(2) YA In a haunting work of speculative fiction incorporating African diaspara cultural markers, adolescent Jam (a transgender hearing person who communicates selectively, using both sign language and vocal speech) lives in a utopian town now free of "monsters" (oppressors and manifestations of evil). When a creature in one of her mother's paintings comes to life, Jam learns that it's hunting a monster--a monster that lives in Jam's best friend's house. The plot moves steadily as Jam investigates the creature's claims, and the story intensifies to a startling climax.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(2) YA Nineteen-year-old mage Liliath commands the Archangel Palleniel, whom she loves zealously. Her calculating plot to return Palleniel to power hinges upon four seemingly ordinary young people. Introducing five fully realized characters and their richly detailed world (inspired by the seventeenth-century France of Dumas's Musketeers) takes time; the pace picks up with court intrigue, beastling attacks, witty banter, and the posturing of rival military factions. Nix's fantasy setting is characterized by welcome gender equality, orientation inclusivity, and racial diversity.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Alex T. Smith. After bus driver Bert discovers a tiny boy angel in his pocket, Bert and his wife Betty, the cook at St. Mungo's School, care for the angel. At school the students love "Angelino"--but then he is kidnapped by young criminal K, and the race is on. The homey British setting and diction add to the appeal of this witty and wonderfully outlandish, but tender, tale.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Zoey Abbott. Young Finn is thrilled to find a white feather on his doorstep one morning. His excitement seems overblown until it becomes clear that he believes the feather was sent by his "angel" brother. This is a beautifully understated grief story featuring art that allows sadness to edge Finn's elation.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA Styclar Saga series. Jonah ponders the value of giving up his Vampire existence if Lailah can survive in the arms of his nemesis, Angel Gabriel. But Lailah, now both Vampire and Angel, fights for her own path. Full of paranormal teen angst and laden with elaborate visual descriptions, this conclusion to the trilogy should satisfy fans invested in the saga.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 1-3 Angel Wings series. Illustrated by Samantha Chaffey. Young angel Ella Brown starts school at the Guardian Angel Academy, where she promptly makes an enemy (prim and proper Primrose) and three friends (Poppy, Tilly, and Jess). The formulaic boarding-school story is fluffy as a cloud, and new readers will fly like glittery, sparkly angels through the bland but accessible chapters.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(4) 1-3 Angel Wings series. Illustrated by Samantha Chaffey. At the Guardian Angel Academy, Ella is the "imperfect" angel struggling with being good, and Primrose is her nasty nemesis. These second and third stories include an odd combination of magic, vaguely Christian references, angel-related trimmings (halos, sparkles, wings), and everyday elementary-school jealousies and friendship troubles. Young princess-loving readers will fly through these accessible but saccharine concoctions; others will get a toothache. Review covers the following Angel Wings titles: Birthday Surprise and Secrets and Sapphires.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 1-3 Angel Wings series. Illustrated by Samantha Chaffey. At the Guardian Angel Academy, Ella is the "imperfect" angel struggling with being good, and Primrose is her nasty nemesis. These second and third stories include an odd combination of magic, vaguely Christian references, angel-related trimmings (halos, sparkles, wings), and everyday elementary-school jealousies and friendship troubles. Young princess-loving readers will fly through these accessible but saccharine concoctions; others will get a toothache. Review covers the following Angel Wings titles: Birthday Surprise and Secrets and Sapphires.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA An unnamed sixteen-year-old girl becomes one of the chosen teens to traverse the labyrinth surrounding their city--eventually, they're told, to become angels. Yet in the maze there are terrors, monsters, and hard truths for which none of the teens are prepared. Much is left unresolved, but fans of the Hunger Games and Divergent books looking for a gorier next read should enjoy this paranormal dystopia.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(3) YA Dark angel Cam follows his beloved, Lilith, to high school and accepts Lucifer's bet to make Lilith love him again. Success means Lilith's freedom from punishment; failure puts Cam into his own special Hell. Starting after Luce and Daniel break their curse, fans of Kate's Fallen series will devour this romantic follow-up story about the dreamy bad boy.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) YA Maids of Honor series. McGowan adds supernatural elements to this third entry in her clever court-intrigue/historical-romance series. Sophia, one of five women recruited to protect the young Queen Elizabeth I, can speak with angels and foresee the future. She must use her gifts to thwart a prophecy that predicts a death at court. References to Elizabethan superstitions add historical authenticity.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Katie May Green. When the Nazis occupy Paris, a Jewish girl and her family flee to the woods, then to England. Throughout their exile, the young narrator is certain angels will protect them. Fatefully, a colossal angel adorns their new apartment building after the war. A carefully cadenced narrative conveys the enduring strength of family and faith, and calm mixed-media illustrations reinforce that theme.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) YA Memory Chronicles series. Felicia (Level 2) and Neil ascend to Level Three, only to discover that it has been infiltrated by the Morati (corrupted angels). Felicia must track down the undercover Morati, choose an afterlife vocation, and save her struggling relationship with Neil after she learns she's missing memories of their romance on Earth. This second cross-genre speculative-fiction tale ably combines romance, religion, action, and angst.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) YA This sequel to Hidden begins amidst a (confusing) whirlwind of activity concerning human Jordan; angel Nathaneal; and Ebony, whose angelic heritage remains in question. While Nathaneal, Ebony's fiancé, returns to Heaven to pay penance for past deeds, agents of evil attempt to trick Ebony into marrying dark Prince Luca. Three alternating narrators tell this story--clearly the second in a series.

Reviewer: Ariel Baker-Gibbs

(3) PS Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. An angel ponders what to give a soon-to-be-born baby, deciding on "the best gift of all"--she can provide a comforting "light in the darkness" by becoming a star (the Star of Bethlehem, in fact). McGhee conflates the Christmas and Epiphany stories, with the Magi already in attendance at Jesus' birth. Those willing to overlook that will enjoy the sweet text and endearing illustrations.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Vero Leland has never been a normal boy, but the discovery that he is a guardian-angel-in-training only makes him feel more like an outcast. He must begin angel school while trying to balance his one earthly life. Molinari injects a hero quest into a fresh setting in this fast-paced but sometimes didactic tale, book one in a series.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) YA This sequel to The Beautiful and the Cursed offers another complex take on angels, demons, and gargoyles. The setting--Paris in 1900--is evocative, and the Waverly siblings' relationship continues to deepen. But the mythology is overly ambitious, and the plot and prose are sprinkled with clichés. Genre fans and those smitten with the first book may want to persevere to the triology's conclusion.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Jonathan Smith discovers that he is the son of an angel and a demon. Using his unique powers, Jonathan must save his parents and stop archdemon Belial from conquering Heaven, Hell, and everything in between. Pashley builds his world based on traditional fantasy tropes, and the story, though entertaining, leaves readers with more questions than answers.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) YA Jenna's guardian-angel brother Casey has lost the use of his wings and needs to know why he's still on earth. The siblings turn to rowdy angel Bo Shivers for answers, but he has another agenda. The journal format creates some pacing issues (e.g., Jenna rehashes events from the previous installment, The Sweet Dead Life, too often), but the characters are mildly engaging.

Reviewer: Susan Graham

(2) YA The trilogy's concluding book (Daughter of Smoke & Bone; Days of Blood & Starlight) adds new character Eliza Jones, who suffers apocalyptic visions and proves to be the link from past to future. For all the well-made trappings of fantasy and horror, the patchwork amalgamation of myth and legend, the machinations of plot, and the colorful ensemble characters, this story remains a romance.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014