Ariel Crashes a Train / Olivia A. Cole

March 10, 2025March 10, 2025 / Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

Ariel Crashes a Train
By: Olivia A. Cole
Genre: YA, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 464
Published: March 12, 2024
Publisher: Labyrinth Road
Dates Read: February 22, 2025 - March 2, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: mental health, OCD, intrusive and violent thoughts, suicidal thoughts

Ariel is afraid of her own mind and the violent fantasies she can’t control that are taking over every part of her life. She already feels too big, too queer, too rough for what a “good girl” is. Ever since her older sister Mandy left for college, Ariel isn’t sure her counting and rituals are enough to keep everyone safe.

When she returns to her summer job at Wildwood, the local carnival, she’s also without her best friend, Leah, who’s off to DC for Young Chemist. At first Ariel tries to keep everyone out, but then she makes friends with the new workers Ruth and Rex and she questions if what she’s been doing is the best. With help and support, Ariel discovers there’s a name for what she struggles with – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – and that there can be a future where she’s at home in her own body, and where she’s not alone.

This book isn’t an easy read – Ariel’s intrusive thoughts are definitely not kind, they’re bloody and violent, she’s also got unsupportive parents <spoiler> though it does hint that her Dad probably has OCD as well, so unsupportive/in denial </spoiler>. It is written by an author who also struggles with OCD and I feel like this was a well written portrayal. I don’t myself have OCD, but I have friends who do and they’ve described their struggles similarly.

I think the novel in verse format of this works really well for this story because Ariel’s mind can be so scattered and claustrophobic. Cole plays around with the format a bit and it shows a lot of depth you don’t always see in novels in verse.

Overall, this is a powerful read for those who would like to learn more about living with OCD – it’s a bit heavy at times, but worth it.

National Book Award Nominee for Young People’s Literature 2024

The Face on the Milk Carton (Janie Johnson #1) / Caroline B. Cooney

March 6, 2025March 5, 2025 / Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

The Face on the Milk Carton (Janie Johnson #1)
By: Caroline B. Cooney
Genre: YA
Number of Pages: 208
Published: May 22, 2012 (1st Published February 1, 1990)
Publisher: Ember
Dates Read: February 22, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

When Janie sees the girl on the back of her friend’s milk carton at lunch, she instantly remembers wearing that dress in the photo, she remembers the itchiness of the fabric against her skin. That little girl with pigtails is her! But how could that be?

As Janie starts to piece together everything, nothing makes sense. Are Mr. and Mrs. Johnson really her parents? Why does she remember other children? Who exactly is she?

I honestly don’t remember why this basically lived in my checkout shelf on Libby for nearly 6 months (yea, I just kept renewing it/putting a hold on it). I think it had to do with it being a banned book for sexual content, challenging authority, and inappropriate for age group. Janie is fifteen and she found out her parents aren’t her biological parents and has been not only lied to, but kidnapped… I think she’s gained the right to be “challenging authority”.

Now, all that being said, did I find this book to be the best written novel in literature? No. Would I have probably enjoyed it a lot more if I read it younger? Yes. By the end of the book, Janie was slightly getting on my nerves and I was also annoyed that I didn’t know if I could trust what the parents said, cause it all sounded CRAZY! Oh, and then I found out this series has FIVE more books?!

Overall, I think young adults would still enjoy reading this. I especially think they would enjoy seeing how kids did their research “back in the day” as Janie tries to find out the truth.

Continental Drifter / Kathy MacLeod

March 5, 2025March 5, 2025 / Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

Continental Drifter
By: Kathy MacLeod
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Memoir
Number of Pages: 224
Published: April 2, 2024
Publisher: First Second
Dates Read: February 18, 2025 - February 20, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

With a Thai mother and an American father, Kathy lives in two different worlds. Most of the year she lives in Bangkok and goes to the International School. But then, during the summer, her family travels twenty-four hours straight to get to a tiny seaside town in Maine. Even though she looks forward to eating all the food she can’t get back home, Kathy doesn’t feel like she belongs with the New England kids either. Kathy just wants to find a place where she belongs.

This graphic memoir not only captures the uneasiness of being eleven, but also being a biracial/bicultural preteen at a summer camp. Kathy struggled with fitting in both in Bangkok, where she was too American and in Maine, where no one looked like her and she didn’t always understand the pop culture references.

The art of this novel fit well for the audience as it was but simple but beautiful.

Overall, this graphic novel is perfect for those who may also feel like they just can’t fit in and those who set expectations high for an event (ex. Summer camp) and it falls short of what they thought.

Winner of Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Children’s Literature (2025)

Stoked For This: March 2025

March 4, 2025March 4, 2025 / Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

So this month is really gearing up for Poetry Month (April). Why? Because there are quite a few novel-in-verse books I’m stoked to be coming out! For a girlie who doesn’t really care too much for poetry itself, I will devour novel-in-verse books one after another. What are y’alls feelings towards Novel-in-Verses? Have you read them yet? What’s been your favorite??

Oh! – There’s also a new release from Georgia Hunter, an author I really enjoyed reading last year – I actually started it yesterday and so far so good!

March 4, 2025

A middle grade novel about 13-year-old Mo and his father’s fits of rage. This novel explores the impact of mental health on families.

The Strongest Heart

By: Saadia Faruqi

Author of “We Were the Lucky Ones” returns with the story of two friends during war torn Italy in the 1940’s and what they will do to not only survive, but to protect those they love.

One Good Thing

By: Georgia Hunter

This witchy romantasy where Charmed meets Gilmore Girls.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things

By: Breanne Randall

The newest graphic novel from K. O’Neill – that’s all I should really have to say! But, for just a tiny bit more: A ranger always protects, but what if they fail and get someone hurt?

A Song for You & I

By: K. O’Neill

March 11, 2025

A middle grade novel-in-verse that follows J, a young transgender from fifth grade to seventh grade as they use the video game, Coaster Boss, to help with their ADHD, isolation, and their relationship with their gender.

Glitch Girl!

By: Rainie Oet

March 18, 2025

After getting a tarot card reading from her best friend for her birthday, Camila struggles with the fear of the future.

Camila Núñez’s Year of Disasters

By: Miriam Zoila Perez

March 25, 2025

Told through the narration of the last residential building on its street – yes, the building known as the Odenburgh – works together with 12-year-old tenant, Prue to save the building from being demolished.