to New York City—and his family spending years torn between two nations. Written...

This YA Urban Fantasy is a Shadow Falls series tie-in, told in a sort of back-and-forth format between single page BREAKING NEWS segments detailing a plane crash and attempted rescue, and the events of a day prior--as given from the 3rd-person-limited perspective of 14-year-old Chase Tallman. Chase’s...

Sheila and the Magnificent Tail is one of those unique books that's very concept snared my attention. What's this? A deep children's story dealing with a significant loss (not to mention a physical malformation) that results in a reexamination of personal worth and identity? Yes, please! I'm...