Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2023) Featured Review of Daughters of a Dead Empire by Carolyn Tara O’Neil

Daughters of a Dead Empire by Carolyn Tara O’Neil
Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: February 22, 2022
ISBN: 9781250755544

Anastasia Romanov is the sole survivor of the slaughter of Russia’s royal family at the hands of the Bolshevik Red Army. Anastasia knows she must get to safety before the Red Army realizes she is not among the dead and tracks her down to finish the job. Anastasia enlists the reluctant help of a teen Bolshevik villager named Evgenia and, in spite of their differences, the two form an uneasy alliance as the Red Army closes in.

Continue reading Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2023) Featured Review of Daughters of a Dead Empire by Carolyn Tara O’Neil

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2023) Featured Review of Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Imprint: Salaam Reads
Release date: April 19, 2022
ISBN: 9781534494558

One year ago, Najwa Bakri’s best friend, Trina Lowe, collapsed during a Scrabble Tournament. Fast forward one year. Najwa returns to compete, determined to win Trina’s title and heal herself. With Trina aka “Queen of the Tiles gone, the title is up for grabs. All bets are off when Trina’s Inactive Instagram account begins posting cryptic messages. The messages suggest that Trina’s death was not accidental and someone at the tournament may be responsible.

Continue reading Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2023) Featured Review of Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2020) Nominees Round Up, April 12 Edition

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf
Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1534426085 

When a race riot between the Malays and Chinese breaks out in 1969 Malaysia, Melati, who is Malay, must survive while overcoming her OCD and searching for her mother. She is aided by a Chinese family, forming a bond with them and, particularly, their teenage son Vince.

Continue reading Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2020) Nominees Round Up, April 12 Edition