AList of Cages by Robin Roe

A List of Cages by Robin Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this wrenching book for my monthly twitter chat book club #YAbookchat and oh was it powerful, crushing, and spoke deeply of the power to wound and try to thwart goodness. Julian is young when his parents are killed in a car accident. Julian is a sweet child who was loved deeply by his parents. When they die, Julian ponders just what their death means, where do they go, and what is his mission in life - but since he does not ask anyone these questions but himself, he has no answers. In shock, he is a foster child living with Adam and his mother and slowly begins to heal until his uncle comes to claim him and claim him he does. Russell is a monster who mentally & physically tortures Julian with lies, fists, and a VERY warped way to make Julian be a man. For anyone to do what he does, Russell has to be mentally ill and the fact that he is able to take Julian's sweet fragile life and make Julian believe he is worthless, a problem that no one wants is abhorrent until the day Adam comes back into Julian's life. Adam is popular, loved Julian like a brother until 5 years before when Julian was taken away, never allowed to visit Adam and his mom and now is skipping school on a regular basis. Will Adam be able to rescue Julian? It can't come quickly enough. Taut, psychologically unnerving, Julian needs the beautiful person Adam JUST is. Adam has the ability to be happy, kind, and positive. Along with his huge gang of friends I rooted for Adam to pull Julian in with all his love, friendship and brotherhood!!!

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The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group, and Clarion Books for the ARC, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz. This is another beautiful, heart-breaking book (just like Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe). Saenz has a powerful way with words and also his titles. The main character, Salvatore (known by family and friends as Sally or Sal) goes into much thought and depth about logic and also inexplicable logic throughout his deep soulful searches on life, love, family, being a senior and how to find his way in the world. Sal tells the reader his life was good, happy, and he was not bothered by much until senior year when he begins to question himself, starts getting into fights, withholds himself from his father, and his best friend, Sam. The one constant in Sal’s life is his grandmother, Mima, who has always loved and accepted him and now she is dying. Will Sal be able to survive this unbelievable loss? When will he open and read a letter from his mother? Will he be able to conquer his fears and grow up to be the kind of person his Mima, Dad, Sam, and new friend, Fito, know he can be? Readers will ache with the sadness and longing in Sal and his integral relationships and will grow with Sally as he questions, laughs, cries, and forges toward his future. A strong, authentic, YA read with diverse characters.

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Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you so much to Mimi Denman for such a great recommendation! This book which I listened to was narrated awesomely by Hope Davis. Her voices, inflections, and personalities for all the family members in this dysfunctional family created from a chance meeting at a baptism was such a great read. I laughed and mourned the destruction Bert Cousins foists on the Keating family by stealing beautiful mom, Beverly. What results is a beautifully crafted story spanning decades of the blended parents and children - their bonds, happiness, sadness, existence and a new definition for family ties.

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As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds

As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love all of Jason Reynolds books, his urban fiction is real, authentic and a must for teen readers. But this book is NOT urban fiction and just as awesome as his other titles- boy does he know how to write!!! Brothers Genie and Ernie are taken to their grandparents home in Virginia for a month while their parents work to keep their marriage together. Genie always writes down any questions he has and if he can't get an answer from the mouths of family and friends, he goes on to the internet for his answers. Both are from Brooklyn and going from the city to country is a rude awakening; as they settle in Genie weaves a story about their adventure (and worry-filled) filled life with their grandparents. Quickly Genie learns his grandfather is blind, hasn't left his house in years, and has recruited Genie for some secret night travels. While Ernie is totally cool with his signature shades & love of karate and beating up on Genie when he is annoying; things transpire like a girlfriend for Ernie, Tess and on his birthday a surprise gift from his grandfather. I loved Genie, Ernie, Tess, Grandma and Grandpa, parents and learning about their family secrets, loves and losses. Middle school and teens will love this book about brothers, family, loss, grief, and finding one's voice.

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Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin

Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this wrenching book for The Hub Reading Challenge (William Morris Award) about 3 sisters and their father who are losing their mother to leukemia. They live in San Diego and commute to Mexico for Laetrile (banned in US) treatments. While there they meet people who come to feel special to them. One boy, Caleb and his mom, Barb, end up moving in and helping Adrienne, Vanessa, Marie cope with their hellish life that has been torn apart by this devastating illness. Vanessa, the middle child tells the story and it is her love of piano that helps her daily to deal with the leukemia and what it is doing to their mother. It is Caleb who is in remission from lymphoma who becomes her lifeline, support, and reality when another insidious truth becomes reality. I could not put this book down, I rooted for the sisters to survive their journey and be "safe and free" LOVED LOVED this book; a must read. Teens will love these sisters.

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The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire, for the ARC, The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco. I enjoyed the sweeping fantasy world Tea grew up in with her parents, brothers, and sisters (all witches). When 11 year old Tea brings her dead brother back to life on the day of his funeral, her world dramatically changes and rather than being respected, she is now an object of scorn and fear as one who can raise the dead. Tea is nursed back to health and quickly taken with her brother, Fox, to train as an asha by a bone witch, Mylaeka. The story is told in the past and the present (kind of had some confusion there). I loved the witches, the heartglass, and the many other scary demonic beasts and dragons. I will definitely be reading this series because there are still so many questions that I need answers to and am rooting for Tea and Fox’s bond to become even stronger. As a bone witch, I want to see Tea be a force and learn/explore more about who she is and those she must serve with lots of suspense and action.

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Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read this for #yearofya Lonely Hearts Club February topic to be discussed Tues 2/28. Loved the bad boy Patch & Nora Grey drama, could not put the book down. But did I not really like all the secrets and Nora's wishy washy back & forth. She is supposed to be so straightforward but she keeps secrets from Vee and her mom and constantly got caught up in her love hate relationship. Her attraction/dislike of Patch was annoying for me (a little too long & drawn out). I will definitely read the series because I want to see where it goes but this is definitely one of those dark reads, it is perfect for this month's chat.

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2017 Hub Challenge

I am participating in the 2017 Hub Challenge - here is the link below and the post with rules, book lists, etc. http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2017/02/04/announcing-2017-hub-reading-challenge/ Announcing the 2017 Hub Reading Challenge! Published February 4, 2017 It’s time to kickoff the 2017 Hub reading challenge! This challenge is intended to encourage librarians, library workers, and YA lit enthusiasts to dive into the award winner and honor books and YALSA selected lists with the hope of providing excellent readers’ advisory and even discovering a new favorite title or exploring a genre outside of your comfort zone. Eligible books are the YA titles that were named winners or honor titles the following award and selected lists: Alex Award Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Margaret A. Edwards Award Michael L. Printz Award Odyssey Award William C. Morris Award Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults Top Ten Great Graphic Novels Top Ten Popular Paperbacks Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Schneider Family Book Award Stonewall Book Award Top Ten of The YA Rainbow List (okay, we added a couple of YA titles that didn’t make the top ten, just to give more options) The Amelia Bloomer Project Top Ten List Pura Belpré Coretta Scott King Awards How to Participate The goal is to read any 25 books of the titles from the above lists and awards—find the list of titles here and here in a sortable spreadsheet! Let us know you’re participating by commenting on this post below. If you’re going to be tracking what you read/listen to on your blog or on Goodreads, LibraryThing, YouTube or some other site, include a link to your blog/shelf/channel/profile in your comment. If you’re not tracking your reading online, keep a list some other way. Make it a social experience! Share your challenge progress and get to know other participants by using the hashtag #hubchallenge on Twitter and Instagram. Once a month, we’ll publish a check-in post. Leave a comment to talk about what you’re reading for the challenge. If you’ve reviewed those titles somewhere online, include links to those reviews! Otherwise, let us know what you thought of the books in the comments. There will be an finisher form embedded in each check-in post, so once you’re done with the challenge, fill out the form with your name and contact information.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Scythe by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you so much to Laurie Hnatiuk's rave review of this totally awesome new series from Neal Shusterman!!! As a result, I pushed it to the front of my very long TBR shelf, got it on ILL from a neighboring library and flew threw it in 2 days. I have to admit the reason I gave it a horror rating is because of the violence of the Goddard Scythe (and the way apprentices are trained, dealt with & questioned during the conclaves) and his Goddard's underlings truly made my heart very heavy. But as with any great book, Shusterman's masterful world-building did not disappoint and had me rooting for Citra & Rowan to battle back & rise victorious from the awful world Scythe Faraday doomed them to as his apprentices. I am looking forward to learning more about loopholes (HeHe) about the all powerful Thunderhead and the moral battles that are mounting within the Scythe community. I like the utopia Shusterman crafts along with all the pitfalls and consequences that a utopia can present. Could not put this book down, even though I wanted to- the bullying gripped me vise-like but I was also thrilled to read on and find out how characters dealt with it. A must read!!!

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Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had to read this before Big Little Lies comes to HBO and I am so going to miss Celeste, Madeline, & Jane so much- I could not wait to listen to Caroline Lee's stellar narration of these Australian housewives, their friendship, their families, and the mad goings on at the Trivia Night!!! I really am going to miss them, I was in their world, their minds, and their hearts- what a great narration, great book! Hurry up TV series:)

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Kids of Appetite by David Arnold

Kids of Appetite by David Arnold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read this wonderful book of quirky kids banding together, loved it just as much as Arnold's first book, Mosquitoland. Arnold's Kids of Appetite brings together sad teen Vic, who lost his father two years ago to cancer, lives with a facial paralysis disease that earns him daily jeers, pity, and alienation, and a mom who seems to be moving on with her life. As Vic takes off with his father's urn, he comes face to face with a group of kids (Kids of Appetite) who become his lifeline while falling in love with Madeleine, who may just may need more help than them all. I loved the tight bonds Vic forms with Mad, Baz and his brother, Zus and foul-mouthed Coco as they unite to find the meaning of the contents found in the urn as well as their time spent being interviewed by the police (great way to present this story - police interrogation, deciphering clues in urn, living together at the florist shop). I adored the perfect life & love Vic's parents instilled in him, while crafting all of the Kids of Appetited (loved the KOA bracelets!!!) as heroes in their many multiple aching, truthful, painful selves. Highly recommended must read; teens will enjoy the intense bonds between these 5 kids who show resilience, care, & loyalty in their saga.

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Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Random Houses Children’s and Crown Books for Young Readers for the ARC, Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner. I was compelled to read The Serpent King three times and with Zentner’s 2nd book, Goodbye Days, I will certainly be reading this book multiple times. Carver Briggs loses his 3 best friends with just one text, Where are you guys, text me back. With this ripped from the headlines story, a teen loses everything he loved - his best friends known as The Sauce Crew. Teen readers will deeply feel Carver’s palpable grief, his tremendous loss, and also the anger, rage, and unforgiving nature of some of his best friend’s family members. When Nana Betsy asks Carver to help her celebrate her grandson, Blake, in a Goodbye Day, both Nana and Carver learn things they did not know about Blake. It is a deeply moving day but one that Carver needed to deal with the loss of his best friend. Even though we never “meet” Blake, Mars and Eli; Carver’s memories of how they each met, each of their goodbye days, and Carver’s celebrations of their Sauce Crew antics, made these guys real and very exceptional to me. I knew them and loved them like Carver did. Carver navigated his grief and self-hatred by leaning on strong characters: Blake’s sister, Georgia was remarkable and supportive while Jesmyn (dated Eli) was such a new, special friend along with honest psychiatrist, Dr. Mendes. Teens will be passing this book around; there is so much they will relate to with Carver’s loneliness, despair, and turmoil but he is also someone they will root for, love, and hold tight in their hearts. Highly recommended for teens and adults.

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