These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, such a compelling read; I could not put this book down; so many great reviews had me push it to the top of my TBR list and I am so glad I did! I read this as part of #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge, Book set in Another Country, and oh was this Shanghai in the 1920s filled with gore, drama and chaos. Shanghai is a city being tugged at by 2 gangs, The Scarlets and The Whites, and now Russians are infiltrating and trying to unionize the workers in both gangs. Also there is a monster in the river that is making people tear out their own throats; following this mystery and how Juliette and Roma work together, despite their warring gangs, to save lives and end the monster. With the history of Shanghai, the scifi of the monster, I could not put this book down!!! I am trying to understand what the title means... but it is definitely one of my favorite series reads! There is so much visceral, deep seated hatred, anger, despair but also HOPE (in Juliette) and I am rooting for Juliette and Roma and can't wait to see what the next book brings. Highly recommended!

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A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner

A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great read! I read this as part of #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge (Direction in the Title) and 6th grader Silas Wade is such a likeable relatable character with lots of friends and a secret. When he researches Glenn Burke, a baseball player, he finds the challenges Glenn Burke faces on and off the field arresting and surprisingly hits close to home for Silas. With lots of frenetic energy, enthusiasm for baseball, and the need to stand out as the funny guy on his baseball team, Silas also has a strength and fragility. This is such a good book about being true to yourself, being honest and upfront ---Silas' challenges will ring true to middle grade readers; a must read!

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Micah: The Good Girl #2 (Flyy Girls) by Ashley Woodfolk

Micah: The Good Girl #2 by Ashley Woodfolk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and LOVED this 2nd book in a series, Flyy Girls, by Ashley Woodfolk as part of the #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge. I will also be reading the 3rd and 4th books in this series too! Micah is a good girl who goes to church all the time with her parents but she is also secretly seeing Ty at summer camp where they both have jobs. But the big part of this book is the anniversary of her brother's death which weighs heavy on Micah. She does not always want the attention, interest, or pity about her brother. When she sneaks into her brother's room and finds his sketchbook there is alot she did not know about her brother and she tries to find out. Teens will love this book, middle school will relate as well as it deals with friendship, family, romance, school and death. Despite the drama, there is redemption and the positive meanings throughout this series, I highly recommend it!

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Lux: The New Girl #1 (Flyy Girls) by Ashley Woodfolk

Lux: The New Girl #1 by Ashley Woodfolk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Teens will love this series about black girls who excel and love many different forms of art in an art school located in Harlem. I read the first book, Lux: The New Girl #1 (Flyy Girls) as part of the #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge, 2 Books by Same Author (I will be reading the 2nd one soon, can't wait!) Lux has anger issues, lots going on in school-bullying and fighting, and a Dad with a new family. As Lux is introduced she is fighting a girl who has been bullying her; Lux is suspended and her mom at her wits end, send Lux to live with her Dad with the threat if this new school does not work out she will be sent to military school. What follows is lots of drama for Lux as she navigates her new life with her father. Very readable and enjoyable!

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Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story by Lauren Myracle and Isaac Goodheart

Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story by Lauren Myracle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and LOVED this graphic novel as part of the #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge-Books with a Name in the Title. I loved Victor and Nora, both with devastating secrets, and the lead up (backstory) to Victor as Mr. Freeze in Gotham City verse...I really hope there are more graphic novels from Lauren Myracle, her words and the characters' interactions is simply compelling and I loved Isaac Goodheart's riveting illustrations; a must read!

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Brethless by Jennifer Niven

Breathless by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge for the One Word Title book. I love Jennifer Niven's books; they grab me, they dash me to the depths with sorrow and angst but always with hope, courage, and finding ones' self. Claude meets Jeremiah Crew after she and her mom run to seek solace from her father deciding to separate himself from Claude and her mom. Miah is an Outward Bound scout but he is so much more than that, as he honestly adores Claude (Captain is an affectionate nickname), sees the real Claude, accepts the real Claude and takes her on wonderful adventures that include so much more than sex; roaming the island historic homes, finding the ghosts, watching the tortoise's lay eggs, swim, ride bikes and so much more. Both are leaving in August for their future so they are very much aware they have no future; but what happens if they fall in love? Teens will love this book for the drama, summer fun, romance, family angst and so much more!

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Runaways Vol. 5: Canon Fodder (Runaways) by Rainbow Rowell

Runaways Vol. 5: Canon Fodder (Runaways by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVED this Rainbow Rowell graphic novel; I read it as part of the #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge. Los Angeles is in grave danger and Doc Justice recruits the Runaways as the J-Team to help him conquer the evil that threatens. Read this graphic novel to find out how our friends do when the time is right.

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Cloud Hopper by Beth Kephart

Cloud Hopper by Beth Kephart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Beth Kephart's books like Small Damages and Going Over and this gem is so so good. Three misfits living in a small town that lives hot air balloons sees and rescues a girl, cloud hopper who falls from the sky. Talking amongst themselves they try to find out more about this silent girl, where she is from, who she is and why no one is looking for her. I fell in love with K, Sophie and Wyatt, their friends and Sophie's grandmother. This is a must read that will be cherished by middle grade and YA readers. I read this book as part of the #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge.

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#Murderfunding (MurderTrending, #2) by Gretchen McNeil

#Murderfunding by Gretchen McNeil
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This 2nd book in the MurderTrending series has Becca devastated by her mother's sudden death, a teen (Steph) stalking her who informs her that her mom was Molly Mauler, one of the true serial killers on the Alcatraz 2.0 show. Yearning to prove Stef wrong about her mom, Becca and Steph, become contestants on the WELCOME TO WHO WANTS TO BE A PANIAC? reality show, becoming friendly with the other contestants, until the awful "reality" of this show makes them targets. Will the teens be triumphant and how much will be taken from them? This mystery received 2020 Teens' Top Ten and is a book I read as part of the #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge.

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