I finally read this because I know a lot of kids love it, and I think inevitably, I will end up talking about it at my comic book club at some point. And I can see why it is so popular! It's silly, has the right humor for kids, and it's generally pretty easy to read. It's probably not my favorite thing, but I'm glad it's gotten a lot of kids to get into reading!

I definitely see why kids are drawn to this. It's silly, but still includes facts and such throughout. Narwhal and Jelly are lovely together, and I loved the overall focus on imagination. Another great book to help out those transitional readers.

Absolutely adorable. I'm leading a kids comic book club over the summer, so I'm trying to get in a variety of comics so it's easier to talk about them with the kids. This one is about friends, bugs, silly quests, and plenty of jokes. Definitely great for those kids just getting into comics!

This was a free audiobook for librarians in June, so obviously I took that opportunity to re-read this. I did change my rating slightly because while I did enjoy this book, it's not my favorite McQuiston thus far (I still think that's I Kissed Shara Wheeler). 

I will say, where McQuiston's books usually focus a lot on that found family trope, they took a different direction with this one. It's still a great summer romance, and I'm excited to own a physical copy.

I was on the fence about the first book in this series, A Door in the Dark, but I figured I'd try this one to see if it changed my mind. I still feel pretty on the fence about it; overall, I don't think the world is fully fleshed out in the way that it could be. Which is a shame because the magic system and the way that it is used is fascinating. There were a couple of descriptions in this book that definitely had me interested; I just don't think they were fleshed out enough.

In general, I also wanted a bit more characterization overall. Ren, for the most part, is pretty consumed by her need for revenge that we don't get a whole lot about her character outside of that. The new characters introduced in this one were a bit more fleshed out, but they were also very focused on their revenge.

It feels like there was an opening left at the end for a potential third book, so we will see! An entertaining read, but one that I thought could have been pushed a little further.

This is a pretty good nonfiction collection of essays about how racism presents itself in the school system and how it can affects students of color. There are personal stories as well as essays with facts about US school systems and segregation. It is written at a good level for teens, though I don't think a lot of teens pick up nonfiction these days. If you're interested in the topics, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out!

I'm not sure about the One Last Stop connection in the comp titles, but this is absolutely a queer version of 13 Going on 30 and I loved it. Nolan is not the most likable character at the beginning, but he goes on such an emotional journey. And him and Drew are just adorable; friends to lovers is definitely one of my favorite tropes.

Not only is Nolan a well-rounded, complex character, but so is the supporting cast. They all play such an important role in Nolan's life, he just has to realize how important they are to him. This is a great fluffy read to start off your summer, full of hope and romance!

I liked this, but I'm not sure if I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy Hutchinson's YA work. Part of what always drew me to his YA books is the sort of surrealist spin he would put on his fiction that makes it just a little bit weird. Perfect example: The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza is probably my favorite book of his, and that's probably his strangest book to date. 

This book does have a good message for any middle grade readers who pick it up, and I think Hutchinson strikes a good balance between supernatural and real life. With the way it ends, it seems that there is going to be more set in this world with these kids, so I'm interested in seeing where it goes next.

I actually haven't read a K. Ancrum book before this, but perhaps now I'll go back and check out her backlist because I basically listened to this entire book in one sitting. A modern re-imagining of the Icarus myth with an art thief twist, I was hooked from the beginning.

There is so much emotion in this book; at it's core, it's about Icarus learning to let people in and lean on them when he needs help. His and Helios' relationship is raw and emotional and definitely one of the strongest aspects of the books. But so are the friendships that Icarus makes with Luca and Celestina. Icarus goes through it in this book, and shows that it is okay to be vulnerable at times.

If you like Greek mythology inspired books, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out!

This was a cute romance! I appreciated all the representation that was included in here, and the cast of characters was just a fun group to read about. It might not be the most realistic regency romance, but it fits the vibes if you don't mind that. Emily and Ben have such great chemistry, and they both just want the best for the little family they've created.

If you're looking for a light romance to start off your summer reading, definitely check this one out!