South Milwaukee Public Library Staff Reviews

Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure by Lewis Hancox Genre: Young Adult Graphic Novel In this graphic novel, Lewis Hancox takes us on the path he took to make it past trauma, confusion, hurt, and dubious fashion choices in order to become the man he was meant to be. I loved the way this one was written with future Lewis beside his past self reassuring the reader that everything worked out in the end. It helped keep everything light and enjoyable. Too often I find myself getting sad when reading trans stories because they tend to get really dark until their transition. Future Lewis made that discomfort easier to bear.  I really enjoyed the art style for this one as well. - Emily

Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho Genre: Young Adult Fiction Instead of going to prom, seventeen-year-old Elena Soo wants to spend her time saving the local community center, and she is determined to keep her priorities straight even when her childhood best friend--who is now   a   K-pop superstar--returns to make good on their old pact to go to prom together. What a cute, easy read. I loved how Cho discussed the difficulties behind being a K-Pop star. It isn't something that many fans know about when it comes to their favorite K-Pop groups. The ending was super predictable but I wasn't mad about it! There's something about a fairy tale ending that I love... - Emily

It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover Genre: Adult Fiction Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again.  I read through t his book so furiously. As always, Colleen Hoover is an easy, enjoyable read. I really liked learning more about Atlas' past and meeting his mother. Finally, we have a cute Lily + Atlas ending!  - Emily

  Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf Genre: Young Adult Fiction Fifteen-year-old Najwa Bakri is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend and Scrabble Queen, Trina, a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.  I never thought a Scrabble tournament could be so eventful... It gets a little ridiculous at the end but I was so engaged throughout that I didn't mind. Definitely a solid read with a sprinkle of mystery throughout!  - Emily

  White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson Genre: Young Adult Fiction Believing her new home to actually be alive, especially when her brother almost dies, Marigold and her new blended family won't be safe until she brings the truth to light once and for all.  I couldn't put this one down - I was so transfixed by Marigold, the eerie things happening around the house, and all of the spooky lore surrounding her new home of Cedarville. The end was such a surprise I definitely did not see coming. The only fault is that there was no epilogue! I need to know what happened next! I'm really hoping for a sequel that will answer all of my questions... - Emily

    Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen Genre: Juvenile Fiction This graphic novel is about a garlic bulb who has anxiety but wants to be helpful and protect her friends. As unusual as it sounds, this book was so endearing I found myself smiling while reading it. Definitely a unique read that I will not soon forget!  - Emily

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado Genre: Young Adult Fiction Seventeen-year-old Kat Sanchez uses photos of a friend to create a fake Instagram account, but when one of her posts goes viral and exposes Kat's duplicity, her entire world--both real and pretend--comes crashing down around her. Twenty one-year-old Max Monroe has it all: beauty, friends, tons of followers on Instagram. Except it's all fake. Max is actually 17-year-old Kat Sanchez, a quiet and sarcastic, bisexual Puerto Rican teenager living in Bakersfield, California. Crystal Maldonado is fantastic at character development and storytelling. The pacing is a little slow in this one, but I didn't mind. I saw a lot of myself in Kat's character and it warmed my heart to see her gain confidence throughout the book - even if it was through a fake Instagram page.  - Emily