All the Stars Denied by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

All the Stars Denied by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not wait to read this stunner after I finished the tough read, Shame the Stars, by G.G. McCall. This historical read covers the horrendous repatriation of US citizens from the US. Estrella is a Mexican American teen is living in Texas during the Great Depression on her family farm but during a time when many whites want the Mexican Americans out- despite their citizenship-- the awfulness of their treatment as they are burned out of their home, the reader learns of how dark this time of history was in its treatment of Mexican Americans, how evil was the intent, treatment, and injustice to citizens and classes of people trying to make a living while living in their home, the United States. A must read for students to learn about a dark part of our history.

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Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a good book, kids and middle grade students will empathize with Louie--missing his brother in the army, afraid for ailing Winslow, trying his hardest to please family and friends while finding himself. Once again, I am impressed by Sharon Creech, her writing, her love of pets, and her way with words. She weaves a mesmerizing story of a lonely boy who finds meaning when he saves and takes care of a very sick donkey. My granddaughters loved this book.

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Silver Spoon 2 by Hiromu Arakawa

銀の匙 Silver Spoon 2 [Gin no Saji Silver Spoon 2] by Hiromu Arakawa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge, award winner of great graphic novels and what a great series! Yugo Hachiken is easing into his first year, making friends and learning a lot about cows, horses, and much more at Oezo Agricultural High School! He finds an old oven and together with everyone, students, teachers and more they all collaborate to help Hachiken make pizza. Then when students go on break, Hachiken does not intend to go home and ends of staying at his classmates' farm and helping out. There was much to laugh about and learn about the farm families and Hachiken is changing and growing as a result.

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A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for the May topic of crossover books for the twitter chat with #yearofya. I love Patrick Ness and also his author friend, Siobhan Dowd, who shared this idea with him before she died of cancer. Connor is 13 years old and his mother has been battling cancer---he has a recurring dream with a monster in it---but one night a different monster (the yew tree in the yard) comes calling (he tells Connor he called him to come) and has 3 tales to tell Connor and then Connor must tell him 1. Boy are those tales tough for Connor----no easy answers and impossible tasks---who needs this when he is suffering in school (a bully and his crew pick on him and everyone else treats him like he is invisible) and now his grandmother is taking care of him, and worse still--his father (now with a new family in the US) comes to visit him, why? This story broke my heart.

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Locked in Temptation (The Protectors #3) by Brenda Jackson

Locked in Temptation by Brenda Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brenda Jackson has done it again! This series of The Protectors was oh so good and this 3rd book was so good I could not put it down and savored the sizzling relationship of Joy Ingram and Stonewall Jackson. Loved the police detective and ex-con together; they have relationship issues from the past but when they finally go on a first date---neither can deny they are "locked in temptation" and when they do something about it; wow! I also liked the mystery Joy delves into when one of her murder cases reveals a baby ring, kidnapping, and a conspiracy that involves many influential people. Can't wait to read another of her romances!

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Royal City Vol. 3: We All Float On by Jeff Lemire

Royal City, Vol. 3: We All Float on by Jeff Lemire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Using a surprise member of the family and magical realism, Jeff Lemire sympathetically works with all the characters in the Pike family to lay beare answers and reasons to persevere as each sorts through life and how Tommy's death affects each of them many years later. An ending that is both honest, bittersweet; once again I am in awe of Lemire's graphic novels and his view of cities, families, and dead-ends.

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Royal City, Vol. 2: Sonic Youth by Jeff Lemire

Royal City, Vol. 2: Sonic Youth by Jeff Lemire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read the 2nd volume of Royal City as part of the Great Graphic Novels Awards in the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge and this book shows what life is like for the Pike family as it leads up to Tommy Pike's final days. The sad, dead-end part of the town has infiltrated this dysfunctional family - mother, father and the kids. I loved Lemire's detailed, authentic illustrations as a teen goes through life normally but then headaches start, pain pills are thrown down with alcohol and you see the picture. I ached for this family, the loneliness and alienation are pervasive and awful. Can't wait to read Vo. 3!

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Silver Spoon (Book 1) by Hiromu Arakawa

銀の匙 Silver Spoon 1 [Gin no Saji Silver Spoon 1] by Hiromu Arakawa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this award winning Great Graphic Novels book as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge. I liked the urban teen, Yuugo Hachiken, who chooses to go to the country and attend an agricultural high school.

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I Am J by Cris Beam

I am J by Cris Beam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book for #yearofYA and the May topic of Crossovers---this book was recommended by Book Browse as an Adult/YA Crossover. J is a teen who has known for a long time she is not a girl but a boy. Now as a teen, J makes a concerted effort to show everyone who he truly is---and it is not easy at all. Many subjects are explored in this transgender book; taking testosterone, binding breasts, haircuts, deep voice, feeling alienated from family and friends. As J explores and obsesses over girls, girlfriends, he makes a choice to move out of his house, get into a shelter, see a therapist while exploring future options with his life. He was so brave yet so conflicted and it was through friends (old and new) accepting J that helps propel this book to a hopeful ending.

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Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book!!! I have loved all of Anna-Marie McLemore's books (Wild Beauty, When the Moon Was Ours, and The Weight of Feathers---all MUST READS) because of the rich characterization, lush magical realism and diversity. Latina Sisters Roja and Blanca couldn't be more different but they come from a family cursed to repeat losing one daughter to become a swan. Yet they are fiercely close and would never lie to one another -- unless each wants to protect the other. Based on fairy tales, McLemore weaves a dramatically beautiful story about becoming, believing, and surviving. To quote the author in her Author's Note: "My hope for you, reader, for all of us, is two sides of the same wish: that the world gives us each the space to write our own story, and that we leave room for each other's stories. They are where our hearts survive."

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Hillbilly Elegy: a Memoir of a family and culture in Crisis) by J.D. Vance

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book; JD Vance's writing style about the hillbilly predicament (poor white Americans) was funny, sad, filled with honesty, facts, and the horror that was JD Vance's life (and other middle class Americans). Thank god for his grandparents, especially his Mamaw---yet she was one scary lady too. Highly recommended!

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The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the May topic for #YearofYA---crossover books and I got the title from Goodreads as a crossover but I really do not see how this can be a crossover book! It is definitely adult in content, would YA readers like this book? I am not really sure...But I loved Don Tillman described as awkward, highly intellectual, geneticist who is looking for a wife. This book is very humorous because Don is so funny with his reactions, adherence to daily rituals, times, etc. The fact that he thinks he can get a wife by having candidates completing a 3 page questionnaire is hysterical! I loved this book, Don and Rosie and can't wait to read the other 2 in the series. Is Don a highly functioning autistic/Asperger and when is he going to find out?!?

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The Mystery of Alice by Lee Bacon

The Mystery of Alice by Lee Bacon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this Audible mystery; while it is an adult mystery and involves middle school kids, I view it as a crossover for middle school/adult. This unabridged audiobook involved lots of narrators Bryan Kennedy, Jessica Almasy, Josh Hurley, Cassandra Morris, Libby McKnight, Emily Bauer, Michael Crouch, contained a good story and an even better technology component with the apps tracking people's lives, etc. I liked Emily Poe's video diary of her life and was very surprised with the ending; a great whodunit thriller!

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Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos

Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Wendy Lamb Books for the advance reader copy of Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos, in exchange for an honest review. I could not put this book down, debut author, Nicole Panteleakos, nails Nova’s nonverbal autism, her daily frustrations being silent, missing her big sister, Bridget (who gets Nova and champions Nova’s vast knowledge of space and everything else!!!) excitement for the liftoff of the Challenger, a new school, and foster family. This is a must read for all middle school students and will benefit Young Adult and adult readers (school teachers, guidance counselors too) as a window into what it is like to be an autistic foster child. This book does a stellar job of creating empathy both for Nova and Bridget but the reader also learns more about the challenges and desperate hope and love of the foster family. I also found the Author’s Note and Acknowledgments invaluable for the information it provides on autism and the author’s own Asperger’s.


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The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this APALA Honor Award Winner as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge and oh was this an aching read but oh so very necessary as magical realism permeates to help teen Leigh (Asian/White heritage) deal with the suicide of her depressed mom. Leigh "sees" her mother become a bird that leads Leigh on a life changing journey to find her mother and in this search, she learns about her history, heritage, and how grief helps her comes to term with who she and wants to be. I had a really great review---BUT my computer seized and I lost it!!!
So short and sweet--the compelling, strong character of Leigh and her love of art power this tale of heartbreak and finding heritage, history and love in her search for answers. I could not put this book down; I rooted for Leigh and best friend Axel (best friend and lover of art and music). The trip to Taiwan opens Leigh to discovering her parents' past, meeting her grandparents, and forging a future without her mother. A powerful, astonishing journey; a must read!

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(Don't) Call me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health Edited by Kelly Jensen

(Don't) Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this collection of short stories which is a Schneider Honor Award Winner for the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge. What gripping, heartfelt stories from authors and others about dealing with mental illness. I could not stop reading and learned so many different aspects of individuals dealing with the many different kinds of mental illness, how it affects them, others close to them, diagnosis and handling the daily aspects of medicine, doctors, therapists, life, and also how the writer(s) of the stories are coping. Of course, being a retired librarian, I read all the author first (Shaun D. Hutchinson, S.E. Smith, Heidi Heiling, Libba Bray, Emery Lord, Victoria Schwab, Meredith Russo, Kelly Jensen and Adam Silvera) A must read for teens, and adults!

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