Reviews written by Melissa A. Craven, Indie Manager

I should start by saying The Curse of Jenny Greene is far from my normal genre preferences. I’m not usually a ghost story kind of reader, but the cover art and the story blurb intrigued me and I’m so glad I picked this up because it’s so much more than...

Straight on Till Morning is part of “A Twisted Tale” series, a multi author series of fairytale retellings created by the Disney Book Group. Disney fans will feel like they’ve picked up the original Pan story where it left off in this reimagined version that answers the...

In many ways, Permanent Record confused me, irritated me at times, maybe even angered me a little, but eventually wowed me in the end. I was all set to give this book a middle of the road, C-minus kind of review because it just...

Seriously, this book is huge and gorgeous on a creative level, and a treasure trove of knowledge on an academic level. A perfect introduction to physics at any age, The Speed of Starlight is a wonderful gateway to foster a lifelong interest in science. The reason? It explains key scientific...

1,000 Facts about Ancient Egypt is a National Geographic KIDS book chock full of amazing facts about one of the oldest civilizations of the ancient world. I have always been fascinated with Egyptian art and architecture, but this book goes well beyond those topics. From jewelry making,...

Flower Power is a truly stunning book. The large-scale pages look like paintings (I kind of want to frame them!) with a blend of Spanish and Folk Art styles. The Vivid colors and whimsical nature of Olaf Hajek’s painted stories are sure to delight young readers. ...

Visually, this book is a gorgeous work of art, splattered with blood from cover to cover. For those familiar with the Countess Elizabeth Báthory, you can expect a YA appropriate gruesome tale that does the countess justice. For those new to the infamous countess, it might be important to note,...

This beautiful little book highlights famous artwork from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Categorized into themes of Play, Sports, Music, Singing & Dancing, Animals, Family and many others, it’s easy to search for specific paintings, sculptures and other mediums. Perfect for the budding artist,...

Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying A delightfully twisty page-turner, fans of Karen M. McManus will devour. I couldn’t put it down. Amber Prescott and several of her classmates are caught up in the world’s worst escape room and...

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I was equally frustrated by it. Marketed as a new duology set in the world of His Fair Assassin, readers new to LaFevers should be able to jump into Sybella and Genevieve’s story with ease. That was not the case for me. I spent...

It is a true testament to the authors’ skill that I was literally parched while reading this book. Readers will want to curl up with Alyssa and Kelton’s story along with a nice tall glass of ice water. The drought that ultimately leads to the Tap-Out in...

After a move to Punxsutawney, PA, Andie is determined to experience her first kiss with her crush, Colton. After a summer of flirting with the object of her desire, she’s anxious for her first day at Punxsutawney High, but she gets caught up in an endless loop reliving her first...

Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, teaches young readers all about this ancient tradition celebrated in Mexico and other countries around the world. A perfect learning experience for those children unfamiliar with the holiday who want to learn more about this tradition their friends celebrate. There is...

So Many Sounds is a fun bedtime story that will surly engage the child who doesn’t want to sleep, and slowly transition them from the noisy sounds of everyday things to the quiet sounds of bedtime. Written with a fun little rhyme, So Many Sounds is perfect for...

Gittel’s Journey tells the story of a brave young Jewish girl immigrating to the United States from Easter Europe, all on her own. And only nine years old! This beautiful, heartwarming story is based on true events the author’s ancestors experienced when arriving on Ellis Island afraid and alone,...