Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a great series and this 3rd book was suspenseful, sickening, mesmerizing, hopeful, and down right awesome! Aria and Perry have to battle evil Sable of the Horn Tribe and Hess (of Aria's Realms) to gain entrance to the Still Blue before their world implodes. The pace is frantic, gripping and at times, sickening as good versus evil battle for life in a world that has been legend. Sable kidnaps Cinder due to his unique ability to control the Aether. They will have to try to pierce an opening in a solid Aether wall to make it into the Still Blue. The route and all that leads up to the Still Blue (trying to rescue Cinder) is fraught with all kinds of drama I can't even begin to name! Ties are tested between Perry's Tribe, Roar is inconsolable with Liv's murder by Sable, Aria meets her father, and her people from the Realms can't or won't accept their new life in the cave as part of Perry's Tribe. The reader is catapulted into a world that is dying, evil leaders, innocent children, and letting go of a world/life that will not sustain them anymore. Rossi does a tremendous job of ripping out your heart while building up the resolve of Perry and Aria to save their loved ones. p. 220 - "I'm thinking this, Soren said. "Sable killed Perry's sister, Perry killed his own brother. My father and Sable both left thousands of their people to die. I'm dependent on drugs to keep me sane. And we're the only ones who are trying to start over? How are we the best hope for a new world?" Aria said, "Because we are the only ones left. We all have the potential to do terrible things, Soren. But we also the potential to overcome our mistakes. I need to believe that. What point is there otherwise?"
p.262 Perry had no idea if he's expressed half of what he'd intended. He knew he'd been selfish , leaving Roar to deal with Liv's death alone. He hadn't let himself accept that she was gone, so he'd failed his friend, and himself, but he meant to change that. He was terrible at falling-Roar was right about that-but nothing would ever keep him down again. As they walked back to the cave, a piece of him that had been broken felt whole again. Nothing looked the same or smelled the same, and maybe the world was ending, but he and Roar would walk to that end side by side.
p. 277 What I was trying to say," Perry whispered, is that I see you in everything. There isn't a word for you that means enough, because you're everything to me." Perfect words," Aria said, her smile wobbling with emotion. "Magical." His mouth found hers again, his kisses hungry, his weight settling onto her. She wover her fingers in his damp curls, and she was gone. Swept away. Nothing else existed beyond his body and hers, moving like strength and surrender, folded into one.
I found the ending hopeful, meaningful and inspiring---a terrific conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. Highly recommended!

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Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this 2nd installment of Under the Never Sky, the worlds of Aria and Perry are breaking down. The Aether is becoming more punishing and taking away lives and eroding the land. p. 143 - "The Aether flowed, corded and angry, giving the night a blue, marbled glow. After the storm, the calm skies had only held for a day. Now there was little difference between day and night anymore. Days were darkened by clouds and the blue cast of Aether. Nights were brightened by the same. They flowed together, the edges blurring into an endless day. An ever night."
Aria and Perry are definitely together but have to hide their relationship. Perry's people, the Tides, dislike her because she is a Dweller- not one of them. Perry realizes in order to save his people, they will have to leave their land and live in a cave underground. Perry knows the only way to keep his people alive is to get to the Still Blue. The Still Blue is a rumor, gossip that people have been talking about. Together Perry, Roar, Marron, and Aria realize they must make contact with Sable, the leader of the Horns, who has the coordinates and knowledge of what it needed to get to the Still Blue. But Sable is an evil character. Perry's brother sent his sister, Liv to become Sable's wife---and in turn food, animals and supplies would help keep the starving Tides alive a little longer. I could not put this book down; there is so much drama going on and as Perry becomes their Blood Lord (very graphic description!!!) he begins to question himself in every way as a person and a leader, but he only grew in my estimation. I never tired of Rossi's language, her descriptions, and her use of characters. I am so looking forward to Book 3!!! Highly recommended!

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Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I saw Marissa Meyer's One Hundred Book Challenge, she had read all three of Veronica Rossi's books in the first quarter of the year, one right after the other. Now I know why!!! I finished the first book, Under the Never Sky, last night and jumped right into the 2nd book, Through the Ever Night. To say I am in love with this story, the main characters Aria and Perry and their "relationship", their quests, and everything and everyone in this fascinating dystopian world is an understatement. Rossi has spun a mesmerizing world of Scires, Seers, life as a Savage and life as a Dweller with fear, love, and passion driving the lives of Aria and Perry. I am so looking forward to reading all three of these books, one right after the other!!!

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Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jacqueline Woodson's novel in verse about growing up in the different worlds of Ohio, South Carolina and New York. She has loving parents who do not stay together for too long. It is difficult to move between the culture of the North and South and Woodson's words from a child's view point are so poignant, always reminded by the times of civil rights and unrest, being Jehovah's witnesses, but always knowing they are loved deeply. School is where Woodson discovers her love of words, writing, and creating stories. The friendships and relationships Woodson describes are deep and profound. I did not want this book to end. I think this book will be enjoyed by children, teens and adults alike. There is such a deep sense of history, family, and education running through Jacqueline Woodson's childhood. Highly recommended.

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Crash (Visions #1) by Lisa McMann

Crash by Lisa McMann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn't put down the Wake Trilogy and after reading Crash, I am thinking I will be gobbling these Visions books too! Jules and her family own a pizzeria, work constantly, has no life and friends. But Jules has begun to see a vision on billboards, stop signs, TV screens and it is increasing and always the same- a truck, out of control, bangs into their pizza rival, Angotti's building with 9 body bags laying in the snow; one of which is Jule's heartthrob, Sawyer Angotti. What I liked about Jules is that we see through her eyes the visions over and over again. She can't stop them, she can't tell anyone- they will think she is crazy. Jules doesn't care that she has no friends, she cares only for her family (and Sawyer), which has some major problems. The pace is a little plodding as you see the visions over and over (Jules is all alone with this torture)- but the suspense just keeps building as Jules figures out what she must do to try and stop this vision from happening. Heart-stopping with romance, humor, and good character development- I can't wait to read Bang!!!

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Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There were so many quotes I have marked; I love AS King and this book definitely seals the deal. I love her writing, her characters, and her grasp of the teen world and how their minds and psyches relate! Imagine you and your friend drink a bat and then every time you see someone, you begin to see into their past and future. That's right! Glory and her friend, Ellie, drink a petrified bat that has been doused with beer. On top of this, Glory O'Brien has always been very aware her mother killed herself when she was five by sticking her head in an oven. Glory has continued to wonder through the years, "Will I be like my mother?" and why doesn't anyone (including her dad) ever talk about her mom? Fast forward to her senior year and Glory has not applied to college, is the yearbook photographer (her mom was a photographer) with no friends and she confronts her father with questions, emotions, and raw anger about her mother that she has kept long buried. This is a must read book- Glory's thoughts and in her words, Glory O'Brien's History of the Future, are succinct, honest, scary, and evocative. She comes face to face with who she is and she does her best to live, one day at a time, doing great things. Highly recommended!

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Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad this was not the end of The Raven Cycle books! There is so much more you learn about the main characters- Blue, Gansey, Ronan, and Adam. Blue's mom has disappeared and Blue vacillates between missing her terribly and being angry that she would leave and not tell anyone where she is or when she will return. Maggie Stiefvater really knows how to build the suspense, all the while providing humor, much of pondering by the boys and Blue, how much they really care about each other even if they don't show it. I liked Malory, one of Gansey's ley line experts who arrives with a dog and moves right in. The Gray Man has become one of my favorite characters and I am so glad this hit man is sticking around- yes, he is a hit man! I disliked Greenmantle and his wife intensely---Ronan and Adam dealt with Greenmantle rather nicely---if only his wife took a powder too! Jesse Dittley was another great addition to the story---his family owns the ground that houses the cursed cave (could Blue's mom be trapped there?)I am really looking forward to #4, Maggie Stiefvater is the queen of fantasy.

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Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was a very wild ride! Andrew Smith's description of the end of the world through narrator and recorder, Austin is a whole lot to digest. But with Smith as an expert with words and Austin and his best friend, Robbby Brees and girlfriend, Shann Collins, the reader follows this wild unbelievable ride! In Ealing, Iowa Robby and Austin accidentally unleash a plague that will herald the end of the world with 6 foot tall praying mantises that were bred by Shann's stepfather's brother. They were supposed to stop the war as soldiers for the government but since they have insatiable appetites with food and sex, they kill anyone in sight, except Robby, who seems to be a god to them. Shann finds a bunker on her property that sheds light on this whole sordid mess with journals and films. As Austin records what he is thinking and feeling (This is history, and it is also the truth), the reader is gripped by the sheer craziness of this situation but also totally enmeshed in Austin's search for himself- can he love both Robby and Shann. Through lots of cigarettes, Austin ponders the world, both past and present, and as the reader, I could not stop reading it! I loved Smith's writing- he got bullying, Robby being gay and in love with Austin. Smith's description of the bizarre is sickening (the two headed boy, Hungry Jack mutating into the 6 foot tall giant bug)not for the feint of heart. There is also a lot of F-bombing, being horny and masturbating. Schools will have problems with this book, parents will have problems with this book but I think teens will love this book. For a book that defies description in so many ways, there are wonderfully drawn characters, lots of humor, lots of action and a rippin' good read. I loved Winger by Smith and this crazy book with a sci-fi, romance, and horror will make you THINK and THINK again!

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She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Marcus Sedgwick is such a superb author when it comes to suspense! Laureth Peak and her brother fly from London to New York when Laureth believes her dad has gone missing (he is not answering her emails or phone calls)and she receives an email on her father's account (Laureth is his secretary) from someone who claims to have his black book in NY (he was in Switzerland). Since Laureth knows how important this book is to her writer father; she takes money and credit cards and her seven year old brother, Benjamin (and his raven, Stan) helps her navigate (she is blind since birth)taxis, airports, and hotels . What a creepy adventure they plunge into and with each step toward NY and her father---there is more of a concern that her father may have met with a mishap or something far worse...Sedgwick weaves an intricate tale from Laureth's POV - the reader feels her fear, anxiety and deep seated worry that her dad may have become overly obsessed with the current book he is writing. With each clue Laureth and Benjamin unearth in the black book, the mystery deepens and hurtles them(and us)along for a very twisted and satisfying read.

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Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you love mysteries - you will enjoy the suspense in the 2nd book of The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Killer Instinct. Cassie and her friends have abilities that enable them to read people's emotions, figure out if someone is lying, and profile killers - and the FBI is using them to help solve cold cases. If you enjoy serial killer books, this one will hook you! Dean's dad is a jailed serial killer and his old murders are being replicated by (maybe) a few apprentices. There is a new detective, Ms Sterling, who seems to want to shut down The Naturals and their operation. As the killer(s) continue to kill students and a professor at a nearby college- Cassie and her friends must prove to the Director and others they can help solve these murders as Dean's father lies and stuns Cassie and Dean. I did not want to put this book down- loved it as much as the first----getting into Dean's dad twisted psychology will keep your heart racing!

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Doing Right by Patrick Jones

Doing Right by Patrick Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for an awesome read that teens and reluctant readers will not be able to put down. DeQuin is a teen who wants to do right. With a father in jail, living with an uncle who wants him to stay clear of his friends and a bothersome grandfather – what is DeQuin to do when trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes? As a night out with friends goes horribly wrong, DeQuin flees a mob and will pay dearly. Patrick Jones continues to write books that teens can’t put down. Jones’ books, Nailed and Things Change, were always being read in our library- we couldn’t keep them on the shelves! This latest urban fiction story will have teens thinking and talking. Highly recommended.

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The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites by Marie Lu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am really looking forward to the next book in this series! While I abhorred Terren and Adelina's father, I have not made up my mind about Adelina yet. Adelina had a horrible childhood after her mother died from the fever. Adelina's father terrorized her (broke her finger)- always trying to bully her into showing anger and hatred--he wanted to see the malfetto manifested in her since she survived the illness (she lost an eye, has gray hair. She has a sister, Violetta who survived the illness too. But Adelina's father openly loves Violetta and despises Adelina due to the harsh circumstances malfetto families endure (no one will marry her and her father's business suffers). I found it painful to endure Adelina's self loathing and refusal to confide in anyone about her life and death problems (but I also understood she has a dark side she does not know how to handle yet). I loved all the Young Elites especially Enzo and Raphaelle and hoped Adelina would tell them the truth about Terren. I could not put this book down and can't wait to see what happens as more of The Young Elites appear in Book Two.

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Undivided by Neal Shusterman

Undivided by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a great ending to the Unwind Dystology! Each chapter in Undivided was narrated by a character or broadcast. This final book was suspenseful, horror filled, and sad as Nelson captures Connor and Risa, Lev becomes a member of the Arapache tribe and Grace continues to surprise and amaze me. Despite Roberta using nanotechnology to wipe Risa from Cam's memory--he still remembers he loved someone and must help the cause of the unwinds. But the book ends on a positive note with many surprises! Highly recommended--and if you haven't read the other three books---Run to your local library or bookstore and grab them, Shusterman is a master!

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I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love, love, love this author and this second book by Jandy Nelson has so much to savor and enjoy. I have to agree with my friend, Tiff Emerick, I did not want it to end. I kept reading small bits, hoping that would make the love, drama, brother/sister dysfunction, family sagas, and the art that wove its way through the plot, the characters, and healing last forever. Twins Jude and Noah tell parts of the story at different ages. At a certain point, what they once had so much of- love, honesty, and sharing became jealousy, lies and separation. Nelson's characters affected me deeply- not just Noah and Jude, but their mom (and her ghost), their grandmother's ghost, Brian, the English model and the crazy artist who takes Jude on as a student. There is so much to love about this novel, but I will leave you with the beauty of Nelson's words as Noah describes Brian, "I swear I can see sound, the dark green howling wind, the crimson crush of rain- all these sound-colors swirling around my room while I lie on my bed thinking about Brian. His name when I say it aloud: Azul." This is a must read; you will laugh, cry, sing, and sigh. The words evoke such wonderful colors, images, and emotions.


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Blood of My Blood by Barry Lyga

Blood Of My Blood by Barry Lyga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know how sometimes the final book is not always as great as the others in the series? Well, not this one!!! I could not put this book down. It was full of tension, anger, hatred, as well as love, friendship, and humor. Billy Dent has his hooks in Howie, Connie and Jasper and he delights in telling them they will all die horrible deaths. If you like serial killer books, this last book will make you sick, but I couldn't stop reading it---I was mesmerized by what these lunatics did without a care for others. Will Jazz rid himself of his father or will his father claim his son as the Crow King he thinks is his son's just title? Lyga's books will entice you, repel you, and give you lots of gore.

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Waiting to Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch

Waiting to Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sheila Kelly Welch's realistic fiction book will definitely interest middle schoolers, high school students, and adult readers. Welch does a great job of sinking the reader into the chaotic lives of TJ and his sister, Angela, in the Now/Then format employed in this thin, gripping read. As TJ waits in the emergency room of a hospital, waiting to find out if Angela will live; we visit the Then part of TJ's life which is a horror to say the least. TJ and Angela love their mother but she is not a good mother. She leaves TJ in charge when she goes out and many nights does not return home. TJ and Angela live very tumultuous lives with their mother and later in various foster homes. It is when they are adopted and living with Dan and Marlene that TJ continues to struggle with his life day to day. Still afraid to hope and move on, TJ vacillates between anxiety and his horrendous past as he remembers, while perusing the Life Book he created for his new life with Dan and Marlene. Your heart aches for these two children and you root for this brother and sister to find happiness and peace in their forever home. Compelling, with realistic writing that pulls you in; you will enjoy TJ and Angela's saga.

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Girls Like Us by Gail Giles

Girls Like Us by Gail Giles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the ARC, Girls Like Us by Gail Giles. What a compelling read; the voices of Biddy and Quincy were so real, it broke my heart. Biddy and Quincy are mentally challenged students who are Special Ed graduates and find themselves paired together living to help a kind and understanding widow, Elizabeth. These girls are so different and yet similar. They come from separate worlds and have suffered various kinds of abuses. Biddy is fearful and loving while Quincy is always angry with a chip on her shoulder. The reader sees what Biddy and Quincy are thinking and feeling in alternating chapters. They are hard workers and through a series of situations, they bond with Elizabeth and come to depend upon each other as their friendship deepens. I have always loved Gail Giles books; students always read them and couldn’t put them down; in our library there were multiple copies and her books were always checked out. Girls Like Us will resonate with teens and teachers alike. I would also recommend this affecting title for adult book clubs too.

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The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have never read a book by Holly Black that I didn't like- Tana is a character I loved getting to know. She is a teen who likes to rescue people, but she also gets herself into trouble because she won't back down. I liked how the reader knew Tana was scared to death but the people around her never see her fear. She had a strong sense of concern for others and didn't hold a grudge. Waking up after a party she doesn't remember, Tana saves her old boyfriend (who has been bitten), Aiden and a vampire, Gavriel who is chained to Aiden's bed. Gavriel is a monster who has lived for hundreds of years but looks like a teen. It is Tana's saving of Gavriel that sets the tempo for their friendship. Gavriel has been to hell and back; suffered monstrously, been betrayed by everyone and locked up and tortured for over a hundred years. But it is all of this history that makes him a very, very strong and powerful vampire but we don't find this out til much later. But Gavriel will not forget Tana's kindness and Tana is freaked out that she is attracted to him as well (you will love them!!!) The Coldtown she takes them to is for infected Vampires. Many teens who watch the video feeds think Coldtowns are glamorous and run away to these forever horror-filled places. I would love to see this book become a movie (and I would love to see a sequel); Holly Black's writing was very visual and downright scary. But it was also sensual, especially with Tana and Gavriel- you have to read it!!! I could not put this book down; with all the blood and gore, this horror book is a must read!

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Goebbels by Peter Longerich

Goebbels: A Biography by Peter Longerich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC, Goebbels by Peter Longerich. This book is a must for Holocaust libraries, academic, public and high school libraries. The research on Goebbels, Hitler, and their campaign against the Jews is extensive and exhaustive. Thanks to his journals, the reader learns what an insecure self-serving man Joseph Goebbels was and how this helped to catapult him to become the Minister of Propaganda in Hitler’s inner circle. His hatred of Jews was as virulent as Hitler’s and together they created the National Socialist Movement in Germany and dreamed of destroying all Jews in Germany and throughout the world. Riveting and revolting.

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The Aftermath by Jen Alexander

The Aftermath by Jen Alexander
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Aftermath by Jen Alexander
Many thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy! Never being a fan of the unreliable narrator, I found this book to be quite confusing as Claudia struggles to find out who she is. Is she a fearless character in a videogame, The Aftermath, or is she a person who is being manipulated by a another person who is a gamer in a dystopian world where you become a pawn in a game if you have been determined to contain a violence gene? As a fan of dystopian novels, I liked the pace of the novel, the angst of the characters, the missions, and the friendships in the clans. There will be teens who put this book down because it is so confusing for a large part of the novel. There will also be teens who can’t put this book down because it speaks to their love of videogames and brings an added depth to the characters and begs the question, what if this could really happen to us?


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Eternal Knight by Matt Heppe

Eternal Knight by Matt Heppe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Judy and Shelley Meier for lending and recommending this awesome, couldn't put it down book! Matt Heppe wove a compelling tale of Hadde (very strong female protagonist)who is a Huntress from Landomere and must venture out to another kingdom, Salador, to save her people from The Wasting. Her people won't survive the winter without her help; once she finds a orb that will bring much needed money to her starving, dying people, she sets off. What I enjoyed about this book was the differences in cultures, The people of Landomere live off the land in lush forests (when The Wasting isn't killing them)where men and women are equal, do not read, welcome everyone and are not afraid of sex and nudity while the people of Salador are class constricted, male dominated, educated and very formal about titles and distrustful of Hadde. When Hadde gets to Salador she is forbidden to leave by the king. I enjoyed Hadde's persona; she was fearless, she loved her horse, she was able to shoot a bow and arrow flawlessly and she was a true leader, always putting her people first. And those Eternal Knights, you just have to read this book to find out who they are!!! I can't wait for the next book!

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Fan Art by Sarah Tregay

Fan Art by Sarah Tregay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I picked up this ARC at ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia. Jamie Peterson has come out to his mom and dad about being gay; but he has told no one in school. As a senior, he realizes he really cares for his best friend, Mason. To tell him or not, these are the questions Jamie wrestles with all year. A great book that really looks at the dynamics of friendship, family, being different. I loved the high school dynamics between friends, the school newspaper, the Gay Straight Alliance, and the realm of graphic design. The poems by students were awesome and the comics by Challis life changing and important. Jamie’s thoughts and discussions about Mason and his sexual orientation are realistic; teens will want to read this book!


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Caged Warrior by Alan Sitomer

Caged Warrior by Alan Sitomer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

McCutcheon has been groomed since a very young age to be a prize winning fighter (something his father wasn’t able to accomplish) by a very controlling, evil, and selfish father. The one person McD would do anything for is his little sister, Gemma. Life doesn’t get much worse. Sitomer has crafted a disturbing, totally believable story about a young kid, who despite the odds, is able to hope for a better life for his little sister and himself, reach out for help, and try for a better life that includes an education and a family that includes love. Gritty Detroit could also be Philadelphia, Los Angeles or any city in America. Teens will not be able to put this honest, thought provoking book down!

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We Were Liars

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this ARC this winter at ALA in Philadelphia. In this compelling novel, Cady may be rich and care-free but she also has so much else going on. Her father leaves them and she has an accident (Summer 15) that causes her to be wracked with horrible migraines and memory issues. Annually, Cady summers with her extended family on an island her grandfather owns with three sprawling houses. She is best friends with her cousin Mirren, Johnny, and Gat during these summers. They don’t keep in contact during the year, but spend their summers as the Liars, leaving trouble in their wake. If you like lies, secrets, forbidden love, you must read this book!

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Haatchi and Little B by Wendy Holden

Haatchi & Little B: The Inspiring True Story of One Boy and His Dog by Wendy Holden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great nonfiction read about a dog who was cruelly beaten and chained to railroad tracks and run over. He is rescued and as a five month old Anatolian Shepherd is able to survive the trauma of losing a back leg and tail and saving Owen’s (Little B) life. Haatchi is such a wonderful dog, he changes many who come in contact with him. This is a compelling, inspiring read. Highly recommended.

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Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this ARC this winter at ALA in Philadelphia. In this compelling novel, Cady may be rich and care-free but she also has so much else going on. Her father leaves them and she has an accident (Summer 15) that causes her to be wracked with horrible migraines and memory issues. Annually, Cady summers with her extended family on an island her grandfather owns with three sprawling houses. She is best friends with her cousin Mirren, Johnny, and Gat during these summers. They don’t keep in contact during the year, but spend their summers as the Liars, leaving trouble in their wake. If you like lies, secrets, forbidden love, you must read this book!

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my sister-in-law, Donna, for recommending this wonderful, compelling, thought provoking read. There are so many threads and themes in this can’t put it down read (I couldn’t sleep and turned the light on at 4 am and read until I finished at 6am!!!) I loved, loved Tom Sherbourne, the tortured soldier and light house keeper who finds peace and love in life with Isabel Greysmark. As the lighthouse keeper of Janus Rock, Tom knows how important the strict adherence to rules is and it is this honor that is crushed when a dinghy washes ashore with a dead man and a baby. Isabel has suffered 3 miscarriages and persuades her husband they must take care of this little infant. As their life with baby, Lucy provides love, contentment and happiness beyond their wildest dreams, Tom is tortured by his decision not to report this incident. The repercussions are felt later and oh how devastating they are. This is a must read, I loved the author’s words, her characters, and the wild and natural settings in Australia of this tug of war. What happens to these three compelling characters? What would you do? You have to read this book and I assure you, you will not be disappointed. There are so many good discussions to be found in this story of fierce and tragic story of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness; a great book club title to be sure.

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Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We learn about Brighton and Jonah's lives as they count down to two important but very different incidents in their lives. Jonah is forced to leave his hometown, friends, and girlfriend, to move in with his mom, his stepfather, Paul and little baby sister, Sophia. He hates living in Cross Pointe and wants nothing to do with any of the kids in his new school. Jonah just wants to see his girlfriend, his friends, graduate and go to college. Brighton is popular, mourning the loss of her father, showing the world she is happy and well adjusted and will be able to make it through her father's memorial. When Brighton tries to get 100% participation in community service, she can't get the new kid, Jonah to commit to volunteer. What's more, he is really angry and mean to Brighton and she doesn't understand why. What I really LOVED about this book was Brighton and Jonah's journey toward each other. I enjoyed seeing Jonah's old life through Brighton's eyes. I liked seeing Brighton's depth (even while she was conflicted and insecure) and Jonah's reactions as he spends a night with Brighton and he realizes he likes the REAL person she is. Brighton and Jonah will surprise you and melt your heart. Tiffany Schmidt does a great job getting these two together, what a great romance! Highly recommended.

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Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There were so many times I laughed out loud as I read this book--I also kept reading passages (most of them were Lula's rants, oh is she hysterical) to my niece on the beach. Grandma was in rare form with her swinging single dating; she was such a hoot! Stephanie Plum has been charged with apprehending Uncle Sunny and this is no easy job since he is beloved all over Trenton as well as being part of Joe Morelli's family. Stephanie does not disappoint and even quits bail bond apprehension and tries to become a butcher - but she is really just trying to find out who is killing all the old women and stuffing their bodies in dumpsters. Lula and Stephanie keep seeing a giraffe running around the Berg but no one else seems to know or see this giraffe. A totally enjoyable 20th Stephanie Plum novel!

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Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I savored thinking about this book for the last few days. There is so much to talk/argue about, I can’t say enough! This book came highly recommended by so many friends, I am glad I didn’t leave it in the middle of my TBR pile! Jojo Moyes did an excellent job with the characters, plot and setting in this novel. Taking place in a small town in England with a famous castle, it was interesting to read why Louise Clark loved this place and why Will Traynor finds it suffocating and limiting. The characters of Lou and Will are so different; Lou’s life is circumscribed and she has no thoughts about what she wants to do in life. She hates her sister, loves her mother and father. She is chatty, loves people, and needs a good job to help her family. Will Traynor was a privileged, daring, rich man who meets with a tragic accident and is now a quadriplegic. His mother hires Lou to care for Will and it is into Will’s world (his families’ house and bedroom) that Lou learns what really living is, to want more out of life, and get a better education. It is also through caring for Will, talking and arguing with Will, that Lou finds her feelings changing as she falls in love with Will. What will happen when Lou shares this with Will? Will she be able to change his heart and mind? The other characters, like Treena, Mr & Mrs Clark and Will’s mother and father and his caregiver, Nathan became integral to the depth of this book and story. I couldn’t put this book down. I do have to find out a little bit more about what the title means, but I highly recommend this book---yes it is sad, but I found out so much about quadraplegics, family dynamics, love and friendship in this book!

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Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen

Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ahhh, I so enjoyed this latest book by Anna Quindlen! Rebecca Winter is 60 years old; an artist turned photographer, mother, and divorced. At 30, she became famous for her Still Life With Breadcrumb photos and her Kitchen Counter photos which really speak to women about life…now she is supplementing her parents in a Jewish nursing home, battling her agent, and counting her pennies. Rebecca decides to rent out her NY apartment and flee to the country subletting a rundown old cabin,“finding” a dog and a roofer, Jim Bates. The photographer, Rebecca Winter at age 30, and at age 60, create and produce very different photographs. It is this change in a remarkable woman I loved seeing. Rebecca Winter blossoms from the disillusionment in her past and present; manifests change with humor, friendship, and love. Quindlen does a great job with her characters and setting to weave a fascinating look at a woman who makes a calculated change in her life and becomes energized with her photography and new “country” life. Highly recommended!

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The City by Dean Koontz

The City by Dean Koontz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell for the ARC, The City by Dean Koontz, a mesmerizing read about lies, murder, magic, and the power of family and friends. Told by Jonah Kirk (age 9), at the urging of his best friend, Malcolm, the reader is catapulted into Jonah’s city, during the tumultuous 1960s, his family’s love of music, and the effect of his relationship with Miss Pearl, a supernatural being who is described as the soul of the City, which is both beautiful and evil and part of the grand plan of life. Jonah is much older, looking back telling the story of his life at the urging of Malcolm. And oh what a life it was. Miss Pearl visits Jonah just a few times when he is young and imparts important events (in his dreams) that scare him and cause him much distress. He withholds this information from his mother and grandfather, but confides in a Japanese neighbor, Mr. Yoshioka. What begins as a friendship between Jonah and this tailor will also involve murder, bombs, and evil characters (one of whom is his father). But the outcome of Jonah’s friendship with Mr. Yoshioka will involve a network of heroes, friends, and family who save Jonah when he most needs it. I loved Koontz’s characters and his descriptions (from the nine year old Jonah point of view as well as the fifty seven year old Jonah) were so melodic, terrifying, sentimental, and laugh out loud funny. I recommend this book to many audiences- those who love Koontz (naturally), young adults, and adults. There will be much discussion after reading this real, heart pounding, sizzling book with well-drawn characters and a plot that does not disappoint!

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City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The final novel in the Mortal Instruments series was awesome! Jace and Clary did not disappoint as partners, fighters and lovers. Their family and friends all band together as Sebastian is intent on destroying the Shadow Hunters and taking Clary as his queen and ruling together from Edom (another name for the underworld). I could not put this book down; I loved the many evolving relationships with Alec and Magnus, Isabelle and Simon, Jocelyn and Luke, Maia and Jordan, and so many more. Clare’s depth of character and settings make for a can’t put it down, exciting read. A very satisfying end to a suspenseful supernatural thriller; I look forward to more Cassandra Clare series; she is a superb storyteller! Highly recommended.

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Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

Cop Town by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cop Town by Karin Slaughter
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell for the ARC, Cop Town by Karin Slaughter, a riveting adult police crime mystery taking place in 1974 in Atlanta, GA. Unwelcome change has been permeating the police force in Atlanta and there are many “old boy” cops who hate seeing women, blacks, and other minorities, infiltrate their ranks. There is a cop killer on the loose and hostility and fear is rampant. The Lawson family is thick in the police force with Uncle Terry, Jimmy, and Maggie as the most current members. With The first cop killing, Eddie Spivey, was rounded up quickly with tangible evidence as the shooter. But Uncle Terry’s manufactured evidence hurts the solid case and the jury frees Eddie Spivey. In separate chapters, the reader follows Wolf (the killer), Maggie Lawson, and Kate Murphy as they fight (against their brothers in arms) to solve the cop murders and affect justice without losing their sense of self and jobs. But the force is corrupt, and as Maggie and Kate push forward to follow the clues, the Atlanta Shooter is calculating his next sick, deliberate “execution,” all the while continuing to be obsessed with rookie, Kate Murphy . Karin Slaughter’s characters are real, deep, and full of contradictions in a tumultuous period of Atlanta’s police force. I particularly enjoyed the depth of the female characters Maggie, Kate, Dehlia, Oma, and Lisbeth. Almost all of the male cops and men were very flawed but this catapulted the storyline forward. As the Atlanta police force grapples with the murders of their own; women in the police force will use their wits to go against the macho police and their good old boy tactics. A superb tour de force, I highly recommend this suspenseful mystery.


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The Last Child by John Hart

The Last Child by John Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I could not put this book down! It was a riveting thriller about a twin whose sister disappears and the whole disintegration of the family and the ripples in the town. Johnny Merrimon will not stop looking for his sister, Alyssa, who vanished one year ago. His father is gone too- fallout from the blame his mother cast on him for being late to pick his daughter up. What was so freakish about this book were the characters, especially Johnny. He is smart and single minded in his purpose to find his sister. There is a detective, Clyde Hunt, who keeps checking on John and his mother, but he doesn't trust anyone anymore so Johnny is not sharing anything. But in one year, his mother has turned to alcohol and drugs and turned her back on Johnny. The house is lost and Ken is the landlord and abuser of Johnny and his mom. This book is a roller coaster ride that will take the reader to many scary places and sick characters. But there are also other characters you will root for- Jack (Johnny's best friend) and Levi Freemantle (a prison escapee who might hold the key to finding Alyssa)and you will not want to put this book down until the very last page.

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Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and M. Stohl

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The final book in the Caster Chronicles (#4) definitely did not disappoint. When #3 ended, Ethan has jumped off the water tower to save Gatlin and everyone in it from the chaos that resulted when Lena went through her claiming. But this was never supposed to happen - Ethan dying - so he goes through many horror filled challenges in order to bring Gatlin (and Ethan) back to seasons, peace and harmony (if you could say Gatlin was all of these???) rather than the horrendous heat and lubbers - you will have to read book 3. What I loved about this book was the deep abiding love Ethan and Lena share and his love of his grandmother, Amma and Marian (his mom,s best friend and librarian). I liked Macon so much more in this book and I enjoyed the changes in John Brown (remember how he took Lena away from Ethan?) and his love for Liv and his allegiance to Ethan and Lena. Always interesting is Ridley and she is back taunting Link, who proves to be a very cool Incubus in this final book. This was a very satisfying end to the series and I will be reading the other series, Dangerous Creatures too!

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One of Us by Tawni O'Dell

One of Us by Tawni O'Dell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for this suspense-filled mystery advance e-book . Danny Doyle was born and raised in a coal mining town (Lost Creek, PA) and continues to struggle with many demons from his childhood; being bullied in school and at home by his alcoholic father, and a mother, mentally unstable who is jailed for the death of her week old child and continuing nightmares throughout his life about the mines and his dead sister. Present day Danny is renowned as Sheridan Doyle, a forensic psychologist for the Philadelphia DA’S office. When Danny returns home for a visit to his recently recovered ninety something grandfather, he revisits the gallows where miners were hung in the 1800s and he finds the dead body of the new owner. At this same time, Scarlet Dawes, rich daughter of the mines, unexpectedly returns to Lost Creek. Rafe, the only detective in town and father figure to Danny find the suicide note but this is murder and they have to be extremely careful with this killer. As they delve into facts and many who believe the executed miners have ghosts; the reader is propelled into the world of a psychotic serial killer on the loose with everyone a target. I couldn’t put this down; especially enjoyable was reading from Danny and Scarlet’s viewpoints. Where Danny was methodical, lucid and vulnerable; Scarlet was devious, crafty, and had no remorse. The descriptions of the mines (the workers, their families and the owners) in the 1800s and present day were horrific. Lost Creek was a town you wanted to run away from with its family secrets, lies, and torments. For a mesmerizing glimpse into the workings of serial killers’ minds, this book will hold you captive until the last page. A great advanced read from NetGalley!

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Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was part of the 2014 Hub Reading Challenge and Stonewall Honor Book. David Levithan is such a good writer and the way he presents Two Boys Kissing is very interesting. He focuses on two boys who were once involved, trying to break the kissing record in the Guiness Book of World Records. He has side stories of two boyfriends and 2 boys who meet at a Gay Prom and a lone boy, Cooper( his online activities been caught by his father)who has run away. Tariq, also has an important presence and part as the one who films (he also creates a playlist that will play the duration of the kiss) the two boys kissing. But even more important are the voices of the gay men from the past who are the omniscient narrators as this story unfolds. Their voices were clear, honest, pained, angry and sad. Their voices will give the reader cause to rejoice and also dash their hopes. A powerful book.

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Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan & Nathan Fox

Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This graphic novel was part of the 2014 Hub Reading Challenge. I loved the three stories of dogs in WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War and their accomplishments, bravery and love for their handlers. Their stories were inspired by real military history. I especially liked the final story about Sheba, a German Shepherd, who stayed in Vietnam to continue to serve while his handler returned with PTSD, and how a boy and his dog Bouncer, helped him to search for answers. Highly recommended!

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The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this graphic novel as part of the 2014 Hub Reading Challenge and enjoyed introduction by Kurt Busiek. This was a funny look at a SuperHero Girl who doesn't have superhero powers like flying. She also doesn't have a tragic past and an arch nemesis. What she consistently has is the will to help others be it an old lady or battling monsters or ninjas. She has a roommate who has to help out once in a while and a brother who is a famous superhero, Kevin. Recommended read!

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Book A Day Challenge Nerdy Book Club

Here is another reading chgallenge I am going to participate in --- beginning June 1, 2014 until the end of the summer, August 31, 2014. Check out the post (http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/the-sixth-annual-book-a-day-challenge/)and see if you want to try too!

Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner

Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this Prince Honor book as part of the 2014 Hub Challenge and oh did I like it! The world that Miles Standish lives in is scary, bleak, and brutal. Miles is different and for that reason he has no friends and is bullied constantly by students AND teachers. Miles has one blue eye and one brown eye and "can't read, can't write, Miles Standish isn't bright." One day a family moves into Zone 7, the burned out, bombed block aptly named Zone 7 where only the ostracized live- and this family, Hector and his mom and dad, The Lushes, have a secret. The Lushes become like family to Miles and his grandfather. Hector stops the bullies in school from their constant assaults and provides the only light, true friendship, in Miles life. It is Hector who helps Miles stand up to the Motherland. The chapters are short, I couldn't stop turning the pages, and even more disturbing are the illustrations of maggots, flies and rats appearing on the pages with their own story.

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Will and Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge

Will & Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the 2014 Hub Challenge. Willemina (Will) lives with her aunt after her parents die in a car accident. Will has a great group of friends, an aunt who is now her caretaker, she is afraid of the dark and keeps really really busy. With the coming of hurricane Whit, power is out for an extended time, resulting in Will confronting some deeply hidden fears. This graphic novel does not disappoint.

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The Here and Now by Ann Brasheres

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This ARC is from my visit to ALA Philadelphia. Boy am I glad I received this book (I never read the Sisterhood books...) Imagine you are a young boy fishing and sees a girl come from the river. So begins the story of Ethan Jarves who finds Prenna James, a girl who has traveled from the future. She lives in a strictly constricted world with her mother who used to be a doctor. Prenna and others came to the present because there was a series of plagues killing everyone. Some of the rules they live by: seek no medical attention, avoid places of worship, fit into society but don't get too close, and no falling in love. When Prenna's best friend is taken away and she is cautioned against her friendship with Ethan, things begin to get very scary. As the community leaders close in on her, Ethan helps Prenna try to figure out what is going on in her world and his. This book is able to go from the future to the present convinclingly, Prenna's fear and rigid brainwashing are so scary and believable. But her growing love for Ethan and his tentative, sincere love for Prenna power this book and romance, Highly recommended!!!

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusack

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I re-read this book as part of the 2014 Hub Challenge. I loved it when I first read it and the words, characters, and setting were just as beautiful and horrifying. Told from the point of view of Death, Liesel Meminger is a young girl who is adopted by a German family during the time the war with Germany broke out and the Jews were persecuted, killed, and some were hidden in homes, basements and walls. Liesel becomes the book thief when she picks up a book a gravedigger dropped while burying her brother, Werner. She continues to take books at a parade celebrating the Germans superiority (where she realizes Hitler probably killed her mother because she was a Communist)and later when she carries her step mother's laundry to the Mayor's house. His wife has a room full of books and lets Liesel read any of the books. Liesel's stepfather, Hans Hubermann is a wonderful man who has difficulty finding work because he will not join Hitler's party. He shows Liesel love, and teaches her to read. On the other hand her stepmother is gruff, and angry. But that changes the day, Hans accepts Max, a Jew (Max's dad saved Hans in the war)into their house. Liesel's stepmother now becomes a loving, scared person who supports hiding Max and swears Liesel to tell no one, even her best friend, Rudy. The story of Liesel, her friends and family, narrated by death is one of my favorite books. Everyone should read it, Markus Zusack speaks of a time that must never be forgotten in history. He writes with depth and compassion to show Liesel's world and how she continued to live despite losing everyone she loved, one by one. Death loves Liesel and you will too.

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Winger by Andrew Smith

Winger by Andrew Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the Yalsa Hub 2014 Reading Challenge and I loved it. For most of this book, I laughed at Ryan Dean West's loser status and proclamations. Winger, as he is called by his Rubgy friends is smart, 14, and a junior at a Prep school. After getting in trouble, Ryan Dean is now exiled to the bad kids dorm, Opportunity Hall with a really scary roommate, Chas. He misses his old roommates in the normal dorm. He is also madly in love with Annie Altman, who has been his best friend for two years. He is so insecure about so many things, you laugh out loud with him about his loser status. But this book is about so much more than his fumbling, sports, and high school hijinks. On the back cover of the book, I didn't understand why AS King said the book was "heart-wrenching" and Matt de la Pena called the book "raw." You only have to read Part Four to become so totally sad, angry, and beyond hope about this book. That is all I will say, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!!

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Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow another great nail biter from Lauren Oliver. Panic is a game that takes place and involves secret judges, a series of dares, and a group of contestants that get smaller as the challenges get more serious and very, very scary. I liked Heather and Bishop and grew to like Dodge. Heather comes from a very dysfunctional family - a mom who drinks and parties and doesn't love Heather and her little sister, Lily. Bishop and Heather and Nat have been best friends forever. Dodge has a sister who was paralyzed as a result of Panic years before and he is out for revenge. Oliver's portrayal of these teens, what makes them tick, what scares them, and why they do what they do was pitch perfect. The book was scary, exciting, and all about teens who are graduated and spend a summer seeing if they can win the $67,000 purse in the game of Panic. The police are after anyone involved and will jail them, so everyone is very, very careful with how they act around adults and family members. Who will win and at what cost? Read Panic, you won't be able to put it down, I couldn't!!!

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Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I want to thank NetGalley and Disney Book Group for the ebook, Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly. This is an engrossing novel about Princess Serafina, a mermaid, about to be betrothed to Prince Mahdi, in a Dokimi ceremony. Sera must be perfect in the Dokimi, and declared a true Daughter of Merrow, or be killed. On this fateful day, Sera finds out from her mother, Isabella (The Ruler of Miromara) there have been raids carried out by unknowns villains in the mer kingdom for over a year where entire villages have vanished. Sera’s mother stresses how important this alliance with Mahdi’s kingdom is to ensure their survival and might. As the Dokimi proceeds, Miromara is attacked and Sera’s mother is poisoned by an arrow and her father is killed. Sera and Princess Neela (her best friend) must flee with protectors. When they meet up with the River Witch, Baba Vraja, she tells the two princesses that there is an ancient evil monster, Abbadon who is going to destroy all the Mer kingdoms. Both Sera and Neela have been having these same bad dreams of terror and ruin being brought to bear on their families and kingdoms. Baba Vraja tells Serafina she is the chosen one who must find the five other brave mermaids and form an unbreakable bond to save their kingdoms. Can Sera and the five princesses keep hope alive and stop the destruction of their Mer nations? Jennifer Donnelly uses beautiful words and language to evoke the magic of the undersea worlds and their memorable characters. Readers will keep turning the pages as the tension mounts for the mermaids and you will root for their victory in the deep blue oceans. This will be enjoyed by middle school/junior high readers.

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Going Over by Beth Kephart

Going Over by Beth Kephart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you so much to my Goodreads group, YA Reads for Teachers (And Any Other Adults, Chronicle Books, and Beth Kephart for this advance reader's copy, what a great read! I read Small Damages by Beth Kephart Small Damagesand fell in love with Kephart's word usage and wonderfully drawn characters. I felt the same way reading this book. I was completely immersed in Ada and Stefan's lives in the separate cities of East and West Berlin in the 1980s. The isolation and heartache that the Berlin Wall caused to families, friends, and communities is palpable in this tale of love, family, and sacrifice. We learn in alternating chapters from Ada (her chapters are titled SO36) and Stefan (his chapters are titled Friedrichshain)what life was like before and after the Berlin Wall divided their life and worlds. Spunky, cocky Ada lives with her mother (Mutti)and grandmother (Omi)in "155 kilometers of wrong," but in the freedom of West Berlin. Their freedom consists of eking out a spare existence in a squatter's commune. By day, pink haired Ada goes to school, works at a day care center (catering to Turkish immigrants)and by night, daring to paint a graffiti wall of heroes. Independent Ada dodges guards with rifles in towers and works by flashlight daring to create this wall. Stefan lives with his Grossmutter (grandmother) in East Berlin where he does not go to school, is dictated to become a plumber and yearns to be with Ada and "her love brighter than color." Where kind, sweet Stefan is full of what ifs about escaping, Ada is confident with her many newspaper stories of those who risked danger and found freedom over The Wall. Will Stefan take the risk for Ada? Going Over is so much more than a love story- I also loved Savas, Arabelle's pregnancy, Mutti, Omi and Grossmutter's lives since the War and The Wall. You will ache for these characters. Beth Kephart's words of beauty, fear, and hope make this a very special book - enjoy and dare to hope!


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Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd

Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, Chip Kidd has written, designed, and illustrated the BEST book for graphic design for kids; I recommend everyone read this book----they will love it. What did I learn? I had no idea Chip Kidd was involved in sooo many books, book covers (like Jurassic Park and all the covers on pages 10-12, 68-69, p. 112-115). In each of the six chapters, Kidd goes into detail about What is Graphic Design?, Form, Typography, Content, Concept and 10 Design Projects. I really liked the Chapter 4 Concept on Illusion (p. 109) where Kidd, G. Spear and Augusten Burroughs "goofed on the title, Side Effects, by addig a sixth finger to the hand (mine)." I loved how Chip Kidd shared what the title of this book Go means, p. 117. I think it would be fun for kids to jump in and try the 10 design projects and post it on gothebook.com
Loved this book!!!

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