The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah

The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This latest book by Glendy Vanderah effectively uses "magic" as the two main narrators/characters meet and their pasts are revealed/collide. I loved the narration by Brittany Pressley & Zachary Johnson as Riley and Vaughn meet at Riley's adoptive home where her brother, Kieran is a very special intuitive child where the all important magic resides. Since both Riley and Vaughn are hiding things, it will take trust, especially from Vaughn, if his past resurfaces. Once again, I loved the redemption in this book, the magic & beauty & healing of nature, and the strong characters who believe in forgiveness, family, and finding happiness in the future.

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Liar's Bench by Kim Michele Richardson

Liar's Bench by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this historical fiction debut and Muddy's fight for answers when her mother is found hanged and is then ruled suicide. Muddy can't believe it and searches for answers with her love interest friend, Bobby (who passes for white but is black and Indian) as they fight racism, bigotry, and secrets in small town and small minded Kentucky. What will happen to Muddy? A great mystery and thriller taking place in 1972 with flashes back to the history of Bobby's people.

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The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of my Albright College book club and this was chosen by Sue Murphy Bonnewell. As much as I am drawn to Holocaust books, during this time of Covid, I found myself putting the book down because it was so horrific hearing Mika's hellish story of her life in the concentration camps. It was interesting reading her book she was writing and reading to her best friend about a devil... I think Sage is a very flawed human being but I liked her and wanted her to find happiness and not settle because she thought so little of herself. I LOVED Leo and his passion for Nazi hunting, his interest in Sage and her story, then her grandmother's story; it was all so mesmerizing, but devastating! Jodi Picoult wrote novel I very much wanted to put down but could not; very thoroughly researched!!!

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Not Hungry by Kate Kaeryus Quinn

Not Hungry by Kate Karyus Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Teen readers will find this novel in verse compelling; June's voice is raw, realistic, and vulnerable as she struggles with weight issues in her family, angered and upset with her beautiful sister's abusive boyfriend, and unsure about her neighbor, Tony. As secrets threaten to destroy June, she stops eating (this is her way to diet), sometimes purging, but mostly not eating. Fraught with daily problems, will June figure out who she really is? Highly recommended!

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The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert

The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book!!! Such vivid characters while also being a study of a family and the secrets they have been holding from Birdie (also known as Dove). Birdie is a good girl kept on a tight rope by her hairdresser owner Mom and Doctor Dad. Birdie is the only one home now while her sister is attending college but each minute of each day is allotted to studying; she even had to stop playing soccer (which she loved and still misses). Summer is going to be taking SAT classes and working in her mom's shop. But that all changes when her aunt Carlene reappears and Birdie has a boyfriend she knows her parents won't like. I loved the way Colbert told this story of an African American girl that just wants to live a little but she is not above making some mistakes and this lands her being punished big time; just how will this affect her life & her love life? Teens will love this urban fiction book about a teen wanting to test the waters and how this affects her summer and family; a DIVERSE must read!!! Teens will be reading this, sharing it and loving it!

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The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this right after reading What Alice Forgot (which I LOVED) but I found this story a bit chopped up ---all I wanted to read was the letter--and it took me awhile to figure out why each chapter contained different characters...I love Liane Moriarity and this book just took me a longer to get into and I guess I was disappointed. Cecilia and the whole clan of characters were rich and so normal and also so flawed. The secret was devastating and wow what a ripple effect!

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The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher

The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Sharon and Sally for passing on this delicious mystery and awesome beach read. I could not stop turning the pages as 2 women marry into an Italian family with all kinds of secrets, lies, and dysfunction. I rooted for Maggie and Nico as they marry but after that life becomes very difficult indeed (haughty mother-in-law, step daughter who hates her, and a great mom- thank god for her normalcy) and could not wait to see what happened to Massimo, Lara and Sandro. Exciting read to pass on to all your friends.

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All Of This Is True by Lygia Day Penaflor

All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh was this book delicious! Using different formats to tell this story of 3 girlfriends and new guy student enthralled by a new young adult author, Fatima Ro, and her first book, Undertow, makes for a thrilling read as author, Fatima befriends the teens and they start a fan club, mimic her hairstyle, and spend time at Fatima's house. But all is not as it seems; unbeknownst to them- Fatima is using their lives (lies and secrets) in her second novel; and their worlds come tumbling down! Teens will love author, Penaflor's use of interviews, videos, magazine articles, and excerpts from second book, The Absolution of Brady Stevenson, to build the mystery and suspense of their failed fan friendship, many betrayals by Fatima, and outing new guy's sordid past. I could not stop turning the pages; teens will devour this psychological thriller! #BookJunkies #FatimaWasHere #Allofthisistrue

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Rook by Sharon Cameron

Rook by Sharon Cameron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finished this dazzling drama just hours before the #2jennsbookclub twitter chat! Sharon Cameron's characters (The Bellamy family and The Hasard family) were oh so good. Sophia Bellamy and Rene Hasard are engaged to be married and oh do they have secrets aplenty!!! Sophie is trying to save her family's heritage, home, and business. It is Rene Hasard, very good looking, loud, and very annoying (to Sophie) who is going to pay the money that will save the Bellamy name. But an even juicier plot is the do-gooder (known as the Red Rook, who frees the masses and leaves a red rook feather)who is helping save the unjustly accused and stay one step ahead of the government and their favorite tool, the guillotine. As Sharon Cameron wove this mesmerizing story of revolution, the insidious Allemande and LeBlanc, killing all in their path; I could not stop turning the pages as daring Sophia, close brother, Tom, childhood friend, Spear, staunch maid, Orla all stealthily worked as ONE to right the wrongs of the ruthless government injustices. All the while, Rene and his family have mysteries aplenty in their past and present. Will the Red Rook triumph or will the hands of Fate keep their date with death? I highly recommend Rook if you love a spell binding epic with spies, heroes, and daring drama!

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Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Jasper Jones is an outcast in his Australian mining town of Corrigan. But one night he knocks on Charlie Bucktin’s window and asks for his help. Charlie is honored and desperate to impress Jasper; he follows him to a sheltered area and sees Laura Wishart hanging from a tree. Charlie is stunned; who did this and why is Jasper Jones pulling Charlie into this awful web of lies and deceit? This story is mesmerizing, suspenseful, and funny; it pulls you into Charlie’s world of family, friends, and the deep, dark secrets in Corrigan. Charlie must reach deep within himself to keep these confidences that just ache to be unburdened. A superb novel of characterization, setting, and coming of age.







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