For kids, life can be boring, but Liam and Elsa know how to create their own fun—or so they think. After finding a $3 time machine at a garage sale, Liam uses the machine to summon Thomas Edison for help with his book report. It’s not until the time machine sends a different Thomas Edison from the 1930s that chaos ensues..
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
This book was so fun to read! I didn’t know what to expect, but it sounded fun and that is definitely what it was. It was super fast paced and easy to read, so really perfect for its intended audience. The pace kept me engaged and the characters leapt off the page for me, which I think is another thing that will be beneficial for younger readers. I also really liked the real life references to historical events and figures. Overall it was a fun and quick read that I think is perfect for younger readers but could be picked up by anyone.
Jessi Zabarsky’s lushly illustrated shoujo-adventure comic that introduces Lelek the witch as she blows through town one day, kidnapping the peasant girl Sanja. The unlikely pair grow more entangled as they travel together, looking for the missing half of Lelek’s soul – the source of her true magical abilities. Both women are seeking to learn, in their own ways, how to be whole again. This book collects the serialized story all into a single volume, including the heart-gripping conclusion and other all-new material.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
If you’re looking for a cute Sapphic witchy story, then this will fit the bill. I found the art and style very whimsical and fun, and did enjoy the characters. Where this fell a little short for me is that I found myself wanting to know more about the world itself. There were moments where they touched on societal issues that might factor in, but it wasn’t every really explained as to the how and why, which made some events confusing. I would have really loved there to be a little more world building and foundation, but I also understand that this was just supposed to be about Sanja and Lelek. All in all I still really enjoyed it and had a fun time reading it.
This collection features 25 inspiring tales of proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Read about how these women, girls, and nonbinary people broke down barriers, honored their identities, and lived authentically no matter what anyone else said.
Find your voice with Janelle Monae. Play for equality with Billie Jean King. Protect your community with Marcia P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. And organize joyful celebrations with Dr. Lady Phyll and Molly Pinta.
With a foreword by Elena Favilli, this book pairs inspiring, easy-to-read text with colorful full-page portraits created by female and nonbinary artists from all around the world. Plus, scannable codes let you listen to longer stories on the Rebel Girls app!
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once again Rebel Girls has come out with another great installment to their collection. This collection includes stories of members of the LGBTQIA+ community from all cultures, identities and even generations. I always enjoy the diversity and inclusion in these books and this one is no different. I really like the added QR codes to listen to longer stories/information about some of the people featured in the book, plus all of the interactive and informative pages at the end of the book that would really be so beneficial for those trying to learn or trying to figure out who they are.
A siren song of queerness, disability, and myth, these poems reinvent love, life, and death. BEAUTIFUL MALADY is an exploration of pain, weaving speculative poems about fairy tales, folklore, fantasy, and the supernatural with the reality of chronic illness and disability. Ennis Rook Bashe deftly creates a world where the broken body is beautiful.
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
I thought the combination of fantasy/speculative with talk of disability was interesting, so was glad to pick this one up. I found the poems themselves to be beautifully worded and full of imagery – they definitely draw you in so that you are invested. Sometimes the talk of disability (though the inclusion is appreciated) can seem awkward or out of place, but here it was seamless. Whether the poems be about fighting against prejudices etc. or living within your disability, they were full of authenticity and heart.
Eight years ago, everything changed for Her country was attacked. Her father was killed. And her mother became the Whisperer of Aris, the head of the spies, retreating into her position away from everyone… even her daughter.
Joining the spy ranks herself, Dev sees her mother only when receiving assignments. She wants more, but she understands the peril their country, Aris, is in. The malevolent magic force of The Mists is swallowing Aris’s edges, their country is vulnerable to another attack from their wealthier neighbor, and the magic casters who protect them from both are burning out.
Dev has known strength and survival her whole life, but with a dangerous new assignment of infiltrating the royal court of their neighbor country Cerena to steal the magic they need, she learns that not all that glitters is weak. And not all stories are true.
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Rating: 3 out of 5.
I went into this one knowing very little about it and I’m glad I did because that meant I had little expectations. I really liked how well crafted the magic system and base of history was and felt that was developed well. Where it fell a little short for me is that I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I felt they were likeable in general, but couldn’t identify with them during the story. That’s not to say that someone else wouldn’t, I’m sure they would, they just weren’t characters that resonated with me personally.
I did overall enjoy the world that was crafted and found many elements of it intriguing, just had a hard time really connecting with the characters.
Paper Girlis a heartrending middle-grade graphic novel about a girl’s ill-fated wish to fit in, perfect for readers of Stargazing and Pashmina.
All Yuna wants is to belong. She wants to go to sleepovers, have a smart phone, and go to summer camp—just like her friends in middle school.
Furious at her Umma for never packing her a “normal” American lunch, they get into yet another fight. Out of options and miserable, Yuna remembers a legend that her grandma, Halmoni, told her. If you fold 1,000 paper stars, you will be granted one wish.
When she reaches 1,000 paper stars, Yuna wishes for her family to move back to Korea, where she can finally be normal. Seconds later: a knock at her door. It’s her sister with devastating news. Halmoni has died and they must go back to Korea to attend the funeral.
Yuna knows this is all her fault. As her guilt builds, her body begins to turn into paper. Yuna realizes she must undo her wish and bring her Halmoni back—or turn into paper forever.
Wholly heartbreaking and with light touches of magic realism, Paper Girl is a captivating graphic novel about identity, family, and the love that can bridge generations.
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
I was so excited when I was able to get a copy of this book as I could tell from the synopsis that it would be something I would enjoy, and I did! I loved the story and Yuna’s struggle with the feeling that she didn’t belong anywhere because she didn’t quite fit in in either America or Korea, and her longing for that feeling of home. This also really delves a bit into grief and sudden loss of a loved one as well and overall was a beautiful but heart wrenching story. The art style was beautiful, with different palettes for different types of scenes, such as memories being differently shaded than things happening in the present. I also really enjoyed the touches of Korean culture that the author included, shaped by their own experiences.
This collection features 25 stories of extraordinary women in music—women who have moved hearts and minds with their lyrics, uplifted other musicians, and gotten people to jump, dance, and sing along with their music.
Belt out pop anthems with Lizzo, bang on the drums with Nandi Bushell, and write country hits with Dolly Parton. The women in this book come from all around the world. They play different instruments, experiment with new sounds, and stand out in their genres. But one thing is true of them They rock!
With a foreword by iconic rocker Joan Jett and activities curated by Gibson Guitars, this book will have readers everywhere jamming out! Plus, scannable codes let you listen to more stories on the Rebel Girls app.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
I’ve really been enjoying these more focused installments in the Rebel Girls series, especially since they can appeal to people who are looking for specific themes that are more focused to their interests. As always the art is amazing and I really like the variety that is always included in the styles that are represented. Another thing I really enjoy about this series is how they make sure to include people from different cultures, ethnicities, walks of life and more – there’s always a really good balance of people included and I feel that you will always be able to find at least one individual that resonates with you, if not more!
Emma, Lily, and Fadila want to save the planet . . . but no one around them seems to care. Frustrated, they name themselves the Green Girls, take to social media, and launch a series of bold protests. Alongside their classmate and aspiring Green Girl Silas, the crew risks getting in trouble (and stirs some up) to raise awareness about container ship pollution, palm oil overproduction, and more environmental hazards. With a mix of livestreams, spray paint, and bungee cords, they’re out to make a difference―and get their followers to do the same.
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Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
I enjoyed the overall premise of this book, it’s a great subject to explore to encourage kids/teens to make a change in the world and stand up for causes they care about; however, I did take some issues with some of the methods the teens used in the story to achieve their goals. Sure, when you’re doing activism of any kind there is the possibility that you’ll cross some lines for the cause, but I’m not sure some of their actions should be presented as acceptable such as lying and vandalism.
That aside, I really enjoyed the art, story and characters overall. It was a quick and enjoyable read about sparking the idea of activism and taking action to stand up for what you believe.
From acclaimed author E. L. Shen comes a sun-drenched, cinematic YA novel about three Asian American girls, their unbreakable bond, and one life-changing summer, perfect for fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Best friends Jia Lee, Ariel Kim, and Everett Hoang are inseparable. But this summer, they won’t be together.
Everett, aspiring Broadway star, hopes to nab the lead role in an Ohio theater production, but soon realizes that talent and drive can only get her so far. Brainy Ariel is flying to San Francisco for a prestigious STEM scholarship, even though her heart is in South Korea, where her sister died last year. And stable, solid Jia will be home in Flushing, juggling her parents’ Chinatown restaurant, a cute new neighbor, and dreams for an uncertain future.
As the girls navigate heartbreaking surprises and shocking self-discoveries, they find that even though they’re physically apart, they are still mighty together.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
While this isn’t the typical type of book I’ve been picking up lately, I was eager to read it upon reading the description of it. I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience with this book and am so glad I picked it up. This is definitely a story about friendship, but also about finding your own way and discovering your individual story as well. I loved the different settings that were explored and felt that each girl’s story and character were well defined. There were a number of real world situations delved into with each girl as well as the group of three friends. It really felt like the perfect summer read that may seem light on the surface, but really explored deeper subjects, issues and relationship dynamics. I was not expecting for it to make me emotional at times, but it certainly did! Also, the writing style flowed really well in my opinion and never really felt like the pacing slowed or was off, which is something I really value.
Seventeen-year-old Olivia Chang is at her fourth school in seven years. Her self-imposed solitude is lonely but safe. At Plainstown High, however, Olivia’s usual plan of anonymity fails when infamous it-girl Mitzi Clarke makes a pointed racist comment in class. Tired of ignoring things just to survive, Olivia defends herself. And that is the end of her invisible life.
Soon, Olivia joins forces with the Nerd Net: a secret society that’s been thwarting Mitzi’s reign of terror for months. Together, they plan to unite the masses and create true change at school.
But in order to succeed, Olivia must do something even more terrifying than lead a movement: trust other people. She might even make true friends along the way . . . if Mitzi doesn’t destroy her first.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
This title had a lot of buzzwords for me as I like to pick up books that might address very current issues such as racism. I also liked that this book really tackled Olivia finding her own niche and come out of her anonymous shell. I can understand her original mindset to not draw any attention towards herself and wanting to disappear in the crowd, but it was really nice to see her mature and find herself. The relationships that she builds along the way were really nice to see and felt authentic to me. The writing style flowed well and it was a quick read but still had some impact. Please keep in mind that there are definite trigger warnings for bullying and racist language.
The Wandering Wordsmith 