In a genre typified by brutality, Julianna Baggott’s Pure trilogy manages to stand a doll’s head above the rest. After detonations wipe out most of the planet, those who survive are left irreparably damaged down to their DNA, scarred, and permanently fused with the creatures and objects that surrounded them during the blasts. The core cast of characters includes Pressia, a girl with a doll’s head for a hand; Bradwell, a boy with birds fused into his back; and El Capitan, a military commander whose brother is melted onto his back like a maniacal jockey. They inhabit a world clogged with ash, torn to ruins, and haunted by nightmarish fusions of man and beast, and creatures formed from the very dust on the ground. All of this stands in stark relief against the Dome—the last bastion of the rich and affluent of the Before, who live oblivious to the outside in an antiseptic, Orwellian bubble.

Fuse is the second in the series, and reading the first is recommended. Echoing the harsh, survivalist world in its pages, Fuse wastes little time holding its reader’s hand before the protagonists are plunged headlong into the action: battling robotic spiders, commandeering an airship, and following the only Pures to have ever escaped the Dome as they return to lead the revolution from within. Yet, for all its wretched violence, ‘Fuse’ is just as much about the quiet moments in-between where our heroes lick their wounds, catch their breaths, and share a moment of humanity.

In a genre typified by brutality, Julianna Baggott’s Pure trilogy manages to stand a doll’s head above the rest. After detonations wipe out most of the planet, those who survive are left irreparably damaged down to their DNA, scarred, and permanently fused with the creatures and objects that surrounded them during the blasts. The core cast of characters includes Pressia, a girl with a doll’s head for a hand; Bradwell, a boy with birds fused into his back; and El Capitan, a military commander whose brother is melted onto his back like a maniacal jockey. They inhabit a world clogged with ash, torn to ruins, and haunted by nightmarish fusions of man and beast, and creatures formed from the very dust on the ground. All of this stands in stark relief against the Dome—the last bastion of the rich and affluent of the Before, who live oblivious to the outside in an antiseptic, Orwellian bubble.

Fuse is the second in the series, and reading the first is recommended. Echoing the harsh, survivalist world in its pages, Fuse wastes little time holding its reader’s hand before the protagonists are plunged headlong into the action: battling robotic spiders, commandeering an airship, and following the only Pures to have ever escaped the Dome as they return to lead the revolution from within. Yet, for all its wretched violence, ‘Fuse’ is just as much about the quiet moments in-between where our heroes lick their wounds, catch their breaths, and share a moment of humanity.

In 26 snappy profiles, the mother-daughter team of Yolen and Stemple examine infamous women throughout history – from Delilah and Jezebel to Lizzie Borden and Bonnie Parker. These nonfiction short stories are masked as delicious crime drama, and each concludes with a comic book panel of the authors asking pertinent questions about the woman’s place in history. Were these strong-willed ladies truly guilty, or were they simply nonconformists with a bad reputation? The graphic-novel style illustrations by Rebecca Guay bring a hip reimagining to these rebellious anti-heroines, but there’s also plenty of critical thinking to be found here. A perfect fit for budding pre-teen feminists.

In 26 snappy profiles, the mother-daughter team of Yolen and Stemple examine infamous women throughout history – from Delilah and Jezebel to Lizzie Borden and Bonnie Parker. These nonfiction short stories are masked as delicious crime drama, and each concludes with a comic book panel of the authors asking pertinent questions about the woman’s place in history. Were these strong-willed ladies truly guilty, or were they simply nonconformists with a bad reputation? The graphic-novel style illustrations by Rebecca Guay bring a hip reimagining to these rebellious anti-heroines, but there’s also plenty of critical thinking to be found here. A perfect fit for budding pre-teen feminists.

Every child wants a special friend growing up. Me? I always wanted an elephant companion. In Ryan Higgins’ new picture book, a lonesome giant only wants one thing: a friend. Drawn in pen and ink and digitally colored, readers follow the story of Wilfred—the very hairy, very friendly giant—and a little boy who lives in a town where everyone is bald. Wilfred has to work hard for this new friend, proving that he can play golf, reenact historical events, and even do math homework (totally incorrectly). After a full day of fun, the new friends decide they must keep the good times rolling and set up another play date. Like many tales of friendship, however, other people get in the way—and poor Wilfred finds himself all alone once again. In the end, though, Wilfred and the little boy conquer the outside influences and show that even a big, hairy monster can still be a big, hairy best friend.

Every child wants a special friend growing up. Me? I always wanted an elephant companion. In Ryan Higgins’ new picture book, a lonesome giant only wants one thing: a friend. Drawn in pen and ink and digitally colored, readers follow the story of Wilfred—the very hairy, very friendly giant—and a little boy who lives in a town where everyone is bald. Wilfred has to work hard for this new friend, proving that he can play golf, reenact historical events, and even do math homework (totally incorrectly). After a full day of fun, the new friends decide they must keep the good times rolling and set up another play date. Like many tales of friendship, however, other people get in the way—and poor Wilfred finds himself all alone once again. In the end, though, Wilfred and the little boy conquer the outside influences and show that even a big, hairy monster can still be a big, hairy best friend.

A boy who yearns for the world outside his small southern town falls in love with a young witch (called a “Caster” in this universe) who will soon be claimed by The Light or The Dark. It’s a familiar love story told in unique and exciting ways by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. These authors are fantastic world-builders who manage to create a believable mythology and familiar community in the first novel of this popular YA series, now a major motion picture. Ethan and Lena are charming and their love story is a believable depiction of young love. The Southern setting and the flashbacks to a tragic story from the Civil War that may have repercussions for our young protagonists differentiate this from other love stories.

The novel ends in such a strong cliffhanger that there’s nothing a reader can do but rush right out and pick up the next novel in the series, ‘Beautiful Darkness’. This reader can assure you he has done just that, and like ‘Beautiful Creatures’, it was oh so worth it.

A boy who yearns for the world outside his small southern town falls in love with a young witch (called a “Caster” in this universe) who will soon be claimed by The Light or The Dark. It’s a familiar love story told in unique and exciting ways by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. These authors are fantastic world-builders who manage to create a believable mythology and familiar community in the first novel of this popular YA series, now a major motion picture. Ethan and Lena are charming and their love story is a believable depiction of young love. The Southern setting and the flashbacks to a tragic story from the Civil War that may have repercussions for our young protagonists differentiate this from other love stories.

The novel ends in such a strong cliffhanger that there’s nothing a reader can do but rush right out and pick up the next novel in the series, ‘Beautiful Darkness’. This reader can assure you he has done just that, and like ‘Beautiful Creatures’, it was oh so worth it.