Hold Back the Tide

by Melinda Salisbury

Alva knows her father killed her mother years ago, but she doesn't know if he knows she knows... Not for sure, anyway. But she thinks he suspects, and she lives in fear of him finding out how much she hates him. She's 16 now, and she has a plan to escape. She has to be so careful to ensure her father doesn't suspect her plans. But Alva's about to learn something about her father, and her small Scottish village, that will change everything. 
 

Long Lost

by Jacqueline West

I just kept coming back to this wonderful middle grade mystery! 

Fiona's sister Arden is a very talented figure skater. Arden's whole life, their parents have driven two hours to take her to intense practices and competitions, all in the hopes that she might have an Olympic and professional skating career. When their parents can't take the driving anymore, they uproot the whole family and move to Lost Lake, where the training center is. Fiona couldn't be less interested in Arden's skating, and is righteously indignant that she has to leave her present (friends, school) for Arden's future.

While the rest of the family goes to skate practice their first summer in Lost Lake, Fiona goes to the library. She finds a book with an enticing green cover, and gets involved in the story. One of the things I love about this book is that we (the readers) get to read the book as Fiona reads it, and we can see why she becomes so obsessed with it. When she realizes she can't take it home because she doesn't have  a library card yet, she hides it, but the next day the book is gone. The librarian is all shifty when she asks about it, and the creepy little blond boy who's always in the library too seems to know something. 

Where is the book? What's it really about? Will we, the readers, ever get to finish it along with Fiona?

 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

by J.K. Rowling

Not enough Dumbledore in this one for my liking! Not bad, but happy to be moving on to book 6! 
 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

 

by J.K. Rowling

Still my favorite after all these years!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

by J. K. Rowling

Forgot how much I like this one. Even better than the first! I'm really enjoying re-reading these with my son, and he's loving them, too!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

by J. K. Rowling

Just re-read this for the first time since around 1999. Just as awesome as I remembered!

Aru Shah and the End of Time

by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah is a little sassy. When her mother tells her never to light the lamp in the Hall of Ancient Indian Art and Culture where they both work, Aru, of course, doesn't listen. She's determined to impress some jerks from her middle school, but accidentally awakens the Sleeper, which could be the end of the world as we know it. Oops! Apparently she is the reincarnation of one of the legendary Pandava brothers, and it's up to her and her (previously unbeknownst to her) sister Mini to, well, save the world. Chokshi has taken Hindu mythology and added her own brand of humor and charm to create this winning middle grade mystery.

Dreaming Dangerous

by Lauren DeStefano

Every night, Plum dreams with her three best friends. They live at Brassmere Academy, which is basically an orphanage for children with extra special abilities. As their dreams begin to get weird, and Artem, one of Plum's friends and dream partners, disappears, she begins to realize that Brassmere Academy, and the people who run it, may not be what they seem.

This is a short little book. You could easily read it cover to cover in an  hour or two. The writing is lovely, but the story is just okay.

The Hazel Wood

by Melissa Albert

Alice and her mother Ella are as close as can be, mostly because it seems they can only rely on each other. They're plagued by a lifetime of terrible luck, and it only gets worse when they find out Ella's mother, Althea, has passed away at her home, the Hazel Wood. Alice has never met Althea, and Ella doesn't really speak of her. All Alice knows is that Althea was the author of Tales from the Hinterland, a book of dark fairy tales that has developed a creepy cult following. When Ella is kidnapped, Alice is determined to find her, and knows it must have something to do with the Hinterland. She soon meets Ellery Finch, a Hinterland groupie, and lets him help her against her better judgment. Can they navigate this dark world to find Ella and make it out alive?

I love all things fairy tale, and magical realism, and creepy stuff, so this one checked a lot of boxes for me! I think it's a pretty original concept, which is difficult to do in the fairy tale genre. The "twist," while not altogether shocking, was satisfying. Alice's bitter musings were a little over the top, and I'm truly surprised this is a YA novel.. As a middle school librarian, I read a lot of those, and this has a distinctly adult vibe, not because of content, but because of the way the characters speak and interact.

All in all, I enjoyed this different, dark, and edgy tale!

*This is a high school book, so it isn't in our library, but you can find it at the public library or bookstore!

The White Tower

by Cathryn Constable

Livy Burgess's best friend Mahalia has just lost her battle with leukemia. Livy is reeling with grief, but her parents decide it might be good for her to take an opportunity for free tuition at the prestigious Temple College, a preparatory school in London. Livy's dad is offered a job as the new librarian there, and it's a chance the family can't pass up. The action starts immediately when, after the move, Livy and her mom encounter the eccentric ex-librarian at Temple, who appears to be homeless and quickly losing his marbles. Also, the stern and intimidating headmistress seems to have an agenda; she's very interested in a possible connection the Burgess family may have to the founder of Temple College, scientist Peter Burgess. Livy senses something's not quite right at her new school, and when she meets an intriguing boy on the roof, even more questions are raised. She's determined to figure out what's going on, even if she has to risk her own life to do it. Livy's love for her departed friend, and her struggle to make new ones and find her place in the world, will resonate with readers. Minor characters are underdeveloped, with the exception of Livy's lively four-year-old brother Tom, and there are a few aimless plot points. The twist at the end is a shocker, though, and the resolution satisfies.

Dragonfly Song

by Wendy Orr

Aissa is the firstborn daughter of the Lady, the village priestess, but the extra thumb on each of her hands makes her unworthy in the eyes of the gods. She is supposed to be left to die, but the Lady’s wise woman quietly sneaks her to a family of goatherds across the mountain. When that family is also tragically lost to her, Aissa finds herself back in the Lady’s house, working as a servant and choosing to be mute. Abused, rejected, and knowing nothing of her true parentage, Aissa is eventually cast out of the city by the other servants. Each year, soldiers from Crete come for one boy and one girl tribute to dance with the bulls. If they survive, their community is freed from providing future tributes, but no one has ever come back. Aissa knows she has to try to dance with the bulls…she truly has nothing to lose. The Bronze Age setting makes for a unique backdrop to Aissa’s story, and she is a sympathetic character. Her struggles are heart-wrenching, and made more so by the lyrical storytelling style. The descriptions of the dances are especially vivid.

Darkstalker

by Tui T. Sutherland 

Thousands of years before the time of the Dragonet Prophecy, Darkstalker is born to parents from warring tribes-Arctic, an Icewing; and Foeslayer, a NightWing. Arctic is an animus, a rare dragon so powerful and dangerous that some tribes don't even allow them to live. Each time an animus uses magic, he loses a piece of his soul. Darkstalker has inherited his father's magical ability, along with the gift of prophecy. He knows his future involves a NightWing named Clearsight, and she, a seer herself, is also aware that their fates are entwined. Far away in the SeaWing kingdom, a terrible tragedy brings another animus, Fathom, into their lives. Fathom is tasked with controlling the carefree and arrogant Darkstalker, who casts spell after careless spell, putting the dragonets, and all of Pyrrhia, at risk. This first book in the "Legends" series is a prequel to "Wings of Fire" and is middle grade high fantasy at its most fun. The story moves along at a breakneck pace as the dragons face dangerous situations, cast enchantments, and even fall in love. Fully fleshed-out worlds, sarcastic dragon humor, and an intriguing backstory will more than please the many loyal fans of the original series.

Cuckoo Song

by Frances Hardinge

When Triss wakes up from an illness, she's confused, disoriented, and has a fuzzy memory. Her little sister hates her, and since she has nothing but love for the girl, she can't figure out why. The "why" is something you'd never guess in a million years, and I love that about this wonderfully weird story. As it unfolds, it continues to be a surprise at every turn.

Frances Hardinge is a genius. This is historical fiction, a commentary on war, an exploration of grief and sibling rivalry, a twisted fairy tale, and a horror story. I absolutely loved every minute. I can't wait to use this as a read-a-like right next to The Thickety in the  library. Creepy, thought-provoking, and incredibly well-written.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

by J.K. Rowling

At the end of Deathly Hallows, we get a little glimpse into the future of our beloved characters, but get to imagine ourselves how they all turn out. It was a perfect ending. I, of course, like to envision them all happily living out their lives, but in this little continuation, that fantasy is shattered. Harry is not winning any parenting awards, Hermione works too much, Ron is kind of an idiot (not in a cute, charming way), and Ginny is just a bit on the overbearing side.

The story, quickly: Harry's kid and Draco's kid are both misfits. Albus Potter bears the burden of being Harry's son, and Scorpius Malfoy is rumored to actually be the son of Voldemort. (Huh? Since when did Voldemort show any interest in having a relationship with a woman? Okay, moving on.) They become friends on the Hogwarts train, and in typical teen fashion, decide to rebel against their parents. Only in the wizarding world, the type of rebellion they are planning could have deadly consequences.

First, it's a play, so it's a bit hard to read. Second, it starts out slow. Reeeaaallll slow. Like I almost didn't finish it slow. However, once I got used to the format and got through all the boring set-up, I actually ended up kind of liking it.

Nightmares!

by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Charlie Laird's mom has recently passed away, and his dad remarried a woman named Charlotte. They all move into Charlotte's creepy purple mansion, and that's where Charlie begins having nightmares. His nightmares get scarier and scarier, and all involve an evil witch that suspiciously resembles his "Stepmonster." Soon his nightmares become more than just scary dreams. The witch can enter the waking world. When she kidnaps his little brother, Charlie discovers that he can also enter the Netherworld. It's up to him to save his brother, and the entire waking world.

Not the most original story in the world, but it's kind of cute, and the audio book is read by the author. (He's a pretty famous funny actor.)

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy

by Karen Foxlee

Ophelia, whose mother has recently died, finds a strange boy locked away, who says he needs her help. He's been imprisoned by the Snow Queen, and has been for many, many years. She's supposed to find a sword for him, but it's a dangerous mission. The story is basically Ophelia looking for the sword, dealing with her mother's death, and being puzzled about her sister's strange behavior. This sounded exactly like my kind of book, but I couldn't connect with the characters, or get involved with a plot that seemed a little bit too much like a weird Narnia rip-off. And the ending... What? Was it supposed to be a twist? I was just left scratching my head.

Circus Mirandus

by Cassie Beasley

Micah's grandpa is sick. In fact, he might not have much time left. Micah is devastated, until he finds out that the Circus Mirandus, from the magical stories his grandpa has been telling him his whole life, is real. Long ago, the Lightbender promised Grandpa Ephraim a miracle, and now it's time to collect. But first Micah and his friend Jenny have to find the elusive circus, and then, Micah has to make Jenny believe. He also has to convince the Lightbender to make good on his years-old promise, which won't be easy.

I really could gush about this book for quite some time. Even though I knew long before Micah what Grandpa's miracle had to be, I don't know that kids will figure it out, and even if they do, I don't think they'll care. There are shades of Big Fish, The Princess Bride, and even Harry Potter. There's an inexplicable shivery goodness here that comes with magical realism done right. This is Ms. Beasley's first novel, and I'm putting her on my watch list. I know I would have absolutely inhaled this as a kid, and I think my students will, too. An absolute joy to read.

Isle of the Lost

by Melissa de la Cruz

All the evil villains of Disney movie fame have been exiled to the Isle of the Lost. A huge dome covers the island, keeping them from using any magic. They are relegated to eating scraps and wearing castoffs of the good citizens of Auradon, ruled by King Beast and Queen Belle. The children of Maleficient, Jabar, Evil Queen, and Cruella De Vil (respectively Mal, Jay, Evie, and Carlos) don't know any other life away from the island. Every aspect of their existence is focused on becoming more evil, and finding nefarious ways to entertain themselves. When Carlos invents a device that is meant to provide them with more cable channels, he inadvertently opens a hole in the dome, allowing a tiny bit of magic to reactivate Maleficient's scepter, the Dragon's Eye. The four go off on a quest to find the staff, each for their own selfish reasons. All the while, though, the descendants of the most evil villains to ever walk the earth are starting to (gasp!) show signs of caring for each other. And over on Auradon, Prince Ben, son of Beast and Belle, is having visions of a beautiful blue-haired girl he's never met, even though he's betrothed to Princess Audrey, daughter of Aurora. Disney lovers and fairy-tale fans alike will need to get their hands on this book.

The Thickety: The Whispering Trees

by J.A. White

Kara and Taff are right where we left off--deep in the heart of the Thickety. They soon run into the infamous witch Mary Kettle, who claims she will help the pair by teaching Kara how to hone her skills as a wexari, a special kind of witch who can cast spells without a grimoire. The Forest Demon has many obstacles for Kara, though, and their lives are constantly in danger. Monsters abound, and the detail with which they are created makes them extra scary. The siblings never know who they can trust, and the emotional roller coaster is incredibly tense. The ending, once again, is a total shocker!

I just really love this series. What an imagination this guy has! My only complaint is that the main cliffhanger that left me gasping at the end of A Path Begins is STILL a cliffhanger at the end of The Whispering Trees. I was really hoping to get some resolution there, but I guess I'll have to wait until the next book to satisfy that curiosity. These are just the type of books I would have loved as a kid, but they're simply too good for adults to miss. Great sequel, Mr. White. I hope you are furiously writing, because I can't wait to see what's next!

The Mostly True Story of Jack

by Kelly Barnhill

Jack is a person who just doesn't get noticed. In fact, he feels invisible most of the time. When his parents split up, he goes to Iowa to live with his aunt and uncle, and his life gets even weirder. Letters home always end up back in the mailbox, and it seems his parents are finding him easy to forget. Unfortunately, he does get noticed by the town bully. Soon he realizes he's fighting more than a local bully, as he begins to investigate the town's overabundance of missing children. Can Jack win against an ancient soul-stealing evil, or will he lose his in the process?

I'm not sure what to say about this book. It started out great, but for me, it got confusing and convoluted pretty quickly. The characters all blended together, and I had a hard time keeping them straight. If you really love quirky, weird, mysteries, this might be for you, but it was hard for me to finish.