Author Archives: Stacy Udo

About Stacy Udo

I am the current teacher-librarian at Olympia High School. I have worked as a teacher-librarian since 2013; prior to that I taught high school English for 11 years.

By Invitation Only by Alexandra Brown Chang

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This book is set in Paris for the debutante ball, La Danse des Débutantes. This ball is only interested high society and elite status individuals; and as the title alludes, the guest list is by invitation only. The only new face to this year’s ball is Piper Woo Collins, a middle-class science whiz who is trying to hold tight to her Columbia acceptance. Piper is put in direct competition with Hollywood legacy Chapin Buckingham – who was born and raised to want for nothing. Only right now, Chapin desperately wants to win “Deb. of the Year” but fears naive Piper may win over the title just by being herself.

This book is full of scheming, back-stabbing, and superficial relationships, but I didn’t find much substance in the writing. There are a number of teens who may enjoy reading it, for the drama, scandal and pop-culture references. I did enjoy the depiction of the relationships between the characters and their parents – these were more complex than the other relationships depicted in the book.

This Book Might Be About Zinnia by Brittney Morris

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This novel is told from two alternating teenage protagonist voices: Zinnia in 2024; and her birth mother, Tuesday, from 2006.

Immediately after her birth, Zinnia is adopted by a white couple and raised lovingly with all needs and wants provided. Zinnia is smart, loves to read, and is determined to attend Harvard after high school, just like both of her parents; she knows nothing about her birth parents nor has she been very curious about them. This all changes for Zinnia when her best friend gifts her a book that seems to be describing Zinnia’s life story.

Tuesday – upon becoming pregnant knows that she is unable to care for her child in the way she wants to; nor does she have the support of her family – in fact she has the opposite and worries that her mother and the baby’s biological father’s family would cause harm if they were in the baby’s life. She has no choice but to give the baby up for adoption. Tuesday is a writer and has journaled about the details of Zinnia’s birth and circumstances surrounding those decisions. This journal end up in the hands of a writer who eventually steals the story to claim as her own.

Once this story gets into Zinnia’s hands, she begins a quest to find her birth mother.

The characterization of Zinnia and Tuesday is strong; however, the supporting characters lack the substance I wanted to really connect fully with the story. I do appreciate the themes of found family, adoption, and nature vs. nurture that arise. I think teen readers will resonate with the parts of the novel that show the protagonists having to make tough decisions for themselves amidst strong familial opinions – do we do what feels right, or do we do what others think we should?

A Catalog of Burnt Objects by Shana Youngdahl

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As stated in the author’s note, this book is based upon a real fire tragedy that devastated one small California town in 2018 – this book is set in a fictional town, but based upon the authors feelings having experienced that devastation.

Main character, Caprice (Capri), feels like the peacekeeper of her family. Her brother is recently home from rehabilitation for an alcohol addiction – although he’s the one trying to build back his trust with family and find new friendships – Capri is the one who often feels responsible for his happiness and wellbeing even if that means disregarding her own.

New to town, environmentally conscious, River, is Capri’s most recent love interest – but he’s also now also a friend of her brother’s, meaning they are constantly battling for time with him. Just when things are looking up for Capri and Winter’s relationship – wildfire begins to rip through their small town. Now they, along with the whole community have to make some really tough decisions about what to save, who to go back for, and when to get out.

This is a strong example of what happens when we are faced with extreme moments of life and death – we learn quickly who we can run to for safety.

The book moves quickly and has complex characters that most will be able to relate to.

I Mean You No Harm by Beth Castrodale

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Reviewed by OHS Student, Rory C.

This illustrated biography’s intriguing premise captures and brings the reader into the atmosphere of the novel. After questioning the truth surrounding her mother’s death, Layla searches for answers with her sister. Along the way, the sisters reveal secrets about themselves and their lives while working together to solve this mystery. The premise of the novel is extremely intriguing and it completely draws the readers in. There’s also beautiful imagery which makes the novel far more enjoyable. I like the premise and idea of the story line. It was interesting and I really wanted to know the truth. Despite how good the story could be, the pacing is way too slow. I could not enjoy this book to it’s full potential. It felt as if it was dragging the whole time with so many unreasonable and useless scenes. It could not keep me attentive after the first few chapters and I lost interest for the whole novel itself. I don’t remember many details of it because of how annoying it was to have to wait until something happened. It was unbearable. If you don’t mind it being slow, then you may enjoy this book. It’s an easy read for when you don’t want to try so hard but it is most likely not going to be one of your favorite books of all time.

And Don’t Look Back by Rebecca Barrow

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Reviewed by OHS student, Rory C.

This intense thriller novel is one that will surely keep readers on their toes and wondering what is the real truth.

Harlow Ford has spent her whole life running with her mom, Cora, never truly knowing what they are afraid of. As they wound up in a car accident and are faced with tragic decisions, Cora tells Harlow to never stop running before she dies, forcing Harlow to make a choice; keep living in secrecy, or finally face the truth?

The eye-catching mystery is great at keeping you wondering if what they are saying is true. You never expect what the next page may hold for you. In addition, the wonderful atmosphere and setting of the novel embraces the readers completely. It feels as if you are inside of Harlow’s mind and feeling it with her.

I like the plot of the book. At first, I thought it would not be that interesting or surprising but as I went on, it did shock me a little.I was not expecting the ending or all of these hidden twists and that was pretty exciting. The characters were also well-developed. They were not good or bad but just human. It was great to see characters who truly feel human and are well-rounded people. I dislike how the book is paced. It felt as if the first 3/4 of the book were the same thing over and over. Obviously, it is a mystery so they cannot hand you the answer to everything right away. But, I felt like this was a little excessive. Harlow kind of only had the same knowledge the whole time and it got very repetitive. The story itself is intriguing but the pacing makes it a little less enjoyable. It was almost like a dump of information once we got to the end and it made sense but it was still annoying.

If you like thrillers and horror, I would recommend this book. It encapsulates you completely and brings you into the atmosphere of the novel.

The Last Saxon King by Andrew Varga

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Reviewed by OHS Substitute, Chase C.

Andrew Varga’s The Last Saxon King features a fast-paced quest through medieval England in the 11th century, during which the last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, defends his rule from invading Viking armies. Varga takes the reader through this journey in the eyes of Dan Renfew, a homeschooled 16-year-old who spends his days haunting the local mall and being taught by his father, a professor of history at a local university. Unbeknownst to him, Dan and his father come from a line of time travelers whose job is to correct “glitches” in history that threaten the present and future. Reminiscent of Mary Pope Osbourne’s The Magic Treehouse series, following a fateful confrontation between a mysterious man and his father, Dan is sent back in time to medieval England to correct changes in history caused by rogue time travelers who seek to use time travel for their own selfish ends. Varga excels at bringing this era of history to life in The Last Saxon King in a way that engages young and adult readers alike. While he takes some liberties in his novel for readability in exchange for historical accuracy, he uses clever workarounds (the time travel device acts as a sort of “universal translator” from English into Old English a la Star Trek) to maintain internal continuity. Ultimately, this novel can be enjoyed by hobbyist historians and sci-fi nerds alike.

Olympians #12, Dionysos, the New God

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Reviewed by: OHS Substitute, Chase C.

In this graphic novel, George O’Connor tells the myth of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine (among other things), through colorful art and a form that is approachable to those learning about Ancient Greek myths. The start of the novel is dedicated to the story of Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth (and the first Olympian). Her story, with themes of stability and order, is juxtaposed with the story of Dionysus, whose chaotic and avant-garde journey takes him from his adolescence in the woods with satyrs and the creation of wine, to his entry into the temple on Mount Olympus. The reader will get to enjoy bold and expressive art that brings these ancient myths to life. While the novel is engaging, readers unfamiliar with the series or Greek mythology may find it useful to reference preceding installments or external sources to fully grasp the Olympians’ interactions.

Enter the Body by Joy  McCullough

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Reviewed by OHS substitute, Victoria O.

Juliet. Ophelia. Cordelia. These are names you are likely already familiar with, as they are among the most iconic heroines to ever grace the pages of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedies, all of whom suffer grisly ends by the time the final curtain falls.

In “Enter the Body,” these ill-fated women and girls are given new life by author Joy McCullough, who allows each to retell her story from her own perspective, reclaiming their well-worn tales to create a vibrant new narrative, teeming with righteous fury, unresolved trauma, and a deep desire to be heard.

Each chapter focuses on a different character, alternating between stark prose poetry in which one heroine narrates the sad trajectory of her life before shifting back to a mysterious, liminal space occupied by Shakespeare’s other unfortunate leading ladies. This space takes the form of a dimly lit, below-stage purgatory with a trap door through which each girl comes crashing down every time they are forced to (once again) relive their harrowing experiences on stage. As the heroines take turns telling their stories, the others look on, recalling their own past lives and how the pain, violence, and heartbreak suffered by each is often echoed in the others. 

Reading this book is like watching a series of searing monologues steeped in female rage and driven by a deep sense of historical injustice for women who were permitted little control over their own bodies, much less an ability to direct their own lives. Highly recommended for those who enjoy Shakespearean drama updated for a modern audience and retold through a darkly feminist lens. 

Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban

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Reviewed by: OHS student, Rory C.

The novel, “Talk Santa To Me” by Linda Urban, is a short but satisfying story destined to become someone’s comfort book. Despite her Aunt attempting to ruin the family business and her past kiss coming back to haunt her, Francie continues to try and save the business while juggling her social life. This book has great comforting characters for anyone wanting to sit back and relax. It also has excellent pacing and it does not go too fast or too slow.

I like the characters and how they are simply teenagers. In my opinion, this book is a read for when you have had a bad day and want to read something easy but sweet. The characters help with that. The drama in place is also not super serious like some other books. If you’re trying to read something for only the romance, I would not recommend this book. I believe the romance is sweet but it is not the focus of the book. Some may like that more and others may not based on their preferences. It was not how the romance was not the main point of the novel for me but how it seemingly popped up out of nowhere. I thought there should have been more of a build up in chemistry however that never happened. It sort of felt like Francie gained a crush on the guy randomly a couple chapters into the book. Maybe I am missing something but she seemed way to focused on everything else going on in her life to even think about this guy. How could she get a crush on him like that? It’s like she mentioned him three times before she ended up liking him so much. The romance was cute but it had no build up and I could not see the connection. It felt forced.

If simple and cute books are your thing, then I would totally recommend this novel to you. Although I did not like this book as much, I have to admit it was fun to read. It was a different feeling from those high-action and thrilling fantasy books. I think this book has everything you would want for when you just want to read and not be so stressed about what is happening in the story!

Delicious Monsters, by Liselle Sambury

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Reviewed by OHS Substitute, Victoria O.

Let’s be clear: Daisy does not enjoy being special. How can she when what makes her so unique is the fact she can see swarms of dead people wandering the streets of downtown Toronto, drawn to sadness and despair like clouds of gray flies to honey? And now, the one source of happiness in Daisy’s life seems to have abandoned her: After their first fight as a couple, her boyfriend, Noah, has been spotted around town with a pretty white girl on his arm and is no longer answering any of her texts. 

Meanwhile: Brittney, an ambitious young content creator and aspiring filmmaker, works a dead-end internship for a scummy media corporation to help pay the bills so she doesn’t have to rely on her abusive, wealthy mother for support. As she continues work on her surprise hit YouTube series, Haunted, she and her best friend, Jayden, begin investigating the house that made her self-help guru mother famous, hoping to uncover its dark secrets and solve the mystery behind the tragic loss of life that occurred there 10 years earlier: The unexplained death of a young black girl named Daisy. 

Author Liselle Sambury interweaves themes of generational trauma and coming of age within a framework of compelling supernatural mystery, featuring two timelines with two equally intriguing protagonists. This thrilling haunted-house-turned-ghost-hunter novel will keep you up at night until the wee hours of the morning as you turn pages in a race alongside Brittney to find out just what happened to Daisy on the night she disappeared all those years ago… Recommended for those who loved Netflix’ The Haunting of Hill House and Sadie.