I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina

I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, Tony Medina's graphic novel sheds a light on the Black Lives Matter Movement, racial profiling, police violence, and minorities who are senselessly beaten, attacked and murdered and no one is held accountable. I liked the foreword by Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director 0f the Equal Justice Initiative, and delves into the horrid history of being of color in America. Tony Medina's Author Note is compelling and the Real Life Ancestors who appeared in the book. But I think even more impressive are the authors (on the back cover) who sing the praises of this graphic novel, the need for all to read it, and the power of this book now! I will certainly be reading Tony Medina's Resisting Arrest book too. I read this for #yabookchat and we will be discussing this heartbreaking book Monday 2/5 at 9PM EST, come join the discussion!

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The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I so enjoyed Neil Patrick Harris' voice in this new series & can't wait to discuss it with my twitter chat peeps Sunday 1/7 at 9PM EST #yabookchat. Using humor, magic, charming characters and an exciting plot, Carter and his "new" friends (let's say his first friends) use their friendship, magic and individual talents to foil a carnival gang who mesmerizes with magic then steals from anyone (and everyone) in the crowd. Harris' use of Leila's 2 dads is heartwarming, adoption, living on the streets, slimy characters all make for a rollicking good read. I also liked the Magic Tricks Harris shares throughout the book and his conversational banter kept me turning those pages. I can't wait to read #2, highly recommended!

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A Million Junes by Emily Henry

A Million Junes by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this enchanting romance/paranormal story for #yabookchat which we will discuss 12/3 at 9pm EST, come join us! This was such a great read; I loved Emily Henry's debut The Love That Split the World but I LOVED this even more- Henry's style of writing pulls me right in; the world of June & Saul with feuding families; the magic of her house with its ghosts (Nameless & Feathers ), Whites, coywolves who take shoes, and the all encompassing grief June still feels at losing her Dad. The characters were all fleshed out, whether they are alive (like June and Saul) or dead (like her Dad and all the O'Donnell partriarchs) strange, spellbinding and all too real. The different "loves" were powerful from friends like Hannah, to June's mom and Toddy, June & Saul and most magic- the memories of June with/and her Dad. I loved getting to know the million Junes and rooted for June and Saul to break the curse but just maybe reunite the O'Donnell and Angert families. Highly recommended.

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Bang by Barry Lyga

Bang by Barry Lyga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and loved this heartbreaking book for #yabookchat June 4 at 9pm EST (join our twitter chat). Sebastian was 4 years old when he shot and killed his infant sister- ever since then - he has felt guilty - his mom is always sad, his dad left, and no one talks about it. Ten years later Sebastian is still suffering, has one friend (his family does not like Sebastian for the obvious reason) and he leaves for summer leadership camp. While Sebastian talks/listens to the voice he plots when he will end his life - but with a new girl Annesa moving in - many many things change for Sebastian - he can talk to her, he loves her and her family - will Sebastian's life, and outlook with this new friend change? Another powerful read Right Behind You by Gail Giles will shock you and rock you.

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AList of Cages by Robin Roe

A List of Cages by Robin Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this wrenching book for my monthly twitter chat book club #YAbookchat and oh was it powerful, crushing, and spoke deeply of the power to wound and try to thwart goodness. Julian is young when his parents are killed in a car accident. Julian is a sweet child who was loved deeply by his parents. When they die, Julian ponders just what their death means, where do they go, and what is his mission in life - but since he does not ask anyone these questions but himself, he has no answers. In shock, he is a foster child living with Adam and his mother and slowly begins to heal until his uncle comes to claim him and claim him he does. Russell is a monster who mentally & physically tortures Julian with lies, fists, and a VERY warped way to make Julian be a man. For anyone to do what he does, Russell has to be mentally ill and the fact that he is able to take Julian's sweet fragile life and make Julian believe he is worthless, a problem that no one wants is abhorrent until the day Adam comes back into Julian's life. Adam is popular, loved Julian like a brother until 5 years before when Julian was taken away, never allowed to visit Adam and his mom and now is skipping school on a regular basis. Will Adam be able to rescue Julian? It can't come quickly enough. Taut, psychologically unnerving, Julian needs the beautiful person Adam JUST is. Adam has the ability to be happy, kind, and positive. Along with his huge gang of friends I rooted for Adam to pull Julian in with all his love, friendship and brotherhood!!!

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The Secret of a Heart Note by Stacey Lee

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165389-the-secret-of-a-heart-note" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">The Secret of a Heart Note by Stacey Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for #yabookchat twitter chat 1/1/17 at 9PM EST, join us for a discussion of this great book! Mimosa and her mom are the only 2 women who can create love potions and boy do they have the perfect noses to smell out the right feelings (smells like blueberries = sadness) and a few acres of flowers, bushes, weeds to crush, grind and produce the elixirs! There are pluses and minuses Mim deals with - she wants to be an ordinary teen (Mom won't allow it) go to high school (which Mim negotiated with her Mom with many caveats - if Mim can't do her job, then no school!!!) join clubs (can't too much time away from being an aroma expert) and have friends (she has one, but oh is she a GREAT friend). I felt really sorry for Mim and rooted for her all the way through her mistakes, quandaries, growing romantic feelings for Court and all the bad decisions she makes trying to be just what her mother has brought her up to be (can you tell I do not like her Mom?!?). But Stacey Lee has written a many layered book that has you laughing and crying while also getting a peek at Court's family and friends, high school atmosphere, loneliness, responsibility, and the complicated smells associated with feelings. Lee's descriptions of gardens, parks, the beach, the ocean and high school were lush and authentic. Loved the ending; a must read.

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Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for my virtual twitter book club #yabookchat which will occur Sunday, June 5 at 9pm and oh did I love this book & highly recommend this to guidance counselors, teachers, nurses, parents. Riley Cavanaugh is a teen who is gender fluid, has been bullied at one school and has now started at another school. Problem is, Riley is not out to friends, parents (father is running for re-election) but on the advice of therapist Doctor Ann, begins a secret blog as Alix and goes from one to many thousands of followers. As Riley navigates the new school, makes a few friends, but also many enemies, what will happen to Riley/Alix as life gets in the way. I could not put this book down. The character of Riley, her friends Solo & Bec are fully believable/lovable characters as football player Vickers & hater friends are truly bullies, and evil. The author, Jeff Garvin has written an insightful book that will help teens who are struggling with gender identity, anxiety, and depression. His resources at the end of the book will help teens. Highly recommended.

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Booked by Kwame Alexander

Booked by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad I read Booked for a twitter chat; we had quite a lively discussion on this book and I highly recommend it to boys, girls, middle grade and high school. Kwame Alexander is just the most awesome author when it comes to novels in verse. His perfect use of words to get his meaning across, allowing readers to infer, and tell a realistic story about a boy, his friends and parents, and his love of soccer, was perfect. Nick Hart is an 8th grader who loves soccer, likes a girl in his dance class, has a great friend in Coby, and is just trying to figure out who he is. Kwame Alexander has penned another book kids will relate to, love and keep passing around to their friends to read. I liked his treatment of the adults in Booked, especially Mr. Mac, the librarian who was front and center, excited about books and his students and went the extra mile. Nick's mom was awesome too- she knew her son, kidded around with him, played games and practiced hard with Nick. Things were not easy for Nick but with all his family and friends, he is able to work his way through life, school, and bullies. Highly recommended!

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Faceless by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Faceless by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this novel as part of #yabookchat twitter discussion. When we meet Maisie, she is enjoying a morning run, loves being on the track team, loves her boyfriend, Chirag and best friend, Ellen. As she finishes her run, she stops to enjoy the morning when a lightning storm hits, and that is all she remembers until she wakes in a hospital and part of her face is gone. Together with her parents she accepts getting a face transplant; the many pills and routines that will become part of her life FOREVER. It is during this time, summer and school is out, that I really started not liking Maisie. She did/did not want to see her boyfriend (who she thought about ALL the time) and best friend. She withdrew further and further, became insolent, angry, and lashed out at her parents and friends. It is was only in the final part of the book (I thought it should have happened much sooner) that Maisie joins a therapy support group- BOY did she need it; that she finally started coming around, figuring things out (lots of discussion) with her support friends, then slowly with her best friend and even slower with her ex-boyfriend and I really thought Maisie was a good person once again like she was at the beginning of the book. Teens will love this book, but I wished Maisie had sought out help MUCH sooner, thankfully she had tight, loyal friends.

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Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fantastic rip roaring good read! As Kady & Ezra break up (this is a big thing) little do they know by afternoon their planet, Kerenza, has been attacked and the ex-lovers (barely speaking & angry with each other) are fleeing for their lives. What I loved about this sci-fi action drama was the high octane super charged way the authors accomplished this first in a series- using Memos, hacked documents (IMs, texts, emails), interviews, pictures, graphics all pull this story into a hold your breath drama where 1 girl (great with technology, doesn't work well with others & super bad ass) and 1 guy (team player, fighter pilot and still in love with Kady) fight together & separately to save those on The Alexander, Lincoln & Hypatia from a mutating disease, AIDAN's insanity, and still stay alive. I could not stop following the Kady & Ezra communications (OMG!!!) I am so looking forward to the 2nd book in the series! Kaufman and Kristoff create a thriller where everything is crazy and Kady & Ezra are very strong protagonists the reader just keeps rooting for! Highly recommneded!

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