The Secret of a Heart Note by Stacey Lee

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165389-the-secret-of-a-heart-note" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">The Secret of a Heart Note by Stacey Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for #yabookchat twitter chat 1/1/17 at 9PM EST, join us for a discussion of this great book! Mimosa and her mom are the only 2 women who can create love potions and boy do they have the perfect noses to smell out the right feelings (smells like blueberries = sadness) and a few acres of flowers, bushes, weeds to crush, grind and produce the elixirs! There are pluses and minuses Mim deals with - she wants to be an ordinary teen (Mom won't allow it) go to high school (which Mim negotiated with her Mom with many caveats - if Mim can't do her job, then no school!!!) join clubs (can't too much time away from being an aroma expert) and have friends (she has one, but oh is she a GREAT friend). I felt really sorry for Mim and rooted for her all the way through her mistakes, quandaries, growing romantic feelings for Court and all the bad decisions she makes trying to be just what her mother has brought her up to be (can you tell I do not like her Mom?!?). But Stacey Lee has written a many layered book that has you laughing and crying while also getting a peek at Court's family and friends, high school atmosphere, loneliness, responsibility, and the complicated smells associated with feelings. Lee's descriptions of gardens, parks, the beach, the ocean and high school were lush and authentic. Loved the ending; a must read.

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Saving Red by Sonya Sones

Saving Red by Sonya Sones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sonya Sones has done it again; she is the master of novels in verse! Back in the 80s or 90s she came to Abington Senior High for the day and the students LOVED her and raved about her writing session. Saving Red illustrates Sones' command of each and every word; the longing, loss, and guilt Molly carries around since a year ago when her world turned upside down. Her dog, Pixel knows Molly and how to calm her down perfectly. Molly is a teen you root for; she had a very caring family and friends but her reality now consists of dysfunctional parents, a secret she can't bear to reveal and a homeless girl she befriends and tries to save. An even better part of the book is her accidental meeting of a guy, Cristo, on a bus and their hopeful developing relationship. LOVED LOVED LOVED this book; a must read for teens on homelessness, mental illness, and family problems & if you love dogs too!

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Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to the Audible narration by Lynn Chenn and I absolutely loved this wild and crazy book about Asian families caught up in the money craze whether they are new to it, worked hard for it, or have had wealth for centuries. Lynn Chenn’s voices for all the characters having a British, Asian or American accent were perfect!!! I can’t wait for the 2nd book but since the narrator was changed there are so many bad reviews so I will read the book, China Rich Girlfriend because I can’t imagine listening to anyone else than Lynn Chenn! I am most excited to find out more about Astrid, Rachel and Nick and of course the other wild and crazy Asian relations in their families! If you like laughing out loud while fun is being poked at family craziness this is the book for you!


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The Cursed Queen (THe Impostor Queen #2) by Sarah Fine

The Cursed Queen by Sarah Fine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Shuster Children’s Publishing and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC, The Cursed Queen by Sarah Fine. Ansa is a warrior in the Krigere tribe and has fought beside and supported Thrya, the daughter of Lars, the ruler of the tribe. Ansa also loves Thyra and will do anything to be her wolf in war and at her side in life. On a ship battling the witch queen, Ansa sees Lars and others enveloped in the fire of the Kupari Queen Witch, and is herself “struck” by the witch. With Thyra and her good friend, Sander, they return a much smaller group to their tribe to regroup but all is not well within the ranks. As Thyra tries to rally her people, rumblings of mutiny stalk Thyra and Ansa wrestles with the reality she is cursed somehow with the ability to wield the power of fire and ice. The drama of keeping her lies about being a witch becoming insurmountable and becoming ensnared with Jaspar’s father’s tribe boiled my blood. I could not stop turning the pages. I rooted for Ansa and Thyra’s relationship but was mesmerized by the treachery, lies, and witch magic. An epic story of warriors, rulers, and witches with grand world building and ambitious characters; bring on the next book in the series!!! Highly recommended!

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The Fallen Vampire (Flux & Firmament: The Cloud Lords, Prequel Part #1) by Beata Blitz

The Fallen Vampire by Beata Blitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Beata Blitz and the Goodreads Group YA Reads for Teachers for the ARC, The Fallen Vampire. Chloe is a normal teen whose life changes abruptly at a party when she uses witchcraft. She is imprisoned awaiting a trial when her best friend and love interest helps her escape from jail. As they flee, Chloe wishes desperately that Wayne would return her feelings. As a witch Chloe will not have the life she wants so she slips away from Wayne and runs headlong into a conflict between Vampires (known as Night Flyers) and Dragons and Bats considered gods and also could change into human form. As something falls from the sky, Chloe follows and finds what seems to be a dead man. What will happen to Chloe now that she is hunted as a witch, meets Cloud Lords, and tries to save whoever fell during the battle? Beata Blitz has crafted an dystopian world where California is now Dragon's Faith with feral dogs, bombed out buildings, and a new world that is patrolled by sheriffs with Regulators, rules, no technology and no information from the past. I can't wait to learn more about Chloe, her fate, and that of the fallen man in the 2nd book in this epic series with magic, mystery, gods and vampires!

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Flash Point (Dr Jenna Ramey #3) by Colby Marshall

Flash Point by Colby Marshall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am going to be very honest with this 3rd book in the Dr Jenna Ramey series; the literature messages/clues overall were too tough to follow through the whole book, Yancey was definitely not in this book enough, I want Jenna's mom in prison, and some small kind of normalcy to Jenna's life with her daughter, father, brother, Victor and Yancey. Other than those few wishes, this psychological thriller had me turning the pages, enjoying the depth of the characters in the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and Colby Marshall's grapheme color synesthesia with Jenna continues to wow me. Can't wait for #4.

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Sacrifice (Serpentine #2) by Cindy Pon

Sacrifice by Cindy Pon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this 2nd book in Pon's Serpentine Series! The stakes are high as Skybright and Stone learn the chasm was never "totally" closed and even more formidable demons and undead are still escaping above to the human realm. I loved how Pon brought all the main characters together to fight against impossible odds to find the evil source. I guess I should have known by the title, Sacrifice, that there would be a sacrifice which made my romantic heart break (have to read the book to find out what I am talking about). I have to admit I never really felt close to Stone as a character from the first book - even though he goes through great change in this book, I could not relate to him as much as I truly loved the person Kai Sen always was. Kai Sen was such an authentic, feeling, honest character from the time Sky's eyes met his "across the great distance" and he remained steadfast in his yearning, friendship, support and aid to Sky, he won my heart in both books. I also loved how Zhen Ni was so loyal and supportive of Sky (even in her serpentine form) and this ultimately was believed by Sky and gave her much peace and love in her heart. The growth in Sky was so fulfilling; her practicality and urge to protect and love made her a valiant and formidable foe. I will be telling my twitter chat, #yearofya, that these 2 books include Skybright & Zhen Ni as great examples of essential best friends for our December monthly chat. This is a must read; the drama and evil had me turning the pages while I rooted for Sky, Zhen Ni, Kai Sen and Stone to triumph. The worlds were lush, the characters drew me into their worlds, the personalities and the conflicts were awesomely brilliant - a must read!

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Serpentine by Cindy Pon

Serpentine by Cindy Pon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, loved Pon's rich worldbuilding encompassing gods, monks, and serpent demons! Skybright is best friend and hand maid to Zhen Ni who is impulsive, reckless and totally thinks of Sky as a sister since they grew up together. While Zhen Ni does not want to ever marry, Sky's body is changing - into a serpent. Sky does not tell anyone except a young monk in training, Kai Sen who has seen her in her serpent form. Sky and Kai Sen care deeply for each other but with her new demon form Sky sees no future for them even though she is desperate to kiss him and help him. I could not stop reading this thriller of a fantasy- oh the highs and lows, the characters relationships, and the plot were just too rich with action. I can't wait to read the 2nd book in the series, Sacrifice!!!

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Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Trevor Noah's life is unbelievable- born to a black mother and white father in apartheid Africa; he was not welcome in any world- white black or mixed and after apartheid things changed but the archaic beliefs of many of the tribes and the government continued. I loved Trevor's narration; his voice was beautiful, believable, laugh out loud funny but also sad, angry, and questioning. His mother was his constant growing up; she made him go to church every Sunday many times for the whole day. She raised him with a tough hand but she did it all in love. For all that went wrong in his life, Trevor remained positive and upbeat. A must read from a young man who lived through hell, eeked out a life, always loved and respected his mother. Highly recommended!

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Chasing Impossible (Pushing the Limits #5) by Katie McGarry

Chasing Impossible by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this 5th book in the Pushing the Limits series!!! Abby and Logan were characters I rooted to find each other sooner rather than later! They had lots of charisma, pushed each other to do crazy things and secrets, lots of secrets. Abby did too good a job at being a drug dealer (no one knew her truth) and Logan did not tell anyone his health secret. They have both been through so much but Abby has lots of loneliness in her life while Logan is popular, smart, a daredevil, and great at sports. Once Logan and his friends decide to help Abby with her trust issues; her world is turned upside down. I also enjoyed seeing Isaiah & Noah again (Rachel too). Such a fantastic series! Now I am headed into the Thunder Road series by Katie McGarry, can't wait!

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History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Soho Press and Soho Teen for the ARC, History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera. I loved Silvera’s first book, More Happy Than Not, but his second is even better as this sad, sad book deals with a group of three guys who are best friends trying to make sense of the sudden devastating loss of one of their trio. Wade, Griffin, and Theo have been joined at the hip for many years and while Griffin & Theo become romantically involved, their threesome remains intact. When Theo ponders going to college early, things begin to change within the dynamics of their tight little group. Told from Griffin’s point of view in his monologues which he directs to Theo, he bounces back and forth from his time with Theo (what he refers to as history) to the present and his devastating grief. Griffin has ODC compulsions, was totally in love with Theo but even so, broke up with him when Theo attends college in California. As Griffin laments much of what he said and did while Theo was alive; he becomes more and more grief stricken without Theo. At the funeral, Theo’s boyfriend, Jackson, attends and even more hurtful gives a eulogy (just as Grif does) and stays with Theo’s family. Theo’s family and Griffin’s family are so real; they loved their kids, talked to them and supported them. One of my favorite parts was when Theo & Grif come out to their families and I just felt all the love and happiness the parents had for these two boys as a romantic couple. I felt the palpable grief Griffin, Wade, Jackson and the families and friends suffered as a result of losing this very special, kind, and likable teen. I was fully invested in Grif’s journey of love, loss, devastation, lies, issues and I rooted for Griffin to find answers, peace, and honesty in his “history” monologues with the now dead Theo. Silvera has crafted the kind of a story teens have been asking to read for some time now. It speaks to their inner uncertainties, their love of family and friends, need for adventure but at the same time their need to be understood and accepted for who they are. Silvera’s book accomplishes this and much, much more; highly recommended.

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Double Vision (Dr Jenna Ramey #2) by Colby Marshall

Double Vision by Colby Marshall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this 2nd book in the Dr. Jenna Ramey series and I am so into the way Jenna sees colors as a way to solve the heinous crimes she investigates. I was up at nights worrying about Jenna and Yancey as he struggles with being a 911 operator - he LOVED being in on the crime solving with Jenna in the 1st book, but now he is back to being less than happy with some of the more mundane calls he receives. But all that changes when a female caller is being threatened and Yancy wants to jump in and help (will he make a mistake that costs him?). Also Jenna is working to find out who the Triple Shooter could be- uses the # 3 and 7 in order to kill his victims, and the way Jenna and her colleagues follow the leads and learn about mythology, religion, etc. was VERY interesting. I liked finding out more about Jenna and Hank's relationship before Ayanna, love her father and brother and my favorite character was Molly- she was fearless and excited (like Yancy) to be included in helping Jenna get answers from the store shooting. There is so much action and suspense as well as dark humor and humor in Colby Marshall's books, I can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series! Highly recommended!

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The Sound of Rain by Gregg Olsen

The Sound of Rain by Gregg Olsen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC, The Sound of Rain by Gregg Olsen. I love mysteries and this one kept me reading until the end, and there it went really, really wrong for me. Nicole is a detective working with a partner, Danny (who is also her lover) when they get a call about an abducted little girl. As they investigate, this girl, Kelsey, is found murdered. When they interview a sexual predator living in the neighborhood, Danny gets a confession out of him (without Nicole being present)…but did Danny really do it by the book? Nicole reports her partner for wrong doing and even though Danny goes to jail, surprisingly Nicole is dismissed from the force, fights a raging gambling problem, and loses her house. Sounds like she is a mess, right? I am not a fan of unreliable narrators and Nicole’s home life as a child, teen, and now as an adult, stinks! I had so many unresolved questions, too many unbelievable characters like her sister, Angela, Danny, her boss Evan and Julian and really in the end, why did they do what they did? There were so many twists and turns but no real resolution, just many questions that went unanswered and an end that was so unsatisfying. Sorry, I love to give great reviews but this mystery just did not appease me at all. Nicole was not kick ass but a sorry, gullible excuse as a main character, I can’t even call her a protagonist. She should be doing things by the book but ends up missing all the signs, and just copes, rather than being a heroine. I was really rooting for Nicole but there was no redemption in this book’s ending.

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The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold) by Traci Chee

The Reader by Traci Chee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so excited- another new series I can't wait for book 2!!! Sefia has not had an ordinary existence but before the deaths of her parents Sefia loved her parents. Discovering her father murdered sets off a series of events that is paralyzing and beyond upsetting for 15 year old Sefia-aset again she is torn from Nin who ferried her far and away. She saves a boy who cannot speak from fighting other boys to the death. She carries a book that she does not realize is a book...and it seems the book is responsible for all the heartache she keeps suffering. Will Sefia ever get the ansers, revenge and redemption she wants for her parents and Nin? Unbelievably GOOD!!!

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This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32333615-this-is-our-story" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is a #yabookchat discussion Sunday 12/4 at 9pm EST and this book is the ultimate mystery. Read this book and join our chat! Kate Marino has been secretly texting Grant Perkins until the morning he is shot by one of his friends. The title is APT, all 4 friends give the SAME story, OUR STORY. As Kate works part time in the DA's office, she is devastated with Grant's loss, his friends sticking to their story, and as she learns more and more through transcripts, videos of the friends, and others who were with the boys the night before at a party at the hunting lodge, she takes her camera and takes hidden photos of the boys as they gather together, argue and fight. What are they hiding? Kate will be beyond surprised as she finds out more and more about the case, and the boys. It was beyond creepy when the murderer narrated a chapter in bold black type (I never figured out who it was). What will the DA and Kate uncover? A gripping whodunit with suspense and hostile witnesses.

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Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This "look" at what happened before the Alice in Wonderland story was dark, funny, sad, and definitely magical. Catherine is the eligible daughter of royal parents who want her to marry the King of Hearts (who is foolish, bumbling, and useless) but Catherine and her best friend, who happens to be her maid, Mary Ann, want to go into business together - Catherine will bake luscious treats and Mary Ann will run the bakery and take care of the bills. But life is not so simple for Catherine and as her reality of becoming the king's wife becomes sickeningly true, Catherine wants to say a great big NO to the king. Enter the new court joker, Jest, and Catherine finds she has feelings for this funny, special, adventurous joker. How Meyer spins the story of Cath & Jest is marvelous; there are enough scary goings on (the Jabberwock killing people and animals), traveling between worlds, scheming and lying from all sides to keep this a page turner to the end.

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The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, what a great book!!! I listened to this audio book and the narrators were awesome! As Natasha, the voice of Bahni Turpin was so real - a young girl with anger, depressed with having to leave the home she has grown to love over the last 8 year and the voice of Raymond Lee as Daniel, the Korean American teen who falls in love with Natasha as he watches her jam out to music with her headphones and follows her and saves her from being hit by a car. Nicola Yoon has stated in interviews and written in her books how much her love for her husband is responsible for the love she writes about in her books. And readers agree, Yoon has crafted characters and a love story that grabs readers and you root for Natasha and Daniel as they make their way through their first day of knowing one another, taking romance quizzes on Daniel's iPhone, going places, taking trains, eating, dancing, kissing, meeting parents, confronting their realties---it ALL works. The voice of Dominic Hoffman helps the reader with histories, characters, realities. The book and audiobook were truly favorites for me; teens will love this book but the diversity of Natasha and Daniel's worlds makes it a must read for adults too; a great crossover book!

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The Midnight Star (Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The final book of Marie's Lu's The Young Elites did not disappoint. I loved the world building and characters as they race against the clock to help themselves from the devastating effects of their powers. There is so much more time spent on the characters and I enjoyed the depth Lu delves into Teren, Rafaele, Lucent, Enzo and Violetta. As always I appreciated Magiano's joyful heartfelt influence with Adelina since she really tried to listen to him as the voices drove her crazy and forced her evil forward again and again. I enjoyed finding out more about the gods and folktales that ruled their worlds. I could not put down this novel and I will not soon forget the Roses, The Daggers, and Young Elites!

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A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2) by Victoria Schwab

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 2nd in the Shades of Magic series!!! This audiobook version by Michael Kramer (his voices of Kell, Rhy & even Nina were spot on and Kate Reading (as Delilah captures her personality perfectly) was superior. I have listened to both of these Shades of Magic books and loved them. I continue to be totally amazed at the fearlessness of Delilah Bard- her scheming, thievery, and pure delight in pushing ALL Boundaries lands her on a boat, learning magic & returning to London to participate in the Games (after taking out a participant and sending him in a crate on a boat to wherever). Princes & brothers, Rhy & Kell now have a much closer tie since Kell saved Rhy by binding his life to Kell - they can feel each other's pain and much much more. I can't wait til February for #3 A Conjuring of Light; the ending was A Gathering of Shadows was OMG!!! Great characters, world building and nonstop action all provided for a nonstop listen-read. Highly recommended.

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Color Blind ( Dr. Jenna Ramey #1) by Colby Marshall

Color Blind by Colby Marshall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First in a series, this psychological thriller was thoroughly enjoyable and I have already order the 2nd in the series, Double Vision from my public library. Dr. Jenna Ramey is a forensic psychologist who is famous for profiling serial killers because she has a specific ability to see colors as a way to read people and situations. Her mother is in jail because she a serial killer who tried to kill her latest husband (as well as her first 3) and Jenna's brother. Isaac Keaton has landed in jail because he killed many people at a park while a comrade in arms shot innocents at a ferry. As Jenna tries to unravel the clues, she races against time on little to no sleep, and worry for her family to catch a killer.

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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My mother gave this book to me and my reader friend Ruth recommended it years ago. I loved seeing Major Pettigrew grow, become bold, become forthright and fall in love with Mrs. Ali. The English village was beautiful but very tough on who and what they considered outsiders. There was humor, sadness, grief and so much more to enjoy in this book about older characters who change, grab at life, and turn their backs on tradition. Readers will enjoy the Major, Mrs. Ali, Grace, Alice, George, Amina, Sandy, and the Vicar and be chagrined with The Major's son, neighbors, Abdul and lots of others. It was a tug of war to see who could win the war of religion, race, and real estate, and I am so glad I was surprised by this book!

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Bad Blood (The Naturals #4) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Bad Blood by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved The Naturals series and was very happy with this final book, story, and the many heart stopping twists and turns it took! Cassie has always blamed herself for her mother's murder and she continues to try to find the killer(s) but she and her team and the FBI are also dealing with a cult that kills people (certain amounts, certain dates, etc), looking for a missing person (who one of the profilers grew up with) and interspersed with chapters narrated by YOU, which is super horrible with gore, torture, blood, death, and forces beyond YOU's control. I loved the continued "family" feeling of these naturals (they are flawed, have bad backgrounds and specialties hones to solve heinous crimes) and I liked the addition of new characters (Laurel, Celine, Kane) as the plot thickened. Barnes really knows how to write mysteries, psychological thrillers, dealing with serial killers, murderers, people gone bad and the Naturals trying to save the world one step at a time. Highly recommended, read this book & the whole series!

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Iron House by John Hart

Iron House by John Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, I do love John Hart novels and Michael and Elena tore my soul apart. This book has it all psychological thriller with lots of torture, death, mob ties and political machinations thrown in also. This is a must read about 2 brothers, 1 strong and 1 weak in an orphanage with bullies all around. Something horrible happens and Michael flees while something good happens to his sensitive brother, Julian. I could not stop reading this book; there was so much horror in Michael and Julian's life that to know them, you needed to start at the beginning of their lives and oh what a tangled web that is. Abigail Vane wants to adopt both brothers but death and lies FORCE Michael to flee. As all of John Hart's book are- this is a must read if you like heart stopping writing, believable characters you root for and lush storytelling.

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Dare you to (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

Dare You To by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Katie McGarry's series Pushing the Limits and so did my students when I was a librarian McGarry takes Beth, a teen with a drug addicted mom and abusive boyfriend who can't think straight about caring for her mom. When forces collide, Beth is sent to live with her uncle, forbidden to see her mom and old friends. Beth resents her uncle, his wife and those who remember what "her family" is like. But Ryan is someone who accepts Beth for who she is even as she tries to keep him at arms length. There is so much tension, drama and chemistry between these two, I rooted for them to find and keep one another in each other's lives and hearts. Even reluctant readers will love these books! They move quickly, plots are believable and there is lots of attraction going on with many of the teen couples.

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A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brittany Pressley's narration of Grace and the doctor were perfect; McGinnis' story of insane asylums during the early 1900s, the injustices perpetrated against patients and just victims of society as a whole and the work Grace performs trying to catch a serial killer had me riveted. The plot was thick with mystery and the horrors of life in the Ohio asylum and I appreciated the change to the Boston asylum where the patients were treated as humanely as possible. Grace's friends were real and very supportive of her; it was Grace who really had to figure out who she was and what she wanted in life. A great psychological thriller, McGinnis is one of my new favorite authors!

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Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

Flawed by Cecelia Ahern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, I could not put this book down, #2jennsbookclub certainly picked a winner and even better, it is the first book in a series and the second book is due out April 2017. Celestine's family and boyfriend see her as perfect and lives in a society where people deemed FLAWED must live by strict rules, be branded and be treated as less than human. One day she makes a decision that costs her the love of her life and makes her fear for the safety of her family and herself. Who can she believe and trust? Cecelia Ahern builds a scary believable world where life seems perfect until you are deemed flawed. But Celestine is so believable as a character who is so sure of her place in society that when she intervenes to help a flawed older man putting her life into danger; Celestine just as believably becomes a symbol the reader roots for - she is vulnerable, afraid, but convincing as she wades through fear, secrets, and lies to obtain information and truth. I loved Celestine, her grandfather, mother, father and Carrick. I can't wait to find out more in the 2nd book and I hope there is a 3rd book too!!! Highly recommended dystopian series!

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Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Ghost by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again Jason Reynolds has penned a book that speaks to kids, middle grade boys and girls, who have dreams and live in a tough world. How they figure it out is what Jason Reynolds is truly awesome at- the setting, characters, dilemmas, points of view all work perfectly in this book. Ghost is definitely an urban kid who has not had an easy life but he has enough bluster to make "things" work. Take a track coach with a team trying out and Ghost watching the runners. He takes on a sprinter and blows him away...thus begins Ghost's initiation into running, friends, a coach and dare I say it - will he be able to handle this life where he lives on the wrong side of the tracks, can't afford the "right" running shoes, and still gets into fights? I loved Ghost and I ached for his life where he longed for normalcy with a mom who works by day and takes online courses at night with no money to spare and fear of closed spaces and lots of anger. I sure did admire the stable role models in his life - his mom, store owner, Mr. Charles, Coach Brody, and Principal Marshall. They guide him to become a better Ghost by remaining steadfast with their rules, expectations, and humanity. There was just the right amount of suspense, humor, with the aches and pains of being an athlete interspersed throughout this "real" novel of life and the many "stories" that make up a neighborhood, school, and those in these communities. Highly recommended! Can't wait for the next Track series!

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Redemption Road by John Hart

Redemption Road by John Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I listened to this John Hart audiobook narrated by Scott Shepherd and liked his narration of all the characters EXCEPT Liz the good cop. Shepherd's voice for Liz (not her conscious thoughts) just did not do it for me. Shepherd's Liz was always monotone, flat, with no emotion and did not get across to me, the reader, her brokenness, and her determination. I love John Hart novels and this was one I could not stop listening too but I did not like the resolution of the mystery!!! I do not want to add any spoilers but yuck; I found it almost unbelievable and awful. Maybe if I had read this thriller I might have felt differently but I chose to listen to it and I always love my audiobooks, but even though I LOVED the drama and psychological suspense and love Hart's writing, this audiobook lacked a strong voice for Liz and a less than worthy revenge but I did love Liz, Channing & Adrian's travails and eventual redemption.

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The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry

The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book!!! The 1200's was a time of upheaval in the church after the Holy Wars and heretics were pursued ruthlessly, rooted out and killed, burned at the stake, and families and those who knew or helped were punished thoroughly. Julie Berry's historical fiction story about Dolssa who is a pious young woman & talks to her beloved lord, works miracles, and is hunted mercilessly by a knight and friar after miraculously escaping the burning pyre. Botille is a matchmaker and has been dispatched to a town to bring heirs back to an old friends's vineyard. Botille discovers Dolssa on her deathbed, hides her and takes her back to Bajas so she and her sisters can nurse her back to health. What the 3 sisters learn about Dolssa and her passion changes their lives and brings danger to then and their village. What a wondrous story of love, friendship, zealots, hatred, fear and heresy. I loved the seaside village of Bajas that Berry painted with it's beautiful sea and sand and the villagers with their troubles, personalities and sense of community. A harsh picture of fear
and heresy in a troubled time of the church but with cast of wonderful strong female characters, highly recommended!

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The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I so so loved the 3 main characters as they are nearing the end of high school in a small stifling town offering no prospects- 4.0 student Alex Craft is really the focal point - her sister was viciously murdered and it changed Alex- Alex is the quiet girl who rights wrongs but uses violence. As she works in a shelter with Claire AKA Peekay (Preacher's kid), both girls learn the true meaning of friendship and trust with each other and it changes their life. Also involved is Jack Fisher who helped look for Alex's sister the night she was found. Popular, athletic, smart Jack Fisher hasn't been able to stop thinking of Alex that night when Anna was discovered. Fate has jumped in and Jack wants to know Alex in every possible way. These 3 teens will explore the hazards of senior year and along the way find love, belonging, and the protection of friends. I so did not like the end !!! But Mindy McGinnis wrote a can't put it down book about the fierceness of girls (the positives & negatives) the sex obsessed, drinking guys and the compulsion of one lone girl to turn from violent retribution to living life that showed "other paths and other people." I will not soon forget Alex Craft and the two friends who mean so much to her - Jack and Claire. A must read!

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The Heart of Darkness (Remnant Chronicles #3) by Mary Pearson

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The final book in The Remnant Chronicle series is over and I am happy (such a GREAT series), devastated (I will miss the characters & narrators) and I still want more of Lia and Rafe! The narration by Emily Rankin, Ann Marie Lee, Ryan Gesell, Kirby Heyborne, Kim Mai was superb! The voices of Caden, Lia, Pauline, Rafe and the mystical gods foretelling the future just made the book that much better and this book was superb! I found my self listening all the time and then waking up thinking about all the drama, the continued machinations of the evil Vendan Comisar and all the betrayals these different characters had to suffer but work together to forge forward to unite against evil that was so deeply ingrained in a kingdom. But Lia, Rafe, Caden and Pauline do not disappoint as strong protagonists!!! A Highly recommended & favorite series & glad I could not get to it as each book was published- it was awesome jumping from Kiss of Deception to The Heart of Betrayal and finally The Beauty of Darkness!!!

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A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom

A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom. I really enjoyed debut author, Eric Lindstrom’s first book, Not If I See You First and his second book nails the fear and anxiety one teen, Mel Hannigan suffers as a result of being diagnosed and living with bipolar disorder. Her aunt has it, her brother “had” it and Mel does not want her friends or the world to know about her mental illness as she grapples with memories, taking meds, and dealing with highs and lows that are bipolar disorder. Lindstrom paints an authentic portrait of a teen haunted by secrets. Mel loves working at The Silver Sands Suites, she caters to each senior lovingly and I especially liked her friendship with retired psychiatrist and resident, Dr. Jordan. He is not Mel’s real doctor, except she sees him as “her real doctor.” It is through this friendship/relationship the reader really learns about bipolar disorder through their conversations – since Mel is busy hiding it from everyone but her family. As she navigates her world of high school, the retirement home, and doctor appointments the reader sees Mel as this normal, sincere girl who has suffered and does not want anyone to know about it. Everyone loves her but doesn’t know the real Mel Hannigan. What if they find out? Will they still like her and want to be her friend? This is a must read about teens, mental illness, and the fears of hiding your true self. Mel Hannigan is someone we all need to know, highly recommended!

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The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved the world building, characters, and skill of Kelly Barnhill's sumptuous fantasy feast. Luna is a baby when she is inadvertently fed moonlight by friendly witch Xan. So rather than have another family raise her Xan, a swamp monster, Glerk and tiny dragon, Fyrian all lovingly tend to Luna as she grows. For luscious middle grade read, you will not get much better. An excellent fairy tale for all!

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The Love that Split the World by Emily Henry

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time travel, love, two different worlds are what senior Natalie Cleary deals with as she loses a boyfriend, gains a one true love, and struggles to make sense of her worlds colliding. I loved Natalie and Beau's story and you will too!

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The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time travel, love, two different worlds are what senior Natalie Cleary deals with as she loses a boyfriend, gains a one true love, and struggles to make sense of her worlds colliding. I loved Natalie and Beau's story and you will too!

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The Kiss of Deception (Remnant Chronicles 1) by Mary Pearson

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the narration of this audiobook by Emily Rankin, Ann Marie Lee, Ryan Gesell, Kirby Heyborne, Kim Mai were stellar. Guest Book One of the Remnant Chronicles, The Kiss of Deception, tell the story of a princess who bolts on the day of her wedding to freedom from an unwanted marriage, to a new life as a bar maid. In this new town with her best friend, Pauline, Lia beings a new life all the while unaware she has been followed by an assassin and her jilted prince. Oh the deception, it was delicious. A must read! I can't wait to listen to Book 2.

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Posted in #yearofya (http://bit.ly/yearofya

Loving YA Series Fiction

 

BJ Neary (9/27/16)

Retired HS Librarian – Abington Senior High, Abington, PA

bjneary@comcast.net

http://nearynotes.blogspot.com/

 

I am so happy that my book-loving librarian friends, Mollee and Tavia, founders of #yearofya, the virtual Twitter book chat that I so look forward to and participate in monthly, asked me to be a guest blogger!  As I began to think about what I most ENJOY RIGHT NOW in YA literature and looked at my Goodreads bookshelves, I realized I have been totally hooked on YA SERIES fiction for years now and wanted to share (1) my CURRENT favorites, (2) series books not to be missed, (3) amazing audiobook series and (4) NEW series I am SO looking forward to jumping into (I want your recommendations too!)

 

What I relish in any series is that they can be any genre; authors build believable and fantastical worlds and craft strong, authentic characters that readers can relate to and cannot wait to explore and enjoy in more than one book. To satisfy my cravings for the next sizzling series sequel, I preorder the next book in the series either for my Kindle, order hard copy from Amazon or for my listening pleasure on Audible.  Afterward, I excitedly look forward to discussing the sequels and series with my friends.  Since I curate Young Adult Novels on Scoop.it, I cannot wait to read reviews from bloggers and other publications like SLJ and Booklist for their recommendations concerning these new releases.

 

How do I keep track of all the series?  I use Goodreads and I just love free FictFact because there are several ways to find your favorite series: Browse by Series, Browse by Author, Popular Series Overall, Most Popular by Genre, Book Release Calendar (love this) and Search…could not be any easier!

 

(1)  MY CURRENT faves (linked to my reviews on Goodreads)

 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas                An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

And I Darken by Kiersten White                     The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Andieh

The Raven King by Maggie Steifvater           Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski          The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer       The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

 

(2)  Series not to be missed - (my oldies but goodies)

 

Over the years, my students and I enjoyed discussing and sharing series.  Therefore, I am providing even more series (Animoto video) since I was a high school librarian for ten years. Retired for 4 years, I still ravenously read YA series and am always anxiously waiting for the next new title!  When I was a high school librarian, I did not get around to reading as many series as I would have liked, since librarians are also performing multifaceted jobs (you know what I mean.)  By the time I was able to read series such as, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, the whole series was finished!  I just gobbled all three books in the trilogy (one over Christmas break and the other over summer), loved them, of course, and it was heaven!

 

 

 

 

(3)  Amazing audiobooks series

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series	Sarah J. Maas
The Selection Series	Kiera Cass
Daughter of Smoke & Bone Series	Laini Taylor
Half Bad Series	Sally Green

 

(4)  New Series I Want to READ - you can’t read every single series that comes out, but this Animoto video shows a few I WANT to read but have not gotten to yet.  But, oh how I do want to jump into them!

 

Nerd Alert! I just received Crooked Kingdom, Six of Crows, Book 2 by Leigh Bardugo on my Kindle, so I will begin reading this heist thriller immediately!

 

Additional Series Books Links

YA Series Adults Will Enjoy    

Essential YA Series Reads

Underrated Series That Need More Love

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dan John Miller's narration of Ezra Faulkner was perfect and his other voice of Cassidy was awesome (I liked her but did not love her) and his other voices of his friends and parents were good. After Ezra Faulkner is hit and forever taken from his beloved game of tennis when he returns to school, his life is not the same. Now he sits at lunch with his boyhood friend that he lost touch with, becomes involved with the debate team and meets Cassidy Thorpe. As he falls for her, he becomes a much nicer person more aware of the jerk he had been throughout high school. With high hopes for Homecoming with Cassidy, it all comes apart, and Ezra is left bereft and questioning why, why, why? I was not happy with this book's ending but I was not surprised. I found Ezra a strong believable protagonist and wished Cassidy was too.





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Crooked Kingdom, Sequel to Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh wow, what a great great book! I did not know Crooked Kingdom was a sequel so there will be no more Kaz Brekker adventures and that makes me truly sad. But I could not put this book down, as Six of Crows ends, Inej was captured by Van Eck and Kaz and his band of merry thieves all band together to rescue her. I love Bardugo’s schemes, her worlds, her characters, and this book did not disappoint! Inej is still the wonderful Wraith who has a conscience and Kaz’s back and possibly his love? Kaz evolves in this book, but how much can he really change when he can’t get past his brother’s drowning, swimming and touching his bloated dead body? The expanding relationship with Matthias and Nina gave me some Grisha/Fjerdan hope and romance, Wyland and Jesper continue their friendship and alliances (where will that take them?), and Kuwei Bul and Colm are welcome additions to Brekker’s crew as he schemes his way to revenge, money, and salvation; and the hateful characters like Rollins, Jan Van Eck and Per Haskell just get more and more nasty and wily, filled with never ending fights, lies and revenge. I fell in love with this plot, these characters, their worlds and want to read more and more about them. For a sweeping story, and elaborate machinations! Will Nina kick the parem that became her obsession and will her Grisha power return? Will Jesper still be hooked on gambling and getting himself and his friends in trouble? Just READ this book; you will lose yourself in their worlds, their loves, their insecurities and their daring do. Highly recommended!

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Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reagan O'Neill is a bad girl who has just been cheated on by her loser boyfriend so she decides to follow her best friend and singer Lilah Montgomery across the country. What I liked about Reagan is that she is hard core and has a brittle front that puts most people off. It is Matt Finch, who joins the tour to pose as Lilah's boyfriend, who figures out Reagan is like him in many ways. This was narrated PERFECTLY by Rebecca Gibbel! She had the right voices for Matt, Lilah, Reagan and others. I enjoyed listening because the narrator got the pitch and tone right. What will happen to bad girl Reagan as good guy Matt begins to strike a chord in her heart?

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Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this crushingly sad middle grade book for a Twitter book chat with #yabookchat Sunday 10/2 at 9PM. I loved the writing of Lauren Wolk as she described Annabelle's world which takes place in a small Pennsylvania town after WWII. Annabelle's is a normal 12 year old but when bully Betty Glengarry moves in, Annabelle is afraid and lying to her family. She gets the gumption from deep within to stand up to Betty, but what Betty decides to do is strike at a war veteran who is Annabelle's friend. I read this book with a heavy heart, and hated the attitudes and ideas that were prevalent at that time, and only served to further Betty's evil intent. Readers will be rocked by this searing book. A must read.

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Mortal Danger (#1) by Ann Aguirre

Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

There was so much I did not like about this book. This was an audiobook I listened to narrated by Susan Hanfield. She did a good job with Edie but as the male character, Kian- his personality/voice came across as forced monotone the whole book (even when he is in love with Edie). The book is about Edie being bullied and as she readies to jump off a bridge, she makes a deal with her rescuer, Kian (but it is really a deal with the devil) and since the story line was not fluid, therefore when the supernatural aspects begin to show, it was just not believable. I did not like how Edie was supposedly so smart so they whole time she is figuring things out, it seemed forced.
Also at the end, the Author's Note was really good about bullying but I wish it had been at the beginning, it might have made a difference...but I am not sure. Not sure I will continue with this series.







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Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai

Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Thanhha Lai's, Inside Out & Back Again so I knew I would love this book about a perky totally Americanized girl (Vietnamese-American), age 12, who must leave the comfort of her home in Southern California for a summer in Vietnam with her father and grandmother to find out where her MIA grandfather is or any information about what happened to him in the Vietnam War. Mai's (Mia) voice is so authentic- she is funny, angry, honest, insufferable and just so much fun! I enjoyed her drama, her life, her friends at home & in Vietnam, and she taught me so much about the Vietnam War, the food, flowers, & scenery in Vietnam! Her text messages & phone calls with her mother who stays home are funny, irreverent & as time goes on every understanding. I loved the families in both places, their hopes, dreams, and culture. Highly recommended read for young and old alike!

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