Thursday, December 31, 2015

UnTamed by A. G. Howard

If you are fan of A. G. Howard's aftermath of Alice in Wonderland series then this should be the 4th book you should experience.  Three short stories.

The Boy in the Web is when Thomas shows his wife  at the memories train how she saved him and made the best difference.  

The Moth in the Mirror:  Morpheous looks at things through Jeb's memories

Six Impossible Things:  You'll just have to find out yourself.  >>>>> Enjoy!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Calling on Dragons by Patricia Wrede

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Ketchup Clouds By Annabel Pitcher

A very well written story about love and loss.  It's about dealing with grief and guilt.  Crafted with care and great feeling.  I listened to the audio version and kudos to the actress reading the story.  Fleshes the story to life.

Ensnared by A. G. Howard

Great story.  A bit on the sexy side.  But well crafted and worded.  A bit dizzy but good.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

This is fine for any library.  I loved this book!  Great collaboration between the two authors to make a relationship between two teens during Christmas time in New York City.  I love that they don't meet personally at the beginning.  But it's a note book full of life and dares, thoughts and feelings.  It's an excellent book.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

From Bad to Curse by Katie Alender

This is a good teen horror story.  I'm looking to book 3.  Solid story, good dialogue and solid characters.  Fine for any teen library.  

Saturday, December 26, 2015

THe White Rose by Amy Ewing

Excellent book, right up there with the Matched or Hunger Games series.  Fighting against the sex slave world and also forced pregnancies, Violet is the chosen one who will make the difference.  The sacrifices she makes and the choices she decides make her a strong lead character.   Well written, solid plot and good lines.  It works.  A good read.

To Catch A Pirate by Jade Parker

I would save your money and time.  There are better pirate stories out there.  This story was contrived and unbelievable.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Spelled by Betsy Schow

Another retelling of the Wizard of Oz but years later ... generations later.  It's a new girl.  Not dark like Dorothy Must Die.  Instead it a an adventure of a shallow girl who learns to become a leader and faces her fears and finds her strength.  It's bubble gum for the brain.  Fine for any personal library.

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

Great story.  Go back in time.  Excellent story.  Even the audio book is read well.  Great story of a coming of age theme.  Romance and even a little adventure.  Perfect for any library.

Ever After High: Once Upon A time by Shannon Hale

It's okay.  I like Shannon Hale.  It's not really YA but it'll entertain the little fairy princess in your life.  Basically bubble gum for the brain.  Lots of cute poking fun at fairy tales in a good hearted way.  The author puts some modern devices in the hands of the young characters.

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

This is the Young Adult version of the HandMaid's Tale.  It's a  good story.  Young girls forced to be pregnant for the royal.  Lots of backstabbing.  This would make a good movie.  Good plot line.  Looking forward to book 2

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Dorothy Must Die: Heart of Tin by Danielle Paige

This is a dark telling of what happens to the  people of Oz.  Not a children's story.  More Young Adult or Adult.  It's the Tin man's story of how he changes when Dorothy comes back.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Excellent story.  Should grace any library.  You see both sides of a world in a different time.  The research done to create this story has paid off.  Well crafted.  Great characters and solid story line.

Highly recommend.  Jennifer Donnelly really nails the historical genre.

Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley

Probably the best Sleeping Beauty story I have ever read.  This is a real piece of literature.  Beautifully written.  Filled with a backstory and action to rock this story.  Very exciting.  Loved it.  Perfect for anyone's library.  It goes beyond.  I would say perfect for serious readers who appreciate a classic fairy tale rewritten. Beautiful with rich words and wording.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Five Kingdoms: Crystal Keepers by Brandon Mull

This is a great series for any library.  Solid characters, good writing and lots of action.  The hero's quest and meeting lots of new characters in each story.  A good read for any one looking for something for a young person who likes adventure.

Monday, December 21, 2015

The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross

There's two or three stories all connected.  Strong characters.  I read the last first book first.  I look forward to reading all the books before it.  It's a steampunk genre story.

Endlessly by Kiersten White

It's an entertaining book.  Snappy dialogue and lots of different types of character.  A good book for a personal library.

A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes

This is a spin off of a series by Morgan Rhodes.  One sister goes to Mythica, leaving her modern world behind.  The other sister works to bring her back, learning all kinds of family secrets.  Solid characters.
The bad teen is solid.  I keep hoping he'll be a good guy at the end.  Who knows????  IF you like the series, enjoy this spin off.

Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender

It's an okay story.  I'll read book 2.  Not a solid story but it's okay.  I wouldn't buy for a school library but just fine for a personal library.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Five Kingdoms: Sky Raiders by Brandon Mull

This is a great adventure story that is a page turner.  Great for elementary and middle school library.  Looking forward to continue reading the series.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Manners & Mutiny by Gail Carriger

Okay if you like fun steam punk, this is the book for you.  Enjoy.  I did.  Probably not for everyone but it's fun.  Written with a "tongue in cheek" style.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Mix in A Wrinkle In Time and true stories plus a dash of a game show and you get a time traveling amazing story.  Very different.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs

I love how the author has turned orphan photos into an amazing saga.  This is the third installment in the series.  I believe the final one.    Great story and evil people.  Enjoy!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

The Story of Owen by E. K. Johnston

Interesting story.  Very different and very fascinating.  Reads smoothly and love the musical references.  I do recommend this book.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

A Rebel Belle Novel: Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins

The audio book is a great listen.  Good story series.  Very funny and page turning.  Great snappy dialogue. Rachel Hawkins knows how to tell an entertaining story.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

It's an underwater world but don't call them mermaids.  They can walk on land and then change back in the water.   This story is told in two viewpoints.  It's fine for any library.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

This was a very good book.  Very important story about healing and speaking out.  There were times when I had some trouble reading because Sydney was in some dangerous situations.  Perfect for any teen library.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

It’s Not Summer without You by Jenny Han

It's a love triangle, it's about loss by death of a parent, it's about growing up.  Relationships can get messy.  It's a good story.  Fine for any library.  Solid story and good characters.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Just One Night by Gayle Forman

Great story, solid and hopeful.  Very romantic.  Fair warning there is some sex in the story.  Well written.

CrossOver by Kwame Alexander

This story is told in verse,  I was lucky to hear the audio book.  Great story about two brothers who were close, then not.  Then together they face their father's health crisis.

Author's website http://www.bookinaday.org/

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

If you liked "Fault in the Stars" and also "Eleanor and Park" then this is an amazing story.  However you should know, this is a book with a troubled boy who is very interested in committing suicide.  There is also some sex.  Having said that, it's a very good story.

Author's website  very good place to visit

http://www.jenniferniven.com/books/allthebrightplaces/