Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book for #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenge because the book has a Color in the title. Wow, this YA retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story was nail biting. Bisou is a young girl who is raised by her grandmother after her mother is brutally murdered and it is not until one fateful night with a wolf chasing Bisou that her world changes. I loved how Arnold used female characters coming together and working together as a strong force for women. A great retelling!

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Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick

Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this for the #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenge and an #Own Voices story. Frankie is 13 years old, neurodiverse and her perception of the world is definitely different from others. She sees a therapist and takes medications, but ends this when she overhears her best friend, Collette and sister, Tess and another friend talking about her. Rather than confront them, she bottles it up, and she distances herself from them. Because Cat is neurodiverse she does not tell the reader that she has a twin (and this twin is also friends with Collette) and this is the way her brain works, and middle grade students will be drawn into her story that is about family, friendship, lies, secrets, and trying to figure things out. I learned so much from Frankie, but also from her sister, Tess, but the way they interact raises many questions because of the way Frankie is--compulsive, shouting out, hating being touched, and many more of her challenges. A must read!

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An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just love Julia Whelan narrated books and this YA magic/fantasy was a nail biter as Isobel, an artist who paints for the fair folk. She is in demand and her price is not money but enchantments to protect her family. Gadfly has been her patron for many years but informs her the Autumn Prince is coming to have his portrait painted. Little does she know she has already met him the day before in the forest as she was being pursued by a hellhound. While she is painting Rook, the Autumn King you feel the slow burn of their attraction and ease with each other. Once the painting is done and shipped to Rook, Isobel feels his absence even though humans and fair folk should never mix. Imagine her astonishment when an angry Rook summons her to a trial in the Autumn Court because she changed his portrait. But so much happens, the hellish adventure begins and there is fear constantly because they are being pursued...I loved this audiobook!

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From You To Me by K. A. Holt

From You to Me by K.A. Holt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my Book of Choice for #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenges. I love K. A. Holt's books and this was not one of her novels in verse. Instead it is a gripping beautiful tribute to sisters, grief, friendship, and how to survive. Amelia's sister, Clara, drowned in the lake 3 years ago and Amelia is still crying and feeling very lonely. With her best friend, Taylor, they are going to take 8th grade by storm this year. When Amelia receives Clara's 6th grade letter to herself she decides to make each item come true for Clara. I rooted for Lily, her attempts to practice for softball tryouts, asking Billy to Kite Night, being nice to her mother, plan a prank and throw a party. As Lily becomes friendly with Twitch, and unburdens herself to Mrs. Grant, she begins a new kind of journey, living every day with her grief and memories of her beloved sister. Highly recommended!

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Noise: a Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Kathleen Raymundo

Noise: A graphic novel based on a true story by Kathleen Raymundo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Based on a true story, I assume this is based on Kathleen Raymundo's life but I was unable to find any information about the true story. I loved the bright illustrations; Cathryn's eyes and her hair were realistic and as a 7th grader who does not like noise, she meets new 4th grader Tyler on the bus. She rebuffs Tyler when he asks too many questions. Cathryn resolves her spurning of Tyler and learns important information about Tyler. Cathryn and Tyler become school bus friends. Caring about others is represented perfectly with words and illustrations.

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The Coldest Case: A Black Book Audio Drama by James Patterson

The Coldest Case by James Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first audiobook by James Patterson about Detective Billy Harney (father and twin sister are police too) narrated by: Aaron Paul , Krysten Ritter , Nathalie Emmanuel , Beau Bridges , and a full cast, I loved the characters as the knuckle bearing story of Harney's investigation of a drug ring which involved in addition to police work, the use of social media, technology, and gaming. The only problem I had with the audiobook was the background sounds many times overwhelmed the narration by being too loud or too long. But I loved the conspiracies which involve those with power and money and even police corruption. A taut, mesmerizing audiobook!

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Namesake (Fable, #2) by Adrienne Young

Namesake by Adrienne Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 2nd and final book in Young's duology! There was no stopping in the adventure, suspense, and horror as Fable is ensnared in constant traitorous allegiances as she tries to save her beloved boat, Marigold and her love, West and his crew (her family), her father, Saint, from her grandmother, Holland. I could not stop turning the pages but oh did I love every time Fable drew in her breaths to go deep into the sea looking for gems and the elusive Midnight. As Fable finds out more and more about her mother and Clove, she wonders if she ever knew both of them. So many surprises and so many schemes, teens will love this series! Highly recommended!

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Anonymouse by Vicki Van Sickle

Anonymouse by Vikki VanSickle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the colors in this fun picture book; someone is drawing art all over for the creatures. In pinks, white, and black --VanSickle's book is a treat for all and will bring a smile on each page. But who is creating this art? Turn the pages...and prepare to be happy with the art.

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Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, just as I finished Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic (adult book about child sexual abuse) I read this as part of #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenge because my librarian friend, MaryAlice, recommended it along with another book I will be reading for this challenge! Della and Suki are burned into my heart; they have had a tough life and it is about to get much more difficult. When their drug addled mother has a psychotic break and burns a hotel room down while doing meth---Della and Suki were there. When they are taken into protective custody their mother's boyfriend arrives and sweeps them away. Clifton drives a tractor trailer all week and comes home Friday nights. the way Kimberly Brubaker Bradley unfolds this story about sisters is gripping...When Clifton tries to sexually abuse Della, Suki sweeps in with a cell phone taking pictures and quickly sends to next door neighbor, Teena. The girls are placed in a foster home with Francine, going to a new school, a trial and trying to deal---but as we learn from Della---her sister Suki is always her protector, singing to her and taking care of her since age 6---but who is taking care of Suki? As Suki gets a job at Food Giant, tries to ignore her friend, Teena, and keep her away from Della, Della begins noticing/remembering things (both past and present) about Suki and she grows concerned, so is foster mother, Francine but no one seems to hear their cries and act on it. This was a harrowing book to read, process, and follow along as these traumatized sisters deal with abandonment, drug abuse and sexual abuse, suicide, the foster system, bullying in the classroom, consent and much more...but the author's words, characters, and plot are all strong, important, authentic, and compassionate. A must read for all in the school system teachers, guidance counselors, school nurses and principals and the middle grade and YA reader and parents. This book tells the reader how often this occurs, urges healing through therapists and doctors, and encourages speaking up (sometimes maybe again and again until you are heard) and always the power of love in healing. A must read!!!

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Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by: Emily Ellet this audiobook was thrilling and exciting and the narration was perfect. Elizabeth is an orphan/foundling who lives at the Austermeer Library caring for the books that hold grimores that are demons. She has been raised to despise and fear sorcerers and wants to become a warden. When her beloved director is murdered and Elizabeth is accused, so begins a relationship with sorcerer Magister Nathanial Thorn and his demon, Silas that will turn her world upside down and she will learn everything she thought was true and real WAS NOT! Elizabeth was such a fierce, awesome protagonist. She was not afraid to fight, she was propelled forward to investigate an evil magician who has everyone fooled and will stop at nothing to win. I LOVED THIS BOOK! I loved Elizabeth, Nathaniel, Silas and her good friend Katrine. Teens will love the magic, the evil, the sorcery.

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Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic

Dark Horses: A Novel by Susan Mihalic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, just Wow! Mihalic's debut was stunning, gripping, terrifying! Roan is only 15 years old when this novel begins but she has the maturity and tenacity of an adult; a much older, time worn woman. Being raised by totally normal looking parents; they are a scary dysfunctional family with few redeeming qualities. Her mother is an alcoholic, a beauty who no longer models, hates her husband and daughter because she feels they chose each other and not her. Poor Roan does not know why her mother can't love her; she even told her about the abuse from her father and it fell on deaf ears. Roan has been lashed to her father since she was a child; he controls her every movement. She is an award winning equestrian (just like her father) but there are strings attached, and in order to survive Roan places aspects of her life in boxes in order to deal. As she grew up the abuse continued and with it threats--her father killed her dog, threatens to take away beloved horses, and punishes her when she falters. Add to this a high school friend who becomes someone special and life becomes filled with more and more secrets threatening to explode. But Roan has been groomed by the best, her father and along the way she has learned to become skilled in deception and as her life with her father collides with Will Howard, Roan tries desperately to live with her father's expectations and her interest in this new boy's attentions. I could not stop turning the pages while I was entranced by the world Mihalic created of the beauty of farms, horses, and competition. I rooted for Roan and hoped her resilience forged from her father's demands would help her find her way to a life she deserved. A must read about family dynamics, sexual abuse, and the power of love. Highly recommended!

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The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, what a read--I was shocked and saddened by the many decisions of the mothers and daughters in this historical fiction novel about passing, families, racism, and history. The Vigne twins live in Mallard, made up of only light skinned blacks, their family unit is torn apart when their father Leon is murdered before their eyes, taken to a hospital because he is not dead, and the same white killers finish the job. Imagine your happy life is swept away by racism and it is never explained to you as 10 year olds and how that shatters and changes you...thus begins this awesome historical fiction look into passing and the life changing decisions Desiree and Stella make when they flee Mallard for New Orleans. Flashing back and forth between characters and years this book consists of 6 parts dealing with time periods of 1968, 1978,back to 1968, 1982, 1985 to 1988 and last 1986. This must read says so much about all things---twins, sisters, family, racism, secrets, mysteries, love, and decisions. Mother, Adele, is racist but Desiree and her daughter Jude return to Mallard after her husband's continued beatings. Stella passes as white and marries (and lies to) Blake her boss, and her Kennedy is raised with so much but her Stella's lies change her and how she treats her daughter. Early and Reese (and Jude) are probably my favorite characters: they have pasts but they live with them better than everyone else in this taut, sad, visceral novel. I loved the dynamic between Kennedy and Jude; hated Stella--she was evil in so many ways but she chose her life and all it did was provide loneliness, alcohol, and a warped woman. I wished Desiree and Early the best and Jude and Reese; I would love another novel about their love and life with each other. A compelling book, I will be discussing this with my Albright College Zoom club Wed 3/31, I can't wait!

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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, loved this awesomely narrated YA mystery by: Bailey Carr , Marisa Calin , Michael Crouch , Gopal Divan , Robert Fass , Kevin R. Free , Sean Patrick Hopkins , Carol Monda , Patricia Santomasso , Shezi Sardar , Amanda Thickpenny , full cast! Pippa is a nice, friendly girl who embarks on a senior thesis to solve the 5 year old death of Andie Bell. And from the first page, I was in!!! Pip gets full into the project and as her list of suspects grow, the reader is totally enthralled with Pip's mind, her research, her questioning of suspects (they don't all know they are suspects). I loved the thread of Ravi, Sal's brother who helps Pip with her investigation, supporting her, and wanting the truth to free his brother as the murderer. There is trolling social media, pouring through old investigations, conning others by following their my friend phone apps...as Pip slips deeper and deeper into the project, not telling anyone about the threats and exposing herself and family and friends to the fiend who does not want to be identified, the suspense continues to build. A great mystery!!!

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Charming As A Verb by Ben Philippe

Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd book of Ben Philippe's is a must read; realistic, humorous but angst ridden about the college acceptance process, readers will love the saga of Henri and Corinne's friendship/romance. I loved Henri's dog walking job, his sneaker design obsession, his debate prowess, his friendship with Ming, and his popularity in school. BUT I did not like his obsession with Columbia and his all around weirdness! I loved Corinne's refreshing honesty, her index card system, her dog, Palm Tree and her blackmail of Henri. YA readers will love this book- the friendships, the family dynamics, the senior year drama will have them turning those pages! A must read! Highly recommended.

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The Unbreakable Child by Kim Michele Richardson

The Unbreakable Child by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, what a book; Kim and her sisters' go from a drug addicted mother to the St. Thomas / Saint Vincent Orphan Asylum in Kentucky where she endures a decade of beatings, torture, and spewed invective from nuns and priests. When her sister implores Kim to enter a lawsuit against this orphanage and those in power who abused 40 children. While I admired this courage from Kim, she also shortchanged herself by ignoring those who asked her to consider counseling. Maybe writing the books was her counseling but with her supportive husband and their enduring love I know Kim would find some solace. The way she shut down during the questioning by the lawyers during the deposition was enough evidence that she was not thinking correctly, counseling would have helped her---but Kim has decided to go this alone. A must read but tormenting, and life destroying for those 40 orphans, readers will be up ended with the evil that lived in those poor childrens' lives during the 1960s.

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GodPretty in the Tobacco Fields by Kim Michele Richardson

GodPretty in the Tobacco Field by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not stop listening to this amazing historical fiction audiobook, excellently narrated by Katie Schorr, this story of Nameless, Kentucky involves RubyLyn, adopted by her uncle Gunnar, who is a mean, nasty father figure to her. He was fired as an executioner and raised RubyLyn without affection, always having her mouth washed with acidic liquids because she speaks her mind to her uncle's strict requirements. She is lifelong friends (and more) with black neighbor Rainey who works for Gunnar and lives with his Mom. But for all Gunnar's negativism, RubyLyn is a positive, honest girl in a racist town. I did not like the way this book unfolded but it was reality in 1969 Kentucky. I have read and loved all of Kim Michele Richardson's book despite their horror, they were a real picture into the hard scrabble life of uneducated, biased, poor Kentucky backwoods people.

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Bridge of Souls (City of Ghosts, #3) by Victoria Schwab

Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I will read & LOVE anything Victoria Schwab writes and this 3rd in the City of Ghosts series was terrific. Cassidy and her best friend/ghost Jacob have come to New Orleans with the Blake parents TV Show, The Inspecters, to tour and spread their knowledge of cemeteries, mysteries, and legends in the city that never sleeps. But there are many unexpected surprises; with the help of her inbetweener friend, Lara and the secret society, will they ALL be able to stop the Emissary Death from stalking Cassidy? I could not put this humorous, horror mystery down! A must read!

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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG! I loved this book! If you have read Daniel Jose Older's fantastic Shadowshaper series and Zoraida Cordova's awesome Brooklyn Brujas series, you will LOVE this book! the difference is it takes place in Los Angeles and involves a transgender boy, Yadriel and his best friend, Maritza, as they try to find out who killed cousin Miguel, how to deal with Yads and his mistaken summoning of Julian and most importantly prove to his father (and everyone else), the head of the community of brujas and brujos, that Yads should be recognized as a brujo and accepted by the brujx community (practicing brujx with powers to heal and speak to spirit/ghosts) . I could not put down Aiden Thomas' beautiful book with bigger than life relatable characters, themes of friendship, the importance of family and the rich Latinx culture. Superb, a rewarding must read!

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The Crooked Street (Frost Easton, #3) by Brian Freeman

The Crooked Street by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book until the ending, I love series and there are many times the endings are cliff hangers, both good and bad, but this one was bad and upsetting and annoying! That is the end of what I am going to say about the ending because I loved the rest of the book and will not give a bad review, but I am definitely going to write to Brian Freeman. So, Frost is taken back when old friend (but not a friend for years) Denny bangs on his door near death and utters one word, Lombard. This begins a cat and mouse thriller where Frost encounters many problems. First and foremost is that a PI tells/convinces him this is just one murder among many that has a red snake spray painted (looking like the crooked Lombard Street in San Francisco) near the murder site. When Frost begins investigating there is another police man, Trent Gorham, who has been investigating the murders but does not believe the snake and PI investigations. As Frost begins to chase down leads and read the jackets of the other murders he begins to see/believe he cannot trust anyone, both on the force and in his daily life, except Herb his 70 yr old best friend (love him). I read this book in a day, it was thrilling, with anxiety the whole book through as Frost goes deeper and deeper into the lies, intrigue in search of the truth. I love Frost but I did not like that he was not taking care of himself---he was really getting beaten up, not going to the hospital and working without steam and taking care of himself--this is a recipe for disaster so I hope this gets resolved very quickly in the next novel because unfortunately nasty Lombard is insidious...and the cases do not get solved in this book.

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The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Narrated by Gary Furlong , Elle Newlands , Morag Sims , Imogen Church , Moira Quirk a friend recommended this book after I had read The Guest List. I did not enjoy this audiobook, I am not sure if I would have liked it any better reading it. Miranda was such an awful character and unreliable narrator that it diminished this mystery for me. A group of best friends from college rent a hidden away hunting lodge for a New Year's celebration of their friendship. Characters narrate present day and their times in university and the other characters' narration are of Heather and Doug (the hostess and scout of the lodge) and the pasts they fled from. Lots of psychological intrigue and guessing!

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The Voice Inside (Frost Eaton, #2) by Brian Freeman

The Voice Inside by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd book in the Frost Easton series was riveting; the reader learns more about the murder of his sister Katie since the murderer is let out of prison because Frost's boss planted evidence. Now it is a race against time to get this killer back in jail before he murders again. Read this in 1 day too because I could not put it down!!! How the women were targeted, how Katie was murdered and the sick brain of the murderer kept this thriller in my hands! A must read, now I am on to the final book in this must read series!

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The Night Bird (Frost Easton, #1) by Brian Freeman

The Night Bird by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Brian Freeman mysteries and this series does not disappoint! Frost Easton is an introverted good boy cop who doesn't fraternize with this co-workers. He is devastated by the murder of his sister Katie and this spurred him to go from lawyer to police detective. The premise for this 1st book in the Frost Easton series is that women are dying and it can be traced back to psychotic episodes which leads him to Dr Francesca Stein who helps her patients forget horrible memories by replacing them with new memories, thus the old horrible memories are vanquished, BUT are they really? I could not stop turning the pages as Frost chases leads to find out who is responsible and why? A stunner, taut psychological suspense had me finish this book in one day and I am so happy I have all 3 books in this series because I am jumping right into the next one!

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APlace to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this debut author awesome historical middle grade fiction as the final book I needed to read for my 2nd #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge for a book set in another country. I LOVED this book; the Pearce children won my heart, they were all heroes, and they were devoted to one another during such a scary time in London history with World War II and the approaching enemy. With the death of their grandmother, the three children are now orphans and her solicitor decides the best and safest place to be is with a group of children being evacuated away from London to the "safety" of the country. With William 12, Edmund 11, and Anna 9 they realize it is necessary for them to stay together but will pose a problem to find a home that will accept three children. I loved Kate Albus' characterizations; they were fleshed out- both the good and evil characters. There is humor as Edmund just can't control himself, tension as the children try to be the best occupants in each billet, and the psychological suspense with the highs and lows of wartime England and the children's secrets. Middle school readers will love the plot and setting as our three children yearn and try to find themselves A Place to Hang the Moon. The beauty and importance of family is superbly handled by Albus with each turn of the page! Highly recommended!

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