Here’s my review of Sem’s Map by Rebecca Thomas published by Nimbus Publishing. This children’s book is about a little boy named Sem who is left confused after, in school, he learns about the map of his home North America. To Sem, the map is wrong. It has the same shape as Turtle Island but the lines and names spell a different story. His grandmother, or Kiju, tells him stories of the land, but Sem’s teacher and classmates have never heard them. This book follows Sem as he teaches his class, and us readers, that Indigenous place names are far older than any map.

This book was a sweet one that fosters a very thoughtful way of teaching young kids about the land they live on. It also provides them with perspective on how their Indigenous classmates may feel confused after growing up learning about their culture from a non-colonial lens. The book encouraged many positive ideas such as celebrating differences and thinking critically. I loved that it spotlighted a protagonist who is not afraid to speak up when they notice something may be odd. I also really liked that, in the story, Sem’s teacher modeled intellectual humility, demonstrating to his students that even authority figures who appear all-knowing, are not. He invited the right person to teach them about a topic that he does not have lived experience with.

The illustrations in this book are bright, colourful, and complement the story well. I noticed that, at the start of the book, there was a picture of a map of North America with the settler-named locations, and at the end, the same map was shown but, this time, using Indigenous place names. It was a clever touch that added depth to the book. This was the first non-poetry book I read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I especially loved reading the author’s note at the end that talks about her own experiences growing up and her realization that places weren’t changing their names to something else, but rather, reclaiming what they always had been.

This is a beautifully illustrated, light-hearted, yet educational read. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a short, yet informative read for young students.

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars!

"Worthy of Love" by Andre Fenton feels like a quiet, relatable, and honest reflection on what it means to believe you deserve love.

The novel follows Adrian as he struggles with identity, insecurity, and the pressure of expectations from his family and himself. His doubts about his body, his sensitivity, and his place in the world shape how he sees others, often making him question whether he is truly worthy of being loved.

The complicated relationship with his father remains a powerful part of the story, highlighting how silence and generational differences can create distance. At the same time, Adrian’s friendships ground him, constantly reminding him throughout the book that he is not alone. His romantic relationship with Mel is tender and realistic, showing that love requires vulnerability, not perfection.

What stayed with me most is that worthiness isn’t something we earn. It’s something we already have as humans. "Worthy of Love" is a comforting reminder that growth takes time, and that learning to love yourself is part of the journey.

going into this book, I didn’t really know what to expect. Ten Thousand Truths won an award at our Digitally Lit Youth Choice Awards for being a the most popular youth pick. A true Digitally Lit classic! So it was high time I read it.
I took this novel at face value, I didn’t expect a whole lot, and it decently met my expectations. This story isn’t anything particularly innovative or groundbreaking, not to be mean, but yeah, it’s a story I’ve seen before. I think the broadway musical turned movie Annie has a very similar story. Girl in the foster system who doesn’t have a family finds a family by the end of it! I like the found family trope as much as anyone, but its a bit on a nose to have it be a foster family haha.

I enjoyed reading the book for the most part, it’s a solid novel for what it is. The main character Rachel lost her family, and finds a family in her foster family, hates it at first, and then really likes it by the end of everything. It’s a heartwarming story, and I believe the author herself was a foster child, so I like that it draws from personal experience in that regard. I am always interesting in learning more about how other children grow up, and of course I was rooting for Rachel and didn’t want her to stay in that abusive foster home. It’s a good middle grade novel that I would recommend to fans of the found family trope, or fans of the play/movie Annie!

Titanic by Nicola Pierce is a history book that, to me, doesn’t read like a history book (in a good way!). Published by Nimbus publications, I found this book had lots of facts. It followed a timeline I could understand, and I learned a lot without being overwhelmed or having that “yawn” feeling as I’m reading.

Going into this book I already had a good amount of knowledge about the Titanic. I knew a lot about the sequence of events that led to the sinking, the aftermath, and the search for it after it sank. What I didn’t know too awful much about was the people. Which is where this book comes into play.

This book hits on the many walks of life who boarded the ship - the rich and famous, the less well known, and the regular families. I find there are so many Titanic books, yet this one is set apart because it focuses on the stories of the people, and not just the story of the ship.

I recommend this book if you are interested in a read that is easy to follow but factual. This book follows a chronological timeline which makes it (in my opinion) a read that you can really focus into. The Titanic is a topic that will truly never forgotten, so if you’re going to read any book I definitely recommend this one!

Heartbreak Homes
By: Jo Treggari
Frankie and her best friend Jessa are heading to a party at an unfinished home in the deserted subdivision of Heartwood Homes. Frankie is wary about going as it is being hosted by Malcom Bradley whom is not only Jessa’s crush but is basically the jerky rich boy stereotype. Frankie only goes to support here best bud but ends up meeting an old friend Martin. Martin and his father moved across town shortly after his father lost everything. He hadn’t heard from his old school friends since he left. When he received the invitation he decided it was a great opportunity to reconnect with them again. Once he gets there he realizes his old friends aren’t the same as they used to be, but he still tries to make the best of the evening. Cara the leader of a homeless group of girls also live on an unfinished property in the Heartwood Homes subdivision. When they hear about the party Cara can’t help but see this as a great opportunity for her group to snag food, clothing and other things as the rich wouldn’t notice it missing while they are all drunk. During the party Frankie and Martin stumble upon a dead body. Now Frankie, Martin and Cara need to work together, whether they want to or not, to help figure out who the murderer is.
I really liked this book. The different points of view were great as they let the reader learn more about each character, and I got to see how each character felt as the story went on. I felt that the story was well written and went into many issue that some young adults may face such as being part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, what it’s like to live on the streets, and the consequences of bad decisions! I give this book a 5/5