Review: Wicked Fox – Let’s Talk About What Cultural Representation Means

Release Date: June 29th, 2019 Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers Genre(s): YA Fantasy Subjects and Themes: Korean mythology, Family Rating: 7.0/10   It's super fitting that this post is going live during Chuseok weekend (which is totally not planned, by the way, just a happy coincidence). I'm gonna do something a little …

Review: All the Bad Apples – Smoky with Old Magic

  Title: All the Bad Apples Author: Moïra Fowley-Doyle Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books Release Date: August 1st, 2019 (UK); August 27th (NA) Genre(s): YA Contemporary, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction Subjects and Themes: Family, Women's Rights, LGBTQIAP+ (lesbian mc, queer side characters) Page Count: 319 (hardback) Rating: 8.5/10     CW: Rape, homophobia, and a myriad …

Review: Wilder Girls – A Strangely Beautiful and Flawed Gem (Minus that Ending)

Title: Wilder Girls Author: Rory Power Publisher: Delacorte Press Release Date: July 9th, 2019 Genre(s): YA Sci-Fi Subjects and Themes: Friendships, LGBTQIAP+ (f/f), Body Horror Page Count: 368 (hardback) Rating: 7.0/10         It's been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled …

Reviews: The Border Keeper & The Phantom Forest – Two Underworld Stories, One Good, One Ehh

Title: The Border Keeper Author: Kerstin Hall Publisher: Tor.com Release Date: July 16th, 2019 Genre(s): Fantasy Subjects and Themes: Underworld, Gods, Demons Page Count: 240 (ebook) Rating: 7.0/10         Vasethe, a man with a troubled past, comes to seek a favor from a woman who is not what she seems, and must …

Review: Missing, Presumed Dead – A Gritty Queer Paranormal Mystery that I’m Side-Eyeing

Title: Missing, Presumed Dead Author: Emma Berquist Publisher: Greenwillow Books Release Date: May 21st, 2019 Genre(s): YA Paranormal, Mystery Subjects and Themes: Mental Health, LGBTQIAP+ (f/f) Page Count: 384 (hardback) Rating: ???         With a touch, Lexi can sense how and when someone will die. Some say it’s a gift. But to …

Reviews: Contagion & Immunity by Erin Bowman – Biological Space Horror and Maple Walnut Ice Cream

Title: Contagion (Contagion 1) Author: Erin Bowman Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: July 24th, 2018 Genre(s): YA Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror Subjects and Themes: Microbiology, LGBTQIAP+ Page Count: 432 (hardback) Rating: 7.5/10       After receiving a distress call from a drill team on a distant planet, a skeleton crew is sent into deep space to …

Review: Destroy all Monsters – Messy with a Chance of Dinosaurs

Title: Destroy all Monsters Author: Sam J. Miller Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: July 2nd, 2019 Genre(s): YA Fantasy, Contemporary Subjects and Themes: Mental Health, LGBTQIAP+ Page Count: 400 (hardback) Rating: 4.0/10       Solomon and Ash both experienced a traumatic event when they were twelve. Ash lost all memory of that event when she …

Review: Last Bus to Everland – Life Sucks But We’re in it Together

Title: Last Bus to Everland Author: Sophie Cameron Publisher: Roaring Brook Press Release Date: June 18th, 2019 Genre(s): YA Contemporary, Portal Fantasy Subjects and Themes: Mental Health, LGBTQIAP+ Page Count: 336 (hardback) Rating: 8.0/10       Brody Fair feels like nobody gets him: not his overworked parents, not his genius older brother, and definitely …

Double Reviews: The Guildmaster and All the World Between Us – Water-themed Romances

One book has pirates. The other has swimming. Both involve water. (And I'm a sucker for themes) Let's get to it.   The Guildmaster (Vanguards of Viridor 3) by T.S. Cleveland Having helped foil the attempt to kill Viridor’s queen, Merric’s return to the Guardians’ Guild should have been celebrated. Instead, his support of elementals …

Review: Deposing Nathan – Heartwrenching, Raw, and So Very Important

  Title: Deposing Nathan Author: Zack Smedley Publisher: Page Street Publishing Release Date: May 7th, 2019 Genre(s): YA Contemporary Subjects and Themes: LGBTQIAP+, Religion, Abuse Page Count: 400 (hardback) Rating: 9.0/10     For sixteen years, Nate was the perfect son—the product of a no-nonsense upbringing and deep spiritual faith. Then he met Cam, who …