Coyote Lost and Found by Dan Gemeinhart

Coyote Lost and Found by Dan Gemeinhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise so so much, this new Coyote Lost and Found was just as wonderful! Coyote is honest, quirky, brash, and one of a kind. Her latest adventure will involve a journey yet again, fierce, hiding secrets, and sometimes not being nice to Candace, her father's friend & neighbor, along for the ride on Yager during Covid. Readers will love every character on this bus; they support one another, enjoy singing, laughing, and the awesome pets on this trip to find where to settle Coyote's mom's cremated remains. Coyote's insights are hysterical, fierce, and bold and the author treats us to many beautiful, sad and happy times as Coyote and Rodeo remember painfully their loved ones. A must read for all ages!

View all my reviews

Answers in the Pages by David Levithan

Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This middle grade book is a must read for children and parents- using a book being read by a class- Donovan leaves his book out, his mother reads it & objects to him reading it and proceeds to start in motion a book challenge that divides everyone. The book also contains the story of The Adventurers book starring Rick & Oliver which contains the content Donovan's mom objects to. But Donovan & his mom do not talk about it...I loved the many students voices, their teacher, and the author of The Adventurers book---a tense book but a good book!

View all my reviews

When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn

When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved McDunn's book about the special bond between a brother and sister. Bex and Davey love exploring the salt marsh every summer; when they find a hand of a sculpture sticking out of the water mystery abounds as this duo deal with the drought, the purchase of their beloved marsh, and how each strengthens the other. I loved each and every word in this middle grade stunner. Characters were real, the setting--gorgeous even though there is a drought and the plot so strong, magical, beautiful and sad. A must read for all!

View all my reviews

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this author so much and this was given a 2022 Nerdie Graphic Novel Award and I see why! Victoria is a 12 year old who rides horses & has a best friend. When the competition of competing & her best friend pressures are too much, Victoria goes to a new stable. But she has vowed not to get too close to anyone and that proves a mistake! Edgewood Stables is a great place with a wonderful owner, trainer and committed riders who want to befriend the new girl. I loved the differing personalities of Norrie, Sam, and Hazel---how will they deal with the new rider they see as competition? A must read & enjoyable!

View all my reviews

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Marlene and her aunt Tia and friend Camila; together they all help Marlene break the news to her mother that she detests going to the hair salon and having her her straightened (and everything else involved in the hours she spends there 1 day a week). This graphic novel will surely inspire girls that have problems expressing to their parents their misery over "hair" which is either good or bad and must be conquered! I cheered for Marlene and you will too!

View all my reviews

Rainbow High (Rainbow Trilogy, #2) by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by: Alston Brown, I love the continued coming out and friendship and romance Kyle, Jason and Nelson navigate their senior year. The interplay of family, school, and coach dynamics really paints a varied but realistic picture of queer teen boys at home and in school (with a new GSA club) and in relationships (both the pain and wonder). I can't wait for the 3rd audiobook, but I will be sorry to leave these boys ---they have made an impact on me and I will miss them!

View all my reviews

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This compelling novel in verse by Jacqueline Woodson can and should be read by all ages! Telling the dramatic story of a son's love for his famous football player father who begins to show the ravages of many years of concussions, My heart ached for ZJ and his mother and most definitely for his father as the life they built for one another was decimated as shakes, anger, memory loss, and moodiness. With memories, songs, music, friends (the Fantastic 4) and family, this 12 year old grows up quickly and lives for those times when his father remembers, calls him Little Man, and hopes for a future that can help his father heal. A must read!

View all my reviews

Look Both Ways: a tale told in ten blocks by Jason Reynolds

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jason Reynolds is a must read author for ALL! Even though this book is a middle school read, we all laugh and learn so much about kids as the navigate school, going to and from school---all in their journey of life! What I loved most about this book was the authenticity that pops off each page, Reynolds gets kids, life on the streets and in neighborhoods! In the first tale told in this tale told in ten blocks, Jasmine and TJ's friendship is deep, strong and special. The "friendship bags" are called litter of love AND notes that say I've missed you. In Five Things Easier to do Than Simeon and Kenzi's Secret Handshake also have a special friendship, but Jason Reynolds has awesome descriptions, such as Fredo's Corner Store "always smelled like incense smoke trying to mask dirty mop water." Finally, the special way Jason Reynolds uses to describe his characters---handshakes "they grab hands, shake, shake, slide, finger grip, shake, shake. Then point to themselves, double fist pump throw a peace sign beside each of their right ears, point to each other, slap their individual fingertips together, rub the air as if they are holding a ball---bigger than the one in Kenzi's bag--then they thumb their chins and shake their heads at each other before ending it with a big hug." A must read that will thrill all Jason Reynolds fans and friends.

View all my reviews

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yetide Badaki did a stellar job of narrating this fascinating audiobook about young teens in Nigeria who have mystical powers and must help find who is maiming and mutilating and killing young children. Author Okorafor uses mythology, magic, fantasy, to weave a masterful mystery. Sunny, and her three friends Orlu, Chichi and Sasha made a great team as they become Leopard People and bond over juju, sports, and chittim. I can't wait to read Akata Warrior and jump right back into this world!

View all my reviews

Girl (Girl #1) by Blake Nelson

Girl by Blake Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the #yearofya August twitter chat to read books from the 1980s and 1990s (written during that time or SET in that time period) for the 8/30 chat at 8pm EST, please join us! Blake Nelson's book (taking place in the 90s) chronicles sophomore Andrea Marr for her last 3 years of high school. She is a teen so many will understand with her insecurities, love of music, bands, and thrift store clothes. Blake's writing was a little unnerving for me (run on sentences about all she thinks, sees, believes, etc.) but I understood that the reader was in Andrea's head as she saw and thought all things in her life, her high school days, and her night life. She experiments with sex, smoking, stays out late, and lies to her parents. I liked Andrea's growth, her dark side (Brad at camp seemed the most real relationship she has in the book), her insecurity (but she never does ecstasy), her friendships (and her friends like Cybil, Amy, Nathan, Todd) and her life as she grows, learns, and struggles toward finishing high school and going to college. I definitely want to read the other 2 Girl books, I love Blake Nelson. I read his latest book, Boy, FIRST and really liked that---writing style was different and I really related (I did not relate to Andrea- I felt like I was just an observer) to Gavin Meeks! So much so, I have already downloaded the next book in the series about Marisol. I guess I wish I had read Girl 1st, then Boy, oh well. Still love all the Blake Nelson books, my teens in the library did too!

View all my reviews frien

Boy by Blake Nelson

Boy by Blake Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gavin Meeks is such a believable teen; he is cute, plays tennis, has friends, and life feels pretty good. This book takes place during Gavin's sophomore, junior and senior year. I liked Gavin's thoughts, his conversations - he was a good kid who finds are pretty easy, but one day he meets Antionette after her brother has killed himself and Gavin's life changes. Because he is tall, Blond and is popular, he never wants for girl friends, but Antoinette keeps hammering away that Gavin's friends are not "real" people. Gavin's fall from grace when he kisses his best friend's girlfriend has him questioning what he wants to do in life, so he picks up a camera, becomes friends with Richie a sometime photographer and starts to hang out with Antoinette and Kai. As a librarian my students loved Blake Nelson books - they speak to teens of life and high school and this book is perfect for teens! With lots of mistakes, drama, and soul searching, Gavin's 3 years of high school will resonate with teens.

View all my reviews

Saving Montgomery Sole by Mariko Tamaki

Saving Montgomery Sole by Mariko Tamaki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Mariko Tamaki's graphic novel, This One Summer! Montgomery Sole and her friends and their world in school and at home was funny, mysterious, and full of drama. As she leads her friends in school in the 3 person club, The Mystery Club a chance purchase on the internet of the Eye of Know brings happiness. But as she struggles with being awkward (she has 2 moms, no religion and is offbeat in a town obsessed with looks) but armed with best buddies, Thomas and Naoki (LOVE THEM) and her amulet, nothing can get Monty down---until a preacher comes to town wanting to save the American Family. How will Monty "fight" this latest threat and can she depend upon her friends to stand by her? A compelling must read, highly recommended.

View all my reviews

Call the Shots by Don Calame (paperback)

Call the Shots by Don Calame
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I re-read this book in paperback as part of the 2014 Hub Challenge. In this third humorous boy book, the hilarious trio of Cooper, Matt and Sean have come up with another wacky idea to gain notoriety with girls (they think) of producing a scary movie to win the prize money and help Sean who has to give up his bedroom since his mother is pregnant. Worse than living with his twin sister is listening to her call him gay, which he is not; he is just sensitive and a little bit weird. Calame is at his best with characters like Uncle Doug, Nessa, crazy Nick and Evelyn. Crude, lots of boy humour (sexual) and lots of laughs.

View all my reviews