Lies That Bind (Anastasia Phoenix #2) by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

More lies, mysteries, intrigue, world travel and danger and murder are in this second book in the series.  Who can Anastasia trust?  Can she believe or trust anyone?  How many people are lying to her?  I enjoyed this second book in the series and look forward to the next one!

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken

This is the first book in a fun new middle grade series.  When 12 year old Prosper and his twin sister Prudence are taken to their evil grandmother's home and met by all of their relatives, Prosper knows something is wrong.  It turns out even worse than he imagines when his family attacks him and an uncle that he has never met rescues him and he awakens in a haunted house.  Will his uncle and cousin be able to help him get rid of the demon who is residing within him?  I think that readers will enjoy this book!

Love is Love by Michael Genhart

This is a simple picture book for children about a boy who has two dads and gets made fun of for a wearing a t-shirt that has a rainbow heart and the words love is love. The little boy talks about how he doesn't like hearing that gay is bad and he talks about all the wonderful people who he knows who are gay.  The book is positive and includes parts for parents and educators at the end. 

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

As the story begins, fifteen year old Quin is training to be a Seeker who will help people and right the wrongs in the world.  She soon learns that her job as Seeker does not live up to her expectations.  She has been training with two boys (love triangle alert), John, who she is in love with, and Shinobu, who is a distant cousin.  The story is told by several different characters and covers the beginning, a year and a half later, and the distant past.  There is romance, sci-fi/fantasy, and lots of action in this first book in this YA series.  I think that readers of YA fantasy will enjoy it.

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

Sal is a viscious thief who kills a bunch of people in a contest to join the elite group that guards the queen.  Sal is also gender fluid and is in love with the woman who is assigned to teach her how to read and write. 

Prisoner of Ice and Snow by Ruth Lauren

In this middle grade fantasy, 13 year old Valor who is better at archery than most adults, gets herself arrested through an elaborate ruse so that she can be put in the same top security prison as her twin sister so she can break her sister out of that prison that no one has ever escaped from.  Set in frigid Russia, the story has mystery, intrigue and politics all on a 13 year old level.  I think middle grade children will enjoy this story.

Waking Up White by Debby Irving

The author shares her life story of how she came to realize that she was white and privileged and how she has tried to help educate other white people about how privileged they are to combat racism.
I think she has a lot of guilt.  She did bring up some points about things I was unaware of with the GI bill and systematic housing discrimination.  I listened to the audio version of this book.  I think some people will be very touched by it.

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang

Weylon Grey's story is told by a varried cast of characters consisting of people who he interacted with in his life including his adoptive sister,Lydia, and his girlfriend, Mary.  Weylon was raised by wolves for several years and he can talk to the animals and perhaps he can control the weather. This is the author's first book and I look forward to her future books. 

(((Semitism))) Being Jewish in America in the Age of Trump by Jonathan Weisman

"Anti-Semitism tends to be invisible until it isn't."  This book is a chilling reminder that anti-semitism, often a less visible form of bigotry, is alive and thriving in the US and growing in popularity and acceptance under the Trump regime.  Jews face hatred from the alt-right who back Israel because they want the Jews to all leave the US and go to Israel, and from the far left who promote the BDS to the point that they are anti Israel and anti Jewish. The author shares his experience as a journalist of the virulent hatred of the online attacks on Jewish journalists especially and the technique of the alt-right neo-Nazis of surrounding the name of a Jewish journalist with three parentheses on each side to mark them for easy searching to target them online with hateful messages and images including death threats and gas chamber photos.  Many policies of hatred perpetuated by the Trump regime and its followers as well as an explanation of the alt-right and neo-Nazis are explained in eye opening ways.  I highly recommend this book.

The School For Psychics by K.C. Archer

In this YA paranormal romance, Teddy is still living in her parent's garage, having been kicked out of college and is in trouble for gambling.  When she is caught in a casino that she has been banned from, she is given the choice of going to a school for psychics.  She falls in with a group of misfits and learns how to use her own psychic ability that she had not known that she even had.  Mystery, intrigue and romance abound in this first book in a new series.  I think that fans of Twilight and Harry Potter will enjoy it.

The Boy on The Bridge by M.R. Carey

 
This story is a prequel to The Girl With All The Gifts.  In this book, a group of scientists has gone on an expedition to study results of tests in an attempt to find a cure for the plague that has turned  much of the population into zombies.  The two main characters are Stephen, an autistic teen genius, and Dr. Khan, a pregnant scientist who has acted as Stephen's mother for years.  When Stephen sneaks away from the group to observe the hungries, he encounters children that are hungries, yet have still managed to retain thought processes.  There are political elements and danger and infighting among the crew of the Rosie, the large tank like vehicle that they are traveling in.  Readers who enjoyed the first book should enjoy this one as well.