Category: book review

The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice by Lisa DeSalm || Dark Fairy Tale Retelling of Pinocchio

The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice by Lisa DeSalm || Dark Fairy Tale Retelling of Pinocchio

Content Tags: Young Adult     Fantasy     Retelling     Fairy Tale     Death     Found Family     Friends-to-Lovers     Perfect for readers who want: Pinocchio retelling, but darker Dark fairy tale retellings Strong found family vibes Sweet friends-to-lovers romance Beautiful writing that feels like a fairy tale Many […]

Fiends on the Other Side by Vera Strange || Disney Movies Meets Goosebumps Spookiness

Fiends on the Other Side by Vera Strange || Disney Movies Meets Goosebumps Spookiness

Content Tags: Middle Grade     Fantasy     Horror     Diversity     Perfect for readers who want: Goosebumps-esque level of scariness. Books set in the Disney movie worlds. Dr. Facilier shenanigans and tricks. Good magic vs. dark magic dynamics. Be careful what you wish for trope. Many thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Rockstar […]

Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao || Lyrical Fairy Tale About the Power of Promises

Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao || Lyrical Fairy Tale About the Power of Promises

Content Tags: Young Adult     Fantasy     Historical     Retelling     Death     Fairy Tale     Witches     Sibling Bonds     Perfect for readers who want: Fans of fairy tale retellings. Gorgeous, poetic writing that feels like a fairy tale. Sibling bonds. Strong friendships and platonic love. […]

Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia || Black Folklore and Healing Trauma

Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia || Black Folklore and Healing Trauma

Content Tags: Middle Grade     Fantasy     Adventure     #OwnVoices     Black Culture     Diversity     Folklore     Mythology     Trauma & Healing     Perfect for readers who want: Rick Riordan-esque action and adventure. Worlds filled with Black folklore come to life. Middle grade books dealing […]

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz || Quidditch Meets Dragons

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz || Quidditch Meets Dragons

Content Tags: Young Adult     Fantasy     LGBTQ+     Dragons     Diversity     Boricuan Pride     Biracial Protagonist     Perfect for readers who want: Quidditch-esque sport and team build Lots of LBTQ+ and diversity rep Books filled with Boricuan characters and pride DRAGONS! Different kinds of dragons, too. […]

Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron || Orisha and Godlings Fight the Dark

Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron || Orisha and Godlings Fight the Dark

Content Tags: Middle Grade     Fantasy     Urban Fantasy     Adventure     Orisha     Mythology     Perfect for readers who want: Adventure akin to the Rick Riordan Presents books. Strong friendship bonds. Stories based on West African mythology. Books involving the Orisha pantheon. A strong Black female protagonist. Interesting, […]

The Inheritance Games by  Jennifer Lynn Barnes || Knives Out for a YA Audience

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes || Knives Out for a YA Audience

Content Tags: Young Adult     Contemporary     Mystery     Thriller     Enemies-to-lovers     Love Triangle     Perfect for readers who want: Fast-paced thriller mystery Books along the lines of Knives Out Lots of riddles and clues to solve A Cinderella story turned on its side Sibling bonds Lots of […]

Minion Reviews || The Birth of Agent Big Butt by Amy Winfield

Minion Reviews || The Birth of Agent Big Butt by Amy Winfield

Content Tags: Middle Grade     Fantasy     Humor     Superpowers     Family bonds     Perfect for readers who want: Funny books (especially butt/fart humor) Weird books with, like, poop being different colors and stuff Books about close families Evil doctor/scientist characters Kids with superpowers Many thanks to the author for […]

Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney || Life Under The Wings of Jim Crow

Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney || Life Under The Wings of Jim Crow

Content Tags: Middle Grade     Historical     Civil Rights     Family Bonds     Diversity     Disability Rep     Racism     Child Abuse     Slavery/Jim Crow     Perfect for readers who want: Historical fiction about sharecropping. Stories based on real accounts under Jim Crow. The ugly truth […]

Whispering Pines by Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski || MG Horror Featuring an Eye-Snatching Creeper

Whispering Pines by Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski || MG Horror Featuring an Eye-Snatching Creeper

Content Tags: Middle Grade     Fantasy     Horror     Paranormal     Perfect for readers who want: Horror that’ll give you goosebumps but not keep you up at night Lots of secrets and conspiracy plots Small-town setting and feel Alternate dimensions A nice blend of paranormal elements Snarky, slightly awkward teens working […]