Reviews written by Jan Farnworth, Digital Manager/Blog Assistant and Staff Reviewer

Stacey Lee's "Kill Her Twice" is a captivating young adult historical mystery that immerses readers in the vivid world of the 1930s, intricately weaving together a narrative enriched with historical and cultural details. The dual perspectives of sisters Gemma and May, along with the involvement of their younger sister Poppy,...

Fairy tale heroes and fantasy villains chase one another across the multiverse in this clever middle-grade debut that sparkles with bookish magic and quick-witted humor. Ivy and Forest are two unlikely friends who could never meet as one is a character in the other's pretend story; what unfolds is a...

Fable for the End of the World is a true nod to the dystopian romance novels I grew up reading. It echoes Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and The Last of Us. In this fascinating dystopian world, Inesa lives with her family in the poorest part of the world,...

In a world being rebuilt from the ruins of destruction from bombing and poisoning of the world, a fight between factions — five clans and the Kingsland — results in the death of the latter’s leader, heightening tensions and issuing a power struggle. The daughter of one of the clan...

Basil and Terry may be neighbors and attend the same school, but they have nothing else in common. Terry is into all types of sports, and Basil prefers to spend his time reading books. But when Basil’s father insists he helps Terry get better at reading, what looks like it’ll...

What I liked: The Magician Next Door by Rachel Chivers Khoo took me on a nostalgic kind of adventure - the kind I loved back when I was still reading Rainbow Magic books and The Bliss Bakery books in elementary. I loved the characters. We have a young girl who...

The Premonitions Club is a fast paced young adult novel that explores the psychic ability to predict the future. The book is well-researched, and I learned a lot about the different types of psychic premonitions and how each is very different and can sometimes be very dangerous if used...

The Fearless Storyteller addresses an issue rarely discussed in children's literature. Being Illiterate, whether from a language barrier, not being able to read English or Spanish or another language, never learning to read due to growing up circumstances, or just struggling with other reading problems. At first, the young...

Not Scary, Jonathan! is a cute preschool reader's book about a young boy who is determined to scare his family but is quite unsuccessful. It makes for a great read-aloud story, with the rhyming at the beginning, where each attempt to intimidate a family member rhymes with the...

Weaving together history, fast-paced danger, humor, and heart (plus a bit of magic!), Kellyn Carni brings fresh life to a story that has captivated the world for generations. In this retelling, although Anastasia survives, she must now find her place and purpose in a new world where everything she thought...

The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman is a solid, dark academic murder mystery told from two points of view, with fast-paced chapters that flow quickly through the investigation and the eventual capture of the killer. Our two points of view are set between a highly academic student on the...

The Secrets of Lovelace Academy is a historical fiction middle-grade story about a young orphan named Lainey. After her parents die in a car crash, she lands at a horrible orphanage. The story is set in 1904, and the historical depressing aspects of life as an orphan are realistic...

Having an MC who struggles with anxiety is something that is very prevalent in our society and gives young adults who struggle with this a personal character to read about and realize there is so much beyond what your anxiety is. Ziva struggles, especially around new people and big crowds....

What works: The City of Spies is a six-book middle-grade series about young adults who are spies for opportunities when adults would stick out like a sore thumb. They remind me a lot of the Spy Kids movies I grew up watching and give you the same thrilling connection of...

What I liked: Bridget Vanderpuff and her best friend Tom are up to their sleuthing ways again, this time on the hunt to discover what is behind a ghost train that is kidnapping and shutting down the town of Belle by the Sea. Bridget is just as delightful in...