The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthis Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have so enjoyed listening to Cynthia Hand's Lady Janes series!!! Boy was this book sad, devastating, but redemptive as Lex suffers heart stopping grief after her younger brother shoots himself. She breaks up with her boyfriend (and they really worked as a couple), she does not hang out with her girlfriends anymore, and she She sees a therapist who also asks her to write about it and then gift it to someone to read. Since their father left, her brother has never forgiven him for leaving. As Lexie sinks further into her depression, the reader will root for her to finds answers in the many ways she tries---an old friend reappearing, the ghost of Ty visiting her, and getting into MIT---and I wish Lexie forgives herself, moves forward with her brother's blessing, and chooses life over grief. A must read for its authentic, stunning portrayal of the effects of suicide on family, friends and society.

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When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert

When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love all Kelly Loy Gilbert books because of what timely issues and themes they deal with, but this book was really tough to read... Beth as the protagonist goes through so much--her parents' divorce, her circle of friends that she loves so much that she really does not show them who she really is---she shows them what she thinks they want to see, and when an act of violence on her love interest Jason devastates her; the whole story shifts as Beth and her friends try to support Jason. I hated how all that happens to Beth changes her and molds her into another person (not one I really liked but can understand this was how she coped)who must mold herself into someone everyone will love and accept and the author shows how these teens really have no way of dealing with what happened to Jason and Jason makes it even more difficult by asking them to go back tot he way they were before. Beth's treatment of her mother was awful, mean and secretive while she loved her father--who was the one who left, stops coming to see her, and does not support her. As she and Jason begin to see each other it quickly becomes awkward with Beth telling herself she must accept everything and take it in stride. This book broke my heart but the friendships these teens have is so special and supportive. The author deals with many topics teen readers will want to read about - abuse, secrets, high school, the college aspect, divorce, lies, music, self destruction, suicide, dysfunctional families, racism, and authentic Asian American teen characters. A must read but it will be a tough read.

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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spoilers will be in this review! I loved this book so much, as always with any V.E. Schwab book, this book was compulsive reading, and courageous in plot, theme and characters! Addie LaRue is a favorite character for me; she was strong yet vulnerable, passionate about music and art, determined to live life (learning languages and also more about her curse as time dragged on) while being doomed to never being remembered by anyone. What disappointed me about Addie was learning late in the book about her sexual relations with Luc. I thought Addie and I were on the same page with our hatred of Luc and his despicability. It bothered me to learn this after her relationship with Henry was threatened. I guess if I want to give her a pass I have to understand just how lonely she was all those years and she gave in to her insecurity and Luc's abusive dominance- because let's face it---he is the god of darkness and one she should have never made her bargain with...
There was so much beauty in the places Addie travels to throughout her life, even if she can't thrive always looking for lodging, food, money, books, etc I loved Schwab's worldbuilding and her characters---one of my favorites was Estele and her oneness with nature. I loved Henry and his band of friends.
I will be thinking about this awesome, compelling book---Addie and Henry and Luc (him unfortunately) for a long long time--highly recommended!

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What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee

What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This thin, powerful book about grief, friendship, and community was beautiful. I loved Will and how he used his grief to cope and reach out. He walks for years, gives parts of himself to friends, members of his neighborhood and figures out life and himself in his travels. I loved the illustrations, the short chapters and the characters (his boss at the dollar store, Playa, little boy playing in his yard, and Superman among others) dot Will's journey. A must read about grief and love.

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Saving Everest by Sky Chase

Saving Everest by Sky Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the advance reader copy of Saving Everest by Sky Chase, in exchange for an honest review. I could not put this book down, debut author, Sky Chase has written a great, diverse YA romance. The story of Everest Finley, popular, gifted and athletic, who silently suffers from depression and tries to end his life was crushing. Everest really has no strong family support; when he returns to school he is scorned by his girlfriend, best friend, and team members. Retreating to the library, he meets Beverly, a quiet, shy, but happy girl who pledges her friendship and support. Both Bev and Everest are strong likable characters teens will relate to and love as Bev and Everest become best friends, challenging themselves to become better for each other. I fell in love with Everest’s voice, his honest music, and his fearlessness. While Bev was a strong positive influence for Everest, he challenged her to go outside her comfort zone, become visible, and experience what high school is all about. Together can they both find their true selves? Bev and Everest are smart, confused, of- the-moment teens who are just trying to understand life, love, and their place in the world. The drama and action move this story of friendship and romance forward to a satisfying conclusion. I would love to see another book from Sky Chase following Everest and Bev after high school! One reason for the 4-star rating; I did feel Everest would have benefited from follow-up help from a therapist for his suicide attempt and continuing depression. This debut accurately and honestly deals with teen mental health, family issues, and high school life; highly recommended!

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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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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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Picture Us In The Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert

Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this Stonewall Honor Award (first & most enduring award for GLBT books is the Stonewall Book Awards, sponsored by the American Library Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table) as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge. I read and loved Kelly Loy Gilbert's first book, Conviction, and like her debut---this 2nd book deals with many issues and themes that still continue to fill my brain. As the narrator, Danny Cheng is flawed, insecure, and a child/teen with VERY secretive parents. The reader knows how much they love their only son, but how they show it...Danny is a gifted artist and I loved the way the author let us see Danny's world and his introspections through his mind's eye. I liked the way the book was set up, I don't want to give away anything but I rooted for Danny as he got a scholarship to RISD, ached for him as he struggled personally and with his art. But through all this drama, Danny has friends like Harry and Regina (though there are tense times, they remain true to one another) and also Danny himself as he tries to figure out just what is going on with his parents and his life after high school. I also liked the Asian American teens, their families, and high school life--totally mesmerizing, yet authentic, and true. There were so many quotes in this book I could not stop putting in the little post-its to mark them. Now I need to put them all in Goodreads quotes- if they are not already in there- so memorable about Danny, loved ones, his art, his friends. This book MUST be read--teens, guidance counselors, parents will all come away with enduring feelings about family, friendship, suicide, adoption, and diversity!

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Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchinson

Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the advance reader copy Brave Face by awesome diverse author, Shaun David Hutchinson, in exchange for an honest review. I could not put down this book; this memoir was searing; Shaun suffered so much as a teen and young adult because he did not have enough faith in himself as a guy who realizes he is gay and how to handle being gay as a teen, son, and friend. Shaun takes the reader through his self-hatred, his preconceived notions, and how depression bullied him into believing no one would ever love him. I was so glad for his best friend, Maddie and his English teacher who encouraged him to continue to write and urged him to accept himself. Even at his lowest, Shaun continued to hold out hope that he would find happiness. He is a talented YA writer; teens love his books and they will most certainly identify with his anger, insecurities, and his feeling of being overwhelmed and misunderstood. This is a must read for teens; about gender and differences, the formal and informal messages Shaun received and how they empowered him and also caused him to live/believe in a world where bullying, AIDS, and gender stereotyping made him question himself over and over again as a queer/gay teen and young man. Highly recommended.

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I Was Here by Gayle Forman

I Was Here by Gayle Forman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a gripping read but yet another winner from Gayle Forman!!! Cody was a character perplexed and suffering so much guilt about the death of her best friend (soul mate) Meg. Cody's world revolved around Meg Garcia and her family; since her family is not so great---she calls her mom by her first name; doesn't know who her father is and her mother's men never venture to her home (thankfully). As Cody tries to fathom why her best friend killed herself; the reader follows her dogged pursuit of any kind of knowledge that could help her understand why she never saw any hint of Meg's calculated mission. I liked Cody because she was pushed by love for her best friend but also motivated by anger, a chip on her shoulder, and rants against Meg's one-night stand, Ben, for answers. I loved Forman's families- the Garcia family, Tricia, Stoner Richard's family, and Cody and Ben's conversations about their families. A gripping read that does not disappoint with a hard core female protagonist who is determined to rise to the challenge of whatever life throws at her without Meg.

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All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book on my kindle and LOVED it! Afterward, I went out and purchased the book to share with my friends--and I have to say, I feel readers really miss out on the COVERS of books when they read kindles and nooks. I found the front and back cover of this book so important---Violet and Finch used post-it notes throughout the novel and the 9 post-its on the back cover are a very good summary of epic Finch talking to withdrawn Violet and planting the seeds of excitement about living, loving, and all the bright places they will wander to and experience. Finch and Violet meet on a ledge at their high school; both of these characters are going through some things...Finch stays does not sleep for prolonged periods of time. Violet's best friend/sister died the year before in a car accident and Violet feels responsible. By talking Violet down off the ledge, Finch begins to protect her and then maybe he will be protected too...When they are paired in a school assignment to see the great Indiana wonders and writ about them, Finch pulls Violet into wanting to live- he has terms of endearment for her beginning with Ultraviolet and then progressing to Ultraviolet Remarkey-able. As Theodore Finch saves Violet, the reader is compelled to read about their friendship, their families, their friends. No matter what we think about these two kids---this book speaks volumes about teens and what they grapple with on a daily basis-bullying, death, suicide, depression, mental illness, labels, stigmas, family dysfunction, drugs, you name it! Don't miss Jennifer Niven's Author's Note at the end - it is a very meaningful read. I highly recommend this book to students, parents, school nurses and guidance counselors, and adults.

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