Finnikin of the Rock Torn between responsibility and personal desire, Finnikin must choose what’s really important to him. Outcasts, curses, and a land divided come together to weave an epic tale of personal struggle and triumph. This series was among my favorites in high school. If you read it, let me know what you think!
The One and Only Ivan It’s rare that a book breaks my heart as much as this one did. The One and Only Ivan is phenomenal. All around worthwhile.
The Queen of Attolia This book will stay with you. Complex emotional relationships and intricate character arcs are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s war, love, betrayal, trauma, and not a small amount of mischief. It is technically the second book in the Queen’s Thief series, but could be read as a stand-alone. If … Read more
I’ll Give You the Sun Anyone who has siblings knows that even while you love them CRAZY, sometimes they drive you CRAZY! This book explores sibling rivalry from both perspectives and asks hard questions about how we interact with the ones we love.
My Heart Is Laughing Things don’t always go Dani’s way, but even as she experiences setbacks she learns more about choosing thoughts that lift her up instead of breaking her down.
Don’t Worry, Bee Happy The Bumble and Bee series is a stand-out among graded readers. Colorful, simple, and fun. Budding readers will want to read it again and again.
The Halloween Moon Written by one of the creators of Welcome to Nightvale, this middle-grade novel captures the beauty of Halloween.
Wretched Waterpark A sudden summer vacation leads to three siblings being left at an odd waterpark, full of mysteries to explore.
Escape to Witch City Emmaline is a witch, in a world where witches are persecuted. Emmaline researches a method to get rid of her powers before she is discovered, finding a secret city and missing family members along the way.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea Mina sacrifices herself to the Sea God her village worships – and fears – to save her brother and his beloved, Shim Cheong. Finding herself in the Spirit Realm, Mina sets out on a quest to awaken the sleeping Sea God and put an end to the sacrifices, … Read more