Tegan and Sara: Junior High

Quin, Tegan and Sara Quin. Tegan and Sara: Junior High. 2023. 304p. ISBN 9780374313029.

Tegan and Sara: Junior High is a fictionalized account of the famous Canadian indie musicians, identical twins Tegan and Sara Quin, transporting their 1991 middle school experiences into the present day. Tegan and Sara have just moved to a new city with their mother and stepfather, and they're entering into a new middle school with its social dynamics and cliques. The sisters attempt to navigate the challenges of a new school, the complexities of early adolescence, and the evolving dynamics of their twinhood while improving their musical talent. 

While they face the universal experiences of first crushes and the anxieties of puberty, Tegan and Sara also grapple with emerging differences as they grow into their own persons, forging individual paths and exploring their burgeoning queer identities. As they make different friends and develop an understanding of who they are attracted to, the twins remain best friends, even as they seek to answer the question of who they are when their twin is not around.

This coming-of-age story offers a unique perspective on the twin experience, exploring the intricate balance between sisterhood and individuality. Through their honest and insightful portrayal of their early lives, Tegan and Sara provide a glimpse into the roots of their musical journey and offer a poignant reflection on the complexities of growing up and finding one's own voice.

Maybe an Artist

Montague, Liz. Maybe an Artist. 2022. 176p. ISBN 9780593307816. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Growing up, Liz always knew she was different from the rest of her family. Her two sisters were academically inclined, were amazing readers, and even better athletes. But for Liz, reading was hard, her parents' expectations were crushing, and school was not her thing. Liz loved to draw, but being an artist was not a possibility she could envision, because artists generally starve and don't make a career out of their art. 

But she was good at art, and could use the medium to effectively communicate with friends and family. Growing up African-American in a relatively white New Jersey was difficult, but not as much as it was for the Muslim students at her school following 9/11 and the wave of terrorism worries that swept the country. Through it all, Liz had to learn what she really wanted for herself. 

Exploring Liz's life from elementary school to college and beyond, Maybe an Artist is a process of discovery and exploration. Now a successful artist who has published in the New Yorker and elsewhere, Liz's story is inspiring and shows that with effort and dedication, one can reach their goal.

Miss Quinces

Fajardo, Kat. Miss Quinces. 2022. 256p. ISBN 9781338535587. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

There's nothing Suyapa would love more than to go to camp with her friends this summer. Unfortunately, she's heading to Honduras to visit her extended family. Before departing for the summer, the comic club at school has given everyone the assignment to create a comic over the summer. But Suyapa is not inspired at all. If she was at sleepaway camp with her friends, maybe she's have some ideas, but now that she's in Honduras, what is she supposed to illustrate? Her own boring life, in the middle of nowhere with no Internet and no cellphone service?

Being the middle daughter of three daughters means that Suyapa is annoyed both by an older sister and by a younger sister. Her cousins are even more of a handful. When Suyapa thinks life cannot get any worse, she realizes that her mother has been planning a quinceañera for her, with frilly clothes and lots of pink. Both of these things are definitively not Suyapa, so now she feels ambushed. 

Suyapa's grandmother helps her gain a new perspective on life, and her sudden death reinforces the idea that she should in fact go through her quinceañera, but on her own terms. And, perhaps this summer vacation spent with her family does in fact make an excellent comic for the comic club!

Fun an engaging, Suyapa's tales of woes having to perform activities she has no interest in are entirely relatable. The images are crisp, well defined, and very colorful. Fans of graphic novels should give this one a read, they will thoroughly enjoy it!

Fox Point's Own Gemma Hopper

Spangler, Brie. Fox Point's Own Gemma Hopper. 2023. 272p. ISBN 9780593428498. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

At 13 and in 7th grade, Gemma is over 6 feet tall and stands out like a sore thumb at her middle school. She loves baseball, but she lives in the shadow of her brother Teddy, an 8th grader with a golden arm who's already talked about being a top prospect in the majors. Her friends only want to hang out with her so they can talk with Teddy. Their mother has left the family, and their father works three jobs to make ends meet. Gemma has become the caretaker for the family, cooking meals, doing laundry, and making sure that everyone, including her younger twin brothers, are taken cared of. On the rare occasions her father's home, he's only interested in Teddy.

Through all of this, Gemma does not have time to play baseball. Teddy is under pressure, as he's preparing to go away for months at a training camp for prodigious athletes. He needs the practice time, and Gemma ends up pitching for him over and over. Folks come to watch Teddy hit balls one after another. But Gemma is under pressure too. She has a big fight with her best friend, and she's tired of playing second fiddle with Teddy. 

So when Teddy brings up the intriguing possibility that maybe Gemma should try out for the same team Teddy will be playing with, Gemma is intrigued. How could she possibly abandon her family to pursue the opportunity to play baseball? But with a video going viral, and with the stars aligning, Gemma might manage to pursue her dream after all!

Beautifully illustrated, Gemma's trials and tribulations show her resilience and her grit as she aims to find her own way in the world. Fans of graphic novels will love this story, and those who enjoy a good sports story should absolutely check it out!

The Memory of Light

Stork, Francisco X. The Memory of Light. 2016. 336p. ISBN 9780545474320.

Viewed from the outside, Vicky Cruz's life is fantastic. Her father is rich, her sister is attending an Ivy League school, her house has a pool, and she has a nanny that prepares meals and cleans the house. Vicky had a poem published in the high school literary review, and though her grades are not great, she participates in the debate team. But ever since her mother died from cancer, Vicky has not felt well. Her father quickly remarried, her sister is mad at her, and no one talks about her mother anymore.

When Vicky wakes up at the hospital, she's surprised to be there. She meant for the pills she took to kill her, but she was discovered by her nanny before it was too late. Now Vicky finds herself on the 5th floor of the hospital, in the mental ward, where she meets Mona, Gabriel, and E.M., three other kids who are all here because of their own issues. Working with Dr. Desai, Vicky soon identifies her issue. She suffers from depression, a disease that creates large black clouds and even blacker thoughts, that she calls the uglies. These thoughts tell her that she's worthless, that no one loves her, and that the world would be better off if she were dead.

Her father is reluctant at first to leave her there for two weeks. He has arranged for a well-known psychiatrist to take care of Vicky, but Vicky for once stands up to him and demands to stay here. After two weeks, she heads out with the other kids to a ranch where they do physical labor while working on learning techniques to deal with their issues. But a series of incidents at the ranch forces Vicky to return to her old life prematurely, before she feels ready to go. With her father pressuring her to resume her old life, with people at school knowing what she did, and with her sister only now coming around, Vicky will need to find the courage to continue living.

Based on the author's own life experience dealing with depression, The Memory of Light explores how one recovers from a suicide attempt, and how one learns again that life is worth living.

Number the Stars

Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars, 1998. 137p. ISBN 9780440227533. 

In 1940, Denmark is invaded by Germany, and German soldiers stand at every street corner. For children, it represented the end of parties, cakes, and fireworks in the sky. Following the German invasion, Annemarie's older sister, who was due to get married, died in a car accident, and the family rarely talks about her. In the two years since the occupation, the lives of Annemarie Johansen and her family have become harder with food restrictions and curfews, but not exceedingly so. That is, until the Germans began hunting Danish jews. Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, is Jewish, and she and her family are now in danger.

With the help of Danish rebels and saboteurs, of whom Lisa was once a member, Annemarie finds herself in the middle of a family plan to help the Rosens escape Denmark for the relative safety of Sweden. At ten years old, Annemarie will need to summon courage to outfox the Germans and help her best friend escape.

The Lucky Ones

Reisz, Tiffany. The Lucky Ones. 2018. 365p. 628 mins. ISBN 9780778331162. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

At seven Allison found herself an orphan following a drinking and driving accident. Sent to an orphanage, she was soon adopted by renowned brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello, who recognized her intelligence. Allison went to live with him and six other adopted children in his great green house, appropriately called the Dragon, on the Oregon Coast yards away from the Pacific Ocean. Allison's life became perfect, with loving siblings, a doting father, and plenty of room to stretch her wings. But even at seven, Allison was attracted to the enigmatic Roland, Dr. Capello's oldest son. Five years older, Roland had lived his own tragedy when his sister Rachel had fallen in a hole on the beach while they were playing and died buried in the sand. On stormy nights, Allison would often crawl in Roland's bed, looking for security and comfort.

When Allison was twelve, she fell down the 3rd floor stairs and was whisked away from the house by a concerned aunt who had received a phone call that someone was trying to kill her. For the last thirteen years, Allison has done everything she could to forget the house and its inhabitants. She moved across the country, became the mistress of a billionaire, and lived a generally happy life. All of this is thrown into chaos on the same morning her boyfriend breaks up with her and she receives a letter from Roland informing her that their father is dying.

Finally offered an opportunity to figure out what really happened to her that fateful night, and also the possibility of reconnecting with family members, Allison heads west and returns to Oregon, where she is reunited with Roland, which reignite her love for him. Catching up on what has happened in the last thirteen years, Allison can't help but worry that the person who wished her harm is still here. As she asks questions, however, she realizes that everyone has secrets, and that some secrets are deadly and worth killing for ...

Fans of mystery will enjoy this gothic tale, with dark corners always close by. Similar to We Were Liars, the ending is unpredictable and will surprise the reader.

The Henna Wars

 Jaigirdar, Adiba. The Henna Wars. 2020. 400p. ISBN 9781624149689. 

Originally from Bangladesh, Nishat and her family moved to Ireland, and settled in Dublin. Her father runs a restaurant, and her mother takes care of both Nishat and her sister Priti. Attending an all-girl Catholic school, Nishat sticks out like a sore thumb with her dark skin, her Muslim faith, and the secret that she likes girls. Attending a Bengali wedding, she decides it's time to tell her parents. At the wedding she is reunited with Flávia, a girl from her elementary years. Flávia is half-Brazilian, half-Irish, and her brown skin looks a lot like Nishat's own. Nishat is instantly smitten, but can't act on her impulse, plus it's unlikely she'll run into Flávia again.

Finally mustering the courage following the wedding, she tells her parents that she is a lesbian, only to be met with incomprehension. Only her sister Priti supports her. Returning to school for a new school year, Nishat is shocked to see Flávia is not only now attending school, but their lockers are right next to each other. Unfortunately, Flávia happens to be China's cousin, and China is the biggest gossip and the meanest girl in school, and has been demeaning Nishat since they were freshmen.

At school, a business competition is announced, and Nishat decides she will draw henna designs, used in traditional Bengali weddings, as her business. Unfortunately Flávia, who's a great artist, joins forces with China and they also offer henna designs, something Nishat perceives as an appropriation of her culture. Torn between loving Flávia and hating her, Nishat faces hard decisions about her life, her sister, her family, and her own identity.

Fans of When Dimple Met Rishi will appreciate Nishat's resilience and the vivid descriptions of her culture and her home life. Nishat is strong and refuses to break in the face of adversity. Her parents eventually come around to her sexual identity, and though she doesn't win the business competition, she does win Flávia's heart.

The House of Salt and Sorrows

Craig, Erin A. The House of Salt and Sorrows. 2019. 403p. ISBN 9781984831927. Available at FIC CRA on the library shelves. 

Annaleigh is one of twelve sisters, and stands as the sixth in line for the title of Duchess of Highmoor, on the island of Salann, located by the sea many leagues away from the kingdom's capital. Over the last six years, the four oldest girls have all suffered accidental but tragic deaths, giving raise to the rumor that they are cursed. The sisters' mother died giving birth to the youngest, and their father was distraught for years until he married a noble from away. 

As the family buries Eulalie, fourth eldest, Annaleigh stumbles upon evidence that she might have been pushed off the cliff. Investigating, she discovers that Eulalie was planning to elope that very night, as she did not want to become duchess. As Annaleigh investigates, she discovers that the manor is haunted by the ghosts of the dead girls, and that her youngest sister, Verity, is seeing them too. With the help of Cassius, a mysterious son of a local ship captain, and Fisher, the son of their nursemaid who works at the lighthouse, Anneleigh searches for the truth, but as she digs deeper, she begins questioning her own sanity as others do not notice what is truly happening to them.

Camille, now in line for the title as the eldest surviving daughter, find a door that leads to a place of dazzling balls, and the surviving girls begin spending most of their evenings dancing away. Anneleigh becomes suspicious of their hosts, and wonder whether they are in fact dancing at all, instead of being involved in something more sinister that threatens all of the lives.

As the ghosts close in on Anneleigh, it becomes increasingly clear that she is an unreliable narrator. Are there ghosts affecting the family, or is she going crazy under the stress of losing yet another sister? The world is well built, but the characters themselves are for the most part templates of each other, with only a name to set them apart from each other. Fans of fantasy will appreciate the writing and will enjoy trying to figure out what is truly happening on Salann.

Queen of Ruin

Banghart, Tracy. Queen of Ruin. Book 2 of the Grace and Fury series. 2019. 336p. ISBN 978-0-3164-7145-9. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Exiled by Asa, the new King, following his assassination of his father and the presumed death of his brother Malachi at the end of Grace and Fury, Nomi finds herself exiled to the prison island of Mount Ruin, while Malachi's almost-dead body is dropped overboard. Arriving on the island, the prison ship is attacked by Serina's women rebels, and Nomi is rescued. Serina and her allies have seized control of the island and are planning on capturing a boat and escaping. Unfortunately, the boat that transported Nomi is too small for the entire prisoner population to escape.

When Prince Malachi is found and brought ashore, the rebels gain hope of overthrowing Asa and replacing him with the legitimate ruler. Serina, Nomi, and the leaders of the various factions hatch a plan. Nomi and Malachi will leave the island on the small boat, and attempt to rouse troops in Viridia's provinces to then march on the palace. Meanwhile, the women will await the next large prison ship, take it over, and escape to another country.

Unfortunately Asa saw some of the fires that were set when the women overthrew the prison guards. As a result the next ship is not the prison ship,  but instead an armada of navy ships carrying large contingents of soldiers. The women are recaptured and brought back to the capital to be publicly executed.

Nomi and Malachi land, and find that in the short time Asa has been in power he has crushed the provinces and stolen and abuse all of the pretty girls. The troops have been sent to the capital, so Nomi and Malachi make their way there, only to discover that the women from Mount Ruin are about to be executed. Can the sisters reunite and manage to overthrow Asa while at the same time not lose their hard-fought revolution at the hands of Malachi?

Royals

Hawkins, Rachel. Royals. 2018. 296p. 482 mins. ISBN 978-0-525-63200-9. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Daisy has looked forward to her summer trip with her best friend all year. Unfortunately her family has to uproot when her perfect sister announces her engagement to the Crown Prince of Scotland. For someone like Daisy, being in the spotlight of the tabloids, newspapers and social media is almost as bad has having to abandon her Florida home to find herself in a dreary world of rich and idle teens.

Daisy is then matched with Miles, the Crown Prince's younger brother, in the hopes that he can quickly teach her how the court works. Miles, however, finds himself in trouble more often than not, and he regals the tabloids with his antics. Along for the ride, Daisy finds herself becoming the source of scandals, which distracts from her sister's upcoming wedding. Can Daisy regain control over her precarious situation at court and become the lady everyone expects her to be, or will she be able to tear out the royal rulebook and remain her quirky self?

A delightful romance set in a fictionally independent Scotland, Daisy and Miles dance around each other throughout the book, not exactly sure where each other stands. Their fears and hopes are realistic and easily relatable, even if the setting is not. Fans of rom-com will enjoy this easy read.

  

Grace and Fury

Banghart, Tracy. Grace and Fury. 2018. 320p. 519 mins. ISBN 9781549172595. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

In a world where girls are not allowed to read and have very limited options, being a Grace is one of the most attractive positions in Viridia. Upon her birth, Serina's parents saw that she would be very beautiful. They spent their meager income insuring that she would learn the proper skills necessary to be a Grace, a consort to the Superior. Every three years, three Graces are selected by the Superior to join his household. They provide entertainment, companionship, and heirs. Serina has grown up training mercilessly to ensure that she would be one of the girls picked, which should secure her family a future free from wants.

Her younger sister, Nomi, has trained as a handmaiden, the girl that accompanies a Grace, and the sisters hope to stay together. Whereas Serina is compliant and graceful, however, Nomi is willful and strong-headed. She learned how to read when her brother illegally taught her, and she wants more from life than servitude, even if it is to help her sister. She wishes to break the bonds that tie women to a second-class status.

At the Superior's court, Nomi catches the eye of the Heir, who appoints her one of his three Graces. Serina is humiliated but agrees to serve Nomi as her handmaiden. Both girls find themselves in roles for which they have not been prepared. Nomi, who stole a book from the Superior's library, is resistant to the Heir's approach. Serina is caught with Nomi's book, and to protect her sister she takes the blame, but is condemned to prison on Mount Ruin. There she discover a deadly world where girls fight against each other under the watchful eye of the male prison guards. Nomi, meanwhile, becomes part of a plot designed to overthrow the Superior and free her sister. Both of them make deadly choices, however, and soon find themselves in a perilous situation ...

Another example of girls pitted against themselves for the hand of the crown, Grace and Fury is nevertheless different enough to be intriguing. By flipping the roles on Serina and Nomi, the reader experiences the sudden change in their life circumstances, and roots for both of them to emerge unharmed, if not psychologically unscathed, from their experiences. Fans of The Selection, Red Queen, and others will appreciate the story and grit displayed by both main characters.

Secret in the Stone

Benko, Kamilla. Secret in the Stone. Book 2 of The Unicorn Quest series. 2019. 328p. ISBN 978-1-68119-247-5. Available at FIC BEN on the library shelves.

In The Unicorn Quest, Claire and Sophie discovered the magical land of Arden by climbing through a chimney and emerging out of a well. They learned that unicorns, which used to live in Arden, had been hunted almost to extinction by evil Queen Estelle. They found out they were heirs to the last King of Arden, and that their blood could awaken the remaining unicorns. Through trials and tribulations, they freed a unicorn from its stone prison, and it healed Sophie from a rare and deadly disease.

Now trying to find the unicorn, they travel to Stonehaven, hoping to find the secret to releasing a unicorn using a moon tear. There Claire learns she is a Gemmer, but Sophie despairs of ever mastering any magical abilities. Their welcome to Stonehaven is tepid at best, and they soon stumble upon a plot to unleash war on all guilds so Queen Estelle, who has also returned at the same time as the unicorn, can claim the throne.

A devastating betrayal will shake the sisters to their core, and with the attacks from the Wraiths increasing, and armies on the move, Sophie and Claire will find that tracking a unicorn can be deadly business!

Last Pick

Walz, Jason. Last Pick. 2018. 214p. ISBN 978-1-62672-891-2. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Sam and Wyatt are twins, and they have always looked out for each other. Sam has been the protective big sister, because Wyatt is autistic. He's often unable to filter his thoughts when he speaks, finds himself confused by nonverbal communication, can't really adopt someone else's perspective when talking to other people, and has trouble regulating his emotions. Even though she finds him weird at times, Sam would go to the mat for her brother.

Now sixteen years old, the twins have been left alone for the last three years, when aliens invaded Earth and kidnapped the entire population between the ages of 16 and 65, leaving behind only the old, the handicapped, the young, and those deemed too useless for their plans. For three years, Sam has been fighting back, stealing food and spreading it in her small city of Elizabethtown. Now that the giant scooper ships have returned, Sam is ready to fight back. And Wyatt's brilliant computer and engineering mind can help them communicate with their missing parents, but only if they have the right part. Can they be the spark that ignite the rejects of humanity into resistance against the invaders?

A great graphic novel with sharp illustrations and colors, Last Pick accurately portrays someone who has trouble functioning of what is left of normal society. The coping mechanisms that Wyatt has developed are realistic, and the siblings' love for each other even when they are angry shows throughout the story. Fans of dystopia and of last stands will appreciate the action and story, and will clamor for the second volume when it comes out!

The Unicorn Quest

Benko, Kamilla. The Unicorn Quest. Book 1 of The Unicorn Quest series. ISBN 978-1-68119-245-1. Available at FIC BEN on the library shelves.

Claire Martinson and her older sister Sophie move into Windermere Manor, their great aunt’s following her disappearance. An explorer who traveled the world, their aunt vanished without a trace, and the Martinsons inherited a house that is more museum than residence. Stretching over an inordinate amount of rooms, the house is filled with souvenirs and items that were acquired during their great aunt’s travels. The tasks of cataloging and moving the estate helps Claire forget that last year her sister almost did not survive a mysterious illness akin to cancer.

While exploring Claire loses Sophie, and finds her climbing a ladder she discovered in a chimney. Claire joins her, but is worried as the light dims and vanishes. When they emerge out of a dry well into a different land, Claire and Sophie find themselves attacked by a monster. They quickly return to their own world, and Claire makes Sophie swear she will never return. Claire eventually has to climb the chimney when it becomes obvious that Sophie lied and has returned to that magical land.

Back out of the well, Claire is captured by members of one of the four magical guilds that live in the land of Arden, and she’s accused of stealing a magical unicorn artifact. Unfortunately, it is a case of mistaken identity as they are confusing her with Sophie. With Sophie in trouble, Claire is joined by friends who have their own reasons for chasing the unicorn relic. Will they be able to save Sophie and discover the secret of the unicorns’ power?

Seeker of the Crown

Lauren, Ruth. Seeker of the Crown. Book 2 of the Prisoner of Ice and Snow series. 2018. 282p. ISBN 978-1-68119-133-1. Available at FIC LAU on the library shelves.

Following the escape of Princess Anastasia in Prisoner of Ice and Snow, the Queendom of Demidova is in uproar. Prince Anatol is suspected of having freed his sister from the dungeon, and for the good of the crown Queen Ana banishes him. Accompanied by his trusted guard Nicolai, the two of them leave town. Meanwhile, Valor and Sasha are happy to have escaped their confinement at the infamous Tyur’ma prison, but are still concerned for their friends, Feliks and Katia, who did not receive pardons from Queen Ana and remain wanted criminals.

Desperate to stop her daughter from overthrowing the rightful monarch, Queen Ana asks Valor and Sasha to act as her eyes and ears and track Anastasia and capture her. Unfortunately, the Princess always seems one step ahead of the sisters, and Queen Ana herself vanishes during a public event.

With enemy troops massing on the borders of Demidova and with a regent queen now in charge, Valor and Sasha are even more at risk of being imprisoned for acts of treason to the new queen. Equipped only with determination and steadfast friends, Valor and Sasha will have to use all of their wits to defeat Anastasia and her allies and protect the Queendom of Demidova.

A great sequel to Prisoner of Ice and Snow, this light fantasy features nonstop action and an unforgettable cast of characters.

The Haunted House Project

Clasen, Tricia. The Haunted House Project. 2017. 215p. ISBN 978-1-5107-0712-2. Available at FIC CLA on the library shelves.

A year ago, Andie’s mother was hit by a truck and was instantly killed. The tragedy has impacted her family life. Her father has lost his job and is gambling away the insurance settlement. Her older sister Paige now works full time on top of going to school, not so she can afford to go to college but so she can buy groceries for her family. And Andie still miss her mom terribly every day, and her friends have long lost any semblance of commiseration for her and are now just plain annoyed she is no longer the fun free spirited girl she used to be.

At school Andie sees a counselor during the week, sometimes in group sessions, sometimes one on one. Andie is scared that the school counselor will discover how bad her homelife is, and that she will be wrestled from her father, who hasn’t done much fathering in the last year. Still, what you know is better than what you don’t. When she and her partner Isaiah are assigned a project in science, they decide to investigate ghosts. Andie has always read ghost stories, and she often feels like her mother is right here with her. As they discuss the project, a brilliant idea occurs to Andie. What if their project involved faking ghostly communication? Could she pull off making it seem like her mother is talking to Paige and to her father? She could document their reactions and keep track of what happens next.

As Andie and Isaiah begin implementing their haunting project, Andie realizes that her mother truly was the glue that held the family together. She sprays her mother’s perfume on the couch. She moves a picture slightly so it is more visible. She changes the television channel and the radio station. All subtle signs, but they all seem to have an impact on her sister and father.

Meanwhile, her own social life is crumbling as her friends, led by beautiful Becky, snub Isaiah and make demands on Andie she can’t fulfill. Plus, what exactly is the nature of her relationship to Isaiah? As she brings back her mother’s memory from the grave, can Andie save herself as well? A well written story about broken family dynamics, readers will appreciate Andie’s efforts at restarting the pulse of her own family and ensuring that it has a future.

Prisoner of Ice and Snow

Lauren, Ruth. Prisoner of Ice and Snow. 2017. 280p. ISBN 9781681191317. Available at FIC LAU on the library shelves.

Valor is ready to do anything to help her twin sister Sasha. Even if that means making an assassination attempt on Prince Anatol so she can be condemned and sentenced to the ruthless Tyur’ma prison. For that’s where her sister has been sent after she stole a delicate musical box that was intended to cement an alliance between their country of Demidova and the neighboring nation of Magadanskya. And Valor knows that her sister will not be able to survive without her help.

As daughters of royal advisors, Valor and Sasha’s arrests bring disgrace on their family. Valor has a plan, however. She has seen her father’s old maps and knows there is a tunnel beneath Tyur’ma that leads straight to the Royal Palace. All she’s got to do is find her sister, steal a key, and escape with her from the inside of the prison, a feat no one has successfully accomplished in the 300 years’ existence of Tyur’ma. Unfortunately, Valor was not counting on the harsh and treacherous environment imposed by Warden Kirov, head of the notoriously cruel Peacemakers, guardians of the prison.

Now inside the ice walls, Valor finds herself struggling with her captivity. The lack of food, the lack of sleep, the cold, and the overwork is rapidly wearing her down. She knows that Sasha is more delicate, so these conditions must be even harder for her. As she plans her escape, Valor will have to turn to others to help. But with so many spies and criminals surrounding her, whom can she trust?

A well crafted fantasy novel about a place of ice and cold, readers will enjoy discovering how Valor surmounts the struggle to free her sister and prove her innocence.

When My Sister Started Kissing

Frost, Helen. When My Sister Started Kissing. 2017. 193p. ISBN 978-0-374-30303-7. Available at FIC FRO on the library shelves.

When Claire and Abigail’s mother died, the family was heartbroken. Spending every summer at a cabin on the lake, the sisters saw comforting reminders of their mother everywhere. Now that it is summer again, they dread returning to the lake. Their father has remarried, and his new wife is pregnant with their half-brother. Worse, all signs of their mother, from her old easel to her favorite chair to the board games and her books have disappeared from the cabin.

For Claire, however, all of these changes are nothing compared to what is happening with her sister Abigail, who insists on being called Abi. This summer, Abi is boy crazy, and her secrets mean that Claire must cover for her. Unsure of herself, Claire can’t help but wonder why Abi would act this way. As the summer progresses, and as Abi’s affections seem to be divided between two different boys, Claire decides she can’t make excuses for her anymore. But as their family seems to be drifting apart, the lake imparts lessons that just because things are changing doesn’t mean that they will not remain meaningful.

Written in verse, this short book features three points of view, that of Claire, Abi, and of the lake itself observing the sisters. A coming of age novel, readers interested in family relationships will appreciate the dynamics that are at play between two sisters struggling with new feelings and emotions.

Talk to Me

Ellis, Sonia. Talk to Me. 2016. 164p. ISBN 978-1-943431-23-6. Available at FIC ELL on the library shelves.

Fourteen-year-old Sadina Reyes loves her sister, but seven-year-old Maddie suffers from selective mutism,  which results in her not talking very much to her own family members, and never to a stranger. This causes problems for Maddie at school, and Sadina’s friends know her as the girl who doesn’t speak. Sadina would really love to help her sister, but she’s not sure what she can do.

Sadina loses Maddie at the mall after she and Rio, her best friend, go into a computer store, and it takes forever to find her at the pet store. Worse, that night someone breaks into Sadina’s house and steals something out of her mother’s office desk, and Maddie is the only one who notices the robber. The event traumatizes her and now she can’t even talk to her family. Her mother, who is an engineer working on a brand new battery for cellphones, reveals that the only thing that has been stolen is her coworker’s phone, who had left it at the house after dinner the previous night. On that phone was the only evidence that Flynn has been embezzling money from the lab where they both work, and now Sabina’s mother is about to take the rap for the missing money.

Meanwhile, expensive software has disappeared from the school’s computer lab, and Rio is the prime suspect. It doesn’t help when Sabina remembers that Rio had been eyeing this software with envy at the computer store, and her suspicious increase when she discovers that he has installed the same software on his computer at home.

Now she’s got to help her mother by proving that Maddie has seen that the thief was Flynn, and that Rio did in fact not steal the software. Working with the computer club at school, Sadina hopes that they can reprogram Maddie’s cat robot, named Bella, into a cat that can actually talk to her through artificial intelligence and record her answer. If Maddie won’t speak to humans, maybe she’ll speak to Bella! At least, that’s what Sadina hopes...