Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz

Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for 2 reasons (1) Pernille Ripp recommended it & (2) I am reading debut authors for March twitter chat and this little gem is Elly's first novel. Molly is 12 years old, loves composing and acting our slam poetry, but desperately misses her mom who has moved away for a year for a job (and also separate from her dad). Molly likes even numbers, the orderly arrangement of her glass animals, but as time goes on and with her little brother, Ian and her older sister, Kate this family yearns for their mom to return. As Molly realizes her mind (SHE IS CRAZY) is crazy and holding her back, more & more counting is required to get through the day who can she tell about her worries? I ached for Molly as she is pitted between her two best friends, begins to realize her mother may not be coming home for a much needed visit, daily life becomes a living hell. I was happy Molly researched OCD, asked her Dad if there was a family connection & found online OCD friends but that still did not help Molly. In the end, finding perfect for Molly was learning her Grammy Jean had OCD, getting help through doctors and family & friend support. Loved this middle school book & heroine!

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First & Then by Emma Mills

First & Then by Emma Mills
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book because Pernille Ripp (one of my fave book bloggers) recommended it & since Emmal Mills is a debut author, it will be one of the books I recommend in my March twitter chat for #yearofya! There was so much to like about Devon, she was funny, snarky, and she had no problem talking to people. Her cousin comes to live with them and since he is a little weird, Devon doesn't really want to hang around with freshman Foster but as is her lot in life - she carts him everywhere. As she thinks about college, Cas the best friend/guy she likes, she hates that she has to take gym with Foster & the other freshmen - but wait a minute - the school football star Ezra has gym too. Readers will love Devon's friendships, family relationships, and her obsession with Jane Austen romantic characters. As Foster becomes more and more special everyday so does her feelings concerning Ezra. I just can't say enough about this little book that packs a lot of punch about football, high school, families and romance.

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The Beast by Brie Spangler

Beast by Brie Spangler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG what a book! I could not stop listening to Andrew Eiden as he narrated flawlessly the voice of Dylan called Beast by everyone because of his size and friend to one jerk, JP who makes him beat up kids to collect money owed him. Andrew Eiden's rendition of Jamie, the girl Dylan meets & falls for in group. What he doesn't know (because he tuned out) is that Janie is transgender & when he finds out, he deals with it all wrong. I ached for Dylan, his life, his yearning to get signs from his dead father, and his lack of faith in his mother. I rooted for Dylan & Jamie to triumph over themselves, other's judgments, and grow to appreciate the very horribleness of the world. A must read & recommended for all libraries!

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Debut author, Angie Thomas does a superb job of exposing the racism, frustration, & heart of Star's family, life & community in her project where she lives. But Star lives between 2 worlds because she attends a prep school where she is one of the few black students. As she lives in 2 worlds the reader sees her confusion and irritation as friends make judgments. I really loved her relationship with her white boyfriend, Chris and her family's reactions to Chris were all very different. But it is the night she rides home from a party after gunshots are fired, that changes her life forever. With her best friend, Kahlil, they are pulled over by a white officer things escalate (through no fault of their own) and her friend is shot dead. As Star grapples with losing him, she is also reminded of her best friend being shot when they were 10 years old & playing with fire hydrant spray. What will she do? Angie Thomas explores honestly & deftly injustice, police violence, families, gangs & change. I could not put this book down, highly recommended.

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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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