Young Adult | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Summer of Haint Blue by Jimmie Martinez

Author Jimmie Martinez captures the raw, beautiful, and painful truths of both the rural and urban South during the 1960s in his YA novel, Summer of Haint Blue. A long-form narrative study on race relations and a deep dive into that tumultuous decade, this novel is draped with Spanish moss and bayou personality, which help to top-dress the strong and compelling plot.

Told through the eyes of Justin Couvillion, a teenage boy coming to terms with his own family history and their Cajun roots, while also trying to understand the racism so embedded in Louisiana, even in his own […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-06-14T07:58:33+02:00June 13th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Coming Of Age, Jimmie Martinez, Young Adult|

Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend by Jacob Paul Patchen

Jacob Paul Patchen transports readers to a smoky and unexpected American battlefield in Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend, a bold YA American dystopia.

After the attack came the invasion, when the men, women and teens were scooped up by black-fatigued men and shipped off to prison camps. The children left behind, however, have found a way to survive, and a leader to follow. Young James is not only an excellent storyteller, but also a fierce warrior, a natural survivor, and a pretty good leader, especially because he never expected to be at war as a 12-year-old in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-15T09:55:50+02:00February 15th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Dystopian Fiction, Young Adult|

Headless 1776 by Tom Schneider

A haunting origin story, Headless 1776 by Tom Schneider is a wildly imaginative YA novel for those who love a good mix of fact and fiction.

A young boy named Elijah loses his last real connection to family on the way to a new life during the early years of the Revolutionary War. What he encounters in his new home leads to a riveting and unexpectedly good ghost story. This occasionally gory and fast-paced piece of historical fiction is engaging from the first page, as readers are introduced to a savage mercenary who has since become a headless legend, thanks […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-10T08:03:52+02:00February 10th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction, Horror, Tom Schneider, Young Adult|

Review: This Was Always About Basketball by Craig Leener

Author Craig Leener hits nothing but net in the third and final installment of his Zeke Archer Trilogy with This Was Always About Basketball. Perfectly balancing young adult drama with time-traveling fantasy, this novel is a thrilling, heartwrenching, and mind-bending read.

Diving back into the strange science of the 7th Dimension, and with help from his unusual and darkly humorous sidekick Lawrence, Zeke Archer once again finds himself facing impossible odds. After his archenemy Brock Decker finds a way to travel back in time and change the history of basketball, Zeke must tap into sacred geometry and the secrets […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-23T06:39:06+02:00January 19th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Craig Leener, Sports, Time Travel, YA Fantasy, Young Adult|

Review: The Pebble Champion by Alan David Pritchard

Author Alan David Pritchard delves deep into trauma and loss, as well as identity and self-discovery in his new novel, The Pebble Champion, a stirring tale of sadness and self-discovery.

After the tragic loss of his mother, 15-year-old Chris Elliot finds his world turned upside-down, and his sense of home torn asunder. This novel traces his path forward, and details the nuances of teenage life and development with remarkably clear and agonizing accuracy. Not only is the story touching, but also widely relatable; though no reader will have experienced exactly the same struggles, the humanity on display as Chris […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-02-26T13:57:33+02:00December 18th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Alan David Pritchard, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult|

Katie: The Daughter Of by EM Green

A clever, thought-provoking, and unpredictable story of life as the teenage daughter of a grim reaper, Katie: The Daughter Of by EM Green is an original YA adventure.

Katie Death is used to her father being Immortal, and technically dead, but after countless moves, she is ready to find some sense of normalcy and connection. This amusing high school drama is predictable in certain ways – the struggles of fitting in, developing a crush, finding a tribe – but Katie also has to deal with the cosmic battles of good and evil that are commonplace under her roof. Bolstered by […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-17T02:54:51+02:00December 17th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Young Adult|

Prosper by Lindsay Schuster

Lindsay Schuster delivers a stirring coming-of-age novel with Prosper, the first in an ongoing series of standout YA writing.

Jenny, Stephanie, Amy and Kaila must navigate both the trials and trifles of high school, while also managing their own troubled lives, and more unexpected responsibilities than any 16-year-olds should bear. Highlighting the strength of sisterhood, overlapping emotional journeys and the critical importance of support systems in our lives, this is a novel not only about overcoming, but about becoming.

The variation in points of view provides a comprehensive perspective for readers, and intimate access to the experiences of each […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-10-21T02:07:10+02:00October 21st, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Coming Of Age, Young Adult|

Review: Dragon’s Mist by Randy Cruts, Art by Marco Cosentino

Author Randy Cruts and artist Marco Cosentino deliver a wickedly entertaining YA graphic novel in Dragon’s Mist, an unexpectedly riveting ride through the imagination of a young boy, Charlie. Imaginary friends and epic quests are a staple of childhood, making this book deeply relatable for young readers, and nostalgia-inducing for older ones.

After a chance encounter with an Irish priest – a water-loving cousin of dragons – Charlie’s imagination springs to life, spinning out an entire world of adventures to explore. The regular introduction of new characters, from god-like guardians and titanic best friends to shape-shifting villains and avian […]