Andrea C.'s Reviews

Ever wonder what could go wrong if you took some coins from a wishing well? In this story, Lizzy must go on a quest to fulfill the wishes she stole in order to avoid her own death. With the beautiful and captivating illustrations by Choo, Jake Wyatt’s graphic novel is one of my new favorites and I will be recommending it to everyone. Fans of adventure, modern fables, and queer characters, this one is for you!  —Andrea

Yamilet just transferred to a private catholic school in order to keep her brother out of trouble. After a big friendship breakup, Yami forces herself to appear straight in order to make new friends and not stick out amongst her peers. Sonora Reyes' writing shines, all the while tackling the intersection between homophobia, race, and religion with the utmost care and love. I found myself smiling and laughing a lot while reading  this book, and only crying a tiny bit.  —Andrea

All Chloe wants is to be class valedictorian and to beat Shara Wheeler to it. This goal comes crumbling down when Shara Gone Girl’s herself just a month before graduation after kissing Chloe and two other people. Following a trail of pink stationery, Chloe must come to terms with buried feelings and accept that not everyone is what she expected, especially herself. Casey McQuiston's debut YA novel is a definite LGBTQIA+ hit!  —Andrea

After the death of her grandmother Mamo, the young witch Orla O’Reilly returns to her small hometown. There Orla is faced with more challenges than she expected. In order to quiet the spirit of her grandmother, Orla must figure out what happened to Mamo’s mislaid bones. Sas Milledge’s debut novel is something I’ve been looking forward to for years, ever since this graphic novel was in a very early stage and being uploaded onto Tumblr!  —Andrea

Bug knows their house is haunted and, with the recent passing of their Uncle Rodrick, the ghosts have become more present. As Bug’s summer plans change, they’re forced to stay home and deal with the question of what it means to be themself. This year’s Newbery Honor winner Kyle Lukoff intertwines two of my favorite things—ghost and LGBTQIA+ stories—in a gentle and beautiful way, making it easily accessible for younger readers. —Andrea

It’s 1999, the brink of the new millennium, and young Jet is worried about something other than the Y2K bug. While attending boarding school, Jet starts to feel new things and one of those is that they’re actually a boy. Trans creator Joris Bas Backer’s coming-of-gender memoir shows us with intimacy and humor what it was like during a time where information was not just a click away.  —Andrea

In Yerba Buena, two women in early adulthood navigate out of their traumatic teenage years. Sara Foster ran away from home at 16 and has created a new life as a bartender in LA. Emilie Dubois feels directionless and is still an undergrad after switching majors too many times. Nina LaCour’s debut adult novel shows us a love that tries to withstand the complications of life. By the end, my eyes were brimming with tears and I couldn’t wait to recommend it to everyone.  —Andrea 

This soothing story conveys the dynamic world in a tide pool as the resident critters respond to the ebb and flow of the ocean. Pages alternate between the waves of the ocean and the different creatures residing in the tidepools. The illustrations by Amy Hevron show a gentle and calm approach to the tide pool through the use of her color palette and simple illustrations. This is a must read for locals, fans of tidepooling, and lovers of the ocean. —Andrea

Alex knows how to get the girl, but keeping her always proves difficult. Molly is far too shy to even talk to the girl of her dreams. When college life brings this unlikely pair together, Alex embarks on helping Molly, while also proving to her ex that she doesn't fall in love with every queer girl she meets. Told in alternating viewpoints, wife duo Lippincott and Derrick deliver the perfect blend of romcom and coming of age that my little gay heart needed. —Andrea

Bi-represenation? A male protagonist? A fellow Paramore stan? Look no further! Gio is just another Black basketball player trying to navigate high school. Now his mother has suddenly returned, after being gone for most of his life, and to top it off, he’s crushing on his new teammate. In Things We Couldn't Say, Jay Coles illuminates us with a beautifully crafted story of family, belonging, and accepting our full selves.—Andrea C.