Reviews
The Stand-In
“The Stand-In has humor, romance, and a definite dose of fun, and is a good choice for reluctant readers . . . . This is recommended for libraries looking for books that will appeal to those who want both an easy and a fun read, and, perhaps, those looking for a male lead… View →
“The story focuses on relationship dynamics and facing difficulty as a young teen. For a reader who has followed April’s growing up, seeing her cope with Gaga’s impending death may be a comfort if the reader is also experiencing loss or trauma.”— View →
Deadman Anchor
“[W]ith suspenseful plots and cliff-hangers at the end of every chapter . . . this series fills a niche for readers who need a stepping-stone series to engage them in reading.”—VOYA View →
The Human Microbiome: The Germs That Keep You Healthy
“This book is a valuable resource for readers looking for easily understood information on this complex topic.”—VOYA View →
Understanding Suicide: A National Epidemic
“[T]his book could be used as reference during research or for teens seeking information for themselves or others. . . . This book is recommended as an updated resource for adolescent collections.”—VOYA View →
Dietary Supplements: Harmless, Helpful, or Hurtful?
“Written by a nurse . . . this guide to dietary supplements is packed with scientifically documented, research-based information. . . . The topic is timely and provides the facts for the savvy consumer.”—VOYA View →
Urban Gardening
“[A] good series to have on hand to balance textbooks with more conventional approaches. . . . Libraries and schools considering starting gardening or healthy cafeteria food projects will find this series particularly inspiring.”—VOYA View →
Media: From News Coverage to Political Advertising
“[T]he series promises to offer honest and unbiased explanations of ‘common knowledge’ that is not necessarily as common as thought. . . . [P]atrons who need a quick overview of elections facts will find them helpful.”—VOYA View →
Heart or Mind
“Jones pens a series of modern-day, gritty Shakespearean plays. . . . The diversity of characters, the situations of high drama, and the shortness of the books makes this series ideal for young adult collections.”—VOYA View →
Too Much Drama
“[S]ure to delight fans of the series, with special appeal for middle grade readers. . . . April’s future is captivating enough to have readers anticipating the next book.”—VOYA View →
Writing Powerful Persuasive Pieces
“[P]rovides encouragement and tips for aspiring writers. . . . This is a pragmatic and easy-to-use series recommended for language arts teachers and school libraries.”—VOYA View →
Feminism: Reinventing the F-Word
“[This book] makes the issues of feminism personal and relatable. . . . [It] is a great addition to any school or public library collection and will find readers in teens passionate about social justice.”—starred, VOYA View →
Tripping Back Blue
“Substance abuse is at the center of this story, in the form of . . . the elaborate mystique around indigo. . . . Finn seems resigned to his slippery slope to addiction. . . . Nevertheless, he is an appealing character.”—VOYA View →
Timber Creek Station
“[A]stoundingly well written and intensely absorbing. Vivid details and Australian slang bring the unique setting of the outback to life. . . . [A] poignant and raw story about prejudice, family, grief, loss, change, and healing.”—VOYA View →
The Maypop Kidnapping: A Quinnie Boyd Mystery
“[A] sweet mystery that manages to have suspense, bad guys, and danger but avoids gore and being too scary. . . . This book is recommended for upper elementary mystery collections.”—VOYA View →
Raise the Stakes
“The books create a thrill-seeking sense of impending disaster. . . . The series offers a perfect choice for adolescents who struggle to find easy-to-access plots with believable characters.”—VOYA View →
The Anatomy of Curiosity
“[A] prime example of good storytelling for aspiring writers . . . a kind of introductory writing workshop. . . . This may have the strongest audience with those looking to learn the craft of fantastic fiction.”—starred, VOYA View →
Either the Beginning or the End of the World
“[This book] moves quickly with well developed characters and fluid dialogue. Farish has written a thoughtful and lyrical novel. Teens desiring a higher work of literature will not be disappointed while reading this.”—VOYA View →
Over the Tracks
“This tightly-crafted . . . highly engaging series deserves shelf space in classrooms, as well as school and public libraries, and would make a great gift for that special reluctant reader.”—starred, VOYA View →
The Way Back from Broken
“This book is a heartbreaker, but any reader can benefit from its message of honesty, resilience, and courage.”—VOYA View →
Not What I Expected
“Written in diary format and harmlessly fun, the short, easy-to-read books focus on friendships, family relationships, and innocent romantic attractions. Happy endings prevail. Preteen and early teen girls will probably relate well to these stories.”— View →
Prairie Fire
“This story is a must for those who loved the first book and want to continue with the story.”—VOYA View →