Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book for #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenge because the book has a Color in the title. Wow, this YA retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story was nail biting. Bisou is a young girl who is raised by her grandmother after her mother is brutally murdered and it is not until one fateful night with a wolf chasing Bisou that her world changes. I loved how Arnold used female characters coming together and working together as a strong force for women. A great retelling!

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Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick

Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this for the #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenge and an #Own Voices story. Frankie is 13 years old, neurodiverse and her perception of the world is definitely different from others. She sees a therapist and takes medications, but ends this when she overhears her best friend, Collette and sister, Tess and another friend talking about her. Rather than confront them, she bottles it up, and she distances herself from them. Because Cat is neurodiverse she does not tell the reader that she has a twin (and this twin is also friends with Collette) and this is the way her brain works, and middle grade students will be drawn into her story that is about family, friendship, lies, secrets, and trying to figure things out. I learned so much from Frankie, but also from her sister, Tess, but the way they interact raises many questions because of the way Frankie is--compulsive, shouting out, hating being touched, and many more of her challenges. A must read!

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An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just love Julia Whelan narrated books and this YA magic/fantasy was a nail biter as Isobel, an artist who paints for the fair folk. She is in demand and her price is not money but enchantments to protect her family. Gadfly has been her patron for many years but informs her the Autumn Prince is coming to have his portrait painted. Little does she know she has already met him the day before in the forest as she was being pursued by a hellhound. While she is painting Rook, the Autumn King you feel the slow burn of their attraction and ease with each other. Once the painting is done and shipped to Rook, Isobel feels his absence even though humans and fair folk should never mix. Imagine her astonishment when an angry Rook summons her to a trial in the Autumn Court because she changed his portrait. But so much happens, the hellish adventure begins and there is fear constantly because they are being pursued...I loved this audiobook!

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From You To Me by K. A. Holt

From You to Me by K.A. Holt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my Book of Choice for #BitAboutBooks Spring Reading Challenges. I love K. A. Holt's books and this was not one of her novels in verse. Instead it is a gripping beautiful tribute to sisters, grief, friendship, and how to survive. Amelia's sister, Clara, drowned in the lake 3 years ago and Amelia is still crying and feeling very lonely. With her best friend, Taylor, they are going to take 8th grade by storm this year. When Amelia receives Clara's 6th grade letter to herself she decides to make each item come true for Clara. I rooted for Lily, her attempts to practice for softball tryouts, asking Billy to Kite Night, being nice to her mother, plan a prank and throw a party. As Lily becomes friendly with Twitch, and unburdens herself to Mrs. Grant, she begins a new kind of journey, living every day with her grief and memories of her beloved sister. Highly recommended!

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Noise: a Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Kathleen Raymundo

Noise: A graphic novel based on a true story by Kathleen Raymundo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Based on a true story, I assume this is based on Kathleen Raymundo's life but I was unable to find any information about the true story. I loved the bright illustrations; Cathryn's eyes and her hair were realistic and as a 7th grader who does not like noise, she meets new 4th grader Tyler on the bus. She rebuffs Tyler when he asks too many questions. Cathryn resolves her spurning of Tyler and learns important information about Tyler. Cathryn and Tyler become school bus friends. Caring about others is represented perfectly with words and illustrations.

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The Coldest Case: A Black Book Audio Drama by James Patterson

The Coldest Case by James Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first audiobook by James Patterson about Detective Billy Harney (father and twin sister are police too) narrated by: Aaron Paul , Krysten Ritter , Nathalie Emmanuel , Beau Bridges , and a full cast, I loved the characters as the knuckle bearing story of Harney's investigation of a drug ring which involved in addition to police work, the use of social media, technology, and gaming. The only problem I had with the audiobook was the background sounds many times overwhelmed the narration by being too loud or too long. But I loved the conspiracies which involve those with power and money and even police corruption. A taut, mesmerizing audiobook!

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Namesake (Fable, #2) by Adrienne Young

Namesake by Adrienne Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 2nd and final book in Young's duology! There was no stopping in the adventure, suspense, and horror as Fable is ensnared in constant traitorous allegiances as she tries to save her beloved boat, Marigold and her love, West and his crew (her family), her father, Saint, from her grandmother, Holland. I could not stop turning the pages but oh did I love every time Fable drew in her breaths to go deep into the sea looking for gems and the elusive Midnight. As Fable finds out more and more about her mother and Clove, she wonders if she ever knew both of them. So many surprises and so many schemes, teens will love this series! Highly recommended!

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