Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
T. J. Klune’s Somewhere Beyond the Sea revisits Marsyas Island with tenderness and heart. Told from Arthur’s perspective, this emotional sequel explores identity, family, and courage in the face of oppression. It is a beautiful continuation of a world defined by love, empathy, and belonging.
Look on the Bright Side is a refreshing, heartfelt story that celebrates friendship, honesty, and growing up. Williams and Schneemann craft an authentic portrayal of teens navigating love, identity, and change with humor and heart. The expressive art and inclusive storytelling make this a perfect read for middle and high school students exploring what it means to truly support one another.
Nhung and her mother are barely hanging on in the environmental disaster zone that is Mercy, Louisiana. After her father and brother died and the red algae bloomed in the Mississippi River, survival becomes even more difficult.
Ash, a nonbinary teen struggling to find their place in the world, decides to escape society’s noise and expectations by living off the grid in the California wilderness. Inspired by their late grandfather’s dream of building a hidden cabin, Ash sets out alone with their dog, hoping to reconnect with nature and find purpose.
Ryan La Sala’s Beholder is a haunting exploration of obsession, mirrors, and monsters both real and imagined. Blending art, horror, and queer identity, it examines how beauty and darkness coexist. Though not for the faint of heart, it offers a chilling descent into the dangers of what looks back when we dare to stare too long.