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Girl at War by Sara Novic

Girl at WarGirl at War by Sara Nović
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this awesome book narrated by the mesmerizing, Julia Whalen, as part of The Hub Challenge. This historical fiction tale tells the harrowing effects of war on individuals, family, the world at large. Ana is a 10 year old living in Zagreb, Croatia when the Serbo Croatian War decimates her world and family. As Ana and her parents, ferry her very ill little sister to doctors who will get her to the US for the proper medical attention, Serbs at a blockade stop everyone on the road, march them to an isolated area, and destroy Ana's world. What I really liked about this book was the way the chapters were set up. First the reader sees Ana's carefree world become one of suspicion, violence and genocide. The next chapter, Somnambulist, finds Ana in college in New York and it is 10 years later. Ana has found her sister and been adopted by the foster family who cared for Rachel (Rahella is her Croat name). In school Ana tells everyone she was born in the US, never speaking about her life during the war. The next chapter, Safe House, is when she is asked to speak at the United Nations and Ana speaks about the war and being a child soldier. The final chapter, Echoed by the Trees, has Ana returning to Zagreb to find out about remanining friends & family and making peace with what happened to her family those many horrorfic years previously. What a powerful story told through the eyes of an innocent child who is devastated by the war but lives to tell about its effects on her and everyone else around her, highly recommended!

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Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in BetweenHello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have always enjoyed Jennifer E. Smith books; she has a great way with getting guys and girls together and weaving heartfelt romances in many ways. Clare and Aidan have been together for the past two years and now it is the night before they leave for college and some decisions have to be made - break up or stay together. At first I was not to sure I wanted to read this because quite frankly it seemed trivial (especially with all the heavy topic books I have been reading) but I love Smith's books and I grew to love Clare and Aiden, their friends, and their last two years as a couple who "dove" one another (you have to read the book). Aiden melted my heart with his steadfast love for Clare. Clare was a little too meticulous about their final night and revisiting special highlights, all the while being convinced they were breaking up. But I rooted for Clare and I was not disappointed! The ending is tremendous.

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The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly bu Stephanie Oakes

The Sacred Lies of Minnow BlyThe Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy, this was such a tough, but amazingly awesome read! One of the honor books for The Morris Award, I am reading this as part of The 2016 Hub Challenge. I could not put it down. Minnow Bly has a normal life until her father becomes enamored of The Prophet, Kevin, and her family becomes a part of The Community Cult that takes off for the wilderness and indoctrination begins-listen to the Prophet and do whatever he says. But the book does not begin with this; Minnow is in juvie, and Dr. Wilson, a forensic psychologist is trying to find out what happened the night The Community caught fire. As the reader wades into Minnow's life, we see she is inquisitive and her many questions are hated by those in the cult, especially The Prophet. Her father is a right hand man to the Prophet; he has 4-5 wives and 20 some children. Her mother is distant, bearing many children, and not stable at all. Minnow is very protective of her younger sister, Constance. As life continues in the cult, Minnow begins to see/understand the craziness and her growing friendship with an outsider (Rymanite), Jude, also adds another dimension to the tumult in confined Minnow's life. Author Stephanie Oakes does a superb job of blending Minnow's life in The Community, in prison and with Jude, creating a kalidescope of torture, hurt, and eventual release toward rediscovery. A must read!

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The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23209924-the-water-knife" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Water Knife" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411059576m/23209924.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23209924-the-water-knife">The Water Knife</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1226977.Paolo_Bacigalupi">Paolo Bacigalupi</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1380408851">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Loved this audiobook narrated awesomely by Almarie Guerra ; The Water Knife is an adult environmental cautionary tale about the effects of water drying up throughout the United States. Angel is a water knife from Las Vegas who ensures that his boss keeps the water coming for her "Arcolody" developments. But something is up and it will pit California, Arizona and Nevada against each other as they vie for the water that is dwindling to dust. As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, circumstances will bring Angel, Maria (poor and surviving by her wits) and Lucy (hard core journalist who writes about those who have died because of the vanishing water) together in a climax that will call into question their humanity and allegiances. Awesome, I loved Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker and this book was just as thrilling a read!
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Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)Illuminae by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fantastic rip roaring good read! As Kady & Ezra break up (this is a big thing) little do they know by afternoon their planet, Kerenza, has been attacked and the ex-lovers (barely speaking & angry with each other) are fleeing for their lives. What I loved about this sci-fi action drama was the high octane super charged way the authors accomplished this first in a series- using Memos, hacked documents (IMs, texts, emails), interviews, pictures, graphics all pull this story into a hold your breath drama where 1 girl (great with technology, doesn't work well with others & super bad ass) and 1 guy (team player, fighter pilot and still in love with Kady) fight together & separately to save those on The Alexander, Lincoln & Hypatia from a mutating disease, AIDAN's insanity, and still stay alive. I could not stop following the Kady & Ezra communications (OMG!!!) I am so looking forward to the 2nd book in the series! Kaufman and Kristoff create a thriller where everything is crazy and Kady & Ezra are very strong protagonists the reader just keeps rooting for! Highly recommneded!

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Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18722887-little-mercies" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">Little MerciesLittle Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Little Mercies was an amazing audiobbok; narrated by: Kate Ruddand Tanya Eby! I read Gudenkauf's thriller, The Weight of Silence and could not put it down! The same was true with this thriller that combined a committed but harried social worker, Ellen with a parallel plot of a 10 year old child, Jenny. I could not stop listening as Ellen and Jenny's lives converge and both are being torn apart by life, family, and the system. The ripped from the headlines topics of foster care, abusive parents, death of a child are chilling, demanding empathy from the reader and society. I especially loved the author's interview following the audiobook which asks us to acknowledge and value the little mercies in life. A taut, emotional, worthwhile read.

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Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf

a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18722887-little-mercies" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Little Mercies" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399313845m/18722887.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18722887-little-mercies">Little Mercies</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2875124.Heather_Gudenkauf">Heather Gudenkauf</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1523517782">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Little Mercies was an amazing audiobbok; narrated by: Kate Ruddand Tanya Eby! I read Gudenkauf's thriller, The Weight of Silence and could not put it down! The same was true with this thriller that combined a committed but harried social worker, Ellen with a parallel plot of a 10 year old child, Jenny. I could not stop listening as Ellen and Jenny's lives converge and both are being torn apart by life, family, and the system. The ripped from the headlines topics of foster care, abusive parents, death of a child are chilling, demanding empathy from the reader and society. I especially loved the author's interview following the audiobook which asks us to acknowledge and value the little mercies in life. A taut, emotional, worthwhile read.
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On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis

On the Edge of GoneOn the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids for the ARC, On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis. If you are looking for a gripping post-apocalyptic read with diverse characters measured according to how “worthiness” On the Edge of Gone, is a rip-roaring action packed read! Denise is the tough but insecure protagonist, who does not let her autism stop her from proving her worth to gain a spot on the generation ship (bringing her mother along while still trying to find her sister, Iris) as a comet hurtles toward Earth. I loved the much needed diversity Duyvis brought to this raw book with biracial characters, transgender characters, and characters with disabilities. I saw this author speak on a diversity panel 11/15/15 in Philadelphia titled, Moving Past “Girl” Books and “Boy” Books: Representing a Rainbow, and I was so impressed. I immediately requested this title from NetGalley and I was so excited to read this scifi thriller. I even purchased Otherbound, too! Congratulations to Corinne Duyvis and the cadre of other authors celebrating diversity in culture and environment in their writing; YA readers need more authors to lend their voices; highly recommended!

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George by Alex Gino

GeorgeGeorge by Alex Gino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I saw author, Alex Gino, speak at a diversity conference in Philadelphia on 11/15 at Friends Central School and immediately purchased the book! George is a boy who knows he is really a girl. With a very supportive best friend, Kelly, George struggles with how to get the part of Charlotte, the spider, in the school play. George confides in her mom and brother about being different and as a strong main character I was enlightened and rooted for George. Readers will enjoy the way this story unfolds, the family and friendships portrayed, and how "different" is good! With a new voice in diversity, Alex Gino has written a book All should read.

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Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

Dangerous LiesDangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow if you like a great psychological thriller, Dangerous Lies will fill the bill perfectly! I read this in 2 days and could not put it down. A teen from Philadelphia is put into Witness Protection after witnessing a murder. Stella is tough as nails, used to being on her own and looking out for herself, but being sent to Nebraska for the summer, torn from her boyfriend and everything she knew and loved is one monumental adjustment! Living on the farm, posing as a foster child to retired cop, Carmina begins to feel like a new kind of home Stella is getting used to. Will getting a job and becoming friendly with neighbor, Chet Falconer, keep Stella's secrets from invading her new life? Highly recommended!

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Scar Girl by Len Vlahos

Scar Girl (The Scar Boys, #2)Scar Girl by Len Vlahos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group and Carolrhoda Lab for the ARC, Scar Girl by Len Vlahos. If you loved Scar Boys, you will love the band’s success while you will be tremendously saddened by the band’s secrets and those effects on each member. Vlahos does another stellar job of crafting a band story that is so much more than that- the energy created from their music vibrates and reaches deep into our souls as Johnny, Harry, and Chey struggle with problems they choose not to share with one another. All the while they are attaining monumental success as a band. What will happen to the Scar Boys? What will happen to each member of the band? This sequel crushed me to my core and I vote for another book, Scar Boys Rule! Highly recommended!

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Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Orphan TrainOrphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fantastic audiobook!!! I loved the narration by Jessica Almasy, Suzanne Toren; their voices were mesmerizing, honest, and their emotion (guarded and euphoric) made me root for Molly and Vivienne as characters, women, and down trodden individuals. What they do with their horrific lives is uplifting, made me cry, and want to rail at all those who treated them so deplorably. If you like historical fiction, multicultural fiction, a great study of women and friendship, listen to Orphan Train! You won't be able to stop listening!!!

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All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25657130-all-american-boys" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="All American Boys" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444506678m/25657130.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25657130-all-american-boys">All American Boys</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1229281.Jason_Reynolds">Jason Reynolds</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1439863042">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Wow, what an emotional roller coaster! This book is unique and special because Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely collaborated on this diverse story and as a result the reader is plunged (again and again) into the moment Rashad leans down to get money from his bag and a woman accidentally falls on top of him-- when BAM, this African American ROTC teen is beaten to a pulp by a white police officer. In a ripped from the headlines news story, video is found and played continuously for days inciting anger, fury, and sympathy. Quinn happens to be there and sees Rashad being beaten by a cop who has been a father figure to him since his father died. This book reminded me of 2 other books that deal with racism, prejudice and unreliable narrators - Fade to Black by Alex Flinn and How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon. Reynolds and Kiely do an awesome job of encouraging readers to stand up to police brutality and racism and continue to work toward being aware and educating others to fight the fight.
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Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens AgendaSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I purchased this book after going to the Friends Central Celebrate Diverse Literature Conference and listening to Becky Albertalli speak. Simon is a great male character who is emailing with someone named "Blue" and as they get to know one another (they attend the same school) they keep their identities secret but begin to have feelings for one another. This is a great story about diversity, friendship, family, and coming out as gay to family and friends. Simon's world is sweet, full of tumult (but in a good, nerdy way) and as he navigates this "new" part of his life, the reader journeys with Simon and roots for him every step of the way. Highly recommended for teens, reluctant readers and adults too.

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Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell

Angels BurningAngels Burning by Tawni O'Dell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for providing an advance copy of Angels Burning by Tawni O’Dell. I love mysteries and O’Dell did not disappoint with this taut detective story involving chief of police Dove Carnahan investigating the grisly murder of a teen whose body was burned, wrapped in a blanket, and discovered in a sink hole. I could not put down this tense thriller delving into Dove’s dysfunctional family past and the parallel story of the murdered teen, Camio Truly’s vicious, ornery, redneck family filled with hostility, contempt and lies . Dove is one tough cookie in a world dominated by males in the police force and state police but she is harboring a big secret from her past. Dove’s sister, a loner who is a prominent dog whisperer, was a strong very likable character who fiercely loves her sister and does not suffer recriminations like those plaguing Dove. This is a riveting, mesmerizing psychological thriller and will keep mystery lovers turning the pages; highly recommended!

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Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #2)Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved, loved Kristine Hvamm's narration in this 2nd Daughter of Smoke & Bone book!!! The narration, the voices, the drama kept me hooked in...Karou wasn't my favorite in this book- I did not like her hatred of Akiva for killing her family and then Karou throws in with Thiago and becomes a resurrectionist, creating horrible chimaera to fight against the angels. I loved the human friends, Zuzana & Mik and the fact that they continue to be in Karou's confidence. The reader will be enthralled with all the betrayal by angels & chimaera, Karou and friends. But beneath this aching terrible time, I was so impressed by Akiva's steadfast love and hope for a future maybe including Karou. Another must read by Laini Taylor & I have already begun the final book, Dreams of Gods & Monsters!!!

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Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

NimonaNimona by Noelle Stevenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Boy did I enjoy this delightfully evil strong female protagonist, Nimona! While her boss is supposedly an evil villain, Nimona jumps right into fights as a shapeshifter. Ballister Blackheart easily believes Nimona has come to help him as an intern and she quickly shows him her shape shifting, her ability to heal VERY quickly, and we see how he begins to care for her while also trying to work against the Institute using rules and fair play as excuses to stop Nimona from wreaking havoc and death. One moment, Nimona is beguiling to Ballister, the next she is cunning, willful and willing to do whatever it takes to take down the enemy-even if others (innocent) get in the way. As the stakes continue to rise from the mystery of jade root deaths, the clash of science/technology, who will be the last standing? Appearances are definitely deceiving in this winner of a graphic novel--Nimona is awesomely wicked, sure of herself, and a survivor. Highly recommended!

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8490112-daughter-of-smoke-bone" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368m/8490112.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8490112-daughter-of-smoke-bone">Daughter of Smoke & Bone</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/324620.Laini_Taylor">Laini Taylor</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1174083899">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I listened to and LOVED this amazing audiobook; narrator Khristine Hvam did a stellar job with each and every character; her voices did not disappoint especially Zuzana- Karou's bestie. The world building, storytelling, characterization, and drama clearly made this a book I could not stop listening to; I already have the following 2 books FROM aUDIBLE on my Ipad for my listening pleasure, can't wait! Readers will love the character of Karou with her blue hair, art books filled with characters resembling chimaerae (monstrous half human/animalS)and her weird relationship as Brimstone's teeth messenger (how does she get from Prague to Marrakesh???). I am enthralled with finding out much more about Karou, her world of humans, her world of chimaerae, Brimstone & who is this scary, beautiful angel, Akiva? It seems Karou knows nothing about herself as she is asked countless times in this audiobook, "who are you?" which she really can't answer; a sweeping mystery, powerful and filled with worlds of magic, evil, and the lore of much more. Highly recommended.
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The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

The NestThe Nest by Kenneth Oppel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, I do not really care for horror books- but I do read them and this psychological thriller was so scary I could not stop turning the pages! Steve is very concerned about his newborn baby brother, Theo and his mounting health concerns plaguing his parents and Steve. In a dream, he is visited by a very calming being who assures Steve a new "healthy" baby can replace Theo. What begins as a dream in a dark place quickly morphs into the horror of wasps with their nest hanging outside the baby's window. The horror elements of darkness, wasps, phone calls with no one on the other end and a hideous knife sharpener bring many overwhelming scary moments to Steve as he tries to find a way to help his baby brother, his parents and himself. The young age of Steve, his own insecurities, and his haunting dreams (are they reality) will keep kids turning those pages, because who doesn't like a scary story. Klass' illustrations are delicious, dark, gray and further embed the horror of Steve's world. A great ending and a must read!

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Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)Winter by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, I LOVED Winter and Meyer's whole Lunar Chronicle series!!! I am so sad it is over BUT I have so many great memories to continue to replay over and over again about the awesome cast of characters! This final 4th book features characters we have come to know and love-Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress, Thorne, Winter, Jacin, and Iko. There was also a cast of characters to abhor and wish very bad ends to as well- Levana, Aimory, and those nasty thermatauges controlling and contorting people to Levana's evil wiles. Cinder's fight to be Queen was a valiant one with many new characters helping her attain her goal of helping all of those down trodden subjects on Luna, the shells, the wolves (bioengineered to fight)and the diseased people on Earth battling a deathly. I read this in a week- I could have sat and read it in one sitting but can you believe it? Life got in the way, so I snatched as much time as I could and savored/devoured this fairytale mix of rebellion, rising up against evil and falling in love. I highly recommend this series and this 4th book was satisfying in so many ways- you just have to read it!!!

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