Lola is ready for school and believes she knows so many things…until her sister mentions she might not. What follows is a fantastic exploration of being confident in what you know and being eager and willing to learn more.

LOLA KNOWS A LOT by Jenna McCarthy is an excellent pick for kids new to school or preparing to go to school. Lola teaches confidence of knowledge, including simple facts like how practicing can develop skills further and specific personality traits of her family members, while also guiding how to be excited for learning new things and not getting overwhelmed. Lola’s sister makes a frequent appearance in the story, whether through text or illustrations, and the sister relationship is extremely realistic. They don’t always get along, but they do love each other.

The illustrations by Sara Palacios are cute and have a sort of colored pencil-like style. The outfits are especially adorable. One of the repeating images is the family cat, which leads to a few humorous moments if you look closely.

For any kids struggling with the idea of school, LOLA KNOWS A LOT should be a definite grab.

Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/20262-lola-knows-a-lot

In a new take on Little Red Riding Hood, LITTLE RED AND THE VERY HUNGRY LION by Alex T. Smith follows Little Red on her way to her Auntie Rose, who is sick and needs medicine. During her journey, she finds the Very Hungry Lion, determined to make a meal out of Little Red. Unfortunately for the lion, his plans do not go as expected.

This diverse take on Little Red Riding Hood is fantastic. Little Red is a great role model for young readers. She is stands up for herself and is exceptionally brave, especially when challenging the Very Hungry Lion. Her attitude leaps off the page and makes for a hilarious conflict.

The illustrations are my favorite part. From the posture of the body to the tilt of the mouth, the illustrations capture the emotion and humor of the characters expertly. The facial expressions are likely to have readers laughing out loud, and the bright colors capture the setting well. Along Little Red’s trip, she also passes a few exotic animals, which may be useful for introducing readers to new creatures.

LITTLE RED AND THE VERY HUNGRY LION is a funny, beautifully illustrated version of Little Red Riding Hood that kids will adore.

Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/20263-little-red-and-the-very-hungry-lion

Everyone is ready for the big Jumping Contest, especially Fox. Fox wants to win, but he’s actually not a good jumper. However, he is talented at scheming, and he’s already picked out a spot for the trophy. Join Fox and several animal friends for a fun contest.

FOX AND THE JUMPING CONTEST by author/illustrator Corey R. Tabor has adorable illustrations. The animals are all cute with hilarious facial expressions. The colors, especially the beautiful blue used for the sky, are soft and sweet. The story also shines with a major theme that talent comes in all sorts of different forms, and rankings, low or high, come with their own positives and don’t take other talents or gifts away.

While the story does aim to display some sort of fairness, some may still come away with the idea that Fox cheated and won. However, it is clear that what he does isn’t entirely acceptable because the trophy is shared with another contestant.

FOX AND THE JUMPING CONTEST is a lovely pick for young readers starting to under competition and individual talents. The illustrations are fun and enjoyable, sure to be a hit with kids who love animals.

Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/20289-fox-and-the-jumping-contest

As soon as Grace arrives at the famous princess academy, Tall Towers Princess Academy, she can tell right away she doesn’t fit in. Her name isn’t even on Fairy Godmother’s list, and the other students look much more graceful and princess-like. However, that doesn’t stop Grace from being the best princess she can be, starting with working with her own unicorn who isn’t exactly the ideal image either. With her kindness and loyalty, she hopes to show everyone that being a princess isn’t just about how well you can curtsy.

What I Liked:

PRINCESS DISGRACE has such a fun premise. As far as personalities go, it’s inclusive and teaches young readers that while having nice manners and being able to dance may be good qualities, there are other qualities that matter much more like encouraging your friends, doing your best, and staying resilient.

There are also several great humorous moments, perfect for readers looking for a laugh. Grace and her friends have wonderful scenes together, and their dialogue is realistic.

What Left Me Wanting More:

While the story encourages a wide variety of personalities, it is not as inclusive for body types. The only fat characters are either mean girls or fairy godmothers, setting a negative idea that good princesses cannot be large. This is enforced through both the text and illustrations. The two mean girls are redeemed a little in the end, but unfortunately, this may still be potentially harmful.

Final Verdict:

Though the issue with body depiction is serious, PRINCESS DISGRACE still has many wonderful qualities and makes a nice pick for young readers who love princess stories.

Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/20315-princess-disgrace-a-royal-disaster

When Mary is sentenced to the gallows for thievery at a young age, she is saved by the orchestrates of a school called Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. There, she learns skills to help her become an independent woman until she is 17, when she is told the secret of the academy: the academy also includes a top secret group of female investigators, and they want Mary to become one of their agents. Eager to find a position she loves, Mary accepts, and her first assignment is to pose as a lady’s companion at a rich merchant’s house to uncover the secrets behind his sketchy trades. There are secrets around every corner, and Mary will need all her training to find the truth.

I love the premise for this book. Academies with ulterior motives are my favorite, and this one is no exception. Lee does a fabulous job of capturing the historical setting and especially honing the frustrations Mary feels as a woman of the time, whose options for a career are so limited. Mary is also biracial (half Chinese, half Irish), but can pass as white, and she has to be extremely cautious of anyone finding out because of how worse the prospects are for a woman of color. Lee tackles those harsh truths magnificently, and it’s great to see more diverse historicals that discuss race issues.

While I love the premise, the sass, and the surprising villain, I had a hard time really getting into the story. I did enjoy it, but I wasn’t dying to find out what was going to happen next. The mystery builds a bit slowly, and parts of it were predictable. However, I can definitely see others really getting into it, and I think it was mostly just not the best fit for me. I absolutely still recommend it, though, to readers who love a good historical mystery with top notch diversity, some flirty banter, and a surprise twist at the end.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/08/review-spy-house-y-s-lee/

The Rat Prince is a Cinderella retelling following the perspectives of Cinderella and the Rat Prince Char. Prince Char has watched Cinderella get bullied by her stepmother, and Cinderella enjoys Char’s friendship, even if he’s a rat. She plans to defy her stepmother as soon as possible, but she can’t leave her memory-addled father behind. Together, through a series of mishaps, they just might be able to save the kingdom.

The unique take on the Cinderella story is super fun, and the imagery is excellent. The rats are hilarious, and Char makes a very charming prince. :) I like how Cinderella is brave and compassionate. Her backbone is clear, and it’s easy to feel sympathy for her situation. The twists at the end are a little predictable, but still very exciting.

While I enjoy the characterization in the first part of the book, the dialogue gets a little over the top towards the second half, once everyone is at the ball. While Char’s love for Cinderella has been there from the beginning, Cinderella’s sudden romantic love for him (while he’s turned into a human) escalates really quickly, and it feels just a bit too dramatic. However, those who love the quick romance in the original Cinderella will likely appreciate this and enjoy the sweetness.

Overall, The Rat Prince is a hilarious take on the Cinderella tale with adventure, romance, magic, and more.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/07/review-rat-prince-bridget-hodder/

(TW for this book: suicide, self harm, sexual assault, drugs, physical abuse)

*Small note: This book definitely handles mental illness well, and it is very, very dark. As such, I would recommend being extremely careful reading if you’re easily triggered. I read this in a fairly good mental state, but I still got triggered several times and should have spaced out my reading and balanced it with a lighter book to read on the side*

This story follows Charlie, a young woman with a rough past, who finds herself at an in-patient mental facility after attempting suicide. When she is forced to leave because of the expense, a friend helps her start anew somewhere else, but staying on the right track is hard when the past haunts her and present circumstances offer dangerous ways to forget.

As I mentioned before, this book is seriously dark. It’s one of the darkest books I’ve read, in a similar vein to Ellen Hopkins’s books but in prose. Charlie has had to fight for survival for years from having an abusive mother to being homeless to going to a dangerous house just for shelter. However, Charlie keeps fighting as much as she can, and eventually, hope powers through. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say hope is a big part of it.

What I really enjoyed is the writing style. It isn’t broken into chapters, but reads in a similar style to a journal (starting and stopping when needed to reflect the mental state), though it isn’t written as an actual journal. The formatting sometimes reveals more of Charlie’s emotions than she does herself.
Final Verdict:

Overall, if you like Ellen Hopkins or Go Ask Alice type stories, GIRL IN PIECES is a strong pick with a protagonist whose happiness you’ll root for the whole way through.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/07/review-girl-pieces-kathleen-glasgow/

*Note: I received this book through Emma at Miss Print’s ARC Adoption program!*
What I Loved:

As a lover of Jennifer A. Nielsen books, I was so excited for her latest, especially because the protagonist in THE SCOURGE is female, where all of the other Nielsen novels I’ve read have had male protags. Just like in her other works, THE SCOURGE unfolds events so perfectly. Each plot point is lined up exactly where it needs to go, giving an even pacing (though it does take a while to really get into the story). The descriptions are also excellent, and the inner workings of the Colony are fascinating.

Another Nielsen staple is turning first impressions on their head, and one of the character’s Ani meets is a perfect example of that. When the story begins, Della seems like a typical spoiled and privileged person, and Ani and Della both judge the other harshly. I love how Della’s character becomes more complex. The friendship (and budding romance) between Ani and Weevil is also very sweet, and their conversations have a delightful amount of good banter.
What Left Me Wanting More:

While I did enjoy this, it’s missing some needed action and quicker pacing. I found myself getting distracted a lot while reading, and nothing was capturing my full interest. If you’re a fan of Nielsen’s THE FALSE PRINCE series, you’ll notice this story goes much slower, and the plot twists don’t deliver quite the same punch.
Final Verdict:

Come for the cool premise, stay for Ani’s snark and all the friendship feels, but be prepared to be sitting in a waiting room for a little longer than anticipated.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/08/review-scourge-jennifer-neilsen/

Corinne and Ada are both hemopaths- people with magical abilities through art- in Boston 1919. Even though using their gifts, Corinne’s illusion-creating poems and Ada’s music that can change emotion, is illegal, that doesn’t stop them from working for the gangster and nightclub owner of Cast Iron, Johnny Dervish. They draw crowds by night and run cons during the day to keep the club, their home, afloat. But the jobs come with a risk, and when Johnny disappears, the two may be in more danger than they ever imagined.

Destiny Soria’s IRON CAST brims with magic, history, friendship, danger, and epic action that stacks up beautifully with books like Libba Bray’s THE DIVINERS, Justine Larbalestier’s RAZORHURST, and Cat Winters’s IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS. This layered novel offers much to readers from an engaging historical fantasy premise to a powerful and nuanced portrayal of female characters and the friendship between them.

Heiress and wordsmith Corrine and mixed race songsmith Ada are both unforgettable characters whose souls go far beyond the limits of the page. It is nearly impossible to pin either of them down into a handful of descriptions because Soria writes them in a completely three-dimensional manner, and readers will leave the story feeling as close to each of them as they are to each other. Anyone who has ever considered a soulmate to be a friend rather than a romantic partner will appreciate their relationship immensely. The diverse cast of secondary characters, including a love interest for each of the two main characters, are also delightful and distinct. They all connect in a series of shocking plot twists that are as likely to get angry, closed fists as they are tears (in a positive way).

Destiny Soria’s debut is without a doubt one of the best of the year. IRON CAST uses its own wordsmith magic to create an epic story with characters who feel powerfully real.

Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/19977-iron-cast

The Gray quintuplets are tall, blonde, and deeply in love with their home, Whidbey Island. Pixie Gray and her siblings are the unofficial search and rescue team for the island, along with their dog. When a young boy they know goes missing, they set out a search to find him. Together with Henry, the boy’s older brother, they discover an unexpected dead body, a hidden traitor, and more, all while still searching for the boy.

USELESS BAY is a great mystery, perfect for fans of the show Broadchurch. The island has the feel of a small town, isolated from the rest of the world, though that doesn’t make them any safer. The atmosphere is a combination of creepy, magical, and occasionally somehow comforting. The descriptions of the water and the island are vivid, and the magical realism is so tied to the Gray family and the island that it’s easy to imagine the setting as almost mystical.

Though Pixie and Henry are very likable, the characterization falls a little flat. Neither character develops much, though it is easy to connect with both of them. The family ties both on Pixie’s and on Henry’s side are strong and make a nice part of the story. The splash of romance between Pixie and Henry is also a sweet side plot. Outside of the character development, the plot is magnificent, building well and holding plenty of unexpected twists.

M.J. Beaufrand writes a compelling mystery with an unforgettable island and two families that will do anything to find the truth.

Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/20017-useless-bay