Candace Fleming is a pretty big name in kids and teen nonfiction, so it's never a surprise when her books get good reviews. This was pretty interesting; I specifically enjoyed the way that Fleming broke down the code breaking and how it worked at the time. The ending about how long they had to keep these secrets was also nuts.

The pace of this one is good, and Fleming does a good job of drawing readers in. If you like this period of history, definitely check this one out!

There is so much information packed into this book, which unfortunately made it feel a bit dense at times. I'm not sure that 12-18-year-olds would necessarily pick this book up on their own, but it does have a lot of interesting information about Taiwan that a lot of students wouldn't necessarily know about.

I did like the art style, and thought that it fit the subject matter pretty well. I appreciated the fact that the art style changed when the period of life changed for the main character. It worked well for the overall tone of the book, and I am interested in seeing where the next volume goes.

This is an edge of your seat kind of mystery that delves into complex issues like race, privilege, and complicated families. Having the dual POV between the two brothers definitely helped in building suspense throughout the book, and also highlighted the different ways that both brothers grew up. I loved the way their relationship changed throughout the book, especially as they were able to learn more about each other.

There are some good plot twists throughout; just when you think you have it figured out, something else is thrown into the mix. Emill keeps the suspense throughout, while making you think about broader, real world issues. 

If you liked something like Ace of Spades, definitely check this book out!

An adorable graphic novel that would definitely work for getting kids introduced to the genre. And a great read-a-like for those kids who absolutely love Narwhal and Jelly. I appreciated all of the interactions with the cat; probably my favorite part of the book overall.

Thanks to Knopf Books for sending an advanced copy of this book to my library!

Lucy is a senior in high school, trying to decide where to go to college. After a transphobic incident at the local college, she finds an LGBTQ+ friendly college that seems like a dream. But as a women's only college, she's unsure about how trans friendly they really are.

This book hits all the right notes for teens trying to figure out what to do after high school. I loved the friendship between Lucy and her best friend Calli, who is ready to fight anyone who hurts Lucy. They're both super into theater, so if you were also a drama kid in high school, you'll love their journey putting on their play as seniors in high school theater.

There is also a plot line about Lucy and Callie getting their play censored because it features a trans storyline. The school board claims that they're afraid of "controversy," which is unfortunately all to believable in this day and age.

I will say, some of the writing felt a bit clunky at times, and some of the diaglogue didn't quite feel realistic. But, it's also a debut, so plenty of time to improve. This is a sweet book that queer theater kids will definitely relate to. Check it out when it comes out in October!

Well, I didn't seem to love this as much as everyone else, which is a bit of a bummer. I listened to the audiobook for this one, and unfortunately, I just didn't jive with the narrator. It made it hard for me to want to jump back into the story.

However, the overall message of this book is super important, especially with all of the censoring of LGBTQ+ voices in schools happening currently. What starts as a plot to get revenge on ex-boyfriends turns into a mission fighting against their schools censorship rules. It's such an important message for teens, showing them they do have the power to enact change.

The central romance is pretty cute, and I loved the friendship between the two boys. But there is also a lot going on in this book, and I think some of the plot lines could have been dropped to better focus on others. But overall, this is a book that I think will hopefully find a home for a lot of teens.

Grant Rossi has been cursed ever since making a wish on his family’s Wishing Rose. All of his romantic relationships don’t seem to last; they always come to an end. After his most recent breakup (and probably most public), he heads back to his family’s B&B for the summer. To help them refurbish it to hopefully reopen by the end of summer. Grant also hopes to get his creative spark back.

However, what he doesn’t expect is to find his childhood crush, Ben, also working at the Bed and Breakfast. His first crush who also lead to his first broken heart. Will Grant be able to bury the past and work with Ben? Or will he end the summer with yet another broken heart? 
 

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for an advanced copy of Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts by Adam Sass to review! Adam Sass has shown that he can write a variety of genres, and I was enchanted by this book from the beginning. Though not necessarily a fairytale in itself, it does have sort of fairytale vibes with the curse. The descriptions of the little bed and breakfast his family owned sounded lovely, and definitely like a place that I’d visit!

At it’s surface, this is a book about curses. But it is also a book about Grant working through his anxiety and trauma with relationships and being queer. His emotional journey is so satisfying by the end. Done with high school, he is also trying to figure out what path he wants to take with the rest of his life. These are all emotional beats that teens will relate to as they read Grant’s story.

The relationship between Grant and Ben is so strained at first, but that also evolves throughout. They are honestly adorable together, and I enjoyed getting to see them grow. The other side characters, especially Grant’s family, are all fun additions, and just make the book generally fun to read.

All in all, if you’re looking for a queer romance to add to your docket this summer, definitely check this one out in July! 

This is cute, but perhaps a little strange. Which I should have known going into it, but you know. I always enjoy a good cat manga. Even when the cats have human characteristics, lol. I am interesting in seeing where it goes next, though!

Justine Pucella Winans is quickly becoming a favorite of mine for funny, slightly campy YA mysteries with a strong core of found family vibes. I listened to Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything last year, and I'd definitely recommend that one too if you like your mysteries with great characters and mysteries that are maybe just a bit ridiculous.

This one was just as fun, with a wonderful cast and a mystery that hooks you right from the beginning. I have Winan's middle grade to read on my shelf, and I'm excited to see what that one holds!

This is a cute teen sports romance, with an angle I don't think I've seen in a teen sports book before (one of the characters wants to be a professional game official). However, it is billed as rivals to lovers, but not a lot of time is spent on that aspect of the book. I do wish we had a bit more time with that rivalry before it jumped to their relationship.

Their relationship did feel realistic for teenagers though, and some of the side characters added to the overall story. I think just having a bit more time with the romance/relationship would have made it an overall stronger book.