Month: February 2025

Review: (S)Kin

Title: (S)Kin
Author: Ibi Zoboi
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Poetry, Contemporary
Publisher: Versify
Source: BookSparks
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ibi Zoboi comes her groundbreaking contemporary fantasy debut—a novel in verse based on Caribbean folklore—about the power of inherited magic and the price we must pay to live the life we yearn for.

Fifteen-year-old Marisol is the daughter of a soucouyant. Every new moon, she sheds her skin like the many women before her, shifting into a fireball witch who must fly into the night and slowly sip from the lives of others to sustain her own. But Brooklyn is no place for fireball witches with all its bright lights, shut windows, and bolt-locked doors.… While Marisol hoped they would leave their old traditions behind when they emigrated from the islands, she knows this will never happen while she remains ensnared by the one person who keeps her chained to her magical past—her mother.

Seventeen-year-old Genevieve is the daughter of a college professor and a newly minted older half sister of twins. Her worsening skin condition and the babies’ constant wailing keep her up at night, when she stares at the dark sky with a deep longing to inhale it all. She hopes to quench the hunger that gnaws at her, one that seems to reach for some memory of her estranged mother. When a new nanny arrives to help with the twins, a family secret connecting her to Marisol is revealed, and Gen begins to find answers to questions she hasn’t even thought to ask.

But the girls soon discover that the very skin keeping their flames locked beneath the surface may be more explosive to the relationships around them than any ancient magic.

Review:

This is a beautiful novel in verse. It follows two girls: Marisol and Genevieve. They were connected through their shared power, where on every new moon, they shed their skin and fly like a comet with the ability to hurt someone who has harmed them. I read most of this book in one sitting. It was fast paced and so hard to put down. It addressed racism, bullying, and slavery in an intense and engaging plot.

(S)Kin is a beautiful story!

Thank you BookSparks for providing a copy of this book as part of the Winter Reading Challenge.

Content warnings: bullying, racism

Have you read (S)Kin? What did you think of it?

Review: Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest

Title: Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest
Author: Christine Platt, Alea Marley (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Walker Books US
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Young reporter Frankie and her news crew of beloved toys learn why and how people protest as this engaging series continues.

There’s breaking news on TV at Frankie’s house—a protest to demand justice! Frankie’s mama, a journalist, gets a call to cover the story, and Frankie wants to do her own reporting, too. But what isa protest, exactly, and why do people do it? Along with her news crew, including Farrah the doll, Dan the teddy bear, and Nina the cat, Frankie prepares a feature story by doing research and conducting interviews with Papa and big sister Raven. And when the toys decide to have their own protest in support of the local movement, Frankie is on the scene to help make signs, march, and, of course, get the scoop! In this latest installment of the winning series, Frankie explores big ideas like racial injustice and activism with her supportive family and learns more about journalism in the process. Young newshounds will learn along with Frankie through all-caps vocabulary terms and a glossary at the back.

Review:

This story is a great way to teach children about protests and activism. There are so many protests about important human rights these days. It could be difficult to open that topic with children so they are aware of what’s going on in the world, but not give them so many details that it scares or traumatizes them. In this story, Frankie saw a protest on the news which inspired her to make her own news report about a protest. This was a safe way for her to learn about and experience a protest of her own. 

Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest is a great early chapter book for young readers!

Thank you Walker Books US for sending me a copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Have you read Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest? What did you think of it?

Review: Beyblade X, Vol. 1

Title: Beyblade X, Vol. 1
Author: Homura Kawamoto, Hikaru Muno, Posuka Demizu
Genre: Manga, Young Adult
Publisher: Viz Media
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Who will rise to the top of The X in the ultimate Beyblade showdown?!

Bladers are ready to battle it out! They’ve set their sights on the top of The X tower and prepare to fight their way to victory. With new technology and powerful opponents entering the arena, Beyblades are pushed to their extremes as they race through a new era.

Amateur Blader Robin Kazami is left without a team after a crushing defeat. Things start to look up when he runs into former Beyblade champion Jaxon Cross, who is on his own journey to fight back to the top of The X tower under the alias “Blader X.” This unlikely duo teams up and vows to rise to the top of Beyblade!

Review:

This was such a fun manga! It’s about kids who compete in Beyblade tournaments. I didn’t play with Beyblades much as a kid, but a lot of my friends did. This book reminded me of playing during recess in elementary school. I think this book will make adult readers nostalgic and introduce young readers to the game!

Beyblade X, Vol. 1 is a great YA manga!

Thank you Viz Media and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read Beyblade X, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot

Title: Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot
Author: Isaac Rudansky
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

In a world where fiction is forbidden and truth is a matter of life and death, one young boy must write a story to save humanity . . .

When his father is abducted by a mysterious figure, twelve-year-old Georgie Summers is thrown into the adventure of a lifetime. Georgie’s journey takes him to Scatterplot, a hidden realm where Scribes record human memories to safeguard the truth. But when the evil Flint Eldritch threatens to corrupt those memories and plunge the world into chaos, Georgie must team up with an unlikely group of friends to stop him. As the journey grows increasingly dangerous, Georgie realizes that only he holds the key to defeating Eldritch and saving not just his father . . . but every mind on Earth.

Will Georgie be able to wield the power of the Aetherquill to save his father and protect everyone he loves, or will Eldritch rewrite history itself? In Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot, author Isaac Rudansky spins an exhilarating tale of strength, determination, and the power of friendship to lift you from the depths of loneliness and despair.

Review:

This book is a great middle grade fantasy! The world of the scribes and Scatterplot had magic that centered around reading and writing. I think kids who love reading will love this world. The ending was really shocking, so I hope there will be a sequel to clear things up!

There’s a special Crack the Code Challenge, where readers are invited to figure out the secret code hidden within the book. When readers find the clue to decipher the alphabet chart in the front of the book, they can crack the code and send in the message for a chance to win weekly prizes! This challenge is only available on the limited first print run of hardcovers.

Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot is a fun and fast-paced middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Isaac Rudansky and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death of parent, missing parent, memory loss, fire, violence

Have you read Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot? What did you think of it?

Review: Dinosaurs

Title: Dinosaurs
Author: Taffy Tales
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 21, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

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Synopsis:

Embark on a prehistoric adventure! This captivating chunky board book, adorned with interactive die-cut pages, invites young explorers to journey to prehistoric times and encounter a delightful array of dinosaurs. From the towering T. rex to the speedy Velociraptor, each page unveils a new Jurassic surprise. Bursting with vibrant illustrations and engaging text, Dinosaurs is a delightful celebration of these ancient creatures that will spark curiosity and promote language development. Watch as your little one’s imagination soars alongside these magnificent creatures in a colorful and lively title that promises endless joy and learning.

Review:

Dinosaurs is a board book with lots of fun facts about dinosaurs. The illustrations were vibrantly coloured, which will appeal to young kids. There were so many dinosaurs included. I hadn’t heard of most of them. There’s a QR code at the back that leads to a pronunciation guide for the names of the dinosaurs, which will be helpful when reading aloud to kids!

Dinosaurs is a great board book for early readers!

Thank you Taffy Tales and Bookinfluencers.com for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read Dinosaurs? What did you think of it?

Review: Blast From the Past (The Raccoons)

Title: Blast From the Past (The Raccoons)
Author: Chris McGuire
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Candy Jar Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 27, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

“I’m coming to give you what you deserve!” One fine day in the Evergreen Forest, Cyril Sneer gets a letter from his former business partner…

Yes, Karl Snarl is on his way to get even with Cyril! He’s mean. He’s greedy. He’s grumpy. And he has lovely handwriting (but that’s not strictly relevant). But all Sneer’s henchpigs know for sure is that Karl Snarl must be one seriously scary character, especially if Cyril’s terrified of him!

Time to man the defences! But will they be enough if Snarl huffs and puffs and blows their mansion down?

Oh, and Bert Raccoon intends to use a helicopter to deliver newspapers around the Evergreen Forest.

But surely nothing can go wrong with that, can it?

Review:

This is another great book in the Raccoons series. It was exciting and funny! I love the inclusion of QR codes that lead to videos about the series. There’s even a scene that you can watch as you read along with it. There’s also a fun crossword puzzle at the end of the book that I think kids will love!

Blast From the Past is a great book for young readers!

Thank you Candy Jar Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Have you read Blast From the Past? What did you think of it?

Review: The Reunion

Title: The Reunion
Author: Beth Reekles
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: W by Wattpad Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Ten years after graduating, the class of 2014 are back at Tisdale Comprehensive for the reunion, packed into a school gym full of familiar faces – and plenty of new secrets.MOST LIKELY TO END UP TOGETHER – Shaun and Steph were each other’s first love. Now, they’re settled and planning the perfect wedding – to other people. Could reconnecting spark a new romance?MOST LIKELY TO BECOME FAMOUS – Bryony was supposed to travel the world, rule the West End, have a dazzling career as a TV actress… Now, she’s a drama teacher who’s exaggerated her whole life on Instagram, and is desperate to save face.MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED – Hayden was told he’d achieve great things, like be on the cover of TIME, win a Nobel prize… or, the accolade his daughters just awarded World’s Best Dad. Is it too late for him to turn things around, and more importantly, does he even want to?MOST LIKELY TO KILL EACH OTHER – Ashleigh was an A* student, and Ryan the star of the school rugby team. After years of putting each other down, they left school each convinced they would have the better life. Now, that old rivalry finds them drawn back together in a new, intoxicating way – one they’re both determined to hide.With an evening of power cuts, fire alarms, sneaking off to explore classrooms in the dark, stolen kisses and heated fights – it’s like they never left at all.

Review:

This story follows 6 friends at their 10 year high school reunion. They were each voted as a “Most Likely To…” at the end of high school, but none of them fit the person who they have become. It’s hard to believe in the moment during high school that we won’t be the same person 10 years later. We think we’ll be that same teenager once we’re an adult, but we change a lot. There were some funny and unexpected moments in this story that made it a fun read!

The Reunion is a great story!

Thank you Wattpad Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read The Reunion? What did you think of it?