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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