The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julia Whelan's narration was just what this book needed- I was always sorry when I had to stop listening because Whelan's voices kept calling to me. To me, Leni was my favorite character who I rooted for constantly, even though she was brainwashed by her mother that no one know about their private torment---Ernt Allbright, Dad, Husband and POW who suffered from PTSD and took it out on his family. Luckily he was not that smart (because he liked to drink and therein the trouble brewed, festered and caused his hate mongering) many locals knew he was abusive and trouble- YET even when these wonderful friends offered help and protection time and time again, Leni and her mom turned them down because they loved him - that got old with me real quick. Alaska was supposed to be their forever home and at the beginning (so many families helped them prepare for the snow) Leni and her mom dared to hope. But as darkness descended, so did Ernt's nightmare's and agitation. For a beautiful history of Alaska, the dreams of Leni, and the hope that never dies, this book nails it. or the lovely, wonderful ending---I was so happy for the perfect closure. Highly recommended!!!

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I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a oowerfully GOOD read- 3 teens meet in NYC after an accident brings them together. Freya has a beautiful voice and singing contract but for unkown reasons, she can't sing anymore. Harun loves Ben but can't come out to his family and suffers terribly. Nathaniel and his father live together but it is a very solitary existence, but even more so after he loses his eye, baseball, and friends. In one day, they bond, become friends, and even more life lines for each other. I loved Forman's plot (could not put my kindle down), each character is believable (and powerful) as they suffer loss (through flashbacks) and cemented friendship and support they all desperately need from one another. Family, friendship, secrets are all deftly, heartbreakingly explored- great for adult readers too (since these seem to be more mature teens).

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Fresh Ink: An Anthology by Lamar Giles (Editor)

Fresh Ink: An Anthology by Lamar Giles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s and Crown Books for Young Readers for the advance reader copy, Fresh Ink: An Anthology by Lamar Giles (Editor) in exchange for an honest review. This compilation of short stories by Young Adult authors is awesome, real, needed, and published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. Fresh Ink needs to be read by all children and young adults. From diverse authors like Jason Reynolds, Nicola Yoon, Gene Luen Yang, Malinda Lo, Daniel Jose Older, Lamar Giles, Eric Gansworth, Sharon G. Flake, Melissa de la Cruz, Sara Farizan and others, these shining short stories will inspire, inform, and bring deserving diverse literature (with many universal YA themes) to all who read and enjoy this powerful collection of very worthy short stories, so sit down, grab this book, read, and oh will you enjoy!!!

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Vicious (Villains #1) by V. E. Schwab

Vicious by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, do I love V.E. Schwab's books---both her YA and adult and this adult series is a winner!!! Victor is a college student; he is not really likable and so far all of his roommates have not worked out until Eli Cardane. Both Eli & Victor get along, they are very smart and annoying- until senior thesis time when Eli comes up with a thesis that intrigues them both - but also literally has them experiencing near death and when resurrected- they each have Extraordinary abilities---but this is the reason they become enemies - Eli believes they are now unnatural and he must do away with them (because surely there are others) - but first Eli sends Victor to jail for 10 years and the first person Victor wants to find is Eli, I wonder why??? I could not stop turning the pages---many characters are evil but there are also the unsuspecting characters. Eli is twisted and a cold blooded killer, but I enjoyed the cold-bloodedness of Victor (I think because I really liked his sidekicks Mitch and Sydney). Schwab's writing and worldbuilding were chilling, I can't wait for #2!

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Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

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

I listened to this book as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge and the review of the ARC is below but I just have to say narrator, Michael Crouch was so totally awesome as tortured Carver Briggs, who has lost everything (his 3 best friends, the school community and his 3 friends families). Crouch has flawlessly presented Zenter's enthralling, tortured book - one which teens will embrace, love, talk about and cry lots and lots about too. I especially loved the Goodbye Days and his psychiatrist and Jessamyn---they all (and especially Carver) become key to helping Carver navigate his self-loathing, his aching for his friends and his many what-ifs...another great story by Jeff Zentner that will be read and enjoyed over and over again.

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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Sparrow by Sarah Moon

Sparrow by Sarah Moon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this award winner as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge. Oh did I love Sparrow's journey, from a lonely child who loses one friend and never seems to make another. Sparrow spends her time becoming a bird and flying. It is when she is on the roof at school that people think she will jump, that Sparrow goes into counseling and oh what a journey she begins with Dr, K. Sparrow and her mom go through a very difficult period too, not talking to each other. It is so beautiful when Sparrow discovers music, how it heals her, energizes her and speaks to her---when Sparrow, her mom and Dr. K talk and settle on Sparrow going to a 3 week long music camp...OMG I just loved Sparrow's spirit as it soared, made friends, wrote songs, played the bass. The best book ever! Quite the debut!!!

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Scooby Apocalypse (Vol. 1) by Keith Giffen

Scooby Apocalypse, Volume 1 by Keith Giffen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this graphic novel the beginning of a series I enjoyed as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge and can't wait to continue the series of this award winner. The gangs adventures continue as the world's chaos continues with ScoobyDoo!

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Devils Within by S.F. Henson

Devils Within by S.F. Henson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Henson's debut awesome, glad I read it for 2018 HUB Challenge! A must read for all - reminded me of Bang by Barry Lyga (with the self-hatred) and his series, I Hunt Killers (with the awful awful father). Nate's fatheris the head of the Fort, a white aryan group, but Nate has been abused, indoctrinated with hate, and terrorized by his father and the group. Luckily he had a few years of love from his mother---but Nate murders his father, spends time in juvie because his lawyers are able to prove he has PTSD, but not everyone believes him, and he is still pursued by the Fort. This story is just beginning and I could not put it down, the life that these poor people live when they get caught up in the web of the Aryan movement, is so abhorrent. I truly loved Nate and all he suffered, wanted, but his self-hatred was always there. The author based this book on actual events and the research shows, this is a book teens (and everyone else) MUST READ! This cycle must be broken;; "education and discussion are the first steps to opening hearts and changing minds (p. 390)."

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Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share their Personal Struggles edited by Jessica Burkhart

Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles by Jessica Burkhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2018 collection of YA authors who tell readers about their challenges with mental illness, depression, thoughts of suicide, OCDC, bi-polar when they were teens through to the present. Many of the authors tell their stories for the 1st time, in the hope of helping a teen struggling with the same kinds of mental illness. Each story is important- I truly loved Jennifer Armentrout, Ellen Hopkins and Francesca Lia Block's stories, thoughts, essays.

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Sandwiches!: More Than You've Ever Wanted to Know about Making and Eating America's Favorite Food by Alison Deering & Bob Lentz

Sandwiches!: More Than You've Ever Wanted to Know about Making and Eating America's Favorite Food by Alison Deering
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this wonderful, in-depth look at making sandwiches for the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge. What I loved about this book was the drawings of each the sandwiches- each sandwich is shown made and then on the opposite page there is a step by step of how to put it together plus tips, history, and other essential information. The sandwiches begin with Level 1 - Plate and Knife and moves to another level Toaster & Microwave, Level 3 Oven/Broiler, Level 4 Stone, Skillet & Panini Press & Level 5 The Big Time- Extra Cooking, Recipes & Prep Work. Deering & Lentz have compiled a visually appealing, fun, homage to sandwiches!

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Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler, illustrations Damian Duffy and adapted byJohn Jennings

Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia E. Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved reading this graphic novel as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge. Octavia Butler's story, Kindred, is adapted into a totally scary, sad, time travel from 1970 back to pre-Civil War south. Dana is a young black woman newly married to Kevin (he is white) when she thrown into the South where a small white boy, Rufus, is drowning. The story is a horror of the indignity of slavery that Dana must endure and try to save Rufus (who is totally indoctrinated into the way the slave world works) the only way she can get back to 1970 is when she is almost threatened with death...I ached as I turned the pages for all the slaves on this plantation--the horrors they endured and what Dana and Kevin suffer as a result of trying to help. The oppression was bleak and frightening but the graphic novel format will grab teens and while reading they will be learning important aspects of history, slavery, women, science fiction and race; highly recommended!!!

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Black Hammer (Vol. 1 Secret Origins) by Jeff Lemire Dean Ormston Dave Steweart

Black Hammer, Vol. 1: Secret Origins by Jeff Lemire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this 2nd award winner graphic novel by Jeff Lemire as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge. This is another great graphic novel by Jeff Lemire; I loved the illustrations of the super heroes as heroes and also their bodies as they impersonate normal humans in a small town… where they have been hiding out for the last 10 years since the downfall of Spiral City. This is the beginning of a series and I can't wait to get to Vol. 2 The Event. I loved all the characters, Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Colonel Weird, Madame Dragonfly, and Barbalien and enjoyed the histories/biographies of each provided by Lemire at the end. An awesome read!

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The Language of Thorns:Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic (Grisha Verse,#0.5,# 2.5,# 2.6) by Leigh Bardugo

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to these awesome Grisha tales as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge and I loved Lauren Fortgang's narration. The mystery and the danger in each of the stories drew me into Bardugo's Grisha-verse and kept my heart hammering.

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The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher

The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Sharon and Sally for passing on this delicious mystery and awesome beach read. I could not stop turning the pages as 2 women marry into an Italian family with all kinds of secrets, lies, and dysfunction. I rooted for Maggie and Nico as they marry but after that life becomes very difficult indeed (haughty mother-in-law, step daughter who hates her, and a great mom- thank god for her normalcy) and could not wait to see what happened to Massimo, Lara and Sandro. Exciting read to pass on to all your friends.

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Lighter Than My Shadow by Katie Green

Lighter Than My Shadow by Katie Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this graphic novel as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge and Katie Green's debut is jarring, instructional, and harrowing and will resonate with teens battling the demons of an eating disorder, the doubts and secrets withheld from everyone (even Katie). Katie's battle to succeed in pursuing a degree in illustration, coming to grips with her anorexia and rebuilding (managing) her life to include family, friends and coping techniques.

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Owl Eyes by Molly Laser

Owl Eyes: A Fairy Tale by Molly Lazer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Molly Laser's book was give to me by my great librarian friend, Randi Wall, to read and oh did I enjoy this improved Cinderella fairy tale in this powerful debut with a heroine who endures much and grows even stronger as a result. What Nora knows about her real parents isn't much, but volumes can be said about Greta and Peter, the servants who adopted her, showed her much love and taught her to endure despite the bullying, punishments, and slights. As Nora stumbles into truth, will she make the right decisions, for herself, about Greta and Peter and her lifelong friend, Jack? I loved Nora's world, could not put this book down, reveled in Nora's world and rooted for her to find the family and love she yearns for; highly recommended!

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Brave (Awkward #2) by Svetlana Chamkova

Brave by Svetlana Chmakova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this delightful graphic novel as part of the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge and loved Chmakova's characters, especially Jensen! Bullying was the main theme tackled in an authentic way with middle school cliques, kids trying to be invisible, kids being awesome- the 3some of Jenny, Akilah and Felipe along with other minor characters like Jorge, loved him and kids just trying to fit in!!! Totally enjoyable, I will be reading the first in the series ASAP!

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Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this excellent nonfiction book about the Van Gogh Brothers as part of the 2018 HUB Challenge and I really enjoyed the narration by Phil Fox- he was able to reach the many highs and lows in Vincent and Theo's letters to each other throughout their lives, as a reader I was mesmerized by these two brothers, their life, their selfless love for each other, yet, they also were not perfect, frustrated by each other, yet there was a fervent caring for each other that was very special. I also liked the journey of Vincent's art, the beauty of his calling as an artists and his deeply profound wish to have the world see and understand his art. Such a wonderful book; a must read for all!

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Dreadnought (Nemesis #1) by April Daniels

Dreadnought by April Daniels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and loved this awesome thriller for the 2018 HUB Reading Challenge and if you like superheroes and villains you will love Danny's drama. Danny has always wanted to be a girl but was born and raised a boy yet he secretly paints his toenails, tries on dresses, etc. As he hides in a side street there is an explosion and this famous superhero, Dreadnought, falls from the sky and before he dies he passes his mantle to Danny. What results is life changing and mind blowing- Danny is now a girl with Dreadnought's powers. What's a girl to do- her family is horrified and wants their son back and there is evil lurking in New Port...for a rip roaring read, you will love this first book in the series and I can't wait to read #2 Sovereign!

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