Every Single Lie by Rachel Vincent

Every Single Lie by Rachel Vincent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy did I love this suspenseful mystery; I could not stop turning the pages! Beckett does not have an easy life with finding her father dead, breaking up with her boyfriend over texts her won't show her and her police detective mother who is never home because it reminds her of her dead husband. But she is resilient and through her consciousness and words the reader is treated to a strong female protagonist who considers herself an amateur sleuth as she (and everyone in her community) tries to find who is responsible for leaving a dead baby in a gym bag in the high school locker room which she found and as a result became the vilified "mother" who abandoned her baby. As a result of her father's death and all that came before it (drugs, secrets, lies) Beckett's family is still grief stricken over the death of the loving father they knew and all the gossip of who he really was. Add finding the baby and boy I was gripped as Beckett tries to be normal but still find the culprit. The suspense is unbelievable as many clues are found to be true or false adding to the gripping novel all YA mystery fans will not be able to put down!!! I was also drawn to Beckett's family and the loneliness that traumatizing grief has manifested in each of her family members.

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Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and love all of Tiffany D. Jackson's books and Grown is a compelling, gripping and essential read! Enchanted loves to sing and attends a mic night (with Mom in tow) to hopefully break into the music scene. In this ripped from the headlines story, Enchanted becomes famous singer, Korey Fields' find and as she dreams of making an album, Korey makes promises to her family as he takes her on the road and they make a good singing duo. But pretty quickly, we all see what Enchanted does not, Korey is insecure, controlling with out of control anger and punishments. I could not stop turning the pages as Enchanted becomes of prisoner of her own thoughts and Korey's awful techniques to control her. Another highly recommended read from Tiffany D. Jackson!

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A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti

A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this award winner (Best Fiction for YA, Printz Honor) as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge. Also special thanks to my reading buddy, Kellyanne Burbage, for her awesome mention that I may have recommended this book (sorry I did not, but happy your tweet prompted me to read this stunner!!!) I loved this book for so many reasons and all of them are not good---this book will tear apart your heart with Annabelle's grief and suffering as she runs from (herself and what happened) Seattle, WA to Washington, D.C. trying to make sense out of her broken heart (and previous self) and honor those impacted by dating violence. The cover of this book was perfect to---you must see it, read it and you will know what I am talking about. Annabelle's sorrow, anger, and grief propel her to run (away from something or toward something?) and as she runs she tells us her story and you reader, will be gripped and outraged as you enter Annabelle's world because what she tells us is being experienced throughout the world; it is a serious problem and affect way too many of us. This is a must read for all---YA and adults! Highly recommended!

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What If It's Us? by Becky Albertalli and Daniel Silvera

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this wonderful award winning book (Best Fiction for Young Adults)by fave authors, Albertalli & Silvera, as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge and I just loved how Ben and Arthur, meet, get pulled apart by a flash mob, and find each other. This book had me turning the pages, I loved both families and their friends were super supportive, enjoyed one another, and had each other's backs. I especially liked the drama, the comedy, and their different personalities really caring for each other in a very believable way. Highly recommended!

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What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey

What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advance reader copy, What You Left Me by debut author, Bridget Morrissey, in exchange for an honest review. Teens will enjoy this stunning debut, that examines through alternating perspectives and dream sequences, the power of love, friendship, hopes, and dreams when two teens, Petra and Martin, seated next to each other (alphabetically) meet for the first time at their graduation from high school. Petra has a secret so she holds Martin’s antics at arms-length, but she really enjoys his kidding, prodding, and agrees to attend his graduation party that night. Morrissey has a real gift for description and drama as she treats the reader to Petra and Martin’s friends and the way they talk, laugh, cry, and communicate with each other. I really enjoyed these teens, their honesty and fierce protectiveness toward each other. Much will be learned through the time these new friends spend together as they gather in the hospital, waiting for news about Martin after he and his best friend are in a car accident. Verdict – a must read for teens!

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Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (Audio Book)

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this as part of the 2014 Hub Challenge and just like the book I read a year ago, I LOVED Rebecca Lowman's Eleanor and Sunil Malhotra's Park. Their voices, inflections all brought back to me how much I loved this book and ached for both characters. I can see why it won Amazing AudioBooks. I am not a fan of listening to books but I couldn't stop because Eleanor and Park became people to me, just like I became a part of their world in the book. I would love to see a movie made out of this book! If you have read or listened to this book, I recommend you do it sooner, rather than later. Rowell's depiction of Eleanor's family is so stark compared to Park's and (being a teacher)you know teens live in these families, worlds, dramas, etc. and hopefully reading and listening to these books will help teens when they see other characters have those struggles too.

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Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for this great romance. Levi moves from California to Wisconsin in 7th grade. The principal asks Macallan to take Levi to his classes that first day. At lunch, when Levi sits alone, MaCallan and her friends ask him to join them and so begins the friendship of Macallan and Levi, which quickly grows into best friends. As they grow older and enter a new school year, each has their own boyfriend or girlfriend. Can Macallan and Levi continue to be best friends and nothing more? I liked the way each chapter is presented from Macallan or Levi’s point of view. Levi’s family becomes a part of Macallan’s family. They have weekly dinners, many of which Macallan cooks. Macallan is passionate, cool, and totally focused on being a good friend. Levi is on the football team and the track team, and enjoys his guy friends. At some point, Levi begins to feel more than friendship for Macallan and when he expresses his feelings to Macallan, she goes to Ireland for the summer. What will happen to Macallan and Levi? Elizabeth Eulberg’s characters are believable teens and for those who like friendships, high school drama, and the tension and warmth of romance, this book will not disappoint!

Stay by Deb Caletti

Stay by Deb Caletti

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Caletti, Deb. Stay. New York: Simon Pulse, 2011. 978-1-4424-0373-4. 313p. $16.99. Gr. 10-12.
Clara’s story about an obsessive boyfriend is scary, suspenseful and heartbreakingly real. Clara falls hard for a guy and he falls hard for her too, but what Clara tells you now as she relates her love story with Christian is that the tell-tale signs were there from the beginning about Christian’s insecurities. Clara alternates the chapters with her life now; she and her father have had to flee their home and go to a secret beach location because Christian has become obsessive and a stalker since she broke up with him. Caletti does a great job of showing how this relationship has made Clara so insecure about who she is. Fleeing to Washington State with her father provides a much needed time and place where they both confront secrets about themselves and their lives. A must read for teen girls about the dangers of obsessive relationships.






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