3.5 stars rounded up because I like the author. This one is not my favorite but as an early novel it's pretty decent.3.5 stars rounded up because I like the author. This one is not my favorite but as an early novel it's pretty decent....more
This is the story that really started the Winston family romances. I read this after reading several of the brothers' stories. I liked going back to rThis is the story that really started the Winston family romances. I read this after reading several of the brothers' stories. I liked going back to read about Ashley and meet Bethany, the matriarch of the family, I'd heard about but never knew. ...more
I read this because a few of my high school students have asked for it. It's a book of poetry, broken into four parts: hurting, loving, breaking, and I read this because a few of my high school students have asked for it. It's a book of poetry, broken into four parts: hurting, loving, breaking, and healing. Sketches accompany many of the poems. Several of the three line poems are most memorable to me. It's beautiful, painful, and explicit. So, that being said, I will not be buying this for my library. Fortunately, it is available as an ebook from our public library. That's where I read it, and I will direct all further inquiries in that direction. ...more
Miles suffers from schizophrenia. His first manifestation was two years ago, as a freshman in high school. He takes his meds, and sees a therapist, buMiles suffers from schizophrenia. His first manifestation was two years ago, as a freshman in high school. He takes his meds, and sees a therapist, but his symptoms aren’t really being managed. This novel gives some insight in what it might be like to live with mental illness. ...more
I quite enjoyed this mystery set in the 1890’s with supernatural characters. Abigail has taken her tuition money and run away from home to have adventI quite enjoyed this mystery set in the 1890’s with supernatural characters. Abigail has taken her tuition money and run away from home to have adventures and finds herself far from home in New England, America. She manages to find employment with an eccentric investigator and has adventures after all. It would be fine for middle school or high school students. ...more
I’m always a bit wary when a book blurb says that this book is a cross between John Green and Rainbow Rowell. I think- hmm, someone is going to die, bI’m always a bit wary when a book blurb says that this book is a cross between John Green and Rainbow Rowell. I think- hmm, someone is going to die, but the book boyfriend will win my heart. Nobody died in Say What You Will, yay, and I did fall for Matthew. This is the second book I’ve read this year that had a main character with a disability. I like this one; it was well written and showed Amy as a real person, not a sympathy case, pathetic, or a perfect person, but someone who struggles like all of us. Amy needs a wheel chair and a computer to communicate with people, she’s always had adult helpers but for her senior year she wants to students. She needs friends, real friends, but she doesn’t get everything she thinks she will, just like in real life. I’ll need to sell this one, but I feel like once I put it in the right hands, my work will be done for me. ...more
This has been so popular at my school that both copies were out most of the year. I'm adding the audio to my library collection for an additional optiThis has been so popular at my school that both copies were out most of the year. I'm adding the audio to my library collection for an additional option....more
While this is an important book, I agree with my students who have tried to read this, it's just not interesting enough to keep our attention. While this is an important book, I agree with my students who have tried to read this, it's just not interesting enough to keep our attention. ...more
This will play better in a more urban area I think. I'm not sure my rural kids could identify with this one even though it's quite a message. This will play better in a more urban area I think. I'm not sure my rural kids could identify with this one even though it's quite a message. ...more
In the 1970’s, prejudice in the south was still a very real thing. Desegregation had to be enforced and not all plaSo much more than a football book.
In the 1970’s, prejudice in the south was still a very real thing. Desegregation had to be enforced and not all places or people took to it well. The town where Rodney and Angie, twins, befriend Tater/Tatum as he breaks thorough social barriers, has just as hard a time as many places. Rodney tells the story through sports, baseball and football, of his friendship with Tater, and of Tater’s friendship with Angie. Rodney has to do a lot of thinking, questioning, and growing throughout this book. I’ll shelve it as a sports book--there are lots of game play descriptions that I didn’t understand, but it has a great message also, and could be shelved as realistic fiction. This is one of my favorite sports books, ever. ...more
Not what I expected at all. So much more than I expected. Yeah!
I went into this book thinking I would be getting a romance. Nope. This is more like reNot what I expected at all. So much more than I expected. Yeah!
I went into this book thinking I would be getting a romance. Nope. This is more like realistic fiction. Josie is gifted, straddling two worlds: high school and college, fitting into neither of them well, and like many gifted kids, she overthinks things. Her sister is getting married to Geoff, who makes a poor first impression on Josie. Josie then decides he is not right for her sister, and she proceeds to try to prove it to everyone, at the risk of alienating her whole family and favorite sister. In her zeal, she manages to discover the difference between crushes and love, what role family plays in our lives, and see an old friend in a new way. ...more
Very good emotional story of grief and acceptance.
Mark is a twin, his sister Grace died in a car accident while driving with Mark, leaving him mourniVery good emotional story of grief and acceptance.
Mark is a twin, his sister Grace died in a car accident while driving with Mark, leaving him mourning and feeling guilty for surviving. Hanna, Grace’s best friend, finds a list of five things to do in Grace’s purse after the accident. Hanna and Mark decide to do the things as a way to remember, honor Grace, and say goodbye. It’s hard for Mark to deal with when Hanna seems to keep bringing other people into the activities they had planned. He doesn’t want to share this last bit of his sister with anyone. There is some potential romance between Hanna and Mark, that also clouds Marks feelings and desires. How he deals with those things makes this story wonderfully compelling. Ms. Arcos does a remarkable job of realistically portraying grief in it’s many forms. ...more
I have a certain group of girls who will love this book. They like much more drama/trauma in relationship stories than I do. I see the Sid and Nancy pI have a certain group of girls who will love this book. They like much more drama/trauma in relationship stories than I do. I see the Sid and Nancy parallels but I'm not sure how many of them will even know who they are. ...more
Um, I'll just say that I like my grown up shifter books, better. Too much whining about things that can't be changed. Um, I'll just say that I like my grown up shifter books, better. Too much whining about things that can't be changed. ...more
Falls the Shadow is an action filled clone book. I think with the popularity of clones (Orphan Black, anyone?) this will move fairly well at my librarFalls the Shadow is an action filled clone book. I think with the popularity of clones (Orphan Black, anyone?) this will move fairly well at my library. It has a cool sister relationship that gives the storyline a little depth. The romance was a little much for me, in that I didn’t feel like there was much chance for a real build. It’s just “Oh yeah, he’s always been there, and says he always will be. So I guess I should believe him.” I did like it better than The Haven, there was more science and world building, so I felt like I knew more about what was happening. ...more
I got caught up I this romance set in the Ozarks after the world as we know it has ended. Two families vied for power and the "winning" side's childreI got caught up I this romance set in the Ozarks after the world as we know it has ended. Two families vied for power and the "winning" side's children marry the "losing" side's to keep the peace.
This is what I thought I might be getting in The Glass Arrow. Girls with few to no choices, but family is important, and finding out what you thought all along might not be all there is. Unfortunately, it has a cliffhanger ending. I'll be looking forward to the second one. ...more
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