Thoughts on Jackaby

A paranormal Sherlock Holmes? How could this book not be a hit?

R.F. Jackaby is intelligent and eccentric. Abigail Rook, who is on the run from polite society and newly arrived in New England, is up for any adventure. Plus she needs a job. Assisting Jackaby provides many surprises.

The characters were engaging and the plot was interesting. Ritter needs to polish his writing just a tad but then his books will be unstoppable.

Which leaves me with two questions:
1--This is the start to a series right?
2--What else is William Ritter going to write?

Thoughts on Atlantia

I was so glad this book wasn't about mermaids. I was really afraid it would be with a title like Atlantia. But there was little to correlate this tale to the common ones of Atlantis. And for that I was really grateful.

Rio and her twin sister are part of a society that lives below--below the sea in a man built "bubble" where the air is clean and they are fated to live long lives. But this society is completely dependent upon those that remain above, on the earth. Because of that, each year a new group of teens from Atlantia gets to choose life above or life below.

Rio has always dreamed of going above and her sister Bay was always meant for below. But only one can go above and Bay surprises everyone by making the choice.

Rio must come to terms with Bay's decision, attempt to learn more about her mother's mysterious death and find away to join her sister above.

Atlantia is first portrayed as a beautiful paradise, but as Rio discovers more and more of the truth, the decay of Atlantia becomes evident.

Thoughts on: Tear You Apart

I absolutely adored the world created by Sarah Cross in Kill Me Softly. I immediately bought that book for my library and continue to put it in the hands of teen readers. So of course I was extremely excited when I found another book written in that same world.

Tear You Apart is Viv's story. A Snow White curse with a delightful dalliance in the 12 Dancing Princesses and even a bit of the Persephone myth. This is another definite must buy. An interesting look at families, fate, friendship, and destiny.






***ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley.

Thoughts on: They All Fall Down

Roxanne St. Claire has created a suspenseful thriller about murder--or curses and mixed in the stress of high school popularity.

In They All Fall Down the girls that make the "Hottie List" are subject to "accidents." They have been for years. Kenzie doesn't care that she made the list--all she is worried about is getting into a good college. But that doesn't keep her safe.

This is a fun read that won't need much in the way of recommendations to fly off the shelf. This is a definite purchase for the library.

Thoughts on: Gracefully Grayson

This. Book. Was. Awesome.

When does it come out--not soon enough, I want to start recommending it now.

Grayson is a girl, in a boys body. His parents died and left him living with his Aunt and Uncle when he was around five years old. He has never felt in all that time that he is who he belongs. Trying on skirts at a local thrift shop is fun--but he can't do it often and it is never enough.

Alone, miserable and lying about who he is, Grayson decides to try out for the school play. For the female lead in the school play. And the adults in his life (most of them) are absolutely wonderful. But they also aren't perfect. This isn't an idyllic world--it is real life and Ami Polonsky gives it wonderful, beautiful justice.

Not just an important book for transgender youth, Gracefully Grayson is a book about love, identity and tolerance. It can and will resonate with all youth--as long as they pick it up. So recommend, recommend, recommend. Cause this book is good.





***ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley for an honest review.