Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow

Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my niece Casey Ciocca, for this awesome audiobook/podcast recommendation. Ronan Farrow's narration was totally mesmerizing, his research was thorough, and the way he captures the world of NBC news, sexual abuse, lies, intimidation, power, money, status, and the long haul to report and help the women who were raped, abused, threatened in order to silence them and keep their tormentors free to plunder other women. A must read/listen to!

View all my reviews

Muted by Tami Charles

Muted by Tami Charles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great, compelling read---a novel in verse fiercely telling the story of three girls who love singing, harmonize together, and dream of escaping to the music world, singing, becoming famous and staying together----oh this does not happen! Denver and her friends Shak and Dali are 17 yrs old when they see their fave artist, Merc Ellis would be coming to their area, and decide they will make themselves heard, seen and astound Merc. As they get his eye and go back stage, all three are beguiled---what happens is that smooth Merc shows his true self and starts to isolate them---Dali and Denver if they do see it, allow themselves to be swooning over his attention and ignore the warning signals---but Shak does not and she is the first to go. Denver and Dali slip off and become Merc's proteges---but do they really? This is a must read, I could not stop turning the pages and I loved Charles' language in telling this cautionary tale. Going back and forth in time, my fear for Dali and Denver was heightened with each page I turned as they allowed themselves to go deeper and deepper into this den of horror. A must read!

View all my reviews

If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur

If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, I loved Kiran and Sahaara's voices as they relate their stories in prose, poetry and illustrations! The author, Jasmin Kaur weaves an all to real plot about being undocumented, sexual assault, fear, and deep seated anxiety. Kiran is Sahaara's mom, an undocumented immigrant. She never speaks of what happened to her daughter, but the reader knows Kiran was raped, thrown away by her mother who labels her a liar, and arrives in Canada to begin college. Staying with her aunt, Kiran reveals to her mother and aunt, she is pregnant. Her aunt will not help her and go against the Punjabi family rules and Kiran's awful mother does not believe her and blames her. Kiran wants to keep the baby and her mother orders her to get an abortion. Kiran wants something of her own, not to be judged as less than and with this in mind, Kiran confides in her friend, Joti, and Joti and her mother take her in where she lives in a real family (that she has never known) of strong, loving women and Sahaara has a best friend in Jeevan and a love of art as the best way to express herself. I ached as I read the lives of this mother and daughter; so many mysteries, secrets, and questions silenced. I could not put this deep examination of what it is to be a woman who does not matter in a man's world that includes lies. I loved being a part of Kiran and Sahaara's journeys and urge adults as well as young adults to read this story. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

The Unbreakable Child by Kim Michele Richardson

The Unbreakable Child by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, what a book; Kim and her sisters' go from a drug addicted mother to the St. Thomas / Saint Vincent Orphan Asylum in Kentucky where she endures a decade of beatings, torture, and spewed invective from nuns and priests. When her sister implores Kim to enter a lawsuit against this orphanage and those in power who abused 40 children. While I admired this courage from Kim, she also shortchanged herself by ignoring those who asked her to consider counseling. Maybe writing the books was her counseling but with her supportive husband and their enduring love I know Kim would find some solace. The way she shut down during the questioning by the lawyers during the deposition was enough evidence that she was not thinking correctly, counseling would have helped her---but Kim has decided to go this alone. A must read but tormenting, and life destroying for those 40 orphans, readers will be up ended with the evil that lived in those poor childrens' lives during the 1960s.

View all my reviews

Parachutes by Kelly Yang

Parachutes by Kelly Yang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a read; Kelly Yang as done it again! Her middle grade debut, Front Desk, was a winner and so is Parachutes. Telling the story of life in a high school in California that encourages students from China to get a leg up for college by going to high school in the U.S. Once they come, these "parachutes" are hosted by families. Dani, a Filipino American girl who is a scholarship student tutors and cleans houses to help her mother make ends meet. Her mom decides to host a student from Shanghai, Claire, who is rich, and privileged. Close to 500 pages, there is a lot going on in this important read. Dani and Claire are house mates only and travel in different crowds and many things happen to thwart their friendship. I loved Dani's debate qualities and Claire's search for friends. Many high school issues and family problems are dealt with as well as friendship, exploitation, and the importance of speaking up! Teens will relate to these girls, their lives, interests, and drama. Especially important is the author's notes and how she spoke up and was NOT heard! A must read!!!

View all my reviews

When You Know What I Know by Sonja K. Salter

When You Know What I Know by Sonja K. Solter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such an important book to read; Tori is eleven years old when something awful happens to her by a favorite uncle. At first her mom does not believe her and also her grandmother; devastating to say the least and the author does a great job in her novel in verse with the many stages that Tori experiences within herself (fear, loathing, anger), her family, in school, and with her best friend. Tori for the longest time can only think about and agonize over it; she is frozen in time, back when it happened. She languishes more and more each day----until her mom believes her (sounds the alarm to school and officials) and when Tori begins to get help, resources (a therapist), confiding in her sister, slowly Tori begins to hope. A must read for all- kids, parents, teachers!

View all my reviews

Stalked (Jonathan Stride, #3) by Brian Freeman

Stalked by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kudos to Brian Freeman for another spine tingling thriller in the Jonathan Stride series! I was so glad to see Maggie back but oh what secrets she will not divulge as she is accused of murder. I was so creeped out by the predator, I kept turning those pages though. Jonathan and Serena are back in Duluth, Jonathan as Lieutenant and Serena as a PI; as they investigate crimes and jobs, the suspense is unbelievable. I will be ordering the next one in the series, but I am also going to begin one of Freeman's other series books too, Bone House, a Cab Bolton series.

View all my reviews

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!

View all my reviews

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Sadie by Courtney Summers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the advance reader copy Sadie by Courtney Summers in exchange for an honest review. Summers’ Some Girls Are and Cracked Up To Be were always being passed around and constantly checked out by students. Sadie is a compelling, tense novel detailing Sadie’s self-hatred for failing to keep her sister safe. After her sister, Mattie, is murdered, the reader follows this tense mystery from Sadie’s point-of-view and through a podcast, The Girls, narrated by famed journalist, West McCray, as he searches for Sadie. I could not put this book down; Sadie’s life is hell; her mother is drug addicted and derelict. Sadie has a severe stutter and suffers from abuse; I rooted for her as she used her wits to follow clues. Mattie was the center of Sadie’s life and when her mother takes off; Sadie takes over the care of her little sister. With the police no help, and an absent mother, will Sadie find her sister’s murderer? Will McCray find Sadie? Courtney Summers has written an explosive, riveting novel.

View all my reviews

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Totally awesome book! I would love to see this as a duology, there is so much more I want to know about Penny and Sam's journey and romance!!! Debut author, Mary H.K. Choi uses texts between 2 awkward characters as a way of forging a friendship. Penny is new to college and has a roommate who is rich, kind, has an annoying best friend who is selfish, and also an uncle, Sam, who works in a coffee house on campus. Penny and Sam have different kinds of issues, but they both seem to be in sync - for example, the first time they meet - they are both wearing the same shoes and black outfits!!! The college setting is great because the reader sees Penny in school, while Sam is struggling to stay in college. There are so many issues that were really effectively dealt with such as mothers and daughters, sexual assault, friendship, race, families, and finally the emergence of love. I loved this book so much but I still want to know more about their journey. The ending was awesome (so many YA books are downers and that makes me so sad, for teens - they deserve to see happy endings are possible) and hopeful, yay for Sam and Penny! A must-read, enjoyable and one teens will be discussing (especially with the social media, texting aspect). A favorite for me!!!

View all my reviews

Panic by Sharon Draper

Panic by Sharon M. Draper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a timely, jarring novel from award winning Novelist, Sharon Draper. Diamond is a dancer in a close knit, Crystal Pointe Dance Studio who is abducted from a mall (a predator dangles the lead in a movie being cast immediately) imprisoned, drugged, raped, and so many more horrors. Another side story is important as well; Layla, also in the troupe is in an abusive relationship. Draper uses convincing characters: shaken dance members, devastated family, girlfriends and boyfriends, are all authentic and realistic. The many ripped from the headlines topics are treated believably providing suspense and caution to teen readers of a world that is scarily real. A must read but not an easy one.

View all my reviews

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a raw read- Kate is a nice girl who is athletic, has a great family and friends. At a party where she was very drunk, friend Ben takes her home and returns to the party to go home. As Kate realizes she likes Ben as more than a friend, she also finds out "something" happened that night at the party to a girl, Stacey, who she used to be friends with...AND here is where the title of the book -What We Saw -means. Author Hartzler did an awesome job of getting teen personalities right and real (mean girls, jock culture, those who care and those who hate) and in this climate honest Kate has so many questions, but will she get the answers she wants (right or wrong)? YA readers will be passing this book to their friends- a must read!

View all my reviews