Crystal Maldonado’s debut novel blends body positivity, friendship, romance and an effortlessly diverse cast in a captivating contemporary young adult novel. Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is a book young adult readers everywhere should pick up, but be warned: it will…
‘Cast In Firelight’ review: Get lost in Dana Swift’s debut YA fantasy
Cast In Firelight by Dana Swift opens in front of a towering door of ice, with eight-year-old Adraa and her parents waiting to be let into the home of her future betrothed, the prince of Naupure. Rich with descriptions of…
‘Fat Chance, Charlie Vega’ interview: Author Crystal Maldonado on body positivity, friendship, and representation
Author Crystal Maldonado’s young adult contemporary novel Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is a compelling, body positive, coming-of-age book about self-love. In an #ownvoices book centering a fat Puerto-Rican girl living in a predominately white Connecticut suburb, Maldonado pairs an effortlessly…
‘Concrete Rose’ review: Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights in ‘The Hate U Give’ prequel
Set seventeen years prior to the events of the award-winning novel, The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights in Concrete Rose and immerses readers in her incredible writing once again. In Concrete Rose, Starr’s parents Mav and Lisa…
‘When You Look Like Us’ review: Pamela N. Harris’ timely debut on the plight of missing Black girls
Pamela N. Harris’ timely debut When You Look Like Us calls attention to an urgent epidemic of missing Black girls. Skillfully blending together mystery and social justice, identity and community, hurt and hope, Harris’ When You Look Like Us lends…
‘Crownchasers’ review: Rebecca Coffindaffer’s fast-paced planet-hopping debut explores more than just the galaxy
Alyssa Farshot must compete against the children of the galaxy’s most powerful families to win the throne. She’s experienced, capable, and favored to win. The only problem is, she doesn’t want to.
‘The Inheritance Games’ review: Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ sprawling, cinematic twist-filled novel
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the perfect distraction of a novel that I desperately needed in 2020. Reminiscent of Knives Out, this book is half wish fulfillment and half juicy mystery with a twist-filled plot and chock-full…