2025 Books Reviewed

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake / Devin Elle Kurtz

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The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake
By: Devin Elle Kurtz
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book, Fantasy 
Number of Pages: 40
Published: October 7, 2025
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Dates Read: December 21, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Ember is in charge of the bakery while the baker takes a trip, so when a fairy princess swoops in asking for a cake, Ember does everything he can to make one, even though he doesn’t know what a cake even is. He’s only ever baked bread, how hard can it be?

But when every attempt hits the fan, Ember begins to lose faith in himself to be able to do it, because if he doesn’t figure it out soon, all there will be is a pile of baked disasters.

I loved the first Bakery Dragon, so I knew I was going to have to get my hands on the second one. Obviously, I wasn’t disappointed.

As a librarian myself, I loved how they went to the library to do research and find recipes. 

Visually, this book is bright and vivid with beautiful pages of scenery. Ember is the cutest dragon.

Overall, anyone who enjoyed the first one will also love and enjoy the follow up book.

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (Issues #1-#6) / Patrick Horvath, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Letterer)

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Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (Issues #1-#6)
By: Patrick Horvath, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Letterer)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror
Number of Pages: 152
Published: September 17, 2024
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Dates Read: December 9, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

Samantha Strong’s cardinal rule: Don’t murder the locals; the city is just beyond the forest and has plenty of potential victims. Sam has worked too hard to build a cozy life and have her thriving business in the small town of Woodbrook – the last thing she wants to do is disturb the peace. So, imagine the exasperation when Woodbrook’s own meets a grisly death. Now Sam will do everything it takes to find her rival before the town self-destructs.

The best way to describe this graphic novel: think Winnie the Pooh meets Dexter. It’s such a crazy concept to have beautifully drawn scenery and characters and then the next page is a brutal murder, it most definitely elevated the story for me.

You’re also kind of in this weird, “Who do I root for?” spot while reading this because Sam is her own serial killer, but then there’s another Woodbrook resident who is killing and now those murders may get framed to her (or someone else). Like, yea, she should probably get caught so she’s not killing anymore, but also, you don’t want her framed for something she didn’t do!

Overall, it was a fun read that I think any horror fan would enjoy (yes, even with the artwork!).

Tender Is the Flesh / Agustina Bazterrica, Sarah Moses (Translator)

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Tender Is the Flesh
By: Agustina Bazterrica, Sarah Moses (Translator)
Genre: Horror, Dystopia
Number of Pages: 209
Published: August 4, 2024 (1st Published November 29, 2017)
Publisher: Scribner
Dates Read: October 23, 2025 - November 30, 2025
Format: Paperback

Marcos’s wife left him, his father has dementia, and his job isn’t exactly the best thing on the planet – but he tries not to think about it. After the infectious virus made all animal meat poisonous to humans, the government initiated the “Transition”, making human meat “special meat”, and Marcos is now high up at the plant that distributes the meat.

Then one day, he’s personally given a female head of the finest quality. Even though he’s fully aware that any form of personal contact is forbidden by death, Marcos slowly starts to treat her as a human being.

Right, okay, so I didn’t really have any problem with this book until they talked about the teens and the puppies – that’s what made me put the book down for a minute. Nothing about the care and managing of the head, not how they were slaughtered, not even how they were talked about! But I had an issue with the puppies!

Like, I feel for Marcos and what he was going through – and the final straw was pretty warranted when it finally came, but I was still shocked at the ending and how it was rounded up. If one thing didn’t happen, would it have changed the outcome??

But like – how does one describe this book anyway without going into a whole thing about it?? I wouldn’t call this scary… disturbing sure, but not scary. Unless you’re looking at it by the way of “this is what humans could do”. 
Overall, it’s a different read – and definitely not for everyone, especially for anyone with a weak stomach I would say, but if you’d like something totally out there this will be it.

Cat + Crazy (Volume 2) / Wataru Nadatani, Susie Lee (Contributor), Zack Davisson (Contributor)

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Cat + Crazy (Volume 2)
By: Wataru Nadatani, Susie Lee (Contributor), Zack Davisson (Contributor)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 184
Published: November 4, 2025 (1st Published July 15, 2016)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: November 24, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

Kensuke Fuji loves cats but can’t have any of his own. Recently, he’s become an apprentice for the local cat whisperer, Nekoya Jin. This time around, his new mission is the cat cafe!

I loved this volume more than the first because I think with this one, I fully allowed myself to embrace the silliness that’s in it. The first volume I was still getting a feel for the characters.

This one, since I read it digitally, I ended up taking a few screenshots of how they talked about cats – especially how to act around the different groups of cats. I myself have always loved being around cats, so I totally get it, but I do have a few friends who aren’t cat people and those screenshots may be helpful for them and for me to help explain maybe why my cats have no interest in them.

Overall, this is still a silly, but fun manga read for any cat lover out there.

Neopets: The Omelette Faerie / Rebecca Mix, Luiz Fernando Da Silva (Artist), Heather Burns (Illustrator)

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Neopets: The Omelette Faerie
By: Rebecca Mix, Luiz Fernando Da Silva (Artist), Heather Burns (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 112
Published: October 22, 2024
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

Based on the popular online game, Neopets, comes the first in a graphic novel series.

The Giant Omelette’s legend states that hundreds of years ago, a gigantic dinosaur laid a massive egg. That massive egg split open and started to bake in the sun. Ever since, a giant omelette has been cooking on the Tyrannian Plateau and each day, hungry Neopets approach the massive omelette and get a slice. 

Sabre-X and his Petpet Fang guard the omelette every day but one day the omelette isn’t there. The two partner up with a disgraced Fire Faerie named Seraphina and their Petpet. Together, the group travels across Neopia to restore one of the most popular items.

I grew up not only with Neopets.com but also had my own handheld Kougra Neopet that I took with me everywhere. This was a very fun, nostalgic read that brought back a lot of memories. I’m glad Neopets is coming back (I know it never really left, but still). This graphic novel definitely explained things to new readers (and players!).

Overall, this is super cute, super nostalgic. I’m excited to read more.

Low Orbit / Kazimir Lee

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Low Orbit
By: Kazimir Lee
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 336
Published: April 29, 2025
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Azar feels stuck. Her mom’s job moved them to Vermont, where she doesn’t know anyone and her only friends are the next-door neighbors: an aging sci-fi writer and his nonbinary teen, Tristan. For a while, Azar can escape her troubles by disappearing into the pages of her neighbor’s novel, The Exiles of Overworld. When her queerness throws her life out of wack, Azar realizes some secrets can’t hide forever.

This is much more slice of life than fantasy like I originally thought from the cover, but that slice of life aspect of it is still a good read, which is about hiding a part of you from those you care about. The fantasy part of it was from the high fantasy novel Azar is reading, but to be honest, that kind of took me away from the storyline of Azar and at times were even confusing as to what is happening in that world. I know it was her escape and that’s what the panels were showing, but I think it could have been done differently to show that.

Other than that, I did enjoy the story and the overall themes of honesty, being true to yourself, friendships, and even convention culture.

The artwork was fantastic and detailed and I always found myself lingering a little bit on pages to see what was in the background.

Overall, a great coming of age, queer young adult novel to add to a collection.

Ditching Saskia / John Moore, Neetols (Illustrator)

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Ditching Saskia
By: John Moore, Neetols (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 192
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Damian has been struggling in his new high school, so he decides to summon his mother’s ghost so he can talk things out. Through a mixup, he accidentally summons Saskia, a scruffy, annoying kid. Damian is trying to figure out his new life, he doesn’t need some kid following him around trying to “help”. But, Saskia is suffering too, and everything they’re both hiding deep down may be what they need to heal.

This is a touching story, but I wish it kind of dove more into some of the storylines. We only briefly touched on Damian and his relationship with his mom as well as Saskia’s story and how she became a ghost. I feel like it’s only the beginning of the story (and partially the middle really), but I do wonder if there’s a followup to this graphic novel.

The cover is a little misleading as the panels themselves are mostly grey and white with the only color being that of the orange magical flower. But, just because it’s in black and white, doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the artwork! It was still captivating and beautiful to look at while reading.

Overall, a fast, magical realism young adult read about grief, friendship, and self-confidence. Anyone who appreciates a good little magic/haunting mixed in with the troubles of growing up would enjoy this graphic novel.

John the Skeleton / Triinu Laan, Marja-Liisa Plats (Illustrator), Adam Cullen (Translator)

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John the Skeleton
By: Triinu Laan, Marja-Liisa Plats (Illustrator), Adam Cullen (Translator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 64
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Yonder
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

When he retires, John the skeleton is adopted by elderly couple Grams and Gramps. On their farm he finds himself in amazing adventures with the two and their grandchildren.

This is a playful, older children’s picture book with unique, detailed pictures with a color pallet of pink, dark gray, and white. The adventures Grams and Gramps have with John the Skeleton are funny and imaginative. 

There’s a subtext in the story of both keeping humor/fun in your life, even at an older age, and accepting death.

Overall, a fun, silly read that could open the door for more imagination.

This Year, a Witch! / Zoey Abbott

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This Year, a Witch!
By: Zoey Abbott
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 40
Published: July 15, 2025
Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

A little girl has been every cute and adorable thing you could imagine for Halloween – but this year, she’s putting a stop to it and being the scariest, spookiest thing out there… a witch!

With just a little help from her dad, the little girl prepares hard for new costume. She works on her hair, brews, spells and enchantments, and the power to petrify! But, what happens when the night finally comes and she sees herself in the mirror?

A sweet story with vibrant, colorful pages about growing up and learning independence – and how asking for help doesn’t mean you don’t have any.

Aggie and the Ghost / Matthew Forsythe

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Aggie and the Ghost
By: Matthew Forsythe
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 64
Published: August 19, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Aggie is very excited to live on her own and have peace and quiet. Unfortunately, her new house comes with a ghost, who disturbs everything. Fear not, Aggie has a list of rules. But the ghost doesn’t like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe.

The art of this is unique and quirky. 

The overall story for kids is really how to adjust and live with someone who maybe drives you up the wall, and that maybe, when they live, you will miss them.