Category Archives: review

Story of Survival: A Review of The Rebel Girls of Rome

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The Rebel Girls of Rome 
Written by Jordyn Taylor 
Published by HarperCollins Publishers/Harper 
Ages 14-18 
Available July 8, 2025  

Nineteen-year-old Lilah just finished her first year of college and is still trying to figure out how to survive after her mother’s death. When she receives a mysterious message about a lost family heirloom, she feels excited about the idea of learning more about her family’s history. Lilah grew up thinking that her grandfather, Ralph, was the only member of his family who survived when the Nazis invaded Rome. Now, Lilah has an opportunity to discover if his sister, Bruna, might have survived, too. Despite Ralph’s refusal to speak about his family and childhood, Lilah convinces him to travel to Italy with the hope of discovering what happened to Bruna. Alternating chapters between Lilah’s perspective in the present day and Bruna’s in the 1940s, this story of rebellion and resistance highlights the strength necessary for survival and the importance of telling your story. 

Jordyn Taylor seamlessly weaves together two perspectives separated by 80 years and two generations to create an emotional and touching story of survival and forgiveness. She explores themes of grief, guilt, and generational trauma through Lilah’s grief for her mother and the survivor’s guilt that Ralph and Bruna struggle with for their whole lives. Bruna’s story is compelling and heartbreaking, detailing the reality of living in occupied Rome. Taylor adds an uplifting layer through Ralph and Bruna’s heartfelt reunion and Lilah’s relationship with her grandfather deepening as she learns more about him. She also incorporates aspects of LGBTQ+ history and women’s history in Italy, both showcasing the multi-layered oppression Bruna faced and commenting on the progress that still needs to be made today. In the author’s note, Taylor explains how much of the novel is based on facts, like the missions carried out by resistance groups, and how much is fiction. Both captivating and touching, The Rebel Girls of Rome showcases the power that love has to help people survive and bring people back together, even after 80 years. 

Please, Love Me: A review of America’s Not-So Sweetheart

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America’s Not-So Sweetheart
Blair Hanson
Page Street Publishing
Age 14+
June 17, 2025

Who says a villain can’t change? But who’s to say he wants to? Teenage Alec Braud won his season of the reality show Campfire Wars by playing a dirty game of lies and manipulation, securing the $250,000 prize to help his family’s struggling wildlife rehabilitation center. Nicknamed Aleconda for his slippery behavior and an on/off showmance with the season’s golden boy, Joaquín Delgado, he left the show to vitriol from the fandom. When Joaquín invites him on a Midwestern road trip to complete a photography project for his art school application, Alec jumps at the chance to repair their relationship and rehab his reputation. An invitation to a Campfire Wars convention in New York sidetracks their plans and helps Alec see he’s not the only bad guy in town—other seasons’ villains, the shows production staff and even Joaquín prove just as devious.

Blair Hanson brings the drama in this LGBTQ+ YA romance, his debut. The emotions are messy and overly complicated, even for seventeen-year-old boys, and the relationship between the protagonists is weighted with angst. Alec’s self-doubt and neediness temper his sketchy behavior enough to have you rooting for his redemption arc, while Joaquín’s cool-kid bravado will make readers wonder if he really is too good to be true. Told from Alec’s perspective, he is the more fully drawn character, while other are a bit flat. Themes of diversity and representation (questionable in the Campfire Wars universe), integrity, healthy relationships, and the toxicity of reality TV are all woven into the plot but are often overshadowed by Alec’s desperation to prove himself worthy of love from his boyfriend, his parents, and the public. His final decision to stand up for himself as-is and his right to a healthy relationship, help to redeem both him and the plot. Just like reality TV, America’s Not-So Sweetheart is an attention-grabbing, if melodramatic, entry to the summer romance genre.

Not Alone: A Review of Another

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Another
Paul Tremblay
HarperCollins Publishers/Quill Tree Books
Ages 8-12
Available July 22nd, 2025

Casey Wilson is in 6th grade, and he’s lonely. The COVID pandemic has forced his school into a hybrid schedule that keeps him separated from his classmates, and the Zoom Incident earlier this year has pushed away his friends. So when his parents get a call on their new landline from someone claiming to be the father of one of his friends, they jump at the chance for Casey to have someone to spend time with. But Morel, the boy who gets dropped off at his house, isn’t someone Casey has ever met before – in fact, he’s barely even a boy, with his clay-like skin and smooth mannequin face. But Casey’s parents accept Morel with open arms, so he figures he should too. It’s nice to have a friend, for a while. Until it seems like his parents are becoming so obsessed with Morel that they forget Casey even exists. And Morel starts changing, too, into something (or someone) oddly familiar…

The middle grade debut from horror author Paul Tremblay, Another delivers on eerie atmosphere and thrill-laced mystery without a reliance on gore or violence. Gradually building over several days and nights, the tension in Casey’s story ramps up with every chapter – all coming to a head when he has his final confrontation with the mysterious man claiming to be Morel’s father. Tremblay weaves the threads of suspense throughout the book into a satisfying conclusion with clear messages about self-confidence and individuality, and the scariness ebbs away to allow for a happy ending with just enough left unanswered to keep readers wondering what happens next. Later in the book, fungus-based body mutation cements itself as a central tenant of the story, although descriptions are vague enough not to upset more squeamish readers. Illustrations (not final in the advance copy used for this review) add to the creepy air of the book, but may be too scary for some sensitive readers.

Suspenseful and scary, Another is a great fit for young fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps. Readers familiar with horror will find familiar touchstones of the genre in Casey and Morel’s story, while also being treated to a fresh spin which covers subjects familiar to them such as online learning and school-based anxiety.

Journey From Africa to the Amazon: A Review of A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet 

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A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet 
Written by Martha Brockenbrough 
Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal 
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf 
Ages 4-8 
Available May 27, 2025 

What do the Sahara Desert, Atlantic Ocean, and Amazon Rainforest have in common? Vital, life-sustaining dust! Thousands of years ago, there was a huge lake in the African country Chad. As it dried up, the animals that died in it and became fossils have now turned into dust that moves in a giant cloud across the world. As the dust cloud moves west over the Atlantic Ocean, it helps the ocean make oxygen and softens the impact of hurricanes. Over the Amazon Rainforest, it restores the phosphorus that is washed away by the rain, allowing the forest’s plants to grow and support the ecosystem. At its peak in the spring and summer, the dust cloud can be as heavy as “almost 262 billion basketballs” (23). This dust cloud is incredibly important to the global ecosystem. 

Martha Brockenbrough uses poetic, expressive text that easily gives readers an idea of how the dust cloud works; the trout that eventually becomes dust is “gulping plankton” (5), the dust “soars across West Africa” and “paints the sky” (10). Even though there is little text on each page—nine lines at most—Brockenbrough accurately and clearly describes where and how the dust plume travels and why it is so important to the world’s many ecosystems. By doing this, she emphasizes how the natural world is connected across oceans and continents. Brockenbrough also includes detailed backmatter that explains more about how the dust is created and its impact. Juana Martinez-Neal’s stunning mixed-media drawings bring the Saharan dust plume to life. She uses a combination of realistic illustrations and specks of color that demonstrates the harmony between the dust and the life it supports. The bright, vibrant colors of her illustrations beautifully show the world’s natural diversity. A fascinating book about the importance of dust, A Gift of Dust will make a wonderful addition to lessons and programs about ecology and environmental science. 

A Puzzling Adventure: A Review of The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found

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The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found
Leisa Stewart-Sharpe
Illustrated by Gordy Wright
Charlesbridge
Ages 7-12
Available June 10th, 2025

Part puzzle, part informational book, The Treasure Hunt leads readers on a globe-trotting adventure in search of a mysterious ghostly pirate captain. After finding a message in a bottle, the reader and their friends set off to find the ghost of Captain Kidd, who is attempting to steal famous treasures from around the world. At each stop on their journey, they find a clue which points them to the location where Kidd plans to strike next. After solving the puzzles and chasing the ghost through several countries and encounters with priceless artifacts, they finally catch up with Kidd once and for all. Will hunting down the captain lead to his fabled lost pirate’s treasure?

Nonfiction information on treasures, heists, and artifacts is seamlessly integrated with The Treasure Hunt‘s puzzle game. At each stop on their quest, readers are given information about the location (including The Louvre, The Kremlin, and Mexico City’s Mammoth Graveyard) and the famous treasures therein. There are also spreads dedicated to stories of treasure being lost, including heists both solved and unsolved, and of treasures and artifacts being uncovered. Each stop contains a clue in the form of a puzzle – readers can solve this on their own, flip to the back of the book for a hint, or skip straight to the next page to see the answer. Each puzzle is unique, and readers will come away with knowledge of many types of puzzles and cryptograms, from pigpen and Caesar ciphers to rhyming riddles to crosswords. The book also provides suggestions for ways readers can take their new puzzle solving skills on a treasure hunt of their own, such as orienteering and geocaching.

Budding cryptologists and puzzle-solvers will find themselves right at home with The Treasure Hunt, and will especially enjoy the many puzzles and codes the book introduces to them. Pirate lovers and those interested in the world of thefts and heists will find plenty of information on treasures and the people who steal them. Regardless of whether readers are seasoned treasure hunters or not, they will come away from this book having gone on an exciting adventure, and hopefully having learned a thing or two along the way.

Road Trip to Love: A Review of Amelia, If Only 

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Amelia, If Only 
Written by Becky Albertalli 
Published by HarperCollins Publishers/Harper 
Ages 14-18 
Available June 10, 2025 

Amelia can’t believe her luck when she finds out that her favorite YouTuber, Walter Holland, is hosting a meet and greet just a few hours away from her hometown. Eager to spend one last weekend with her best friends, Zora, Natalie, and Mark, before graduation, Amelia plans a road trip to meet Walter and distract Natalie from her toxic ex-girlfriend, who dumped her at prom. When they get to the meet and greet and become friends with Walter, Amelia is beyond excited. Her parasocial crush on Walter often leaves butterflies in her stomach, but after developing a genuine friendship with him, Amelia begins to wonder if she’s misjudging her feelings for Walter…and for Natalie.    

Becky Albertalli combines her hallmark wit and humor with tender emotion to create a fast-paced story with an endearing cast of characters. Amelia’s adventurous spirit mixes well with her more grounded friends, resulting in a fun road trip comedy. Albertalli deepens the story by thoughtfully discussing the journey of self-discovery when it comes to queer identity by showing different coming out stories; for example, Amelia questioned her sexuality for years before coming out, whereas Zora and Natalie knew early on in life that they were lesbians. This nuanced conversation brings realistic and well-developed queer representation to Amelia’s story. Albertalli also uses Walter’s character and his own queer identity to introduce young readers to the concept of parasocial relationships and the role that queer celebrities play as a space of comfort and representation online. By incorporating Internet posts from Walter and his fans, she develops his character enough to allow readers to instantly connect with him when he becomes friends with Amelia. At once funny and heartwarming, Amelia, If Only will provide valuable queer representation to teen collections across public and classroom libraries. 

Native Joy: A Review of Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories

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Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories
Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
HarperCollins Children’s Books/Heartdrum
Ages 13+
Available August 26. 2025

Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In is everywhere and nowhere all at once. It appears to anyone who needs it, regardless of where they are, bringing together Indigenous people from a variety of places and backgrounds. Each piece of this anthology takes place against the backdrop of Sandy June’s, as teenagers from everywhere from Alaska to Hawai’i visit and grow. The short stories and poetry in the collection brush up against each other, creating a picture of the people and places which make up Sandy June’s.

Published by Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books for which Leitich Smith serves as author-curator, and in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, Native joy and the centering of Indigenous voices is at the heart of Legendary Frybread Drive-In. The teenage characters come from a wide variety of tribal backgrounds, with which they have varied and complex relationships. As they deal with hallmark challenges of young adulthood such as grief, love, jealousy, friendship, and family, they make connections with, beyond, and between Indigenous cultures.

The relatable struggles of the characters in this anthology will appeal to any young reader who wishes to read about teens facing challenges similar to their own. For Indigenous readers, it will provide a mirror of their own experiences, while for nonindigenous readers, it provides a window to others’. Cynthia Leitich Smith, in her end note, encourages readers who are unfamiliar with Indigenous literature to use this book as a jumping-off point to explore more. With contributors both established and new, it provides a variety of authors for curious readers to look into, should they want to read further.

Better Than Yours: A Review of My Dad is the Best

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My Dad is the Best
Fran Pintadera
Illustrated by Joan Turu
Charlesbridge
Ages 4-8
Available April 22, 2025

“My dad is the best.” “My dad is better!” This classic exchange sets off a back-and-forth of epic proportions between two little boys as they try to prove who really has the better dad. As their sons continue to one-up each other (“My dad can pick up a truck!” “My dad can pick up a truck filled with elephants!”) the two fathers do their best to keep up with the bigger and bigger demands being made of them. When everything comes crashing down and one dad helps the other, the boys move on from their competition. As it turns out – “My dad loves your dad.” and “My dad loves your dad, too.”

Equal parts silly and sweet, My Dad is the Best is a loveable take on a classic trope. The boys’ ridiculous demands drive the story, with each page adding another over-the-top detail. Turu’s illustrations play along, too, becoming larger and more complex as the dads’ task becomes bigger and stranger. Using a scribble-filled colored pencil style that’s simple yet effective, Turu packs each page full of emotion – whether it’s the pride of the boys watching their dads or the shock of each new feat wowing its audience. Once everything comes tumbling down (elephants, trucks, and all), the story shifts from an absurd competition to a more relaxed aftermath as the fight is forgotten. While everyone cleans up (and the elephants are safely escorted away), they discover that they get along alright, after all. The twist ending cements this story as a lovable subversion of the classic argument – one in which love, not competition, wins in the end.

Pintadera’s outrageous take on this competition heard in elementary schools the world over, combined with Turu’s charming illustrations, make for a story that’s sure to delight young readers. Whether they’re laughing at a truck full of elephants or “aww”-ing at the surprise ending, My Dad is the Best will keep picture book lovers excited and engaged.

What Makes Me Special?: A Review of I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods 

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I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods 
Written and illustrated by Anne Lambelet 
Published by Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe 
Ages 8-12 
Available March 4, 2025 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have nine brains or be able to shoot ink to escape dire situations? In this graphic guide, Grimpy, short for Grimpoteuthis, the scientific name for dumbo octopuses, teaches readers about his cephalopod friends and shows all the things that make them different. He introduces individual species within the cephalopod class, such as cuttlefish and coconut octopuses, showing off their fascinating characteristics and abilities, like using color to communicate and making tools out of the environment. Meanwhile, Grimpy becomes increasingly disheartened when he can’t figure out what makes dumbo octopuses special. In the end, his friends come together to share cool facts about dumbo octopuses that make them unique. Grimpy realizes that he is just as unique as his other cephalopod friends.  

By creating an amusing “tour guide” with Grimpy the dumbo octopus, Anne Lambelet successfully creates a fun and personable way to learn about cephalopods in this graphic nonfiction book. Jam-packed with interesting facts, readers will gain a thorough understanding of this class of animals without feeling overwhelmed with information. Lambelet also adds a touching storyline of celebrating each other’s differences through Grimpy and the other cephalopods sharing their unique skills. At the end, Lambelet includes a glossary with illustrations reviewing each important term introduced in the book, as well as a photograph of a dumbo octopus. Although Lambelet doesn’t have a background in marine biology or ocean science, she includes a selected bibliography of her research and a reading list for readers who want to learn more about cephalopods. Lambelet’s cartoon-style illustrations balance her informative text by bringing more humorous personality to the facts she shares. However, the red, pink, and blue color palette limits her depiction of some of the more colorful capabilities of cephalopods, like camouflage and communication. A charming adventure through the fascinating animal class of cephalopods, I’m a Dumbo Octopus! is an entertaining addition to ocean-themed lessons or programs.  

Not So Scary: A Review of Don’t Squish a Slug

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Don’t Squish a Slug: A Wonderful Celebration of Marvellous Minibeasts!
Yussef Rafik
Illustrated by Riley Samels
The Quarto Group/words & pictures
Ages 7-10
Available February 18, 2025

Have you ever wondered what the world’s biggest insect is? Do you want to know why slugs produce slime? Are you ready to learn how to decode a honeybee’s “waggle dance?” If you’re curious about bugs, then this is the book for you! Don’t Squish a Slug: A Wonderful Celebration of Marvelous Minibeasts is a look into the big world of the smallest creatures on Earth. From camouflage champions to poisonous pros, Rafik explores some of the most amazing and interesting bugs out there, and explains what makes each one of them special and important.

More than just a book of bug facts, Don’t Squish a Slug is about caring for even the smallest of creatures. “It’s really important that we have empathy for bugs,” the introduction to the book says, “We should appreciate what they do for our planet an learn to love living alongside them” (5). To that end, each entry includes mentions of how each bug is useful to humans and our environment. Particularly scary or off-putting entries, such as the horrifyingly named tongue-eating louse, are partnered with reassurances that they pose no threat to the average human. Samels’ colorful full-page illustrations are accurate while remaining stylized and not overly-detailed, and even classic creepy-crawlies like spiders and millipedes manage to be represented without looking unsettling or upsetting to the most squeamish of readers. By combining fascinating facts with reminders of the helpfulness and importance of these “minibeasts,” Rafik’s book is sure to foster a love (or at least a tolerant understanding) of insects in readers.

With enjoyable illustrations and exciting information, this book is sure to please bug-lovers, while also inspiring curiosity in those less fond of them. Regardless of their opinion going in, any child is sure to finish Don’t Squish a Slug with newfound knowledge and appreciation for these teeny-tiny creatures.