Shelf Awareness--Death at Morning House

YA Review: Death at Morning House

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson (HarperTeen, 384p., ages 12-up, 9780063255951)

Secrets abound in Death at Morning House, a sure-handed, suspenseful story that combines ominous mystery, droll wit, and queer romance.

Marlowe Wexler's first date with longtime crush Akilah Jones does not go well. After a romantic dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, Marlowe brings Akilah back to the cottage she's housesitting and her petrichor-scented candle turns Marlowe into an accidental arsonist. Marlowe decides she'll "ghost... the world," but instead receives a job offer that will let her leave town altogether: leading tours at an infamous Prohibition-era mansion. The abandoned manor, where two of the extremely wealthy Ralston family's children died tragically on the same day, is being opened to the public for one summer. Marlowe agrees to join the crew, only to learn upon arrival that her colleagues are all locals who have already started the season--and she is replacing a guide who drowned after falling off a cliff. Buried secrets bubble to the surface, Marlowe's boss goes missing, and a "swirling, biblical mess" of a storm turns the tour guides' spooky ice cream party into a nightmare. As Marlowe watches history repeat itself, her brain begins to "assemble the pieces" and she homes in on the mansion's truths.

Maureen Johnson (Truly Devious series) has written an atmospheric, entertaining detective story with multiple entwined mysteries. Marlowe's contemporary narration is augmented by accounts from various Ralston children in 1932, effectively capturing readers' curiosity. Johnson imbues her writing with ominous undercurrents, yet Marlowe's wry voice manages to entertain, even as tragedies unfurl. This is a gripping, darkly funny, and gratifying YA mystery. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--We Are Definitely Human

PB Review: We Are Definitely Human

We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang (Tundra Books, 48p., ages 4-8, 9781774882023)

We Are Definitely Human is a fabulously illustrated, rib-tickling, and affecting picture book in which Mr. Li and his neighbors demonstrate the potential of kindness and cooperative spirit.

It's midnight when something crashes outside Mr. and Mrs. Li's house. Mr. Li investigates, only to find three strangers with "very big" eyes, "very blue" skin, and body shapes that are "very hard to describe." But Mr. Li doesn't worry because these strangers "are DEFINITELY human." Their spaceship (er, "car") has broken down and since Mr. Li is "a kind human," he offers to help. Mr. Li drives his guests to the store, and the people shopping there do "what kind humans do." They offer to help. Before long, there's a party in the woods, with food and dancing and "interesting conversations." At last, the repairs are made, and everyone waves goodbye. The car "float[s] higher and higher until it disappear[s] among the stars." The three visitors reflect on "the kindness of humans, [who] do what kind humans do--offer help to anyone who needs it."

X. Fang (Dim Sum Palace) has made an out-of-this-world picture book that features hilariously deadpan aliens and charming, though (maybe?) clueless, human protagonists (plus one wisely skeptical dog). Outrageously giggle-inducing dialogue from the aliens is characterized by non sequiturs and garbled syntax, and Fang revels in the disconnect between human expectations and alien quirks. Mixed media illustrations in strong purples, yellows, blues, and greens are a delight. This book's wonderful message of offering help where help is needed is wisely and gracefully delivered. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Beneath These Cursed Stars

YA Review: Beneath These Cursed Stars

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan (HarperTeen, 432p., ages 13-up, 9780063311909)

Beneath These Cursed Stars is a fast-paced, neatly executed YA dark fantasy featuring human-fae intrigue, romance, and tangled secrets that refuse to stay undercover.

It has been three years since Princess Jasalyn, now 17, was released from imprisonment in the dungeons of "false king" Mordeus. Rumors that the once-dead Mordeus has been resurrected are circulating and Jasalyn's sister, queen Abriella of the Unseelie Court, wants to send Jasalyn to the care of King Misha in the Wild Fae territory. But Jasalyn is no helpless victim; she traded her immortality for a magical ring, "forfeit[ing] any days beyond" the age of 18 in exchange for the powerful tool. At night, Jasalyn seeks out the worst of Mordeus's followers and uses the ring to administer the "kiss of death." On one of Jasalyn's deadly hunts, she is captured by fae disguised as humans who want to use her to fulfill their oracle's prophecy. When Jasalyn finds their goals align, she allows one of the captors, shapeshifting Felicity, to impersonate her, giving Jasalyn the freedom to spend her last year hunting Mordeus. As things turn steamy with leader Kendrick, the price Jasalyn paid for her ring begins to seem too high.

Lexi Ryan (These Hollow Vows) tells her thrilling romantic fantasy through the absorbing first-person voices of Jasalyn and Felicity. Characters wield tantalizing secret agendas as they fight against--and adhere to--the fates, and the sexy "will-they-or-won't-they" nature of the romance heightens the fun. The cliffhanger ending should leave readers eager to learn whether love or betrayal will ultimately win out. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--The Grandest Game

YA Review: The Grandest Game

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 384p., ages 12-up, 9780316481014)

The Grandest Game is a provocative, puzzle box of a novel wherein "seven lucky players" vie for control of a "life-changing" prize of $26 million.

Heiress Avery Grambs and the impossibly rich Hawthorne brothers will oversee the first annual Grandest Game. The seven tickets to play are highly coveted and all the contestants have something to prove--both to themselves and to others. British Rohan, "light brown"-skinned and roguish, competes to buy his way into a rich and powerful legacy. Gigi, master of "chaotic distraction," wants the prize to continue her enigmatic "reverse heist" program, while Savannah, Gigi's "taller, blonder" twin, plays to win. Ex-dancer Lyra needs the money because her parents plan to sell the family home to pay Lyra's college tuition. The seven contestants are rounded out by lip-reading "old lady" Odette, dreadlocked "recovering physicist" Brady, and "scum-basket" Knox--and, surprisingly, Grayson Hawthorne, second-eldest of the brothers, whose unfinished business with Lyra means he'll be competing as well. Teams form, tension skyrockets, and formidable outside forces surreptitiously pull strings, making the game increasingly more dangerous.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes's addictively fast-paced novel is the first in a series set in the same universe as her bestselling The Inheritance Games series, and there's plenty here for even previously uninitiated readers to enjoy. The shifting points of view among Rohan, Lyra, and Gigi, along with complex riddles, misdirection, and steamy sexual tension, keep the plot racing. The contestants all know there is a "price to be paid for power"--but how steep is the cost and who will pay it? --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

July's Recommendations

In TRICKY CHOPSTICKS, written by Sylvia Chen and illustrated by Fanny Liem, Splat-choooo! Jenny Chow finds chopsticks too “slippery, wobbly, and tricky” to master. She’s afraid she’ll fumble badly during her cousin Victor’s annual chopstick challenge and, even worse, what if she’s “the only Chow ever who never learn[s] how to use chopsticks?!” Jenny’s determined to figure out a way to “fix her grip,” but nothing seems to work, until she combines a daring idea with her love of origami. Jenny practices hard, and when the party arrives, she closes her eyes, holds her chopsticks tight, and, with a thumping heart, imagines her trick. Engaging text is enhanced by onomatopoeia and creative STEAM thinking, and digital illustrations are clear and energetic. Backmatter includes an author’s note and instructions on how to try Jenny’s trick with chopsticks.

LOOKING FOR PEPPERMINT, OR LIFE IN THE FOREST, by Maxwell Eaton III, takes readers on an appealing, anecdote-packed journey through the forest to find Peppermint, a dog who’s “up to no good.” The story begins with a child pointing out white pines, “the tallest trees in this forest,” and describing how the trees sway and sometimes even fall over, and what happens when they do. There are also hemlocks and red oaks. We learn about porcupines, fishers, minks, woodchucks, and coyotes, all of which may be encountered there. And turkeys and barred owls. And eventually we find Peppermint (and a red squirrel) and… This engaging hike is illustrated with pen and ink, graphite, watercolor, and colored pencils, in full spreads, comic-style panels, and with what purports to be our young guide’s journal entries. It’s a distinctive fictional picture book that offers plenty of facts.

In IF YOU RUN OUT OF WORDS, by Felicita Sala, a child asks her distracted dad “what happens if you run out of words? Will you have any left for me?” This poignant inquiry immediately captures Dad’s attention, and a fantastical journey of “what-if”s ensues. Dad visits the underground Elves’ Word Factory, climbs up the tallest tree, and flies (via owl) far away. He braves a broken rocket, wacky scientists, and “meany” mice pirates, until he gets home with a jar full of words that includes the three most precious of all… Sala’s imaginative chain of events, driven by the child’s questions, are enhanced by her usual breathtaking art (a glorious combination of gouache, ink, watercolor, colored pencils, and oil pastels), creating an immensely appealing book that’s perfect for end-of-day—or anytime—cuddles.

I finally got my hands on a copy of THE LAST STAND, written by Antwan Eady and illustrated by Jarett & Jerome Pumphrey, and I’m so glad I did. On Saturdays, Papa and the young narrator of this story harvest “peppers, plums, and pumpkins,” which they load, along with their eggs, into “baskets Granny made from sweetgrass.” Lines of customers await them at Papa Earl's stand, the last stand left at this Farmers Market. After the market closes for the day, there are more deliveries to make. “Papa’s hands are black and wrinkled,” his “hair is gray and thin,” and one Saturday he’s too tired to help. Little Earl learns how to take over, and in time the last stand becomes his. Eady’s text is spare yet speaks volumes, and the Pumphreys’ handmade, digitally edited stamps bring the story to life, adding artistry and context. An author’s note enriches with context about the declining percentage of Black farmers in America and thoughts on how “land is complex…but land is love, too.” It’s heartfelt, bittersweet, and pretty much a perfect picture book.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Wicked Marigold

MG Review: Wicked Marigold

Wicked Marigold by Caroline Carlson (Candlewick, 256p., ages 8-12, 9781536230499)

Wicked Marigold is a witty and wise tale of wickedness (with a twist) that's populated by strong-willed princesses, nasty wizards, a fastidious imp, and a sentient yellow blob.

Princess Marigold of the Cacophonous Kingdoms has grown up hearing all about her sister, "perfectly good" Princess Rosalind, who was stolen by the evil Wizard Torville before Marigold was born. Unlike Rosalind, Marigold occasionally sulks and can't "coax strawberries to ripeness" with her laugh, but she builds wonderful contraptions and has adventures with kitchen boy Collin. When Marigold is 11, Rosalind, with hair "even more golden than Marigold had heard," comes home. Marigold (not particularly happy about this) dumps a bucket of water onto Rosalind and, deciding she must be wicked, runs away to Wizard Torville's castle. To stay, she must convince Torville's imp, Pettifog, that she really is wicked. But, after accidentally turning Torville into a yellow "blob of glop," Marigold learns political dissent is growing among the evil wizards of the Cacophonous Kingdoms. Marigold, Collin, and Pettifog must put things right before the wizards cast their "big magic" on Rosalind--and curse Marigold herself.

Caroline Carlson offers an accomplished, rib-tickling take on princess stories, wherein a relatable younger sibling is made to feel she can never measure up. Marigold, neither good nor wicked but rather a very human mix of the two, is spunky, likable, and thinks for herself--she is a child who ultimately understands her own worth and saves the day with her cleverness and tenacity. The smart prose hums along, and this fresh look at familiar tropes is a real winner. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

July's Book of the Month--Millie Fleur's Poison Garden

July’s Book of the Month is the charming, fantastical MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN, by Christy Mandin.

In Garden Glen, “prim, pastel houses, each one like the next,” line the streets, except for “one tumbledown house on a scruffy hill at the edge of town.” That’s the place Millie Fleur La Fae and her mom move into. Millie Fleur loves her new home, but one thing is missing—fortunately, Mom has brought seeds and Millie Fleur springs into action. She fills her new garden with plants like fanged fairy moss, sore toothwort, and tentacled tansy. Grumpy gillyflower and glowing jack-in-the-bush.

Of course, “picture-perfect” Garden Glen’s Rosebud Club finds the garden odd, unruly, and unacceptable. But Millie Fleur believes her “wild, weird little garden” is special, and when she brings her class home for a tour, they agree! Before long, “bits of Millie Fleur’s garden [begin] to take root all over town,” and Garden Glen is, happily, “forever transformed.”

Packed with puns, wordplay, and an appreciation of the off-kilter, MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN is a delightful celebration of individuality, and the joys of following one’s own passions. It’s also about standing up for what you think is right. Mandin’s text is clear and clever, and the same can be said of her digital illos, which have their own punny references and imbue the plants with plenty of personality. There are faces everywhere and Millie Fleur’s frog sidekick adds a nice touch.

MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN is dark—but not really. Like the titular garden, this book celebrates the “wonderfully weird” in a cozy, accessible way.

--Lynn