Ivy's Reviews

While spending his summer helping at his mom’s clutter removal business, Colin finds a box of letters forgotten in an attic, sparking a 50 year old mystery, and maybe a new friend in Nevaeh even if their families are rivals. This was such a delight! I loved how the mystery of the letters helped both Nevaeh and Colin discover themselves. Anyone who’s read The Parker Inheritance or loves history mysteries will enjoy this one. - Ivy

Everyone knows all the vampires are gone after the Vanquishers eliminated the last nest 20 years ago. So why does Boog’s family insist on maintaining their vampire protections? It’s embarrassing. But when a kid goes missing, it turns out the precautions may have been needed. Bayron’s middle grade debut packs a punch that’s part Buffy, part Hardy Boys, and all heart. Trust me, you won’t want to put this down.

—IVY

Kofi Offin practically lives in water. He spends every free minute swimming in the river near his home, unless he’s thinking about his alluring classmate Ama or about how to best his boastful cousin. The world tilts upside down after tragedy strikes at what should be a joyous festival. Kwame Alexander’s words thrummed through my entire body as I read, knowing where we were heading but desperately wishing for a different outcome. Don’t look away from this literary triumph.

—IVY

Gender-affirming care is essential in reducing the rate of suicide in trans youth, yet numerous states are passing bills to limit access. This vital book grips your heart and shows firsthand the effect this legislation will have on trans children and their loved ones. Don’t look away. We cannot let our trans siblings down. Written with love, this book is for anyone (hint: everyone) affected by this .

—IVY

As a dhampir, someone half-human and half-vampire, Mina has always felt somewhere in between, as she possesses neither the strength of her father’s race nor knowledge of her mother’s society. In a ploy to solidify his power, Mina’s father sends her to Malachai as a blood offering, but neither she nor Malachai are beings to be underestimated, especially when their chemistry is this good. Whether warning or enticement, the disclaimers at the beginning are not for show. A deeply sexy read with excellent world building. 
—IVY

Transmasc teen Neil has mostly breezed through his opulent life, but when Josh—his friend with benefits—catches feelings, Neil can't run away fast enough. In a harebrained attempt to show Josh he never had a chance, Neil convinces his roommate at boarding school, Wyatt, to be his fake boyfriend. Mason Deaver, one of my favorite YA authors, has created a pitch-perfect fake-dating romcom for fans of She Drives Me Crazy and Meet Cute Diary. —Ivy

Mac hates when teachers ignore the truth in the name of “appropriateness.” When he discovers someone has blacked out a portion of his school book, he sets out to uncover the source of the censorship. This brilliantly written novel by Printz Award winner A.S. King is timely as heck and a vital addition to the conversation about how to handle hard subjects in schools. I was rooting for Mac every step of the way. —Ivy

All Gloria Mae Willard wants is to play baseball with the Balko boys, but no one wants to play with a “skirt,” even if she’s got the best arm in town. When the Dust Bowl brings tragedy after tragedy to Oklahoma, Gloria’s family packs everything they own into a truck and heads to California in search of hope. Memories of the 1993 film The Sandlot coupled with this novel's labor rights movement (think Paterson’s Lyddie) kept me racing to find out what happened next. 

—Ivy

Former Admiral Nicolette Larson has worked tirelessly to make her restaurant a success. Failure means returning to military service with her former squadron turned restaurant employees and sets back a rescue mission decades in the making. When everything explodes in her face (quite literally), survival is tantamount while also contending with a living ship that believes they’re thieves. Oh and space pirates! For fans of Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and The Great British Baking Show, I savored every minute of this incredible series opener. —Ivy

Vivian believes her singing daughters could make it on the world’s stage and works towards the dream tirelessly. However, members of The Salvations have grown up and out of their girlhood aspirations. This is a book deeply grounded in place set against the backdrop of 1950s San Francisco Fillmore neighborhood struggling against gentrification. Watching every woman in this book fight to be understood as an individual made this an incredibly satisfying read. —Ivy