Demon Copperhead by Barbra Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Casey Ciocca for telling me what a great book this is & Tara Smith for lending me her copy!!! What a thoroughly mesmerizing read! I loved Demon (also known as Damon Fields) his voice, his mind, and his heart! From his beginnings born to a drug addicted mom in Appalachia, Demon is a thoroughly likable character who goes from foster home to foster home and none of them good until he meets his grandmother Betsy who pounds into him her belief in a good education and once he promises her, Betsy sends him to live with one of her other fosters, Coach. Demon's trauma follows him through life as he frets about being thrown out of his next place to live. But as he grows older, he begins to enjoy popularity, athleticism & girls. But in this bright period, he meets Dori & falls madly in love. I rooted for Demon, but his life with Dori & Maggot who introduce him to drugs, takes him down a dark and twisted road. I loved seeing his ability to draw, his friendship with Tommy and Angus, the adults in his life he believes in, and through this, I prayed for a GOOD LIFE for Damon, he deserved it. A must read, you will not be able to put it down!!!

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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Narrated by: Miranda Raison with a great question and answer by Bonnie Garmus and Pandora Sykes, this was a great book about societal expectations of women in the 50s and 60s and how Elizabeth Zott with her "different" personality represents ALL women of that time that had hopes and dreams and the low expectations of society stopped them from achieving anything but headaches, gossip, unwanted negative attention, and lies. This story help me captive, there were a few pronunciation errors but that did not stop me from being totally enthralled by Elizabeth's world and her life with Calvin Evans and their time together resulting in a dog, a daughter, and much grief. I loved Harriet Sloane and really detested many of the Hastings employees with their evil, mean-spirited gossip which continued to follow Elizabeth Zott with her jobs and her life. But a satisfying resolution and the author chat at the end were really welcome. A must read!

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Criminal (Will Trent, #6) by Karen Slaughter

Criminal by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my first Will Trent book, so I do not really know what he is like--that said, I did not like him (even though he has ghosts and a past) and his boss, Amanda, throughout the whole story. Even more, I have read other Karin Slaughter books --but the way she depicts the abhorrent sexism in the police force at the time, really turned me off. Also, the way these girls were killed sickened me time and time again as they discover/uncover the murders. Even the end did not do much for me.

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Wild Child (Soul Sister, #1) by Audrey Carlan

Wild Child by Audrey Carlan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Simone, now all grown up---she was a foster child (along with her sister) in a caring home run my Mama Kerrighan with 8 feisty, supportive girls and foster mother. After losing her parents she didn't think anything worse could happen in her life. When The Backseat Killer is lying in wait, Simone is stopped by a hunky FBI guy, Joan Fontaine---their connection is immediate and when he saves her, Simone does not let go --she is thankful, she is interested in getting to know Jonah more and that happens because she needs to hide from this ruthless killer who will do anything (killing those close to her and Jonah) to get to Simone. There was so much to like about this story--Simone known as the wild child has a carefree, forgiving outlook on life and this is something Jonah needs because he is suffering loss from his past. She doesn't take no for an answer, she is outgoing and carefree but also has the wonderful sisters in Kerrighan Home to look out for her and each other. But she is trying to finish school, working 3-4 jobs and not making enough money ---and with the backseat killer taking all her money, credit cards, keys and car---Simone has every reason to give up. But she pushed forward and with the help of Jonah and her family---Simone works hard to help all close to her.

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Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, just as I finished Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic (adult book about child sexual abuse) I read this as part of #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenge because my librarian friend, MaryAlice, recommended it along with another book I will be reading for this challenge! Della and Suki are burned into my heart; they have had a tough life and it is about to get much more difficult. When their drug addled mother has a psychotic break and burns a hotel room down while doing meth---Della and Suki were there. When they are taken into protective custody their mother's boyfriend arrives and sweeps them away. Clifton drives a tractor trailer all week and comes home Friday nights. the way Kimberly Brubaker Bradley unfolds this story about sisters is gripping...When Clifton tries to sexually abuse Della, Suki sweeps in with a cell phone taking pictures and quickly sends to next door neighbor, Teena. The girls are placed in a foster home with Francine, going to a new school, a trial and trying to deal---but as we learn from Della---her sister Suki is always her protector, singing to her and taking care of her since age 6---but who is taking care of Suki? As Suki gets a job at Food Giant, tries to ignore her friend, Teena, and keep her away from Della, Della begins noticing/remembering things (both past and present) about Suki and she grows concerned, so is foster mother, Francine but no one seems to hear their cries and act on it. This was a harrowing book to read, process, and follow along as these traumatized sisters deal with abandonment, drug abuse and sexual abuse, suicide, the foster system, bullying in the classroom, consent and much more...but the author's words, characters, and plot are all strong, important, authentic, and compassionate. A must read for all in the school system teachers, guidance counselors, school nurses and principals and the middle grade and YA reader and parents. This book tells the reader how often this occurs, urges healing through therapists and doctors, and encourages speaking up (sometimes maybe again and again until you are heard) and always the power of love in healing. A must read!!!

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Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes

Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nikki Grimes life encapsulated in this fierce novel in verse was awful and beautiful because her words made this book so compelling. I can't imagine the life she endured, yet she survived and this book speaks to traumatized kids and how they manage to survive and thrive because Nikki Grimes is one such person and author who brings her life to YA readers and oh what a life it was! A must read, haunting and real.

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Far From the Tree by Robing Benway

Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and loved Emmie & Oliver by Robin Benway but Far From the Tree was such a moving read (Listen) and I just loved Julia Whelan's voices (especially her tone for the men) in this raw, sad, very emotional audiobook! I fell in love with the three teens who were put up for adoption by the same mother and they now search and find each other. Each chapter is told by each teen, Maya, Grace and Joaquin - the reader comes to know their thoughts, hopes, and fears (I just kept rooting for them). Maya and Grace have been adopted by loving families, but Joaquin, the oldest, has been in the foster care system his whole life. I ached for Joaquin as his own self hatred threatened any kind of happiness for him. He has foster parents, Mark & Linda who want to adopt him and a girlfriend, Birdie, he broke up with, because he felt he could never give her what she deserved. As I listened to this book, my heart ached and I was so afraid the ending would be awful, bleak and if it was, I was really going to cry even more!!! Without giving away too much, everyone needs to read this book- family, friendship, and yes, even therapy is realistically dealt with and the result is an award winner, that speaks volumes about the fierceness of family, the depth of friendship, and the love that binds (and grows) for Brothers and Sisters (bio kids & adopted kids) .

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The Problem With Forever by Jennifer Armentrout

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mallory was such an in-depth study of a foster child who suffers horribly at the hands of abusive foster parents, so much so that she hardly speaks ( if she is quiet, she won't be hit) but it is another foster child, Rider, who always protects her, takes blows and abuse meant for her, who saves her time and time again. After one horrid night where the abuse culminates in the police being called in; Mallory is taken to the hospital, adopted and never sees (but thinks about Rider constantly) her hero again. It has been 4 years since Mallory has been adopted, faithfully seen a therapist, homeschooled, that she feels she is finally ready to attend high school. But fate steps in on her first day, and Mallory comes face to face with Rider. As the sparks fly for both teens, they navigate a new kind of friendship with Mallory making friends and dealing with her shyness (speech issues) and Rider once again the white knight. But Mallory has changed and she wants the best for Rider, but what happens if despite how much he cares for her, he is stuck in feelings of worthlessness and being invisible in their world that values street addresses, money, and ambition? I loved Mallory and Rider, I rooted for them, and ached for their foster world with the accompanying scars, scabs, and stress still plaguing them. A great romance and authentic look at the foster system and it effects.

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Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18722887-little-mercies" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Little Mercies was an amazing audiobbok; narrated by: Kate Ruddand Tanya Eby! I read Gudenkauf's thriller, The Weight of Silence and could not put it down! The same was true with this thriller that combined a committed but harried social worker, Ellen with a parallel plot of a 10 year old child, Jenny. I could not stop listening as Ellen and Jenny's lives converge and both are being torn apart by life, family, and the system. The ripped from the headlines topics of foster care, abusive parents, death of a child are chilling, demanding empathy from the reader and society. I especially loved the author's interview following the audiobook which asks us to acknowledge and value the little mercies in life. A taut, emotional, worthwhile read.

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Waiting to Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch

Waiting to Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sheila Kelly Welch's realistic fiction book will definitely interest middle schoolers, high school students, and adult readers. Welch does a great job of sinking the reader into the chaotic lives of TJ and his sister, Angela, in the Now/Then format employed in this thin, gripping read. As TJ waits in the emergency room of a hospital, waiting to find out if Angela will live; we visit the Then part of TJ's life which is a horror to say the least. TJ and Angela love their mother but she is not a good mother. She leaves TJ in charge when she goes out and many nights does not return home. TJ and Angela live very tumultuous lives with their mother and later in various foster homes. It is when they are adopted and living with Dan and Marlene that TJ continues to struggle with his life day to day. Still afraid to hope and move on, TJ vacillates between anxiety and his horrendous past as he remembers, while perusing the Life Book he created for his new life with Dan and Marlene. Your heart aches for these two children and you root for this brother and sister to find happiness and peace in their forever home. Compelling, with realistic writing that pulls you in; you will enjoy TJ and Angela's saga.

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