Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Geekerella by Ashley Poston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for the ARC, Geekerella by Ashley Poston. This modern-day Cinderella fairy tale uses fandom, cosplay, nerdy fans, blogging, and a fast food truck shaped like a Magic Pumpkin to deliver an awesome remake of a beloved tale. Elle delivers as a plucky girl who misses her dead father desperately and suffers under the mean, petty aspirations of her step-mother. When Elle gets a call from someone anonymous (Darien, the lead in the movie) about contacting her Father’s business, ExcelsiCon; what begins are nightly texts between two teens who share their lives, hopes, and dreams all the while geeking out about the movie, Starfield. The characters are adeptly depicted; my favorite being Sage, brash lesbian with green hair, killer sewing machine, and in many ways, Elle’s fairy godmother. This book will be a hit with teens who enjoy fractured fairy tales!

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Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, another awesome series by a debut author to share with my #yearofya chat Wednesday 3/29 @8PM EST- read this book & join us.! I loved Amani's voice, character, thoughts, and oh yes, her actions!!! She was perfect with a gun (and as a boy), aching to get out of her house & town, and crazy enough to charge into situations & then think about how to get out & survive. I can't wait to read the 2nd book, Traitor to the Throne (#2 (500 pages) in a trilogy), but reading the synopsis on Goodreads has me unhappy because Jinn, her foreign super hero and love interest---seem to be apart for most of the novel- I so hope it is not. They are like puzzle pieces that fit together, get things done, & live to fight another day. There was so much adventure, suspense, lying (haha), world building, and drama to keep my fingers flying through the pages & chapters!!! There was so much grand mythology, magic horses, Skywalkers, Ghouls, and Djinn & Demdjii providing heart stopping action- plus the many sultan sons & daughters. A must read!

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The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson

The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read this as part of #yearofya debut author chat to be held 3/29 @8PM EST and oh was it good- comic book & literature references plus a cast of loveable & devious teens and what a great title!!! Lily Anderson is a librarian and oh do I have love for her and this first new book that is real, funny, about teens in a genius school, rankings, and someone who is framing teens for plagiarism and other honor code violations. Add in romances, 2 teens who despise each other and you have one AWESOME read, I could not put it down and after the many sad, current books I have been reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic read, a must for teens:)

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Traffick by Ellen Hopkins

Traffick by Ellen Hopkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this Hub Challenge Top 10 Amazing Audiobook!!! Awesomely narrated by: Julia Whelan , Madeleine Maby , Rebekkah Ross , Kirby Heyborne , Jacques Roy their many voices were heartbreaking, gut wrenching and ultimately hopeful about young adults who become prey to drugs, alcohol, prostitution, violence and the fallout to themselves and their families. No one but Ellen Hopkins can write these novels in verse as authentically and gripping. Teens will gobble up both the book & I highly recommend this audiobook, I could not stop listening. It was great to listen to my favorites Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne and be introduced to new narrators, too! Highly recommended!

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Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Katherine Applegate's novel in verse is superior, Kek is a young boy from Africa trying to understand what it is like to live in America (without his Mother, Father & Brother). Due to the war, Kek has lost his father and brother and does not know if his mother is still alive. Will immigrant Kek be able to survive in Minnesota filled with snow, dead trees and a language he does not understand? With the help of his neighbor, Hannah, Kek will migrate the often hard path that life is while going to school. He also falls in love with a cow and works on the farm with his cousin Ganwar. I loved Applegate's African proverbs and how they help Kek strengthen his resolve to find find his mother and discover his new character in a new world. Highly recommended.

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Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the first page, I could not stop reading and turning the pages! Oh the world building was spacious and the characters-- many authentic but so many devious, who can you trust? Rhiannon is the last royal Ta'an alive and soon to be crowned but just as when she was a youngster, someone is conspiring to end her ascension to the throne and Rhee thinks she knows who... With lots of technology and terror, Rhee's life is threatened yet again but what goes out to the world is that she has died and they are searching for the man who killed her (he did not kill her nor does he even know her!?!) Each chapter is from the point of view of Rhee or Alyosha, the poor DroneVision refugee turned movie star. Each chapter ended with me wanting more, more, more! I definitely can't wait for the sequel and the heart pounding adventures, conspiracies, and mysteries galore! A must read for those who love scifi-fantasy and a rip roaring good read from debut author, Rhoda Belleza!

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American Street by Ibi Zoboi

American Street by Ibi Zoboi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book which I read for #2jennsbookclub in May & #yearofya Debut Authors topic for March broke my heart. After finishing The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, the shooting in this book devastated me. As a reader, I rooted for Fabiola's life in Detroit along side her mother. But her mother is detained at the airport & sent to NJ with no resolution in sight. Even though Fabiola wants to care for her aunt and 3 cousins, when she arrives at American Street, they are involved in their lives and Fabiola is left to figure things out for herself and that is just a real shame. When will Fabiola see her mother, why does Tray hit Donna, what will she tell the Detective to get her mother back to Detroit? The suspense, loneliness, violence, greed, and secrets all spell doom for Fabiola and her 3 Bees cousins. I loved Fabiola's Haitian culture, beliefs, and her native religion and how it sustained her but I ached for the mother she so needed, the American world & family that let her down, and the harshness of living between two worlds. A tough read, teens will love this urban fiction and diverse characters.

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What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold

What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Group and Carolrhoda Lab for the ARC, What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K Arnold. I wish I could have enjoyed this book – not only did I dislike Nina, but her mother was totally responsible for messing her up in so many unbelievable, vilke ways and the chapters dealing with women, saints, and torture were in the book, why??? Gut wrenching, this story was without redemption, which is an important element in many, many novels. Nina’s only saving grace was the time she served for community service at a no-kill shelter and the fact that she continued after she fulfilled her time. Seth and her “best friend” Louise were self serving characters and one dimensional. Even after reading The Author Note I agreed with the author about not liking Nina and her choices. I did not like how the plot and characters delivered the very important message, “What are you made of?” Maybe girls will like reading Nina’s story and take something positive away from it, I was just sorry I could not love this book.

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The Takedown by Corrie Wang

The Takedown by Corrie Wang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Book Group, and Freeform for the ARC, The Takedown by Corrie Wang. I also read this for the March twitter chat on debut authors with #yearofya & it has been highly touted by blogger Kelly Jensen in “Faces of Color on 2017 YA Books”. Wow, what a gripping read! Kyla Cheng is a high school senior ho rules her school, best friends with Sharma, Audra, & Fawn, and friend with benefits (lots of doubt and kissing) to long-time crush, Mac Rodriguez. Kyla’s voice was straightforward as she flatly and to the point, tells of the video that destroys her life. With all kinds of technology (in a near future time) someone releases to her school and administration a video of Kyla and her English teacher having sex. Kyla denies is the person in the video (she has never had sex!!!), over and over again, all the while her friends do not believe her. As the mystery mounts and Kyla chases down clues, her hater sends out her incomplete college applications, Kyla is kicked out of the school clubs, suspended from attending classes, she continues to realize she has somehow disappointed her mother. As the plot thickens, Kyla will accept how invasive technology has become and it is through a concerted effort including Mac, Sharma, & tech geek, Rory, that Kyla tracks the twisted trail towards her hater. That said, I did not really like Kyla for many reasons; she was a mean girl, she refused to look inward at her actions, words, and thoughts; she was self-absorbed and constantly judging Mac and her mother. What I did like about Kyla was her spunk, her loyalty, and her unfolding honesty with her mom. I could not put this book down, teens will love the technology, the suspense, plus the high school and family drama. This book had great characters, plot, and is a totally enjoyable tense psychological whodunit!

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The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Paige lives in a small town and has finally decided she wants to get on with her life after her boyfriend of two months drowns. Paige has a list of things she wants to accomplish this year and dating Ryan Chase is top on the list as well as join a club, and swim. She has awesome best friends who always have her back and when she becomes involved in Quiz Bowl, meeting Max, Ryan's cousin may help her win Ryan. I loved Ryan and Max, both guys were real, nice, and hiding pain. I also chuckled with her divorced parents dating again and her contempt of her younger sister. As Paige heads into living again, she will heal slowly, learn to live again, and believe big time that she can heal and live again.

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Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz

Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for 2 reasons (1) Pernille Ripp recommended it & (2) I am reading debut authors for March twitter chat and this little gem is Elly's first novel. Molly is 12 years old, loves composing and acting our slam poetry, but desperately misses her mom who has moved away for a year for a job (and also separate from her dad). Molly likes even numbers, the orderly arrangement of her glass animals, but as time goes on and with her little brother, Ian and her older sister, Kate this family yearns for their mom to return. As Molly realizes her mind (SHE IS CRAZY) is crazy and holding her back, more & more counting is required to get through the day who can she tell about her worries? I ached for Molly as she is pitted between her two best friends, begins to realize her mother may not be coming home for a much needed visit, daily life becomes a living hell. I was happy Molly researched OCD, asked her Dad if there was a family connection & found online OCD friends but that still did not help Molly. In the end, finding perfect for Molly was learning her Grammy Jean had OCD, getting help through doctors and family & friend support. Loved this middle school book & heroine!

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First & Then by Emma Mills

First & Then by Emma Mills
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book because Pernille Ripp (one of my fave book bloggers) recommended it & since Emmal Mills is a debut author, it will be one of the books I recommend in my March twitter chat for #yearofya! There was so much to like about Devon, she was funny, snarky, and she had no problem talking to people. Her cousin comes to live with them and since he is a little weird, Devon doesn't really want to hang around with freshman Foster but as is her lot in life - she carts him everywhere. As she thinks about college, Cas the best friend/guy she likes, she hates that she has to take gym with Foster & the other freshmen - but wait a minute - the school football star Ezra has gym too. Readers will love Devon's friendships, family relationships, and her obsession with Jane Austen romantic characters. As Foster becomes more and more special everyday so does her feelings concerning Ezra. I just can't say enough about this little book that packs a lot of punch about football, high school, families and romance.

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The Beast by Brie Spangler

Beast by Brie Spangler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG what a book! I could not stop listening to Andrew Eiden as he narrated flawlessly the voice of Dylan called Beast by everyone because of his size and friend to one jerk, JP who makes him beat up kids to collect money owed him. Andrew Eiden's rendition of Jamie, the girl Dylan meets & falls for in group. What he doesn't know (because he tuned out) is that Janie is transgender & when he finds out, he deals with it all wrong. I ached for Dylan, his life, his yearning to get signs from his dead father, and his lack of faith in his mother. I rooted for Dylan & Jamie to triumph over themselves, other's judgments, and grow to appreciate the very horribleness of the world. A must read & recommended for all libraries!

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Debut author, Angie Thomas does a superb job of exposing the racism, frustration, & heart of Star's family, life & community in her project where she lives. But Star lives between 2 worlds because she attends a prep school where she is one of the few black students. As she lives in 2 worlds the reader sees her confusion and irritation as friends make judgments. I really loved her relationship with her white boyfriend, Chris and her family's reactions to Chris were all very different. But it is the night she rides home from a party after gunshots are fired, that changes her life forever. With her best friend, Kahlil, they are pulled over by a white officer things escalate (through no fault of their own) and her friend is shot dead. As Star grapples with losing him, she is also reminded of her best friend being shot when they were 10 years old & playing with fire hydrant spray. What will she do? Angie Thomas explores honestly & deftly injustice, police violence, families, gangs & change. I could not put this book down, highly recommended.

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Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for a twitter chat with #2jennsbookclub Thursday 3/9 at 8PM EST. If you want a great teen read about grieving fat girl being cut out of her home deciding to go to high school & make a difference, oh is this book for you! Libby Strout speaks her mind and when latched onto by Jack Masselin as part of riding rodeo girl, the sparks fly. Libby punches him, they both get community service and counseling and what results is a friendship, then maybe something more. Jack is hiding a secret that he confides to Libby in a letter he puts in her backpack as he rides his rodeo girl. Libby is big and beautiful, has an attentive father and just wants a normal life. Jack is full of swagger, from a family of boys and parents who are going through some tough times. Both main characters are cook, flawed and totally worth knowing. Teens will love this book, identify with the high school and family drama and ask for more, more, more!

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A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by VE Schwab

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy did I LOVE this 3rd and final book in the Shades of Magic Series!!! Listening to Michael Kramer and Kate narrating this adventure filled tale of magic, evil, and the fates of Red London, White London and Grey London. I loved Schwab's characters, her plot, her worlds! If I could have sat for 16 hours and listened to this book, I would have! It was that GOOD!!! A highly recommended adult series with lots of horror, struggles between good & evil, different kinds of magic and magicians, betrayal and fights in kingdoms and on the seas. I could not get enough & I Loved the ending (that does not always happen and I hate that) I like this series so much I am going to jump into her YA series soon, This Savage Song!

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