.png)
A sweet, joyous celebration of nine unique children and their lifelong friendship.Nine little people are born on the same day. All of them experience love and care in their different families, and they grow up doing everything together. They become the best of friends.9 Little People is an ode to friendship and family. It is an ode to belonging and acceptance. It invites children–and their families–to imagine a community where everyone is brought together by their commonalities, as well as celebrated for their differences.In sweet, rhyming text, author Regina Feldmann shares how the nine children change and develop, celebrating important and silly moments together—and many moments in between. Martina Stuhlberger’s thoughtful illustrations bring their world to life in vibrant colors.
Review:
For fans of Kacen Callender, Lin Thompson, and Kyle Lukoff, comes a middle grade novel set in 1973 about a child who feels more boy than girl and is frustrated that people act blind to that when—aside for her stupid hair and clothes—it should be obvious!Shy fourth grader Jess Jezowski turns the tables on her mom when she’s given yet another girly baby doll for Christmas. This time, instead of ignoring or destroying it, she transforms it into the boy she’s always wanted to be—a brave, funny little guy named Mickey. Making him talk, Jess finally lets the boy in her express himself.But when Mickey evolves to become something more like an alter ego whose voice drowns out her own and the secret of him escapes the safety of her family, Jess realizes Mickey’s too limited and doesn’t allow the boy part of her a big enough presence in the world. She must find a way to blend him into her—so she can be that side of herself anywhere, around anyone.Jess tries to wean herself from the crutch of Mickey’s loud, comical persona, and to get her family to forget about him, but she struggles to do both. What will it take for her to stop hiding behind Mickey and get people to see her for who she truly is? Based on the author’s experience growing up on Michigan’s rural Leelanau Peninsula in the ’70s, North of Tomboy includes artwork throughout.
Review:
North of Tomboy is a moving coming-of-age story about nine-year-old Jess, a child growing up in the 1970s who feels out of place in the body and role others expect of her. Gender norms were especially rigid during that time, and Jess struggles to express her frustration at being forced to dress and act “like a girl” without having the words to explain her feelings to her parents.
When she receives yet another doll for Christmas, Jess transforms it into a boy named Mickey and becomes her bold, funny alter ego who finally allows her to express the part of herself that feels most true. Through Mickey, she gains a sense of voice and agency, even as she struggles with how to bring that self into the world openly.
This book is contemporary middle grade, though the 1970s setting underscores just how difficult it was to exist outside traditional expectations. It can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating read, as Jess cannot fully articulate who she is, and the family dynamics may be difficult or even triggering for some readers. Still, the story is impactful and meaningful, showing the power of self-expression and the complicated journey of identity.
Overall, North of Tomboy is a thoughtful and emotional exploration of what it means to grow up feeling different, taking the old idea of “tomboy” and revealing the deeper truths behind it. Young readers who connect with stories of identity, resilience, and self-discovery will likely find it powerful and validating.
Dark forces are trying to overthrow the Seven Kingdoms. Can Calderon, the orphaned Kusarku prince, master a powerful magical weapon—and learn to trust his own abilities—in time to save his race and others?After the devastating Grey War and the death of their beloved king and queen, the Kusarkus, descendants of minotaurs, reluctantly relinquished their independence and accepted the “generous protection” of the elves.Since then, Calderon, the only heir to the Kusarku throne, has had to hide his true identity.But when the Seven Kingdoms come under attack by unknown forces and the Kusarku are blamed, the young prince must journey to the human capital of Alezadria to defend his race and accept the responsibility of his birthright.If not the Kusarku, though, then who is leading the hordes of goblins and trolls against innocent citizens? And who can Calderon trust, even within his own kingdom?To aid in his struggle against evil, Calderon’s adoptive father, Bard, presents him with one half of his father’s powerful magical sword – The Dragon’s Tooth.Working together with his friends, can Calderon master the legendary obsidian weapon and his own magical abilities in time to save the Seven Kingdoms?
I was very surprised by this book. It was pitched as a young adult, fantasy, and a standalone - all things I enjoy reading, but it was also only 186 pages, so you never know what you will get with that. I am still not completely sold that this is a standalone though - while pitched that way and no series associations online, I felt like this was a good start to a series.
I really enjoyed that the main character isn’t human but a descendant of the minotaurs. This was a refreshing change from the typical fantasy hero, he is still pretty green and has a lot of reservations about what lies ahead. The adventure was engaging, and the trouble across the lands gave the plot enough climax points to string the reader along. I felt that the worldbuilding struck a nice balance of being both believable and distinctly fantastical. While I wanted a bit more description, it was a shorter book, it was also enough to tell the tale so to speak.
The book does a great job of setting the stage for what’s to come, especially as Calderon begins to uncover his heritage and face the challenges ahead of him. I wanted a needed a bit more resolution here... and hope that the series does continue. Overall, it was a quick, enjoyable read. I think if you are looking for something with fantasy, diverse population dynamics, action and adventure this could be a great book to pick up.
.png)
A Middle Eastern legend get a magically romantic modern makeover perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.A young woman must find a way to end the curse on her heart before it claims her forever in this delightfully witty fantasy romance.Sare Silverbirch has already had her heart broken three times. A fifth heartbreak will stop her heart forever. Such is the nature of the curse she was born under, which forces her to live a life without letting anyone get too close.When her mother dies unexpectedly and her heart breaks for the fourth time, Sare begins to urgently question the curse. Where did it come from? Why her? And rather than accept it, could there be a way to break it?Her questions lead her to Istanbul where she meets Leon, a seer who helps her track down the mysteries of her mother’s past. But Sare’s heart is a fragile thing and their blossoming romance poses a great risk to her survival. Especially when she discovers that her fate is in the hands of celestials beyond this earthly realm.Now the heavens are stirring, for they have a stake in Sare’s destiny—and they don’t like their plans being overturned.The Book of Heartbreak is a dazzling, haunting romantasy sure to break—and mend again—the hearts of readers everywhere.
Review:
Let’s be very clear here - this cover is stunning, and the synopsis holds so much promise. Unfortunately, this book ended up being a struggle for me. I wanted to put it down just a couple of chapters in, but pushed on, thinking maybe I was in a book hangover and not giving it a fair shot. In the end, though, it still fell short. Of course, other readers may have a very different experience.
The premise is intriguing: Sare is cursed to die when she experiences heartbreak, and on her fifth heartbreak, she will die forever. After her fourth heartbreak, she travels to Istanbul to search for her past, where she meets Leon.
Curses, Istanbul, Middle Eastern legends - sign me up, right? It had all of these elements, but somehow it still missed the mark.
I did enjoy that this story brought me to a new setting and introduced new stories and mythology. I appreciated the diversity in my reading, but I felt the author didn’t fully embrace it. I wanted more vivid descriptions of Istanbul and its culture, and more of Sare’s experience of change when she arrived. These elements seemed vital to her journey of self-discovery and learning about her family and past, but they were glossed over.
The book is tagged as adult romantasy, though to me it leaned more toward young adult or new adult fantasy. While there is a romance, it doesn’t feel central to the story, and honestly, the book works without it.
As for the characters: Sare often read as an angsty teen, even though she was nearly 18, and she never really grew out of that persona. I also never felt I had a clear sense of Leon - he came across as clingy from the moment they met, which gave me the ick. He was supposed to be the swoony love interest, but I just didn’t feel it. Munu, the celestial guide, was easily my favorite. She added humor with her dramatics and her sudden appearances to warn Sare.
Overall, I struggled to get through this one. While the ending does pick up and offers an okay resolution, I still came away feeling pretty meh.
With its unique premise, fresh Istanbul setting, and touches of Middle Eastern legend, this romantasy may appeal to readers looking for something different in the genre.
Sometimes, looking at him was like looking in a fun-house mirror.Zoe’s life has gone off the rails.When she left Seattle to go to college in New York, she was determined to start fresh, to figure out what being a lesbian meant to her, experiment with clothes and presentation away from home for the first time.Instead, she lost touch with her freshman orientation friend group, skipped classes, and failed completely at being the studious premed student her parents wanted her to be.But the biggest derailment of all? Her newly minted ex-boyfriend—and the fact that she had a boyfriend to begin with. When she met Alden, he made her feel wanted, he made her feel free. He made her feel . . . like she could be like him, which was exciting and confusing all at once.So, Zoe decides a second fresh start is in order: she’s going to take a cross-country train from New York to Seattle for fall break. There, no one will know who she is, and she can outrun her mistakes.Or so she thinks, until she meets Oakley, who’s the opposite of Zoe in so many ways: effortlessly cool and hot, smart, self-assured. But as Zoe and Oakley make their way across the county, Zoe realizes that Oakley’s life has also gone off the rails—and that they might just be able to help each other along before that train finally leaves the station.
Review:
