Author: Alisha Helms

Funeral Songs for Dying Girls / Cherie Dimaline

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Funeral Songs for Dying Girls
By: Cherie Dimaline
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 280
Published: April 4, 2023
Publisher: Tundra Books
Dates Read: September 11, 2023 - September 14, 2023
Format: Hardcover

Winifred has lived in the apartment above the cemetery office with her father, who works for the crematorium, all her life. She loves to spend her time wandering around the graveyard, but because she does this at all hours of the day and night, a rumor has started that Winterson Cemetery is haunted. It’s great news, because Winifred’s dad is on the verge of having his job outsourced. Now, Winifred needs to keep the ruse of a haunted cemetery up with the help of her con-artist cousin. But, when Phil, an actual ghost of a teenage girl starts showing up, it makes Winifred question everything.

I had a hard time caring about the characters in this one. I understood that Winifred was a loner and didn’t have many friends, but then she had a falling out with a guy who didn’t really seem to be her friend anyway, made it hard for me to care that it happened? And then the random sex talks would throw me off…

The nonlinear writing would get me mixed up as well. I wasn’t sure if it was something happening in the past or the present because scenes were never clearly ended, they would just blend into one another.

Overall, I still liked the story for the family element of it, but it wasn’t something I absolutely loved. It was a coming of age, slow burn (if that makes sense).

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

The Meadows / Stephanie Oakes

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The Meadows
By: Stephanie Oakes
Genre: YA
Number of Pages: 448
Published: September 12, 2023
Publisher: Dial Books
Dates Read: September 5, 2023 - September 10, 2023
Format: ARC / Paperback

Trigger Warnings: conversion therapy, homophobia 

Every youth hopes to get a letter to attend one of the places where only the best and brightest go to be even better and brighter: the Estuary, the Glades, the Meadows…

When Eleanor is accepted to go to the Meadows, it means her escape from the Cove and a hard life by the sea. But, though the Meadows is filled with beautiful and wonderful things, it hoards dark secrets: its purpose is to reform its students from their attractions, to show them that the way of life is only possible through their way. Maybe Eleanor starts to believe, but then she meets Rose, and everything changes.

A year after leaving the Meadows, Eleanor and her friends are on the outside, living back in society – but not everything is as they hoped. Eleanor is an adjudicator, someone who makes sure former students haven’t strayed from the lives they were trained to live. But the past isn’t letting go of Eleanor and as secrets unravel, Eleanor must fight against everything she has been taught to be, especially if she can find the girl that she lost.

I originally was interested in this title when I saw it on BookishFirst because it was being marketed as “a queer, YA Handmaid’s Tale meets Never Let Me Go” and I was all about that. I also love a good dystopian novel so this was really right up my alley.

That being said, I absolutely loved and devoured this novel over the course of the weekend when I didn’t have the interruption of work. The world building is intriguing and the “perfect” society is everything but (aren’t they all). The characters were also complex and engrossing – even the ones I wasn’t the biggest fans of, I still wanted them to succeed.

I absolutely recommend this book to those not only those who love dystopian novels, but those who want a page turning science fiction with queer characters.

*Thank you Dial Books and BookishFirst for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Hopeless in Hope / Wanda John-Kehewin

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Hopeless in Hope
By: Wanda John-Kehewin
Genre: YA
Number of Pages: 216
Published: September 5, 2023
Publisher: HighWater Press
Dates Read: September 4, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warnings: child neglect, mention of residential schools and the treatment of children, alcoholism

14-year-old Eva lives in a hopeless old house in the oldest part of Hope, Canada with her younger brother, Marcus, their Nohkum, and their mother, Shirley – when she’s not out drinking. It would be pretty miserable, if it weren’t for her cat, Toofie, and her writing. But everything gets ripped away after Nohkum is hospitalized and Shirley struggles to keep things together. One afternoon, Marcus is found on the streets trying to go to the zoo all on his own; he’s sent to live with a foster family and Eva is sent to live in a group home. Eva’s furious with Shirley and finds a hard time in finding hope in being reunited. To help understand her better, Nohkum gives Eva Shirley’s journal during a hospital visit with the hope the pages within will help Eva learn to find forgiveness for her mom.

This is such a heartbreaking and hopeful story about family and forgiveness. Eva’s bitterness towards her mom is completely understandable, especially for someone her age who doesn’t fully understand the things those before her have gone through. 

“You wanna know why so many of our people drink or use drugs? Because they take our children away after they’ve destroyed us. Once you take the kids… there’s nothing left.”

This quote really hit me when Nohkum said it because that’s really true. What’s the best way to erase a culture than to take the youth away? I’ve known about the residential schools and the horrors the children had to go through, and how some of them didn’t make it back, but I didn’t really think of the effects afterwards.

I absolutely loved the voice of Eva in this novel and her family’s story. It wasn’t perfect; life is messy, but in the end, I still had so much hope for their family.

I would recommend this to both YA and adult readers – even though the voice is younger, you are able to dive deeper into the subjects of both Indigenous generational trauma and their treatment – both past and present in this novel. You also get a look at the complexity of the foster care system as well.

*Thank you HighWater Press and Edelweiss+ for a digital advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review

Mascot / Charles Waters & Traci Sorell

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Mascot
By: Charles Waters & Traci Sorell
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 256
Published: September 5, 2023
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Dates Read: September 3, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

When an eighth grade honors English teacher assigns her students a debate about their school’s mascot, they must decide if it should stay, or go. When some of the students end up getting really involved, the issue turns the DC suburb upside as everyone chooses sides.

This is a wonderful novel in verse that really showcases a diverse group of six students’ backgrounds and beliefs as they talk about the subject of their school’s mascot. With each student, we see them change and grow as they think about the mascot and what it means to them. Some change their opinion about it, while others keep what they thought in the beginning.

A lot of the reasoning why one of the kids didn’t want to change it had a lot to do with generational stuff (their parents also went to the same school and were also the mascot) and I think, as a kid, that’s all the reasoning you need to not change something. There’s more to it, of course, but I enjoyed that the novel did show so many different perspectives.

The changing of the names of sports teams and mascots have been in the news for many years. It is nice to see it written out in a way that middle schoolers would be able to understand it.

Though this aimed at middle grade, I believe those who are older would also get something out of it as well.

A Multitude of Dreams / Mara Rutherford

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A Multitude of Dreams
By: Mara Rutherford
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 384
Published: August 29, 2023
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Dates Read: August 29, 2023 - September 2, 2023
Format: Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: plague, death, blood, racism, murder, self harm, genocide, survivors guilt

A Multitude of Dreams is a reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death. Four years ago, King Stuart gathered his royals, noblemen, and daughters and locked them into the safety of the castle walls. Every window was boarded up and every door sealed shut – all to protect those within of the horrible mori roja plague ravaging the land outside.

Told in third person, this novel follows Seraphina, a Jewish girl, who is also the (fake) Princess Imogene, and Nico, who once lived a comfortable life but now works for Lord Crane, the man who saved his life after he lost everything. When Lord Crane sends Nico and two others on the search for survivors, Nico meets a princess who wants out. But both are living in giant webs of lies and deception that they must unravel if they’re going to survive. 

I wanted this title because I read The Poison Season and I really enjoyed it. So, when I saw Mara Rutherford had another YA novel coming out, I immediately put it on my TBR list. It’s also listed as Fantasy Gothic and 

I was all about it and also the cover – like, I love it!

There were a few twists in here I didn’t quite see right away, which was nice. And, even some of the ones that I did see coming, I still enjoyed Rutherford’s storytelling and it kept me interested. And yes, there is some romance in this, but it wasn’t the main focus of the story – surviving and getting out of the castle was.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who’s in need of a good gothic fantasy with a hidden identity, Jewish representation, a masquerade, and the fight of survival.

*Thank you Inkyard Press and BookishFirst for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Stoked for This: September 2023

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Okay, nobody come at me for the fact that this (again) is not on the 1st. I got into a bit of a fender bender first thing in the morning a few days ago and after the adrenaline crash, I was spent for that whole day. So, I’m a little behind… Plus, it’s also Labor Day weekend and everyone’s a little behind, right?? I’m going to go with that ◡̈

This month is a big one for publishers, so there’s a lot of really awesome books coming out that I’m stoked for. So, strap in ladies, gents, and nonbinary lovelies, for some titles that you will for sure be wanting to read yourself.

RELEASE DATE: September 5, 2023

Fly With Me

by: Addie Burke

Why am I stoked for this release?

Lesbians.

I know it looks like I don’t read a lot of romances. I used to read a ton in high school (granted, they were mostly fan fiction, but it’s still reading and it counts).

I do get in a mood where I do want romance, it’s just not one I tend to gravitate towards very often. I’m stoked for this one because it’ll be opposites attract and fake dating, which are fun tropes for me.

While You Were Out

by: Meg Kissinger

Why am I stoked for this release?

As someone who deals with mental illness on a daily basis, I’m always interested in reading about others. I read my first memoir about mental illness last month and this one is about a whole family and their battles.

I’m also interested in the history of mental illness medicine and how it was treated in the past. This memoir talks about the 60’s, which was a time people still didn’t talked about their mental struggles. My generation talks pretty constantly about it now, with dark humor, but that wasn’t a thing even 20 years ago.

This will be nonfiction I’m stoked to read so I can get a better understanding about an older generation.

Others Were Emeralds

by: Lang Leav

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction of Asian-Americans lately. This title caught my eye because it’s about an Asian immigrant in Australia in the 90’s. Ai tries to overcome a traumatic racist event while also battling a mental health crisis.

I’m obviously familiar with the treatment of immigrants here in America. I’m not so much educated in their treatment in Australia, so I’m stoked for this title to help broaden my perspective on this subject.

What You Are Looking For Is In the Library

by: Michiko Aoyama

Why am I stoked for this release?

Firstly, we’re going to just look at this cover. There’s a cat and a stack of books on it- if you didn’t think that didn’t catch my attention, then you don’t know my that well.

Secondly, the title, What You Are Looking For Is In the Library. I’m a librarian. Anything about libraries is always going to catch my attention.

Japanese literature knows how to capture the human experience and when I read it, it always makes me feel seen and understood.

This is marketed as a look at the magic of libraries, friendship and community and for fans of The Midnight Library so I’m all about this.

Hush Harbor

by: Anise Vance

Why am I stoked for this release?

This novel starts with something we all know too well: an unarmed black man is shot and killed by police. This causes an uprising from citizens.

This is set in a dystopian society but it sounds like this is going to be very close to our own reality. It’s also promises a pretty fast pace, compelling plot with the revolution fighting against white supremacists.

I’m sure it’s going to be an intense read, but I’m pretty stoked.

Mascot

by: Charles Waters & Traci Sorell

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a middle grade, novel in verse, which I have been eating up and loving lately.

Mascot is about six middle schoolers who get involve in the issue of whether or not their school should change their mascot. The suburb gets turned upside down as arguments get ugly.

There are multiple viewpoints in this novel and I’m stoked to see how it is written. It’s a pretty well known topic as well and the author is of the Cherokee Nation (Traci Sorell) and I’m stoked to see how this is written.

RELEASE DATE: September 12, 2023

The Second Chance Hotel

by: Sierra Godfrey

Why am I stoked for this release?

Another romance, Alisha? Really?

Yes.

Just because I have to be in a very specific mood in order to want to read a romance, it doesn’t mean I’m against them completely.

This one is a trope of accidental husband in Greece and now you’ve got a hotel to run together. Classic.

The Vaster Wilds

by: Lauren Groff

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is another historical fiction that caught my eye.

What’s it about you ask?

A servant girl escapes an early colonial settlement in America after a famine strikes. She’s only got a few possessions and her wits to survive.

Guys, I’m all for this. Historical fiction in a time I haven’t read much of. A girl who’s probably going to turn into a badass while she runs around nature. And, though I haven’t read any of Lauren Groff’s previous novels, I’ve heard nothing but good things of their writing.

The Meadows

by: Stephanie Oakes

Why am I stoked for this release?

Okay, I got this one off of BookishFirst (a really awesome website where I first got started in reviewing book in exchange for a copy of the title). This is being marketed as “a queer, YA Handmaid’s Tale meets Never Let Me Go”.

It’s speculative fiction with lesbians.

Duh I’m in.

Eagle Drums

by: Nasugraq Rainy Hopson

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a magical realism middle grade novel about the origin story of the Iñupiaq (Alaskan Native American Tribe) Messenger Feast, a Native Alaskan tradition.

I love reading Indigenous Voices and learning about their cultures and mythologies. This book is aimed at middle grade readers and though I’m obviously quite past that reading level, I love reading these stories in both what I wish I had as a kid and what I’m happy for kids to have now.

RELEASE DATE: September 19, 2023

Starter Villian

by: John Scalzi

Why am I stoked for this release?

Okay, but like, don’t tell me the cover of this did not just catch your attention.

The premise of this book is your dead uncle leaves you his supervillain business that comes with computer-savvy, managerial cats.

Cats could absolutely take over the world… if they wanted to.

I’m stoked to see them as villains.

Red Rabbit

by: Alex Grecian

Why am I stoked for this release?

So, this is to at least start in Kansas (which is where I grew up, so I do have a little soft spot for it), and it’s a horror western with a ragtag group of Witch Hunters.

Again, not my usual go to, but I’ve read some weirdly premised books with unique genres before, so let’s do this!

North Woods

by: Daniel Mason

Why am I stoked for this release?

I think I mentioned this last month, but I do like books where the setting never really changes: it’s a neighborhood throughout a decade, or a family house that’s had 7 generations through it. I don’t know, kind of makes it special.

This one is about a single house in the woods of New England and all of its inhabitants throughout the years.

It sounds like I’m going to fall in love with a cabin in the woods.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

by: Breanne Randall

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is yet another romance, but it’s witchy!

This is said to be for fans of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls – I’m not a crazy fan of either, but I have enjoyed both so I’m looking forward to it. Plus, it’s also saying it’s a “warm, witchy novel” and I think that’s going to get me right in the mood for fall.

RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2023

The Salvation Gambit

by: Emily Skrutskie

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is to be about a crew of con women whose last big con goes so terribly wrong, they end up as inmates in a prison run by a crazy AI.

Y’all – a group of con women!

That’s all that needed to be said to about this for me okay?

The author is also highly spoken of and this would be the first novel of theirs that I’ve read and I’m pretty stoked.

Time to Shine

by: Rachel Reid

Why am I stoked for this release?

I know. I know. Another romance?!

But this has gays! I absolutely love the gay romance of Red, White & Royal Blue and I hold a lot of gay romance up to that. But, I have pretty high hopes for this title.

It’s also hockey and that’s not a sport I see to much of (unless it’s Fredrick Backman).

I may not get to this one until closer to winter (I think it is more of a Christmas-y vibe to it), but that doesn’t make me less stoked for it’s release.

Alone / Megan E. Freeman

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Alone
By: Megan E. Freeman
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 404
Published: January 12, 2021
Publisher: Aladdin
Dates Read: August 27, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: food and water scarcity, injury, animal death, mentions of dead animal bodies

After plans fall through for her secret sleepover with her best friends, Maddie still stays over at her grandparents’ empty apartment – but she wakes to a nightmare. Maddie’s alone. Everyone in Millerville, Colorado has been evacuated and the town has been completely abandoned.

With her only companion being a Rottweiler named George, Maddie slowly learns how to survive on her own with no power, no running water, no phone or internet access, and a town deserted. As months pass, Maddie and George survive natural disasters, ruthless looters, wild animals, and the elements of nature with stride. It’s the loneliness that is slowly getting to Maddie. Can her will to survive continue to get her through the most frightening experience of her life?

I love novels in verse stories as well as post-apocalyptic novels, and this has been a story I’ve been wanting to read for the longest time and I finally picked it up at my library. I read all of this in one setting. It was that captivating. The language is gorgeous and the breaking up of the verses really showcase and capture Maddie’s loneliness, heartache, and still – hope. 

I also loved George and the companionship he provided for Maddie <spoiler> there were TWO TIMES I thought George had passed away and BOTH TIMES I was ready to throw the book across the room in sorrow</spoiler>. Plus, you need to have a furry sidekick during the apocalypse, and a big Rottweiler named George is one of the best.

I can see audiences of middle grade readers and up enjoying this. Though, I will say there is a scene of animal cruelty <spoiler> specifically the death of a kitten</spoiler> that I do think should be taken into consideration for a younger reader. Otherwise, this was such a wonderful and captivating read (again, I read all 400+ pages in one setting). I am for sure keeping an eye out to purchase my own copy and will be giving this title out on plenty of recommendations.

In Limbo / Deb JJ Lee

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In Limbo
By: Deb JJ Lee
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir, Nonfiction
Number of Pages: 348
Published: March 7, 2023
Publisher: First Second
Dates Read: August 27, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warning: suicide attempt(s), child abuse by parent

In Limbo is a graphic novel memoir about a Korean-American teenager, Deborah (Jung-Ji) Lee, as she navigates the struggles of high school while still feeling like an outsider. As the pressures of high school and the ever growing changing in her personal life, Deb doesn’t have anywhere to turn to – even home isn’t a safe place as the fights with her mom continue to worsen as time goes on. Her mental health falls fast.

But Deb’s a fighter. She soon discovers her real love is art. With that, along with self-care, Deb gradually begins her road to recovery. During a trip to South Korea, she realizes something that changes her perspective on everything.

The artwork in this graphic novel is beautiful. The topics and themes are hard. Being an immigrant is no doubt hard enough – but being an immigrant as a kid or teenager that’s stuck between two worlds is probably even harder. There are a lot of themes of not belonging and not being enough of one thing or the other. What was really hard for me was the abuse at the hands of her mother. The graphic novel made it very real for me as he captured the anger of her mother’s face.

I think the author’s note at the end of this is important – especially because the ending is almost kind of abrupt, but it works. Not everything is tied up in a nice bow and understood. It is a memoir afterall, but it does show the author and her journey through pain, anger, resentment (of herself and others), and forgiveness (both of herself and others).

Overall, I think a lot of people will be able to see themselves and possibly their experiences in this graphic novel memoir. For others, it will shine a light on someone else’s experiences growing up as an immigrant.

After You Vanished / E.A. Neeves

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After You Vanished by E.A. Neeves cover
4 star rating
After You Vanished
By: E.A. Neeves
Genre: YA, Mystery
Number of Pages: 336
Published: August 29, 2023
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Dates Read: August 24, 2023 - August 26, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Teddy’s favorite place is Bottomrock Lake, where she’s been a lifeguard every summer, even though it’s the last place her twin sister, Izzy was seen a year ago. Now, she can’t stop thinking of all the places her sister went – Izzy was on her way to become an Olympic swimmer, there’s no way she could have drowned. Plus, her passport is missing.

But when Toby, the boy who was with Izzy that fateful night she vanished, comes to Bottomrock to work as a lifeguard too, Teddy can’t help but want to ask 1,000 questions. How many secrets does Toby have of Izzy’s that she didn’t share with Teddy? And why does undercovering one always lead to ten more?

I picked this up because it mentioned Sadie by Courtney Summers as a read-a-like, and I absolutely love that book and am constantly recommending it, so to have another title that would get to be added to that list was what I was looking for. I had high expectations, and this one didn’t disappoint.

This is most definitely a slow burn mystery with low stakes (no one is coming after to kill Teddy or anyone else) mixed with a bit of romance. There was always something that made me turn the page, even when Teddy would eliminate something. I always had hope it would turn out one way. I will say I think it took me a bit longer to see a few of the curveballs that were thrown, but in the end it was fun to see it all connected.

Though a mystery, this book also focuses on Teddy and her grief of losing not only a sibling, but her twin. And how she uses it to grow out on her own for the first time. Her story in that regard was well written.

Needless to say, this will be on my recommendation list, alongside Sadie, for anyone who wants a good mystery with emotional layers to it.

*Thank you Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

My Father, The Panda Killer / Jamie Jo Hoang

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My Father, The Panda Killer
By: Jamie Jo Hoang
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 384
Published: August 29, 2023
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: August 19, 2023 - August 24, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

**THIS DOESN’T LET ME DO SPOILERS – SO THE SPOILER IS IN THE BRACKET WITH THE BOLDED <SPOILER> </SPOILER>

Trigger Warnings: Generational trauma, physical abuse, violence

My Father, The Panda Killer is told through Jane, in San Jose, 1999, as she tries to explain to her 7-year-old brother why their dad can’t control his anger. It’s because back in his own country, in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, 1975 Phúc (rhymes with Duke), is eleven the first time his mother through him through the minefields, fallen airplanes, and debris to a refugee boat. But, before the sun even rises, more than half the people aboard will perish. Fleeing the horrors of this homeland, Phúc’s difficult journey across the Pacific has just started as he fights to survive Thai pirates, starvation, hallucination, and the murder of a panda.

Told in alternating voices of Jane and Phúc, this novel tells the unflinching story of the Vietnam war, its impact on multiple generations, and how one American teenager battles along the path to accepting her heritage and herself.

This novel is definitely unflinching in the struggles and horrors Vietnamese boat people had to endure in order to survive. Jamie Jo Hoang brings to light how those experiences still trickle down generations and how, even in America, first generation children were raised in completely different worlds and conditions.

<spoiler> What got me was that after everything Phúc went through, when he meets Jane’s mom for the first time on the boat over to Guam from Hong Kong, he’s so dismissive of her and also so hard on her. Like – he wasn’t going to clean up after himself because she’s a woman and that’s what women do. And he gets mad at her for playing with a jump rope? We had gotten so much of his story and on that boat trip, it felt like Phúc flipped a switch and I didn’t get it. Maybe it’s because he was still trying to hold onto his Vietnamese culture, but still… </spoiler>

Overall, this is a beautiful novel that gives a wonderful insight on both the Vietnam War and what some first generation Americans (and others) have experienced as a result of the War. I would recommend this to those who want to read more about Vietnamese culture and the legacy of immigrant and refugee experiences.

*Thank you Crown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review