@nbwlibrarian.bsky.social
Children's and YA Librarian. Mostly here to lurk but sometimes talk books.
YA alternative history/fantasy. One of those books that might not have been a 5⭐️ read at another time but really hit all the right spots in the here and now. Unique magical premise (magic flowers) was the hook, but also loved her take on the bad guy.
June 30, 2025 at 12:54 AM
YA alternative history/fantasy. One of those books that might not have been a 5⭐️ read at another time but really hit all the right spots in the here and now. Unique magical premise (magic flowers) was the hook, but also loved her take on the bad guy.
This one has been on my to-read list for a long time. Listened to the audio. Delightful middle-grade mystery with just a hint to magic.
June 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM
This one has been on my to-read list for a long time. Listened to the audio. Delightful middle-grade mystery with just a hint to magic.
Middle-grade fantasy that lives up to the hype and is definitely now one of my top recs re: what to read instead of HP. (Delighted that it is going to be a series that appears to follow the one year time skip format.)
May 18, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Middle-grade fantasy that lives up to the hype and is definitely now one of my top recs re: what to read instead of HP. (Delighted that it is going to be a series that appears to follow the one year time skip format.)
Read the ARC. Elemental magic, a competition with trials, courtyard intrigue, mean girls...this was very reminiscent of 2010s YA in all of the best ways! Out 6/3.
April 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Read the ARC. Elemental magic, a competition with trials, courtyard intrigue, mean girls...this was very reminiscent of 2010s YA in all of the best ways! Out 6/3.
Listened to the (American) audio. I think I liked this one even better than the first! On to the trilogy ender.
April 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Listened to the (American) audio. I think I liked this one even better than the first! On to the trilogy ender.
Adorable middle-grade romance with a side helping true and toxic friendships.
March 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Adorable middle-grade romance with a side helping true and toxic friendships.
YA dystopia. Fast paced page-turner that has me anxiously awaiting the sequel. Hits on sexism, war, and genocide. Well developed world and complex, engaging POV characters.
March 4, 2025 at 2:44 AM
YA dystopia. Fast paced page-turner that has me anxiously awaiting the sequel. Hits on sexism, war, and genocide. Well developed world and complex, engaging POV characters.
YA historical novel based on the real life woman who hid 13 Jews in her attic. I don't know what I was thinking reading a Holocaust story right now, but man, was this well written. Officially a fan of all of Cameron's historical fiction.
February 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
YA historical novel based on the real life woman who hid 13 Jews in her attic. I don't know what I was thinking reading a Holocaust story right now, but man, was this well written. Officially a fan of all of Cameron's historical fiction.
Listened to audio, which had A+ narration. Middle-grade story with a solid plot (mystery?) about a missing brother's return that also explores changing friendships, middle school crushes, family dynamics, and mental illness.
February 17, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Listened to audio, which had A+ narration. Middle-grade story with a solid plot (mystery?) about a missing brother's return that also explores changing friendships, middle school crushes, family dynamics, and mental illness.
Juvenile graphic novel. Adorable look at friendship and middle school pressures. Would rec to any middle grade reader who likes a bit of romance. (Read with Kid 1.)
January 17, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Juvenile graphic novel. Adorable look at friendship and middle school pressures. Would rec to any middle grade reader who likes a bit of romance. (Read with Kid 1.)
5 Star Reads of 2025 (and ongoing list):
Speculative YA. There's A LOT going on in this book & it does them all well & with heart and humor. Great characters, sweet romance, & excellent explorations of familial love and friendship. Plus magic super hero powers. Strong Shaun of the Dead vibes.
Speculative YA. There's A LOT going on in this book & it does them all well & with heart and humor. Great characters, sweet romance, & excellent explorations of familial love and friendship. Plus magic super hero powers. Strong Shaun of the Dead vibes.
January 17, 2025 at 2:52 AM
5 Star Reads of 2025 (and ongoing list):
Speculative YA. There's A LOT going on in this book & it does them all well & with heart and humor. Great characters, sweet romance, & excellent explorations of familial love and friendship. Plus magic super hero powers. Strong Shaun of the Dead vibes.
Speculative YA. There's A LOT going on in this book & it does them all well & with heart and humor. Great characters, sweet romance, & excellent explorations of familial love and friendship. Plus magic super hero powers. Strong Shaun of the Dead vibes.
I don't even know what to say.
January 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I don't even know what to say.
Kid 2 has been watching at least part of Sing 2 most days of Winter Break, and let me tell you, those roller skating flamingos were robbed. That was a quality act right there.
December 29, 2024 at 4:41 PM
Kid 2 has been watching at least part of Sing 2 most days of Winter Break, and let me tell you, those roller skating flamingos were robbed. That was a quality act right there.
Excellent YA mystery thriller featuring multiple POVs and highlighting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis. The type of book that makes you want to re-read and look for clues.
December 28, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Excellent YA mystery thriller featuring multiple POVs and highlighting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis. The type of book that makes you want to re-read and look for clues.
Read the ARC. Really well done gothic YA fantasy with a dash of horror and A+ world building. Out 3/11/25.
December 28, 2024 at 3:44 PM
Read the ARC. Really well done gothic YA fantasy with a dash of horror and A+ world building. Out 3/11/25.
Read the ARC. Pitch perfect finale. Exceeded my expectations in every way. Out 4/1/25.
December 28, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Read the ARC. Pitch perfect finale. Exceeded my expectations in every way. Out 4/1/25.
Read the ARC. YA fantasy. Elevated the story and the characters. Everything a sequel should be. Out 3/4/25.
December 28, 2024 at 3:41 PM
Read the ARC. YA fantasy. Elevated the story and the characters. Everything a sequel should be. Out 3/4/25.
It's Discworld, and the Nightwatch are my fave.
December 28, 2024 at 3:27 PM
It's Discworld, and the Nightwatch are my fave.
Listend to audio. I'm a sucker for stories that force people from different walks of life to interact. Solid middle grade mystery with great narration. (Another Robbie Daymon, though other narrators also feature.)
December 28, 2024 at 3:27 PM
Listend to audio. I'm a sucker for stories that force people from different walks of life to interact. Solid middle grade mystery with great narration. (Another Robbie Daymon, though other narrators also feature.)
Read the ARC. YA fantasy. Loved the additional POVs. Lacelle did such a great job of establishing the portal worlds. I want to go back & explore them all. Was looking forward to a different romance, but the one we got was fine. (Probably in the minority re: my disappointment.) Can't wait for bk 3!
December 28, 2024 at 3:26 PM
Read the ARC. YA fantasy. Loved the additional POVs. Lacelle did such a great job of establishing the portal worlds. I want to go back & explore them all. Was looking forward to a different romance, but the one we got was fine. (Probably in the minority re: my disappointment.) Can't wait for bk 3!
Listend to the audio. A comical middle-grade drama. (Picked it up bc I enjoyed Robbie Daymon's work in the One of Us is Lying series and wanted more.) Still need to browse book at work to check out the illustrations.
December 28, 2024 at 3:24 PM
Listend to the audio. A comical middle-grade drama. (Picked it up bc I enjoyed Robbie Daymon's work in the One of Us is Lying series and wanted more.) Still need to browse book at work to check out the illustrations.
Lived up to the hype, though I have yet to be in the mood to read the sequel.
December 28, 2024 at 3:22 PM
Lived up to the hype, though I have yet to be in the mood to read the sequel.
Listend to audio. YA mystery thriller. All 3 books were five stars for me. Excellent all the way around. Loved the multiple POVs and narrators were all amazing and well cast. Story kept me wanting to listen and completing chores so I could.
December 28, 2024 at 3:21 PM
Listend to audio. YA mystery thriller. All 3 books were five stars for me. Excellent all the way around. Loved the multiple POVs and narrators were all amazing and well cast. Story kept me wanting to listen and completing chores so I could.
Read as an ARC. YA fantasy. Really unique concept/magic system. (Magic from bones! Immortalish scarecrow musketeers!) Messy/complicated and engaging character relationships. Anxiously awaiting the next one.
December 28, 2024 at 3:19 PM
Read as an ARC. YA fantasy. Really unique concept/magic system. (Magic from bones! Immortalish scarecrow musketeers!) Messy/complicated and engaging character relationships. Anxiously awaiting the next one.
Middle grade graphic novel about a group of kids coming together to form an amateur WWE style wrestling team after all the non-athletic extracurricular activities are canceled. Hoping more books are coming!
December 28, 2024 at 3:03 PM
Middle grade graphic novel about a group of kids coming together to form an amateur WWE style wrestling team after all the non-athletic extracurricular activities are canceled. Hoping more books are coming!