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Review: THE REBEL’S GUIDE TO PRIDE by Matthew Hubbard

May 212025
 

School Library Journal: Hubbard’s second novel finds 17-year-old Zeke stuck in a territory all too familiar with teenagers. Part of him hangs on to his past as the star pitcher on his high school baseball team, a straight-A student on his way to the University of Alabama, and destined to join the family law firm. Another part of him is him is struggling to accept his own identity as a gay man who wants to do everything he can to rebel against his father and the life he envisioned. This convergence comes to a head when his Alabama small town’s first Pride event is cancelled, and Zeke’s father is involved. To save Pride, Zeke and his friends start hosting secret events to subvert a new ordinance banning LGBTQIA+ events disguised as legislation meant to protect children. This novel explores topics ripped straight out of today’s headlines from the perspective of a newly out gay teen struggling with his own understanding of what it means to be gay. Zeke’s ongoing grapple with his identity and the one that was forced on him is universal. Additionally, Hubbard adeptly demonstrates why Pride is important to the LGBTQIA+ community, while at the same time reaffirming that there is no right or wrong way to be your authentic self. VERDICT Fans of Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and Trung Le Nguyen’s The Magic Fish will fall in love with Zeke and his story.

Starred Review: OUT OF AIR by Rachel Reiss

May 142025
 

School Library Journal: Phoebe, nicknamed Phibs by her friends, has lived in Boca Chica Key, FL, with her grandmother since her mother mysteriously disappeared. She’s always felt connected to the ocean, is an expert diver and underwater photographer, and seems to possess a sixth sense about the underwater world. She often feels out of place among her wealthier Key West friends, but her unique gift brings them unexpected social media fame, leading to a dream dive trip to Marimont, off the coast of Australia. This trip offers Phibs a chance to spend a final, glorious summer with her friends, including Gabe, whom she secretly hopes will become more than a friend. On a dive in Marimont, Phibs feels the ocean calling her to explore a crack she sees in the seabed, which leads to a magnificent underwater cave. It’s like nothing she’s ever seen, but Phibs and her friends soon learn some things are best left undisturbed. The story unfolds through alternating time lines, weaving together present-day events with flashbacks that reveal details about what happened to the group before Marimont. This narrative technique, paired with an engaging writing style and some shocking twists and turns, is sure to thrill. Romance, mystery, horror, adventure, treasure hunting, and a love letter to diving all combine to make this a compelling read. Fans of The Outer Banks will find themselves hooked from the first page. VERDICT A refreshing, original debut, this book is a must-have addition to any YA collection.

OUT OF AIR by Rachel Reiss

May 132025
 

The deeper you go, the darker you fall.

Phoebe “Phibs” Ray is never more at home than when she’s underwater. On a dive six months ago, she and her four closest friends discovered a handful of ancient gold coins, rocketing them into social media fame. Now, their final summer together after high school, they’re taking one last trip to a distant Australian island to do what they love most – scuba dive.

While diving a local reef, Phibs discovers a spectacular underwater sea cave, rumored to be a lost cave with a buried treasure. But when Phibs and her best friend Gabe surface from the cave, they notice that they’re undergoing strange changes. Oozing gashes that don’t heal. Haunting whispers in their heads… Something has latched onto them, lurking beneath their skin, transforming them from the inside out.

When treasure hunters arrive, desperate to find the location of the cave and hold Phibs’ group for ransom, she’ll do anything to keep her friends safe. In the process she learns that, of all the dreadful creatures of the sea, she might be the most terrifying of them all.

Deal: Melissa K. Roehrich

May 072025
 

Melissa K. Roehrich’s Legacy series, a dark fantasy romance featuring a woman bound to the heir of death who fights not only the fate thrust upon her, but the temptation to lose herself to desire, including three previously self-published books and one original title, to Alexandra Sunshine at Kensington, in a major deal, in a four-book deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier (NA).

Children’s Book Council’s 2025 Librarian Favorites!

May 022025
 

Congratulations to Jose Iriarte and Shaun David Hutchinson as both BENNY RAMIREZ AND THE NEARLY DEPARTED and SCHOOL FOR INVISIBLE BOYS made the Children’s Book Council’s 2025 Librarian Favorites list, and their 2025 Teacher Favorites list!

April Translation Deals

Apr 302025
 

Croatian rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s THE AERONAUT’S WINDLASS and THE OLYMPIAN AFFAIR, Books 1 and 2 of The Cinder Spires, to Lumen, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i Prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Hungarian rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s COLD DAYS, Book 14 of The Dresden Files, to Delta Vision, by Nada Popovic at Prava i Prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Hungarian rights to Michael Livingston’s NEVER GREATER SLAUGHTER, to Peko, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Polish rights to Robert McCammon’s THE PROVIDENCE RIDER, to Vesper, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Polish rights to Katherine Addison’s THE GOBLIN EMPEROR, to Nowa Basn, by Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Portuguese rights to New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir’s GIDEON THE NINTH, the first book in the Locked Tomb series, to Infinito Particular, by Elena Rodríguez at International Editors’ Co. in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Ukrainian rights to LJ Andrews’s THE BROKEN KINGDOMS SERIES, to Bookchef, in a three-book deal, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava i Prevodi on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Ukrainian rights to Caitlin Starling’s THE STARVING SAINTS, to Yakaboo, by Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Caitlin McDonald.

BROKEN SOULS AND BONES by LJ Andrews

Apr 292025
 

Lyra Bien intended to live a quiet life to avoid the attention of the magic-obsessed king in the fortress of Stonegate. Until Roark Ashwood—the prince’s silent guard and rumored killer for the crown—invades her village and uncovers the truth behind the silver scars in her eyes. To save her best friend from death, she’s forced to reveal her abilities, and is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder.

To be the King’s melder is to be revered and feared in equal measures, but above all it is a slow death sentence. Lyra is determined to find a way to free herself and her friends from bondage. But first she must get more information from the silent, brooding sentry who first took her captive: Roark.

As Lyra gets closer to Roark, she soon learns he’s nothing like she assumed—and in fact everything she needs. The more they work as allies, the harder it becomes to ignore the growing passion between them. After a sinister truth is revealed, Roark and Lyra must choose to stand against all they know, or accept their dark destiny.

Review: BROKEN SOULS AND BONES by LJ Andrews

Apr 212025
 

Booklist: Prolific romantasy author Andrews (Broken Kingdoms series, beginning with Curse of Shadows and Thorns, 2021) offers an exciting first entry in a Norse-inspired series. The power of a melder is one that kings have killed for. Lyra Bien has such power and has tried to keep it hidden it since the night of the raids. But secrets don’t stay secret forever, and Lyra is betrayed and sent to Stonegate, the royal fortress of Jorvondal. Roark Ashwood, a deadly warrior with secrets of his own, is tasked with escorting Lyra and guarding her from potential threats. Roark despises melders, whose power he views as corrupt. And how could Lyra trust a Draven, Jorvondal’s sworn enemy? Undeniably drawn together, though, they begin to really see each other. Lyra imagines the hands Roark uses to speak doing more. Roark begins to fall for the melder with silver in her eyes.  But will power and betrayal ultimately tear them apart? Expertly weaving together loyalty, love, and lore, Broken Souls and Bones offers a compelling narrative that will have romantasy readers enthralled.

Review: A HOME FOR UNUSUAL MONSTERS by Shaun David Hutchinson

Apr 172025
 

Horn Book: This sequel to The School for Invisible Boys (rev. 1/24) shifts its focus to twelve-year-old Samantha Osbourne, budding agent for the clandestine paranormal research group Kairos, as she navigates adolescence, grief, and…monsters. Sam is sent on a covert mission to recover a top-secret list created by recently deceased, eccentric Kairos agent Lionel Frobisher. Using her unique ability to alter her appearance in others’ minds, Sam disguises herself as Lionel’s cousin Sunny for a visit to his Seattle home. When the strange Draven family simultaneously moves in next door, Sam’s suspicions are raised. Hutchinson’s complex story line interweaves the fantastical (living buildings, magic glasses, deadly stuffed animals) with relatable tween concerns (such as feeling “exposed” in a two-piece swimsuit). Details around the loss of Sam’s parents in a fire and the surprising revelation about the Kairos organization’s true motives add narrative depth. Brief chapters, intriguing dilemmas, and near-constant twists will keep readers on edge throughout this substantial addition to a thoroughly creepy and captivating adventure series.

Review: THE REBEL’S GUIDE TO PRIDE by Matthew Hubbard

Apr 092025
 

Booklist:The rebel is 17-year-old Zeke Chapman, who rebels against his overbearing attorney father who, when Zeke came out, sternly admonished him to keep a low profile. Zeke struggles against this stricture, joining his school’s Queer-Straight Alliance, whose three (!) members are his best friend, Sawyer, her girlfriend, Kennedy, and his erstwhile boyfriend, Cohen, now his sworn enemy. Or is he? Meanwhile, things heat up when the Pride event the alliance has planned is summarily canceled by the odiously homophobic mayor. Inspired by his mom’s favorite flapper, Zelda Fitzgerald, Zeke suggests they replace the event with a clandestine (officially illegal) speakeasy party—which is a great success. There is much more to this plot-rich novel, but suffice it to say that Zeke’s evolving character is the focus, being examined in almost granular detail and leaving no question that Zeke emerges as a fully realized, multidimensional character—and, happily, an empathetic and proud one at that.

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