Description: Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents...sounds ideal -- but Shane's made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance...what's that? Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time's a ticking, and she needs a change -- there's nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She's going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure! Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart. Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination, one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic - the possibilities are endless.

Review: I do not pick up books written by Youtubers because they do not interest me. I did pick up Again, but Better because I am a fan of Christine Riccio's booktube channel. I love her energy, enthusiasm, and candidness in expressing her joy and frustration with books and life.
  Shane Primaveri is a shy, introverted, and socially awkward college student who feels she has done college wrong. When a chance to study abroad catches her eye, she immediately signs up and vows to become more confident, outgoing, and possibly get a chance at love. The roommate-assigning fates gift Shane with instant friends, she meets a flirtatious boy named Pilot, and she excels in her classes. Every thing is going swimmingly well until Shane admits she’s lying to her parents about continuing her pre-med track when she’s really studying writing. At a surprise visit and a horrendous dinner, Shane's scary, controlling parents discover her deception, and Shane returns to America dejected. Fast forward six years later, Shane has walked the path of her parents yet she still feels hollow and regretful. She looks up Pilot and they accidentally stumble back in time at the exact moment they both study abroad for a second chance.
   Again, but Better is a charming story that made me smile, laugh, and cringe at the awkward moments. Shane is utterly relatable. She keeps to herself, is haunted by self doubt, awkward, and distant until she warms up. I love that she lectures herself in interior monologues to be more confident and to take chances. Her personality is very much like Christine's Youtube persona. Pilot is an endearing love interest though I did find him to be frustrating at times from withholding information and towing the lines of flirtation and disinterest. Though the characters are in their twenties, teens can easily see themselves in the characters. I liked watching Shane's character arc go from socially awkward "new adult" to a confident woman who knows exactly want she wants. I also enjoyed the scenic views of London, Rome, and Scotland that are in the book and appreciated the diversity nod in the secondary characters.
  I did have a few quibbles about the book. I found the extensive use of "um" and "likes" to be annoying and distracting in the dialogues. I also wanted to know a bit more of future Shane before we are bumped back in time and more about the secondary characters, especially about their future selves.  

 Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language and a fade to black sex scene. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Description: Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up. The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?

Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death. Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.

Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?

Review: I absolutely adore Sandhya Menon's debut novel, When Dimple Met Rishi, but I have been curious to see what the author did which Rishi's brother, Ashish's story. I am happy to report that I love his story even more. There's Something About Sweetie is a contemporary romance that is full of heart while also tackling fat shaming, identity, privilege, and self confidence.
  Ashish Patel is the rich and handsome basketball star of Richmond Academy. Bummed after being dumped by his college girlfriend and his self confidence taken a big beating, he challenges his parents out of a moment of weakness to make good on their constant threat to find him a suitable Indian American girl to date. Their choice is Sweetie Nair, Piedmont High’s track star. When Ashish’s mother proposes the match, Sweetie’s mother adamantly insists that their children are not compatible. The Patels are extremely affluent, but the main reason Mrs. Nair refuses is because Sweetie is fat and is trying to protect her daughter from social humiliation.
  Sweetie embraces her body and does not feel ashamed about it. Her weight is always the focus of her mother's concerns whether it is Sweetie's diet or her lack of drive just to "lose some weight". Overhearing her mother's refusal to Mrs. Patel hurts Sweetie deeply and sparks her to start the "Sassy Sweetie Project" in which she will overturn all her insecurities into strengths. The Sassy Sweetie Project is my favorite part of this story. It upends the makeover trope which often seen in teen movies of the geeky girl being hot under her frumpy clothes. This project is personal for Sweetie and it shapes her character arc really well and strongly. She becomes assertive and takes matters into her own hands to live her best life even if it means agreeing to the Patels’ four-date contract without telling her parents.
 Ashish and Sweetie accept the arrangement, each feeling they have something to prove to themselves. For Ashish the relationship is his way to bounce back to the person he use to be and for Sweetie is an empowering move to prove to herself that she is desirable and deserves love. Both characters have vulnerabilities and wonder if this arranged match will work, and not knowing what will happen when Sweetie’s parents find out. Ashish and Sweetie share narrative duties, and both are flanked by supportive friends and caring parents—even if their approaches to love is flawed and can be painful at times. It is a pleasure to watch Ashish and Sweetie fall for each other in the quiet moments and allowing them the space and pace to make decisions, succeed or fail, learn, and blossom. I know some reviewers have see Sweetie as someone who is magically perfect, but I disagree. She waivers in her self confidence which felt real and her perseverance to fight is really admirable. Kudos to the author on creating a fat character who is not ashamed of her body nor focused on physical descriptions.


Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, mostly in the form of texting, and some crude humor. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

If you like this book try: Dumplin' by Julie Murphy, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Description: There are ninety-six things Genesis hates about herself. She knows the exact number because she keeps a list. Like #95: Because her skin is so dark, people call her charcoal and eggplant--even her own family. And #61: Because her family is always being put out of their house, belongings laid out on the sidewalk for the world to see. When your dad is a gambling addict and loses the rent money every month, eviction is a regular occurrence.
 
What's not so regular is that this time they all don't have a place to crash, so Genesis and her mom have to stay with her grandma. It's not that Genesis doesn't like her grandma, but she and Mom always fight--Grandma haranguing Mom to leave Dad, that she should have gone back to school, that if she'd married a lighter skinned man none of this would be happening, and on and on and on. But things aren't all bad. Genesis actually likes her new school; she's made a couple friends, her choir teacher says she has real talent, and she even encourages Genesis to join the talent show.

But how can Genesis believe anything her teacher says when her dad tells her the exact opposite? How can she stand up in front of all those people with her dark, dark skin knowing even her own family thinks lesser of her because of it? Why, why, why won't the lemon or yogurt or fancy creams lighten her skin like they're supposed to? And when Genesis reaches #100 on the list of things she hates about herself, will she continue on, or can she find the strength to begin again?

Review: Genesis Begins Again is a heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting look at internalized racism and colorism. Genesis Anderson is a black tween who has a very hard life. She’s had to move several times because her family keeps getting evicted thanks to her alcoholic, gambling father, who inappropriately uses the rent money. Genesis hates her circumstances and adds the things that she hates to herself to her ever growing list including her dark skin. Genesis is routinely verbally abused by her mean drunk father who is also also dark skinned and takes no pride in their resemblance. Compounded by the fact that her Grandmother also spouts racist thoughts of those who have dark skinned believing they are lazy, backward, and will never measure up to anything in life. Genesis wants nothing more than to look like her light-skinned mother. With kids bullying her and calling her names like Charcoal, Eggplant, Blackie, it is not surprising to witness Genesis desperately wanting to be accepted, even causing herself physical pain to bleaching her skin and changing her hair in order to attain it.
   Her fragile self confidence slowly starts to build as her talent to sing demands that she stand out. She develops friendships with those who also feel like outsiders either due to mental issues or not feeling like fit in a neat tidy box. With the help of her chorus teacher, Genesis discovers a way to navigate the pain she carries as well as face her own personal prejudices. Genesis' road to self confidence is emotional, painful, yet a still hopeful adolescent journey. I have never read a book that tackles colorism so head on and in a candid way. I also enjoyed the references to notable black activists, athletes, artists, and, notably, musicians such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Etta James. These inclusions added to the story in particular with the musicians that Genesis used as a mirror. This is a powerful debut novel that should not be missed.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are references to Genesis' father appearing drunk and racist comments made by her grandmother. Recommended for strong Grade 4 readers and up. 

If you like this book try: The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake, The Fold by An Na

Description: Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she’ll have to answer the question over and over again.

Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It’s hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven’s about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms.

Review: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is an uplifting story about three teens with serious disabilities forming an unlikely friendship as they struggle to cope with everyday life.  message of empathy especially from abled bodies. Aven Green is a tween that tween me would love to have as a friend. She is smart, funny, loves planning pranks, and plays on the school soccer team.  Though Aven was born without arms, she has never let her "lack of armage," as she calls it, deter her from doing anything she sets her mind to. She does not need your pity, but would really appreciate it if you would not stare and call her a freak. When her father gets a job as the manager of Stagecoach Pass, a rundown Western theme park out in Arizona, the family's move, right after Aven has started eighth grade, presents her toughest challenge yet.
  Along with dealing with the new kid jitters, Aven has to everything from scratch including dealing with the many stares and questions of new schoolmates. Aven sorely misses her old life back in Kansas;  however, her optimistic spirit and her infectious sense of humor, keeps her afloat. She is not immune to the constant spotlight of being disabled or labeled weird. She is persistent and looks for the silver linings in her new life in Arizona, such as making friends with the cute but prickly Connor (who has Tourette's syndrome) and Zion who lacks self confidence because of his weight, or enjoying the ability to wear flats all year-round. Aven, Connor, and Zion get wrapped up in the unusual mystery at the heart of Stagecoach Pass: the disappearing tarantulas, a missing photograph, and a secret necklace. Aven is determined to get to the bottom of the secret.
  The characters make this story. As an able bodied person, it is an eye opening read and a reminder of the stigma that is attached to disability. Aven, Connor, and Zion alienate themselves because they've been labeled by others as freaks, but as these characters grow more confident they push back at these expectations. The journey to this point is hard, heartbreaking, and not easy. The author seems to have done her homework in portraying the characters authentically. The mystery in the story, however, is underwhelming and takes a backseat to the character development and relationships. I am happy there will be another book featuring Aven and the crew and I am very much looking forward to reading it.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are mentions of bullying. Recommended for Grades 3 and up.

If you like this book try: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw

Description: It is summer in Phoenix, and seventeen-year-old Maximo offers to help a Jordan, a fellow student in high school, with the food truck that belonged to Jordan's deceased father, and which may be the only thing standing between homelessness for Jordan and his mom; the boys are strongly attracted to each other, but as their romance develops it is threatened by the secrets they are hiding--and by the racism and homophobia of those around them.

Review: Maximo (who prefers to be called Max) is a popular high school athlete who spends most of his free time with his two best friends, playing video games and joking around. Max has a secret that he hasn't told anyone, not even his buddies, that makes his heart pound and his hands sweat. He is trying to be a man, a fighter his father raised him to be. A fighter pushes through the fear and pain.
    Jordan is an awkward, anxious, introverted teen who is attempting to help take care of his mom after the death of his father. He also dreams of striking out on his own, pursue a career in writing and be in a relationship. In order to save their home Jordan and his mom work on their food truck, but thing are not going according to plan. In fact neither Jordan nor his mom know how to run a food truck. Jordan hires Max to work the food truck with him, and two boys who thought they had nothing in common find that they are more alike than they thought.
   The Music of What Happens is a character driven story with an easy, conversational tone. The story is told from alternating points of views of Max and Jordan. Max is confident though he is afraid to show and talk about his feelings because that is not what a fighter does. Max grapples with understanding whether he has actually been raped and what he should do about it; the consequences of the rape also cause him to question the lessons his father taught him as a young child. While the author makes clear what happened to Max, the assault is not described in graphic detail. This topic of consent and rape are rarely mentioned between boys (or at least from the YA books that I have read thus far). Max also laughs off crude sexual jokes regarding promiscuity and homophobic slurs until he himself becomes woke and comfortable enough to have an honest talk with his friends. Jordan is struggling with self confidence and keeping his mother afloat. Oftentimes he ends up being the adult and she the child.
  We follow these boys as they uneasily become friends and into a budding romance along with getting to know their separate groups of friends. The plot is balanced nicely between heavier topics such as toxic masculinity, homophobia, racial microaggressions, consent, addiction, and sexual assault. None of these topics are heavy handed but they are also not sugar coated either. There are some truly heartbreaking moments that Max and Jordan go through, but ultimately it is an uplifting and relatable story.   

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, mentions of underage drinking, allusions to rape, crude sexual humor, and homophobic slurs. Recommended for Grades 10 and up.

If you like this book try: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Bloom by Kevin Panetta, Release by Patrick Ness

Description: Aliya already struggles with trying to fit in, feeling confident enough to talk to the cute boy or stand up to mean kids—the fact that she's Muslim is just another thing to deal with. When Marwa, a Moroccan girl who shares her faith if not her culture, comes to Aliya's school, Aliya wonders even more about who she is, what she believes, and where she fits in. Should she fast for Ramadan? Should she wear the hijab? She's old enough for both, but does she really want to call attention to herself?

Review: The Garden of My Imaan reminded me very much of Judy Blume's classic Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, but with an Islamic twist. Aliya is an Indian-American, Muslim tween who struggling with her own imaan, an Arabic word for faith, her religious identity, and dealing with Islamophobia.   With Ramadan fast approaching, Sister Khan asks Aliya's religion class to set Ramadan goals and write about what they learn. Like Margaret before her, Aliya pours out her worries from fretting over puberty, an unrequited crush at school, and the introduction to Marwa, a new girl at school who is from Morocco and wears the hijab. Asked to befriend Marwa at school, stirs up mixed emotions in Aliya. She is first annoyed and then intrigued at how Marwa finds a place for herself without sacrificing her religious principles. Marwa is a quiet leader who stands up for herself with educating others around her instead of insulting them. She is clearly a role model for Aliya, however, I would have loved if the author created her as a three dimensional character instead of a perfect girl. We don't see Marwa develop except at school and I wanted to know more about her.
  To be completely honest, I was afraid to read this book because the synopsis and the cover made me believe that the author has a certain bias, but I am so glad that I was wrong. The author makes clear of Islamophobic acts that Muslims face, from being called names and be told to go "back to your country", but she also includes the dangers of girl's being attacked by someone who rips their hijab off. The downside of open observance is clear to readers, but she also enlightens others about the beliefs and intentions underlying these religious observances, especially hijab. The hijab is worn proudly by Marwa and she doesn't feel weird about it. It is how she expresses her faith. For Aliya's mother, who doesn't wear it, "hijab is a symbol of modesty--a good symbol but a figurative one." Aliya's mother demonstrates modesty by the clothes that she wears. Zia points out that there is more than one way Muslims observe their religion and one is not more acceptable or right than the other.  Don't be afraid to pick up this book, it is a refreshing story that will serve as mirrors to Muslim readers and a window to others who want to know more about Islam without any heavy handedness.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: Amina's Voice by Hena Khan

Description: Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle is all over it. The chance to publicly showcase her voice as a director? Dream come true. The fact that it gets her closer to her longtime crush, Neil Roy—a.k.a. Sahil’s twin brother? Dream come true x 2.
When mystery man “N” begins emailing her, Twinkle is sure it’s Neil, finally ready to begin their happily-ever-after. The only slightly inconvenient problem is that, in the course of movie-making, she’s fallen madly in love with the irresistibly adorkable Sahil. Twinkle soon realizes that resistance is futile: The romance she’s got is not the one she’s scripted. But will it be enough?

Review: I absolutely adored Menon's debut novel, When Dimple Met Rishi, and I could not wait to read her latest novel, From Twinkle, With Love. Though I didn't love From Twinkle, With Love as much as I loved her debut novel, it was still thoroughly enjoyable and a delightfully sweet contemporary romance.
  Twinkle Mehra is a self pronounced wallflower and groundling, a social status that complements her family's working class financial situation. Tired of being overlooked by her former best friend, Maddie, who has recently elevated her social status by hanging out with the popular crowd, and ignored by her busy working parents, Twinkle wants to be noticed by someone else besides her lovable, unconditionally supportive, and eccentric Dadi (her paternal grandmother). She is also an aspiring filmmaker who dreams of going to film school and becoming a great woman of color director. Twinkle fills her journal, given by Dadi, with entries dedicated to sorting out her feels and frustrations, addressed to her favorite female movie directors, among them Mira Nair, Sofia Coppola, Nora Ephron, and Ava DuVernay. The repetitiveness of directors that Twinkle writes to is indicative of the necessity of more female directors in the film industry.
 Twinkle is a fun, flawed character who is also frustrating to read about because you want to shake her and tell her she is making big mistakes. She has tunnel vision of becoming a new shinier version of herself which features a confident girl who speaks up for herself and be in a relationship with Neil Roy, a biracial white-Indian golden boy, who can elevate her status. When an opportunity arises to make her mark for a local film festival with Sahil, Neil's awkward identical twin brother, she reluctantly accepts the challenge as a way to become close to Neil, realize her romantic ambitions, and thus improve her social standing at school. As she chronicles her journey on working with her film, Twinkle's relationship with Sahil changes which makes things complicated especially when she begins receiving admiring emails signed only “N,” she assumes her mystery fan to be Neil. Like any other romantic comedies, Sahil has had a crush on Twinkle for years and the true identity of her anonymous fan becomes a tantalizing mystery.
  Menon knows how to write a romantic comedy. The budding relationship with Twinkle and Sahil is beyond adorable and grows throughout the book. It is agonizing to wait for Twinkle's light bulb to go off and realize that Sahil is the right person for her. Both characters share a love for film and are able to be themselves around each other. I really appreciated that the characters were able to show each other their good sides and bad sides instead of characters who just wear rosy tinted glasses because they are in love. I felt frustrated for Sahil when Twinkle would not be honest with him and fully commit to be with him. The inclusion of Sahil's anonymous blog and his text messages between his two best friends provide his viewpoint of his complicated relationship with Twinkle and made me laugh out loud several times.
 The familial relationship is also done quite well, particularly with Twinkle and her Dadi. I loved  how Dadi played an important role and constant in Twinkle's life. She was her confidant and support network when her parents were away. I also understood Twinkle's own feeling of neglected from her parents. I just wished we explored a bit more of her mother's mental health issues which were hinted in the book. I would have also loved to have seen more of Sahil's own insecurity of constantly being compared to Neil.
 In addition to all the various relationships in the book, the theme of privilege is well handled in the book from the obvious comparing and contrasting the have and have-nots of Twinkle and her circle of friends, but also of Twinkle and the at-risk kids that her father works with is also highlighted in the book. Though this book covered a lot more themes than When Dimple Met Rishi, it read much younger to me which is not a bad thing just an observation. If you enjoyed Menon's debut novel you will really like From Twinkle, With Love. Menon is quickly becoming my auto-read author for romantic comedies and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some innuendo mentioned in the book. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma, To All the Boys I Loved Before series by Jenny Han

Description: There are three kinds of people in my world:

1. Saints, those special people moving the world forward. Sometimes you glaze over them. Or, at least, I do. They’re in your face so much, you can’t see them, like how you can’t see your nose.

2. Misfits, people who don’t belong. Like me—the way I don’t fit into Dad’s brand-new family or in the leftover one composed of Mom and my older brother, Mama’s-Boy-Muhammad. Also, there’s Jeremy and me. Misfits. Because although, alliteratively speaking, Janna and Jeremy sound good together, we don’t go together. Same planet, different worlds. But sometimes worlds collide and beautiful things happen, right?

3. Monsters. Well, monsters wearing saint masks, like in Flannery O’Connor’s stories. Like the monster at my mosque. People think he’s holy, untouchable, but nobody has seen under the mask. Except me.

Review: S.K. Ali's debut novel, Saints and Misfits, is a welcoming addition to the growing and much needed collection of books written about and written by Muslim authors. In a smartly written novel Ali has been able to tap into universal themes and portray the various representation of faith and Muslim representation without being didactic.
  Janna Yusuf is an extremely smart Indian Arab American Muslim teen who, like all teens, is looking for a place to belong. She is caught between her Muslim faith and the parts of her life that clash with it. Janna identifies herself as a misfit and does not fit into the cookie cutter mold of a "saintly" Muslim teen. Her parents are divorced, a culture faux pas that many people do not discuss. While a practicing Muslim herself, her father is a secular business man who has since remarried and sends out motivational quotes in his newsletter. Her love life is complicated considering she has a crush on a non-Muslim boy named Jeremy who she can not date because of her religion though her crush might not be unrequited, but above all Janna's biggest obstacle is facing the monster: a "pious" boy from a respectable family and from her mosque who attempts to sexually assault her during a party.
   The different categories of people that Janna identifies throughout the story, with the exception of the monster, shift and change as Janna's preconceptions are constantly challenged. Janna's internal push and pull observations gives readers unfamiliar with Islam a deep understanding of Muslim practices, the wide range of how people observe or don't observe Islam as well as the representation of women who wear the hijab without limiting or changing the focus of the story. Teens will easily look past their superficial differences with Janna and instead will connect with her not fitting in, dealing with frustrations of rape culture, the difficulty of trusting others and truly connecting with others, and most of all finding the courage to speak out.
  Janna is a keen observer and all of her thoughts on the world and those around her are filtered through her lens. I loved the use of Janna's hobby of a photographer as a running conceit in the story. I also greatly appreciated that the author does not use stereotypes in her book but rather exposes not only their flaws, but also the flaws of the Muslim culture. Janna creates a strong support system with both Muslim and non-Muslim friends. I also adored her friendship with an elderly Indian man who shows her own shortcomings and the advice column that her uncle and imam has for her mosque that gives the reader a peek into what's like to be a Muslim teen. Saints and Misfits is another solid book published by Salaam Reads that illustrates a girl's attempt to find her place in a complicated world.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, a party where there is underage drinking, and a scene of attempted sexual assault in the book. Recommended for Grade 9 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah, and for a book that has similar themes minus religious elements try What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

  I absolutely adore G. Willow Wilson's Ms. Marvel graphic novel series. While the series may not be of the award winning quality of comics such as Alan Moore's Watchmen or Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, it is undoubtedly revolutionary. In Wilson's re-imaging of the famous female heroine, Ms. Marvel is a Pakistani, Muslim teen, which is revolutionary especially when our media only show oppressed Pakistani women. Ms. Marvel refreshingly blends cultural identity, religion, and the normal hijinks of a superhero.

Description: Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! If Kamala can stop fan-girling out about meeting her favorite super hero, that is. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity -- by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. Kamala bands together with some unlikely heroes to stop the maniacal villain before he does real damage, but has she taken on more than she can handle? And how much longer can Ms. Marvel's life take over Kamala Khan's? Kamala Khan continues to prove why she's the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is!

Review: In the second volume of Ms. Marvel, Kamala is still adjusting to her new role as a superhero. She is not quite comfortable with her powers, but she is trying. She is also trying to figure out her identity from her familial obligations of being a daughter, her obligations to her faith, and to her responsibilities of as a superhero. I love the inclusion of Kamala's traditional Pakistani family and Wilson not shying away from including religion in the graphic novel such as showing Kamala going to the mosque and asking her imam for guidance. These depictions may not seem like a big deal for me, a reader that shares these similarities with the protagonist, but those who are unfamiliar with the religion and culture it is a striking contrast of what they see in media. This banality is what I think makes the Ms. Marvel series powerful and necessary.
  Along with the character development of Kamala, we are treated with the special appearance of Wolverine and their shared adventure, which was a lot of fun to read. Wolverine knows a thing or two about being an outsider and gives Kamala reassurance that she will figure everything out. It was really cute seeing Kamala become a fangirl. I also adored Kamala's helper, a gigantic bull dog.
 This volume wraps up with Kamala saving the day from a villain called the Inventor, who is sucking the youth out of the teens and giving their life energy to the older generations, which is the graphic novel's weakest point. The villain is just not menacing enough and the ending does take a little dive into cheesy and preaching area, but it didn't deem my enjoyment when reading the graphic novel.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.



Description: Love is in the air in Jersey City as Valentine’s Day arrives! Kamala Khan may not be allowed to go to the school dance, but Ms. Marvel is! Well sort of--by crashing it in an attempt to capture Asgard’s most annoying trickster! Yup, it’s a special Valentine’s Day story featuring Marvel’s favorite charlatan, Loki! And when a mysterious stranger arrives in Jersey City, Ms. Marvel must deal with...a crush! Because this new kid is really, really cute. What are these feelings, Kamala Khan? Prepare for drama! Intrigue! Romance! Suspense! Punching things! All this and more! The fan-favorite, critically acclaimed, amazing new series continues as Kamala Khan proves why she’s the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is! Plus, see what happens when S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jemma Simmons goes undercover at Kamala’s school!

Review: In the third volume of Ms. Marvel, Kamala is diving into the trouble waters of romance in the graphic novel's Valentine's Day theme. Bruno, Kamala’s buddy who works in the local store, is pining for Kamala but he can't seem to get out of the friend-zone. While I ship Bruno and Kamala together, there are a lot of obtacles in their way such as culture, race, and religion. I am really curious how Wilson will address these issues is she does decide to go this route. It is clear that Kamala is expected to marry someone Pakistani and then she is actually swept off her feet by a seemingly perfect Kamran who not only meets her parents' expectations but also match in Kamala's interests too. While the romance is cute, it was pretty easy to see that Kamran was just too perfect and when his real motives are revealed I wasn't too surprised. I was actually more interested to see how this romance will further develop Kamala's identity. My favorite part of the graphic novel is actually the introduction of Loki, who in my opinion stole the show. I really wanted to him to stay longer than his brief stint.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.



Description: From the moment Kamala put on her costume, she's been challenged. But nothing has prepared her for this: the last days of the Marvel Universe. Lucky she's got the help of Carol "Captain Marvel" Danvers! Between teaming up with her personal hero to rescue her brother and trying to keep her city from falling into an all-out frenzy, Kamala has barely had time to come to terms with the fact that the world is literally collapsing around her. But the truth will catch up to her, and soon. When the world is about to end, do you still keep fighting? Kamala knows the answer. Let's do this, Jersey City.


Review: Compared to the first three volumes of Ms. Marvel, the fourth volume is much darker and serious in tone. Kamala is dealing with heartbreak, but she's got bigger problems when she sees New Jersey come under attack by a foreign intruder and everyone running for the hills. Kamala's self doubt is stronger than ever, but luckily Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel steps in as Kamala's mentor. I don't know much about Carol Danvers, but it was really fun having two female superheroes kick butt.
 There are lot of new surprises in this volume in regards to the different relationship dynamics. I won't go into details because of spoilers, but one of them took me by surprise and I'm really curious to see what happens next. Like the previous volumes, there is some crossover with the Marvel characters, which I'm not a big fan of because they take me completely out of Kamala's story.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution:There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.

If you like these books try: The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, Princeless series by Jeremy Whitley, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North, Thor: The Goddess of Thunder by Jason Aaron, The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

 Another Day is the companion novel to David Levithan's widely acclaimed novel, Every Day. Another Day mostly succeeds standing on its own, however, I personally think you would miss its full impact if you did not read Ever Day first.

Description: Every day is the same for Rhiannon. She has accepted her life, convinced herself that she deserves her distant, temperamental boyfriend, Justin, even established guidelines by which to live: Don’t be too needy. Avoid upsetting him. Never get your hopes up.
  Until the morning everything changes. Justin seems to see her, to want to be with her for the first time, and they share a perfect day—a perfect day Justin doesn’t remember the next morning. Confused, depressed, and desperate for another day as great as that one, Rhiannon starts questioning everything. Then, one day, a stranger tells her that the Justin she spent that day with, the one who made her feel like a real person…wasn’t Justin at all.
  In this enthralling companion to his New York Times bestseller Every Day, David Levithan tells Rhiannon’s side of the story as she seeks to discover the truth about love and how it can change you. 

Review: In Every Day we explored the universality of love through a gender neutral character named A who inhabits a different body every day. In one of these bodies A was Rhiannon's boyfriend named Justin and they two spent a wonderful day together. Unexpectedly A fell in love with Rhiannon and has tried to pursue a relationship with her, which has been further complicated by A's constantly changing state.
  Another Day recalls this same event, however, we are now seeing things through Rhiannon's point of view. Throughout the book Rhiannon inquires what makes a relationship valuable. One of my main criticisms about Everyday was the lack of character development of Rhiannon. I never understood what was about her that captivated A. This time around I felt I had a better understanding of her, but I didn't really like her as a character.
  In the beginning Rhiannon is a codependent person who uses her rocky relationship with her acerbic boyfriend, Justin, to define herself. While she craves intimacy and emotional attentiveness, he wants distance and wants to hangout or in other words fool around, which feel cold and mechanical. It is clear to everyone around her and indubitable to even to Rhiannon in heart of hearts, that her relationship with Justin is doomed yet her fear to be alone eclipses her logic and it is what keeps her at Justin's side.
 While it was hard seeing Rhiannon defend Justin at his worst moments to her friends and even chastising herself from demanding things that is her right from her boyfriend, I did like how Rhiannon slowly comes into her own person after she encounters A and acknowledges her own needs and desires. With A's constant changing of human bodies from boy to girl, various body types, and backgrounds, Rhiannon has the emotional intimacy that she craves, but can't have the physical relationship that she wants with A. There is a nice contrast between the idealistic world that A would love to live in in which Rhiannon would love him regardless of who A is and the realistic world that Rhiannon has firmly placed her feet on in which she is only attracted to males of a particular type, however, this discussion seems to go on endless circles in Another Day and it began to feel a bit tedious. Readers who have read Every Day will recognize several scenes in Another Day, however the tone is a bit different.
 Like the ending of Every Day, there is no real conclusion to Another Day and Levithan leaves the door open to a possible another book featuring Rhiannon and A. Personally, I enjoyed Every Day just a bit more because I found A a lot more interesting than Rhiannon. I think readers who enjoyed Every Day will find something new in Another Day and readers who are meeting A for the first time would be intrigued to read Every Day to find more about him/her.       


Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, underage drinking, and strong sexual content since Rhiannon and Justin are sexually active however these episodes are not graphically depicted. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Every Day by David Levithan, Cycler and Recycler by Lauren McLaughlin

 I have been anticipating the release of Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson ever since the news came out that there will be a Pakistani-American, Muslim, female superhero. I had high hopes for this graphic novel and for the most part it met my expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Description: Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she's comin' for you, New York! 

Review: The theme of identity runs throughout the graphic novel. Our main protagonist, Kamala Khan is an ordinary teen who just happens to be a Pakistani-American and Muslim. Her culture and religion play a big part in her life, but they do not overshadow the graphic novel. I found Kamala to be adorkable, a genuinely good person who wants to do the right thing, and a fan of superheroes. She laments of not being able to fit in with the rest of peers, which is a nice metaphor for her struggling to accept her responsibilities, and limitations of being Ms. Marvel. 
  The author does a great job in showing how Kamala is indeed very much like ourselves by showing Kamala's relationship with others around her like her friend Nakia and Bruno, the neighborhood boy who has a very obvious crush on our heroine who is of course oblivious. The strongest relationship in my opinion is that of Kamala's strict, overprotective yet loving parents. The inclusion of the parents definitely highlights the cultural aspects of Kamala's Pakistani-American background. 
 Ms. Marvel: No Normal is very much an origins story. Kamala must come to terms that she is a superhero and has to figure out how to lead a double life as well as harness new skills and keep her power in check. The action part of the graphic novel was a bit weak. The villain wasn't as interesting nor scary as I had hoped but hopefully he will get fleshed out in the later volumes.  
 The artwork of Ms. Marvel: No Normal is well done. The characters look like real people and the colors used make the illustrations pop and are appealing to the eye. Despite some minor issues, I definitely look forward to continuing this series and I do hope that this graphic novel does pave the way for more diverse characters appearing in mainstream comics as well as debunking myths regarding Pakistanis and Muslims..  

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is a small scene of underage drinking in which Kamala does not participate in, there is some minor language. Recommended for Grades 8 and up. 

If you like this book try: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson

  Last year I completely adored The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion and have recommended it to many people who are looking for a cute, uplifting read. It has not stayed very long on the library's shelves which is always a good sign. When I heard about a sequel, I was very excited and couldn't wait to see what happened next in Don and Rosie's lives. Many thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this book. Please note that there is no way to write a proper review of this book without spoiling The Rosie Project.

Description: Greetings. My name is Don Tillman. I am forty-one years old. I have been married to Rosie Jarman, world's most perfect woman, for ten months and ten days.
  Marriage added significant complexity to my life. When we relocated to New York City, Rosie brought three maximum-size suitcases. We abandoned the Standardised Meal System and agreed that sex should not be scheduled in advance.
 Then Rosie told me we had 'something to celebrate', and I was faced with a challenge even greater than finding a partner. I have attempted to follow traditional protocols and have sourced advice from all six of my friends, plus a therapist and the internet. The result has been a web of deceit. I am now in danger of prosecution, deportation, professional disgrace, and of losing Rosie forever.

Review: The Rosie Effect is an enjoyable sequel full of heart and humor but also quite serious than its predecessor, The Rosie Project. Our lovable genetics professor Don Tillman did the impossible in finding the perfect wife for himself, but he is unsure of how to proceed when Rosie announces that she is expecting. Don is uncertain on how to react to Rosie's news and his mixed signals starts a chain reaction of events that leads him to the brink of losing his freedom, his job, and his new life. 
  Don excels in logic and having a set plan. It is his way to cope with all the chaos in his world. He has a very hard time understanding people's emotions and is aware that he has Asperger tendencies, but Don is never the butt of the joke and the humor is actually how exceptionally observant Don sees the world. As a reader we understand what Don’s family and friends are thinking better than he does. The awkwardness that results, labeled by Don with such monikers as the Playground Incident or the Antenatal Uproar, is both hilarious in its execution and striking when seen through Don’s eyes. My favorite moments of the book is how Don solves his own problems in his unique way though it might not be socially correct. 
 Unlike Don, I did have several issues with Rosie in this book. She is a lot less likable, but I think that is because she is struggling to keep the wall that she built as a young girl who is terrified of making the same mistake as her parents. She is much more defensive and incapable of compromise. As a result, it takes Don and Rosie time to sit down and effectively communicate with one another. Nonetheless The Rosie Effect addresses all of the excitement, confusion, and fears we all face when reaching a new milestone in our lives. If you liked The Rosie Project, I'm sure you will enjoy this book too. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language and adult situations. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: One Plus One by Jojo Moyes, After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

  Alex As Well is a thought provoking realistic fiction read from Australia. Teens looking for books that tackle the issue of identity confusion or even realistic fiction that are written with grace and sensitivity without the bad aftertaste of saccharine should pick up this book. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book.

Description: Alex is ready for things to change, in a big way. Everyone seems to think she’s a boy, but for Alex the whole boy/girl thing isn’t as simple as either/or, and when she decides girl is closer to the truth, no one knows how to react, least of all her parents. Undeterred, Alex begins to create a new identity for herself: ditching one school, enrolling in another, and throwing out most of her clothes. But the other Alex—the boy Alex—has a lot to say about that.　

Review: Alex Stringfellow has lived her entire life feeling like she's two people, male and female. She is born with female and male reproductive organs. Her parents had chosen to not tell her this information and chose which gender that Alex should be without her consent. These hidden facts has made Alex's life miserable. Alex has always felt like an outsider, a "freak" that never belonged. Though previously identified as male, Alex takes a very courageous step to live her life openly, honestly, and decides to begin living as a female. 
  I loved the voice of Alex, which is alive, smart, and open in contrast to those of her close minded, narcissistic parents. Knowing that her parents can't and refuse to help her, she takes the assertive step in enrolling to a new school where she quickly makes friends. I was a little lost on how easily it was for Alex to attend school without the necessary paperwork and had to suspend my disbelief in order to roll with the story. While her adjustment is mostly smooth, Alex is concerned about how her friends will react if they find out she's a lesbian or if they find out about her "condition." Adding dimension to her voice and character, Alex has internal conversations with the male and female sides of herself which not only reflect on her confusion of her identity, but also highlights what society would deem as "normal." It is very easy to support and root for her. 
 Unlike her somewhat smooth transition at school, her life at home is intolerable and a hot mess. After telling her parents that she identifies herself as a girl, Alex's father leaves home and her mother struggles with Alex's gender identity and often handles it with fits, abuse, and attempts to control her child. Her absent father offers little support. While there are intersecting chapters of Alex's mom, Heather, blogging about her experiences with handling Alex that allows us to see Heather's emotions in context, I still needed a bit more proof of character development to make Heather a full three dimensional character. I would also have liked Alex's father to have more page time as well as he sort of pops in and out. Thankfully, Alex does find adults who do support her. 
  Alex As Well is a powerful story of courage, where our protagonist is not afraid to stand up for herself and find a support system that works for her. We definitely need more books like this one and I would recommend it to fans of good realistic fiction.  

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of caution: There is some language, a scene of bullying, and crude humor. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Double Exposure by Bridget Birdsall, Pink by Lili Wilkinson,

After reading a slew of serious books, I needed a light, fun read that had some depth to the story. I found exactly that when I picked up The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. The Rosie Project reminded me of one my favorite sitcoms, The Big Bang Theory, and I think it would be enjoyed by fans of the tv show as well as others looking for a quick, cute read. Check out the cute book trailer below!



Description: Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.
   Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

Review: Don Tillman is our perfectly imperfect narrator and protagonist. A scientist who only understands logic, he unknowingly gives people the impression that he is arrogant or robotic in his manners. He enjoys and finds peace in organizing his things around his apartment knowing exactly what to eat and wear every day. He cannot understand social cues, barely feels emotion and can't stand to be touched.  Don's best friends are Gene and Claudia, psychologists. Gene brought Don as a postdoc to the prestigious university where he is now an associate professor. Gene is a cad, a philanderer who chooses women based on nationality--he aims to sleep with a woman from every country. Claudia is tolerant until she's not.
  As Don observes Gene's behavior, he realizes that the next logical step in life is to settle down and get married. Don doesn't understand the allure of Gene's lifestyle and open marriage and he fails to understand the emotions that Claudia keeps harping about in relationships. Rather than waste his time and dating a bunch of women, Don logically starts a project called the Wife Project. Essentially each of his dating prospects must fill out an exhaustive and extensive survey that assess her interests, behavior patterns (is she messy? how much does she sleep? how much does she drinks?), hobbies, etc. Only after analyzing how the response match to Don's own desires, he will contact the woman for a date if he deems her suitable.
  Things get even more interesting and amusing when Gene sends Rosie, a graduate student in his department, to Don as a joke, a ringer for the Wife Project. Rosie is a vivid character who has a chip on her shoulder mainly since she can not identify her biological father. Don already dismisses Rosie as a Wife Project candidate because she is woefully unsuitable, but agrees to use science to help her find her father. The rom-com plot is nicely centered on pursuing the Father Project. Rosie and Don collide as their different personalities are polar opposites. Don learns to let loose and live a little while hanging out with Rosie. Likewise Rosie finds structure and stays on task with the help of Don. Soon hilarity in miscommunication, dismay of the Wife Project, and hormones ensue, especially when Don's and Rosie's relationship becomes complicated.  
  The story doesn't try too hard to be funny or sweet, but it feels natural with its deadpan humor and a nudge-nudge, wink-wink humor. I couldn't help but laugh at, and with, Don as he tries to navigate our hopelessly emotional, non-literal world, learning as he goes. It was also nice to read a romance story that is told from a male perspective. If you're looking for an uplifting story that will have you laughing out loud pick up The Rosie Project. Soon you will be flying through the pages as Don finds and falls in love. Since finishing the book, I found out that the author is writing a companion novel and I can't wait to read it.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (coming soon in September 2014)

  You can find many books about sibling relationships, but many of them often feature rivalries. We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt features a complex relationship between two sisters where one sister is trying to find her own voice while the other harbors a dangerous secret. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read the advanced reader's copy of this book.

Description: Nell knows a secret about her perfect, beautiful sister Layla. If she tells, it could blow their world apart.
  When Nell and Layla were little, Nell used to call them Nellaya. Because to Nell, there was no difference between where she started and her adored big sister ended. They're a unit; divorce made them rely on each other early on, so when one pulls away, what is the other to do? But now, Nell's a freshman in high school and Layla is changing, secretive. And then Nell discovers why. Layla is involved with one of their teachers. And even though Nell tries to support Layla, to understand that she's happy and in love, Nell struggles with her true feelings: it's wrong, and she must do something about it.

Review: From a very young age Nell has adored and admired her near-perfect sister Layla. When Nell starts high school in San Francisco, she plans to follow in the footsteps of her near-perfect sister Layla, whom she loves with a devotion that approaches adulation. The sisters have been close and have gotten closer since their parents' divorce, but Layla is becoming distant and harbors a dangerous secret that could threaten the sisters apart and put the family in jeopardy.
  Many reviewers have indicated that the reveal of Layla's secret was a bit anticlimactic, which may be true but I don't think unveiling the secret was the purpose of this book. Instead of the emphasis on the melodrama, Reinhardt focuses on Nell's self discovery and shattering the image of her perfect sister in her confession which is a unique blend of first- and second-person, past- and present-tense narration. I found myself engrossed in Nell's voice and observed her as she struggled to come out of her sister's shadow. I think many readers who have siblings can understand Nell's hesitancy to break the unsaid sisterhood code and you can feel her mixed emotions as she addresses her sister directly, spilling out her thoughts as she prepares to confront Layla and bring the secret out into the open.
  In addition to the different narrative style, I really enjoyed reading Nell's inner dialogue with two boys, brothers who died within a year of each other, and thought it worked well as a framework for Nell to process the truth, while her best friend, Felix, provides real-life emotional support and a striking contrast to Layla's situation. Since the book is mainly written in Nell's point of view, we are kept in suspense about Layla's whereabouts though there are many allusions sprinkled about. Although I wished we found out what after Nell brings Layla's secret out in the open, but Reinhardt's skillful exploration of the dynamics of sibling relationships is what stands out in this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, underage drinking, and implied sexual situations. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfield, The Last Summer of Camperdowns by Elizabeth Kelly

Description: Seventh grader Georges moves into a Brooklyn apartment building and meets Safer, a twelve-year-old self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer's first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: what is a lie, and what is a game? How far is too far to go for your only friend?

Review: Seventh grade is not going well for Georges (pronounced George), the only child of an out-of-work Brooklyn architect and a nurse who named him after her favorite painter, pointillist Georges Seurat. Although Georges's mother has taken on double shifts to bring in extra income, the family has had to sell their house and move into an apartment. At school, former best friend Jason, who has started dressing like the skateboarder he isn't, now stands idly aside while bullies harass Georges. Liar and Spy is a book examining all the different and complex aspects of friendships.
  Stead balances Georges's dark, sad period with the introduction of the new neighbors: amateur spy Safer, and his younger sister, Candy, whose parents (in one of many hilarious details) let the kids name themselves. As homeschooled siblings, they offer refreshing perspectives on the ridiculousness of what goes on at Georges's school, including a forthcoming science unit on taste buds that the kids believe forecasts one's destiny. Safer recruits Georges to investigate and observe--using the lobbycam to track a mysterious tenant and binoculars to monitor a nest of wild green parrots--but the biggest secrets are the ones these two boys have buried in their hearts.
 Like Stead's previous novel, When You Reach Me, Liar and Spy has been critically acclaimed and garnered several starred reviews, however, I don't understand the hype. The pacing is quite slow and it stalls in several places, making the reader wonder where and how the many plot lines are going to converge and make sense. There a lot of subtleties and metaphors in this book and I'm not sure whether kids would care enough to find them in this multi-layered story on their own. While there are fascinating characters and intelligent questions presented in the book, it may not appeal enough to kids to finish it.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 3 and up.

If you like this book try: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

  It's very rare that I finish a book in one sitting due to so many commitments and distractions throughout the day, but I managed to finish Attachments in one, cloudy, wintry day. When I finished it I had a big smile on my face and if you're in the mood for an incredibly sweet and quirky romance then this book is for you. With her hilarious and heartfelt characters, Rowell has managed to give the banal office romance her own unique spin.

Description: Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.
 Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke. When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories. By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself. What would he say . . . ?

Review: Attachments takes place before social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter dominated our lives and the uncertainty of an event called Y2K was starting to cause hysteria. Beth and Jennifer are news journalists and best friends who share news and trials of their lives in email exchanges at work. Beth wonders if her marriage-phobic, musician boyfriend, Chris will ever settle down and pop the question while Jennifer is terrified of the prospect of being a mother for the first time with her baby-mania-stricken husband, Mitch. What Beth and Jennifer don't know is that the newly hired Internet security officer, Lincoln, is charge of
filtering emails and watching for things like pornography and language that goes against the news company's Internet user policy, is reading their messages and unknowingly begins to fall in love with Beth.
  I loved how this novel was structured. Beth and Jennifer's communications are written out as emails, but they read as if they were sitting across from each other in a cafe. Through written communications their unique personalities and vulnerabilities shine through and make them come alive. I felt as if I knew Beth and Jennifer personally and could picture them in my head without really needing Rowell to tell me what they looked like. Interspersed with the emails are Lincoln's slices of life, but eventually both of these separate worlds meet.
 Like Beth and Jennifer, I completely adored Lincoln. Lincoln is an incredibly smart and sweet guy who is also very shy and lost. Still recovering from his first serious relationship that has bruised his ego and self confidence, Lincoln is in need of guidance. Though feeling incredibly awkward about reading people's emails at work, he reads Beth and Jennifer's emails because they make him laugh but they also make him think and reflect. From Beth's replies he connects to her own questions of self worth and self doubt. Lincoln actually transforms to a shy, awkward guy to being confident, alive, and happy by using Beth realizations and implementing them in his own life. Ordinarily in books, it's usually the female character that goes through this transformation but it was really refreshing to have a guy to have these epiphanies and watch his journey of self discovery.
   The romance in Attachments is slow burn as the characters get to know each other through written words before they actually meet. For the longest time, you don't really know what Beth, Jennifer, or even Lincoln look like but that's the beauty of this book. There are many missed opportunities where Lincoln and Beth are in the same room, but they don't know it until the moment has passed. The anticipation of these two finally meeting had me giddy and impatient. Some readers felt the book's resolution of the book's ending to be rushed but I didn't feel like that at all. Of course I would have loved more scenes of Lincoln and Beth actually together and know who they are together, but I loved the open, hopeful and happy ending. I would absolutely recommend Attachments if you are looking for a contemporary romance read that has depth, heart, and extremely likable characters. Rowell has become one of my auto-read authors and I can't wait to read more from her.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language and sexual situations implied but never discussed in detail. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Quite a year for plums by Bailey White, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, Adverbs by Daniel Handler

  If you have patrons lined up and waiting to get their hands on a copy of Frozen's DVD or Bluray, you might want to offer them a copy of Karen Foxlee's Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. While you may not find a princess nor a prince in these pages, you will embark on a bittersweet journey of self discovery. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Description: Unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help. As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world.

Review: Ophelia and the Marvelous boy is an inventive and engaging retelling of the Snow Queen, which will be enjoyed by both fantasy and adventure fans alike. On the outside Ophelia is plain, curious, solidly scientific-minded, and asthmatic, but she is much braver than she realizes. When her mother recently dead, she moves in with her older sister and father to a snowy and wintry city, where her father is busy working on a museum exhibition of historical swords.
  Unlike her sister, Ophelia isn't concerned about learning and wearing the latest fashion, so she occupies her time wandering through the large and empty museum. While wandering Ophelia discovers a boy who has been locked in a room for years, and who needs her help. She takes some time and asks appropriate questions to determine if the Marvelous Boy is telling the truth and much to her own surprise Ophelia takes greater and greater risks in order to win his freedom. In the process of gaining self confidence, Ophelia also forges a strong connection with the memory and spirit of her mother; she begins to believe and action with her heart and mind as one.
  I'm not too familiar with the Snow Queen story so I can't vouch for how true this book is to the specific details of the original tale, but I really liked how the author chose to make Ophelia contemporary in her ordinariness and emphasize her courage and determination to save the people she cares about, which not only echoes back to archetypal fairy tale heroes and heroines but it also shows younger readers that they don't need to be someone extraordinary to do extraordinary things. Foxlee skillfully reveals the story of the boy as the plot unfolds. The setting of an empty, large museum is utilized with great effects as it is carefully and at times spookily drawn, as Ophelia faces terrifying dangers in deserted museum corridors. The writing sparkles and there are plenty of symbols and allegories to discuss for advanced readers.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some dark and disturbing images. Recommended for Grades 4-6.

If you like this book try:

 In the tradition of many classic and critically acclaimed middle grade novels, Counting by 7s is a bittersweet novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.
Description: Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.
  Suddenly Willow's world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.
Review: Willow Chance is wonder character, extremely precocious and tween genius. Her quirky habits and interests make her endearing to the reader but not to her peers. Though deeply passionate about her interests, she can't fit in with other kids her age. Unlike many of us, Willow isn't all that bothered by being seen as an outcast since she has a stable home and adoptive parents who love her but this sense of security is shattered when her parents die in a car crash. Now without any signs of familiarity, Willow is lost and emotionally numb.
  Counting by 7s is a story of renewal, self discovery, and what defines a family. Instead of solely focusing on Willow's social difficulties and her different stages of grief, we are treated to the various ways Willow makes a great and inspiring impression on everyone around her-whether it's Dell Duke, a lonely and ineffectual school district counselor, or Jairo Hernandez, the taxi driver Willow hires to drive her to her meetings with Dell. Willow even manages to befriend a high schooler named Mai Nguyen who persuades her mother to take Willow in; despite the Nguyens' poverty, their makeshift home and open arms help bring Willow back from the void.
  Counting by 7s is a feel good story, but at times I felt Sloan relied on creating convenient plot points to move her story along and the pacing dragged in the middle. I think the story could be told just as strongly in 200-300 pages instead of the 400. The narration shifts among multiple viewpoints, from Willow's cerebral first-person perspective to third-person chapters that demonstrate how her presence is transformational to those around her, young and old. I appreciated the fact that Sloan chose a diverse cast of characters, but I wish the author would have let the readers come to their own conclusion of the importance of helping one another instead of wrapping things up too tightly. Overall, Counting by 7s is a good pick for book club for older elementary school students.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for strong Grade 4 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, Emma-Jean Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis

  Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental series is going strong in its fourth full length novel, Secret. This series is incredibly addicting, compulsively readable, and well written. Readers who are a bit burnt from the whole paranormal romance genre should consider giving this series about a band of brothers a chance. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of Secret. Secret will be released by on January 28th.

Description: Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point. Keep his grades sky-high or he’ll never escape his hometown. Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin—-or he’ll lose his family. Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner. Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.
Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

Review: Nick Merrick has a secret. He is terrified that when his brothers find out what he is hiding they will despise him and worse, be very disappointed in him. The stress is tying him in knots, while a potential relationship is making him come undone. How long can Nick separate himself as two people and keep his secret under wraps?
  It's been far too long since I read a book in a sitting. I had to force myself to put Secret down at times because I knew I was going to burn through the pages and be sad that I would have to say goodbye to these terrific characters after I finish the last page. The pace was terrific considering there is more character development than action in Secret, however, there are battle scenes that heightened the suspense enough that I couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going to happen.
  Kemmerer deals with a sensitive issues in this fourth installment of The Elementals Series. She handles it with sensitivity, dignity, and seriously without being heavy handed or preachy. Nick's struggle with his own identity is well written and realistic. Like his other brothers, Nick struggles with his own demons. He is terrified of disappointing his brothers. He is known to be reliable, smart, and the level headed one. He knows what is expected of him, but is that the real him? Is he selfish in wanting his own future that involves college, not working in his brother's landscaping business, and a real relationship? Nick's fear is very real and tangible. Readers like me who understand how debilitating it can be to let the people you love down and disappointed, can understand a little of what Nick is going through. His fear consumes and paralyzes him. He represses his own desires and anger until he can't handle the pressure anymore. Kemmerer stays true to the characters her fans have come to know and love. Their strengths, weaknesses, triumphs, and failures are laid out for us to see from one chapter to the next.
  If you've read the novella Breathless, you already know Nick's secret, but Kemmerer has other startling plot developments that keep the readers hooked. this novel has many surprises that I did not see coming.
One of the biggest surprises for me was that my opinion of Quinn has changed. I didn't really care for her as a character. Before this book she came across as an obnoxious and reactive drama queen, but we do get to understand her better in Secret as we witness her broken home first hand. Plus there is an unusual ally that the Merricks find in this book who I never thought to sympathize and like.
  Once again The Elemental series proves to be not your ordinary paranormal romance. Characters who could easily be written off as flat and forgettable are transformed into people who tug our heartstrings and make our eyes watery. Secret leaves plenty of questions and I really wish the next book isn't called Sacrifice because it's making me incredibly anxious.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language including slurs, crude sexual humor, some underage drinking, and a few heavy make-out scenes. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Intertwined series by Gena Showalter, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton