Review of Ever Since, by Alena Bruzas

Contemporary, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

Ever Since

by Alena Bruzas

Rocky Pond Books (Penguin Random House), 2023. 277 pages.
Review written July 13, 2023, from a book sent to me by the publisher.
Starred Review

This book isn’t exactly pleasant reading, but it is powerful, and it made me care deeply about characters I didn’t even like at first.

The book has a short Content Note at the front: “Please be advised that this book contains depictions of sexual assault, CSA, and suicidal ideation.” So that gives you an idea of what you’re in for.

But the book begins with five teenage girls, all good friends, who are happily looking forward to the summer. I like the first paragraph:

Once there were five princesses. No, I mean five witches. Actually, they were goddesses. Anyway, whatever they were, they were friends.

This opening foreshadows the senior project Virginia’s going to start thinking about this summer, looking into the story of Medea. Which echoes her own story.

The book begins with a road trip out to the coast. Virginia is our viewpoint character. Poppy and Thalia and Paz and Ro are the friends along with her, and there are plenty to meet them at the coast, including Thalia’s boyfriend Edison and Poppy’s boyfriend Rumi.

But something’s up with Virginia and Edison…. She thinks Thalia doesn’t know yet and maybe she can stop, but Edison calls her over away from the crowd….

And then the next day Poppy disappears. She doesn’t turn up for her job coaching soccer. She doesn’t answer calls or texts. Poppy’s house was the only place where Virginia felt safe at night. And then she starts getting close to Rumi. But she can’t betray Poppy, too. But it feels like Rumi actually sees her.

So by this time, I wasn’t crazy about Virginia. But as we see her go through the summer, we get strong hints that there’s something going on under the surface. And we begin to care deeply. And things build up and something with Rumi’s little sister triggers a whole lot of trauma – and I don’t want to say any more, because the author does a great job of weaving this story together so that the revelations aren’t exactly a surprise for what they are – but they’re definitely a surprise about who is involved. And it’s told in such a way that you come to better understand Virginia’s behavior all along – that since she was deprived of consent as a young child, she no longer really understands that she’s allowed to withhold consent. (And that’s a much more simplistic way of putting it than the book gives.)

Like I said, it’s not a pleasant book. But it has a wonderful, I-wish-it-weren’t-necessary message. And makes you care about this girl you might have condemned. So wow. Just read it already.

alenabruzas.com
PenguinTeen.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of This Book Won’t Burn, by Samira Ahmed

Audiobooks, Contemporary, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

This Book Won’t Burn

by Samira Ahmed
read by Kausar Mohammed

Hachette Audio, 2024. 10 hours, 23 minutes.
Review written July 29, 2025, from a library eaudiobook.
Starred Review

I loved this audiobook so much! I’d been meaning to read it pretty much since it came out, so when it accumulated enough NotifyMe tags in Libby to order for the library, I placed a hold – and I was completely charmed. (Yes, it’s gotten to where I am more likely to read audiobooks than print books. This is a drastic change.)

It’s the story of Noor Khan, a senior in high school. She’s just gotten an acceptance to the University of Chicago, close to home. The book begins on the day her life fell apart, when her father left their family – including her mother and younger sister. He left the house and never came back. Later, they found a note in his briefcase saying he couldn’t do this any more. Noor even references Vikki Stark’s work on Runaway Husbands, so I related to that part all too much, but Noor was somewhat resentful that the website focuses on the wives who get left suddenly – when it also includes the children.

A few months later, Noor is facing the last quarter of her senior year at a new school in small-town Illinois, where her mother moved them to give them all a new start. Noor’s not happy about that.

But she does make friends quickly. The one Desi guy in the school volunteered to give her a tour, and she quickly makes friends with his lesbian friend. And then a cute white boy makes overtures.

However, when Noor gets to the library, she sees the librarian pulling books off the shelves because of a new school board policy that one challenge from the public gets books removed until they can be “reviewed.” The next day, Noor wears an “I Read Banned Books” t-shirt, which gets her called into the principal’s office.

When some of the books being banned show up in Noor’s locker, she decides to read them aloud in the park across the street during lunch. But then the principal retaliates by taking the privilege of going off campus for lunch away from juniors and seniors, letting everyone know she’s to blame.

Meanwhile, Noor’s mother, who together with her father taught Noor that silence is defeat, is upset with Noor for making waves in their new town. And she’s confused about her feelings for the two guys in her life. As Noor stands up for the freedom to read, she gets more and more pushback and even violence.

As a librarian, I found this book completely realistic and completely timely. The situations were pulled directly from current headlines. Yay for standing up for free speech and our Constitutional rights! I also appreciated the call-out of many excellent books that are widely banned by groups such as Moms for Liberty. (The book called them “Liberty Moms,” but I know the real-life group.) It showed their hypocrisy in trying to “protect” kids from books by excluding books by diverse authors.

So the cause, of course is wonderful. But the story was wonderful, too. I related to Noor’s pain from being abandoned by her father, her difficulties in her relationship with her mom, and enjoyed reading about her setbacks and triumphs with her new friends. This one doesn’t even have an kisses, but there are a couple of sweet romances going on, and the conflict between Noor’s head and heart at times was portrayed in a completely relatable way. Listening to this book had me smiling all day.

samiraahmed.com

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Review of Doodles from the Boogie Down, by Stephanie Rodriguez

Children's Fiction Review, Contemporary, Graphic Novel 0

Doodles from the Boogie Down

by Stephanie Rodriguez

Kokila, 2023. 204 pages.
Review written June 28, 2023, from a library book.

This graphic novel is reportedly not exactly an autobiography, but tells about an eighth-grader named Stephanie who lives in the Bronx and wants to go to a high school for the Arts in Manhattan rather than continuing in Catholic school, as her mother wants her to.

Trying to talk with her mother about it when she got the idea didn’t go far. So Steph does some lying to get to work with the art teacher on her portfolio.

Meanwhile, she’s having adventures learning more about art, enjoying activities with her friends, and navigating middle school. But what will happen when her mother finds out about her schemes?

I still think that graphic novels are the perfect form for middle school memoirs. The author says this isn’t quite a memoir, but it does come with all the emotion of living it.

stephguez.com
Penguin.com/kids

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Review of John the Skeleton, by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats

Award Winners, Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

John the Skeleton

by Triinu Laan
illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats
translated from the Estonian by Adam Cullen

Restless Books, 2024. First published in Estonia in 2020. 58 pages.
Review written July 3, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review
2025 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Winner

John the Skeleton is in picture book format, but it was originally published in Estonia, and is for older readers than a typical American picture book. I’d say it’s for Kindergarten to second grade kids having it read to them, though the lucky person reading it to them will be charmed, too.

I’ll be honest – I was completely put off by the cover picture of snails crawling on a skeleton and hadn’t ordered it for our library system until it won the Batchelder Award for a book in translation. I put a note to show it to me and decided to put it with the JFIC books instead of the picture books, since it’s got more words on a page than a typical picture book. But looking at the book convinced me I had to read it more closely, so I placed a hold on it and finally got to give it a proper reading.

And what a delight it is! John is a skeleton used in a classroom (not a real human skeleton, but constructed as a teaching tool). But after John got a few broken bones, the teacher let him retire after long years of service – and he retired to a cottage with Grams and Gramps deep in the woods.

The book simply tells of their adventures together. Gramps dresses John nicely and John helps scare off robbers. He plays with their grandchildren and goes with the family to hear the lake sing, among many other charming stories about John the Skeleton’s simple life with Grams and Gramps. The book ends with a poignant note, but we are assured that John is still bringing Gramps comfort and companionship.

And the note at the back tells us the story is based on a real bone man who retired from a school.

An ordinary Estonian’s dream is to live in a house where their closest neighbors are at least half a kilometer away. When John got the chance to retire and live on a farm in Vörumaa, which is one of the farthest corners of the country, his dream came true.

Trust me. This is another one you should read for yourself. I think you will be charmed.

restlessbooks.org

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Review of Fireworks, words by Matthew Burgess, pictures by Cátia Chien

Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Fireworks

words by Matthew Burgess
pictures by Cátia Chien

Clarion Books, 2025. 40 pages.
Review written July 15, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review

The world needed a truly excellent picture book about the Fourth of July, and now we have one. Though in fact, the book doesn’t mention the name of the holiday, so we had a bit of discussion whether to shelve it with holiday books here in the library. But books for Independence Day are few and far between – and this one begins with a hot summer day, so it definitely fits.

And the book is so evocative! It begins as two brown-skinned siblings wake up and venture out “across steamy city sidewalks.” The impressionistic pictures by Cátia Chien make you feel the steam – and feel the joy when later the kids play in a fire hydrant that sprung a leak.

Besides the wonderful illustrations, the descriptions are full of onomatopoeia. We’ve got “plip plop plip” on this page with an illustration full of juice and joy:

And in the thirsty afternoon
we watch the knife slice
the great green watermelon
into shining red wedges.

Chins drip sweet drips.

We also hear sounds from street performers playing music and Grandma cooking dinner in a pan.

But no surprise that the highlight of it all is when the kids climb to the rooftop of their building and see fireworks streak across the sky.

We’ve got all sorts of firework sounds and now an accent of florescent pink that we saw on the cover and the endpapers. And the kids dancing with joy far below. It brings you right into a fireworks display.

Then there’s a close-up on the kids’ wide-eyed faces before a fold-out page gives you the Finale.

And it ends like every good picture book – snug in bed – but this time with visions of fireworks dancing in their heads.

This is for sure destined to become a summertime classic. And don’t miss the opportunity to explain to little ones how fireworks shows will go before they experience their first. They’ll know to expect bright lights and loud sounds – and exuberant joy.

matthewjohnburgess.com
catiachien.com

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Review of Always the Almost, by Edward Underhill

Contemporary, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

Always the Almost

by Edward Underhill

Wednesday Books, 2023. 307 pages.
Review written July 21, 2023, from my own copy, sent by the publisher.
Starred Review

Always the Almost is a sweet teen romance about a gay trans boy during his senior year of high school. He came out as male last year, changing his name from Melissa to Miles, and his long-time boyfriend broke up with him soon after. If only Miles can show Shane that he’s still the same person inside, maybe he can win back his heart.

The title refers to Miles’ habit of coming second place in the big annual Tri-State Piano Competition. For years, he’s come in second place to Cameron Hart. This year, Miles’ teacher says he needs a new teacher to help him do his best in this his last chance to win. The new piano teacher, instead of working on technique, asks Miles questions about who he is and what his competition piece means to him – questions that Miles is only beginning to know how to answer.

But while Shane isn’t paying much attention to Miles, there’s a new kid at their high school who is. Eric immediately asks his pronouns and seems to see Miles for who he is. Maybe he can help get over Shane? Meanwhile, Miles’ long-time best friends, Rachel and Paige, have started dating each other, which is great when everyone is happy. But makes Miles miss being part of a couple.

The story is wrapped up in the piano competition, and I love the way Miles deepening his understanding of the Tchaikovsky piece also deepens his understanding of his own identity, and that’s explained on the page in a way we can understand it, even without hearing the music. (I’d love to hear this in an audiobook with classical music accompaniment!) Miles and his friends make some mistakes along the way, but they’re very human and understandable mistakes, and the reader feels for both sides. The relationship between Miles and Eric is portrayed with plenty of authenticity, and we feel for what it might be like for someone just beginning to show the world who they truly are also try to show one person more deeply who they truly are.

This sweet trans romance didn’t strike any wrong notes. Reading it left me with a smile.

edward-underhill.com
wednesdaybooks.com

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Review of Dance Fast, by A. R. Cribbins

Contemporary, Picture Book Review 0

Dance Fast

by AR Cribbins

Little, Brown and Company, 2024. 36 pages.
Review written June 9, 2025, from a library book.

This picture book has a lovely message about perfectionist that will speak to kids and adults alike.

A little girl named Bizzy tells the story. She wants to dance at this year’s ceremony and wants her own regalia. But her mother’s old dance dress is too big, so she plans to make her own regalia with her mom and grandma. She wants it to be perfect.

Bizzy has sewn pillows before. She’s confident in her skills. But then things go wrong, and she’s convinced her dress is ruined.

After some more trials and tribulations, her grandma shows her own dance regalia and explains:

Grandma says it’s the Pomo way to leave one little flaw in everything you make.

“And then we dance fast so no one sees where that part is!”

The book ends with Bizzy happily dancing, in a beautiful dress complete with flaws.

I love a book that speaks to children in a natural way about beauty in mistakes.

arcribbins.com
LBYR.com

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Review of Brownstone, by Samuel Teer & Mar Julia

Contemporary, Graphic Novel, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

Brownstone

by Samuel Teer & Mar Julia

Versify (HarperCollins), 2024. 318 pages.
Review written February 18, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review
2025 Printz Award Winner
2025 Cybils Award Winner, Young Adult Graphic Novels

Brownstone is a graphic novel about an almost-fifteen-year-old girl named Almudena sent to spend the summer in New York City with the Guatemalan father she’s never met while her dancer mother does a European tour.

Almudena’s not happy about it. Her father doesn’t speak much English, and she doesn’t speak much Spanish. So the neighbor lady comes over to translate. Almudena’s not sure how she feels about that. The address is a brownstone that looks beautiful on the outside – but on the inside, her father is in the midst of renovating it.

This is a story of Almudena getting to know the neighborhood and the neighbors and learning about her Guatemalan heritage. She also bumps against some prejudice when she befriends a lesbian who runs the local bodega, and learns about gentrification when some of those neighbors have to move because of rising rent.

It’s all lovingly told, and I enjoyed getting to know Almudena’s new family, too.

We end up with social commentary in readable, interesting graphic novel form.

marjulia.com

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Review of Suddenly a Murder, by Lauren Muñoz

Contemporary, Mystery, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

Suddenly a Murder

by Lauren Muñoz
read by Diana Bustelo

Listening Library, 2023. 9 hours, 16 minutes.
Review written October 30, 2023, from a library eaudiobook.
Starred Review

Suddenly a Murder is a murder mystery (no surprise there!) set in the stately home of Ashwood Manor on an island, where seven recent high school graduates are spending a week immersed in the 1920s.

We find out right at the beginning that Izzy brought a gold knife to the party and took it into Blaine’s bedroom not long before he was stabbed to death there. We also know she feels guilty. And doesn’t want the detectives to learn about any of those things.

Izzy’s the only one not from a wealthy family. She attended the private school because her mother is a teacher there. Since their Freshman year, she’s been best friends with Cassidy, who took her under her wing with a fierce loyalty. The party is Cassidy’s gift to Izzy, because both of them love the old murder mystery movie that was filmed in Ashwood Manor long ago. Cassidy makes sure that everyone gives up their cellphones and modern clothes, and she’s equipped all their bedrooms with 1920s costumes – as if they’re going back in time to an actual 1920s house party.

But naturally, murder wasn’t part of the plan. It’s Cassidy’s boyfriend who turns up dead. As the evidence comes out (with Izzy listening to police interviews from a hidden passage), we also get flashback chapters and find out that all the friends on the island had some motive or other to kill Blaine. But which one will the detectives decide is guilty?

I was a bit impatient starting out with these spoiled rich kids and their interpersonal drama, I’m afraid. But as the mystery went on, I did get pulled in, wanting to hear the denouement, which did, in fact, surprise me.

I like a nice cozy locked room (or isolated on an island) mystery, and this one’s fun because the suspects are all teens. This is a debut, and I very much hope the author will give us more well-crafted mysteries to enjoy.

laurenmunozbooks.com

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Review of When Alexander Graced the Table, by Alexander Smalls and Denene Millner, art by Frank Morrison

Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

When Alexander Graced the Table

by Alexander Smalls and Denene Millner
with art by Frank Morrison

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. 36 pages.
Review written June 9, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review

Here’s a gorgeous picture book telling about when chef Alexander Smalls made his first pie for his family’s Sunday dinner.

Every spread is lavishly illustrated, and we start out with a view of the hustle and bustle around Sunday dinners – the highlight of Alexander’s whole life.

His Mom and Dad and sisters and Papa and Grandma and Auntie and Uncle and cousins would all gather and enjoy them together.

The week may have been long and a little tough, but Sunday dinners meant family was there for you. They gave faith in tomorrow.

And then, one Saturday night, Alexander’s Mom gives him permission to make his own franks and beans – and they turn out delicious! But his father didn’t want any.

So – Alexander makes something special for Sunday dinner – especially to please his father. He uses graham crackers, sugar, butter, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, and lots and lots of lemons, fresh off the tree.

And then we have a wonderful figurative drum roll when Alexander graces the table with a pie he made all by himself.

There’s a close-up of his father’s face for the moment of truth.

The recipe is at the back of the book – with a note that it’s the first pie the chef ever made. Clearly the joy of making people happy led Alexander to his life’s work.

And this window on that inspiration will make you feel like you’re there.

alexandersmalls.com
denenemillner.com
morrisongraphics.com

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