How Dare the Sunrise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of #yearofya June nonfiction twitter chat. Sandra's voice was penetrating in her description of her wonderful family before, during and after the massacre making her a child of war. She is unflinching in her honesty, her pain, and her hopes. The reader learns about her little known African tribe, that becomes a pariah and one of genocide. Sandra's journey to "rich American dream" is shattered as she and her family stumble trying to assimilate, learn English, and craft a life in the bad neighborhoods. Sandra's different schools she attends allows her to see the racism prevalent in America and with her continued grief over her little sister Deborah allows her to rise up to become an impassioned & eloquent leader & speaker for refugees, those who are different, those who are struggling. A must read!

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Never Fade Book 2 Darkest Minds by Aledandra Bracken

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG OMG OMG loved (could not stop listening) & hated (the things these "kids" have to endure over and over again is agonizing) this book! Bracken has crafted an unputdownable story & I can't wait to listen to mesmerizing Amy McFadden's narration of #3!!! And then as my reading buddy on Goodreads, Jessie says - we have to read the 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 books too!!! I keep rooting for these kids & it is so surprising to me that like Ruby, I want so much evil to befall all the bad actors in this series!

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Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this Stonewall Award winner book as part of the 2017 Hub Challenge and oh did I love reading about this family - 3 women a grandmother, mother & daughter (Katie) come together when Katie's grandmother turns up (suffering with dementia) after her long time boyfriend dies suddenly. I could not put this book down as the reader follows Katie as she discovers & loves this grandmother she never knew, traverses the rough high school climate of mean girls (when she kisses her best friend) and deals with her special needs brother as her angry mother tries to find housing for the mother she holds so much against. I have read & loved all the other 2 Jenny Downham books and this book was gripping, fascinating, and painful (but hopeful &redemptive) as Katie's journey takes her back thru her grandmother's life & also her mother's. Katie is a strong narrator who compelled me to turn the pages with her insights, her fancies, and her honesty. Downham's portrayal of dementia was insightful as well as the double edged sword of rule following (by both Beth and Katie's mom, and Katie herself). LOVED this book.

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Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog-in-Chief by Mark Russell, Ben Caldwell & DOMO Stanton

Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog-in-Chief by Mark Russell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this great graphic novel as part of The Hub 2017 Reading Challenge and loved the crazy illustrations as improbably a girl becomes President and deals with the political machinations as her detractors wear pop culture heads of smiles, Scooby Do, pigs and she loses her Dad to the dreaded cat flu which the whole US is dealing with (companies are holding her hostage with the vaccination). In this future America, Twitter and other apps rule, crooked corporations & politicians only care about themselves but are destroying the world, but Prez Beth Ross is a believable heroine, can't wait to read more of these graphic novels!

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Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevah

Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of the 2017 Hub Challenge and winner of the Odyssey Award. I loved Amber's voice, her illustrations- she was a great kid who missed & felt keenly growing up without a father. Amber is starting middle school and the first week is awful with little sister, Bella being bullied, sending letters to their dad who does not live with them anymore, no friends and a bully who wants to throw her into a trash can at school. I loved Amber's phobia about germs, dirt, cat litter! She can't confide her sadness, fears, and angst to anyone- so she creates a dad by drawing him, then telling him all her cares, hopes, dreams. Amber is the kind of heroine middle school kids will love- she is humorous, a great sister, and awesome at drawing! A totally enjoyable emotional read!

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Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Kathy Dawson Books for the ARC, Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore. Cashore’s mystery novel uses fantasy, a whodunit, and a mourning but clear-headed protagonist, Jane, as she traverses in search of answers concerning her recently deceased, beloved, Aunt Magnolia in the strange mansion, Tu Reviens, she is visiting with her friend and mentor, rich girl, Kiran. I found myself consistently uncertain as I read this book with Jane’s adventures unfolding in five separate chapters (many repetitions such as Jane seeing her Aunt Magnolia’s framed photograph of the little yellow gobi fish in the mouth of a large gray fish & then seeing the matting being uneven in the frame). I think readers will struggle too. But, that being said, I love Kristin Cashore as an author; her characters (Jane, Ivy, Patrick, Ravi, Kiran and Mr. & Mrs. Vander) are so strong, authentic and mysterious. Cashore’s world building is breathtaking with strange, creaking, groaning Tu Reviens, parallel universes, and Zorsted as a marvel, especially with the likes of Steen, the strayhound as her guide. I rooted for Jane as she stridently asked questions, uncovered answers and marched toward becoming her own umbrella building person (loved those umbrellas!!!) searching for her place in the world. Recommended for those who love mystery and fantasy, building tension, thrilling plot twists and strong characters.

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My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodie Ashton and Jodi Meadows

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG did I love the narration of this fantastical story & re-imagining of history with the spot on perfect voices of Katherine Kellgren! She made this story thoroughly engrossing - her voices of Jane, Edward, G, and Scottish Gracie were delightful, compelling, humorous, and magical. I loved the EDians who shapeshift to become animals - you will love learning about their alternate English history and those who were against EDians and those rulers and subjects who envisioned a world where EDians and Verities lived happily together! Jane was my hero with her love of books, her ravenous reading, and all the learning from these books-- she is a most capable strategist, knowledgable about EDians, world history, and an unshakable belief in helping others to make the world better. As enemies plot to overthrow Edward, there will be plenty of adventure & daring do as Jane, G, and Edward conspire to get England back into the proper hands. Great characters, worlds, and reimagined history to make this a fun, interesting read!

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