After the Fall (The Fallen Men, #4) by Giana Darling

After the Fall by Giana Darling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A continuing series about King Kyle Garro and Cressida Irons, and the Garro family and motorcycle gang. Spellbinding!

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Fallen King (The Fallen Men 5.5) by Giana Darling

Fallen King by Giana Darling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A novella that is just WOW!

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The Measure by Nikki Erlick

The Measure by Nikki Erlick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Julia Whelan's narration was perfect! But I did not really enjoy the "whole" string thing. I was riveted by the stories (Ben, Amie, Nikki, Maura, Jack, Havi) but I just could not warm to the idea/mystery of the strings appearance and the havoc they wreak. It was thought provoking but I did not want to think deeply into the strings and all the ancillary facts, issues, mysteries...and this book made me do that time and time again as the many arguments and persuasions are presented over and over again. I would have really enjoyed a novel about all of these characters (minus the strings), sorry!

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One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner

One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this latest and greatest book from Ben Gartner! He sucks the reader right in with the first page, "I'm pretty sure I'm about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half." Fin is a stellar protagonist, with his thoughts, actions, and words. Yes, he has doubts and insecurities but he is a strong character and along with his other "friends" on the Aether pacecraft, these young science geniuses and space lovers (Mae, David & Kal) are the first to win the StellarKid Project and travel to the moon, and the International Space Station. I loved all the information I learned about outer space and the space program, this book should be read by adults, young adults and middle grade readers! They will enjoy the perfect amount of tension and suspense that keeps the readers turning the pages. What happens when the winners and their families and the NASA crew go to space? Read all about their adventures! Highly recommended!

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All the Broken Places by John Boyne

All the Broken Places by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Milly Neff for recommending this awesome Holocaust book! Oh boy, I loved this novel, but I really tried to like Gretel Fernsby, but her life, her history, her personality kept me reading---but I did not really like her throughout her life from childhood to adulthood. I loved 91 year old Gretel though and this book moved back and forth in time, so chilling, haunting, and sad. Gretel's past has tormented her whole life but as the 91 year old now living in England, I loved these parts of the book most because Gretel has become a caring, forthright, dame who befriends a new family in her complex that calls upon her (demands) to question her own guilt, complicity, and all that she has spent her life running from and can she really help protect violence? A must read!

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A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great science fiction middle grade novel about a rover, named Resilience, who has developed "human" feelings from two of his scientists, Rania and Xander, as he is prepared for his mission to Mars. I loved Warga's writing - authentic, empathetic, and genuine. The plot was exciting, so humorous, and the "characters" like Fly, Res's drone and Guardian, a space satellite, as their adventures proceed from NASA to a Mars exploration & hopefully recover another rover from the past. Readers will love this brave rover, his thoughts, his words, and his actions. Highly recommended!

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Tumble by Celia C. Perez

Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great cover and such a good, important read for middle grade and YA! Adela lives with her mom and Alex (her mom's boyfriend and the only father she has ever known) when they approach her with Alex's wish to adopt her. What this sets off is Adela looking for her real father--one question her mother has refused to answer ever! So when Adela and her bestie decide to look for her birth certificate they find GOLD--a picture of her mother and real father with a small Adela. As she begins the search for her father so much hits her and she is also in her school play the Nutcracker and knows her mom & Alex want an answer to adoption. I loved Perez's writing, her characters, and the food (oh so yummy) as this 12 year old braves finding her father and his family of wrestlers. This is a must read for all; the wrestling expectations (and history) in this family, her grandfather who does not remember, her mother who is still fighting her on anything about her father, and her father, Manny, who wants to be the son his father has demanded back in his prime. The family dynamics were wonderful, heartbreaking, and real. Highly recommended!

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