Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Take an epic 5-star road trip in Mexikid! Pedro Martín’s graphic memoir is a hilarious and heartfelt journey into his Mexican heritage. As his family squeezes into a Winnebago to fetch their legendary grandfather, Pedro discovers that heroes don’t just exist in his comic books. With eye-popping, stylized art and a relatable cast of siblings, this is a must-read for anyone navigating the beautiful chaos of family and identity.
Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures is a 5-star masterpiece that feels like an instant classic. When Christopher saves a baby griffin, he is pulled into the Archipelago—a hidden world of fading magic and ancient legends. This lyrical, high-stakes adventure explores the bravery required to protect a dying world. Perfect for fans of Narnia or His Dark Materials, it’s a breathtaking tribute to the mythical and the courageous heart.
Return to Marsyas Island in this powerful, 5-star sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a moving story of resistance and found family, following Arthur and Linus as they fight to protect magical children from a society that fears them. Rich with emotional honesty, it explores what it means to create true sanctuary and the courage required to stand against systemic oppression. A must-read for fans of character-driven fantasy.
Mean Girls meets The Craft in this surreal 5-star trip through the world of elite creative writing. Local author and Syracuse University professor Mona Awad crafts an unsettling, comical, and bizarre “fever dream” where a lonely grad student is pulled into a cult-like clique of “Bunnies.” It’s a masterful satire of academic obsession and the monstrous lengths we go to for belonging. Warning: Things are about to get weird.
Jared Reck delivers a 5-star masterpiece of humor and heart. Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love follows Oscar, a teen navigating grief and the pressures of fitting in, while running a Swedish food truck with his grandfather. A perfect pick for middle and high schoolers, this story explores the many ways we express love when words fail us. It’s an essential tool for counselors and educators looking to support emotional literacy and empathy.