Thoughts On: The Secret Sky

The Secret Sky by Atia Abawi is a tale of forbidden love in Afghanistan. Women aren't allowed to speak with men who aren't part of their family. It will bring dishonor to their family and clan. But Fatima and Sami were friends as children. And when he comes back to the village after years away, it seemed only natural they would still want to be friends.

Their perfectly innocent friendship upsets many people though. Not just because they aren't related, but because they are from different clans and tribes. Both their families are angered and Fatima and Sami are faced with nothing but harsh options.

The Secret Sky is told in three voices: Fatima, Sami and Sami's cousin Rashid--a devout boy who thinks he is doing the right thing by reporting their meetings to family and "religious" leaders.

Abawi intricately weaves in differing Afgani voices--the traditional, the young and the old who had hoped for change. Also the discrepancies between Islam and the Taliban and men who pretend to be either are brought to the foreground. She presents a scary world, where it is hard to know who to trust and where innocents must suffer for the actions and beliefs of others.

This is a powerful book. Four stars.



***ARC received from publisher through NetGalley.

Thoughts on: The Here and Now

In Brashares, The Here and Now, Prenna is living in the present on a mission from the future to save society from a deadly virus that will destroy life as we know it. Unfortunately, the group she is with is more concerned with secrecy and control than actually making changes.

Then a mysterious visitor takes Prenna aside and charges her with a society saving task. In order to complete this task she must set out on the run, along with the one "time-native" boy who knows the truth.

Much more of a romance than other survival, pre-apocalyptic(?) novels, this book is perfect for getting readers to explore new genres.






***ARC provided by publisher through netgalley.

Thoughts On: Can't Look Away

Donna Cooner's newest novel: Can't Look Away tells the story of Torrey, the famous you tube fashionista. However, now she is known for something else too--her sister's tragic death.

This is an engaging read with a new look on popularity. I would have liked more about her online life--I think Cooner could have delved a little deeper. But teens will related and certainly pick up this book after the success of her first novel, Skinny. I also really liked the layout.





***ARC provided by publisher through Netgally.

Thoughts on: Like No Other

Una LaMarche has written a beautifully crafted, realistic and diverse romance. Teens and adults alike are sure to be drawn to the lives of Devorah and Jaxon.

After meeting in a hospital elevator during a hurricane the two are inexplicably drawn to one another. Devorah, who has only known her strict Hasidic upbringing isn't supposed to even talk to a boy like Jaxon, or be alone with him, or think about him. But after their encounter she keeps sneaking away and making plans with him. She starts looking for alternatives to marrying and having children at 18, like her older sister Charlotte. But her family doesn't understand her actions and they won't let her destroy her life easily.

Told in the alternating voices of Devorah and Jaxon this is a story of love, identity and family.

4 Stars






***Spoiler***

Incredibly sad, I appreciated the authors ability to provide a realistic ending and I enjoyed watching the characters learn to trust themselves and be who they wanted to be.



***ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley.

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.

Thoughts On: Chloe by Design

Billed for fans of Project Runway, that is exactly what Chloe by Design: Making the Cut is. Margaret Gurevich has recreated the show for the teen audience and put it in book format. Fluffy and fun to read, it probably will have a niche audience. But, Brooke Hagel's illustrations--drawing sketches and watercolors and beyond beautiful. They were my favorite part of the book!














*** ARC provided by publisher at BEA.

Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel

I was super excited to hear about Sara Farizan's first book If You Could Be Mine and was so happy when I learned about her new book Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel.

It does not disappoint. Keep writing Sara Farizan!

Thoughts On: Breathe, Annie, Breathe

Annie has decided to run a marathon in honor of her boyfriend who died before he got the chance. She is not a runner. Has never been one, but she is determined and she has a good coach.

Starting months after Kyle passes away, after they had broken up, Annie is still stuck in her grief and trying to pull her life back together. But rather than dwell on her sorrows, Kenneally, addresses them, deals with Annie's emotions well and then tells a story of triumph, recovery and new beginnings.

Not quite fluffy, but an engrossing chick-lit book none the same, I can see why Kenneally has become popular so quickly. Breathe, Annie, Breathe is already on the shelves at my library.

Oh, and the running coach's adrenaline junkie brother makes for a great romance.



***ARC provided by publisher.

Thoughts On: Skink--No Surrender

I love Car Hiaasen's books and Skink, No Surrender was no exception. (Although I am still very partial to Chomp). In this book, the beloved character of the former governor of Florida and vehement if unpredictable environmental activist teams up with a teenage boy attempting to find his abducted cousin.

Richard comes across Skink on the beach where he is impersonating a turtle nest in order to catch a poacher. Not that he turns the bad guy into the authorities or anything. And despite Skink's disturbing actions and appearance, Richard trusts the man and tells him all about his cousin, Malley, and her disappearance. So Skink investigates and then reports back with news that Malley is in more danger than previously realized. What follows is a desperate chase into the wilds of Florida where Richard, Skink and Malley face off against weather, crocodiles, and the kidnapper.

Skink is an extremely interesting character, and one I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Hiaasen discuss at the BEA Children's Authors and Illustrators breakfast. I can't believe people now send him roadkill recipes. Actually, I can. But I just love that this means Skink is such a beloved (am I really describing him like that) character.


***ARC received at BEA.

Thoughts on: Stone Cove Island

When a violent hurricane reeks havoc on the tourist destination of Stone Cove Island, a decades old mystery has come back to haunt the islanders.

Eliza finds a cryptic note while cleaning up the island's lighthouse. Starting an investigation she learns that this may be an important clue in solving the murder of her mother's childhood best friend. But the islanders don't want the investigation to begin again and by asking around she may be putting herself in danger.

I give this book 4 stars because it is compelling and interesting to someone from New England. There are lots of places like Stone Cove Island out here. But, Suzanne Myers wrapped up the story too cleanly. Or maybe not cleanly at all. I don't want to write any spoilers but while the ending was believable I thought some of the reactions were not in character.


***ARC received at BEA.

Thoughts on: Stronger Than You Know

I was so glad I was able to read this book!

Joy has finally found a safe home with people who care about her. Her mom never let her leave their trailer, she and her friends abused Joy for years. Her aunts home is safe, but it will take some time for her to understand and learn to trust.

This is a beautiful story of strength. 4 Stars.












**ARC received at BEA.

Thoughts On: Half My Facebook Friends are Ferrets

Half My Facebook Friends are Ferrets by J.A. Buckle is an easy fast paced glimpse into the life of a teenage boy.

Funny and entertaining, I was left with a few questions. Such as, why are half is friends ferrets?

Thoughts On: The Art of Secrets

I was expecting a very different story when I picked up James Klise's new novel The Art of Secrets.

This is a story of a community trying to help a family who lost everything in a fire. Actually it is a story of how a community sabotaged each other and suspected each other of one crime after another. It is also about a famous artist's never before seen work--a collection of paintings that could bring substantial money to the family in need and the school sponsoring the efforts to help them. But someone doesn't want that to happen.

A unique mystery told in many voices, Klise takes to heart the voice of the unreliable narrator(s). Who is honest, who is acting in their own best interests, and who is acting against the system?

Four stars.


***ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley.

Thoughts On: A Time to Dance

For some reason I always loved stories about people overcoming physical limitations. At least those that are done well. And A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman is one of these books.

Veda lives to dance. It is all she wants despite her parent's disapproval. But then after winning a prestigious competition, she is in a terrible accident that costs her a leg. Veda must then relearn to do everything that comes easy to her--from walking to her beloved dance. In well-written verse, Veda's struggle is a believable one filled with hope and promise.

Four stars.




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

Thoughts On: Coin Heist

I have decided that Coin Heist by Elisa Ludwig is the perfect book for reluctant readers because it reminds me of so many movies. 

Four teens band together to try and save their elite school from closing after the former head of school embezzled most of the money. Their target? The United States Mint. Apparently they have really weak security. But it still takes this group months to plan their crime, create alibis, get the necessary tools and grapple with right and wrong. 

There is no clear message, but that does make the ending more of a surprise. I definitely thought it was going to end a different way. I won't share here because of spoilers, but this book will keep teen's interest. 

***ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley. 

Thoughts on: Surrounded by Sharks

Surrounded by Sharks was the second book I have read by Michael Northrop. The first was Trapped.




This book tells the story of three teens:

Davey: The older brother who just wanted a quiet place to read. And who may have disregarded a sign on an abandoned beach labeled: No Swimming.

Brando: The younger brother who regrets not alerting his parents as soon as he noticed Davey was missing and tries to make up for this error by finding his brother.

Drew: The tourist who saw Davey reading and who joins Brando in his rescue attempts.



Davey wasn't really going to go swimming. He saw the sign. But wading the water quickly changed to floating in deep water, being dragged out to sea and then of course surrounded by sharks.

Just in time for summer and shark week this book is action-packed, realistic and terrifying. The jumps in point-of-view character makes Davey's observation of the sharks nail-biting scary and suspenseful.




***ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley.