Young Adult Fiction: The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

Author Tiffany D. Jackson has returned with another young adult thriller, this time taking place on a college campus during a young girl's first semester of her freshman year. During a time of new experiences and people, in a new and exciting, though unfamiliar place, she will find herself finally feeling like she fits in, until another newcomer soon has her questioning every part of herself.

The Situation: Jordyn Monroe arrives in Washington, D.C. ready to start her first semester of college. After attending a predominantly white prep school in Connecticut her entire life, she is excited to be attending Frazier University, one the most established HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the U.S. It may go against her parents wishes, who are still furious with her for turning down her spot at Yale, but Jordyn is determined to make her plan work. When she is immediately embraced by her three roommates, Vanessa, Loren, and Kammy, Jordyn wants to believe that fitting in here will be much easier than it was in high school.

The Problem: While finding a rhythm with her three roommates proves to be fairly easy, and a welcome development, having Vanessa's brother, Devonte, appear in their common living room, needing a place to stay, certainly throws things off balance. The older man is fresh out of jail on a false charge, and the last thing Jordyn wants is to have to say no to Vanessa. It helps that Devonte is charming, intelligent, and helpful around the dorm, but the longer he is around, the more reasons Jordyn has to suspect that something is up. As Devonte continues to impart his wisdom on his young audience, the number of people hanging around the dorm continues to grow, as do Jordyn's suspicions. And when a roommate goes missing, Jordyn reaches out to an likely source for help.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in and around the campus of the fictional Frazier University, an HBCU that Jordyn chose to attend over Yale, despite her parents' obvious disappointment. It is her first semester in college, living on campus with three other roommates, all from different places around the country. What Jordyn wants more than anything is to make friends and fit in, making it that much harder to risk being the only one to object to Devonte's continued presence, despite his heavy and incessant lectures, and intense attention. His ability to make himself the center of their world is as troubling as it is insidious, and breaking his spell will not be easy.

My Verdict: This book is intense. I could use all of the cliche adjectives to describe it: roller-coaster, wild ride, action-packed, page-turner...you get it. It is the first book that I have managed to finish in one morning in a long time. But I did it, because I had to know how it all turned out, even though there were many moments that were hard to stomach. Sure, the villain is terrible and does terrible things, but there are some decisions Jordyn makes that were hard to accept, even as I turned to the next page or moved on to the next chapter. This one is great for lovers of thrillers, true crime, and also people who love watching documentaries about cults. It is Jackson doing what she does best.

Favorite Moment: Jordyn gets the opportunity to go home with a friend for Thanksgiving, and their family is easily the most delightful group of people in the entire novel.

Favorite Character: Nick is the lone white student on Frazier's campus, but he manages to hold up under the inevitable scrutiny that comes his way.

Recommended Reading: Earlier this year, Jackson published her first middle-grade novel, Blood in the Water. 

Nonfiction: Vagabond by Tim Curry

Fans of legendary actor Tim Curry can remember what role it was from his long career that first introduced them to his voice, his range, and his talent. In his memoir, Vagabond, the British actor talks candidly about his life and career, including the stroke that nearly ended everything in 2012. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a memoir in which Curry starts at the beginning, with his early life in Britain, and continues on through his childhood; his early career; his experience with the roles his fans know and love; and into modern-day when a serious stroke almost took his life, but his recovery has allowed him to continue acting almost exclusively through voice work. Curry explores the effect his father's death had on him and his outlook on life, as well as his relationship with his mother, and how his older sister was one of the most important people in his life. He details the full extent of his role as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, both on stage and in the film, and how it led the way to him playing other memorable characters, Pennywise the Clown, and Wadsworth the Butler among them. 

My Verdict: Despite having a career that has extended over 40 years, Curry manages to tell his story in less than 300 pages, and seems to leave very little out (besides what he very pointedly tells the reader he is leaving out on purpose). Curry is open about the events of his life without being tacky, and without exposing those he may not have gotten along with as he went about his career. There is some occasional mention of another actor or perhaps a director he may not have gotten along particularly well with, but Curry simply speaks of what happened, gives a few reasons for why he believes it was the way it was, and then moves on to the next chapter. In fact, if there is a phrase that could be used to sum up how the actor has approached most things in life, it is to 'get on with it,' as he finds whining to be useless and boring. And one thing he is certainly glad to have held onto is his sense of humor, which comes through clearly on the pages of this book.

Favorite Quote: "Even so, whining is a f*cking bore for everybody involved - and it's highly unproductive. I'd rather spend my time focusing on other things."

Recommended Reading: Either of Stanley Tucci's books would be a great follow-up. Both Taste and What I Ate in One Year are fantastic reads. 

Young Adult Fiction: The Book of Anansi by Angie Thomas

The second book in the Nic Blake and the Remarkables series is here! Author Angie Thomas is continuing her middle grade series with The Book of Anansi, and once again, Nic and her brother Alex, along with her best friend JP, must do their best to outsmart and outrun very real dangers, while a troubling prophecy hangs over her head, making her question every decision she makes. 

The Situation: Life is indeed now very different for Nic than it was for her first ten years. Not only does she have a present mother, and twin brother, but she now lives in the hidden city of Uhuru and is about to begin attending a school only for Manifestors such as herself. Nic is glad to be around her mother and brother, and more than relieved that the punishment for her dad is not more severe than it is, and she still gets to see him whenever she wants. But the truth still remains that she is prophesied to be the Manowari, the person who will bring about the destruction of the Remarkable world. It feels like a truth everyone is tiptoeing around. Well, everyone who knows anyway.

The Problem: Nic's former favorite author, Tyran Porter, knows about the prophecy, and is determined to fulfill his part of it as the one who is supposed to stop the Manowari. While he is currently in exile, it has not stopped him from starting his own podcast, one that was initially dismissed as the rantings of a conspiracy theorist, but is gaining listeners by the day. If that was not enough, a mysterious but powerful group has tracked Nic down, and demands she locate a powerful artifact, or they will reveal the truth about her. It feels as if Nic has no choice but to do what they say, but every adventure brings more problems, as well as opportunities for her to use this new power that she is terrified of. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a book geared more towards middle grade readers, and is the second book in Thomas' Nic Blake and the Remarkables series. Having survived the events of the first book, and finding out she has a mother and twin brother, Nic now finds herself living among other Remarkables in Uhuru, and about to attend a school for Manifestors. She cannot help but make comparisons between this world and the Unremarkable world she grew up in, and it does not take long for her to realize that they both have issues regarding class and discrimination, no matter how much her grandmother insists that everything is for 'the greater good.' And then there is the prophecy she wishes she could outsmart, but despite everyone's attempts, it seems Nic is on track to become something she is not sure she wants to be.

My Verdict: This is a wonderful follow-up to 2023's The Manifestor Prophecy. Nic is now in a new place, attending a new school, complete with five different kinships that the students are sorted into (think the houses in Harry Potter). And while her brother Alex and best friend JP have returned for more adventures, there are still plenty of new characters to get to know, as well as a few new villains. Plus, readers get a look into the wider world of the Remarkables, which includes fairies, mermaids, werewolves, shapeshifters, even giants who are known for their ability in a sport closely resembling basketball. The story is complicated, but not overly so, and deals with identity, as well as what it means to protect those you love.

Favorite Moment: I love any mention of JP's life back in the Unremarkable world. 

Favorite Character: It is a tie between Ms. Lena, one of Nic's good friends from her previous life, and Mami Wata. Both women have no time for nonsense, but ultimately want to be helpful.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Tiffany D. Jackson's first middle grade book, Blood in the Water, also published earlier this year.

Winners of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards

The day has come! The winners of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards have been announced, and as usual, there a few surprises, as well as a few 'of course' reactions. 

And immediately, with the first category, a DSN has won for Favorite Fiction. Fredrik Backman's My Friends has taken the top prize in one of the most competitive categories. And for my first 'of course' reaction, we have Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid winning for Favorite Historical Fiction. 

And another 'of course' goes to Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins winning for Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi. And while I am thrilled that John Green's Everything Is Tuberculosis won for Favorite Nonfiction, I did not think it was a given due to the other competitive entries.

So four DSNs managed to win in their respective categories, which is about right, though there were five that won in 2021. As usual, this only makes me look forward to next year, while I also research those books that I missed in 2024.