Young Adult

Knights Unite

Laurel Colless (Peter Blue Press)

| Reviewed by Elena Enger

Knights Unite is the fourth book in the Peter Blue Series by Laurel Colless, and it follows Riva du Lac, who is determined to uphold her promise to avoid detentions at Spiral Hall. But a sea cleanup reveals Shem, a mythical fish boy, and a surprise honor from the Spiral Knights forces her to choose between rules and friendship. Meanwhile, Peter Blue has a vision of a water-dwelling monster. Can their unlikely alliance save the knights—and the world? Laurel Colless captures the delicate balance of environmental activism and adolescent adventure...

Stranded on Thin Ice

Sharon CassanoLochman (Ontario Shore Publishing LLC)

| Reviewed by John Grossman

Stranded on Thin Ice by Sharon CassanoLochman is a captivating children's novel that masterfully blends themes of friendship, responsibility, adventure, and the trials of growing up, all while navigating the treacherous world of ice fishing. The adventures of Tanner Phillips, who, along with his unconventional new friend Richie Donald, find themselves embroiled in a series of perilous situations during an ice fishing derby, offer biting suspense and entertainment that will keep readers turning the pages. The plot is a well-paced, deftly woven c...

The Ghost in the Garden

Alisse Lee Goldenberg (Crimson Dragon Publishing)

| Reviewed by Cristina Prescott

Alisse Lee Goldenberg’s The Ghost in the Garden is a captivating middle-grade novel that deftly navigates themes of friendship, grief, and the supernatural through the lens of a young girl named Sophie Madison. After moving from her bustling city life in Calgary to the quieter Stratford, Ontario, Sophie struggles to adapt to her new surroundings and confronts unsettling experiences in her new home. The narrative begins with Sophie’s reluctance and disdain for her new life—emotions relatable to anyone who has faced significant change. Goldenberg...

Bright Midnights

LS Delorme (Limerent Publishing)

| Reviewed by James Farlow

LS Delorme's Bright Midnights: A Dark Paranormal Love Story is a gorgeous addition to the Limerent Series, offering a rich blend of metaphysical sci-fi and romance. In this enthralling narrative, we follow the plight of 17-year-old Amelie, laden with a mysterious gift that attracts others to her. But those who get to her present dangers, so she must shield herself by constructing barriers in her mind. From the outset, Amelie's life is fraught with challenges beyond typical teenage angst. Her unique ability to draw others toward her sets her apa...

Thanks, Carissa, For Ruin...

Dallas Woodburn (Immortal Works)

| Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo

Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life by Dallas Woodburn examines the intricate dynamics of relationships, identity, and personal growth. The story is told from the perspectives of Brad and Rose, allowing readers a perfect understanding of the challenges arising from Carissa's actions alongside these compelling characters. The story opens with Brad's world unraveling after Carissa's abrupt termination of their eleven-month relationship. The emotions associated with the heartbreak are raw and Brad can’t admit it is over. Brad strives to salvage t...

"Dumb Orphans": The Bundu...

Allan Low (Bundu Bunch Publishing)

| Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo

Dumb Orphans: The Bundu Bunch Trilogy by Allan Low is an emotionally intense and highly complex narrative that journeys through the lives of a group of AIDS orphans, portraying their struggles against discrimination and the headman's oppression in their southern African community. This trilogy features very sophisticated characters and a deft exploration of collective perseverance, talent, and the hunger for education, all while presenting characters that face unfair treatment and are forced into labor by the community headman.The plot is intri...

Blaze Union and the Puddi...

W.T. Kosmos (Wise Wit Press, LLC)

| Reviewed by Franklin Bauer

Blaze Union and the Puddin' Head Schools by W.T. Kosmos is a gripping YA with characters that are finely drawn. In this political satire, the narrator who is a teacher by profession gets tired of the absurdity of book bans in schools, cultural conflicts, and the ridiculous refusal to acknowledge the environmental crisis. He develops what he calls absurdity neurosis as a result of book bans in schools. Advised by his shrink, he finds schools more ridiculous than his. It is then that he meets fourteen-year-old Blaze Union who lives on Puddin' Hea...

A Husband Out of this Wor...

Deovandski Skibinski JR (Bookbaby)

| Reviewed by Franklin Bauer

A Husband out of this World is the second book in the Lab Soreno series by Deovandski Skibinski JR and it opens with the protagonist caught between dream and waking. Maiara has just defeated Harry in the Gandew duel and, while struggling to figure out what actually happened, Harry is painfully waking to the crude reality of being in another world. The murkiness in his memories is disturbing and eventually, different characters begin to surface in his life, starting with Sora, the woman that Harry loves passionately and whose gentle hands o...

The Sentinel of the Chakr...

Christine Boucher (Unleash Press)

| Reviewed by Cristina Prescott

In The Sentinel of the Chakra Stones by Christine Boucher, fourteen-year-old Jaden discovers her mission in the most unexpected of places. Jaden's mother abandoned her when she was a little girl, and her father does not behave as though he ever wanted her. Life at school has its own trials. The one beautiful thing in Jaden's life is her friendship with Alister. When a strange woman sells a crystal chakra set to Jaden, she doesn't think much about it. She and her friend, Alister, are transported to Mount Shasta, California, where they discover t...

The Dream Keepers

Linda Keen (Keen Press)

| Reviewed by Bertin Drizller

The Dream Keepers by Linda Keen is a rollicking ride that follows two young characters, Starlight and her older brother, Thatcher O'Day as they set out on the adventure that will shape their lives in inscrutable ways, from the Deep South to the West Coast. The kids are seven and eight when — together with their grandfather — they must embrace change at the break of a new Millennium. Grandma Gloria has followed the advice of the social worker and has asked Star and Thatcher to leave their regular middle school for the unknown. So, from the treac...

Dear Book Lover!

Welcome to The Book Commentary, home of the Best Books in over 200 categories. Thousands of books are published every month and we pick the best for you. We only recommend and publish reviews for books with ratings of 4-5 Stars. Join our growing community of thousands of readers, booksellers, and librarians and discover books that delight and shape readers like you!