Parachutes by Kelly Yang

Parachutes by Kelly Yang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a read; Kelly Yang as done it again! Her middle grade debut, Front Desk, was a winner and so is Parachutes. Telling the story of life in a high school in California that encourages students from China to get a leg up for college by going to high school in the U.S. Once they come, these "parachutes" are hosted by families. Dani, a Filipino American girl who is a scholarship student tutors and cleans houses to help her mother make ends meet. Her mom decides to host a student from Shanghai, Claire, who is rich, and privileged. Close to 500 pages, there is a lot going on in this important read. Dani and Claire are house mates only and travel in different crowds and many things happen to thwart their friendship. I loved Dani's debate qualities and Claire's search for friends. Many high school issues and family problems are dealt with as well as friendship, exploitation, and the importance of speaking up! Teens will relate to these girls, their lives, interests, and drama. Especially important is the author's notes and how she spoke up and was NOT heard! A must read!!!

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Killers of the Flower Moon: The Sage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, what a riveting audiobook, awesomely narrated by: Will Patton , Ann Marie Lee , Danny Campbell. Grann's nonfiction book deals with the mystery of many Osage Indian deaths during the 1920s and 1930s in Oklahoma. When oil is discovered under their land, the Osage become rich and the targets of unsavory men, business men and racism in law enforcement, in the white community, and politics. How people could do this to anyone, much less the Osage Indian is despicable. Grann thoroughly researches the Osage Indian history, culture, community and what the "reign of Terror" did to them. The honesty and diligence of Tom White, a former Texas Ranger who is appointed by J. Edgar Hoover to solve the 24 Osage murders marks the beginning of the FBI. A must read! My thanks to Pat Graham for recommending this book!

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Admission by Julie Buxbaum

Admission by Julie Buxbaum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s and Delacorte Press for the advance reader copy of Admission by awesome author, Julie Buxbaum, in exchange for an honest review. I was riveted by this ripped from the headlines novel dealing with the college admissions bribery scandal. Julie Buxbaum writes a compelling story to shed light on Chloe’s life THEN and Chloe’s life NOW as she unlocks her front door to the FBI one fateful morning. Senior Chloe was her own worst enemy at times. Her family has money, her mother is a TV star, but Chloe struggles in school, at home, and internally. As she worries over getting into a college and getting the grades she needs, her parents jump to pay for coaches to help her in writing and tutoring. Chloe’s best friend, Shola, was my favorite, a strong female character, she was always honest with Chloe and frank about her struggles as a product of Nigerian immigrant parents and their struggles with money. The THEN chapters reveal Chloe as very insecure, vacillating between trying to go along with her parents’ wishes and speaking up about what she wants. I could not stop turning the pages in the NOW as Chloe learns/lives the stark loneliness of being reviled by the world, her friends, her school. Throughout the scandal her younger, smarter sister, Isla, pushes Chloe to face reality and contemplate what exactly Chloe knew and when she knew it. Buxbaum’s novels packs a punch; I rooted for Chloe’s growth, maturity, and self-acceptance. In our world of fierce competition, what makes people do what they do, what makes people accept dishonesty? Readers will be sharing this book and talking about it often!

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The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the narration of Ruthie Ann Miles , Kimiko Glenn , Alexandra Allwine , Gabra Zackman , Jeremy Bobb , Joy Osmanski , Emily Walton , Erin Wilhelmi in this totally absorbing historical fiction taking place in China in a remote Akha village. Life is difficult until one day a man and his son come to their village in search of PUR tea. Li-yan translates for the village elders and her family, she also goes to school for higher education, marries and moves from her mountain village. This was such a compelling story about family, tradition, culture, the modern world, and how strong women in one family share their heritage with angel tea trees. I will not soon forget Li-yan, her mother, and the daughter she gave up for adoption---they were separated but their bonds were strong and lasting.

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Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved these three sisters, their mother, their humor and their lives. With beauty and larger than life personalities we meet Gemma, Lyn and Cat in their 33rd year. The family dysfunction (Mom and Dad divorced, Daniel's infidelity to Cat, Lynn's panic attacks, and Gemma's inability to maintain a relationship) kept me turning the pages as the sisters battled and loved one another. I also enjoyed the "episodes" where others see them from afar. I laughed, I understood, and I thoroughly enjoyed these girls!

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Something In the Water by Catherine Steadman

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This mystery was not the psychological thriller I hoped it would be; Erin and Mark are in love, the next step is marriage but Mark loses his job. As they plan their wedding and honeymoon, the plans Erin has do not match what Mark has in mind. Even as they begin their honeymoon in Bora Bora there is something not quite right. On a dive, they find something in the water and the decisions they make (yet you see it all from Erin's POV) set in motion a series of events...As Erin began taking over and thinking large, making mistakes, but not quite caring...Erin's choices and Mark's become very questionable. I was not rewarded with suspense, I did not like the characters, this mystery shows how going to the dark side ends up.

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This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf

This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I usually LOVE Heather Gudenkauf mysteries but I found myself frustrated with the plot. As a detective mystery I felt there was more plot needed with going back and going over the old case of Eve Knox's murder. I really wanted to like Maggie more as both a person and a police detective; as a person she did not give people enough credit, as the reader follows her through the past and the present, she psyches herself out all the time in giving credit to how people (loved ones) will react if she tells the truth. As a police detective, she underestimates Nola Knox as every turn, both as a child and now as an adult. Why didn't Maggie ever go interview the psychologist Gonzales who met with Nola after the murder and her run in with Eve's old boyfriend? Why is Maggie taking chances when she is ready to have a baby? Of course, I could not put this book down, the suspense was thrilling but I was uncomfortable alot with Maggie, her professionalism as a cop, her choices, her secrets.

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White Dog Fell From the Sky by Eleanor Morris

White Dog Fell from the Sky by Eleanor Morse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this audiobook much more than I did. Brittany Pressley does a great job with the dialects African dialects and their slower speech. But with this current covidD pandemic, I find I do not enjoy books that are heartbreaking and this one is especially gut wrenching ALL THE WAY through and the hopeful ending was TOO TOO SHORT. Eleanor Morse, to me, should have given more time to Isaac's return and his state of mind as time progressed maybe even for the first month. I also found myself frustrated with Alice and her decisions with men---maybe a follow up book with Alice and Isaac getting together (I know she is much older but they were alike in their resolve in so many ways)! I loved the beauty of Africa (Eleanor and Isaac's descriptions) but hated the REALITY of Apartheid Africa, the awful prison, their treatment of prisoners, and how life was so different for black and white. My friends loved this book and told of the redemptive ending but like the book, This Tender Land, the awful treatment of humanity was TOO MUCH and the hopeful ending was too little.

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Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman

Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, once again, I could not put down this Brian Freeman thriller! This mystery thrilled me, I could not stop turning the pages, as famous mystery writer, Lisa Power must match her wits with evil as she tries valiantly to save a young boy who is being pursued by police men but he cannot remember his name and much of what has happened to him. As Lisa tries to solve this young boy's mystery (his name, what happened to him) she realizes she can trust no one. Lisa was a strong female character; I loved her passion, her honesty and her vulnerability. Freeman's mystery was psychologically thrilling, taut with darkness, evil, and impending doom. And I was so not prepared with the surprise ending!

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Not Hungry by Kate Kaeryus Quinn

Not Hungry by Kate Karyus Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Teen readers will find this novel in verse compelling; June's voice is raw, realistic, and vulnerable as she struggles with weight issues in her family, angered and upset with her beautiful sister's abusive boyfriend, and unsure about her neighbor, Tony. As secrets threaten to destroy June, she stops eating (this is her way to diet), sometimes purging, but mostly not eating. Fraught with daily problems, will June figure out who she really is? Highly recommended!

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Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @MolleeBranden for recommending this as a favorite read; sorry it took me so long to read this gem? I loved Erin Entrada Kelly's voice, her characters (Virgil, Kaori, Gen, and Valencia) and the kids' growing friendship, and mad cap adventures concerning Virgil's pet guinea pig. Kaori, Gen and Valencia were strong, likable, and fierce in their own way. Since I am so late reading this, I am sure middle school students have been enjoying this special book especially how bullies are portrayed and how others make fun of those with disabilities. Highly recommended!


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From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Arementrout

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really really really liked this new Jennifer L. Armentrout new adult paranormal fantasy series----in large part because of the two main characters, Poppy and Hawke. Poppy is strong, fierce, funny, yet trapped in her world as the Chosen Maiden. Her guard Vikter was badass too---from a young age he has taught Poppy how to defend herself and she wears a wolven blade he gave her on her leg. Even though Vikter chastises her; he allows Poppy to accompany him when people/soldiers have been attacked by the Craven. She has a gift which few know about. What really turned me off at the beginning was the evil Duke and his friend, Duke Mateen. With this pandemic, awful evil things bother me and I have to stop reading...but when I picked back up and continued on I was happy when Hawke becomes Poppy's Guard. He is boldly and sexily says anything to Poppy; he encourages her to fight against submitting to all her lot in life has in store for her. I was shocked when "things" changed for Poppy (her world, the Descenters, the Asended, etc.) and all she knew changes. The ending was a huge surprise and I can't wait for the 2nd book in this series. Armentrout know how to write steamy novels; I also loved her world building in this book; the fantasy was terrific and the depth and breadth of Poppy and Hawke's relationship was steamworthy!

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Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, #BookJunkies, @Andrea_Contos, Kids Can Press and KCP Loft for the advance reader copy of Throwaway Girls by debut author, Andrea Contos, in exchange for an honest review. I could not put this YA mystery down! Caroline is a forthright yet conflicted narrator who steadfastly investigates when her best friend, Madison, suddenly disappears. Andrea Contos’ plot and characterizations will have teens guessing as this mystery deepens to involve more than one girl. Caroline is believable as she delves full force into finding out what happened to Madison. But she also gains problems that cause her to push away friends, Jake and Aubrey, who only want to help her. I understood yet I did not understand many of Caroline’s decisions. I was also confused many times with the appearance of characters, Livie and Willa. And the parents were also off the charts unsupportive, tough, and mean spirited. As Caroline struggles with her reality, she constantly keeps her goal in mind, three months to graduate, and get out. But as the plot thickens, the thrill quickens. What will happen to Caroline, Madison, Willa and the others? This is a riveting book dealing with family problems, friendship, LGBT issues, and social classes. A must-read!

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Becoming by Michelle Obama

Becoming by Michelle Obama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful book and narration by Michelle Obama. This was supposed to be our book club's March selection for the Free Library of Springfield but since the library has been closed for the quarantine there will be no discussion of this memoir that has so many topics, issues and themes.

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The Blackhouse (Lewis Trilogy, #1) by Peter May

The Blackhouse by Peter May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my Albright College roommate and friend for this Recommendation! I will defintely be reading this series that takes place in Scotland and takes the main character back to his home on the Isle of Lewis from Edinburgh where he has investigated a similar killing. As Fin returns after 18 years away, the reader finds out about Fin as a child in Crobost in between forwarding to the present murder, investigating suspects, and learning about too many secrets in this town that values keeping most things quiet but knows everyone's business. I could not stop turning the pages and I can't wait to read the next in this series, The Lewis Man!

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Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin

Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, #BookJunkies, @MLConklin, and Little, Brown Books Young Readers for the advance reader copy of Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin, in exchange for an honest review. Another winner from Melanie Conklin; she has authentically and beautifully rendered a middle grade story/mystery about a young girl, Maddy, who still desperately misses her deceased father. In her grief and longing, Maddy has become hyper vigilant and worries about all the dangers the world can pose. Adding to Maddy’s daily strain is her mother’s new marriage to Stan, the hope Maddy and Stan will spend time together, a mysterious boy who crafts traps in the woods, and best friend difficulties. What is Maddy to do? Readers will root for Maddy as she navigates grief, fear, new family concerns, the trauma of abuse, and awkward reaching out to help friends and family. The mystery boy and Maddy’s fears had me turning the pages; readers will enjoy this middle grade adventure, mystery, and heartfelt characters. Conklin’s plot and character development is authentic, moving, and powerful. This is a must-read!

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