King of Scars (Nikolai Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love the lst in the Nikolai Lantsov Duology, Awesomely narrated by: Lauren Fortgang and what a Series it will be with the Grisha returning (I LOVE them!!!) battling for a place in the world rather than being hunted down. I loved the return to world of Ravka and Fjerda; ached for Nina as she mourned Mathias (don't know why he had to die- I need to get over it I suppose) hope Nikolai can rid himself of the Darkling, but I loved Nikolai's outlook, humor and ability to truly be a king to his people, no matter happens. I can't wait for the 2nd and final book! Highly recommended!

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Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry

Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love, love, love this book!!! I am such a Katie McGarry fan (look and see on my Goodreads---I have read all of her books!!!) and this book was such a great read--it tackles abuse and how it affects the characters, Jesse and Scarlett were authentic characters teens will relate to with the school drama, social cliques, family dysfunction, and hopes and dreams. I was captivated be the way Jesse, Glory and Scarlett love the natural land---Jesse's farm and his love of it was so poignant to read (loved the tribunal aspect!). More difficult to read was Scarlett's loss of Jesse's friendship and how it affects her; Jesse's (and others) belief in the family curse, and the abuse Jesse's mom (and Jesse and his grandmother) and the abuse in Scarlett's family (what is does to her mom, sister and Scarlett). I could not put this book down; I rooted for Jesse and Scarlett to make it, persevere, and grow with each other. McGarry's writing is beautiful, deep, and magical. Highly recommended! Teens will be passing this stand alone around---guys and girls will relate to Jesse and his friends (I loved V) and Scarlett and her friends. This book deals with so much more than romance; there is friendship, family, and Jessee and Scarlett's ability to change and grow, to be vulnerable and emotional, to forgive and hope for a future that includes survival and love. Highly recommended!

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After You by JoJo Moyes

After You by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The grief in this book was so palpable; I ached for Louisa and the loss of the love of her life, Will. But I loved Moyes' continued humor with her family and others Louisa interacts with; from Lily to Will's parents and finally Ambulance Sam (loved him). There are many starts and stop in this book, but I think it shows Lou's own inability to move on and be happy like Will wanted her to be. She tries and those efforts are commendable. I think Moyes did an awesome job with the grief Lou could not get away from and the characters in the grief group were really true to form and helped Lou more than she thought. It is so difficult to move on and I think Moyes' did an excellent job portraying this. Loved the ending!

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If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG what a beautiful story! I loved the character of Amanda Hardy; how she related to her friends, family and Grant. As she moved through her life, from present, then back into the past, I wanted so much for her- and as she made friends, grew close to Grant, and navigated a new relationship with her father (she was born, Andrew) I rooted for her to succeed in finding happiness as a transgender teen in a new life that was honest. But Amanda could not stop remembering her past, the bullying, and the judging- will this help Amanda succeed or fail? As her life in a new school and now living with her dad moves forward, I wanted the best of all things for Amanda, will that be what she gets? A mesmerizing read that is honest, raw, and educational (I learned so much about her medical process)--- teens will want to read this brave book! I especially liked the author's A Note From the Author and her acknowledgments at the end. I am looking forward to more books from Meredith Russo- she has much to impart to teen readers, parents, guidance counselors, nurses, teachers and readers.

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Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this fairy tale as part of the Hub Challenge and Dashti, the servant girl of Lady Saren is the protagonist who stole my heart. She was down to earth, loyal, loved animals, and used music as a way to heal. Saren & Dashti are sealed in a tower for 7 years by Saren's father because she refuses to marry this evil man, Khasar. As they settle in, Khan Tegus is the ruler Lady Saren promised herself to and as he sneaks & visits them, Saren makes Dashti talk to Tegus as Lady Saren. This arrangement is uncomfortable to Dashti but she took and oath to obey her Lady and she continues to do what Lady Saren does throughout the story. What an engrossing tale Shannon Hale weaves, complete with animals Dashti & Saren love and depend on. The ending was my favorite part! Highly recommended for those who enjoy fairy tales and retellings and great storytelling.

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I'll Give You the Sun - Audiobook by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this audiobook as part of an April book discussion with a Goodreads group I joined, YG,MG, Seriously. Since I LOVED this book and did not want to read it again, I choose to listen to this book narrated by Julia Whelan and Jesse Bernstein and this venue DID NOT disappoint!!! I recommend YA and adults should read and then listen to this book. There is so much to totally love about this book- family lies, secrets, jealousies but also deep abiding love, compassion, and artistic brilliance.
You can read my book review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Highly recommended- join our April discussion too!

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Going Over by Beth Kephart

Going Over by Beth Kephart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you so much to my Goodreads group, YA Reads for Teachers (And Any Other Adults, Chronicle Books, and Beth Kephart for this advance reader's copy, what a great read! I read Small Damages by Beth Kephart Small Damagesand fell in love with Kephart's word usage and wonderfully drawn characters. I felt the same way reading this book. I was completely immersed in Ada and Stefan's lives in the separate cities of East and West Berlin in the 1980s. The isolation and heartache that the Berlin Wall caused to families, friends, and communities is palpable in this tale of love, family, and sacrifice. We learn in alternating chapters from Ada (her chapters are titled SO36) and Stefan (his chapters are titled Friedrichshain)what life was like before and after the Berlin Wall divided their life and worlds. Spunky, cocky Ada lives with her mother (Mutti)and grandmother (Omi)in "155 kilometers of wrong," but in the freedom of West Berlin. Their freedom consists of eking out a spare existence in a squatter's commune. By day, pink haired Ada goes to school, works at a day care center (catering to Turkish immigrants)and by night, daring to paint a graffiti wall of heroes. Independent Ada dodges guards with rifles in towers and works by flashlight daring to create this wall. Stefan lives with his Grossmutter (grandmother) in East Berlin where he does not go to school, is dictated to become a plumber and yearns to be with Ada and "her love brighter than color." Where kind, sweet Stefan is full of what ifs about escaping, Ada is confident with her many newspaper stories of those who risked danger and found freedom over The Wall. Will Stefan take the risk for Ada? Going Over is so much more than a love story- I also loved Savas, Arabelle's pregnancy, Mutti, Omi and Grossmutter's lives since the War and The Wall. You will ache for these characters. Beth Kephart's words of beauty, fear, and hope make this a very special book - enjoy and dare to hope!


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Every Day by David Levithan

Every Day by David Levithan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, I just really loved this book, A. and Rhiannon, and the many other people A is each day. But I was also very sad, because when A falls in love with Rhiannon, you want everything to be possible for them, like their first day together when they spend the day at the ocean. Even though it may seem fantastical that A. isn't a person, but someone who becomes another person for just 24 hours. Levithan's A. is sympathetic, has had to get used to something he cannot control since he was born...waking up every day, somewhere else, a male or a female, black, white or any other culture, happy, sad, a jerk, suicidal, fat, geeky, etc. But the day he wakes up as Justin, A, isn't really a fan of Justin, until he meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon. She seems tentative around Justin and A. just falls for her niceness, her smile and decides to throw all his caution to the wind and spend a very special day with her. The day at the ocean is perfect. It is only later, in another body, another day that A. becomes driven to see Rhiannon, even if it is 5 hours away. At some point, A tells Rhiannon who he is and Rhiannon, being touched by the special person A is, decides to (a little unwillingly) meet up with A, whenever possible. Will they find true love? Well, there is alot more going on in this book, so you have to read it to find out. But I think teens will love this book! It is full of yearning, honesty (even amongst the lies)and I see it as probing the teen uncertainties---when A. is fat, when A. is a girl, when A is black---how does Rhiannon act towards him? I think teens will see the many possiblities and keep on turning those pages, I know I did! I can't wait to discuss it with my boys and girls because I think both will see the good in A. and Rhainnon. Enjoy this YouTube video of many YA authors who are different characters in this wonderfully compelling story, High recommended!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZjSHv...


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