Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Caitlin has Asperger's Syndrome, has lost her brother, and her father can't seem to understand or help her now that Devon is gone. I liked the way Erskine showed Caitlin's side of things, like trying to find closure, dealing with the bully Josh and then his befriending of her little friend, Michael. I liked the school counselor so much and the way she worked hard but honestly with Caitlin. This is the kind of book students, teachers and counselors need to read; it is not one size fits all, it is an honest, messy look at a girl trying to figure things out (she sees black and white in things) and realizing she can do it!

View all my reviews

Goodbye to the Dead (Jonathan Stride #7) by Brian Freeman

Goodbye to the Dead by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Boy these Jonathan Stride detective mysteries just keep getting better! I think this may be my favorite because Cindy and Serena both appear, so past and present converge. I really liked getting to know Cindy and saw why Jonathan fell in love and never fell out of love with her (his devastating loss when she dies) and her pursuit of that forest camo guy who shoots trees...and his threat to her when she spots him and pursues him. The mystery in the book was also rooted in the past and the present and the plot with all the delicious suspense kept me turning those pages! I have the next book in the series on my kindle already, but I amgoing to hate when there are no more Jonathan, Maggie and Serena murder mysteries!

View all my reviews

Dear Sweet Pea (Dumplin' #2.5) by Julie Murphy

Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another winner for awesome author, Julie Murphy! Sweet Pea has a larger than life personality but she is feeling split in two as her parents divorce and she is forced to move between their houses (which are identical and with one house between on the block)! Also she is having friendship drama and when her weird neighbor, an advice columnist has to go to tend to her sister, Sweet Pea must collect the letters, water the plants while listening to blue music, she gets herself into trouble and she can't tell anyone! What is Sweet Pea to do?!? The plot, characters, humor and drama had me turning those pages. Julie Murphy has crafted an unforgettable story about friendship, learning from our mistakes, family, and acceptance that is a must read. What an authentic, funny, must read.

View all my reviews

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great must read book for young adults read by Jason Reynolds in his own awesome style! Adults will want to read this book that examines race from the beginning and reimagines Dr. Ibram X Kendi’s book Stamped. Dr Kendi also introduces this book before Jason Reynolds begins to read and Kendi is arresting and powerful in his heavily researched anti-racism, racism, abolitionists and assimilationist. Both authors offer hope through their histories.

View all my reviews

The Queen (A Wicked Trilogy #3.7) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Queen by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this final book in the Wicked Trilogy! Brighton and Caden are growing closer but at what cost. Brighton finds it much more difficult to just believe they should be together; while Caden wants Brighton, will protect her at any cost, and bestows "things" on her that should make her believe she is meant to be his queen; but will Brighton herself settle into her role? I loved all 3 books in this novella trilogy; a great romance, mystery and drama--this is what Jennifer L. Armentrout excels in!

View all my reviews

The Summer House by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois

The Summer House by James Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy, I could not put this mega mystery down; a multiple murder by Rangers and an elite investigative team made up of Major Cook, a woman investigator, a lawyer and a psychiatrist, some who have never shot a gun. As the evil sheriff continues to dump the evidence on the public and the team, the Rangers will not accept representation from them. How will this unfold? With lots of twists and turns and I could not stop turning the pages; the psychological drama keeps the book moving. A great summer read!

View all my reviews

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my daughter in law Alicia for another great book by Elin Hilderbrand! I loved Summer of '69, both the historical perspective and the comparisons and contrasts of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Exalta's large family lives on Nantucket every summer but that is not happening this summer. Kate's son, Tiger has been drafted in the Vietnam War, Kirby has decided to work on Martha's Vineyard, and Blair is stuck at home largely pregnant and having marital problems. Jessie and Kate will be staying with Exalta for the summer where there are lots of secrets, too much drinking, and new adventures for 13 year old Jessie. I ached for Tiger's time in Vietnam and the sense of loss for him especially by his mother and sister, Jessie. The summer job and lives of Jessie and Kirby were drama filled (loved the women's lib, Woodstock, Betty Friedan) while Kate suffers by drinking to numb her pain. Exalta rules with an iron hand and her racism and beliefs chafe terribly with Jessie. But the journey and adventures and growth in this family with new friends like Pick, Patty and Darren makes this a can't put it down historical fiction beach read!

View all my reviews

Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1) by Cassandra Clare

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the audio narration of this latest new series awesomely narrated by Finty Williams but my major peeve with the plotline was the Grace-William debacle (spoiler alert) and the fact that it continued for the whole book really irritated me profoundly. Since when do these awesome ShadowHunters not notice something wrong the whole book!!! Not one of those awesome characters like Will, Tessa, Cordelia, Lucy, Jesse, Christopher, Matthew and James questions the bracelet on James' arm (how he changes when it is on and when he no longer wears it) and Grace is just so creepy all the time. So no, I do not think during this time of Covid will I pursue this series; there needs to be more to hope for in this series and Grace needs to be gone as a character!

View all my reviews

Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another thank you to Alicia (my daughter in law) for this scary, but needed book! Susannah's mystery illness grabbed her, throwing her into seizures, anger, rigid walking, not eating, highs and lows, but not easily diagnosed. She is a journalist and her captivating writing along with her father's notes, her medical files, notebooks her divorced parents used to keep up with her harrowing descent into madness, tells unflinchingly her awful dilemma of being misdiagnosed until one doctor figured out why her brain was on fire. A must read!!!

View all my reviews

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my daughter in law for this heart stopping romance between Lucy and Gabe while students at Columbia. They are wildly in love with one another but since they were blind-sided by 9/11 they want to give commitment and service and make their mark in their jobs. Gabe is offered a job in the Middle East and Lucy has her career as director of a children's show in New York and neither is willing to follow the other. As Lucy tells their story, even as their lives change and move away from each other, they are still very connected. I could not put down this book; will Lucy and Gabe find each other?

View all my reviews

Don't Walk Away (DreamMakers, #3) by Vivian Arend

Don't Walk Away by Vivian Arend
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this 3rd book in the DreamMakers series between Dean Colter and long lost love Emma Lee.

View all my reviews

Reading With Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship by MIchelle Kuo

Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship by Michelle Kuo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my wild librarian group for this gripping read! Michelle Kuo is a very special, committed teacher who working in the Delta as a Teach America teacher, who has a life changing experience as she struggles to reach the poor, reluctant students in Helena, Arkansas. Over the disagreeing, but loving immigrant parents, Michelle becomes entrenched with Patrick, a student who has a poor attendance in school, a father with questionable parenting, and a mother he loves very much (she also is the only working parent). As Michelle begins to see Patrick as special and promising, she leaves for law school. When she finds out Patrick is in jail for murder, she returns and tries to help him through reading, writing and poetry. I could not put this heart breaking book down and it was due to Michelle's writing, her personality and her commitment that she and Patrick connect and begin a life long friendship.

View all my reviews

There's Someone In Your House by Stephanie Perkins

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the slasher mystery Perkins crafted, also the romance with Makani and Ollie (which her friends did not LIKE at all), and the creep factor of things being out of place was chilling. Can't wait for another Perkins book!

View all my reviews