Middle school can be hard, especially when you’re the new kid. Zenobia July is a recent Arizona transplant in Portland, Maine after being adopted by her aunts. Raised in a small town by a religious family, Zenobia finds herself struggling with her new life though not just because of the move and new family dynamic. This is the first time in her life Zenobia is able to actually live as a girl. Her new school gives her a chance to live her new and true life, but even knowing who she is and wanting to express that every day, doesn’t mean that this new life is easy. On top of trying to make friends and finding her way in a new social environment, Zenobia finds herself needing to use her impressive tech skills to find out who is posting awful things on the school’s website. Lisa Bunker’s Zenobia July is a sweet and emotional read that is perfect for young readers and personally is a story that I think even adult readers can benefit from. Continue reading “Zenobia July Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Summer vacation is one of the few times that Blake Campbell is pushed outside of her comfort zone and tries to socialize with other people. Her anxiety often pushes her to seek out isolation, but her best friend Krystal tries to find ways to get her out of her house and out of her head. After a bit of subterfuge, Krystal takes Blake to a well known lesbian bar in an attempt to help her build community outside of their friendship. When Blake meets Lindsay Duvall she finds herself wanting to spend more time with her and career focused Lindsay who has a reputation as a bit of a player also feels a desire to spend as much time with Blake as possible. When a terrible crime occurs Blake will be pushed even farther than she has ever been pushed before, while Lindsay will have to weigh her feelings for Blake against her quest to become a Texas Ranger in the pages of Forsaken. Continue reading “Forsaken Book Review ( @boldstrokebooks ) from @kleffnotes”

When Aisha moves to Kaz’s neighborhood the two strike up an immediate friendship through their dogs. When Aisha learns Kaz’s dog is named Wolverine she immediately asks if the namesake is Logan or Laura. This X-Men reference leads the two to bond over comics and this blossoms into a deep connection. Kaz’s feelings for Aisha begin to evolve, but just telling her isn’t easy. While Aisha grew up in L.A. and has been out since she was a pre-teen, Kaz is struggling not with sexuality, but with gender. In the Silences takes a friendship and creates a story that examines gender stereotypes, racism, and sexism and the impact it can have no matter where you live. Continue reading “In the Silences Book Review ( @bellabooks @RachelGold )from @kleffnotes”

Micky Knight is a New Orleans PI who agrees to not one, but two cases that she knows are going to be difficult cases. In The Girl on the Edge of Summer Knight will delve into the dark secrets of a teenage girl who committed suicide and a murder that took place over a century ago. While these two cases might not be officially related the evils of society echo back through the years and show just how far someone can go before they break. Continue reading “The Girl on the Edge of Summer Book Review ( @boldstrokebooks )from @kleffnotes”

Chicago 1893 is a site to behold with The United Americas Exhibition bringing magical displays, automatons, and dinosaurs to the eyes of passersby. Abril and Geula are part of an impressive magic show that they insist is merely slight of hand and feats of impressive distraction. What the audiences don’t know is that what Abril does, through the figure known as Professor Perfectus, is actual magic. The two women are hoping to use this exhibition to help them make a life of their own away from all of the people looking for them, but before they can leave their hidden secrets will come to light in the story “The Hollow History of Professor Perfectus.” Continue reading “The Hollow History of Professor Perfectus Story Review ( @ginnhale )from @kleffnotes”

Jessica Tran, Jess to her friends, wishes she could feel special, like she was something more than ordinary. After World War III superpowers have become more common and for Jess growing up in a family with two superhero parents, an even more powerful super sister, and a genius younger brother she feels like she will never measure up. When she gets selected for an internship position at the massive technology corporation she hopes that she can finally live up to the pressure she feels to be as impressive as the rest of her family. Not Your Sidekick is a story that takes the traditional idea of superheroes and focuses on someone who is growing up and trying to find their own way to feel like a hero. Continue reading “Not Your Sidekick Book Review ( @InterludePress )from @kleffnotes”

Opening in Cleveland, Ohio in 1957, Sideshow is an extension of the universe first introduced in Amy Stilgerbauer’s The Fire-Eater’s Daughter. Abby has been training in opera, but she finds a peace when she is working at a local diner. As the eldest daughter in a large Italian family she and her brother are doing their best to support their younger siblings as well as their elderly Nonna. While she often sees young lovers canoodling in the diner, after breaking up with her boyfriend Frank she doesn’t long for love and when he suddenly appears insisting that she marry him she finds herself looking for an escape in the traveling circus that has come to town. Continue reading “Sideshow Book Review ( @InterludePress )from @kleffnotes”