Vengeance Road (Vengeance Road, #1) by Erin Bowman

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Amy Rubinate, this audiobook has a kick ass heroine, Kate, who arrives home to their ranch to find her father hung. She sets off to get vengeance for those who killed her father, but she has always been told if anything happens to her father, she must go to Abe in Wickersham and he will protect her. She is given a letter by Abe's family, since he passed on 2 years ago and what she reads totally upends her world. I loved the 2 boys, Jesse and Will, the brothers who go with Kate to exact vengeance on her father's killers, the dastardly Rose gang. Taking place in the wild west, Bowman does a great job with the mining, gold, Indians, and characters affected by these times. Amy Rubinate's voices were spot on--she did Kate, an Apache girl, the two brothers all with different twangs and I loved her narration so much. You will root for Kate and not be able to stop turning those pages!!!

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Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

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

Just wow! I have read and loved everything Nic Stone writes, and this book is a must read by all, very ripped from the headlines, and even though fiction, so true in depicting LaQuan's life, his friendship with Justyce, his "bond" with his "brothers" in the Martel Organization, and his dysfunctional family and school life problems.
Just as I loved Dear Martin, so did Quan tear up my heart as I read his letters to Justyce, and followed his time in jail. The depth of all the characters is powerful, honest and kept me rooting for Quan --- I could not stop turning those pages! Adults and teens must read this book! Highly recommended!

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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spoilers will be in this review! I loved this book so much, as always with any V.E. Schwab book, this book was compulsive reading, and courageous in plot, theme and characters! Addie LaRue is a favorite character for me; she was strong yet vulnerable, passionate about music and art, determined to live life (learning languages and also more about her curse as time dragged on) while being doomed to never being remembered by anyone. What disappointed me about Addie was learning late in the book about her sexual relations with Luc. I thought Addie and I were on the same page with our hatred of Luc and his despicability. It bothered me to learn this after her relationship with Henry was threatened. I guess if I want to give her a pass I have to understand just how lonely she was all those years and she gave in to her insecurity and Luc's abusive dominance- because let's face it---he is the god of darkness and one she should have never made her bargain with...
There was so much beauty in the places Addie travels to throughout her life, even if she can't thrive always looking for lodging, food, money, books, etc I loved Schwab's worldbuilding and her characters---one of my favorites was Estele and her oneness with nature. I loved Henry and his band of friends.
I will be thinking about this awesome, compelling book---Addie and Henry and Luc (him unfortunately) for a long long time--highly recommended!

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The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Ani and her best friend, Weevil's, unwavering support of one another in Nielsen's crossover book (teens and middle grade) that has them being captured, sent to an island where only scourge victims go, and seeing firsthand the abuse of power that an out of control governor wields against unsuspecting victims and the people she governs. This book reminds me of some of the overwhelming feelings that people are grappling with during Covid; but Ani is an unstoppable force and I rooted for Ani, Weevil and their constant striving to find out what was going on on this island! Also, Nielsen keeps prominent throughout this book that these kids have families who care about them, that Ani ad Weevil (and prisoners on the island) are proud of their heritage---river people are not GRUBS and that all people deserve to be seen- even the wardens! This book is another winner from Jennifer A. Nielsen---highly recommended!!!

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Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvator and illustrated by Morgan Beem

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maggie Stiefvater along with brilliant illustrator, Morgan Beem has crafted a gripping graphic novel about opposite twin brothers visiting down south before college. I particularly liked shy but steady Walker who loves plants and has ideas for experimenting. It has all the feels, magical realism, mystery, creepy woods, and complex. I am hoping the brothers' adventures will be continued in a 2nd book!

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Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast

Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Milly Neff for recommending Roz Chast's awesome, compelling graphic novel about her life with her parents as they age (so does Roz!!!) I have passed it on to my mother, who is 84 years old, living in a continuing care facility with my father---she will see some parallels and the laughs Roz generates with her illustrations and conversations!

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The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of my Albright College book club and this was chosen by Sue Murphy Bonnewell. As much as I am drawn to Holocaust books, during this time of Covid, I found myself putting the book down because it was so horrific hearing Mika's hellish story of her life in the concentration camps. It was interesting reading her book she was writing and reading to her best friend about a devil... I think Sage is a very flawed human being but I liked her and wanted her to find happiness and not settle because she thought so little of herself. I LOVED Leo and his passion for Nazi hunting, his interest in Sage and her story, then her grandmother's story; it was all so mesmerizing, but devastating! Jodi Picoult wrote novel I very much wanted to put down but could not; very thoroughly researched!!!

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Turn to Stone (Jonathan Stride, 5.6) by Brian Freeman

Turn to Stone by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Joe Barrett, this novella kept me hooked as a 5.6 mystery claims Jonathan Stride as he visits his hometown where his mother is buried (he is broken up with Serena) and sees a policeman kill himself in the cemetery. Needless to say he gets drawn in, the town cop hates his involvement but there are other bodies turning up, women who have been abused, and teens with secrets. Another awesome read in the Jonathan Stride series by Brian Freeman!

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BenBee and the Teacher Griefer by K.A. Holt

BenBee and the Teacher Griefer: The Kids Under the Stairs by K.A. Holt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

K.A. Holt has done it again; a superior middle grade novel in verse about kids who have summer school and their awesome teacher (---she wins them over!) Labeling them divergent learners rather than struggling students required to pass a state assessment test, they meet under the stairs and through all of their efforts and the computer game of Sandbox, begin to read and play sandbox...will it work? Recommended reading, you will laugh, love the novel in verse, illustrations as a summer changes kids and their teacher!

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Summer of L.U.C.K. by Laura Segal Stegman

Summer of L.U.C.K. by Laura Segal Stegman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to #BookJunkies, @Laura Stegman, @maestraw for recommending Summer of L.U.C.K by debut author, Laura Segal Stegman. Oh did I love this book and I know middle grade students will absolutely enjoy Darby, Naz, and Justin as they become friends, allies, and sleuths at summer camp. The fantasy/magic elements were mesmerizing and sucked me in. It seems only Darby, Naz and Justin hear the music playing, they are transported in flying carnival rides, and best yet, they can send each other mind messages! And the mystery of who Leroy Usher is and what he wants from the children spur them to become their best selves. Laura Stegman has crafted a superior debut novel that had me turning the pages, falling in love with these kids, and best of all, finding out there will be another book of their adventures, I am so excited and can’t wait. Highly recommended!


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The Bookshop on the Shore (Scottish Bookshop, #2) by Jenny Colgan

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this 2nd book I have read by Jenny Colgan and in the Scottish Bookshop series awesomely narrated by Eilidh Beaton!!!! Zoe is a mess, a single parent living with a selectively mute son in London barely making ends meet while his father, Jaz, does his own thing (not around and not helping pay for Hari's needs) and worse yet, Hari adores his father who calls his son, Bro! When things look really bleak Zoe gets 2 job offers in Scotland by way of Jaz's sister, Surinder (from the first book, Bookshop on the Corner). But as Zoe dares to hope things will get better she realizes the family she is the 7th Nanny for and live on the shores where the Loch Ness monster is sighted has many failings- an absent father, angry daughter, and 2 sons who all eat cereal with a mean maid who has lived and worked there all her life. But the reason you have got to love Zoe is because she has empathy, pluck and a can do attitude; there was lots of humor, sadness, and mystery in this book and I could not put it down. Even during Covid, this book kept me hopeful and rooting for Hari, Zoe and the kids! A must read!

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Troubles in Paradise (Paradise, #3) by Elin Hilderbrand

Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this whole series and Troubles in Paradise raced along exposing mystery, murder, romance, and drama. Irene and Huck are the perfect couple but they have their problems in this book and oh did I love the way Huck resisted all his natural instincts (because of his previous 2 wives---independent!) and just waited (and hoped and pined) for Irene. There was much going on with Ayers, Baker, Maia, and Cash and I enjoyed FBI agent Vasco too! I finished this book in a day and will now be passing this along as a must read and totally enjoyable series to my daughter-in-law, Alicia.

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Lilac Girls (Lilac Girls, #1) by Martha Hall Kelly

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Cassandra Campbell , Kathleen Gati , Kathrin Kana ,and Martha Hall Kelly, I loved this book but had to stop listening also because it was so gripping and upsetting with the horrors exacted upon Kasia, her family and friends at Ravensbrück during WWII. Mesmerizing were the voices of Caroline and Kasia and I hated Dr. Herta Oberheuser as she changed from a caring person to a German supporter of the Third Reich. The research was meticulous by Martha Hall Kelly and I will certainly be listening to or reading the 2nd in the series, The Lost Girls. For those interested in knowing more about WWII, the Holocaust, and a very dark period of history, this is a must read!

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Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Akemi Dawn Bowman's main character Rumi Seto struggles with grief after her sister dies and her mom sends her to live with Aunt in Hawaii. Grief manifests itself in many many ways and with Rumi she is angry, combative, mean (she is like this normallytoo) unlike her sweet sister Lea. In Hawaii, challenged by why her mother sent her away to suffer her sister's loss alone, Rumi meets an irascible next door neighbor and a teen her age, Kai (Half Korean/Half Japanese) and begins her journey to finish the last song she and Lea were composing. I ached for Rumi's loss, her sorrow over how she treated her sister in life and how she wished she died rather than Lea. But I rooted for her and so will the reader as she "tries" music (words and instruments), makes friends, questions her personality as well as her "romantic" feelings.

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Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd in the series is just as awesome as the first book!!! Darius has it all; a boyfriend, a place on the soccer team with friends who look out for him and a job at the tea shop he loves, until things begin to change. As Darius continues to struggle with his depression, he finds his dad is depressed again, he can sense tension in the house and doesn't know why. He is still be being bullied by Trent but his best friend, Chip is being nice to him now. Author Adib Khorram does such a stellar job with his characters, the plot and of course a high school setting. I really love Darius, his cousin Sohrab, his friends on the soccer team who understand he is gay and stand up to bullies. But in this book, the family struggles while his father has to travel, his mother is working long hours and Darius grandmothers are staying with Darius and he questions if they even like him! I look forward to more Darius books, BUT if there are no more, I will certainly read any Adib Khorram book because he gets teens, their drama, their mental and physical struggles. This book is a must read but also a must is Darius the Great Is Not Okay!!!

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Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles

Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Del sees a way to get his kindergarten crush, Kiera, but never realizes how tough the Purity Pledge will both mentally and physically, tax him as a boy as well as spiritually. His new group of friends as a result of the Purity Pledge become important to him in a way he never thought would happen. He sees new aspects of his family dynamics and questions himself and his decisions; this book touched on the subjects of peer pressure, male dominance and sexuality, family dynamics, friendship, and religious ambivalence while using humor and introspection. Another must read by Lamar Giles; I will read everything Lamar Giles writes!!!

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The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Torro and Daniel Kraus

The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Jenna Lamia, I was in love with the Devonian, Giles, Zelda, empathetic scientist Hostetler (really a Russian spy) and Elisa as they battled their lots in life and the mad man Strickland who was determined to tortured the asset until death. Elisa is a mute who works as a janitor, lives above a movie theater, and LOVES shoes! When she meets the asset, Elisa is drawn to the amphibious man and returns with eggs, record player, and sign language as often as she can sneak in. As time conspires (also Strickland conspires) for the asset, Elisa engages Giles to help her with saving the Devonian. OMG I could not stop reading this horror story suffused with magical realism. It was a race against time, would Elisa and her friends be in time to save this amphibious man??? I now must see the movie!!!

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