Donutella Hamachi and the Library Avengers

by Kim Chi and Stephan Lee Illustrated by Utomaru 5 stars This was absolutely adorable. One of the best books I’ve read all year. I was pulled in by the beautiful and energetic cover and the story inside did not disappoint. The only place seventh grader Jae Han Kim feels he belongs is the Firkus…

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Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 5 by Kiiro Yumi

Original Concept by Hiro Arikawa Translated by Kinami Watabe 4 stars The dangers at the library take a turn in this volume. Instructor Komaki gets caught up in some serious allegations and the Task Force must figure out how to help him all while concealing Iku’s true role at the library from her visiting parents….

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Library Wars: Love & War, Vol. 4 by Kiiro Yumi

Original Concept by Hiro Arikawa Translated by Kinami Watabe 4 stars Another fantastic volume. Picks up right where the last one left off with the resolution of the kidnapping of Commander Inamine and Iku. Plenty of action as well as some insight into the characters. In this one we get to meet Iku’s parents and…

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Fake Chinese Sounds by Jing Jing Tsong

4 stars After a summer spent studying for Chinese school, playing soccer, and bonding with her grandmother visiting from Taiwan, Měi Yīng is excited to start fifth grade. But then she becomes the target of new kid Sid’s racist jokes. Should she ignore him like everyone suggests or stand up to his ignorance? Great themes…

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enemies (Berrybrook Middle School #4) by Svetlana Chmakova

4 stars When her sister, Letty, teases Felicity about never finishing her projects, Felicity sets out to win the Pitch the Future competition. To do so, she must team up with her friend and come up with a great idea to change the world. But along the way, she has to face disagreements of ideas,…

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Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione

4 stars This was such a sweet book! Basil dreams of being a fabulous magiculinary chef. But first, she must become top student at Porta Bella Magiculinary Academy and earn the scholarship that goes with the title. When she meets Arabella Oregano, the daughter of a famous chef, things start to heat up. Basil must…

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Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball by Jason June

5 stars I went into this expecting a simple, easy-going romance read, but was pleasantly surprised. It tackled a lot of issues with insight and humor. The fabulous femme teen, Riley Weaver knows joining the Gaybutante Society will help him on his journey to podcast stardom. But when he makes a bet with Skylar, who…

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When Dimple Met Rishi (Dimple and Rishi #1)

by Sandhya Menon 2 stars A fun, fairly light rom-com between a not-like-other-girls coder and a family-focused romantic. I loved the show adaptation so figured I’d read the book. Dimple loves coding and will do whatever it takes to bring change to the world. Rishi is a hopeless romantic off to meet the girl of…

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The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln Illustrated by Claire Powell 5 stars An absolutely fantastic read. Lincoln creates a fun blend of The Westing Game and Lemony Snicket with a style and characters all her own. Each member of the Swift family is named by the Family Dictionary with the expectation they will live up to their name. But Shenanigan isn’t so…

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