The Okay Witch is a page-turner of a graphic novel about an unlikely witch just discovering the truth about her new powers and her family’s centuries-old history as outcasts in a small Massachusetts town. 13-year-old Moth is a relatable heroine with quirks, insecurities, and a wicked sense of humor. The crisp vibrant illustrations perfectly capture Moth’s larger-than-life emotions and the kinetics of her journey. From the bright colors of Moth’s cozy home, to the drab earth tones of 1600’s New England, to the cool pastels of ethereal Hecate (the mystical realm of witches), the changing color pallets beautifully express changes in mood and energy from scene to scene and across various settings.
I especially love how the panels are composed to convey spot-on comedic timing in some scenes, and a hushed sense of wonder in other scenes. Despite all the supernatural content, this story portrays some very realistic mother-daughter relationship challenges. Anyone who has ever felt dismissed, underestimated, or disallowed from seeking adventure will surely find a friend in Moth.
Terrific denouement (#6 in the series) to the Queen’s Thief series! Megan Whalen Turner is one of the strongest writers in Youth fiction today and this one is a masterpiece, ending the series with power and joy. Pheris is an disabled child used as a pawn in the politics of Attolia, but the High King, Eugenides, takes a liking to him. The small countries of Attolia, Eddis and Sounis face being conquered by the Mede empire. And only a Thief can steal the Medes’ victory out from under them! This book does not stand alone; you need to read the series from the beginning, starting with The Thief. Lucky, lucky you.
Race to the Sun is an exciting story, full of adventure, friendship and humor. Seventh grader Nizhoni Begay can see monsters, often disguised as humans, and one shows up at her house trying to kill her and lure her brother and father away to nefarious uses. Using Dino, or Navajo, mythology as a backdrop, Nizhoni embarks on a quest to save her father and brother. In the end, she more than saves her family, she also discovers her own monsterslayer qualities, unveils mysteries of her families, and connects to her Dine past and mythological beings. Come along for this fast paced and humorous tale of adventure in the Dine’s southwest.
One day Avery is spending the night in her car because her half sister’s boyfriend is a jerk and the next day she finds out that some random dead rich guy has named her in his will. Well, the random rich guy turns out to be famous billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne. For some unknown reason he has left almost all of his money and estate to Avery. Avery finds her whole life changed in a flash. Now she lives in a mansion with Tobias’s four grandsons, who thought they would inheriting a lot more from their grandfather. Avery also finds out that Hawthorne was quiet fond of games, riddles and puzzles. She and the four grandsons each got a letter from Hawthorne at the will reading. The grandsons are convinced the letters contain clues to why Avery was named in the will. Avery has to decide if she can trust the four boys, or if they’re really out to get her. The Inheritance Games is tons of fun and a great new series full of twists and turns from Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
A riveting, grotesque and true story of a dark page in US history and abuse of indigenous peoples. Set deep in the Osage hills at the turn of the century in Indian Territory (Oklahoma prior to statehood), the narrative centers on one family of Osage, Molly Burkhart and her family, who keep dying of mysterious causes. The book tells the back story of the Osage in Oklahoma: their removal to a barren, rocky landscape (the tribe choosing that a harsh unappealing land to white settlers). Around 1900, oil is discovered and the Osage people are suddenly extremely wealthy and have exclusive rights to the oil and money.
In a tale seemingly made for western legends, many Osage begin dying mysterious accidental deaths and their money starts filtering over time into the bank accounts of the white family members and neighbors. Like a page from a dime store mystery novel–yet true!–the local officials are corrupt and eventually the FBI is secretly called in to investigate. After years of investigating, often narrowly escaping death themselves, the FBI agents uncover a large scale plot to kill Osage for their oil rights. The murders are planned and committed by white family members of the Osage backed by the most prestigious leaders in the town. However, even after the men responsible for the murder of Molly’s sisters are finally apprehended (one of whom is her own husband), there are many unaccounted for prior deaths and more Osage continue to die mysteriously.
What the author of “Killers of the Flower Moon” investigates, and many of the Osage come to understand, is that their people are being poisoned, blown up, shot, purposely driven off the road systematically by many whites in the community– spouses, bankers, lawyers, reverends–every day people they have lived beside for years. The resulting story is one of a meager justice for one family, scores to a hundred of unsolved deaths, and a generation of Osage people murdered and wealth and land usurped.
Intense, compelling story of a North Korean girl feeing to South Korea during the Korean War in 1950. Sora and her brother are separated from their parents early in their journey. Can she lead them to Busan while they face bombings, hunger, cold, theives ,kidnappers, and a river of fellow refugees. Sora is looking for more than safety; can she find it in coastal Busan?
This debut is #ownvoices; Lee uses true family stories about her own mother’s experiences in this fictional book. A strong introduction to the tragedy that is the Military Demarcation Line, for young people grades 5 through 8.
Quince is a hilarious and heartwarming collection of comics featuring reluctant and short term superhero Lupe. Lupe is just a few days away from her Quinceañera and she has no idea what’s in store for her once the day arrives. When she wakes up that morning something is different, she has super powers. Lupe’s aubela helps her hone her powers and let’s her in a secret that she to ended up with super powers on her Quince. Lupe’s aubela explains that the super powers will last for one year and with these new powers Lupe always needs to help save the day. It takes Lupe awhile to get used to her powers, but soon she has a dope costume and is saving her crush from certain death. The catch is that in the costume no one know it’s Lupe always saving the day, not even her family or friends. Lupe wants to tell them, but isn’t sure what the fallout will be. If you’re looking for a fun and action packed read download this collection from Hoopla today!
A tale both dark and inspiring, the novel Circe weaves a fresh take on an old greek legend. We begin with Circe’s goddess birth in the land of the sun god Helios. But Circe quickly becomes an outcast for her lack of beauty and godly powers and ends up banished to an island. The story seems at first a re-telling of the legend and follows the greek theme. The tale shifts however and offers subtle critique of women’s limited choices, as well as pose deep questions of morality and love. The story creates an alternate ending to an old tale, one where Circe delves into the deeper meaning of immortality, love and the true value of living to one’s fullest. Far from deep and boring however, the story is filled with all the drama of life and legend: love, monsters, betrayal, gods, vengeance, passion and forgiveness.
“Call Down the Hawk” is the first book in a follow-up series to Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle. Stiefvater does not miss a beat with her newest edition to the world of the Raven Boys. If anything, she is only getting better. I often had to stop and just appreciate how beautiful and imaginative her writing is. The story focuses on Ronan Lynch and a new character to the series, Jordan Hennessey. Both are “dreamers” and have the ability to pull just about anything their mind can conceive from their dreams and into the real world. Just like a dream these can be wonderful and fantastical, but they can also be scary and dangerous. The story is also told from the perspective of Carmen Farooq-Lane. Carmen isn’t a dreamer, but she is working for a shadowy organization that is hunting down any and all dreamers they can find to stop an impending apocalypse with the help of seers who catch glimpses of the destruction that is to come. All three stories and more are woven together into gripping story that will leave you a little sad when you finish because it will leave you only wanting more. Highly recommend for Raven Cycle and urban fantasy fans. If you are new to this series, you can read “Call Down the Hawk” without first reading the “The Raven Boys,” but you will be missing some context and references made in the book. This book is also excellent on audio. Will Patton returns as the reader – one of my absolute favorite audiobook readers.
The women in Ellie’s (short for Elatsoe)life have a special power, the ability to raise the ghosts of dead animals. The animals not only come back as ghosts they can see and talk to, but the ghosts can do their bidding as well. After Ellie’s cousin is killed unexpectedly, he appears to her in a dream. After the dream, Ellie is positive her cousin didn’t just get in car accident, he was murdered. With the help of her family and friends, Ellie is determined to get the bottom of what happened to her cousin. As she starts to put the pieces together, danger creeps closer and closer to Ellie and her family. Elatsoe, is a great mix of mystery, suspense and Indigenous folklore.
