Reviews written by Angela Blount, Staff Reviewer

This 30 page American Sign Language retelling serves up a timeless lesson about the consequences of lying, with concepts and word choices suitable for children ages 4-8. The structure is a bit slow going for the first third of the story, which may risk young readers identifying a little too...

This third and final book in the Starling series is a multi-POV work of urban fantasy, heavy on the Norse mythology angle while incorporating a mashup of pantheons that include ancient Greek and Egyptian elements. I will admit upfront that I haven’t read the first two...

This abuse-of-science tale is told entirely through the eyes of 16-year-old Kyle McAdams. Kyle lives perpetually in the shadow of his identical (but 2-years older thanks to IVF) twin, Connor. Until one day Connor stops living, and Kyle discovers he’s among a group of teens who’ve been engineered with a...

Mesmerized is a gorgeously illustrated book with a strong Middle Grade appeal. It’s a fascinating tidbit of history blended with foundational science—an appealing balance of subtle teaching and masterful storytelling. This true-to-life story follows Benjamin Franklin’s visit to France in the midst of the American Revolution....

This sci-fi debut steps boldly into the YA ring and puts on a compelling show. Set an indeterminate number of years in the future, the story is told entirely from the third-person point of view of Carr Luka, a 17-year-old “zeroboxer’ of exceptional gifting. His career...

“Science In The Service Of Immaturity.” If your child is interested in intro-level gadgetry, practical jokes, or basic security measures, this may be just the gift to occupy both their mind and sense of humor. The kit/book combo comes with a circuit board, speaker, LED, photodetector, door...

This dark and gritty urban fantasy is the third book in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s appeal to a more PG-13 audience. (I hadn't read the previous two books, but I have read several from her adult paranormal romances that occur in the same universe, and introduce many of the overlapping...

"A body is just a body. It's what's inside that counts." I regret that I read this, the second book in the series, without ever reading the first book. I found the continued story difficult to follow. It seems unfair to judge it on...

"A body is just a body. It's what's inside that counts." I regret that I read this, the second book in the series, without ever reading the first book. I found the continued story difficult to follow. It seems unfair to judge it on its own...

A delightful and adaptive take on a classic children’s tale. This picture book offers bright, stylized illustration and emphasized word choices to complement its purpose as an American Sign Language translation. The book itself contains no signing or instructive images and could, in fact, be read...

3.5 Stars For fans of light urban fantasy, this book has a number of tried and true aspects to offer—all wrapped in an upbeat and adventurous package that should strongly appeal to the 9-12 age range. The unseen world-within-a-world premise strikes a familiar...

Unlike many, I was never forced into reading this book while I was in high school. I read it voluntarily after reading and enjoying Jane Eyre, supposing that the Bronte sisters would share a great deal of literary similarities. I quickly learned that the two sisters not only...

"They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried." This reader is typically hesitant about war stories. But knowing so little about the Vietnam war—a nebulous conflict that drove my...

This guide is a laudable, wholly comprehensive resource for any young person considering the direction of their education and future employment. "Thinking about your future career is exciting, but it can also be daunting. You need to pick which subjects to focus on in high school, make...

This reviewer has an enduring fondness for sci-fi, and was seriously looking forward to this book. The thing of it is... the story ultimately came off as sci-fi for people who -don't- like sci-fi. Not a lot of worldbuilding, alien culture, fantastical descriptions, or real science involved. It's sci-fi extra(terrestrial)-lite....