Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. When NASA opens its doors to women scientists, she sees her chance to reach for the impossible. But among the stars, she finds something even greater—love, courage, and the realization that some risks are worth everything.
Alan Gratz’s Allies delivers a gripping and emotional retelling of D-Day through diverse voices that capture the bravery and heartbreak of war. Perfect for middle and high school readers, it encourages empathy, historical understanding, and reflection on sacrifice and unity.
B. B. Alston’s Amari series blends magic, mystery, and heart. In The Great Game and The Despicable Wonders, Amari grows into a courageous young heroine facing moral choices and real-world parallels of prejudice and leadership. A must-read for middle grade fantasy fans.
The Woman All Spies Fear shines a light on the unsung genius of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, whose codebreaking brilliance helped shape history. Greenfield captures both the excitement of espionage and the quiet strength of a woman who refused to be defined by her era’s limits. A fascinating, empowering read for anyone who values intellect, perseverance, and the stories of women who changed the world.
In war-torn Ravka, King Nikolai Lantsov battles both external threats and the dark magic still festering inside him from his past encounter with the Darkling. Meanwhile, Grisha soldier Nina Zenik grieves her husband’s death while secretly working to free captured Grisha in enemy territory.