Girl (Girl #1) by Blake Nelson

Girl by Blake Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the #yearofya August twitter chat to read books from the 1980s and 1990s (written during that time or SET in that time period) for the 8/30 chat at 8pm EST, please join us! Blake Nelson's book (taking place in the 90s) chronicles sophomore Andrea Marr for her last 3 years of high school. She is a teen so many will understand with her insecurities, love of music, bands, and thrift store clothes. Blake's writing was a little unnerving for me (run on sentences about all she thinks, sees, believes, etc.) but I understood that the reader was in Andrea's head as she saw and thought all things in her life, her high school days, and her night life. She experiments with sex, smoking, stays out late, and lies to her parents. I liked Andrea's growth, her dark side (Brad at camp seemed the most real relationship she has in the book), her insecurity (but she never does ecstasy), her friendships (and her friends like Cybil, Amy, Nathan, Todd) and her life as she grows, learns, and struggles toward finishing high school and going to college. I definitely want to read the other 2 Girl books, I love Blake Nelson. I read his latest book, Boy, FIRST and really liked that---writing style was different and I really related (I did not relate to Andrea- I felt like I was just an observer) to Gavin Meeks! So much so, I have already downloaded the next book in the series about Marisol. I guess I wish I had read Girl 1st, then Boy, oh well. Still love all the Blake Nelson books, my teens in the library did too!

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October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Leslea Newman

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I re-read this book as part of the August chat to read books from the 1980s and 1990s (written during that time or SET in that time period) for the 8/30 chat at 8pm EST, please join us! Newman's novel in verse is beautiful, horrible in it's sadness, insightful in the imagining of Matthew Shepard's murder, really EVERYONE must read this slim but HAUNTING imagining of his last night, October 6, 1998.

I want to thank Lauren Strohecker for this wonderful gift to our library and with it her advice that it is a must read for young adults. I wholeheartedly concur; in 68 poems in this spare, yet piercing novel in verse, the author was scheduled to speak at Matthew Shepard's college and found out just before about the savage beating this young man received. Leslea Newman kept her keynote engagement and spoke and wept at the sheer horror of this hate crime toward an innocent victim who succumbs to death 5 days later. Newman has taken many elements of Matthew Shepard's last hours and imagined what may have been; the road, the fence he was lashed to, the biker, the murderers, the pistol, the deer and so much more. This book is a tribute to Matthew Shepard who died as a result of a hate crime at the hands of gay haters. This book is also a history lesson that every child, young adult and reader needs to explore because in the reading of this book, you will be changed. This book needs to be read by everyone.
I especially gained even more knowledge through the author's introduction, her epilogue, her afterword, notes, explanation of poetic forms and resources. Newman brings sympathy, anger, sorrow, and compassion to each and every word in this book. Highly recommended.

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Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2) by Victoria Schwab

Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, did I hate this ending!!! But I will not give it away with spoilers. I could not stop listening to Therese Plummer superior narration as both humans and monsters head toward crisis after crisis, the ChaosEater, and a way to stop the evil of the C0rsai and Malchai. The Flynn compound vs Alice/Sloane and their death grip on the humans in Verity. Loved August and Kate's steadfast march together to fight for humanity, using music, weapons, heart, and WILL. This 2nd & final book was gripping, terrifying, and what made it so such great pacing by the narrator, Therese Plummer and such great world building by the author, Victoria Schwab. Oh, the horror of it all. Could not stop listening.

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Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the August chat to read books from the 1980s and 1990s (written during that time or SET in that time period) for the 8/30 chat at 8pm EST, please join us! Dessen's book (written in 1998) of friendship, first romances, family (teen-mom) discord was awesome. I read this book about best friends, Scarlett and Halley - loved both girls in their fierce protection and support of one another. Scarlett's boyfriend is killed as he turns a corner on his motorcycle, and she turns to Grace in her grief. Told from Halley's POV, Halley is the shy one, Scarlett is outspoken and with a single mom who is out there while Halley has always shared everything with her mom (psychologist and author) and dad (radio talk show host) until this summer...As the reader finds out about Scarlett's romance and heartbreak we also see Halley at a crossroads, which is where bad boy Macon comes in to rescue her? As Halley supports Scarlett, sneaks off with Macon, antagonizes her mother with willfulness, we see their worlds expand and contract, make mistakes and learn from them. Loved this Dessen book!

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Forever Buckhorn (Buckhorn Brothers #3 & 4) by Lori Foster

Forever and Always: Gabe / Jordan by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My book title was Forever Buckhorn and featured 2 separate books within 1 book with Gabe and Jordan, the other 2 brothers living in Buckhorn. I laughed at Elizabeth's awkwardness and Gabe's lazy life of lounging around half dressed repairing and helping those who live in their town. While Book 2 featured Jordan, a veterinarian with principles who falls for a single mother with two children and the horrible job of dancer and waitress in a seedy bar. I always enjoy how Lori Foster builds a community and then a feeling of belonging in a family with all her characters. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series about the son of Sawyer, Casey who is a heartthrob with a strong sense of loyalty and principles.

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This Savage Song (The Monsters of Verity #1) by Victoria Schwab

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Boy did I love this audiobook narrated by Therese Plummer; her voices of August Flynn and Kate Harker and her gritty voice captured me from the start of all the monsters in Verity, strife, lies, killing, and dark, dark, dark worlds. I am already listening to the sequel, Our Dark Duet and can't wait to see what happens next!

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Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios

Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This latest book by one of my favorite authors is gripping & concerns abusive relationships. Demetrios had an abusive relationship as a teen and she brings her voice achingly to the tale of Grace and Gavin. I really liked the way the story was presented- Grace begins by telling Gavin (and the reader) how long it takes her to start falling out of love with Gavin. Grace hates her life (Mom and The Giant are sadistic and horrible excuses for parents), crushes on guys, has 2 best friends who love her desperately, and wants to be a director (hence her life of school plays) & go to NYU. She is ripe for Gavin's notice, he is always the lead in the plays and plays guitar in his band. As they fall hard for each other, Grace can't believe he would like her, but she also has a strong constitution since she knows how to play the game with her parent's bs. But this also works against her too. As she falls in love with him, she does not see him as being manipulative, jealous, trying to isolate her. I rooted for Grace but I understood how she became enthralled by him, then loved him, and then could not escape his games. But I kept remembering when she called herself "an ass-kicking ninja warrior queen" & I knew she might hit bottom again and again but she (with the help of her friends and support of her sister) would drag herself up like the phoenix and rise again. I especially like The Author's Note with Heather's personal experience, stats on abuse, rape & sexual assault & places that can help. Girls will be passing this around & draw strength from Grace, her friends, and Heather Demetrios.

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Tough Love (Ultimate #3) by Lori Foster

Tough Love by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always enjoy Lori Foster romances but I love her Ultimate series and this Vanity Baker and Stack Hannigan book brought together all the characters I have enjoyed coming to know in this big MMA world of fighters and the special relationships they enjoy with each other as family and friends.

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Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for #yearofya August twitter chat dealing with 1980s and 1990s books (can be set in those year or published in those years) and it was published in 1999 and I just love Sarah Dessen! Her books were always out in my HS library. Coli is a 15 year old teen who has had a tough life of moving around with her mom (no dad), being fat and bullied in school. Fast forward and Coli is thin, daughter of a now famous aerobics mom and being sent to live with her aunt for the summer whie her mom travels fro business. And what Coli thinks will be a horrible summer turns out to be a very interesting one where she meets friends (2 sister waitresses who have alot to say), tries to understand her eccentric aunt, and begins to give herself and others (Norman) a chance. Dessen had me turning the pages as I rooted for Coli and totally detested the mean bullies. Coli's conflicts were crushing but with a new outlook, she just might figure things out. For those who loved Dumplin' & Holding Up the Universe, this book will resonate!

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Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Brandy Colbert's Pointe and her latest, Little & Lion grips your heart for so many reasons. With a very diverse cast, current themes of diversity, mental illness and disabilities, teens will be passing this book to all their friends. Little is Lionel's sister, she is fierce in her love for her brother but there are many complications she deals with, as she returns home from boarding school for the summer. Little and her mom are black and Lionel and his dad are white (and Jewish) and a very close-knit family. But the summer before, Lionel was diagnosed with bipolar disorder her parents thought it better to send Little away while they dealt with Lionel's mental illness, medicines, doctors and psychiatrist appointments. While at school, Little hides who she is because she just can't deal. So her summer back with her family and friends is just what she needs, but there are whole new unexpected issues and complications fraught with anxiety, secrecy, and lies Little must deal with. How will Little's summer turn out? Colbert's characters were real and I loved getting to know them- roommate Iris, love interest Emil, Rafaela (Lion's girlfriend and Little's co-worker) and mostly supportive parents. Colbert's latest is a must read, recommended.

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Slider by Pete Hautman

Slider by Pete Hautman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the ARC, Slider by Pete Hautman. Pete Hautman has done it again with middle school novel guys will love, but also a great story ALL can relate to! David is an 8th grader who has two best friends and avidly follows food eating contests and those who compete. When he gets in trouble bidding on the internet using his mother’s credit card, David enters the Pigorino Pizza Eating contest hoping to win 1st prize. There were so many things I liked about this story; an extremely likable protagonist, good friends, and David’s comedy as he prepares to win the contest. Readers will laugh out loud at some of the planning he goes through; eating heads of cabbage! and guess where he gets this information? on the internet, ha-ha. But David’s relationship with his younger brother, Mal, is what really spoke to me. David loves Mal even though Mal can only say “Okay”, eats Cheerios one at a time, cannot look you in the eye, and walks around the block picking up “items” for his WALL. But things look up when David borrows his friends’ sunglasses. Mal’s world and David’s enlarges as Mal is involved in David’s daily prep for the eating contest. Will David win the contest? How will Mal be changed? Humor and heart are used to explore family, friendship, and brothers. Empathy, love and respect are developed for those who are different. David finds out many things about himself, his family and his friends and what really matters. I would love to see a sequel to this book about Mal and David. Hautman’s book stole my heart and it will steal your heart too! A highly recommended middle school read!

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The Border by Steve Schafer

The Border by Steve Schafer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire and Steve Schafer for providing an advance copy of The Border by Steve Schafer. Debut author, Steve Schafer, has written a heart wrenching book about Mexican teens forced to endure murder, secrets, betrayal, and danger after a celebratory family party results in the death of their families and all that they knew and loved in their lives. I could not put down this book as I followed Pato, Arbo, Marcos and Gladys through their intense journey from Mexico across the border and into the horrors of the desert. I loved the four characters: Pato who is vulnerable (but strong) to so many conflicting thoughts and feelings, Arbo (Pato’s best friend and cousin) can’t defend himself but helps in any way he can, Marco is a hothead who is not afraid to protect his sister, use a gun, and fight and finally Gladys, Marcos’ sister who is sweet, kind, and always tries to be positive keeping the group together with her wisdom. As these teens run from a Mexican gang and everyone else (they have bounties for their capture) the reader learns about their lives before the party and are catapulted into each hour and footstep after as they try to evade capture and flee to “safety” in the United States. These teens are tested time and time again in ways they never imagined. YA fans and reluctant readers hearts will palpitate as Pato and friends try to survive too much adversity and facing impossible choices. Readers will root for these Mexican teens through cliff hangers, chaos, and much suspense as they race against time toward a life that does not promise safety and security but that I hope, they can persevere. Please read the Author’s Note and Acknowledgments, they are very important and I liked that high school students read and gave feedback on this timely and real issue. Highly recommended!

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The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

The Future of Us by Jay Asher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the time travel aspect of this book which I read as part of #yearofya twitter chat topic - books from 80s and 90s (written during this time period or about this time period) to be discussed Tuesday 8/29 at 8PM EST. Friends Emma and Josh (but Josh is in love with Emma & has been spurned by her) become involved with an AOL CDrom that takes them from their life in 1996 to Facebook (which is not even around yet) 15 years later. Emma goes through unhappy life and marriages while Josh marries hot girl and remains happily married. But as these teens struggle with 1996 high school, friendship and dating drama, the future causes them to evaluate what they hold dear, could it be each other? LOVED Josh, Emma was struggling with her HS hookups and future troubles - their characters were definitely true to teens and their daily lives. So enjoyed this book by Jay Asher (I don't really think Emma would notice the school librarian School Library Journal, but I loved the homage to school librarians!!!) and Carolyn Mackler- their collaboration was perfect!

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Close To Home (Tracy Crosswhite #5) by Robert Dugoni

Close to Home by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the thrilling ARC, Close to Home by Robert Dugoni. I love all the books in the Tracy Crosswhite series but this latest was superior. A young, black teen on his way home after basketball practice is hit by a car and killed. As Tracy and Kins investigate, this case will become more problematic as a stolen car takes them to the Navy and a suspect. Their partners, Faz and Del, are also trying to find out who supplied the deadly heroin to Del’s drug addicted niece. What a delicious and wild ride as this detective and mystery novel kept me turning the pages. Of course, I love the Tracy and Dan subplot and really enjoyed getting to know more about Del and his family. Dugoni’s characters in this series are well drawn;I could not put down this book, I loved the plot with all its twists & turns. New characters such as Leah Battles, the determined Navy lawyer who rides her bike to and from work and does Krav Maga (loved this aspect of her training) kept me on my toes. The lawyer, Celia, who keeps Del and Faz resolute in their tracking of the heroin supplier killing multiple teens in the Seattle neighborhood is a ripped from the headlines trauma affecting many communities today. Dugoni’s story was a taut, suspenseful mystery with many angles as Tracy and her team try to figure out who is guilty. Such a surprising, great ending with lots of adrenaline and an awesome Epilogue. I recommend reading the Acknowledgments at the end of this book, so good and enlightening; it says so much about Robert Dugoni as an author and person that makes Tracy and her team real. As a result of this psychological thriller, I LOVE reading Robert Dugoni novels, I can’t wait for #6 in the Tracy Crosswhite series! This is a must-read series.

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Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Something Real by Heather Demetrios
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Heather Demetrios as an author and when this book was suggested in a post (wish I could remember where) I uploaded this gem from Kindle! Chloe Baker has enjoyed her 4 years of high school as a normal person (no one knows here real name) and part of a TV Reality show. The Bakers Dozen was on TV when Bonnie (Chloe) was young and had a really negative effect on her (and her brother, Benny). As the new Baker's Dozen comes roaring back to a TV show again- Chloe can't deal, her mother has remarried, she has friends and a totally supportive boyfriend---will Chloe be able to stop her mother and stepfather, confide in her friends and boyfriend? I loved Chloe and Benny's voices, ached for their sorrow and the deep-seated insecurities this is a must read!

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Dicey's Song (Tillerman Family #2) by Cynthia Voigt

Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy, what a wonderful, tough read- I read this wonderful 1982 Newbery Award winner as part of August #yearofya 1980s & 19190s books (written in or about). Dicey has toughly survived bringing her brothers to her grandmother's house after her mother has disappeared and left them alone. Voigt's characters from Dicey to her grandmother and her family (Maybeth, Sam and James) and her friends (Jeff & Mina & teachers) were real, powerful, and people I loved knowing as I read this book. Dicey and her Grandmother are tough nuts; they are harsh in their responses to others, have a difficult time expressing themselves but fierce in their care and protection of family and friends. I liked the mention of Sears Roebuck as a store and James' mention of dyslexia as he tried to help his sister Maybeth be successful in school. This is a searingly honest look at family, both the resilience and fragility, and the lengths these characters will go to to keep each other safe, happy. and loved.

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Murder One (David Sloane #4) by Robert Dugoni

Murder One by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wild ride, this legal thriller did not disappoint! Since I had to wait for the 3rd Tracy Crosswhite book from the library I pulled this one out thinking it was the first in a series. What a surprise to see some of the characters from Tracy Crosswhite book but I really loved David Sloane and his representing Barclay Reid who he quickly becomes romantically involved with- a must read- hang on to your seat!

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