Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (Lunch Lady, #4) by Jarrett J Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!

View all my reviews

Lunch Ladies and the League of Librarians (Lunch Lady, #2) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!

View all my reviews

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great debut novel! The author uses her experiences coming to America to craft a story about Anna and her parents as they leave Taiwan for California. Her father thought he had a partner in a Dino's store selling ribs and burgers but his "friend" ditched him. Anna struggles in school where she is bullied and made fun of - never telling her parents because they are dealing with bullies too in their store- breaking windows, messing up their tables, spilling ketchup & salt on the floor. Referring to America as the beautiful country, Anna and her parents find it anything but! Struggling this family decides to leave but that will prove difficult trying to sell a store that does not make a profit. This is a must read about the perseverance of an immigrant family who experiences racism often but through a few friends, church and the will to succeed slowly but surely they craft a life---will they stay or will they leave? You must dear this book to find out! Highly recommended!!! And there is a sequel, I will definitely be reading it too!!!

View all my reviews

The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah

The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This latest book by Glendy Vanderah effectively uses "magic" as the two main narrators/characters meet and their pasts are revealed/collide. I loved the narration by Brittany Pressley & Zachary Johnson as Riley and Vaughn meet at Riley's adoptive home where her brother, Kieran is a very special intuitive child where the all important magic resides. Since both Riley and Vaughn are hiding things, it will take trust, especially from Vaughn, if his past resurfaces. Once again, I loved the redemption in this book, the magic & beauty & healing of nature, and the strong characters who believe in forgiveness, family, and finding happiness in the future.

View all my reviews

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nurah's story of her family moving from Pakistan to Georgia contains some autobiographical elements of author Reem Faruqi's life when she moved to America. In the Author Notes, her experiences are explained. This novel in verse was about finding your place in a new place, making friends, dealing with racism and bullies, and finding your voice and using it for good. My heart broke for Nurah as she struggled to adapt to her new life, it broke further when her brother was attacked and Nurah feels responsible, but my heart began to feel joy as Nurah learned and grew from her new experiences in America---school bus problems, bullies, parental abuse into friends helping each other, Nurah's mom helping Stahr's mom, learning to swim competitively, Owais learning tennis, her father having Breakfast Club friends, learning and expressing in art class, and found her own special voice.

View all my reviews

24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling

24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to #BookJunkies for giving me the privilege of reading Dusti Bowling's second awesome middle grade novel that will tug at your heart and make you laugh and cry. I will not soon forget what Bo, the bully, does to all the kids in the town of Nowhere. It was palpable the fear Gus, Rossi, and Jessie felt whether Bo was there or not. He took sick, awful behavior to a whole new level. Kids will love Gus and his friends, their adventures, their heart, and their will to survive. The setting of Nowhere was so vivid---dry desert, horribly hot, and a dead-end for most of those living there. But the mystery of the mine, the search for gold, and helping Rossi get her motor bike back begins to forge a special kind of friendship between these kids and I just kept rooting for them to succeed. Their pluck, resilience, and empathy will resonate with all kinds of readers. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This audiobook was full of drama as Andrew Eiden flawlessly narrates Mason Buttle, a large kid for his age, perspiring all the time and full of learning disabilities. Thank God for his special teacher who helps him express himself through a computer and she is a haven for him in school. Calvin and his family have been grieving the death of Mason's best friend, Benny Kilmartin so much so - their house is falling down, his uncle doesn't work on the farm anymore, and the police think Benny killed his best friend. As Mason tries to stay out of the way of the lacrosse bullies, his new friend Calvin becomes a target of those bullies too. I loved Connor's other book, Waiting For Normal, and she outdoes herself with Calvin, his problems; I could not stop listening to Andrew Eiden; I rooted for Mason Buttle and my heart was full as the audiobook/book ended- highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

Real Friends by Shannon Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just loved Shannon Hale's graphic novel depicting her horrible years in middle school, being bullied by her brother and sister, having fairweather friends (bullies too) and feeling totally insecure. A must read!

View all my reviews

All Of This Is True by Lygia Day Penaflor

All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh was this book delicious! Using different formats to tell this story of 3 girlfriends and new guy student enthralled by a new young adult author, Fatima Ro, and her first book, Undertow, makes for a thrilling read as author, Fatima befriends the teens and they start a fan club, mimic her hairstyle, and spend time at Fatima's house. But all is not as it seems; unbeknownst to them- Fatima is using their lives (lies and secrets) in her second novel; and their worlds come tumbling down! Teens will love author, Penaflor's use of interviews, videos, magazine articles, and excerpts from second book, The Absolution of Brady Stevenson, to build the mystery and suspense of their failed fan friendship, many betrayals by Fatima, and outing new guy's sordid past. I could not stop turning the pages; teens will devour this psychological thriller! #BookJunkies #FatimaWasHere #Allofthisistrue

View all my reviews

Rhyme Schemer by K. A. Holt

Rhyme Schemer by K.A. Holt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great novel in verse! Bully Kevin has it tough with being a bully, a family of mean brothers, trouble in school, teacher issues, and family misconceptions. Once his notebook is stolen, he is discovered as The Poetry Bandit, then Kevin gets bullied, gets detention in the library, and as life gets tougher, maybe Kevin gets tougher in a good way too. Bad boy Kevin maybe is not what everyone thinks - through his words, poems, thoughts and dreams, the reader will root for Kevin as life begins to give him nice things in the form of a teacher, a librarian, a girl, a band and a poetry slam. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored the character of Nanette O'Hare; she was strong but vulnerable and took the pains to try to figure out who she really is (with disastrous results), more than once, in this authentic, character driven YA novel. Quick's Nanette reminded me of Amber Appleton from Sorta Like A Rock Star - plucky, rebelling, and trying to find out who she really is... While Nanette is an accomplished athlete, best friends with Shannon, good daughter, and she likes to eat lunch with her favorite teacher every day. Once he gifts her with his favorite book, Nanette tumbles into a whole new world, falling in love with everything exquisite thing in the book, especially, the character of Wrigley. Nanette even gets to meet the author, Booker and he introduces her to another teen who loves his book as much as Nanette, Alex. I rooted for Nanette, Alex, and Oliver as they endeavor to grow up, navigating bullies, life, and love. Such an insightful book with a strong female protagonist, delving into choices and consequences. Highly recommended- another winner by Matthew Quick!

View all my reviews

When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin

When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Paul Griffin's YA books Orange Houses and Stay With Me; this latest middle grade book was so powerful, funny, sad, and I think it should be read by everyone! Ben is a foster child who has found his forever home with the therapist who helped him through a rough patch. One day he finds a dog who changes his life, makes him try new things, and meets many new wonderful people through his association with this perfect little ambassador. As Flip and Ben navigate life and their bond, they meet Halley who urges Ben to use flip as a therapy dog; Flip helps reluctant readers become better readers. Halley and Ben become fast friends, write novels, and give Flip belly rubs. Halley has a wonderful mom (librarian extraordinaire) and great dad (Master Magician). As Ben falls in love with this family, there is heartbreak ahead; how will Ben and Flip fare with all the bumps in the road life throws at them? Definitely a favorite for me; realistic with good doses of happiness and sadness and special characters you truly love; highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for my virtual twitter book club #yabookchat which will occur Sunday, June 5 at 9pm and oh did I love this book & highly recommend this to guidance counselors, teachers, nurses, parents. Riley Cavanaugh is a teen who is gender fluid, has been bullied at one school and has now started at another school. Problem is, Riley is not out to friends, parents (father is running for re-election) but on the advice of therapist Doctor Ann, begins a secret blog as Alix and goes from one to many thousands of followers. As Riley navigates the new school, makes a few friends, but also many enemies, what will happen to Riley/Alix as life gets in the way. I could not put this book down. The character of Riley, her friends Solo & Bec are fully believable/lovable characters as football player Vickers & hater friends are truly bullies, and evil. The author, Jeff Garvin has written an insightful book that will help teens who are struggling with gender identity, anxiety, and depression. His resources at the end of the book will help teens. Highly recommended.

View all my reviews