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August - September 2025 Reviews

Hello, everyone!

 

I sincerely don't know what happened! I logged in to do my September review roundup and saw August chilling there, unsent!! How dare August!! So here's a combined 2 months. I dunno about y'all, but the beginning of the school year sort of kicked my butt! Hopefully this giant helping of reviews helps us all during this busy buying season.



(this was in my August draft, so Imma leave it cuz I'm still curious) This school year, I have a personal goal of checking out 350,000 books for our district of 23 schools, ~13,000 students. Last year we did 280,000 (physical and digital), so I think we can get there. What are some of y'all's goals for your year? I'd love to hear them! Share here or connect via social media (my links are at the bottom) If you've made graphics, even better! I'm thinking of putting something together to track our progress, so I'd love some ideas. Anyway, on to the reviews!

Bonus Reviews - August

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Bonus Reviews - September

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Reviews

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Allen sets off on his first mission as part of the black order with a partner who doesn’t like anyone very much, Allen included. The two are sent to Italy to retrieve some Innocence that is under the attack of many akuma. Kanda, Allen’s new partner, explains that humans find pieces of Innocence around the world and they are the basis of many ghost story and tall tales, so the Order investigates many of these happenings to recover the Innocence materials behind them.



Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

In the aftermath of the bus hijacking’s, Anya rides some social status highs and flies too close to the sun, ruining any goodwill and bringing the school back to the pre-hijacking equilibrium. Yor goes out drinking with coworkers and worries her cover will be blown because her fake marriages seems too perfect, but just as she tries to have a fight with Loid, he is called away to the “hospital”, aka an urgent mission.



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 8-12

La Médium prepares to unveil the final stage of her plan with the Queen, but the Beast, and Belle if she can convince him to accept her help, make one final push to stop her. Then, The Beast must come to terms with his two Belles -- Princess Belle, the one who claims to love him and has awoken from her slumber, and the Belle with the purple hair who has been framed by his fianceé.



Sara's Rating: 6/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

Kaneki and Touka try to keep a ghoul safe from the ghoul-hunting investigators, but Touka’s actions end up endangering her more. The lead investigators engage in intense battles, one with Touka and one with Kaneki. The investigators unveil their special and powerful weapons they use against ghouls.



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12

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Jieun has returned a year early and has caught Tia completely unaware. The two ladies are called to a council meeting with an oracle of the temple to find out which of them is the true child of prophecy. Ruve decides that he will hold off on choosing one of them for his empress for one year until Tia’s coming of age celebration. In the meantime, someone begins to feed Tia poison, which leaves her in a coma for three months!



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

Hikaru loves singing, and can often be found serenading the guests in her grandfather’s public bath house. When a famous producer announces a talent search for Japan’s next idol, she entertains a notion to audition, but then dismisses the idea. Then, her childhood friend, Ran-san, reappears in her life.



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 4-7

Young expecting parents Sara and Kouta Takano are trying to plan out everything perfectly for their first child. As we open up, Sara is eight weeks pregnant. They begin by reading as many parenting books as possible, which leads into Sara purchasing many books from parents who have raised remarkable children. The two even make a list of the type of lessons and extracurricular activities they want their child to pursue.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

One day, urban explorer and legends enthusiast Sorawo discovers a mysterious door that leads her to a world where the unexplained can become reality. There, she meets Toriko, a beautiful and deadly you woman searching for her best friend who got lost in this Otherside. The two agree to explore together as there are dangerous and paranormal monsters that defy logic and take over one's senses.



Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

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Kaneki becomes the target of the 20th ward’s resident nuisance: Shu Tsukiyama, also known as The Gourmet, a ghoul with refined tastes and sophisticated wants for his foods. Shu begins by discussing books and appealing to Kaneki’s need for friendship and belonging. But later, Yomo, one of the 20th ward’s suppliers, asks Kaneki to accompany him to meet a lady, and there we learn of the existence of ghoul-human hybrids that can be rarely born to ghoul mothers.



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12

Hayan continues to investigate the counselor and try to save the students from becoming his next targets. She discovers the secret of his hypnotism, aiding her in a nail-biting fight between this Angel of Death and his many victims. As that investigation wraps up, Hayan begins to be suspicious of Detective Euntae’s behavior.



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12

Kaoruku’s best friend, Subaru, sits down with Rintaru and asks him politely to stop being seen in public with Kaoruku as it could hurt her reputation or potentially jeopardize her scholarship status. Rintaru respectfully turns her down, but spends several days conflicted about what to do.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

Tia is finally able to become a knight, which means she can swear the blood oath to Ruve. But he doesn't accept her oath. Jieun continues to plot to become the crown princess, and Tia continues to be conflicted. A plot is uncovered that involves poisoning Ruve, and it's the same poison that was used against Tia.



Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

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Clove and Kyro start to get a little closer as the day of the wedding is looming, but Clove is still harboring the secret of her dragon powers. Then, Raizo, the fierce Grand Marshal, a general of the Crimson army, returns from the front, and he turns out to be a dastardly type -- with one golden eye and one blue.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

At Kindergarten Noir, an elite school for children of CEOs, political figures, and the ultra wealthy, otherwise dangerous criminals have been assigned a top secret mission to guard innocent children for one year in exchange for their freedom at the end. One such criminal is Rita, a former assassin who is also determined to find herself a hot boyfriend.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

In a dangerous mountain pass, Son Goku provides a magical barrier for Sanzo, his monk master while he goes out to collect alms from a nearby village. But Sanzo is lulled by a passerby who provides a golden circlet and whispers that Goku is dangerous, preying on the monk's fears.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

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Abigail and Sabrian decide to start sharing a bed together, but Blanche doesn’t want to be left out. This cuts down on the awkwardness between the two parents at first. Then, the Queen Mother, Sabrian’s mom, comes for a visit, and Sabrian worries she will continue to be manipulative. She tries some of her tactics on innocent Blanche. Abigail and Sabrian converse about the best way to raise Blanche as a potential future ruler — is it better to be strict and raise her with a firm hand?



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 8-12

Mimi heads back to Rubini after staying with her family, but something doesn’t sit well with her about the kidnapped village lady. She decides to detour and figure out if the nobleman is holding the young girl hostage since she realizes she can investigate sooner than the royal knights can. She takes some villagers along to the noble’s estate and breaks in while all the men cause a distraction at the gate.



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

As captain of the basketball team, Lilico is looking forward to leading her team to finals this year. Then, her parents announce that they’re moving the whole family to New York City. Lilico is devastated and scared to be starting over in a new country with no friends, but hopes to at least join the team at her new school. It turns out, the school bully is the captain of the girls’ team, and she doesn’t care much for the new girl.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 5-8

Peanut and Jelly are humble workers at the Crumb Dump and members of the lowest social class at the bottom of the food pyramid. That doesn't seem to bother Jelly, who is constantly cracking jokes and making light of even the worst situations. But Peanut wants to social climb so that he can make it to the height of the pyramid and live a life of luxury amongst the Toppings.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 4-8

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Lu's ah-ma is a famous geozoologist who travels the world and studies fascinating creatures. For Lu's whole life, she's wanted nothing more than to accompany her ah-ma on one of her journeys, or to have her ah-ma stay a little bit longer and tell more stories of her exploits. Ah-ma sends Lu plenty of letters, but one year in Lu's teens, the letters stop. It's just before Ah-ma is supposed to take Lu to see the sun-fish eclipse.



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 6-10

A promposal sent via email gets accidentally opened instead of the presentation. Flip Henderson denies Chi-Chi in front of the entire class. Chi-Chi runs out of class to the amphitheater currently under construction. She tries to leave when a sudden downpour starts, and she slips and falls. She wakes up in Flip’s body! As Chi-Chi’s two genius best friends try to reverse the curse, the four of them spend more time together leading to rumors, an education in K-Pop, Black culture, and swimming lessons.



Katie’s Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

In the land of Krogladon, lizards of science and magic must come together to defeat a common enemy: the evil robot Commander E.K.O. Two mighty lizard wizards use their powers to beat back the robot, and all is right with the world, for a time. Now, a new evil mastermind has emerged — Pineapple Pete — and he’s scooping up important people and plopping them into his video game simulator for his own enjoyment!



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 4-7

This family-centric story starts with Ao being released from the hospital for the third time. His parents worry he will get sick again and also want him to enjoy life. They come home to a new house they have prepped with a scavenger hunt for him to find seven stickers that leads Ao to explore their new home. Ao wants to have freedoms of other well children. A new bicycle gives Ao access to friends and life outside of the hospital, but concerns for Ao's mom as to Ao's safety.



Katie’s Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 6-12

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Our villainess is an isekai-ed 30-something who finds herself in the world of her favorite otome game, though she’s been reincarnated as Luciana, the villainess. The version she’s always played was the free version, and this is the full paid for version, starting at least six months before the game actually begins. Knowing that her character will meet a terrible end, she creates a plan to live in the shadows and not attract the attention of the love interests, thereby slipping under the radar when the heroine shows up later.



Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

Rintaro invites Subaru and Kaoruku to meet so he can get permission to tell his best friends everything going on and finally have no more secrets, just trusted friendships. He doesn’t know his mates have tailed him and are eavesdropping. But, it turns out good for all of them that they did because a group from another school is waiting to jump Rintaro just outside the restaurant.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

Hime Sakuragaike and Akira Yonezawa have been friends since childhood. Going into high school, Akira decides to live her true self, the self she has only told to Hime up to this time. She has decided to live and dress as a girl. Hime is fiercely protective of her best friend, but her feelings may be more than just friendship and protectiveness.



Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

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