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Dwellings by Jay Stephens is a graphic novel that blends cute and cartoonish art with dark and disturbing tales of horror set in a fictional Canadian town. Despite its whimsical appearance, each of the 6 stories packs a punch, giving us a peek into the eerie depths of the human (cartoon?) psyche.

25-year-old Queenie Jenkins, a Jamaican British woman, is having a rough go. Her longtime boyfriend wants a break, leading to struggles at work, a depressing living situation, and questionable life choices. While this synopsis might indicate a light read, Queenie (2019) is a smart story of a strong woman coming to terms with a traumatic childhood, dealing with microaggressions and outright racism, and bolstering her self-worth.

In Tara Isabella Burton's Here in Avalon (2024), Rose lives her life being responsible and stable after a tumultuous upbringing by her bohemian mother, but her world is upended when her wild sister Cecilia vanishes into the enigmatic cabaret troupe known as the Avalon, leading to a mesmerizing journey through New York's hidden underworld.

Horror Movie (2024) by Paul Tremblay is my favorite book of the summer, but I'm biased as I'm a dedicated fan of his and got to meet him and have him sign my copy in June. (He left with a WPL pen).

If you like reading adventure or survival fiction, this is the book for you! If you despise intense word visualizations, you can ignore this. Although I really enjoyed this book, it actually is super intense. 

Walk Two Moons is an unbearably sad but extremely inspiring story of a 13-year-old girl named Salamanca Tree Hiddle. She goes on a journey, from moving to a small Ohio town, meeting the most peculiar Phoebe Winterbottom, discovering who the real lunatic is, going on a road trip on time, and discovering where her mother actually is.

The Westing Game is a weirdly captivating cozy mystery/page turner.

This book is so clever, with bombs, bookies, burglars, 16 heirs, and most of all: dead(or is he?) Samuel W. Westing and his will. This is so fun because of the action!

5 out of 5 stars.

-Noelle C (Teen Reviewer)

The Sicilian Inheritance (2024) by Jo Piazza transports you to past and present-day Sicily as a woman tries to solve the mystery of her great-grandmother's murder, inspired by the author’s own family lore.

“Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer” is about 13 year old Theo who wants to become what his parents are, lawyers, and he accidently ends up in the middle of one of the most important murder trial cases of all time. He also helps out kids at school who have problems that contain the law for free.

“Our Dark Duet” by V.E. Schwab is the sequel to “this savage song and takes place a time after the first part. It focuses on Kate and August after they separated and try to find their way back to each other.

What happens when an idealistic trio takes their innovations too far? In The Startup Wife (2021), Tahmima Anam shows the dark side of technology while satirizing startup culture. Asha is the brilliant coder behind a new social media platform developed with her new husband and his friend.

“This Savage Song” by V.E. Schwab is a dystopian fantasy book set in a world run by two factions who each control different species of monsters. The story focuses on their children, August and Kate, and their desires to prove themselves to their fathers. While tasked to kidnap Kate, August befriends her and has to keep his nature as a monster a secret.