Kid's Advisory Board Reviews
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These are reviews written by members of the Kids Advisory Board.
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Sir Ladybug is a book about a Prince who comes across a mission for a "monster." But really it's just a bird looking for food. So Sir Ladybug has 2 assistants and they help him with the mission. One of them comes up with a plan that they should make a Lemon Merangue Cake. It's so good that the bird doesn't want to eat the bugs!
I liked it and I think it's suitable for kids 8 and up.
-Review by Mady, Age 8
Crab & snail is a book about 2 friends, all of a sudden they are getting rained on and it won't stop. They find out that it is an invisible whale shooting water at them! They become friends with the whale and the whale sings goodnight to them. I think people who like books about friendship and caring would like this book.
-Review by Mady, age 8
This full color art in this graphic novel was unbelievable - fantastic design, lush detail. I can't wait to see the full book in its finished form. As to the story, it was original, compelling and fun, with diverse characters. The main character, a little Black girl, grew up as the only human in The Great Tree, where the souls of birds go before they're reborn. Each leaf eventually becomes a new bird. Then a day comes when new leaves grow on the tree but without souls. In the world outside, no new birds are hatching. The bird Little Red is sent out to investigate what's happening, but Little Red never comes back. So the main character is sent out, accompanied by an owl companion. Complicating their journey, time works differently in The Great Tree than in the outside world. A day in the tree can be weeks, even months in the world. The main character's travels take her to an ancient city where she meets a young goblin, Orion, who has wings but glides, like a flying squirrel, rather than like a bird. Adventure ensues. The book ends on a cliffhanger and a huge plot twist, so it's obviously setting up for a second book ... which I can't wait to read.
Review by Michael, age 13
This colorful, fast-paced graphic novel combined music and magic with a classic coming-of-age story. The characters were realistic and their motivations made a lot of sense, even the "bad guys," which was refreshing. The art was good too. The main character, Alto, is a kind of floppy-eared elf living in a fantasy world that's also populated by trolls, dragons and more. His mom, Lady Brightblade, was part of an adventuring trio a generation ago who helped to defeat a dragon and bring about a new era of peace. Alto is growing up essentially as a prince but he's not a fan of etiquette, politics and affairs of state. Denied the music/magic training he really loves, he runs away instead. Soon, he meets up with an unusual self-taught Troll bard. Impressed with the troll's skills and initiative, Alto lies about his identity and background. As things progress, he has to keep changing his lie. He also meets a young woman who's working at an instrument repair shop whose music magic is particularly strong, Meanwhile, he learns of a rogue group of bards who go by the name of "Discord" and who are using a music spell to make people fight, turning the nation against itself and destroy the peace that Ladyu Brightblade fought so hard for. The leader of Discord, Fell, has a mysterious past with Alto's mom and is driven by a desire for revenge. Through the course of the adventure, Alto learns a lot about his world and about himself. I'd recommend the book to lovers of fantasy and the graphic novel format.
-Review by Michael, age 13
This was a well-drawn and comparatively complex graphic novel. The story stands on its own well enough, but I'd love to see a sequel if the author decides to write more. Aiza, a member of the Ornu tribe which is oppressed by the Empire, lives with her parents in poverty. One day, a group of knights come through town, recruiting "heroes" for the army. Aiza wants to sign on as a squire. Her family is apprehensive but eventually agrees to let her go if that's what she really wants. In training with a motley band of young people from different backgrounds, Aiza works very hard training to go to the front lines. But as she learns more about the Empire and the role the military plays, the more there is to dislike. Meanwhile, Aiza has been hiding her ethnicity, wrapping her distinctive ethnic arm tattoo in bandages. One day, the bandages come unwound and her ethnic identity is discovered. The military higher-ups then ask her to fight against her own kind. It's a journey of discovery for Aiza and her companions as they find out about their role in the world and determine how far they're willing to go to take charge of their own lives.
-Review by Michael, age 13
I don't usually read spy stories, but I liked this one and read it in pretty much one sitting. Ben Ripley has played the CIA simulation hundreds of times, but it still comes as a surprise when the CIA comes to his door to recruit him for their "spy school" for kids. It's Ben's dream come to life, but he's a little confused because he thought the simulation was just a game. Plus, he's a little reluctant to leave his family and friends to attend spy school. Unable to pass up the opportunity, though, he accepts, and Agent Alexander Hale inducts him into the training program. As soon as he gets to the school, it's under attack and he has to fight off "the enemy." Things get even more complex from there, as Ben finds his way through an unfamiliar system where you don't even know who your friends are and there are many more secrets in store. The book would probably be a hit with fans of the regular novel, but it also stood on its own and I enjoyed it.
Review by Michael, age 13
After the world was drowned by the Enemy, only one main island was left, the City. Years later a boy with no memories washes ashore, everyone thinks he is the one who serves the Enemy. One girl knows he's innocent, how much will she risk before her own secret is revealed? I loved this book because it was mystifying and clever. The plot-twists really sent me spinning. I highly recommend it for ages 8 & up, or someone looking for a thrilling mystery.
-Review by Samantha
This graphic novel was touching and rang true, because I know people who are living with anxiety, But it's not exactly a relaxing read. The author drew on her own childhood as a child of Chinese immigrants who could be a bit intense in their ambitions for their children. The main character, Livy, has an invisible twin, who she calls Viola, whispering in her ear. It's not a real invisible twin like in a fantasy book, but the creation of part of her own mind, like the little stereotypical devil sitting on her shoulder. Except instead of urging her to do bad things, Viola is constantly belittling Livy and telling her that she's worthless and no one cares about her. Livy's family is well meaning and wants only the best for her, but they are unwittingly contributing to the problem, pressuring her to get the best grades and to achieve in every area of her life. Her parents are bad enough,but extended family members are even worse, comparing her to "more successful" cousins and stigmatizing mental illness in another cousin by sweeping it under the carpet and refusing to talk about him. Livy is also told that the thing that really makes her happy - art - is okay for kids, but is not a real career - that they expect her to have an "important" career like an engineer or doctor. Of course, Viola gets really out of control and begins affecting every aspect of Livy's life. The book has an important message to share with kids, and with parents, about the negative impact of pressure. People who liked Raina Telgemeier's Guts might also like this.
-Review by Michael, age 13
From the Bubonic Plague, then called "The Great Mortality," in the 1300s through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this book explores deadly diseases which have impacted the human world through history. It combines gross but true-to-life details (buboes! contagion! People barricaded in their homes and left to die!) with hopeful stories of research and advances in science which we have discovered can tame some of the deadliest plagues of the past and which offer hope for the future. It also makes me thankful to live in modern times when the whole world can work together to research and find effective treatments and create vaccines in record time.
-Review by Michael, age 13
I liked this book for it's whimsical, yet real life view of things. I especially loved the fact that I could see this girl as my neighbor, the kid down the street, or even a stranger passing by. This book really captured some of the real life struggles kids have. It also made me feel what the characters felt. I highly recommend it for ages 9 & up, or anyone looking for a good book to pass the time.
-Review by Lella, Age 12
This book is a graphic novel about spider ham, the Spider-Man of the animal world. He has absolutely no responsibility for his powers. But when he loses a key that can open anything, he has to find it before something terrible happens. I like this story because like the actual spider man comic, it reminds us we all should have some responsibility for our actions.
-Review by Jack
This book is a graphic novel about spider ham, the Spider-Man of the animal world. He has absolutely no responsibility for his powers. But when he loses a key that can open anything, he has to find it before something terrible happens. I like this story because like the actual spider man comic, it reminds us we all should have some responsibility for our actions.
-Review by Jack
This book is aimed at younger kids but could be enjoyed by readers of all ages. The art is good if not amazing, and the story entertaining. The main character is a sentient vegetable named Garlic (and yes, she is a walking garlic clove) grown in a witch's garden. She and her fellow vegetables have small lives in a simple village, traveling regularly to a larger market at a nearby town to sell (non-sentient) vegetables. One day, the little vegetable people see smoke coming from the castle on the hill, where Witch Agnes has told them legend says a vampire lives. All of the vegetable people freak out.Celery, a rival to the timid Garlic, suggests that Garlic be the one to go fight the vampire. Witch Agnes, realizing the town will pressure Garlic to do it no matter what, tries to help prepare her. But the witch insists that Celery (a guy) go with Garlic. Once they arrive at the vampire's castle, however, there's a surprise in store.
Review by Michael, age 13
This was a fun, entertaining graphic novel with well-drawn, diverse characters, even though it is a little simplistic. Grace, who is Asian American, with mixed parentage, moves to Hong Kong with her new stepdad and her mom. Though her stepdad is pleasant enough and makes her mom happy, Grace is still broken up about the loss of her dad to cancer a couple of years before. They shared a special bond and he used to tell her stories from his homeland about dragons. In Hong Kong, Grace enters a top-flight international boarding school and has some trouble fitting in right away. Then an ancient fortuneteller at the market gives her an egg which hatches into a mythic water dragon. When fellow students catch her, the group becomes friends, sharing the secret about the dragon. Grace's dad then returns in a dream and tells her to "wake the dragons." Then her baby dragon is kidnapped and she and her friends enter a world of hidden myth and contemporary danger. This is the first of a new series. I'd go on to read the next one, as I'm interested in what happens next.
Review by Michael, age 13
I really enjoyed this graphic-novel-format book on how humans have changed animals over time. Pigeons, dogs, cows, rats ... all of these wouldn't have evolved the way they did without human interaction and in some cases direct intervention. And the changes went both ways. I already knew cows changed humans' guts, for example. We didn't used to be able to process cow's milk. Everybody was basically lactose intolerant. I learned a bunch of things about other species and how they changed due to humans. Some animals were domesticated and made "fancy" in various ways, like dogs and pigeons. Others, like cats, essentially domesticated themselves to take advantage of humans. The format and the humor make the information really accessible and fun to read. The book also circles back a lot to some of the same themes, when things that happened with one species happen with another. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in the intersection of biology and history, animal lovers in general and people who like non-fiction presented in graphic novel format.
-Review by Michael, age 13
The Smashed Man of Dread End is a horror book about a girl named Noe who has a little sister named Len. They just moved across town to a bigger house on Totter court. But when they get there Noe is given a weird warning from the neighborhood kids not to go into her basement at night. Noe doesn't take them seriously and she goes in her basement. And there the smashed man is. He is terrifying and the kids of Totter court have good reason to be afraid. This book is a great book for fans of the goosebumps books and for kids who like a good mystery to solve. This is my new favorite book I loved it!
-Review by Maddie
This is a book of 20 short horror stories that are easy to read. It is a little similar to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark but much shorter. None of the short stories are connected and there is a good mixture of different kinds of horror including supernatural, monster, and psychological. I think young readers in their tweens will enjoy this book best and wont be too scared by the stories. I won’t get into the details because, well… it’s a lot more fun if you don’t know what is going on. The author of this book is ANICA MROSE RISSI and she nails the spooky genre. (honestly there should be a movie about this book) My favorite short story in the collection is YOUR IT because the style of writing is fun; it evolves in a series of text messages for the reader.
-Review by Jack
This book is a mystery book by Lisa Thompson. The Graveyard Riddle is a rather interesting book. It follows a girl named Melody Bird, as she goes to the graveyard on a walk with her dog, only to find an abandoned old building in the corner of it. She finds a message on a door that reads “Lord have mercy upon us,” and a nice lady who lives nearby, named old Nina, explains that it used to be a plague house (a house that sick people stayed in during the plague). Melody and her friends later meet a boy named Hal who claims to be a spy and he is using the old plague house to investigate a criminal. He asks them to help, only for them to start questioning him, to see if he is telling the truth. I really like the suspense of this story, as the mystery unravels about who this spy is.
-Review by Jack
This book stars three young vampires. By young, I mean, they're still children, even though they've been children for hundreds or even thousands of years. The main character, a non-binary vampire named Dragoslava, was born in 1460. They are drawn weirdly, like a cross between the stereotypical caped Dracula and Charlie Brown. Their friends, drawn much more realistically, are Eztli, born in 1597, and Quintus, the son of the (black) vampire queen, born 129 BCE. Centuries ago, Dragoslava was cursed by a witch and now has to do anything the witch asks. This time, the witch asks Dragoslava to retrieve a grimoire that was allegedly stolen from her a long time ago. Eztli and Quintus don't have to go along on this quest, but they want to help. Along the way, they learn more about this witch they've known for so many centuries, and find a way to change their destinies. I would recommend this book to fans of diverse, supernatural graphic novels like The Witch Boy.
-Review by Michael, age 12
This story was very creative - I haven't read a book like this before. It takes a lot of elements that I have liked from other stories, like graveyards, underground cities and multiple races barely at peace with one another, and puts them together in a new way.
the story starts when the main character, Grey, picks up a 1919 penny which his friend says is unlucky. Grey decides to take a shortcut through the graveyard to get his diorama to school on time. But he drops the diorama into what appears to be an open grave, and a hand reaches out and grabs it.
At school, he can't say what really happened, so he says he left his project at home. He stays up all night to remake it and it's stolen again - then he finds at his doorstep an amazingly complete model of the graveyard, which he turns in. The weird gifts don't stop there, though. Suddenly he's finding bone necklaces, tied-together bone keys, a doll that looks like him with real teeth sewn on.... Someone is apparently trying to be nice, but it creeps Grey out. Then he meets the gift-giver, Lavinia, who's a child ghoul. She explains her culture and why they're not supposed to reveal their presence to humans. Of course Grey winds up getting caught up in their culture nonetheless, and eventually embarks on an adventure in their underground realms that's equal parts fascinating and terrifying. The ghoul character is really fun - sincere and naive in terms of our culture, yet the holder of arcane secrets. Hideous, yet appealing. The other characters were well depicted too, rounded, realistic and believable.
-Review by Michael, age 12
This graphic novel was not your typical "person goes to camp and makes friends" story. As the book opens "Long Distance" seems to refer to the separation the main character, Vega, is experiencing from her best friend after moving to Seattle. Then her dad sends Vega to the "Very Best Friends" camp. Vega doesn't initially want to open up one bit and make new friends. She's fine with staying in contact with her old friend by phone - but she learns her cell doesn't get a signal way out here. Then Vega starts discovering weird staff at the camp. For one, the camp counselors are really weird, annoying and snoopy, and there's this kid at the camp whose parents supposedly run it. He keeps changing his personality to get people to like him more. It turns out there's a lot more going on than just summer camping activities. Vega has to work with others to figure out what's going on and possibly make new connections, learning that despite vastly different backgrounds, she and those she meets aren't that different after all. The story is very original, with diverse and realistic characters. I would recommend it for fans of sci-fi, adventures and graphic novels.
-Review by Michael, age 12
This book is about a girl named Geraldine who loves school. She is bullied by a boy named Nico. Nico makes fun of her Chinese food. Other kids at her lunch table start to make fun of her too. Because she was bullied, Geraldine wants to eat non-Chinese food even though she loves Chinese food. When she asks for a sandwich her amha makes her a bao bun. I like this book because she eats different food and she stands up to bullying.
-Review by Payson, age 8
This book is a graphic novel about a girl named Missy and her cat friend Gizmo, who are super villains called Mischief and Mayhem in a super hero world. This is the first book in a new series and it’s about their origin story and how they met and became super villains. People start losing their super powers in the story and Mischief and Mayhem start to make things right. Are they really super villains? The illustrations are pretty good in this book and at the end of the book there are some activities to help you draw the characters on your own which I thought was cool!
-Review by Jack
The Fire Bird Song is about a boy named Prewitt who lives in the kingdom of Lyrica and he is the bargemaster's son. He hears a tale about the last princess of Lyrica calling back the firebird to defeat darkness throughout the kingdom. Using a song passed down from queen to queen. while holding a magical feather, the princess can defeat the darkness. But first she needs to find the firebird feather and can only sing the song when two halves of the moon come together. Prewitt goes to the queens barge on a quest to for the princess. He finds her and they set off to find the feather and save the kingdom. I recommend this book because it is a great fantasy adventure, that teaches you to think outside the box.
-Review by Maddie
Georgia's family is falling apart. Her father comes home drunk and turns into the shadow man, her mother is always studying or tired, and her great aunt who she stays with during the week seems to be keeping a secret. Will a mysterious lake be the magical hope Georgia's looking for? I loved this book because it was completely magical! I found myself wanting to reach out and hug the main character. I highly recommend it for ages 8 & up or someone looking for a nice book to read.
-Review by Samantha
This book is about a nerd who wakes up one day and he finds a spider on his nose and trips over his blankets. So he's falling off his bed a lot. But this time he does a double backflip and lands perfectly on the ground instead of falling over! So he goes down and tells his mom about it, it's his birthday so she made him a cake. And he opens his presents and gets a space hoodie and when you put it down there are holes you can see through. And there's a giant spider attack on a school field trip. He fights the spider and wins and he finds out there are more spiders out in the world. His Grandma is an inventor so she gives him supplies to fight crime. I really liked this book and I think other kids my age and up will like it too.
-Review by Mady Age 8
12 year old Lark is living at Mrs. Starvengers boarding house for girls. She is determined to leave but she needs coin to pay off her debt to Mrs. Starvenger first. Her scheme is to steal gold from the royal museum. Unfortunately her heist goes wrong and she ends up with a magic sword that she soon discovers, has a mind of its own and also can make her fly. The sword has picked her to be the next nightingale. A nightingale is a hero who has to fight a great evil that is finally waking up after centuries, and Lark doesn’t think she can do it. But she learns that by working together with the help of her roomates anything is possible. This is a fantasy adventure book that I recommend about a girl all alone who comes to learn the importance of others.
-Review by Maddie