<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20873145-trollhunters" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Trollhunters" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1433782391m/20873145.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20873145-trollhunters">Trollhunters</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2782638.Daniel_Kraus">Daniel Kraus</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1316818895">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus<br>Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Book Group and Disney-Hyperion for the ARC, Troll by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus. What a spellbinding read! Daniel Kraus has done it again, crafting a horror story where the evil doers are so disgusting, you root for Jim Sturges and his best friend, Tubby, to triumph. Jim is a very normal teen with an overprotective dad, who suffered the loss of his brother 45 years ago as they rode bikes under a bridge. When 190 children went missing along with his brother, Jack; Jim’s dad changed. He outfitted their house with special locks and shutters and has had many hard and fast rules pertaining to safety for as long as Jim can remember. As Jim and Tub suffer bullying daily at school, other kids are starting to disappear again. Only now is Jim beginning to believe there really are monsters under his bed and under bridges. When Jim is called upon to save the missing kids, his lady love and his town; will he be able to muster the courage to be a trollhunter by night? Can he be a trollhunter fighting evil beside his 13 year old Uncle Jack and other disgusting monsters? Teens will love this illustrated, scary book and will want to read more, more, more; I hope a series is in the works! Highly recommended for those who love horror, building tension, thrilling plot twists and fierce characters.<br>
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Trollhunters by Daniel Kraus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Book Group and Disney-Hyperion for the ARC, Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus. What a spellbinding read! Daniel Kraus has done it again, crafting a horror story where the evil doers are so disgusting, you root for Jim Sturges and his best friend, Tubby, to triumph. Jim is a very normal teen with an overprotective dad, who suffered the loss of his brother 45 years ago as they rode bikes under a bridge. When 190 children went missing along with his brother, Jack; Jim’s dad changed. He outfitted their house with special locks and shutters and has had many hard and fast rules pertaining to safety for as long as Jim can remember. As Jim and Tub suffer bullying daily at school, other kids are starting to disappear again. Only now is Jim beginning to believe there really are monsters under his bed and under bridges. When Jim is called upon to save the missing kids, his lady love and his town; will he be able to muster the courage to be a trollhunter by night? Can he be a trollhunter fighting evil beside his 13 year old Uncle Jack and other disgusting monsters? Teens will love this illustrated, scary book and will want to read more, more, more; I hope a series is in the works! Highly recommended for those who love horror, building tension, thrilling plot twists and fierce characters.
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Strings Attached: One Tough Teacher and the Gift of Great Expectations by Joanne LipmanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Strings Attached is such a great teacher book and so much more. Told in alternating voices by Joanne Lippman (one of Mr. K's violin students) and Melanie Kupchynsky (Mr, K's daughter)the reader learns about their love of music, family, and the inspiration that was their teacher, Mr. K. His methods may have been unconventional but he reached his students so deeply with his love of music that they endured his craziness and bloomed as a result. This is not an easy book to read either; but one that must be read in order to feel and know what Mr. K (and his life in Lithuania during the war) stood for as a coach, father, teacher, and musician. Highly recommended- this book will be discussed in a Twitter Chat #ISTElitchat Tuesday July 21 at 8:30 EST, feel free to join in!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13062484-acid" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Acid" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359232967m/13062484.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13062484-acid">Acid</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5333625.Emma_Pass">Emma Pass</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1272803250">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
What an Amazing Audiobook! This was another audiobook in the Hub Challenge 2015 I totally enjoyed. I couldn't stop listening as Jenna Strong is imprisoned by the police (called ACID) for murdering her parents when she was 15 years old. But all is not as it seems; if you love action, suspense, thrillers; you will not soon forget Jenna's world of lies, espionage, brutality---what will she do to remember her life as it was and as it is now? This audiobook has riveting plots, characters (nasty and nice) and a dystopian world you won't forget! Highly recommended.
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Saint Anything by Sarah DessenMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love Sarah Dessen's books and Saint Anything is deeply moving and probes the depths of family loyalty, love, and friendship. Sydney is a nice, kind girl unlike her older brother Peyton, who has always pushed boundaries, gotten into trouble time and again, until one day he drives under the influence and maimes a teen, sentencing him to life in a wheel chair. As Sydney tries to cope with aching loneliness and her distant parents, she makes some decisions. Will attending a new high school be an answer to a new life? I could not stop turning the pages of this book as Sydney navigates life, questions herself and her parents, and tries to be a good person. I admired her strength, her insecurities, and her loyalty through many trials. This book will take the reader on an unforgettable journey with Sydney not soon forgotten. Highly recommended.
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Rain Reign by Ann M. MartinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The story of Rose Howard, her autism, her father, her dog, her uncle was recommended by Donalyn Miller in a Nerdy Book blog post. Boy am I glad I read this book! Rose is a very special character, girl, classmate. Her homonym LOVE and list made my English major heart happy- but was not necessarily appreciated by her classmates and father. Ann M. Martin has crafted a must read for students - both young and old, parents and teachers. Rose's autism was depicted perfectly by Ann M. Martin; the good and the bad traits. I did not want this book to end; Rose and her dog, Rain will resonate with me for quite some time!.
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The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk KiddMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of the adult books on my Summer TBR and like The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd's exhaustive research on the Grimke sisters, Sarah and Angelina, reveals difficult lives for women who wanted to listen to their "inner voice." Sarah Grimke abhors slavery and wants to be a jurist like her father and brothers. When her mother gives her a slave, Handful, Sarah wants to give Handful her freedom instead. Told in alternating chapters by Sarah and Handful, the reader is plunged into the horrors of slave life as punishments are exacted on slaves for the slightest infractions; there are much worse agonies for stealing, etc. and all the slaves must watch and learn from the whippings and such. Sarah's life is fraught with stammering, and older sister, Mary who is evil just like her mother, and a father Sarah thinks will accept her longings to be a lawyer like her brothers. There was beauty in the slave story quilts Handful and her mother made; but these quilts were a testament to the slaves' suffering and their yearnings to be free and fly away like their ancestors. Teens and adults who like historical fiction will love this story of Sarah's and Handful's lives, friendship, and connection; a must read.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22465597-vanishing-girls" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Vanishing Girls" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414618400m/22465597.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22465597-vanishing-girls">Vanishing Girls</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2936493.Lauren_Oliver">Lauren Oliver</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1169734088">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Once again, I could not put down Lauren Oliver's book. Nick and Dara are sisters and have always been close. Even though Dara is one year younger, she has always hung out with Nick and their best friend/neighbor, Parker. But Dara and Nick were always very different; Nick being more reserved compared to Dara's wild nonconforming ways. And their closeness really suffers when Dara and Parker become an item. And the car accident where Nick and Dara slam into a wall. I loved how Oliver's chapters were told from Nick and Dara's POV and Before and After. When a nine year old girl disappears and then Dara does too; Nick unearths evidence the disappearances may be linked. With mind bending suspense, Oliver has written a challenging story about truth, jealousy, love, and sisters. And for a great interview from Lauren Oliver, read this from The Guardian - <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/may/07/lauren-oliver-i-lost-a-boy-i-loved-in-my-20s-and-it-changed-me?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-...</a>;
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Challenger Deep by Neal ShustermanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I took this book out of the library because it was new and written by Neal Shusterman. His books, Bruiser and The Unwind Dystology are favorites of mine. It really helped me continue to read this book that Laurie Halse Anderson gave it a great review. With that mindset, it was totally scary to plunge into mental illness with Caden Bosch. As the reader, it was a seesaw ride to be Caden in school with family and friends and then to be Caden who is going on a deep sea dive to the Challenger Deep with a captain and parrot who both have one eye and many other bizarre ship mates. I think teens need to read this book (adults too) since it does a very realistic job of portraying a teen's descent into mental illness. Early on, I realized what was going on with Caden, and this story quickly became very meaningful. It is during their teen and young adult years that many begin to struggle with mental illness. As Caden (and Shusterman)realistically (and scarily)portray; mental illness is something one deals and lives with forever and medical treatment, care, and prescription drugs are essential. Caden's journey is not one you wish on anyone, but as a fictional piece delving into mental illness; teens will most definitely benefit from reading this book, and talking about it afterward.
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Teresa of the New World by Sharman Apt RussellMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a gem of a novel! I enjoy historical fiction and even more, I loved learning about the time of the Spanish Conquistadors in America in Teresa of the New World. Sharman Apt Russell’s writing is beautiful and simple detailing the world of the slaves, villagers, shaman, storytellers, and traders through Teresa’s young eyes, mind, and heart. Teresa and her father travel in search of his long lost friends from Spain. The reader aches with the sorrow, pain, and suffering of those who are stricken with a disease, sarampion, that wipes out villages, killing many children and elderly. As a child, Teresa was able to communicate with the Earth and animals. It is this ability that serves her well during this horrifying time of death and isolation. After she survives the disease herself, Teresa travels many miles and experiences many perils to seek the wise woman who will help her find her place in the world. Teresa’s dealings with Horse, a boy/jaguar, and Plague are suspenseful yet spiritual. I could not put this book down as I feared for Teresa and her future. This slim novel holds many treasures of storytelling, magic, and finding one’s way in a hostile, ever changing world. I would highly recommend this book to young adult and adult readers of historical fiction infused with mystery and magic.
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Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail CarrigerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a great book to listen to!!! While I did not read the first book in this series, The Finishing School. I picked up quickly the finishing school for girls takeing place on a dirigible (floating boat with all kinds of bells and whistles) and being educated in all things having to do with espionage, spies and etiquette. I howled with laughter at the crazy names of professors, the mechanical dog, Bumbersnoot, and Sophronia's schemes. This was an adventurous romp and I particularly enjoyed Gail Carriger's steampunk--I will definitely read all the others and now I understand why my students LOVED all her books!
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Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story by David LevithanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a wonderful way to present a musical and David Levithan's Tiny Cooper is just a great romp with the highs and lows of musical cadence telling Tiny's story from birth to high school. I loved Tiny's voice and the many minor characters who support Tiny or make Tiny the person he is through knowing friendships and relationships.
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Blind Spot by Tom KakonisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Brash Books for the ARC, Blind Spot written by Tom Kakonis, a can’t put it down mystery thriller. I was immediately captivated and sickened with the abduction of three year old Jeff Quinn in a planetarium while his father slept. As Marshall and Lori Quinn’s life spirals out of control, the police presence in their son’s missing person case is negligible. Marshall, tries to be patient with law enforcement— but he is haunted by his own guilt. With no background in being a detective, he prints up flyers; Marshall and catatonic Lori (dependent on drugs to assuage her sorrow) hand them out as well as travel by car (with a life-size photo of Jeff) each weekend. Kakonis is skilled in unraveling this mystery; the reader is kept in constant suspense; will Marshall and Lori ever get their son back? I was sick with worry as I read this book but I rooted for Marshall through all of his sincere yet amateur attempts to find his son; highly recommended.
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Die For Me by Jack Lynch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Brash Books for Die For Me by Jack Lynch, a superb serial killer mystery. This is my first Peter Bragg thriller and I am most certainly going to read the seven other Brash books by Jack Lynch. Peter Bragg’s voice is human yet knowledgeable and believable. Bragg does not judge and seems to know how to keep his thoughts to himself. Bragg is adept at handling psychic Maribeth (with whom he has past history). Taking the psychic’s visions to the police, Bragg convinces them as well as himself that there really is some psycho who has killed and buried a good number of people. Why? is not so easy to figure out. As more and more bodies are discovered in various parts of Jack London State Park, Bragg races against time trying to locate a calculating killer who is a threat to Maribeth. I enjoyed the pace of this novel and the mystery was compelling. Bragg easily carries this book to a riveting showdown. I highly recommend this crime thriller to those who love serial killer books.
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Fairest by Marissa MeyerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I keep thinking about the Title, Fairest. We all know from the other books in the Lunar Chronicles how evil Levana is...so why the title, Fairest? I thought as I read, "mirror, mirror on the wall who's the fairest of all?" Levana grew up insecure with an older sister who was determined to scare her and scar her, why wouldn't Levana want to be beautiful all the time? But She had the gift of using her glamour to make her look like the most beautiful woman ALL the TIME, day in and day out. She loves her kingdom, she proves that she can handle running the kingdom, but she is in lala land about what a benevolent ruler she is. Did I feel sorry for Levana, No! Did I like Levana, No! But I couldn't put this book down. Once again Marissa Meyer has written a book chilling, captivating and continuing the drama of the Lunar Chronicles---I can't wait for Winter!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18806240-bone-gap" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Bone Gap" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402928507m/18806240.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18806240-bone-gap">Bone Gap</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/73699.Laura_Ruby">Laura Ruby</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1251603657">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Finn O'Sullivan is now one of my favorite HEROES! I loved this book! There was just the right amount of suspense, mystery and magic. Oh did I love the magic. Finn and his brother Sean live in a town where everyone talks about everyone- it may be true; it may not. When a girl, Roza comes into their lives, these brothers who have known loneliness are no longer lonely. But when Roza is taken, while in Finn's company, and he can't quite describe this evil man; pretty soon, there is just an ache left and the town's talk about Finn and Sean. I loved the characters, the beauty of the town, Bone Gap and also it's mystery and magic. The chapters are told from different characters POV and the reader is able to fall into this book, hear the corn talk, ride a magical black horse, and tame a large dog---all the while rooting for Finn to be the person he knows he can be for himself, Roza, Petey and Sean. Highly recommended; a great beach read for the summer!
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Wild Things by Clay CarmichaelMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a truly wonderful book! I am an animal lover and once again, Clay Carmichael has written a novel with a cat as one of the main characters. Zoe is an amazing, intelligent, sharp-witted, child who suddenly finds she is to be living with an Uncle Henry she has never seen or met. Raising herself since she was young (her mother was crazy and drug addicted), Zoe has learned to survive on her own and not to get attached to the many men in and out of her mother's lives. What I liked about Zoe is that she did credit those men friends with her ability to drive, pace bets, count; street smarts that help her in life. But when she meets her Uncle Henry who is very angry, Zoe sees herself in him- especially the red hair, thorny personality, and the split in their front teeth. I loved the way Carmichael uses the cat to tell us about the area around Uncle Henry's house with the woods and fields- great for exploring. The cat has lived and seen much and it is this history that provides suspense and understanding for the reader. I loved so many of the characters- the Sheriff, Bessie, Wil, Sister, Fred and Maud- it was just as easy to dislike others like Ray and the Mayor. A wonderful tale of what it means to become a family, to be an animal lover and live life like Wild Things:) I loved this very appropriate title as I read more and more of the book - highly recommended! Teens and adults will enjoy Zoe's journey!!!
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Through the Woods by Emily CarrollMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I read Through the Woods by Emily Carroll as part of The 2015 Hub Reading Challenge, Quick Pics, Great Graphic Novels. The color illustrations were awesome, creepy, and perfect (with a red, black and white motif) for five eerily haunting tales; Our Neighbor's House, A Lady's Cold Hands, His Face All Red, My Friend Janna, and The Nesting Place are all so scary! If you love horror stories, this collection is for you!
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In Real Life by Cory DoctorowMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this graphic novel as part of The 2015 Hub Challenge and Cory Doctorow's depiction of teens, online gaming, and Anda's awakening to the "reality" of Coarsegold Online. As an awkward teen, Anda is recruited in school to play this multiplayer online game. What results is Anda as a gamer under the tutelage of Sarge and the blurred lines of reality and gaming. I loved Jen Wang's illustrations and Anda's two lives as student and gamer. Teens will love this book about gaming, a must read.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18527498-revolution" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Revolution" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389053622m/18527498.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18527498-revolution">Revolution</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/178856.Deborah_Wiles">Deborah Wiles</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1246795142">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I listened to this amazing audiobook as part of the 2015 Hub Challenge and what I enjoyed most was the interspersed Sixties speeches, news stories with Sunny's story of civil rights workers coming to her town in Mississippi and getting blacks out to vote. Seeing it from her teen viewpoint was key- she did not know about racism and segregation other than what she hears (they are invaders) but Sunny learns so much more that summer as events unfold, friendships are made and broken, and families are mended. I will want to get the book to see the pictures, but I loved this audiobook!
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