Confessions of a Junior Spy

Munda, Rosaria. Confessions of a Junior Spy. Book 1 of the Confessions of a Junior Spy series. 2025. 224p. ISBN 9781250363800.

Bea, a young teen raised within the clandestine walls of the Pangean Hotel, a sanctuary specifically designed for spies. Immersed in this unique environment, Bea has dedicated her life to mastering essential espionage skills like self-defense, languages, codebreaking, and field medicine. Her ultimate aspiration is to emulate her mother, one of the Pangean League's top agents, and embark on a career in the high-stakes world of espionage, using her abilities to aid those in need.

However, Bea's mother has a starkly different vision for her future, insisting she attend a conventional boarding school to experience a "normal" life—a fate Bea dreads more than anything. While Bea reluctantly navigates the complexities of school applications and devises elaborate schemes to avoid this dreaded normalcy, a new family, seemingly on the run, arrives at the hotel. Seizing the opportunity to apply her honed skills, Bea, alongside her best friend Tommy, becomes determined to help the new girl, Chantal, even as the specter of boarding school looms large.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 24

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 24. 2019. 210p. ISBN 9781974711727. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Following his time travel with Mephisto in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 23, Rin continues to confront the tragic events of the Blue Night. He witnessed the moment his mother, Yuri Egin, gave birth to him and Yukio. Though he had long resisted learning about his origins, this harrowing experience reveals crucial information about himself that might be vital for the impending conflict. This newfound knowledge comes at a heavy emotional cost, pushing Rin to grapple with a past he never wished to acknowledge.

Meanwhile, aboard the airship Dominus Liminus, the Illuminati and Lucifer relentlessly advance their apocalyptic agenda: to summon Satan and reduce the world to nothingness. Lucifer has seemingly welcomed Yukio as an ally into their ranks. However, Yukio harbors his own secret intentions, suggesting a deeper, more complex plan that could disrupt the Illuminati's destructive aspirations, even as the world stands on the brink of annihilation.

The story continues in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 25.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Klune, T.J. Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Book 2 of the Cerulean Chronicles. 2024. 416p. ISBN 9781250881205.

Arthur Parnassus, once an orphan on the peculiar Marsyas Island, has built a fulfilling life as the master of a unique orphanage for six magical, and potentially dangerous, children. He hopes to formalize his family by adopting them, driven by a deep desire to shield them from the neglect he once endured. He is supported by his partner, Linus Baker, a former caseworker who investigated the family in The House in the Cerulan Sea, and the island's sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, along with her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. All of them are united in their fierce protection of the children against the Ministry and Extremely Upper Management.

Arthur's carefully constructed peace is threatened when he is summoned to address his shadowy past as a phoenix that could combust at any time publicly, thrusting him into a battle for the future rights of his family and all magical individuals. The potential arrival of a new magical child, who embraces the label "monster," further complicates matters, challenging Arthur's efforts to create a safe and accepting environment for his children. This juncture forces Arthur and his found family to confront external pressures and internal complexities, testing the strength and resilience of their unconventional bonds as they fight for the life they deserve on Marsyas Island.

The children once again must defend themselves and their identity against a corrupt government who would deny who they are. Somewhat of a parable for our times, the reader will appreciate Arthur's commitment to protecting his family against those who would deny them.

Adapt: Mastering change in four steps

Clarke, Andrea. Adapt: Mastering Change in Four Steps. 2025. ISBN 9781761632440.

Adapt argues that the post-2020 world is characterized by an accelerating pace of change, blurred professional boundaries, shifting social norms, and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. Our current mindset for addressing these profound shifts is outdated and inadequate. Instead of resisting or retreating from this constant flux, we must continuously engage with change, learning to anticipate and actively shape it to our advantage.

Argue provides practical tools to help individuals and leaders navigate this unpredictable environment. Several strategies can be employed, such as scanning for signals of change to minimize disruption, applying the "good advice test" for improved decision-making, utilizing the 80/20 rule to uncover hidden opportunities, and safeguarding personal well-being with the "energy curve." Ultimately, Adapt reframes change not as a threat, but as a powerful catalyst for personal growth, new opportunities, and meaningful progress, equipping readers to master an ever-evolving world.

Blades of Freedom: A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase

Hale, Nathan. Blades of Freedom: A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase. Book 10 of the Harzardous Tales series. 2020. 128p. ISBN 9781419746918. Available at 973.1 HAL on the library shelves.

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 is widely regarded as one of history's most advantageous deals, yet the reasons behind Napoleon Bonaparte's decision to sell such a vast and seemingly prosperous territory are rooted in the complex dynamics of his colonial ambitions. At the time, France controlled Haiti, a lucrative sugar colony heavily reliant on enslaved labor. However, this control was dramatically challenged by the Haitian Revolution, a massive slave uprising led by Toussaint Louverture, which began in 1791 and ultimately secured Haiti's independence.

Napoleon had initially envisioned Louisiana as a crucial trading hub to support his burgeoning French empire in North America. With Haiti, his primary Caribbean possession, slipping from his grasp due to the successful slave revolt, his grand imperial designs for the continent appeared unsustainable. Consequently, when Thomas Jefferson and James Madison approached him with an offer to purchase only New Orleans, a strategically vital port, Napoleon seized the opportunity to divest himself of the entire Louisiana Territory, effectively abandoning his North American imperial aspirations.

Continuing in the spirit of Nathan Hales' Hazardous Tales, Blades of Freedom illustrates the battles that led to the first Black Republic. Fans of history will appreciate the details and will learn about a little-known period in history.

Win, Lose, or Die

Gardner, John. Win, Lose, or Die. Book 8 of the James Bond series. 1989. 319p. ISBN 9780425122617.

M receives intelligence that BAST (Brotherhood of Anarchy and Secret Terrorism) plans to infiltrate and destroy the "Stewards' Meeting," a top-secret summit aboard a Royal Navy aircraft carrier involving President George H. W. Bush, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. To counter this threat, James Bond is reactivated to duty in the Royal Navy and promoted to Captain, tasked with infiltrating HMS Invincible to identify potential sleeper agents before the summit, scheduled a year later.

In the months leading up to the summit, Bond undergoes training to fly a Navy Sea Harrier jet. BAST, aware of his mission, attempts to eliminate him, first during a training exercise and later while he is on holiday in Italy, where his girlfriend, Beatrice Maria da Ricci, is seemingly killed. Upon returning, Bond boards HMS Invincible to manage security for the "Stewards' Meeting" amidst a massive joint war game, Landsea '89. However, he soon finds himself at the center of a murder investigation involving an American Naval Intelligence officer, and while he leaves to report the incident, BAST seizes the opportunity to capture the ship and hold the world leaders for a staggering $600 billion ransom.

Bleach, Vol. 8: The Blade and Me

Kubo, Tite. Bleach, Vol. 8: The Blade and Me. 2005. 200p. ISBN 9781591168072. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Following Rukia's arrest in Bleach, Vol. 7, Ichigo recognizes that rescuing her from the Soul Society necessitates his entry into that spiritual realm. However, his recent confrontation with Rukia's brother, Byakuya, unequivocally demonstrated the extensive and rigorous training he still requires. To prepare for this formidable task, Ichigo descends deep beneath Kisuke Urahara's Shoten, where he dedicates himself to honing his fighting skills and refining his spiritual energies.

Now, Ichigo faces his most daunting challenge yet: he must prevent his Chain of Fate from self-consumption. Failure to do so carries a dire consequence—he risks being irrevocably transformed into a soul-devouring Hollow, a monstrous entity he has sworn to fight. This critical struggle underscores the immense stakes of his training and the perilous path he must navigate to save Rukia. Fortunately for him, he is joined by Chad, Orihime, and Uryu as they travel to the the Soul Society.

The story continues in Bleach, Vol. 9.