The Rise of the Vicious Princess by C. J. Redwine

Having a ruthless queen for a mother can be dangerous. This vicious princess finds herself helping manage the kingdom and looking for a traitor. After multiple attacks on her, her new bodyguard becomes closer to her. Their friendship is the only one she can trust... or can she? A great read. A great audiobook. I'm getting for my high school library. Enjoy.

The Cursed Carnival editor Rick Riordan

The Cursed Carnival edited by Rick Riordan is a collection of short stories perfect for middle school libraries. Many promienent authors contributed to this collection. Fine for any school library. Also the audio book is well done.

Jo by Kathleen Gros

Jo's in middle school, her father is away in the military service, her mom is a nurse and she has three sisters. Set in current times, it's a delightful graphic novel giving the March girls a fresh new look. I thought the book was done well and should be a welcome addition to any middle school library. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49867307-jo

Draw Down The Moon by Cast & Cast

Draw Down the Moon by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast is a teen Harry Potter. It works orphan girl finds out she does have powers. Secret evil threat must be battled by teen still figuring out what she is and her powers. Magical school seculuded on a hidden island. It's fine for high school. The audio book is also good. Enjoy.

A First TIme For Everything by Dan Santat

A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat Is a great middle school coming of age book in graphic novel format. Santat's life as a awkward middle school kid from the 1980s is sweet and charming and authentic. Add this one to your middle school library. IT's a great read.

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I love this series. The Brothers Hawthorne is a continuation of a great smart series. Smart and clever and well thought out. The audio book is also really good. Enjoy. Perfect for any school library.

Fate Be Changed by Farrah Rochon

If you've seen the movie, park it to the side. This is it's own original story. It's a good story and also a good audio story. Love the accent. It's Back to the Future concept Scottish style. Enjoy! It's a good story line and fine for any high school.

Cat + Gamer by Wataru Nadatani

This is more of an adult Manga not in the sense of inappropriate content but because of the story line. Not for high school libraries.

Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56645963-jade-fire-gold?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=BnGFiDwSaS&rank=1 It's fine for high school. Audio book also entertaining. Adventure with magic. Enjoy.

The Encanto's Daughter by Melissa De La Cruz

It's fine for any middle and high school library. I wasn't wowed by the book. Teen saves the world and rules a country she doesn't know much about, doesn't always fly with me but it's okay.

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Are you a fan of the Lord of the Rings? Involved fanasty stories? Here's a series for you. The audio book is also a treat to listen to. Great story, setting and character well developed. Enjoy the ride. I'm looking forward to book 3.

The FInal Empire by Brandon Sanderson

A student recommended this series to me. Thanks Hannah. I do love an epic adventure, throw in some magic and an orphan and you've got a good story line. The audio book is a treat to listen to. The story is highly developed from settings to characters, it's a good read or good listen. Enjoy.

Life Skills Books For Teens by Maureen Stiles

This is a goodd book to give to any teen or graduate getting ready to enter into life. Fine for high school libraries also.

Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/190854829-sheine-lende I am impressed with this story. THe audio book is well done. This is the story of a teen who goes in search of missing people and then it becomes more personal when her mother goes missing. Told in Sheine's perspective and filled with backstories that fit in perfectly. A good book to add to any high school library. A good read for sure!

Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia & Anna-Marie McLemore

 I liked this book a lot.  This story is set in the desert, I think Arizona.  A meteor created a crater and a town takes it name from the meteor.  There are a few characters that are finding themselves and it all comes together when the annual Miss Meteor contest kicks in.  A good book.  A good audio read and fine for any high school library.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49779755-miss-meteor?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_9

Simon Sosrt Of Says by Erin Bow

This is middle grade level.  At first I felt a little lost,  Simon has a secret and then about the middle of the story, oh the secret is revealed and I get it.  Spoiler alert he has PTS because he was in a school shooting.  I am sharing this because it happens a lot and feel readers should know just in case.  It is a very good book and fine for middle school level reading.  The audio book is also good.  It's funny and quirky with the balance of seriousness as well.  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61030596-simon-sort-of-says

 

Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes

 Luis lives in the 2020's and goes to the same private religious school his mother and father went to.  

I love that many of the titles are from the 80s songs.  Think Back To The Future with a modern update.  i found this story entertaining, sweet and delightful.  Fine for any high school library

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56268853-spin-me-right-round

 

An Unlikely Proposition by Rosalyn Eves

This is a very cute regency romance story fine for any high school library.  Perhaps a bit predictable but that's me who's read a lot.  Dastardly young villians, handsome young men, heiress and companions.  Lots of fun and entertaining reads.  It's a stand alone story and also in audio book which is a good listen too.

 

The Bronzed Beast by Roshani Chokshi

It's fine for any school library.  The auadio book also good.  Enjoy.

 

A Thousand Steps Into Night by Traci Chee

 

This is a great book to add to your high school library.  It's a good read and is set in a medieval Asian culture.  Add this one to your library collection.  The audio book also very good.  Enjoy.

The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

 

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnees

I am enjoying this series and will add to my school library.  It's a great read but also a great audio book.  There are no straight answers, just clues to work on via games/mysteries.  The brothers have different fathers but have a strong caring relationship.  Each character has their own strenghts.  A good read.

 

My Lost Freedom by George Takei

 Camp Tule Lake is ultimately where George Takei and his family ended up.  My father was a music teacher at Tule Lake during this time so I have a tiny personal connection to the book.  This is a good picture book to have in the school library.  It teaches about history from the perspective of a child who lived through it.  I am grateful that we have a book that shows what life was like for a family in a very challenging situation.  They may not have had control of situations but they knew how to make the best of a situation.  A good read.  

Cougar Crossing by Meeg Pincus and Alexander Vidal

 

This is a good book about humans and the environment as it tells the story of a mountain lion in the Los Angeles area.  True story and still on going.  It's up for a California Young Readers Medal Award.

Add this one to your school library.  

Here are some links to tie into the story with news articles

Article 1 

Article 2

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

 

Wow, what a great prequel to the Hunger Games series.  Suzanne Collins is a talented writer.  The audio book was also very good.  The characters are strong as well as the story line.  I am going to have to get this one for my school library.  Enjoy.

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

 

I did like this book. The voice actors did a great job on the audio book.  I would say read this book before you put it on the shelves at high school.  There is some off page mention of sex.  Just to give a heads up.  

The Shattered Castle by Jennifer A Nielsen

 

I love this series.  King Jaron is always in trouble and in danger.  He has to outlast, out smart and out do his enemies and save the day.  Read this book /series and enjoy.  Great for any school library.  And also kudos to the voice actor reading the book.  It really comes alive under his voice talent.  Enjoy.

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

 

This is a book that will be on the list for California Young Reader Medal.  It's a great story that uses two time lines at the same time.  The nuclear reactor accident of the 1980s and World War II escaping the Germans.  Its about friendship, surviving dangerous and what really is family.  I liked this book a lot and even though it is middle school level, it's great to teach about history as well.  Add this to your school library.  It's a good read.  The audio book is also well done.  Good voice actor.

The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp & Preitano

I liked this graphic novel.  Angry injured soul who feels like she lost everything, rebuilds her world and solves a mystery.  Fine for any school library.

 

Under the Moon by Lauren Myracle

I thought it was a good graphic novel but I wouldn't put it in the library. There is some f*bombs and a few sexual references.  It would be best in a public library.

 

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

 I really wasn't wowed by this story line.  I guess it was okay.  It's fine for school libraries.  I just wasn't impressed with the book.  

Superman Smashes The Klan by Gene Luen Yang

 I liked this book so much.  It's the retelling of Superman and bringing in a group of a Klan group who only believe in one group of people.  I liked the Chinese family that moved into the city.  It's a good read and fine for any school library.

Love In English by Maria E Andreu

This is a great teen book for any high school library. Maybe one f*bomb but not a big deal. The audio book was perfect! The voice actress did an excellent job. I loved the ESL teacher, I use to be one and I wish I was as brilliant as this teacher was. The book rings with authenticness. Partly because the author came from the same situation as the main character. I would read more of her books. One thing that I did have concern was how the parents were rather unavailable in her life to the very end of the story. But still a great book. I would companion it with The Last Cuentista because our stories is who we are and where we came from. It's a good read. Enjoy!

Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson & Leila Del Duca

This is a good graphic novel to add to any school library. Diana is 16 years old and trapped on the other side of her island and can't get back. She ends up in New York City fighting against traficers who kidnap children. It's a good read.

Heartless Prince by DE Vito & Dragoon

I liked this graphic novel. The story was basic and simple and that's fine. It left of with the possibility of a sequal. I hope that happens. It is fine to add to any school library. Enjoy.

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

Wow! Great story. I listened to the audiobook from the public library. The of stories to change direction. A great story. Look out Hunger Games Here comes The Last Cuentista. Great story Enjoy.

The Deceiver's Heart by Jennifer Nielsen

A great read. Fine for any high school library. The audio book has a great voice actress who reads the story. I plan ordering this story. Well crafted story and I am looking forward to book 3. Enjoy. It's a good read.

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

A student had asked me to get this book for our library. I listened to the audiobook and it's pretty good. The sad thing is that I just lost a student a few days ago to a car crash and watch our students grieve for our lost student. It's a good book and I'll add it to my high school library. There are a few concerns in which the adults are rather absent. It's a fantasy book but the school and parents should have connected her with grief counselors. Just saying as an adult. But still I'll get the book. It's fine.

The Captive Kingdom by Jennifer Nielsen

This is one of my favorite series. There is one more book to add. It's great for all school libraries from 5-12. It's smart and clever and also the main character is forced to see his flaws. I am looking forward to reading the next book. This is one great read! Enjoy. The audiobook is also a great listen to.

49 Days by Agnes Lee

An insight into a Buddhist belief of the journey that the dead will take. The book does a good job illustrating about the death of a Korean-American girl and how her family and friends miss her.

In Real Life by Doctorow & Wang

This graphic novel is fine for students to read and learn about life and consequences of what we do. It's a good read and fine for any school library.

Primer by Muro, Krajewski and Lusky

This graphic novel is fine for any middle school or even upper elementary school library collection. I liked the main character and we have students in foster care so it is good to see some characters as the main character of the book. A good read.

Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong

This novel contiues the story from Foul Lady Fortune. The voice actor for the audio book did a great job covering the different voices to bring this novel to life. We go back to the 1930s to China. Lots was going on at that time and the book does a great job blending in history with a great mysterious story line. A young couple from opposite sides of two gangs fake their death and move to the country. There they get involved in a series of girls who kill themselves. The young couple work to save the next victim's life and solve the mystery of who is responsible for the violence and why. It's a good read. Enjoy.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

I enjoyed the audio book version of this. It's a good story line with the voice actor who brings it to life reading it aloud. It's set in the 1920s and 30s China. There is a lot of back story of what was going on in China at the time. Communism, imperialism and the Japanese occupying China. Then you have two set of spies that are also siblings on oppsite sides of politics. A scientist is involved in randomly killing people with some sort of injection. This book has it all and is an enjoyable read. Rosalind is our star of the book and you will get to love her and the people around her. THe banter between her and her love interest is a fun snappy and playful interaction as it moves from working together to caring for each other. It's a good read. Enjoy.

The Aquanaut by Dan Santat

This is a sweet book starring a little girl who lost her father to the ocean in a tragic accident. Some sweet creatures are on a mission to find their way to the little girl. Great artwork. Great story. Enjoy. Perfect for grades 4-9. Enjoy

Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

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I Hate Reading by Beth Bacon

This book is alright. I think this would be a book that an older reader would be paired with younger readers. For grades 1-4

Frizzy by Claribel Ortega & Rose Bousamra

It great story that is about a young girl who is tired of going to the salon to get her hair straightened. She does what she can to undo the salon treatment to get her hair back to a natural state, like the way her aunt does her hair. Her mother grew up in a generation trying to fit in and Marelene is breaking out like her aunt. It's a good book to add to any middle school library or upper elementary.