The Fire, the Water and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maudie is an autistic middle schooler who looks forward to spending her summers with her Dad and the rest of the time with her mom and stepfather. This summer she has to keep a secret from her Dad & as soon as she arrives there are California wildfires that destroy his home. Her Dad decides to take them back to where he grew up, a beach town with waves and surfers beckoning to her. I loved Maudie, she was relatable as she tries to find strength to surf & tell the secret her mother warns her she must keep. I could not stop turning the pages; middle school kids will be turning those pages as they see & root for Maudie to succeed again and again.

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The Fearless One (Osborn Brothers Book 2) by Lori Foster

The Fearless One by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great mystery in the Osborn Brothers series & Diah, the main female protagonist & Memphis, the main male protagonist have a lot of chemistry going on- Memphis is opening a campground & hiring Diah seems like a a good choice. But both have secrets they are hiding...I could not stop turning the pages. A Must Read!

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Tom Lake by Ann Pachett

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the Albright College Zoom BookClub choice for April. I loved this audiobook read awesomely by Meryl Streep about family, friendships, love, life's journey, farming and acting. I loved Lara's "Emily" years as an actress and her romance with leading man, Peter Duke. Even better was Peter's brother Sebastian, tennis player & sideline support for his brother. Even better was her life after acting and Peter Duke with her three daughters, husband and their cherry farm. Highly recommended!

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In the Dark I see You: A Novel by Mallika Narayanan

In the Dark I See You: A Novel by Mallika Narayanan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Donna Compton for this thriller suspense! Audrey is a blind woman who finds her neighbor Sarah's baby, Nicole crying. Before she can get to the youngster, she finds her friend murdered. There are many twists & turns as we get to know the main characters, their friends, & people they work with.

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The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

The Eyes and the Impossible: by Dave Eggers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book, plot, and the animals, especially Johannes, who runs so very fast, and reports to the leaders and has many friends who help him in his duties- this is a book middle grade children, YA & adults will all enjoy! The pictures are beautiful as well!

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The Housemaid's Secret (The Housemaid, #2) by Freida McFadden

The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 2nd book in the Housemaid series; Millie is just as bad ass and now is so thankful to get a 2nd job with her past. But once again, there is much more going on in this house & behind closed doors. A must read; I can't wait for #3!

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The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book so much; you will just have to read it to see why! Middle grade with a math/science female protagonist and so much going on. Highly recommended!

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Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Simon Sort of Says: by Erin Bow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Simon; he has suffered a major trauma and as a result, his family moves far away. In this new town Simon makes 2 friends, is glad there is no internet and gets used to the new life while also being well aware what he survived. There was so much to love about this book; the plot, the characters, the funeral home hijinks, the farm, his pastor father all combine to give the reader a story so important you cannot put it down. You will laugh and you will cry but Simon's many messages will resound with ALL readers! Highly recommended!

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The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this with my Albright College Zoom Book Club. Narrated by Dominic Hoffman, this historical fiction has everything; racism, social class distinctions, family, friendship, sorrow, humor, and hope. But it is the way McBride tells this story of Jews & Blacks living in the Chicken Hill area of Pottstown, PA in the 1920s. I went to Albright College in Reading so I loved reading landmarks, cities, & hospitals in this compulsively readable book. I could not stop listening! The characters Chona, Dodo, Nate & his wife, Bernice, and Monkey Pants were my favorites but all characters were authentic. I rooted for the many subplots & McBride did not disappoint! This is a stellar must read; I highly recommend it!

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I Give You Peace by Diane DiSerafino

I Give You Peace by Diane DiSerafino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Donna Gola for giving this debut author book to read. I really enjoyed the plot and characters in I Give You Peace. There are many universes and Alex and Leonard are experimenting to bring world peace to New Philadelphia located in the Tertius universe. But things are not proceeding as planned for many reasons and as we meet a few of the subjects in this grand experiment the reader roots for "real peace" not enforced peace. I loved all the Philadelphia places, the cover is perfect, and technology must be watched. I look forward to other books by Diane DiSerafino!

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Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca

Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another Rajani La Rocca winner; this novel in verse about twin sisters with very different personalities was awesome; middle grade and young adult readers will enjoy the format, the girls' drama, and their summer camp escapades. Will Maya & Chaya find each other as their differences threaten to tear them apart? Highly recommended!

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School Trip (New Kid, #3) by Jerry Craft

School Trip by Jerry Craft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jordan, Drew, Liam, Maury, and their friends are going to Paris for their class trip. What begins as an exciting adventure at the last minute many changes. Going to Paris without their beloved teacher chaperones, what will their time in Paris be like- fun or torture? Loved this graphic novel of humor, friendship, and growth!

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Squished: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter

Squished: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great follow-up to Allergic---M W Lloyd's debut graphic novel! I loved the Lee family and there is always something going on with a family of 7 children and 2 parents. Avery is a responsible older sister, but this summer she wants her own room due to her sisters and brothers always needing her. But will Avery be happy with the outcome? A laugh a page!!!

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A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book---from the novel in verse & graphic novel format to the angst of a heavy middle grade student, Will, grabbed my heart and kept pushing my sorrow button. This is a must read for middle grade students!

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Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Being an only child isn't always great; Claire loves to read books and this summer she wants to do a lot of that but when her parents (who do not talk much to each other anymore) want to go to a vacation, Claire is all in. At a mother-daughter lunch Claire is astonished at a secret her mom has, but even worse---at that lunch her mom passes out & is hospitalized for a brain aneurysm. Will Claire be able to keep the secret and what will her mom be like after this??? A must read middle grade novel in verse based in part on the author's 2 brain aneurysms! Gripping and authentic!

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Iron Flame (Empyrean, #2) by Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG did I love both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame!!! I became thoroughly invested in Violet and Xaden's story because after all they are the main focus in both books besides all the other tings going on in the plot. Without revealing anything about the ending; I am a reader who really enjoys redemptive endings. Xaden and Violet have had many ups and downs in their relationship (& in their lives)---I beg Rebecca Yarros to really think about the 3rd book in the series and Violet & Xaden's love. Please write a redemptive book that gives hope...Yes, these books were violent, yes there are many evil characters, but write some kind of magic that will give Violet & Xaden a lasting relationship with their dragons that is not about killing but finding the truth.

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Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Donna Gola for her enthusiastic recommendation of this book! I could not stop reading about Violet's world, the dragons, her friends/riders (enemies too) in the Fourth Wing. Yarros did a wonderful world building, descriptions of Basgiath War College and the trials Violet & the other cadets must endure (many die) to stay alive and become riders. Violet is the daughter of the Commander so she already has a strike against her- she has brittle bones & is considered "frail" so why would her mother force her to become a rider rather than a scribe? This book will grab you from page 1, it is a very satisfying must read---and did I almost forgot about ruthless handsome Xaden Riosen, who also hates her? Get comfy and start reading this scintillating fantasy of dragons, lies, love, and friendship!

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Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Michelle Romash for continuing to bring this book up through 2023 as one to read. I still cannot stop thinking about it!!! I was so drawn in by William's upbringing (or not), his friend, Kent and others as he played basketball and of course, the Padavano sisters!!! This family has so much history together (while William has none). Julia targets him in college and from there it is Julia and Walter as a couple becoming a part of the Padavano family. But even more, I loved their father, Charlie so much with his poetic soul, calling his daughter Julia (and all the other sisters, Hello Beautiful). This book deals with so much, I could not put it down! I loved the family issues, the basketball theme, so much going on there, and the tenderness of love within all these characters. This will be a favorite book of mine!

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All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not put this book down!!! Seeing it on all the book lists, a black sheriff in the town he grew up in- Titus is a formidable law man, having a background of years with the FBI, when a beloved teacher is killed in a school shooting. But as the suspect (Titus is very familiar with him as a law man but grew up with & played football with his father) gives himself up; he says strange things that give Titus pause; and then his deputies shoot him. This opens up a lot of trouble for Titus in a Southern town that tight holds on past prejudices; when the truth comes out after finding evidence in phones, too many do not want to believe the teacher is a murderer and pedophile. I could not stop reading this book; I will definitely be reading S.A. Cosby's other books!!!

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Dear Mothman by Robin Gow

Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A tough novel in verse about a 6th grade trans child Nora but his close family and friends call him Noah at this request. Noah was best friends with Lewis and they were both trans; after Lewis dies in a car accident, Noah tries to deal with his grief by writing in a journal and leaving it at a favorite tree for Mothman, a cryptid Lewis & Noah believe in. How will Noah survive without his best friend, this is a must read for everyone!

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