All the Blues in the Sky

Watson, Renée. All the Blues in the Sky. 2025. 208p. ISBN 9781547605897.

The day Sage turned thirteen was a day meant for celebration with her best friend. Instead, it becomes a day of profound loss when her friend unexpectedly dies, hit by a car while crossing the street. This tragedy leaves Sage feeling adrift and alone, struggling to cope with the absence of the one person who shared her secrets and dreams. Seeking support, she joins a counseling group with other girls experiencing similar grief, where she learns that loss manifests in many forms and that the healing process is far from straightforward.

Through her journey in the group and her own internal struggles, Sage navigates the complex emotions of grief: sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, and pain, all intertwined with the enduring presence of love. Even amidst her sorrow, new and positive experiences begin to enter her life, offering glimmers of hope and the possibility of healing. 

 Told in a blend of accessible verse and prose, All the Blues in the Sky explores the multifaceted nature of grief and Sage's path toward self-forgiveness and growth, offering a comforting and relatable perspective for anyone who has experienced loss.

Needy Little Things

Desamours, Channelle. Needy Little Things. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9781250334817. 

High school senior Sariyah Lee Bryant possesses a unique and unsettling gift: she can hear the unmet needs of those around her. As a result, she always carries a bag filled with strange items, for one never knows when someone will need a tissue, a key, an old wrench, or a ring. However, this ability proves to be more of a curse than a blessing when her friend Deja mysteriously vanishes shortly after Sariyah fulfills her need. Convinced that Deja's disappearance is more than just a coincidence, Sariyah, distrustful of the police and media, embarks on her own investigation.

This is not the first time Sariyah lost a friend. A few years ago, her best friend Tessa went missing, vanishing without a trace. She was never found, and Sariyah remains haunted by the loss of her friend, hoping against all hope that her memory will reveal a significant detail she has missed. With Deja missing, history seems to repeat itself. Her friend Malcolm, Tessa's brother, is all out on finding Deja, and attempts to move mountains to do so. Part of the problem is that both Tessa and Deja are Black girls, not the pretty and popular blonde girls who garner all of the attention when they go missing. Most people don't seem to care that Black girls are disappearing.

Complicating Sariyah's life are mounting challenges affecting her daily existence: her mother loses her job, her younger brother faces health complications due to sickle cell disease, and she herself struggles to manage her emotions and maintain a semblance of normalcy. Desperate to find Deja and help her family, Sariyah resorts to using her gift for profit, offering to fulfill others' needs for money. This risky decision, however, may not only jeopardize her own safety but also put her on a collision course with the same danger that led to Deja's disappearance.

Needy Little Things realistically portrays the social divide when girls disappear, as not all of them receive equal treatment in the media and by the police investigating their disappearances. Sariyah's character is realistic and relatable, making this a great read for fans of investigation with a light touch of paranormal.

The Other Side of Infinity

Smith, Joan F. The Other Side of Infinity. 2023. 336p. ISBN 9781250843388.

When seventeen-year-old December, who possesses the unique ability to foresee the future, intervenes to save a drowning man named Nick during a poolside incident, she inadvertently alters the course of both their lives. Not only does this unexpected act lead to a burgeoning romance between the two, but December also foresees that Nick's life is now in danger. This realization forces December, who has always avoided deep connections due to her precognitive abilities, to embark on a mission to protect Nick, while also navigating the complexities of a newfound love.

Simultaneously, Nick, grappling with the shame of his initial hesitation during the rescue, seeks to redeem himself by helping December search for her missing mother. As their bond deepens, December's precognitive visions become increasingly erratic, and unsettling truths about Nick's family begin to surface. Both characters must confront their fears, learn to trust their instincts, and ultimately discover the true meaning of heroism before time runs out and the consequences of December's actions become irreversible.

Under the Same Stars

Bray, Libba. Under the Same Stars. 2025. 480p. ISBN 9780374388942.

Under the Same Stars weaves together three interconnected stories across generations, all centered around a mysterious oak tree in a forest in Germany believed to possess magical powers.

In the late 1930s Nazi Germany, Sophie, a young woman yearning for love, discovers a cryptic message hidden within the oak, sparking a romantic intrigue. Her best friend, Hanna and her have always looked to the oak tree to provide guidance on their lives, to the point of being insulted by the local boys who mocked them. As Germany provokes a war, however, the girls start using the tree for a more urgent purpose: to communicate with the resistance movement against the Nazi regime. But Sophie is still hopeful that one day she will find love.

In the 1980s, American teenager Jenny has just moved to West Germany and is struggling to adapt to her new life away from her friends. Jenny finds herself drawn to Lena, a rebellious punk rocker determined to break down the Berlin Wall. Their lives intertwine with Frau Hermann, an elderly woman harboring secrets connected to the oak tree's past.

Finally, in the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, two friends, Miles and Chloe, stumble upon a forgotten mystery while investigating the disappearance of two teenagers linked to the Bridegroom's Oak eighty years prior. As Miles and Chloe suffer through lockdowns and a loss of social contacts, they come across information that shed a light on what happened in the forest back in 1942, and that connect their lives to that of Sophie, Hanna, and Jenny.

This book explores themes of love, loss, resistance, and the enduring power of history. It weaves together the past and present, connecting the lives of these diverse characters through the enigmatic oak tree, revealing its secrets and the profound impact it has had on their lives and the world around them. Fans of coming of age story, or who want to learn more about living in Nazi Germany or another totalitarian society will enjoy Under the Same Stars.

Pieces of Me

McLaughlin, Kate. Pieces of Me. 2023. 368p. ISBN 9781250264343.

Dylan wakes up in an unfamiliar apartment. The residents claim they all know her, but she doesn't remember anything that happened over the last three days. At eighteen, this isn't the first time Dylan has experienced memory lapses, but this is certainly the most concerning incident. Working with a therapist, she discovers she has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Parts of her mind have been taken over by specific personalities, and each personality can control Dylan's body and isolate the others.

Dylan struggles with confronting the multiple personalities within her mind, as each is grappling with a deeply buried traumatic past that they are desperately trying to protect her from. As she navigates this complex inner world, she builds a connection with a boy named Connor who always seems to be here, regardless of which personality currently controls Dylan. Dylan thus embarks on a journey of self-discovery, seeking to uncover the truth about her past and ultimately find healing.

Dylan's multiple personalities are distinct and masterfully developed, giving each a unique voice and purpose. While the journey to uncover the past trauma takes time, the compelling narrative will keep the reader engaged. Pieces of Me addresses the serious and complex nature of DID with sensitivity and informed research, offering a nuanced and authentic portrayal of DID and highlighting the challenges and complexities faced by individuals with the disorder while emphasizing the importance of support and understanding.

Someone is Always Watching

Armstrong, Kelley. Someone is Always Watching. 2023. 368p. ISBN 9780735270923.

Blythe has always had a very close group of friends in Gabrielle and siblings Tucker and Tanya. Their lives are suddenly disrupted by an act of violence when Blythe discovers Gabrielle covered in blood in the principal's office, standing next to his lifeless body. Gabrielle does not remember what happened, and the evidence suggests she was not the killer. 

 The group's facade of friendship suddenly buckles under the weight of this aggression, and disturbing nightmares begin to plague Blythe's nights. Tucker has always had violent tendencies, and he had plenty of reasons to hate the principal. Tanya has dark secrets she might have wanted to protect. Gabrielle could be faking her amnesia. And Blythe herself is uncharacteristically experiencing fits of rage. 

As this trauma seeps through everything, the erosion of trust undermines what remains of their friendship. But Blythe is determined to resolve what happened to them. Investigating this violent mystery, Blythe finds clues suggesting a long-forgotten secret hiding the truth about all of their pasts. 

Fans of murder mystery books may enjoy Someone is Always Watching, but the promise of a thrilling novel unravels partly through the book as the plot becomes increasingly convoluted and is solved with a large section of the book still remaining. The pacing is uneven, and the characters don't feel fully developed. Though the premise behind the mystery shows potential, the execution falls short, leaving readers with a sense of disappointment and frustration.

Enter the Body

McCullough, Joy. Enter the Body. 2023. 336p. ISBN 9780593406755.

Many of the female characters in Shakespeare's plays experience personal tragedies. Ophelia, from Hamlet, is a young woman driven to madness and ultimately death by the tragic events surrounding her father's murder and her forbidden love for Hamlet. Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet, is a young woman whose passionate love for Romeo leads to her untimely death in a desperate attempt to escape a family feud. Cordelia, the youngest daughter of King Lear, is banished for her honest and unwavering love for her father, ultimately sacrificing herself to save him. Lavinia, from Titus Andronicus, suffers horrific sexual violence and mutilation, ultimately seeking revenge against her abusers.

These four victims of Shakespeare's imagination meet in the space beneath a stage's trapdoor as a support group. Tragically impacted by the patriarchal narratives of their plays, these young women share their experiences and seek to reclaim their stories while offering each other solace and understanding. 

While the concept is intriguing, the execution has some shortcomings. The first half feels slow, and the dialogue-driven format occasionally overshadows the poetic storytelling. However, the second half strengthens, with compelling retellings from Juliet, Ophelia, and particularly Cordelia. The author's poetic voice is well-suited to this narrative.

However, the book falters in its treatment of Lavinia, whose silence and exclusion undermine the central theme of female empowerment. Additionally, Juliet is unfairly portrayed as a punching bag by the other characters. While the book sparks important discussions about female agency in Shakespeare, it lacks a clear and well-defined critical framework, leaving its arguments feeling somewhat aimless and underdeveloped.

Wicked Little Things

Arnold, Justin. Wicked Little Things. 2022. 226p. ISBN 9781739983475.

Sixteen-year-old Dane Craven grew up in the small town of Jasper Hollow, but his mother couldn't wait to get out of there. His family still lives there, however, and he often came to visit his cousins when he was younger. Unfortunately, on his last visit his cousin Grant outed him, and, to avenge himself, Dane made Grant run through the woods wearing a dress. Unfortunately for Grant, he was attacked by a killer wearing a rabbit costume, and though he dialed Dane, Dane did not answer at the time, something he regrets now that Grant has been murdered.

Things go from bad to worse for Dane. Though he sometimes feels like he will burst in flames, and his temper can get the better of him, it's because he's a witch who possesses magical abilities. He's also supposed to be part of a coven of teen girls, who all wear red and are referred to as the Reds. Grant's sister is bitter as her brother's disappearance, and though she suspects Dane and him had a falling out, she doesn't know what really happened between the two of them.

Dane is visited by his familiar, a raccoon named Aloysius who speaks like a British butler. As Dane tries to wrap his head around being a witch, he's also trying to solve Grant's murder, and, as if this was not enough, he's also falling for EJ, a boy his age who works in the local coffee shop. With magic on the loose and a killer lurking, no one is safe in Jasper Hollow, and it's up to Dane and the coven to solve this mystery before it is too late!

The characters are over the top, but the plot moves along quickly and the story culminates in a thrilling confrontation. Dane learns that there are positive elements to his hometown, a place he looked down on before. He learns more about himself, and grows as a person. 

Fans of mysteries and whodonit will love this murder mystery caper and will enjoy watch Dane make mistakes and learn from them.

The Shadow Sister

 Meade, Lily. The Shadow Sister. 2023. 336p. ISBN 9781728264479.

Casey and her older sister Sutton have never gotten along. Sutton fondly remembers the days when she was the only child. She is judgmental, perfect, and an A student. From church to school to the community at large, everyone loves Sutton. Casey is different. She's nowhere close to perfect, and she hates Sutton just as much as her sister hates her. She can't relate to people who talk about having great relationships with their siblings. She can't believe that people don't see how manipulative her sister can be. She even stole the grandmother's heirloom bracelet Casey received after her death, then threw her own laptop down the stairs and blamed Casey for it so she would have to pay for a new one.

When her sister goes missing, the entire community gets behind the effort to find her and bring her back. Usually, people don't spend much effort on finding a missing Black girl. And in the last few months, three of them have disappeared. Casey is not sad to see her sister gone, but deep down she misses es her a little. Is Sutton gone because of their fight over their grandmother's heirloom bracelet? A bloody shoe is found in the park where Sutton likes to run, and the family fears the worst. A week later, Sutton is found bloodied and disoriented. She doesn't remember what happened to her, her best friends, her boyfriend, or even her childhood. She does remember Casey, however. 

With Sutton back, Casey expects things to return to normal and thinks that Sutton is faking it to get back at her. But when her mood doesn't change, Casey is forced to acknowledge her sister is different. She now hums old spirituals, and she's fascinated by her new fish. Casey begins to dig into her sister's old and broken computer. The more she discovers, the more worried she gets. Her sister was investigating her cheer coach for abusive practices. She lent her boyfriend her car. Then she disappeared on the same day. What terrible thing happened to her sister while she was gone? Where are the other missing girls? Why doesn't anyone seem to care? As Casey delves deeper into the mystery surrounding her sister's disappearance, she uncovers a web of secrets, lies, and danger.

Fans of mysteries will appreciate exploring a dysfunctional family and the sibling rivalries taking place between Sutton and Casey. Told in alternating fashion from Casey's perspective from Sutton's disappearance and from Sutton's perspective prior to her disappearance, the reader will enjoy the suspenseful and thought-provoking narrative.

Perfect Girl

Banghart, Tracy. Perfect Girl. 2024. 304p. ISBN 9781250902863.

Unlike her brother, Jessa has always been the perfect girl. She follows all of the rules and is as straight-laced as can be. Her life is laid out in front of her, and everyone knows she will be a lawyer someday. Her brother Josh is the troublemaker in the family, and he's always in trouble. Jessa has had her eyes on Ryan, Josh's best friend, but fearing rejection, she refuses to even approach him. 

Over the last few months, several girls have gone missing in the next state. As her parents are attending the opera in town that evening and not returning until the morning, Jesse convinces them to let her invite her friends and have a sleepover, even if they are not here. Josh will be staying with Ryan. Jesse knows they don't need to worry about her or her friends Kellen, Alexis, and Tiny making trouble or breaking things, but Josh has previously left them with a lasting impression of a party gone bad. 

The four girls gather together for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathon, only to experience a loss of power due to a thunderstorm. Josh and Ryan return to the house after getting into a fight with Ryan's parents. Jesse and Ryan are sent to the gas station down the street to call the utility and report the outage. On the ride, Jesse discovers that Ryan likes her but has promised Josh he would not date her out of respect for their friendship. When they come back, the house is empty and dark. 

Looking for her friends, Jesse finds Alexis passed out on the road. She is rescued by David, a senior who lives in the next house down the street. She soon finds herself inside with Alexis, as David's mother, a nurse, ministers to her hurt friend. But all is not well, as she quickly discovers David's creepy side and his mother's insane desire to find him the best wife. Caught in David's trap, Jesse must devise a plan to escape a killer and rescue her friends from certain death.

Perfect Girl is a great mystery, with the killer next door. The characters are realistic, and even if the plot is overly complicated, it is still an entertaining read!

It Happened to Anna

Meija, Tehlor Kay. It Happened to Anna. 2024. 224p. ISBN 9780593647035. 

The only time Sadie had a friend, her friend was killed in a horrific accident by the ghost that haunts Sadie. Following the tragedy, her father and Sadie left their home and the past behind, hoping to find a new leaf in the town where Sadie was born. Sadie's mother left the family when Sadie was very young, and she has only a few vague memories of her. 

Sadie clearly remembers the ghost, however. There's always seems to be a presence around her, especially when she talks with other kids her age. First, she starts getting cold. Then the room gets darker, and electric bulbs explode. That's how the ghost communicates its dissatisfaction with Sadie. But the ghost can do much more, like altering the course of a vehicle so that Anna gets run over. Now Sadie doesn't want to endanger anyone by attempting to become their friend. 

At her new school, Sadie meets Charlotte, and the school counselor soon encourages Sadie to participate in activities, To avoid going back to a therapist, Sadie agrees to attend the graphic novels club, which is led by Charlotte. The ghost is upset by this, and a door slams and a lightbulb explodes. Hoping to avoid Charlotte from now on, Sadie exits the school through the back doors, only to stumble upon another student hanging out by the dumpster. Mal is everything Sadie is not. She's daring, irreverent, and loves a good prank. Sadie is surprised that the ghost does not react when she's with Mal, so Sadie begins spending more and more time with her. But Mal has secrets. One, Sadie can never ever see her parents, as they would disapprove of this relationship. Two, they have to do things Mal's way every time. 

As the pranks gain in intensity, Sadie is both thrilled and worried that Mal is leading her the wrong path. And with the ghost still lurking, Charlotte and Sadie's other acquaintances may be in real danger ...

A fast-moving but predictable ghost story, It Happened to Anna focuses on Sadie's lack of friendships and her craving for human relations. Fans of books like Closed for the Season will enjoy this tale of danger and paranormal activity!

The Boy in the Red Dress

Lambert, Kristin. The Boy in the Red Dress. 2020. 362p. ISBN 9780593113684.

On New Year's Eve, 1929, Millie and everyone else at New Orleans' Cloak and Dagger club is preparing to usher in a new decade. The Cloak and Dagger is a swinging speakeasy located in the French Quarter and frequented by the rich and famous, and they all come to the club to watch its star performer, Marion, the boy in the red dress. Millie's aunt had to absent herself at the last moment, leaving Millie in charge. And Millie plans on ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

Marion has legions of fans, and some are more persistent than others. That night, when a beautiful young woman comes in the Cloak and Dagger with a photo of Marion and starts asking questions, Millie is concerned she might be one of those fans who doesn't leave Marion alone. Unfortunately, the woman is soon found dead in the club's courtyard, and Marion is the prime suspect. Millie knows Marion would not hurt a fly, but local law enforcement agents believe he's guilty. 

With Marion on the run (but not too far away, hiding in the Cloak and Dagger), Millie begins her own investigation of who the young woman was, what it is she was after, and who had a reason to kill her. But dangers abound, and time is running out to prove Marion innocent. Can Millie discover who is behind the murder and save her friend, her family, and the club she loves before it is too late?

The Boy in the Red Dress is a great mystery, with realistic characters in an historical period that is often not well known by readers. Fans of whodunit will enjoy this read, and will cheer for Marion to be found innocent.

If He Had Been With Me

Nowlin, Laura. If He Had Been With Me. 2013. 336p. ISBN 9781402277825. Available as an ebook from Overdrive.

Autumn and Phineas have been neighbors their whole lives. The two of them share backyards, schools, quirks, and hopes and dreams. Autumn is always a little weird, and one day she wants to be a writer. Finn doesn't know what he would like to do, but maybe something dealing with medicine. Finn's father is out of the picture, Autumn's father is also frequently absent, so their mothers spend a lot of time together. Autumn and Finn are inseparable, until something happens in 8th grade that tears their relationship. Suddenly, Autumn is lost without her anchor, and Finn seems just as miserable.

Throughout high school, Autumn and Finn grow apart, but are never far from each other, what with family dinners and special events. Finn has a girlfriend among the popular crowd, a group they would never have joined when they were younger. Autumn has a boyfriend among the oddball crowd, and her group of friends are all weird and eclectic. The groups run into each other frequently, and they attempt to outdo the other's actions.

Through all four years, however, Autumn is fighting the gnawing feeling that her boyfriend is not the right one, that perhaps she is in love with Finn after all. But how do you reconcile with someone who broke your heart back in 8th grade?

Autumn is a flawed character, who either ignores the facts in front of her, or is willfully blind to Finn's attempts at repairing a friendship he broke. Her self pity make her a relatable if annoying character. Readers who enjoy books without a clear and happy conclusion will appreciate Autumn's struggle. 

And Then Boom

Fipps, Lisa. And Then Boom. 2024. 256p. ISBN 9780593406328. 

Joe Oak's life always seems to explode at the worst possible moment. Not literally, of course, but life keeps throwing Joe curveballs, and Joe doesn't often know how to handle these. Like a superhero confronted by challenges, Joe is often knocked over, but he always falls back on his feet. Joe's mother comes and goes as she pleases, sometimes for weeks, sometimes for months or longer, so Joe has always lived with his grandmother. His mother was arrested, and grandmother, who's originally from England and who would like to go back someday, posted bail for her. But then she left again, and grandmother lost her house, throwing her and Joe out on the streets. 

Living in a car is not fun, but Joe made the most of it. Thank goodness, Joe has great friends and teachers at school who recognize his distress, and soon Joe and his grandmother have a new home in a trailer park not far from his friend Nick. Sometimes there's enough money to pay rent and buy food, but sometimes a car repair or a medical appointment means both Joe and his grandmother must do without. And then boom, Joe's grandmother dies, leaving him an orphan. Scared of the horror stories he heard about child protective services, Joe tries to survive alone with no money and no support, and he even adopts a dog and her two pups to remind him there's always hope. And just when things can't possibly get any worse, they do. Joe will have to show how resilient he really is as the challenges pile on him like blows from a supervillain.

A great middle-school story, Joe's life is hard but reflect the realities that many kids experience today. The characters are realistic, the incidents could happen to anyone, and Joe quickly learns that friends can help, if only he will let them. Fans of realistic fiction will enjoy this fast read!

The Night in Question

Glasgow, Kathleen and Liz Lawson. The Night in Question. Book 2 of the Agathas Mysteries. 2023. 416p. ISBN 9780593645833.

Alice and Iris are fans of mystery novels, and their hero is Agatha Christie. Last fall the amateur sleuths solved the murder of Brooke Donovan, and managed to get her killer arrested and jailed. This time, the girls are heading to Levy Castle for a school dance, and they look forward to all of the mysteries that are present in that old landmark. Levy Castle was once home to the 1940s movie star Mona Moody, who was killed in the castle and whose murder was never solved. 

But just as they start poking around the place for clues to this old event, one of their classmates is brutally assaulted and is almost killed. With a more contemporary attempted murder available, Alice and Iris grab their metaphorical magnifying glasses and begin investigating clues, looking for the person responsible. However, the more they dig, the more links to the distant past of the 1940s they uncover, and the more persuaded they become that Moody's murder and this attempt on their classmate's life are linked, even if almost eighty decades separate them. But the closer they dig, the closer they get to someone who has nothing to lose!

Fans of light mysteries will appreciate this fast moving tale, and will keep guessing who the culprit is as tantalizing hints are dropped along the way.

Salt the Water

Iloh, Candice. Salt the Water. 2023. 288p. ISBN 9780593529317.

Cerulean is a free spirit caught in a higher schooler body. they've lived their whole live encouraged and supported to be themselves by two amazing parents and a great support network. Unfortunately, high school is all about conforming and following rules and regulations, even if these rules don't make any sense at all. With six months to go before graduation, Cerulean is counting the days before they get to leave their public school and fulfill their desire of living off the grid with friends, away from the capitalist system that has undermined their lives and that of their community. 

Cerulean is particularly resentful of her English teacher, who seems to have it out for them, calling them the wrong name and making insinuating remarks that they are not as smart as they think they are. During a high stake test, despite being warned not to leave, Cerulean finds themself suffering a bathroom emergency, so they sneak out of the room and return a few minutes later. Unfortunately, their teacher noticed their absence, and Cerulean's test is shredded and thrown in the trash. This send Cerulean over the edge, and they have a very robust verbal exchange with the teacher that earns them an out of school suspension for three weeks.

Not wanting to deal with the consequences, Cerulean stops attending school. Why put off their dream when they could start it now? What's the point of school anyway? But the money Cerulean had saved for their future is suddenly needed when their father, the rock of the family, suffers a catastrophic injury in his restaurant, with massive burns on his body, and equally massive medical bills. Cerulean's funds are now needed to keep the family afloat. With all of these obstacles in their way, can Cerulean still pursue the future they have been dreaming of?

A novel in verse, Salt the Water explores nonbinary representation of African-Americans and the measures that must sometimes be taken to prevent others from silencing one's voice. Containing a severe critique of a school system unable or unwilling to accommodate the realities lived by their students, the book offers a gritty portrayal of life in an urban school and what it means to not belong.

Once in a Blue Moon

Flake, Sharon G. Once in a Blue Moon. 2023. 336p. ISBN 9780593480984.

James Henry was always one of the bravest kids around, at least that is what his twin sister Hattie used to say. But the day he and his mother went searching for their dog by the lighthouse at night is a day of tragedy, and James Henry stopped being brave. Interested by space, and fascinating by the moon and by Buck Rogers, James Henry can't go to school, so every day he watches his sister leave, and eagerly waits for her to return home so they can play together. Scared by the outside, James Henry rarely ventures out of his house, and every time he does he anxiously looks around, hoping to avoid the Baker boys, the local bullies. With his father in Detroit working hard to help his mother heal in the hospital following the tragedy, James Henry and Hattie live with Gran in segregated North Carolina of 1939.

When Hattie returns home one day with Lottie Jean, a new friend she made at school, James Henry realizes that their uncomplicated lives will never be the same. Lottie tries hard to connect with James Henry, but he wants nothing to do with her. All he wants is to go back to his spaceship and his sister. Hattie knows that things must change, however, for Hattie has been offered the opportunity to go to school in Philadelphia, which would leave James Henry alone at home. Working with Lottie Jean, Hattie eventually convinces James Henry that he must leave his home on the blue moon and return to the lighthouse to confront his fear and the tragedy that took place there when his mother got hurt. Along the way, James Henry learns how to see the world again, and grows out of his shell.

Told in verses, James Henry's story is slow moving at first, but it builds a powerful picture of a boy who is grieving for a life that no longer exists, and who must learn to deal with the world as it is, not as it could be. Inspired by the author's father and his life as an African-American child in North Carolina in the 1930s, this powerful story will stay with the reader long after they put down the book.

Their Vicious Game

Wellington, Joelle. Their Vicious Game. 2023. 416p. ISBN 9781665922425.

Adina has always played her cards right. A Black scholarship student at the prestigious Edgewater Academy where the overwhelming majority of students are White, Adina has received early acceptance at Yale, her favorite school, and she sees her future traced before her. Going to Yale means escaping suburbia, where her parents, faculty members at Edgewater, built a comfortable but unassuming life. For Adina, Yale is her means of leaving her scholarship status, meaning being poor in the eyes of her classmates, behind. 

But her best friend Esme, who also applied to Yale, does not get in, and in a careless moment, Adina lets it slip that Esme's family is being investigated for insider trading and Esme is about to be poorer than Adina. Jealous at Adina's admission and furious that this family secret is out, Esme takes it out on Adina by having her parents pull strings, and Adina finds her admission to Yale rescinded. With her carefully constructed future crumbling, Adina turns to the Finish, a competition held by the Remingtons, the wealthy family that donated the school and its land. Every year, twelve girls of merit are invited to participate in games to determine which one will receive a full scholarship to any college of her choice, as the Remington's name can open doors anywhere.

The Finish, however, is different when a Remington boy graduates from high school. Pierce Remington, a classmate of Adina, is also graduating this year. Adina is admitted in the Finish, only to discover that the girls are competing to be Pierce's future wife. She's even more dismayed when she discovers that this competition is to the death, and the Remingtons have the power to make bodies disappear and stifle any questions parents may ask.

Now faced with the deadly possibility that she will not make it out, Adina must find a way to survive the Finish, especially since Esme is also participating, and she wants Adina dead. Plus, Adina does not love Pierce and she does not want to be his prize. With her roommate Saint's help, and with assistance from Graham, Pierce's older brother who is also enammored with Adina, she must succeed at three deadly events: the Ride, the Raid, and the Royale. In a deadly game, Adina soon discovers that sometimes one needs to change the rules to triumph...

An excellently written parody of dystopian books where teens compete in a deadly game for the one position available, Their Vicious Game is a quick read that is both entertaining and still manages to raise some important questions. How far would someone go to secure their future? Fans of might also enjoy the following: Arena One, Starters, Maze Runner, Ship Breaker, Reboot, Not a Drop to Drink, Birthmarked and Divergent.

Dear Medusa

 Cole, Olivia A. Dear Medusa. 2023. 384p. ISBN 9780593485736.

Alicia Rivers is known as the school slut. She'll get in anyone's car, and no one at school trusts her. But Alicia has a dark secret. She was groomed and abused by the Colonel, a male science teacher at her high school that dresses up as Colonel Sanders every Halloween. Known as the best teacher at the school, and appreciated by all staff and students, the Colonel is, in Alicia's eyes, a wolf who predatorily hunts students for his own sexual gratification. Like Medusa, Alicia has been convicted in the eyes of others and transformed from victim to monster.

The twin events of her abuse at the Colonel's hand and her parents' nasty divorce have shattered her life, causing her to retreat inside of herself. Alicia is now on a quest, to see if the wolves out there, men, will ignore or restraint themselves in her presence. She keeps hoping that someone will walk away, restoring part of her faith in the world, but they never do. Her brother is just as lost, abusing marijuana and hanging out with bad influences. Her mother is dealing with her own demons, and just can't be there for her daughter, while her father has left and is dating a much younger woman.

Spending more time in detention than in classrooms suits Alicia fine, since she can't totally ignore the stares and the gossip. Plus people keep leaving nasty notes in her locker. But the arrival of a new girl, Deja, who is not intimidated by her reputation provides a ray of sunshine in an otherwise drab existence. She's also attracted to another new student, Geneva, who reciprocates her feelings. 

When one of the note indicates that a student knows about the abuse, Alicia's world is once again thrown into turmoil. Can she really fight off the teacher she's been trying to ignore? With the help of her friends, and through a process of self discovering involving therapy where issues of ownership of one's body and labels, Alicia learns to reconnect with the girl she once was. Will she be able to own up Medusa's monstrosity to rediscover the humanity that lays inside of her?

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story Graphic Novel

Peterson, Scottt, Meredith Laxton, and Russ Badgett. Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story Graphic Novel. 2022. 160p. ISBN 9780358536895. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Molly and Michael have not been very happy since their mother remarried. Dave, their new stepfather, came with a young daughter of his own. At seven, Heather has already been through a lot. A house fire when she was three killed her mother. Heather is very manipulative, and Molly's parents always take Heather's side. 

When the family moves out of Baltimore and into an old church next to a graveyard, Molly is ill at ease. She feels the presence of a ghost, and Heather has been acting even more mean than before. With their parents involved in their respective art projects, and with Michael not believing in ghosts, Molly is as lonely as she's ever been.

Heather seems to have fallen under Helen's spell, a young girl who died a century ago in a house fire. Helen wants Heather to join her in the palace of mermaids. As Helen's malevolent intentions create havoc on her family, it's up to Molly to stop Helen, before it's too late...