All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Teens at a party collide when a picture taken at a party reveals a drunken girl in a room in a compromising position. I could not stop turning the pages. I loved so many of the characters in this tense story---Nina, Tom, Lyla and Finch. Loved the resolution as well, a great read!

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Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Cara McBrien for lending me this gut wrenching, awesome read about teens falling in love, reality and the truth come crashing in and someone is dead! Lily and Olivia are the main characters telling the story from their viewpoint, before and after. It is a look at Olivia's son's Asher's romance with Lily, and Olivia's abusive marital relationship until she ran with Asher to a normal life of beekeeping, until it wasn't. I loved the courtroom scenes with Olivia's brother as a brilliant lawyer working with his wife as investigator to prove Asher innocent. There was so much to take in, but I have read many LGBTQ books also transgender books as a YA librarian and I just keep reading them because they are a must read and each book is more enlightening, engrossing, and relatable. There was so much suspense I could not put this book down!

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Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just wow! I have read and loved everything Nic Stone writes, and this book is a must read by all, very ripped from the headlines, and even though fiction, so true in depicting LaQuan's life, his friendship with Justyce, his "bond" with his "brothers" in the Martel Organization, and his dysfunctional family and school life problems.
Just as I loved Dear Martin, so did Quan tear up my heart as I read his letters to Justyce, and followed his time in jail. The depth of all the characters is powerful, honest and kept me rooting for Quan --- I could not stop turning those pages! Adults and teens must read this book! Highly recommended!

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Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd in the series is just as awesome as the first book!!! Darius has it all; a boyfriend, a place on the soccer team with friends who look out for him and a job at the tea shop he loves, until things begin to change. As Darius continues to struggle with his depression, he finds his dad is depressed again, he can sense tension in the house and doesn't know why. He is still be being bullied by Trent but his best friend, Chip is being nice to him now. Author Adib Khorram does such a stellar job with his characters, the plot and of course a high school setting. I really love Darius, his cousin Sohrab, his friends on the soccer team who understand he is gay and stand up to bullies. But in this book, the family struggles while his father has to travel, his mother is working long hours and Darius grandmothers are staying with Darius and he questions if they even like him! I look forward to more Darius books, BUT if there are no more, I will certainly read any Adib Khorram book because he gets teens, their drama, their mental and physical struggles. This book is a must read but also a must is Darius the Great Is Not Okay!!!

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There's Someone In Your House by Stephanie Perkins

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the slasher mystery Perkins crafted, also the romance with Makani and Ollie (which her friends did not LIKE at all), and the creep factor of things being out of place was chilling. Can't wait for another Perkins book!

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Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aven's life has gotten more complicated with her entrance into high school; oh did I love Dusti Bowling's writing, her characters, her honesty and Aven's adventures in friendship, family, horses and making her way in the world. I could not stop reading and admiring Aven; how she loves life but is crushed by the bullies who want to destroy her high school experience. And I loved how her friends Zion and his brother to name just a few, band together to help their friend. Another awesome book by Dusti Bowling and a must read for all.

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From Twinkle With Love by Sandhya Menon

From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this Sandhya Menon book about a shy teen who doesn't really stand up for herself, loves to film, and laments the loss of her best friend, Maddy. When Twinkle is approached by Sahil Roy to direct a school project, she jumps at the chance to direct but also sees a way to date her crush, Neil who happens to be Sahil's twin. I loved every word in this romance, Twinkle's slow fall for Sahil, the high school infighting, and Sahil's total belief in Twinkle and the growth of her voice.

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Kiss Number * by Colleen AF Venable

Kiss Number 8 by Colleen A.F. Venable
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @ReadingRants & the awesome Jennifer Hubert Swan for an awesome graphic novel recommendation! I loved author Colleen AF Venable's story and Ellen T Crenshaw's B&W illustrations! Madison is a normal teen who has a great family (even with secrets) friends (not a fan of Cat) and relatives but like all teens, she has questions, frustrations, and sometimes acts out with her friends which can mean they are all not speaking to one another. Turning the pages and seeing how Mads deals with her father, grandparents, boys, girls, kissing was engrossing and thrilling. Teens will be sharing this slice of life with each other as they see themselves in the drama of teen life.

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Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro

Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this debut book since I had seen this title on many lists and recommendations from bloggers, like Pernille Ripp. This is an urban fiction book with many diverse characters; I thought of the many diverse students in my high school and was reminded of many students and their friendships, circles, and culture. I rooted for Moss, he suffers from panic attacks and a sense of foreboding and negativity due to seeing his father shot as a youngster. His friends were all supportive of Moss as he was of them and I was so happy and surprised by his mother's unwavering love and support. The police situation and the school's attitude were unnerving and I questioned the awfulness but so much coverage in the news makes it a sickening reality and ripped from the headlines news coverage. Especially important to read is Moss's mom and her advice about Anger- "Anger is a gift. Remember that.You gotta grasp on to it, hold it tight and use it as ammunition. You use that anger ti get things done instead of just stewing in it. Trust me, y'all."

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The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this APALA Honor Award Winner as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge and oh was this an aching read but oh so very necessary as magical realism permeates to help teen Leigh (Asian/White heritage) deal with the suicide of her depressed mom. Leigh "sees" her mother become a bird that leads Leigh on a life changing journey to find her mother and in this search, she learns about her history, heritage, and how grief helps her comes to term with who she and wants to be. I had a really great review---BUT my computer seized and I lost it!!!
So short and sweet--the compelling, strong character of Leigh and her love of art power this tale of heartbreak and finding heritage, history and love in her search for answers. I could not put this book down; I rooted for Leigh and best friend Axel (best friend and lover of art and music). The trip to Taiwan opens Leigh to discovering her parents' past, meeting her grandparents, and forging a future without her mother. A powerful, astonishing journey; a must read!

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Tradition by Brendan Kiely

Tradition by Brendan Kiely
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a good book, compelling read because even though it takes place at a private academy; the issues are in all high schools, whether public, private or parochial. Told from two points of view - Jules is the female protagonist who intimately familiar with the "traditions" taking place at Fullbrook Academy (and she is not going to take it anymore - thus earning her the "crazy" label and pretty friendless. Jamie is the male protagonist who is a new senior, had problems back home, and just wants to do the right thing. The only problem with both scenarios is the honest, real way Kiely writes about the school, the students, and the faculty. Timely issues being explored are sexism, rape, privilege, social class, and bullying. I loved Jules and Jamie and I ached for them and rooted for them. A must read for all teens, highly recommended!

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The Pain Eater by Beth Goobie

The Pain Eater by Beth Goobie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a realistic look at a young teen's rape, how it reduces her to self-harm, being invisible, and unable to communicate with her loving family. Maddy Malone has just watched the school show and is making her way home when 5 boys grab her and rape her. She tells no one and begins to withdraw from everyone. Maddy will not confide in her older sister (whom she is very close to) and really doesn't have any friends in school. What makes it worse is that she loses herself and in order to cope begins to burn herself to lessen the pain of remembering (she has nightmares all the time). When she returns to school in the fall things do not get any better - but there is a class project called The Pain Eater and each week a student (alphabetical order) must read aloud their chapter. Kara is the first and does a great job in setting up the story, but as time goes on the bullies in the class begin to influence the story through their intimidation/friendship tactics. The Pain Eater parallels Maddy and her predicament---and as time goes on the reader will root for Maddy to find the courage to take control and become the happy, fierce Maddy she once was. I have read and loved Beth Goobie books for some time now- students loved her books, especially reluctant readers. Her books deal with issues teens can relate to and will jump start conversations on many real issues teens deal with in today's world. Highly recommended!

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The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this book as part of the #2jennsbookclub twitter chat to take place Thursday 9/14/17 at 8PM EST, please join us! This is a book EVERYONE must read but I also recommend listening to it as well. The narrator, Bahni Turpin, was just so good at being Star, her 2 lives of mostly white prep school girl and also living (and hiding) in the hood. Turpin's voice got just right the side-eyes, love, honesty, and anger from Star, her family and friends. I so enjoyed getting to know, once again, her fierce parents, her close-knit neighbors, her brothers, Secani and Seven, her white boyfriend, Chris. I hated King and his Lords, their grip on the lives of so many in the neighborhood and the injustice of the death of Kahlil. Highly recocmmended, this book will resonate with all who read it!!!

Debut author, Angie Thomas does a superb job of exposing the racism, frustration, & heart of Star's family, life & community in her project where she lives. But Star lives between 2 worlds because she attends a prep school where she is one of the few black students. As she lives in 2 worlds the reader sees her confusion and irritation as friends make judgments. I really loved her relationship with her white boyfriend, Chris and her family's reactions to Chris were all very different. But it is the night she rides home from a party after gunshots are fired, that changes her life forever. With her best friend, Kahlil, they are pulled over by a white officer things escalate (through no fault of their own) and her friend is shot dead. As Star grapples with losing him, she is also reminded of her best friend being shot when they were 10 years old & playing with fire hydrant spray. What will she do? Angie Thomas explores honestly & deftly injustice, police violence, families, gangs & change. I could not put this book down, highly recommended.

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Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios

Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This latest book by one of my favorite authors is gripping & concerns abusive relationships. Demetrios had an abusive relationship as a teen and she brings her voice achingly to the tale of Grace and Gavin. I really liked the way the story was presented- Grace begins by telling Gavin (and the reader) how long it takes her to start falling out of love with Gavin. Grace hates her life (Mom and The Giant are sadistic and horrible excuses for parents), crushes on guys, has 2 best friends who love her desperately, and wants to be a director (hence her life of school plays) & go to NYU. She is ripe for Gavin's notice, he is always the lead in the plays and plays guitar in his band. As they fall hard for each other, Grace can't believe he would like her, but she also has a strong constitution since she knows how to play the game with her parent's bs. But this also works against her too. As she falls in love with him, she does not see him as being manipulative, jealous, trying to isolate her. I rooted for Grace but I understood how she became enthralled by him, then loved him, and then could not escape his games. But I kept remembering when she called herself "an ass-kicking ninja warrior queen" & I knew she might hit bottom again and again but she (with the help of her friends and support of her sister) would drag herself up like the phoenix and rise again. I especially like The Author's Note with Heather's personal experience, stats on abuse, rape & sexual assault & places that can help. Girls will be passing this around & draw strength from Grace, her friends, and Heather Demetrios.

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The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

The Future of Us by Jay Asher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the time travel aspect of this book which I read as part of #yearofya twitter chat topic - books from 80s and 90s (written during this time period or about this time period) to be discussed Tuesday 8/29 at 8PM EST. Friends Emma and Josh (but Josh is in love with Emma & has been spurned by her) become involved with an AOL CDrom that takes them from their life in 1996 to Facebook (which is not even around yet) 15 years later. Emma goes through unhappy life and marriages while Josh marries hot girl and remains happily married. But as these teens struggle with 1996 high school, friendship and dating drama, the future causes them to evaluate what they hold dear, could it be each other? LOVED Josh, Emma was struggling with her HS hookups and future troubles - their characters were definitely true to teens and their daily lives. So enjoyed this book by Jay Asher (I don't really think Emma would notice the school librarian School Library Journal, but I loved the homage to school librarians!!!) and Carolyn Mackler- their collaboration was perfect!

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The Long Game (The Fixer Book2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Long Game, Book # 2 in The Fixer series did not disappoint; if anything, I could not stop reading because each chapter just pulled you in more with Tess's intrigue (she has so many secrets she can't tell anyone) and like her mother, Ivy (she deals at the highest levels fixing things in Washington, D.C.) In this book so much is going on and talk about tense moments and then the thrills when the good happens. But also there were tense moments where horrendous things happened, Ivy & Tess, had no control, they were at the mercy of twisted hateful people. I really can't wait for Book #3 but I will end with "Why, Henry???" and also "Why, Tess???" It will be interesting to see how Tess' group continues to FIX in Book 3.

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The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson

The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read this as part of #yearofya debut author chat to be held 3/29 @8PM EST and oh was it good- comic book & literature references plus a cast of loveable & devious teens and what a great title!!! Lily Anderson is a librarian and oh do I have love for her and this first new book that is real, funny, about teens in a genius school, rankings, and someone who is framing teens for plagiarism and other honor code violations. Add in romances, 2 teens who despise each other and you have one AWESOME read, I could not put it down and after the many sad, current books I have been reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic read, a must for teens:)

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The Takedown by Corrie Wang

The Takedown by Corrie Wang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Book Group, and Freeform for the ARC, The Takedown by Corrie Wang. I also read this for the March twitter chat on debut authors with #yearofya & it has been highly touted by blogger Kelly Jensen in “Faces of Color on 2017 YA Books”. Wow, what a gripping read! Kyla Cheng is a high school senior ho rules her school, best friends with Sharma, Audra, & Fawn, and friend with benefits (lots of doubt and kissing) to long-time crush, Mac Rodriguez. Kyla’s voice was straightforward as she flatly and to the point, tells of the video that destroys her life. With all kinds of technology (in a near future time) someone releases to her school and administration a video of Kyla and her English teacher having sex. Kyla denies is the person in the video (she has never had sex!!!), over and over again, all the while her friends do not believe her. As the mystery mounts and Kyla chases down clues, her hater sends out her incomplete college applications, Kyla is kicked out of the school clubs, suspended from attending classes, she continues to realize she has somehow disappointed her mother. As the plot thickens, Kyla will accept how invasive technology has become and it is through a concerted effort including Mac, Sharma, & tech geek, Rory, that Kyla tracks the twisted trail towards her hater. That said, I did not really like Kyla for many reasons; she was a mean girl, she refused to look inward at her actions, words, and thoughts; she was self-absorbed and constantly judging Mac and her mother. What I did like about Kyla was her spunk, her loyalty, and her unfolding honesty with her mom. I could not put this book down, teens will love the technology, the suspense, plus the high school and family drama. This book had great characters, plot, and is a totally enjoyable tense psychological whodunit!

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First & Then by Emma Mills

First & Then by Emma Mills
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book because Pernille Ripp (one of my fave book bloggers) recommended it & since Emmal Mills is a debut author, it will be one of the books I recommend in my March twitter chat for #yearofya! There was so much to like about Devon, she was funny, snarky, and she had no problem talking to people. Her cousin comes to live with them and since he is a little weird, Devon doesn't really want to hang around with freshman Foster but as is her lot in life - she carts him everywhere. As she thinks about college, Cas the best friend/guy she likes, she hates that she has to take gym with Foster & the other freshmen - but wait a minute - the school football star Ezra has gym too. Readers will love Devon's friendships, family relationships, and her obsession with Jane Austen romantic characters. As Foster becomes more and more special everyday so does her feelings concerning Ezra. I just can't say enough about this little book that packs a lot of punch about football, high school, families and romance.

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The Beast by Brie Spangler

Beast by Brie Spangler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG what a book! I could not stop listening to Andrew Eiden as he narrated flawlessly the voice of Dylan called Beast by everyone because of his size and friend to one jerk, JP who makes him beat up kids to collect money owed him. Andrew Eiden's rendition of Jamie, the girl Dylan meets & falls for in group. What he doesn't know (because he tuned out) is that Janie is transgender & when he finds out, he deals with it all wrong. I ached for Dylan, his life, his yearning to get signs from his dead father, and his lack of faith in his mother. I rooted for Dylan & Jamie to triumph over themselves, other's judgments, and grow to appreciate the very horribleness of the world. A must read & recommended for all libraries!

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