What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold

What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Group and Carolrhoda Lab for the ARC, What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K Arnold. I wish I could have enjoyed this book – not only did I dislike Nina, but her mother was totally responsible for messing her up in so many unbelievable, vilke ways and the chapters dealing with women, saints, and torture were in the book, why??? Gut wrenching, this story was without redemption, which is an important element in many, many novels. Nina’s only saving grace was the time she served for community service at a no-kill shelter and the fact that she continued after she fulfilled her time. Seth and her “best friend” Louise were self serving characters and one dimensional. Even after reading The Author Note I agreed with the author about not liking Nina and her choices. I did not like how the plot and characters delivered the very important message, “What are you made of?” Maybe girls will like reading Nina’s story and take something positive away from it, I was just sorry I could not love this book.

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The Takedown by Corrie Wang

The Takedown by Corrie Wang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Book Group, and Freeform for the ARC, The Takedown by Corrie Wang. I also read this for the March twitter chat on debut authors with #yearofya & it has been highly touted by blogger Kelly Jensen in “Faces of Color on 2017 YA Books”. Wow, what a gripping read! Kyla Cheng is a high school senior ho rules her school, best friends with Sharma, Audra, & Fawn, and friend with benefits (lots of doubt and kissing) to long-time crush, Mac Rodriguez. Kyla’s voice was straightforward as she flatly and to the point, tells of the video that destroys her life. With all kinds of technology (in a near future time) someone releases to her school and administration a video of Kyla and her English teacher having sex. Kyla denies is the person in the video (she has never had sex!!!), over and over again, all the while her friends do not believe her. As the mystery mounts and Kyla chases down clues, her hater sends out her incomplete college applications, Kyla is kicked out of the school clubs, suspended from attending classes, she continues to realize she has somehow disappointed her mother. As the plot thickens, Kyla will accept how invasive technology has become and it is through a concerted effort including Mac, Sharma, & tech geek, Rory, that Kyla tracks the twisted trail towards her hater. That said, I did not really like Kyla for many reasons; she was a mean girl, she refused to look inward at her actions, words, and thoughts; she was self-absorbed and constantly judging Mac and her mother. What I did like about Kyla was her spunk, her loyalty, and her unfolding honesty with her mom. I could not put this book down, teens will love the technology, the suspense, plus the high school and family drama. This book had great characters, plot, and is a totally enjoyable tense psychological whodunit!

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The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Paige lives in a small town and has finally decided she wants to get on with her life after her boyfriend of two months drowns. Paige has a list of things she wants to accomplish this year and dating Ryan Chase is top on the list as well as join a club, and swim. She has awesome best friends who always have her back and when she becomes involved in Quiz Bowl, meeting Max, Ryan's cousin may help her win Ryan. I loved Ryan and Max, both guys were real, nice, and hiding pain. I also chuckled with her divorced parents dating again and her contempt of her younger sister. As Paige heads into living again, she will heal slowly, learn to live again, and believe big time that she can heal and live again.

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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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