What worked: Haunting, tragic tale of the life of Marilyn Monroe, told in verse which gives a powerful punch to the story behind the legend. The story starts at the very beginning of Marilyn's life. Back then she was Norma Jean. Her life was filled...

After the death of her parents, Grace comes to an Alaskan boarding school. Once there, she senses something is 'off' with the other students. It doesn't help that Jaxon, a brooding handsome student, tells her to leave the school. She's drawn to him and wants to know what's going on....

What worked: This is a fun paranormal twist on historical figures set in the Wild West of 1876. I loved the other two books in the 'Lady Janies' series. The latest one in this series doesn't disappoint! Readers follow Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley, Will Bill...

San Solano, Texas is not only known for its Southern charm but also gruesome murders that took place fifty years apart. Eighteen-year-old Natalie Colter doesn't believe the rumors, but later finds out the truth. A truth that involved her own grandmother. Now with the next anniversary coming, Nat seeks...

Joanna, 'Jo', has dreamed of leaving Earth and being a pioneer on a new planet since forever. When a terrible accident occurs before she leaves Earth, she loses not only her beloved brother Teddy, but the ability to fly. Once she arrives on the new planet Tau Ceti E, she...

Kyle Baker loves the times he visits his extended family at the family farm. He brings his girlfriend Nadia with him during Thanksgiving. Only his father shares a secret. A secret that takes Kyle off guard and shatters his 'happy' family image. This secret tears him apart and it's only...

What worked: Great compilation of personal essays inspired by the #YouToo movement. Each of the authors included in this anthology shares her own experiences. These stories include ones of sexual harassment, sexual assault, to comments that made them feel uncomfortable or not safe. Some of...

This is a fascinating view into what it's like to be a 18 year old girl throughout the world shown though the lens of a camera. Not only do we see girls from the US, but other parts of the world. Readers get glimpses of different cultures, but also how...

Life is beyond hard if you're unlucky enough to be placed in The Massachusetts School For the Feeble-minded. Maxine, struggles to protect her younger sister Rose. Alice tries hard just to survive. And London finds herself carted to the institution just for being pregnant and at the wrong place at...

Paloma, 'Loma' wants nothing more than to be a mother with children. She ends up being her grandfather's constant companion as he goes to various Spanish towns to pay 'taxes' for a war. He's also friends with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, who want Loma to convert to Catholicism. Loma...

Nannerl Mozart is a gifted musical prodigy. She's trained by her strict father, who hopes her talent will take them to perform in European royal courts. She's also the older sister of Wolfgang Mozart. In this story Nannerl and Wolfgang travel to courts in Europe to perform. Nannerl is...

What worked: As a former bilingual teacher and someone who shares Mexican heritage, I love books that share stories about Latinx leaders. This biography tells the story of Jose de la Luz Saenz and how he longed for our country to stop discrimination and...

What worked: Beautifully written tale of eighteen-year-old Holocaust survivor Zofia Lederman who searches for her brother after the war. I've read many books set before and during the Holocaust, but not one that takes place after. This story is gut-wrenching as we follow Zofia on her search for her younger...

What worked: This is the second novel in the Systems Divide series. Between Burning Worlds starts right off where the first book ended. Readers are taken on a futuristic trip through a world that's a twist on the classic novel Les Miserables. First off,...

Now that Mena and the other girls have escaped Innovations Academy, they find their past hasn't left them. Mena vows revenge against those who hurt her and her sisters. Leandra reveals she's a double agent and asks them to help destroy one of the investors. They end up enrolling at...