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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Pretty Funny for a Girl by Rebecca Elliott

Pretty Funny for a Girl by Rebecca Elliott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, #BookJunkies, @BecElliott, Peachtree Publishing Company and Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC for the advance reader copy of Pretty Funny for a Girl by Rebecca Elliott, in exchange for an honest review. I loved irrepressible, funny Haylah who yearns to be a stand up comic. In this time of Covid-19, Haylah, nicknamed Pig, made me laugh with her sardonic wit, laugh out loud jokes and humorous monologues. But Haylah does not recognize all the good things about herself. Since she is plus size, she is very insecure about her looks and confidence, but she constantly and valiantly battles her inferiority complex making her one awesome protagonist I rooted for on every single page. Her love for her brother, Noah, and her Mom is so nice to see in a YA book. She has two best friends who have her back, but her inferiority complex has her so wrong about their motivations and sincerity. When Haylah deems her mother’s new friend (love interest?) Rueben a no go because he doesn’t wear socks and has a big beard, she jumps in and pushes him out. Haylah learns so much when she begins to slip her own jokes into awesome, popular Leo’s locker and becomes a friend, muse, and maybe something more? Readers will love this book as they see themselves in so many of the characters in this must read, laugh out loud book! Highly recommended.

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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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The Wild Path by Sarah R. Baughman

The Wild Path by Sarah R. Baughman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @sarahrbaughman, #BookJunkies, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for allowing me to be an early reader of The Wild Path by awesome author, Sarah Baughman, in exchange for an honest review. Oh, did I love this book! I read this sad, ultimately hopeful middle grade novel in one day which crushed me and pulled me back to a positive place; I could not put it down! Readers will love Claire; how she deals with the loss of her brother, Andy, the angst of the support meetings she must attend, her quest to find out more about twelve-year-old Jack Hamilton and his horses, and her resolve to win first place in her History Project to save her beloved horses. Claire is truthful, introspective, and doing her best to weather a storm. With parents who care but are dealing with their fear for their son and their inability to pay bills, Claire understands but fears life without her beloved horses, Sunny and Sam. Sarah Baughman’s detail to plot and characters dealing with challenges, the depth of these characters, the beauty of nature, tackling drug addiction and family dynamics, proves this is an authentic book. Claire’s epic struggles with family issues, how she deals with her grief and pain while her brother is in rehab, the imminent loss of her beloved horses and finding an old box containing mysteries, and maybe answers, make this a must-read book!

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The Witches of Willow Cove by Josh Roberts

The Witches of Willow Cove by Josh Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @joshwhowrites (Josh Roberts), #BookJunkies, Owl Hollow Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles, for allowing me to be an early reader of The Witches of Willow Cove by debut author, Josh Roberts, in exchange for an honest review. I loved this middle grade magical mystery! Best friends, Abby and Robby, get the surprise of their life on Halloween when they ride a witches’ broom through the sky! Quickly Abby finds out she is a witch from Miss Winters (a witch herself) but posing as a substitute teacher. With Miss Winters urging Abby identifies five other witches, but everyone must keep this secret, which is a problem for Abby because this secret causes a rift in her friendship with Robby. Robby is perplexed by Abby’s behavior and they grow apart. What I totally enjoyed about this debut novel was the quick and suspenseful pace of the plot; I could not stop turning the pages. As Abby and her “new” witch friends learn more about their powers from Miss Winters, Abby is also trying to figure out what happened to Robby’s mom and most recently, the disappearance of Robby’s stepmom. At the same time, Robby is trying with two friends to find out more about the Abby, the witches and their history in Willow Cove. Is the disappearance of his mom and stepmom connected? The pacing of the plot, the mysteries as they are revealed, and the friends’ relationship drama was authentic and gripping. Readers will relate to the friends’ drama; both Abby and Robby do not want to expose their friends to any danger, so they keep secrets and this causes judgments on both sides. I really enjoyed this debut novel, the teen witches, and the past of Willow Cove which definitely includes witch history. What will happen to teen witch Abby and her witch friends? Readers will be treated to an exciting, suspenseful read; highly recommended!

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No Place Like Here by Christina June

No Place Like Here by Christina June
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to #BookJunkies and Blink for the advance reader copy of No Place Like Here by Christina June, in exchange for an honest review. Ashlynn Zanotti’s life is far from rosy; she has been punished by her very controlling father for a minor indiscretion (dating a bad boy) by being sent away to a boarding school. As her junior year closes, Ashlynn finds out her father is going to jail and her mother to rehab. Even worse, Ashlynn will be staying with her aunt and uncle and cousin, Hannah, all of whom she has not seen in years. But it is during this summer she spends at a retreat camp with cool, no nonsense Hannah, that Ashlynn begins to really begin to change and question her life. Ashlynn has been bullied by her father who controls her (also her mother) with fear and intimidation for so long that she is constantly internally angry yet compliant outwardly. As she works as a secretary to the camp manager, she uses skills she never knew she had and begins to grow and flourish. I loved the pacing of Ashlynn’s growth; the daily dramas she works through while at the camp kept me riveted turning the pages; rooting for her growing happiness within herself and hope for her future. I loved so many of the characters; Ashlynn’s best friend, Tatum, camp counselors Baxter and Ruth, and of course her aunt and uncle and cousin, Hannah. Ashlynn’s love of quotations was one of my favorite parts of this story; the quotes helped Ashlynn deal; she used the quotations to work through problems and brighten her outlook when life was drowning her in more challenges. I also loved how Ashlynn and her mom empower and support each other as the summer progresses. Teens will relate to the drama, the parental issues, and the importance of friendship and hope. Highly recommended!

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Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to #BookJunkies and Henry Holt and Company for the advance reader copy of Pie in the Sky by debut author, Remy Lai, in exchange for an honest review. What a delicious middle-grade book from debut author, Remy Lai. Using a funny yet poignant plot, glorious illustrations, and two main characters (brothers- Jingwen and Yanghao) you will never forget, Remy weaves a moving yet humorous (thanks to little brother, Yanghao) story of immigrating to a new country, the uncertainties of being the new student faced with a language barrier, and trying valiantly to make pies in order to “fix” things and make everything better. Bickering brothers constantly calling each other “boogers” are alone after school and into the night as their mom works in a bakery. Older brother, Jingwen, has a harder time grasping the English language, but he also fights committing himself to learning English, and once he hears classmates calling him “slow,” Jingwen isolates himself even more with his nose in a book inside school. But Jingwen and Yanghao have plans to make all the cakes their father was going to make in his bakery, Pie in the Sky, even though their mother has refused to let them use the oven and made them promise. Younger brother, Yanghao, is funny, but he is also positive, loves life, and has a better, quicker command of English than Jingwen, and he has made friends in school. As the two brothers bake the special cakes, Jingwen reveals their father died before they immigrated (it was on Sundays with his father that they baked the cakes); they have relatives and friends from back home, and the constant lies and omissions to their mother is wearing on Jingwen. As he sinks into despair (Jigwen blames himself for his father’s death), he also refuses to see/listen to his little brother about situations the language barrier is creating, further causing Jingwen to make rules they must adhere to each time they bake another special cake. I ached for Jingwen and rooted for his happiness becoming a good missing his father whenever he is happy. I loved the ending as the dread Jingwen feels, lifts, and becomes a happy, positive motivation where brothers, mother, and friends share “cake time.” A must read; highly recommended!

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Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca

Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @rajanilrocca (Rajani LaRocca), Yellow Jacket (an imprint of Bonnier Publishing USA) and #BookJunkies for allowing me to be an early reader of Midsummer’s Mayhem by awesome debut author, Rajani LaRocca, in exchange for an honest review. Wow, did I love this debut novel for middle grade children. Just let me gush about the beauty of LaRocca’s language – the descriptions of the foods (Indian, sweet, and salty) had me drooling; I wanted to eat (and bake) everything in this contemporary retelling mixing fantasy elements of fairies, friends, and the importance of family. The beauty of Mimi’s woods (the trees, herbs, and flowers) held me captive when I realized this was no ordinary forest. In addition, I loved strong, reasonable but mighty main character, Mimi and her passion for baking sweet treats. But Mimi feels outshined by everyone else in her family, has lost her best friend, and struggles with the baking contest she has entered. When new kid, Vik rescue’s Mimi in a tree; her summer turns into one of foodie love, a fast friendship, and many new adventures in her woods. With her siblings’ involvement in the summer play, Midsummer Night’s Dream, paralleling Mimi’s summer of mayhem, the reader is ensconced in Mimi’s world of sweet treats, family drama, and the magic of food and fairies. Food lovers, Shakespearean lure, and the diversity of Indian food, customs, and folklore will delight readers of all ages. You will also enjoy at the end; The Acknowledgements, Baking Terms and even recipes from the book; I am certainly going to be baking these mouth-watering treats! Highly recommended; get your copy in a store near you, June 2019.

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24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling

24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to #BookJunkies for giving me the privilege of reading Dusti Bowling's second awesome middle grade novel that will tug at your heart and make you laugh and cry. I will not soon forget what Bo, the bully, does to all the kids in the town of Nowhere. It was palpable the fear Gus, Rossi, and Jessie felt whether Bo was there or not. He took sick, awful behavior to a whole new level. Kids will love Gus and his friends, their adventures, their heart, and their will to survive. The setting of Nowhere was so vivid---dry desert, horribly hot, and a dead-end for most of those living there. But the mystery of the mine, the search for gold, and helping Rossi get her motor bike back begins to forge a special kind of friendship between these kids and I just kept rooting for them to succeed. Their pluck, resilience, and empathy will resonate with all kinds of readers. Highly recommended!

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Rayne & Dellilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner

Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Jeff Zentner, Random House Children’s Books and Crown Books for Young Readers, and #BookJunkies for allowing me to be an early reader of Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee. Once again, I was totally enthralled by Jeff Zentner’s beautiful writing and his memorable characters. Josie and Delia are the best of friends. They are very proud of their gig; hosting a public access show that spoofs horror movies, and boldly roasts their viewing audience. But life is getting in the way; decisions need to be made and there are curveballs being thrown at Josie and Delia. I fell in love with these two girls, who think alike, talk alike, and fiercely protect each other. But Josie has dreams that will take her away from Delia and people keep leaving Delia. The lives of these two friends held me captive and tore my heart in two. Josie and Delia had a weird kind of humor; they laughed often and hard. Josie was snarky, aloof, detached and her acerbic wit showed a girl who was in control. Delia was different; she was more fragile than Josie; her father left Delia and her Mom years ago life and they all suffer(ed) from depression. The Midnite Matinee was her coping mechanism, her life, and her hope her father would view it and return to them. What does the future hold for these two friends with heartache, hopes and dreams? Zentner builds a world where weird humor is a coping mechanism, where best friends with a love of bad horror movies struggle mightily to be true to each other. I rooted for Josie and Delia (they warmed my heart) teens will too; highly recommended;

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A Box of Bones by Marina Cohen

A Box of Bones by Marina Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this creepy, alluring middle grade story by Marina Cohen! Kallie is very comfortable in her skin, smart, and kind of a loner. When Kallie accompanies her grandfather Jess to a Local Festival of Fools she is confronted with some strange goings on beginning with a faceless man giving her a puzzle box. As she sets herself the task of unlocking the box’s secrets, Kallie is drawn into a mystery of another time and place where Liah is a bone carver in training who must overcome an evil empress with a box of bones. What readers will really enjoy about this book is the mystery and eerie plot that set Kallie and her friends investigating. Pole and Kallie have grown up together and are very much alike in their personalities. It is the new student, Anna and the fantasy book, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe that throw Kallie’s belief system into questions and turmoil. As the plot thickens and Liah, the bone carver’s chapters are interspersed; readers will be turning the pages as they race to find out how the stories, mysteries, and lies fit together. I particularly enjoyed Kallie’s discussion with her English teacher, Ms. Beausoliel about fact and truth especially “stories are the truth in our humanity.” I appreciate author Marina Cohen and #BookJunkies for sharing this novel with me in exchange for my fair and honest review. Highly recommended!

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