Rainbow Road (Rainbow Trilogy, #3) by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This final book in the Rainbow High series has Kyle, Jason and Nelson taking a road trip to California where Jason has been asked to speak to and LBGT high school. All the main characters are put to the test with the tight quarters, poor decisions, and unreal expectations. I so loved this series and I will be sorely missing Jason, Nelson and Kyle. I especially liked Nelson in this 3rd book; he finally gets it, yes he is still spur of the moment with bad results but he grows and becomes friendlier with Jason, while realistic Kyle keeps tabs on Nelson and Jason. Such an awesome series, a must read!

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Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd book was just as beautiful as the first and I absolutely loved the authentic, beautiful narration by Lin-Manuel Miranda. As men are dying of AIDS Ari and Dante remain in love but conflicted about being gay and what it will mean for their futures. I loved the different yet lovable personalities of Ari and Dante, their supportive and worried parents, friendships lost but found, and their profound love for each other in an uncertain world. I would love to read a 3rd book about them in college or maybe after? A must read, YA readers will relate on many levels.

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Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another winner by the awesome Anna-Marie McLemore with magical realism, switching from 1507 to five centuries later. Lala and her family live in Strasbourg, France, make shoes and watch as a hysteria latches onto women in the village. As they dance uncontrollably, some die, and everyone wants answers. Five hundred years later, Rosella Oliva's family makes these red shoes too and these shoes have sealed themselves to Rosella. I could not put this gorgeous book down as Lala and Alifair (the boy who lives and works with her family) become special to one another -- the same way Rosella and Emil become special to one another. But there is a rich history involving the women and the men looking for answers, trying to save one another, and defying the times. A must read if you have loved ALL of McLemore's books; there is beauty, mystery and wonder on every page.

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Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great graphic novel; appealing to children, middle grade and YA! Beetle is best friends with a ghost imprisoned at a mall. She lives with her grandmother who practices goblin magic and is her home school teacher, kind, honest, motherly and nice. When an old childhood friend, Kat, returns to Hollowbones, she is now an apprentice to her scary aunt. As Kat and Beetle rekindle their friendship, forces are at work to tear down the mall where her ghost friend is and create havoc with the old friends. This graphic novel has it all witches, magic, horror, ghosts, zombies, in a colorful backdrop with suspense, humor and friendship. Highly recommended, all readers will enjoy this graphic novel!

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Runaways, Vol. 2: Best Friends Forever by Rainbow Rowell

Runaways, Vol. 2: Best Friends Forever by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am really enjoying this series! I love learning more about their back story, about their pasts, and now their present. Vol 2 has the same gang of Nico, Karolina, Gertrude, Chase, Molly and Victor. As usual there is lots of drama, should Victor get a body to attach to his head, and will Julie Powers become one of the gang? Can we trust Molly's best friend, Abigail and what happens when Gert and Victor time travel? Jumping right into Vol. 3 & 4, great reads!!!

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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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Junk Boy by Tony Abbott

Junk Boy by Tony Abbott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this book was gripping, intense, and so true. Teens will love so much about this book and be sharing with their friends!!! Tony Abbott's novel in verse about Bobby Lang who is called junk boy because he lives in a house that is definitely a hoarding situation to anyone who sees the cars, junk, thrown out items, strewn throughout and around the yard and house. Bobby's dad is a drinker, doesn't work and belittles his son daily. In school, Bobby tries to be invisible but one day, he is drawn into fighting going on in a classroom. What he finds changes his life; a mother is slapping and yelling at her daughter (because she is gay). Once she leaves, after angrily demeaning him, Bobby helps the girl hang up art posters---thus begins the weird relationship of Bobby and Rachel. Rachel becomes his friend, dragging him to art shows and telling him how much she hates her mother. But things are not always good between them, Rachel has anger issues, lashes out, and Bobby becomes her target too. As their friendship grows, Bobby begins to seek help for himself and Rachel. As both teens experience abuse, will they both be able to rise above and become better? Highly recommended!

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The 7th Canon by Robert Dugoni

The 7th Canon by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by James Patrick Cronin, I listened to this detective thriller, lawyer mystery on Hoopla. Peter Donley was totally awesome as Father Thomas Martin's attorney. Initially Peter does not believe Father but as time, stories, and Peter's horrific past are revisited, Peter becomes Father's staunch ally as he tries to defend this priest from a heinous murder of a gay street hustler who has come to the priest's refuge. He has to fight a ruthless DA and his father who is as crooked as they come and a politician to boot and his own demons. I loved this book as I love everything Robert Dugoni writes. I could not stop reading/listening to it! For murder mystery lovers!

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Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd in the series is just as awesome as the first book!!! Darius has it all; a boyfriend, a place on the soccer team with friends who look out for him and a job at the tea shop he loves, until things begin to change. As Darius continues to struggle with his depression, he finds his dad is depressed again, he can sense tension in the house and doesn't know why. He is still be being bullied by Trent but his best friend, Chip is being nice to him now. Author Adib Khorram does such a stellar job with his characters, the plot and of course a high school setting. I really love Darius, his cousin Sohrab, his friends on the soccer team who understand he is gay and stand up to bullies. But in this book, the family struggles while his father has to travel, his mother is working long hours and Darius grandmothers are staying with Darius and he questions if they even like him! I look forward to more Darius books, BUT if there are no more, I will certainly read any Adib Khorram book because he gets teens, their drama, their mental and physical struggles. This book is a must read but also a must is Darius the Great Is Not Okay!!!

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Heartstopper: Volume 3 by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume Three by Alice Oseman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, love this cover of the 3rd book in the Heartstopper series!!! Nick and Charlie are still discussing who to tell about their relationship and Nick is learning more about Charlie's issues with the bullying which include self harm, eating disorders, homophobia and tears, lots of them! The story grows immensely with the transgender relationship/friendship of Aled and the class trip to Paris is oh so good!!! I can't wait for the next in this sincere, wonderful story of Nick and Charlie!

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Heartstopper, Volume Two by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the cover for this 2nd in the series; Nick and Charlie are so cute together and the angst they go through is real but adorable as Nick realizes he has true feelings for Charlie. When Nick tells/shows Charlie, your heart will melt because they really belong together, but first the friends and family have to approve, and will they? Charlie was bullied when he was outed and Nick remembers and wonders why he did not do anything to help. But now he is claiming his feelings and showing them to Charlie all the time and I so love the dog! Oseman also excels in showing the homophobic behavior as well as the affirming behavior. I can't wait for the 3rd comic/graphic novel in this series!

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One Of Us Us Next (One of Us is Lying, #2) by Karen McManus

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would have given this book 5 stars if not for the LAST sentence! I really liked the previous characters from the Bayview Four and also the new ones too. McManus knows how to write mysteries, to keep readers turning the pages. The friendships, the families, the high school drama and social media were all so realistic, heart pounding, and sinister!

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Heart of Iron (heart of Iron #1) by Ashley Poston

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this scifi adventure which was such a wild ride, and dealt with such themes as family, journeys, friendship, romance, and choices. Ana is a fiesty heroine who wants to save her "metal" friend D09 and in the process stumbles into the world of the Ironbloods (evil mother, evil brother, Erik and very conflicted Robbert) which will turn Ana's world upside down. What I loved most about this book was the conviction which propelled so many of the characters (Capt Seige, D09, Jax, Robb, Ana) although I was not really happy with some of Ana's decisions bc of the way Di and others are impacted. Poston's writing, worldbuilding, characters kept me turning the pages, rooting for Ana and friends, and hopeful aboutthe second book, which I am going to get right away!!!

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Supernova (Renegades #3) by Marissa Meyer

Supernova by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The only good thing I can say about this book is that I loved the 2 narrators, Rebecca Solare and Dan Bittner, they were a great duo! But, I was so disappointed/aggravated with this last book in the series. I wasn't a fan of the first 2 books either. I felt there was too much description, too little known about many characters and way too much introspection from Nova (3 books worth). Nova really irritates me- she has not redeemed herself at all in the 3 books. In this book, her back and forth about Anarchists and the murder of her parents and her feelings for Adrian just wore me out. Adrian is naturally good---especially as the Sentinel, he goes against the Renegade code to help others. Nova was so combative, prickly, and torn. After three books, I expected and wanted a positive, inspiring feel but there was no redemption, that awful epilogue, and no amount of my rooting for Nova made her a likable character. I have to say that I loved The Lunar Chronicles and if Marissa Meyer continues to write these dark, complicated books, I will not be reading them. I did not like Heartless either.

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The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert

The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book!!! Such vivid characters while also being a study of a family and the secrets they have been holding from Birdie (also known as Dove). Birdie is a good girl kept on a tight rope by her hairdresser owner Mom and Doctor Dad. Birdie is the only one home now while her sister is attending college but each minute of each day is allotted to studying; she even had to stop playing soccer (which she loved and still misses). Summer is going to be taking SAT classes and working in her mom's shop. But that all changes when her aunt Carlene reappears and Birdie has a boyfriend she knows her parents won't like. I loved the way Colbert told this story of an African American girl that just wants to live a little but she is not above making some mistakes and this lands her being punished big time; just how will this affect her life & her love life? Teens will love this urban fiction book about a teen wanting to test the waters and how this affects her summer and family; a DIVERSE must read!!! Teens will be reading this, sharing it and loving it!

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Bloom by Kevin Panetta

Bloom by Kevin Panetta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Jenn Lagarde for her recommendation of amazing graphic novels!!! I loved the growing friendship of Ari and Hector as they bond over baking in the family bakery (Ari is going to leave with a band) and their many adventures to special places, and Hector's overall niceness and kindness and kickass baking skills had me enthralled from the first page!!! A must read!!!

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Ghosts of the Shadow Markeet by Cassandra Clare

Ghosts of the Shadow Market by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I so enjoyed the formatting of this book (multiple authors working on chapters) and since I listened, the many different narrators were awesome! Overall this book went from the past and progressed into the present and between the two worlds (Thule and the different Shadow Markets) and different characters back stories. So many beloved characters like Jem, Tessa and the "lost" Herondale added a new dimension, love this author (and the other collaborating authors) to an already excellent series.

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Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book!!! I have loved all of Anna-Marie McLemore's books (Wild Beauty, When the Moon Was Ours, and The Weight of Feathers---all MUST READS) because of the rich characterization, lush magical realism and diversity. Latina Sisters Roja and Blanca couldn't be more different but they come from a family cursed to repeat losing one daughter to become a swan. Yet they are fiercely close and would never lie to one another -- unless each wants to protect the other. Based on fairy tales, McLemore weaves a dramatically beautiful story about becoming, believing, and surviving. To quote the author in her Author's Note: "My hope for you, reader, for all of us, is two sides of the same wish: that the world gives us each the space to write our own story, and that we leave room for each other's stories. They are where our hearts survive."

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My Brother's Husband, Volume 2 (My Brother's Husband Omnibus, #2) by Tagame Gengoroh

My Brother's Husband, Volume 2 by Gengoroh Tagame
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this award winner (Great Graphic Novels) as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge and oh did I love this 2nd book in the series! Tagame's illustrations of all three individuals (Kana, Yaichi & Mike) were done in B&W pencil and so realistic--Kana is a smart, sweet girl who loves Mike with all her heart and helps to change her father's (Yaichi) thoughts on being gay as she whole heartedly loves her Uncle Mike. I also liked Kana's mom, she was a truly remarkable, even character and it was interesting to see her dynamic with her ex. This is manga and high school students will learn much as they find not all cultures are accepting of "differences" in others. A must read!

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My Brother's Husband (Omnibus #1) by Gengoroh Tagame

My Brother's Husband, Volume 1 by Gengoroh Tagame
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this awesome manga because I an participating in the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge and the 2nd book in the series won an award and I wanted to read the first book- and it was heart breaking and awesome- loved the illustrations and the little girl, Kana and how her view of the world helps her father. Proceeding immediately to Book 2!!!

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