Girl Man Up by M-E Girard

Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this awesome book for the August twitter chat to be held Sept 6 at 8PM EST with #yearofYA, come join us, in so many ways this book featured empowered females (Pen and Blake) (Pen and Olivia)- Pen, Blake and Olivia supported one another and Pen overcame the many challenges young girls face. Pen doesn't have it easy- a group of guy friends who are total jerks, Portuguese parents that want Pen to confirm to a good girl look and label and although a girl, Pen likes short hair wearing her brother's shirts, and just always being who she is...which creates problems all around. I loved her voice, her honesty, her questions, and she dealt with all the crap that hits her as any teen would- she just knew who she was but could not explain why this was who she truly was and why shouldn't she be who she truly was? Girard's book is important for teens, I liked this quote from Miranda Reads review "Introducing Pen - the antidote to all those cookie-cutter YA heroines" a must read!


View all my reviews

Sovereign (Dreadnought #2) by April Daniels

Sovereign by April Daniels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to/read this audiobook for the August twitter chat to be held Sept 6 at 8PM EST with #yearofYA, come join us, in so many ways this awesome audiobook featured many main characters -Dreadnught (Danny), Calamity (Sara), and evil villain Graywytch (she had a hidden agenda to overthrow men therefore taking insanity to wack level being an empowered female). Narrator Natasha Soudek was really super with the many voices/characters resulted in an awesome performance I thoroughly enjoyed!!! As Danny works really hard to be the best superhero, she is stretched thin and needs help. Graywytch continues to be evil to Danny because he is a boy but she goes totally off the rails with her villainy and it was tough to listen to Danny as Graywytch tortured her. I loved the addition of new characters, especially Charlie (loved narrator's voice for him) In the end, I liked the world building, how Danny's close friends always had her back and can't wait for the 3rs book!.

View all my reviews

Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone

Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for the August twitter chat to be held Sept 6 at 8PM EST with #yearofYA, come join us, in so many ways this awesome audiobook featured the 2 main characters Hannah and Emery as empowered females, supporting each other (with a fight in between). Narrators, Eevin Hartsough and Lori Gardner were really good voices for each of these teen girls. They both have a huge fight after being lifelong friends, go to different schools, live next to each other. As Hannah begins to question everything after Emory accuses her of blindly following her Dad (pastor) and not standing up for Emory---Stone did such a great job of showing how Hannah evolves through her family, friends and Aaron in a capella choir. Even more, Hannah is the one who "rescues and saves" Luke, Emery's boyfriend. I loved the way Emory kept a running list of the days she has been dating Luke and something special he says (she is also counting down when they break up for college) and enjoyed the rehearsals for Our Town with her friends. This book had so much teens will love- sports, romance, family drama, how friendships can crack apart, and the aspect of faith at home, in school, and in friendship! A must read, did not want it to end!!!

View all my reviews

The Lightning Dreamer by Margarita Engle.

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this compelling novel in verse by Margarita Engle for my empowering female twitter chat with #yearofya to be held on 9/6 at 8PM EST, please join us as we talk titles that feature females in the lead, girls supporting each other or overcoming the many challenges young women face and oh was this book perfect as Gertrudis Gomez de Avellanda, known as Tula famed Cuban Abolitionist. Tula not only had being a female against her, but her family wanted her to acquiesce to whatever they wanted; no reading, arranged marriage, and speak out against the slavery through words, plays, and metaphors. I loved every single word- Tula was strong, compelled to speak out against the horrible slavery in Cuba and the orphans left at the nuns convent. Using the voices of Tula, her brother, her mother and her beloved nanny (who also served as cook, maid, seamstress, gardener) Engle evokes the love, anger, and hatred of systems designed to cage and strangle. A must read as all of Margarita Engles' profound books are!!!

View all my reviews

Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great ending to a fantastic series- aliens falling in love with humans, aliens healing humans and they become mutated- hybrids with abilities like their Lux lovers and also sharing heartbeats and maybe death? Katy was such a strong female character throughout this series- I read this as part of the #yearofya book chat taking place Thursday 9/6 when we discuss books containing females who kick ass, support other females, and overcome many challenges. The bad guys were horror worthy causing death and suffering in a most excrutiating way, but then there were surprises - Arum, Hybrids, Origins who came to Katy and Daemon's aid to save the world. Armentrout has a new one coming out about Hybrid Luc and I can't wait to read The Darkest Star due out 10/18!

View all my reviews

Smoke in the Sun (Flame in the Mist #2) by Renee Ahdieh

Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this awesome 2nd audiobook (excellently narrated by Nancy Wu) in the duology series Flame in the Mist for my empowering female twitter chat with #yearofya to be held on 9/6 at 8PM EST, please join us as we talk titles that feature females in the lead, girls supporting each other or overcoming the many challenges young women face and oh was this audiobook perfect with Hattori Mariko the strong female but also with lesser female characters who behind the scenes are intelligent, aware, and forthright in their agendas. Mariko is such a strong female character (within and to all who know her) and she also emboldens other females in the court and the Black Clan to be true to themselves and care for others. There is so much violence in this story, especially Emperor Roko's torture of prisoners that I gave this a horror classification as well. I loved the romance between Mariko and Okami and with Okami's reticence, Mariko stood firm, resolute, and almost embarrassed Okami to the become leader everyone saw. Thankfully when he finally escapes his torturous prison and finds gifts and letters hidden in his destroyed parents' home for his eyes only, Okami realizes what his true mission is and becomes the perfect strong leader needed in a time of battles and betrayals in court and the kingdoms bringing change to a feudal Japan wracked by evil within. Loved this book, could not stop listening!!!


View all my reviews

Bruja Born by Zoraida Cordova

Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this awesome 2nd book in the Brooklyn Brujas series for my empowering female twitter chat with #yearofya to be held on 9/6 at 8PM EST, please join us as we talk titles that feature females in the lead, girls supporting each other or overcoming the many challenges young women face and oh was this book perfect as sisters Lula, Alex and Rose struggle mightily. Lula uses her magic to bring back her boyfriend, Maks, after a bus crash that kills everyone but her. But is that really what happens? As Lula finds Maks and keeps him close, other more sinister things are afoot- why does Lady de la Muerte say Lula has upset the balance? Why does her heart hurt and the magic her family used to heal her not seem to be working? Why does Maks break up with her before the crash telling her "You're not the same person I fell in love with. It's like your fire is gone." Bruja Born was even better than Labyrinth Lost, the female power was strong, wicked, and to know them is to love them.
I loved the relationship between Lula and her sisters as brujas, they fight, they shout, they stick together. Readers will love the addition of the Thorne Hill Alliance and The Knights of Lavant; Nova is back, Lula's Dad has more time but there is still uncertainty about him, and Rose really will surprise everyone! I could not stop turning the pages of this urban fantasy; so looking forward to the 3rd book in this spectacular series (reminds me so much of another series I love-Daniel Jose Older's ShadowShaper series!!!)

View all my reviews