Teen Tuesday: The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

Image: Macmillan

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride. Unabridged downloadable audiobook, ~3 hours. Read by the author. Macmillan Audio, October, 2025. 9781250411440. Review of audiobook borrowed from public library.

Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room. She guides young souls onward, but first she collects memories, for the young are reluctant to move on. She doesn't know how she knows these rules, but she does. One day, Melodee enters the Leaving Room, and it turns out that she is a Keeper as well. Two keepers? How can that be? 

I picked this up last December because I wanted to read all the NBA finalists in Literature for Young People. I read and enjoyed two of Ms. McBride's earlier novels. This was a bit hard to get into, but blossomed into a fascinating take on the afterlife.

Young adult readers who enjoy verse novels or books that explore the afterlife like Gabrielle Zevin's Elsewhere, or Jennifer Yu's Grief in the Fourth Dimension, or Gabby Noone's Layoverland will enjoy this. 

Teen Tuesday: I am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew

Image: Scholastic Inc.

I am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew. 368 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., March, 2025. 9781546104483. Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.

Teen Tuesday features I am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew.

Thomas Walsh has been working odd jobs ever since having to leave college to support his chronically ill, deaf mother. He interviews for a job with a wealthy businessman as an ASL interpreter for his daughter. The job is a good distance away, but the pay would go a long way towards helping the family financially. 

Vivienne has been mute since her disappearance at age four which left her traumatized. What most people don't know is that she is possessed and if she does speak, anyone who hears her voice dies. Of course, Thomas does not know this. Her parents are controlling and keep her on a short leash and Vivienne is determined to make Thomas' job difficult. 

This horror/ romance hits the ground running and doesn't let up! Chapters switch point of view between Thomas and Vivienne breathlessly. Tension is high throughout this page-turner and is sure to please high school fans of horror with a side of romance. 

Teen Tuesday Audiobook Review: Skyhunter by Marie Lu

Image: Macmaillan

Skyhunter by Marie Lu. Unabridged audiobook, ~12 hours. Narrated by Natalie Naudus. Macmillan Audio, September 2020.  Macmillan Young Listeners, September, 2020. 9781250777485. Review of downloadable audio borrowed from the public library. 

I don't know how I stumbled upon this audiobook, but I'm so glad that I did. I've been a huge fan of Marie Lu since reading her debut, Legend. I haven't read everything, but I have read a lot of her books. My students are huge fans of the Legend series, as well as her Warcross duology. A quick glance at the publication date tells me that this is one of many books that were lost in the pandemic. For me, I was a fifth/ sixth grade LA teacher in September of 2020, so I lost touch with books that were releasing then. 

This is the first-person story of Talin, a young, elite fighter for Mara, one of the last nations defending itself against the onslaught of the Karensa Foundation. Talin and her mother are refugees in Mara, having fled their native Basea some ten years earlier. Against all odds, Talin has been chosen to become a Striker, an elite fighter and first line of defense against the ghosts, zombie fighters that the Karensa Foundation use.

This plot-driven dystopian hits the ground running and doesn't let go. Suspense runs high and the world is totally believable. Fans of Ms. Lu will love this. I'm kind of sad that I'm retired now and can't grab the students who would love this book!

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Grief in the Fourth Dimension.by Jennifer Yu

Image: Tantor Media

Grief in the Fourth Dimension.by Jennifer Yu. Unabridged audiobook, ~8 hours, 45 minutes. Tantor Audio. Read by Tim Lounibos and Raechel Wong. July, 2024. Review of audiobook downloaded and borrowed from public library.

Kenny Zhou and Caroline Davison may have been classmates, but they existed in two completely different orbits. He, an introverted science nerd, worked in his immigrant parents' restaurant. She, an extroverted, popular athlete came from a life of privilege. When Kenny ends up in a stark, white room containing a chair and a huge, wall-mounted flat screen tv, any doubts that he has died are put to rest when the television broadcasts his funeral. 

Caroline, on the other hand, believes she's suffering from a fever dream, until the television shows her otherwise. Then, she believes the two are in purgatory - purgatory with a sense of humor as the room sends them cryptic notes and seems to grant them wishes. Of course, the two wish to communicate with their respective families, but communication is garbled. 

This intriguing speculative fiction made me think of a favorite book of mine called Layover Land, with its unique view of the afterlife, redemption and grief. Oh, and its snarkiness was quite amusing, but soon gave way to poignance as details unfold. 

The shifting POV between Kenny and Caroline kept me engaged and guessing. Supporting characters are beautifully rendered, especially Kenny's friend, Iris. 

Mr. Lounibos' narration gave Kenny such an achingly real vulnerability and Ms. Wong's portrayal of Caroline's journey from confident to angry to contemplative was well wrought. Many themes are explored here from privilege to mental health to justice through this story. 

Thoughtful teen fans of speculative fiction and the afterlife will adore Grief in the Fourth Dimension.

Teen Tuesday: The Second Chance of Darius Logan by David F. Walker

Image: Scholastic Inc.

The Second Chance of Darius Logan by David F. Walker. 384 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., July, 2024 9781338826425. Review of arc courtesy of publisher. 

Life since being orphaned in "the attack" eight years earlier has not been easy for Darius Logan. He was abused by his uncle, then moved in and out of a series of foster homes. School went by the wayside as he struggled to survive. The struggle included petty theft and arrests. His caseworker is the only person in his life who sees any good in him. But even she cannot help when he's literally caught holding the bag in a drug bust. It wasn't just any drug though. It was eXXeLL, which if caught, carries a mandatory long prison sentence. The fact that Darius is under-age won't help him. The knowledge of this compels him to resist arrest, assault a police officer and flee. He is saved by none other than the superhero, Captain Freedom of the Super Justice Force.

Captain Freedom runs a program called Second Chance and proposes that Darius enter the program. This program is usually for ex-convicts, but Captain Freedom remembers Darius from a time before "the attack," when he was named Student of the Year. Not everyone is in favor of this, especially Chuck Maslon, who is rooting for Darius to fail.

While the novel's opening is quite atmospheric, the world building resorts to info-dumping as Darius goes through his training. Still, Darius is a likable character and slowly gains friends and trust in them and himself. 

This debut should have wide appeal in middle and high school libraries. I switched to reading it by ear about 2/3 of the way through and regretted the decision. The narrator's choice of voices and accents, though varied, did not appeal to me, especially his female voices, which were stereotypically simpering. 

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. Unabridged audiobook, ~ 3 hours. Read by Zachary Roe. Clarion Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, December, 2021. Review of audiobook borrowed from public library.

Teen Tuesday features Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. I first read this with my eyes back in August of 2016. It was published in fall of 2015. I was still giving stars to my GR posts and gave five with the comment: Okay, officially gutted. I swear, there are not many authors who can do what Gary D. Schmidt does in so few words. The economy, beauty, imagery and heart in his writing is astonishing.

After I read Jupiter Rising, I realized that I couldn't really remember the details of Orbiting Jupiter. It was, after all, about 2500 or so books ago, so I decided to reread it with my ears. 

This is the first-person narration by Jackson Hurd. A sixth grader who lives on a dairy farm with his parents, who have agreed to foster Joseph Brooks, a thirteen-year-old who has fathered a child, spent time in a juvenile detention facility and doesn't like to be touched or approached from behind. Jackson and his parents give Joseph the space and time he needs, but also chores, such as milking the cows, which he also needs. Unfortunately, other adults in the community, have prejudged Joseph, starting with the school bus driver, so Joseph and Jackson walk to school in the bitter cold.

As Joseph slowly thaws with the Hurds, they learn his story and are more committed than ever to helping him. All Joseph wants is to see his baby, who is in foster care since her mother, Maddie, has died.

This emotionally intense, character-driven novel packs a punch. Have tissues handy. The narrator was different than the one for Jupiter Rising. He was measured and fine, except he mispronounced the name of a character several times, which annoyed me. 

Orbiting Jupiter was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book, an ALA Notable as well as quite a few state award lists. It has become a TMS favorite over the years and a book I highly recommend. Happy reading.

Teen Tuesday: Light Enough to Float by Lauren Seal

                                     

Image: Penguin Random House

Light Enough to Float by Lauren Seal. 354 p. Rocky Pond Books/ Penguin Young Readers, October, 2024. 

Teen Tuesday features Light Enough to Float by Lauren Seal. Fourteen-year-old Evie is dying, though she is unaware, as are her parents, until they are not. She finds herself admitted to an in-patient treatment facility for her eating disorder, and she wasn't able to say goodbye to her sister, her best friend, or her beloved dog. 

This searing verse novel brutally depicts the hold that anorexics have, that prevents them from seeing themselves realistically. Evie hears voices that tell her she is fat, that she is a burden to her family, that she is unworthy. In treatment, she is weighed daily and is forced to eat. She wants to crawl out of her skin. But, she is also forced to attend group therapy sessions along with one-on-one sessions with a skilled therapist. 

This is a worthy addition to any middle and high school library and stands along side John Schu's Louder Than Hunger. Both are important novels for young people. 

Teen Tuesday: Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt. 208 p. Clarion Books/ HarperCollins. 9780358659648.

Teen Tuesday features Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt. This is a sequel/ companion to Orbiting Jupiter, which was published in 2015. Do you need to read Orbiting Jupiter first? Hm, not really, but I suggest that you do. It has recently become a TMS favorite, and my review here, since it is also shared on the school's learning platform, will be purposely vague. 

As in Orbiting Jupiter, Jack Hurd narrates. Two years have passed, and Jack is now in eighth grade. The Hurds have been fostering baby Jupiter and are all set to finalize her adoption when the maternal grandparents step in. Jack is furious about this. How can he keep his promise if Jupiter is taken away? He's also furious over Coach Swietek's decision to pair Jack with Jay Perkins in order to improve his cross-country running. 

This spare novel packs a punch, so make sure you have tissues at hand. 

Teen Tuesday: Stepping Off by Jordan Sonnenblick

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Stepping Off by Jordan Sonnenblick. 336 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., June, 2024. 9781339023175.

Teen Tuesday features Stepping Off by Jordan Sonnenblick. Sixteen-year-old Jesse Dienstag lives on Staten Island, commutes into Manhattan to attend a prestigious public school and yearns to leave the real world for his family's vacation home in Pennsylvania each summer where he teaches tennis at the local recreation center and hangs out with his two besties, Chloe and Ava, who also happen to live on the same cul de sac as Jesse. There's a wrinkle this summer though. Jesse realizes that he is in love. With both of them. If he's being honest though, he's a bit more in love with Chloe and hopes he can maintain his best friendship with Ava. Love problems aren't the only things Jesse is facing during the summer of 2019. He's devastated to learn that his parents' marriage is in trouble, though neither one addresses the issue with him. His perfect July 4th moment with Chloe and Ava is marred by tragedy, leaving Jesse and Chloe struggling to find ways to support Ava and her sister. 

Returning to the "real world" leaves Jesse stressed and his school work suffers. He also feels a bit left behind by his city best friend, Carson, who seems to have matured over the summer. Visits to Chloe and Ava don't help. As the stress builds, the pandemic hits. 

No one does male teen angst the way Jordan Sonnenblick does. Jesse is smart, self-deprecating and a bit wise beyond his years, but so dorky and cringey, yet hilarious in his romantic misadventures. My students love Jordan's books, and I know this won't sit. Stepping Off is the perfect romance for middle school readers. 

 

Teen Tuesday and Arc Review: When We Flew Away: a Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary by Alice Hoffman

Image: Scholastic

When We Flew Away: a Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary by Alice Hoffman. 304 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., September 17, 2024. 9781338856941. Review of arc courtesy of publisher.

Happy Tuesday! Teen Tuesday features When We Flew Away: a Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary by Alice Hoffman. This work of historical fiction won't be out until September 17, but I was sent an arc (advance reader copy) from the publisher. Ms. Hoffman, who mostly writes novels for an adult audience, imagines Anne Frank's life from 1940 to the family's move to the annex.

The Frank family had moved from Germany to the relative safety of Amsterdam, while trying to get papers to leave Europe altogether. Anne dreamt of moving to California to be near the movie stars. She loved her Montessori school and her sister, Margot, though she felt she, as a loud child who tended toward bossiness, paled in comparison to perfect, passive Margo.

As country after country falls to the Nazi, Anne holds out hope that the Netherlands will be spared. Young adult readers already know the outcome. 

Ms. Hoffman worked with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam to weave a fascinating story. She writes in her Afterword about the impact reading Anne Frank's diary had on her when she was a teen. This imagining starts out a bit slow, but Ms. Hoffman paints a vivid, believable picture. 

My one nit has to do with the statement at the beginning of chapter twelve, where Ann "woke at six, but she made herself stay in bed until daylight flickered through the window." I am an early riser and love when it is light at five in the weeks leading up to the summer solstice and beyond. I looked it up, sunrise was at 5:18 AM on 6/12/1942, Anne's thirteenth birthday. I don't believe many, if any teen readers will notice. 

Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday: Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino

Image: Penguin Random House

Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino. 320 p. G.P. Putnam's Sons/ Penguin Young Readers, July, 2023. 9780593533796. Review of finished, purchased copy.

Happy Tuesday TMS Readers! We have been gifted with another gorgeous summer day. Please take advantage of it and get out in nature. Teen Tuesday features Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino. This first-person narrative is told by seventeen-year-old Lilah. She has been partially deaf since birth. She wears hearing aids and her IEP calls for an FM system, but they aren't always used, so she relies on lipreading and her hearing aids to "pass," but it's sometimes frustrating and challenging. 

She wants to brush up on her ASL (American Sign Language) skills and applies to be a camp counselor at a summer camp for deaf and blind children. She has fond memories of the camp as she attended one summer when she was in the eighth grade. At camp, she meets a variety of campers and counselors with varying degrees of deafness and blindness. Oh, and one really cute boy.

In addition to being a cute, slow-burn romance, readers will learn about the deaf community - about the myriad degrees of deafness and their causes, as well as the challenges they face in a sometimes uncaring hearing world. Ms. Sortino is deaf and Give Me A Sign is her debut novel. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim

Image: Penguin Random House

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~ 13 hours. Narrated by Mirai. Books on Tape/ Listening Library, August, 2023. Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.

Happy Tuesday! It looks like it'll be another beautiful day here in northern NJ. It'll be slightly hotter and not as breezy, but I hope you enjoy the day and get outdoors in nature today. Teen Tuesday features Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim. Two sisters, Channi and Vanna, are devoted to one another, but in their village, Vanna is adored and Channi is reviled. 

When Vanna was born and their mother lay dying, their father took Channi to the Demon Witch as a sacrifice. The king of the serpents saved Channi's life, but the Demon Witch cursed her with a snake face. The only way to break the curse is for Channi to bring Vanna to the Demon Witch before her seventeenth birthday, which Channi will not do. As Vanna's birthday approaches, their father, intent on enriching himself, has a contest for possible suitors to win her hand. When the cruelest, most vile suitor wins, Channi intervenes, challenges the man's champion, and when she beats him, she finds the man's attention is now drawn to her.

This layered and rich epic fantasy unfolds slowly. The world-building is vivid and based on Chinese folklore. Her Radiant Curse is a prequel to the Legends of Lor'yan duology, and, while it does stand alone, knowledge of the duology does enhance enjoyment of the prequel.

New-to-me narrator, Mirai has a wide range of convincing voices for the many characters and her performance was utterly engaging. 

Teen Tuesday: Huda F Cares by Huda Fahmy

Image: Penguin Random House

Huda F. Cares? by Huda Fahmy. Huda F. #2. 208 p. Dial Books for Young Readers/ Penguin Random House, October, 2023. 9780593532799. Review of finished, purchased copy.

Oops! Happy penultimate Tuesday TMS Readers! Sorry for the late posting. Appointments.

Teen Tuesday features Huda F. Cares? by Huda Fahmy. This is the second book in the Huda F series, and before you all get your panties in a twist, take a look at the author's name.

In this hilarious follow-up to Huda F are You?, Huda and her sisters are bickering non-stop despite their mother's entreaties to please get along. When their parents surprise them with a trip to Disney World, Huda and her sisters are thrilled; that is until they realize that they have to share the backseat of the minivan all the way from Dearborn, Michigan to Orlando!

As in Huda F are You?, Huda and her family are visibly Muslim. While she loves her religion, sometimes it's difficult to practice on the road. Combine those concerns with sisterly bickering and you get a thoughtful and poignant graphic novel that is utterly relatable.

Huda F Cares? was a National Book Award Finalist. It is laugh out loud funny and belongs in any library. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Image: Kobo Originals

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~7 hours. Read by Meegwun Fairbrother. Kobo Originals, March, 2018. (Review of e-audio borrowed from public library.)

Happy Tuesday! Teen Tuesday features The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. This sci/fi dystopian in set in the future, in Canada. Human-caused climate change has resulted in an apocalypse. Not only has the physical landscape changed with rising sea levels, but people have stopped dreaming and this has resulted in mass madness. Government officials realize that Indigenous people seem to be immune and continue to dream, so "Recruiters" have been tasked with rounding them up and bringing them to "facilities" called schools, where they are never heard from again. Our narrator, Frenchie, is a sixteen-year-old orphan who has been part of a bonded band of mostly youth, led by an elder named Miig for the past six years. Surviving in the wilderness is rough and requires constant vigilance. This riveting story is believable and the writing is layered and lovely. Frenchie's story is honest and raw. 

The narrator's performance was well-paced and engaging. Teens who enjoy dystopian literature will find much to admire here. The Marrow Thieves was published in 2017 and won the Kirkus Prize for Young People's Literature and also made the School Library Journal Best Books List, as well as the YALSA Best Fiction list among other honors. A sequel, Hunting by Stars was published in 2021 and I need to read it. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass: the Graphic Novel adapted by Mel Valentine Vargas

Image: Candlewick Press

Yaqui DelGado Wants to Kick Your Ass: the Graphic Novel adapted by Mel Valentine Vargas. Adapted from the novel by Meg Medina. 288 p. Candlewick Press, September, 2023. 9781536224771. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Moving house is always tough on a kid, but moving in tenth grade and fitting in in a new high school has to be the toughest. While Piddy Sanchez is happy to be out of her old, unsafe apartment, she's not thrilled to be at a new school and is missing her bff, who recently moved to the suburbs. On the first day of school, she learns that Yaqui Delgado wants to kick her ass. Piddy has no idea who Yaqui is or why she's angry at Piddy. Piddy is a good student, but as the threats and bullying escalate, Piddy withdraws and becomes increasingly depressed. Her single mother is at wit's end trying to figure out what is happening to her daughter, but the two constantly clash and Piddy becomes angry about her missing father. 

This graphic novel adaptation perfectly depicts Piddy's anguish in a muted palette of blues and grey. It's a painful book to read because it's very realistic. Highly recommend!

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar

HC Image: Macmillan Publishers

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaidirdar. Read by Priya Ayyar. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~8 hours. Dreamscape Media, June, 2023. (Review of e-audio borrowed from public library.)

Teen Tuesday features an absolutely adorable romance called The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaidirdar. Seventeen-year-old Shireen Malick was born in Ireland to Bangladeshi parents who immigrated there and opened a donut shop called You Drive Me Glazy. They work hard at the shop and Shireen does not mind helping out as she loves to bake. Business hasn't been so great since there are a lot of donut shops around, including one down the block called The Bakers Dozen. Shireen's parents feud with the Hwangs over recipe stealing, so Shireen and Christine have kept their romance a secret until their recent breakup.

Shireen applied to be a contestant in a brand new baking contest featuring teen bakers, called The Junior Irish Baking Show. Shireen thinks she has as good a chance at winning as anyone and planned on entering. Then Christine asked her not to, saying that she was entering. Both girls hoped the exposure would help their family's business. Of course, both girls are accepted as contestants and of course, the two are paired in the very first bake-off. Of course, there's a cute girl from Dublin named Niamh (pronounce Neev) who seems into Shireen. Or is she? Drama much?

Shireen is out and unapologetically fat. She adores her supportive parents and misses her bff, who is spending the summer in Bangladesh. She also suffers from anxiety, but has methods of coping as she clocks the casual racism, fatphobia and Islamophobia she encounters, especially as she begins to do well on the show. Shireen is an endearing, hilarious narrator who loves a good pun. And the desserts! Yum! If you love to bake or have a sweet tooth, you will enjoy this book. Fun fact: a TMS graduate won a baking show as an eighth grader some years back. The entire school was rooting for her and it was such a treat to receive a sample of her baking.

I always enjoy Ms. Ayyar's performances. She imbued Shireen with zing and sass with a dash of uncertainty. 

Arc Review: House of Marionne by J. Elle

Image: Penguin Random House

House of Marionne by J. Elle. 432 p. Razorbill/ Penguin Young Readers, August 29, 2023. 9780593527702. (Review of bound manuscript courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Tuesday! I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and relative cool this morning! Boo and I were finally able to get in a nice long walk this morning. Teen Tuesday features House of Marionne by J. Elle. This is a fantasy series starter and will release in late August.

Seventeen-year-old Quel is used to life on the run with her mom. Quel possesses a dark magic she calls Toushana and an elite band of assassins called Draguns are tasked with hunting down anyone with this forbidden magic and killing them. So far, Quel's mom has been successful in keeping her hidden by moving frequently, but Quel messed up and now she's separated from her mom and the safe spot they were to meet in turns out to be not-so-safe. She turns to the one person her mother has forbidden, her grandmother. Turns out, her grandmother is headmistress of House Marionne and is delighted to reunite with Quel and determined to have her hone her magic and debut.

Quel is relieved to be safe, eager to learn magic that she hope will tame her toushana, but not too thrilled about the wardrobe, curtseying and etiquette lessons. She's also terrified of Jordan. He's been assigned to mentor her, but he's also a Dragun. What will happen if he finds out who she really is? And why is he so hot? It's distracting and dangerous.

Sinister and gothic with a steamy, slow-burn romance and plot twists galore. This was fun. Look for it August 29. Apparently, there's a limited edition first printing available for pre-order. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday: Thieves Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

I can't believe I did it again! I posted to my school's learning platform and forget to upload. 

Image: Penguin Random House

Thieves Gambit by Kayvion Lewis. 296 p. Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Random House, September 26, 2023. 9780593625361. (Review of a bound manuscript courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Tuesday and Happy Independence Day! Teen Tuesday features Thieves Gambit by Kayvion Lewis. Seventeen-year-old Ross Quest is an accomplished thief. She works in the family business. The Quest family, led by Ross' mother, are international thieves and Ross' particular talent is planning escape routes. The family motto is "trust no one." Ross planned her own escape from the family, at least for the summer, so that she could be a normal teen for once. She almost got out, but the heist went south and now her mother is being held captive and her ransom is 1 billion dollars. The only chance she has of raising that kind of money is by entering the Thieves Gambit, a heist competition where the winner gets one wish. All she has to do is win and ask for the billion. Easy, right?

If you are a teen or know a teen who enjoys heist novels, put this one on your radar. It's due out on September 26. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy. Thieves Gambit is a pulse-pounding page-turner with enough twists and turns to give you whiplash. Ross is a smart and snarky narrator whose nemises include her former best friend and a guy whose good looks and smooth demeanor are so disarming, Ross begins to doubt everything she's been taught.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

Image: Macmillan Publishers

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~11 hours, 32 minutes. Read by Isabella Star LaBlanc. Macmillan Audio, May, 2023. 9781250877277. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Happy Tuesday! We are you coping with lots of thunderstorms on and off for the past week. The skies go from partly cloudy to ominously cloudy quickly and so, I've had to be judicious with Boo's long walks.

Teen Tuesday features Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley. This is a stand-alone companion to Ms. Boulley's debut, The Firekeeper's Daughter, which takes place ten years earlier. Pauline Firekeeper-Birch, the chill-twin, is looking forward to a summer of fishing on her beloved Sugar Island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, while her anxiety-prone, academically oriented twin, Pauline, works as an intern at Tribal Counsel. Unfortunately, she wrecks the Jeep she shares with the family and her Aunt Daunis paid for the repairs, expecting Perry to pay her back. So Perry becomes a reluctant intern to Cooper Turtle, curator of the Tribal Museum, who is involved in negotiations with the local college to return tribal artifacts under the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The red tape and slowness of the process infurates Pauline, and so, she takes matters into her own hands and removes seeds from the college store-room. Cooper Turtle no longer trusts her and releases her from her internship, leaving Perry to scramble to find another mentor. Meanwhile, several women in the community have gone missing and there have been deaths of Black people at the hands of the police, leaving Perry worried for her Black father's safety and further fueling her fight for social justice.

Native tradition, culture and history are woven seamlessly into what becomes a suspenseful heist story. Perry's first-person narration is snarky, intelligent and hilarious at times as she lives up to her nickname, "Perry Pulls No Punches." The Sugar Island setting is vividly drawn as are supporting characters. Blunt language, references to sexual assault, blackmail and violence make this compelling story more suitable to thoughtful, mature teen readers.

Warrior Girl Unearthed was just named a Boston Globe Horn Book Award Winner in the Fiction and Poetry category. I read this one with my ears and appreciated hearing the correct pronunciation of the language. New-to-me narrator Isabella Star LaBlanc brought Perry to life and paced her performance well. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday: Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Image: Penguin Random House

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood. 356 p. G.P. Putnam's Sons/ Penguin Young Readers Group, November 7, 2023. 9780593619919. (Review of bound manuscript courtesy of publisher.)

Eighteen-year-old Mallory isn't going to college because she needs to pay her family's bills. When her bff begs her to play a charity chess tournament, Mal reluctantly says yes, because she's be left behind in a few weeks when Easton goes to college. She was a rising star in the chess world, but gave it up years earlier. She's slated to play against none other than chess wunderkind, Nolan Sawyer, aka Kingkiller and, she beats him! He wants to play again, but she's done with chess. Her win catches the eye of Defne, who offers her a fellowship to play chess. She declines. That is, until she loses her job as a mechanic. She lies to her mother about the fellowship, wanting to protect her, but when she begins winning and rockets up in the standings, her lies become more difficult to maintain. And then there's the possibility/ probability that she will have to play Nolan again.

This rom-com was fun-smart, snarky and slow-burn swoony. I adored Mallory's voice. I loved the chess as the center of the story and the fact that the author addresses the sexism that exists in the sport through Mallory, who doesn't suffer fools lightly. Some suspension of belief regarding her family remaining in the dark is required.

Chess is really popular among my students since the pandemic. They are always rushing through their work to get to the chess set in my library's lounge. There are a couple of girls who are really good. I was hoping I could add this book to our library's collection. While I loved it, it's a bit mature for most middle school readers, but highly recommended for high school collections and public libraries.