Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 5

Time for the first YA compilation post of 2023! This set contains two familiar authors and one that’s new-to-me. Are you familiar with any or all of them? What have you been reading?

Blade Breaker (June 28, 2022) by Victoria Aveyard.

*This is the middle novel in a trilogy.*

Allward is a world divided. The Companions^ have just won their first battle, forcing the kraken back to its monstrous world, but they’re far from winning the war. They travel over Allward from the vast desert of Ibal to the wine-laden prince of Trec and back to Galland. They encounter the Tempestborn, Hell Mel’s vessel. Meliz an-Amarat. Corayne’s mother. They’re angling to close another Spindle, but they’re waylaid by time, monsters and assassins. Allies are needed, but who can the Companions trust when they’re the most wanted individuals in the entire Ward? Because anyone out there could take Corayne - dead or alive, according to the posters plastered around - to the power-hungry Queen Erida of Galland (out to conquer all of the realms of the Ward) and her prince consort, Prince of Old Cor Taristan. Taristan is seemingly invincible with power granted to him by What Waits, the Torn King of Asunder who waits to be free of Asunder, hence the reason Taristan and Ronin, the wizard priest, are looking for more Spindles to tear open. Conquering the entire Ward looks easily possible for Erida and Taristan with the Ashlanders of Asunder, an army of skeletons and rotting corpses. It should also be easy to track down Corayne and/or Konegin, her scheming cousin, yet they both continue to elude them. The Companions and their allies, including Dom’s Vederan cousin, Ridha, a princess of Iona and daughter of the Monarch (Isibel), must rally the world against a common enemy with their wickedly unstoppable army. The fate of Allward rests on the edge of a blade.

            Reading this epic fantasy is to read chaos. It’s not that it’s disjointed; there is simply so much going on all the time. Aveyard volleys amongst multiple character perspectives, and even though each voice is distinct, there are too many perspectives (six). My heart wasn’t really into reading this 578-page YA novel, and I know this affected my attitude toward it. Still, it is a masterpiece of fantastical proportions that schemes with realm takeover and brims with violence, survival and treacherous journeying. It is easy to feel hatred toward the evil antagonists of the story and want to rally allies for the Companions. The world is richly-imagined, the plot busy and complex, the characters deeply flawed but also doggedly resistant. The diversity of skin tones and inclusion of queer and nonbinary characters is casually represented and easily accepted. The pace of this middle novel in the Realm Breaker trilogy is relentless, the adventure unceasing.

            Book 1: Realm Breaker

            ^The Companions

            +Corayne an-Amarat: Teenager, the daughter of a pirate and a Corblood heir she never knew, with the world on her shoulders

            +Andry Trelland: Formerly a Gallish squire, now a fugitive as much as Corayne, has an honest face

            +Domacridhan: Of the Vedera, an immortal of Iona, who grieves

            +Sorasa Sarn: An Amhara Guild assassin, outcast, who will face her past, and it will be ugly

            +Sigaalbeta Bhur Bhar a.k.a. Sigil: A bounty hunter of the Temurijon, a broad woman whose resting face is also fierce

            +Charlon “Charlie” Armont: A fugitive priest with a remarkable talent for forgery

            +Valtik: An old sorceress with mighty power who sings to herself a lot, usually in Jydi, talks in rhyme

Girls of Fate and Fury (Nov. 30, 2021) by Natasha Ngan.

*This is the final novel in a trilogy.*

*There is a trigger warning.*

Papers (Paper caste) are fully human and are unadorned with no animal-demon features. Of all the castes, they’re the most mistreated. Paper Girls are nothing more than pieces for the king to use and discard, to be “good little cut-out girls with nothing but reams of blank pages in place of hearts.” Lei has been forcibly returned to the Hidden Palace, a place with opulent walls that house the scars of trauma and tragedy and is ruled by the sadistic Demon King of Ikhara. While allies work to figure out how to get her out of the palace, Lei determines to stay until she can free the other Paper Girls, save the Demon Queen (Shala), figure out how to remove the magic cuff and its counterpart or at least nullify it, and kill the Demon King. The last time Lei and Wren saw each other was amidst a furious battle, and they’d had a heavy conversation in which painful things were said and a divide was rent. But the thing about being apart, both in significant peril, means they miss each other like a piece of them is actually missing. The showdown is coming. How many allies will give their lives to bring down a Demon King? “Fire in. Fear out.”

            I don’t recall if each book contains a trigger warning, but this one does and is right to. It states: “Please be aware that this book contains scenes of violence and self-harm, and references to sexual abuse and trauma recovery.”

            The final novel in the Girls of Paper and Fire trilogy is epic and reading it brings a near-constant rush of adrenaline. Ikhara is a world of magic, but also one of the Sickness, Qi draining, meaning magic is ebbing. It’s glittering and elegant, but also brutal and blood-soaked. The world-building is lush, but the world is toxic. There is wonder and violence, the action sequences so frequent that it can be hard to catch one’s breath. It is a trilogy with a strong LGBTQIA+ pairing. The story can unfold as tenderly as new love, but usually cuts as sharp as a blade or a demon’s talon. Ngan’s writing is impressive, but be aware that it’s a brutal story and is not a walk-in-the-park to read. The battles are climactic and heavy, the story full of fire, but themes of overcoming trauma and the fierceness of love – friendship, too – run satisfyingly deep.

            P.S. My favorite throughout the trilogy has been Kenzo. Moon caste. He’s a wolf demon. Young Lill is a close second. She’s a doe-eared demon.

            Book One: Girls of Paper and Fire

            Book Two: Girls of Storm and Shadow

When You Wish Upon a Lantern (Feb. 14, 2023) by Gloria Chao.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Chicago teens Liya Huang and Kai Jiang are Taiwanese Americans living in Chinatown. Their families are feuding, like the Capulets and Montagues or the Hatfields and McCoys. No. Wait. They’re like Cowherd and Weaver Girl¹ – Niúláng and Zhīnǚ – and the magpie bridge. Liya and Kai have been friends since they were children with their parents’ businesses next door to each other (Liya: When You Wish Upon a Lantern; Kai: Once Upon a Mooncake). They share an alley, much to the anger and chagrin of Mr. Huang, who is very vocal about what he thinks of those Jiangs! Kai is not like his father or his older brother, not that Mr. Huang can be convinced. Liya’s avoided Kai for months, ever since the boba incident, in which she vomited all over their shared table. So. Humiliating. It’s when Liya discovers that her family’s lantern store is struggling that she goes to Kai and shares a secret: she and Nǎinai are the ones that secretly fulfilled the wishes people wrote on their sky lanterns. Her grandmother has since passed away from cancer. Liya wants to return to the wish-granting that her Nǎinai started, which Liya stopped once she passed away, and put plans into action to save the store. With Liya and Kai working together and rekindling their friendship, might something more bloom? Or will their feuding families make the way impossible, ruining any wishes they have for one another?

            In this culturally rich YA story with alternating points-of-view, cringe moments, laugh-out-loud dialogue and insecurities to navigate, my first novel from Chao is as luminous as a floating lantern and as golden as a mooncake. It’s easy to ship Liya and Kai, for they’re so obviously meant for each other. Duty to family is a present, natural theme, though Kai’s brother’s treatment of him and referring to him as “Poop Son” had the mama bear in me roaring (though I’m not a mom, nor a bear). There are barbed words, but mostly this narrative pulses with warmth and the magic of first love. It’s charming and heartfelt with a deep connection to their community. To read this is to be seamlessly immersed in traditions and folktales that are folded into the narrative just so. “May your wishes find the light!”

            Sugary sweet lines that made me chuckle: “...Kai is a hot baker. He’s a cinnamon roll who can make cinnamon rolls.” (--Stephanie Lee to Liya, p. 213)

            ¹ The mythology is significant to me, because Cowherd and Cloud Weaver (a.k.a. Weaver Girl) are included in “Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies,” which is the book I finished right before this one.

Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 4

In this compilation, you’ll find two familiar and one new-to-me author. This isn’t on purpose, but all stories are part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears (Aug. 4, 2020) by Tehlor Kay Mejia.

*This is the first novel in a trilogy.*

            Stay away from the Gila River, as it is a place where children mysteriously disappear, a place where monsters of myth lurk. 12-year-old Paolo Santiago prefers science and logic, would rather obsess over outer space or ponder the wonders of algae as a fuel, than heed her mother’s stories of La Llorona, the wailing ghost mother who drowned her own children and now seeks others to drag into the river, or any other stories of legend. Major. Eye. Roll. She blames her mom for why no one takes people like them seriously, like the local police when her best friend, Emma Lockwood, goes missing. Together with her other best friend, Dante Mata, they will take refuge with Los Niños de la Luz, an army of child warriors who don’t age as long as they help guard the world’s liminal spaces. The third quarter is approaching as well as the solstice, which is a double whammy. It turns out Pao’s mom was right. Things like chupacabras and manos pachonas (i.e. disembodied hands) exist, but so do fantastical weapons like the Arma del Alma. Pao and Dante will help the niños, but her priority is saving Emma. Into the rift she’ll go to confront relentless spirits (ahogados) and other monsters like lechuzas (shape-shifting witches). But who is the biggest bad of all? Who is Ondina, because she’s no typical ahogado? As if being 12 doesn’t have its own growing pains and the emergence of “boy-girl weirdness” between her and Dante, logic has sailed out the window while the stuff of myth has moved right in.

            Although I initially struggled with Pao’s brattiness, I was still swept up in Mejia’s Mexican legend and how the author draws on her Latinx heritage to conjure creatures of lore and meld them with the contemporary world. Despite the fantasy element, there are realistic plot points: socioeconomic differences and immigration status and the stereotypes associated with both. Probably all of Pao’s bratty behavior and bad attitude stem from anger issues and her inability to forgive others. The mother-daughter strife is real and deep; Pao’s been trying to push away her Mexican ancestry too long. The imagery of the story is colorful, the prose engaging, and the mindset of an angry, insecure preteen tumultuous and therefore believable. Action is plentiful, the southwestern setting is full of cacti, and there is good character development. Many should be able to understand the scattered Spanish phrases by context if they do not outright know them. I plan to continue the series. After all, how can I resist a world full of sinister magical forces?

            Clever line: “Her anger was the perfect breeding ground for this supernatural bacteria.” (p. 294, paperback ed.)

Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe (May 5, 2020) by Carlos Hernandez.

*This is the second novel in a series.*

Three weeks have passed since Sal & Gabi saved Iggy, but life is anything but calm. Culeco Academy is in the midst of tech week. They’re preparing for Rompenoche, and they will break the night with their performance of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for parent-teacher conference night. Sal’s encountered “FixGabi,” who’s popped in from another universe, and has told Sal that Papi Vidón, a calamity physicist, will create a remembranation machine that will close all the holes (tears) in the multiverse, but instead of fixing it, will break the world that Sal lives in. FixGabi lost her own Sal, but says there’s nothing to worry about until the remembranation machine becomes sentient, and, well, it asked Sal this morning if it was alive, and Sal said yes, so ... whoops? Maybe? I mean, FixGabi isn’t exactly like his own Gabi, but he can still trust her. Right? What Sal does know is that, when the machine is on, he feels “as empty as a grave without a ghost. Just a soulless corpse.” On top of that, he wants Yasmany to find a new home and winds up co-directing Culeco’s performance after he’s too truthful (the biggest sandwich of them all). Sal’s a showman, but that’s a lot for even him to juggle. He isn’t on his own, what with the Gabi from his own universe, and Yasmany, who’s now his friend (quite a difference from mere weeks ago when Yasmany wanted to beat him up), though Yasmany knows nothing of multiverses. There’s also his AI friends: Sweeps, the entropy sweeper, Brana, the remembranation machine, and Vorágine, the talking toilet. Yes, you read that correctly. A talking toilet. Whether breaking or destroying or fixing, just this one universe has enough going on!

            The sophomore installment in the Sal & Gabi Series is the best kind of calamitous, for it’s a “wonderboom” of high-octane entertainment, madcap adventure and tickle-your-funny-bone moments. Hernandez seamlessly weaves science fiction with middle school mayhem while focusing on family (biological and found), friendship, self-awareness and the impact love can have on someone who readers intuit is abused and feels unloved. It is simultaneously hilarious and heartwarming with an ever-moving plot and Cuban influence. Sal appears to identify as aromantic. New readers to this series from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint should definitely begin with the first novel. This series is the opposite of a “stupid-and-mayonnaise sandwich” and is as tasty as a homemade empanada.

            Book 1: Sal & Gabi Break the Universe

Tristan Strong Destroys the World (Oct. 6, 2020) by Kwame Mbalia.

*This is the second novel in a trilogy.*

*Spoilers included if one hasn’t read the first novel.*

Three weeks have passed since Tristan Strong’s return to his grandparents’ farm from Alke, the land of West African gods and African American folk heroes. His time there was harrowing and exhausting, but victorious. He’s still missing his best friend; there is trauma surrounding him, but there will be no rest when his nana is abducted by a masked villain covered in iron monsters (fetterlings, brand flies, a hullbeast and a bossling) called the Shamble Man. With Anansi trapped in the SBP (Story Box Phone), he and Tristan find themselves back in Alke. He reunites with familiar faces like Ayanna and the loud-mouthed and sticky Gum Baby. He meets new allies in Keelboat Annie, Lady Night (a boo hag) and Junior, though his start with Junior is rocky, and who is Junior, really? Since Nana’s abduction, Tristan’s Anansesem ability seems to have left him. How can he be a storyteller if he can’t tell stories? The Shamble Man, possibly a MidPass god, blames Tristan for everything and wants to exact revenge. Something is terribly wrong with John Henry after he’s attacked. Missing like his nana is Mami Wata, goddess of Nyanza, source of the City of Lakes. Along this new quest, Tristan will find that he isn’t the only one dealing with trauma. Trauma is a deeply distressing event, and sometimes others handle trauma very badly. Tristan is a hero, but he has major fails, too. He must overcome the brutal truth of failure and knit the brokenness back together, because if he and his allies can’t save Alke, it and his world will fall.

            The second in the Tristan Strong Series packs a punch. With its focus on what it means to be part of a diaspora and the effects of trauma, this sequel story is heavily weighted in tough stuff that’s not easy to discuss. There’s heartbreak, but humor, too. The humans are all Black and have varying shades of brown skin. The action is nonstop, the world-building is magnificent, and concluding this story reminds me that I haven’t bought the next story and need to. The way Mbalia takes folktales and mythology and threads them like any master weaver is impressive. Tristan is the series’ Anansesem, yes, but Mbalia is the real storyteller, and his story showcases that stories are communal. One person may weave a tale, but stories don’t come from only one. They come from all over the world or Alke or the multiverse!

            Book 1: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

"The Sun and the Star" by Rick Riordan & Mark Oshiro

The Sun and the Star (May 2, 2023) by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro.

*This is a standalone novel.*

There is a grumpy ball of darkness and a demigod Care Bear. Translated, Nico di Angelo, “Italian son of Hades,” and Will Solace, “Texan son of Apollo,” are the grumpy ball and the Care Bear, respectively. They have a quest to rescue an old friend from Tartarus where the weather is “always hellish with an 80 percent chance of noxious clouds and scattered monsters.” A voice has been calling out to Nico, and he’s almost certain it’s Bob, the reformed Titan formerly known as Iapetus. And Rachel Elizabeth Dare has been spewing the same prophecy a dozen times now. It’s clear to Nico that he needs this quest, whether or not Mr. D (Dionysus) and Chiron feel the same. Will, being Nico’s boyfriend, is adamant that he is coming along. How can a child of Apollo, a being made of light, survive in the deepest, darkest part of the (Under)world? Not only that, but how will they enter Tartarus without Hades knowing? After the Doors of Death “incident,” no one is allowed to enter Tartarus. But that is where Bob is. That is where she is. It isn’t only monsters that they must endure, for they will also encounter blood clouds, monster regeneration blisters (“zits” per Nico) and the River Acheron a.k.a. the River of Pain. They are a duo where a quest normally is a trio, but Will and Nico have each other. And Bob would make three. So, save Bob! And don’t become demigod coleslaw!

            A walk in the park this isn’t. A hair-raising, adrenaline-inducing journey through the death pit of eternal gloom it definitely is. Fortunately, it is chock full of Riordan’s signature goofy banter with superb writing from both Riordan and Oshiro. While the collaborators ground the Greek mythology-based standalone in humor, pulse-pounding action, death-defying adventure and imaginative world-building, they also skillfully weave an emotive plot containing tender romance with the complexity of self-identity and mental health. There is a plethora of diversity, and I’m not referring to diversity of monster types, though they are varied and multitudinous.  With a range of skin tones and relationships, there’s a good chance each reader can find herself/himself/themselves in at least one character. I was delighted by the Percabeth cameo and by the story as a whole. Still, I think I’ll bypass a visit to Tartarus and avoid geysers of suffering, acid-rain fields and the like. If you’re planning a trip down, down, down, remember to pack plenty of nourishing lizard jerky and top-rated SPF – that’s “skink protective fat” – used regularly by the innovative and delightful troglodytes.

            P.S. I want Persephone’s garden. It has bushes of diamonds, trees of glittering rubies and a special breed of night-blooming cereus that only opens in the presence of the darkness within others.

            P.P.S. I also want a spartos like Small Bob. A spartos is created from the fang of a saber-toothed tiger. When not in saber-tooth-tiger form, Small Bob looks like a calico cat.

Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 3

It is a quick thing to whip through a chapter book. The volumes are slim and contain some illustrations to complement the stories. Presenting a compilation of chapter books!

The Mysterious Moonstone (Apr. 26, 2016) by Eric Luper.

   Lisa K. Weber, illustrator.

*This is the first story in a series.*

Discovering a secret library in one’s school should be exhilarating, and it is, but it’s tempered when Cleo and Evan find a note from their favorite librarian, Ms. Hilliard, who mysteriously exited her role. It turns out it wasn’t by choice, as she’s vanished within the pages of one of the stories. Cleo and Evan find themselves swept up in a story, too. In this one, a priceless gem – a moonstone – has been stolen in 19th-century England. Cleo, Evan and their new, rigid librarian, Ms. Crowley, must become their characters in order to solve the mystery. Cleo and Evan become junior assistants to a rookie detective, Artie Baker, who must solve the case or be fired as a detective. It’s imperative that Cleo and Evan find the stolen moonstone and obtain the key, lest they, too, become stuck in a story.

            A series first published in 2016, my local library only recently acquired at least the first couple books in the Key Hunters series, and I’m glad they did. This chapter book in the mystery genre has twists and tricks, falling chandeliers, a rampaging cart and a list of suspects. The humor is appropriate for the age group, and the twisty plot isn’t so challenging that younger readers can’t keep up. It’s not a flashy story, but it’s exciting and is like solving a game of “Clue.” It has the potential to have varied appeal to a slew of junior detectives.

Tae Kwon Do Champs (Aug. 1, 2021) by V.T. Bidania.

   Evelt Yanait, illustrator.

*This is part of a series of books.*

Twins Astrid & Apollo Lee are about to participate in their first tae kwon do tournament. Just because it’s their first one doesn’t stop them from wanting to win a trophy for the shelf. It used to be their dad’s, and he had his trophies on it, but his trophies were all lost. Astrid & Apollo are determined to earn trophies in their specialties - Astrid: forms and Apollo: board breaking - but the tournament does not go according to plan. They feel like they have failed their dad, but they’ll learn that being a winner doesn’t always mean winning the top award.

            My first Astrid & Apollo story, I like how engaging this story is and easy to read, even for new chapter book readers. Bidania’s writing showcases that a tae kwon do competition can be a new adventure and a learning opportunity. The series features a Hmong-American family that resides in Minnesota. As a Minnesotan, I love that these characters live in this state, but I especially appreciate that it showcases a main character family of color. I’m not Hmong (Minnesota has an excellent Hmong population), but I know my kid self would’ve gravitated toward books with Asian main characters, no matter their specific nationality. I will say this until I’m blue in the face, but representation matters! A lively chapter book that should have a broad range of readers based on the other book titles I noticed at my local library.

A Triceratops Charge (Apr. 26, 2022) by Rex Stone.

   Louise Forshaw, illustrator.

*This is the second book in a series.*

More adventure is afoot for Jamie and Tess as they return to their new favorite place, and it happens to contain actual dinosaurs! They reunite with Wanna, a Wannanosaurus. They also encounter a herd of Triceratops. The two Dinosaur Club members experience riding on the back of a younger one, but a situation at a grouping of tall, strange mounds causes the Triceratops herd to charge. They’ll have to hang on tight or risk being trampled by stampeding dinos!

            I originally read the ARC for the first book in this prehistoric book series and enjoyed the modern tale that contains Dino Data, a section of scientific facts and discoveries, a quiz too, but also blends in fiction. It is a fictional tale, after all, not an encyclopedia. The black-and-white illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to the prose, detailed without creating too-busy illustrations. It’s a fun series for a young audience. I haven’t yet introduced my five-year-old nephew to these books, but he loves dinosaurs. So much!

Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 2

Hello to the first picture books compilation of 2023! This post includes picture books that I checked out from my local library.

The City Tree (Apr. 4, 2023) by Shira Boss.

   Lorena Alvarez, illustrator.

There’s a hole in front of Dani’s apartment building that is one day home to a city tree (or street tree). She loves the tree where birds now chirp and cheep, which she can also use as a weather vane (“…leaves fluttering said breezy today, its branches bending said bundle up.”). That city tree is Dani’s haven from noise and grime, but the tree sometimes needs tending to, as not every passerby is kind to the tree. Dani encounters more magnificent trees at the park, but this tree is the most special. In the spring, it’s a garden. In summer, an oasis. In fall, a treasure chest. And in winter, it’s starlight. No matter the day or the season of year, “the tree was a good friend.”

            This unfussy story is a beautiful celebration of the importance of greenery in cities, of community and of life and growth. Where Boss writes in praise of city green spaces with her immersive writing, Alvarez’s illustrations are what really bring the reader into the story. Her illustrations are lush, colorful and detailed. Dani and her community are a melting pot of skin tones, ages and body types, and the pictures teem with diversity. Back matter includes information on street trees. As someone who grew up rural and still lives rural, this book shows me that I definitely take for granted the nature all around me compared to one who may be closed in by large buildings and concrete, the noise of big cities and the pollution that can be more noticeable with them. This book is delightful, and I’m so pleased that it caught my eye at my local library.

Dim Sum, Here We Come! (Jan. 3, 2023) by Maple Lam.

Every Sunday, the main character’s multigenerational family meets at the local dim sum restaurant, because “sharing dim sum means I love you.” But what to eat? What will get stamped on the dim sum card? Pork dumplings, shrimp dumplings or char siu (sweet pork) buns? Taro dumplings, spring rolls or egg tarts? Chive dumplings, lotus leaf sticky rice or turnip cakes? What about rice noodle rolls? … How about all of the above?!

            If this story doesn’t have you wanting dim sum, I don’t know what will! Whether or not readers are familiar with dim sum, the author/illustrator’s love for dim sum and family is obvious and infectious in this mouth-watering cultural tale. Food transcends cultures, and that’s showcased in this ebullient story with its bustling illustrations. Those familiar with the customs will appreciate the cultural details woven seamlessly into the story, like tapping one’s fingers on the table to mean thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed the endpapers, too. The first set show 18 dishes to relish, while the back ones show the now-empty vessels with positive reviews. Now, who wants to go out for dim sum?

Dragon Noodle Party (Dec. 13, 2022) by Ying Chang Compestine.

   Paula Pang, illustrator.

Gather round for a party, friends! The 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac are coming together for a feast. Each animal comes bearing something, usually a food ingredient, including the dragon bearing long (or longevity) noodles. It’s a nod to celebrating birthdays, Lunar New Year and other festive occasions.

            A charming yet resourceful story that will resonate with those familiar with Chinese and/or Lunar New Year customs is also an excellent multicultural resource. The author’s simple writing and the illustrator’s bright, bold, full-page pictures craft a vivid, warm tale. An author’s note, note regarding the zodiac animals and a recipe for Dragon Beard Noodles are included at the story’s end.

Heart String (Dec. 20, 2022) by Brooke Boynton-Hughes.

No matter where someone is, in a bustling city or on a desert plain, surrounded by a multitude of people or going it alone, “There is a string, an invisible string, that ties my heart to yours.” In this story, readers follow the thread as it connects us to those we know and those we don’t and the world that we’re all a part of.

            This sweet story encourages the idea that all human beings are linked, no matter one’s age or skin color or socioeconomic status, etc. With its graceful verse and soft artwork, “Heart String” is heartwarming and positive. It promotes global citizenship. And while it’s a story to advance world harmony, without an actual plot, parents will find themselves wanting to craft their own teaching moment, should they so choose.

The Umbrella (Mar. 21, 2023) by Beth Ferry & Tom Lichtenheld.

It turns out that “Dreary./Weary,” “Dim./Grim” weather is no match for one young girl and her pup. After all, where there’s a dog, “Gotta go–/rain or snow.” When thunder sends them under the awning of a curios shop, they spot a tattered yellow umbrella. It’s “FREE!” and the cashier wraps it up. Unfortunately, their newfound treasure falls apart as they dash away, leaving a “Trail of tatters.” Days later, they discover that those tatters have magically grown into a field of yellow umbrellas. They pull them up and distribute them to the community, thus chasing the clouds away.

            Ferry’s concise, rhyming text is simple enough for young readers to sound out, and the words seem to have their own rhythm. Lichtenheld’s pencil and watercolor illustrations are uncomplicated while still coming across as expressive and complement the text perfectly. The story unfolds even in the inside covers: dreary purplish-gray at the beginning and a sunny yellow at the end. In the story, the only pop of bright color comes from the umbrella(s). This buoyant story encourages each of us to be bright lights to others, for eventually those gray days will turn to sunshine’s rays! And that is a good reminder for every age!

"Blind Trust" by Natalie Walters

Blind Trust (Apr. 11, 2023) by Natalie Walters.*

*This is the third novel in a trilogy.*

She knows she has a reputation for being impulsive at the [fictional] SNAP (Strategic Neutralization and Protection) Agency, but Lyla Fox always jumps in feet first and faces the threat head on, no matter how dangerous the situation. But even Lyla is given pause when she receives a threatening note from a man she helped put in prison along with a busted windshield, and the inmate turns up dead by apparent suicide. There are other situations, too: vehicles following her and shots fired with her as their target. She can’t uncover what’s going on by herself. She’s going to need the entire trusted SNAP Agency team, especially Nicolás Garcia (formerly had a brief career in the Army Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) branch), who’s always the most bothered by her recklessness and doesn’t seem to trust her. The rest of the team includes cyberguru Kekoa Young, team leader Jack Hudson and SNAP Agency Director Tom Walsh. Nicolás has dealt with bombs and knows how dangerous they are, but working with Lyla is just as dangerous.

            My first full-length novel from Walters, I found it to be dramatic and fairly fast-paced with a snappy cast of protagonists (Kekoa is easily my favorite) and antagonists. Trust is a theme and fear is present, too. It’s not a rollicking adventure, more a slow-build with bursts of adrenaline and pulse-pounding scenarios. Faith is there in multiple characters, but not in an overbearing way. The danger is well-balanced with humorous interjections. When it comes to romantic suspense, I prefer Dani Pettrey’s novels, but Natalie Walters has made a strong case with this novel that I read. My only gripe is that Lyla’s impulsivity sometimes grated on my nerves, so I didn’t connect with her character as well. I get that she’s in a profession where she’s sometimes got to make split-second decisions where there isn’t time for thinking, but that impulsivity seems to be her default.

            Standout line: “The woman owns real estate on the edge of risk, and next to her I look like Mr. Rogers.” --Nicolás to Jack (p. 160)

            Previously read: Targeted: Caught in the Crosshairs (a novella)

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Stars and Smoke" by Marie Lu

Stars and Smoke (Mar. 28, 2023) by Marie Lu.

*This is the first novel in a series.*

Chinese American Winter Young is a 19-year-old global pop phenomenon, the most famous superstar in the world. He’s a spy, too, having been approached by the Panacea Group to infiltrate the crime world syndicate of Eli Morrison. His one weakness is his daughter, Penelope, though Eli is anything but weak. The criminal tycoon has no qualms about having adversaries tortured or entire families assassinated. Penelope is Winter’s biggest fan, and for her birthday celebration, Eli is indulging an extremely exclusive private concert with the one and only Winter Young. Panacea Group has been trying for years to get evidence to bring Morrison down. The CIA has too much red tape, so that’s when they call in Panacea, as they have the power to choose what is right over what is diplomatic. The covert spy operation works out of the [fictional] Claremont Hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota. Winter will need to use all his fame, charisma and newfound spy skills to pull off a successful mission. He won’t be alone, as he’ll have Sydney Cossette posing as his bodyguard and taking on the persona of Ashley Miller. Sydney is Panacea’s youngest spy, and she’s keeping a big secret from them, lest they release her from their employ (and no, the secret isn’t her petty thievery). Infiltrating Eli’s inner circle and attending Penelope’s extravagant birthday celebration takes the group to London. His manager, Claire, is along, as are two of his closest back-up dancers, Leo and Dameon. On their list of Eli’s closest associates is Connor Doherty, the accountant who has beautifully expensive taste in accessories, and who appears to have a secret relationship with Penelope. It’s a high-stakes, life or death mission. Can Winter and Sydney survive each other? Can they just ... survive?

            The new series starter from Lu is a rip-roaring adventure containing espionage, mystery, enough advanced gadgetry to make any techie jealous, glamour and danger. Where superstar Winter is Chinese American, polyglot spy Sydney is cued white with a nice range of ethnic diversity amongst the plentiful supporting cast and queer inclusivity, too. Winter’s compassionate, down-to-earth character is a good balance to Sydney’s abrasiveness. The story is clever and fun with intense scenes and a nail-biting plot. It’s propulsive and gripping. Lu remains one of my top authors of YA.

            Standout line: “Optimism is my hidden power.”