In The Solarium

  5/5  ⭐ Found family, a magical boarding school, and a missing friend. A perfect combination in this spooky YA graphic novel. Plus the incredible artwork is not to be missed.  This is one that caught my eye as I kept passing in the teen department at one of the libraries I work at. I then read the little summary and was hooked.  This story follows Abby as she learns one morning that the closest person she has to family has disappeared and feels that the school isn't doing enough in the search for her. And so takes it upon herself to discover what secrets this school has been hiding for years.  Accompanied by friends and a mysterious story from the schools past, they learn that the off-limits woods hold more than they expect when a similar story of a missing students comes up.  This was such an atmospheric and gorgeous graphic novel. And perfect for those looking for a more gothic meets dark academia story for the season.  Plus the characters...

5/5 ⭐ TBR: 8/16/22 Dark academia meets summer camp, and the vibes are immaculate. This LGBTQIA+ inclusive horror will bring the monsters into the daylight and make the reader rethink everything they thought they knew about the horror genre. With the genderfluid Mars and the rest of the Hive, each with their own purpose, this is one community... cult, that you don’t want to mess with. This is such a divine summer read, and I so enjoyed it! Thank you to Scholastic for access to the arc in exchange for an honest review. 7/27/22 *This review was previously posted on my Google Site.

4/5 ⭐ This is a cute and refreshing YA LGBT+ romance that takes real, unforgettable characters and an even more interesting plot. Meet Eleanor, a recluse and firm disbeliever in witchcraft working in a witchy souvenir shop in downtown Salem. After a chance encounter with Pix, a real-life witch, and some tarot-inspired help Eleanor is forced to flee her comfort zone and face the hurts of her past. If there is only one thing you take away from this review it needs to be this... Kate Scelsa has created some of the most realistic, relatable, and unforgettable characters. And not only that, she makes them face their truths and admit their wrongs. And learn from them. Not just behind the scenes but on the page. And I loved that. At first glance, I thought that this would be a lighthearted fantasy-esque story but it is so much more. While not fantasy at all, this story is so much more complex and intricate. And yes, there is some romance but this is much more of a coming-of-age and learning t...

5/5 ⭐ I really love the graphic novels that have been coming out these past few years and this one is no exception. I was so excited to read this when I saw the description and it kept me entranced from page one. I basically read it one sitting, I love Haley. She is probably my favorite character this year. She is dedicated, exciting, powerful, and also she is a POC. She is a hoot. I loved that she wasn't willing to change who she was because of the other characters' demands or expectations of her. Which we saw later on influence the others to step out of their assigned character roles into something else that they wanted to be or just to try. The plot may come off as outlandish and cheesy but when you really look at it, it's about more than trying to stop leaks in the universe and being who you are truly and also allowing yourself to explore who you are and who you might want to be. Which I think is something we take for granted and this story does a really good job of put...