Layoverland
by Gabby Noone
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: January 7th, 2020
For fans of The Good Place and Everything Everything comes a story of fate and optimism set in the afterlife- Layoverland by Gabby Noone. Beatrice is dead and stuck in Purgatory. If she ever wants to make it to Heaven, she must help the boy responsible for her death to get there first. Bea struggles with her situation, and much to her annoyance, she begins to catch “feelings.” I loved this book because the characters were very relatable, which made reading the book easy and fun. Noone has a light, conversational voice that makes the story come to life. If you’re looking for a lighthearted novel with love, friendship, and self discovery- look no further! You’ll embark on a journey into the afterlife where karma is real, hearts can soften, and all the food is covered in... Jell-O?
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
by Katherine Webber
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: January 7th, 2020
Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Katherine Webber centers around the many relationships in protagonist Reiko Smith-Mori’s life. Webber explores the different people Reiko interacts with in great detail and dives into the reasons she keeps each relationship isolated from the others. The framework of the novel’s love story seems a bit cliché: the popular high school girl and the unknown boy. However, the story strays from cliché and gives readers only the idealized portion of high-school love. In doing so, Webber creates a novel that satisfies your cravings for good romance while writing incredible character development, giving you a first-hand look at a teenage girl struggling with loss, love, and her own self-discovery.
I Love You So Mochi
by Sarah Kuhn
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: May 28, 2019
Kimi Nakamura loves fashion and designing bold, beautiful outfits. But her mom has worked hard to be an successful painter and expects Kimi to follow in her footsteps as a “Great Asian American Artist.” After they have an explosive, emotional confrontation, Kimi gets a letter from her mother’s estranged parents inviting her to visit them in Kyoto and seizes the opportunity to escape for spring break. She is dazzled by Japan’s attractions, which include Akira, a part-time mochi mascot who dreams of being a doctor. By getting to know her grandparents, Kimi learns more about her mother and herself, and sees they are more alike than she thought.
I LOVE YOU SO MOCHI by Sarah Kuhn is full of personality. Kimi’s fun and creativity really come through in Kuhn’s writing, and her vivid descriptions of Japan made me want to hop on the next plane there! Kimi’s romance with Akira is adorable. I think it is a little fast-moving, but it can be forgiven considering Kimi’s limited time in Japan. The relationships in the book are well-written, especially those of Kimi, her mom, and her grandparents. I LOVE YOU SO MOCHI is an introspective yet sweet book about love for your family, your crush, and your passion.
I Wish You All the Best
by Mason Deaver
Publisher: Push/Scholastic
Publication Date: May 14, 2019
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST is a charmingly honest romance that focuses on the conflicts of family struggles, self-acceptance, and love. The story follows 18-year-old Ben DeBacker, who is kicked out of their home after coming out to their parents as non-binary. Finding their life flipped upside down in less than an hour, Ben struggles to not only reconnect with their estranged older sister Hannah, but deal with newfound anxiety caused by their parent’s rejection. However, one thing that makes it all a bit easier is Ben’s outgoing friend, Nathan Allan. As the two grow closer at Ben’s new school, their feelings do as well, and Ben’s new life gives way to an opportunity for acceptance, paintings, and a first love.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster, one that kept me wrapped in the story right from the start. Though I have never had experience with being kicked out by my parents or being non-binary, I really empathized with Ben’s character, and was rooting for them to find their voice and find happiness in not only others, but themself as well. This book truly was written from the heart, and I cannot recommend it enough!
Brawler
by Neil Connelly
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
BRAWLER is about Eddie MacIntyre, an amazing wrestler who loses all his scholarships when he attacks a referee. He is such a great wrestler because of his rage that he keeps deep inside. But when it comes out, the consequences are devastating. He is sought out by an agent from a secret organization of brawlers who make money off illegal street brawls. Mac leaves with a warrant for his arrest and moves in with Khajee, who is to be his brawling trainer. Mac must correct his wrongdoings while dealing with a disturbing past. I liked this book a lot. The plot had many layers that were quite interesting. It kept me reading the book, that's for sure. The complex wrestling moves were described in a simple and understandable way. I specifically enjoyed the relationship between Mac and Khajee. There was a lot of effort put into their relationship and it worked. I enjoyed the fast paced action and the writing was excellent.
Pretend She's Here
by Luanne Rice
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: February 26, 2019
Emily feels Lizzie everywhere. It’s been nearly a year since her best friend died, and she still feels her presence so strongly that she talks to her out loud. But when Lizzie’s parents come back into town to speak to her, Emily finds herself questioning if she can trust them—or anything she thought she knew. From established YA author comes a captivating story of loss and danger. I enjoyed Luanne Rice’s twisty, fast-paced style, and I thought she gave appropriate attention to the grief without allowing it to derail the primary plot. In Rice’s deft hands, PRETEND SHE'S HERE is a thrilling blend of suspense and tragedy.
The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali
by Sabina Khan
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
Sabina Khan’s debut novel, THE LOVE AND LIES OF RUKHSANA ALI, is an emotional ride about family, identity, and acceptance. Living in Seattle, 17-year-old Rukhsana Ali has worked hard to make her conservative Muslim parents happy, keeping the parts of herself they wouldn’t approve of undercover. With a few more months until she graduates and goes to Caltech, her future is looking bright... until her parents catch her kissing her girlfriend Ariana. They are furious and fearful of how the Bangladeshi community will react if word gets out. They trick Rukhsana into going with them to Bangladesh and won’t let her leave until she finds a suitable Bangladeshi boy to marry. Luckily, Rukhsana finds people who accept all of her identity and are willing to help. The book shows Rukhsana’s struggle between the two parts of her life and the importance of finding understanding and acceptance. I really liked THE LOVE AND LIES OF RUKHSANA ALI. It shows the experience of being queer and from a culture that’s generally not so accepting of it. The book does point out that not everyone raised in a culture like that will be close-minded; you can’t paint them all with one brush. There are some emotionally brutal parts that can be painful to read, so look out. But there are lighter moments that show what Rukhsana loves about being Bangladeshi and feature her happier relationships. I particularly love the relationship between Rukhsana and Shaila, her cousin who lives in Bangladesh. Despite the fact that they don’t get to see each other very often, they’re as close as sisters. If you want a realistic fiction story with a gay protagonist that’s more than just a romance, I highly recommend this book.
The Agony House
by Cherie Priest
Illustrated by Tara O'Connor
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: September 25, 2018
THE AGONY HOUSE written by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Tara O’Connor initially attracted me because of Priest’s previous work I AM PRINCESS X. Once again I find Priest and O’Connor make expert use of integrating illustration to add dimension and mystery in duality to richly written characters and settings. Despite them being similar in that aspect, THE AGONY HOUSE is wholly its own in story and structure. Denise and her family move back to New Orleans to fix up an old, run-down house in hopes of making a small bed and breakfast with what little savings they’ve got. As they begin renovations, strange occurrences lead Denise to suspect supernatural presence. When she discovers an old manuscript for the unpublished comic, Lucinda Might, in the attic she can no longer deny the connection between her house and the comic book. Throughout the novel she acquires a cast of friends and begins to uncover the secrets within the “agony house” are far more sinister than she could have imagined.
Despite Denise’s optimistic, light, often sarcastic demeanor, the story, aided heavily by the comic drawings, is able to maintain a spooky, yet not terrifying, tone. While the narrative focuses on the supernatural mystery it also lightly explores her family's economic difficulties, race prejudice in New Orleans, and, in general, Denise’s struggle to fit in in this new, unfamiliar town. By the end you’ll feel satisfied and definitely will want to flip back to the beautifully illustrated comic pages. I’m excited to see what comes next for Cherie Priest as her first two books are simply addictive.
Hey Kiddo
by Jarrett Krosoczka
Publisher: Scholastic/Graphix
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
HEY, KIDDO is the true story of one family’s struggle with addiction. Jarret Krosoczka’s mother is a heroin addict who signed away her parental rights when her son was a toddler. He’s been raised by his grandparents—tough-talking, whiskey-drinking, no-nonsense people who grew up during the Great Depression. He’s never known his father and he thinks he never will, until one day he gets a letter in the mail…
HEY, KIDDO is a courageous and honest memoir of Krosoczka’s childhood. It’s definitely not a light-hearted read, but it’s no depressing slog, either. The author injects humor, sweetness, love, and passion, and brings it all to life through his gorgeous sepia-toned illustrations. HEY, KIDDO is a triumph. It will probably also leave you on the ground, sobbing incoherently, slightly broken. But it will be worth it.
Where She Fell
by Kaitlin Ward
Publisher: Point
Publication Date: October 30, 2018
WHERE SHE FELL is about a deep hole in a swamp, near a relatively small town. And the girl who falls into it. Our not-exactly-a-hero Eliza is that girl, and she only reason she survives is because she is an aspiring geologist with a passion for caves. Hers is the type of nerdy knowledge that saves lives, and she certainly wouldn’t have lived another hour if she had listened to her friends’ unspoken judgments and chosen a less nerdy career path. But she does live another hour – she lives beyond another day, she survives. But not alone. There exists within the tunnels and caverns of the world she’s stumbled into a colony of humans, humans who have fallen in at separate times, and at separate locations – leading Eliza to realize the cave system is bigger than one single state. The colony’s resident geologist (what a coincidence!), Mary, enlists Eliza to help her with her work and unwillingly allows Eliza to uncover the colony’s secrets – even Mary’s own lies – one…by…one. If Eliza was an outcast above ground, she is an alien below – and she has to consider who her topside friends are, and what the colony leaders’ intentions will lead to.
I loved WHERE SHE FELL. A story about an imperfect introvert is always refreshing, and story about an imperfect introvert stuck underground for a few weeks is even better. Eliza stays herself, the whole time, and she “rises to the occasion” in a unique, realistic way. She nearly has a breakdown multiple times, and doesn’t think of herself as the hero – which is why I don’t, either. She is amazingly courageous, yes, but I don’t think she’s a hero. I don’t think she’s some far-off standard of awesomeness. I think she is herself, and even in a life or death situation, that is the best you can be. Eliza’s topside friends don’t appreciate her very much, but I think it was a slight mistake on the writer’s part to have Eliza completely ditch them after coming to her philosophical and spiritual breakthroughs. They could’ve still been in her life, just…less. But however overwhelming her topside friends were, her colony friends made up for it: Alice, Eleanor, Grayson, and Mary were all bringers of peace and understanding in a time of turmoil and rejection. Also Grayson was hot as hell. Overall, WHERE SHE FELL is a very good, darkly whimsical book.
Anything But Okay
by Sarah Darer Littman
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: October 10, 2018
ANYTHING BUT OKAY by Sarah Darer Littman is about a junior named Stella. Her brother Rob has just come back from his second tour in Afghanistan and has been acting strange ever since. Stella takes Rob to the movies and after the movie Rob assaults a kid from Stella's school after he loses his control. I had an interesting time with this book. It's a good book that covers some pretty heavy topics a little too lightly at times. I liked the plot of the book and the way it came together. The characters developed nicely throughout the book and I enjoyed the overall writing style. The topics are extremely relevant to our society today.
And She Was
by Jessica Verdi
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
AND SHE WAS is very much a traditional “go on life changing road trip with best friend who you may or may not have feelings for” book, but it is also so much more. Dara Baker is a very passionate tennis player who doesn’t have time for much other than being a very passionate tennis player, and spending time with her mom and apparently only friend, Sam. This is the guy who she goes on the life changing road trip with. Dara learns more about others than she does herself on this road trip, which is prompted by learning that her mom is transgender.
AND SHE WAS is one of the best books I’ve ever read – and for a good third of it, I hated the main character. This started on page 200 for me and didn’t really stop until Dara came all the way back home. When she was throwing up in the hotel… Serves you right. When she was thinking about how she couldn’t deal with her mother’s suicidal thoughts… Wow, someone else’s really hard time must be such a burden for you (sarcastic). Why am I such an unwavering critic of our adorable protagonist here? Because I agree with her friend Sam-- she is selfish, immature, and definitely unraveling.
Dara keeps saying her anger with her mother isn’t about “the trans thing,” oh, but it is. Contradictory to my dislike of the “hero,” I actually have extremely high levels of sympathy. I am a sensitive soul. I care. For Mellie, and Sam. (And Bob.) I am nonbinary. Trans issues are very important to me. Dysphoria, mental health, the will to sacrifice your money when you shouldn’t have to, parents and friends having varying levels of acceptance and otherwise, all of it. I don’t like Dara much because she seems unwilling to grasp true fear, to really understand, to listen, even just enough to actually care. When she says this herself in the last few chapters, I sigh with relief. Finally.
This book touched me so deeply, it made me cry. I love Mellie. There are too many Mellies in this world, and way too many Daras and Ruths. My mother is a wonderful, liberal, tries-really-hard-to-accept version of Ruth. “Honestly, we were thrilled,” Ruth says on page 235, “We thought Marcus was a lovely boy…” My mother, and Ruth, both have no problems with “the trans community” to its face, but will ask, “C’mon. Why is all that necessary?” Why? “Isn’t is better to accept yourself?” Isn’t it? “Aren’t you proud of being a boy/girl?” I’m not not proud! Imagine being the thing people constantly question. Jessica Verdi gets it. She gets it enough to write about it. I love this book. Read this book.
Not if I Save You First
by Ally Carter
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
NOT IF I SAVE YOU FIRST by Ally Carter is about a 16 year old named Maddie, who was friends the President's son, Logan. Maddie moves suddenly to Alaska after an incident involving her dad at the White House. For 6 years she has been writing letters to Logan but he never responds. Then Logan's dad decides to send him to Alaska, where he is kidnapped and Maddie has to find him. I really enjoyed this book! It was well written and the plot never faltered; I couldn't stop reading! I highly recommend it.
The Traitor's Game
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: February 26, 2018
In the newest fantasy novel by Jennifer A. Nielsen, Kestra Dallisor has been in exile for three years from the kingdom where her father serves as the king’s second in command. But as she is on the journey to come home, she is stopped by a band of rebels who blackmail her into finding the Olden Blade, the one thing that could kill the seemingly immortal king and change the kingdom forever. As she goes on this mission, filled with ulterior motives and mysterious secrets, Kestra now must decide if the regime she once protected is really worth it, and if she can do what it takes to save her kingdom.
I really enjoyed this book! Filled with magic and warring families, the author was able to build up a wonderful world for the reader to be immersed in. For one thing, this book had some of the best character development I have ever read! Starting as a strict loyalist, then becoming an amazing heroine, the character of Kestra changed so much as the book went on, making her feel real and fleshed out. The side characters as well were like this as the author did not miss a single chance to make each character shine.
Another aspect of this book that was enjoyable was the world itself. Filled with just the right amount of magic, it never felt like it was too crazy. I could easily see myself reading more of this series because it is just so immersive and makes you constantly want to further explore the world.
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves royal intrigue mixed with magic. Despite the novel sometimes doing things that seem stereotypical at the start, the author keeps you hooked with secrets and plot twists that you will never see coming.
Ink
by Alice Broadway
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
The story of INK lies in a world where life stories are documented on one’s skin, including every important step towards or away from the soul weighing ceremony at the end of one’s life. Leora struggles between the expectations of society and upholding the legacy of her father when she discovers the hidden mark of a traitor on her father’s neck. Now that he has passed away, Leora slowly uncovers the secrets of her past and the true history of the town of Saintstone.
With layers of romance, family, friendship and self acceptance, there were aspects of Leora’s life that I found very easy to relate to and that helped build a connection to the book. It certainly is a reflection of today’s society, and the need for stability and order, despite the dark secrets protected by the people you would least expect.
R.I.P. Eliza Hart
by Alyssa Sheinmel
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: November 28, 2017
Do I have a thing for odd, broken ladies named Sokoloff? From my last reviewed book, GENUINE FRAUD, I went right to this one. R.I.P ELIZA HART is about two misunderstood and mentally “sick” girls, both of whom seem to hate the other. One of them is a “mean girl,” the other is a “freak.” It is a whodunit, except you find out at the end…Eliza Hart is not perfect in any way.
This book was a bit sadder and a bit more beautiful than GENUINE FRAUD, although the slow reveal and deep twists were similar. I liked the tree burl thieves – I liked that their official “crime” was just maybe less of a true crime than you might expect. Mack and Sam are both, in my opinion, the most realistic characters, simply because we do not read from their perspective but we know how they feel. I liked Sam and Ellie’s transition between friendship and girlfriend/boyfriend-ship, it was paced well and very sweet.
All the Crooked Saints
by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: October 10, 2017
ALL THE CROOKED SAINTS by Maggie Stiefvater is a heartwarming story about overcoming your mistakes and accepting who you are. The story centers around the Soria family, a family with the unusual power to perform miracles. Pilgrims come from all over the United States to see the Saint of Bicho Raro, Daniel Soria. Daniel performs a miracle that exposes the darkness within a pilgrim and then the pilgrim performs the second miracle, expelling the darkness forever. The pilgrims must do the second miracle on their own; if a Soria helps a pilgrim in any way a very powerful, almost unbeatable darkness will fall on the Soria and anyone who tries to help will also experience the same darkness. The conflict arises when Daniel falls in love with a pilgrim and tries to help her, bringing the darkness on him. He flees into the desert to isolate himself and keep other Sorias from meeting the same fate. His two cousins, Joaquin and Beatriz, are compelled to help him and with the help of some pilgrims devise a plan to save Daniel.
This book has a great cast of characters. Each Soria family member and pilgrim is given a history and attitude. Some of the characters include: a fourteen foot radio host named Tony, a school teacher named Jennie who can only repeat back what is spoken to her, a pilgrim who is constantly rained on and wears a wedding dress with live butterflies stuck to it, a priest with the body of a man and the head of a wolf, and two twins made inseparable by the snake that twines them together. Each character has to overcome their own darkness in order to help Daniel overcome his. The story is also very inventive and creative; Stiefvater invents a convincing reality in which characters interact and live in the presence of miracles. I also really enjoyed the satisfying and exciting conclusion to the book. I would love to read other books by this author and recommend this book to readers of any age who like a character-driven, intricate, and creative story.
Into the Hurricane
by Neil Connelly
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
INTO THE HURRICANE is pretty much about what you’d expect it to be about: two kids getting
trapped in a city while a category 5 hurricane passes right through
it. Eli, one of the protagonists, is a depressed teenager who
witnessed his older sister die. While Eli has some extreme views on life, he is a very relatable character due to his interests. Max,
on the other hand, initially seems to be the complete opposite of
Eli, but throughout the book, we see that they really have more and
more in common than either they or we realized. As expected, a
relationship forms between Eli and Max, but I really liked that it
was formed appropriately over time, and never even started until the
end of the book. I really liked this because it portrays a sense of
realism, and does not distract anyone from the real threat. The main
antagonist in this book is not the rifle wielding, car stealing,
cult-like family they encounter, but Hurricane Celeste, which
threatens everyone on the island.
This book really reminded me of THE MARTIAN, due to its “man vs. nature” theme. They both have their environments try to destroy their protagonists. The characters somehow find a way to escape, only to have another disaster sent to them. There is some death caused by the hurricane, but in my opinion, there was not enough. While unfortunate, I feel it would have been more realistic if at least one more character died due to the hurricane.
I really enjoyed
reading this book, and while I had some minor problems with it,
it was not enough to detract from my enjoyment of reading it. INTO THE HURRICANE is a bit shorter that I would have liked for this plot, but Connelly has still done a great job for the length that it is. This
thriller really allows you to relate to its nicely developed
characters, while still telling a great story.
Just Another Girl
by Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: March 28, 2017
JUST ANOTHER GIRL by Elizabeth Eulberg is about a girl named Hope who has a crush on a boy named Brady. She has had a crush on him forever but he has a girlfriend. Hope comes to hate his girlfriend (her name is Parker). The book is about all of the things Hope does to try to win Brady over, while she figures out Parker. I really enjoyed the book. It was a great coming of age story with a few big plot twists. I like the way the author uses foreshadowing. I really thought it was well written. It also had just the right amount of humor. I highly recommend this book.
Empress of a Thousand Skies
by Rhoda Belleza
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Rhoda
Belleza’s debut novel, EMPRESS OF A THOUSAND SKIES, follows Rhee,
the last in line for the Ta’an throne, as she sets out to avenge
her family -- who died in a “mysterious accident” years prior -- meanwhile, Aly, a reality star from war-ravished lineage, must
survive after being blamed for Rhee’s “assassination.”
In
space.
Yes,
this is a Sci-Fi Novel, and while I’m admittedly not a huge fan of
the genre, EMPRESS OF A THOUSAND SKIES definitely avoided the tropes
that typically push me away from The Final Frontier. The world
Belleza sets up is clearly defined, and allows her to explore themes
of cultural and racial tension, without being unpleasantly overt.
Rather than getting lost in names that sound like meaningless
keyboard-smashes, I was able to understand the differences that came
with being a Kalusian or a Fontisian, and the implications behind it.
I’d mark EMPRESS OF A THOUSAND SKIES as a book that, regardless of
genre-bias, I could recommend to anyone. You want a book dealing with
racial tensions? Yep. You want a 16-year-old warrior-princess? Yep.
You want a book with actually foreshadowed plot twists??? Yep!
If
you’re in a reading-slump, I’d definitely
suggest picking up Empress of a Thousand Skies. It’s fast-paced,
fun to read, and sure to entertain!
For fans of The Good Place and Everything Everything comes a story of fate and optimism set in the afterlife- Layoverland by Gabby Noone. Beatrice is dead and stuck in Purgatory. If she ever wants to make it to Heaven, she must help the boy responsible for her death to get there first. Bea struggles with her situation, and much to her annoyance, she begins to catch “feelings.” I loved this book because the characters were very relatable, which made reading the book easy and fun. Noone has a light, conversational voice that makes the story come to life. If you’re looking for a lighthearted novel with love, friendship, and self discovery- look no further! You’ll embark on a journey into the afterlife where karma is real, hearts can soften, and all the food is covered in... Jell-O?
