Fear (#5 Gone Novel) by Michael Grant

Fear by Michael Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book #5 in the Gone Series delves into the fear that invades each characters' life in the FAYZ in Perdid Beach; a fear of each other, fear of the parents who wait on the other side of the barrier hoping to find out anything about their children and now there is something happening to the barrier that surround them. It begins to turn black and move upward to the top of the barrier; blocking out light, stopping the fishing, the farming and the daily life activities the kids have been working on to eke out a living. Diana is pregnant and has left Caine and joined Sam and his boys. Lana is still curing everyone and living with Sanjit and his family on top of the hill. Astrid returns as a much different character in the previous books; she is lean, mean and has learned to live off the land and always carries a gun. Ork has become more sensitive but Drake and Brittney are still vying in the same body. Penny is used by Caine to punish Cigar; she tortures him and he almost dies. Once again, Grant does a tremendous job of terrorizing every child in the FAYZ and leaves this book and characters ripe for #6!

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How To Save A Life by Sara Zarr

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I so enjoy Sara Zarr and with this book, she shines! Told in alternating chapters by Jill and Mandy; the reader learns that Jill is still having trouble coping a year after her father's sudden death in a car accident. Always so close to him, Jill doesn't know how to express her sorrow and grief,so she becomes sullen and mean pushing her friends, boyfriend, and mother away. Enter Mandy, who is a pregnant 19 year old who has met Jill's mother, Robin, in an open adoption internet ad. Jill is so opposed to her mother's idea of adopting a baby that she hires a guy (she knew from high school) who works as an investigator for the book store where she works. Jill wants to find out everything she can about this Mandy to discredit her and send her packing. But that is not what happens. As we learn more and more about Mandy's life before she came to live with Jill and her mom, we realize Mandy was very smart and needed to run from her horror of a life. We learn about her one night stand with an Indian she met at a carnival and her mother's boyfriend, Ken, and his sexual abuse. As time moves ever closer and closer to the baby's delivery date, Mandy and Jill, connect and it is this connection that saves them both. I highly recommend this book, just a great feel good book.

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The Fault in our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a funny, tender, yet somber story of two teens meeting at a cancer support group and Augustus Waters falling for Hazel. Augustus is a good looking, very friendly guy who has lost below his knee to cancer. He wears a Prosthetic leg and when he meets Hazel he falls hard for her. But Hazel is a tough cookie and she doesn't fall for Augustus but slowly begins to respond to his constant optimism. Hazel has a very supportive mother and father as does Augustus, but his family is even larger. I just loved the way John Green described these characters; their worlds which includes their homes, especially their bedrooms and then the dreaded hospital. Green uses sarcasm, laughter and empathy in describing how cancer has totally defined their lives; but through their meeting, their relationship, their support group, friends and family, Green brings together friendship, romance and sorrow in a MUST READ for young adults and also adults.

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Oy mg by Amy Fellner Dominy

I loved this book! I keep thinking about Ellie, Zeydeh (her grandfather), Devon and Dynamite Doris. Eleanor Taylor is 14 years old, loves to argue, and is excited to be a part of a summer camp for debate and hopes to win a scholarship to the Benedicts School.  Ellie has determination, quick wit, humor, and tenacity all going for her, but where she has a conflict is with her religion or should I say, she now has a conflict, but she was previously a very happy Jewish girl with an awesome grandfather who doesn't hesitate (like Ellie) to tell you what is on his mind and to be true to yourself.  It is when Ellie receives the scholarship application and it asks about religion that a little nagging starts eating away at Ellie.  Also, she wears her grandmother's Star of David for luck and when cute Devon tells her she might want to hide it when she is interviewed by his grandmother that Ellie gets the nagging feeling again. In order to win the scholarship Ellie decides to keep the truth from everyone; but her family finds out and they are very unhappy with her decision. Also things start "sizzling" with Devon and Ellie is all caught up with him, getting ready for her competition, and dealing with her stubborn grandfather.  You will totally enjoy this book, these characters and the resolution, YOU HAVE TO GET THIS BOOK!

The Girl Who Was On Fire: Your Favorite Authors on S. Collins' Hunger Games

The Girl Who Was on Fire: Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy by Leah Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Since I read the Hunger Games so long ago, this collection of young adult author essays on many of the Hunger Games trilogy’s different themes was a welcome read. Of interest to many will be the Peeta/ Gale question and Katniss’ balance of brain and heart. The dystopian craze is explored; reality vs. unreality in the games, Katniss as a media symbol in “Reality Hunger,” and Cinna’s designs in “Crime of Fashion.” I especially liked the discussion of the characters suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. For the Hunger Games enthusiast, this collection is a perfect extension.

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Karma by Cathy Osterle

Karma by Cathy Ostlere
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book, very very long but so worth the saga and drama during the tumultuous time in India when Indira Gandhi was assasinated. I loved Maya, Sandeep, and understood the failings of her family because of their cultural beliefs.It is 1984 just after Indira Gandhi has been massacred; Maya and her father are caught in the middle of this crisis in India as they have returned from Canada to bring her mother’s ashes to her home in India. Two love stories are explored in this stunning novel in verse; will Maya be able “to speak” to Sandeep and her father?


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