Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I re-read this banned book for the September twitter chat with #YearofYA and it was even more powerful with Yummy's no win situation of a life of violence, gang wars, family dysfunction and urban decay.

G. Neri's graphic novel is a winner. He takes the true story of 11 year old Robert "Yummy" Sandifer's shooting of an innocent 14 year old girl, Shavon Dean, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and crafts a gripping tale from the point of view of a boy, Roger, who knew both kids, lived in the same neighborhood, and had a brother in the same gang as Yummy. Roger is an onlooker, part of a close knit family (yet his brother is in the Black Disciple gang too)who went to school with Yummy and Shavon. His story catches the horror of gang life, a forgotten child, Yummy, who suffered at the hands of everyone he knew. Reluctant readers, those who love urban fiction, and all readers should digest this graphic novel. It covers a bleak time in 1994, in a broken down, neighborhood more like a war zone, where no one is safe. You, as the reader, will feel for the 2 sides of Yummy, and be chagrined at the horror of two YOUNG lives lost, for all the wrong reasons.

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Beyong Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out Written & Photographed by Susan Kuklin

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for my #yearofya twitter chat about Banned Books. This nonfiction banned book was very illuminating with author Kuklin interviewing 6 teens in the transgender community. their stories are powerful, all different concerning gender fluidity, transgender questions, family acceptance or denial, transitioning and identity that is not female or male. Kuklin's style of writing was arresting - the teens would talk but when Kuklin speaks she uses Italic font. The Notes & Resources were essential comprising an Author's Note, About the Callen-Lourde Community Health Center, About Proud Theater, a Glossary, and Resources. Very Important for teens, adults, teachers, guidance counselors and school nurses.

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Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Debut author's Allegedly is deeply disturbing as the reader follows Mary who allegedly killed a 3 month old baby she and her wacko Mom were babysitting. Mary was sympathetic but I ached for her to tell the truth throughout her years in baby jail. Wanting to keep my blinders on, I desperately wanted a happy ending, and boy did that ending take my breath away. I loved Miss Cora and her SAT tutor and wished they could effect some major change. But, with life, there are many hurtles and Mary got many of those hurtles, which happens with so many kids who have dysfunctional families, mental illness, violence and lies. A compelling read.

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I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I totally enjoyed Goo's funny book about super achiever, Desi - she is a great soccer player, student body president, involved in after school clubs and activities and very close with her dad, Appa. It is only when it comes to guys that she has ALL Flairures (love that made up word by Desi's friends)!!! When she meets new guy, Luka Drakos, Desi decides to plan her path to this her first boyfriend. By watching Korean dramas with her Dad, she crafts The K Drama Steps To True Love, which entails binge watching the Korean RomComs, taking notes and presenting to her friends Fiona and Wes how she will "catch" Luka. What the reader sees from the get-go is that Luka really likes her from the first moment they meet and despite the many steps she achieves (many with disastrous results) on her list - she and Luka, kiss, fall in love, etc. But, Desi is her own worst enemy and I enjoyed seeing her learn from her many disasters. I rooted for Desi & Luka (oh is he swoon worthy) loved her Dad and stalwart best friends. Goo has crafted a funny novel filled with good drama teens will enjoy, see themselves in and want to pass on to their friends!

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Solo by Kwame Alexander

Solo by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved Kwame Alexander's narration of this awesome novel in verse exploring Blade's journey as a good teen beset with a troubling family history (his singer father in and out of rehab, mother dead, & harsh sister) that results in him needing to sneak around to see the love of his life, Chapel. When Blade continues to spiral into hurt, confusion, and anger - his sister's revelation of a family secret has him completely adrift. How will he deal, I rooted for Blade - hero through and through! I also loved in the audiobook narration the songs sung by Randy Preston- so so so good! This is one book that deserves to be heard!

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Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity #1) by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the narration by Morgan Christie and Lucy Gaskell about 2 women flying during WWII one Julia) is captured by the Nazis and forced to write confessions about codes, locations, etc while she believes her best friend Maddie is dead (she is not). I am not a fan of the unreliable narrator but with this WWII spy theme, I totally understood why Wein employed this in order to betray the Nazis, keep Julia alive while writing and tell the friendship of Julia and Maddie. There is spying, subterfuge, and missions of flying and resistance in this historical fiction novel; Elizabeth Wein is an author extraordinaire telling this story, weaving a sick story of torture, with deep strong characters (I loved Jamie especially), code names for spies, and intense interrogations.

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Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just like the Wrath and the Dawn, I LOVED Mariko, the magic, The Black Clan, her brother, Kenshin, all of it! I could not stop reading, I was grabbed from the first page- feudal Japan, a power hungry Emperor who kills all his friends, and all that follows...it was lush- the writing, the world, the characters. Mariko is a spirited heroine (may be one of my faves!) dislikes being a girl who must be married off, questions everything, doesn't care that she is seen as odd, and wants to find out why the Black Clan hijacked her caravan as she rode to her betrothed. I liked the way her mind worked, especially impersonating a boy, trying to bluster while trying to gain information. Oh the lies, secrecy, and mystery were palpable, I could not stop turning the pages! I enjoyed the mythology, magic, vanishing wolves and foxes, especially Mariko's belief in living life according to the 7 Tenets of Bushido, The Way of the Warrior. I can't wait for the 2nd book but I will continue to go over and over the wonderful characters, the gorgeous setting, and the many adventures of Mariko and Okami and Ranmaru. And that is the sign of a great book, when you continue to revel in the twists and turns!

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If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout

If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my fave YA & Adult Romance writers! What's more, she is great friends with Sarah J Maas who I absolutely adore and the first page of this novel has main character, book nerd Lena reading Maas' series of Fae, A Court of Thorn & Roses!!! Lena has been in love with her neighbor since he moved in and now that she is a senior in HS she is looking forward to moving on to college. Sebastian is her best friend, visits her on her 2nd floor porch & talks long into the night in her bed. Lena keeps her feelings from everyone (but they see) and since she went out with Andre & he went out with Skylar, there is no way he would ever be into her. Until...one night at the lake she gives him a kiss & he jumps away & acts flustered. It goes from bad to worse and things are weird. Then one night she goes to a party with Sebastian, he says he wants to talk to her at the end of the night (uh oh). But this night changes everything when Lena goes home early without telling Sebastian, gets into a car with her 4 friends, and a horrible accident occurs. Everything Lena knew is gone, so many things have changed, and will she ever be able to make it back to being just Lena again. I love Armentrout's writing, I rooted for Lena and Sebastian, and felt this book will be a wake up call for teens. Decisions can be life-altering and this book deals with choices, grief, loss and being able to move on. Teens need to read this book. Highly recommend.

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Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends Candlewick for the ARC, Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore. I just love the way Anna-Marie McLemore writes, the title for this third novel is perfect! There is such gorgeous worldbuilding with the gardens of the Nomeolvides women consisting of grandmothers, mothers, and cousins who are bound to the land of La Pradera where to leave is to die. The flowers, their colors, their beauty (and magic) Estrella and her cousins nurture was also a restrictive world where generations of Nomeolvides women have been cursed and their lovers (male or female) were punished by disappearing forever. Estrella and her cousins, Azalea, Gloria, Calla, and Dalia are all fiercely in love with Bay Briar, whose grandmother owned the lands and gardens of LaPradera. Would their gifts to LaPradera spare Bay from their venomous hearts? Estrella finds a boy who has no memory of who he is or where he comes from. Together, the Nomeolvides women decide this boy, Fel, is a gift - maybe he is going to save LaPredera and hopefully bring back their lovers. They all decide to love him as a brother. So begins McLemore’s stunning novel with her special kind of magical realism in plot, setting, imagery, dialogue, and language. This book was lush, full of confusion, lies, secrets and the drama of families, loss, and love. I could not put down this mesmerizing world of flowers, willful Nomeolvides women, Fel’s grasping for memories and loving the Nomeolvides women. Highly recommended!

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Love & Lies: Marisol's Story by Ellen Wittliner

Love & Lies: Marisol's Story by Ellen Wittlinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just read Hard Love this summer as part of a twitter chat (#yearofya - topic books of the 80s & 90s) and was so happy Wittlinger wrote this follow-up as part of Marisol's story. Marisol is out and proud, has taken a year off to make money for Stanford and she wants to write a book. She meets Gio at her creative writing class and even though it is awkward (he proclaimed his love for her & she spurned him) they keep trying the friendship avenue. Gio is now seeing Diana (Marisol likes her, she is a good person) and Marisol's best friend roommate is now seeing a guy. Marisol keeps looking for love and thinks she has found it in their creative writing teacher, Olivia. The title of the book says it all- Marisol is used and bullied by Olivia but she tells herself this is love. What will happen to Marisol as her friends try to warn her what they see and she does not? A perfect follow up to Hard Love!

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Finale (Hush Hush #4) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this final audiobook expertly narrated by Cailtin Greer! Nora and Patch must act like they are no longer a couple in order to survive her father's making her a Nephilim and his heir to lead the angels in war. If Nora did not agree or follow her vow to the letter to Hank Miller, she and her mother will die. I was so happy Vee was her best friend who now knows about Nora's life. Vee begins to date Scott Parnell. Nora is now being trained by (& fake boyfriended by) Dante who trains her to fight, mind-read, and lead the Nephilim. There are other interesting characters like Blakely who produces an addicting drug that enhances power and Pepper who is pursuing Patch relentlessly. Still annoying & nasty is Marcy Miller. As the conflict within the angels grows, Nora constantly second guesses herself and others. But she still remains committed to Patch because they both want the same thing- a life with each other, away from the Nephilim. Oh what they will do to accomplish their goals!!! A favorite series of mine and so glad I listened to all 4 books, one right after the other- no wating & it was all so exciting, gripping, and tense!

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Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J Maas

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Maas' story of Chaol & Nesryn working to stop a war, their story of beseeching the Sultan of Khagan to join Aelin and Dorian's side. This 6th novel grabbed me and took me only 3 days to finish; I loved her plot, the many characters, but especially Chaol's healer, prince & princes of Kagan, the scary spiders, the ruks, the Vlag demons and always her pacing was excellent, thrilling, and so emotionally charged. Chaol was my favorite before- honorable, serious but so deep in his love for his soldiers & conflicted with his many mistakes. His journey in this book was incredible! I can't wait for #7; Maas' books are my favorites- she combines thrilling world building, deep characters, swoony romance, Fae history and just all around compulsive reading-hihgly recommended.

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Silence (Hush Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Caitlin Greer's narration of this 3rd book; Nora wakes up in a cemetery after being missing for a summer. She does not remember anything; Fitzpatrick's novel drove home the dark forces plotting against Nora and Patch and the way determined Nora regains her memory is resourceful and determined. I loved Vee, her best friend-hated Hank Miller and her mom's dating, and Scott Parnell's friendship. A great book & audiobook! Can't wait to listen to #4 the final in this thrilling series.

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All the Dirty Parts by Daniel Handler

All the Dirty Parts by Daniel Handler
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I did not like the weird writing style of this book about a boy who is consumed by sex, thoughts of sex, having sex with girls, detailing the many different ways he has sex with girls. Cole gets a bad reputation in high school but he doesn't care; he and his friend go over "all the dirty parts" either by video chat or hanging out together. It is after Cole & his friend experiment (on each other) that a new girl from Europe comes into his life. This time Cole thinks he is in love, but this girl is only out for fun and as time goes on she gets Cole to do the kinds of things Cole did before to others and it is not a good feeling at all. Since Handler has Cole communicate in snippets of information and talk, the reader does not really ever get a good feeling for any character in this story.

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Crescendo (Hush Hus #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook of Fitzpatrick's 2nd book in the Hush Hush series. I love this series and will listen to all 4 but I found this 2nd book irritating in the plot lines of the frustrated romance and the characters of Nora & Patch. There is so much going on with good and bad angels, keeping secrets, that once Nora tells Patch she loves him, it all falls apart. Vee, her best friend, comes to Nora's rescue but since she doesn't know the angel story line- Nora can't tell her EVERYTHING, and besides Vee hates Patch. I did not like how awful Nora was to Patch (she lashes out saying awful things to him time and time again- and tells herself she is helping him by keeping them apart) and how Patch gave her minimal information all the time, hence she does not trust him and begins to hang out with Nora's arch enemy, Marci Miller. She learns more about her father's death, goes into her dreams and into the past, which involves angels, lies, and death. Looking forward to some answers in #3!

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Dear Martin by Nic Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s and Crown Books for Young Readers, for the ARC, Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Debut author, Nic Stone, has crafted a realistic fiction and urban fiction novel all teens will be clamoring to read. With the ripped from the headlines news of teens being shot by police and police violence, Stone has written a powerful, hard hitting novel I could not put down. I ached for Justyce, a black teen in a mostly white prep school who is unjustly judged by a white cop; roughed up and handcuffed, as he tries to help his drunk, white girlfriend. The title, Dear Martin, comes from the letters Justyce writes to Dr. King as a project to himself, as he tries to emulate King’s style and words to sort through racism, oppression, and injustice he encounters. Justyce’s problems intensify as he becomes more and more embroiled in incidents that involve him, his school friends, and his neighborhood acquaintances. As Martin leans on friends, his debate teacher, and debate partner (love interest), he becomes more and more disillusioned. Stone’s writing, her characters, and plot were all powerful reminders that there is still a great divide in our world and she raises many valid questions about problems our society needs to solve. Justyce’s world and struggle brings many needed diverse voices and issues to all readers. Today’s teens care about the heated, frustrating questions and concerns Nic Stone tackles in her haunting debut novel. Highly recommended!

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The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

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

I listened to this book as part of the #2jennsbookclub twitter chat to take place Thursday 9/14/17 at 8PM EST, please join us! This is a book EVERYONE must read but I also recommend listening to it as well. The narrator, Bahni Turpin, was just so good at being Star, her 2 lives of mostly white prep school girl and also living (and hiding) in the hood. Turpin's voice got just right the side-eyes, love, honesty, and anger from Star, her family and friends. I so enjoyed getting to know, once again, her fierce parents, her close-knit neighbors, her brothers, Secani and Seven, her white boyfriend, Chris. I hated King and his Lords, their grip on the lives of so many in the neighborhood and the injustice of the death of Kahlil. Highly recocmmended, this book will resonate with all who read it!!!

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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They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperTeen for the ARC, They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera. I LOVE Adam Silvera’s writing style, and this 3rd new book is just as moving! I was so impressed by Silvera’s note to readers setting the affirming, challenging, positive tone, inspiring and challenging all of us to “be who you want to be” encouraging friendships and experiences, free from insecurities and judgments. Rufus and Mateo are real teens dealing with the horrendous news that this is the last day of their lives. Rufus is a foster child who has a tight group of friends, calling themselves The Plutos while Mateo is a sheltered, sweet teen whose Dad is in a coma. Death Cast is the entity alerting people to their day of death. Since they are going to die “today” both Mateo and Rufus, who do not know each other yet, decide to use the Last Friend app, and spend their day together. While I was not a fan of the whole Death-Cast part of the story, I totally enjoyed these two opposites, meeting one another, getting to know one another, and enjoying their final day with a growing and deepening friendship. Silvera has such a sweet gift for writing sympathetic stories that grip you from page one, tug on your heart, and keep you turning those pages, all the while blowing your nose and wiping tears from your eyes. This is a must read that teens will be caring about and sharing. This book stole my heart and spoke to the power of friends, relationships, and family. Highly recommended!

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