Month: March 2024

Roaming / Jillian Tamaki, Mariko Tamaki

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Roaming
By: Jillian Tamaki, Mariko Tamaki
Genre: Graphic Novel, New Adult
Number of Pages: 444
Published: September 1, 2023
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly
Dates Read: March 25, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

It’s Spring Break 2009 and three friends have five days in New York City. Over the course of their time there a fling blossoms between two of them, which causes the long-term friendship to be thrown off-balance. 

Don’t know why I’ve found myself in books running around New York City with young adults, but I’m okay with it. It was actually kind of nice reading the graphic novel since it had a few places that were mentioned in my first book so I got to see them that way.

Everybody knows a Fiona – who is literally the worst and sucks the fun out of everything. Which is what drove me nuts about her and Dani’s fling. But, I will give the authors the credit in truly capturing the annoyance of Fiona as a whole.

On top of hating Fiona, I did find the ending just as unsatisfying. I was expecting maybe Fiona acknowledging how shitty she was – or at least giving a thank you for Dani and Zoe helping her out, or more of the group separating at the airport and going their separate ways. I get the symbolism of the ending – but I just wish there had been more.

Overall, it’s a good story about a group of friends on a trip one of them always dreamed of and it is not going exactly as planned. Wonderful depiction of that difference you have with your high school friends after going away to different colleges/universities.

Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods / Catherynne M. Valente

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods
By: Catherynne M. Valente
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 416
Published: April 26, 2022
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Dates Read: March 20, 2024 - March 24, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

All Osmo Unknown wants is to venture out beyond his small town of Littlebridge – and to be known as something other than a turnip. One day, his mother accidentally kills a Quidnunk, a fearsome and intelligent creature that lives deep in the woods. This shouldn’t have anything to do with Osmo, except there was a treaty between the Quidnunx and the people of Littlebridge that was forged hundreds of years ago.

Accompanied by a half-badger/half-wombat named Bonk and an antisocial pangolin girl named Never, Omsmo must embark on a quest to find the Eightpenny Woods – the kingdom where all the forest creatures go when they die – to make amends.

This took me a little bit to get into it. I knew it was going to be good, but my attention for it didn’t truly catch on until a little over 100 pages in, once all the group had been assembled. 

As much as Bonk initially annoyed me, the more and more I got to know him, the more I understood and liked him. I even started writing down my favorite insult names he used: ornery wee fork, ya dropped egg, absolute doorknob, trashcake supreme. I loved Never off the bat and loved every inch of her antisocial self.

There’s a narrator you see only in the beginning and towards the end, that breaks the fourth wall between the narrator and the reader – otherwise it’s told in third person through Osmo’s POV.

I can see middle grade readers really enjoying this and walking away from the last few pages feeling like they themselves went on an adventure. Even as an adult, I felt that I was just told the most fabulous story sitting around a campfire. Give it a few more pages when you’re getting into it than you probably usually do – but you won’t regret it!

Cross My Heart and Never Lie / Nora Dåsnes, Matt Bagguley (Translator)

/ Alisha Helms / 1 Comment 
Cross My Heart and Never Lie
By: Nora Dåsnes, Matt Bagguley (Translator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 248
Published: September 19, 2023 (1st Published May 5, 2021)
Publisher: Hippo Park
Dates Read: March 20, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Twelve-year-old Tuva has questions about what it means to become a mature and a teenager. She’s starting seventh grade and has a few goals; write (or draw) a whole diary, get a cool look, build the best base in the bog with Bao and Linnéa, go to a sleepover birthday party, and fall in love. She’s got it all planned out. But when school starts, nothing is how she hoped.

Her two best friends are not split into rival teams. TEAM LINNÉA are the girls who fall in love. TEAM BAO are the girls who will never fall in love. Linnéa got a boyfriend over the summer and Bao hates everything there is to do with love. And now, they’re expecting Tuva to pick sides! Then Miriam shows up and suddenly Tuva feels like she’s met her soulmate.

How’s a girl to survive?

This was so cute! First sapphic love written in the diary form of a young artist is adorable (especially when she’s making the connections that yea – she does like Miriam like that!). It’s also one of the best coming of age stories I’ve read in a minute. Tuva’s on that teetering edge of playing around in the mud during breaks and wearing a bra and mascara for the first time (I don’t wear makeup anymore, but I did when I was younger and trying to figure out your “look” is hard!).

Tuva’s dad is also a single parent and it’s heartwarming to see him trying while Tuva’s going through everything. He even admits he doesn’t have all the answers, but it’s always so very supportive.

This book is set in Norway and is translated from Norwegian – it’s fascinating to see how universal growing up can be.

Overall, I’ll be thrusting this book into the hands of many who would like a warm hug on a chilly day. Also those that love queer middle grade stories. The subjects in the story are never too heavy and can be enjoyed by all ages!

Secrets of the Octopus / Sy Montgomery

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Secrets of the Octopus
By: Sy Montgomery
Genre: Nonfiction, Science
Number of Pages: 192
Published: March 19, 2024
Publisher: National Geographic
Dates Read: March 15, 2024 - March 16, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Filled with beautiful National Geographic photography, Secrets of the Octopus explores the underwater world of the octopus and brings to light new information that affirms the underwater, alien-like creatures are one of the world’s most intelligent and complex creatures.

Y’all – this is my first nonfiction book that’s not a memoir and/or wasn’t assigned to me in school (which, I’ve been out of school for 9 years, if that tells you anything…). I asked for an advance copy of this off NetGalley because that always gives me a little more pressure on myself to actually read the book and not just say I will. Plus, once I found out this was a companion novel for the newest special coming out, I wanted it even more. Oh man, am I glad I did.

Obviously being my first nonfiction novel, I haven’t read anything by Sy Montgomery before, but I really like her writing. It was informative but I never felt like I was just being thrown the science. It was written in a way that was easy to follow and understand. I was constantly screenshotting and highlighting things all the time. I read this in two days and then proceeded to chat my partner’s ear off about it over lunch the following day.

I learned so many things and am proud to say octopuses are my new favorite marine animal.

Overall, I believe anyone who picks up this book will be walking away a little bit more of a lover of these eight-legged saltwater creatures with this easy to digest novel. This will also get one excited for the miniseries coming out here soon.

*Thank you National Geographic and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Cat + Gamer (Volume 4) / Wataru Nadatani

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Cat + Gamer (Volume 4)
By: Wataru Nadatani
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 168
Published: February 24, 2024 (1st Published July 17, 2020)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: March 13, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

In this volume, Riko adopts a new kitten to add to the family, to keep Musubi company. In comes Soboro, a munchkin calico. Double the cuteness.

I always loved when people take the time to introduce new pets to their current ones. Each time I got a new pet, we just introduced them to my cat, Mushi, the day we brought them home.

I still don’t care as much for Riko’s gaming analogies but I stay for the cats. I do want to say I love how she interacts with the felines while she is gaming and that though she gets upset if they mess her up, it’s never anything super crazy.

Overall, this manga is filled with the cuteness of owning a cat(s) for the first time; especially for someone who is introverted and used to being on their own.

Don’t Want to Be Your Monster / Deke Moulton

/ Alisha Helms / 2 Comments 
Don’t Want to Be Your Monster
By: Deke Moulton
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 304
Published: August 1, 2023
Publisher: Tundra Books
Dates Read: March 10, 2024 - March 12, 2024
Format: Hardcover

Adam and Victor have fights just like all brothers – over the remote, over chores, over rather or not it’s morally acceptable to eat people… well, more like when it’s okay to drink someone’s blood. They’re young vampires hiding in the woods with the sibling Sung and their Moms in Lacey, Washington. Pacific Northwest. United States of America.

For the most part, everything has been great – until bodies start to appear all over town and it becomes pretty clear there’s a vampire hunter involved. But as both boys try to find their own way of solving the murders, it creates a wedge between them. Can they reconcile their differences and work together before it’s too late?

Okay, this was cute. I was a little bit worried about it when I first started it because young literature with vampires can go so many different ways. This one however, went in the right direction! There’s of course a small change up from what you usually think of vampires with how the author pictures them in their world, but through the characters, they explain kind of their reasoning as to why their vampires are a little different than your classic ones. Which, in all honesty, all made complete sense to me!

I also loved the idea of a Jewish Vampire. Cause yea, nearly everything around vampires has been centered around Catholicism (I mean, so is most history if we’re being real honest), so that was another nice change to see in a vampire world.

Overall, a wonderfully cute, middle grade vampire novel. I didn’t think it was really scary or gory or anything like that so it fits well with younger readers. I don’t know if “soft fantasy” is what I’m looking for because there is a vampire hunter and murder, and it’s high stakes, but it’s not terrifying! This is a book I can see those who like the vampire world would enjoy – no matter the age!

*Thank you Tundra Books and LibraryThing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Prickletrims Go Wild / Marie Dorléans, Polly Lawson (Translator)

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Prickletrims Go Wild
By: Marie Dorléans, Polly Lawson (Translator)
Genre: Children’s
Number of Pages: 44 
Published: April 9, 2024
Publisher: Floris Books
Dates Read: March 10, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

The Prickletrim family are very proud of their perfectly trimmed and managed garden. They LOVE nature – as long as it’s controlled properly. But one day, their gardener can no longer stand their rules and quits. Finally free of the restrictions, the garden explodes, spilling its greenery into the Prickletrim’s house and every corner of their lives. Can the Prickletrim learn to live with nature?

This is so adorable and filled with beautiful and colorful garden illustrations. It’s cute to see the little hidden objects within the garden when it explodes and the Prickletrim’s are learning to live with it.

The story behind the greenery isn’t necessarily about gardens and nature, but more along with change and how to handle and live with it.

I’ve got a few small families I know who will love this book and I can’t wait for them to be able to get their hands on a translated copy here in April.

*Thank you Floris Books and Edelweiss+ for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This Day Changes Everything / Edward Underhill

/ Alisha Helms / 2 Comments 
This Day Changes Everything
By: Edward Underhill
Genre: YA, Romance, LGBTQ+
Number of Pages: 288
Published: February 1, 2024
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Dates Read: March 9, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Abby believes in the magic of the universe – especially since her high school marching band is going to be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She now gets to spend the next few days in New York City with her best friend, Kat. The exact same New York City their favorite book is set in – and the perfect place to finally tell Kat she loves her (and that she’s gay). She’s got a signed copy of the book that she’s spent months annotating, now she’s just got to find the perfect moment to create her own rom-com.

Leo on the other hand, just wants to get through the next few days without too much of a family blowup – especially since he’s about to be outed on national television to his Southern family as the trans boy he really is. He’s not excited for the parade, he just wants to get it over with – yet alone spending the day sightseeing with his band.

When fate throws both Abby and Leo on the wrong subway trains heading in the opposite direction of their bands, the duo get lost in Manhattan. And worse yet, Leo makes Abby lose her one of a kind gift for Kat. To hopefully fix it, they decide on a new mission: find a souvenir at every location mentioned in the book, while their friends can hopefully cover for them during sightseeing. Maybe, just maybe, fate and a little magic will make this a day that changes everything.

I wasn’t sure what year this was supposed to be set in. They mention Tumblr a lot and I used it religiously for twelve years, but haven’t messed with it too much in the last five when my dash became so slow because people stopped posting. Is that still a popular website, or was this set roughly ten years ago? I think knowing this would also help me in understanding where Abby was in knowing about Queer activities in and around the KC area. 

I’m not the biggest Romance fan, but this just sounded super cute when I read the premise – plus a lot can happen in a big city in 24-hours and this book doesn’t disappoint. 

Overall, great representation of Teen Queer communities. Also for those who love that grump and sunshine trope.

*Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Huda F Cares? / Huda Fahmy

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Huda F Cares?
By: Huda Fahmy
Genre: Graphic Novel, Humor
Number of Pages: 208
Published: October 10, 2023
Publisher: Dial Books
Dates Read: March 7, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Huda and her sisters are actually taking a family vacation this summer – to Disney World! But, it’s not all going to be a walk in the park. First Huda must survive the 24-hour car ride from Michigan to Florida, crammed in the back seat with her sisters. Then, Huda can’t help but notice all the stares her family gets, especially when they’re praying in public – back home in Dearborn, their family blends right in with the large Muslim population, but in Florida, not so much.

This graphic novel is filled with force (but successful??) sisterly bonding, a possible new friendship, and some mixed feelings about exactly why Huda cares so much about what other people thought.

The sibling dynamics are so spot on – especially sisterly ones. So many scenarios where I thought, “Yep, my sisters and I have had a version of this fight ourselves”.

I love how the author was able to mix nostalgia with humor and still be very eye opening. Her family is very blessed back in Dearborn to be surrounded with a large Muslim community, but her parents know that’s not how it will be “out in the real world” and their trip to Disney World is kind of a tester for them. It takes Huda a bit to realize that, but she still comes out of the trip being proud to be Muslim.

Overall, I love Huda’s series and will definitely be recommending her books to loads of people. You don’t necessarily have to read her first graphic novel to understand this one at all. But this one is nice for those with sisters to read a story of a family road trip – cause we’ve all been there, right??

Stoked For This: March 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I tried to be ahead of the game this month and prewrote a section of my March’s Stoked for this. When I finished it and posted it last night, WordPress went and “published” it on the day I originally started the draft (which was February 16). I’m reposting this now so it shows up in the right spot on my website.

Here to TRIPLE CHECKING EVERYTHING before posting y’all!

I’m cutting this a bit late on the posting day but I’m really trying this year to post these all by the first Tuesday of the month.

This is a pretty big month for releases as it’s the publisher’s spring burst. I don’t know if I’d call any of these beach reads, which is usually what I think of when I think of March releases – maybe one of my YA romances, but I think it may be pushing the definition of “beach read”.

Some historical fiction (duh), stories with mental health, stories of science fiction, a book with actual science (hello eight legged sea alien), and a mystery thriller I could see a Netflix deal with (if it’s done properly).

You ready to see what I’m stoked for??

Release Date: March 5, 2024

The Fragility of Light

By: Heather S. Lonczak

Why am I stoked for this release?

This book is supposedly an unforgiving dive into mental illness. And I like that about books – ones that tell it exactly how it is and don’t sugarcoat anything.

Mental illness was such a taboo when I was a growing up and it makes me happy that hopefully people can see themselves more and more in text and media.

Hidden Yellow Stars

By: Rebecca Connolly

Why am I stoked for this release?

Historical WWII Fiction – but Alisha, I thought you were trying to get away from this time period?

I’ve been trying not to read WWII historical fiction novels since 2010. It’s not happening. So I’m going to enjoy it.

This one is based on a true story of two WWII heroines who ricked their lives to save Jewish children from the Gestapo in Belgium.

Tell me you don’t want to read that!

The First State of Being

By: Erin Entrada Kelly

Why am I stoked for this title?

I read We Dream of Space when it came out in 2020 and I still think about those siblings to this day.

Set in August 1999, in the loom of the Y2K crisis, Michael and his babysitter Gibby, meet Ridge – the world’s first time traveler.

We all know how I feel about time traveler books (love them) and the fact that this will be a teenage time traveler right before the turn of the century? What could go wrong??

Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal

By: Gretchen Schreiber

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a teen romance so I may not be in love with it, but I’m willing to give it a try!

Why?

It’s being marketed as The Breakfast Club meets Five Feet Apart.

I enjoy both of those things, so let’s see what mashing them together can mean.

Coyote Lost and Found

By: Dan Gemeinhart

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the second book to the Coyote Sunrise series and i absolutely adored the first book.

This one is picking up a year later when Coyote finds her mom’s ashes and wants to not scatter them in her chosen place. The only problem is the secret place is hidden in a book that Coyote mistakenly sold the year before while riding around the country. Now she must find it without telling her dad.

If I remember correctly the first book was filled with a cast of characters I loved so I’m ready to meet them again and go on this touching journey.

The Poisons We Drink

By: Bethany Baptiste

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ve always loved witches and this one is about a witch who brews magic potions (even though it has painful side effects). After her mother is killed by an enemy’s bullet, she has the chance to punish her mother’s killer with potions.

I’m sure there will be lots of corruption and the mix between magic and power questioned.

The Girls We Sent Away

By: Meagan Church

Why am I stoked for this release?

Another historical fiction novel but this one set in the 1960’s about a young woman who gets pregnant out of wedlock. To hide their family from shame, she gets sent to a maternity home.

The library just did a maternity home event about the one that was here in KC and this is just an interesting topic, so of course when I saw this as an ARC come in I grabbed it and hopefully will be able to get to it here soon.

Release Date: March 19, 2024

In the Orbit of You

By: Ashley Schumacher

Why am I stoked for this release?

Another YA romance? Are you sure??

Yes – this one sounds like it will be cute and full of little childish memories and stuff okay??

There’s also recovering from past trauma – which, aren’t we all?

Rainbow Black

By: Maggie Thrash

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m just going to leave you with the little marketing snippet this book has and tell me you also wouldn’t be intrigued.

“Rainbow Black is part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic and spanning 20 years in the life of a young woman pulled into its undertow.”

Secrets of the Octopus

By: Sy Montgomery

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a companion to the highly-anticipated National Geographic television special will beautiful illustrations.

Octopus are freakin’ amazing and cool and WEIRD, but I love them. I’m excited for the tv show and I’m excited for this release.

The Woods All Black

by: Lee Mandelo

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a queer, trans romance novella that’s historical horror with blood-soaked revenge all set in the 1920’s Appalachia.

Historical fiction? Check.

Revenge? Check.

Appalachia? Also check.

James

By: Percival Everett

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is said to be a “reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and that’s got me curious.

We all know the story of Huckleberry Finn, and it’s set in Missouri – so let’s go!

Release Date: March 26, 2024

What Happened to Nina?

By: Dervla McTiernan

Why am I stoked for this release?

Nina and Simon are the perfect couple until they leave for a weekend trip in Vermont and only Simon comes home. And his story doesn’t add up.

Now, Simon’s family is doing everything they can to protect their son while Nina’s family is doing everything they can to find their daughter.

This has potential Netflix deal written all over the description – if it can be done right of course.

I’m a true crime television addict, you would think I would also be into mystery thrillers. I tried one last year and it didn’t blow my hat off, but I’m willing to try again on this one.