Marathon (Jonathan Stride #8) by Brian Freeman

Marathon by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Number 8 in this series kept me reading with the thrilling plot, old beloved characters and new good/bad characters! Stride is now married to Serena, YAY!!! Maggie has a boyfriend YAY!!! Cat enters a new time in her life all the while the Duluth Marathon is destroyed by a bomber; according to Dawn Basch #noexceptions, who whips the masses into believing a terrorist is responsible and then when Michael M tweets out the wrong bomber's picture, OMG, hold on for a gripping, sad, sometime hateful plot that kept the detectives chasing leads and forming their own hypothesis; I could not put this book down! Highly recommended!

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Walk the Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1) by Rae Carson

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Listened to and loved Erin Mallon's intense narration of this first in a series of the Gold Rush and a girl, Lee Westfall who has "witchy powers" and can sense/feel the presence of gold. She has a very happy family life with her mother and father and best friend, Jefferson until one day she comes home and finds her parents murdered! Lee is set to stay at home in her parent's home until her Uncle Hiram comes to claim Lee & the house as his own. It seems her father told his brother trustingly about Lee's powers & Uncle Hiram wants to use her. Jefferson follows the call of the gold and tells Lee he will wait for her at a certain spot and once Lee can't escape her uncle she rides as a guy to dodge her uncle and keep safe. Loved this audiobook & am now listening to #2, yay!!!

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If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout

If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my fave YA & Adult Romance writers! What's more, she is great friends with Sarah J Maas who I absolutely adore and the first page of this novel has main character, book nerd Lena reading Maas' series of Fae, A Court of Thorn & Roses!!! Lena has been in love with her neighbor since he moved in and now that she is a senior in HS she is looking forward to moving on to college. Sebastian is her best friend, visits her on her 2nd floor porch & talks long into the night in her bed. Lena keeps her feelings from everyone (but they see) and since she went out with Andre & he went out with Skylar, there is no way he would ever be into her. Until...one night at the lake she gives him a kiss & he jumps away & acts flustered. It goes from bad to worse and things are weird. Then one night she goes to a party with Sebastian, he says he wants to talk to her at the end of the night (uh oh). But this night changes everything when Lena goes home early without telling Sebastian, gets into a car with her 4 friends, and a horrible accident occurs. Everything Lena knew is gone, so many things have changed, and will she ever be able to make it back to being just Lena again. I love Armentrout's writing, I rooted for Lena and Sebastian, and felt this book will be a wake up call for teens. Decisions can be life-altering and this book deals with choices, grief, loss and being able to move on. Teens need to read this book. Highly recommend.

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Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends Candlewick for the ARC, Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore. I just love the way Anna-Marie McLemore writes, the title for this third novel is perfect! There is such gorgeous worldbuilding with the gardens of the Nomeolvides women consisting of grandmothers, mothers, and cousins who are bound to the land of La Pradera where to leave is to die. The flowers, their colors, their beauty (and magic) Estrella and her cousins nurture was also a restrictive world where generations of Nomeolvides women have been cursed and their lovers (male or female) were punished by disappearing forever. Estrella and her cousins, Azalea, Gloria, Calla, and Dalia are all fiercely in love with Bay Briar, whose grandmother owned the lands and gardens of LaPradera. Would their gifts to LaPradera spare Bay from their venomous hearts? Estrella finds a boy who has no memory of who he is or where he comes from. Together, the Nomeolvides women decide this boy, Fel, is a gift - maybe he is going to save LaPredera and hopefully bring back their lovers. They all decide to love him as a brother. So begins McLemore’s stunning novel with her special kind of magical realism in plot, setting, imagery, dialogue, and language. This book was lush, full of confusion, lies, secrets and the drama of families, loss, and love. I could not put down this mesmerizing world of flowers, willful Nomeolvides women, Fel’s grasping for memories and loving the Nomeolvides women. Highly recommended!

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Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios

Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This latest book by one of my favorite authors is gripping & concerns abusive relationships. Demetrios had an abusive relationship as a teen and she brings her voice achingly to the tale of Grace and Gavin. I really liked the way the story was presented- Grace begins by telling Gavin (and the reader) how long it takes her to start falling out of love with Gavin. Grace hates her life (Mom and The Giant are sadistic and horrible excuses for parents), crushes on guys, has 2 best friends who love her desperately, and wants to be a director (hence her life of school plays) & go to NYU. She is ripe for Gavin's notice, he is always the lead in the plays and plays guitar in his band. As they fall hard for each other, Grace can't believe he would like her, but she also has a strong constitution since she knows how to play the game with her parent's bs. But this also works against her too. As she falls in love with him, she does not see him as being manipulative, jealous, trying to isolate her. I rooted for Grace but I understood how she became enthralled by him, then loved him, and then could not escape his games. But I kept remembering when she called herself "an ass-kicking ninja warrior queen" & I knew she might hit bottom again and again but she (with the help of her friends and support of her sister) would drag herself up like the phoenix and rise again. I especially like The Author's Note with Heather's personal experience, stats on abuse, rape & sexual assault & places that can help. Girls will be passing this around & draw strength from Grace, her friends, and Heather Demetrios.

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Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a 5 star book for me until the last 2 1/2 pages. The book was beautiful in its world building (Lazlo's time with the monks, Weep in Lazlo's mind and the real Weep), characters (Hated Minya, loved Lazlo and Sarai and so many more) and the magic, fantasy, gods, and ghosts. Now back to my 3 star rating...this book was tantalizing (some in a good way but also some in a bad way) and since Lazlo's life was tough but as a dreamer he always searched for the good in everything...hence the ending completely undid me and since the story was steeped in the darkness of the Godslayer and the daily world of the blue gods and goddesses and Lazlo's early life, there were quite a few ways to make the ending more redemptive than it was. Especially when you wait for another book in the series, it is nice to have a cliff hanger with a positive spin. The characters and the readers did not deserve this ending, I know it says "to be continued" but I will be waiting in dread and it would have been nice to tweek the ending just a little to have me waiting with a smile on my face. Those of you who know me as a reader and reviewer, I rate most books 4 & 5 so when I have to give a book a 3, it really hurts me, just like this ending did. I hope Laini Taylor can give a better ending to Book 2 and 3 if there will be more in this series. Again I loved the story, the characters, just would have liked a better ending (it could have been easily written that way, for Lazlo, Sarai and the reader).

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A Crown of Wishes (Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this lush 2nd book in The Star-Touched Queen series gorgeously narrated by Priya Ayyar in a tale fraught with desires & wishes, a pair of royals from enemy countries band together to help themselves (and their kingdoms). Protagonists Vikram (OMG, loved his strength and cunning) and Gauri (loved her obstinance and might) join The Tournament of Wishes in a mythical kingdom containing many forms of magic, deceit, Indian folklore, fantastic & bizarre creatures, adventure, mayhem, magic, and mystery. Ayyar's narration was pitch perfect and I can't wait to hear more of her audiobooks. Don't miss this one, it is epic and the magnetism between Vikram and Gauri dripped with tension and yearning!

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What To Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just loved Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum so as soon as I knew she was writing another YA novel, I pre-ordered it and dove right in. I read this wonderful, serious, funny, definitely sad book in one day, but the SAD was integral to the story of Kit Lowell sitting at David Drucker's lunch table. Kit is popular but grieving the death of her dad and really can't deal right now with her friends' company, sympathy, etc.(not that she tells them this). Kit sitting with David (OMG, their growing friendship was palpable, sweet, engrossing) changes his (and Kit's) life. David and Kit were such authentic characters; you rooted for them, wanted to punch them (you will see), and you hoped & prayed their friendship was string enough to survive reality that is HS life. The book is told in alternating chapters by Kit & David and really spoke to me about them as real teens. David was such a great character, being on the spectrum of autism (which he doesn't really think he has) and totally supported by his family was so nice to see in YA literature. But I really liked the way Buxbaum let us see David's thoughts (and desires) about Kit. She becomes the reason he really tries to be more normal- his sister is away at college & they do a lot of FaceTime- Miney helps & supports David. Due to his sister's deep abiding love- David keeps a notebook on his thoughts of his classmates, who to talk to, and who to stay away from. He has been bullied by Justin & Gabriel since middle school and this is detailed in his notebook too. But as he comes to wonder & rely on seeing and talking to Kit everyday at lunch (his sister tells him to text Kit too) you see his awkwardness but since he is so intelligent and his sister has tried to drum normalness into him, David becomes so much more to Kit and to the reader. You feel his loneliness, his yearning, his intelligence as he begins to look Kit (and others) in the eye, uses his headphones less, look around as he walks in the school halls. I really enjoyed the new David with clothes and haircut (just as everyone else does, but Kit already saw that David) and I loved David's honesty when he told Kit she was beautiful and in his thoughts how he loved her just as she was (with or without makeup, nice clothes, smiling or crying) I just could not put this book down, Kit and David are two protagonists I really enjoyed getting to know, teens will like the HS drama, develop empathy for those who are different and despise the horrible bullying for teens like David.

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My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am definitely going to read this series, I could not put this book down! Tracy Crosswhite is a thoroughly likable hard headed detective who has suffered (felt responsible) for the last twenty years about her sister's disappearance and murder. Even though Edmund House was convicted and is serving his sentence, Tracy still has questions that were not resolved during the trial. Dugoni's thriller was consuming; I read it in two days and am going to be reading the other books in this series. For a great mystery and detective story, this series fills the bill!

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Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an advance copy of Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp. I love mysteries and psychological thrillers; Nijkamp did not disappoint with this taut, compelling YA novel of two best friends living in a very small, creepy Alaskan town, Lost, that is not inviting to newcomers and shuns those who leave. After growing up in Lost, Corey moves to Fairbanks, a new school and life, when her mom accepts a better job but both Kyra and Corey promise to wait for each other. With Kyra’s unexpected death, Corey rushes back to Lost and through flashbacks, diary entries, letters, phone calls, and emails we see their close, enduring friendship and the town’s suffocating secrets and lies. Kyra’s storytelling and painting give the reader a rich history of Lost. The crippling grief and loss Corey feels over Kyra’s death is compounded by the town’s new worship of Kyra’s foretelling of the future in her paintings. But Lost never accepted Kyra with her bipolar diagnosis before, so what happened over the 7 months Corey was enjoying her new life in Fairbanks? Teens will not be able to put down this riveting mystery as Corey unceasingly searches for the truth from the town that now views her as a traitor. There were really no likable characters in this mesmerizing mystery but Corey’s steadfast quest for truth (she is guilty also) holds the reader captive from the first page to the last page, highly recommended!

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Hideous Love: The Story of the Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein by Stephanie Hemphill

Hideous Love: The Story of the Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein by Stephanie Hemphill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this historical fiction novel in verse about Gothic novelist, Mary Wollstencraft Shelley famous for writing, Frankenstein for my July twitter chat (books with unique formats) with #yearofya on 7/25 at 8PM EST. Stephanie Hemphill's novel in verse was both enlightening and exciting- Mary flees her unhappy life with her love, already married Percy Shelley (famed Romantic) poet and leaves her family horrified she would do such a thing. Mary's resilience, wit and all encompassing knowledge kept her by Percy's side as they wrote, read and discussed all matters with other famous writers of the time. But she was also hemmed in by the norms of the time - her novel did not bear her name, and later she was excluded from being a part of the literary circle she came to love. I loved all the material Stephanie Hemphill included at the end - Author Acknowledgments talked about Mary, gothic novels & the enduring nature of Frankenstein. A synopsis of the characters (Mary's family & community)in Hideous Love, A Time Line of Books by Mary Shelley, Suggested Further Reading. I think I am going to try to read Wicked Girls also for this chat, love the Salem Witch Trials!!!

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When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh what a great book, full of highs and lows as we get to know and follow feisty Dimple Shah as she embarks on the InsomiaCon program in San Francisco (to prove her coding worth to the world & herself) little does she know her parents have conspired with old friends for an arranged marriage with a nice suitable Indian boy. I loved Rishi Patel; he was the real deal, loved his parents, a pleasing personality and oh so much a romantic! After he sees Rishi and calls her "future wife" (he assumes she knows all about this) indomitable Dimple throws her iced coffee on him & all his hopes down the sink. I just loved Sandya Menon's words- she made me believe in both these teens, their culture, their insecurities, and finally their feelings & unshakable belief in each other's dreams. Highly recommended, you will fall in love with Dimple, Rishi, Celia, Ashish and their life changing time spent together in San Francisco, chasing hopes and realizing dreams can come true!

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Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx by Sonia Manzano

Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx by Sonia Manzano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this memoir as part of June nonfiction month chat with #yearofya 6/29 at 8PM, join us to talk about YA nonfiction. Sonia's story of her chaotic family life from the time she was a youngster until she wins her role as Maria on Sesame Street was enjoyable but also heartbreaking. For an authentic look into her Latino/Puerto Rican roots, her family history, and Sonia's view of all that transpires in her life, the reader will alternately ache and root for Sonia's honesty (in her many stories and asides) in a world that often scared/angered her but ultimately urged her to resilience despite the challenges of her family and home life.

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The Problem With Forever by Jennifer Armentrout

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mallory was such an in-depth study of a foster child who suffers horribly at the hands of abusive foster parents, so much so that she hardly speaks ( if she is quiet, she won't be hit) but it is another foster child, Rider, who always protects her, takes blows and abuse meant for her, who saves her time and time again. After one horrid night where the abuse culminates in the police being called in; Mallory is taken to the hospital, adopted and never sees (but thinks about Rider constantly) her hero again. It has been 4 years since Mallory has been adopted, faithfully seen a therapist, homeschooled, that she feels she is finally ready to attend high school. But fate steps in on her first day, and Mallory comes face to face with Rider. As the sparks fly for both teens, they navigate a new kind of friendship with Mallory making friends and dealing with her shyness (speech issues) and Rider once again the white knight. But Mallory has changed and she wants the best for Rider, but what happens if despite how much he cares for her, he is stuck in feelings of worthlessness and being invisible in their world that values street addresses, money, and ambition? I loved Mallory and Rider, I rooted for them, and ached for their foster world with the accompanying scars, scabs, and stress still plaguing them. A great romance and authentic look at the foster system and it effects.

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Be True to Me by Adele Griffin

Be True to Me by Adele Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a read, another summer on Sunk Haven in 1976 and Jean and Fritz who have spent their summers sunning, working, and playing are really looking forward to a great few months. But the arrival of Gil Burke, a nephew who has never been acknowledged, has arrived and both Jean and Fritz want him. What happens as the summer unfolds and the reader learns from Jean and Fritz in separate chapters, is that both girls competition is not working at all. Jean is part of the island's upper crust while Fritz is an army brat who visits with her best friend, Julia ever summer. Jean is conflicted and wants to reinvent herself and meeting Gil before the summer begins in New York has her over the moon with all the plans she has with her and Gil as a couple. But as Gil arrives on the island, he meets and falls hard for Fritz who is a natural at everything. They fall hard for each other before Jean can even renew their original heat. I hated the snootiness of the islanders and how it made Gil & Fritz feel. I hated Jean's scheming and how it affects the three of them, literally could not put this book down, read it in one day!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the Sneek Peek, Be True to Me by Adele Griffin. I read the few chapters provided and was completely hooked by the premise of this historical fiction summer beach read. Two teens, Jean Custis and Fritz O’Neill approach another Fire Island summer with excitement and a little dread as they vie for a guy, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are social classes, resentments, and many other drama going on in this delicious read. I have pre-ordered my copy of the book as soon as it comes out in June and I can’t wait to read it!!!

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How Dare the Sunrise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of #yearofya June nonfiction twitter chat. Sandra's voice was penetrating in her description of her wonderful family before, during and after the massacre making her a child of war. She is unflinching in her honesty, her pain, and her hopes. The reader learns about her little known African tribe, that becomes a pariah and one of genocide. Sandra's journey to "rich American dream" is shattered as she and her family stumble trying to assimilate, learn English, and craft a life in the bad neighborhoods. Sandra's different schools she attends allows her to see the racism prevalent in America and with her continued grief over her little sister Deborah allows her to rise up to become an impassioned & eloquent leader & speaker for refugees, those who are different, those who are struggling. A must read!

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Never Fade Book 2 Darkest Minds by Aledandra Bracken

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG OMG OMG loved (could not stop listening) & hated (the things these "kids" have to endure over and over again is agonizing) this book! Bracken has crafted an unputdownable story & I can't wait to listen to mesmerizing Amy McFadden's narration of #3!!! And then as my reading buddy on Goodreads, Jessie says - we have to read the 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 books too!!! I keep rooting for these kids & it is so surprising to me that like Ruby, I want so much evil to befall all the bad actors in this series!

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Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this Stonewall Award winner book as part of the 2017 Hub Challenge and oh did I love reading about this family - 3 women a grandmother, mother & daughter (Katie) come together when Katie's grandmother turns up (suffering with dementia) after her long time boyfriend dies suddenly. I could not put this book down as the reader follows Katie as she discovers & loves this grandmother she never knew, traverses the rough high school climate of mean girls (when she kisses her best friend) and deals with her special needs brother as her angry mother tries to find housing for the mother she holds so much against. I have read & loved all the other 2 Jenny Downham books and this book was gripping, fascinating, and painful (but hopeful &redemptive) as Katie's journey takes her back thru her grandmother's life & also her mother's. Katie is a strong narrator who compelled me to turn the pages with her insights, her fancies, and her honesty. Downham's portrayal of dementia was insightful as well as the double edged sword of rule following (by both Beth and Katie's mom, and Katie herself). LOVED this book.

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The Journey by Francesca Sanna

The Journey by Francesca Sanna
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this amazing picture book for #yearofya May book chat dealing with immigration/refugees. The author decided to write this book after she met 2 refugee girls and with this impetus she began to gather true stories of migration from many many people the book is a collage of all their stories of hope, strength, determination and possibilities. So glad I OWN this treasure & will be sharing it with all my friends, readers, and family.

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Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book 1 by Ta Nehisi Coates

Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book 1 by Ta-Nehisi Coates
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I read this as part of the 2017 HUB Challenge & graphic novel winner. There was really no story other than Wakanda is in trouble because it's leader will not adapt and it goes over and over and over this again and again. The illustrations by Brian Stelfreeze were good but the story needed a lot more in terms of a workable story, characters including a bad ruler, his sister who has been taken from his side and brutalized as part of punishing him and his mother won't listen to his sister, keeps deciding on the side of RULES and that doesn't work. So I am not a fan of this graphic novel, sorry.

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