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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The In-Between: A Memoir in Verse by Katie Van Heidrich

The In-Between: A Memoir in Verse by Katie Van Heidrich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Based on the author's life, this novel in verse details Katie and her siblings constant, surprise moves from place to place by her mother (who has some issues) and how it affects Katie at home, school, and with her visits to her Dad (now remarried to an Asian woman). I was so saddened by Katie's voice- her embarrassment, confusion, longing, and many unanswered questions. But this book also provides hope and determination by Katie and will resonate with middle grade & YA readers! Highly recommended!

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My Broken Language: A Memior by Quiara Alegria Hudes

My Broken Language: A Memoir by Quiara Alegría Hudes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quiara Alegria Hudes' biography/memoir contains her life as a child of a Jewish father and Spanish mother but the world she lives in is what she writes so compelling about---history her activist Puerto Rican mother has told her and shown her over the years. Using stories we learn about her life in North Philadelphia and her time in Malvern, we learn about the barrio, the many players in the life the author wants to know more about and read/write/sing about.

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Tony's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Tony's Wife by Adriana Trigiani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first Adriana Trigiani book I read after hearing this full of life author speak in Avalon, NJ this summer with my reading buddy and Drexel Lacrosse mom, Becky Avato. I loved this book and will read more---ChiChi was such a great, conflicted character, I loved her family, The Donatelli's. Tony was complex but not a man I admired. I loved the Sea Isle shore and the travels across and around the country. I did not like so much Tony and his "life" and what it did to so many. There were certain parts of the story I wanted to know more about but I realized we were covering the life of these two "famous" singers, songwriters. I just finished listening to Chemistry Lessons by Bonnie Garmus about a strong misunderstood woman during the 50s and 60s...ChiChi was like Elizabeth Zott but ChiChi was not able to fulfill herself---she had a family and a husband to take care of and she outdid herself with her mind for business, songwriting, and family stability. ChiChi has so much important introspection unlike Elizabeth Zott, and she has a family who loves and supports her. I loved this Italian extended family and want to read more of Trigiani's books but I want to read more "successful" female, family stories---I will try her latest and see what happens:)

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When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert

When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love all Kelly Loy Gilbert books because of what timely issues and themes they deal with, but this book was really tough to read... Beth as the protagonist goes through so much--her parents' divorce, her circle of friends that she loves so much that she really does not show them who she really is---she shows them what she thinks they want to see, and when an act of violence on her love interest Jason devastates her; the whole story shifts as Beth and her friends try to support Jason. I hated how all that happens to Beth changes her and molds her into another person (not one I really liked but can understand this was how she coped)who must mold herself into someone everyone will love and accept and the author shows how these teens really have no way of dealing with what happened to Jason and Jason makes it even more difficult by asking them to go back tot he way they were before. Beth's treatment of her mother was awful, mean and secretive while she loved her father--who was the one who left, stops coming to see her, and does not support her. As she and Jason begin to see each other it quickly becomes awkward with Beth telling herself she must accept everything and take it in stride. This book broke my heart but the friendships these teens have is so special and supportive. The author deals with many topics teen readers will want to read about - abuse, secrets, high school, the college aspect, divorce, lies, music, self destruction, suicide, dysfunctional families, racism, and authentic Asian American teen characters. A must read but it will be a tough read.

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Dear Sweet Pea (Dumplin' #2.5) by Julie Murphy

Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another winner for awesome author, Julie Murphy! Sweet Pea has a larger than life personality but she is feeling split in two as her parents divorce and she is forced to move between their houses (which are identical and with one house between on the block)! Also she is having friendship drama and when her weird neighbor, an advice columnist has to go to tend to her sister, Sweet Pea must collect the letters, water the plants while listening to blue music, she gets herself into trouble and she can't tell anyone! What is Sweet Pea to do?!? The plot, characters, humor and drama had me turning those pages. Julie Murphy has crafted an unforgettable story about friendship, learning from our mistakes, family, and acceptance that is a must read. What an authentic, funny, must read.

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Here's To Us by Elin Hildenbrand

Here's to Us by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to give this book 5 stars but the story and Deacon Thorpe’s personality made me angry. If it was up to me, this flawed man who had everything going for him destroyed all of his happiness and his 3 wives because of his insecurities he could never get over and his own self absorption. I loved Angie and Laurel and Buck and their lives were all about their love for Dean Thorpe. Loved Nantucket but in this time of COVID-19 I wanted more positive characters and ached for their loss, he who was Deacon Thorpe.

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Home After Dark by David Small

Home After Dark by David Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this Alex Award winner as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge and since David Small is one of my favorite authors I totally loved this graphic novel including issues of divorce, abuse, bullying, abandonment and adolescence as teen Russell struggles to adapt when his parents divorce and his father takes him across the US, then stops coming home one day. In addition- Russell has a tough time with friends- early friend, Warren pays Russell to lay with him effectively making sure he stays away from Warren. He becomes friends with bullies, Kurt and Chris, and his life continues to plummet. I ached for Russell---Small's illustrations are masterful, chaotic and sorrowful. A must read!

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Rescued by Eliot Schrefer

Rescued by Eliot Schrefer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as pat of the #yearofya twitter chat featuring middle school books taking place Tues 10/9 at 8PM EST. I have read Schrefer's previous two books in this compelling heartbreaking series and this book was so sad as it covers the loneliness of a child/teen and his pet/brother, orangutan Raja which his father brings back to the US as a pet for his young son, John. Both John and Raja are very sympathetic characters as life (his parents' divorce) and the horrors of endangered animals become the driving force as teen John breaks out of his shell to rescue and try to give Raja his life back in the rain forest.

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Subject to Change by Karen Nesbitt

Subject to Change by Karen Nesbitt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book just really shook me to the core- Declan is this 15 year old living in Quebec with many, many adverse things going on in his life...and he is just so tired. Declan is not a good student, skips detentions a lot, hates his older brother, suffers silently about his family's dysfunction since his parent's divorce. Declan does have a job at an ice skating rink to help his mom out with bills, his angry, angry older brother bullies him and asks for money, his mom (after the divorce) has a job in an animal testing lab that is awful and she really does not share much with Declan, but he is the only one staying in school. After being pulled into the principal's office for an infraction that could get him in a lot of trouble; the principal offers him a way out- being tutored in order to keep his grades up and graduate. He would be the first in his family, and even though he thinks Leah is Little Miss Perfect; Declan does begin to hand in assignments, study, and hope/wish he can be a better student. What really broke my heart was what his family did to him at the time of the split and then the divorce. No one spoke to him about what really happened so he really missed his father (for 5 years his father stays away) and the whole family disintegrates. He is really struggling with so many things but feels he can't talk about anything. Debut author, Karen Nesbitt did a great job of showing a struggling teen with a barely coping family- I rooted for Declan to ask for help and hoped he would not suffer anymore. Nesbitt did a great job with all the characters in the book- they were all kinds of teens (his best friends, his brother and his loser friends, Leah and his needy ex), adults that cared (principal, guidance counselor, Leah's grandmother, when he finally comes on the scene- his father!)Teens and reluctant readers will love this authentic book --highly recommended!


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First & Then by Emma Mills

First & Then by Emma Mills
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book because Pernille Ripp (one of my fave book bloggers) recommended it & since Emmal Mills is a debut author, it will be one of the books I recommend in my March twitter chat for #yearofya! There was so much to like about Devon, she was funny, snarky, and she had no problem talking to people. Her cousin comes to live with them and since he is a little weird, Devon doesn't really want to hang around with freshman Foster but as is her lot in life - she carts him everywhere. As she thinks about college, Cas the best friend/guy she likes, she hates that she has to take gym with Foster & the other freshmen - but wait a minute - the school football star Ezra has gym too. Readers will love Devon's friendships, family relationships, and her obsession with Jane Austen romantic characters. As Foster becomes more and more special everyday so does her feelings concerning Ezra. I just can't say enough about this little book that packs a lot of punch about football, high school, families and romance.

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