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The First Week of School by Drew Beckmeyer

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The First Week of School by Drew Beckmeyer
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I love a story where an “outsider” helps those around them to see themselves in a new and hopeful light. School can be hard, and the first day is hard enough, with all the doubts that we can have about ourselves. This is a reminder that we each have something worth celebrating inside of us. Sometimes it just takes Nobody to notice.

The First Week of School by Drew Beckmeyer, (List Price: $18.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665940429, June 2024)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino

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The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino
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The Second Death of Locke is my number one book of the year, no contest, no doubts, no NOTHIN. I took this book to the beach and devoured it in the span of about five hours. The yearning is out of this world, the world-building is so unique and fascinating, the heroes are reluctant but determined to set things right. I could kiss the ground Bovalino walks on for this work of art.

The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino, (List Price: $19.99, Forever, 9781538776575, September 2025)

Reviewed by Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Miss Camper: A Graphic Novel by Kat Fajardo

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Miss Camper: A Graphic Novel by Kat Fajardo
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It’s Sue’s first time at summer camp, and she is so excited! She knows exactly what she wants to do and can’t wait to do it all with her best friend. She soon finds that things don’t always pan out the way we plan, but sometimes that can lead to something better. Miss Camper is a fun, enjoyable read full of adorable illustrations. It is an all-around fun-filled adventure you won’t want to miss!

Miss Camper: A Graphic Novel by Kat Fajardo, (List Price: $24.99, Graphix, 9781338535600, July 2025)

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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I Got You by Derrick Barnes

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I Got You by Derrick Barnes
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Derrick Barnes captures the magical relationship between brothers in a celebration of both big brothers and little brothers. From learning everything you know from your big brother to realizing that as he gets older you might not spend all your time together, >I Got You is the perfect book to read with siblings — or children expecting a new addition to the family, too. A thoughtful, beautiful story.

I Got You by Derrick Barnes, (List Price: $18.99, Nancy Paulsen Books, 9780593111451, July 2025)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Raging Clouds by Yudori

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Raging Clouds by Yudori
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A BRILLIANT DEBUT set in 16th-century Netherlands that will stick with you. Honestly, this one really made me rage. It’s a reminder of the injustice women have encountered in time (and to this day). What resonated the most is how the author captures the way in which women are pitted against one another. But, when we come together — like this unlikely pair — we soar. We experience a kind of freedom. Heartbreaking and hopeful.

Raging Clouds by Yudori, (List Price: $34.99, Fantagraphics, 9798875001062, July 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyen

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Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyen
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Nguyen’s mix of satire, social commentary, and the story’s central relationship are impossible to deny. Hot Girls with Balls captures perfectly what it is like to be in the public eye, the myriad of positives and pitfalls that come with social media, and the pressure trans people face just daring to exist in our world. “Hot Girls” Six and Green are amazing characters that I won’t soon forget. Bold, unapologetically queer, and sharp – what a debut!

Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyen, (List Price: $28, Nguyen, Benedict, 9781646222476, July 2025)

Reviewed by Caleb Masters, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones

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Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones
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A hidden society of witches? An orphan with a strong lineage to a long-gone family? Cute queer romances and yearning? Tarot card foreshadowing? What more could one want? This is a world where witches work to keep the balance between natural and unnatural forces, and the Arcana is one of the specific societies that does this. But when four students’ lives are thrown together, they realize there is something connecting their blood, and it smells like murder, it smells like power, it smells like secrets. You won’t be able to put this one down!

Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones, (List Price: $19.99, 8. Feiwel & Friends, 9781250290229, June 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Shark Girl by Kate Beaton

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Shark Girl by Kate Beaton
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I love a story of a brave and BOLD heroine combined with an ethical look at capitalistic systems we should take a closer look at. Shark Girl is outraged at the way a fishing boat overfishes and hauls up fish they can’t even use. So she makes a plan to get even! Humans are pretty greedy, but maybe not all of them are.

Shark Girl by Kate Beaton, (List Price: $18.99, Roaring Brook Press, 9781250184924, February 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Espada by Anabel Colazo

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Espada by Anabel Colazo
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There is so much push and pull in this story of a magical Princess who does not believe she alone should have the power she’s been given by her adopted mother, the queen. A beautifully illustrated graphic novel that focuses on the stories that are told.

Espada by Anabel Colazo, (List Price: $19.99, Oni Press, 9781637157596, May 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise by Riel Nason

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The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise by Riel Nason
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We get to see Little Ghost Quilt in another adventure, this one during the Christmas season. I love how Little Ghost Quilt is different, and so are his ghost friends, and that is OKAY, more than normal. This story isn’t about changing to be more similar, but finding ways they can all experience the magic of the holidays. Little Ghost Quilt comes up with an idea to bring the holiday spirit to his friends.

The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise by Riel Nason, (List Price: $18.99, Tundra Books, 9781774885376, August 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley

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Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley
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Jazzy the Witch is such a relatable character! She is really struggling with her identity as a witch, and realizes that she is different than everyone around her. This was such a fun graphic novel! I enjoyed the witchy sayings and phrases, and I loved that it has such an amazing message, which is that it’s ok to be who you are.

Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley, (List Price: $14.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665922326, July 2025)

Reviewed by Sarah Blackwell, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang

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The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang
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I love the creativity behind the café in this story—a place where people come together to talk and be heard. But even more compelling is the journey of Jean, the main character, who leaves Taiwan for California and builds a life she never expected—two marriages, motherhood, unexpected wealth, deeply felt loss, and ultimately, the fulfillment of her dream in opening a café. A beautifully woven novel about friendship, connection, and purpose.

The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang, (List Price: $28.99, Scribner, 9781668068922, July 2025)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
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This is my second time reading this book, and even though it’s been over 15 years since I read it the first time, it still is as honest and poignant as ever. I adore Charlie, and his bluntness and naivety. This book perfectly captures being 15 and experiencing life for the first time. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and is a must-read.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, (List Price: $15.99, MTV Books, 9781665982412, September 2025)

Reviewed by Sarah Blackwell, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Blue by Suzanne Kaufman

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Blue by Suzanne Kaufman
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A fantastical bedtime story of a young boy and a blue heron. It is simple, whimsical and comforting as we get to see this pair travel, separate, but remain connected.

Blue by Suzanne Kaufman, (List Price: $18.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316311663, June 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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