Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Inspired by true events, this gripping thriller exposes the dark side of the music industry and the price of naive ambition. Blending raw poetic power with complex, fiercely loyal characters, it offers an unforgettable exploration of exploitation and survival.
Whimsy and Faerry share more than a friendship. Both are carrying painful secrets, and both are drawn to the mysterious forest at the end of their street. As strange magic and haunting memories emerge, they must face the monsters of their past. Powerful, lyrical, and unforgettable, this novel-in-verse explores healing, hope, and the courage to keep going.
Award-winning author Reem Faruqi delivers a heartbreakingly beautiful, hope-filled middle grade novel in verse with Call Me Adnan. Following a young Pakistani-American table tennis prodigy navigating an unthinkable family tragedy, this poignant story explores cultural identity, heavy grief, and ultimate healing. Written in evocative, accessible poetry, it provides profound emotional insights and vital Muslim representation for middle and junior high school library collections.
A haunting symphony of memory and myth! Set against the enchanted backdrop of Prague, this magical realist tale follows a young biracial violinist who discovers a forgotten Jewish cemetery and risks everything to save a trapped ghost from a shadowless monster.
A devastatingly beautiful tribute to unconditional love. Serving as a companion to Free Lunch, this poetic masterpiece chronicles Ogle’s survival through horrific childhood abuse at the hands of his mother, anchored entirely by the tender, complicated, and lifesaving sanctuary of his grandmother’s home.