A woman struggles with her sex addiction as she recalls her last long-term relationship with an ex who experienced SA while they were together. Another protagonist watches their transgender nephew experience familial support that they never had. And a gay couple living in a city known for its history of homophobia is at odds when one wants a child and the other doesn’t…
Month: June 2022
Ghost Whisperer Meets Middle Grade Horror
Agatha Anxious is not your average child on the cusp of teenagerdom. She has a terrible habit of biting at her nails until they bleed. She spends her free time in the cemetery by her house. And, on the eve of her thirteenth birthday, she learns that she can see ghosts. After this discovery, Agatha’s life turns upside down. Her first ghost demands for something taken to be returned, her English teacher assigns a book report on a very different ghost, and Aunt Hattie – her rock and the only person who understands what she is going through – goes missing. A book filled with ghost stories, humor, and an unlikely heroine, Agatha Anxious and the Deer Island Ghost will be on shelves this 28th of June!
A Middle Grade Adventure through Time and Space
Arthur, Cecily, and Ren are the best cast of characters I have read in a while! Each individual complements the others’ personalities wonderfully, their backgrounds bring rich diversity to the narrative, and their growing friendship melts the heart…
1930s America and the (Broken) American Dream
George and Lennie dream of a farm to call their own, but first they need to save enough money laboring on the land of others. Their fierce friendship is a curiosity to some and the envy of others. But its strength is tested as they join a new crew and encounter the farmer’s vindictive son. John Steinbeck poignantly highlights the bleak lives of laborers in 1930s America. Intended or not, this story also cultivates discussions on the treatment of those with mental disabilities throughout history…
Shadow Monsters, Hungry Witches and more!
Evie is an amazingly relatable and creative young protagonist! She embarks on the classic hero’s journey, testing her courage and smarts as she searches for her aunt in a world whose rules are ever changing. I loved Evie’s refusal to give up, even in her darkest moments with a panic attack brewing. Middle grader readers will easily identify with her, especially those who struggle with the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety. I also have to applaud the brilliant support system that Senf provides her main character. Aunt Desdemona is thoughtful and…
The World’s Greatest Detective Hasn’t Aged Well
Sherlock Holmes, the world’s first consulting detective. Most people – whether they have read the original stories or experienced one or more of the adaptations – have a distinct image of the great detective in their mind. Deerstalker, pipe, and a magnifying glass at the ready. My love for the BBC’s Sherlock inspired me to start slowly working my way through Doyle’s original works, and I ended up adoring The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a collection of short stories. Reflecting on my childhood days of reading, I actually think my first true experience with “Sherlock” was via Nate the Great, a children’s detective series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. Nate is the spitting image of Sherlock, I swear! Does anyone else remember that young determined sleuth and his dog, Sludge?
Leandra the TBR zero 