The Leaving Room

 

Rating: 4 for speculative poetry in verse and trusted author

My Thoughts:

This novel starts as a wondering by the author, or perhaps a hope of the author that when young people, children die, there is an in between place that helps them to transition. The leaving room is such a place. This leaving room is hosted by a Keeper, Gospel. Gospel collects memories in jars and offers the young souls a treat and a hot drink. As a Keeper, the collecting of memories makes her question what are her memories versus what are others' memories. And then a portal opens up and she meets Melodee, another Keeper. In a span of four minutes, their two worlds shift, things fall a part, and rules are broken. This speculative novel is typical for Amber McBride. Readers need to pay attention, most likely re read and try to fall into the world without question. 

From the Publisher:

For fans of You've Reached Sam and If I Stay, a hauntingly beautiful, ultimately hopeful novel-in-verse about a girl in between life and death, by National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride.

Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room—a place all young people must phase through when they die. The young are never ready to leave; they need a moment to remember and a Keeper to help their wispy souls along.

When a random door opens and a Keeper named Melodee arrives, their souls become entangled. Gospel's seriousness melts and Melodee’s fear of connection fades, but still—are Keepers allowed to fall in love? Now they must find a way out of the Leaving Room and be unafraid of their love. In a novel that takes place over four minutes, National Book Award finalist Amber McBride explores connection, memory, and hope in ways that are unforgettable and poignant.

Publication Information:

Author: Amber McBride
Publisher: Feiwel Friends (October 14, 2025)

Print length: 224 pages

Reading age: 12-18

Whale Eyes: A memoir about seeing and being seen

 

Rating: 4 for creating a sliding glass door into the author's life

My Thoughts:

At the beginning of this second Trump presidency, as the power barriers and balance scales were torn down, I vowed that for the next four years, I would not read any book authored by white authors. When I look at the publishing list, when I see what is coming up on my Net Galley feed, when I look at the books on the Goodreads challenges, they are predominantly white authors. As a professor of teacher education, specializing in middle and secondary language arts, I have always touted the idea that the western canonical literature should be a supplement equal to literature by indigenous authors, authors of color, and queer authors. 

So why did I read this book?

I read this book because I saw the New York Times opinion video that Robinson created about his eye condition first. This video is part of a series on "overcoming your discomfort with disability." I realize, and I should have known this already, that disability is also part of the underrepresented narrative in our schools. This memoir is about the author's struggles with strabismus and other eye ailments that he simply calls whale eyes. There are many educators that did not have a clue on how to differentiate for him, and that is tragic. There are the taunts and how strangers do not look him in the eyes, but this is not a memoir full of pity and despair.

This memoir does not shy away from the fact that his world was not ready to teach a kid like him, however, it is also a way for non disabled kids to really read this as a sliding glass door into his condition. With line drawings by Brian Rea, the author and illustrator help readers to feel a little bit of what Robinson deals with. This is the beginning of the empathy journey for readers, but the author also offers up some advice and hope for disabled students. Even if the multiple surgeries, 3-D glasses, etc. did not work for him, Johnson shows them how their disability does not make a person abnormal. 

At the most crucial teaching point of students' lives (middle school), this memoir will help all readers, abled and disabled to understand how to be better humans. 

From the Publisher:

Told through an experimental mix of intimate anecdotes and interactive visuals, this book immerses readers in James’s experiences growing up with strabismus, allowing them to see the world through one eye at a time.

Readers will get lost as they chase words. They’ll stare into this book while taking a vision test. They’ll hold it upside down as they practice “pretend-reading”…and they’ll follow an unlikely trail toward discovering the power of words.

With poignant illustrations by Eisner Award–nominated artist Brian Rea, James’s story equips readers of all ages with the tools to confront their discomfort with disability and turn confused, blank stares into powerful connections.

Publication Information:

Author: James Robinson

Illustrator: Brian Rea

Publisher: Penguin Workshop (March 18, 2025)

Reading age: 10 and up

Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire Book 2)

 

Rating: 2 for getting through it, but also knowing that I am abandoning this series.

My Thoughts:

This second book reminds me of the Harry Potter series or rather the Harry Potter movie that no one really wants to rewatch where Harry and Hermione and Ron are out camping in the wilderness as they look for hoarcruxes. Everyone starts to bicker amongst themselves and the large fight scene is a movie away. That is what this book felt like. I never did like the Lei character. She seems to do the least amount, especially considering she is the main character. However, she did have a large moment at the end of book 1. Still, this one was a slog. Lei's naivete turns into outright dense-ness and stupidity. 

That is really all I had to say about this, except I am glad I got it from the library because I would not want to buy this.  I will link the first book, Girls of Paper and Fire, however, I am not reading the third book. 

From the Publisher

Lei, the naive country girl who became a royal courtesan, is now known as the Moonchosen, the commoner who managed to do what no one else could. But slaying the cruel monarch wasn't the culmination of her destiny -- it was just the beginning. Now Lei, with a massive bounty on her head, must travel the kingdom with her warrior love Wren to gain support from the far-flung rebel clans.

Meanwhile, a plot to eliminate the rebel uprising is taking shape, fueled by dark magic and vengeance. Will Lei succeed in her quest to overthrow the monarchy, or will she succumb to the sinister magic that seeks to destroy her bond with Wren, and their very lives?

Publication Information:

Author: Natasha Ngan
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Page length: 417 pages

A Crane Among Wolves

 

Rating: 4 for emotional ride and a great mystery

My Thoughts:

I did not think that mystery was my genre, however, historical fiction/mystery/romance by June Hur is my genre. I enjoyed this Korean history inspired story even more than Hur's Red Palace. I enjoyed the two mentor rolls for Iseul, both the young female inn keeper and the crusty old detective. Yes, it is inevitable that the two main characters will be entangled eventually in their own love story, but these minor characters brought a lot of interest to the story. The side characters were full-bodied and interesting. 

Perhaps what makes June Hur's books different is that her penchant for detail and an absorption into the atmosphere of ancient Korea makes the characters seem more alive and contemporary. I sometimes forgot that I was reading a story taking place in 1506. That is artistic skill. 

From the Publisher:

Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.

1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.

Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king’s power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.

Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he’ll need help to pull it off—but there’s no way to know who he can trust.

When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul’s family connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen:

Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.

Publication Information:

Author: June Hur

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (May 14, 2024)

Print length: 363 pages

The Demon and the Light (The Floating World Book 2)

 

Rating: 4 for fromance and duology fans

My Thoughts:

This Asian YA is touted as Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone. I can see Shadow and Bone, but, in my opinion,  Final Fantasy is not the right book to attach to book two from The Floating World. I think Axie Oh is already established enough to stand on her own. There are also many Asian fantasy writers to tie this book to like books from Sue Lynn Tan,  Kylie Lee Baker, and Amber Chen. I did not like the nod to Final Fantasy by creating a cover that looks like a game with white anime looking androgynous characters. The first book cover on The Floating World is beautiful in the way the characters, looking more Asian are in the front with the floating world and its castles in the background. 

As for the story, it was exciting. Like Heart of the Sun Warrior, the characters, both males and females are often found saving each other. We have gotten away from the "prince" always saving the damsel, thanks to Frozen. What makes this story so worthwhile is that  Ren, celestial maiden and queen of Sareniya, is self confident and her loyalty, love and faith are strong. She knows where she needs to do things alone, and she knows where she needs help. 

The only negative, however, is that the major showdowns at the end with Teacher and the original Sareniya was anticlimactic. However, I did enjoy Ren's journey to gathering her light power.  This was the perfect duology. Any longer would have been too much. 

Final note: this could be tagged at LGBTQIA+ but I am not going to. In Indigenous cultures, like native Hawaiians, males with males, especially warriors, was not an issue. We had a name for it, ʻaikane, but it was not unusual. In this story, it is also not hidden or even scoffed at by the other male and female warriors. I think mentioning it will only link it to a heteronormative world, which I do not live in. Unless a book is specifically for the LGBTQIA+ reader, I will stop labeling is as such. 

From the Publisher:

The battle is over, but the war is just beginning...

With the help of her friends and allies, Ren managed to topple the General's insurrection, but the Floating World and its territories are still under threat of attack from the rival Volmaran Empire. And far worse, she was powerless to save Sunho from being overcome by the monstrous power in his blood. Now he's gone, transformed into a feral, deadly creature that doesn't even recognize her anymore, and her heart aches for the sweet boy she's grown to love.

But the escalating war will not pause for her grief. Seen by some as a heavenly savior and others merely a figurehead to be manipulated, Ren must use all her courage and cunning to survive the royal court's game long enough to find Sunho and bring him home before he loses himself to the Demon forever.

Publication Information:

Author: Axie Oh

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (October 21, 2025)

Print length: 400 pages

Girls of Paper and Fire

 

Rating: 3 for potential and social justice fantasy

My Thoughts:

This book has the potential to be something I am interested in: non-white author, social injustice, class system (Paper Caste - humans:  then a couple other castes of demons - Moon Caste, Steel Caste), sexual exploitation, violence, oh my. However, as I got further in, the sapphic relationship was awkward. There was more heat with the Moon Caste wolf demon, Kenzo. When Kenzo carries a broken Lei back, say that is not more passion than any other actual relationship encounter. 

I did make it through to the end, and I am reading book 2, but if you want a really good read with similar themes, I would try Saara El-Arifi's The Final Strife. She has similar problems with her book 2, but the love triangle is so much more interesting.  I have also decided that I am not reading book 3, and when I looked up El-Arifi's trilogy, I realize that I did not read her third book either. 

From the Publisher:

In this richly developed fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards for an unknown fate still haunts her. Now, the guards are back and this time it's Lei they're after: the girl with the golden eyes whose rumored beauty has piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learns the skills and charm that befit a king's consort. There, she does the unthinkable: she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world's entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

Publication Information:

Author: Natasha Ngan

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Nov 6, 2018)

Print length: 401 pages

My Sister's Big Fat Indian Wedding

 

Rating: 4 for cute drama and an obvious feel good ending

My Thoughts: 

Sometimes, readers want drama without the negative aspect of being dramatic. So in this one, no spoiler alert, but the parents are not as harsh or unforgiving as they should be. And of course, in the end, all will be forgiven. Still, the ride itself is just raucuous. If drama were a llama, this would definitely be a llama. 

The whole thing about a huge opportunity coming into play against a major family event is not a new premise. As humans, we often try and figure out can I be a Hermione and be at two places at once? How close can I cut it? What time do I really have to leave? Then when you realize this is not going to work out, I think we have all been there. Zuri may need to sacrifice her desire for being present for her sister. That is the mature thing to do and she does it. For that, despite all her shenanigans, Zuri is proven to be a good little sister. Cousin/love interest Naveen is also both talented and seems smitten with Zuri while also looking out for himself, so points there too because this seems like both a family match and a love match. Still, I am proud of Zuri for being independent. It shows a depth of character that is not always present when the tropes are so familiar. 

From the Publisher:

Zurika Damani is a naturally gifted violinist with a particular love for hip-hop beats. But when you’re part of a big Indian family, everyone has expectations, and those certainly don’t include hip-hop violin. After being rejected by Juilliard, Zuri’s last hope is a contest judged by a panel of top-tier college scouts. The only problem? This coveted competition happens to take place during her sister’s extravagant wedding week. And Zuri has already been warned, repeatedly, that she is not to miss a single moment.

 

In the midst of the chaos, Zuri’s mom is in matchmaking mode with the groom’s South African cousin Naveen—who just happens to be a cocky vocalist set on stealing Zuri’s spotlight at the scouting competition. Luckily Zuri has a crew of loud and loyal female cousins cheering her on. Now, all she has to do is wow the judges for a top spot, evade getting caught by her 

parents, resist Naveen’s charms, and, oh yeah . . . not mess up her sister’s big fat 

Indian wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

Publication Information:

Author: Sajni Patel

Publisher: Amulet Books (April 19, 2022)

Print length: 366 pages

23:45 Manga

 

Rating: 3 for unusual story line

My Thoughts:

The publishers use the term otaku when describing the main character, Iku. Otaku is like a subculture in Japan and describes someone obsesses with something like manga, computers, etc. to the detriment of some kind of social life. 

Anyway this is a paranormal love story between Iku and the ghost that he lets into his life. at 23:45 Mimori disappears to replay his death. Perhaps because this kind of story has played out in movies before, the manga seems to assume we are connecting to these other movies and seems to be a bit erratic about the plotline, either going too slow or skipping over.

I know this is a series, but I think I am done after this one. 

From the Publisher:

New Tokyoite and college freshman Iku is living the otaku dream-except for the fact that 

he can now see ghosts. One day, he bumps into Mimori, a super friendly spirit that 

haunts a local bridge, and reluctantly lets the lonely specter into his home. 

But every night at 23:45, Mimori is drawn back to the bridge and forced to replay

his downfall. Will Mimori be stuck in this loop forever, or can Iku find a way to save

him from an eternity of unending tragedy?

Publication Information:

Author/Illustrator: Ohana

Publisher: Kodansha (March 11, 2025)

Print length: 186 pages

Welcome to the Hyunum-Dong Bookshop

 

Rating: 3 for feel good, bookshop read

My Thoughts:

This is Korean, so don't expect a grand love story because the cover art looks like a meet cute. This is really about people finding solace and a bit of success in the work that they choose to do. Translated from Korean, this is just a feel good book about a local neighborhood book store. It is the kind of book store that I wish my little town had. It is the kind of book store that I wish I owned. I do not read many adult books, but this was at my local library and I do like a book about book stores. Back in 2023 I enjoyed a historical fiction adult book, The Last Bookshop in London. This one is not as dramatic or necessary except in the eyes of the workers, the authors and the patrons of this particular neighborhood niche. 

From the Publisher:

Yeongju is burned out. She did everything she was supposed to: go to school, marry a decent man, get a respectable job. Then it all fell apart. In a leap of faith, Yeongju abandons her old life, quits her high-flying career, and follows her dream. She opens a bookshop. In a quaint neighborhood in Seoul, surrounded by books, Yeongju and her customers take refuge. From the lonely barista to the unhappily married coffee roaster-and the writer who sees something special in Yeongju-they all have disappointments in their past. The Hyunam-dong Bookshop becomes the place where they all learn how to truly live.

A heartwarming story about finding acceptance in your life and the healing power of books, Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is a gentle reminder that it's never too late to scrap the plot and start again.

Publication Information:

Author: Hwang Bo-Reum

Translator: Shanna Tan

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing (Feb 20, 2024)

Print length: 312 pages

How To Say Goodbye in Cuban: graphic novel

 

Rating: 4 for strong graphic memoir of the author's father and escape to America

My Thoughts:

I have two graphic novels about Che Guevarra, but this is the first one taken from the point of view of a boy, Carlos, who lives the idyllic life with his parents and grandparents in the Cuban countryside. They are not rich, but they are also not poor. Still, while Carlos loves the countryside, loves to play baseball with his friend Alvaro, and loves spend time with his abuelo, Carlos' father dreams of winning the lottery and moving to the city.

I mean, everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but Carlosʻ papi, the authorʻs grandfather, actually does win the lottery. But this is also when Castro overthrows the Cuban president, and things are not good for the family

When Castro takes his father's furniture business, the family ends up back in the countryside, but things are not better in this new Castro regime for his abuelo. This is the story of the life before, the life during, and the escape after. Carlos is the right age to appeal to the middle level reader and there is enough drama to keep readers invested.

From the Publisher:

Carlos, who lives in a small town in the Cuban countryside, loves to play baseball with his best friend, Alvaro, and to shoot home-made slingshots with his abuelo.

One day, a miracle happens: Carlos' father, his papi, wins the lottery! He uses the money to launch his own furniture business and to move the family to a big house in the city.

Carlos hates having to move -- hates leaving Abuelo and Alvaro behind -- and hates being called country kid at his new school. But the pains of moving and middle school turn out to be the least of his problems.

When rebel leader Fidel Castro overthrows the existing Cuban president, the entire country is thrust into revolution. Then, suddenly, Papi disappears. Carlos' mother tells him that Papi has gone to America, and that they will soon join him. But Carlos really doesn't want to leave Cuba, the only home he's ever known. Besides, how will they get to America when Castro's soldiers are policing their every move? Will Carlos ever see his father again?

This powerful book about a boy coming of age amid massive political upheaval tells a timeless story of one family's quest for freedom and for a new place to call home.

Publication Information:

Author: Daniel Miyares

Publisher: Anne Schwartz Books (September 30, 2025)

Print length: 240 pages

Aloha Everything: Picture book

 

From the Publisher:

In this exciting adventure, you'll encounter mighty canoes crashing over ocean waves, regal hawks soaring high above the clouds, and brilliant lizards jumping nimbly through forest trees! Most importantly, you'll meet a courageous young girl named Ano who learns, grows, and comes to love her island home with all her heart.

Since the day that Ano was born, her heart has been connected to her home. But, this adventurous child has a lot to learn! When Ano begins to dance hula — a storytelling dance form that carries the knowledge, history, and folklore of the Hawaiian people — Ano comes to understand the true meaning of aloha.

Aloha Everything is both a captivating read and a fantastic educational resource for learning about Hawaiian history, ecology, and culture. With breathtaking hand-painted illustrations and beautiful rhyming poetry that will lull little ones into brilliant dreams of vibrant adventure, this book is sure to capture the hearts of both children and parents alike.

The beautiful poetry—weaving its way through every page—artfully blends 25 Hawaiian words into the English prose and provides a thoughtful exploration of the meaning of aloha in relation to the land, the people, and the lore. There is also a pronunciation guide and glossary providing additional information for those looking to learn more about the rich language and culture of Hawai’i.

My Thoughts:

I came across this book on an AAPI month post about books to read. This is a lush picture book/long poem about a girl, Ano and what she learns about her identity, her culture and the deep sense of aloha through her study of hula. 

The illustrations are just layered and packed with flora, fauna, and action. It is very colorful and appealing. In truth, however, I actually sat on the waiting list for the audiobook first not realizing that this was a picture book. When I finally got it from my local library, I thought it was a mistake that the book was 8 minutes long. However, once I started, the narrator, Barrie Kealoha, as well as the background music was very appealing. However, if this is how you access the book, make sure to get the book so that you do not miss out on the artwork. The best way is to have the book read for you while you read along. That way you have the background music to add to the illustrations. That is what we call "nahenahe" in Hawaiian.

Publication Information:

Author: Kaylin Melia George

Illustrator: Mae Waite

Narrator: Barrie Kealoha

Publisher: Red Comet Press (April 23, 2024)

Bad Boy: A Memoir

 

Ratings: 4 for a middle grade memoir to be used with his books/author study

My Thoughts:

I remember standing in one of those infamous NCTE lines in the exhibit hall for Walter Dean Myers back in the early 2000s. NCTE is the National Council for Teachers of English. This national organization has the most fabulous exhibit hall full of publishers who bring their YA and children's authors to sign ARCs, advanced reader's copy of books. When there is a line, someone fabulous is at the end of it. It is how I have met Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt de La Pena, Gary Paulsen, Angeline Boulley, Gene Luen Yang and Walter Dean Myers.  He was already an established author, a tall, slightly stooped gentleman. Nothing like what is in this book, buth if you have read his YA novels, Somewhere in the Darkness, Scorpions, Monster, you will relook at this memoir as a tale to English teachers about the importance of finding student gifts and overlooking bad behavior for boredom. Often the students that act out are highly intelligent and need to be challenged to find their passion. This is a boy who was too smart for school. He was too energetic for walls that feel like cages. He continued in his career to write about these boys/men on the liminal edge. I read this and listened to the audiobook narrated by actor Joe Morton. 

From the Publisher:

As a boy, Myers was quick-tempered and physically strong, always ready for a fight. He also read voraciously—he would check out books from the library and carry them home, hidden in brown paper bags in order to avoid other boys' teasing. He aspired to be a writer (and he eventually succeeded).

But as his hope for a successful future diminished, the values he had been taught at home, in school, and in his community seemed worthless, and he turned to the streets and to his books for comfort.

Publication Information:

Author: Walter Dean Myers

Publisher: Harper Collins (October 6, 2009)

Audiobook narrator: Joe Morton

Heart of the Sun Warrior, book 2

 

Rating:  4 stars for a fantasy, romance that does not play into the happy ending, "riding into the sunset" trope. 

My Thoughts:

This is the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Xingyin is back on the moon, and after all the excitement, love triangle, and betrayal, the moon life is a bit dull and irritating for her even though her mother is no longer a prisoner. The new plot threads and battles are unexpected and very complex, so I was afraid that this would end in a lame way just to get to the end, however, Tan takes her time to unravel each plot line to the end, and the letting go of one path to love ends in a way that as a reader I was satisfied, even if she did not get her happy ending, per se. 

The only negative was that at 472 pages, this was a hefty read, and the stubborn, uncompromising voice of Xingyin is a lot to take for almost 500 pages until she starts getting to know herself more. Through these two books, she makes so many mistkes and needs to be saved by others, and yet she does not seem to learn or be able to humble herself until it is too late. I think in book one, I called her petulant, and yes, she still is. However, I still think that fantasy readers will want to get to the end and just stick it out. 

From the Publishers:

After winning her mother’s freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation—to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love . . . even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

Publication Information:

Author: Suelynn Tann

Publisher: Harper Voyager (November 15, 2022)

Print length: 472 pages