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book reviews

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Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

4/25/2019

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  • 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.
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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.
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Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner

10/19/2018

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  • 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).
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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
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Release by Patrick Ness

4/10/2018

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  • 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.
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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
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The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

10/6/2017

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  • 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.
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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
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History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

5/18/2017

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  • When Griffin's ex-boyfriend and first love, Theo, dies unexpectedly, Griffin is overtaken by a tsunami of grief.  Even though Theo had moved across the country for college and had a new boyfriend, Griffin always believed that they'd get back together some day.
  • When Griffin meets Theo's new boyfriend Jackson at the funeral, he wants to hate him -- but he knows Jackson is the only person who could understand what he's going through.
  • The story moves back a forth between the past (detailing Griffin and Theo's history together) and the present, until the two timelines meet up near the end of the book.
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This is a heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful book that explores not only the depths of grief, but also the joys and pains of first love and the possibility of healing and starting over.  Silvera's first novel, More Happy Than Not, was an excellent book that has stayed with me; this one is equally good.
Grades 9-12
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The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle

10/24/2016

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  • Quinn Roberts used to spend all his free time writing scripts for movies that his sister would film, but since she died six months ago, he doesn't do anything anymore.  He doesn't go to school. He doesn't go out with friends.  He doesn't even leave his house.
  • When Quinn's best friend Geoff decides enough is enough, he drags Quinn to his first college party where he meets a very hot guy, Amir, who Quinn falls head over heals for.
  • The only problem is that Quinn's not out yet -- and he's also not sure if he's ready to stop hibernating and get back to real life.
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Full of humor and references to great movies, this book will speak to readers who enjoy realistic fiction and smart, funny, honest characters.
Grades 9-12
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Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

9/30/2016

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  • Sixteen-year-old Solomon Reed suffers from panic attacks and anxiety, so much so that he hasn't set foot outside his house in over three years.
  • Seventeen-year-old Lisa Praytor wants to study psychology at an exclusive college, and when she remembers seeing Solomon in junior high having a panic attack (on the last day he was out in public), she thinks he might be her ticket to winning a scholarship.
  • Things get complicated when Lisa and her boyfriend  get to know Simon and their friendship and Lisa's project conflict.     
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This book has a lot of humor and is an interesting look into the life of an agoraphobe.
Grades 9-12
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Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

9/27/2016

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  • Gabi Hernandez just wants to make it through her senior year of high school in one piece and maybe have a little fun, but that's not so easy with a drug addict for a father and a mom who expects Gabi to be certain way.
  • Things get more complicated when one of Gabi's best friends gets pregnant and her other best friend gets kicked out of his house for being gay.
  • Surprisingly, a poetry class helps Gabi deal with some of her issues (and it also turns out to be a place to meet cute guys).
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Gabi's story is told through diary entries, and she is such a real, fierce, and  deep character who questions her culture's expectations and gender rules and roles for girls.  One of my top ten favorite reads of 2016 so far.
Grades 8-12
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    Ms. Wheaton

    Teacher Librarian

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