The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight

This was a lovely story, touching on female friendship, the societal pressures on mothers, and family secrets. I was sucked in immediately and was heavily invested in Pen’s story.

Recommended!

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

I couldn’t help but think to myself while reading this book “could this happen again?”. Not so much the witchcraft but the sending of pregnant out of wedlock girls (I wanted to say women, but our protagonists are girls. Heartbreakingly so.) to homes to await the birth and subsequent adoption of their children.

When you have no agency, no power, how far might you go if the chance for power and revenge was in front of you?

This gripped me from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended for older teens and up.