Book Review: Child of the Dream by Sharon Robinson

 I picked up this short memoir from my library.  I was attracted to the cover and I was curious about a memoir by Sharon Robinson, child of Jackie Robinson. 

A joke was definitely had at my expense because I read about half of the book, when I started to think... this is "sort of YA".  I felt like things were VERY concrete, and that the entire nuance involving the Civil Rights Movement wasn't being addressed.  I looked around a bit and discovered, LO AND BEHOLD.  It is a book intended for young adult audiences. 

  I think this is a book that a lot of school libraries would like to have on their shelves. Sharon tells the story of her year, going to her first dances, figuring out how she can raise awareness of the Civil Rights movement in her school and beyond, attending her first sleep away camp, and getting her first kiss. She tells the story in a matter of fact way, that was very approachable and relatable.  

As an adult, I did feel that it lacked a certain nuance.  For a young reader, however, it presented facts and events in a natural way, as they interspersed with Sharon's day to day life during that year.  As Sharon was the child of a celebrity, her life was not the norm, and I enjoyed learning about her father's efforts and interactions with Civil Rights Giants. 

Do I recommend this book?  I DO, for the 11-14 yr old crowd. Not for an adult. It would be a good one for a tween book club. 

STATS

First Published :  2020

Pages: 320

Available as an Audio Book :  YES (~5 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: violence, references to historical past, racism (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review Love Galaxy By Sierra Branham

 It's kind of a lucky coincidence that the first book I finished this year fits fairly well into my new 2026 theme of "Outer Space" 

I did start it some time ago, but since it was an advanced reader copy in E book form, it took me... some time to read.  Eyeballs. 

This book is coming out in May 2026, so you may want to pre-order it if it strikes your fancy.  I was attracted to this amazing cover, and I am a sucker for Space Opera.  This is a book for young adults, and I think it will be most meaningful for those aged 15-18.  As an old adult, I enjoyed this read. 

Many Many Thanks to DAW Astra House publishing for the Advanced E copy. 

Interestingly, the UK cover looks like:

    Which do you prefer?  I'm definitely for cover one in this case. 

    Without any spoilers- Our protagonist is Artemis, or Temmi- who's a whip-smart and "world weary"  young lady working as a trash collector on a poisoned planet. She's got a plan but that plan isn't exactly working. A chance encounter lands her on an intergalactic dating show where royals and other political personages from their empire find matches.  This year, contestants are dating the twin Prince and Princess. Artemis is brought on as a personality,  and she's not sure about this, but feels she could leverage this opportunity.  She soon learns that there's a lot more going on than just sailing dates on the beach. Everyone has an angle, and she's not sure she will survive. 

     There's a lot to love in this Sci-Fi Fantasy thriller with murder, and mayhem, angst and yearning among contestants, and loads of reality show style drama. 

As a debut for Young adults, this is a stunner.  Branham captures the things that capture the imagination of the young adult reader without teetering into the "adultier"  adult issues which would be less accessible or appropriate. This is a fine line to walk and she's really nailed it. 

    As a Sci-Fi novel the world building is a bit weak.  This tends to fall more into a novel that has a space background, but doesn't quite immerse the reader in that world.  As an example, at one point our main character refers to a mouse and a lion- both creatures that clearly do not exist in the setting- so it would be unlikely to be the first things popping into a spacers head.  This sort of thing took me right out of the outer space world, but probably won't bother other readers.  

My second observation is that the pacing was a bit... uneven. The beginning hooked me right away, but then it took me a few weeks to read the next section as it sort of dragged on and on with a myriad of details about the dating show, contestants, dates and apparel choices. There is a reader that will LOVE this section, but that reader wasn't me, I was at a point about halfway through the book where I was hoping things would just "wrap up" and suddenly when I was about at the 3/4 mark, things changed and we jumped, warp speed into a total adventure not involving beach dates, or snarky contestants and I was entranced.  The ending, is a BRUTAL cliffhanger. 

Will I read the next book- YES yes and YES.  I am actually very excited and hopeful and can't wait to see what happens next for Temmi and her crew.  Like any good reality show- I have THEORIES. Lots of theories.  

SO... I'm going to need you all to read this one so we can make those predictions. 

PRH notes that this book will be perfect for readers who enjoy Everina Maxwell, and as a reader who loves Maxwell's novels, I agree. 

STATS

First Published :May 2026

Pages: 416

Available as an Audio Book : Hopefully! 

Trigger Warnings: Environmental issues, alcohol use, drug use, murder, unintentional murder, stealing, cheating, Not a full list - please read responsibly.

Book Review: Burn the Water by Billy Ray

  Billy Ray is maybe best known as the screen writer for The Huger Games films, but he is an author also! 

Burn The Water is his first novel and it's Billed as a YA dystopian romance set in 2425 London. 

With this being my year of reading Water themed books, i saw this on Net Galley and hit the request button so fast. 

Personally, I think this book is perfectly within the realm of an adult/YA novel.  The themes are not "coming of age"  as much as they are "forbidden romance" . One reviewer notes that it felt like a retelling of Romeo and Julie, but I felt like that was really a very surface look at the novel.  The themes are quite different from Romeo and Juliet and though the story is of course similar, it really really...isn't a futuristic Romeo and Juliet. Frankly, I think it's unique and does some great stuff while also hitting some familiar beloved tropes.  

Non-Spoiler "Synopsis" because Spoilers are not the best!  The novel is set in a future London/UK setting where most of the world is underwater. Communications are set back to more ancient times, and most technologic advancements have been lost to the water. Two factions are fighting over the last bit of land available for living. Enter Rafe and Jule- both leaders- but leaders of the different factions. Of course... love is in the air, or in the water as the case may be. These two star crossed lovers are really both desperately tired of this ongoing war and wish for peace, but find it hard to conceptualize how to make that come about. Within this environment, tension is building that threatens to break apart as foreigners appear on their shores.

With Ray's lauded cinematic background, it was not surprise that this novel reads a  bit like a screen play.  For me , this wasn't an issue, and Ray did an excellent job showing and telling at appropriate times.  I felt like this was a bit of cautionary tale for our future, and part plain old against all odds enemies to lovers romance. 

Very much enjoyed this one!  I hope it has great success! 

STATS

First Published : March 2025 

Pages: 304

Available as an Audio Book : not Currently

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, death, grief, War, Death of child, 

Book Review: Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

  Spooky Season is in full swing at my house!  I'm so pleased to have finished Immortal Dark! 

This novel has been on my radar since it came out in 2024. It made a big splash across "Booktok"  and I thought this was going to be sort of a Book Tok fluffy vampire book with some nods to Ethiopian culture,  and boy was I wrong. I honestly am left wondering if I read the same book as the bubbly enthusiastic reviewers did. 

   Not that it isn't good.  It IS very very GOOD.  It just pretty much transcends the usual Book Tok tropes and has a lot more depth than what is normally on offer. (and yes, we do all create our own algorithims) ...

   Our protagonist, Kidan is one tough woman. She and her sister were raised outside of the Vampire/Human society they were born to. In order to protect herself and her sister, Kidan has done some unspeakable things. When we meet Kidan, June (the sister) has disappeared and Kidan is searching frantically for her. Kidan is given an opportunity to locate her sister, while reclaiming her familial house on the famed Uxlay campus. The house (which indeed is sentient!) is occupied by Susenyos- a Vampire with a checkered past. The two are instant enemies, and like all good romances, the enemies soon find they have more in common than they have differences. 

   We have all likely read our share of vampire novels. Immortal Dark is a bit of a new take on the well worn vampire tropes. Her novel brings in pieces of various African cultures, entwining this with classic vampire stories. For me, the balance between familiar vampire themes and the African highlights was perfect, each augmenting the other and fitting together seamlessly. 

   What struck me about this novel is that none of the characters are particularly likeable. I intermittently found myself cheering for Susenyos and in the next minute deciding that I was more for Kidan, and often deciding that I really didn't like either's scheming, difficult personalities. This leaves all sorts of space for discussion of morality, loyalty, the cost of deception. I was compelled to find out what happens and read for 4 hours straight to get to the end.  I'm lining up for book two now. Will Kidan and Susenyos reject their prior bad acts or will they choose to fall deeper into the dark? I can't wait to find out. 

   Great read for Spooky Season! 

First Published : 2024

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: parental death, SI, violence, strong language, blood drinking, death, murder, parental abuse,  

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma

  Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance  is a fun romance set in modern times, that really highlights family relationships, and the struggles of being a teen- especially one saddled with high expectations. 

This is a book meant for young readers,  but it also appealed to me! I wanted to add it to my list to diversify my reading list, and also because I do enjoy reading romance.  While I enjoyed the romance, I also really enjoyed learning about Kathak Dance, a traditional Indian dance form  and Indian cuisine. 

No Spoilers summary- because Spoilers are.... the worst! 

     Radha has been training all her life to ascend the stage as one of the world's best Kathak dancers. She been guided by her Mother, who is caring, but possibly a touch overbearing.  Radha overhears some gossip at a competition that turns her world upside down. She loses her  "Dance Joy"  and has some serious family conflict. This leads her eventually to enrolling in a new school,  where she meets Jai.  Jai comes from a very involved family. He's interested in becoming a doctor, but thinks he might just skip college to focus on assisting his family with their small empire of convenience stores. He's also the team leader of a school dance team the "bollywood beats". Obviously a bit of "destiny"  is involved as the two meet and just "click". Romance blossoms, but not without a few arguments, small breakups and personal crisis. Can Radha get her Dance Joy back?  Will Jai become a Doctor?  You'll have to read to find out! 

   This is a great novel for young adults.  It addresses real problems and concerns, shows some realistic reactions and solutions and has an enjoyable dose of cultural representation. It will not be making my top ten reads of the year, but it is definitely one I'd recommend for gifting. 

First Published : 12/2021

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: medical situations, Cheating (not involving the main characters), parents divorce, parent affairs, mild bullying, depictions of panic attacks.

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee

 This gets 5 Stars from me.  I liked that it really is truly a YA novel with the only "relationship" involved being  friendships or relationships of older characters.  While that may not be the most realistic, it also isn't unrealistic.  I have strayed from my water theme indeed, though there are a few glasses of water mentioned, and some ice, this is not a book about water. But I mean, look at that cover, could you resist? 

  This is the first in a planned trilogy.  In short, our protagonist Hwa Young was rescued after an attack by Imperial Lancers on her home moon.  She's placed into an Imperial boarding school as a ward of the state, and grows up dreaming of becoming a Lancer pilot herself. This dream shapes her behaviors and aspirations, and even her relationships with classmates.  At age 16, a surprise attack leads her and her cohort into military life earlier than expected. Hwa Young and her cohorts spend all their time together, training, learning and living. As they grow into competent warriors (and supports) they must confront the truths about themselves and the Empire they serve. At a pivotal point, Hwa Young and her squad must make a choice that will change their lives forever. 

This novel is heavily influenced by Korean culture and there are many references to Korean foods, games and tradition, as well as some use of the Korean language sprinkled in through the novel.  I was able to look up some of the cultural references and felt I learned more about Korean culture while enjoying robot battles and some cozy moments (there's a few care packages involved). 

There's a lot to love in this novel, and for me the best part was the clear story line that was easy to follow, the space to explore what's right and wrong, and the very difficult dilemma that Hwa Young and her cohort find themselves in. Great book for discussion, and one that really stays within the realm of YA.  I kept expecting some sort of romantic entanglement, but it did not occur- relationships are referred to - but mostly in the realm of older persons who are also involved the story. The lack of romance may be why it isn't all over social media, but I hope it's getting a wide readership for it's audience. 

First Published : 06/2024

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: violent events, parental death, war violence, bullying.  

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Salt The Water by Candace Iloh

 I listened to this YA novel - a Printz honoree novel while driving around town. It obviously fit into my water theme, or so I thought. In reality, there was very little water in this novel. Despite the cover that really seems to promise quite a lot of water. 

     In short this is a coming of age novel with a bit of a twist. It's strongest point is that the author really really relays what it's like to be a kid, especially one who's grown up in relative safety. Cerulean - our protagonist- is impulsive, with a narrow focus and hasn't been outside of their neighborhood and family much. Living in NYC they know that bad things happen, but they've been brought up in a very stable family. Cerulean is rebellious, and feels all the feelings, and is especially unhappy that their younger sibling gets to attend a special black focused school while they are stuck in the local public school. Cerulean is ready to move to California with friends after graduation, but a conflict with a teacher leads Cerulean to leave school- unnoticed by their parents due to family events that take the focus off the children.  Is Cerulean ready to live off the grid, like they dream of?  You'll want to read to find out. 

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It is very well written and engaging. The ending to me was a bit open ended and kind of... not want I'd hoped for exactly but, I can see how it would appeal to the young adult readers it's intended for! I can see this being a valuable novel for young adults, and a valuable one for adults who've forgotten what it's like to be a teen in a strange and changing world! 

  First Published : 09/2024

Pages: 288

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: medical situations, poverty, bullying, drugs/alcohol, 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Aqueous by Jade Shyback 4/5 Stars

 Have I been straying from my water theme?  Kinda Sorta. 

When I saw this on Net Galley, I knew it was one for my Water 2025 extravaganza.  I wasn't sure what to expect from this debut novel, as I've had some hit and miss this year indeed.  To be honest, I kind of went into this thinking it might not be that good. We are at the halfway point in my water year, and indeed...some of it hasn't been great. This however, hit me at just the right time! 

For me, this was a hit!  Firstly let's take a moment to appreciate the cover:  It took me a hot minute to discover the cover artist and designer:  Camryn Jette Anderson (Art) and Ashley Sherrif (Design) 

Small synopsis without spoilers: This is a Young Adult Debut novel.  Readers follow Marisol through the final weeks of her last year in school when she will be assigned to a permanent assignment in her undersea settlement. Marisol's been underwater on the Aqueous campus for 10 years, she's happy and well adjusted, and dreams of becoming an elite diver, a dangerous position. Prior to this she was adopted in the chaos of a dying earth above the ocean. She's always felt her mother gave her up so she would be sure to have a better life. As she adjusts into her new adult role, Marisol learns some information about the above world that changes everything. She's unsure of what's to come, but she won't keep silent. We are left with a big CLIFFHANGER and I'm left wanting book two now.

The biggest strength of the novel is the fantastic, detailed worldbuilding. I was fascinated and really enjoyed all of the descriptions of the sea steading pods created to survive climate disaster.  This is not the first underwater city that I've traversed this year (in reading) , but this is the first one I enjoyed. I could entertain a life under the sea if it's like this one! (OK so please, just let's go now!) 

 If there is a weakness, it's in the dialogue. Overall, it is oddly stiff/formal and made me feel like I wasn't really reading/listening to teens talk among themselves, but I was able to suspend my ideas and I told myself that theses were all kiddos who learned to interact "under the sea" and of course their language might be different. In addition, the author clearly enjoys alliteration, and for some this might be annoying. For me, I decided it was a quirk of Marisol, and thankfully it wasn't always present. 

This is a novel that's a bit unique in the YA genre right now. It is a true story for Young Adults. It isn't an adult story that's dumbed down, it's clear it really was meant for the YA audience specifically. I would have LOVED this at age 12 -14.  Marisol and her cohort go through things that kids her age go through, they deal with parents, relationships, confusing romantic (not sexually intimate) situations, and the angst of disappointment as the reality of the unfairness of life creeps into their under the sea community. I really liked that this wasn't a romance disguised as YA, and that the author didn't depend on supernatural powers for her characters development. Because of this, even though the underwater environment was different, I felt that Marisol and her community were very relatable. 

The audiobook is read by the author herself and does included 2 musical numbers which were pretty enjoyable (I usually skip right over any added lyrics /poetry so if I say I enjoyed it, that's a real endorsement).

  

This might not be appreciated by adults, but I think a certain subset of the population will enjoy it and I think it's definitely a very thoughtful book for the YA audience.  It would be great for a reading group as there are lots of themes to talk about: climate, community, gender norms, coming of age, discovering one's purpose, family, the future. I do want to read book 2, and I think this author/story line will only improve with each new installment. 

STATS

First Published : May 2023 

Pages: 204

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: ocean creatures, adoption/abduction, Climate crisis, Death of child, death of parent, blood, medical situation,  (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review Thirsty Ground By Kimber St. Lawrence 4/5 Stars

 Debut Novel Alert!!! 

Thank you to the author and Union Square and Co for the advance reader copy via Net Galley. 

I really have been trying to do only Advance Listener Copies this year because it takes me a touch longer to read a book with my eyes and my reading device has only been working intermittently.  Should I replace it?  Probably, but that is for a different day when I have E-reader money. 

I, have, however, been breaking this rule somewhat more frequently than I expected to and when I saw this on Net Galley, I had to have it.  The cover was just stunning - Shout out to the Balbusso Twins for this lovely cover. 

I mean, come on. The title tells me that water (my 2025 reading theme) is involved, and it's set in space!  This is like kryptonite for me. So... I hit that "request" button and uploaded it into my wonky e-reader. So- Let's get into it! 

Spoiler free synopsis:  (Because spoilers just suck!)

Decades after the Tsimmaon people's original planet became an arid planet, Conway and his friends train to join the elite class of hydro-seekers. He's the best in his class- he thinks, and he's wholly absorbed in the mission. Nothing is going to distract him, not pretty girls, not his friends, and not the hydro-seekers in the classes above him. He wants to be the Hero and he is certain that just one opportunity is all he needs. 

As is... often the case in actual life...things are more muddled.  

After a mission goes awry Conway is injured and left behind. Conway learns to survive in a new environment with new challenges, leading him - and others- to question their core mission and beliefs. 

This is Young Adult Space Opera and I enjoyed it. I had a few moments there at the end where I felt like I might be reading more Marie Lu. (not quite but there were some moments that pulled those same emotions out).   There is treachery, romance, jealousy, betrayal, double crosses, and subterfuge.  St. Lawrence gives the reader epic battles and chases, and a realistic portrayal of disability, while not slipping so far into the YA hero- arc as to become trite. 

There were a few points in the novel that didn't quite hang together as much as I wanted them too and a few chapters of dialogue that could have been more showing than telling, but when I got to the last chapters I was unable to put the book down as I had to know the outcome. And - whooooooo-eeeee

what an outcome. So much revealed in the last few chapters that I did not anticipate or expect. In fact, I was a little breathless with the twists and turns it took!  As a debut novel, it really was very good. 

This would be a fantastic book for YA book clubs (and possibly for certain adult clubs also) 

There's a lot to discuss-

-disability

-relationships

-trust and loyalty

-transformation

-perseverance and hope

-environmental responsibility and choices

and more, but these are the themes that I noted. 

STATS

First Published  May 2025

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book : not at this time 

Trigger Warnings:  death, violence, undead creatures, gun violence, spinal injury, 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)