Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my librarian/reading partner, MaryAlice Briggs-Dicker for lending me this awesome rom-com. I loved the 2 main characters so much; Sam (dyslexic, reading averse chef) & Ben (librarian, reader extraordinaire) meet on a ferry to Martha's Vineyard, what results in a summer of adventure, laughs and falling in love. I learned so much about dyslexia from this book & I loved Sam's gigantic personality. Highly recommended!!!

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AList of Cages by Robin Roe

A List of Cages by Robin Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this wrenching book for my monthly twitter chat book club #YAbookchat and oh was it powerful, crushing, and spoke deeply of the power to wound and try to thwart goodness. Julian is young when his parents are killed in a car accident. Julian is a sweet child who was loved deeply by his parents. When they die, Julian ponders just what their death means, where do they go, and what is his mission in life - but since he does not ask anyone these questions but himself, he has no answers. In shock, he is a foster child living with Adam and his mother and slowly begins to heal until his uncle comes to claim him and claim him he does. Russell is a monster who mentally & physically tortures Julian with lies, fists, and a VERY warped way to make Julian be a man. For anyone to do what he does, Russell has to be mentally ill and the fact that he is able to take Julian's sweet fragile life and make Julian believe he is worthless, a problem that no one wants is abhorrent until the day Adam comes back into Julian's life. Adam is popular, loved Julian like a brother until 5 years before when Julian was taken away, never allowed to visit Adam and his mom and now is skipping school on a regular basis. Will Adam be able to rescue Julian? It can't come quickly enough. Taut, psychologically unnerving, Julian needs the beautiful person Adam JUST is. Adam has the ability to be happy, kind, and positive. Along with his huge gang of friends I rooted for Adam to pull Julian in with all his love, friendship and brotherhood!!!

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Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Hunt's first book, One for the Murphys, and this book was just as awesome. Ally Nickerson can't read and has many excuses and jokes to get out of assignments for reading and writing. My heart broke for her as her teacher and principal judge her. There are some really nasty bullies in her class and Ally feels lonely and alone as she tries really hard to do her best. It is when she gets Mr. Daniels that Ally finds a teacher who invests time and effort into getting to know her and why she can't read. Keisha and Albert(misfits) help Ally find confidence and friends (which she has never had) who have lunch with her and hang out with her. I especially found it poignant that Ally's brother, Travis begins with dreams and high hopes but begins to slide into hopelessness as he struggles with the same problems in school as his sister. Strong writing, believable characters, and a realistic plot make this a book everyone should read- middle school, YA, and adults (guidance counselors, teachers)because there are so many students who lose hope in school as they struggle with disabilities and bullying. I loved the hope and resolution of this book and can't wait for another L M Hunt book!!!

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