Review: World Piece, Vol. 1

World Piece, Vol. 1 by Josh Tierney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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Publication Date: 8 June 2021

Publisher's Description

Josh Tierney and Agroshka’s sci-fi adventure follows Lucas Densen, a 16-year-old high schooler who suddenly finds himself protecting an Earth that has been shrunk by an unknown alien artifact—the world is literally in his hands!

Lucas Densen has earned his easygoing high school reputation through hard work and optimism. Life seems to be smooth sailing for this basketball-playing stargazer until an alien artifact shrinks the world, along with everything Lucas loves. What awaits him in this new realm where worlds are the size of your palm, and can he find out how to restore the Earth?

Lucas Densen has earned his easygoing reputation through hard work and optimism. When not playing basketball for his high school team, the Pulsars, Lucas enjoys visiting his mother’s archaeological excavations. During one visit, Lucas accidentally triggers an ancient alien artifact that suddenly transforms Earth into a small glowing orb no larger than a basketball! Transported to a mysterious realm with nothing but what’s on his back and the planet in his hands, Lucas encounters a friendly alien, Lully, who offers to help. What awaits him in this new realm where worlds are the size of your palm, and can he find out how to restore Earth?

Review: We Can't Keep Meeting Like This

We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Publication Date: 8 June 2021

Publisher's Description

A wedding harpist disillusioned with love and a hopeless romantic cater-waiter flirt and fight their way through a summer of weddings in this effervescent romantic comedy from the acclaimed author of Today Tonight Tomorrow.

Quinn Berkowitz and Tarek Mansour’s families have been in business together for years: Quinn’s parents are wedding planners, and Tarek’s own a catering company. At the end of last summer, Quinn confessed her crush on him in the form of a rambling email—and then he left for college without a response.

Quinn has been dreading seeing him again almost as much as she dreads another summer playing the harp for her parents’ weddings. When he shows up at the first wedding of the summer, looking cuter than ever after a year apart, they clash immediately. Tarek’s always loved the grand gestures in weddings—the flashier, the better—while Quinn can’t see them as anything but fake. Even as they can’t seem to have one civil conversation, Quinn’s thrown together with Tarek wedding after wedding, from performing a daring cake rescue to filling in for a missing bridesmaid and groomsman.

Quinn can’t deny her feelings for him are still there, especially after she learns the truth about his silence, opens up about her own fears, and begins learning the art of harp-making from an enigmatic teacher.

Maybe love isn’t the enemy after all—and maybe allowing herself to fall is the most honest thing Quinn’s ever done.

Welcome MALA!

Today is my virtual presentation for the Mid-America Library Alliance (MALA), so if you have found your way here from the session I want to start off with a huge

I hope each and everyone you found something to inspire you today.

Here's a round-up of the resources that we went over so you can dive deeper into whatever you need and skip past what you don't:

DIY Stickers

Book Club

Writing Club

Anime Club

Bookclubz

Bokksu

Bucilla My 1st Stitch (Amazon search list)

Punch Needle Embroidery for Beginners

Generation T

Teen Services Underground

Teen Librarian Toolbox

YALSA Teen Programming HQ

The Hub (YALSA)

I think that covers everything so go forth and be inspired! If I missed anything please let me know in the comments below. And drop me a message if you need anything else-I'm always glad to lend a hand (or a head in the more abstract 'Two brains are better than one' sense).

Edited to Add:

Where do I go to keep up with trends? The answer: many places. Here's a rundown of some of my faves:

Trend Watching -a paid service, but they do have an active twitter feed with some freebies

Etsy Trends

Google Trends

YouTube Trends

Twitter Trends

BuzzFeed

Martha Stewart sometimes has some good round-ups of craft trends and they are always on target!

This is my overview of trends watching for general and crafty trends. And I hope it helps.

Review: Talk Bookish to Me

Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Publication Date: 25 May 2021

Publisher's Description

 Inspiration can come from the most unlikely—and inconvenient—sources.

Kara Sullivan’s life is full of love—albeit fictional. As a bestselling romance novelist and influential bookstagrammer, she’s fine with getting her happily-ever-after fix between the covers of a book.

But right now? Not only is Kara’s best friend getting married next week—which means big wedding stress—but the deadline for her next novel is looming, and she hasn’t written a single word. The last thing she needs is for her infuriating first love, Ryan Thompson, to suddenly appear in the wedding party. But Ryan’s unexpected arrival sparks a creative awakening in Kara that inspires the steamy historical romance she desperately needs to deliver.

With her wedding duties intensifying, her deadline getting closer by the second and her bills not paying themselves, Kara knows there’s only one way for her to finish her book and to give her characters the ever-after they deserve. But can she embrace the unlikely, ruggedly handsome muse—who pushes every one of her buttons—to save the wedding, her career and, just maybe, write her own happy ending?

 

Review: Sixteen Scandals

Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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Publication Date: 25 May 2021

Publisher's Description

In this irreverent regency romp by New York Times best-selling author Sophie Jordan, newly minted sixteen-year-old Primrose Ainsworth finds herself on a wayward birthday adventure through London with a mysterious hero—perfect for fans of My Lady Jane.

The youngest of four daughters, Primrose Ainsworth is used to getting lost in the shuffle. But when her parents decide to delay her debut into English society, Prim hatches a plan to go rogue on the night of her sixteenth birthday.

Donning a mask, Prim escapes to the infamous Vauxhall Gardens for one wild night. When her cover is nearly blown, a mysterious stranger intercedes, and Prim finds an unexpected partner in mischief . . . and romance. But when it’s revealed her new ally isn’t who he says he is, her one night of fun may last past dawn.

In this frothy regency romp perfect for fans of Austen-esque flirtation and Shakespearean hijinks, sometimes a little scandal can be a good thing.

Review: Cool for the Summer

Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Publication Date: 11 May 2021

Publisher's Description

Lara's had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He's tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he's talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe...flirting, even? No, wait, he's definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara's wanted out of life.

Except she’s haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the school to see Lara and Chase chatting it up in front of the lockers.

Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she's finally got the guy, why can't she stop thinking about the girl?

Cool for the Summer is a story of self-discovery and new love. It’s about the things we want and the things we need. And it’s about the people who will let us be who we are.

Review: Verity Fairy: Sleeping Beauty

Verity Fairy: Sleeping Beauty by D.K. Publishing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Publication Date: 1 June 2021

Publisher's Description

This delightful book with beautiful, illustrated characters is a magical retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty fairy tale with a twist.

In this captivating interpretation of a classic fairy tale, children can rediscover the much-loved story of Sleeping Beauty while exploring the kingdom of the fairies--a place where all of the classic fairy tales coexist and intertwine. In this retelling of Sleeping Beauty, youngsters can follow Verity and her fairy friends in the Fairy-tale Kingdom and see how they help good prevail over evil, making sure everyone lives happily ever after. Verity means truth, and that is exactly what she does: she tells the truth, ALL the time, and it often gets her into a lot of trouble!

Gorgeous characters, simple text, and a splash of humor make Verity Fairy: The Real Story of Sleeping Beauty a captivating book to share. A perfect gift for every young child to enjoy, it will spark curiosity and imagination, while gently encouraging conversation around the difference between right and wrong.