Thanks to Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of Drawing Deena by Hena Khan to review! I was happy to see a new book from Hena Khan, as I think she’s become a staple in middle grade fiction. This book in particular focuses on mental health in a way that I think is highly accessible to middle grade readers.

Khan’s writing style is easily accessible for middle grade readers; the tone and the style felt perfect for the audience that she intended. Deena’s struggles, taking on her family’s stresses and balancing her friendships, are all things that middle schoolers can relate to in some way. Khan also infuses her own culture into the story, through Deena’s mom’s business and their general family interactions. 

In addition to the writing, the way mental health is represented in this book is phenomenal. Deena struggles with anxiety in a way that manifests itself physically, and she learns that it’s okay to ask for help. She also has a great conversation with her dad about wanting to get help and that it isn’t a bad thing to need help with your mental health. Such a great example for all middle grade readers.

I don’t think there’s anything negative I can say about this book. If you’re into middle grade, definitely pick this one up when it comes out next Tuesday!

This got a lot of buzz when it came out last year, and I can see why! The sort of archeology-themed mythology that's included in this book is pretty rare in YA; I can't think of a lot of books that are set around looking for lost artifacts. I also can't think of a lot of YA books that are set in Egypt, so there is also that!

What kind of rubbed me the wrong way about this book was the pacing. We spend a lot of time in the beginning of the book setting the stage, with Inez looking for her uncle and trying to figure out what happened to her parents. I will say I did see one of the major plot twists coming, and I think that took away from the shock factor for me as well.

The central romance was pretty well developed, though I do kind of wish we got more chapters from Whit. I think it would have helped round out his character a bit more; maybe we will get more in the next book! Be warned that this does end on a pretty big cliffhanger, but the second book comes out this fall, so you won't have to wait too terribly long to find out what happens to Whit and Inez!

I enjoyed the concept and the vibes of this book, but I wanted a bit more from the characters and the world building. Mainly, I wanted more clarity on the magic aspects. Did just this one family have magic? Were there other kinds of magic in this world? Why did no one else in the town seem to have any abilities? It felt like I got hung up on these details, and more clarity would have helped me to enjoy the story more.

Additionally, there were a lot of side characters, and I think having a bit more character development would have also helped in rounding out the story. I did enjoy Alana and her relationship with Charlie, though. It was probably one of my favorite aspects of the book. The dark fantasy vibes also worked well, with the sort of folklore aspect to them. 

It's been awhile since I read Little Thieves, but I'm happy to say I could jump into this without much issue! Vanja finds herself accidentally starting a cult after looking for an honest trade for her rubies. One that Emeric is sent to investigate as his last test. What ensues is a journey of magic, mystery, and just a bit of thievery.

I love the way this feels like a fairy or folktale, but it's not necessarily a direct retelling of anything. The characters in this are also so well-rounded; both the new and the glimses of characters we see from the previous book. Yes, there is set up for the next book, but it doesn't fall too far into the second book syndrome.

Owen also takes such care of Vanja and Emeric's relationship, especially as they decide they want to take their relationship to the next step. Vanja is demisexual, and Emeric takes such care about that. We love to see it.

Definitely interested in reading the final book when it comes out! 

Bryce, Beatriz, and Santiago were the best of friends growing up. But when Santiago moved away, their friendship sort of just fell apart. Now, three years later, Bryce is gone and Santiago is moving back into town. But Beatriz doesn’t want anything to do with him. Instead, she chooses to deal with Bryce’s death by suicide all on her own.

Eventually drawn together by circumstances and their own history, Beatriz and Santiago realize that maybe they need each other to move forward. Together, they navigate grief, mental illness, what it means to forgive, and the possibility of eventually moving on. 
 

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advanced copy of This Is Me Trying by Racquel Marie to review! This book is definitely an emotional read, diving deep into grief and mental illness. The characters are the star in this, as the plot is much quieter. This allows the reader to focus on the emotions and the experiences of Beatriz and Santiago.

Marie does some really excellent character work overall in this book, and not just with our leads. We get glimpses into what Bryce was like when he was alive, and how much Beatriz struggled to help him. Bryce’s siblings also play a major role in Beatriz and Santiago’s lives, all dealing with grief in their own ways. The variety of characters shows readers that there is no one specific way to grieve. Especially when intertwined with mental illness.

Despite the underlying tones of sadness and despair, there’s also an element of hope. Santiago and Beatriz both feel guilty for Bryce’s death for different reasons. And it’s through them reconnecting they’re finally able to start to work through those complex emotions. Leaving the reader hopeful for the future.

All in all, this is a beautifully done look at mental illness and grief and the way that those can intertwine. You might have to be in the right mindset to read it, but it is well worth it. 

This is my first Emery Lord book, and I've gotta say, what a place to start. I do think this book is a little longer than it needs to be, as there is a bunch of back and forth in the middle that doesn't really add that much tension to the plot. However, the dual timelines does help in adding suspense in Hannah's journey to unravelling Sophie's death so she can come to terms with it.

The aspects of grief and learning how to move one when someon eyou love dies unexpectedly were the best written parts of this book. As a narrator, Hannah isn't always the most likable, but that's partly because of the grieving process. Hannah goes on quite an emotional journey in this book, and it's one that some teens will relate to.

While we get bits and pieces of Sophie throughout this, I do wish we got to actually see more pieces of her character. We really only get glimpses, and adding more depth to her might have added more depth to the overall story. But outside of that, this is a book that definitely has a strong emotional core. 

This is such an interesting book; a combination of nonfiction and speculative fiction. I'm not sure I've read a book like it before. The concept is also fascinating: Gibney imagining the different lives she could have had if she ended up in different family situations.

I can see why this was chosen for the Printz! They always seem to pick the unusally published books and this definitely fits the bill. Lots of different teens will see themselves in this book for sure. It explores a lot of different themes like family, identity, and what makes us who we are. I am definitely interested in seeing what else Gibney comes up with.

This got a bunch of different honors at the Youth Media Awards, so I figured why not pick it up! The overall tone hits its target audience, and though there is a lot going on in the story itself, it doesn't feel like it's too overwhelming. There's a lot in here that kids will definitely love!

There is a bit of animal death there at the end, so beware of that if you pick this one up. I enjoyed the back matter as well, with pictures and such from Martín's actual childhood. Lots of kids will relate to his family life, and the graphic novel form definitely makes it more accessible. Overall, definitely an enjoyable book!

This is my second time reading this, and I opted to listen to it this time. Which was an excellent choice! David Levithan is such a poetic writer, hitting such strong emotional beats in this book. And in light of so many kids and YA LGBTQ+ books getting silenced, the narration lens just hits so much harder. The older queer generation is imagining a world where the younger queer generation gets to be free. Or at least, freer than they were. And yes, that's the case in some instances. But it's also not the case as people are continuously trying to silence their voices.

This just makes me think about the fact that there was an article I read in the last year or so that said that we're in a sort of golden age for queer literature. Could that be the case? Maybe, I don't much pay attention to any sort of adult publishing market. But even if it is--queer literature has still been a major target in the rash of book bans that have been happening in the US over the last 4ish years. Not the only target, but you know. Definitely a major one. And it's books like this they want to get rid of; books that show queer teens that they're not alone. That show how hard it can be to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community. And I don't much think we're in a golden era of queer literature when there is a whole audience of queer books getting silenced.

Also: David Levithan has been publishing queer YA books for years. Since the early 2000s. Way before there was a boom in LGBTQ+ YA publishing (which still needs work!). And I'm pretty sure he's championed for way more queer books as an editor. I've read almost all of his books and it's his prose that always hits home for me. He's got a knack for writing emotional, poetic lines. Seriously.

Anyway, that was a bit of a rant, my apologies. But this book is lovely. It will spark excellent discussion at our Banned Book Club. And I'm glad I got to visit it again.

This was a delight! Such a diverse cast of characters, and a focus on friendship. I read that this is going to a be a series, so I'm excited for that! The world building worked well, and what middle schooler didn't want this sort of adventure when they were in middle school? Or now, even.

At times, some of the pages did feel a little wordy to me, but I think that was purposeful because there are quite a few details needed for the creation of the world. I did enjoy the overall tone of Val's narration because it made the book as a whole more cohesive and entertaining; her narrator voice was just fun all around.

The art was also fantastic! There are some really great panels in here, and the use of color was deliberate. Can't wait to see what might come next!