I have stumbled upon an absolute gem. Bellows, Fables from the Musical Underground is spun from the lessons learned in the music industry. Meet The Critic, The DJ, the Folk Singer, and many other characters as they stumble through the joys and dangers of loving music. Each story had me laughing aloud at the wit and creativity in the writing. This book is dark and **funny**.

A different artist illustrates each fable, crafting a surprise with each turn of the page. I would recommend it to anyone who has been in the music industry, first and foremost, and anyone who can appreciate clever writing, musician or not.

This is a unique piece of fiction that I will cherish and purchase for students, family, and friends.

This book is largely a love story; a passionate, all-consuming, and forbidden love story. Although a lot of the book is focused on the relationship between Billie and Nadine, Dunn manages to weave in many harsh realities of the era. She looks at abortion, segregation, prostitution, Mafia, addiction, and childhood trauma. These tough topics are seamlessly interwoven into the women's lives, painting a harsh picture of the 20s through the blurry lens of someone who has fallen madly in love with someone she is not allowed to be with.

My favorite character is Billy, who I connected with as someone who has experienced a lot of trauma. Dunn did an incredible job of bringing the long-lasting and nearly imperceptible effects into focus through Billie's character. Her writing style is dripping with rich, unique descriptions, and her characters are fully formed, fun, and endearing.

If you're a history buff and love a good romance, this book is the perfect combo.

We tried out this nonfiction novel that follows the lives of two men living in Chicago at the same time - the creator of the Chicago World's Fair and a serial killer. If you're a history buff, this is a no brainer win. The detail of the accounts are unmatched. We learned so much! If you are into architecture OR crime stories, buckle in to sit through a lot of the other one. You have to be interested in both to fully enjoy this book. A little dry at times, but overall I give this book a solid recommendation. It taught me a lot more about US history than I expected it to!

This book has a shockingly unique plot. Plus, Black’s writing is rich with detail, humor, and innovative diction. With interesting characters bringing you along for the strange ride, it’s hard to put down Skelly’s Square!

There were a few moments where I wished there was more explanation, but I have a feeling he's saving those reveals for book two. 

If you're into wartime historical pieces, good vs. evil fantasy, or a healthy dose of modern day Irish skepticism, you will enjoy this wickedly weird combo of all three. 

The ambiance of Lemke's world was really fun. The glowing plants, compounds, and leftover people fighting for scraps painted an immersive picture of a different US. The storyline was fun with plenty of twists and turns to keep me reading. My only critique would be to watch that the dialogue and actions fits the age of the character. Titania and James would occasionally say or do something that would throw me out of the story because it felt way off for their age. My favorite characters were Luna, as she seemed to stick to the brave friend she was, and the cat girl.

Overall, I would recommend this to a younger YA reader (12-16) looking for a fun blend of fantasy, scifi, and dystopian fiction. I will definitely be adding it to my classroom library and recommending it to students!