2024 Books Reviewed

The Bakery Dragon / Devin Elle Kurtz

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The Bakery Dragon
By: Devin Elle Kurtz
Genre: Children’s, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 48
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: October 11, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Ember has always been different from the other dragons – he’s small, his roar sounds more like a sneeze, and when he tries to breathe fire, the villagers coo at him. Worried he will never collect a respectable hoard of gold, Ember sets out to the village, but gets caught in a rainstorm. An encounter with a friendly baker turns Ember’s fortune around as he soon discovers that the gold you make is much better than the gold you steal.

I have been waiting for this book to be released for ages! I’ve followed the author on Instagram for awhile and when she posted about Ember’s story getting published into a book, I knew I had to read it.

I have also been shoving this book into all my colleagues hands and telling them to read it while I’ve been carrying it around at work.

Overall – this is adorable. Please read it and try not to cry over how precious Ember is. I’m going to go find my own personal copy of this now.

The Bletchley Riddle / Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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The Bletchley Riddle
By: Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 400
Published: October 8, 2024
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: October 6, 2024 - October 11, 2024
Format: ARC / Paperback

Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his fourteen-year-old sister, Lizzie, share a love of riddles and puzzles. As WWII gets closer and closer to Britain, the siblings find themselves amongst the greatest secrets of all – Britain’s codebreaking facility at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins the country’s top minds to crack Nazi’s Enigma cipher, Lizzie transfers notes between departments in the park and tries to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother in her off time.

While the Novis siblings work hard on their tasks, messages and codes begin to arrive under their doorstep. It doesn’t help that while they try to figure out if the messages are truly for them (and possibly from their mother), that there is an inspector lurking outside the gates of the park, watching Jakob and Lizzie’s every move. They must figure out a way to put their bickering aside and work together to decipher the clues if they want to uncover the answers to the puzzle.

As usual, I will pick up anything Ruta Sepetys touches and learn about a part of history I hadn’t known about before I read the book. This book is no exception as we take a deeper dive into the codebreakers Bletchley Park during WWII. I knew there were codebreakers during WWII, but what I didn’t realize is that they consisted of mathematicians, chess champions, and librarians (which, as a librarian, this absolutely makes sense why they were needed!).

Though this book is aimed at middle grade, I will say it felt like it would be more for upper middle grade / younger high school age. Lizzie is fourteen and Jakob is nineteen so their voices were a little older, but nothing major or graphic happened that would make the novel need to be young adult.

Even as an adult, when it came to the description of the codes’ breakthroughs or the ins and outs of the Enigma machines, I would get lost, but overall I just assumed the characters knew what they were talking about and trusted them.

Overall, I loved the twists and turns that kept the pages moving for me. I know I had a hard time as an adult solving the clues, so young readers who like spies and code cracking, are sure to love this too.

*Thank you Viking Books for Young Readers and BookishFirst for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

When the World Tips Over / Jandy Nelson

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When the World Tips Over
By: Jandy Nelson
Genre: YA
Number of Pages: 528
Published: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Dial Books
Dates Read: September 16, 2024 - October 6, 2024
Format: ARC / Paperback

The Fall siblings live in Northern California wine country where years ago, their father mysteriously disappeared. Now Dizzy, twelve, bakes cakes, sees kissing, floating spirits, and wishes she was a part of a romance novel. Miles, seventeen, is a brainiac, athlete, and telepathic dog-whisperer, but he’s desperate to step out of being perfect. Wynton, nineteen, is an amazing violinist, but is set on a path of self-destruction he can’t seem to get off of. They all seem to be spiraling.

But then a rainbow-haired girl shows up. She may be an angel. Or a saint. But her showing up tips the Falls’ world over. Before anyone can figure out who she is, catastrophe strikes, leaving the family more broken than ever.

With a story filled with road trips, rivalries, family curses, love stories (with many layers), unsent letters, and generational trauma, this young adult novel peels back the layers of a family’s complicated past and present. 

This will definitely stick with me for years to come. And, I honestly don’t know how to put into words what I thought of this, because I’m in love with the entire Fall family (okay, there are a few I don’t like…) and their many, many layers of their lives. I just tried to explain this all to my coworker and the amount of time I said, “well but you find out this…” was endless.

It absolutely gave me East of Eden by Steinbeck vibes – the length alone, but also how good and overcome evil in the end is also a running theme in this novel too. Again, this is a long read, and it’s not one you can skim over either, because you want to take your time with it and immerse yourself in with these characters and this family. As much as I love to devour book after book, this one reminded me to slow down and to enjoy it.

Overall, this book is long and is a multi-sit read, but I can guarantee you will fall in love with at least one member of the Fall family after reading this!

Silk / E.B. Roshan

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Silk
By: E.B. Roshan
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 104
Published: June 7, 2024
Publisher: Roshan Publishing
Dates Read: October 5, 2024
Format: eBook

Farz and his family have harvested Silki’s precious silk, as Silki-charmers for generations. But Silkis, giant, spider-like creatures, can be dangerous and the government has decided they don’t want them around. But even though Farz is ready to try a new life, it doesn’t mean he wants Silkis to disappear forever. What happens when his past and present crash together one day?

I was pulled into the plot of this graphic novel and turned pages as fast as I could. The simplicity of the art style, mixed with straightforward dialogue make it a quick and easy read.

A part of me respects the quickness of the story, but the other part of me wants to know more about this world and not only the Silki-charmers, but everyone else as well as being able to dive into the world building. E.B. Roshan has many layers that are only briefly scratched in this novel. It honestly gives an opening to possibly make this into a series.

This young middle grade graphic novel has a lot of appeal to those who like sci-fi with alien adventures that humans will understand too.

*Thanks to the author for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

How to Piss Off Men: 106 Things to Say to Shatter the Male Ego / Kyle Prue

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How to Piss Off Men: 106 Things to Say to Shatter the Male Ego
By: Kyle Prue
Genre: Humor, Nonfiction
Number of Pages: 144
Published: September 17, 2024
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Dates Read: September 15, 2024
Format: ARC / Paperback

With 106 phrases, questions, and comebacks, How to Piss Off Men is your guide to comebacks for every type of situation involving a man. Whether it’s referring to his jersey as “cosplay”, telling him you’ll “just Google it” when he begins to mansplain, or 

I saw this in a book preview event and immediately asked for it. I work with the public a lot and some of these I would love to give as clap back answers, but would never (but maybe) use.

I actually hadn’t heard of Kyle Prue before this book, but I did go and follow him on TikTok after reading this. I do appreciate the fact that at the beginning of the book, he explains that he is a Cis, white male, and that some of these sayings may not be okay to say in certain settings, and to overall make sure you are in a safe space before saying them – if you actually do.

I was able to find a physical ARC of this, which is now going around my workplace as coworkers enjoy it, so this is a funny read and many have/will enjoy it, especially if you’ve been in a situation with anyone male.

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

Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect / Hilda Eunice Burgos, Siara Faison (Illustrator)

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Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect
By: Hilda Eunice Burgos, Siara Faison (Illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 160
Published: July 23, 2024
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Dates Read: September 15, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Miguel wants nothing more than to be far away from his family’s bodega in Washington Heights – seeing and drawing the world. For street-savvy and newly adopted cat Lolo, staying inside the bodega pounds perfect, as long as he’s out of the freezing cold.

But when Miguel ditches his responsibilities and lies to his parents about joining an art club, his art dream may come crashing down. Lolo must decide if he’s willing to be there no Miguel through anything, even venturing back outside into scary New York City sidewalks. 

This is such a cute and sweet story for young readers. The illustrations alongside the chapters added to the cuteness (though I got an digital ARC of this title, so some of the illustrations were not fully flushed out yet, I’m going to have to get my hands on a finished copy).

I also really enjoyed Lolo’s point of view – especially since the kitten seems to understand humans a lot more than we give our four legged friends credit for.

This book will be great for young readers, especially since it’s about following your passion while still balancing parental expectations as well.

*Thank you Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Read at Your Own Risk / Remy Lai

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Read at Your Own Risk
By: Remy Lai
Genre: Middle Grade, Horror
Number of Pages: 160
Published: August 13, 2024
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Dates Read: September 15, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Hannah and her friends were just having fun up in the school’s attic when they tried to communicate with spirits. Little did they know that something would be there and crawl its way into the pages of Hannah’s journal. What started out as a game has turned into something dire that Hannah tries to fix.

I originally asked for an ARC of this because I loved the idea of a haunted journal and what that would look like. Remy Lai didn’t disappoint in captivating my attention on the first page and keeping it throughout. The artwork is very Coraline-y, so I feel like a lot of readers will enjoy it from that alone.

The story itself is simple but still holds lessons to be learned.

This would fit right alongside those readers who enjoyed Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark as well as Goosebumps. This will no doubt lure our horror seeking youths but I think adults will also get a kick out of this as well.

*Thank you Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

49 Miles Alone / Natalie D. Richards

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49 Miles Alone
By: Natalie D. Richards
Genre: YA, Thriller
Number of Pages: 273
Published: July 2, 2024
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Dates Read: September 10, 2024 - September 14, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Trigger Warnings: Mention of rape

Desperate to heal from a night that left their world fractured a year ago, cousins Katie and Aster tackle a grueling four day hiking trip through the backcountry of Utah. But this trip is throwing multiple curveballs at them: an illness, an injury, and a freak storm leave them short on both confidence and supplies.

When they come across a couple with extra supplies, they’re grateful and relieved – at first. Later that evening, after getting troublesome vibes from Finn, Kaite and Aster wake up and hear the couple fighting. The cousins watch desperately as the girlfriend, Riley, disappears into the night with Finn chasing after her. In the morning, their camp hasn’t been touched. Katie is sure Riley is in trouble, but with help a two-day hike away, they know they’re the only ones who can offer aid before Finn – or the desert – gets to her first.

I really appreciate the way that Natalie D. Richards describes hiking and the difference between a day hike and a 4 day hike where everything you need is supposed to be on your back. Richards also did a great job at describing the landscape and both the beauty and the ruggedness of Utah’s backcountry. I’ve gone on a trip to the Rocky Mountains where we did a lot of day hiking and that was so much fun – but one of our days, we experienced every type of weather; heat, rain, snow, ice, wind, all in one trip! I don’t think I could even do a day hike in the desert, yet alone a 4 day hike! I hate being hot and sweating, so gross.

Anywho, this was an interesting read. I will admit it’s a bit slow at the beginning because it’s a lot of the cousins refinding their footing with one another after the events of that night nearly a year ago. There’s a weird vibe between them that they’ve got to work through but neither one really knows where to start.

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

Pearl / Sherri L. Smith, Christine Norrie (Illustrator)

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Pearl
By: Sherri L. Smith, Christine Norrie (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 146
Published: August 20, 2024
Publisher: Graphix
Dates Read: September 9, 2024
Format: eBook

Amy is a thirteen-years-old Japanese-American living in Hawaii. In the summer of 1941, Amy travels to visit family outside of Hiroshima when word of her great-grandmother falling ill is sent. When the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor in December, it becomes impossible for Amy to return to Hawaii. Conscripted into translating english radio transmissions for the Japanese army, Amy struggles with where her loyalty really lies. In Japan, she’s American, but in America, with the rumors on internment camps, she would be Japanese. Torn between two countries at war, Amy must figure out where her loyalties lie and, in the face of the unthinkable, find hope amidst the rubble.

I’ve read a lot of various World War II novels but I actually hadn’t read one from an American’s perspective while overseas. I appreciate seeing the torn loyalties that Amy feels throughout the story – what America did to those of Japanese descent was ridiculous, even now, 80+ years later, the wording used to describe these camps varies depending on what website you use…
This would be a great addition to middle grade historical fiction as Pearl showed the struggles of what people went through during the war. It’s a bit simplified, yes, but the art of this graphic novel does a lot of “the talking” as well – even with the blue, black, and white color palette.

It Happened to Anna / Tehlor Kay Mejia

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It Happened to Anna
By: Tehlor Kay Mejia
Genre: Middle Grade, Horror
Number of Pages: 224
Published: august 6, 2024
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Dates Read: September 8, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Parental abandonment, grief, mental health, toxic relationship, bullying

Sadie Rivera has been haunted all her life by a ghost who doesn’t allow her to make friends. The moment she tries, light bulbs begin exploding, chilly gusts of wind blow through even closed hallways, and accidents begin to happen. Last year, Anna finally made a best friend, Anna. So when the ghost caused an accident that killed her, Sadie knew it was her fault. Which is why she’s keeping to herself at this new school in Idaho. At least until she meets the mysterious cool girl Mal and the ghost doesn’t bother her for once. But Mal wants Sadie all to herself and she’ll do anything to make sure that happens.

I really, really enjoyed Tehlor Kay Mejia’s We Set the Dark on Fire duology and was super excited when I heard about their middle grade horror novel.

I believe Mejia’s did a wonderful job at catching the loneliness and depression that Sadie was in due to the ghost haunting her, and how much she craved the connection of friendship. Mejia uses a supernatural lens to talk about toxic friendships; what it looks like, what it feels like, and what one can do if they find themselves in one. I was very proud of Sadie when she (finally) began to figure out what was happening and that how she was being treated was not right.

Overall, this was a great middle grade horror read – scary, but nothing super crazy for the age group. It brings up a lot of conversation around social skills and friendships and what ultimately, at the end of the day, is a healthy one for each person.