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*Review Contributed by Katelyn McCall, Staff Reviewer*

MY BOYS!

I am literally going to sob when this series is over.

Heartstopper (Vol. 5) by Alice Oseman is a series of graphic novels with the premise of boy meets boy, boys become friends, boys fall in love. Nick and Charlie are very much in love. They’ve finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick’s house. But with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?

I WILL FOREVER LIVE FOR THIS SERIES. AND I WILL ULTIMATELY SOB WHEN IT’S OVER! Heartstoppers has a special place in my heart, right next to Tea Dragon Society and LightFall. I love that Osman has developed these characters beyond the original concept, and has ultimately made it relatable to wider audiences. I am just so happy to see these goofballs get their happily ever after.

*Find More Info & Buy This Book HERE!*

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We are excited to share a giveaway for THE SECRET ELEPHANT: Inspired by a True Story of Friendship!

Meet the Author: Ellan Rankin

Ellan Rankin is a Northern Irish author-illustrator who earned an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art, and a First-Class Honors degree in Illustration from the Jordanstone College of Art & Design. Her picture books combine her love of animals with her experience in animation. She lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

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About the Book: The Secret Elephant: Inspired by a True Story of Friendship

A remarkable friendship between a baby elephant and her keeper shows that kindness is never forgotten. Inspired by a true story, this uplifting picture book is a perfect read for animal lovers of all ages.

While carefree monkeys dangle in trees, powerful lions quietly sunbathe, and majestic giraffes walk back and forth, a terrible war looms on the horizon and changes everything. People stop coming to the zoo and most of the animals huddle together with their mates in their different enclosures– except for one baby elephant that was all alone.  As bombs shake the ground and flashes of orange light burn across the sky, the solitary elephant grows more and more afraid and confused. Her keeper understood and spends as much time with her elephant as she can.  And when it becomes impossible to stay in the enclosure, the keeper makes the daring choice to bring the elephant home.

But it’s hard to hide an elephant, even a baby one, and it gets even harder as the elephant grows. After a time, the elephant is ordered back to the zoo.  Still, the kind-hearted keeper could not abandon her friend, so she sets up house right alongside the elephant for the remainder of the war.

Many years later, when the keeper no longer works at the zoo, she returns to visit her friend. Her friend, much older now as well, remembers the keeper and her brave kindness.

Inspired by a remarkable true story at the Belfast Zoo during WW11 perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan and the award-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers.

Purchase

Title: THE SECRET ELEPHANT: Inspired by a True Story of Friendship

Author: Ellan Rankin

Illustrator: Ellan Rankin

Release Date: 4/23/24

Publisher: Random House Studio

ISBN-10: 059370326X

ISBN-13: 059370326X

Genre: Fiction picture book

Age Range: Ages 4-8

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Makiia Lucier (Dragonfruit)!

Meet the Author: Makiia Lucier

Makiia Lucier grew up on the Pacific Island of Guam and holds degrees in journalism and library studies from the University of Oregon and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She is the author of A Death-Struck Year, Isle of Blood and Stone, and Song of the Abyss.

Website

About the Book: Dragonfruit

From acclaimed author Makiia Lucier, a dazzling, romantic fantasy inspired by Pacific Island mythology. In order to return to her homeland and save her kingdom, exiled Hanalei reunites with her childhood best friend, Sam, to track down a rare seadragon egg—a dragonfruit—whose magic is said to grant any wish. But every wish comes with a price, and Hanalei must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for her kingdom . . . and for Sam.

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

~Author Chat~

YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?

His name is Fetu. He’s a fruit bat.

YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

I really like the opening, “In the old tales, it is written that the egg of a seadragon, dragonfruit, holds within it the power to undo a person’s greatest sorrow…etc.” It was one of the first passages I wrote, and it set the tone for the whole story.

YABC:  What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?

Most of my books start with research. When you write historical fiction or historical fantasy, you have to know your history. With Dragonfruit, however, I started from memory. I wrote down everything I remembered from growing up on the Pacific island of Guam (family, food, friends, the landscape) and then I built a world around those memories.

YABC: If you could only write one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Probably historical fantasy. I love research and history, and fantasy gives you the freedom to make the story your own (by adding seadragons, for example).

YABC:   What can readers expect to find in your books?

In Dragonfruit, a seadragon scholar, a stressed out prince, villains everywhere, sand, sea, fruit bats.

YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?

Jumbo Red Vines and Strawberry Pocky Sticks.

YABC: If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?

Absolutely. Hanalei is smart, resourceful, and kind. You definitely want her around in an emergency.

YABC:    What’s your least favorite word or expression and why?

Got, Gotten. (Ugh!) Don’t ask me to explain. I can’t. (I have a friend who hates the sound of the word ‘moist’). She can’t explain either. But “got” and “gotten” make me shudder.

Title: Dragonfruit

Author: Makiia Lucier

Release Date: 4/9/24

Publisher: Clarion Books

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Age Range: 13 and up

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We’re excited to host the giveaway for The Day I Fell Into A Fairy Tale (Ben Miller)! 

Read on to find out more about the author, the book and a giveaway!

About the Author: Ben Miller

Ben Miller is the bestselling author of magical stories for the whole family: The Night I Met Father Christmas, The Boy Who Made the World Disappear, The Day I Fell into a Fairytale, How I Became a Dog Called Midnight, Diary of a Christmas Elf, and The Night We Got Stuck in a Story. He is an actor, director, and comedian best known for The Armstrong & Miller Show, the Johnny English and Paddington films, BBC’s Death in Paradise, and recent Netflix smash Bridgerton.

About the Book: The Day I Fell Into A Fairy Tale

From actor, author, and comedian Ben Miller comes an illustrated middle grade fantasy adventure following a brother and sister who stumble into a magical new world—perfect for fans of Half Upon a Time and Land of Stories!

Lana loves stories, especially the ones she and her brother, Harrison, share in their make-believe games. But when Harrison decides he’s too grown-up to play with Lana anymore, she’s too lonely to find the wonder in storytelling…until something magical happens.

Lana discovers a portal to a fairy tale world hidden in the strange new supermarket in town! But these aren’t the happy-ever-after fairy tales that Lana knows—they are darker and more dangerous, and the characters need Lana’s help to defeat an evil witch. But she can’t do it alone.

Can she convince Harrison to believe in stories again and journey to the world with her before it’s too late?

Purchase

Title: THE DAY I FELL INTO A FAIRY TALE

Author: Ben Miller

Illustrator: Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini

Release Date: 4/23/24

Publisher: Aladdin

ISBN-10: 1665949732

ISBN-13: 9781665949736

Genre: Middle Grade

Age Range: 8-12

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS* 

Two (2) winners will receive a copy of The Day I Fell Into A Fairy Tale (Ben Miller) ~US Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

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Today we’re spotlighting THE DOOR IS OPEN edited by Hena Khan!

Read on for more about the author and the book!

About the Editor: Hena Khan

Hena Khan is a Pakistani-American who was born and raised in Maryland, where she still lives. She enjoys writing about her culture as well as all sorts of other subjects, from spies to space travel. You can learn more about Hena by visiting her website: henakhan.com.

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About the Book: THE DOOR IS OPEN

Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center.

Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won’t make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji– he just can’t eat it).

These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.

Purchase

~Excerpt~

CHECK YOURSELF

by Veera Hiranandani

I pick up the queen and twirl her between my forefinger and thumb. I can see my path. My opponent has left his rook unguarded, and my queen can take it. It will leave my bishop open to his knight, but my other rook will take it if he does, so I’m protected. I make my move and look him in the eyes.

I once read that the queen wasn’t always the most powerful piece on the chessboard. In fact,

the queen didn’t use to be the queen at all. She was only an advisor to the king, with very little

power. Her power grew over the years, especially during the rise of Queen Isabella I in Spain, when

chess traveled all the way from India, to Persia, and then to Europe. Queen Isabella sounded like a terrible person, though, because she forced all the Jews and Muslims to leave Spain. During that time, the queen chess piece started to change into what she is now. My queen is not like Isabella. My queen protects all her people.

The air sits still around us, and I can hear the creaking as my opponent leans forward in his wooden chair, studying the chessboard. He squints a little and rests his chin on his clasped hands as

the steam of his coffee rises from the mug on the table. A few minutes go by.

“Well, Grandpa?” I say.

“It’s a good move,” he says, but then he moves his other knight and takes one of my pawns. “Check.”

“Darn it,” I say, and check. How did I not see his other knight just two moves away from my king? I scan my eyes over every spot on the board, drawing imaginary lines where each piece could

go and to see what pieces they could capture. I try to stay a move or two ahead, but it’s hard to think into the future like that. That’s what the game of chess is about, though. The present, yes, but

mostly it’s about imagining the future.

The pieces are made from marble. My queen is black with little white marble veins running through her—all my pieces look like that. The pieces on Grandpa’s side are white with little black veins running through them. He gave me the set last spring on my twelfth birthday. It’s smooth and shiny, and the pieces have a nice heavy feel in my hand. Though sometimes I prefer the simple wooden board I bought with my own allowance when I first started to play. But I wouldn’t tell Grandpa that.

I look at my queen again and now see that Grandpa’s queen from all the way on the other side of the board can move in a straight diagonal and capture my king. How did I not notice? I squeeze my eyes shut and open them again. Come on, Chaya, I tell myself. You’re a better player than this.

“Grandpa, I think I need a break,” I say with a smile so he doesn’t suspect the sinking feeling that

is taking over my stomach.

“Okay,” he says, “but we’ll practice again tomorrow. You only have two days before the tournament.” Then he leans back in his chair and repeats what he’s said many times before. “Remember, don’t think about the player. Think about what’s happening on the board.”

“I know, I know,” I say lightly, but inside I still feel a weight in the bottom of my stomach. I pad in my sock feet toward Grandpa’s cozy kitchen with its yellow table and white cabinets. He moved into

the apartment down the street from our house ten years ago when my grandma died. I don’t really remember her. Over the years, Grandpa taught me how to play chess, and now I stay at his apartment after school most days until Mom and Dad get home from work.

I rummage through the kitchen cabinets looking for the exact snack that will distract me from

worrying about Saturday’s tournament. It’s the final local tournament, and whoever wins will

compete for the state chess championship. Last year, I lost to Andrew Pierson in the final game and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Though I do think about the board, I also think about the player— well, particularly one player: Andrew.

I probably wouldn’t win state anyway, because New Jersey’s pretty competitive. I just want to beat him. I can’t stand the way he struts around at chess club giving everyone tips they didn’t even ask for. It’s like he thinks he invented the game.

I find the snack I am looking for in the back on the bottom shelf—soup nuts. Grandpa usually

saves them for soup, but I like to eat them straight out of the can. Soup nuts are not even nuts at

all, but puffy little round crackers that are kind of crunchy and a little bit salty. They remind me of cold winter days and Jewish holidays when my mom makes matzo ball soup. My dad likes them too, even though he was born in India and didn’t grow up eating them like my mom did. I open the can and stuff a big handful in my mouth.

“Blah!” I say with my mouth full. I run over to the garbage and spit them out. “Gross!”

“What?” Grandpa says as he comes into the kitchen.

“These are so stale,” I say as I wipe my mouth. I grab a glass, fill it with water, and take a big gulp, washing away the stale taste. Then I look at the expiration date.

“Grandpa, these expired a year ago!”

He waves his hand. “I don’t pay attention to those dates. They just want you to throw out perfectly good food and buy more.”

“I don’t think that’s true, Grandpa. I feel like I’ve just been poisoned,” I say, and put my hand

around my neck, sticking out my tongue.

“Oh, you’re fine,” he says. “Stale soup nuts never poisoned anyone.”

He finds a box of chocolate chip cookies, peers through his thick glasses, and reads the side of the package. “These don’t expire until a month from now, so eat up.”

I smile and we both dig into the cookies.

Later that night, at dinner, as I push around the aloo gobi and rice on my plate, I can’t stop thinking about the game Grandpa and I never finished and that I would have probably lost.

“What’s wrong?” my mother asks.

I shrug and take a bite of rice.

“School okay?” she asks.

I nod.

“How was Grandpa’s?”

“Fine,” I say.

“Nervous about the tournament?” she says.

“Nah,” I say.

My dad looks up from his food. “I’ll play a game with you tonight,” he says, and wipes his mouth.

“That’s okay, Dad. I’m good. Thanks, though.”

He nods, and then he and my mom start talking about their workdays, which can get boring, so I head upstairs, grabbing more cookies on the way. If I tell them I’m nervous, they’ll go into very annoying problem- solving action, and the truth is my dad’s not the greatest chess player. I always beat him. My mom’s a little better, because Grandpa taught her, but she never seems to have time to play.

That night, my belly full of too many cookies, I lie on my bed and imagine the future. I imagine beating Andrew. I think about the last game of the tournament, everyone else tired and disappointed

and Andrew and I facing off. I think about the moment when I can say “Checkmate,” and his cheeks turn a little red. I think about standing up, being a good sport, shaking his hand, and how he would have to shake my hand, smile, and be gracious. Then I think of calmly walking to the bathroom, making sure I’m alone, and punching my fist in the air with a burst of glory so delicious, I’ll coast on it for months.

I feel a little mean, thinking all of this, but I heard Andrew say once that a girl had never beat him, which first of all isn’t true because I’ve beat him in chess club practice games and so has Maha

Iqbal. So, if he’s going to lie like that, maybe he deserves to lose to one of us, the only two girls

in chess club. Because there aren’t as many girls, some people (mostly boys) think that girls aren’t

as good at chess. I know that’s not true, but the only way to prove it is for one of us to win the tournament.

Thinking about this, I try extra hard with Grandpa the next day after school and manage to beat him in three out of the five games we play.

“You’re ready, Chaya, and no matter what happens, you’re doing it because you love the game.”

“I don’t know. Yesterday was a mess.”

“Just nerves. If you stay focused like today, you’ll be golden.”

“Thanks, Grandpa,” I say, and we fist- bump. I hope he’s right.

Saturday morning comes, the day of the tournament. Mom makes my power breakfast: scrambled eggs and buttered wheat toast because she says the protein in the eggs and the fat in the butter will keep my energy steady. I force myself to eat it even though my nerves rattle through my body.

She drops me off at the Maple Grove Community Center, which I’ve played at many times.

I love having tournaments here because I know exactly how they’re set up and the main room has nice high ceilings and big windows. Sometimes I’ve had to play in much smaller rooms or hot and musty school basement spaces, which make me feel like I can’t breathe, especially if things aren’t going well.

“Good luck! We’re here for you no matter what happens,” my mom says, but I can see the hope in her eyes. She’s hoping I win, not just for me, but because she knows how grumpy I get for days

when I lose a big tournament.

“Thanks, Mom,” I say, and shiver a little at the cold air that hits my face. I walk in and see a big

sign in black marker— THE FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER IS IN OUR HANDS! TOWN HALL MEETING NEXT THURSDAY!— which makes me more nervous. I’m not sure what’s going on with the center, but I push these thoughts out of my head. Focus, Chaya.

I wish Grandpa were here, but they don’t let parents or grandparents or any guests of the players watch, which is probably for the best. The times my mom watches practice games, she makes

all these concerned faces if I’m losing and happy faces if I’m winning. My dad tries to focus but glazes over at a certain point, so I’m either worried that they’re paying too much attention or too little. But when Grandpa watches me play, he’s in the story of every game just like I am, wondering how it’s going to end.

Every chess game has its own story. Some games start out bold and fast, some slow and careful. The pieces have different personalities, depending on who’s playing them. There are little pawns who become fierce and overwhelming, chipping away the opposing forces like death from a thousand papercuts. There are subtle, sneaky queens and assertive ones and hyper ones. There are quiet, cowardly kings hiding behind everyone else, and kings who do their best to support everyone working hard to protect them. Then of course there are the rest of the supporting pieces, who are all important.

Though I love the queen, because who doesn’t, my favorite piece is the knight. The knight has the most unexpected move. It can fly. Well, not actually fly, but jump over other pieces to reach its destination. The knight, especially for newer players, is often the piece you don’t see coming.

I put my backpack in a locker, check in, and look at the pairing list. Then I find the table for my

first game. I sit down, glad my opponent isn’t there yet, and take in the room. The familiar smell is

comforting to me, a combination of polished wood floors, coffee, and the orange- scented soap used in the bathrooms. My first opponent is Ben Geller.

“Hi,” he says. I say a quick hi back, but I don’t smile. I like to keep it serious while I play. I beat

Ben pretty quickly and play a few more easy games. In the beginning, the lowest- ranked players are matched against the highest- ranked players, and usually by the end of the tournament, only the strongest players are left playing each other.

During the lunch break, I go and find my secret spot on the basement floor down a long hallway.

It’s dark and quiet. I don’t like to talk to people during a tournament. It makes me feel too competitive,

and I start getting distracted by thoughts of winning rather than paying attention to the story on the board, as Grandpa says. Even so, I’ve kept my eye on Andrew and Maha, and they also beat out the lower- ranked players.

I sit and eat my energy bar and apple and imagine different chess openings. I try not to think

about Andrew, but it’s impossible. When I finish, I get up and hear some kids talking. I freeze at the sound of their voices and stand back behind the corner of the hallway. Then I peek around, hoping they can’t see me. It’s Andrew, Ben, and another kid, Aiden. What are they doing down here?

“Maha and Chaya are the ones to beat. I’ve lost to them both today,” says Ben.

“Well, I’m about to go up against them after lunch, so their winning streak will end,” says Andrew.

“Be careful. You’ve got to watch out for those Indian girls,” Aiden says. “They’re good at that kind of stuff.”

“What do you mean?” Ben says.

“You know, math, chess, science, computers.

They’re all good at that stuff.”

 “Maybe,” Andrew says. “But I can beat any girl who comes my way, Indian or not.”

“Not if I beat them first,” Aiden says.

Ben just shrugs, but my heart is pounding so hard, I feel the thudding in my ears.

“Do you have the magic?” Aiden asks.

“Yup,” Ben says, and takes three cans of Mountain Dew out of his bag. What’s so special about Mountain Dew?

“Bring on the sugar rush,” Andrew says.

“Those girls are going down for sure.” Then they all clink the cans together and chug the soda. I duck back behind the wall while they finish and wait for them to go back upstairs. My head is spinning with everything I’ve just heard. First, they think Maha and I are good at chess only because of our Indian background, even though Maha’s family is from Pakistan. Second, they think we’re not as good at chess because we’re girls. Third, they drink some stupid sugary soda because they think it will make them better at chess!

I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down, something my father taught me. I count for five

on the inhale and five on the exhale. After I do it a few times, I feel more relaxed, more like myself. I think again of Aiden’s words— the part about being Indian and good at chess. I didn’t even know that was a thing people thought.

I usually like things that make me feel more Indian because only my father is Indian. Sometimes

when I’m around people who have two Indian parents, I don’t feel Indian enough, almost like I’m pretending. But I don’t want anyone to think that I’m good at chess just because of my Indian background.

I look at the clock on the wall. I have to be back in the main room in five minutes. I lift my arms

over my head and stretch, then pick up my backpack and head upstairs. It seems like Andrew and his friends don’t want to give me, the actual person I am, credit for being good at chess. I’m either not good enough because I’m a girl or too good because I’m Indian. What would they think about the fact that my Jewish grandfather is the one who taught me how to play?

As I enter the main room, again the wooden, soapy smell comforts me. The pairing list says I’m

up against Aiden. I walk over to the assigned table and sit down, and we face each other. I nod with

laser eyes. He returns my nod.

“Prepare to go down,” he says.

“Nice chess etiquette,” I say sarcastically, but then regret it. The last thing I need is to get into an

argument with Aiden. Luckily, he doesn’t respond. We start, and I decide to play extra fast. Maybe it’s because of the adrenaline running through my veins because of what happened downstairs, or the knot of anger that’s growing inside me, but after I capture his rook, it doesn’t take me long to see the move that will win the game— just me, Chaya, being good at something because I am. My bishop and a pawn have trapped his king after moving him into the corner with my queen.

“Checkmate,” I say after only twenty minutes, and press my lips together so I won’t smile. This game is a quick story, ending before it really began. Aiden abruptly stands up and shakes my hand, though he doesn’t look me in the eyes. His hand feels a little clammy with a slight tremble to it. I want to tell him, “Maybe next time, don’t drink so much Mountain Dew,” but I don’t. I have to focus on the next round, because Andrew just beat Maha.

Suddenly my own hands feel clammy and shaky. I look over at Maha, and she gives me a

little secret thumbs‑up. I smile and nod. Then we turn away quickly. It’s nice she’s encouraging me even though she lost. We’re friends in chess club, but we don’t talk during tournaments. It’s a kind of silent understanding we have. Maybe it’s because we don’t want to act like we’re part of a “girls’ team.” We just want to be seen as two separate kids, playing chess.

I wipe my hands on my jeans and again wish Grandpa were here to give me the look he has

in his eyes when we play, the look that tells me no matter what happens, he’s always rooting for me.

Andrew and I sit down at the same time. I usually try to look my opponent in the eyes right away, but this time when I look at him, I see one corner of his mouth turned up into a slight smile and it sends me back to an hour ago, listening to him in the hallway. So I keep my eyes down and think of Grandpa’s words: Don’t try to beat the person. Just focus on the board.

I’m playing white this time. Chess rules say the white pieces always go first, though I’m not sure who made up that rule. It means I have the advantage, because I won against a higher- ranked player than Andrew did, but now I feel even more pressure. When you play white, you’re supposed to win.

I start out moving my pawn in the e4 space and decide to follow with my knights. Andrew

will probably do the same, and our four knights will be in a sort of face- off. Grandpa says the real game happens in the center of the board, during the middle part. And I agree. It’s what my chess teacher says at the club, too. But the pieces waiting in the corners and on the edges can be just as powerful, even if they’re not in the center, even if they get forgotten sometimes. In certain games, they’re the most powerful pieces of all.

But right now, Andrew is moving his pieces aggressively. He’s got his queen on my side of

the board. He’s already taken several pawns and a bishop and I’m down several points. I turn my head from side to side, stretching my neck, and try to ignore what’s coming— that dreaded last- game‑of‑the- tournament moment. It’s the moment when my adrenaline starts to drop and my breathing slows and I remember that I’ve been playing chess all day. My limbs start to feel heavy and my eyes burn. I just want to go home, have dinner with my family, and feel safe.

This time I look up at Andrew to see if he’s losing his energy, and what does he do? He winks at

1. It feels like someone has just dropped a handful of ice down my back.

“Check,” he says.

I frantically eye the board. I’ve lost sight of the future. He’s got his rook aimed straight at my

king. I need to move my king, but then I see my knight next to my king, waiting for me. I haven’t touched it in a while and can use it to launch over Andrew’s pawn and take his rook. That will open up my bishop, and then I can put him in check with my queen.

We play a few more moves, and I do put him in check. People who have finished their games start to watch us. Andrew clears his throat loudly. I see the sweat glisten on his forehead. He meets my eyes again, and I can tell how much he wants to beat me— not my pieces, but me. If he moves one way, I have a plan to win. If he moves another, he might win. The future is unknown.

I start to think about why this game matters so much. The reason it matters to Mom and Dad

is because they know I want to win. It matters to Grandpa because he knows I’ll learn something no matter what happens. I already beat Aiden, showing him that girls can beat him. If I lose to Andrew, will it show him that maybe people with Indian backgrounds aren’t always good at things like chess? Maybe, but I don’t want that to be the story of this game.

Instead, he makes the move I hoped he would. Now I have the future all planned out. After two moves, I say, “Checkmate.”

Andrew’s face falls and his cheeks turn red. I almost wonder if he’s going to cry. But then he

straightens his shoulders, takes a deep breath, and stands up slowly.

“Nice game,” he says in a low voice, and holds out his hand. He even manages a small smile. A part of me still wants to shake him by the shoulders and say, “But what about all that ridiculous stuff you said downstairs about girls and Indian people while guzzling Mountain Dew?” Instead I decide to let the game speak for itself.

“Thank you,” I say, and accept his handshake. Then I do one last thing: I wink at him. He blinks and moves his head back like he’s startled and quickly turns toward the back of the room, where Aiden and Ben are waiting for him. His shoulders drop a bit as he walks away. Aiden and Ben give him a nudge in the arm and a pat on the back, but Andrew doesn’t look at them. He just stares straight ahead and keeps walking.

When I leave the community center I see Grandpa, Mom, and Dad near the front steps waving

to me. I keep my gold trophy behind my back and watch each one of them, their faces looking at me, searching for the end of the story. I know they all hope for the same ending, but for different reasons. I hold out my trophy toward them. The gold glints in the late- afternoon sun and their faces light up.

“Fantastic!” Dad says, and claps.

“You did it!” Mom says, and holds her arms out for a hug.

“You were ready,” Grandpa says, and squeezes my shoulder.

They all surround me, and it feels even better than pumping my fist in the air alone in the bathroom. But this is just the ending of today’s story. Tomorrow, in the future, all the parts of me that make me who I am will start a new one.

Title: THE DOOR IS OPEN

Author: Edited by Hena Khan

Contributors: Veera Hiranandani, Supriya Kelkar, Maulik Pancholy, Simran Jeet Singh, Aisha Saeed, Reem Faruqi, Rajani LaRocca, Naheed Hasnat, Sayantani DasGupta, and Mitali Perkins.

Release Date: 4/23/2024

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Age Range: 8-12

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Terry J. Benton-Walker (Blood Justice)!

Meet the Author: Terry J. Benton-Walker

TERRY J. BENTON-WALKER grew up in rural Georgia and now lives in Atlanta with his husband and son, where he writes fiction for adults, young adults, and children. He has an Industrial Engineering degree from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia State. When he’s not writing, he can be found gaming, eating ice cream, or both. Connect with Terry on Twitter at @tjbentonwalker, Instagram at icecreamvicelord, or at tjbentonwalker.com. Blood Debts is his first novel.

Website * Instagram * X

About the Book: Blood Justice

 The sequel to Terry J Benton-Walker’s smash hit debut, Blood Debts, continues the story of powerful magical families, intergenerational curses, and deadly drama in New Orleans.

Cristina and Clement Trudeau have conjured the impossible: justice.

They took back their family’s stolen throne to lead New Orleans’ magical community into the brighter future they all deserve.

But when Cris and Clem restored their family power, Valentina Savant lost everything. Her beloved grandparents are gone and her sovereignty has been revoked—she will never be Queen. Unless, of course, someone dethrones the Trudeaus again. And lucky for her, she’s not the only one trying to take them down.

Cris and Clem have enemies coming at them from all directions: Hateful anti-magic protesters sabotage their reign at every turn. A ruthless detective with a personal vendetta against magical crime is hot on their tail just as Cris has discovered her thirst for revenge. And a brutal god, hunting from the shadows, is summoned by the very power Clem needs to protect the boy he loves.

Cris’s hunger for vengeance and Clem’s desire for love could prove to be their family’s downfall, all while new murders, shocking disappearances, and impossible alliances are changing the game forever.

Welcome back to New Orleans, where gods walk among us and justice isn’t served, it’s taken.

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

~Author Chat~

YABC:   Who is your favorite character in the book?

There are so many characters in the Blood Debts series who hold a special place in my heart, but Clem is my favorite—probably because his struggles are closest to mine. At the core of his series emotional arc, Clem is learning that he is worthy of love, and the people he loves are worth fighting for—in his own way and on his own terms.

There haven’t been a lot of Black gay boys who’ve gotten the chance to take centerstage in an epic fantasy series the way Clem has, so his character is one that I take very serious (and that I am very proud of). Growing up, I never got to see myself represented in the fantasy stories that I loved, which I found a way to love in spite of that major shortcoming; but now that I have the opportunity to give kids—who are just like teenage Terry—a mirror in which they can see themselves wielding magic, falling in love, and saving the day but also get the freedom and space be messy and real too.

If I’d had stories like my Blood Debts and Alex Wise series as a kid, the trajectory of my young adult life would’ve been totally different, and it might not have taken me over three decades to learn to love my authentic self. It is imperative that Black and Black Queer kids see themselves represented on the mainstage in speculative fiction, so it doesn’t take another one of us that long to love themselves ever again.

YABC:   Which came first, the title or the novel?

The title, Blood Justice, came before the novel. There’s actually a line in Blood Debts where the characters reference “blood justice.”

Fun Fact: I originally wanted to title book two, Royal Regards, but my team suggested Blood Justice while we were wrapping up production on book one, and I loved it and never looked back.

YABC:   What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

I’m proud of this entire story because I really challenged myself with the second entry in this series; however, I’m most proud of the climax scene that takes place at a mysterious cabin in the woods outside New Orleans and spans several fast-paced (and juicy) chapters.

Blood Justice is a complex story with a lot of twisty threads, but if readers follow along closely, particularly to Clem’s portion (and if I’ve done my job correctly), they will feel a consistent mounting dread and tension leading up to the climax, and even though some readers might be able to predict the decisions the characters make in that very intense and unhinged moment, they won’t be able to look away.

YABC:   How was writing the sequel different from the first book?

There’s a lot of pressure to write a sequel, something I’m sure any author with a fantasy series will agree with. On top of that, I also challenged myself to level up this story while building upon the solid foundation I crafted in Blood Debts. I wanted to expand the lore a bit and give the reader a deeper view into some of the other really cool aspects of this world, such as the Magical and Spiritual Coalition, who we get to meet this time around, more insight into the other branches of magic: necromancy and spirit work, shadow magic, and light magic, as well as more really interesting details about the magical history of their world.

But most importantly, I also wanted to elevate the emotional stakes of the second book. In Blood Debts, the various focal characters explored their individual (or collective, in some cases) pursuit of justice and how far they’re willing to go to get the justice they’ve been denied. However, at the start of book two, Cris’s and Clem’s family have gotten blood justice and taken back their throne on the Generational Magic Council, but they quickly find that that was only the start of their quickly mounting problems.

For Blood Justice, I wanted to expand book one’s theme of the pursuit of justice to explore what happens when people become frustrated and angry with systems of oppression and the people who prop them up and benefit from the suffering others—to the point of desperation. I had a lot of fun weaving all the separate parts of the lore, mystery, and characters together into this story and am very proud of it. I hope readers enjoy this one!

YABC:   What do you like most about the cover of the book?

I love every single thing about the cover of Blood Justice. Every detail of the cover art relates to the story, which was a note I gave to the designer (Lesley Worrell) and artist (Tomasz Majewski) early on that they executed brilliantly. However, my favorite part of the cover would have to be the Blood Moon, which has to do with Cris’s and Clem’s birth and has major story world implications.

YABC:   What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?

I’m really looking forward to Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts by Adam Sass! It’s a contemporary romance inspired by Beauty and the Beast, and it comes out on July 16, which coincidentally is the same day that The White Guy Dies First releases, so Adam and I have been joking that we’re trying to create a “Barbenheimer” situation with these two books next summer haha.

Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts is a companion novel to Adam Sass’s The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers, which came out from Penguin Teen last fall. You don’t have to have read 99 Boyfriends to pick up Cursed Boys, which is something I really love about companion stories.

If you have any sort of nostalgia about growing up in a large, close-knit (or seemingly close) family that broke apart over the years, this book will transport you right back to that time in your life riding alongside Grant in a tale that’s equal parts endearing and enthralling—seriously, Adam had me stressed about the fate of Vero Roseto and the Rose Festival and if Grant and Ben (the winery gardener and also Grant’s childhood ex) were ever gonna get together!

If you love romance, you def don’t want to miss Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts, and even if you don’t love romance stories, you’ll still like this book! And also pick up a copy of The White Guy Dies First—they come out on the same day. (:

YABC:   What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?

I am currently finishing up Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon, which is a phenomenal young adult dark fantasy, which just released last Tuesday. It’s about a kid who finds out they’re a reincarnated god from another world and has to stop the Goddess of Death (and others in the pantheon) from killing them. It’s immaculate, and I haven’t been able to put it down.

I’m a huge fan of H.E.’s work—they’re a contributor in The White Guy Dies First and wrote a subversive cannibals story that will likely haunt me for the rest of my life, and I also had the privilege (and honor) of reading their upcoming post-apocalyptic middle-grade novel, Flicker, which comes out in 2024.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

Right now, I’m working on the final book in the Alex Wise trilogy, which is bittersweet, because I can’t believe I’m completing my first published trilogy, but I’m really going to miss my apocalypse babies. I’m also working on a couple adult projects, a high fantasy and a psychological horror, but I can’t say too much more about those books just yet. But stay tuned!

YABC:   Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

The most difficult emotional scene to narrate takes place at the end of Chapter 42, which is the end of Part IV (Blood Justice is split into five parts). I can’t reveal too much, because spoilers, but every time I have to interact with those two pages, I cry. I cried when I first drafted it, and I cried whenever I had to edit it. So enjoy haha.

YABC:   Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Detective Jeida Sommers. It’s going to be interesting seeing readers react to her. I was very conflicted with her character, and still kinda am. She comes on the scene to help the authorities stop magical crime in New Orleans, and of course, she has several run-ins with the Dupart-Trudeau family. When I first developed Sommers’ character, she took on a completely different role in the story than where we end up, so I’m quite intrigued to see where she tells me she wants to go in future installments—and if she makes it to the end of the series (which, by the way, six people from book one don’t make it to see THE END of book two).

YABC:   What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?

Anger has held many different roles in my life. In my childhood, I monitored for it in authorities so I could govern my emotions appropriately to avoid invoking their rage. In adulthood, I’ve had to swallow my own anger despite the bitter aftertaste when the world often made (and still makes) me feel powerless.

Black kids are taught to fear being perceived as “angry” so as not to validate the racist assumption that our skin color makes us inherently more aggressive. However, as I’ve experienced more of life and gained the wisdom and courage to unlearn toxic belief systems around anger, both in myself and others, I realized that I no longer need to hide my anger. Because anger can be good. It’s a natural emotion that can help us navigate our world—a place that often enrages us, especially when we’re not allowed to live in peace and equality simply because of our race or sexuality.

I was very angry when I wrote Blood Justice. And for the first time in a long while, I unchained my raw fury and let it soar. The teens in this story are also very angry—at systems of oppression and the people who prop them up to benefit from the suffering of others. And when they refuse to accept powerlessness, they’ll leave readers wondering once more, when it comes to the pursuit of justice that began in Blood Debts, is there a such thing as too far?

YABC:   What would you say is your superpower?

My superpower is empathy. Before I could love myself, I had to work on showing empathy to myself. I’d always done it for other people, ever since I was a kid, but along my journey, the world talked me out of giving that same grace and love to myself.

But now I’ve learned how to love other people and myself, which involved putting up appropriate boundaries and reserving some of that power (empathy) for my own sustenance.

That empathy allows me to create nuanced, multi-layered characters that immediately snatch readers into whatever story I want to tell. And empathy also drives me to give purpose to every single story I craft with passion, which is akin to preparing a hot meal for someone you care about deeply.

As long as I’m allowed, I intend to use my superpower to tell unforgettable stories that positively impact the lives of the people who read and love them.

YABC:   What advice do you have for new writers? 

Don’t give up on yourself. It took me 8 years and 7 manuscripts before I signed with my agent, but I refused to quit because I knew that I wanted to be a published author more than anything. I’m also an Industrial Engineer, and one of the concepts I learned through that career was “continual improvement.” No process or product is perfect; everything can always be improved. The same principle applies to publishing. No author, no matter where they are in their career, is above learning and growing their craft. That’s why between every manuscript I queried, I took time away from writing to study craft. Even now, I make sure to set aside time between projects to learn something new about writing.

The only way you won’t make it into publishing is if you quit. Keep working and keep learning. You deserve to not give up on yourself, and your future readers deserve to hear your voice.

Title: BLOOD JUSTICE 

Author: Terry J. Benton-Walker

Release Date: April 23, 2024

Publisher: Tor Teen

Genre: YA Fantasy

Age Range: 12 and up

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About This Book:

A bisexual teen girl tries to make her ex jealous by faking an Instagram romance that leads to surprisingly real feelings in this hijinks-filled rom-com perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and She Gets the Girl.

Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance.

But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.

Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process.

Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.

*Review Contributed by Olivia Farr, Staff Reviewer*

FINALLY FITZ is a charming YA contemporary about finding yourself and complicated relationships. Ava Fitzgerald (Fitz) is spending the summer in NYC with her girlfriend while participating in a prestigious program for aspiring fashion designers. She has a pretty good following on instagram, and she showcases her finds along with thrifting and DIY tips there. At the end of the first week, Fitz is ready to tell her girlfriend that she loves her – only to meet a fan at dinner and then find herself being dumped instead.

Unsure where to head, but unwilling to head back to the shared living space they have, Fitz goes to visit one of her older sisters who lives in the city. Fitz’s sisters are much older than her, and as such, she has always felt left out of their group. Adding to that her distant parents, and Fitz has spend a lot of time feeling alone. Now, dumped in a new city, her loneliness echoes.

When she runs into her childhood BFF, Levi on the subway, Fitz is not sure if her summer will take a turn. However, when she sees an opportunity to maybe get her ex back with jealousy, she proposes a fake relationship so they can both make their exes wish they had them back. The plan set in motion, Fitz now has to figure out her fashion designs – but finding her own style is as difficult as the relationships in her life.

What I loved: This was such an engaging read about finding yourself, complicated relationships (family, friends, and romantic), and forging your own path. While Fitz is set adrift at the beginning of the summer due to her breakup and the crashing of her plans, she will end up finding her own way through with the help of friends new and old. While she came to the city in part for her girlfriend, the program she is participating in has the chance to be life-changing. Except that Fitz’s style is catered to instagram and she is not sure who she – or the fashion she wants to make – is.

Thus comes a summer of self-discovery through interactions and finding her way. While the fake dating was quite cute, it was really the personal epiphanies that Fitz has along the way that make the story. The romance is a major theme, but only as far as it helps her to discover her own identity and who she wants to be. Her relationships with her sisters are another piece Fitz will begin to navigate. She has felt like she was in the shadows for so long – but maybe this is a chance for change.

Fitz really grows during this summer, and while she may not be perfect, she learns to begin embracing the imperfections. Another theme is around mental illness. While Fitz is not diagnosed, it seems that she may have some element of anxiety. Importantly, she begins to realize that this is something for which she needs help and begins to understand her own limitations. Other characters also tell their own stories related to mental health, and it creates a positive message for therapy and healing.

Levi was sweet and overall really great for Fitz. While things may not go perfectly, their friendship remains an important element to the story. Through experiences and discussions, Fitz has many of her epiphanies through their deeper discussions and activities. The fake dating was a fun element that fell away quickly (even if they would not admit it). While the ending for them was not perfect, like other things in Fitz’s life, there is power in the imperfections.

Final verdict: FINALLY FITZ is a sweet YA contemporary with a coming-of-age story that weaves together a story of romance, connection, and art.

*Find More Info & Buy This Book HERE!*

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We’re excited to host the giveaway for Tree. Table. Book. (Lois Lowry)! 

Read on to find out more about the author, the book and a giveaway!

About the Author: Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry is the author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the New York Times bestselling Giver Quartet and the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, Number the Stars and The Giver.

Website

About the Book: Tree. Table. Book. 

From two-time Newbery medalist Lois Lowry comes this warm and resonant story of an unlikely friendship, which unfolds as a revelation on how we hold on to—and pass on—what matters most. When precocious eleven-year-old Sophie sets out to save her elderly neighbor (who is also her dearest friend), her journey will take her through their familiar suburban landscape and then, steadily yet unexpectedly, deeper into a landscape of history and shared stories.

Title: Tree. Table. Book.

Author: Lois Lowry

Release Date: 4/23/24

Publisher: HarperCollins/Clarion

ISBN-13: 9780063299504

Genre: middle grade fiction

Age Range: 8/12

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS* 

Five (5) winners will receive a hardcover copy of Tree. Table. Book. (Lois Lowry) ~US Only!

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

*Connie’s Choice*

(YABC Site Manager)

THE N.O.A.H. Files: SHOCK THE MONKEY #2

Author: Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman

Publishing Date: May 7, 2024

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Noah Prime must set out to save his friends and the universe once again in this jaw-dropping sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel, I Am the Walrus.

Noah Prime never expected to wind up a fugitive hunted by aliens.

To be honest, he had never even believed in aliens…until a team of them blew up his house. He escaped—and managed to save the world—by using his mysterious ability to harness the traits of every animal on earth. Now he’s in hiding, and thinks all is well.…

…Until his friend Ogden buys a star for Claire, the most popular girl in school. However, instead of a quaint romantic notion, it turns out to be an actual real estate deal—and aliens from that star system abduct Claire to take her to the nasty, trash-filled planet she now owns.

It’s up to Noah, Sahara, and Ogden to cross the cosmos in search of Claire to save her and her strange new world from the evilest body-snatching worms in the galaxy.
This time it’s going to take a lot more than walrus blubber, cheetah speed, or skunk funk to save the day…it’s going to take friendship of the most extraordinary and extraterrestrial variety.

Critically acclaimed authors Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman are back with an action-packed, laugh-out-loud sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel I Am the Walrus, perfect for fans of Eoin Colfer and Rick Riordan.

*Kim’s Choice*

(YABC Staff Reviewer)

The Dangerous Ones

Author: Lauren Blackwood

Expected Publication Date: May 14, 2024

One vampire to kill. Another to love.

War doesn’t scare Jerusalem. She’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And she has one goal – revenge.

But she never expects to team up with the handsome, arrogant Alexei to accomplish it. He’s one of those Ancient Vampires. And ever since her family was enslaved and murdered by one, Jerusalem hates vampires.

But in the year they’ve been fighting alongside one another against the Confederate Army and the vampires who benefitted off slavery, Alexei’s never done anything but prove he’s on the Union’s side and hers. She may know the enemy better, hate the enemy more than anyone in her battalion, but so does he. And she’ll use that to her advantage. Because if she can get her revenge by helping Black people gain freedom and equality without having to steal it for themselves like she had to, then all the better.

Together, she and Alexei set out to change the course of the war, risking their hearts and themselves as they attempt to take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem held dear. But for Jerusalem, it’s about more than love and justice.

It’s about killing a god.

*Sara’s Choice*

(YABC Staff Reviewer)

Love Requires Chocolate

Author: Ravynn K. Stringfield

Release Date: 8/20/2024

A new romance series that’s Emily In Paris meets A Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! In this first book, budding theatre nerd Whitney Curry studies abroad in Paris,France, where she meets her match in a cute, aloof footballer.

Whitney Curry is primed to have an epic semester abroad. She’s created the perfectitinerary and many, many to-do lists after collecting every detail possible about Paris, France. Thus, she anticipates a grand adventure filled with vintage boutiques, her idol Josephine Baker’s old stomping grounds, and endless plays sure to inspire the ones she writes and—ahem—directs!
But all is not as she imagined when she’s dropped off at her prestigious new Parisian lycée. A fish out of water, Whitney struggles to juggle schoolwork, homesickness, and mastering the French language. Luckily, she lives for the drama. Literally.
Cue French tutor Thierry Magnon, a grumpy yet très handsome soccer star, who’s determined to show Whitney the real Paris. Is this type-A theater nerd ready to see how lessons on the City of Lights can turn into lessons on love?

*Mark’s Choice*

(YABC Staff Reviewer)

Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit

Author: Clare Harlow

Publishing Date: 5/14/24

Magic, mystery, and monsters abound in this series opener about a girl with the rare magical ability to look like anyone she’s ever seen.

In misty Shelwich, magic rises and falls with the tides, everyone is born with a magical gift, and people have started to . . . disappear.

Rumor has it they are snatched by monsters, but Ista Flit doesn’t want to believe it. Not when her own father is missing. As she scours the city, searching for clues, a notorious thief finds her. Ista has a rare talent: she’s a face-changer, able to take on the appearance of anyone she’s seen, and Alexo could use a girl with her skill. Ista could use Alexo’s help in her search–if only she could trust him.

As more people disappear from the city, Ista finds unexpected allies in Nat and Ruby, each searching for their own missing loved ones. These three determined kids will need to use all the Tidemagic they can summon, infiltrate the city’s highest elite circles, and dive into its lowest caverns, in order to find how thieves, monsters, and the missing are all connected.

What book are you looking forward to in 2024?

Comment the name of the book below!

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About This Book:

Cristina and Clement Trudeau have conjured the impossible: justice.

They took back their family’s stolen throne to lead New Orleans’ magical community into the brighter future they all deserve.

But when Cris and Clem restored their family power, Valentina Savant lost everything. Her beloved grandparents are gone and her sovereignty has been revoked―she will never be Queen. Unless, of course, someone dethrones the Trudeaus again. And lucky for her, she’s not the only one trying to take them down.

Cris and Clem have enemies coming at them from all directions: Hateful anti-magic protesters sabotage their reign at every turn. A ruthless detective with a personal vendetta against magical crime is hot on their tail just as Cris has discovered her thirst for revenge. And a brutal god, hunting from the shadows, is summoned by the very power Clem needs to protect the boy he loves.

Cris’s hunger for vengeance and Clem’s desire for love could prove to be their family’s downfall, all while new murders, shocking disappearances, and impossible alliances are changing the game forever.

Welcome back to New Orleans, where gods walk among us and justice isn’t served, it’s taken.

*Review Contributed by Jan Farnworth, Staff Reviewer*

What I liked:
There is a fine line between justice and vengeance, as the characters in Blood Justice, Terry J. Benton-Walker’s sequel to Blood Debts, find out. They are combined with the desire to create and maintain a tenacious hold on family and legacy. The book alternates points of view between Clement, Cristina, and Valentina, who suffer the loss of family, loyalty, and, at some points, their own identities.
Final verdict:
The way that Benton-Walker creates layer upon layer of characterization and motivation, all set against the backdrop of New Orleans, is breathtaking and moving. I truly am blown away by the twists and turns that I am undercover in each novel from this series.

*Find More Info & Buy This Book HERE!*

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