All Posts (9)

Sort by

The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22450859-the-boston-girl" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Boston Girl" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418103945m/22450859.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22450859-the-boston-girl">The Boston Girl</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/626222.Anita_Diamant">Anita Diamant</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1583167289">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I read/listened to this audiobook as part of the Hub Challenge (Amelia Bllomer YA, Top 10 List) and oh was it good. I could not stop listening to actress, Linda Lavin's beautiful retelling of her life as Addie Baum to her granddaughter. I learned so much about the 1900's in Boston as Addie was born and raised by immigrant parents from Russia who argue incessantly, the turbulence of the times with illness, death & war and the strong personality of Addie and her sister while her oldest sister has a very sensitive constitution. Addie's view of the world is humorous, honest, and forward thinking. I so enjoyed this vibrant novel; highly recommended!
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/62411-bjneary">View all my reviews</a>

Read more…

Faceless by Alyssa Sheimel

FacelessFaceless by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this novel as part of #yabookchat twitter discussion. When we meet Maisie, she is enjoying a morning run, loves being on the track team, loves her boyfriend, Chirag and best friend, Ellen. As she finishes her run, she stops to enjoy the morning when a lightning storm hits, and that is all she remembers until she wakes in a hospital and part of her face is gone. Together with her parents she accepts getting a face transplant; the many pills and routines that will become part of her life FOREVER. It is during this time, summer and school is out, that I really started not liking Maisie. She did/did not want to see her boyfriend (who she thought about ALL the time) and best friend. She withdrew further and further, became insolent, angry, and lashed out at her parents and friends. It is was only in the final part of the book (I thought it should have happened much sooner) that Maisie joins a therapy support group- BOY did she need it; that she finally started coming around, figuring things out (lots of discussion) with her support friends, then slowly with her best friend and even slower with her ex-boyfriend and I really thought Maisie was a good person once again like she was at the beginning of the book. Teens will love this book, but I wished Maisie had sought out help MUCH sooner, thankfully she had tight, loyal friends.

View all my reviews
Read more…

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Roller GirlRoller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this graphic novel as part of The Hub Challenge and March's #YearofYA twitter chat topic of graphic novels. Astrid is a normal, likable 12 year old with an awesome best friend, Nicole. On one of her mom's ECE's (Evening of Cultural Enlightenment) Astrid and Nicole to a roller skating derby. Astrid is hooked, wants to learn more and signs up for summer camp. It is around this time things with Nicole begin to shift, Astrid begins to lie to her mom about many things, and Astrid begins to "awaken" with her new found sport, friends and competition. Victoria Jamieson did such a great job with the characters, teaching me ALL about roller derby, and each illustration and pane did a spectacular job of moving the plot along, sharing Astrid's ups & downs with roller derby and showing Astrid's insecurities, anxieties and complexities. I loved all the crazy player names and Astrid's growth as a player and friend, highly recommended!

View all my reviews
Read more…

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22836654-challenger-deep" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Challenger Deep" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428505217m/22836654.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22836654-challenger-deep">Challenger Deep</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19564.Neal_Shusterman">Neal Shusterman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1583347774">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I listened to this spectacular audiobook as part of The Hub Challenge and for a virtual book chat with the #2jennsbookclub. Having read the book first on my kindle, it was a real treat to listen to Michael Curran-Dorsano's narration! He had the timing, the voices, and Caden's thoughts down in his flawless delivery! Caden's descent into schizophrenia came alive with the spot on narration and the dive of Caden to Challenger Deep, his day by day recovery and self-realization about his illness will have teens and adults wanting to read & learn more.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/62411-bjneary">View all my reviews</a>

Read more…

A Silent Voice Vol. 1 by Yoshitoki Oima

A Silent Voice, Vol. 1 (A Silent Voice, #1)A Silent Voice, Vol. 1 by Yoshitoki Ooima
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this manga as part of the Hub Challenge; I normally read graphic novels & love them, but I have to admit, I found it difficult at times to follow this book on bullying. The black & white illustrations were good but there was not much dialogue and I couldn't get enough information on the characters, thoughts and movement forward of the story line. I am going to read the next 2 in the series since they are also on The Hub Challenge and will let you know what I think.

View all my reviews
Read more…

Pushing the Limits (#1) by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, #1)Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had this book on my TBR shelf forever, because I read other Pushing the Limits books before I read this one, which is #1 in the series. I also made this series (and author) a FAVORITE because I can't put them down- reluctant readers, guys and girls will LOVE these books- they move fast and furious, lots of drama and yearning, fights, secrets and lies- what more could you want! In this book, Echo is a "broken" girl just looking to go back to normal- before her family was shattered by so many events. She was once popular, dating the jock, loving life - now she can't remember a life altering event, has mandated therapy sessions, has to tutor bad boy, foster child Noah Hutchins. Noah has lots of problems too and it is these issues that have them conspiring to get some much needed secret information in the counselor's files at school. I loved the build-up in their friendship, the snarky comments, the increasing love interest, and the drama of everyday high school and home life. I read the book after this FIRST but it did not stop me from turning those pages at all hours of the night or wee early morning. I am now going to make sure I read every book by Katie McGarry because they are just so real, teens will see themselves in Noah, Echo, their friends or they will learn a little bit more about themselves from this world of riveting world of angst, love, and loss. If you like Simone Eckeles, Perfect Chemistry series, you will LOVE Pushing the Limits, highly recommended.


View all my reviews

Read more…

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Book of a Thousand DaysBook of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this fairy tale as part of the Hub Challenge and Dashti, the servant girl of Lady Saren is the protagonist who stole my heart. She was down to earth, loyal, loved animals, and used music as a way to heal. Saren & Dashti are sealed in a tower for 7 years by Saren's father because she refuses to marry this evil man, Khasar. As they settle in, Khan Tegus is the ruler Lady Saren promised herself to and as he sneaks & visits them, Saren makes Dashti talk to Tegus as Lady Saren. This arrangement is uncomfortable to Dashti but she took and oath to obey her Lady and she continues to do what Lady Saren does throughout the story. What an engrossing tale Shannon Hale weaves, complete with animals Dashti & Saren love and depend on. The ending was my favorite part! Highly recommended for those who enjoy fairy tales and retellings and great storytelling.

View all my reviews
Read more…

ShadowShaper by Daniel Jose Older

ShadowshaperShadowshaper by Daniel José Older
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book as part of The Top 10 Best Fiction of Young Adults for the Hub Challenge and I finished in 2 days. Sierra Santiago's voice, personality, spirit grabbed me from page 1- she is from Brooklyn, a muralist, and she is noticing the murals around Bed-Stuy are changing, get less distinct, and she even sees one tear drop out of a person's eye on the mural! What is up? Daniel Jose Older has written a book that is diverse, funny, magical, mystical, and urban - from Sierra's family, friends and community- the reader is treated to a book that tells a story about a teen protagonist you will not soon forget. Not only do we have Sierra's world of painting and friends but the reader is treated to magic, evil monsters, shadowshaping, and a girl who will stop at nothing to figure it all out. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews
Read more…

The Girl I Used To Be by April Henry

The Girl I Used to BeThe Girl I Used to Be by April Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group and Henry Holt and Co. for providing an advance copy of The Girl I Used To Be by April Henry. Mysteries by April Henry were always read and enjoyed by my students in my library. The Girl I Used To Be is a thriller and a winner for teens. Olivia/Ariel is the calm, smart, determined protagonist who has been in foster care for too many years after the death of her mother at the hands of her father. Fast forward fourteen years and Olivia has returned to her home town and learns her father’s jawbone has been discovered. Olivia needs justice for her parents’ murders and begins clandestine sleuthing with Duncan, her old friend and neighbor, for clues to the real murderer. With methodical attention to detail and building suspense, Olivia hopes to find the murderer before the murderer realizes Olivia/Ariel has returned. Teen readers will relate to Olivia as a vulnerable teen, as a foster child whose life was not easy, and root for her as she searches for clues while keeping her identity a secret. Recommended for those who love mysteries and suspense and for the reluctant reader as well!

View all my reviews
Read more…

Blog Topics by Tags

Monthly Archives