Month: November 2024

Title: Draw Down the Moon

Authors: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Genre: YA fantasy

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I’m usually not a fantasy fan, but this one is actually set in the real world, which is much easier for me to read. Typical YA with a love interest, the “chosen one” trope, and sassy best friend, this book isn’t exactly unique, but I still enjoyed it.

Wren’s parents are Moonstruck, meaning they are magickal. Wren isn’t, until her 18th birthday, when she feels the moon’s pull. With her best friends, Lee and Sam, they head off to the Moon Academy to learn about their powers.

This book really isn’t about their education, but more about discovering who they are, uncovering big secrets, and dodging danger from unexpected places. I liked this enough to want to read the sequel but not enough to say it’s outstanding. But it’s a solid, fun read.

Title: Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success

Author: Jessica Parra

Genre: YA

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

Super cute story of Rubi who loves baking but her parents expect her to be a lawyer. Though they are bakers and are proud, they want more for their only child. But Rubi is great at baking. Like really great. So when her town offers a “Bake Off,” Rubi can’t help but join.

The story follows Rubi trying to navigate her parents’ expectations, her love of baking, balance all her classwork, being captain of the Debate Team, and finding a new math tutor who might also be her boyfriend.

This book was so fun. Rubi is a great main character who knows what she wants but cares so much about her parents that she doesn’t want to let them down. She stands her ground at times, and you can’t help but cheer for her. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Title: Locust Lane

Author: Stephen Amidon

Genre: mystery

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

This story, told from multiple perspectives, follows three families after a young woman, Eden, is murdered. Her mother is shocked, but the families know their teenagers, who were with Eden, are hiding something.

The families intertwine with friendships, relationships, and affairs. And just who the murderer is… well, that’s not an easy answer. This book does a great job of illustrating the differences between cultures, social status, and showcases every person’s faults.

I thought this book was well-written and would say it’s more of a family drama/mystery than a thriller. Even though most of the characters weren’t great people, I was still interested to see what happened.

Title: My Father, the Panda Killer

Author: Jamie Jo Hoang

Genre: YA

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

Great coming-of-age story about Jane, born in America to Vietnamese parents, who balances being a typical teenager with the expectations of her father. However, the alternate storyline is of her father traveling to America as a child.

Jane is a great character who struggles with her Vietnamese culture, especially the abuse she suffers when she steps out of line, and can’t wait to go to college. But she struggles with that because she would leave her little brother behind.

You also see the struggles her father goes through with his travels from Vietnam to America: pirates, starvation, and yes, the murder of a panda. I enjoyed this story, and I can imagine how it will resonate with Vietnamese-American teenagers.