When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh what a great book, full of highs and lows as we get to know and follow feisty Dimple Shah as she embarks on the InsomiaCon program in San Francisco (to prove her coding worth to the world & herself) little does she know her parents have conspired with old friends for an arranged marriage with a nice suitable Indian boy. I loved Rishi Patel; he was the real deal, loved his parents, a pleasing personality and oh so much a romantic! After he sees Rishi and calls her "future wife" (he assumes she knows all about this) indomitable Dimple throws her iced coffee on him & all his hopes down the sink. I just loved Sandya Menon's words- she made me believe in both these teens, their culture, their insecurities, and finally their feelings & unshakable belief in each other's dreams. Highly recommended, you will fall in love with Dimple, Rishi, Celia, Ashish and their life changing time spent together in San Francisco, chasing hopes and realizing dreams can come true!

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Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx by Sonia Manzano

Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx by Sonia Manzano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this memoir as part of June nonfiction month chat with #yearofya 6/29 at 8PM, join us to talk about YA nonfiction. Sonia's story of her chaotic family life from the time she was a youngster until she wins her role as Maria on Sesame Street was enjoyable but also heartbreaking. For an authentic look into her Latino/Puerto Rican roots, her family history, and Sonia's view of all that transpires in her life, the reader will alternately ache and root for Sonia's honesty (in her many stories and asides) in a world that often scared/angered her but ultimately urged her to resilience despite the challenges of her family and home life.

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The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Choksi

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25203675-the-star-touched-queen" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed listening to this first in a series about a girl in a harem court who has been raised with a horrible horoscope of death and bad luck. Priya Ayyar was an excellent narrator; I especially liked her throaty vice for the demon horse, Carmella who only wants to take a bite out of people, but ends up being Maya's friend and protector. I was hypnotized by the Raja, Amar and rooted for him since Maya had so many other evil characters who wanted to tear her away from Amar. The world building was beautiful, the adventures were many, and the continued mystery was fantastic! I could not stop listening and I have already downloaded the 2nd book!

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The Problem With Forever by Jennifer Armentrout

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mallory was such an in-depth study of a foster child who suffers horribly at the hands of abusive foster parents, so much so that she hardly speaks ( if she is quiet, she won't be hit) but it is another foster child, Rider, who always protects her, takes blows and abuse meant for her, who saves her time and time again. After one horrid night where the abuse culminates in the police being called in; Mallory is taken to the hospital, adopted and never sees (but thinks about Rider constantly) her hero again. It has been 4 years since Mallory has been adopted, faithfully seen a therapist, homeschooled, that she feels she is finally ready to attend high school. But fate steps in on her first day, and Mallory comes face to face with Rider. As the sparks fly for both teens, they navigate a new kind of friendship with Mallory making friends and dealing with her shyness (speech issues) and Rider once again the white knight. But Mallory has changed and she wants the best for Rider, but what happens if despite how much he cares for her, he is stuck in feelings of worthlessness and being invisible in their world that values street addresses, money, and ambition? I loved Mallory and Rider, I rooted for them, and ached for their foster world with the accompanying scars, scabs, and stress still plaguing them. A great romance and authentic look at the foster system and it effects.

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All Day: A Year of Love and Survival Teaching Incarcerated Kids at Rikers Island by Liza Jessie Peterson

All Day: A Year of Love and Survival Teaching Incarcerated Kids at Rikers Island by Liza Jessie Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Liza Jessie's memoir is stunning, compelling honest, and real. Her love for these incarcerated youth on Riker's Island is passionate, unflinching, and loud. The youth's lives are heartbreaking but Liza roots for each and every inmate & pushes them to be their best self despite the insurmountable odds. She urges Black & Latino youth need to know more about their true history in America and the world. The reader is plunged into the prison, the inmates, and how things (their lives) work. Liza's artistic side (acting & theatre) really helps her connect (reach/reach out) with kids many want to forget. I read this for June nonfiction twitter chat Thursday 6/29 at 8PM with #yearofya JOIN US with any YA nonfiction titles you want to share.

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In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken

In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh I loved this series, I did not want it to end- all the kids became my circle of friends, Ruby, Liam, Cole, Zoo, and the other kids labeled as freaks. Their world was so bleak but the hope and daring do and the adults in the camps, government were horrible except the poor parents. I loved the growth of Ruby ad her brave band, such a great series, I recommend all read or listen to it. I LOVED AMY McFadden's narration!!!!

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The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30849412-the-one-memory-of-flora-banks" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks for my reading friend, Maureen for this compelling read. I loved Flora, she was mighty, she was brave and oh was she trapped by her memories because she has a type of amnesia and only remembers from the age of ten. Now she is 17, she kisses her best friend's boyfriend and surprise of surprises, SHE REMEMBERS this memory and what results is an adventure, scary, and true. As she follows her memory to the Arctic, Flora has this one memory but others like her brother who she loves desperately present themselves on pictures and emails she trades with him. I loved the way Emily Barr unfolded this gem of a book with Flora's memory of the boy and the kiss, but also her daily schedule, interactions with others, and her notes (loved those notes). I rooted for Flora and loved the delicious ending to this book!

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Be True to Me by Adele Griffin

Be True to Me by Adele Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a read, another summer on Sunk Haven in 1976 and Jean and Fritz who have spent their summers sunning, working, and playing are really looking forward to a great few months. But the arrival of Gil Burke, a nephew who has never been acknowledged, has arrived and both Jean and Fritz want him. What happens as the summer unfolds and the reader learns from Jean and Fritz in separate chapters, is that both girls competition is not working at all. Jean is part of the island's upper crust while Fritz is an army brat who visits with her best friend, Julia ever summer. Jean is conflicted and wants to reinvent herself and meeting Gil before the summer begins in New York has her over the moon with all the plans she has with her and Gil as a couple. But as Gil arrives on the island, he meets and falls hard for Fritz who is a natural at everything. They fall hard for each other before Jean can even renew their original heat. I hated the snootiness of the islanders and how it made Gil & Fritz feel. I hated Jean's scheming and how it affects the three of them, literally could not put this book down, read it in one day!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the Sneek Peek, Be True to Me by Adele Griffin. I read the few chapters provided and was completely hooked by the premise of this historical fiction summer beach read. Two teens, Jean Custis and Fritz O’Neill approach another Fire Island summer with excitement and a little dread as they vie for a guy, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are social classes, resentments, and many other drama going on in this delicious read. I have pre-ordered my copy of the book as soon as it comes out in June and I can’t wait to read it!!!

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How Dare the Sunrise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of #yearofya June nonfiction twitter chat. Sandra's voice was penetrating in her description of her wonderful family before, during and after the massacre making her a child of war. She is unflinching in her honesty, her pain, and her hopes. The reader learns about her little known African tribe, that becomes a pariah and one of genocide. Sandra's journey to "rich American dream" is shattered as she and her family stumble trying to assimilate, learn English, and craft a life in the bad neighborhoods. Sandra's different schools she attends allows her to see the racism prevalent in America and with her continued grief over her little sister Deborah allows her to rise up to become an impassioned & eloquent leader & speaker for refugees, those who are different, those who are struggling. A must read!

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Never Fade Book 2 Darkest Minds by Aledandra Bracken

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG OMG OMG loved (could not stop listening) & hated (the things these "kids" have to endure over and over again is agonizing) this book! Bracken has crafted an unputdownable story & I can't wait to listen to mesmerizing Amy McFadden's narration of #3!!! And then as my reading buddy on Goodreads, Jessie says - we have to read the 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 books too!!! I keep rooting for these kids & it is so surprising to me that like Ruby, I want so much evil to befall all the bad actors in this series!

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Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this Stonewall Award winner book as part of the 2017 Hub Challenge and oh did I love reading about this family - 3 women a grandmother, mother & daughter (Katie) come together when Katie's grandmother turns up (suffering with dementia) after her long time boyfriend dies suddenly. I could not put this book down as the reader follows Katie as she discovers & loves this grandmother she never knew, traverses the rough high school climate of mean girls (when she kisses her best friend) and deals with her special needs brother as her angry mother tries to find housing for the mother she holds so much against. I have read & loved all the other 2 Jenny Downham books and this book was gripping, fascinating, and painful (but hopeful &redemptive) as Katie's journey takes her back thru her grandmother's life & also her mother's. Katie is a strong narrator who compelled me to turn the pages with her insights, her fancies, and her honesty. Downham's portrayal of dementia was insightful as well as the double edged sword of rule following (by both Beth and Katie's mom, and Katie herself). LOVED this book.

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Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog-in-Chief by Mark Russell, Ben Caldwell & DOMO Stanton

Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog-in-Chief by Mark Russell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this great graphic novel as part of The Hub 2017 Reading Challenge and loved the crazy illustrations as improbably a girl becomes President and deals with the political machinations as her detractors wear pop culture heads of smiles, Scooby Do, pigs and she loses her Dad to the dreaded cat flu which the whole US is dealing with (companies are holding her hostage with the vaccination). In this future America, Twitter and other apps rule, crooked corporations & politicians only care about themselves but are destroying the world, but Prez Beth Ross is a believable heroine, can't wait to read more of these graphic novels!

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Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevah

Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the 2017 Hub Challenge and winner of the Odyssey Award. I loved Amber's voice, her illustrations- she was a great kid who missed & felt keenly growing up without a father. Amber is starting middle school and the first week is awful with little sister, Bella being bullied, sending letters to their dad who does not live with them anymore, no friends and a bully who wants to throw her into a trash can at school. I loved Amber's phobia about germs, dirt, cat litter! She can't confide her sadness, fears, and angst to anyone- so she creates a dad by drawing him, then telling him all her cares, hopes, dreams. Amber is the kind of heroine middle school kids will love- she is humorous, a great sister, and awesome at drawing! A totally enjoyable emotional read!

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Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Kathy Dawson Books for the ARC, Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore. Cashore’s mystery novel uses fantasy, a whodunit, and a mourning but clear-headed protagonist, Jane, as she traverses in search of answers concerning her recently deceased, beloved, Aunt Magnolia in the strange mansion, Tu Reviens, she is visiting with her friend and mentor, rich girl, Kiran. I found myself consistently uncertain as I read this book with Jane’s adventures unfolding in five separate chapters (many repetitions such as Jane seeing her Aunt Magnolia’s framed photograph of the little yellow gobi fish in the mouth of a large gray fish & then seeing the matting being uneven in the frame). I think readers will struggle too. But, that being said, I love Kristin Cashore as an author; her characters (Jane, Ivy, Patrick, Ravi, Kiran and Mr. & Mrs. Vander) are so strong, authentic and mysterious. Cashore’s world building is breathtaking with strange, creaking, groaning Tu Reviens, parallel universes, and Zorsted as a marvel, especially with the likes of Steen, the strayhound as her guide. I rooted for Jane as she stridently asked questions, uncovered answers and marched toward becoming her own umbrella building person (loved those umbrellas!!!) searching for her place in the world. Recommended for those who love mystery and fantasy, building tension, thrilling plot twists and strong characters.

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My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodie Ashton and Jodi Meadows

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG did I love the narration of this fantastical story & re-imagining of history with the spot on perfect voices of Katherine Kellgren! She made this story thoroughly engrossing - her voices of Jane, Edward, G, and Scottish Gracie were delightful, compelling, humorous, and magical. I loved the EDians who shapeshift to become animals - you will love learning about their alternate English history and those who were against EDians and those rulers and subjects who envisioned a world where EDians and Verities lived happily together! Jane was my hero with her love of books, her ravenous reading, and all the learning from these books-- she is a most capable strategist, knowledgable about EDians, world history, and an unshakable belief in helping others to make the world better. As enemies plot to overthrow Edward, there will be plenty of adventure & daring do as Jane, G, and Edward conspire to get England back into the proper hands. Great characters, worlds, and reimagined history to make this a fun, interesting read!

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