I tried! I tried really hard to get into the YA novel Who We Were in the Dark by Jessica Taylor.  The setting of the novel is in the mountains of northern California near Truckee where the infamous Donner Party tragedy occurred. The element of suspense and potential horror sets an expectation of possible mystery and intrigue. Unfortunately, the interruption of the storyline with numerous changes of season and place makes for confusion and labored reading. The characters each have an “unknown” about their past, or their family, or their “real” life but the hints are not strong enough to carry the reader forward.  We are supposed to care but we don’t because each individual character is so underdeveloped.  The only clear message of this book is that we really are not able to know another person, even ones we consider friends or may even be in love with.  Therefore I would not be quick to recommend this book.  It is too much work for too little return.

It’s not surprising that this sequel to the award-winning Beasts of Prey is also getting starred reviews, or that the story has been optioned by Netflix already. Ayana Gray’s depth of description, the interweaving of emotions with magic, and tension between characters let Beasts of Ruin feel so solid as a story. Koffi and Ekon are now separated as this part begins. Koffi, basically a slave to the god of death, is intuitive enough to be looking for her path out of captivity, even if it through mystical and “mist-ical” ways. Ekon will challenge what he knows of himself on his path back to Koffi. And as we all learn and grow over time, the two will reunite to find things are not exactly the same as they were, as is true in all of life. Action, beauty, wonder —Gray’s series will continue based on the last line, hopefully in print before Netflix.

Remember when you felt such big emotions as a teenager, big enough to flood every moment of your day and take you from euphoria to tears and back in thirty minutes? Linus and Harrison are best friends who are not only navigating life as black, gay kids but have come to the last day before Linus is moving to South Carolina. Harrison wants to make the perfect “Ferris Bueller” type of day where they skip school, take a train from Baltimore to DC, meet up with Linus’s crush, and experience something unique before he moves. But part of growing up is learning that there is no perfect day. You have to grab the day that comes before you and make it the best it can be. Linus and Harrison have an epic day together, that’s for sure. And there is a huge amount for the reader to unpack, from all-out racist interactions to exploring the purpose of Pride, to family relationships, to the meaning of love. Eric Thomas brings the heart of hearts out in one day in the life of Linus and Harrison. This will get checked out by kids. My hope is that they hang on for the end. There is so much activity in the day, it felt a little overwhelming to keep track of the new acquaintances/few side characters. But this is right on par to relate with Linus and Harrison’s emotions as they know that their tomorrow will be the end of everything that was normal in their lives before.. and they are scared because their limited and sheltered life hasn’t allowed them to see beyond the day.

The YA novel, A Secret Princess,  is a creative collaboration by two renowned young adult literature authors, Margaret de la Cruz and Margaret Stohl.  With clear homage to Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of The Secret Garden, A LittlePrincess and Little Lord Fauntleroy,  de la Cruz and Stohl weave an entertaining but fanciful story around three young people who chance to meet in a repressive English boarding school called The Select Seminary for Young Ladies and Gentlemen. The 2022 novel holds no surprises in plot, setting or character development.  Teenage attraction at almost first sight, the unfair use of adult power, the instant friendship formed from disadvantage and the magical powers of a hidden garden are formulaic and expected.  The surprising and refreshing aspect of this light and breezy novel is the inclusion of a person of color, Sara from the Philippines, who experiences subtle and blatant prejudice from every class level in pre-industrial England. The “prince” is a physically challenged young man whose wealth and privilege cannot bring him what he most desires: health and mobility. The third main character is Mary, a strong-willed, determined young woman who will not be the “lady” that is expected of her. 
     The rewriting of the classic stories by Burnett to reflect multi-cultural backgrounds and people of color is to update the original work with an air of honor and respect. These young characters overcome difficulties through friendship, courage and a bit of “luck”.  A Secret Princess is a whimsy, frivolous read.

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions is a classic high school novel with a cast of diverse and unique characters. Sunny, a nerdy senior with a stutter, must make his way through a night full of trying experiences and difficult revelations. With the help of Mindii, the strange and aggressive girl he met at prom, Sunny will start making his own “rash decisions”, and in doing so learn more than he expected about himself and his deceased brother. 

Throughout the book, Sunny is constantly driving around his town on his quest to make rash decisions. This makes the book quite a page-turner, but it also means there are very few characters who are fully fleshed out and developed. Also, while it is realistic for a high school-age environment, the frequency of swear words is both jarring and distracting from the actual plot. This book will make you realize why most YA novels choose to include only a few swears.

Sunny’s continuous struggle throughout the book is his grappling with the death of his brother, who was an alcoholic. Other themes include bullying, cultural differences, and personal identity.

Overall, Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions is an engaging book that will easily kill a few hours of time. However, the overwhelming host of problems the main character is faced with, as well as the quick, snappy writing style, can cause it to be a bit much at times. 6.5 out of 10 Stars.

In Jordan Ifueko’s sequel to Raybearer, Tarisai will be tested physically and mentally as she begins her control of the throne as Empress. Tarisai is still a rock star of a heroine, staying one step ahead of most issues that arise but when spirits of the past add that additional layer of doubt, Tarsai takes a little of a Christ-like role in deciding if she can live with her people or if she must die to absolve them of past transgressions. This fantasy world continues its mythical tale as beautifully crafted as Tarisai’s characterization. Fans of Raybearer will enjoy Redemptor’s 2nd and final part of the story.

Minda Harts gives heartfelt advice on everything from finding your first job to reacting to squabbles between friends or break-ups of family, and from self-advocacy and positive self-reflection to being vulnerable in relationships. While race and gender positivity are obviously the reason for the book, this white reader could read it from the advocate’s lens as well as the learner’s lens. Discussion questions for chapters are at the end as well as reflective questions for a white audience and comments for a white caregiver. This is the “gift” book that counselors, teachers, guardians, and advocates can share with the beautiful brown girls in our lives. Harts writes in conversational, tell-it-like-it-is prose that creates the authentic cradle of care these girls need to be leaders in our society. You Are More Than Magic is highly recommended for school libraries.

Eric Smith along with Alanis Morisette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard have taken the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical by the same name and novelized it for a high school audience. This is a grand-salami story from five teen voices where perspectives are not always what they seem and choices have repercussions. The main storyline focuses on the Healy family who tries to be picture-perfect but the frame slams to the ground. There are so many, many layers as the jagged little pill dissolves — people exploring their sexuality, people learning to trust themselves, people taking a social stand, people learning how relationships work. “Harder” pills of rape, drug addiction, and mental health issues will also push a fast-paced plot that includes text message conversations for audience appeal. Jagged Little Pill has a broad audience and will be an easy sell when book-talked. Highly recommended.

Sajni Patel gives readers a fast-paced behind-the-scenes experience of a highly ritualized, richly flavored, visually stimulating, and overly hectic Indian wedding week as Zurika Damani’s older sister ties the knot in an Atlanta, Georgia suburb. Zuri is a gifted violinist who wants nothing more than to please her parents while this week unfolds. The problem is that she has the opportunity of a lifetime — to compete for entry to a prestigious music school the same weekend as the wedding. And as the families converge, Zuri meets Naveen, the groom’s South African cousin, who also will compete for a spot. Competition will turn to flirting as the two navigate the well-scheduled week. Zuri’s own cousins will work behind the scenes to have her sneakily escape to the competition. But of course she’ll get caught and its the resolution that ties a nice, big bow to this story of family love. Much like Crying in H Mart but without the heartache of a death, My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding will be a fun romp around the foods, the feels, and the flaunting of the families who have enough money to throw a lavish affair. I highly recommend this book for upper elementary through high school young adults.