March Sisters

Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet is a young adult murder mystery that provides a modern twist on the classic Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

The story is laid out from each girl’s perspective alternating between past and present. Beth, Meg, Jo and Amy, are celebrities following the publication of their dad’s book, “Little Women.” Readers hate him for killing Beth in his book. Each daughter handles fame differently.

Of course, the main plot revolves around Beth’s actual death following a New Year’s Eve party. Each sister explores her own relationship with Beth, with some feeling more guilty than others. There are other suspects among the girls’ male friends too.

Eventually, the truth reveals itself with a shocking additional murder taking place.

Never Forget

The 9:09 Project by Mark H. Parsons is another teen Nutmeg nominee.

Jamison has been struggling since his mom’s death from cancer. She was the only one who really understood his way of thinking as a synesthetic among being a confidante.

He uses photography as a way to commemorate her. Each night, he takes a photo at her time of death, 9:09.

Jamison decides to use his 9:09 photos and others he’s taken of classmates to build a website which begins getting attention.

Through this is a budding relationship with a seemingly surly classmate. He also navigates having his little sister at high school with him for the first time, overcoming his childhood crush with the hottest girl in school, a new friendship and supporting his dad.

Photography is a key element to the story. Each chapter begins with a quote from Dorothea Lange and there is a plentiful amount of photo editing details.

The author’s note explains how personal this story is as he was caring for his mother while writing this book, highlighting the need to celebrate our loved ones through our own talents and memories.

Back in Time

Throwback by Maurene Goo is a 2026 Nutmeg nominee (high school).

This was a fun story about Samantha (Sam) and relationships with her mom Priscilla and her grandmother. Sam is very close with her grandmother but is constantly at odds with her mom, much as her mom doesn’t get along with her own mom. This comes to a head after her grandmother ends up in the hospital. They have a huge fight about shopping for a homecoming dress.

Sam ends up being transported back to her mom’s senior year of high school in 1995. She must help her mom and grandmother avoid the massive fight they have homecoming night or risk being stuck back in time. She thinks the solution is making sure her mom wins homecoming queen.

Sam’s ideas of how to campaign don’t work as expected in the past. The result is an entertaining quest for the crown. Sam gains a better understanding of her mom through the process, and also gets time to visit her grandmother (while seeing a different side of her). She also meets a potential love interest.

Overall, this is a fun read about teens, time and learning to understand other’s struggles.

Bold Beauty

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh is a young adult novel set in historic New Orleans.

Celine and a number of other young women from various parts of Europe are sent to live in a convent. They will be supervised until arranged in a suitable marriage.

Celine is different. There is a spark in her unlike the others which immediately is noticed by the very handsome Sebastien, as well as by his deadly enemy.

She is swept up in a tale of revenge as a string of violent murders begin adding up.

This is a hate to love story with elements of magic and monsters. It evokes the feeling of Twilight and similar vampire-type novels. For me, it was a bit slow and predictable.

Heist

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is first in a two-part series.

It’s a story very much like an “Ocean’s Eleven,” with a high stakes heist as its main plot.

Kaz is the leader of a crew looking to kidnap the head scientist responsible for a drug that deeply intensifies Grisha powers. It’s worth a small fortune to accomplish this feat, and his crew wants the money for various personal reasons. Kaz wants the money and revenge on the man responsible for his brother’s untimely death when they were boys.

Kaz has assembled a crew consisting of his own sharp mind, Inej (acrobat/spy), Nina (Grisha heartrender), Jesper (sharpshooter and secret Grisha), Matthias (the muscle freed from prison to provide inside intel), and Wylan (novice bomb expert).

The story is packed with adventure and near-death experiences as they work toward their goal. Events lead to a cliffhanger as they finish the heist with unfinished business- getting their payment and rescuing wraith.

Haunted

Beloved by Toni Morrison is a book delving into the horrors of slavery and its aftermath.

Sethe is an escaped slave living in Ohio. She moved in with her mother in law and her children, but there is a terrible heaviness upon their home. It’s the ghost of Sethe’s murdered daughter, Beloved. Once they’re old enough, her two sons moved away leaving behind her one living daughter.

After her mother in law’s death, Sethe and her daughter receive two visitors. One is a man from her past and the other is the adult version of her deceased daughter. Strange events occur as Sethe wrestles with her past actions and tries to make amends with her dead daughter. The horrors of her past (and the men in her life) are revealed in snippets throughout the book which lends some understanding of the post traumatic stress she inhabits. Meanwhile her living daughter, Denver, is forced to step outside her (self-imposed?) reclusiveness.

This is a strongly written read (of course – it’s authored by Morrison!) which will force one to think about the atrocities white men were capable of during this time period and the horrible after effects on their victims.

Tainted Victory

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is the most recent book of The Hunger Games series.

It’s the 50th quarter quell, and every district must send double the tributes. After a deadly riot, Haymitch is chosen as the unfortunate backup tribute for district twelve on his sixteenth birthday. He is forced to leave his mother, young brother and the love of his life behind.

The book follows his experience along with his districts three other tributes as they prepare to enter the arena. Their odds don’t look great as they are given some of the worst treatment of all the districts. Also, Haymitch has already pissed off Snow so he is marked for disaster.

However, he’s able to spin the public’s view of him to be a rebellious rascal. He is also part of a plan to destroy the arena from within.

In typical Hunger Games fashion, there are grisly deaths, mutated creatures and strategy. Spoiler- while Haymitch may end up surviving, his whole world crashes down after the games.

Royal Romance

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz is a fun, romantic graphic novel.

The main character is a countess who stands to inherit none of her fortune as a woman. Her father gives his blessing for her to become a man, the count, in order to keep her inheritance. She moves to a new area with her lifelong handmaid to protect the ruse.

This is when she begins falling for the Princess. But she can’t allow herself to get too close to avoid her secret being revealed. The Princess develops feelings too, but is also onto her secret which has the potential to change all their plans.

It’s been several weeks since I read the book which is why my review lacks detail. It was a light-hearted, quick read with great cheesy references throughout.

The Real Snake

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is a prequel to The Hunger Games.

Coriolanus Snow is a senior student residing in the Capitol. He aspires to attend university, success and wealth. However, his family consisting of his grandmother and cousin Tigris, are in financial trouble. They are in danger of losing their penthouse apartment and they are starving. His best meals are at school.

There seems to be hope with the upcoming Hunger Games because for the first time the students will be mentors to the tributes. The winner will receive full tuition at the University. However, Coriolanus is horrified when he is the last mentor assigned to the lowly District Twelve’s girl tribute.

But, he soon realizes that his mentee, Lucy Gray, is captivating. She has an amazing presence and sings beautifully. They begin to develop a relationship as they strategize how to win the games.

During the buildup to the games, Coriolanus has to worry about the game creator, Dean Highbottom, who seems to have a personal vendetta against him. There is also the twisted Dr. Gaul. Her experiments on animals and possibly people seems to have no boundaries.

Sejanus is a classmate and former District Two resident. Coriolanus envies Sejanus’s family money, and also can’t stand his rebellious tendencies. But he knows it’s best to keep up appearances as a friend.

Snow’s cheating during the games gets him assigned as a Peacekeeper. He chooses District Twelve in hopes of reuniting with Lucy Gray. And Sejanus ends up joining him.

Lucy and Snow reunite and seem destined to be together. However, Snow begins to realize his true nature. He cares more for acclaim and privilege than building a new life in the unknown.

There is so much more intricate detail to the story. The characters are well written and I was captivated.

A Boy and His Dog

Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow is a 2026 high school Nutmeg nominee.

Ian has been going through a tough time. His dad left him and his mom when he was young. His grandfather who was his idol died when Ian was younger. Now he’s in high school and dealing with poverty and his mom’s addiction. His grandfather’s lessons about life and land along with his own mechanical knowledge give him strength. This is when a stray dog, Gather, shows up in his life.

A hospital visit scares his mom straight for a while. Things seem to be moving in a positive direction. They both get jobs and Ian gets a girlfriend. He’s even allowed to keep his dog. But once they get a bill for back taxes on their house and property, Ian’s mom spirals and overdoses.

Now Ian is about to be shuffled to his dad in Tennessee, forcing him to leave his home and the community he is so attached to.

He decides not to move to his dad and starts making his way back home, just him and Gather. They survive on the run until he can reach out to those in his community, his teacher and neighbors, for help.

This was a story with a strong message about community and kindness. The author did a good job with Ian’s narration; however the plot moved a bit slowly for me during the second third of the book.