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ashylibrarian's reviews
965 reviews

Fairy Godmother by Jen Calonita

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Hello: How Nüwa Created the World by Viola Wang

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informative inspiring reflective

4.0

This beautiful picture book shares the importance of communication, language, and community through vibrant illustrations and accessible text. Inspired by Chinese mythology, Nuwa is a lonely young goddess with a handful of clay, and single greeting, and a powerful determination to find connection. She loved to play with the animals and explore nature, but she also yearned for someone to talk with. One day, she discovers how to make a simple friend who offers a simple, “Hello”, and magic happens! 
Monster Cats Vol. 1 by PANDANIA

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lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz

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inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

We Are Big Time: (A Graphic Novel) by Hena Khan

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Inspired by a true story, this graphic novel cheers and roots for an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team who are learning how to work together as a team while also discovering who they are as individuals. Alyia and her family recently moved to Wisconsin from Florida. Alyia and her sister will be attending an Islamic school in a bigger, colder city, and she doesn’t even have a good basketball team to keep her mind off the move. This story beautifully captures a teen's growth and self-development over the course of a basketball season. Readers watch as Alyia navigates learning that she is so much more than just a basketball score, and as the team decides how they want the community to see team. This is truly a stellar book that should be on everyone’s shelves.  
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

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adventurous challenging emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky

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adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Flopping in a Winter Wonderland by Jason June

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Crushing It by Erin Becker

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

“Magic Mel” feels like everything is crumbling around her, on the soccer field and in her friend group. Tory McNally is trying to not feel hurt by her mom being more interested in her new husband than in Tory. When, unknowingly for them, they connect anonymously online, secrets are shared and their feelings for each other grow. This debut book is an action-packed soccer tale of first romance, exploring queer identities, and learning to be brave, even when it’s scary. I really enjoyed the way in which this book tenderly looks at relationships, platonic and romantic. The author writes compelling, complicated conversations about how friendships change over time, and she recognizes that this can be messy and challenging, but she also supports this with compassion and empathy. This novel is relevant and relatable for junior high readers.