I have mixed feelings about this book. It's a beautiful story about neighborliness, and in a way, a great reflection on what is happening in our times. On the other hand, sometimes I felt like maybe it was a bit too real. I feel like it's hard for me to write an accurate review of this book, because I'm wondering if perhaps I shouldn't have read it while I was down and sick. Did I take it too seriously? Was I just not in the mood?

Maizy Chen is about to meet her grandparents in their hometown of Last Chance, Minnesota, for the first time. Sure, they've talked on video calls before but this is different. Her Opa is sick, and Maizy and her mom have come to help with the restaurant and their house. Maizy gets to spend a lot of time with her Opa, and she learns the story of her family, how they came to America and made their way to Last Chance. At one point in the story, the restaurant's beloved bear mascot is stolen, and returned with a racial slur written on it. This book is so good, and you learn about paper sons and other Chinese-American history.

Normally I'm turned off by YA books that take place during the first year of college, but this one won me over! It helps that it reminds me of Check Please!, a graphic novel I loved. 

Mickey James III is in his freshman year of college. He's got focus--follow in his dad and grandfather's footsteps and get drafted as the number one pick in the NHL. He didn't plan on his main competition, Jaysen Caulfield, to also be at Hartland University and on the same hockey team. And also so cute. This enemies to lovers story is so much fun.

Bree moves to Florida, which will provide a better opportunity for her dad, but means she's moving a water-crazy town (and she doesn't know how to swim). This only gets worse when the only open elective is swimming 101! A neighbor helps Bree learn how to swim, and Bree learns the history of black families and swimming. It's a really good book for kids who love realistic fiction stories.

Gianna's family was once attacked by a man with an axe while they slept. While all survived, they carry scars from that night. And as the 1918 flu pandemic begins, the man with the axe comes back to stalk the Italian residents of New Orleans again. This time, though, Gianna seems to have a mysterious mental connection with him. 

I enjoyed reading this one, and hearing about a series of murders I knew nothing about. The backdrop of the pandemic feels extra relevant after what we've been through lately. 

I got a free copy of this book from the publisher, and I am mentioned in the acknowledgements.

Miuko finds it hard to fit in--her personality isn't like that of the girls her society values (as much as they value women at all). One fateful night, she is kissed by a demon and run off the road. She's starting to turn into a demon, and that's not good! With the help of some friends, she sets out to end the curse and turn back into a human. But is that really what she wants?

Chee is so good with language. It's no surprise to me that this is nominated for a National Book Award. It's beautifully written, with commentary on how society views women (or anything it thinks is evil, really). It talks about the power of friendship, about owning your mistakes, about learning your worth. I will say that, for me, I think the book would be a better read than the audio because I'm more of a visual person with names than an auditory, so sometimes it would take me a while to figure out which character was which. This is not the fault of the author, just how my brain works and a notation for others who work the same way, that they might enjoy the story more in one format than another. On the other hand, I can probably pronounce all the names correctly, assuming they are done so in the audiobook!

A lot to think about here when it comes to breathing. I'm not sure I agree with the "it cured asthma!" parts but I do think working on breathing could benefit a lot of people .

Would like to have as a reference book later.

Rynn's birth mother gave her the name "Scheherazade," although her adoptive parents changed it. She was born with a hole in her heart, and she feels the hole in her life from not knowing her birth family. She has an okay relationship with her adoptive father, and a not great one with her adoptive mother. They live on a garlic farm in central Maine (somewhere outside of Pittsfield, if my Maine geography guess is correct), and Rynn has a few friends and gets a job babysitting during the summer. She finds a way to find her birth family, and makes decisions on what to do with that information. 

Things I liked about this book: the complicated look at adoption it provides. It shows both the good sides and the bad sides, and all the complicated feelings around it.
Things I disliked: There's one twist that just felt too easy. To say more is a giant spoiler, but for me, if you don't buy that twist, there's a lot you have to take on faith afterward.

Owl has lived with her aunt and uncle since a childhood tragedy on their maple sugar farm in northern New Hampshire. Life is pretty regular until her uncle hires Cody to help with the sugaring one fateful spring. Although initially suspicious of each other, Owl and Cody are drawn together and apart as circumstances dictate. 

French writes so well. This book had pages turning and beautiful turns of phrase. I did read an ARC, which made me wonder if some of the perspective switching is going to make it to the final round. The rural life and sugaring farm actions were realistic, and Owl is a protagonist to root for.