Reviews written by CJ Redwine, Site and Staff Manager

This well-researched novel is fascinating from start to finish. Ms. Hopkinson does an excellent job of bringing the setting of London circa 1854 to vivid life. From mudlarking on the Thames to the bustling community of Broad Street, London's poverty, filth, class system, and colorful cast of characters are brilliantly...

What I Loved: Non-stop action and a conflict that grows page by page make this a fast-paced story readers will have a hard time putting down. The plot is often smart, the heroine is interesting and relatable, and the spy aspects feel authentic. The book is also...

What I Loved: The premise for ARCLIGHT is a combination of dystopian and sci fi with an element of horror. The writing, the setting, and the plot combine to create a tense, atmospheric narrative that constantly makes the reader feel off-balance. Readers never have all the facts,...

What I Loved: The X-Men meets Godfather vibe in this story makes for a fun, fast-paced read. Fiona is an engaging and interesting heroine whose voice immediately draws the reader in. Seth and Miles are also notable characters who will pull readers into the story (for different...

What I Loved: Told in the distinct semi-educated vernacular of the hero Todd, THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO is at once gritty, heartbreaking, compelling, and thought-provoking. At its core, the story is a coming of age tale with some elements of the Chosen One motif. It's...

My daughter loves the fairies of Never Land, and this book series is as excellent as the movies. Plenty of adventure, fairy magic, and good, solid lessons disguised within the entertainment make this a series I can fully recommend to young chapter book readers. This is a series that will...

What I Loved: A compelling heroine, a cast of interesting characters, and a new take on zombie lore make this series an adventure worth reading. Non-stop plot twists and turns and plenty of action keep the pages turning, but the real heart of this book is in...

This story packs a punch. With spare, powerful prose the author portrays a character growing increasingly angry and isolated from the world around him. The imagery is surreal and poignant, and often it's difficult to tell what is real and what isn't. Because the hero often struggles to...

Starring Jules (In Drama-rama) is another heartwarming and hysterical installment in the Starring Jules series. Whimsical illustrations highlight important moments throughout the book, and readers will be drawn to Jules' determination to be un-boring. With a cast of interesting secondary characters, a strong supportive family, and a heroine who manages...

This book starts out slow and sleepy, like a warm summer day. Readers who enjoy flashy, humorous graphic novels or comic books may have a difficult time staying invested in the story, especially with illustrations that are a bit hazy and soft. But somewhere around the halfway point, the story...

This humorous, conversational narrative is chock full of very useful tips for budding older elementary or middle grade writers. With funny illustrations and a sly wit, the author invites kids to learn how to write well while validating their fears or disinterest in the topic. In many ways, this resource...

What I Loved: A unique premise and a tense, emotionally fraught climax will give readers plenty to think about after finishing BACKWARDS. Readers who enjoy having a mystery worth unraveling will find much to love in this story. Clues are fed to the reader after events have...

What I Loved: Lovely prose, stellar world building, a unique premise, and a heroine worth rooting for all come together to make THE 57 LIVES OF ALEX WAYFARE a genuine treat. Accomplished world building is the rock stolid foundation that holds this story...

What I Loved: A school populated by ghouls, vampires, ghosts, and other monstrous creatures where every class period is an adventure in how to stay alive? Sounds fun! And that's exactly what this book is: fun. The teachers are each a different monster and are larger-than-life caricatures...

What I Loved: CRUEL BEAUTY, a re-imagined Beauty and the Beast with a foundation in Greek mythology and ancient folk fairy tales, is a complex, surreal story that may take readers some time to digest. The world of Arcadia appears to be tied to the old Grecian-Roman...