Young Adult Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: An Eighth Grade Gay Straight Alliance by Daniel Micko

An Eighth Grade Gay Straight Alliance by Daniel Micko

Hard-hitting in its honesty and authentic narrative voice, An Eighth Grade Gay Straight Alliance by Daniel Micko shines a light on the societal forces and peer pressures that shape growing up today.

When the enigmatic Brooklyn Jennings starts her own Gay-Straight Alliance at her middle school in Modesto, California, she makes her intentions clear: no adults, no teachers, and a vision to “shake things up.” Sydney Troller may be smitten by Brooklyn’s devil-may-care vibes, but she also doesn’t want to get involved in anything that could land her in trouble – or even jail. Testing the lines of privilege, purpose, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-12-15T15:11:56+02:00December 3rd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: LGBTQI+ Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Fantastical and Mysterious Tale of Sweetpea of Monsterville by Corey Wolff

The Fantastical and Mysterious Tale of Sweetpea of Monsterville by Corey Wolff

Rhyming its way through monstrous lands and otherworldly mommy issues, The Fantastical and Mysterious Tale of Sweet Pea of Monsterville by Corey Wolff is a strange and visionary work of fantasy.

Sweet Pea may be a resident of Monsterville – and heir to the throne – but his personality is anything but horrifying, and his mother is far from happy about it. The Queen of the Monsters is one sadistic mother, and has no mercy for humans or sons who are unwilling to scare them. Her cruelty forces Sweet Pea to discover the strength he has always possessed, and stand […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-13T16:50:03+02:00August 17th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Broken Sky by John Harvey

Broken Sky by John Harvey

Pushing the boundaries of YA science fiction, Broken Sky by John Harvey is the spectacular first installment of the Cirrus Chronicles saga.

A young mechanical genius who prefers the company of machines far more than people, Jack Scatter is a classic sci-fi protagonist – an outsider youth with untapped but impressive skills pulled into an epic adventure that will decide the fate of two worlds. One of those worlds is Cirrus, a massive Earth-like space station positioned on the opposite side of the Sun, where Jack lives, and the other is humanity’s home world itself, which is prophesied to end […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-05T12:24:36+02:00July 17th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Saturday by Cindy DeFuria

Saturday by Cindy DeFuria is a gripping YA novel following a teenager’s journey through bullying. Showing the darker side of ambition, DeFuria plunges the reader into a competitive New York school for young talents where friendships are hard to come by, and some might even turn dangerous.

It’s on a Saturday that Jessica’s mom breaks the news that they’re moving to New York in a few weeks. Despite her sadness about leaving California behind, Jessica is excited: what better place to shine as an actress and singer? Famous for producing several stars, her new school is full of driven, highly […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-01-27T12:29:58+02:00January 26th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: A Rebel’s Path (The Enchanted Isles Book 3) by I.L. Cruz

A Rebel's Path (The Enchanted Isles Book 3) by I.L. Cruz

Author I.L. Cruz summons another tense chapter of the Enchanted Isles YA series with A Rebel’s Path, her third electrifying installment. Between paternal revelations, impending royal nuptials, a resurgence of magic, and an urban legend come to life, the life of Inez Garza and the realm of Canto is as strange and exciting as ever.

Inez’s predestined fate of bringing magic back to the Enchanted Isles is a tall order, particularly since she has no idea how to achieve that seemingly impossible goal. Her powers have proven to be impressive, but difficult to predict and keep hidden, training in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-10-03T17:33:55+02:00October 3rd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Blackest Blue by Luna Wright

The Blackest Blue by Luna Wright

A classic fellowship fantasy with original twists and a dystopian mystique, The Blackest Blue by Luna Wright is an ambitious novel that tackles broad ideas of power, loyalty, and freedom. A young woman living a double life – plotting long-term revenge on a society that demands absolute subservience – seeks to expose the truth, even if it costs her everything, in this powerful piece of cautionary fiction.

Sy shines at the heart of this story, brazen and bold in her deception as an acolyte of the all-powerful Rem, deeply committed to a dark purpose instilled in her after witnessing the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-08-18T14:25:13+02:00August 18th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: A Rakista’s 90s Mixtapes by Danna Rose

A Rakista's 90s Mixtapes by Danna Rose

Author Danna Rose delivers a spot-on dive into the struggle of teenage life in the Philippines with her first novel, A Rakista’s 90s Mixtapes. What begins as a youthful fling of garage band aspirations becomes the real deal, with real consequences, record deals, broken hearts, and a surprising number of dramatic twists.

Evie is like many other protagonists of heartfelt coming-of-age novels, but also incredibly unique, accurately referenced as an “odd boy.” The foundational loss of her father shapes her character in countless ways, most obviously her obsession with all things related to music. How that love and loss are […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-09-14T18:00:38+02:00August 5th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Music Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Blood for the Fisher King by Endy Wright

Blood for the Fisher King by Endy Wright

Author Endy Wright unleashes his imagination and narrative sensitivity in Blood for the Fisher King, a continuing tale of his fascinating work of science fiction, The Omicron Six.

Following the harrowing revelations at Deep Woods Academy from the preceding book, Cooper and Coupe attempt to return to a normal life, but the truth, scope, and origins of their powers are hard to ignore. Coupe has begun to flex his impressive intellectual muscles for the first time, while Cooper continues to explore his shocking physical gifts, but their newfound skills aren’t going unnoticed, particularly by the black SUV following […]