YA Cozy is a new one for me, though I will say this book feels more like a paranormal adventure story than a cozy mystery. The mystery was well-paced YA Cozy is a new one for me, though I will say this book feels more like a paranormal adventure story than a cozy mystery. The mystery was well-paced with plenty of clues. It was easy to assume why the attacks were happening once it came up in conversation, and from there, very easy to pick out the big bad. Still, the story was an enjoyable one with lots of action and plenty of pop culture references, some of which I am certain are less applicable to the YA crowd than their parents, but fun nonetheless.
In this book we are introduced to Jenna and her partner Kieron, high school students with a little something extra. She is a Hunter. Her job is to investigate and hunt down things that go bump in the night. Kind of a cross between Dean Winchester and Buffy Summers. Kieron provides moral, tech, and info support. They are asked to track down the source of a zombie bite before it leads to a full-on outbreak. It becomes apparent that there is more going on than a simple zombie attack and with several great suspects, it moves at a fair clip.
Despite the extracurriculars they really are just typical seventeen-year-old kids worrying about dating, homework, and mean girls. That is a fun contrast to the uber adult nature of the work they do. Jenna’s mother is missing, presumed dead (a story point that I am certain will be prominent in upcoming books) Leaving Jenna with the job of caring for herself while staying under the radar of adults who would put her in the system.
The magic world built for this story is sound, though it will need some bolstering ahead as it went up fairly quickly. I think another 50 pages of story could have easily softened the info dump feel. There is a lot of information to process about magic and recurring characters, as well as The Consortium and The Covens, but at some point in this series, things are going to get really interesting and my sixth sense is tingling in anticipation. This is a great story for age 12-18 readers and really for anyone who enjoys YA and/or paranormal cozy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily...more
The Accidental World is one of the more unique stories I have read of late. Ethan Scott is thrust into a world of intrigue in an alternate world whereThe Accidental World is one of the more unique stories I have read of late. Ethan Scott is thrust into a world of intrigue in an alternate world where the only lifelines he has are the vague instructions left to him by his grandfather before his disappearance and the board game that he has played since he was a child. There are those who help him along the way, but there are always more questions than answers and he has a role to play.
On the surface this seems like a tropey Y A novel with an unlikely hero who is thrust into the role of savior (yada yada), but it is really such a well written imaginative world that comparisons like that fall by the wayside in favor of well paced and exciting adventure. The book is packed full of interesting characters who engage the reader full throttle. In my mind it played out just like a movie, especially the gaming sequences and the action near the end.
The cliffhanger ending has me wanting to return to this world and these characters to see what happens next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5. I received an advance review copy through IRead Book Tours for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
Despite the fact that Caleb’s mother disappeared six years ago, he and his sisters have lived a fairly normal existence of going to school, friends atDespite the fact that Caleb’s mother disappeared six years ago, he and his sisters have lived a fairly normal existence of going to school, friends at bible study, and so on. That all changes one evening when a nightmare creature shows up outside of their house. His father tells the children that they are a family of time travelers and now that they have been found by the enemy the children must go to The Futurist Academy for their protection and to learn how to use their talents.
This is a pretty good story. The young characters are remarkably developed and likable, except when they aren’t supposed to be likable. Together they make a great team with each of them bringing something special to the table. The archetypes are all there (the sneak, the hacker, the brainac, the raw talent, and the mastermind) and all are put to terrific use to move the story along.
The concept is also kind of fun. Time travel to the future to see how things turn out and then back to the starting point to fix them if they go wrong. The big bad is, of course, set on world domination and the Time Keepers is the special force that has dedicated itself to making sure that doesn’t happen. There is an engaging mystery to solve and loads of read-until-all-hours enjoyment.
However, I feel like I have read this book before. I don’t write that to be snarky, the truth is that anyone reading this book will immediately draw comparisons between it and another popular middle-grade series. That isn’t to say this story can’t hold its own. There is a reason the magic school trope is so in demand with middle graders ( as well as older readers).
This book is a terrific starting place for a new series. It offers so much potential for books to come that it should be popular with tweens and teens. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
A group of high school best friends decide on a whirlwind backpack tour through Europe before heading off to colleges all over the world and maybe to A group of high school best friends decide on a whirlwind backpack tour through Europe before heading off to colleges all over the world and maybe to never see each other again. Obviously, this is a coming of age story. They are about to be adults, living on their own, making decisions that will affect the rest of their lives for good or not so good. Yet, there is, understandably, still a part of them that clings to the comfort of childhood, to friends, and to familiar feelings. At first glance this story seems to be a bit of a played concept, the reader knows going in that they will all come to the end of the book changed in some way.
This is basically Aubrey’s story, yet I found that I couldn’t connect with her as well as some of the other characters. She seemed a little less defined. Not confident at times and overshadowing the stories of some of the other characters at times. The author has captured perfectly the wobble between child and adulthood that each of these young people is struggling with. Relationships between them ebb and flow as they deal with growing up and the fears of moving into the world and away from each other. In the end, they realize that things will never be the same, but that may not be a bad thing because maybe it wasn’t so perfect to begin to with. The European travelogue backdrop is the icing on this rich story. It will definitely be a summer that none of these teens will ever forget....more
Parents, do you really know where your kids are, who their friends are or are not, who they are talking to online?
Two middle school girls are found atParents, do you really know where your kids are, who their friends are or are not, who they are talking to online?
Two middle school girls are found at the train track at midnight. One is beaten nearly to death, one is covered in blood and catatonic, and a third girl is missing. It sets in a motion a fast-paced investigation into who could have done this horrific attack. At the heart are the toxic and sometimes tenuous relationships that seem to exist between the girls, their parents, their siblings and just about everyone else. Every character seems to hold a piece of the final puzzle. This book is told through a series of journal entries, texts, transcripts, and first-person accounts that slowly build to a final picture that is totally unexpected. The suspects are many, each as plausible as the next. The true story is more horrific and heartbreaking than it would seem possible at first glance. No character in the story is left unchanged by the incident.
This story is well written and I was thrown by the ending, yet throughout the bullying becomes a bit cliche with its layers of who did what to who. There were also several subplots were introduced and not really fleshed out leaving me wanting more about that story. Still, all in all, a great read.
This book with its urban legend theme will appeal to young adult readers.
While Michael (Coolidge) is an interesting character with a lot going on, I couldn't connect with him or really, any other character in this story. BaWhile Michael (Coolidge) is an interesting character with a lot going on, I couldn't connect with him or really, any other character in this story. Based on other reviews, there are readers who will enjoy this book, but I found it difficult to get through and just never found a reading rhythm.
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway...more
The only real obstacle to this story is the format. Written as a script for a play, it took some getting used to, but by the end of the book, I didn’tThe only real obstacle to this story is the format. Written as a script for a play, it took some getting used to, but by the end of the book, I didn’t even notice. It isn’t quite as polished as the original HP books, but as this is only based on a short story written by Rowling that is to be expected. It is, however, compelling and exciting enough to keep the reader turning pages to see what will happen next. It does have a feel of fanfic to it as it visits several of the highlights from the previous series, along with quite a few of the most beloved, hated, and feared characters from books 1-7.
The plot itself is quite wonderful. It was hard enough to be Harry Potter. Fairly or not, he had high expectations to live up to and others who were far more interested in his life than they should have been. Even harder still is to be Harry’s middle son. Named for two legendary wizards and living contentiously in the shadow of both his famous father and his shining star brother, he is having a hard time of things until he meets Scorpius, son of Draco Malfoy. The boys discover friendship in that odd and unlikely pairing and as is always the case friendship and loyalty are the key to solving the mysteries and getting through the story alive. Time travel and story twists add to the tapestry of the Harry Potter universe quite nicely.
My biggest complaint is that it could have easily been a multi-book series as it does take place over a few years and there is ample adventure for our young heroes and their parents. Still, I am looking forward to an opportunity to see the play.
The only real obstacle to this story is the format. Written as a script for a play, it took some getting used to, but by the end of the book, I didn’tThe only real obstacle to this story is the format. Written as a script for a play, it took some getting used to, but by the end of the book, I didn’t even notice. It isn’t quite as polished as the original HP books, but as this is only based on a short story written by Rowling that is to be expected. It is, however, just as compelling and exciting enough to keep the reader turning pages to see what will happen next. It does have a feel of fanfic to it as it visits several of the highlights from the previous series, along with quite a few of the most beloved, hated and feared characters from books 1-7.
The plot itself is quite wonderful. It was hard enough to be Harry Potter. Fairly or not, he had high expectations to live up to and others who were far more interested in his life than they should have been. Even harder still is to be Harry’s middle son. Named for two legendary wizards and living contentiously in the shadow of both his famous father and his shining star brother, he is having a hard time of things until he meets Scorpius, son of Draco Malfoy. The boys discover friendship in that odd and unlikely pairing and as is always the case friendship and loyalty are the key to solving the mysteries and getting through the story alive. Time travel and story twists add to the tapestry of the Harry Potter universe quite nicely.
My biggest complaint is that it could have easily been a multi-book series as it does take place over a few years and there is ample adventure for our young heroes and their parents. Still, I am looking forward to an opportunity to see the play.
The premise and the basic story actually are very good and well thought out. Unfortunately, while the subje2.5 Stars
This was almost a very good book.
The premise and the basic story actually are very good and well thought out. Unfortunately, while the subject matter is best suited to the fourteen and up crowd, it reads like an early grade chapter book especially during the cat trials and during much-needed descriptions of what was happening near Saturn. I also couldn’t tell if the social commentary was supposed to be humor, satire, or completely serious. However, I did feel like it wasn’t completely necessary. Interesting backstory ranging to the 21st century hinted at world-building that never quite reached the mark and was lost in the cold war aspects of the story, where the exposition was often jumbled and confusing. Are they allies? Why are they not?
Jelly along with Jamie and his mother are wonderful warm-blooded characters that immediately engendered emotional investment. Very few of any of the other major characters seemed worth my time and the bad guys read more like elementary schoolyard bullies than adult international spies.
Finally, the copy I ended up with could have used another edit as the book’s title “Infinity Claws” and a major plot point the “Infinity Clause” seemed to be used interchangeably at several points. That along with other minor spelling issues (typos), sadly, made reading this to the end a bit of chore. I couldn’t even finish the interview questions at the end because of them.
This series has so much potential this book just doesn’t live up to.
In this, the third installment in the series Naz and his closest friend decide to track down the person(s) responsible for Meri’s death and find out mIn this, the third installment in the series Naz and his closest friend decide to track down the person(s) responsible for Meri’s death and find out more about who he really is. With the help of his buddy Harvis, he has been exploring the edges of his talents and the time has come to put them to good use. Still, as single minded as Naz can be, D has come back into his life and with her, a degree of normalcy that he hadn’t ever had the chance to experience before. It would be easy for him to get sidetracked. When she disappears, it will take all of his skills, and the loyal support of his friends, to find her. All the while clues to his past are unwinding around him, clouding the issue. With new characters and new insights into those we already know, this book builds to an end that is as good as it is unexpected.
I am not even ashamed to admit that the opening chapter ripped me up. It gave me a deeper insight to the suffering of Naz and for one moment I dared to hope. It got my heart was pumping and made me NEED answers too. How could I not be involved after that? My middle-class sub-urban upbringing couldn’t be further from the experiences of Naz and his friends. Yet, I can slip into their world with an ease that is almost sublime. That is actually the beauty of this series. The characters are old friends and the world is as real as the one outside your window. Naz doesn’t have much in the way of family, not anymore, but one of the great strengths of this story from the beginning is how it shows that family becomes the people you choose to have around you and Naz has chosen well, or some cases, been chosen.
This book appeals to readers of all ages, but I do think teens will especially relate to the characters
Roz Thatcher is a typical 16 year girl for her time and world. She, along with best friends Wes and Molly, are about to be matched with their jobs, anRoz Thatcher is a typical 16 year girl for her time and world. She, along with best friends Wes and Molly, are about to be matched with their jobs, and then sent on their way into adulthood. Roz has always known that her job would be chosen for her based on her strengths, for the good of the country, however when she is chosen to be the next president, she enters a world she never dreamed existed.
Upon taking on her new responsibilities she discovers that every citizen is watched and monitored, all under the auspices of the greater good. She was chosen for this job because of her strong convictions and high moral compass, but those same qualities will also make it hard for her to do her job now that she knows the truth.
This story is a fabulous take on the dystopian concept and quite timely given the political climate at the moment. This is the beginning of a series so it mostly background and prep. Roz starts off strong making necessary, but honestly what should be rudimentary changes. She soon realizes that there is more going on than she knows.
There are some fabulously well developed characters in this stories. Roz and her friends form a small, but strong core that provides the gravity Roz needs to pull in others along the way. You can get a real sense that change is in the wind by the way that the council behaves. The strong personalities on the council are mirrored by characters Roz comes in contact throughout the book. Wes was particularly resonant for me. Having a child with high functioning autism, I find that he is well written and Roz’s commitment to him is wonderful.
It wouldn’t be dystopian without a nod to Orwellian society, but the twist of this society is an interesting one. Big Brother has created a Utopia with no real flaws visible to the average citizen, but is still hiding a seething mass of contradictions. There is always a price and as always it is those who least able to advocate for themselves that pay the biggest portion of it and it is those issues that will eventually make or break Roz’s tenure as president. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series.
The story follows Trinity Walford. She is a sixteen year old girl who was abandoned at birth and raised in convent. A month before her 17th bir[image]
The story follows Trinity Walford. She is a sixteen year old girl who was abandoned at birth and raised in convent. A month before her 17th birthday, she is found by her long lost grandmother who moves her to an island off the coast of Istanbul, Cat Island. There she searches for answers about who she is, who her parents were and the truth about what is happening to her.
As it is the first in a series it, of course, offers more questions than it answers, but it is fabulous. The author was quite able to offer an incredible amount of exposition, back-story and Egyptian history without disturbing the flow of the story. The focus of this YA drama is Trinity, her quest for answers about her past and her relationships with the other young people who have become a part of her new life, Ara and Seth. She is a brilliant principal character, a perfect fusion of angsty teen and intelligent protagonist.
There are enough twists and turns along with sappy teenage emotions to keep even the most tepid teen readers engaged. The story offers just the right blend of suspense and action with an explosive showdown that leaves me to wonder what the ‘Big Bad’ in the series will actually be. The teaser for book two definitely engaged my interest.
[image] I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review...more
The Starlight Chronicles just keep getting better. With the competition right around the corner, Lark and her band are in top form. The dark spot is tThe Starlight Chronicles just keep getting better. With the competition right around the corner, Lark and her band are in top form. The dark spot is that Lark’s grade school nemesis is also competing and is doing what he can to get into her head, or is that really his angle? Since the talk about her father, Lark and her mom have a new relationship. In fact everything seems to have a positive spin, until tragedy strikes leaving Lark to try to pick up the pieces. It was great to Stevie fleshed out a bit. He was seeming a bit like a cardboard cutout, just there to be a third member of the band and turned into an integral part of the story. The drama with Lark’s dad is far from over and the loose threads of Lark’s association with Dwayne still need to be reeled in. All the characters are again more developed, more real, than previously and the story is better for it. I did feel that Bean’s story line was a abruptly dealt with. There was so much potential there. It does make it seem that I may have been right about my feeling back in the book 1 about how important Dwayne is going to become.
This third installment is well written, with emotion and a heart, and with some interesting twists to keep you coming back for what has to be a fourth installment.?.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review...more
Lark Singer, is much better than the first book. This story picks up hours after the previous one ends and once again revolves around the band competiLark Singer, is much better than the first book. This story picks up hours after the previous one ends and once again revolves around the band competition and Lark’s quest to learn the identity of her father. The twist in this story is that Lark’s mother is convinced that Bean is stealing from them and she fears it is to support a drug habit. Lark has a new found, maybe not respect, but rather a regard for her mother. She knows her mother is probably right, but being a typical teen and the years of Bean being her closest friend has her wanting to believe his vague excuses.
The characters are so much more filled in and show real growth. Lark is imminently more likable in this volume and feels more like an angsty teen rather than a deliberate pain in the behind. Her mom, with her avoidance behavior was as much of the problem in their relationship as Lark. Yet, in this story she seems to be trying for a more traditional maternal approach and it is doing both of them wonders. I am thinking that Bean is going to be a problem in the not too far future.
I suppose that it is a good thing that Lark finds out who her dad is, but I can’t help but wonder if her mother was right in keeping him a secret. Once again this story ended abruptly, but now that there is precedence it doesn’t seem as stark.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review...more
Gideon Lee is about Lark, an antagonistic 17 year high school girl with a huge chip on her shoulder. She is defined by her love for music and her mineGideon Lee is about Lark, an antagonistic 17 year high school girl with a huge chip on her shoulder. She is defined by her love for music and her minefield relationship with her mother, whom she refers to by name. Lark’s biggest problem with her mother seems to stem from the fact that she won’t reveal the identity of Lark’s father.
Lark is not very likable in this first installment. She resents the most popular girl in school simply, because she is pretty and doesn’t have the “flaws” that Lark believes herself to have. She views her mother as weak and gives her zero respect, and actually goes out of her way to make things for her mom and then resents it when that results in consequences ( which she simply ignores ). The story even opens with her deliberately provoking her history teacher with a questionable essay.
Lark’s entire world centers around music. She and her best friend Bean are in a band together and working hard toward a competition that will take the winner to New York and a spot on nationally televised competition show.
Honestly I kept waiting for the story to become engaging and get me past my huge dislike of Lark, who honestly needs some serious discipline, then the story just ended, seemingly in mid paragraph. It was at that point that I realized the story had quietly hooked me and pulled me into this world and I really needed to read on.
-------------
Lark Singer, is much better than the first book. This story picks up hours after the previous one ends and once again revolves around the band competition and Lark’s quest to learn the identity of her father. The twist in this story is that Lark’s mother is convinced that Bean is stealing from them and she fears it is to support a drug habit. Lark has a new found, maybe not respect, but rather a regard for her mother. She knows her mother is probably right, but being a typical teen and the years of Bean being her closest friend has her wanting to believe his vague excuses.
The characters are so much more filled in and show real growth. Lark is imminently more likable in this volume and feels more like an angsty teen rather than a deliberate pain in the behind. Her mom, with her avoidance behavior was as much of the problem in their relationship as Lark. Yet, in this story she seems to be trying for a more traditional maternal approach and it is doing both of them wonders. I am thinking that Bean is going to be a problem in the not too far future.
I suppose that it is a good thing that Lark finds out who her dad is, but I can’t help but wonder if her mother was right in keeping him a secret. Once again this story ended abruptly, but now that there is precedence it doesn’t seem as stark.
------------------- The Starlight Chronicles just keep getting better. With the competition right around the corner, Lark and her band are in top form. The dark spot is that Lark’s grade school nemesis is also competing and is doing what he can to get into her head, or is that really his angle? Since the talk about her father, Lark and her mom have a new relationship. In fact everything seems to have a positive spin, until tragedy strikes leaving Lark to try to pick up the pieces. It was great to Stevie fleshed out a bit. He was seeming a bit like a cardboard cutout, just there to be a third member of the band and turned into an integral part of the story. The drama with Lark’s dad is far from over and the loose threads of Lark’s association with Dwayne still need to be reeled in. All the characters are again more developed, more real, than previously and the story is better for it. I did feel that Bean’s story line was a abruptly dealt with. There was so much potential there. It does make it seem that I may have been right about my feeling back in the book 1 about how important Dwayne is going to become.
This third installment is well written, with emotion and a heart, and with some interesting twists to keep you coming back for what has to be a fourth installment.?.
I received a copy of these books in exchange for an honest review ...more
Gideon Lee is about Lark, an antagonistic 17 year high school girl with a huge chip on her shoulder. She is defined by her love for music and her mineGideon Lee is about Lark, an antagonistic 17 year high school girl with a huge chip on her shoulder. She is defined by her love for music and her minefield relationship with her mother, whom she refers to by name. Lark’s biggest problem with her mother seems to stem from the fact that she won’t reveal the identity of Lark’s father.
Lark is not very likable in this first installment. She resents the most popular girl in school simply, because she is pretty and doesn’t have the “flaws” that Lark believes herself to have. She views her mother as weak and gives her zero respect, and actually goes out of her way to make things for her mom and then resents it when that results in consequences ( which she simply ignores ). The story even opens with her deliberately provoking her history teacher with a questionable essay.
Lark’s entire world centers around music. She and her best friend Bean are in a band together and working hard toward a competition that will take the winner to New York and a spot on nationally televised competition show.
Honestly I kept waiting for the story to become engaging and get me past my huge dislike of Lark, who honestly needs some serious discipline, then the story just ended, seemingly in mid paragraph. It was at that point that I realized the story had quietly hooked me and pulled me into this world and I really needed to read on.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review...more
Help Me is the story of Mick and Layla. Mick is fairly typical 13 year old eighth grader, but he is carrying a lot on his young shoulders. He has beenHelp Me is the story of Mick and Layla. Mick is fairly typical 13 year old eighth grader, but he is carrying a lot on his young shoulders. He has been bullied, perhaps because he was overweight or because his best friend was gay. His friend, not able to deal with the constant bullying, took his own life. Mick, now has to deal with the guilt that maybe he could have done something to stop that from happening, the frustration that those who drove his friend to the edge will not be held accountable for their actions and really don’t care that they played any part in his death and he also has to face that a new school, while it removed him from the worst of his tormentors, has bullies to take their place with a whole new list of reasons why they pick on him. His life has become a cycle of posting sad poetry online, clinging to the one or two good friends that he has, and using cutting as a release valve to keep his depression at bay and as a way to give himself some measure of control over his feelings.
Layla is a typical 13 year old eighth grade girl, who finds that peer pressure makes her do things and act in way that can hurt the people she cares about. She sees that Mick is in a dark place, but she has no idea what to do or what to say or even she if should do or say anything. She has a strong enough relationship with her mother to mention his odd behavior and ask for advice, but even then she doesn’t want to betray her friend and doesn’t give her mom the scariest information she has. In the end her friendship with Mick could be the only thing that can save his life.
This is a short powerful read, told from the perspective of each young person. The blunt honesty from each of them is to be admired. These kids were dealing with problems too big for them and they just didn’t know what to do. How many adults don’t have the life skills to handle what these kids had going? Mick’s parents are not bad parents because they missed what was happening. Mick’s need to find some control over the darkness he felt made him hide the worst of it from everyone he could. He knew what he was doing was wrong but it was the only thing that helped and he just didn’t know how to ask for help. Or, Maybe he didn’t know that he COULD ask for help.
It is fantastic that Layla felt comfortable with talking to her mom. Her mom defied the trending “not my kid, not my problem” attitude so prevalent today and did something with the information given to her. The school officials acted on the information immediately. This story provided many great examples of how the situation should be handled. However, as is so often the case, it may have just been too late. This novella should be required reading for eighth grade health classes, putting information in the hands of those who can make a difference before it is too late to help. When a child takes his or her own life, the devastation lives on in hearts of every friend and every teacher and counselor who saw something a bit off but didn’t want to overreact.
As a parent of child this age I can see the usefulness of using this as a discussion starter. Communication is the key. Recovery isn’t an easy thing, but knowing that you aren’t alone in how you feel and that what you feel is real and justified is the first step to getting better.
5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review...more
Loading...
