Nest of Tongues: Filipino Vampire Folkore

Randy Ribay's young adult novel, Nest of Tongues, is a suspenseful, unique story of teenage Filipino siblings in the Bay area who happen to be vampires.  Full of Filipino folklore, Ribay weaves an intricate tale that takes place throughout the course of only one week.  At the start of the week the main characters,  Lily and Caleb, are flying at night to feed on an animal when they discover the body of another vampire that had been brutally murdered. Once they tell their grandmother, Lola, she jumps to discuss the threat with the local elder supernatural creatures.  It is revealed that a figure called a Bayani is the culprit and it is coming for Caleb next.  The rest of the story is a race against the clock as everyone tries, in their own ways, to protect Caleb.  In their attempts to solve the mystery, family secrets about their mother are spilled and they can never be the same again.

The best part of this story is the family relationship between Lily and Caleb.  Siblings typically have a complicated bond and the siblings in this story are no different.  They are written with such care and compassion for each of their insecurities and hopes for one another.  Ribay was able to do this well because each chapter changed the POV of the storyteller between the siblings and at times, from the Bayani, too.

I enjoyed learning about the Filipino cultural beliefs and how Tagalog is spoken by young people today. Ribay did not shy away from the horror aspect of this genre so I would suggest it to readers 14+ who can handle graphic descriptions of gore.  The ending surprised me and there was enough story unresolved which, I'm hoping, means that there will be a follow-up story some day.  Even if Ribay does not continue the story, the setting, plot and question of what makes some thing good vs. evil lingers in my mind for a long time. 

Watch author Randy Ribay discuss his perspective on writing this story in the interview conducted by The Booklist Online:

Building 903: a future of control without creativity

An intriguing opening that immediately invites questions of what happened to society? 

Electronics have taken over, nobody writes with their hands anymore. No stories exist, no playgrounds, no pets, no music or singing unless it's the anthem,  a continually surveilled society where people can be "taken away" and centenarians abound. Baby names were assigned a theme annually, only one world currency is used. There's quick corrective surgery from knee replacements to skin tightening. The leader who has been in power for decades runs unopposed and the voting age is raised to 27. Compulsory retirement at 100, except for the leader. Campaigning is illegal and punishments are tattooed to bodies. Everyone is rated by their cognitive abilities.  These are just glimpses into the world that Lois Lowry creates in her new book, Building 903. 

Set in the year 2099, this story focuses on the mysterious disappearance of one twin sibling, Theo, and the repercussions his absence has left his family, particularly for the remaining twin, Tessa. Tessa's 135-year-old neighbor may have some answers about where Theo went and when she leaves some clues with Tessa, the truth begins to be revealed.  Tessa must finally talk to her parents about the grief they all feel and try to find Theo before it's too late.

The main themes of the book are its greatest strengths:  censorship, activism, love and hope.  Each character presents another important facet to the story and without the cooperation of all of the characters, the satisfying conclusion would not be able to exist.  This story lends itself well to a book club or literature circle because each twist of the story needs to be discussed with other readers. From the very first page of the book the scene is set for a big reveal and Lowry does not disappoint!  

Much like her award-winning book, The Giver, and the rest of the series, this story will resonate with multiple generations of middle grade readers, teens and adults as they dive into the eerie, yet plausible world painted by Lowry. 

The Pools: A Fairy Tale Set in Modern Day

When an author branches out of their typical writing style and format, it takes a reader with an open mind to judge the book on its own merits, rather than from what the author typically writes. That is the case for The Pools by E. Lockhart. I have read all of E. Lockhart's other works and was expecting much of the same in this story, yet, I was surprised at each turn of the plot.  

In The Pools, the reader is introduced to Lexie, a mysterious teenager who arrives to town to live with her aunt, ill mother and little sister. The fresh water pools in the town are what drew Lexie's family there with the hopes of healing her ailing mother. There is a deep town lore about the pools from a long time ago when people who bathed in them got turned into birds. As Lexie settles into her new life, she also partakes in the pools and meets Chester, a fellow high school student with a mysterious past he is keeping from Lexie. Their relationship grows in sweet ways despite having their disagreements at times. Although the last argument they have is the final time they see each other before Chester, along with Lexie's younger sister and three other community members disappear after using the pools. Without spoiling the story, the burden of bringing them back to their human forms is what drives Lexie to the surprising conclusion. 

The strength of The Pools is the verse format that Lockhart uses to propel the story forward and develop the characters.  It feels like a fairy tale being told but in a modern-day setting. The themes are universal, however, and that is what makes the story stand out. 

Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read and review an Advanced Reader Copy since the book publishes on October 6, 2026. 

Poetry Month for Middle and High School Readers

 Poetry Month is a time to reintroduce the art of language to readers. In the middle and high school level, I am often met with groans and eye-rolls when the topic of poetry comes up, however, with these recommended books, I've been able to turn around the minds of even the most reluctant readers.  These writers are creating literary experiences for readers to celebrate ideas through language and those groans and eye-rolls turn into expressions of piqued curiosity and intrigue.

The poetry collection, Wearing My Mother’s Heart by Sophia Thakur is full of multigenerational voices of a grandmother, mother and daughter describing their experiences of being women through different lenses. This is recommended for middle grade readers and up. 

A non-fiction novel-in-verse, The Mysterious Virginia Hall World War II’s Most Dangerous Spy by Claudia Friddell is about an American woman who becomes a spy for the British during WWII. Her many aliases and missions are detailed with photographs and maps of her adventurous experiences. This is recommended for middle grade readers and up. 

Historical fiction novel-in-verse, One Step Forward by Marcie Flinchum Atkins, is about Matilda Young, a 15 year old girl who takes up the cause of suffrage in 1913 & becomes the youngest protestor to be arrested for it. Over the course of 7 years the reader goes with Matilda on her journey of activism. This is recommended for middle grade readers and up. 

Contemporary fiction novel-in-verse thriller, Blood Gone Cold by Katy Grant is about two quarreling sisters who are going through a home invasion at their family’s cabin in the woods. They must put their differences aside in order to survive. This book is a hi-Lo book in that it’s of high interest to young adults but is written at a lower, elementary reading level. 

Everything is Poison by Joy McCullough is a historical fiction story that takes place in Rome in the 1600s. 16 year old Carmela is finally old enough to work alongside her mother in the apothecary but soon learns that healing potions aren’t the only concoctions that are made there: poisons are also distributed to women who are in desperate need of them. This is a mixed-format book in that it is written in both novel-in-verse and prose and it is recommended for young adult readers and up. 

Away by Megan E. Freeman is the follow-up to her award-winning novel in verse, Alone. In Alone, there is an emergency evacuation of a town in Colorado while twelve year old, Maddie, gets left behind. For months without human contact, news or electricity, she, along with her dog, tries to survive and figure out what happened that sent her entire community far away. 

In Away, there are four teens who find one another while at the emergency evacuation camp and as they get to know one another, they uncover mysteries around the emergency. What information is being kept from the public and why?  This book is a mix of formats from verse to letters and scripts. It can be read as a stand alone story or as a sequel to Alone. Both books are recommeded for middle grade readers and up. 

 The contemporary, novel-in-verse, I Can't Even Think Straight by Dean Atta, tells the story of teenager, Kai, who is grappling with his identity. It's not easy because his best friends are giving him different kinds of advice:  does he stay closeted or share who he really is with his family and community?  Kai's journey gets even tougher when he falls for the new boy at school who returns his feelings.  Kai finds his way to deal with the consequences of his choices and faces his family and friends with renewed self-confidence. This book is recommeded for young adult readers and up. 

 The contemporary, novel-in-verse mystery, Wolfpack by Amelia Brunskill, captures the reader's attention immediately as one of the nine teenage girls living isolated from society in the woods disappears. Her fellow cult members, also teenage girls, are determined to uncover what happened to her. The story is told in alternating perspectives so the layers of what each person knows to be true are revealed, but only to the reader.  Will they find out if their missing friend left on purpose or did something or someone make them disappear? This book is recommended for young adult readers and up. 

Do you have any novels-in-verse that you'd recommend? Please share in the comments below and we can keep the conversation going.  

The First State of Being: a time traveling tale

The First State of Being by award winning author, Erin Entrada Kelly is unlike any book I have ever read. It's difficult to review the book without giving away spoilers that are important to the experience of reading the story.  I will do my best! 

The story is set in multiple times, both in the past (1999) and in the future. Kelly seamlessly takes the reader from the characters in the past to the future where their stories intertwine. Ridge, the mysterious teenager who appears one day in the apartment complex of neighbors, 12 year old Michael and his 15 year old babysitter, Gibby, changes their lives forever. The reader is right alongside Michael and Gibby as their minds are flooded with questions: Who is he and why is he there all alone? What is he wearing and how can Michael and Gibby keep him from getting kicked out by their complex manager?

As the story unfolds, readers dive into the personal lives of the main characters. Themes of friendship, crushes, family and trust abound in this story. It would be fitting for a book club since there is so much to discuss with other readers. I would definitely add this book to my school library and gift it to the middle grade readers in my life. 

Who protects nature? Legends of Lotus Island, a new middle grade series

"I'd never known my parents. I was just a baby when a storm capsized their boat on the open sea." - Plum

The new middle grade fantasy series, Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test, by award-winning author, Christina Soontornvat, is the ideal story to share with children.  She writes of an orphaned farm girl, Plum, who is raised by her grandparents since she was a baby. She knows nothing of the rest of the country and is shocked when she is invited to join the elite school so that she may become a Guardian, a protector of the natural world.  

It is difficult for Plum to leave the security of her grandparents' home where she is comfortable taking care of the crops and livestock.  As she learns about the other cities in her country and meets children from those places, her eyes are open to how important Guardians are in this society. Readers can connect to this as they, too, are learning about the vast world and their place in it.  As Fred Rogers famously said, "Look for the helpers." This is perfectly applied to this story.  The natural resources are being depleted and it is up to the Guardians to save what is left for everyone's well-being, even if they are vilified for it.

Readers who enjoy magical school stories, like Harry Potter and Amari and the Night Brothers may also like this series. It is significantly shorter than both of those series at under 150 pages, so it is not as intimidating to pick it up.  The teachers and cast of students are all unique and bring a sense of humor and danger to the story. After a month of lessons, students are given a Guardian test in which they must transform into their creature form that will allow them to protect the natural world.  Plum has had difficulty with this and is on the verge of quitting.  Will she find what is inside of her to allow her to transform?

Another aspect of this story that readers will find interesting is the role of meditation in it. One of the lessons that the students learn each day is to sit and focus and on their breathing.  In this era of constant noise and entertainment, this is an important practice that will bring much-needed calmness to many young people.  As an educator I have witnessed the effects of my students being unable to control their emotions.  Daily practice of focusing on their breath helps to center them when they feel their emotions start to get out of hand. Soontornvat also wrote about this meditation practice in her nonfiction account of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team rescue in the caves in her award-winning book, All Thirteen.   The boys said that their coach taught them to meditate and that is one reason that they were able to stay calm and get through the many days of being trapped in the caves before they were able to be rescued. 

The last part of the story that drew me in the most is the mystery surrounding Plum and her mother. In the opening chapters the readers learn, along with Plum, that her mother was from the big island to which she didn't want to return.  When Plum sees this place up close and meets people from there she wonders how her mother would've been there. As the series continues, I hope that Plum uncovers her mother's past and why Plum has a set of powers that nobody else exhibits. Soontornvat's books are all ones that I recommend and this one is no different. It belongs on all bookshelves and in readers' hands. 

(Thank you to the book's publisher, Scholastic,  for sending an ARC to my book review group, #BookExcursion!)

 

The Ogress and the Orphans-trust, power & love

 

The Ogress and the Orphans, a middle grade chapter book by Kelly Barnhill, reads like a fairy tale: a town dominated by an evil, glowing, greedy man, an orphanage full of sweet children who only hope of a better life ahead, and an outsider, the Ogress, who lurks nearby and leaves the community members gifts in order to alleviate their suffering.  It is no surprise that this book was a National Book Award Finalist.

From the first page the reader knows that all of the characters will come to a head at one point and the journey to that climax is well worth the wait.  I loved how skillfully Barnhill describes the relationships of the children towards one another and their caregivers.  The mystery of the community's fire lingers over the whole story as they are told to hate the Ogress by their greedy, orange leader.  The Ogress is my favorite character of the entire story. She has a gentleness that many can envision in a friend and the way she is treated is just heart-breaking. Children who read this will root for her and there will be discussions of the choices the characters make that drive the story forward.  

This book is similar to Barnhill's other fantasy novel, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, a Newbery Medal winner.  They both feature a misunderstood magical creature who is portrayed as the villain by power-hungry forces.  Readers will delight in both of these stories as the action-packed scenes, humor, and heart over-ride any reminder that they are indeed, fantasy stories. Both of these lend themselves well to read-aloud books for teachers, parents, and caregivers. Every reader will want to discuss these rich stories that are sure to be classics. 

I Can Make This Promise: family secrets & identity

 Christine Day's debut middle grade novel, I Can Make This Promise, conveys a perspective of a 12-year old Native American girl who only knows that her mother was adopted by a White couple so she has no connection to the Native side of her heritage.  Although Edie is constantly "othered" by people asking her "what are you?", she feels as though her parents would've shared anything they knew with her.  That is until she and her friends stumble across a box of keepsakes in Edie's attic full of mysterious photos, letters, and postcards.  The woman in the photos looks just like Edie and even shares her name.  When Edie asks her parents, they act shifty and change the subject.  Why would they keep something like that a secret? 

Edie and her friends approach this sensitive mystery in different ways. One of her friends urges Edie to talk about it with her parents more while her other friend thinks they should dig for more clues on their own.  The journey that Edie takes to find out the truth is both heart-breaking, yet, hopeful.  Day puts real faces and emotions to the atrocities Native people suffered at the hands of the U.S. Government.  Readers can take the snippets of people mentioned in the story and conduct further research about who they were and why they were considered activists of their time.  Readers can also relate to the changing friendships and history that follow them into adolescence.  Edie decides to cut ties with someone who refuses to be an ally to her and that is a situation that readers can discuss.  

As a teacher, librarian and parent, I would definitely share this book with my students and daughter.  The themes of identity, family, friendship, and historical power and injustice offer a lot of important conversations that connect to other media.  Share the book trailer below with readers to gauge their interest in this story:

Initially I read Day's second novel, The Sea in Winter and was impressed by the authentic voice her characters use while teaching the reader about the upper northwestern U.S. and the Native tribes located there.  I'm looking forward to reading more by Day!

PET: a sci-fi view at society's monsters

PET an award-winning, sci-fi, young adult book by Nigerian writer, Akwaeke Emezi is a 200-page story that makes the reader think deeply about today's villains who lurk in the shadows and those operating in plain sight.  

Jam is a selective mute, trans girl who lives in the utopian society of Lucille with her artist mother and father.  When her mom paints a ferocious mash-up of creatures and it comes to life, Jam doesn't believe her eyes.  The creature, PET,  tells her it's there to hunt a monster but Jam thought all of the monsters were eliminated in her town.  The creature won't budge with its intention to fulfill its purpose.  Only then does Jam agree to help in order to get to the truth.  

The story grabbed my attention from the first chapter.  It would be a good read aloud for students to listen to and discuss what they think is going to happen in the book.  I loved how Jam relied on the library and  the librarian to get her access to the past through its collection to truly learn what happened before she was born and the angels took over.  It stresses the importance of studying history and looking for signs of it possibly repeating again. Jam thinks, 

"So, yes, people forget.  But forgetting is dangerous. Forgetting is how the monsters come back."  

Another part of this story that stands out is the way Jam's identity and relationships with her family and best friend are depicted.  Her transition to changing her gender is explained in the first chapter and but it's not the plot of the book at all.  Her family and best friend treat her with respect and value her identity, as does the rest of the community.   She is a strong, curious, brave person who faces a moral dilemma and the creature, PET, may or may not help her through it.  The whole time I was second-guessing who would be the monster and how it would unfold.  The ending completely satisfied my deep appreciation for the journey Emezi took me on and I look forward to reading more stories by them.

Here is an interview Emezi did with author, Christopher Myers, on their novel PET:

Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice, a magical adventure

 

Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice, a middle grades fantasy chapter book by Amanda Foody is perfect for fans of Harry Potter and The Girl Who Drank the Moon.  

Barclay is an orphan who wants to belong so badly that he's willing to be the apprentice of a mushroom farmer in order to have a decent shot at a respectable future in his sad, paranoid town of Dullshire.  The townsfolk have strict rules and are protecting themselves against the magical and dangerous beasts that lurk in the woods. (The same ones that killed Barclay's parents.)

When he accidentally bonds with a mysterious and wild beast, Barclay will stop at nothing to try to get back to his old life.  His journey will take him deep into the woods to an unbelievable world of power, lore and untrustworthy types who take advantage of Barclay's naiveté and eagerness to remove his bond.

Viola, a lore keeper who seeks out dangerous beasts, offers to help Barclay.  He is unsure whether to trust her and her little dragon beast, Mitzi, or not.  With a magical competition starting that could be Barclay's ticket to return to Dullshire, he must risk everything.  Will he finally find a place in the world where he belongs in the magical wild or will he go back to a lonely, ordinary, yet, safe life in Dullshire?

A humorous mystery full of action, imagination and memorable characters. This is a must-have for middle grade readers who enjoyed fast-paced, fantasy adventure with loads of funny banter and a hint of mystery.

Families, librarians and teachers can use this book in many ways to engage readers.  To get readers hooked, the  first chapter of the book is perfect for a read aloud. It is going to make them want to read on to find out the fate of poor Barclay! Hear the author read from chapter one below:

Foody also goes into much detail about mushrooms so it would be excellent for readers to do a mushroom inquiry that they can share with others what they were curious about and what they discovered.  Another interesting part of this story are the rules in Dullshire.  They are arbitrary and silly so readers can research odd laws where they live and discuss why they think these laws were even made in the first place.  Finally, the reader can design and make a beast warding charm like Barclay's, made out of rope, herbs and twigs or they can make their own based on what they find out in nature.

The best news to share is that Foody has the second book in the series coming out in March 2022!

Photograph (c) Diane Brophy Photography.

Frankie & Bug: a family & friendship LGBTQ+ tale set in 1987 LA

Frankie & Bug, a middle grades chapter book by Gayle Forman, tackles important issues like prejudice, family, friendship, identity and community.  Set in 1987 in Venice Beach, California, it's told from the perspective of a ten year old girl named Bug, short for Beatrice, who is just starting her summer.  She wants to spend it at the beach but her older brother, Danny, needs some space away from her so her mother arranges her to be under the supervision of their quirky neighbors, Phillip and Hedvig.  

When Phillip's young nephew from Ohio, Frankie, flies in to stay with him for the summer, Bug's hopes are raised to possibly make a new friend and be able to spend it at the beach.  But Frankie is nothing at all what Bug expected.  He doesn't want to go to the beach and only is obsessed with catching the serial killer who is stalking residents in southern California.  Bug must open her mind to new ways of thinking when she adjusts her plans and becomes friends with Frankie.

The more Bug becomes aware of her community's struggles, the more she then learns about her own family's secrets.  This news causes her expand her world view and in the end she is richer for it.

I would recommend this book to read with 11 year olds and up, and it is perfect for a book club to be discussed.  Forman puts issues of prejudice, refugees, LGBTQ+ hate crimes, abandonment out in ways that readers can discuss and ask questions about.  Although the book is set in 1987, readers can think about how these issues have changed or stayed the same in certain ways.  What do they think Frankie and Bug are like today?  Do they have people in their lives who remind them of any of the characters?  

 

Show Me a Sign: a story with heart first, deafness second

 

Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte is a middle-grade, historical fiction story that centers on Martha's Vineyard island and its deaf community in the 1800s.  One part mystery, grief, race and prejudice, this story works in numerous layers that make it perfect for discussion and further study.

Mary, an eleven year old deaf girl, lives on the island with her (hearing) mother, (deaf) father, and has just recently lost her older (hearing) brother to a tragic accident.  The island is composed of Wampanoag people, Black former enslaved people, and descendants of English settlers.  Surprisingly, one in four people on the island is deaf, so they have all created and sustained a type of sign language that everyone speaks.  When a strange, young scientist arrives on the island to investigate the cause of the deafness on the island, Mary senses something is amiss in him and spies on his activities.  Unfortunately, the spying puts Mary right in harms way with no way back to her family, quite literally.

Thomas, a formerly enslaved, now free Black man who works for Mary's family tells her that "many people would like to turn back time.  We must move forward from where we stand.  The sun rises every day and time goes on."  This is especially important to the story because Mary is going over the accident that took her brother repeatedly in her mind and she is unable to get through the stages of grief.  Her relationship with her mother is strained and she must figure out a way to relieve the guilt she has for feeling responsible for her brother's death.

The most eye-opening part of the book is that it is told through a deaf person's perspective.  Since the author is part of the deaf community she can write first-hand about the deaf experience with authenticity.  LeZotte writes, "Silence.  I'm sure that many hearing people, especially those that don't know the deaf, imagine our lives are filled with silence. That's not true." Mary's persona and thoughts reflect a fully-formed, vibrant person who is shocked at the prejudice and ill treatment she receives when she travels to Boston.  This story would help to have readers empathize with people who are different and learn more about their lives.  

There are historical topics that readers can research after they've read the book.  Starting from the names for the objects and clothing that islanders used and wore, like mobcaps!  Readers can also look up more information on the history of deafness and deaf people in America.  The struggle for Wampanoag people to retain the rights to their land is another element of the story that is substantial, too.  Mary understands at one point that the same prejudice that exists for the deaf community also goes for the Wampanoag and Black community members of the island.  Readers can connect this racism to what they see in current events in America and find parallels between the issues that Mary dealt with and other marginalized groups today.

This award-winning book deserves to be read by all educators and middle grade readers and up.  LeZotte and the We Need Diverse Books group shared an interview about the book for more information.  Readers would also benefit from seeing and hearing LeZotte tell about her book in the Scholastic book trailer.

If I Disappear: a mystery from an unreliable narrator

 

If I Disappear, by debut author, Eliza Jane Brazier, is a thrilling adult novel aimed at true-crime podcast fans.  Rachel, a popular host of a true-crime podcast, has gone missing.  A long-time fan, Sera, feels like she has the skills to follow-up and help find Rachel.  Sera travels to Rachel's family's ranch and gets a job there alongside Rachel's peculiar parents and odd townsfolk.  Sera uses the clues from past episodes of Rachel's podcast to get to the center of the disappearance, if that is truly what it is.  Will Sera get answers or will she be the one who disappears next?  

January 5: National Bird Day

On January 5 the United States celebrates National Bird Day.  This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the topic with elementary students that encourages good literacy practice. 

 There are poetry books that feature birds, like Superlative Birds by Leslie Bulion and illustrated by Robert Meganck.  Our students marvel at the various types of birds and how they behave.  It is perfect for readers to ask questions that could lead to further research about what interests them.

A favorite non-fiction picture book on birds is Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by Steve Jenkins.  Our students were challenged to build a nest out of a bag of recycled materials.  It was a fun and engaging STEM activity.

You can also go the narrative, fiction route with picture books that feature birds. 

Our students love Nerdy Birdy by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Matt Davies.

Graphic novels that feature birds include the Bird & Squirrel series by James Burks, which our students love to read.

Or if you have older readers, upper elementary through middle school, you may suggest a popular chapter book, Pablo and Birdy by Alison McGhee and illustrated by Ana Juan.  This is a mysterious book that was nominated for our state's book award, the William Allen White Book Award.