After Life by Gayle Forman

Reviewed by Phoebe N. Grade 12

After Life by Gayle Forman entails the familial grieving process of a teenage girl named Amber Crane. With the anticipation a January 25th, 2025 release, the story follows Amber Crane coming back from the dead. She doesn’t remember how she died and can’t seem to comprehend the fact that she has been dead for seven years at first. Amber slowly starts to understand that her passing left a huge impact on all her loved ones: her family dynamic, friends’ betrayals, and the revealed secrets of the neighborhood. She now has to accept all the new changes that accumulated throughout the seven years of her being gone and mend the broken relationships along the way.

Despite the fictional element of the main character coming back to life from the dead, this book was very light-hearted and contained many deep reflective thoughts on realistic family expectations, image, empathy, love, and status, allowing readers to relate to the characters. The pace of the book is fairly slow, but secrets begin to reveal a little at a time through the perspective of different characters. Each chapter ends with a slight cliff hanger, which doesn’t resolve until a couple chapters later on.

One unique aspect of this novel I particularly enjoyed was the structure of how the story unfolds. Aside from being narrated by multiple characters, the chapters jump from the present time to seven years before the death of Amber Crane, four years after her death, and even 29 years before when Amber’s parents first met. This adds more depth to the level of intimacy and background context to each member of her family. On top of that, the mini plot twist at the end left a pleasant surprise that perfectly tied the emotional component of the overall story together.

Going into this book, I expected it to be more of a mystery or thriller novel. However, it seemed more like a YA coming-of-age fiction that trailed the self discovery of a teenage girl and the community around her. Gayle Forman also did an excellent job in delivering the message of life's significance and how we should treasure our lives as well as the people in them. Full of regrets, sad, joyful, and soulful moments, After Life takes readers on an emotional and touching roller coaster. I would highly recommend this book to those who prefer light, wholehearted, or philosophical cordial reads. Forman’s writing style is definitely easy to grasp, and I am excited to check out her other YA works such as If I Stay and We Are Inevitable, which are both currently available at the Winter Park Library.

*Coming soon to WPL! This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

Here Lies a Vengeful B**** by Codie Crowley

by Phoebe N.
Grade 12

Here Lies a Vengeful B**** is a mystery YA novel by Codie Crowley. To be published on August 24, 2024, the book follows Annie Lane who died and came back to life. The only problem? She doesn’t remember who killed her. Between her deadbeat ex and his friends or her always-stoned mom, her reckless and over-confident behavior made her an extremely easy victim of murder. Annie Lane tracks down all the possible suspects and tries to recollect the missing memories of what happened the night she was killed.

This book was filled with many plot twists involving countless other murder cases intertwined with Annie Lane’s that readers might never see coming. The story-telling captivates the reader and forces them to be wary of every side character, giving a sense of distrust and suspicion. However, the beginning of the novel was very slow-paced. Originally, I didn’t enjoy the supernatural aspect of the plot as it kind of conflicted with the realistic components of the story. But the writing was phenomenal and extremely enticing. Each scene is elaborate and detailed, allowing the readers to immerse themselves into the storyline and imagery. Additionally, everything accelerates towards the end, so despite the slow build-up in the beginning chapters, I found myself zooming through the ending chapters non-stop. 

Codie Crowley does a fairly good job at misleading the readers and convincing them to rule out a suspect amongst the characters which I found had further developed the suspense of the story. The romantic element in this novel is somewhat prominent and pleasant. To some extent, the relationship between the main character and the main love interest is realistic and relatable in the sense that teens experience flings and romantic attractions every now and then. Told in Annie Lane’s perspective, the readers get to experience her character development and self-realization as she reflects upon her troubled upbringing and bold personality. 

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a mix of realism and supernatural/fantasy. Although it may seem uneventful at first, the story picks up in the second half and everything comes together. I would also recommend this book to those who enjoy murder mysteries. As a reader, the intricate story-telling of this book made me feel like a detective. I am definitely excited for when this book gets released and wishing the best of luck to Codie Crowley for her debut novel! I think many teens would like this novel when it hits the shelves of the Winter Park Library. 

Librarian note: Thank you to Hyperion for sending the Teen Book Guild an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Reviewed by Grace H.

Grade 11

Belladonna is a gripping, spooky fantasy containing a thrilling murder mystery. The highly Gothic setting of the novel draws the reader into a realm of ballroom dancing, manors, and destruction. The descriptive writing and creepy atmosphere advance the plot with many twists and turns.

When Signa Farrow, a 19-year-old orphan, is once again relocated to a different guardian after her aunt dies, she finds herself thrown into the wealthy yet odd Hawthorne household. From a young age, Signa has possessed extraordinary powers. Not only is Signa able to see and interact with spirits, but she is also immortal. No matter how close she comes to Death, Signa consistently evades it. So when the ghost of the late matriarch, Lillian Hawthorne, finds Signa living with the Hawthornes and declares that she was poisoned, it is up to Signa to catch the murderer—quickly, for Lillian's daughter, Blythe Hawthorne, is also being poisoned. Signa becomes engrossed in a whirlwind of clues, discovering a secret side to her new guardians. Signa also enlists the help of Death himself, who always seems to be near her, and he teaches her the ropes of immortality. Death and Signa form a capable and captivating bond, working together to unearth the secrets of the Hawthornes and why someone close to them killed Lillian and is trying to claim Blythe's life as well.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace was a fascinating novel that drew me in with its gothic atmosphere and haunting mysteries. The novel had lots of tension as Signa and the other characters raced against the clock to catch the murderer and save Blythe's life. This mystery had the classic who-dunnit element, with many of the characters having suspicious qualities. This made me invested in the plot and excited for the resolution. One of the best-written parts of the book was Signa's character development. At the beginning of the novel, I found her to be whiny and naïve, but as the story progressed, she became much more mature and responsible, accepting herself for who she truly was. Death himself was also an intriguing character, and it was interesting to see how his and Signa's romance played out over the course of the book.

 Overall, I enjoyed the eerie fantasy setting of "Belladonna", as well as the mystery component, and I would definitely recommend this novel, especially to anyone who enjoys mysterious atmospheres. The themes of friendship and self-discovery also made it a captivating novel. This book is part of a series, and the second book, Foxglove comes out on August 2023. The cliffhanger ending of Belladonna will surely convince readers to pick up the second addition to the series, but it can also be read as a standalone, as the first mystery is completely resolved at the end. 

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Reviewed by Isabella T.
Grade 9

You always have the power of choice, even when those choices seem limited.

Never forget that.

What would you choose? Team up with a Prince of Hell to avenge your sister, or leave the stones unturned and spent the rest of your days wondering what happened? This clever and brave witch doesn’t have the luxury of asking the difficult questions that could put her family at risk. But when she meets Wrath, a magnetic Prince of Hell who seems to have all the answers; she might just have a way to solve her sister’s murder and save the witches from the perpetrator.

Kerri Maniscalco’s Kingdom of the Wicked follows witch Emilia DiCarlo and her family. The Dicarlo family comes from a long line of witches. Her nonna, mother, and twin sister Vittoria are all witches. Emilia and Vittoria grew up hearing stories about The Wicked from their nonna, always warning them that they should stay as far away from them as possible. Vittoria was the opposite of Emilia, always on a mission and chasing adventures. Emilia loved to read and cook. When Vittoria didn’t show up for dinner one night at her family’s restaurant, Emilia worries that something might have happened to her. Emilia vowed that she wouldn’t rest when her body is found, until she apprehended her beloved sister’s killer. Emilia didn’t know that a series of murders have been occurring in Sicily, and all happened to be witches. Wrath is tasked with finding the killer, and when Emilia realizes they have the same goals, a partnership between them might get them both what they wanted. But is Wrath really on her side?

One of my favorite things about this book is that Maniscalco managed to include essential Italian cultural factors. Whenever we read a book that is settled in a place where we are unfamiliar with its culture, I think the author must provide the reader with background information. Simple things like going to the market, or specific words in Italian, and the recipes she cooked, and the dynamic with her family at their restaurant gave me a better understanding of the main character’s life. It is also one reason many people read and learn about different cultures, and it is significant that even though fantasy or fiction books, we can still learn about things like that. Another point of interest in this book is character growth. I am a firm believer that a great book has at least one dynamic character. That means that the character undergoes a change, specifically growth, or manages to conquer their main issue. Even though a character coming out of their comfort zone is a popular trope, it can significantly enhance the plot when executed well. As Emilia embarks on this adventure, she tries to be more like her departed sister and take risks. Risks are a big part of achieving her goal. Her power and the need for vengeance create the perfect equation for finally becoming the best version of herself. One that can help her avenge her sister.

Readers who enjoy supernatural creatures, enemies to lovers, or solving mysteries will enjoy this book. If you have read Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper, Tracy Deonn's Legendborn, or Shea Ernshaw's The Wicked Deep, you will enjoy this novel.

Maniscalco plans to publish a sequel to this book, Kingdom of the Cursed, which will be published in October of this year. 

Dead Boy by Laurel Gale

Reviewed by Andy P.
Grade 10

It was a normal day, same as any, until he died. After that, nothing was the same. His flesh started rotting, and he got infested with maggots. He stunk so bad that the neighbors moved out. He wasn't allowed to go outside and had no friends.

This is what happened to 11-year-old Crow Darlingson. He was just playing around in his room when he suddenly died. His parents wished him back to life, but the wish didn't go as planned. Instead, he ended up /un/dead. After he died, his mom homeschooled him, and as he didn't have any friends and didn't have to eat, he could just study all day and aced all the tests. However he stunk, and when it was too hot, he stunk even more. That's why his neighbors moved out when the AC broke. However, when his new neighbors moved in, he finally had a chance to make a friend. This friend was Melody Plympton, a girl about the same age as Crow. Melody fully believed in magic,
and not just plain old card tricks. She believed that fairies were real and had abducted her mother. When they learn that there is a wish-granting creature underneath the local park that brought Crow back to life, Crow has a
chance to come back to life for real. However, there is a series of tests that you have to pass to get a wish, and you only ever get one wish. When the monster, called the Meera, abducts Melody's "friends" from school, they are forced to go and confront the Meera. They saved one of their friends, but as they didn't know that the other friends got kidnapped too, they went to get their wishes. They find out that their friend got cursed by the Meera. Now Crow is faced with a tough decision. Does he save Luke, the friend, from the Meera's curse, or does he save himself?

The author does a great job describing the characters of the story. She shows Melody's interest in magic, Crow's deadness, and Luke and Travis's cruelness. For example, on page 92, she shows Luke and Travis throwing firecrackers at a little rabbit. She also does an excellent job on describing the tests the characters have to go through. However, the main conflict isn't very clear until the end.

All in all, I would recommend Dead Boy to anyone in general. This book is about friendship and loyalty, two subjects anyone can understand. I liked this book because of the message it tries to show and also because the characters are very likable. Even though there wasn't much action, there was a great deal of puzzle solving. What would you do if you were in Crow's position?

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Reviewed by Rafael V.
Grade 6

What if the crazy unrealistic stories your grandpa used to tell you turn out
to be true? What if you were not like the rest of human civilization?

Jacob Portman was a normal boy, except for the fact that he was peculiar. He
was scared when he saw his grandpa be killed by a monster only he could see.
His grandpa's last words were to find the bird in the loop on the other side
of old man's grave, September 3, 1940. What could this possibly mean? Was it
a man that could tell him his grandpa's story, or a place, revealing all his
secrets? He finally made up his mind and he visited the island that his
grandpa told him about. When he finally got to the orphanage, it was
deserted, like no one had lived there for over one hundred years. As three
weeks go by he starts to discover secrets about the orphanage and the kids
who lived there. With these clues Jacob discovers his grandpa's secrets and
how the orphans who lived there might have been dangerous.

The plot of this story is interesting because it is about discovering who you
are. In the book Jacob, the protagonist, discovers the secrets his grandpa
kept and why he is peculiar. Also it is interesting because of the
characters it holds. There is Emma, who can make fire with her hands,
Millard, who is invisible, or Enoch, who can bring the dead back to life for
short periods of time. These characters are unique and have special abilities
humans will never be able to wield.

I would recommend this book due to one reason--Miss Peregrine's Home for
Peculiar Children shows that even if you are a social outcast, or if people
call you weird, there will be a place in the world for you.

Spoiler Alert Mini Review: A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz

A History of Glitter and Blood
Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies.

But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected.

Spoiler Alert reviewer: Savannah

1=No. Just, no. 2=It's OK. 3=I liked it. 4=I really liked it. 5=It was EPIC!

The Book Itself
How well designed was the plot? 5
How vivid was the setting? 4
How believable were the characters and the dialog? 5
How well did the book hold your interest? 5
How well did the author's language add to the book? 5
How well did the writing match the books intended audience? 4

Worldwide
Rank this book's mass appeal. 4
How readable was this book? 5
How pleasurable will reading this book be to most teens? 4

Personal
How highly would you recommend this book? 5
How likely are you to read something else by this author? 3
How memorable was this book? 4
How did you feel about the ending? 3
If you did not finish, how did you feel about the beginning? finished it
How creative was this book? 5

Marketing
Rank the cover (only if the final cover version has been released).
How well does the cover match the story? 4
Rank the jacket blurb. 3
Rank the title. 3
How well does the title match the story? 4
Stopping point in the book? Finished

Tell us what you thought of the book overall:

In one word: Unique

Tell us what you really did not like about this book: First few chapters confusing; no character development until later

Pick 5 words to describe this book: Fast paced, original, different, fantasy, adventure

Dark Companion by Marta Acosta

Reviewed by Caroline C.
Grade 11

When she was a little girl, Jane nearly died. Ever since then she doesn't remember what happened to her prior to waking up in the hospital. She’s been an orphan ever since that day, and she’s trying to fix her life by attending a boarding school on a scholarship. What she doesn't expect is that going from the streets to a nice and comfortable life won’t be as easy as she initially thought.

Jane gets a scholarship to a boarding school for girls. She is quickly introduced to a life she’s never had, one full of riches and fantasies. School is going well, she has a great friend group, and she falls for the principal’s son who she’s tutoring. She discovers soon that something’s off about the town; a woman committed suicide last year and the previous scholarship student mysteriously moved away with her uncle. She slowly discovers that this great new life of hers isn't what it seems.

I loved the characters. I became irritated with some of the choices made by the main character, Jane, but this made her more realistic. Also, I adored Jack, one of the love interests. He’s an extremely lovable, funny, and sweet character from the first time he appears, when he almost runs over Jane with his bike, to the end of the story. The plot was very interesting and intriguing. Discovering the town’s secrets was extremely enjoyable and some of the surprises behind the deaths of certain characters shocked me.

Dark Companion was a great novel with very lovable characters. It is somewhat a generic paranormal romance, and if you aren't into this genre I don't recommend this. However, if paranormal romance is your thing, I highly recommend this because the love interests are great characters and the plot turns are extremely shocking at times. If you are a fan of The House of Night series and The Vampire Diaries this book is definitely for you.

I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy

Reviewed by Stacia M.
Grade 6

Sherry has another mystery! Her stepmom, AKA The Ruler, has a stalker. Sherry and her ghost mom try to solve the mystery, but when the stalker starts leaving clues that just don't seem to fit together, they both start wondering--will we ever catch him?

Sherry's mom is a ghost. Her mom was a cop and got killed on the job the year before. But they she came back to talk to Sherry and help with the mystery of The Ruler's stalker. If Sherry and her mom solve the mystery, her mom can come back into human form for five minutes.

My favorite character in the book is Sherry. She's very curious and determined. For example, every time a clue was set and discovered, she wondered about it and tried harder and harder [to figure it out]. She wouldn't rest until the mystery was solved. She wanted her mom to return for five minutes so badly.

I would definitely recommend I So Don't Do Spooky. The author's style in this book is a mix of a kid-friendly ghost story, some fiction, and some non-fiction.