The Okay Witch, by Emma Steinkellner

 Savvy's Reviews

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Okay this graphic novel was genuinely sweet and perfect for those of you who love the nicer side of Halloween. For me, I love the scary, spooky, creepy, bump in the night side of Halloween, but every once in a while I like to be able to sit back and enjoy the good old days of innocent Halloween. This graphic novel will bring you right back to those days. The days of trick or treating and picking out which Spice Girl you and your friends were going to be. No Spice Girls? What about Little Mix? Black Pink? 

Anyway, The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner was so much fun to go through. If you’ve been following our videos or my reviews for a while you know that I have an issue with graphic novels that rely too heavily on the pictures to drive its content. This one had the perfect amount of beautiful images and a wonderful plot which was delivered through substantial text! 

Thirteen year old Moth Hush (okay can we just talk about that name…? I love it.) loves all things witchy. But she’s about to find out that witches aren’t just the stuff of her town’s history. They’re real and she’s one of them. At least half way. It turns out that Founder’s Bluff, Mass. has a centuries-old history of witches… and drama. So when Moth’s new powers show up things spiral out of control. 

Talking cats, enchanted diaries, and hidden witchy worlds are the least of Moth’s problems when secrets come to light after generations of hidden away witches come forth. It’s Moth’s job to unravel the complicated legacy at the heart of her town, her family, and herself. Emma Steinkellner’s graphic novel debut is backed with humor, truth, and heart along with a wonderful story about a mother and her witch-in-progress.

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

School for Extraterrestrial Girls: Girl on Fire

 

Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

 

Alright y’all here we go, the first review for a book I didn’t finish! I know you’re probably asking “Well how can you review a book you haven’t read?” Well I’m still here to tell you all about it. I’m a firm believer that every song in the world is someone’s favorite. So just because I didn’t enjoy this book doesn’t mean you wouldn’t. 

 

Today we are talking about the graphic novel School for Extraterrestrial Girls: Girl on Fire by Jeremy Whitley and Jamie Noguchi. Now if you're a fan of StarTrek or X-Men, I think you would really enjoy this book. It follows fifteen year old Tara Smith whose parents are hard and strict about her daily routine. Up at the same time everyday, strict about homework and that garbage gets taken out every night, all like clockwork. 

 

But one day the power goes out and Tara’s alarm clock doesn’t go off. Late for school, she runs out of the house without her trusty watch that her parents always make her wear. This is the start of something extraordinary; something Tara has been waiting for her whole life but just might not be ready for. Just when she thought her day couldn’t get any worse, she bursts into flames in front of the whole class. She can’t feel it, though, and suddenly she’s outed as an extraterrestrial and turning into something… else. 

 

She’s then captured by the government and offered two options: 1. Get shipped back to her ‘home planet’ of which she has no memory or 2. Attend the school for other extraterrestrial girls like her. Tara’s goal, now, is to learn how to harness her powers and figure out the mystery of who really raised her, because they weren’t her real parents. Tara must rely on others for the first time in her life to figure out who she really is and where she really comes from before she is kidnapped a second time. 

 

This looks like a promising series from Whitley and Noguchi and maybe one day I’ll pick it back up. But for now, you can call and check it out yourself. Let me know what you thought of this one!

 

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

 Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

Kacey is new to Broken Falls. She’s in a new house, with a new step-mother, a new step-brother, and a new younger half-sister who looks up to her. While she believes she’s made a few upgrades in her life compared to the one she led with her mother, things are almost too perfect. Bailey and Jade are her two best friends and the trio does everything together. That is, until Bailey and Jade don’t tell Kacey they’re going to the biggest party of the year without her.

While this could be any YA drama that discusses friendship and how they end, Little Monsters takes that idea and doesn’t just flip it on its head. It completely destroys the headcanon. Bailey never makes it home from the party and everyone is expecting Kacey to have the answers. And while the whole town is pointing fingers, Kacey tries to unravel the mystery and find her best friend.

A thriller for fans of One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus and Sadie by Courtney Summers, this one will have you questioning who you should and shouldn’t trust. And maybe, just maybe, not believing everything you see. The little town of Broken Falls might be more broken than you think. 

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

Kacey is new to Broken Falls. She’s in a new house, with a new step-mother, a new step-brother, and a new younger half-sister who looks up to her. While she believes she’s made a few upgrades in her life compared to the one she led with her mother, things are almost too perfect. Bailey and Jade are her two best friends and the trio does everything together. That is, until Bailey and Jade don’t tell Kacey they’re going to the biggest party of the year without her.

While this could be any YA drama that discusses friendship and how they end, Little Monsters takes that idea and doesn’t just flip it on its head. It completely destroys the headcanon. Bailey never makes it home from the party and everyone is expecting Kacey to have the answers. And while the whole town is pointing fingers, Kacey tries to unravel the mystery and find her best friend.

A thriller for fans of One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus and Sadie by Courtney Summers, this one will have you questioning who you should and shouldn’t trust. And maybe, just maybe, not believing everything you see. The little town of Broken Falls might be more broken than you think. 

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

 Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

This is a heroic story of life and how to survive it because the world is not tame. Ashley, who feels more at home under the roof of the forest trees than her own home goes hiking one night with her friends. She’s ready for a night of partying, forgetting, and surrender. But what she isn’t ready for is her cheating boyfriend and his beautiful ex-girlfriend surrendering to their unforgotten desire for each other. When she finds them together in a tent she storms off into the night. Morning brings the realization that she’s alone and farther off than she realized. The world might not be tame, but neither are humans. 

This story of survival is full of metaphors for life and the reasons we shouldn’t give up on it. Lost in an undisturbed forest, Ashley has to push herself farther than she ever has before to make it out of the forest alive and intact. With nothing but the clothes on her back and not even socks to protect her feet, the forest will teach Ashley more about life than she ever learned from her small town. But she can’t shake the memory of Davey Beat who entered this forest willingly years ago… and never came back out. 

This is a great weekend read full of treacherous adventure and the realization that life is beautiful as long as you’re looking from just the right angle. Survivalist stories are not my favorite genre but this one was really more of a story of self-discovery for Ashley and the mental work she has to do in order to make it out alive. With remnants of Hatchet by Gary Paulson, this might just be the next great YA survival story. 

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

What I Leave Behind, by Allison McGhee

 Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee

Trigger Warning: Suicide and Sexual Assault

“Sometimes you got to walk the day out of you. You know? Walk it right out through the soles of your feet.”

What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee is a heartwarming story told in 100 chapters consisting of 100 words each. Will just lost his dad to suicide which has left his whole community confused. So how does he deal? He walks. To and from work at Dollar Only, past the little dude who waits for butterflies, past Superman, the homeless guy on First Street and past the Dog of Insanity; forever chained and barking.

But there are some places Will won’t walk past. The bridge on Fourth Street, the store with the shelves of 100 Chinese blessings, and his friend Playa’s house. But when the universe places unexpected detours in his path, like struggling to figure out his dad’s mysterious cornbread recipe, or helping Playa after she was raped at a party, Will has to figure out how to stop walking away from his problems and walk towards them.

This story is about healing, happiness and not giving up on the little things that help you or someone else through crisis. Do whatever you have to in order to heal so long as you don’t give up. That is the most important thing. So walk my friends. Walk. Walk on. Walk tall. 

“…blessings are everywhere you look, even in the dark.”

If you are hurting please reach out and please call

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault or abuse please go to RAINN.org or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline

RAINN.org

National Sexual Assault Hotline

Call 1-800-656-4673

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

Heavy Vinyl #1

 Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

Heavy Vinyl Vol.1: Riot on the Radio by Carly Usdin

Autostraddle called Heavy Vinyl “…a can’t-miss comic. I wish I’d been friends with these girls when I was a teen.” I honestly wish I was these girls when I was a teen. We are introduced to Chris, a 17 year old, a month in to her new job at Vinyl Destination, a record shop employing some seriously boss chicks. Little does Chris know there’s more to the girl gang running this shop than meets the eye. 

Heavy Vinyl is an 80’s based, action packed, rock ‘n’ roll adventure about a group of girls just trying to better their world and empower themselves. I breezed through this graphic novel in one sitting and fell in love with every character. I cannot wait to read more about these girls and ride along on their adventures. 

For fans of the Lumberjanes and Paper Girls, join the newest and coolest girl gang and look for the next installment, Heavy Vinyl Vol. 2: Y2K-O! which was released in March!

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

Layoverland by Gabby Noone

Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

 

Layoverland by Gabby Noone

The afterlife seems to be an emerging theme in YA literature these days. Layoverland by Gabby Noone is no different. However, in this romantic comedy, we follow a group of young adults stuck in a purgatory of sorts left to atone for their sins. Not bad enough for hell but also not yet ready for heaven, people are sent to Layoverland: an airport purgatory where the dead must relive their lives to see what is holding them back from moving on to heaven.

In this novel, we follow Beatrice (seems to be the name of the year), who is sent to the airport after a car crash that took her life. And while she deserves to go straight to hell, at least according to her, she has been chosen to join the Memory Experience team. An elite team selected to help guide those stuck in the airport into the afterlife. Beatrice is shocked when she finds out she must help 5,000 souls into heaven before moving on herself.

All this seems simple enough and while I probably still would have given this book a chance, Noone decided this plotline just wasn’t dramatic enough. This is where this book really elevates. Bea’s first assignment is Caleb, the boy who caused her accident and ended her life. And of course there’s the element of romance. Caleb is cute of course! So while Bea is conflicted and wants to keep Caleb in purgatory as long as possible (even if that means she also doesn’t move on) she can’t help but fall for him. (Of course!)

This book was actually really sweet. There’s plenty of flirty teen romance stirred into the idea of grieving and forgiveness. (I promise I’m not picking these books because they’re all the same!) This book also doesn’t end how most YA romances end, which is really refreshing. It’s a perfect ending that might have pulled a tear to my eye. It’s also a witty comedy full of revenge and love. Check it out for a quick read by the pool or put your pool floaty in the bathtub and have a nice weekend, cause, you know, quarantine.

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.

Spill Zone, by Scott Westerfeld

Savvy's Reviews

Not sure you want to dig into that new book? Let Savvy do the hard work for you! Here's her latest review!

Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld

Reading the Spill Zone graphic novel by Scott Westerfeld, author of Uglies and Pretties, is like reading the storyboard for the next great YA movie. Westerfeld takes us to a New York suburb that has suffered a disaster much like Fukushima or Chernobyl but on a much smaller scale.

“Nobody’s ever really explained the Spill. Was it an angelic visitation? A nanotech accident? A porthole opening from another world? Whatever it was, no one’s allowed in the Spill Zone these days except government scientists and hazmat teams.”

But would that stop a young rebellious teen in today’s day and age? Absolutely not. Especially not when you are suddenly thrust into the role of parent for your kid sister. Sudden orphans, Addison and Lexa (a mute after being in “the zone” during the incident) must find a way to survive as two of the last remaining residents of the land just outside their once bustling hometown of Poughkeepsie, New York.

“Few intrepid explorers know how to sneak through the patrols and steer clear of the dangers inside the Zone. Addison Merrick is one such explorer, dedicated to finding out what happened that night and to unraveling the events that took her parents and left her little sister mute and disconnected from the world.”

Addison is a photographer who ventures into the Zone taking illegal photos of what remains in order to make money so her and her sister, Lexa, can live a somewhat normal life. That is, until a mysterious art dealer enters the picture and offers Addison one million dollars to break all of the rules of the Zone and retrieve something from deep within the hospital; the same hospital where her parents were last seen the night of the spill.

Battling her own demons as well as cats who whisper familiar words, flattened zones, and a demonic wolf straight out of a Little Red Riding Hood horror story, Addison must step up and protect her sister at whatever cost. Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld is a nail biting adventure in post disaster danger, parenting, and self-discovery and sits perfectly alongside books like the Divergent series, The Maze Runner series, and even the Gone series. 

Savvy B. is an avid Young Adult fiction superfan. 

Savvy's Reviews will be archived here, so you can catch up on all her thoughts on her latest reads.