Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for a twitter chat with #2jennsbookclub Thursday 3/9 at 8PM EST. If you want a great teen read about grieving fat girl being cut out of her home deciding to go to high school & make a difference, oh is this book for you! Libby Strout speaks her mind and when latched onto by Jack Masselin as part of riding rodeo girl, the sparks fly. Libby punches him, they both get community service and counseling and what results is a friendship, then maybe something more. Jack is hiding a secret that he confides to Libby in a letter he puts in her backpack as he rides his rodeo girl. Libby is big and beautiful, has an attentive father and just wants a normal life. Jack is full of swagger, from a family of boys and parents who are going through some tough times. Both main characters are cook, flawed and totally worth knowing. Teens will love this book, identify with the high school and family drama and ask for more, more, more!

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A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by VE Schwab

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy did I LOVE this 3rd and final book in the Shades of Magic Series!!! Listening to Michael Kramer and Kate narrating this adventure filled tale of magic, evil, and the fates of Red London, White London and Grey London. I loved Schwab's characters, her plot, her worlds! If I could have sat for 16 hours and listened to this book, I would have! It was that GOOD!!! A highly recommended adult series with lots of horror, struggles between good & evil, different kinds of magic and magicians, betrayal and fights in kingdoms and on the seas. I could not get enough & I Loved the ending (that does not always happen and I hate that) I like this series so much I am going to jump into her YA series soon, This Savage Song!

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AList of Cages by Robin Roe

A List of Cages by Robin Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this wrenching book for my monthly twitter chat book club #YAbookchat and oh was it powerful, crushing, and spoke deeply of the power to wound and try to thwart goodness. Julian is young when his parents are killed in a car accident. Julian is a sweet child who was loved deeply by his parents. When they die, Julian ponders just what their death means, where do they go, and what is his mission in life - but since he does not ask anyone these questions but himself, he has no answers. In shock, he is a foster child living with Adam and his mother and slowly begins to heal until his uncle comes to claim him and claim him he does. Russell is a monster who mentally & physically tortures Julian with lies, fists, and a VERY warped way to make Julian be a man. For anyone to do what he does, Russell has to be mentally ill and the fact that he is able to take Julian's sweet fragile life and make Julian believe he is worthless, a problem that no one wants is abhorrent until the day Adam comes back into Julian's life. Adam is popular, loved Julian like a brother until 5 years before when Julian was taken away, never allowed to visit Adam and his mom and now is skipping school on a regular basis. Will Adam be able to rescue Julian? It can't come quickly enough. Taut, psychologically unnerving, Julian needs the beautiful person Adam JUST is. Adam has the ability to be happy, kind, and positive. Along with his huge gang of friends I rooted for Adam to pull Julian in with all his love, friendship and brotherhood!!!

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The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group, and Clarion Books for the ARC, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz. This is another beautiful, heart-breaking book (just like Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe). Saenz has a powerful way with words and also his titles. The main character, Salvatore (known by family and friends as Sally or Sal) goes into much thought and depth about logic and also inexplicable logic throughout his deep soulful searches on life, love, family, being a senior and how to find his way in the world. Sal tells the reader his life was good, happy, and he was not bothered by much until senior year when he begins to question himself, starts getting into fights, withholds himself from his father, and his best friend, Sam. The one constant in Sal’s life is his grandmother, Mima, who has always loved and accepted him and now she is dying. Will Sal be able to survive this unbelievable loss? When will he open and read a letter from his mother? Will he be able to conquer his fears and grow up to be the kind of person his Mima, Dad, Sam, and new friend, Fito, know he can be? Readers will ache with the sadness and longing in Sal and his integral relationships and will grow with Sally as he questions, laughs, cries, and forges toward his future. A strong, authentic, YA read with diverse characters.

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Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you so much to Mimi Denman for such a great recommendation! This book which I listened to was narrated awesomely by Hope Davis. Her voices, inflections, and personalities for all the family members in this dysfunctional family created from a chance meeting at a baptism was such a great read. I laughed and mourned the destruction Bert Cousins foists on the Keating family by stealing beautiful mom, Beverly. What results is a beautifully crafted story spanning decades of the blended parents and children - their bonds, happiness, sadness, existence and a new definition for family ties.

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As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds

As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love all of Jason Reynolds books, his urban fiction is real, authentic and a must for teen readers. But this book is NOT urban fiction and just as awesome as his other titles- boy does he know how to write!!! Brothers Genie and Ernie are taken to their grandparents home in Virginia for a month while their parents work to keep their marriage together. Genie always writes down any questions he has and if he can't get an answer from the mouths of family and friends, he goes on to the internet for his answers. Both are from Brooklyn and going from the city to country is a rude awakening; as they settle in Genie weaves a story about their adventure (and worry-filled) filled life with their grandparents. Quickly Genie learns his grandfather is blind, hasn't left his house in years, and has recruited Genie for some secret night travels. While Ernie is totally cool with his signature shades & love of karate and beating up on Genie when he is annoying; things transpire like a girlfriend for Ernie, Tess and on his birthday a surprise gift from his grandfather. I loved Genie, Ernie, Tess, Grandma and Grandpa, parents and learning about their family secrets, loves and losses. Middle school and teens will love this book about brothers, family, loss, grief, and finding one's voice.

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Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin

Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this wrenching book for The Hub Reading Challenge (William Morris Award) about 3 sisters and their father who are losing their mother to leukemia. They live in San Diego and commute to Mexico for Laetrile (banned in US) treatments. While there they meet people who come to feel special to them. One boy, Caleb and his mom, Barb, end up moving in and helping Adrienne, Vanessa, Marie cope with their hellish life that has been torn apart by this devastating illness. Vanessa, the middle child tells the story and it is her love of piano that helps her daily to deal with the leukemia and what it is doing to their mother. It is Caleb who is in remission from lymphoma who becomes her lifeline, support, and reality when another insidious truth becomes reality. I could not put this book down, I rooted for the sisters to survive their journey and be "safe and free" LOVED LOVED this book; a must read. Teens will love these sisters.

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