Young Adult Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Fanny Berk Strikes Back by Avi Luxenburg

An uplifting and original story about the power of heroism, discipline, and self-knowledge, Fanny Berk Strikes Back: The Misadventures of a Reluctant Hero by Avi Luxenburg is a hard-hitting YA novel layered with wisdom.

Fanny Berk is doing what she can to overcome the antisemitic horrors of her past, namely learning karate and avoiding the various predators and sharks that roam the halls of her high school. Her kindhearted instincts make it difficult to turn away from someone in need, and after unlocking a new realm of cognitive Flow, Fanny starts taking matters into her own hands. Relying more and […]

Review: Finding Frances by Kelly Vincent

A young woman transcends a tragic loss to uncover the truth about her own life in Finding Frances by Kelly Vincent, a gripping YA thriller from a masterful pen.

Stepping out of her sheltered life for the first time, Retta is nervous and eager for a normal high school experience, real friends, and the chance to literally run free on the cross-country team. Having lost her father and all four of her grandparents in a mysterious accident years earlier, Retta struggles under the weight of grief and isolation, but she begins to blossom in this new social soil.

However, unsatisfied […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-04-28T22:44:32+02:00April 2nd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|

The Clock in My Head Never Stops by Daniel Rush

A raw account of a teenage boy battling the relentless weight of anxiety, The Clock in My Head Never Stops by Daniel Rush is a relatable and detailed portrait of silent struggle.

Readers follow Billy’s steps through a typical day of high school, where he overthinks every step of the way, from nerve-wracking moments of class participation and awkward upperclassmen crushes to the self-doubt of team sports and emotional disconnection from seemingly oblivious parents. His unwanted and obsessive focus on time, expectations, potential disappointments, failures, or embarrassment goes beyond the typical worries of most teenagers, crossing into the realm of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-05T13:13:18+02:00November 5th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Keepers of the Light by Trevor A. Dutcher

A coming-of-age adventure shining a light on the goodness and grace that makes the world go round, The Keepers of the Light by Trevor A. Dutcher is a riveting new YA read, and an entertaining first book in the Logan LeVec series.

Logan LeVec is navigating all the perils of sixth-grade life, from persistent bullies and paralyzing crushes on his neighbor to clumsy lunchroom disasters and embarrassing oral reports, but his seemingly normal life is about to change in ways he never expected. Though Logan’s parents would never believe or approve, the wild stories that his grandfather has been telling […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-15T13:39:42+02:00October 15th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Evolution of Nora O’Brien Pacheco by Kevin O’Flaherty

An international coming-of-age novel, The Evolution of Nora O’Brien Pacheco by Kevin O’Flaherty tells the story of a brilliant and ambitious Basque girl whose life is upended by a startling revelation. Straightforwardly written, but still profound in its emotional scope, the novel can inspire young readers to achieve what they want in life, while also delving into important topics such as education, family, friendship, and grief.

Nora is a seventeen-year-old girl from Bilbao who, as the title suggests, is going through a time of great change not only in the plans she has for her own future, but also in […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-10-02T09:26:49+02:00September 6th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Ugly by Kelly Vincent

A raw and poignant exploration of a teenager’s quest for identity, Ugly by Kelly Vincent is a potent study of the harsh realities of high school social hierarchies and personal uncertainties.

At the heart of this contemporary YA novel is Nicole Summers, a fifteen-year-old from a small Oklahoma town who becomes the embodiment of anyone who has ever felt misunderstood or misplaced. Nicole, or Nic as she prefers, is not your typical high school protagonist – overweight and often cruelly labeled as an “ugly lesbian” despite her interest in boys, Nic’s challenges are compounded by her best and only friend […]

Jeyran Main2024-07-26T11:58:49+02:00June 13th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI+ Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Uglier by Kelly Vincent

In Uglier, Kelly Vincent captures the poignant journey of Nic Summers, a 16-year-old artist who dares to navigate the tumultuous waters of identity and acceptance in a new environment. As the second installment in Vincent’s powerful YA series, the novel not only continues the narrative of growth and self-discovery, but also deepens the exploration of pressing social issues faced by those who defy traditional gender norms.

Vincent’s protagonist, Nic, leaves the stifling confines of a small town in Oklahoma for a seemingly progressive private academy in suburban Oklahoma City. Nic’s expectations soar as she yearns for artistic growth and […]

Jeyran Main2025-04-02T12:37:42+02:00June 13th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI+ Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Last Refuge by Christina Bacilieri

In a once-magical realm now ruled by an iron fist, one young woman must liberate the forces within to change the world, and save those she loves, in The Last Refuge by Christina Bacilieri. A rebellious YA fantasy thriller with an apocalyptic edge, this first installment of the Stealing Sanctuary series is a stunning foundation for what’s to come.

Over a century ago, magic was outlawed and shuttered away behind the forbidden borders of Etabon by the Founding Ruling Board, who claimed that the elimination of magic would save the planet from constant war and an age of darkness. However, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-07T12:20:38+02:00March 29th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|