Kids Pick: Warrior’s Journey Through Grief and Danger
“Warriors Super Edition: Ivypool’s Heart” by Erin Hunter (ISBN 9780063357372, from HarperCollins, $20.99 hardcover, 400 pgs.)
Heads up, Warriors super fans! Erin Hunter has delivered another sweeping addition to the Warriors saga, this time focusing on one of ThunderClan’s most beloved cats.
Years after losing her daughter, Bristlefrost, to the Dark Forest, Ivypool is still consumed by grief. Even her new role as “Deputy” brings her little comfort.
But when Whistlepaw has a troubling vision that threatens all the Clans, Ivypool joins a dangerous quest—both to protect her Clan and to find a respite from her sorrow. Alongside her companions, she faces starvation, predatory dogs and a grim human “two-leg” den filled with caged, mysterious creatures—two of which may have an unexpected link to their Clan history.
Hunter has serious fans because she blends action-packed survival scenes with deeply emotional characters. She explores themes of loss, resilience and what it means to move forward after tragedy. Readers young and old will relish the vivid worldbuilding, tense encounters and heartfelt moments that remind us why this series continues to capture so many hearts.
Verdict: Enthusiastic purrs for this poignant, high-stakes adventure that honors a fan fave while delivering all the danger, heart and hope Warriors readers adore.
Psychological Thrills: Secrets Lurk in Every Corner!
“What She Left Behind” by Brianne Sommerville (ISBN 9781990253935, from Rising Action, $17.99 paperback, 368 pgs.)
Psychological thrillers are so much fun, and this new entry from Brianne Sommerville is no exception! This is a taut, atmospheric thriller that burrows deep into the heart of a small town where tragedy still casts a long shadow.
Recently fired and aimless, Charlotte Boyd agrees to oversee renovations on her parents’ summer home—only to discover it’s the very place where a troubled teen, Lark Peters, died by suicide 16 years ago.