2.5 stars After taking a leave of absence for her mental health, Darcy returns to her job as a public librarian. The last thing she needs is more difficulties, but she’ll have to deal with aggressive journalists, creepy emails, book bans, and protesters. Okay read. I expected to enjoy this more than I did. I…
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Edited by Ashley Hope Pérez Illustrated by Debbie Fong Contributors: Ashley Hope Pérez, Maia Kobabe, Robin Stevenson, Nikki Grimes, Elana K. Aronld, Bill Konigsberg, Brendan Kiely, MariNaomi, Traci Sorell, Isabel Quintero, Trung Le Nguyen, Kyle Lukoff, Debbie Fong, Padma Venkatraman, Kelly Jensen, and Ellen Hopkins 3 stars A nice collection of pieces from a variety…
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4 stars Absolutely adorable. So. Much. Blushing. Follow the world of battle skating where figure skating and martial arts collide. Rookie Emile is trying to make a name for himself as a skater. Things are looking good for him until he’s matched up against his skating idol, Radu. When Emile discovers Radu’s secret, things really…
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4 stars An empress in exile, a handmaiden sold off by her parents, and a cleric who must unravel their story. At once subtle and forceful, this story explores themes of revenge, resistance, and resilience. Beautifully written. The story unfolds at its own pace, taking its time. Honestly, despite it’s short length, it somehow didn’t…
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3 stars After her demon-summoning ritual takes a dramatic turn, Camille Severin is left in her childhood home to hone her skills for her next attempt at the ritual. But slowly Camille begins to uncover her family’s secrets and realizes everything is not as she’d always believed. Magic, mystery, and secrets dwell in the Louisiana…
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5 stars I honestly had no idea what to expect going into this, but I absolutely loved it. All the stars for this one! The last thing the anxious Garlic wants is adventure. She is content hanging out with her friend Carrot and tending to her garden. But when a vampire arrives at a nearby…
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Illustrated by Elle Pierre 3 stars A sweet book about being true to yourself. Everyone has a rainbow inside them made up of everything that makes them who they are. The story encourages readers to let that rainbow shine. Adorable illustrations packed with bright colors and cuteness. Nicely written. Wonderful messages about being yourself, talking…
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Illustrated by Jieting Chen 5 stars A stunning fictionalized depiction of the story of Yuan, Duke Ling of Wei, and Mi Zi Xia. This gorgeous story showcases their love in China in 500 B.C.E. Yuan is told he must strive to be perfect in his rule. But since nothing is perfect, how can he possible…
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By Shane Jordan and Rick Hendrix Illustrated by Jieting Chen Back matter by Christy L. Olezeski, PhD. 4 stars A sweet, inclusive book encouraging readers to be true to themselves and support others. Beautiful, vibrant illustrations wonderfully capture themes of color, joy, and diversity. Includes some great backmatter on the importance of compassion, pride, empathy,…
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Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz 4 stars A sweet picture book following a family through their day and showcasing how they show their love. From a trip to the farm and car singalongs to bath time and watching a storm, baby loves spending time with their two mothers and feeling their love. Lovely, soft, calming…
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