Diet for a Changing Climate by Christy Mihaly and Sue Heavenrich

Just this week, the United Nations released a report on climate change that was filled with dire warnings. I won’t go in to the details because I am the furthest thing from an expert you will find. I did this article from the New Yorker to be the most accessible to my non-expert brain. Now that everyone is sufficiently scared, let’s take a more lighthearted approach to our problem.

Let’s eat bugs.

Diet for a Changing Climate is an interesting and informative read on how we can adapt our diet to positively impact our environment. This book is full of facts on "unusual" food sources such as insects, kudzu and foraging for wild greens. Who knew some of the most nutritious additions to our dinner salad are right in our yard? Unfortunately, most of us use toxic chemicals to remove those pesky dandelions and chickweed from our yards. Kudzu, which has taken over the southern states of the U.S. is also a tasty sandwich wrap, tea, and can be used to make jelly.

Did you know stinkbugs taste like apples? No clue. Crickets in your protein bars? I guess…just don’t tell me? I don’t think I’m ready to jump on the bug protein wagon, but if the idea sounds good to you, this book is full of recipes. From how to identify your insect, harvesting, and cooking, this book covers it all.

The authors have included some really great and colorful graphics in this book. There’s plenty of recipes, tips and tricks to incorporating climate friendly food sources into our daily lives.

Equal parts gross and fascinating, this book will show how to change the way we look at invasive species. This would be perfect for the science nut or a budding climatologist in your life. Diet for a Changing Climate: Food for Thought by Christy Mihaly and Sue Heavenrich is available October 1, 2018.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Full disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book from the Netgalley and the Publisher, all opinions are my own.

Consumed by J. R. Ward

J. R. Ward has given us another hot one! Full disclosure-I own the entire Black Dagger Brotherhood, Fallen Angel, and Bourbon Kings series. I fell in love with her writing with Dark Lover and I have been a devoted fan ever since.

Another full disclosure-I’m married to a firefighter. To The Chief. Of course I bought this book. He also dropped everything to grab his gear so I could play around with my camera.

Ann Ashburn comes from a family of firefighters and she has the skills and courage to be one of the very best. During a sketchy warehouse fire, Ann makes the decision to leave her partner and venture out on her own. Not only is this completely dangerous, it’s against protocol. When the building begins to collapse, Ann becomes trapped. Luckily, Ann is saved by her fellow firefighter Danny Maguire, but it’s how he saves her that changes them both forever.

Spoiler-not-a-spoiler: He cuts her hand off! With an ax! Her hand was completely trapped and there was no other way to get her out before the flames completely took them over.

But once Ann is safe, things become incredibly dangerous for Danny. After handing Ann out to the fellow crew members for medical treatment, the building collapses on Danny. When Danny is finally found, his injuries are so severe that no one can understand how he survived.

Both Ann and Danny required months and months to recover. Now that Ann has only the one hand, she can no longer work as a firefighter with her crew. Unable to leave the profession completely, she throws herself into her new career-arson investigator. Nearly a year later, Ann is investigating a series of suspicious fires that forces her to cross paths with her old crew, and most importantly, Danny.

This book was everything I was hoping it would be! Ward writes very strong female characters I really enjoyed Ann’s character. Ann is smart, tough, resourceful, and is willing to work to get what she wants. She’s fearless as an investigator and refuses to be intimidated. On her first investigation, she rescues a stray dog that is hurt and hungry. I love the way the relationship between Ann and Soot, the pup, is written.

Danny’s character is a little predictable-tough but injured guy is medicating himself with alcohol and OTC meds. After Ann’s accident, the two of them don’t speak for nearly a year but she is constantly on his mind. He becomes more and more dangerous and is constantly putting himself in danger. With that said, the way he is with Ann completely redeems all that. He is never pushy, never overbearing, and he completely appreciates Ann for her strengths and her mind and not just for her amazing abs.

If you’ve never read Ward before, I would highly recommend you start. Consumed just came out last week so you’ll have plenty of time before the next book comes out. If you’re into paranormal romance her Black Dagger Brotherhood books are amazing. They’re almost soap opera-ish ( I truly mean this in the best way) and follow a great group of characters across almost 20 books. Definitely start with the first one, Dark Lover.

Have you read this yet? Let me know what you thought of this one.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

Water. It is everywhere in this book. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book more suited for a rainy, stormy night than this one. The atmosphere is so dark, dreary, gray, and just down right wet. There are constant rain showers, pounding a thunderstorms and horrific accident involving the backyard pond. Grab a rain coat and some tissues-this book is an adventure.

Moving to the countryside to escape an appalling-and it’s a doozy- scandal doesn't save the Montrose family from heartache and devastation. Lydia Montrose, the middle daughter with secrets of her own, does her best to keep the family peace by caring for her younger sister Emeline while also trying to save her family from her older sister Catherine’s scandalous antics.

In Catherine’s defense, the book is set during a time where smiling at a man could ostracize you from society. But that’s her only defense-the girl has some serious issues to deal with. Also, I really don’t like getting negative on here-we have way too much of that everyday-but the scandal they’re running from? I could really do without that. There are so many ways that society has deemed women’s behavior scandalous that the options were endless. I did not like this option. I just didn’t.

The family's new home has completely unnerved their neighbor, John Barrett. Barrett is very upset after finding out that the family has decided to stay in the house full time but doesn’t provide any reasoning for his reaction. Even more unsettling to Lydia is the house seems to be home to a malevolent spirit that calls to Lydia and her younger sister and fighting it is proving exhausting.

When the family attempts to gain the good graces of their neighbors by hosting a town hall and party, the family suffers a horrible loss. In that loss, Lydia discovers a power in her that is both frightening and alluring. It’s a power that has been hidden since her earliest memories. But is it real?

If Lydia isn't careful, she will lose not only those that she loves, but herself as well.

A dark and troubling story of sibling rivalry, family tragedy, and deceit. Richly told with twists and turns that will have you questioning your own sanity.

This read like it could be the first in a series-and I hope it does continue because more information needs told about many of the different plot points. It’s published by Graydon House for YA audiences but besides the age of the main character, it didn’t feel like a YA novel at all so don’t let that keep you from giving it a shot.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

After the Fire by Will Hill

This one is amazing!

After the Fire by Will Hill is a riveting story of how one girl survives a deadly cult in the deserts of Texas. Inspired by the events in Waco, Texas with the Branch Davidian religious sect, After the Fire follows the life of Moonbeam, a seventeen year old who has only known life surrounded by her Brothers and Sisters inside the walls of the Lord’s Legion base. Moonbeam spends her days working in the gardens, training, and helping the other Legionnaire’s keep the Base running smoothly.

But then comes the fire.

Now, Moonbeam’s life is a series of Before and Afters. Before the fire, she lived inside the fence. After the fire, she lives in a hospital. Before the fire, she was a promised wife to the Prophet. After the fire, she has to learn what real truth is.

Why did the Prophet change his name? What was inside the mysterious packages that the Prophet received. Why were the Servants of the Serpent after them? Why did they want them dead?

Moonbeam’s harrowing story is told through flashbacks and therapy sessions at the hospital she is sent to after the fire. Brought to the Base when she was only a year old, her parents were trying to find a better and simpler life. What began as a group of people trying to live purely for the Lord, quickly becomes something much darker when a new Prophet joins their ranks. Father John, Prophet of the Lord has declared that the Base must begin to train for the End Times. With Armageddon close, Father John imposes harsh punishments against those that refuse his orders. Training with guns become part of everyone’s daily life. Hand to hand combat is taught to children with severe consequences for anyone who doesn’t train hard enough. Young girls are promised as wives to the Prophet-the only father to future children.

This story is incredibly well told. From the first page I was completely sucked in. The story is raw and emotional, but because it’s told through Moonbeam’s point of view, the author does a wonderful job of not making her pain-or any other character’s-gratuitous. We find out at the very beginning that Moonbeam has a terrible secret-one so big that she can’t let anyone find out what it is. Her constant fear of someone discovering her secret impacts her healing and that of those around her. After the Fire is an incredible look at how easily power can corrupt and affect the lives of innocent people.

An amazing story-I can’t recommend it enough. After the Fire by Will Hill is available from Sourcebooks Fire on October 2, 2018.

Sincere thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics

I could not put this book down! Suspenseful, terrifying, and with a mind-bending ending, this book kept me up way past my bedtime.

It’s 1951 and June Hardie wants to do more with her life than learn how to cook, clean, and be a good little wife. While her mother is determined to keep June powdered and lipsticked, June dreams of being a writer. Instead of supporting June’s dreams, her parents are using her to date the son of a potential business partner as a way to further her family’s place in society. But before June is able to leave town and pursue her goals, a horrible betrayal completely upends her life.

Now June finds herself in a mental institution surrounded by troubled young women. How did she get here? Why hasn't her family come to visit? Why don't the other women remember their lives before the institution? Why does she receive treatments without ever seeing the doctor? Will she ever leave? June is left with more questions than answers as she tries to survive in her new surroundings all while trying to investigate how she ended up in the institution in the first place.

This book was amazing! All of the twists and turns really keep the story moving. As it becomes more difficult to tell the truth from June’s delusions, the story goes from creepy to truly terrifying.

Nightingale by Amy Lucaviks is available September 25th from Harlequin TEEN. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Changeling by Molly Harper

This was such a fun adventure! This is the first book by Molly Harper that I’ve read and it’s just delightful. It’s also the first in the Sorcery and Society series.

When Sarah Smith, housemaid to a magical Guardian household nearly knocks over a priceless vase, her world is completely turned upside down. Instead of the vase shattering, Sarah sets the vase spinning in midair. Only Sarah doesn't have magic powers. She is part of the Snipes, the non-magical working class of servants and caretakers. In order to avoid a complete scandal Mrs. Winters, the intimidating matriarch of the Winter household, invents a new identity for Sarah, a distant cousin named Cassandra Reed.

Now Cassandra must prove herself to be a haughty, well educated lady of the upper class. Sent to Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies, Cassandra must hone her powers, avoid dancing at all cost, survive the social complexities of the upper class, and learn where her magical powers came from.

Cassandra has so much to deal with in this book. If anyone finds out that she comes from a Snipe family, her family could be in danger and the Winters could lose everything. Her sister Mary is madly in love with Owen Winters, heir to the Winter household and completely out of her league. When Cassandra and Mrs. Winters meet with the headmistress on the first day of school, Cassandra is dismissed to the library to write a lengthy essay. Left alone and without further direction, she sets off to explore other parts of the large library only to be attacked by a book. Only in a magical library would one need to worry about books attacking you. Only, Cassandra isn’t being attacked. She has been chosen by the Mother Book to become it’s Translator- a sort of magical interpreter of the spells within the book. Now she’s covered in magical tattoos and a mysterious metal dragonfly appears on her palms. Not only is she the mysterious new girl, she’s the Translator.

Luckily for Cassandra, she meets two girls, Ivy and Alicia, both of whom are the school’s social outcasts. Both girls come from wealthy and prominent families, but they have little desire to play the part in petty gossip and school drama. Together, the girls take on the school bullies, an evil Guardian, and learn the value of true friendship.

Full of witty dialogue, magic, and strong female characters, Changeling is a fun look at friendship and the power of kindness.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Thank you to Netgalley and INscribe Digital for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Zora and Me: The Cursed Ground by T. R. Simon

I have been on a real kid-lit kick lately and it hasn’t been intentional. Middle grade novels have gotten so good that it’s easy to forget that you’re reading a kid’s book. Honestly, if you find yourself in a reading slump wander over to the middle grade department at your Library. No one will think you’re weird.

Seriously.

Zora and Me: The Cursed Ground is second book in an amazing series about author Zora Neale Hurston’s childhood. Told through the eyes of Carrie Brown, a young girl who is best friend to Zora Neale Hurston and who stays with Zora's family after her father dies and her mother has to go away to work for a short time. One night, the girls are woken up by the sound of horses outside their window. When the girls sneak out to discover why the horses would have run away from their home and owner, they discover that their neighbor Mr. Polk has been gravely injured. This is just the beginning of the girls' dangerous adventure to discover why someone would hurt Mr. Polk and how dangerous their world truly is.

Alternating between two time periods and two narratives, we learn the tragic history of America's first all black township. T.R. Simon provides an unflinching view of post-Civil War Florida and how deeply the effects of slavery shape individuals.

Zora and Me: The Cursed Ground is an incredible story of hope, community, and strength,.

I’ve ordered both of the books for my own children’s department and I’m excited to share with these with young readers. The books do cover some tough topics-slavery, abuse, and violence so be prepared to answer some heavy questions.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Thank you to Candlewick and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Born Scared by Kevin Brooks

Born Scared is a gripping and heartbreaking look at childhood mental illness. Elliott was born scared. Born premature and a twin, he loses his sister within moments of their birth and begins his life in terror of everything around him. People, cars, animals, and even colors terrify Elliott. But his mother has created a safe environment for him in his home where he lives of most of his life in his bedroom, rarely venturing out. But a mix-up at the pharmacy leaves Elliott with the wrong prescription and fixing that mistake will lead Elliott and his mother on a series of devastating events.

Born Scared was absolutely heartbreaking but also very inspiring. I spent much of the book thinking of Elliott's mother-there isn't much written about her because the focus is on Elliott-and how she must cope with Elliott's fears. Elliott is literally scared of everything. Everything but the three people closest to him. But even through Elliott's fears, he is still able to gather the courage to leave the safety of his home to find out what has happened to his mother and aunt.

Excellent, excellent story.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Thank you to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Med Medina

Growing up is full of complicated changes and Merci Suárez is learning how complicated life can get. Dealing with changing friendships, harder classes, and a changing family life is proving to be overwhelming. Merci is starting sixth grade at Seaward Pines Academy, a private school that she attends on a scholarship. Merci isn't showing up to school in a fancy SUV, she's showing up in her father's work van he uses for his painting business. Instead of expensive vacations at the beach, Merci spends her weekends working alongside her dad or babysitting her cousins. Also, no fancy houses for the Suárez family-they live in a group of three pink houses where are all family members come and go, regardless of who lives where. All of this is starting to make Merci frustrated about the things she doesn't have but when her grandfather's dementia becomes worse, Merci learns that her tight-knit family has everything they really need.

A wonderful story that shows the pressures children feel in school to be successful and how that pressure is amplified when you're constantly trying to prove that you belong. The author did an excellent job of depicting real childhood friendships and how popularity affects everyone. The Suárez family felt so real-the way they worked together, ate together, shared childcare, and how events in the story really impacted them. It was all written with such heart and feeling. Meg Medina created a thoroughly enjoyable read that I can't wait to add to the shelf.

Thank you to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review this delightful book. 

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here: 

Lemons by Melissa Savage

Library copy of the incredibly touching, Lemons by Melissa Savage

Full disclosure:  I didn't mean to get this book.  I was hurriedly putting new graphic novels on hold for The Kid when this title popped up.  Someone had mislabeled it as a graphic novel and when I tried to hand it over to The Kid, he just handed it right back.  I thought the premise was too cute to not give it a quick read, and three hours and a box of tissues later, I finally put it down.  

It's incredible.

I also bought a copy for my Library. 

Things are not going as Lem would like.  But as her mama as always said, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."  But now with her mama gone, how will Lemonade Liberty Witt ever be able to make lemons into lemonade again?  Instead of staying in San Francisco with her school and friends, she is sent to live with her grandfather, a man she has never met, in a tiny town in the woods.  Once there, Lem meets Tobin, the towns official Bigfoot investigator and CEO of Bigfoot Detectives Inc.  What begins as a temporary assignment as Tobin's assistant turns into an incredible adventure.  The two detectives spend their summer days investigating calls of Bigfoot sightings, ignoring the neighborhood bullies, and trying to keep the peace between Lem and her grandfather.  

When a particular Bigfoot sighting leads to actual evidence of a mysterious entity roaming the woods, the children discover something much bigger than they ever could have imagined. 

This story does such an amazing job of showing how childhood grief and loss can affect a child.  Lem has lost everything:  her mother, her home, her school and friends.  Now she's expected to just move in with a person she has never met and someone she knows her mother hasn't spoken to in years.  On top of her own grief, Lem's grandfather is also trying to deal with losing a daughter and now trying to raise a granddaughter he has never met.  Slowly, the two begin to find common ground.  Lem begins to notice her favorite snacks in the pantry and in turn, tries to be more patient with her grandfather.  Tobin is also dealing with his own trauma.  His father was captured during the Vietnam War and kept prisoner for several years.  But when he was finally recused and on his way back home, he suddenly went missing.  No one had seen or heard from him after his plane landed in the states.  The stress that Tobin was dealing with on a daily basis of not knowing where his father was or why he wouldn't come home must have been immense.  Whether the children really knew or not, it was their loss that bonded them together.  

These children are allowed a lot of freedom in the story and I think many children will find that very appealing.  They're only eleven but are left to roam around town and investigate Bigfoot sightings all their own.  Our two detectives even spend an entire night by themselves in the backyard of a neighbors house watching for a Bigfoot sighting.  There's also a lot of hot dog eating going on.  

This is a beautifully written story of love, loss, and finding family where you least expect it. 

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here: 

I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

I’d Rather Be Reading:  The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life is a love letter to readers everywhere. It’s a reassurance that it’s ok to have overflowing bookshelves and never ending piles of books that we couldn’t let languish on a sale rack. It’s an affirmation that no matter how you read-audio, physical, e-reader, book club,in a coffee shop or in line at the store-it’s all equally important.

And, perfectly ok. 

Anne covers everything reading related. From how to select books, proper shelving techniques, and how to not force books on others no matter how good your intentions are. Oh, and how to rearrange your books because the first shelving system didn’t work. And then, change it again. 

Her words on never ending TBR piles spoke volumes to me. I have 37 physical books I want to read on the two shelves next to me right now. 37! That I have paid for and can’t wait to get to. I also have 7 advance digital copies and 4 paperbacks that come out next month to read-and hopefully they’re great so I can share them with you. Not to mention Book of the Month and oh, yeah, I work at a library. So I completely understand never ending TBR lists.

Anne writes of her love of the library and how living next door to one shaped her as a reader and an adult. How a library can help fuel passions and help discover new interests. 
I’d Rather Be Reading is a slim volume about the true love of reading life.

Anne has another book, Reading People:  How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything, that was published last year and definitely worth checking out.  Not only does Anne have a thing for long titles, she has a gift for gorgeous book covers that look amazing on your shelves.  

You can also find her on one of my favorite bookish podcasts, What Should I Read Next, where she provides book recommendations to readers facing the biggest obstacle-what should I read next?  It's actually the first book related podcast I started listening to and it is truly a delight to listen to other readers gush about the books they love.  

I'd Rather Be Reading is available now, and available wherever you buy books. You can get your copy, and help support the site, here: 

Also, as of this morning, Anne's book Reading People is available on Kindle for $2.99 this morning!  

Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge

Library copy hanging out on my new library stools! 

What would it be like to know you don't belong?  I mean, truly don't belong.  To know that you are a human amongst fay, or fay amongst humans?  To know that your family is not the one decided by birth, but rather by the whims of others?

Edmund knows that he doesn't belong with his parents and sister Alexis.  It's more than preteen angst-he isn't human.  He's able to start fires with his mind and change his appearance to look human.  But Edmund can't return home, a changeling is in his place.  The "Human Childe" is living with the royalty at Court to be shown off like a prized pet instead of a son.  

During a royal gathering, the King's sister Hawthorne returns to seek vengeance on her brother and his wife.  After watching his fay parents get turned into rats, he escapes with his page Wick, a golem, from the World Below to find the one person who can save them all-his changeling brother.  

The brothers set off to the World Below-a place that can be found below the subway tunnels. Once below, the boys realize that there is one more person who can help.  Edmund's sister Alexis followed the boys and won't let hem continue without her help.  Through a series of adventures, some which find them allies while others enemies, the boys work together to save the kingdom.  

The artwork is incredible-the World Below is very atmospheric and dark.  It took an embarrassingly long time to realize that the pages where outlined in white when the story was taking place up above and outlined in black when they were in the fay kingdom down below.  I know, I know.  The fay characters had a really unusual look to them.  The royalty were all long fingers, tall bodies, and sharp looking spiny growths on their arms and faces. There was a variety of other characters too-different animal inspired creatures with odd horns and floppy ears.  

Alexis was a really great character.  She was always understanding and supportive of both boys-she really did see both of them as being her brother.  I think that unwavering support will resonate with a lot of the kids that read this.  The human parents seemed completely oblivious.  They didn't catch on that a different kid was living with them.  There's a quick scene where a dragon-like creature is chasing the kids through a subway tunnel and little girl sees them but not her mother-she's too busy on her phone.  Parents are always oblivious.  

There's a ton of adventure going on in this book.  Hiding from scary guards, looking for secret maps, and trying to outrun dragons.  Between the magic, fighting, and dragons the story never slows down.  My son absolutely loved it and he's very picky about his books.  

Highly recommend this one-it was a really fun ride.  

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here: 

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

You would think having a ghost follow you wherever you go would be scary-especially if you’re only 12 years old.  Luckily for Cass, her ghost is just a nice guy named Jacob who isn’t just her best friend, but is the one who saved her life when she fell into a freezing river and died.  Well, died for a few moments. It’s that brush with death that allows Cass to see the ghosts around her and cross over into the Veil-the world of ghosts who are stuck in-between.

Cass’s parents are the co-authors of a book series The Inspecters, a collection of ghost stories that are both history and myth, with her father’s history research and her mother’s talented storytelling.  Having parents who make a living on ghost stories would seem perfect for Cass and her newfound abilities, but Cass keeps her secret from everyone around her.  Everyone except Jacob. When her parents are offered a television deal based on their books, the family heads to Edinburgh for filming. Edinburgh is the most haunted place on earth and where Cass discovers that she hasn’t begun to scratch the surface of her abilities or of the Veil.

Once in Edinburgh, Cass’s parents meet with the production crew and quickly begin their filming.  While Cass is not a part of the show, she does tag along to see the sights and watch production. It’s during filming that Cass discovers a new ghost, one that wears a bright red cloak and sings a terrifyingly alluring song.  Before Cass can get in over her head, she meets another occupant of their apartment building, a young girl about her age named Lara who has the same gift as Cass, but uses it in a much different way. Lara is able to help ghosts move on and even calls herself a ghost hunter.  When she learns that Cass and Jacob are friends, she’s horrified. Why isn’t Cass doing her job? Why is Jacob hanging around?

But it’s only with Jacob’s help that Cass will be able to survive ghosts that are stronger than anything she’s encountered.  

This is a middle grade novel so it’s target audience is about 8-12 years old.  I am very far away from 8 years old and absolutely loved it. It’s an amazing ghost story with the right balance of creepy and history.  Edinburgh was the perfect setting with it’s castles and haunted secret tunnels. I really like how the author pointed out several of the language differences as Cass and her family moved in to their temporary flat.  Lifts, chips, and the most funny, pants. Kids will love the quick discussion about trousers and pants. I did.

Cass is also a photographer and her camera plays an important part in the story.  Cass isn’t the type of annoying-young-girl-who-giggles type of character. She’s real, honest, and focused.  She cares about the ghosts and feels like it’s her responsibility to learn their story. There also isn’t any romantic feelings between Jacob and Cass.  They’re friends. End of story.

Her parents were also really well written.  They’re shown trying to balance their careers and time with Cass in a completely relatable way-Scotland provides more than a job, but also an adventure for Cass.  

I couldn’t find anywhere if this will continue on in a series.  There’s a satisfying ending to this story, but I hope we can find out more about Jacob and the Veil.  The parents were going to film in multiple locations so maybe there will be more books? I have my fingers crossed.  

Definitely check this one out, even if you’re a grown up.  

City of GHosts by Victoria Schwab is available now from wherever you buy books.  You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Gabi's If/Then Garden by Caroline Karanja

Gabi’s If/Then Garden by Caroline Karanja is available from Capstone on September 1, 2018.

If you combine great characters and illustrations with child-friendly computer language, then you’ll have a great beginning coder book! Caroline Karanja has created an accessible and fun way for children to learn the basics of coding.  

Gabi and Adi spend an afternoon in the garden learning about if/then statements.  “If it doesn’t rain, then they water the plants.”  

The girls use those statements to change “Simon Says” to Computer and Programmer.  “If the Programmer does a jumping jack, then the Computer does a cartwheel.”

Using child-friendly language and experiences, the girls discover that coding concepts are all around them.  

Beautifully done book!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Marjorie Glatt has a lot on her plate.  School, taking care of her brother, running the family laundry business, sleazy businessmen, and ghosts.  She definitely doesn’t have time for ghosts.

After the death of her mother, Marjorie’s father shut down and began drinking away his grief.  This leaves Marjorie to deal with everything on her own. She’s left to care for her little brother, the housework, and the stress of high school.  

If the family is to stay afloat, Marjorie has to become the sole employee of the family laundry.  Hurrying home from school, Marjorie has to deal with impatient customers who have no sympathy for a high schooler trying to run a business and go to school.  Not only does Marjorie have to work long in to the night to get all the orders completed, she has to deal with the most disgusting and juvenile of sleazy businessmen.  Mr. Saubertuck has dreams of turning the Glatt’s Laundry in to a spa resort. True to his gross form, he doesn’t want to provide an actual business offer, instead he tries to sabotage the business by spreading rumors and tainting the laundry detergent with dye.  Unfortunately for Marjorie, his attempts at sabotage are beginning to work.

With her business constantly threatened by a shady businessman, Marjorie is at the breaking point and the last thing she needs is a ghost named Wendell. Wendell died when he was only 11 and is very lonely living in the land of ghosts.  When he discovers that Saubertuck is trying to ruin Marjorie’s business, he tries to help her out. But his attempts at helping don’t go as planned. When the other ghosts learn that he has made contact with a living person, he is faced with devastating consequences.  

Full disclosure:  I received a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Toil & Trouble edited by Jessica Spotswood and Tess Sharpe

Toil & Trouble introduces us to 15 young women just coming in to their magical powers.  From love spells and healing hands to magical spells that write plays, this collection tells the stories of strong and powerful young women.  Covering different time periods and locations, the different stories in Toil & Trouble are both unique and unified.  

We meet Esperanza, a fashion icon who uses her social media prowess to spread her gift of astrology who finds her scientist soulmate during an online debate.  Deliverance Pond, a midwife in the 1600’s who witnesses an extraordinary birth. Mattie, a Priestess who uses her gift to solve a mystical crime. Our young and powerful witches use their gifts to empower, heal, and protect.

Consent, domestic abuse, sexual identity, family, school, boyfriends, girlfriends, best friends, body image-it’s all in here.  Each story was powerful and engaging and I was unable to put it down. Excellent collection!

Full disclosure:  I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review-all opinions are mine. This was an excellent book! 

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here: 

Saturday is Swimming Day by Hyewon Yum

I'm a sucker for beautiful illustrations and I fell in love with Saturday is Swimming Day for that very reason.  But this book is more than some pretty drawings.  It's also a very sweet story about some things in life can be very scary, but with the right people and encouragement, we can do anything we set our minds to.  

A little girl has swimming lessons on Saturday but her stomach hurts so she really shouldn't go.  Her mom checks her over and doesn't find anything wrong so she gets her swimming suit packed and off to lessons they go.  Luckily, our little girl has a very understanding teacher and lets her sit by the pool while she waits for her stomach to feel better.  But it never feels better so she never gets in the pool.  

When the next Saturday comes around, our little girl has another stomach ache.  This time, her teacher offers to hold her so she can practice some swimming like the other kids.  With help and guidance, our little girl gains the confidence she needs to not be scared of the pool.  

With beautiful illustrations and simple text, this story will be very helpful to little ones who need some extra help feeling confident.  

Saturday is Swimming Day is available now from Candlewick Press.  You can get your copy, and help support the site, here: 

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles by Mark Russell

Available in comic book shops August 22nd and everywhere else August 28th

 I am definitely not an expert on comics or their history, but a quick interweb search provided a very brief background on DC Comics putting out reimagined stories for some of the older Hanna-Barbera characters.  I wasn’t aware they had new comics out about the Flintstones and after reading Exit Stage Left,  I can’t wait to find them and check them out.  

Exit Stage Left:  The Snagglepuss Chronicles is set in 1953 but feels as though it could be written for today.  Snagglepuss is under investigation by the House Committee on Un-American Activities for involvement with Russian spies.  Married to a woman but secretly in love with a man, Snagglepuss hides his true identity from the public and all but his closest of friends.  Writer Mark Russell gives us a Snagglepuss, or SP as he is commonly referred to, that is a wildly successful playwright and his latest play is a huge hit on Broadway.  But even with all of his fame and money, Snagglepuss is still forced to hide his relationship to Pablo. Snagglepuss isn’t the only one with secrets- Huckleberry Hound makes an appearance as well.  Best friend to SP, Huckleberry is a once-successful novelist who lost everything when a scandalous affair cost him his marriage and relationship with his son. Now, unemployed and wandering the country, he has stopped in New York long enough to see his old friend.  But Huckleberry is allowed a short time of happiness. He falls in love with a police officer but the Stonewall riots reveal a darker side to their relationship.

Exit Stage Left:  The Snagglepuss Chronicles is full of secrets, lies, and betrayals that are revealed through court hearings, flashbacks, and an autobiographical play produced by Snagglepuss.  This was a great read that combined amazing artwork from artist Mike Feehan and an engaging story.

Exit Stage Left:  The Snagglepuss Chronicles will be available in comic shops on August 22nd and everywhere else on August 28th.