I've been a fan of Gudger's work from the beginning, and Catch doesn't disappoint. With her trademark humor mixed with some awesome suspense and charaI've been a fan of Gudger's work from the beginning, and Catch doesn't disappoint. With her trademark humor mixed with some awesome suspense and character-driven scenarios, the conclusion of the Guarded trilogy will tug at your heartstrings even as it pushes you to the edge of your seat. Highly recommended. This is gritty, real, and compassionate YA. ...more
3.5 stars. I'm a sucker for the type of down-on-their-luck heroines featured in Born to Run. And I love horses. Win-win, right? Mostly. The concept wa3.5 stars. I'm a sucker for the type of down-on-their-luck heroines featured in Born to Run. And I love horses. Win-win, right? Mostly. The concept was great, but a few things kept me from rating this one higher. Perhaps it was only in the Kindle version, but many scenes completely blend together, switching POV. Plus a few things just didn't make sense. For example, wouldn't someone only have to pay 10% of bail up front rather than the whole amount? And while I loved how accepting the North Oak "family" was of Alex, it seemed like there should've been more questions asked of her and a little more of trust earning. Not a bad read at all, but some things would've made it even better. ...more
3.5 stars. I'm amazed Dana Beachy wrote this book at such a young age. She delves into so many deep themes every teen faces--love, belonging, acceptan3.5 stars. I'm amazed Dana Beachy wrote this book at such a young age. She delves into so many deep themes every teen faces--love, belonging, acceptance. Grace isn't sure what to think of landing on a Wyoming ranch where her new foster family welcomes her with open arms. Is there a catch? Are they just being nice. She soon discovers much more than she expects. A little bit more telling than showing in some of the chapters, but I loved how Beachy included Scripture and truth woven into this tale. Her heart for the Lord is clear through all the pages. ...more
This dystopian novel isn't like the others. It's not about a tough-as-nails girl fighting against evil. It doesn't have a love triangle. There are no This dystopian novel isn't like the others. It's not about a tough-as-nails girl fighting against evil. It doesn't have a love triangle. There are no aliens. No zombies. No explosions. This book is about a girl and her family facing an apocalyptic world like you and I would. They are normal people with normal struggles, fears, and hopes. Their world is thrown upside down, and yet they still somehow manage to love each other and stay together. That isn't a spoiler. And what's interesting is that this book, above all the other post-apocalyptic novels I've read, was the one that made me the most scared something like this would happen! Written in diary style, you'll be thinking about this one long after you turn the last page. ...more
Fast paced, relevant, and compelling, James Pence's YA will keep readers engaged in Palmer Keene's plight and compel you to find out how it resolves. Fast paced, relevant, and compelling, James Pence's YA will keep readers engaged in Palmer Keene's plight and compel you to find out how it resolves. Pence always keeps it real, and Friendly Revenge is a great reminder for teens and adults alike that taking the high road isn't always easy, and it's certainly not without its bumps. Even when we mess up, God is there to help. Recommended!...more
Another winner for Ms. Giorello! It was fun to follow her heroine Raleigh to the beach where we got to learn even more about geology (don't worry it'sAnother winner for Ms. Giorello! It was fun to follow her heroine Raleigh to the beach where we got to learn even more about geology (don't worry it's never overwhelming) and have another mystery to solve alongside our young heroine. She's just as plucky and brave as in the "adult" novels, but this younger version of the FBI agent we meet in future books has a vulnerability and innocence that endears. Sometimes you just want to slap the people in her life who do her wrong! I looked forward to every session I had in reading this book. ...more
Well written and engaging YA novel by K.E. Ganshert (who writes as Katie Ganshert in CF.) She completely immersed me in her characters. You feel for TWell written and engaging YA novel by K.E. Ganshert (who writes as Katie Ganshert in CF.) She completely immersed me in her characters. You feel for Tess and her predicament. Is she going crazy or really seeing into the spiritual realm? I'm not sure how theologically sound the premise is, but if you disconnect and read it purely as a fantasy and a poignant look at what our future as a country constantly rejecting God could be, then you'll enjoy this one. One caveat is that Ganshert asks many questions through her book, but unfortunately we don't get many answers by the end. Guess that's why there's a Book 2!...more
3.5 stars. This isn't a novel I'd recommend to everyone. It's raw and uncut with language (bitch, slut, h***, d***, s***, and one or two instances of 3.5 stars. This isn't a novel I'd recommend to everyone. It's raw and uncut with language (bitch, slut, h***, d***, s***, and one or two instances of the f bomb) as well as some sexual situations. But it's also a realistic, and some would argue, much-needed portrayal of the effects of female bullying. My eyes were opened to just how awful things can get for high school students if bullying is left un-checked. Because of the edginess mentioned above I was at first unsure about this novel. But as I got to thinking about it I realized TEASE isn't about glorifying the sexual temptations and language and bullying found throughout its pages. It's a cautionary tale that while coming from a different worldview than mine (I'm a Christian) is well-written and challenging. However, I was still put off by the crude language and a few scenes (like where Sara gives up her virginity) so wouldn't recommend to all. That said, I do realize this is life-as-it-is for many teens today. I have a new appreciation for teens in public school who say no to bullying and temptation and stand up for their peers. Some of the "teen speak" felt a little forced in the beginning, but the author quickly got into the groove and portrayed her characters well. ...more
A cute YA book that held my interest. The author did a great job with the horse details (minus one galloping session by a novice rider). A few times MA cute YA book that held my interest. The author did a great job with the horse details (minus one galloping session by a novice rider). A few times Mac's thinking seemed younger than a fifteen-year-old, but that wasn't enough to detract from my enjoyment. I'd recommend for middle-grade especially if not for some mild language....more
First she brought us Katie Parker, the loveable yet snarky teen heroine who couldn't seem to stay out of trouble. We followed Katie's hilarious escapaFirst she brought us Katie Parker, the loveable yet snarky teen heroine who couldn't seem to stay out of trouble. We followed Katie's hilarious escapades through In Between, On the Loose, and The Big Picture, and it was a sad day when the Katie Parker Production series ended. What would we do without our Katie and Mad Maxine fixes?
Luckily, Jenny B. Jones got right to work on a new set of books for Thomas Nelson called The Charmed Life series. So Not Happening introduces us to Bella Kirkwood, a New York socialite teen who, much to her dismay, finds herself packing her Prada bags and heading to Oklahoma. Her mom has remarried, her plastic surgeon father is ensconced in his work (and his latest girlfriend), and Bella is forced to abandon everything she holds dear. And did we mention she now has to share space with two step-brothers? This is SO not good.
Well, actually, it is--for readers. So Not Happening is full of the humor and snappy comebacks we've come to expect in a Jenny B. Jones novel. Yet mixed in with all the mayhem and high school drama are poignant truths and spiritual insights. Bella deals with tough issues that all teens will relate to, but there's never a note of condescension. This is real life drama . . . complete with cow patties.
It's important to note that although Jenny's novels are technically classified as YA fiction, adults enjoy them, too. Everyone's been a teen. Both young and old can relate to the universal themes of acceptance and fitting in. Add a dash of mystery and suspense ala Brandilyn Collins, and Bella's escapades will keep you flipping pages.
She may not be Katie Parker, and you might miss Mad Maxine, but Jenny B. Jones' writing is always fresh, relevant and snappy. Book #1 in The Charmed Life series will certainly charm it's way onto the bookshelves of any lover of chick lit and fun, light-hearted fiction....more
There's no such thing as sophomore slump for Jenny B. Jones. I wondered if she could write a sequel to In Between that was just as good. She did! In fThere's no such thing as sophomore slump for Jenny B. Jones. I wondered if she could write a sequel to In Between that was just as good. She did! In fact, On the Loose is even better than In Between. It's all here. The crazy antics (with Mad Maxine right in the middle), the heart-wrenching moments . . . all the struggles of being Katie Parker, the sixteen-year-old foster kid of a pastor and his wife.
Some of the best moments occur between Katie & Maxine. Since a tornado has ripped through In Between and left Maxine's home a shambles, guess who gets to share her room with the woman? Yes. My thoughts exactly.
The thing I love about this series is the way Jones is able to blend the serious with the silly. I don't know about you, but sometimes it annoys me when a book is only about the laughs. That's not the case here. The Katie Parker Production series is one of the funniest series' I've read, but Jones also isn't afraid to deal with some tough subjects.
Teens and adults alike will find a lot to enjoy in On the Loose....more
You know how it is when you find a new book you love and you just want to tell everyone you know about it? Yeah. That's what Hollywood Nobody by Lisa You know how it is when you find a new book you love and you just want to tell everyone you know about it? Yeah. That's what Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson has been like for me. I started reading the first page and couldn't stop. I love that about a book.
Hollywood Nobody is a YA novel, but it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Main character Scotty, a fifteen-year-old girl who's mother travels around to movie sets to cook for them is someone who's smart and quirky. But she doesn't have everything together. There are mysteries to her life she wants answers for. They aren't what she expects. (Hint: a twist at the end completely got me!)
This is a book that had me cracking up every other page, too. Scotty's mother is a vegan, and since my Dad was a vegan at one time I could very much relate to some of those "vegan moments". Quite funny.
Teens, you'll love this one. Parents, ditto. Everyone else (like me), don't let the fact that this is a YA novel deter you. These are life themes everyone's dealt with....more
Even from the start it's creepy: Jim Boltz, star quarterback for Baker High School suddenly freaking out on the playing field. Bizarre hex signs scratEven from the start it's creepy: Jim Boltz, star quarterback for Baker High School suddenly freaking out on the playing field. Bizarre hex signs scratched on the lockers of other jocks gone crazy. And the legendary Abel Frye, the ghost of a guy who killed himself in the 30's, the whispered cause of it all.
In Peretti's masterful style you'll follow the mysterious Veritas project, a family investigative team, as they attempt to unravel the secrets surrounding the strange Baker High events. Undercover, they dig for the truth as to why three jocks have become completely disabled, strapped to hospital beds in different stages of coma muttering odd syllables and "Abel Frye". Things only get uglier as more students are struck with the crippling disease, and when someone dies it becomes a race against time for the team to save the lives of the rest of the students and themselves.
If you've ever been bullied for being different, felt like you don't fit in, or are simply thirsty for a spine-tingling mystery, this book is for you. With tantalizing clues (and some strange creatures) scattered throughout, it'll keep you page turning into the wee hours. And trust me, you'll never guess the ending....more
Catherine Madera has crafted yet another real novel that doesn't sugarcoat life yet offers glimpses of beautiful hope, love and perseverance. A worthyCatherine Madera has crafted yet another real novel that doesn't sugarcoat life yet offers glimpses of beautiful hope, love and perseverance. A worthy sequel to Rodeo Dreams! I love how horses play such an important role throughout the tale. They teach us in ways we sometimes don't even realize, and Madera has wonderfully captured their unique ways here. Keep writing, Ms. Madera! We want more! ...more
I was looking for a solid YA novel to pass a few hours, and I found it in Summer of the Wolves. Plus I love horses and animals, so that was an added dI was looking for a solid YA novel to pass a few hours, and I found it in Summer of the Wolves. Plus I love horses and animals, so that was an added draw. One of the main characters did seem a bit bratty at times, but once you got into her story you realized how she got that way. Nice details about animals... a great start to a series I hope to continue reading. Teens will enjoy! ...more
Dandi Daley Mackall never disappoints me with her horse stories. Horse Dreams is a sweet story of a girl longing for a horse. I'm way older than the tDandi Daley Mackall never disappoints me with her horse stories. Horse Dreams is a sweet story of a girl longing for a horse. I'm way older than the target audience, but I still enjoyed it. Everyone needs to read a light story like this, and the added bonus is Dandi knows her horses! I always end up learning something while reading her books. ...more
3 1/2 stars. A solid novel from one of the top YA authors in the CBA market. The Secrets series books are all about issues, and that at times seems a 3 1/2 stars. A solid novel from one of the top YA authors in the CBA market. The Secrets series books are all about issues, and that at times seems a little forced (here's a book about date rape, here's a book about homelessness, etc.) so it feels preachy in spots. Very well written though, and certainly a topic worth discussing with teens. ...more
A good YA novel that realistically portrays a teen struggling with her parents' divorce. A good YA novel that realistically portrays a teen struggling with her parents' divorce. ...more
I'm so disappointed this book is over. That's the sign of a keeper to me! I should've read this one years ago. Thomas crafted a compelling switched-atI'm so disappointed this book is over. That's the sign of a keeper to me! I should've read this one years ago. Thomas crafted a compelling switched-at-birth tale that never felt cheezy or cliche. Her characters' emotions were real, heartfelt, and believable. The voices of the mom and the teen girl were captured beautifully. The teen's voice especially was pulled off exceptionally well. Great read! ...more
Well written YA novel for guys and gals alike. Gives just enough technical details to teach without coming across like he's doing so. I was hooked froWell written YA novel for guys and gals alike. Gives just enough technical details to teach without coming across like he's doing so. I was hooked from Chapter 1 but was oh so disappointed by the cliffhanger ending! Oh, well. I'll definitely want to be purchasing Book 2. That's a sign right there how much I enjoyed the story. ...more
Loading...
