Ziva the Great is a heartfelt picture book for older children about a Maine Coon cat learning to trust again and a quiet girl named Elsie who understands gentle things. Ziva is loving with her family but startles easily around new people-until Elsie arrives. The girl moves softly, speaks softly, and never frightens her.
Their friendship grows through small moments of closeness and calm. Together, they show young readers that healing takes time, trust can return, and even quiet hearts can find comfort again. Perfect for ages 8-12, this emotional animal story supports social-emotional learning (SEL) and is ideal for parents, teachers, counselors, and classrooms. Themes include emotional healing, resilience, friendship, overcoming fear, and the bond between children and animals.
Review
“Ziva the Great” is a well-crafted picture book that captures the life of a Maine Coon cat who dislikes everyone except her owners. The author and illustrator do an excellent job portraying the essence of the cat while keeping readers engaged throughout this short story. The story is quick and easy to read, making it a good choice overall. Ziva has had a tough life and is hesitant to meet new people—until she encounters a stranger who changes everything for her. We see the story from the cat’s perspective as she learns to navigate her new life. Ziva reminds me a lot of my own cat, who struggles to trust anyone but me. Overall, it’s a good, quick read. I highly recommend this book for youth of all ages.
Cindy J. Vanous is a Texas children’s author who writes heartfelt picture books filled with vintage charm, hope, and imagination. Her stories, from a lost puppy at the North Pole to a little ghost in Terlingua, Texas, celebrate courage, belonging, and the magic found in everyday moments.
A middle schooler’s plan to fit in with her new friends by writing herself a fake love letter backfires spectacularly in this funny and all-too-relatable graphic novel perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and the Berrybrook Middle School series.
Jackie and Milo have been best friends since they were born. Whether they’re reading comic books in their tree house hideout, playing video games, or spying on their neighbors using walkie talkies and code names, it’s always been the two of them versus the world. But in middle school, things are changing. Milo joins the soccer team and starts hanging out with a new crew. Jackie gets taken under the wing of Adelle, who wants to give her a total makeover and find her a crush. Suddenly, it seems like there are certain acceptable ways to be a girl or a boy, and Jackie starts to feel like everything about her is wrong.
In an effort to get Adelle and her new friends off her back, Jackie sends herself an anonymous love letter. But her plan backfires, and soon Jackie’s secret admirer is all anybody at school can talk about. Now she’s wondering: Dear Jackie, how are you going to get out of this?
Rating 5 out of 5 stars
This charming coming-of-age graphic novel features a variety of twists and turns that brought me back to writing letters when I was in middle school. Middle school antics ensue as two tweens, Milo and Jackie, navigate the halls of a new school. Milo and Jackie have been friends since they were little and have grown up together. Will the woes of middle school tear them apart or bring them closer? Dive into this thoughtful coming-of-age story that explores the challenges that middle schoolers face.
Author Jessixa Bagley does a wonderful job diving into the challenges tweens face while navigating middle school. This novel brought me back to when I was in middle school without a phone and unable to text my friends. We used to write letters to crushes in hopes they would notice us. Once, in middle school, I wrote a letter to my crush and was mortified when I realized he’d rejected me in front of his friends. As a tween, it is so hard to navigate those new feelings and emotions. Author Jessixa Bagley does a great job of allowing the reader to explore new feelings with Jackie. Jackie must learn to navigate new territory both at home and school. She must learn how to handle her new emotions and learn to open up to her parents about the challenges she is facing. The author is sensitive to recognizing that not all tweens are comfortable talking with their parents and teaches youth how to navigate those difficult conversations.
Great graphic novel read for tweens entering middle school! Highly Recommend!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This book releases SEPTEMBER 9, 2025.
She heard him whisper gently “I love you” when he thought she was asleep
Slow whispers turned into gentle forehead kisses that warmed her once cold heart
She awoke with a grumble, pretending she was asleep as to not frighten him
Smiles shared between two lovers, both afraid to say those three words to each other
Not yet, they both whispered under their breaths
Slow mornings turning into slow afternoons guiding into a slow evening of pure unadulterated bliss as they both stare into each other’s eyes
No words were shared just pure emotions intertwined like tangled Christmas lights on the first day of winter
She wondered if this was what heaven would feel like
Happiness served on a silver plater every day surround by someone who loved her for her
Her past not looming over her like a dark cloud in the middle of thunderstorm
She wondered if life could truly be this blissful as she lay awake next to her lover staring into his eyes
Tears start to fall like rain down her cheeks as she cried out pure joy remembering those lonely nights alone awake staring at the ceiling dreaming of the moment she was currently in
It all felt like a dream she did not want to awaken from
Soon the outside world would creep into the realms of what is known as her dream reality
She’ll hold tight to these moments, truly know what true joy feels like, finally
Disclaimer: these poems are purely my own feelings and emotions and do not reflect the opinions or viewpoints of others
North of Tomboy is an inviting novel that takes you on the journey of a young girl struggling to find her identity in an era where women aren’t seen as members of the public but members of the household only. Jess is stuck in a household that won’t accept her for who she is and in a society that is trying to force her to become girly. Girly is seen as someone who wears dresses, plays with dolls, and has friends who are girls. In the 1970s, it was common for women to be forced into stereotypical heteronormative roles and men the same. The mom is a housewife and a school teacher by day, and the dad works in construction. Jess just wants to be herself, and she wants everyone in her life to accept her for who she is without trying to force her into a role she does not want to be in. Will the people in Jess’s life finally accept her for who she is, or will she be met with more pushback?
Julie Swanson does a phenomenal job with the writing of this book by diving into the typical heteronormative roles displayed in the 1970s households. The typical mom who works part-time as a teacher to try to make ends meet, and the dad who is upset with the lack of money he is making. Jess is one of the main characters in a house with three other siblings, Matt, Lucy, and Chip. Lucy likes to play with dolls, and the boys enjoy outdoor sports like basketball and hockey. Unfortunately for Jess, she always gets paired up with Lucy instead of getting the chance to play with the boys like she wants to. Throughout the novel, we get to see each character start to develop and learn to step outside of their comfort zone in an era where that isn’t normal. Everyone struggles, especially Jess, with the roles she is being forced into. Jess just wants to play with the boys, wear pants, and cut her hair short. The author does a great job of diving into Jess’s head and explaining the feelings and emotions that she is struggling with. We also get to see her relationship with her parents and siblings change in a way that is conducive to the growth of her mental health. Her parents must either learn to accept Jess for who she is or lose her entirely.
Throughout this novel, I felt for Jess and the challenges she continued to face. Especially when Jess was given a female doll at the beginning of the novel, she immediately cut the doll’s hair and changed the doll into the boy she always wanted to be. Jess struggled with her identity so much so that she started projecting onto the doll, and the family started getting annoyed by how obsessed she was with the doll instead of trying to understand the why behind her changing the doll’s appearance. The whole doll itself was a great addition to the overall plot and theme of the story. Imagine spending your entire life feeling trapped in your body, telling others who you are, and no one believing you. Mickey, the doll, becomes a pivotal moment in the story and a major milestone in Jess’s life and development.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in a well-developed coming-of-age story about a young girl who truly develops into someone she can stand to look at in the mirror. This book is intended for middle grade aged youth and older.
Disclaimer: this review reflects my own opinions and not the opinions of the author or publisher. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
“Keep On Glowing is my way of saying: your glow is not behind you. It’s not tied to age or approval. It’s within you—waiting to be reclaimed, protected, and celebrated.”
What is your glow as a woman? The author describes it as a radiant fire within you that tells a story of your resilience, wisdom, and feminine power. Throughout the novel, the author explores different ways for you, as a woman, to reclaim your power with intention, and build the life you deserve. In a world dominated by men, women can utilize the skills in this book to harness their feminine energy and reclaim the life they deserve, while being assertive in all aspects of their lives. Some topics include self-confidence, self-forgiveness, wellness, joy, resilience, pushback, and the power of saying no.
The author does a great job providing detailed explanations in each chapter, breaking down each topic in a digestible manner that makes it easier to follow. The tangible step-by-step guides are beneficial and add to the depth the author uses to explain each topic in detail. She provides practical steps on how to attain the lifestyle you deserve while enhancing your overall confidence/glow. At the end of each chapter, there is a glow action, one small action that you can commit to on a weekly or daily basis, and a glow affirmation, a positive phrase that you can repeat to yourself to change your mindset. This book is such a practical tool guide that allows you to check in with yourself throughout the chapters to ensure you are truly being intentional with your growth and self-discovery. The author does a great job with the self-reflection questions, end-of-chapter reflections, and the practical tools and examples sprinkled in every chapter. You can tell that the author was intentional with the writing of this novel in an attempt to ensure that women had all the tools necessary to unlock their full potential.
And, as a bonus to finish the book, the author provides a seven-day glow challenge, encouraging the reader to put the tools they learned into practice for seven days. What are you willing to do to reach your full potential and enhance/ reignite your glow?
*Disclaimer, the opinions in this review are solely my own and do not reflect the opinions of others. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Disclaimer: This review reflects my viewpoints and does not reflect the viewpoints of the author. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Synopsis:
“Anna has no family except her friends and the shelter dogs she walks. Rae-Rae communicates only through old rock-and-roll lyrics. Piper is terrified of her boyfriend. Sunny wants everyone happy but doesn’t know how. Dareen wants to battle the world into being a better place. Jade is so withdrawn she has all but disappeared. Charity keeps showing up to school black-and-blue. These teenage women could be your own friends. The difficulties they face are hauntingly familiar. With the shared strength that only true family of choice gift each other, they set out to take on bullies … only reluctantly recognizing that the worst bully of all is their teacher. This is their story of coming of age, of learning not to be powerless, and of healing each other’s hearts.”
Obaat is Alice Vachss’ debut novel that follows the lives of seven plus uniquely eclectic teens who equally want to make a difference in the lives of others, including themselves. The group consists of Anna, the narrator of the story, who is described as the leader of the group later in the story. Sunny is a girl who believes everyone should be happy, but is still ironing out the kinks on how to achieve overarching happiness for all. Rae-Rae, a woman of many high-level words who uses music as a way to express herself in a way people can understand. Dareen, quiet but impactful. Jade, withdrawn but secretly a loving person with a dark family story. Piper, a girl with a boyfriend that won’t quit. Charity, a quiet teen with bruises, who the group wants to help. The team of teens works together to solve a known problem on their campus, bullying. How do you stop bullying when your number one bully is a teacher, who in theory is supposed to support you and not tear you down? Can the team of teens actually make a difference in the school, or will they fail trying?
The story begins with us being introduced to Anna, a teen with a mission to start OBaat, One Bully at a Time, but gets a yes, then a no from a supporting teacher. The story then leads into the group meeting and discussion of the goals and premise of OBaaT. They iron out the details of the group, set a plan, and start to think about the first student they want to help. That is where Charity comes into play. Anna, the ring leader, uses her lawyer, you’ll find out later why she has a lawyer, to build trust and connect Charity to a group member she can relate to. A run-in with the cops leads Charity to the same group home as Anna, and they work together to build trust, and another member is added to their friend group. Then Ethan, their next OBaaT “target” is on their radar as they work to use him as the basis for the case against a cruel teacher who is set on attacking the weakest links. The group works together with the help of Anna’s lawyer to build a case, and the more they start digging, the more cruel things they uncover. You’ll have to read the book to see how well this group develops, gets closer to each other, and works to take down their biggest bully yet. Witnesses, lawyers, cruel words, and many secrets make this book a top read!
In this debut novel, Alice Vachss does a wonderful job building the character development of each main character and providing details for the supporting characters that contribute to the overall story. The author builds upon important topics in this coming-of-age story, allowing the reader to gain a better understanding of prevalent and relatable issues. The book is written in a way that is easy to understand and break apart. Overall, this is a great coming-of-age story for teens and tweens that dives into relatable topics. I highly recommend this book for tweens and teens.
*Disclaimer the thoughts and emotions in this poem are my own. Remember if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts contact a psychiatrist or the suicide hotline 988. Note I see a therapist and psychiatrist regularly.*
The meds I take daily alter my brain chemistry and give me emotions that feel like my own
The lexapro and vraylar that I take daily keep me alive
Both chemically changing my thoughts to more acceptable ones while giving me a false sense of reality
The meds give me a temporary escape from the reality that is my life
On the days I take my meds my depression takes a seat in the back of the car, sitting on it’s hands waiting to step in
Some days my depression is stronger than the meds
The meds are only 99% effective
My depression waits for the 1% failure to remind me of the series of unfortunate events that is my life
The meds make me feel prescribed joy giving me moments to remember the good moments
Moments of fake positivity
It gives me the chance to fit in
The trazadone though, that helps me sleep so my depression doesn’t haunt my dreams
I didn’t sleep for years until I took it
My depression haunted my dreams causing sleepless nights filled with tear induced nightmares
Filled with my mind playing out worse case scenarios and reminders of rejection
One day I won’t need the prescription emotions to give me a sense of fake happiness and content
One day I’ll self soothe and reunite with my joy.
One day I won’t need the medication but for now
I welcome to prescribed emotions
I welcome the fake reality until the real one exists
Librariel Book Adventures 