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Puget Sound Council

For Reviewing Children's & Young Adult Literature

Connecting readers with quality children's and young adult books through trusted peer reviews.

Welcome

Welcome to the (new & improved!) review management system for the Puget Sound Council. Please access the features of this site via the menu bar above.

If you have questions or comments, cannot locate a book, or need to report an error, please contact pugetsoundcouncil@gmail.com.

For questions about membership, how-tos, and issues that are not site-related, please contact Eve Datisman at datseve@gmail.com.

Schedule of Events

General Meeting Dates — 2025–2026

Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM

Location: Shoreline Conference Center, Professional Library, Building H

Sep

Sat, Sep 13, 2025

9:00 - 11:00 AM

Nov

Sat, Nov 15, 2025

9:00 - 11:00 AM

Jan

Sat, Jan 10, 2026

9:00 - 11:00 AM

Mar

Sat, Mar 7, 2026

9:00 - 11:00 AM

May

Sat, May 2, 2026

9:00 - 11:00 AM

Jun

Sat, Jun 6, 2026

9:00 - 11:00 AM

Reminder:

PSC 2025 dues are due January 1, 2026. Oral reviews must be posted by Wednesday 11:59 PM before the meeting.

The Shoreline Conference Center Professional Library is open 7:00 – 4:30 weekdays during the school year. Members are encouraged to drop by and pick up books at your convenience. Please call Tina Marier at 206.393.4225 or email tina.marier@ssd412.org to make sure the room is available.

How to Review Books

Important:

When finished writing a review, make sure you change the "Published" setting to "Yes." Otherwise, it will not be visible to others.

Oral Reviews

Books reviewed at the following meeting. Usually first-time authors, particularly noteworthy books, or discussion-worthy books. Oral books are returned and donated to charities.

Written Reviews

Books not reviewed orally. After reviews are submitted, these books may be added to your library collection.

Steps to Review

  1. Select the books you wish to review. We have a responsibility to review all books sent to us by publishers — please review them in a timely manner.
  2. At the meeting, separate your books into Oral and Written piles.
  3. Use the scanner to enter your choices. Select your name from the dropdown, choose oral or written, and scan the ISBN for each book.
  4. To enter a finished review: Log in, go to Reviews → My Reviews To Do, select a book, fill out the fields, and set "Published" to save.

Rating Scale

R* Highly Recommended. Superior book; should be part of every collection.
R Recommended. Superior in style, liveliness, integrity and format.
AD+ Additional Plus. Good solid book but has some minor flaws.
AD Additional. Satisfactory but will be excelled by other books in its field.
AD- Additional Minus. Mediocre.
M Marginal. Contains many weaknesses; might be considered only as supplementary material or to meet special localized subject needs.
NR Not Recommended. Does not meet library standards in style, content, or design.
NR* Not Recommended*. Appropriate for another kind of collection or different age levels.

Recent Reviews

Hot Boy Summer

by Jimenez, Joe (2024)

AD

In this coming-of-age novel Mac is exploring his gay identity and enjoying a summer with gay friends, or are they friends? Mikey is attractive and desirable. Cammy is becoming an increasing problem...

Reviewed by Teresa Jun 5, 2026
Grades: 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade

CREEPERS : THE RAG & BONE MAN

by HYDE, EDGAR J (2025)

AD+

Cleaning out his aunt’s house after she has died, Asher and his siblings think there is a ghost in his old relative’s house. Asher confirms this belief when he learns about the death of a local ma...

Reviewed by Stacy Jun 3, 2026
Grades: 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade

THIS WRETCHED BEAUTY : A DORIAN GRAY REMIX

by GRENIER, ELLE (2026)

AD+

The latest installment in the Classics Remixed collection offers a queer perspective on The Portrait of Dorian Gray. In Wilde’s classic tale, a young man maintains his youth while a supernatural po...

Reviewed by Kris Jun 3, 2026
Grades: 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade

The First Christmas Tree : An Innu Tale

by Fontaine, Ovila (2025)

R

In this stunningly illustrated tale (translated from French), Great Manitou searches for the perfect Christmas tree to gift the Innu to make their winter a little brighter. As he approaches various...

Reviewed by Tanya Jun 3, 2026
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade

5-MINUTE MARVEL SUPER STORIES

by (2025)

AD

Marvel has pulled off a coup: persuaded 15 cartoonists to create new adventures for their superhero! Each story is 10 pages or less. Characters are introduced with two double page spreads, united...

Reviewed by Jodie Jun 3, 2026
Grades: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade

GREEN CITIES : HOW GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE HELPS URBAN CENTERS THRIVE

by BOUDREAU, SHEILA (2026)

R

In this non-fiction book geared toward upper elementary and lower middle school readers, children can learn about how green cities can be created, developed, and sustained. The book defines what it...

Reviewed by Erin Jun 3, 2026
Grades: 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade

All By Myself : (But Sometimes I Need A Little Help!)

by Everett, Elizabeth (2025)

R

The story was encouraging and empowering to young ones to try things on their own, but to also letting them know it's okay to ask for help whenever they can't do the task at hand by themselves. It'...

Reviewed by Noelle Jun 2, 2026
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade

THAT CRYSTAL VIBE : UNLOCK YOUR CONFIDENCE AND CALM WITH CRY

by EM, MANDI (2026)

AD+

This is a visually appealing and helpful introductory guidebook to the use of crystals for a variety of purposes: healing, reducing stress, collecting, boosting creativity, or cleansing the aura of...

Reviewed by Anne Jun 2, 2026
Grades: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade

HAZEL'S BEST DAY : A STORY OF COMMUNITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND PRIDE IN BEING YOURSELF

by NELSON, ADIBA (2026)

R*

A story of community accessibility and Pride in being yourself. Hazel has just awaken to the best day of the year - Disability Pride Parade Day. Story explains the various accessories that help ...

Reviewed by Karen I. Jun 1, 2026
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade

A Day Just for Us

by Martin, Aniyah, Padilla, Diana & Sahin, Tamara (2026)

AD

In this board book it tells of all the things that they do on a Saturday after working Monday through Friday.

Reviewed by Kay Jun 1, 2026
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten