I can't remember how many young adult books I read in 2025, but there were just three books that stood out to me. The White Lotus I've recommended The White Lotus to more readers than I can count! A powerful work of historical fiction, what makes it stand out is the way in which the feisty protagonist Arali stands out without seeming oddly anachronistic. She develops slowly and believable, with circumstances shaping ehr character. Although I don't read mystery much, everything about the story drew me in--the sensitive storytelling, the believable characters, and the compelling plot. Book review With the Fire on High Elizabeth Acevedo's storytelling is stunning. I love how she tackles difficult subjects head-on, layering courage with love as she touches upon a range of themes. With the Fire on High is about a … [Read more...]
Top 16 Middle-Grade Books – 2025
SIXTEEN middle-grade books stood out to me last year! When I looked at my list, I did a quick count of how many books I read in all. I lost count at sixty! Of course, that includes picture books and chapter books that make for quicker reads. Here's my list, beginning with the books I gave five stars and then moving to those with 4.5. Willodeen What can one say about Katherine Applegate's writing that hasn't been said before? Willodeen is a stunning book, richly textured and beautifully detailed. It's a work of fantasy that brilliantly touches upon ideas and themes that are relevant to our very real world. Through hummingbears and screechers, she shows us what havoc we're wreaking on the world around us. Book review Gossamer Gossamer by Lois Lowry is another gorgeous book. I often find myself thinking that I … [Read more...]
A Drop of Golden Sun
I remember reading Five Children on the Western Front several years ago, and if I remember right, I enjoyed it. The idea of writing about characters I had encountered in another book was fascinating, and perhaps that was what drew me into the book in the first place. With A Drop of Golden Sun, I was intrigued by the idea of a book inspired by the making of The Sound of Music, a movie I've always loved. While the parallels are clear, author Kate Saunders writes instead about a film called The Music Makers, with the Daudet family at its centre. In many ways, A Drop of Golden Sun is an old-fashioned story. Slow paced and anecdotal, it immerses us in Jenny's world, as she and her film siblings navigate through life, the filmmaking world, and a variety of eccentric and sometimes frightening people. I thoroughly enjoyed this story with its multi-faceted characters, and I liked how the … [Read more...]
Doubles: Peace Pulao/The Forbidden Snacks Society
After Flipped, which you can read both ways, HarperCollins brings you Doubles--two stories written by two authors, based on one theme--food. Quite apart from the joy of the format, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories! Peace Pulao Peace Pulao by Vibha Batra is set in the fictitious city of Pasinabad. It tells an age-old story of rivalry, enmity and secrets--but with a twist at the end. In Vibha's signature colourful style, Peace Pulao sparkles with similes, most of which are about food. With the two young protagonists, we meet a range of characters who are larger than life, from Inspector Chulbul to the don Badke Bhaiya. High drama, humour and food come together to make this story a pacy read. The mystery is wholly satisfying, but I couldn't help wondering - what next? And this was something I felt about The Forbidden Snacks Society too! The Forbidden Snacks … [Read more...]
Merci Suárez Changes Gears
Merci is the only one in her class who lives with her whole family. Grandparents, parents, brother, cousins, aunt--they all live together. They aren't poor, perhaps, but they definitely don't go vacationing in fancy places, unlike her classmate, the popular Edna. Almost against her will, though, Merci wants Edna to like her. She wants to fit in, and in middle school, that seems more difficult than ever because suddenly, everything seems to have changed. Merci Suárez Changes Gears is a gently told story that takes us through one school term. With Merci, we experience the highs and lows of middle school, the struggles with group projects, and difficult decisions that need to be made to balance school and family. As we get to know Merci's family and schoolmates, I was impressed by how full formed each character is. Each one has quirks and a distinct personality, something that's often … [Read more...]
No Matter the Distance
No Matter the Distance by Cindy Baldwin left me with such a mix of emotions! I almost didn't finish the book because the middle was a little draggy. But verse tends to keep me reading, and the burgeoning relationship between a girl and a dolphin was promising, so I persevered ... and I really liked how the book turned out. Penny has cystic fibrosis, which forces her to lead a life that is far from normal. Hospital visits and medication are not unusual, and what's irritating is how many people tell her that she's lucky. She's lucky to have got so far. She's lucky not to have it worse. But Penny doesn't feel lucky. Not when she's the only almost-twelve-year-old in her school sitting in hospital instead of school. The weaving together of storylines makes No Matter the Distance an interesting read. One storyline traces Penny's attempt to write a poem about what she knows about … [Read more...]
The Battle for Baramulla
The Battle for Baramulla, the latest book in the Songs of Freedom series takes us to 1947 Kashmir. The maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir wants his kingdom to remain independent. But when there are attacks from the northwest frontier, is staying independent really an option? The Battle for Baramulla begins slowly. I took a while to get into the story because the protagonist Zooni seems like a bystander, giving us a glimpse of how the world around her functions, but doing little else. One by one, we meet a range of characters, including Chandra, whose name means the same as Zooni's--the moon. It is when a pregnant Chandra returns to a charged Baramulla that the story picks up. Before we know it, we're sucked into a world of violence, terror and betrayal, and we cannot stop reading. Whom can Zooni trust? And what if her trust is misplaced? I tore through the story, caught up in … [Read more...]
A Girl, a Tiger and a Very Strange Story
A Girl, a Tiger and a Very Strange Story begins slowly. We see Junglee, a wild child. She is faster than all the others, and she can’t sit still—except when the stillness comes over her. As I turned the first few pages, I wondered where the book would take me. Once I got into Junglee's world, though, there was no stopping me. I was moved to tears more than once as I marvelled at Paro Anand’s magnificent writing and Priya Kuriyan’s exquisite art. The book is a stunning read that beautifully reflects the wonder of the world around us. Told from two perspectives—that of Junglee, a Pardhi girl, and Raunaq, a tiger cub—A Girl, a Tiger and a Very Strange Story plays with form beautifully. Words tell Junglee’s story, while pictures tell Raunaq’s. The way the two are woven together is simply gorgeous. I do wish, though, that the pattern had been retained right through! In the third … [Read more...]
Queen of Water
I’ve been waiting to read Queen of Water, the fourth book in Devika Rangachari’s Queen books! I just finished reading it, and it didn’t disappoint. While I did enjoy Queen of Ice and Queen of Fire more, this one also drew me into a world of political intrigue, mistrust and loyalty, where women must fight their own quiet battles to be seen and heard. Queen of Water takes us back to the Chola dynasty, introducing to us Kundavai, the one who advised both Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra. We see the world through her eyes as she observes things playing out around her. Wilful and determined, her character comes alive to us. What sacrifices did she make to become the powerhouse she was? How did she balance her loyalty to her family with her newfound love? Just like with the other three books in the series, it is remarkable how human Kundavai and the others seem in this work of … [Read more...]
You Bring the Distant Near
You Bring the Distant Near has been on my TBR for a few years now. Yet, I never got around to reading it because I often don't enjoy sagas that span generations. The cover says, 'Five girls. Three generations. One great American love story.' I wondered if I wanted to read a book spanning generations. Plus, the cover made me wonder if I would be reading yet another American immigration story. I suppose the answer is 'yes and no'. It is an immigration story, yes, but it is both simpler and more nuanced than many others that I've read. You Bring the Distant Near is about finding your place in the world, whether or not your identity spans continents. In some ways, it's simplistic because it feels like finding your "happily ever after" is a straightforward, uncomplicated journey. Yet, the very simplicity of it was a breath of fresh air. I liked that it was not charged and … [Read more...]
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