Reviews written by Beth Rodgers, Staff Reviewer

'My Virtual Prince Charming' by Maggie Dallen brings together Suzie and Luke. Neighbors who have never really thought much of each other, they find themselves thrown together by circumstances that Suzie feels are beyond her control, but are entirely working in Luke's favor. When he realizes that Suzie is one...

'A Straw Man' by Amalie Jahn is the third and final installment in her 'Clay Lion' series. Melody, the sister of the main character in 'Tin Men' (the second in the series), is now in college. She and longtime boyfriend Nate are having their fair share of struggles, due mostly...

'Counting to 100,' a Scholastic workbook meant for kindergarten preparation, does a fine job of engaging young children and making them interested in the activities. With pages devoted to counting by different intervals or forward and backward, writing out numbers, matching, grouping, and figuring out which option has more or...

'New Kid' by Jerry Craft follows main character Jordan, a seventh grader who wants to go to an art school, but has his parents end up sending him to an academically-oriented private school. He is one of a few kids of color in his class, and even though he does...

'Just Jaime' by Terri Libenson captures the truth of middle school – a time when friendships are haunted by worry over whether or not one fits in with the group. This issue plagues Jaime and her best friend, Maya, as they find themselves becoming more and more set apart. Maya...

'Tin Men' by Amalie Jahn is the second in her Clay Lion series. The story revolves around Charlie, who learns of his adoption after his father dies. Not knowing what to make of his life, and trying to decipher the truth from the lies he has grown up with, he...

'The Trouble with Kissing Frogs' by Seven Steps tells the story of Sophia and Joe, two people who seemingly find love at first sight, only to have it ripped away by lies. While Sophia never means to hurt Joe, she lies to him about her name in...

'We Thought We Knew It All' by Michelle Lynn follows the plot that readers found themselves immersed in when reading 'We Thought We Were Invincible'. Callie McCoy finds herself back in Gulf City, Florida, dealing with a divorce, three kids, and a secret that she worries will tear everything apart...

'Meet Me There' by Judy Corry follows main characters Luke and Ashlyn. They don't get along too well, especially since he likes playing pranks on her, and she tries to best him with each one. When he gets the opportunity to play out the biggest prank of all - pretending...

'The Next to Last Mistake' by Amalie Jahn will have readers considering their own lives through a bittersweet lens as they work through feelings of security, happiness, separation, loss, and inequality, among others. Jahn has written a story that will resonate with readers of all ages, as main character Tess...

'We Thought We Were Invincible' by Michelle Lynn engages readers with twisting plotlines and searingly romantic scenes. Main characters Callie and Jamie have a lot going on in their lives, from their relationships with their family members, to the losses they've sustained in their lives, to the day-to-day issues that...

'The Secret Lives of Princesses' by Seven Steps is yet another enjoyable addition to the St. Mary's Academy series of books. Main character Jasmine Patel knows what she wants out of life, but she isn't quite sure how to take charge and make it all happen. Worry envelops her as...

'La Petite Josette En Provence' by Ashley Davidson-Fisher, illustrated by Martinique Louise Fisher, who so happens to be the author's daughter, is a nice story for young children. The book clearly shows how much the author loves the French landscape and some of the goings-on in the country. While the...

'In Paris With You' by Clementine Beauvais is an interesting story, written in verse. Main characters Eugene and Tatiana find each other once again ten years after their first meeting. That summer a decade ago changed both of them, but the events are threatening to keep them apart in the...

'Chasing Mermaids' by Seven Steps is a nice follow-up to her first book in this series, 'The Boyfriend Agreement'. Main character Ariel just wants things to work out in her favor. Yet, when ex-boyfriend Eric lied to her about what originally brought them together, she realized that being with him...