Reviews written by Beth Rodgers, Staff Reviewer

'Airports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over' by Shani Petroff captures the angst of romantic hardships and misunderstandings. When eighteen-year-old Sari, a senior in high school, plans a trip to Florida for spring break with her boyfriend (even though she plans to stay with her grandma), she thinks everything is...

'The Opposite of Innocent' is yet another fantastic novel-in-verse by the illustrious Sonya Sones. The story will draw readers in and not let go, making them wish for what they want to happen but know may only be a desperate wish. It will haunt readers well past the last page,...

'Echo's Sister' by Paul Mosier is a realistic and heartwarming story that truly gets to the heart of the matter. Twelve-year-old El is the main character, and even though she has planned for her first day of seventh grade to go off without a hitch, she comes home to devastating...

'All-American Liars' by Emily Kazmierski shines a light on the lies people tell themselves and others to help save face and shape specific plans and possible futures. Tristan is the golden boy of the book, destined for the All-American basketball team that is choosing students from the...

'Shorty & Clem Blast Off!' by Michael Slack is a cute addition to Shorty and Clem's adventures. The first book introduced the two best friends who can drive each other crazy but end up loving each other and helping each other out at every turn. This book was more of...

'Bear's Spooky Book of Hidden Things' by Gergely Dudas is for anyone who loves books like 'Where's Waldo?' Even adults may find it difficult to find some of the items hidden in the pages - though that's the fun of it. There is not much of a story, but the...

'Faded' by Melanie Hooyenga is the third installment in her 'Flicker Effect' series. It is not always true that a series can get better with each new book, but it is certainly true of Hooyenga's writing. The main plot point in 'Faded' is the same as in 'Flicker' and 'Fracture'...

'The Last Best Story' by Maggie Lehrman is provocative and intriguing, bringing a shadow of a doubt to the truth-finding process and how life throws curveballs that can throw one's life completely off-kilter. Rose and Grant have been friends and newspaper buddies since freshman year. Over their...

'When Fall Breaks' by Julie Solano and Tracy Justice had a lot of interesting scenarios going on that are not touched upon quite as much in many contemporary books. Abuse is a hard topic to display with empathy and a sense of reality, and the authors have done a good...

'Let Me List the Ways' by Sarah White is a breezy and engaging look at the relationship between two best friends and next-door neighbors. Mackenzie (Zie, for short) is in love with the boy next door, Nolan. Yet she continually hesitates to say anything about this to him because she...

'Sleep Train' by Jonathan London, illustrated by Lauren Eldridge, is a sweet bedtime story for lovers of rhythm, counting, and the way noises caress you to sleep. The boy in the story is trying to read a book while in bed, and finds himself counting the train cars and lulling...

'Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package' by Kate DiCamillo is a story that arouses curiosity about the differences that make us all unique. Eugenia Lincoln and her sister, Baby, are not quite the two halves of a whole you'd expect two sisters to be. They are entirely different, but this...

In 'Dreams' by Michelle Lynn, the past is a constant struggle while hope seems almost an irreparable goal. Yet, in true romantic fashion, love conquers all, and main characters Taylor and Josh find that through the sadness, heartache, and troubles that have seemingly conquered their lives, they can find new...

'When Paul Met Artie: The Story of Simon & Garfunkel' by G. Neri, illustrated by David Litchfield, is an artistic and lyrically engaging biographical account of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's wonderful, yet troubled relationship and joint career. It doesn't steer away from the issues that plagued them and the...

'Two Truths and a Lie: Histories and Mysteries' by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is a fun read, chock full of historical and more contemporary facts and fiction. It brings a whole new level of intrigue to the icebreaker game of two truths and a lie, shedding further light...