Tiana’s Perfect Plan by Anika Noni Rose

Illustrated by Olivia Duchess 5 stars A sweet new story, perfect for revisiting Tiana, Naveen, and all their friends in New Orleans. Tiana’s in-laws are joining them for the Mardi Gras celebration. Wanting everything to be just right, Tiana sets out to obtain a special ingredient to make the perfect dessert, a king-and-queen cake. Things…

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Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada

Illustrated by Ko Hyung-Ju 3 stars A semi-autobiographical tale set in 1983 during South Korea’s Fifth Republic. When book-loving Kim Hyun Sook starts college, she has big dreams of classes, learning, and campus life. But when she’s invited to join an unconventional book club, her whole world changes. She soon finds herself within a world…

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Crank (Crank #1) by Ellen Hopkins

3 stars Kristina has lived most of her life trying to be perfect. But during a visit with her father, a new side of Kristina come out: Bree. Bree is everything Kristina is not; confident, bold, flirtatious, and unafraid to try to new things. With nothing else to do and the appeal of getting close…

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This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman

Illustrated by Kristyna Litten 4 stars A sweet, simple little book depicting common events at a pride parade. Told through rhyming text paired with colorful illustrations, this acts as a sweet little story for young children, and a helpful guide for introducing specific topics as they get older. The text is very simple, generally consisting…

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The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq

by Jeanette Winter 4 stars The powerful story of Alia Muhammad Baker, the brave librarian who save 70% of her library collection during the Iraq War. The book focuses on Baker’s efforts to move the books to safe locations as the war nears Basra. It ends with a message of hope amid the chaos. The…

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Brave Molly by Brooke Boynton-Hughes

5 stars A heartfelt, wordless tale that shows that bravery is being scared and doing it anyway. Molly is an introvert and mostly keeps to herself, but when she sees some kids talking about books, she longs to join in. The only problem? There’s a monster that follows her everywhere she goes. When Molly tries…

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The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

4 stars So weird. When a Haddesley patriarch dies, he is released into the bog. In return, the bog produces a bog wife for the new patriarch to continue the compact between the two entities. At least, that’s how the Haddesley siblings have been told it’s supposed to happen. But when their father dies, the…

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Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 5 by Suol

Original Story by Gwon Gyeoeul Translated by Ah Cho 3 stars So conflicted about this volume. I absolutely loved the trial sequence. Great tension and some fun twists as Penelope figures out how to get herself out of the main episode’s current predicament. We also finish up the royal hunting tournament. I don’t love the…

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Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 4 by Suol

Original Story by Gwon Gyeoeul Translated by Ah Cho 3 stars The Eckharts join the hunting tournament on the palace grounds. Not to be left behind, Penelope heads off into the small-game area only to lose her way and come face-to-face with a dangerous foe. An unexpected acquaintance comes to her aid, but there is…

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