Oh, do I love everything that Schmidt writes. I did want to stop the book after the first chapter (Wednesday Wars introduced me to his writing, so I have a special place in my heart for the characters from that book.)

I very much enjoyed Meryl Lee, and Matt, and Heidi Kitter, and Marion Elders. Schmidt just knows how to write in a way that I love. ("Sticks down" is now something I want to say all the time.) I didn't even think too hard about the Maine setting and whether or not there were Catholic schools in Harpswell. The Portland was realistic enough to slide by me.

This book y'all. This book is so good, and there is beauty in it: in the writing, in the little moments of kindness characters give each other. But it is also brutal: I would give it content warnings for suicide physical violence and emotional manipulation. Jack and Matty live a hard life in poverty, and Ava lives a hard life in a different way. I don't want to spoil it by saying too much, but it truly is great. There is an ambiguous ending, which some readers love and some hate.

I would say this book is about a 3.5 for me. It's my least favorite of the three McGinnis books I have read. It does have an amazing premise--a take on Poe's "Cask of Amontillado." I wasn't entirely sure what the panther parts were for, and I think that maybe will be further illustrated in the second book. It is also dark, and the plot does keep the pages turning. It's a book about appearances and the lengths we go to keep them, and how easy it can be to abandon people.

Dara is a teen involved in the climate change movement that reveals a year in his life. He moves from one part of Ireland to another, changing schools and leaving behind beloved landscapes. Changes like this can be difficult for anyone, but Dara explains the particular difficulties he has that deal with his autism. Dara's passion for wildlife and nature come through on the page, and will be palpable to most readers.

I wish I had noticed there was a glossary at the beginning. That definitely would have helped with the Irish terms and pronouncing them correctly in my head.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! Devon, after years of trying to stay under the radar, has suddenly been selected as a senior prefect at Niveus Academy. Chiamaka has been selected Head Prefect, as befitting her status. Both of them have secrets they would rather not reveal, but Aces, a mysterious texter, has other plans. As their secrets are revealed, Devon and Chiamaka wonder why they are being targeted. Is it because they are prefects? Or because they are the only Black students? And, who, exactly, is the mysterious Aces?

This is a pulse-pounding, twisty thriller. I did think the ending wrapped up a bit quickly, but that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book.

This is a short novel-in-verse about learning who you are and how to stand up for yourself, and what friendship break-ups mean. Sky hasn't heard from Lay Li in a while, and she slowly reveals to you why. There's a lot in it's few pages. Basketball, fashion, friendships, romantic relationships, and what makes those relationships healthy or toxic are all discussed. I listened to the audio and really enjoyed listening to Browne read her own poems.

What a weird, dark, compelling read. Iris and her two sisters (Vivi and Grey) went missing when they were younger. They were gone for a month, and came back exactly where they left. What happened in that month? No one knows. After they return, their hair goes white and eyes go black. Mysterious things seem to happen around them. When Iris is in high school, Grey goes missing. Vivi and Iris go on a quest to find her while trying to outrun a mysterious horned man.

If you liked Rory Powers, you will enjoy this one. There is body horror in this one, so if that's not your cup of tea, stay away from this one.

Kind of cute.

A cute story about how to get to the moon using a pile of junk and your imagination.

Cute story about a bear and a balloon.