MY SITE - BOOK REVIEWS

Any Sign of Life by Rae Carson

5/4/2023

One morning, high school senior Paige Miller wakes up after being sick with what she thought was the flu and finds everyone in her house is dead. After she ventures out, it's apparent that everyone has been wiped out, and now carrion birds and wild animals roam the streets.
When an explosion rocks her neighborhood, Paige must flee her home with her newly adopted dog, Emmeline, and sets off in search of food, shelter, and perhaps other survivors.
Paige does encounter other survivors, teens Trey and Tanq, and together they band together in hopes of finding out what caused the rapid mass extinction. The trio quickly discover that there are worse things out there than escaped zoo animals, and Paige, Trey, and Tanq must depend on each other and their wits to survive.

Grades 8-12

I love a good survival story and this one does not disappoint. If you enjoy dystopian or post-apocalyptic tales or books, movies, or shows such as The Walking Dead or The 5th Wave, then you will race through this page-turner and root for the continuance of the human race.

Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach

2/27/2023

After working her way up the ladder for thee years, Eliza Quan is looking forward to becoming the editor of her school's newspaper, The Bugle. Just as her goal is within reach, in swoops former baseball star, Len DiMartile who wins the class election for editor.
Although Eliza is ten times more qualified for the position, Len is elected because he is "likable' whereas her classmates say that Eliza is "intense" and "overly critical."
Believing Len's win is due to sexism, Eliza vows not to down without a fight and kicks off a feminist revolution at her high school. As the grrl power movement gains traction, Eliza gets to know Len better and finds that he's not quite the bad guy she though he was. As much as she doesn't want to admit it, she might even be starting to like him a little . . . which is a complication Eliza doesn't know how to deal with.

Grades 8-12

If you've read Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu, if you believe that girls are just as smart as boys, if you like fierce female main characters who never say die, or (spoiler alert) if you're a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, then you'll enjoy Not Here to Be Liked. Girls rule! Eliza Quan for President!

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

11/10/2022

Living in a small California town, Pakistani-American teens Salahudin and Noor are best friends – until The Fight tears them apart.
As they each navigate through a series of difficult situations during their senior year, they need each other more than ever.
With a terminally ill mom and an alcoholic father, Salahudin struggles to run his family’s motel on his own and takes desperate measures to keep it going while Noor works at her angry uncle’s liquor store and secretly applies for college.
Both seem to be on collision course with disaster. Will they reconcile with each other before it's too late?

Grades 9-12

This quote from Noor kind of sums it up: “I think about the s$%t we've read in school. Those books all about one problem. A kid who's bullied. A kid who's beaten. A kid who's poor. And I think of us and how we've won the s$%t-luck lottery. We have all the problems.” Noor and Salahudin do have all the problems (and then some), which makes this a brutal read – but it’s also such an incredibly good book that you just keep rooting for them no matter how bleak and bad things get. Amazing!

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

12/30/2020

Budding detective and criminologist Stevie Bell is overjoyed when she gets accepted to the prestigious and isolated Ellingham Academy, an exclusive boarding school tucked away in the remote mountains of Vermont.
The school just happens to be the site of a notorious and unsolved crime from the 1930s, and Stevie is determined to crack this decades old cold case -- if she can push past her anxiety, panic attacks, and self-doubt.
When one of Stevie’s classmates dies under suspicious circumstances, Stevie must put her sleuthing skills to the test while trying to stay out of danger.

Grades 8-12
Book 1 of the Truly Devious Series

I just finished reading the third and final book in this trilogy, The Hand on the Wall, and the whole series is so much fun! I love Stevie as well as all her new friends and classmates at Ellingham (especially all of Stevie’s housemates: reclusive writer Nate; quirky builder Janelle; mysterious, moody David). Johnson’s use of the flashbacks from the 1930s add so much to the story, and I enjoyed how the mysteries of the past and present come together in the final book.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

4/4/2020

Teenage mortal Jude has spent more than half her life in Faerieland, a dangerous place where everyone is beautiful, powerful, and magical -- except for for her. Mortals are few and far between in Faerie, mostly servants or lovers, powerless and frequently humiliated; it's a dark, intoxicating, and supremely scary world, but it's home nonetheless.
Jude and her twin sister Taryn have been raised by the ruthless faerie general, Madoc, her mother's ex-husband (who murdered Jude's parents in front of her very eyes ten years ago), and she has learned much from him about strategy and sword-fighting.
Jude longs to be a knight and fight on behalf of one of the high court faeries, so when presented with the opportunity to work for a faerie prince, she seizes it in hopes of gaining power -- only to be swept up in political schemes that endanger her and her whole family. Is getting what she wants worth the price?

Grades 9-12
Book 1 of The Folk of the Air series

Love this series so much I'm rereading it. Jude is a prickly heroine who has decided to stop playing nice and go after what she wants, and it's so fun to tag along on her journey. The whole series is full of suspense and plot twists. If you like Game of Thrones-style twisted politics and betrayal, swordplay, romance, spying, and family drama, then I bet you won't be able to put this one down.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

10/28/2019

When Rory Deveaux moves from Louisiana to England, she opts to go to boarding school in London rather than live in the country with her parents.
At the same time of Rory's arrival, a murderer starts recreating the violent and gory murders of Jack the Ripper -- and right in the neighborhood of her new school.
After a near-death experience, Rory starts seeing people who her classmates don't see -- and this newfound ability puts her right in the path of a mysterious and psychopathic killer (as well as a team of supernatural police detectives who are trying to track him down).

Grades 7-12
Book 1 of the Shades of London trilogy

I'm on a bit of a mystery/thriller kick right now, and this one was quite fun and enjoyable. It's made me want to book a flight to London and soak up the ambiance.

Puddin' by Julie Murphy

9/30/2019

Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every summer for as long as she can remember, but this year she's determined to change her life, pursue her dreams, and get the boy (with or without her mom's approval).
Callie Reyes is your typical pretty and popular queen bee who strives to take her school's dance team to the nationals this year and to become team captain next year (no matter whose toes she steps on along the way).
When a prank gone wrong throws these two very different girls together, they're surprised to find that they have more in common than anyone would have thought, and their budding friendship shakes up both their lives for the better (but not without some ups and downs along the way).

Grades 8-12
Ebook in Overdrive

Although this is a companion to Dumplin' and some of the characters make an appearance (such as Willowdean), it's not necessary to have read Dumplin' to enjoy Puddin' (although it will make a little more sense). I liked how this book dealt with body-acceptance, stereotypes, and how girls can be supportive rather than competitive (but it never takes on a preachy or lecturing tone). Also, Texas -- everything just seems more interesting in Texas.

This Song Is (Not) for You by Laura Nowlin

5/20/2019

Seniors Sam and Ramona are best friends, play guitar and drums together in their two person band, and they are both hopelessly in love with each other -- but they both value their friendship too much to risk it and tell each other how they feel.
When Sam and Ramona go for an audition at a music and arts college, they meet Tom, a shy, arty avant-garde musician who Ramona invites to join their band (without consulting Sam about it).
As both the band and the friends morph from a duo to a trio, the three of them change in ways none of them could have predicted or expected all while navigating their senior year of high school and planning for what comes after.

Grades 8-12
Ebook in Overdrive

The chapters alternate between the points of view of Sam, Ramona, and Tom -- and they are all interesting characters with unique voices and issues. This book also has an asexual character, which is rare in YA books (although that's changing with books such as The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee, Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman, Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp, and That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger) -- and this book gave me a little more insight than some of the other books I've read.

Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian

5/13/2019

Seventeen-year-old Evan has changed schools six times in the last four years. He’s not very good at making friends, but he’s very good at identifying and hooking up with Girls Who Would Say Yes (to having sex with him). He’s not interested in long-term relationships or much of anything besides swimming and running track. Evan is not a very likable guy.
When Evan gets involved with the wrong girl, he is beaten within an inch of his life by two of his classmates. After the attack, Evan’s father moves them to his childhood lakeside cabin in Minnesota where he can heal physically and mentally, and where Evan meets a group of teenage neighbors who try to draw Evan out of his shell.
Meanwhile, Evan sees a therapist for, among other things, coping with PTSD from his attack, and he has plenty of time to take a long hard look at the part of himself that he calls “Dirtbag Evan” and to reconsider his attitude toward girls and sex.

Grades 10-12
Ebook in Overdrive

Wow, did this book suck me in, and wow, did I hate Evan at the beginning of the book. Unfortunately, I don't think Evan is all that unusual in his callous treatment of girls (although I wish he were) -- and it's a topic we should be talking about more. Evan's story is a tough, honest, and thought-provoking one that's totally worth reading.

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

4/25/2019

Suzette ("Little") and her step-brother Lionel ("Lion") have always had a close relationship, but this changes when Suzette is sent away to boarding school after Lionel is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Now home for summer, Suzette hopes to get past the awkwardness and rekindle their closeness, but this proves difficult when her brother starts to spiral out of control and asks Suzette to keep a dangerous secret.
To further complicate matters, Suzette and Lionel appear to be falling for the same girl -- and wait! -- Suzette also has feelings for her long-time friend, Emil (which is a little confusing for her).
Suzette wants to be a loyal sister and regain Lionel's trust, but she has to decide if doing what's best for him is worth the possibility of damaging their relationship forever.

Grades 9-12

I liked the diversity of characters in this story, the blended family, and the LA setting. I especially appreciated the way in which this books deals honestly and realistically with the topics of mental health, sexuality, and family.

Satellite by Nick Lake

4/23/2019

Leo and his best friends Libra and Orion (twins) have spent their entire lives aboard Moon 2, a space station orbiting the Earth. Living in space, Leo has never done so many things that most of us take for granted -- he's never tasted ice cream or had a pet; never gone to high school or been to a concert; never felt rain or the warmth of a wood fire.
As Leo and the twins turn sixteen, the doctors say they are strong enough to leave their zero gravity home and visit Earth for the first time.
Leo is excited to meet the grandfather he's never known and to try so many new things. However, life on Earth turns out to be harder, more complicated, and more dangerous than Leo could ever have imagined. In fact, his body, so used to outer space, may not be cut out to survive life on Earth -- but what can Leo do?

Grades 8-12

If you liked The Martian by Andy Weir or you've ever dreamed about being an astronaut, then check out Satellite by Nick Lake.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen McMaus

1/29/2019

This book starts off a lot like the Breakfast Club -- five students enter detention: the baseball phenom, the academic all-star, the criminal, the homecoming princess, and the outcast -- but only four of them leave alive. While at first the death appears to be an accident, it soon becomes clear that it was murder.

The four survivors all have a motive for killing Simon, and all of them are in the hot seat.

As the secrets that they all tried so hard to keep buried are revealed, Bronwyn, Addy, Cooper, and Nate try to figure out who the murderer is and if anyone can be trusted.

This book was so much fun to read that I could not put it down! I enjoyed the alternating chapters from the four main characters' points of view, and each character was relatable and went beyond the high school stereotypes. If you like mysteries, this one is for you.

Grades 8-12

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by M. Lee

1/25/2019

Felicity Montague's greatest desire is to become a doctor. She has studied from books, made anatomical drawings on the floor of her room, and even stitched the tip of her boss' finger back on after he had an accident at work.
All that is moot though since Felicity lives in the 1700s, a time when women weren't even allowed to go to college, much less practice medicine. No matter what she tries, the men will not accept her as an equal.
When she discovers that her idol, Dr. William Platt, is marrying her former childhood friend, Johanna, Felicity concocts a plan to crash the wedding in an attempt to get hired as Platt's research assistant. The only problem is that the wedding is in Germany and Felicity is flat broke in London. When a mysterious female pirate named Sim offers to help Felicity get to the wedding, she jumps at the chance -- but can Sim be trusted?

This is a fun, adventurous book about women who want more than the world wants to give them -- and what they are willing to do to achieve their goals. Although it's a sequel, you won't really miss anything if you haven't read the first book (and I liked this one a little better than its predecessor).

Book 2 of the Montague Siblings Series
Grades 9-12

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

10/29/2018

Sophomore Darius Kellner is not doing great or even okay. He's overweight, lives with clinical depression, gets bullied at his Portland, OR high school, and he has a complicated relationship with his dad who he feels is always disappointed in him.
When Darius's grandfather falls ill, his family takes an extended trip to Iran where Darius struggles with getting to know family he's never met (besides on Skype), the language (his little sister is fluent in Farsi, but he is not), and fitting in (his mother is Persian, but his father is American; Darius refers to himself as a "Fractional Persian").
Things start looking up when Darius meets Sohrab, the son of one of his Grandfather's neighbors. For someone who's never really had a best friend before, this is a big deal. Darius notes, "I liked that I could be silent with Sohrab. That's how I knew we really were going to be friends."

I really liked Darius (he loves tea; he makes a lot of references to Lord of the Rings and Star Trek; and he's a great big brother to his little sister Laleh). His problems are real, but he faces them with a lot of humor. I also really enjoyed the peak into Persian culture (the food, traditions, and history).

Grades 8-12

Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner

10/19/2018

Brynn Harper's life could not get much worse: her older brother died; she has a stepdad she refers to as the "Fart Weasel" (and he fully deserves that nickname); her girlfriend broke up with her; and she's been put in remedial classes in the Blue room in the basement of her school.
When a school assignment requires Brynn to write to a "celebrity hero," she drafts emails to TV political commentator Rachel Maddow. She creates a journal of her life one email at a time beginning with the words "Dear Rachel Maddow."
When it looks like her nemesis rich bully Adam is going to take over the school, Brynn decides to do something and get involved in school politics (with a little inspiration from her hero Rachel Maddow).

I loved the epistolary format (the story is all told in emails), and Brynn's voice is so funny and sharp. Brynn struggles in school and at home, but her friends, her comrades in the Blue room, and even her brother's friend all provide a support system that help Brynn to keep fighting the good fight.

Grades 8-12

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan

10/8/2018

When her mother commits suicide, Leigh's world shatters. In the depths of her grief, Leigh believes her mother has been transformed into an enormous red bird who talks to her and brings her clues.
Trying to put together the pieces of her mother's mysterious early life, Leigh travels to Taiwan to meet her mother's parents, grandparents she has never known and with whom her mother cut off contact after marrying an American and moving to the USA.
Leigh's present is interwoven with her mother's (and her own) flashback memories to create a bold book full of ghosts, art, culture, and color.

This magical realism-tinged novel that bursts with art and color sheds light on depression and captures the dark corners of grief and the feeling of being pulled between two worlds -- culturally, linguistically, generationally, and romantically.

Grades 9-12

Sadie by Courtney Summers

10/2/2018

Nineteen-year-old Sadie Hunter's life has not been easy. She's spent most of it caring for her younger sister, Mattie, without a father and with no help from her drunk and drug-addled mother (who eventually abandons her daughters when Sadie is sixteen).
When Mattie is found dead in a field, Sadie goes on a road trip in search of her sister's killer, upon whom she intends to take the ultimate revenge.
Sadie's gripping first person perspective as she follows one clue after another in search of Keith is interspersed with episodes of a true-crime podcast called The Girls which chronicles Sadie's and Mattie's story.

I was biting my nails all the way through this excellent mystery/thriller, hoping against hope that Sadie and Mattie would get justice and that Sadie wouldn't end up just "another dead girl."

Grades 9-12

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

8/15/2018

Sasha and Richard were two teenagers who lived in different parts of Oakland, CA, and although their lives could not have been more dissimilar, for eight minutes a day they crossed paths as they rode the 57 bus home from school.
One day while Sasha is sleeping on the bus, Richard is egged on by his friends to play a prank and lights Sasha's skirt on fire.
The aftermath of that one impulsive act irrevocably changes both teens' lives forever. The author digs deep into each teen's background to illustrate who they were both before and after the incident.

This true story really grabbed me (and I'm not usually the biggest nonfiction fan), The author does an amazing job of describing the very different worlds these two teens come from, and she presents both of them in a completely unbiased way.

Grades 7-12

Release by Patrick Ness

4/10/2018

Adam Thorn is having a very bad day, maybe the worst day of his life.
His ex (Enzo) is having a going away party, and although he has a great and loving new boyfriend (Linus), Adam is still inexplicably hung up on Enzo and wants to see him one last time.
Additionally, Adam's boss has threatened him, and even though he kind of hates his job, he also really needs it. Adam could talk to his family about his problem -- if their relationship wasn't already strained due to their intolerant beliefs.
If all that wasn't bad enough, events have been set in motion that could result in the world ending at sunset -- so Adam is running out of time to resolve all his problems.

I really loved this book. The author says the book was inspired by the novels Mrs. Dalloway and Forever -- I got the reference to Mrs. Dalloway right from the first page (and in retrospect, I can totally see how Forever relates) -- but you don't need to have read either of them to enjoy Release .

Grades 9-12

There's Someone Inside Your House by S. Perkins

3/21/2018

Makani Young grew up in Hawaii but has moved in with her grandmother in small-town Nebraska in order to escape her past.
She's made some friends and has a crush on cute loner Ollie that is just starting to develop into something more when a serial killer begins targeting her classmates.
As the grisly murders pile up, Makani starts to wonder if she'll be the next victim -- and also if she just might know the killer's identity.

Romance + mystery + slasher plot = a fun, gory read.

Grades 9-12

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

3/20/2018

Darrow lives on Mars deep underground where he works in the mines and struggles for survival.
When his wife is taken from him, he comes to realize that his people, known as Reds, are essentially slaves who have been lied to for hundreds of years.
Darrow is recruited by a guerrilla group called the Sons of Ares, and in a search for justice and revenge, he accepts a mission to infiltrate the Golds, the powerful and cruel overlords who rule the planets.

This book has it all -- nonstop action; a great plot; brutal, bloody fights; a cooler than cool main character; and lots of twists and turns. Kind of like The Hunger Games (spectator sports! battles! revolution!) but about a million times better -- and it's in outer space!

Book 1 of the Red Rising Saga
Grades 9-12

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

12/6/2017

Vivian Carter lives in a small Texas town where football is the only thing that matters -- so much so that the high school football players can get away with just about anything, including wearing offensive t-shirts to school, making rude comments in class, and groping girls in the halls.
Vivian's mom was a punk rock rebel in the 90's and after looking through some of her old things, Vivian gets inspired to speak up against what's going on at her school by creating and distributing an anonymous newsletter.
Will her female classmates stand up with her? Will she be able to confess to her friends that she made the newsletter? Will she get expelled? And what about that cute new boy, Seth Acosta?

This book really speaks to what's going on in our society today about how men treat woman (and boys treat girls) and what is and isn't acceptable. It's an uplifting read that will have you cheering on the girls of East Rockport High School.

Grades 8-12

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

10/6/2017

Seventeen-year-old Molly has had twenty-six crushes but has never had a boyfriend or even been kissed, while her twin sister, Cassie, has had more girlfriends than Molly can count.
When Cassie starts dating a new girl, she wants to set Molly up with her girlfriend's best friend, Will, a funny, flirtatious, red-haired hipster.
Although, Molly feels that Will is way out of her league, she's prepared to go for it to make her sister happy -- until she starts to realize there might be a better guy for her right under her nose.

This story is more than just a sweet romance: it has diverse and interesting characters, deals with the changing relationship of two sisters, and has a very relateable and hilarious main character. Loved it!

Grades 9-12

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

9/1/2017

Starr Carter struggles to be two different people every day: the Starr who goes to Williamson prep school, who doesn't use slang, who doesn't want to look "ghetto," who is the only African-American girl in her grade, and the Starr who tries to stay true to the community of Garden Heights, a neighborhood riddled with drugs and gangs, but the place that she calls home nonetheless.
When she witnesses her friend Kahlil die after he's shot by the police during a routine traffic stop, Starr must decide if she can can continue living two very different lives -- and also if she can find the strength to find her voice and stand up for Khalil and her neighborhood.

Not only is The Hate U Give an excellent book, but it's also an important and timely one. A must read!

Grades 8-12

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

6/14/2017

Only seventeen, Kaz Brekker is already one of the most infamous gangsters of the Barrel, nicknamed "Dirtyhands" because there's nothing he won't do.
Inej is known as the Wraith because of her ability to come and go unnoticed as she gathers secrets for and goes on missions with Kaz.
Jesper is a sharpshooter with a gambling problem who is also a member of Kaz's gang.
Nina is a girl with superhuman gifts, but she is essentially a slave at the House of the White Rose.
Matthias is a warrior who's been wrongly imprisoned at Hellgate, a nightmare of a prison, and he is focused on the twin goals of redemption and revenge.
Wylan is a demolitions expert with a secret history.
Can these six come together to pull off an impossible heist, or will enemies within and without their group betray them?

Amazing characters and a plot full of action that does not stop, this one is a must read. If you like adventure stories with a dash of fantasy/supernatural (but completely grounded in a very realistic world) and a plot with more twists and turns than a mountain road, give this one a look.

Grades 7-12
Book 1 of the Six of Crows duology