“Spitting gold” Carmella Lowkis

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Atria Books (Simon & Schuster). To be published May 14, 2024.

It was April of 1866 and, for the past two years, Sylvie thought her former life as a medium was behind her. She and her sister Charlotte had earned their living pretending to banish or raise ghosts for money, learning everything from their parents. After a con gone wrong cost them their business and almost landed them in prison, she married a rich older man who took her away from her drunken, abusive father and the life of poverty she’d led. Though she felt guilty about leaving Charlotte, she needed to save herself and agreed to his request that she leave the life of a medium behind her forever.

One rainy day Charlotte surprised her by showing up at her home begging for help as their father was dying, there was no money, and she needed Sylvie. A rich family was eager to dispel a ghost who had been haunting them and, if successful, the payout would help Charlotte and her father. Sylvie knew what her husband had forbidden her to do but her love for Charlotte overcame her reluctance. Unfortunately, she’d soon find out that ghosts, as well as the living, can be revengeful. The peaceful life she’d led for the past two years was about to forever change.

I LOVED this book! I voraciously read it from cover to cover, eager to see what would next befall the sisters. The author’s research into life in 1866 France for the rich and those living on the outskirts of acceptable society was eye-opening.

Highly recommended for Adults.

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“Thirsty” Jas Hammonds

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Roaring Book Press (Holtzbrinck Holdings Ltd.). To be published May 14, 2024.

Blake is getting ready to leave for college in a few months with her best friend Annetta and her girlfriend Ella. When she came out as a Lesbian four years ago her parents barely cared, though her father seemed disappointed. Though he’s Black her White mother never took an interest in Blake’s Blackness, leaving her to figure out how to manage her hair and find Black role models. When she was with Ella and her rich parents in their beautiful home, Blake could forget about her issues and pretend their wonderful life was hers.

Though she and Ella had been together for years Blake felt tremendous feelings of insecurity and doubt that had followed her since middle school. They only went away when she was drinking, so Blake drank a lot. When she was drunk, she became Big Bad Bee, loving how she became the life of the party.

The three of them are all pledging the Serena Society, an exclusive group of powerful women of color. Blake believes having them as role models will be her ticket to belonging. Unfortunately the more pressure she puts on herself to live up to Society standards during the pledging process, the more she drinks. Though others warn her she has a drinking problem, Blake assures them she’s fine. But is she really?

This story of a young woman’s struggles with alcohol, insecurity, doubt, and racial identity is why librarian S.R. Ranganathan once said many years ago “For every book there is a reader.” Thank you Jas Hammond for pouring your soul into “Thirsty”, opening up about your own struggles with alcohol through Blake’s actions. Young readers facing the same difficulties will know there is hope for them too.

Highly recommended for ages 15 and older.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“Olivetti” Allie Millington

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan). Published March 26, 2024.

Olivetti is a beloved typewriter, owned by Beatrice Brindle and her family. Beatrice pours her thoughts into him while her four children take turns typing with grimy hands. Olivetti loves being part of the family and watching them grow up but, when he’s replaced by a computer, he’s sad. Years later she approaches him and he’s hopeful that Beatrice has realized he’s better than a computer. Instead, she sells him to a pawnshop. Olivetti is devastated.

Twelve-year-old Ernest is the quiet one of the Brindles. Friendless and lonely, he’s always buried in a dictionary. When his mother disappears, he believes it was his fault. While hanging up missing person flyers he met a girl who had seen his mother in a pawnshop selling a typewriter. Ernest is puzzled and decides to sneak into the shop to figure out why Olivetti was sold.

Though there is a typewriter code to never reveal your secrets Olivetti decided to break it when he realized Beatrice was missing. When Ernest approached him and put paper in his roller he started to type. Ernest was freaked out but figured Olivetti was his only hope. In time, as Olivetti reveals Beatrice’s memories, Ernest delves deeper into his own. Something happened in the past the family avoided talking about but, to find Beatrice, they will have to remember so they can all have a future.

Told through Olivetti and Ernest’s viewpoints, “Olivetti” is a story of determination, hope, and love. It will make a great addition to a middle school book club.

Highly recommended for ages 11-14.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“A better world” Sarah Langan

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Atria Books (Simon & Schuster). Published April 9, 2024.

In a world set 70 years in the future, Earth’s resources have been destroyed by mankind’s many interferences. Air has become barely breathable, jobs and food are scarce, the weather doesn’t make sense, and people are constantly angry. Linda knows she and her husband can’t raise their fifteen-year-old twins much longer in this environment, so it seemed like a miracle when they were accepted to live in Plymouth Valley, a private, invitation-only company town where they will have a clean, healthy, and safe life. All they must do is follow the rules.

At first, they struggled to adjust but soon became regulars with strange rituals practiced by residents. As Linda began to investigate these rituals, she soon realized Plymouth Valley’s yearly Winter Festival held a frightening significance for the town. Though she begged her family to leave, no one was allowed to leave. Linda will have to do all she can to save them from the horrors she suspects before it’s too late.

This seemingly omniscient view of Earth’s future is appallingly on track based on how Earth’s resources have been abused over the centuries. One can only hope towns like Plymouth Valley don’t come into being, or our future as humans is forever lost.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“The moonlit vine” Elizabeth Santiago

Rated 5 stars ***** Tu Books (Lee & Low Books). 2023. 360 p. (Includes “Author’s note,” “Anacaona and Caonabo ancestry,” “Key moments in Puerto Rican history,” “Inspiring Boriqueños,” and “References.”)

The native Arawak lived in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica, before Columbus and his conquistadores arrived. There are several theories on how they became known as Taíno including that they shouted “tayno,” meaning “good people,” to an incoming Spanish ship. Over the next 25 years their population was severely decimated through disease, massacre, and slavery, reducing their numbers from millions to 32,000 by the year 1514. It had been thought the Taíno were extinct, but a 2018 National Geographic article explained they assimilated and aren’t extinct because their DNA is found in living people – including yours truly.

Knowing this background information made “The moonlit vine” especially interesting as I read about fourteen-year-old Taína’s quest to defend herself and her family from injustices in their neighborhood and schools. Taína comes from a long line of proud Taíno women, direct descendants of Anacaona, a powerful leader murdered by Spaniards soon after Columbus’ arrival on Haiti. Anacaona gave an amulet and zemi to her daughter for protection, with instructions for them to be passed on through time to women in her family who would remember the knowledge of their proud past as their future power.

Over the centuries these precious artifacts and memories of their heritage were passed on until Taína received them from her grandmother. Though fearful at first, she soon learned of the powerful strength of her ancestors in a life-or-death situation.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Taína’s story, as well as historical chapters of women who came after Anacaona, kept me riveted.

Highly recommended for ages 14 and older.

“Uprising” Jennifer A. Nielsen

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 356 p. (Includes period photographs, and “Author’s note.”) To be published March 5, 2024.

Lidia Janina Durr Zakrzewski was born in Poland and, when Germany invaded Poland in 1939 to start World War II, she was 15 years old. She had always been a strong-willed child, her father’s favorite, and the bane of her mother’s existence. When he left home to fight for Poland, she was devastated. Within a short time the Nazis took away their house, her beloved piano, and the money her father had left them to survive. Lidia, her older brother, and her mother struggled to put food on the table and to keep a roof over their heads.

After Poland fell, the mistreatment of Jews became something Lidia saw on a regular basis. Forced to move to a squalid neighborhood, the bedroom window of their apartment overlooked the Warsaw Ghetto. There, she noticed Jews starving and being sent to concentration camps. Lidia did her best to sneak food into the Ghetto, knowing that being caught would mean instant death.

Lidia’s anger against the occupation of her country stoked a fire in her to join the Polish resistance. Her brother was a member but, despite his objections, she joined. She survived harrowing near-death experiences, multiple injuries, battles, and more in her determination to free Poland. “Uprising” is her story.

Lidia might be an unknown name to many but, after reading Nielsen’s carefully researched book and viewing the period photographs, she will not stay unknown. Lidia’s story deserves to be told, as her bravery saved the lives of hundreds of innocent people.

Highly recommended for ages 15 and older.

“Heroes: A novel of Pearl Harbor” Alan Gratz

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 219 p. (Includes “The Arsenal of Democracy” comic, “Author’s note,” “About the story,” “Asian Americans in Comics”, and “The Legacy of Pearl Harbor.”) To be published February 6, 2024).

Thirteen-year-old Frank and his best friend Stanley shared a love for comic books, where they lived on the Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii where their dads worked. Frank was the writer, while Stanley made the storyline come alive with amazing drawings. At his father’s last posting Frank had a bad experience, which made him afraid of everything. Before he could do anything, he spent minutes thinking of things that could go wrong and forgot how to live his life. Fear coated everything he did.

Everything was peaceful until the morning of December 7, 1941, when hundreds of Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor. The boys had been on the Utah, visiting his sister’s boyfriend Brooks, when the attack began. The Utah was hit, and they had to abandon ship, but Frank was petrified with fear. Brooks had to shake him out of it and helped him escape, then disappeared. When he was found dead Frank blamed himself.

As he and Stanley frantically tried to reunite with their families Frank realized his best friend was now seen as the enemy because his mother was Japanese. Though Stanley was born in the United States everyone only saw his face and didn’t care that he was Japanese American. With America now at war, if Frank wanted to keep their friendship in the strange new world which they were both now part of, he would have to grow a backbone and overcome his fear of being afraid of everything.

Middle school readers will learn not only about the Pearl Harbor attack but what it was like to be Japanese American during a time of anti-Japanese sentiment in Hawaii and the rest of the country. Alan Gratz does an excellent job with his research and end notes to help his young readers learn more about this troubled period of history.

Highly recommended for ages 12 and older.

“Not like other girls” Meredith Adamo

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Bloomsbury YA. To be published April 30, 2024. (Includes “Author’s note.”)

For years Jo-Lynn and Maddie were BFF’s until Maddie’s boyfriend sent nude photos of Jo-Lynn to everyone on his contact list. Jo-Lynn had taken those photos for herself at home, to feel pretty, but no one was interested in the truth. Everyone, including Maddie, thought she was a skank. It was her senior year, a year that was supposed to be full of fun but, with everyone shutting her out, Jo-Lynn’s year was done.

One day Jo-Lynn was shocked when Maddie, crying and distraught, told her she was in trouble, and Jo-Lynn was the only one she trusted. Given the circumstances of their ex-friendship Jo-Lynn wasn’t keen on listening but couldn’t leave her so upset. They agreed to meet later that afternoon, but Maddie didn’t show and was soon reported missing.

Because of that encounter Jo-Lynn didn’t think Maddie had run away but was certain something had happened to her. Hudson, a friend from her former crowd, felt the same so they decided to pretend to be boyfriend/girlfriend to spy out the truth from Maddie’s friends. Once again Jo-Lynn becomes part of the crowd that shut her out, laughed and spread her nudes across the internet, and called her names.

As events clash with memories from the past Jo-Lynn wants to bolt. Hudson’s strength and belief in her, as well as the friendship she once had with Maddie, drive her forward. Neither of them knew the enemy they sought was much closer than they’d realized, as Jo-Lynn finally comes to grips with what happened to her the summer she and Maddie stopped being friends.

This book will keep readers on the edges of their seats, wondering what happened to Maddie. The ending is a shocker, reminding me of Laurie’s Halse Anderson’s “Shout.”

Recommended for ages 16 and older.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Miss Morgan’s book brigade” Janet Skeslien Charles

Rated 3 stars *** ARC. ebook. Atria Books (Simon & Schuster). (Includes “Author’s Note.”) To be published April 30, 2024.

In 1917 Anne Morgan, daughter of millionaire financier J.P. Morgan, created an organization called “The Committee for Devastated France” (CARD). At that time most of France’s countryside laid in ruins during World War I, as German soldiers had devastated it. Though fighting was close by, Anne used the CARD organization and hundreds of volunteers to rebuild, offer employment, reopen schools, and open children’s libraries to give respite from their sorrow.

Anne recruited Jessie Carson from the New York Public Library to set up a lending library for children and adults. Jessie’s ideas of story time, open library shelves, children’s furniture, book mobiles, and a traveling library were considered radical, but she was persistent. “Miss Morgan’s book brigade” is her story.

Though I enjoyed learning how Jessie affected change in France’s libraries during World War One, I felt the voice of the modern NYPL researcher in a back-and-forth, past-to-the-present narrative was unnecessary. Jessie could easily carry the storyline without adding in the researcher’s romance and writing tribulations. I also found the numerous book phrases created from “the library of the mind” to be distracting.

Learning how Jessie created children’s libraries in a country that hadn’t had them before is a good reason to read the book, while the author’s expansive notes at the end give more information about the CARDs.

Recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Amil and the after” Veera Hiranandani

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. Kokila (Penguin Random House). 244 p. (Includes “Glossary” and “Author’s note.”). To be published January 23, 2024.

In this sequel to “The night diary,” twelve-year-old Amil is having a hard time, as memories from the horrors of his family’s forced crossing from Pakistan to India threatens to overwhelm him. Though his family is both Hindu and Muslim, all Muslims were being forced to leave the place he’d called home for his entire life. Amil will never forget almost dying of thirst and the torturous voyage.

After their ordeal, his twin sister Nisha had been mute. Though she now speaks a little, she spends her time writing stories in her diary. For Amil, drawing seems to be the only thing that calms him so, whenever he has issues with his father, feels frustrated at school, or is lonely, he buries himself in illustrating his world and writing notes to his dead mother.

School is hard for Amil, as he finds it hard to concentrate. His two wishes are for a bicycle and for a best friend, but neither seem possible until he meets Vishal at school. Though thin and always hungry, Vishal is the first boy who wants to spend time with him. Amil is thrilled to have a friend but, when he finds out Vishal has been living in the street, is very sick, has no family members, and is posing as a Hindu to avoid violence aimed at Muslims, his eyes are opened to his own blessings. Amil finds ways to confront his own painful memories to make sure his friend lives to have his own.

Hiranandani’s descriptions of the 1947 partition of India and its effect on the previously tolerant population is eye-opening. Though Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus had gotten along well for over three hundred years, it was difficult to understand why people turn on each other in chillingly murderous ways.

Recommended for ages 14 and older.