I'll admit, it's been a long time since I read Hey, Kiddo, which is fine for reading this! It's not a direct sequel of his first graphic novel memoir, but it does reference things that happened in that book and it does give you some background on his life leading up to this moment. 

This story is a look at kids who are going through traumatic experiences, who just want a chance to feel like normal kids at a summer camp. Given the subject matter, it's no surprise how emotional this book gets at the end, and Krosoczka does give some insight as to where some of the kids he met at camp end up. It's one of those graphic novels that will definitely leave you thinking long after you finish it.

I think this is an important book in regards to addiction, recovery, and identity, and sometimes how all of those things can be intertwined. Often times, addiction can be a difficult topic to address in YA books, and I appreciated the way that this book brought the reader through the recovery process, especially in the group sessions. Recovery isn't a straight line, and this book really highlights that aspect.

Overall, the writing style and the art style weren't necessarily my favorite. Some of the narration was a bit difficult to follow in some of the layouts, because of the way the pages were organized. This is in part because the art style felt a bit messy, and I wished that some panels could have included more details.

There's a lot about nonbinary identities also packed into this one, and I think one thing to keep in mind is that this is set in 80s. A lot of people didn't have the words that we do now to discuss their identities. So, it doesn't quite meet modern standards in that regard.

All in all, mixed feelings about this one, but I do hope it gets into the hands of the people that need it. 

Not a bad middle grade book! I can see why a lot of kids really get into this story; there's lot of action, a little bit of humor, and an overall interesting fantasy world. Some of the spells and such that were created were fun, and the plot was fast-paced enough to keep kids engaged the entire time.

The characters were, for the most part, well-developed and we do get a glimpse into the more "evil" side of things. There are some interesting conversations to be had in relation to the themes in this book, even if some of them might be on the darker side. 

The ending leaves space for the next book in the series, and I'm kind of interested in seeing where this goes next.

As someone who read this entire book in one sitting when it first came out, I was intrigued by this graphic novel adaptation. I'm not really sure the story itself translates well into a graphic novel format, as there's a lot of internal monologues that happen in the prose version of this story. Something about Levithan's prose is also a little lost in this adaptation. 

There are some nice panels, but the art style wasn't particiularly my favorite. I wanted a little more detail in some of the people, I think. The colors were really nice, though! Especially in the scenes that were given a full page.

All in all, some mixed feelings about this adaptation. I'm not sure how they're picking YA novels to adapt, but they are definitely picking some interesting ones.

 Noah Byrd has just started at a new school and is determined to prove to everyone that he’s a boy. Which is why he needs to join his new schools most exclusive club: The Borrow a Boyfriend Club. However, he doesn’t get off on the best foot with the club’s president, Asher.

After a failed interview, Asher has given Noah another chance. If he’s able to romance Asher into a successful date, he can be let into the club. The only problem? The more Noah gets to know Asher, the more he realizes that he might be falling for him. No matter what, it seems like Noah will lose. After all, if he makes it into the club, the first rule is: no boyfriends or girlfriends. 

Thanks to Delacorte and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powars to review! Let me just say, if you’re looking for a fluffy, happy rom-com, this book has you covered. It’s all about teenagers being teenagers, trying to navigate the dating world. Are they absolutely ridiculous at times? Yes. And that’s part of what makes this book such a fun story to read.

While yes, this book is a lot of fluffy rom-com fun, it doesn’t shy away from more serious issues. Especially Noah’s desire to prove that he’s a boy. A lot of this story is Noah trying to fit into what society deems to be a boy, allt he while learning that he doesn’t have to fit anyone’s expectations. He can still do what he loves (like dancing), and have it fit his identity. It’s such a great message at the core of an adorable romance.

And oh my goodnes, Noah and Asher are such teenagers. They’re oblivious to what’s right in front of them, they make many mistakes, and it’s just wonderful to read about. Powars is going to be a wheelhouse in teen romances, I just know it. If this first book is any indication, he’s got a knack for writing a great teenage voice.

All in all, if you’re looking for a happy, fluffy romance to pick up this fall, definitely check this one out! 

A sort of fairytale in verse, about magic, about loneliness, and about finding the power within yourself. I would actually recommend not reading the provided summary for this because it gives away quite a lot of the plot. Personally, I kind of wish I went into this without knowing what it was about, because it would have made the reading experience all the more magical.

This reads at a pretty quick pace, given that it's written in verse and Romero has shown she's an expert at drawing you in with verse. Which isn't always easy to do with fantasy verse like this one. The characters are well developed, and there really are some stunning lines throughout. I kind of wish I would have written some of them down. 

One of the comparisons made for this book is the Brothers Grimm, which is such an excellent comparison, in my opinion. It felt like reading one of their fairytales, with a little bit of darkness around the edges. It feels very atmospheric, like reading one of those original fairytales. But spinning it with a more feminist lens (in my opinion).

All in all, if you love fairytales, definitely pick this one up when it comes out this week!

I did not read the synopsis before jumping into this book and didn't realize it was about what it was about. When I heard cannibalism as a content warning, I'm going to admit that it threw me for a loop. It made more sense once the story started, but still. 

For the most part, i enjoyed this, though I had a hard time with the constantly switching points of view. Not sure if it's marked better in the physical book, but listening to the audiobook, some of the time jumping and character jumping made the overall story difficult to follow. It would suddenly be in the past with no warning, which was a bit jarring.

I also thought some of the plot twists were a little too convenient overall. They just so happen to stumble upon the people who made everything go off the rails? Mhm, sure. It was a mostly enjoyable reading experience, but not something that stands out to me.

Ryan and Avery first met at a queer prom, where they felt an almost instant connection. One blue-haired boy (Ryan) and one pink-haired boy (Avery) knew that they had to see each other again outside of the dance. But jumping into their first serious relationship might not be the smooth ride they initially expected.

Told through their first ten dates, Ryan and Avery experience all kinds of things: a snowstorm, being grounded, meeting the parents, cast parties, and everything in between. As they experience these things together, their relationship just grows stronger and stronger.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy of Ryan and Avery by David Levithan to review! David Levithan has always been on my list of top authors. In this book, his poetic prose is on full display. There are just some gorgeous lines scattered throughout this book that, while the story is not told in a linear fashion, you still get relationship growth. It really is an overall gorgeous piece of writing.

Case in point, here’s one of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Queerness is stolen moments and stolen victories. It is stolen time and stolen glances. It is the thrill of the theft, for sure, but also the knowledge deep in your heart that none of this stealing is wrong. It is, in fact, the most honest thing you can do.”

There are just these gut-punch quotes throughout the book, about identity, about queerness, and about relationships. Overall, this is very much a quiet, character-driven novel, and I appreciated that about it. Some of those novels end up being favorites.

David Levithan is definitely one of the pioneers of queer YA lit; he was writing about happy gay teens before a lot of people were. While this book isn’t quite the utopia presented in Boy Meets Boy, there is such an element of hope to the overall story. Yes, there are darker parts, but they are outweighed by Ryan and Avery’s love for each other.

If you’re a fan of quieter, more character focused stories, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up when it comes out this September!

I did not read the synopsis of this book before picking it up and I definitely thought it was more sci-fi based on the cover. I guess it is to an extent, but more adventure than sci-fi. I'd definitely classify it as a gay Indiana Jones, uncovering treasures connected to queer history. Which is totally cool and unique, and I actually can't think of many YA novels that have that Indiana Jones vibe.

This book is a fairly quick read, as it is pretty action packed and focused on the hunt for the treasure itself. But, that doesn't mean that the character development lacks because of this; the relationship between Ten and his dad is probably one of the most developed relationships in the book. I also appreciated the main theme of showing that queer people have been around a long time and uncovering and bringing that history to light.

There's also quite a few discussions about who should get to keep the artifacts that Tennessee and his dad uncover, which is an extremely valid question when you're looking at artifacts from these vastly different cultures. All important things to think about.

Did I think the ending was a little far-fetched? Yes, but so are the Indiana Jones movies. It fits the genre, and I think a lot of teens will have fun reading this one.

 Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced copy of Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass! YA horror seems to be really taking off in the last couple of years, especially this year. I've read quite a few, and this one will definitely be a great fit for true crime fans. Clues to follow, focusing on a serial killer who comes back like 20 years later. Sass introduces a lot of twists and turns that will definitely keep you guessing unti lthe very end.

This book is formatted like watching a true crime documentary on TV, separated into sections kind of like episodes. In the book, there is a fake, documentary-style show that a lot of the characters are watching about the serial killer, Mr. Sandman. The parallels between the past and the present made reading the book an entertaining experience; the two different sort of plot lines work together to help create the mystery, as you are watching it unfold.

From the beginning, you know that Dearie and Cole aren't the most likeable characters. They kind of think they're above all of the high school drama, in that teen movie drama sort of way. Even if they weren't likeable, they were still complex, interesting characters, different from what you see in a lot of YA books. And there's a great side cast of characters as well.

My only real complaint is that the book itself felt a little longer than it needed to be. But other than that, this is absolutely an entertaining take on horror that teens will devour when it comes out in September.