Category Archives: review

Can You Survive?: A Review of Dungeon Crawl at the Haunted Mall

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Dungeon Crawl at the Haunted Mall
Jendia Gammon
Illustrated by Elena Dall’Aglio
ChooseCo
Ages 8-12
Available April 21, 2026

The old mall in town has been closed since a toxic spill in the 80’s. It’s totally abandoned, probably haunted, and most likely contaminated with toxic waste, and that makes it the perfect place for you and your friends to explore for your YouTube channel! But when your friend Drea doesn’t show up and your crew is forced to venture inside the mall to look for her, things start getting creepy quickly. Will you survive zombies, popcorn monsters, and the evil warlock Valdraant? Only you can find out, because in this addition to the classic Choose Your Own Adventure series, you make the choices, and you control how the story ends.

Gammon’s Choose Your Own Adventure tale is seeped in 80’s nostalgia, with clear influences from B-Movie horror flicks and Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. Whether the cast of characters is wandering into an old-school arcade or performing synchronized aerobics in neon leotards, the book has an over-the-top campy feel with surprises around every corner. Big moments are accompanied by Dall’Aglio’s illustrations, allowing readers a peek into the wacky world they’re exploring.

With its 80’s aesthetic and D&D influences, Dungeon Crawl at the Haunted Mall is perfectly teed up to appeal to Stranger Things fans looking for a new fix. Fantasy fans will enjoy the magical overtones, while roleplayers will enjoy the engaging Choose Your Own Adventure storytelling format. Fast paced action and plenty of humor give the story wide appeal across young readers.

Not a Long Time: A Review of Here for a Good Time

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Here for a Good Time
Kim Spencer
Penguin Random House Canada / Swift Water Books
Ages 14+
Available March 10th, 2026

It’s 1990, and teenage Morgan and her wild-child best friend, Skye, are two Indigenous girls “here for a good time,” drinking, flirting, and partying in Prince Rupert, a small Canadian fishing town. Morgan is no stranger to tragedy: her alcoholic mother abandoned the family years earlier, but her world completely collapses when her father is killed in a boating accident. When Morgan’s mother returns to town, grief—and recklessness—force her into an alternative school, where she falls for Nate Jones, a well-read Indigenous boy with suprisingly worldly taste. As the two grow closer, an unplanned teen pregnancy and an unexpected mother-daughter reunion force Morgan to confront how loss and love can coexist.

Although classified as historical fiction, Spencer—a member of the Gitxaala Nation herself—writes with poignant accuracy, tactfully balancing the turbulence of teenage life, from fake IDs to bad boyfriends, with the enduring impact of intergenerational trauma shaped by Canada’s residential school system. Despite the sparse sentences and short vignette-like scenes, Here for a Good Time delivers an emotional, impactful story that spotlights Indigenous resilience.

Spencer opens the novel with a brief heavy content warning, but doesn’t shy away from exploring difficult issues, including racism, alcoholism, and sexual assault. These honest portrayals have the power to be incredibly important for younger readers, providing a window into aspects of Indigenous life, culture, and tragic systemic abuse that are seldom represented by our history books.

From Hades and Back: A Review of Styx and Stones

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Styx and Stones
Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge
HarperCollins/Clarion Books
Ages 8-12
Available May 6, 2026

Simon has been 13 for a long time. 2,000 years, in fact — ever since he died protecting his brothers during a Spartan attack on Athens. He’s spent his time since then in Hades, serving Persephone, learning from all the greatest thinkers who ever lived (and died), and trying every day to get out. When he finally makes his escape, he finds himself once again in the land of the living. Specifically, in a middle school boy’s bathroom. Simon is ready to live life to the fullest alongside his new friend Zeke, but Hades isn’t ready to let him go so easily. The Lord of the Underworld and his demons are set on getting him back, even if it means taking out Simon’s new mortal friends along the way.

Schmidt and Koertge mix the ancient and the modern in ways both hilarious and heartwarming. While Simon is confronted by the mysteries of smartphones and middle school, his new friends and classmates are surprised by his sincerity and gentleness. While reveling in his second chance at life, Simon brings a unique outlook and thankfulness that challenges the ways his new friends see and conduct themselves, Themes of loss and grief are present throughout the book, as are the contrasts between life and death.

Styx and Stones has just enough Greek mythology to hook those with a casual interest and fans of similar series such as Percy Jackson, although those with an especially deep interest may be disappointed by a lack of breadth and depth. Young readers with an interest in thrilling escapes and earnest adventures will enjoy reading about Simon and Zeke.

Olive You, Too: A Review of The Giant and the Olive

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The Giant and the Olive
Leo Daly
Catalyst Press
Ages 4-10
Available February 3rd, 2026

Once there was a happy giant who did all the usual giant things—scaring cows and “Ho-Ho-Ho”-ing all day long. That is, until he stumbles upon what feels like the most beautiful treasure of all: a tiny, shiny black olive. He proudly shows it off to the town & his friends, kisses it goodnight, and tucks it under the covers each evening. But after one fateful, maybe-too-tight hug ends with a POP!, the giant is devastated by his broken treasure. Through all four seasons, he mourns, weeping over the olive’s grave. Things look bleak until one sunny morning, he discovers that his giant tears might’ve made for the perfect fertilizer; an olive tree has begun to grow!

Through simple dialogue that still effortlessly conveys big emotion, The Giant and the Olive tiptoes between grief and humor with a gentle charm, complemented by Daly’s color-packed, hatched illustrations. With themes that align naturally with social–emotional learning, the story emphasizes the importance of leaning on friends, or even an entire town, during moments of loss. This makes it a thoughtful learning & regulating tool for younger children, as well as older elementary readers who may be encountering heavy, hard feelings for the first time. Daly is careful not to paint grief and sadness as something to simply “get over,” as he makes sure to end with a final, encouraging (and perhaps giant) message: change and loss and olive (all of) one’s love can lead to new, beautiful beginnings.

All You Need Is Love: A Review of We All Love

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We All Love
Julie Flett
Greystone Books / Greystone Kids
Ages 3+
Available February 10th, 2026!

From snuggling otters & hand-holding crabs under the sea to a family fireside bundled up in the cold, we all love. Flowers dance in the wind. Big stars illuminate the night. Warm stones make the perfect perch for a plover. The stories of flora & fauna are the stories of love—all around us, inside us, and they, as author Julie Flett suggests, help us grow.

As a sequel to the award-winning We All Play, Julie Flett returns, even five years later, with the same easy-to-read charm that made the original so beloved. The book maintains its distinctly handmade feel through soft pastel illustrations and simple yet poetic sentences that are perfectly suited for younger readers. Throughout the book, a recurring Cree phrase, kîstanaw mîna, meaning “we do too!” appears across various pages, reinforcing the central message of shared experience, interconnectedness between nature, and belonging. A helpful glossary of Cree animal names alongside their English counterparts is included, as well as pronunciation guidance that invites readers to engage more confidently with the language. The glossary thoughtfully notes that many Cree words don’t have direct English translations, instead reflecting a fluid process of innovation and creation rooted in Cree culture. Because of this, the book functions not only as a story but as a gentle educational tool.

We All Love is a great semi-bilingual introduction for readers interested in exploring a new language, particularly one that may be unfamiliar to most, while honoring Julie Fleet’s Cree-Métis roots in Indigenous language and knowledge. Through its celebration of nature, language, and connection, We All Love is the perfect affirmation that love surrounds us.

Everyone Makes Mistakes: A Review of The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect

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The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect
Jack Kurland
The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Ages 2-5
Available June 2, 2026

Doris the dog does everything perfectly. Her days are filled with perfect walks and perfect tricks, all following an absolutely perfect schedule. When she wakes up one day and discovers a hole chewed in one of her owner Bill’s slippers, she runs away to hide the evidence that she could ever do something less-than-perfect. But when a pack of neighborhood dogs find her, they show her that everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

With only a few words per page and simple, easy-to-understand sentences, Kurland tells a story in a way that will be accessible to even the youngest readers, with a message that anyone can take to heart. Bright, bold colors dominate the illustrations with eye-catching appeal.

An especially great fit for dog lovers, The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect engages and delights while delivering an underlying message children and adults can appreciate.

What is Beyond the Moon: A Review of Galaxy Mapper: The Luminous Discoveries of Astrophysicist Helene Courtois

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Galaxy Mapper: The Luminous Discoveries of Astrophysicist Helene Courtois
Allie Summers
Illustrated by Sian James
Candlewick Press/mit Kids Press
Ages 6-10
Available November 18, 2025

From the time she was a young girl in a remote village in the French Alps, Helene Courtois has looked up at the moon, and wondered what could lay beyond it. As she grows older, she finds herself chasing this question all the way into a career as a cosmographer, mapping the vast universe beyond the moon. Her maps of the galaxy eventually uncovers the existence of a supercluster of galaxies named Laniakea — perhaps finally answering her question of what lays past the moon.

Summers follows Courtois from childhood through to her discovery of Laniakea, with the moon as a constant companion in her journey. The sky dominates James’ illustrations on every page, always keeping the story oriented towards the stars. The narrative masterfully weaves together a cohesive story of Helene’s life, bringing her discoveries back to the maps and experiences of her childhood.

Future astronomers and cosmographers-in-training will be drawn to this book’s exploration of space, and humanity (and Helene’s) journey towards mapping it. Courtois’ mission of inspiring girls to pursue science means there is also ample inspiration for girls in STEM in its pages.

The Complications of Intimacy: A Review of How Girls Are Made

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How Girls Are Made
Mindy McGinnis
HarperCollins 
Ages 16-18
Available November 18, 2025

High school seniors Fallon, Shelby, and Jobie couldn’t be more different. Fallon is determined to graduate with straight A’s and escape Presnick, their small, conservative Ohio town. Shelby is focused on her budding career as a semiprofessional MMA fighter. And Jobie is chasing online stardom… and a rhinoplasty. When Fallon finds out her thirteen-year-old sister Farrah’s sex education class is teaching girls virtually nothing, she decides someone must enlighten these young girls about safe sex. After coercing Shelby and Jobie to join in, the trio begins hosting secret meetings to talk about sex at the local rec center, under the guise of a “self-help” class called “SHAFT.” After an Instagram post about “SHAFT” goes viral, Presnick’s parents are up in arms. DMs begin flooding in; fingers start pointing, and their antidote to an incompetent health class quickly spirals into a dangerous web of lies. Weaved in between their own simultaneous struggles, a fatal ending for one of the three solidifies the long-lasting effects of trauma. 

Although the first three hundred pages, even with a point of view shift each chapter, maintain a consistent tone that accurately captures the acerbic humor and raw tumult of teenage girlhood, the final fifty pages quickly veer into tragedy reminiscent of a Lifetime movie—fitting for a story steeped in teenage drama. Despite its soapy ending, How Girls Are Made serves as an important cautionary tale about the complications (and potential dangers) of sex and relationships. The characters are complex; the dialogue rings true, and as devastating as the story becomes, McGinnis confronts a myriad of incredibly relevant issues to teenagers nowadays. Given its heavy subject matter, which McGinnis tackles with heart-wrenching accuracy, including references to rape, suicide, and domestic abuse, the book is best suited for more mature young adult readers. 

Worm-Tastic: A Review of Night Chef

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Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship With a Side of Deliciousness!
Mika Song
Random House Children’s Books/RH Graphic
Ages 7-10
Available October 28. 2025

Night Chef lives in the walls of a human kitchen, only coming out at night to cook. But when an egg hatches into a baby crow, it becomes necessary to venture out past the safety of her kitchen to return it to its family. Along the way, she meets a wide cast of characters and starts to build a family of her own.

Song captures Night Chef’s journey in watercolors, giving the book a unique style that allows it to stand out among scores of graphic novels. Pages contain minimal dialogue, with characters often speaking in only one or two sentences, allowing focus to be pulled to the action and scenery on the pages. As Night Chef travels, she meets a variety of creatures, each of which teaches her a lesson about family and allows her to expand her chef training outside of the kitchen. The culmination, an epic face-off with the fate of an animal restaurant with a worm-heavy menu, finds Night Chef viewing family in a new light.

With gorgeous pictures and digestible dialogue, Night Chef has the ability to entice seasoned and reluctant readers alike. The heartwarming story, combined with humor and moments of action, gives this graphic novel a wide appeal.

This Book’s The Real Peel: A Review of This is Orange

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This is Orange: A Field Trip Through Color
Rachel Poliquin
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Candlewick Press
Ages 5-9
Available October 21st, 2025

Whether it’s that first juicy bite of a mandarin, the fur of your feisty tabby cat, or even the Guianan cock-of-the-rock’s flamboyant, lady-wooing crest, the color orange is everywhere… but who exactly was the first to call it “orange?” This exploration of color begins over six hundred years ago, when Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous book The Canterbury Tales describes a fox whose “colour was betwixe yelow and reed.” Although the word itself stems from the Tamil word for fragrant: naru, one of the English language’s first written accounts of the color orange comes from a description of the Queen of Scotland’s dress with “slevys of orenge colour.”This is Orange traces the color’s presence around our world, from the holidays we celebrate to the fruits we eat, even to the garb of astronauts and monks alike.  

Author Rachel Poliquin draws inspiration from her Renaissance woman background—part museum curator, part humanities scholar, part literature PhD. She pairs simpler sentences for younger readers with fascinating fun facts for those who are a bit older, like how “the feet of mallard ducks turn bright orange when they are trying to find a mate, yet puffins’ feet are always orange” (22). The brisk pace and jumps from topic to topic—from color theory all the way to vexillology—keep This is Orange feeling bright and engaging rather than overwhelming, although the text may have benefited from the inclusion of a glossary for more curious readers.

A “field trip” might be one way to describe it, but in combination with Julie Morstad’s vibrant watercolor & pastel illustrations, where shades of apricot and calendula feel like they’ve been taken fresh from the paint palette, an “adventure” through color feels more like it.