In Waves by A. J. Dungo

In Waves by A.J. Dungo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful, haunting graphic novel! Thank you to Jennifer LaGarde for this wonderful recommendation- graphic novel, memoir of love, grief, and honor. A.J. Dungo weaves his love of Kristen, who has been stricken with cancer but keeps a fierce love of life, surfing, and friends and family as the illness ravages her. Interspersed with chapters on the history of surfing narrating the heroes Duke Kahanamoku and Tom Blake, done in beige, white and black illustrations---the chapters on Kristen, her cancer, their love of surfing with friends is painted with aqua blue, white and black. Haunting, yet riveting, I loved learning about the history of surfing while being ensconced in A.J.'s life and love of Kristen, a romance at once so sad but honoring his memory of Kristen.

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Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes

Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nikki Grimes life encapsulated in this fierce novel in verse was awful and beautiful because her words made this book so compelling. I can't imagine the life she endured, yet she survived and this book speaks to traumatized kids and how they manage to survive and thrive because Nikki Grimes is one such person and author who brings her life to YA readers and oh what a life it was! A must read, haunting and real.

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The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I listened to this book and loved the narrators; unfortunately I did not enjoy the story which seemed so disjointed and not telling a story really. It was difficult to try to keep the characters, the plot lines, the stories together but I mightily tried! I loved to read and did not see this as an homage to storytelling at all. So I was not happy to have wasted 18 hours listening- but I loved the narration; it was just a frustrating mess for me, sorry!!!

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Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another winner from Raina Telgemeier as she uses Maya's cystic fibrosis as a reason for the family to move to a warmer climate. Cat is not happy about the move, leaving her friends, but she is a supportive big sister. When they arrive in Bahia de la Luna the girls find out from their next door neighbor there is a long history of celebrating ghosts and loved ones who have passed on. I loved Maya's joy and exploring nature and Cat's protective side. Cat's mom loves the new neighbors because they are Mexican American like her and many new dishes and cultural roots are explored. I loved the ghosts, the beauty of the Day of the Dead and Cat's acceptance of many things in her new home, family and friends. This graphic novel will be flying off the shelves!

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Stripped (Jonathan Stride, #2) by Brian Freeman

Stripped by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I totally enjoyed this 2nd Jonathan Stride detective mystery! This is my 3rd Brian Freeman book and I will continue to read all his books, his mysteries are mesmerizing with their sharp, thrilling plots, characters, and many many twists that keep me turning the pages! Jonathan Stride has moved to Vegas following Serena Dial after he retires from Duluth. This world will pack a punch with an old secret propelling a murderer who has an agenda to right the wrongs of the past. With new characters like Blake, Boni, Amira, Amanda and Claire, Stride and Serena race to stop the murderer as he leaves clues and micks them to catch him. The seedy side of Vegas, those controlling the casinos, and those unable to survive a killer's path kept me enthralled as I gobbled up the pages, crimes, and life stories of the characters in this slick, steamy mystery.

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The Steel Prince #2 (Shades of Magic Graphic Novels #2) by V.E. Schwab

The Steel Prince #2 by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love all Victoria Schwab books and this book, now a graphic novel, is perfect!

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Chosen (Slayer #2) by Kiersten White

Chosen by Kiersten White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved and could not put down White's First Buffy Book, Slayer, so was this 2nd book, Chosen, a GOOD punch in the gut read. The characters like Nina and her friends defending the castle are real friends, supporting Nina while her sister, Artemis is just sinister, sneaky, and awful with her "plans" to dominate. I love Kiersten White's writing, her world building, a plot that just kept moving toward bad stuff but since Nina's powers were restored by Simon before he died, she is having such difficulty with her feelings of rage, anger, and her powers are stronger than ever! Also I enjoyed Nina's dreams and the appearance of Buffy too. This is a great duology; I highly recommend it if you want a thriller with lots of suspense, awesome plot twists, and surprises galore!

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