And I would’ve gotten away with it too! If it wasn’t for…. a smart, cunning teenage girl who employs her expert critical thinking skills, social underdog position, and emotional empathy to solve the case. … More Girls on the Case: My Favorite YA Women-Led Mysteries
The stage has been set, and the final match is about to be played. In The Final Gambit, the third of The Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, teen protagonist Avery Kylie Grambs is about to finally claim the fortune bequeathed to her and become a billionaire. … More Review: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A graphic novel reimagines Alcott’s greatest work, and sets the fearless Jo March on the quest of surviving eight grade. … More Review – Jo: An Adaptation of Little Women (Sort Of) by Kathleen Gros
What would you do if you suddenly became a billionaire? But there’s a twist. … More Review: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My most anticipated book of 2023 is here! Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles have been a long-time resident of my bookshelves. I was first introduced to this series in middle school (shoutout to public libraries for making books accessible!) and it is one of the few historical fantasy series that I read regularly. Coming in at … More Review: Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
Hidden up in the mountains of Vermont is Ellingham Academy, an elite private school for unique minds, including artists, inventors, and writers. Founded by 1920s millionaire Albert Ellingham, the school was designed to make learning a game, and it only accepts 50 students each year on free tuition to attend. … More Review: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
From January to May 2022, I spent my semester living in London and traveling around Europe. This meant lots of reading time on planes, trains, buses, and the London Underground. Of course I picked up some great books along the way! Here’s ten of my favorite reads from this semester. In London and looking for … More Top 10 Books I Read in London
Whether it’s upped stakes, the introduction of a new character, or a plot twist, the second book can really make or break a series. Here’s four sequels that, in my opinion, turned out better than their predecessor, and four that did not live up to expectations. If you’ve got a sequel that you love or … More Four Sequels That Are Better Than the First Book (And Four That Are Not)
In Rabu, Automae rule the land. But it wasn’t always that way. In the War of Kinds, these Made beings took power from their human overlords and made human beings the subservient ones. … More Review: Crier’s War by Nina Varela
Magic and mystery—some of what readers can expect in this coming of age story from author Caroline O’Donoghue.
When Maeve discovers a pack of tarot cards in the basement of St. Bernadette’s Catholic School, her popularity skyrockets. Every girl in the school is clamoring to receive one of Maeve’s eerily accurate readings. Everyone except Lily, Maeve’s ex-best friend. When Lily finally receives a reading, she draws a card that Maeve has never seen before. And the next day, Lily disappears without a trace. … More Review: All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue
Julia's Bookshelves 