Salvage: A Graphic Novel

 

Rating: 5 out of 5 | We should teach Romeo and Juliet by looking at this graphic novel first. 

My Thoughts:

Theme/Plot:

I am excited about this book. It is stunning and the author/illustrator knows how to make poverty and loneliness beautiful while at the same time making opulence garrish.  The artwork is its own storyteller. On the other hand, the story itself is very timeless and intriguing. You have one character from the wrong side of the tracks. You have the other character with everything she could ever want except real friendship and love. You have two artists struggling to find their voice. You have climate change and what the world looks like when we lose a middle class. 

All of those elements, added to a forbidden romance, could be a K-Drama or a novel, but this is a graphic novel that encompasses all the best elements to make this a story that can only be told in graphic novel form. It is not just about the artwork. It is about the strength of a human story and the coming to life of two characters that as readers we want to root for. They do not need a lot of dialogue for us to see them, but this novel gives them just enough back story so that we are obsessed with seeing this relationship to the end. 

Recommendations:

This graphic novel would change the way I teach Romeo and Juliet. If we take away some of the other "noise" that is so destructive for the R&J story, and just allowed the two characters to figure their differences out themselves, I think we could have a different story. Using Salvage as a comparison piece to R&J will give your classes better questions and more meaningful conversations. Try it. 

From the Publisher:

In this heartwarming graphic novel romance from the adaptor and illustrator of The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel, two young artists' paths intertwine as they navigate the complexities of love in a world where sea levels have risen and society is sharply divided.

Paolo lives in the Flats, a dangerous, water-logged community where families survive by salvaging materials from skyscrapers hidden just beneath the ocean’s surface—remnants of a world before sea levels rose. Scavenging the depths comes with its risks, but when Paolo discovers a suitcase of designer clothes, he decides to fulfill his dream: To spend one night in the Uplands, a place of privilege, excess, and freedom. There he meets Jules and her friends, and what begins as a single night of reckless adventure turns into a secret double life—and a seemingly impossible romance that forces Paolo to reckon with who he is, where he belongs, and the importance of being true to himself.

Rendered in vibrant watercolor illustrations that bring every scene to vivid life, Salvage is as much a visual masterpiece as it is a moving tale of love and self-discovery. Renée Nault’s atmospheric and luminous hand-painted art draws readers into Paolo and Jules’ world, promising an unforgettable coming of age story.

Publication Information:

• Author/Illustrator: Renée Ault
• Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic
• Publication Date: July 21, 2026
• Print length: 256 pages
• Reading Age: 14 and up

High Class Homos, Volume 2

 

Rating: 3 out of 5 - If students read the first one, they are going to need to read this one, obviously. 

My Thoughts:

Princess Sapphia is staying in Phthia until Prince August can finally propose. It is a little early and they are too young, but at least they have fooled their parents and everyone else. But have they? Just because they have the perfect engagement plot (based on Volume 1), they are still pretty clueless on navigating "love."  It is also harder from Prince August and Princess Sapphia because their love interests are not royals. In addition, Prince August still has to be "manly." Poor boy. 

Princess Sapphia gets sent home and given an ultimatum and deadline of one month. I donʻt know what will happen for these friends, but volume 2 is just one series of unfortunate events after another. 

From the Publisher:

Princess Sapphia of Mytilene and Prince August of Phthia return for the next volume in the collection of the hit series, High Class Homos. After crafting the perfect engagement plot (marrying each other to continue pursuing their own romances), things only get more exciting from there! With royal balls to plan, outfits to decide, friendships to make, and enemies to encounter, romantic high jinks are bound to ensue. 

Will Sapphia and August be able to convince their families to agree to the engagement? Will Sapphia continue her relationship with Marla, or will someone else catch her eye? Will August EVER confess his feelings to Percy? Follow these high-class homos as they navigate life, love, and (occasionally) their actual jobs.

Publication Information:

• Author/Illustrator: Momozerii
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
• Publication date: May 5, 2026
• Print length: 176 pages

Love Makes Mochi (Love in Translation)

 

Rating: 3 out of possible 5  Teacher's Scale: A solid buy for school libraries or Scholastic fairs; great for those interested in yukata couture, Tokyo and queer love.

My Thoughts: 

I originally picked this up for the title, but quickly discovered that Love in Translation is a curated series under the Joy Revolution brand (much like the Rick Riordan Presents imprint). Each book features a different author representing a different culture, following a similar "creative internship abroad" hook.

While the series follows a reliable formula--protagonist travels to a new country (Japan, France, India) meets a local guide, and finds both love and artistic success--this entry stands out as the only one featuring a queer protagonist. In all, love and creative success ensues. 

What I loved most were the atmospheric details. The walks through Tsukiji Fish Market and Ginza felt incredibly authentic -- especially the glazed fruit skewers and tamago, which are staples of our own visits to Tokyo.

This is a quintessential "believe in your gifts" first-love story. While Lilyn faces the pressure of designing a collection that blends her goth aesthetic with traditional yukata couture, the conflict never feels heavy-handed. It's not angsty or stressful; instead, the story lives up to its title--it is soft and sweet as mochi.  

From the Publisher:

Lilyn Jeong is living her best life—in Tokyo! She gets to learn from the legendary yet notoriously terrifying tailor Mrs. Matsumoto. Getting a glowing recommendation from her could be Lilyn’s ticket into her dream fashion school.

So when Lilyn is tasked with designing an entire collection, panic sets in. She has only weeks to figure out how to mix her goth aesthetic with traditional Japanese style. Thankfully, Mrs. Matsumoto’s rebellious, tattooed, rainbow-haired daughter Yua offers to help.

But going on cozy dates with this cute girl is way easier than sewing yukatas. Can Lilyn find a path forward in fashion and love? Or will she watch as everything falls apart at the seams?

Publication Information:

• Author: Stefany Valentine
• Publisher: Joy Revolution
• Publication date: January 27, 2026
• Print length: 320 Pages
• Book 3 of 3
• Grade level: 7-9

The Singular Life of Aria Patel

 

Rating: 4.5 because the author, Samira Ahmed is a former English teacher and a writer who represents many of the identities that vocal Americans hate (female, person of color, daughter of immigrants). Her writing is full of radical love and culture. 

My Thoughts:

I like authors who are not afraid to be unapologetically human. If you like that too, watch the Virtual School Visit with authors Alex London and Samira Ahmed.

But back to this book. Think The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. Take the swoony romance, science-y, nerdy girl best parts of that book. Add it to the speculative fiction meets science fiction part of If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang, then add the physics/poetry/falling through multiverses of time/space/place and you have The Singular Life, which in and of itself is an ironic title as you will soon see. 
This is a unique book in a YA market that, at its most comforting, is predictable. Be prepared to wander and wonder. As an adult reader and a sci fi reader for most of my 50 years, I knew who wrote the poem. What I did not know was how or even if she should go back to her original life. The key was a surprise. I am going to leave it at that. 

From the Publisher:

Aria Patel likes stability, certainty, predictability. It’s why she’s so into science. It's why she dumped her boyfriend before they went to different colleges because the odds were that something would go wrong, eventually. In a life that’s already so chaotic, why obsess over complicated relationships and shadowy unknowns when the scientific method gives you direction and a straight path to avoid all the drama.  
But there’s no avoiding anything when Aria finds herself suddenly falling through parallel universes and there’s no formula that can save her. She can’t explain why she’s been waking up in a new reality almost every day, or why Rohan, and a poem from her English class, seem to be following her through every new life.
As Aria desperately attempts to find a way home, she eventually ends up stuck in a parallel world very similar to her own. She cherishes this new version of her family, and she finds herself unable to deny the yearning she has for Rohan…but it’s not her life or her Rohan. It belongs to another Aria, another girl, and unless Aria can get back home, she’ll have taken this happiness away from someone else forever. And she may never find her own. 

This whirlwind novel from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed will whisk you through worlds unknown, all while putting a multiverse spin on one of BookTok’s favorite tropes: second chance romance.

Publication Information:

Author: Samira Ahmed
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (May 13, 2025)
Page length: 368 pages
Grade level: 7 and up

Alice Chen's Reality Check

Rating: 4 for summer ridiculosity and mystery

My Thoughts:

Alice Chen does not necessarily stand out. She is a middle school teacher, mathematics whiz, devoted daughter and uber competitive A personality. In other words, she  is not a reality TV natural, but her fiancee, Daniel, has signed them up for a coupleʻs competition that could solve all of Alice's financial problems. Her mother is getting treatment for cancer, and on a middle school teacher paycheck, Alice needs to make an unnatural decision to leave her mother and secretly go to an island for this competition: Dawn Tay's Inferno.

Her fiancee is like a puppy dog. He is sort of clueless and functions on whim versus loyalty, but of course Alice Chen's high school rival is going to show up with a smoking hot partner. So predictable, but so much fun. The murder mystery just puts this summer read over the top!

I started this book just as my son 2 went on his own reality show adventure so this whodunit, rivals to lovers, romp where producers create the drama for, well drama sake, really informed the kinds of questions I would ask him (through his wife) regarding the interviews, "scripted conversations," and the competition itself. I devoured this. Unfortunately, my son is still away and still surviving in the show, so the stress level has not gone down yet. Still, this was a fun summer distraction. 

From the Publisher:

In this sizzling rom-com perfect for fans of Dial A for Aunties and One to Watch, a reality show contestant must fake date her rival . . . while solving a murder mystery on set.

Alice Chen doesn’t believe in true love, but she does believe in cold, hard cash. Buckling under the weight of student debt and her mother’s medical bills, Alice will do anything to make bank–even star on Dawn Tay’s Inferno, the hot new reality TV show designed to push couples to their breaking point.

The show is Alice’s chance to sip cocktails on the beach and win a cash prize of a million dollars. But when her fiancé cheats on her with another contestant, Alice is faced with a choice: go home in defeat or fake date the other newly single contestant—who just so happens to be her high school rival and sworn nemesis, Daniel Cho.

But all’s fair in love and reality TV, and Alice isn’t the only one who will do whatever it takes to win. When a dead body turns up, Alice and Daniel are faced with uncovering the secrets of the cast and crew to catch the killer–all while playing the loving couple on camera. As the show spirals out of control, Alice must crack the case and confront her true feelings if she wants to make it out alive.

Starring a murder mystery twist, plenty of reality show drama, and a thrilling romance, this debut by up-and-coming Asian American writer duo Kara Loo and Jennifer Young is the ultimate beach read.

Publication Information:

Authors: Kara Loo and Jennifer Young

Publisher: Quirk Books (June 3, 2025)

Print length: 387 pages
 

A Forgery of Fate

 

Rating: 4 stars for Asian Romantasy

My Thoughts:

I read so many Asian romantasy YA books that I actually thought this was the second book in Wesley Chu's War Arts books -- The Art of Prophecy being book 1 of the duology. Seriously, look at the art work and it is not so farfetched that I thought I was reading The Art of Destiny which is his book 2. I know I have it on my Kindle TBR list which is miles long, so I was ready to get back to the multiple characters in Chuʻs Game of Thrones type of story. 

It quickly became apparent that this was not the same story. Tru, the blue haired artist captured my imagination so quickly that I did not care that I chose the wrong book. I was already hooked. Truyan is feisty. She uses her art skills to forge artwork and take care of her sisters and mother, but she has a gift in her hands and her paint brush to paint the future. However, with Baba lost at sea and believed dead, Truyan is the main caretaker of her family until she falls into the garden of the masked demon Elang. Elang is a half dragon/half beautiful boy who is cursed to live on land until he can destroy his grandfather, the dragon king under the sea who has stolen Elang's pearl.

This is a Chinese Beauty and the Beast but the beauty, Truyan is much more powerful and pivotal to this story than just the love interest. This book has enough fighting, twists and betrayals to make this more C-drama, less Disney.

Back to the cover mix up - the beautiful cover is done by Vietnamese artist Tran Nguyen who is the artist behind what seems like ALL of the Elizabeth Lim YA books, the Wesley Chu War Arts books and my favorite cover this year Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier. Go to the artist blog linked here. The murals are just as stunning and an appropriately large canvas for her work. 

As far as Asian romantasy, this one is fabulous. It has all the highs and lows of an Asian romantasy without the super goopy cheeseball ending. Yes, it has a positive ending, but not without the heartbreak and worry of a Chinese drama. That is what makes Asian romantasy so much better!

From the Publisher:

Truyan Saigas didn't choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father's disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .

Publication Information:

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (June 3, 2025)

Wish Upon a K-Star

Stars: 4 K-drama formulaic romance and I'm here for it!

My Thoughts:

A misunderstanding and an inability to communicate as young teens means that Shin Hyeri hates Moon Minseok. Yes, he was her first crush, but her personality now as an up-and-coming K-drama actress is prickly and difficult. She carries grudges and is still a horrible communicator. Add to that the fact that scandal seems to be following her, even if it is not her fault (really). 

After the latest scandal  at a variety show gone wrong and an act of sabotage where Hyeri is sure someone is setting her up, Moonster and Hyeri are thrust into a popular variety show where they have to pretend to be married. This is the management's way to try and save Hyeri's career, but of course the fake marriage is going to lead to real feelings. It's a K-Drama. There is no alternate emo ending. But for those readers that love reading these stories, it is a comforting, devour-worthy escape, like a cashmere sweater: soft, warm, comfy. 

If your students loved this book, make sure to follow this with Cho's Once Upon a K-Prom. I actually prefer the main character in this first book, Elena Soo, over Shin Hyeri. Although K-Star happens in Korea, and K-Prom happens in America, the real thing is that the first book characters are still in high school. The strict no dating thing in the K-Pop/K-Drama world and how that can ruin a person’s career is a little conservative for American teen readers. 

Note to classroom teachers: The timing of this as-yet-released book is not ideal. It comes out at the end of April, far from spring break and too late for school librarians to put this on the shelf for summer reads, since this comes out right smack in the middle of “testing” season and no teacher is bringing their students to the school library at this time. However, this is the quiet time for librarians and time for them to start buying for the fall, so if you are able to get this in your classroom library, you will be the superstar among YA K-romance readers because you will have the precious new release that no one else has.

From the Publisher:

Moon Minseok—or Moonster as this WDB fans know him—wasn’t born to lead. Even as part of the world’s most popular K-Pop group, he found comfort in his role as the jokester, the sidekick, the unserious one (with the cutest smile). But now WDB is drowning in dating scandals, and it’s time for Moonster to take charge of the group's image.

Shin Hyeri has been dealing with some scandals of her own. An up-and-coming K-Drama actress, she’s been labeled a “nepo baby” (with a famous idol as a big brother) and now, a bully (which couldn’t be further from the truth). Desperate to show the world that she’s earned her spot, Hyeri is determined not to let her rising star crash and burn.

When these two childhood enemies get caught up in yet another scandal while co-hosting a K-Pop festival, there’s only one solution that will save both of their reputations: appear on one of Korea’s most popular variety shows, Our Celebrity Marriage (where celebrities pretend to get married and compete in ‘newlywed’ challenges).

The plan is simple—pretend to get along, win back the fans, then go their separate ways. But what happens when a fake marriage leads to real feelings? Will Moonster and Hyeri bow to the pressures of their famous realities, or will they decide their love is something worth fighting for?

Publication Information:

Author: Kat Cho

Publisher: Disney Hyperion (April 29, 2025)

Hardcover: 336 pages

Grade level: 6-12

 

Ex Marks the Spot

 

Stars: 4 for being as comfy and delicious as your favorite pajamas

My Thoughts:

This devour-worthy story has mystery, a great scavenger hunt and enough regret and drama to keep readers surprised. While Gemma always thought she had no family besides her mom, a surprise visit from a lawyer about an inheritance in Taiwan from her recently deceased grandfather puts her in a tailspin. Not only does she need the "inheritance" for her college, but she needs to figure out how to get to Taiwan. Of course her high school academic rival (and her ex) is running a summer program to Taiwan. Gemma must swallow her pride and dig up some pitiful story to get a spot on the Taiwan trip.

Gemma hates Xander, but luckily, Xander (Alex) does not hate her, so he uses his enormous charm with his family to accept her at the very last minute. The two teens were not ready for the "blood feud" type of resentment between  Xander's mom towards Gemma's mom, but between Gemma's grandfather's riddles  and Gemma's utter inability to speak anything but English, she has to learn to trust Xander and clue him in on what she is trying to do. She really is a fish out of water. Together, they travel around Taiwan and learn more about both of their grandfather's lives. The most interesting part of this book is not the romance between Xander and Gemma. That is inevitable. The real hook is the story of these two families. It is the misunderstandings, the hidden lives, the loss of relationships, and the understanding of a loved one even after they are gone. 

From the Publisher:

For Gemma's whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.

There's just one major problem: to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it's about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.

Publication Information:

Author: Gloria Chao

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (December 31, 2024)

Paperback: 384 pages

Grade level: 7-9

Icon and Inferno (Stars and Smoke #2)

 

Stars: 4 Unexpectedly good action and chemistry in this second novel

My Thoughts:

The first book, Stars and Smoke , is actually a good stand alone, but like Ms. Lu’s second Warcross book, Wildcard, this second book surprised me in how much more the author could add to this story. The additional characters made this more believable. In addition, the shocking loss put this out of the realm of YA bubblegum romance and into the realm of spy intrigue and loss. I actually liked this more than the first book, even if you need to read the first book to get a feel for the characters. 

From the Publisher:

A year has passed since superstar Winter Young last saw secret agent Sydney Cossette. After barely surviving their first assignment together in London -- and their intense chemistry – the two haven’t spoken at all. Though they’re never far from the other’s thoughts, or fantasies.

So when Syndey shows up at Winter’s studio one day with a new mission from Panacea, he has no choice but to accept. With the clock ticking, the duo prepares to head to Singapore to rescue an operative in danger -- only to learn he’s none other than Sydney's ex, a rogue agent known as the Arsonist.

Of course, nothing is ever simple when it comes to Winter and Sydney. Especially not with the glamorous Gavi Ginsburg, a globe-trotting socialite and Winter’s one-time girlfriend, in the mix. Is she back for Winter’s heart – or does she have her eye on another prize?

The smoldering sequel to New York Times-bestselling Stars and Smoke follows Winter and Sydney on yet another treacherous mission that grows more sinister with each twist and turn. To make it out alive, they'll have to figure out how to be partners again -- and if they can resist the burn of something more.

Publication Information:

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Roaring Books Press (June 11, 2024)

Hardcover: 320 pages

Grade level: 10-12

House of Salt and Sorrows

 

Stars: 3. I am not a gothic, horror fan, but this was still a good read, so three stars. I don’t need to read it again, but it was worth the time. 

My Thoughts:

What grabbed me was the title and the quote “In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.” I also realize that as an island person myself, I like to read novels where the sea is a prominent character. This did not really pan out to be the case, however, the mystery and horror was pretty intriguing. 

This is a first person narration story from the point of view of one of the older sisters, Annaleigh. There is a little bit of discombobulation as a reader because of the first person POV, but that makes for a good read to not always know as a reader what is real and what is imagined. 

I believe there is another book with younger sisters Verity, but I am ok leaving this book as a stand alone. I think the dead should stay dead. 

From the Publisher:

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.

Stars and Smoke (Novel 1)

 

Stars: 3 It's a good escape. As far as enemies-to-lovers novels goes, it is a solid 3 because it does not give in to the happily ever after tropes, which means it's great for YA.

My Thoughts:

You have a teenage super spy and a teenage pop idol. You also have an elite covert ops group called Panacea who sits above any government agency. Again, go back to the teenage super spy for Panacea being a female, and suspend any kind of questions you may have. Once you do that, this is a fun read. It has danger and travel. It has beautiful people and killers. Really, it is a good way to spend a weekend. 

From the Publishers:

Meet Winter Young―A global pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill.

Meet Sydney Cossette―An agent in an elite covert ops group, and an ice queen whose moves are as dangerous as her comebacks.

When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private Winter Young concert for her birthday, Sydney’s and Winter’s lives suddenly collide. To stop an international disaster, the two must infiltrate the organization’s inner
circle, with Sydney posing as Winter’s bodyguard and Winter tapped to join her as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person impervious to Winter’s charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she’s forced to
admit that there’s more to Winter Young than just a handsome face . . .

Publication Information:

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (March 28, 2023)

Hardcover: 336 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1250852816

Grade level: 7-9

Our Violent Ends (These Violent Delights Duet, book 2)

 

Stars: 5 Yes, use this as an alternative to R&J in your classroom. If you really must talk about iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme, use several of Shakespeare's sonnets and leave the action/drama/romance of R&J to Ms. Gong. 

My Thoughts:

   DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST BOOK!!!

Immortality: A Love Story (Anatomy Duology, Book 2)

4 stars: This is a high 4 for me as a science nerd. If you like historical science fantasy, this will grab you.

My Thoughts:

My secret dream job when I was in college was to cut things up. Not things. That is not fair. I did not want to be a chef. I really wanted to cut up bodies, but not to heal or anything. More to just see how things worked. I spent so much time in the lab that my body exuded formaldehyde and riding the bus home in the evenings, people tended to move away from me when I sat down. 

Immortality is the second story following Anatomy: A Love Story. Hazel Sinnett has lost Jack. She is not sure if he took the vial for immortality or even if the vial for immortality is just a scam. Either way, Jack is gone and she needs to find her way in this world alone.  Although she has not been able to go to school, she continues to treat patients, especially women at her home, Hawthornden Castle. She does an abortion and is turned in by the woman and scheduled to die until the court notifies her that they want her to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte.

This story continues to be a feminist drama, a medical mystery, as well as a romance gone wrong. This second one was a fast read, or listen in this case. I don't think I slept much. 

From the Publisher:

Hazel Sinnett is alone and half-convinced the events of the year before—the immortality, Beecham’s vial—were a figment of her imagination. She doesn’t even know if Jack is alive or dead. All she can really do now is treat patients and maintain Hawthornden Castle as it starts to decay around her.

When saving a life leads to her arrest, Hazel seems doomed to rot in prison until a message intervenes: Hazel has been specifically requested to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte, the sickly granddaughter of King George III. Soon Hazel is dragged into the glamor and romance of a court where everyone has something to hide, especially the enigmatic, brilliant members of a social club known as the Companions to the Death.

As Hazel’s work entangles her more and more with the British court, she realizes that her own future as a surgeon isn't the only thing at stake for her. Malicious forces are at work in the monarchy, and Hazel may be the only one capable of setting things right.

Publication Information:

Author: Dana Schwartz

Narrator: Mhairi Morrison, Tim Campbell

Publisher: MacMillan Audio (February 28, 2023)

Length: 12 hours, 2 minutes

 

These Violent Delights, series Book 1, Audiobook

 

Stars: 5 The difference between a 4 star and a 5 star is that a 5 star can be used in the classroom. 

My Thoughts:

Shanghai in 1926. The gangs, one Chinese, and one Russian rule Shanghai. But there is a blood feud between the Scarlets and the White Flowers and there was a hidden teen romance between the two heirs to the Scarlets (Juliette Cai) and the heir to the White Flowers, Roma Montagov. Yes, this is a Romeo and Juliet combined with a Romeo + Juliet gangster vibe. If the two "kids" broke up because of family pressure and came back together to fight a strange "monster" that spreads bugs that makes people kill themselves by ripping their throats out, then this is the story.

Juliette is back in Shanghai ready to take over the family business when she runs into her first love and her greatest enemy in Roma. But with the monster killing gangsters and business people on both sides of the blood feud, as well as the rising Communist disruptors, the two teens need to put their feud aside to try and solve the mystery.

Juliette and Roma have the kind of chemistry that will break your heart. This would make a fabulous comparative literature conversation with students because what these young people have that the Shakespeare version does not have is a sense of filial piety that becomes a real barrier to their work together. These teens are not free to do whatever they want, so it actually feels more authentic and heartbreaking. 

From the Publisher: 

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is 18-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang - a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette's first love...and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns - and grudges - aside and work together, for if they can't stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Publication Information:

Author: Chloe Gong

Narrator: Cindy Kay

Publisher: Tantor Audio (January 26, 2021)

Length: 14 hours 14 minutes

Anatomy: A Love Story (Anatomy Duology Book 1)

STARS: 4 this speaks to the science nerd girl in me who wanted to be a pathologist when I entered college. Historical fiction out of England, feminism, lady surgeon. . .and a romance over stolen dead bodies. . .plus the cover. So clever.

My Thoughts:

Besides the thoughts above, I am not reading white YA authors as I want to spend more time with non-white authors, however, this is a historical fiction piece about a young woman who wants to be a surgeon and lives in a society where she has to dress up in her dead brother's clothes to get bodies. She also has to sneak in side doors just to learn because unless a man escorts her, doors are closed to her. 

In addition, there is the class difference between Hazel and Jack. Who does not love a secret dalliance with a boy who is well below your social station? In the game of smash or pass, this is a hard smash. 

I am also going to add a spoiler here. She loses the boy at the end when her ex fiancee has him killed. But there is one last chance of hope, so make sure you have the second book in the duology, even if it more about her coping without Jack and trying to live out her dream.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and if you want a professional reader in your ear reading in an accent, definitely borrow the audiobook from your local library. 

From the Publisher:

Dana Schwartz’s Anatomy: A Love Story is a gothic tale full of mystery and romance.

Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry.

Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die.

When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, Beecham will allow her to continue her medical career. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books―she’ll need corpses to study.

Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living.

But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets, and the dreaded Roman Fever, which wiped out thousands a few years ago, is back with a vengeance. Nobody important cares―until Hazel.

Now, Hazel and Jack must work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.

Publication Information:

Author: Dana Schwarz

Narrator: Mhairi Morrison, Tim Campbell

Publisher: McMillan Audio (January 18, 2022)

Length: 9 hours 35 minutes

 

I See Your Face, Turned Away Manga volume 1

 

My Thoughts:

I usually do a star system, but for this one, I am not. I like the premise. 4 stories of unrequited love, which makes each character see the other person and turn away. However, the first volume just was a little confusing for me. I could not really get a good grasp of any of the characters. Because it was supposed to be on 4 characters, I knew it would skip around a bit, however, I kept losing the thread and none of the characters was really memorable.

I think with volume 2, if the pace slows down and perhaps takes one character at a time, it may be easier for me to follow. For now, it was confusing enough that I wondered if I was reading it correctly.

I did enjoy the pun of the main male character, Ohtani and the Japanese/American baseball star. Shohei is hot this summer. 

From the Publisher:

One might call Hikari extraordinarily ordinary. One day, she takes up a new hobby--imagining what a romance would be like between her pretty friend Mari and the cute guy in their class, Ohtani. It's all in harmless fun, until the roles start to get tangled in Hikari's mind. Does she really have to be just the best friend in this love story? And just who is on Ohtani's mind when his eyes drift away...?

Publication Information:

Author: Rumi Ichinohe

Publisher: Kodansha Comics (May 7, 2024)

Paperback: 192 pages

ISBN-13: 979-8888771600

Chaos Theory

 

My Thoughts:

It is the end of the school year and the beginning of summer when things are starting to get hot and muggy. This is graduation season here in Hawai'i, so a perfect time to read a YA romance about a "certified genius living with a diagnosed mental disorder and a politician's son who is running from his own addiction and grief."

This starts with Shelbi receiving a drunk text from some stranger. He is obviously in need of some support and a kind ear, so Shelbi agrees to be his anonymous support stranger. Except that he does not stay a stranger to her for very long. As soon as he promises his new drunk dial message buddy that he will not drive in his condition, he drives and gets into an accident. Shelbi happens to drive past the crash site and sees Andy Criddle, the school salutatorian outside of the car with a police officer. Shelbi's fascination with the physics of crashes takes her back to the scene where she finds Andy's wallet. She soon realizes that Andy is the drunk message buddy and she does eventually fess up that she has been on the other end of his texts, so anonymous no longer.

This book is about mental health and family trauma. It is about addiction and self harm. If any of those things are triggering for readers, they need to know that going in. But at the end of the day, it is also about two teens who are really trying to find friendship and love despite all of the chaos both within them and outside of them. It is about friendship, and despite the weird contract, I do believe that these two would be friends for life, however, trust is difficult for Shelbi. 

This is not a book to teach or do activities with. Instead, it is a book to enjoy. Their love story, despite all the barriers and setback, is enjoyable. As a reader, I am rooting for these very broken people. So buy it. Read it. Borrow it. Listen to it. Either way, someone will pass through your classroom doors and need to also enjoy this book for no other reason than because they will also want to root for these two young adults. 

From the Publisher:

Scars exist to remind us of what we’ve survived.
 
DETACHED
Since Shelbi enrolled at Windward Academy as a senior and won’t be there very long, she hasn’t bothered making friends. What her classmates don’t know about her can’t be used to hurt her—you know, like it did at her last school.
 
WASTED
Andy Criddle is not okay. At all.
He’s had far too much to drink.
Again. Which is bad.
And things are about to get worse.
 
When Shelbi sees Andy at his lowest, she can relate. So she doesn’t resist reaching out. And there’s no doubt their connection has them both seeing stars . . . but the closer they get, the more the past threatens to pull their universes apart.
 

Publication Information:

Author: Nic Stone

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (February 28, 2023)

ISBN-13: 978-0593307700

Grade level: 9-12

Hardcover: 288 pages