This is a delightfully spooky middle grade that has wonderful world building and a cast of strong characters. I loved the way that Averling builds the mystery in this because I couldn't put it down for the second half of the book. I had to know what was going on with Kess and her family. 

If you like spooky books, there's a lot to love in this one from a haunted bog to witches to strange supernatural monsters. It's just a wonderful read, and it will be great for spooky season!

Ash has always felt alone. They love being outside, and the feeling of the wind in their hair when riding their bike. But it doesn't seem like anyone at school or anyone in their family cares about the environment as much as they do. No matter how much they try to get them to care.

When Ash remembers a story about their Grandpa Edwin building a secret cabin in the woods, they decide to make it their goal to find it. It seems like a good place to start a new life, and escape society for a little while. But surviving out in the woods all by yourself isn't as easy as it might look. Can Ash make it on their own?

Thanks to First Second and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Ash's Cabin by Jen Wang! At its core, this is a graphic novel about survival and figuring out how you fit into the world. Wang nails the voice of a teenager, and the art works so well for the subject matter. This is a sort of quiet story, but one that teens who like survival stories will definitely enjoy. Fair warning, there is a bear attack and Ash's dog gets injured.

Because Ash is alone for a good portion of this book, you really get to know them as a character. They have such drive; determined to live off the land on their own, believing they don't need anyone else to be happy. There's a lot of great stuff packed into this graphic novel that would make excellent discussions, especially paired with a book like My Side of the Mountain or even Hatchet.

Wang includes extra reading at the back of the book, adding even more depth to the overall story. There's so much to like about this book, and I hope it reaches the right hands when it comes out in August!
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Review to come!

Though they shared a magical kiss at Prom, Tan and Winter have decided to not let it change their friendship. However, this plan becomes increasingly difficult when all of their parents go on a vacation to Hawaii. Now, Tan and Winter are in charge of Tan's little sister while they're gone. Meaning avoiding each other becomes impossible.

Things get even more complicated when Tan's ex, Rebecca, arrives, on the run from her billionaire father. Tan is quickly pulled into helping her, and now they all find themselves on the run. Will they be able to figure everything out before Rebecca's dad catches up with them? 
 

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies by Abigail Hing Wen! I was intrigued by the premise, as it sounded sort of spy, action adventure related. And there is plenty of action as the teens find themselves on the run. It's an overall fast paced read, which makes it really easy to get through quickly!

My main issue was the premise requires a lot of suspension of disbelief to make the book work, and I just couldn't quite get there. The sort of thriller/chase aspect didn't quite work for me because the situation seemed highly exaggerated. There weren't enough details grounded in reality to make it believable, which made it difficult for me to get into the story.

However, the romance is cute. There's some love triangle drama, if you're into that kind of thing. The ending is satisfying, and if you can just throw yourself into the story, it's an entertaining read overall. Just wasn't necessarily for me.

If you like action-y romance, definitely check this one out in August! 

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Review to come!

I love the way that this deals with anxiety and body image issues for middle schoolers. Ty is so unsure of himself after taking a season off of swimming, but doesn't really know how to communicate those feelings with other people. He's nervous about swimming again, but also self-concscious about the way his body has changed in that time. 

There are a lot of positive interactions that Ty has with adults in that they don't just push his fears aside. It's through them that Ty starts to move towards accepting himself, and works toward being able to mend things with his best friend.

There's also casual queer rep in this, and we love to see it. If you're looking for a good, summer camp themed story, definitely pick this one up!

Another excellent installment in the Lightfall series. We get some new character additions in this one, and an expansion of the world. This volume is a bit more melancholy in tone, but the art and the illustrations are still just as gorgeous. I seriously love Probert's art style; it is beautiful. Can't wait to read the next one!

A solid YA romance that explores family, fate, and first love. Outside of Leti and Jacob's relationship, there's a lot going on with both of their families. They get close because they're both dealing with grief in their own ways, and they realize that they have a connection. There is also a found family aspect, with the group of friends Leti has at the garage who would do anything for her. I am always a sucker for a good found family.

I do think the third act dragged on a little longer than it needed to, but the writing overall wasn't bad, getting redeemed with some of the character development. If you like your romance with a side of family issues, this might be the book for you!

Not going to lie, it's been a while since I read the first book, so I didn't quite remember what happened in that one. But it wasn't too much of a problem in this one; it builds on what happens in that one, but it's a slightly different storyline. You will miss some of the character development, though.

I do really love the art in these, though, and I'm excited to see where the next book goes because this one definitely leaves off on a cliffhanger.

This is an adorable, spooky middle grade all about finding your voice and learning to be brave. The characters were all likable, and the spirit world that Winans created was intriguing and had just the right amount of spooky elements. I think I prefer their YA over this, but this wasn't a bad middle grade debut!

This was a mystery that I couldn't put down by the second half of the book! I listened to a large majority of it this morning before work, and I was hooked as the mystery started unravelling. It is paced just right so that you will be desperate to know how everything was going to play out.

The author's note at the end also explains why she wrote this particular story, trying to bring to light the fact that so many Indigenous women disappear. There was a podcast sort of woven into the story line, and I liked how felt like it was connecting the book to the real world. All in all, just a really solid mystery read all around.

I know a lot of kids love this series, so I decided to finally pick it up to see what it's all about! Though it does start off on quite a dark note, the book itself is still filled with hope. We just get a glimpse of this new magical world in this one, so I am interested to see how it expands in later books!

The art was well done, pulling you into this fantasy story with ease. While we didn't get a lot of time with these characters initially, I can tell that they all have potential! I am definitely interested in seeing where this story goes next.