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
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, 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.
Rose’s family regularly vacations at Awago Beach during the summer. It is a place of happy memories, a home away from home made all the more special bRose’s family regularly vacations at Awago Beach during the summer. It is a place of happy memories, a home away from home made all the more special by the addition of her summer bestie Windy. This summer though things are not as they have been. Rose’s parents are fighting, Rose is struggling with some issues of her own, and she and Windy unwittingly get pulled into the drama of Awago residents.
The first thing a reader notices about this book is its stunning monochrome art. Not quite black and white, not quite the color blue. It sets the tone for the whole story. It is fitting for the flashbacks to happier times and fitting for angst that overshadows this particular beach vacation. Twelve-year-old Rose is on the cusp of adolescence. That murky time between just being a child that is simply a part of all that is going on around her and noticing that the world is not quite as cohesive as she had once believed. She is trying to see where she fits. Fits in the changing dynamic of her family, fits in a world where suddenly boys are interesting and complicated, fits in a world where everything is constantly changing. The graphics brilliantly reflect the complexity of Rose's world and keeps the pace of the story even in the absence of words.
This book is written about 10- and 12-year-olds, but with the adult language and situations, I would suggest that it is geared more toward high school age than middle grade. It is probably a story that will resonate with most teens in some way.
Sophie is a story about two 13-year-old kids living in a small town. Leo is a budding artist who, like any 13 year old boy is just beginning to learn Sophie is a story about two 13-year-old kids living in a small town. Leo is a budding artist who, like any 13 year old boy is just beginning to learn who he is becoming. He meets Sophie, a self-assured young girl who has emigrated from Syria. She is very smart, hard-working, and has very definite opinions. Leo learns that she and her mother are in the country illegally and her father is being held as a political prisoner or is possibly dead. Their relationship unfolds against the backdrop of the drama of typical American small town politics.
The story reads like a cross between a chapter book and with charming illustrations punctuating each chapter, the graphic novels that fascinates Leo so much. It is designated as middle grade, yet reads more as political satire intended for a less educated adult audience. Unfortunately, the over-strong ideals detract from what would otherwise be fantastic storytelling. Actually, it reads like an easy to read Ayn Rand story. Sophie is understandably more mature for her age given her life experience, yet she is a bit too perfect, a bit too educated, not to mention a bit too cynical, especially in contrast to the typical behavior of Leo and the other kids in their class. Overall the story was an enjoyable read, just not a book I would suggest for anyone before their junior or senior year of high school when they can truly begin to decide for themselves what selfishness is and how helping the weakest members of society truly helps or doesn't.
I received this in a Goodreads giveaway The opinions are my own...more
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.
Hadley has gotten in with the “In” crowd at her new high school. She had good friends and a great boyfriend and life was good, even if she had to dealHadley has gotten in with the “In” crowd at her new high school. She had good friends and a great boyfriend and life was good, even if she had to deal with a few ‘mean girls’ along the way. While I was never friends with a tv star, I have to say that this book brought me back to high school romance with all its unknowns and insecurities. I imagine most teen girls would see themselves in this book somewhere.
I read the first book in this series, ‘Next Door To A Star’ and I admit that I was a little bit frustrated at hard all the girls tried to seem like something more than they were, though there too I was reminded of the seething pit of social rules governing high school relationships.This book is a fabulous sequel and shows tremendous growth for the group. I love that Hadley has a close group of friends and Nick was and is a favorite character for me.
There are some great lessons about friends ship and trust through out the story.
It isn’t necessary to read book 1 in the series to enjoy this story, but it would helpful with tracking the hierarchy of the kids’ relationships, plus it offers some great back ground on Hadley and her family.
5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review....more
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