Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I have loved and continued to think about Willow Chance in Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting by 7s, I am so in love with hilarious Julia Marks and will continue to think about her as such a special individual (her love and continued sorrow over losing her beloved dog, Ramon tore me us), thoughtful but also inwardly thinking about herself (what middle school child doesn't think self-centeredly about themselves?), funny, honest, and likable youngster who is a mover and a shaker. Julia is small, don't dare call her short, and now her mom has gone and signed her (and brother, Randy) up to audition for The Wizard of Oz. Thinking her summer was going to be a bust; Julia and Randy thrive as munchkins, Julia really takes to the director, Shawn Barr, who is always excited about everything to do with the show. Julia enjoys Olive, a self assured dwarf who partners with Olive for the show. Even more surprising, Julia becomes enthralled with neighbor, Mrs. Chang- her house is unbelievable- she has "cool stuff" an animal puppet collection, a coffee table made out of silverware, and a life-size buffalo made out of buttons...and Mrs. Chang has been in theatre and offers to make the munchkin and flying monkey costumes, as long as she can also be a flying monkey. As Julia becomes immersed in this summer theatre, her world changes, she changes, and the people she meets become role models re-shaping Julia. LOVED this book, just like I LOVED Counting by 7s. I can't wait for more impressive Holly Goldberg Sloan books, kids, teens, adults must all read -laugh and love the irrepressible Julia Marks!

View all my reviews

Faceless by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Faceless by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this novel as part of #yabookchat twitter discussion. When we meet Maisie, she is enjoying a morning run, loves being on the track team, loves her boyfriend, Chirag and best friend, Ellen. As she finishes her run, she stops to enjoy the morning when a lightning storm hits, and that is all she remembers until she wakes in a hospital and part of her face is gone. Together with her parents she accepts getting a face transplant; the many pills and routines that will become part of her life FOREVER. It is during this time, summer and school is out, that I really started not liking Maisie. She did/did not want to see her boyfriend (who she thought about ALL the time) and best friend. She withdrew further and further, became insolent, angry, and lashed out at her parents and friends. It is was only in the final part of the book (I thought it should have happened much sooner) that Maisie joins a therapy support group- BOY did she need it; that she finally started coming around, figuring things out (lots of discussion) with her support friends, then slowly with her best friend and even slower with her ex-boyfriend and I really thought Maisie was a good person once again like she was at the beginning of the book. Teens will love this book, but I wished Maisie had sought out help MUCH sooner, thankfully she had tight, loyal friends.

View all my reviews

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit, I liked Parker Grant more and more as I read this book. Losing your sight and mother at age 7 is very difficult for any child and as Parker grows up she creates The Rules and these rules govern her friendships, family, and relationships. Fast forward to high school where Parker has just lost her father, runs every morning, and reunites with the guy she blames for ruining her life. Lindstrom deftly portrays Parker's feistiness to the world but he does a superb job of fleshing out her insecurities, which make her wretchedly question many things she was so so sure about. How will Parker deal with her new reality of Scott, Jason, Molly, Trish, Sarah, and Sheila? Loved this book and the cadre of teen characters, the fierce friendships, the importance of friends and finding oneself!

View all my reviews

Stand Off by Andrew Smith

Stand-Off by Andrew Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ryan Dean was so different in this book; devastated, sad, and hawked by N.A.T.E. a big scary dark figure keeping him up at night for the next terrible experience in his life. Without Joey, Ryan Dean doesn't have much to look forward to his senior year without his best friend. But Annie is still Ryan's true love but he still has his "I am such a loser" mentality and he draws from her strength and compassion and this ends up making him a better person...and the fact that Pine Mountain has seen fit to give him a 12 year old roommate really puts Ryan Dean further over the edge. Ryan Dean is so hysterical and insecure and as a reader I LOVE his outlook and musings! Boys and girls will love the rugby, the action, and Ryan Dean's narration of the games are so exciting. And the romance between Annie and Ran Dean just gets better and better. A highly recommended read, I love all of Andrew Smith's books but Winger and Stand Off hold a special place in my heart. Ryan Dean is a special guy and I'd love to continue reading more about him.

View all my reviews

Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles

Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't remember who recommended this book to me, but this is a book all teens should read! Jo Knowles takes something that happened to her in real life as a child ad uses one incident in each chapter of the book to perfection. Teens at a school are just trying to make it one day at a time, surviving bullies and mean girls, parents, teachers and even next door neighbors. Each character spoke to me (my favorite was Claire) and I think teens will see themselves or others on these pages. Even better is Jo Knowles' plea to "tell it true, even if it means, read between the lines."

View all my reviews

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, I could not put down Lauren Oliver's book. Nick and Dara are sisters and have always been close. Even though Dara is one year younger, she has always hung out with Nick and their best friend/neighbor, Parker. But Dara and Nick were always very different; Nick being more reserved compared to Dara's wild nonconforming ways. And their closeness really suffers when Dara and Parker become an item. And the car accident where Nick and Dara slam into a wall. I loved how Oliver's chapters were told from Nick and Dara's POV and Before and After. When a nine year old girl disappears and then Dara does too; Nick unearths evidence the disappearances may be linked. With mind bending suspense, Oliver has written a challenging story about truth, jealousy, love, and sisters. And for a great interview from Lauren Oliver, read this from The Guardian - http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-...

View all my reviews

Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We learn about Brighton and Jonah's lives as they count down to two important but very different incidents in their lives. Jonah is forced to leave his hometown, friends, and girlfriend, to move in with his mom, his stepfather, Paul and little baby sister, Sophia. He hates living in Cross Pointe and wants nothing to do with any of the kids in his new school. Jonah just wants to see his girlfriend, his friends, graduate and go to college. Brighton is popular, mourning the loss of her father, showing the world she is happy and well adjusted and will be able to make it through her father's memorial. When Brighton tries to get 100% participation in community service, she can't get the new kid, Jonah to commit to volunteer. What's more, he is really angry and mean to Brighton and she doesn't understand why. What I really LOVED about this book was Brighton and Jonah's journey toward each other. I enjoyed seeing Jonah's old life through Brighton's eyes. I liked seeing Brighton's depth (even while she was conflicted and insecure) and Jonah's reactions as he spends a night with Brighton and he realizes he likes the REAL person she is. Brighton and Jonah will surprise you and melt your heart. Tiffany Schmidt does a great job getting these two together, what a great romance! Highly recommended.

View all my reviews

Ask the Passengers by AS King

Ask The Passengers by A.S. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

King has scored such a success with Astrid Jones, she has the indomitable spirit, but she doesn't know it yet. When she has questions about life, she wants to trust her best friend Kristina. But how can you trust your best friend when she talks to your mom about you on the phone. How can you trust your sister when your mom has girls night with her and never asks Astrid to join? And how can you ask your father anything when he is so busy getting high. Astrid and Ellis lived a wonderful life in a big city before their mom, Claire moved them to perfect little Unityville. Astrid has a few friends and works many weekends at a catering company where she is expert at deveining shrimp. It is here that she meets Dee and they find time to hug and kiss one another in the big freezer. Dee knows what she wants, but Astrid is just not sure. It is when Kristina comes up with a plan for Astrid to act like she is dating a guy and then after the date, Kristina and Astrid will go to the gay bar in town. Even though they are underage, they get in and it is not until much later, that their worlds come tumbling down when the bar is raided. Everyone is in trouble, but somehow Kristina convinces Astrid's mom that it was all Astrid's idea. Astrid still does not come out and tell everyone about herself and Dee. This hurts Dee but Astrid is continually working her way back to real truth and it is through her many talks to the passengers who fly overhead as Astrid lays on the picnic table in her back yard and questions imaginary Phil Socrates that she is able to accept and love herself. Astrid mends fences with her parents and sister, but they are flawed and it is when Astrid realizes this that she can accept their shortcomings. Astrid doesn't buckle under peer pressure but it takes most of the book for Astrid to berate Kristina and rebuke Dee. Until she does this, Astrid uses boys to hide who she really is and she feels very badly. Astrid never likes keeping secrets but she has not become strong enough to combat the lies until the night at the bar when they are all arrested. It is through all the LOVE that Astrid sends out to the passengers on the planes that she is able to march forward, happy with who she is, loving her imperfect life, verbally sparring with herself and Phil Socrates that we get an empowered, happy Astrid who will continue to question herself and others and above all, like herself for who she truly is.

View all my reviews

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Dark Dude has such a great cast of characters. They all have their problems, but it is Gilberto and Rico, who takes Jimmy with him too that decide to leave their lives in Harlen and strike out for a better life in Wisconsin. Rico is a light Cuban American and this causes him so many problems; he is bullied becdue to his light skin, family tensions with his moms' constant hassles, a father who drinks too much and can't make enough money to support his family and a rundown, violent school. Gilberto is an older Latino friend who truly cares for Rico and makes Rico feel he can do anything. Jimmy has a horrible life but together Rico and Jimmy make comics and watch out for each other. Jimmy is the artist and Rico is the author and they have an idea for a story, "Dark Dude" or Latin Dagger. It is when Gilberto comes into money and decides to go out west and get an education and better life that changes life drastically for Rico. When he can't take his life anymore, he runs away with Jimmy and meets up with Gilberto in Wisconsin. It is this new life, which isn't always great, and his coming of age in Wisconsin (lots going on there), that really causes Rico to mature and changes the course of his life. Rico as a character is going through so much and he has compassion, morals,and integrity. He is smart, re-reads Huck Finn and loves the relationship between Huck and Big Jim. I really admired how Rico never shirked the many challenges that came his way. A great multicultural read of bonds and friendship, but one my reluctant readers won't be interested in because of the 439 pages.



View all my reviews

Muchacho by Louanne Johnson

Muchacho by LouAnne Johnson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The voice of main character, Eddie Corazon was strong, confused, and angry but once he met Lupe, Eddie begins to awaken to what life can hold for him. Eddie still makes some bad mistakes and his humor is often biting but so is his life. He doesn't get along with his dad, has a major attitude, lives in a rundown area of New Mexico, and uses humor and sarcasm to describe his friends, teachers, school and just life in general. There are gangs, drug dealers, criminals that populate Eddie's world. But we find out pretty quick Eddie is a secret reader, he listens in class, and wants to be more than a "poor Mexican kid from a bad neighborhood" and with the help of Miss Beecher, a short-lived teacher in his school; Lupe a girl Eddie meets at dance class; Sgt Cabrera who sees something in Eddie and gives him a book to read after escorting her through his school, and finally getting arrested and sent to live with a trusted family friend, Eddie starts to get it....A book for reluctant readers, teens who enjoy urban fiction, and those who like romances, multicultural literature, this book will appeal to everyone---JUST read it!



View all my reviews