Reviewed by OHS Student, Rory C.

Robin Wasley’s novel, “Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear,” was an imaginative masterpiece with such a thoughtful and meaningful plot filled with wonderful characters that is definitely worth every reader’s attention. In her crazy town full of magic, Sid Spencer has always been normal until a guardian of the magic in town is killed, leaving her to join other extraordinary guardians and fight to make things right. The captivating, constantly growing, and interesting plot truly makes the story even more charming than it already is. The imagery present in the novel is also extremely detailed and well-written; every scene felt as though you were with the characters as well.

I really loved how well the characters were written. Every character was human with flaws, regrets, mistakes, etc. They felt real and not superficial. They all had things to add to the story and push events forward in various ways. Every character was important with their unique differences. It was wonderful to read and connect to as it truly resonated with me a lot. I also loved the message of the novel. It is such a beautiful and amazing message that I think everyone should hear and remember. The imagery and details were also astounding and captivated me whenever I read a scene. Overall, the novel felt inspiring and truly meaningful to me.

At first, I will admit, I did not really like the novel at the start (though that definitely changed as it progressed). It was confusing at first and a little boring as I had not really found a reason to care about it specifically. This led it to being a novel that I had a hard time getting into but once I did, it was amazing. Also, a fantasy novel being confusing at first happens all the time so I do not think that is a true negative aspect to the book. Besides that, I think sometimes the pacing up to the point of the reveal of certain important things was a little off. I don’t know if it’s just me but it never really felt that suspenseful or jaw-dropping when it seemed like it should’ve been. This made some reveals be a little less satisfactory for me.

Anyone who enjoys fantasy and emotional roller-coasters in novels should read this book. I think it will satisfy and go beyond each of your standards when it comes to fantasy.

Astrid Skarsgard is leading as normal of a life as a teenager can with Crohn’s disease during her Senior year in Stockholm, when her beloved grandmother, with whom her father forbade communication, goes missing. She finally has leverage to force her father to bring her back to her hometown of Unden, but instead of closure, the homecoming raises more questions than answers: why is no one looking for Amma; and, why is no one mourning. Following clues to reunite with her grandmother, Astrid first meets … or reunites with the feared draugr, Soren, who she accidentally awakens from a centuries-long sleep. Their instant magnetic draw to one another provides a welcome tension for readers as the story follows the improbable couple into Tiveden, a forest dangerously haunted with the aftermath of her family’s blood oath. More questions are raised and secrets discovered and it is up to Astrid to reconcile her beliefs about her family and her attraction to Soren, the monster of her grandmother’s stories. Norse mythology is woven throughout and provides a backdrop for readers to consider ethical questions of good v. evil and contemplate altering values for love. The tense chemistry between Astrid and Soren will keep readers turning pages as they quest for answers. The story is best enjoyed at a surface-level read; while clearly fiction, it is at times inconsistent and many answers are merely stated rather than explained. Fortunately, the plot twists and fraught romance are favorable for a quick read! 

Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee is a page-turning thriller that will have you guessing until the very end! May, Gemma, and Peony are three sisters in LA’s1920’s Chinatown who discover a famous movie star was murdered! The police arrest the wrong man, so it’s up to the sisters to solve the case. The book gives beautiful arcs to the sisters that both rounds out their characters and adds realism to the novel. Even readers who are not typically interested in mysteries or thrillers will find this book enjoyable because of the characters. The mystery element is lacking throughout as there is little suspense and build-up; however, the character development makes it a worthwhile read. Overall, Kill Her Twice is an enjoyable read that will leave you rooting for the sisters and their journeys! Recommended.

Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir, written by Walela Nehanda, is an eye-widening description of battling cancer written in verse. Nehanda captivates the true and ugly reality of their cancer journey while facing issues of racism, relationships, and representation. Each poetic page remained transparent and raw with emotion. Some readers may find that certain shared aspects of the writer’s journey were more descriptive than others, or that it would feel as though the reader is jumping through the timeline.  On the other hand, it may also be interpreted as to-the-point and purposeful for their memoir, as they’ve been deemed significant to share in that manner. Walela Nehanda’s living memoir welcomes the readers with its poetic nature, filled with honest, vulgar, and captivating language that reminds each reader about the fragility of life. Highly recommended.

Playing for Keeps, written by Jennifer Dugan, is a queer romantic story that follows two individuals, Ivy and June, both of which are thoroughly involved with baseball. June is a pitcher. Ivy is an umpire. What could go wrong? Readers will witness their relationship blossom through easy and hard times while trying to accede to the expectations of those around them. With chapters alternating between the characters sharing their internal and external conflicts, each girl will try to build their secret relationship because being out could bring assumptions of bias to their sport. The plot is driven by a large amount of conversational dialogue, however, a lot of readers will find this to be captivating and dramatic. Playing for Keeps was a great fictional read with the anticipation of “firsts” in a relationship and an overall heartfelt storyline, making it recommended for young adults. 

The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers, written by Adam Sass, was a fun and very witty queer romantic story that was fully engaging and page-turning. The story holds an authentic voice as it follows a young man lives vicarously through his Instagram account as he builds up the confidence to ask his new crush out for a date, only for it to unveil difficult emotions and untimely situations for this art-inspired main character. The story was humorous, climatic, and paced very well from start to finish. Readers can appreciate the building tension as teenagers fight inner emotions wrapped around fear of loss and fear of true love. The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers can be recommended for young adult readers who like light-hearted romances. 

In my opinion, Wild Dreamers is an amazing book. It’s about a Cuban American girl named Ana, she and her mother have been living out of their car after her father’s name popped up on the FBI’s most wanted list. They were hiding her from her father after he was wanted for domestic terrorism. But, wild dreamers is a story of two teens, both of which are facing significant challenges in their lives. Leonardo and his family escape Cuba on a raft but he struggles with panic attacks ever since his father drowned on their journey. When Ana and Leondardo meet it’s like a Kindle being lit, but meeting again feels uncertain. When they join new schools -the same school- they bond on their mission to save animals, including Pumas. Overall, Wild Dreamers is a sad story with sparks of hope. The writing is lyrical and magical, benefiting this novel in verse.  – 9th grade THS student