Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Take Me Home Tonight
Author: Morgan Matson
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: 2 background characters mentioned were in f/f and m/m relationships
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: ya readers, contemporary fans
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's
Pages: 403
Recommended Age: 14+ (TW jokes about emotional support animals, underage alcohol usage, language, gun violence, slight gore)
Synopsis: Two girls. One night. Zero phones.
Kat and Stevie—best friends, theater kids, polar opposites—have snuck away from the suburbs to spend a night in New York City. They have it all planned out. They’ll see a play, eat at the city’s hottest restaurant, and have the best. Night. Ever. What could go wrong?
Well. Kind of a lot?
They’re barely off the train before they’re dealing with destroyed phones, family drama, and unexpected Pomeranians. Over the next few hours, they’ll have to grapple with old flames, terrible theater, and unhelpful cab drivers. But there are also cute boys to kiss, parties to crash, dry cleaning to deliver (don’t ask), and the world’s best museum to explore.
Over the course of a wild night in the city that never sleeps, both Kat and Stevie will get a wake-up call about their friendship, their choices…and finally discover what they really want for their future.
That is, assuming they can make it to Grand Central before the clock strikes midnight.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book. It was a classic take on getting lost in New York and trying to get home. The characters were well developed, the world building was fairly good, and the majority of the book is character led instead of plot led.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I thought it was a bit of a simple book and there weren't any real twists or turns. It was fairly predictable. The book pacing was a little too slow for me. My biggest issue with the book is how the characters lie about how a dog is their emotional support animal. The book makes this thing into a joke but there are real people out there that need those and people, real or fictional, who lie to just get around with a dog or other pet for the sake of it are horrible people. The other issue I had with the book is that most of the main characters are 18 (one of them is confirmed 18 while the others ages aren't confirmed but they're all very close in age). My main concern with this is that their all old enough to do what they want to legally without a parent stopping them, so why is this such a big deal throughout the book? Even when one of them gets caught it's made to be this big deal, but 18 is legally an adult and you can do whatever you want at that age without parental consent. I get that for the majority of the book the characters couldn't have been aged down but it just didn't make sense to me why the parents would be this big issue.
Verdict: it was good, just not anything special.
Book: Take Me Home Tonight
Author: Morgan Matson
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: 2 background characters mentioned were in f/f and m/m relationships
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: ya readers, contemporary fans
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's
Pages: 403
Recommended Age: 14+ (TW jokes about emotional support animals, underage alcohol usage, language, gun violence, slight gore)
Synopsis: Two girls. One night. Zero phones.
Kat and Stevie—best friends, theater kids, polar opposites—have snuck away from the suburbs to spend a night in New York City. They have it all planned out. They’ll see a play, eat at the city’s hottest restaurant, and have the best. Night. Ever. What could go wrong?
Well. Kind of a lot?
They’re barely off the train before they’re dealing with destroyed phones, family drama, and unexpected Pomeranians. Over the next few hours, they’ll have to grapple with old flames, terrible theater, and unhelpful cab drivers. But there are also cute boys to kiss, parties to crash, dry cleaning to deliver (don’t ask), and the world’s best museum to explore.
Over the course of a wild night in the city that never sleeps, both Kat and Stevie will get a wake-up call about their friendship, their choices…and finally discover what they really want for their future.
That is, assuming they can make it to Grand Central before the clock strikes midnight.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book. It was a classic take on getting lost in New York and trying to get home. The characters were well developed, the world building was fairly good, and the majority of the book is character led instead of plot led.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I thought it was a bit of a simple book and there weren't any real twists or turns. It was fairly predictable. The book pacing was a little too slow for me. My biggest issue with the book is how the characters lie about how a dog is their emotional support animal. The book makes this thing into a joke but there are real people out there that need those and people, real or fictional, who lie to just get around with a dog or other pet for the sake of it are horrible people. The other issue I had with the book is that most of the main characters are 18 (one of them is confirmed 18 while the others ages aren't confirmed but they're all very close in age). My main concern with this is that their all old enough to do what they want to legally without a parent stopping them, so why is this such a big deal throughout the book? Even when one of them gets caught it's made to be this big deal, but 18 is legally an adult and you can do whatever you want at that age without parental consent. I get that for the majority of the book the characters couldn't have been aged down but it just didn't make sense to me why the parents would be this big issue.
Verdict: it was good, just not anything special.
funny
informative
fast-paced
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Don't Lose Your Head: Life Lessons from the Six Ex-Wives of Henry VIII
Author: Harriet Marsden
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Royal fans, SIX the Musical fans
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Genre: History
Recommended Age: 15+ (death, beheading)
Publisher: Ulysses Press
Pages: 192
Synopsis: Get the inside scoop from some of the toughest women in English history, as ex-wives, mothers, and daughters of King Henry VIII dish out all their survival secrets in this humorous guide to life. With a bit of sarcasm and friendly charm, each of these legendary ladies explains how their 16th-century hard-earned lessons (from living with unstable men to stifling Tudor traditions) apply to 21st-century dating, marriage, and feminism.
Written from the perspectives of each of the different women around Henry VIII, you’ll get the facts from the Queen Mother and the less-remembered but no less important Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and more.
With must-know historical trivia alongside wise life advice, Don’t Lose Your Head is the perfect survival guide for fans obsessed with Broadway’s latest historical pop musical Six, as well as anyone fascinated by British royalty and culture.
Review: If you’re into Henry VIII and his wives, this is the book for you! I’ve been a fan of the royals since I was little and I loved reading this informational book about the ill-fated wives. The book was informative and fun to read. The book also is fairly small sized so you can take it with you while walking through the Tower grounds.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Don't Lose Your Head: Life Lessons from the Six Ex-Wives of Henry VIII
Author: Harriet Marsden
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Royal fans, SIX the Musical fans
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Genre: History
Recommended Age: 15+ (death, beheading)
Publisher: Ulysses Press
Pages: 192
Synopsis: Get the inside scoop from some of the toughest women in English history, as ex-wives, mothers, and daughters of King Henry VIII dish out all their survival secrets in this humorous guide to life. With a bit of sarcasm and friendly charm, each of these legendary ladies explains how their 16th-century hard-earned lessons (from living with unstable men to stifling Tudor traditions) apply to 21st-century dating, marriage, and feminism.
Written from the perspectives of each of the different women around Henry VIII, you’ll get the facts from the Queen Mother and the less-remembered but no less important Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and more.
With must-know historical trivia alongside wise life advice, Don’t Lose Your Head is the perfect survival guide for fans obsessed with Broadway’s latest historical pop musical Six, as well as anyone fascinated by British royalty and culture.
Review: If you’re into Henry VIII and his wives, this is the book for you! I’ve been a fan of the royals since I was little and I loved reading this informational book about the ill-fated wives. The book was informative and fun to read. The book also is fairly small sized so you can take it with you while walking through the Tower grounds.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Temple of Ice
Author: Christian Cura
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 263
Synopsis: Meet Tama, an adept winter mage of Khione, a beautiful, dangerous land. Bloodthirsty monsters roam the frozen wilderness, and the unforgiving elements are a constant. Tama and her friends—Kachina and Masou—are on the cusp of completing their education at the temple where they have trained for the past four years. They need only to do one more thing: earn the Goddess Tira’s final anointing. But to do that, they must fight through hordes of corrupted creatures and endure the perplexing obstacles within Mount Orodani.
The road before them is long and bloody, and Tira’s evil sister, Malsumi, won’t stop sending her minions until she is strong enough to break free of her prison. Tama fights valiantly to defend herself and her people from these twisted monsters. But she will soon discover the real threat is much closer than she initially thought…
The road before them is long and bloody, and Tira’s evil sister, Malsumi, won’t stop sending her minions until she is strong enough to break free of her prison. Tama fights valiantly to defend herself and her people from these twisted monsters. But she will soon discover the real threat is much closer than she initially thought…
Review: I had to DNF this read at 32%. The book is just everywhere and I couldn’t concentrate on it enough to make heads or tails of it.
Verdict: It’s good, just not for me.
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Woman with the Blue Star
Author: Pam Jenoff
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Polish main character and Jewish main character and side characters
Recommended For...: historical fiction fans, WWII readers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 18+ (drowning, Nazis, violence, gore, side character romancing SS officers)
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 336
Synopsis: 1942. Sadie Gault is eighteen and living with her parents amid the horrors of the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous sewers beneath the city. One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers.
Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother, who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans. Scorned by her friends and longing for her fiancé, who has gone off to war, Ella wanders Kraków restlessly. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding.
Ella begins to aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds. Inspired by harrowing true stories, The Woman with the Blue Star is an emotional testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.
Review: I really liked this read. The book was well written and it conveyed the horrors of WWII and it shows the reader the terror of having your ghetto raided as a Jewish family during that time. The horror almost immediately starts, so please be advised of the TWs before you read the book. The book had well done character development and world building. The plot is also well done and will keep you going throughout the read.
The only issue I really had with the book is that the pacing was a bit fast in places. It really feels like running a marathon reading this book in certain places.
Verdict: Highly recommend.
Book: The Woman with the Blue Star
Author: Pam Jenoff
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Polish main character and Jewish main character and side characters
Recommended For...: historical fiction fans, WWII readers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 18+ (drowning, Nazis, violence, gore, side character romancing SS officers)
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 336
Synopsis: 1942. Sadie Gault is eighteen and living with her parents amid the horrors of the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous sewers beneath the city. One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers.
Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother, who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans. Scorned by her friends and longing for her fiancé, who has gone off to war, Ella wanders Kraków restlessly. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding.
Ella begins to aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds. Inspired by harrowing true stories, The Woman with the Blue Star is an emotional testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.
Review: I really liked this read. The book was well written and it conveyed the horrors of WWII and it shows the reader the terror of having your ghetto raided as a Jewish family during that time. The horror almost immediately starts, so please be advised of the TWs before you read the book. The book had well done character development and world building. The plot is also well done and will keep you going throughout the read.
The only issue I really had with the book is that the pacing was a bit fast in places. It really feels like running a marathon reading this book in certain places.
Verdict: Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Willa of Dark Hollow
Author: Robert Beatty
Book Series: Willa Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: MG readers, fantasy lovers, Tennessee/Great Smokey Mountains lovers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some scary moments, threat of death and destruction)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 384
Synopsis: The Great Smoky Mountains. 1901. Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, Willa is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines? When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against an all-consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.
Review: I really liked this book! I was a bit worried when I saw that it said it was book 2 and I thought we were going to have the same situation I did when I picked up book 3 of Beatty’s Serafina series (I’m always out of order with this author’s books lol). These two books can be read out of order. The book did well to present a character and story within the context of it being the second book, but it can be read like the first book. The story wasn’t confusing and the characters were all well developed.
The only issue I had with the book is that the plot was a bit hard to get into and it took me a bit to understand the flow of the story.
Verdict: It’s good!
Book: Willa of Dark Hollow
Author: Robert Beatty
Book Series: Willa Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: MG readers, fantasy lovers, Tennessee/Great Smokey Mountains lovers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some scary moments, threat of death and destruction)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 384
Synopsis: The Great Smoky Mountains. 1901. Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, Willa is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines? When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against an all-consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.
Review: I really liked this book! I was a bit worried when I saw that it said it was book 2 and I thought we were going to have the same situation I did when I picked up book 3 of Beatty’s Serafina series (I’m always out of order with this author’s books lol). These two books can be read out of order. The book did well to present a character and story within the context of it being the second book, but it can be read like the first book. The story wasn’t confusing and the characters were all well developed.
The only issue I had with the book is that the plot was a bit hard to get into and it took me a bit to understand the flow of the story.
Verdict: It’s good!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Enduring Freedom
Author: Trent Reedy and Jawad Arash
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: May 18, 2021
Genre: YA War/Political Novel
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 352
Synopsis: On September 11, 2001, the lives of two boys on opposite sides of the world are changed in an instant.
Baheer, a studious Afghan teen, sees his family’s life turned upside down when they lose their livelihood as war rocks the country.
A world away, Joe, a young American army private, has to put aside his dreams of becoming a journalist when he’s shipped out to Afghanistan.
When Joe’s unit arrives in Baheer’s town, Baheer is wary of the Americans, but sees an opportunity: Not only can he practice his English with the soldiers, his family can make money delivering their supplies. At first, Joe doesn’t trust Baheer, or any of the locals, but Baheer keeps showing up. As Joe and Baheer get to know each other, to see each other as individuals, they realize they have a lot more in common than they ever could have realized. But can they get past the deep differences in their lives and beliefs to become true friends and allies?
Review: Had to DNF this book at 113 pages in. The book is good, but it’s not for me and it wasn’t really striking anything in me to keep reading.
Verdict: It sounds good, but it wasn’t for me.
Book: Enduring Freedom
Author: Trent Reedy and Jawad Arash
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: May 18, 2021
Genre: YA War/Political Novel
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 352
Synopsis: On September 11, 2001, the lives of two boys on opposite sides of the world are changed in an instant.
Baheer, a studious Afghan teen, sees his family’s life turned upside down when they lose their livelihood as war rocks the country.
A world away, Joe, a young American army private, has to put aside his dreams of becoming a journalist when he’s shipped out to Afghanistan.
When Joe’s unit arrives in Baheer’s town, Baheer is wary of the Americans, but sees an opportunity: Not only can he practice his English with the soldiers, his family can make money delivering their supplies. At first, Joe doesn’t trust Baheer, or any of the locals, but Baheer keeps showing up. As Joe and Baheer get to know each other, to see each other as individuals, they realize they have a lot more in common than they ever could have realized. But can they get past the deep differences in their lives and beliefs to become true friends and allies?
Review: Had to DNF this book at 113 pages in. The book is good, but it’s not for me and it wasn’t really striking anything in me to keep reading.
Verdict: It sounds good, but it wasn’t for me.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Firebird Song
Author: Arnee Flores
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: MG readers, fantasy lovers
Publication Date: May 18, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (slight violence, some scary moments)
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Pages: 304
Synopsis: The Kingdom of Lyrica was once warm and thriving, kept safe by the Firebird, whose feather and song was a blessing of peace and prosperity. But the Firebird disappeared, and Lyrica is now terrorized by the evil Spectress who wields her powers from within a volcano. All that remains is a mysterious message scrawled on the castle wall in the Queen's own hand: Wind. Woman. Thief.
Young Prewitt has only known time without the Firebird, a life of constant cold, as his village is afraid to tempt the volcano monsters with even the feeblest fire. But he has heard whispers that the kingdom's princess survived the attack . . . and he is certain that if he can find her, together they can save Lyrica.
Princess Calliope has no memories beyond living on her barge on the underground lake. But as she nears her twelfth birthday, she is certain there is more to life than the walls of a cave. When Prewitt finds her, he realizes that she is the missing princess: the only hope for Lyrica. Determined to decipher the meaning of her mother's strange message and find the Firebird, Calliope and Prewitt set off on a quest that puts them in more danger than either of them ever anticipated.
Review: I really liked this one! The book has a fairybook feel to it but it never really felt stale at any point. The pacing was great, the world building was amazing, and the characters were well developed. I also liked the episodic feel to the read.
The only issue I had with the book is that the plot was a bit too predictable for me.
Verdict: Recommend!
Book: The Firebird Song
Author: Arnee Flores
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: MG readers, fantasy lovers
Publication Date: May 18, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (slight violence, some scary moments)
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Pages: 304
Synopsis: The Kingdom of Lyrica was once warm and thriving, kept safe by the Firebird, whose feather and song was a blessing of peace and prosperity. But the Firebird disappeared, and Lyrica is now terrorized by the evil Spectress who wields her powers from within a volcano. All that remains is a mysterious message scrawled on the castle wall in the Queen's own hand: Wind. Woman. Thief.
Young Prewitt has only known time without the Firebird, a life of constant cold, as his village is afraid to tempt the volcano monsters with even the feeblest fire. But he has heard whispers that the kingdom's princess survived the attack . . . and he is certain that if he can find her, together they can save Lyrica.
Princess Calliope has no memories beyond living on her barge on the underground lake. But as she nears her twelfth birthday, she is certain there is more to life than the walls of a cave. When Prewitt finds her, he realizes that she is the missing princess: the only hope for Lyrica. Determined to decipher the meaning of her mother's strange message and find the Firebird, Calliope and Prewitt set off on a quest that puts them in more danger than either of them ever anticipated.
Review: I really liked this one! The book has a fairybook feel to it but it never really felt stale at any point. The pacing was great, the world building was amazing, and the characters were well developed. I also liked the episodic feel to the read.
The only issue I had with the book is that the plot was a bit too predictable for me.
Verdict: Recommend!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received the e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The ones We’re Meant to Find
Author: Joan He
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Asian main characters and side characters
Recommended For...: ya readers, sci-fi lovers, dystopian readers, thrill seekers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (suicide TW, grief, terminal illness, violence, gore, drowning, choking to death, sex mention)
Publisher: Roaring Book
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Cee has been trapped on an abandoned island for three years without any recollection of how she arrived, or memories from her life prior. All she knows is that somewhere out there, beyond the horizon, she has a sister named Kay. Determined to find her, Cee devotes her days to building a boat from junk parts scavenged inland, doing everything in her power to survive until the day she gets off the island and reunites with her sister.
In a world apart, 16-year-old STEM prodigy Kasey Mizuhara is also living a life of isolation. The eco-city she calls home is one of eight levitating around the world, built for people who protected the planet―and now need protecting from it. With natural disasters on the rise due to climate change, eco-cities provide clean air, water, and shelter. Their residents, in exchange, must spend at least a third of their time in stasis pods, conducting business virtually whenever possible to reduce their environmental footprint. While Kasey, an introvert and loner, doesn’t mind the lifestyle, her sister Celia hated it. Popular and lovable, Celia much preferred the outside world. But no one could have predicted that Celia would take a boat out to sea, never to return.
Now it’s been three months since Celia’s disappearance, and Kasey has given up hope. Logic says that her sister must be dead. But as the public decries her stance, she starts to second guess herself and decides to retrace Celia’s last steps. Where they’ll lead her, she does not know. Her sister was full of secrets. But Kasey has a secret of her own.
In a world apart, 16-year-old STEM prodigy Kasey Mizuhara is also living a life of isolation. The eco-city she calls home is one of eight levitating around the world, built for people who protected the planet―and now need protecting from it. With natural disasters on the rise due to climate change, eco-cities provide clean air, water, and shelter. Their residents, in exchange, must spend at least a third of their time in stasis pods, conducting business virtually whenever possible to reduce their environmental footprint. While Kasey, an introvert and loner, doesn’t mind the lifestyle, her sister Celia hated it. Popular and lovable, Celia much preferred the outside world. But no one could have predicted that Celia would take a boat out to sea, never to return.
Now it’s been three months since Celia’s disappearance, and Kasey has given up hope. Logic says that her sister must be dead. But as the public decries her stance, she starts to second guess herself and decides to retrace Celia’s last steps. Where they’ll lead her, she does not know. Her sister was full of secrets. But Kasey has a secret of her own.
Review: This book. Oh my goodness. This book is my favorite read of April! I absolutely loved the characters, the world building, and everything about this book. The book is a perfect mix of thriller and sci-fi and dystopian and it makes my heart so so happy! The characters were so well developed as was the world building. The book also had a great plot and it kept me reading the book until the very end.
The only issue I had (and I’m only saying this because I have to put one) is that some moments were a bit slowed down and I felt that the book focused too much on the sci-fi elements and not the thriller ones, but other than that it was absolutely perfect for me.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief
Moderate: Gore, Terminal illness
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Last Gate of the Emperor
Author: Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel Makonnen
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black main characters and side characters
Recommended For...: mg readers, sci-fi lovers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: MG Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 10+ (some scary moments, violence, attack on a city)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 304
Synopsis: An Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this journey to the stars.
Yared Heywat lives an isolated life in Addis Prime -- a hardscrabble city with rundown tech, lots of rules, and not much to do. His worrywart Uncle Moti and bionic lioness Besa are his only family... and his only friends.
Often in trouble for his thrill-seeking antics and smart mouth, those same qualities make Yared a star player of the underground augmented reality game, The Hunt for Kaleb's Obelisk. But when a change in the game rules prompts Yared to log in with his real name, it triggers an attack that rocks the city. In the chaos, Uncle Moti disappears.
Suddenly, all the stories Yared's uncle told him as a young boy are coming to life, of kingdoms in the sky and city-razing monsters. And somehow Yared is at the center of them.
Together with Besa and the Ibis -- a game rival turned reluctant ally -- Yared must search for his uncle... and answers to his place in a forgotten, galaxy-spanning war.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I loved the Ethiopian culture that was intertwined with this tale and I really appreciate that the arc came with a guide on the different items that were inspired by Ethiopian culture. The book had amazing character development and the plot was magnificent. The world building was awe-inspiring and I loved every minute of this reading this book.
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt it was too short. The amount of material in the book could have easily lasted another 100 pages and I am excited to see if there will be more.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Last Gate of the Emperor
Author: Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel Makonnen
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black main characters and side characters
Recommended For...: mg readers, sci-fi lovers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: MG Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 10+ (some scary moments, violence, attack on a city)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 304
Synopsis: An Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this journey to the stars.
Yared Heywat lives an isolated life in Addis Prime -- a hardscrabble city with rundown tech, lots of rules, and not much to do. His worrywart Uncle Moti and bionic lioness Besa are his only family... and his only friends.
Often in trouble for his thrill-seeking antics and smart mouth, those same qualities make Yared a star player of the underground augmented reality game, The Hunt for Kaleb's Obelisk. But when a change in the game rules prompts Yared to log in with his real name, it triggers an attack that rocks the city. In the chaos, Uncle Moti disappears.
Suddenly, all the stories Yared's uncle told him as a young boy are coming to life, of kingdoms in the sky and city-razing monsters. And somehow Yared is at the center of them.
Together with Besa and the Ibis -- a game rival turned reluctant ally -- Yared must search for his uncle... and answers to his place in a forgotten, galaxy-spanning war.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I loved the Ethiopian culture that was intertwined with this tale and I really appreciate that the arc came with a guide on the different items that were inspired by Ethiopian culture. The book had amazing character development and the plot was magnificent. The world building was awe-inspiring and I loved every minute of this reading this book.
The only issue I had with the book is that I felt it was too short. The amount of material in the book could have easily lasted another 100 pages and I am excited to see if there will be more.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Foreverland
Author: Nicole C. Kear
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: mg readers, contemporary lovers
Publication Date: April 21, 2020
Genre: MG Contemporary
Recommended Age: 10+ (fears, running away, some scary moments)
Publisher: Imprint
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Margaret is tired of everything always changing. Middle school has gone from bad to worse. Her best friend is becoming a stranger. And her family—well, it's not even a family anymore.
So Margaret is running away to Foreverland, her favorite amusement park. Hiding out there is trickier than she expects--until she meets Jaime, a thrill-seeking, fast-thinking runaway who teaches Margaret how to stay one step ahead of the captain of security.
At first, this after-hours, all-access pass to the park is a dream come true: sleepovers in the Haunted House, nonstop junk food, and an unlimited ticket to ride. But as the runaways learn each other’s secrets, they must face the reasons they left their normal lives behind. With the Captain closing in and Jaime's future on the line, can Margaret finally take control?
Review: I really liked this book! The book was a great and I loved reading about how Margaret overcame her fears. The book was cute and very age appropriate for middle graders. The book also had well done character development and world building. The plot kept me intrigued in the book throughout the read.
The only thing that slowed my reading down was that there were some slow moments in the book.
Verdict: It was great!
Book: Foreverland
Author: Nicole C. Kear
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: mg readers, contemporary lovers
Publication Date: April 21, 2020
Genre: MG Contemporary
Recommended Age: 10+ (fears, running away, some scary moments)
Publisher: Imprint
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Margaret is tired of everything always changing. Middle school has gone from bad to worse. Her best friend is becoming a stranger. And her family—well, it's not even a family anymore.
So Margaret is running away to Foreverland, her favorite amusement park. Hiding out there is trickier than she expects--until she meets Jaime, a thrill-seeking, fast-thinking runaway who teaches Margaret how to stay one step ahead of the captain of security.
At first, this after-hours, all-access pass to the park is a dream come true: sleepovers in the Haunted House, nonstop junk food, and an unlimited ticket to ride. But as the runaways learn each other’s secrets, they must face the reasons they left their normal lives behind. With the Captain closing in and Jaime's future on the line, can Margaret finally take control?
Review: I really liked this book! The book was a great and I loved reading about how Margaret overcame her fears. The book was cute and very age appropriate for middle graders. The book also had well done character development and world building. The plot kept me intrigued in the book throughout the read.
The only thing that slowed my reading down was that there were some slow moments in the book.
Verdict: It was great!