Reviews written by Elisha Jachetti, Staff Reviewer

THE WIZENARD SERIES: SEASON ONE is written by Wesley King and created by Kobe Bryant. The MG fantasy follows Reggie, a budding basketball player, as he tries to apply what he learned in training camp to the actual game. Unfortunately, he just can’t seem to get it right no matter...

THE ADVENTURERS GUILD: NIGHT OF DANGERS by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos is the culmination of a Middle Grade Fantasy series about two best friends, Zed and Brock, who will do anything to save each other. The story picks up after Zed has been possessed by an evil witch,...

RULES FOR BEING A GIRL is a YA contemporary novel by Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno. The story follows Marin, a high school senior, who by all accounts is doing well. She’s a top student and a shoo-in for Brown University, her dream school. With her extracurricular activities, the recommendation...

WILD GIRL: HOW TO HAVE INCREDIBLE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES is written by Helen Skelton, a veteran wild girl herself. In this part-autobiography, part-how-to guide, Skelton details the incredible feats she has conquered, such as solo-kayaking the Amazon River and biking to the South Pole. She shares the gear she used for...

A GIRL IN THREE PARTS by Suzanne Daniel is a novel set in Sydney, Australia during the 1970’s. It follows eleven-year-old Allegra as she grows up in a confusing world, navigating her unusual family dynamics. Allegra lives with her grandma, Matilde, next door to her other grandma, Joy. Unfortunately, Matilde...

WHEN YOU WERE EVERYTHING by Ashley Woodfolk is a YA Contemporary novel told in two timelines, “then” and “now.” The story flips between when Cleo and Layla’s friendship is beginning to unravel and later, when they’re enemies. In present day, as Cleo comes to terms with her new reality, she...

TALK NERDY TO ME by Tiffany Schmidt is the third installment in the BOOKISH BOYFRIENDS series. This story follows Eliza, a girl known not only for her beauty and intelligence, but also for her mom and dad, who happen to be famous scientists. Unfortunately, Eliza doesn’t spend much time with...

THE ORDER OF TIME by Scott P. Southall is a Middle Grade Sci-Fi Fantasy novel. The story follows two twins, Anastasia and Edward, who couldn’t be more opposite from one another. Not only do they look different, but their personalities and interests also clash. Anastasia is athletic and loves math...

HOPE IN THE MAIL is an autobiographical account of the author’s life as it relates to her writing. Wendelin Van Draanen has penned over thirty two books for the kids’ lit community, most notably THE SAMMY KEYES MYSTERIES, which is comprised of eighteen middle grade novels. She’s put in her...

THE PAPER GIRL OF PARIS by Jordyn Taylor is a new young adult novel that is both a contemporary and historical fiction. The story is told from two perspectives— Alice in present day and Adalyn during WW2, the link between them being Chloe Bonhomme, Alice’s late grandmother and Adalyn’s sister....

THE JEWEL THIEF by Jeannie Mobley is a YA Historical Fiction novel, set in Paris, France during the reign of the Sun King. Juliette is the daughter of the King’s crown jeweler, which seems like an illustrious position, but in truth is quite dangerous. Jean, Juliette’s father, realizes the risk...

OTHERLIFE is the third book in the Last Reality Series by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller. This YA Sci-Fi novel picks right back up with Simon, Kat, Busara, and Elvis. They have just escaped capture by the Company, but their brains were hacked, so the Company has access to some...

GIRL, SERPENT, THORN is a YA fairytale retelling by Melissa Bashardoust. The story follows Soraya, a princess who is cursed to kill any breathing being, human or insect, by mere touch. To stay safe, Soraya’s family has made her hide away for most of her life, scared that the public...

THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION by Kiersten White is the first book in a YA retelling of the classic Arthurian legend. Guinevere, a magical being, is sent to Camelot by Merlin, after he himself is banished from there. Her main priority is to protect Arthur from a looming threat, but even she...

POEMS TO LIVE YOUR LIFE BY is a collection in which each poem has been hand-picked by Chris Riddell, for a total of forty-six pieces of verse. In the introduction, Riddell says that he selected poems that have meant a great deal to him throughout his life, and then goes...