Blogs

Doing Right by Patrick Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for an awesome read that teens and reluctant readers will not be able to put down. DeQuin is a teen who wants to do right. With a father in jail, living with an uncle who wants him to stay clear of his friends and a bothersome grandfather – what is DeQuin to do when trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes? As a night out with friends goes horribly wrong, DeQuin flees a mob and will pay dearly. Patrick Jones continues to write books that teens can’t put down. Jones’ books, Nailed and Things Change, were always being read in our library- we couldn’t keep them on the shelves! This latest urban fiction story will have teens thinking and talking. Highly recommended.

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The Young Elites by Marie Lu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am really looking forward to the next book in this series! While I abhorred Terren and Adelina's father, I have not made up my mind about Adelina yet. Adelina had a horrible childhood after her mother died from the fever. Adelina's father terrorized her (broke her finger)- always trying to bully her into showing anger and hatred--he wanted to see the malfetto manifested in her since she survived the illness (she lost an eye, has gray hair. She has a sister, Violetta who survived the illness too. But Adelina's father openly loves Violetta and despises Adelina due to the harsh circumstances malfetto families endure (no one will marry her and her father's business suffers). I found it painful to endure Adelina's self loathing and refusal to confide in anyone about her life and death problems (but I also understood she has a dark side she does not know how to handle yet). I loved all the Young Elites especially Enzo and Raphaelle and hoped Adelina would tell them the truth about Terren. I could not put this book down and can't wait to see what happens as more of The Young Elites appear in Book Two.


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Undivided by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a great ending to the Unwind Dystology! Each chapter in Undivided was narrated by a character or broadcast. This final book was suspenseful, horror filled, and sad as Nelson captures Connor and Risa, Lev becomes a member of the Arapache tribe and Grace continues to surprise and amaze me. Despite Roberta using nanotechnology to wipe Risa from Cam's memory--he still remembers he loved someone and must help the cause of the unwinds. But the book ends on a positive note with many surprises! Highly recommended--and if you haven't read the other three books---Run to your local library or bookstore and grab them, Shusterman is a master!


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I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love, love, love this author and this second book by Jandy Nelson has so much to savor and enjoy. I have to agree with my friend, Tiff Emerick, I did not want it to end. I kept reading small bits, hoping that would make the love, drama, brother/sister dysfunction, family sagas, and the art that wove its way through the plot, the characters, and healing last forever. Twins Jude and Noah tell parts of the story at different ages. At a certain point, what they once had so much of- love, honesty, and sharing became jealousy, lies and separation. Nelson's characters affected me deeply- not just Noah and Jude, but their mom (and her ghost), their grandmother's ghost, Brian, the English model and the crazy artist who takes Jude on as a student. There is so much to love about this novel, but I will leave you with the beauty of Nelson's words as Noah describes Brian, "I swear I can see sound, the dark green howling wind, the crimson crush of rain- all these sound-colors swirling around my room while I lie on my bed thinking about Brian. His name when I say it aloud: Azul." This is a must read; you will laugh, cry, sing, and sigh. The words evoke such wonderful colors, images, and emotions.


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Blood Of My Blood by Barry Lyga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know how sometimes the final book is not always as great as the others in the series? Well, not this one!!! I could not put this book down. It was full of tension, anger, hatred, as well as love, friendship, and humor. Billy Dent has his hooks in Howie, Connie and Jasper and he delights in telling them they will all die horrible deaths. If you like serial killer books, this last book will make you sick, but I couldn't stop reading it---I was mesmerized by what these lunatics did without a care for others. Will Jazz rid himself of his father or will his father claim his son as the Crow King he thinks is his son's just title? Lyga's books will entice you, repel you, and give you lots of gore.


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The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have never read a book by Holly Black that I didn't like- Tana is a character I loved getting to know. She is a teen who likes to rescue people, but she also gets herself into trouble because she won't back down. I liked how the reader knew Tana was scared to death but the people around her never see her fear. She had a strong sense of concern for others and didn't hold a grudge. Waking up after a party she doesn't remember, Tana saves her old boyfriend (who has been bitten), Aiden and a vampire, Gavriel who is chained to Aiden's bed. Gavriel is a monster who has lived for hundreds of years but looks like a teen. It is Tana's saving of Gavriel that sets the tempo for their friendship. Gavriel has been to hell and back; suffered monstrously, been betrayed by everyone and locked up and tortured for over a hundred years. But it is all of this history that makes him a very, very strong and powerful vampire but we don't find this out til much later. But Gavriel will not forget Tana's kindess and Tana is freaked out that she is attracted to him as well (you will love them!!!) The Coldtown she takes them to is for infected Vampires. Many teens who watch the video feeds think Coldtowns are glamorous and run away to these forever horror-filled places. I would love to see this book become a movie (and I would love to see a sequel); Holly Black's writing was very visual and downright scary. But it was also sensual, especially with Tana and Gavriel- you have to read it!!! I could not put this book down; with all the blood and gore, this horror book is a must read!


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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17323431-caged-warrior" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Caged Warrior" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387654183m/17323431.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17323431-caged-warrior">Caged Warrior</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/76789.Alan_Sitomer">Alan Sitomer</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1021538424">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
McCutcheon has been groomed since a very young age to be a prize winning fighter (something his father wasn’t able to accomplish) by a very controlling, evil, and selfish father.  The one person McD would do anything for is his little sister, Gemma.  Life doesn’t get much worse.  Sitomer has crafted a disturbing, totally believable story about a young kid, who despite the odds, is able to hope for a better life for his little sister and himself,  reach out for help, and try for a better life that includes an education  and a family that includes love.  Gritty Detroit could also be Philadelphia, Los Angeles or any city in America.  Teens will not be able to put this honest, thought provoking book down!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20945097-haatchi-little-b" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Haatchi & Little B: The Inspiring True Story of One Boy and His Dog" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400987846m/20945097.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20945097-haatchi-little-b">Haatchi & Little B: The Inspiring True Story of One Boy and His Dog</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6887358.Wendy_Holden">Wendy     Holden</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1021036009">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A great nonfiction read about a dog who was cruelly beaten and chained to railroad tracks and run over.  He is rescued and as a five month old Anatolian Shepherd is able to survive the trauma of losing a back leg and tail and saving Owen’s (Little B) life.  Haatchi is such a wonderful dog, he changes many who come in contact with him.  This is a compelling, inspiring read.  Highly recommended.
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The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my sister-in-law, Donna, for recommending this wonderful, compelling, thought provoking read. There are so many threads and themes in this can’t put it down read (I couldn’t sleep and turned the light on at 4 am and read until I finished at 6am!!!) I loved, loved Tom Sherbourne, the tortured soldier and light house keeper who finds peace and love in life with Isabel Greysmark. As the lighthouse keeper of Janus Rock, Tom knows how important the strict adherence to rules is and it is this honor that is crushed when a dinghy washes ashore with a dead man and a baby. Isabel has suffered 3 miscarriages and persuades her husband they must take care of this little infant. As their life with baby, Lucy provides love, contentment and happiness beyond their wildest dreams, Tom is tortured by his decision not to report this incident. The repercussions are felt later and oh how devastating they are. This is a must read, I loved the author’s words, her characters, and the wild and natural settings in Australia of this tug of war. What happens to these three compelling characters? What would you do? You have to read this book and I assure you, you will not be disappointed. There are so many good discussions to be found in this story of fierce and tragic story of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness; a great book club title to be sure.


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The City by Dean Koontz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell for the ARC, The City by Dean Koontz, a mesmerizing read about lies, murder, magic, and the power of family and friends. Told by Jonah Kirk (age 9), at the urging of his best friend, Malcolm, the reader is catapulted into Jonah’s city, during the tumultuous 1960s, his family’s love of music, and the effect of his relationship with Miss Pearl, a supernatural being who is described as the soul of the City, which is both beautiful and evil and part of the grand plan of life. Jonah is much older, looking back telling the story of his life at the urging of Malcolm. And oh what a life it was. Miss Pearl visits Jonah just a few times when he is young and imparts important events (in his dreams) that scare him and cause him much distress. He withholds this information from his mother and grandfather, but confides in a Japanese neighbor, Mr. Yoshioka. What begins as a friendship between Jonah and this tailor will also involve murder, bombs, and evil characters (one of whom is his father). But the outcome of Jonah’s friendship with Mr. Yoshioka will involve a network of heroes, friends, and family who save Jonah when he most needs it. I loved Koontz’s characters and his descriptions (from the nine year old Jonah point of view as well as the fifty seven year old Jonah) were so melodic, terrifying, sentimental, and laugh out loud funny. I recommend this book to many audiences- those who love Koontz (naturally), young adults, and adults. There will be much discussion after reading this real, heart pounding, sizzling book with well-drawn characters and a plot that does not disappoint!


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