A Touching Story For All Ages

Ghosts

by Raina Telgemeier

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published September 13th 2016 by Graphix

ISBN13: 9780545540612

Library

ABOUT:

THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS TOWN...

Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake -- and her own. 

Raina Telgemeier has masterfully created a moving and insightful story about the power of family and friendship, and how it gives us the courage to do what we never thought possible. (GoodReads)

RATING: 5 STARS

REVIEW:

I loved this graphic novel. I picked it up only because it was on a book challenge I’m a part of, but I’m so glad I did. 

It is a great story to teach young teens a little about cystic fibrosis and Dia de Los Muertos. It’s definitely fantasy since the ghosts come back to the town to celebrate with the living and our main character flies with them, but that doesn’t take away from the story at all. It gives it a sense of adventure mixed in with the family storyline. 

This book has so much heart! I think it would be a great family read with younger children and an overall great read for everyone else.

Just A Little Bit Of Pixie Dust.....

Unhooked

by Lisa Maxwell

Hardcover, 342 pages

Published February 2nd 2016 by Simon Pulse

ISBN: 9781481432047

Library/ Met Author at Anderson’s YA Conference

About:

For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer.

But when Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might have been sane all along.

The world Gwen finds herself in is called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her safe.

With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she be able to save Neverland without losing herself? (Goodreads)

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:

I’m a huge Peter Pan fan…. Let me alter that a bit…. I’m a huge Captain Hook fan.

At first glance this book seemed right up my alley. A more modern retelling of the story. One where Hook is not evil but Peter might be.

All my hopes were dashed when they gave Hook a completely different name (Rowan) and a metal magic arm instead of a hook.

The first chunk of the book before Gwen gets kidnapped is slow. Once she gets to Neverland things are predictable and not well developed. I did enjoy how each chapter started with a little piece of a soldier’s story and how that story tied in, but I wish there was more to that.

I did like Rowan (aka wannabe Hook). He was rough, tough, and handsome. But he was not quite Hook. There wasn’t really much that I liked about Gwen. There wasn’t much I liked about Peter. All of the other characters we never really learned much about so they were useless.

This book gets points for sort of being unique. The mother and Gwen’s background play an interesting part of the story.  Rowan’s background was interesting as well. I wish that both were explained more though.

Overall, I give this book only three stars. It had potential, but missed the mark and was under developed. It could be that I’m a huge Peter Pan nerd though. I think teens who enjoy retellings could easily get into this book, but I’d give them titles like Everland or Peter and the Star Catchers first.

Sorry To Disappoint...

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #1)

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa,  Robert Hack (Illustrations)

Paperback, 160 pages

Published August 16th 2016 by Archie Comics

ISBN13: 9781627389877

Library

About:

On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, the young sorceress Sabrina Spellman finds herself at a crossroads, having to choose between an unearthly destiny and her mortal boyfriend, Harvey. But a foe from her family's past has arrived in Greendale, Madame Satan, and she has her own deadly agenda. Archie Comics' latest horror sensation starts here! For TEEN+ readers. Compiles the first six issues of the ongoing comic book series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. (Goodreads)

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:

So NOT the TGIF show I loved and remember. I snagged this book to read because I heard that it was being picked up to be a Hulu or Netflix TV show and that it might have connections to the TV show Riverdale. I use to watch Sabrina the Teenaged Witch growing up and loved it so much. I also love Riverdale so I was really excited to hear about potential crossovers. I knew the Chilling Adventures were going to be different and darker, but I don’t think I realized how much darker.  We’ve got a  naked, melted faced sorceress who is summoned by two of our favorite Riverdale/Archie gals, but it’s Sabrina, one town over, who has to deal with the fallout.  There’s tons of black magic and death. I can deal with all of that. I’m even curious to see where the story goes in the second volume. The art however, is not my favorite in this book. The depictions of the characters aren’t consistent and the artist seems to have trouble with facial expressions, especially on the sorceress/Madam Satan.  The Graphic Novel kind of has an old time art feel, that falls flat and doesn’t work with the story. Overall, this book was a disappointment to me. Hard core fans should pick it up just to see what it’s about, but otherwise I’d say skip it.  Try Afterlife With Archie or Jughead The Hunger instead.

 

I So Loved That Cat! 

Warning... Heavy Topics Ahead

Exit, Pursued by a Bear

by E.K. Johnston

Hardcover, 248 pages

Published March 15th 2016 by Dutton Books for Young Readers

ISBN13: 9781101994580

Checked Out From Library

2018 Abe Lincoln Award Book Nominee

About:

Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, this doesn’t mean what you think it means. At PHHS, the cheerleaders don't cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team—the pride and joy of a tiny town. The team's summer training camp is Hermione's last and marks the beginning of the end of… she’s not sure what. She does know this season could make her a legend. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And it all goes black.

In every class, there's a star cheerleader and a pariah pregnant girl. They're never supposed to be the same person. Hermione struggles to regain the control she's always had and faces a wrenching decision about how to move on. The assault wasn't the beginning of Hermione Winter's story and she's not going to let it be the end. She won’t be anyone’s cautionary tale. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

TRIGGER WARNING - RAPE

I picked this up because it is on the Abe Lincoln Book Award List (Illinois State High School Book List) this year, and as a Teen Librarian I try to read as many of them as I can. I can definitely see why this one was chosen for the list. It is well written and deals with a heavy topic. Yes our main character Hermione is raped while at summer training camp. Yes she doesn’t know who did it and that is a part of the story.  Yes she ends up pregnant and has to make a choice. This book is about so much more than that stuff though. She is not consumed by her rape. She goes through the emotions sad, confused, angry and comes out stronger. She fights to not be defined by what happened to her. She fights to stay a part of the cheerleading squad despite feeling uncomfortable about one of the males possibly being her attacker. With her support system (her parents and friends) she survives everything that is throw at her, including going back to where the rape happened. Yes slut shaming and victim blaming are a part of this story, but they aren’t the major key. The support system and strength are. What happens to Hermione during and after the rape is not everyone’s story, but it’s still important to see that sometimes when a victim is backed up and has support they can reclaim some of their power that was lost and grow stronger. Rape is never a good thing. But it shouldn’t be taboo to talk about either. This book does an excellent job talking about it and it’s consequences in a way that most books don’t. Some younger teens might find the topics in this book to “mature” for them yet. Other’s might gobble it up in one sitting. 

ABE Lincoln Read 2018 List

Not So Much Stalking....

Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1)

by Kerri Maniscalco

Hardcover, 326 pages

Published September 20th 2016 by Jimmy Patterson

ISBN: 9780316273497

Copy Bought And Autographed At YA Conference

About: 

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget. (Goodreads)

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Review:

A disappointing 3.5 stars for this read. I met the author at a YA conference and she seemed so cool and into exploring all things creepy for her research. It made me expect a lot more from this book. I was very interested in Jack the Ripper growing up so I was very curious to see what Kerri could do with him in a YA novel. I can tell that she did her research on the time period and the cases, I had no problem with the story there. I also liked that at the back of the book she tells the reader what facts she changed and why. My problem was that she promised thrills, twists and turns, and horror; and though we had dead bodies from the Ripper, none of that was present. The “love” story was generic and simple and just got in the way. The book was predictable, and I felt like our main characters were never really in any danger. The main character Audrey has been done before, though I always do appreciate a good strong female going against the norm. I enjoyed the ending and the unveiling of the Ripper, though I had an idea of who he might be from around the middle of the book. I don’t think I cared for the cover up of who the Ripper was, though since their identity was never solved in real life it makes sense that they did that. Besides the violence there wasn’t anything to “mature” in the novel. It’s recommended for 15 and up by the publisher, but younger teens might be ok with it too, if they enjoy historical fiction. Despite my disappointment I am curious about the second book in the series “Hunting Prince Dracula” and I might give it a try some day. 

A Southern Love Story...

South of Sunshine

by Dana Elmendorf

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published April 1st 2016 by Albert Whitman

ISBN: 9780807575680

ARC Received From My Friend At Hello Jenny Reviews

About:

What is Kaycee willing to risk for the sake of love?
And what will she risk for acceptance?

In Sunshine, Tennessee, the main event in town is Friday night football, the biggest party of the year is held in a field filled with pickup trucks, and church attendance is mandatory. For Kaycee Jean McCoy, life in Sunshine means dating guys she has no interest in, saying only “yes, ma’am” when the local bigots gossip at her mom’s cosmetics salon, and avoiding certain girls at all costs. Girls like Bren Dawson.

Unlike Kaycee, Bren doesn’t really conceal who she is. But as the cool, worldly new girl, nobody at school seems to give her any trouble. Maybe there’s no harm if Kaycee gets closer to her too, as long as she can keep that part of her life a secret, especially from her family and her best friend. But the more serious things get with Bren, the harder it is to hide from everyone else. Kaycee knows Sunshine has a darker side for people like her, and she’s risking everything for the chance to truly be herself. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

This was a bit of a different take on the LGBTQ story in that it takes place in a Southern town that is very against those kinds of relationships. It showed how Kaycee was feeling. How she was so happy to have Bren in her life, but having to hide it hurt her so bad. How she was afraid of what her mother, classmates, friends, and fellow church goers would think, and what they might do. Yes a lot of that shows up in other LGBTQ stories, but the small southern town atmosphere gave this book a different feel. It was well written, but a tad slow in places. It was predictable, like most YA romances, but it was cute. It’s a book that might be a great read for those teens who are afraid to come out. Or even for those who have friends who are LGBTQ and who want to understand what they’re going through a bit better. I’m not sure the end of the story is completely realistic, it’s almost like a fairy tale happy ending, but it’s still inspiring and gives hope to the reader. In the end isn’t that what most of us want from our reads? 

A Holiday Read...

What Light

by Jay Asher

Hardcover, 251 pages

Published October 18th 2016 by Razorbill (first published October 11th 2016)

ISBN: 9781595145512

ARC Received From My Friend At Hello Jenny Reviews

About:

From Jay Asher, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Thirteen Reasons Why, comes a romance that will break your heart, but soon have you believing again. . . .

Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it's a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. 

Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other.

By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love.

What Light is a love story that's moving and life-affirming and completely unforgettable.

(Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review: 

This was a very cute Christmas read that definitely got me into the holiday spirit. It was not what I expected from the author of “13 Reasons Why”.  There was friendship, giving, romance, a bit of mystery, and Christmas Trees!!!  It’s not an outstanding book. It’s not going to win any awards or be on anyone’s top books ever written lists, but it does hold it’s own. The story was well written and brought me into the world of Christmas Tree selling. I learned a few things about tree farming and selling. I fell in love with Sierra and Caleb, and by the end of the book I really wanted to know more. Will they stay together? Will Sierra’s family be back next year? How does the dance go? Will Caleb keep up with his giving? Will Sierra join him with her cookie making? Grrr!!!! So many loose ends! Despite all my questions, I think that this book is perfect for any teen (or teen at heart) looking for a quick adorable holiday read.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Safe Travels!