Loot Series: Sting By Jude Watson

This is perfect for elementary and middle school.  It's fine and entertaining.

Talon by Julie Kagawa

It's a good series.  I would put this in the library.  There are a lot of elements that work and make this story work.  Enjoy.

Storm Siren Series: Siren’s Fury By Mary Weber

It's a good series.  Would I buy it for my high school?  No, but it's perfect for public libraries or teen libraries.  It's fine.  Enjoy.

Spirits and Thieves: The Darkest Magic by Morgan Rhodes

I really like this series and how it parallels Falling Kingdoms.  It's solid.  Filled with darkness and hope, mystery and secrets, good vs. evil.  If you like Game of Thrones then you'll like this series.

Chronicles of Nick: Infinity Sherrilyn Kenyon

Think Vladimer Tod meets zombies and demons.  It's a teen who is half human and half demon.  Nick is finding himself.  I should mention his mother has a heart of gold, and is a stripper.  His father is in jail.  Nick is the target of a group who is after him.  It's fine but I wouldn't buy for a high school library.

Fairy Tale Reform School: Charmed Jen Calonita

It's cute in a fractured fairy tale style.  Fine for any elementary and middle school library.  Enjoy.

Song of Albion The Endless Knot by Stephen R. Lawhead

It's a great series and this is the final one.  Think Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Game of Thrones.    LLew comes from contemporary earth and in searching for his missing friend in book 1, he enters a completely different world.  Llew has entered an old Celtic world and learns to live in this world.  Now in book 3, he becomes the High King of Albion and has come to love his new world.  This is quite the adventure!  I think serious readers who like adventure will enjoy.  Maybe not for a high school library but certainly for Public Library.  Enjoy.

All The Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

I wish I had my time back for reading this book.  Save your money and time.  The first half is good the second half was just ridiculous.

Dorothy Must Die: Order of the Wicked by Danielle Paige

I'm a fan of the series.  It's not the Wizard of Oz that we all grew up with.  It's a dark story with violence.  Not for sweet innocent little kids.  Would I put it in a high school library? No.  Would I encourage students to get for themselves, yes.  It is not for everyone.  Let's just say Dorothy has gone to the dark side.  Think Wizard of Oz meets Star Wars and the rebels are fighting against the Empire.

Carter House Girls Mixed Bags by Melody Carlson

This book is fine for any personal library.  It's also Christian literature for teens.  It's fine but a little unrealistic between the relationship between the girls.

Storm Siren by Mary Weber

It's a good book.  If you like Game of Thrones, this is a tamer version but still has a lot of fighting.  Would I put it in my high school library, no because I think it would work better in a personal library.  It's fine.  I'll read the series because it's solid.  Enjoy.

The Supernaturalists by Eoin Colfer

Are you a fan of Dr. Who, Science fiction and strange amazing stories?  This might be the book for you.  It's about becoming friends and fighting dangerous enemies.  The trick is figuring out who really is the dangerous enemy of them all.  It's fine for any library.

The Road from Home by David Kherdian

It's the true story of David Kherdian's mother when she was a little girl.  It's a painful time in history.  This is a book for all high school libraries.

Sisterhood The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

It's a coming of age story.  Life isn't always easy.  It has it's challenges and it doesn't always end up the way we want it to.  Life is filled with lessons.  It's a good book.  Enjoy.

Nerve By Jeanne Ryan

It's a book I wouldn't buy for my library.  The characters are rather shallow and choose risky behavior for expensive prizes.  It doesn't matter if they hurt people they know or strangers.  Even the game controllers are remote and not very well established.  I would rather recommend Blackbird for extreme games of survival.

Faerie Tale Collection: The Frog Prince by Jenni James

It's a sweet story and fine for any one who likes classic fairytales.  There are some twists.  It's a nice book for private libraries and public libraries.  Enjoy.

Up A Road Slowly by Irene Hunt

This should be in all middle and high school libraries.  It's a beautiful sweet story.  Each character is treated with great respect as Julie learns about life.

A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin

It's a very good story about a family with one member that has been away at a special school because he's mentally challenged.  The school is closed and the family has Adam back in their lives.  Things go from good to troubled.  Adam makes a choice to end his life.  This hard subject is handled with care and respect.  It's perfect for any library.

This is a good fan book trailer Book Trailer for A Corner of the Universe

Deadfall by Anna Carey

It's a thriller and a modern take of The Dangerous Game, a short story about a famous hunter after a man.  Now it's a group of teens that are hunted.  It's a page turning story.  That finalizes in Deadfall.  I'm getting this series for my library.

The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Jennifer A. Nielsen did it again!  I got to hear her speak at the California Young Reader's Medal dinner in 2016.  She's amazing.  The story is good  and solid and could be used to show what happens when one person has way too much power.  Perfect for any library.

Blackbird by Anna Carey

I'm getting this for my high school.  It's a game of hunt and survive.  And the prey is very dangerous.  It's a thriller, mystery and survival.  It's intense.  Enjoy.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

Lemmony Snicket/Daniel Handler fans will love The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.  I'm looking forward to this series.  This is a self contained story of evil greedy adults and feisty children who must outwit the dangerous adults and save the day.  This is perfect for Grades 4 to 6.  Enjoy!

Song of Albion The Silver Hand by Stephen Lawhead

This is a great series, if you like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars saga, then this is the book for you.  It is fine for teens but I would say for avid readers.  It has layers of two worlds with in it, it has the violence of celtic fighting, it has mythology in it.  It has agony and sweetness, pain and glory. It is an excellent story.  Enjoy.

The Shadow Queen by C. J. Redwine

I liked this story.  It's a complete story but it's book one of the series.  If you like the Cinder/Lunar series, you'll enjoy this.  The queen is really evil and lots of new evil magical tricks.  It's the retelling of Snow White and way more layered.  It's also part romance.  Enjoy.

A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park

Salva is one of the "lost boys" of the Sudan War.  This is his story.  It is gripping, and about another modern genocide.  It is perfect for all middle and high school libraries.  It's going to go in to my library. I need to buy this book.  Non-fiction.  It's about how we are all important and give back to the world.

Death on a Southern Breeze by Mark De Castrique

It's history and a mystery.  Before the Civil War of the United States.  It's a good mystery.  Lots of suspects.  Fine for any library.  Enjoy.

The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill by Heather Brewer

This is Joss's back story.  I should mention that there is abuse as part of the training both mental and emotional.  The Vladimir Tod series is very popular with students at my high school.  I'm not sure about this series.  It's a spin off of the Vladimir Todd series.  But the perspective is from the counter point of the slayer rather then the vampire.  The story does also fill in gaps left from the first series.  I suppose I would add it to the collection.  Joss does get beaten up quite a bit in his training to be a slayer and also a lot of vampires end up getting killed by the slayers.

Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke

It's a good story.  Perfect for middle school and just fine for high school.  It's a ghost story taken place in England.  History and present meet to create a haunted story that works perfect.  The menacing ghosts are pretty creepy.  Enjoy.

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

This book should be in every library.  The influence of Chinese folk tales incorporated into a woven situation.  Very smart book with smart folk tales.  Wisdom and lessons to both entertain and teach.  Enjoy!

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

It's a sweet story of a family, mom has passed away so the older girls take care of their little sister and their dad. It's a family who loves each other, it's a first time relationship with a boy.  It's fine and can be any high school library. It's an easy read.

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

I'm not sure I would buy this for my high school library.  It's okay for public school.  There's a tragic drunk driving event that threads through out the story.  There's a drug addiction to pain killers and of course there is some teen sex.  And the consequences of having a child.  Sawyer comes across as pretty intense and brooding.  Reena is still young and still figuring it out.  There's some family disfunction in this story.

The Grisha Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

This is going to be on the shelves of my library but I have a feeling it will be flying off the shelves.  The first one in the series was great but this really picks up steams.  There is drama, fighting, political and magical elements to this story.  Game of Thrones fan?  Here you go.  It's good.  Read the book!

Wrath & Dawn: The Moth & The Flame by Renee Ahdieh

I like this novella.  It's smart and good conversation between the two soon to be lovers.  It has a conversation that is worth of a Jane Austen novel.  Enjoy.  I look forward to checking out this series soon!

Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles Crossover The Staff of Serapis by Rick Riordan

It's a good short story to get the two different mythologies together.  Fine for any library.  Great monsters and a lot of good research went into to building these stories.  Enjoy!

Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Mim may have some mental health issues as she goes on a journey to go back to see her mother.  It's a good book and should be in every high school library.  Enjoy.  It's sweet and touching in this coming of age story.

The Asylum series: The Warden by Madeleine Roux

It's a chiller thriller.  It's a novella that provides the back story, offering another piece of the puzzle in the Asylum series.  Enjoy.

Much Ado About Nothing retold by Jenny Oldfield

It's the retelling of Much Ado About Nothing in a contemporary setting.  It's fine for any library.  Enjoy.

Open House by Elizabeth Berg

It's a great story.  Not for high school.  Now watch high school students start requesting this book.  It's about life and how it changes, how people change and grow.  And finding your self once again and maybe even love again.  Enjoy.

Little Knife by Leigh Bardugo

It's a short story that ties in with a larger series.  It follows classic Grimm Fairy tales.  It's a smart and good read.  It has a great twist.  It is fine for any to read.  Enjoy!

The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo

It's a dark tale worthy of the true stories of the Grimm Brothers.  It's pretty creepy and good at the same time.  It's part of a series.  It's also a novella.  It's a good one.  Creepy and eerie, the makings of a good campfire story that will guarantee to give nightmares.

Life before Legend by Marie Lu

This gives you the back story of our two main characters in the Legend series.  It's how their live are braided together even though the two do not meet till three years later.  It's good.  A recommended ebook read!

The Asylum: The Bone Artists by Madeleine Roux

It's a page turner.  Good series and I'll buy for the library.  This is an ebook.  Not sure if it's in print.

Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover series The Son of Sobek by Rick Riordan

It's a good novella to combine two popular characters that Rick Riordan has created.  Blending both Greek and Egyptian mythological demigods in a contemporary setting creates a launch point for further novels and novellas.  Enjoy.  It's a quick read.  Under an hour.

Asylum series: Catacomb by Madeleine Roux

I'm getting this series for the library.  It's a good thriller.  Lots of crazy events going on.  It's a solid mystery that ties up in this story.  It's a good read!

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

I'm buying this for the library.  I heard the audiobook version and it's great.  It resonates true.  I was able to hear Daniel Handler at Fresno State and he is pretty intense.  He's also the author of Lemmony Snicketts series of Unfortunate Events.  He's a smart writer.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

It's a good story.  Really liked it.  Perfect for high school.  It's a coming of age story about a girl who doesn't sleep at night and learns to live for herself instead for her parents.  It's a good one.

Blackwell Pages: Loki’s Wolves By K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Vivienne

If you like Percy Jackson, then this is the book series for you.  It's a good book.  Perfect for middle school but fine for high school also.  Enjoy.  It's good for any library.

Discworld: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett

This is an entertaining story and you don't need to read the 27 books before this.  It's independent.  If you know the story of the Piped Piper and the rats and the plague, then you'll enjoy this rendition.  I love that a group of rats and a cat become self-aware.  It's smart and funny.  Would I put it in a high school library?  Probably not but it's perfect for a public library.  It's quirky.  If you like Doctor Who, or Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy then this book is perfect for you.

Asylum: Escape from Asylum by Madeleine Roux

Great series of survival with a mad warden.  It's a page turner as ghosts, mystery, horror and lobotomies  .  Solid story and well thought out and written.  I'm ordering this series for my high school library.

Remembering Debbie Manning

Debbie Manning at Petunia's Place

This is for Debbie, she was a very special lady who loved so many things and lived the dream.  She was an elementary teacher and a university teacher and she co-owned and ran a lovely independent book store, Petunia's Place.

Fresno Bee article on Petunia's Place and about Jean Fennacy and Debbie Manning.  Petunia's Place is one of Fresno's greatest treasures if you love books.  Debbie was one of the Diamonds in this crown jewel.  We will miss her and always remember her in the greater Fresno Reading community.  Sending love to the Petunia's Place family.  

With love,

Ramona