Reviews written by Rachel Moulden, Staff Reviewer

The Girl from the Ashes is a bone-chilling horror novel that reminds us that history can not be erased. When mysterious occurrences of the supernatural kind start popping up in Gianna and Carter John’s life they are shaken to the core. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery,...

Goldenborn is a YA fantasy debut that promises an adventure seeped in Ghanaian mythology and culture. Readers are taken on a wild ride as they follow Akoma’s journey to discovering the secrets behind her dad’s mysterious coma, solving cases of powerful artifacts all while trying to live a semi-normal life....

After reading Douglass’ prior novel, The Taking of Jake Livingston, I knew I was in for a treat with this Great Gatsby retelling. Douglass does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the original story while also adding new elements that readers will enjoy. Set during the roaring 20s,...

Time For a Change wastes no time jumping back into the world of Rahim and Kasia’s time traveling adventures. Readers follow the friend’s journey of trying to figure out the mysterious organization of Aevum and how it ties to their future selves. But when the...

Stream is a wonderful story that blends themes of rediscovering the natural world along with a coming-of-age narrative. This novel in verse manages to seamlessly move back and forth between the two povs of main characters, Celi and Elio. Because of screen addictions and consequences of technology that play out...

Makeup, high school drama, and a murder mystery awaits in the pages of Girls Who Play Dead. The story follows two very different siblings, Kyla and Mikky, who reconnect under tragic circumstances. Desperate to find answers to Erin’s death they put on their detective hats to get to the bottom...

Before We Wake is a poignant coming-of-age story told through the blurred lines of dreams and reality. The main character, Alicia, struggles with change as she deals with life after the loss of her father, moving to a new house, and feeling that her best friend is pulling away from...

Ida B. Wells: Journalist, Advocate & Crusader for Justice is a fantastic biography for its intended audience to learn about one of history's journalists and sociologists. The book, though comprehensive, focuses on her younger years from her childhood to her early career in journalism. The book is fast-paced, full of...

What a fun conclusion to one of my new favorite middle grade series! Thedora Hendrix is a story that follows the life of a human girl raised by monsters and does her best to protect her secret family from discovery. The last installment features a trip to the Big Apple...

The first installment in The Rhythm of Time series is a mixture of science fiction, time-travel, and pure fun. Set in Philly, the novel follows friends, Kasia and Rahim, navigating school life and getting into mischief. When Kasia comes up with a brilliant invention and allows Rahim to try it...

Rani Deshpande Takes the Wheel takes the wheel makes a perfect seasonal read as it’s set during the summertime or readers who are looking for a sweet romance. The story follows Rani navigating the many roads (figuratively and literally) of her life while attempting to get her driver’s license and...

K-Jane is a heartwarming coming-of-age novel that reminds us that we can’t be stereotyped by labels and how growing up is hard. Set in the backdrop of Nebraska, Jane loves her midwestern life, but when she sees the rise of Hallyu (Korean) wave capture the attention of her classmates this...

Donutella Hamachi is a wonderful read from beginning to end. The story blends the world of comic books and reality through the lens of the main character Jae Han, an aspiring young artist. When Han's favorite place, the library, is at risk of closing, he gathers his courage and uses...

Most Valuable Player can be read anytime of the year, but Woody's attention to detail in its Fall setting makes it perfect for an Autumnal read. The story and descriptions immerse the reader in the season of change. The novel follows two very different teen boys who share one thing...

It has been many years since I had visited the pages of The Hunger Games series and I wasn't sure what to expect in Sunrise on the Reaping. Once I opened the pages of the book, I jumped right back into the world that Collins created with great ease. The...