Book Blurb - GHOST BOOK by Remy Lai

This is a fascinating story to read. 

From the publisher: Henry Holt (August 2023)

Twelve years ago, the boy and the girl lived. But one was supposed to die.

July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren’t real. So she pretends they don’t exist. Which is incredibly difficult now as it's Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and dangerous ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a Hungry Ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He’s a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends embark on an adventure to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth―for William to live, July must die.

Inspired by Chinese mythology, this dark yet resoundingly hopeful tale about friendship, sacrifice, and the unseen world of ghosts is a dazzling heir to beloved Studio Ghibli classics.

This graphic novel is so imaginative, clever and interesting. It has a full circle story with gross, hungry ghosts and a ghost pet named Floof! I like how it portrays life and near death. You discover how the main character July, is able to keep away from death and connected to her father, and the deal that has to be made, in the end. Friendship, truth and a little magic is exactly what we all need. 

Two incredible MG - Misfits and Simon Sort of Says

Both books are so well done. Loved them both.

Misfits: The Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee with illustrations by Dan Santat

From the publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (January 2, 2024)

Olive Cobin Zang has . . . issues. And they mostly aren’t her fault. (No, really!) Though she often slips under the radar, problems have a knack for finding her. So, imagine her doubts when she’s suddenly dropped off at the strangest boarding school ever: a former castle turned prison that's now a “reforming arts school”!

But nothing could’ve prepared Olive for RASCH (not “rash”). There, she’s lumped with a team of other kids who never quite fit in, and discovers that the academy isn’t what it seems—and neither is she. In fact, RASCH is a cover for an elite group of misfits who fight crime . . . and Olive has arrived just in time.

Turns out that RASCH is in danger of closing, unless Olive’s class can stop the heist of the century. And as Olive falls in love with this wacky school, she realizes it’s up to her new team to save the only home that’s ever welcomed them.

This story is the best kind of ride. Creative characters, settings and plot bring plenty of adventure and mystery. There is a lot of fun in the extensive and odd training for the RASCH misfits. This book is pretty perfect from beginning to end (what else would you get from Lisa Yee and Dan Santat?) with plenty of fun and wacky events to keep you reading. There’s a lot of heart – especially when you find your home.

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

From the publisher: Disney Hyperion (January 31, 2023)

Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the one starring Simon as a famous survivor of gun violence at school.

Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone—the only place in America where the internet is banned. Instead of talking about Simon, the astronomers who flock to the area are busy listening for signs of life in space. And when Simon makes a friend who’s determined to give the scientists what they’re looking for, he’ll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell.

Simon Sort of Says, the Newbery Honor-winning novel by Erin Bow, is a breathtaking testament to the lasting echoes of trauma, the redemptive power of humor, and the courage it takes to move forward without forgetting the past.

This story is impressive, tough, laugh out loud funny and extremely necessary. I’m so glad someone recommended it. I felt everything the character felt, and it all felt real. To get the perspective of a child in a school shooting was brave and painful. For those of us who have never experienced that kind of situation, the level of anxiety and PTSD was palpable. It gave understanding to something we see on TV but don’t know the inside story. There is a warning at the beginning for anyone that might be triggered.

There were also so many times I was laughing out loud and stopped to read it to my husband. This book is one I will keep, and the story will stay with me for a long time. 

Two MG books with strong female MC

Hi! Apparently, I took January off! LOL. But if you look at the extra book titles at the bottom of the last post, I had a lot of reading to do and ALL of them were great! 

So, these two blurbs are pretty short but worth writing about. And MC is main character, in case that wasn't clear. I would have spelled out protagonist but that's long in a title. Both have awesome covers, too. Anyway...on to the books!

The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel

From the publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers (March 5, 2019) (was reprinted with illustrations 2020)

With a dad who disappeared years ago and a mother who's a bit too busy to parent, Emmy is shipped off to Wellsworth, a prestigious boarding school in England, where she's sure she won't fit in.

But then she finds a box of mysterious medallions in the attic of her home with a note reading: These belonged to your father.

When she arrives at school, she finds the strange symbols from the medallions etched into walls and books, which leads Emmy and her new friends, Jack and Lola, to Wellsworth's secret society: The Order of Black Hollow Lane.

Emmy can't help but think that the society had something to do with her dad's disappearance, and that there may be more than just dark secrets in the halls of Wellsworth…

 

I really had fun with this one. Even though it’s a familiar plot, with a Harry Potter feel, I enjoyed the characters and setting and the friendships. AND there’s a second book, which I’m looking forward to reading! If you like boarding schools, England, secret societies, then you’ll like this one. See if you can figure out who are good guys and who are bad guys. Plus, she’s a Canadian writer – and it’s an older book – hopefully you can find it easily.

The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty

From the publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (October 9, 2018)

Bronte Mettlestone is ten years old when her parents are killed by pirates. This does not bother her particularly: her parents ran away to have adventures when she was a baby. She has been raised by her Aunt Isabelle, with assistance from the Butler, and has spent a pleasant childhood of afternoon teas and riding lessons. Now, however, her parents have left detailed instructions for Bronte in their will. (Instructions that, annoyingly, have been reinforced with faery cross-stitch, which means that if she doesn't complete them, terrible things could happen!).

She travels the kingdoms, perfectly alone, delivering gifts to ten other aunts: a farmer aunt who owns an orange orchard, a veterinarian aunt who specializes in dragon care, a pair of aunts who captain a cruise ship, and a former rock star aunt who is now the reigning monarch of a small kingdom. But as she travels from aunt to aunt, Bronte suspects there might be more to this journey than the simple delivery of treasure.

This one was hard to put in a blurb because it’s layered and complex but not hard to understand from a reading standpoint, but from a writing one.

The language and writing are unique and interesting. There are so many characters and storylines and so much happens that my writer brain wants to implode. That may not sound like a good thing, but it is, since it would be awesome to write like this.

To have all the threads interwoven and fit together, coupled with the language, makes for a magical read. (Also, not a new book, but new to me, so it should be easy to find and there are FIVE books in this Kingdoms and Empires series).

A three-fer! PB, MG and YA

Something for everyone – PB, MG and YA! And right in time for gift giving time! With some extras at the very end. 🎄🎅

First up – picture book.

HOW CATS SAY I LOVE YOU by Guy Brown, illustrated by Davide Ortu

From the publisher: Platypus Media, LLC, Sept 2023

Cats have a lot to say!

Just like people, cats share their feelings in all sorts of ways. It's up to us to uncover what our furry friends are trying to tell us. Are they gently purring or curiously crouching? Is their tail straight or swishing? Featuring a diverse cast of kids and cats from all over the world, this social-emotional learning book models empathy and compassion. Young readers will learn to look for the different ways their friends―human and feline alike―share their feelings.

Each silly, sassy cat expresses a different emotion to their human pal, who responds to the cat's needs by handing them a treat to soothe their nerves, giving them space to calm down, or offering lots of cuddles. The kids also describe how they communicate those same feelings. Sometimes they hold hands with their best friends, ask their parents for a hug, or say they need to take a break.

Written by award-winning author (and cat owner) Guy Brown, with colorful and lively illustrations from Davide Ortu, How Cats Say I Love You teaches young kids how to care for others' feelings as well as their own, while showing that healthy relationships are rooted in communication. 

For all the cat lovers out there, with or without a cat of their own, this adorable book is about all the ways cats communicate with their humans. Not only does it showcase lots of different cats, emotions, behavior and responses, but also takes the reader around the world. The emotions translate from cat to human and human to cat. The back matter reveals the type of cats in the book, where they’re from and what their names mean. When I said adorable, I meant it. 

Second book – Middle Grade

THE LOST LIBRARY by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

From the publisher: Feiwel & Friends, August 2023

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It’s about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

This is a wonderful tale of a boy Evan, and his friend Rafe, finding a mystery in their small town and how it relates to Evan and his family.

But it also is about how a wee free library got started, how a library burned down, who was responsible and the heroes, and a fabulous orange cat named Mortimer.

It’s also about finding the truth, telling the truth, healing the past and forging your own path forward.

It’s quite lovely and I’ll bet you will think so too.

Third book – Young Adult

BEHOLDER by Ryan La Sala

From the publisher: PUSH, October 2023

From Ryan La Sala, author of the tantalizingly twisted The Honeys and riotously imaginative Reverie, comes a chilling new contemporary fable about art, aesthetic obsession, and the gaze that peers back at us from behind our reflections.

No one survived the party at the penthouse. Except Athan.

Athanasios “Athan” Bakirtzis has made it far in life relying on his charm and good looks, even securing an invitation to a mysterious penthouse soiree for New York City’s artsy elite. But when he sneaks off to the bathroom, he hears a slam, followed by a scream. Athan peers outside, only to be pushed back in by a boy his age. The boy gravely tells him not to open the door, then closes Athan in.

Outside the door, the party descends into chaos. Through hours of howls, laughter, and sobs, Athan stays hidden. When he finally emerges, he discovers a massacre where the corpses appear to have arranged themselves into a disturbingly elegant sculpture―and Athan’s mysterious savior is nowhere to be found. Athan―the only known survivor―is now the primary suspect.

In a race to prove his innocence, Athan is swept up in a supernatural mystery, one of secret occult societies and deadly eldritch horrors with rather distinctive taste. Something evil is waking up in the walls of New York City, and it’s compelling victims toward violence, chaos, and self-destruction. Bound to him by a mysterious hereditary power, Athan has felt this evil hiding behind his reflection his entire life, watching him. Waiting. Now, it’s taking over.

I reviewed THE HONEYS and enjoyed the supernatural elements and story. This one was a level above that in supernatural elements and the wild pace of the story. It galloped along and I was just a passenger.

There were horror parts, too. And I don’t generally read much horror, but once I caught on to what Athan’s sight was about, I was totally in. The characters’ thoughts and emotions put you right in the story. The risks they take make you hold your breath. And the ending party is fantastically crazy. Then the actual ending is sad and good and satisfying. 

PS

In my, to be read or recently read pile, is: 

a first time for everything by Dan Santat, winner of the National Book Award

Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee, National Book Award Finalist

Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson, two books in the series so far

Itty Bitty Kitty Corn by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Leuyen Pham - talk about CUTE! Three books and lots of cuteness overload. 

The first one just came out but the next two are from 2022 and Kitty Corn is from 2021. I have lots of catching up to do. All these amazing authors have so many incredible books out - let's get reading! 

MG Book Blurb - THE HURRICANE GIRLS

THE HURRICANE GIRLS at first seems like a straightforward story, but there is so much more to it. It’s complex, layered, and very satisfying.

From the publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books, August 2023

A coming-of-age middle grade novel about three best friends born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina who must confront storms of their own 12 years later, from a National Book Award winning author.

Born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Greer, Joya Mia, and Kiki are seventh graders and the best of friends. After an accident leaves Greer's little sister paralyzed, Greer is forever changed by the experience and blames herself. Kiki and Joya Mia will do anything to help Greer let go of this emotional burden, and a plan is hatched to compete in a triathlon. Each girl will participate: Kiki will swim, Joya Mia will cycle, and Greer, if they can persuade her, will run—something she once loved to do.

Set on the Westbank of New Orleans, this contemporary coming-of-age novel is a journey of growth, healing, and difficult transitions as the girls navigate their many life challenges: family trauma, body insecurity, and the conflict between ambition and responsibility. It's a powerful and enlightening exploration of how to surmount personal tragedy through friendship and forgiveness.

Each chapter is told by one of the three girls, so you get to experience all the issues the girls are dealing with: guilt, self-blame, body and self-insecurity, first romance, first job and responsibility. And those are just the main plots. The subplots add dimension and opens the reader to different experiences. Of course, set in New Orleans is a fantastic character, too.

I think the biggest themes are friendship and communication. There’s a lot of heart.

Book Blurb - TOP STORY - MG

TOP STORY, by Kelly Yang, is one of those books that shows us why we need diverse books. I probably should say, this is one of those series that shows us why. And you don’t have to have read the four previous books to follow, TOP STORY stands on its own.

From the publisher: Scholastic Press (Sept 2023)

Mia Tang is at the top of her game!

She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story―one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco . . .

1. Mia's camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion?

2. Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend?

3. Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason―gulp―that she has a crush on him?

Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell a top story, it’s Mia Tang!

It’s important to learn about other people, cultures, traditions, stories. It’s like traveling without leaving your home, which is what reading good books is all about!  

There so many characters who all have their own stories and are intertwined so well. There are kids, adults, parents, aunties and a puppy. Even San Francisco is its own character too. It’s richly written with many full circle moments.

I think it’s too easy to forget the different struggles others go through. TOP STORY shines a light on that. It also emphasizes how we all need to be true to ourselves and chase our dreams with lots of hard work.

AWESOME MG GN! BUZZING

BUZZING by Samuel Sattin, illustrated by Rye Hickman

Little, Brown Ink (July 18, 2023)

From the Publisher:

A moving middle grade graphic novel about friendship, belonging, and learning to love yourself despite the voices in your head.

Isaac Itkin can’t get away from his thoughts.
 
As a lonely twelve-year-old kid with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), everything from studying to looking in the mirror becomes a battle between him and a swarm of unhelpful thoughts.
 
The strict therapy his mother insists on doesn’t seem to be working, but when a group of friends invites him to join their after-school role-playing game, the thoughts feel a little less loud, and the world feels a little brighter.
 
But Isaac’s therapist says that exposure to games can have negative effects on kids with OCD, and when his grades slip, his helicopter mother won’t let him play anymore. Now Isaac needs to find a way to prove to himself, to his mother, and to the world that the way to quiet the noise in his head may have been inside him all along.

I loved this book. I know a little bit about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and some from what I’ve seen on TV or in movies. But this is the first time I’ve read about it in young people. 

We get to see what the disorder is like from the inside and how it affects Isaac, the main character, his life, family, relationships and school. And how Isaac finds his own place in the world. He starts to understand that he’s not what his thoughts are telling him. Buzzed is about how he finds friends and activities/outlets and how they add to his well-being. His mom is about protecting him but doesn’t realize how his new friends make him healthier and happier. The mom and the sister also have their eyes opened to how stuck they are in the family dynamic and that it can change for the better. For anyone who feels different or weird – and that includes almost all of us – there is a community waiting for us. It’s just a matter of finding it.

Really well done.