All the Rage by Courtney Summers

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All the Rage 

by Courtney Summers

All the Rage is a short novel about the aftermath of rape.  Romy has been raped by the BMOC, but no one believes her.  She has lost her respect, her best friend and her identity.  A tragic event leads Romy to look at herself and what happened to her, and to try to begin to heal.

There is a lot of interpretation necessary in All the Rage.  We only see Romy's point of view on events as they unfold.  If it weren't such heady material, it would be a perfect read for middle school students on inferencing.  It is short and engaging.  

I also really liked that not all of the adults in the book are jerks.  Romy's father is a drunk, but her mother is kind and caring and does her best to help Romy in any way that she can.  Her mother is also involved in a healthy relationship, which is very refreshing!

This would be a good read for teen girls who have been abused.  They can see themselves reflected in Romy and it might help them in the healing process to know that they aren't the only ones who have been in this situation.  Romy makes it out okay, and other girls can too.

Enjoy is the wrong word to use for this book, but I couldn't put it down.  It was hard to read at times, and I admit that I cried.  But when it was over, I felt hopeful and gave my daughter a big hug!

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

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The Invention of Wings

by Sue Monk Kidd

The Invention of Wings is a story told in two voices.  The first voice we hear is that of Hetty Handful.  She is a young slave on a plantation in Charleston, South Carolina.  The image of wings to her is of freedom.

The second voice we hear is from Sarah Grimke.  She is a daughter of the plantation owner and was given Hetty Handful on her twelfth birthday.  She longs for freedom as well.

These two girls grow together into adulthood, both searching for the wings that will allow them to soar.  One dreams of freedom from servitude, the other longs to provide that freedom.  They draw strength from each other and a friendship blossoms over time, despite their different circumstances.

I was surprised to learn that The Invention of Wings is based on historical events and people.  The lives of the Grimke sisters is an inspiration and I am so happy to see that Sue Monk Kidd has placed a spotlight on what they managed to accomplish.  The fictional account of their lives is told using rich imagery and with heartfelt emotion that is at times raw and hard to read.  The Invention of Wings is a beautiful book, timeless in the telling that is sure to become a classic.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

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Orphan Train

by Christina Baker Kline

This is a story of home told in two parts.

Molly is in foster care.  She is about to age out.  Although her foster dad, Ralph seems to be a nice guy, her foster mother, Diana can't stand her.  Molly is caught doing something that she shouldn't have and her case manager convinces the authorities to allow her to do community service instead of serving a more severe sentence.  Which introduces her to Vivian.

Vivian is a widow living in a huge house on the river.  Molly can't imagine a house so grand, especially for just one person.  Her community service is to help Vivian sort through the 'junk' in her attic.  But what they end up sorting through is Vivian's storied past which started on the Orphan Train.

These two have more in common than they could have expected.  Through the memories and experiences of what is was like to have been abandoned they will come to rely on each other.  Vivian can offer Molly some stability in her life and Molly can offer Vivian a second chance of finding her family that she thought was gone forever.

This historical novel will break your heart and then mend it back again, all in just under 300 pages.  I hope you will savor every chapter!

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick

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matthewquickwriter.com/novels/boy21

Boy 21

by Matthew Quick

Everyone has a secret, something they don't want to share.  And everyone has their own way of coping.  Boy 21 is a story of two boys, they both have a secret that they are keeping far away from anyone, so deep it might scar them forever.

Finley is white.  He lives for two things, basketball and Erin.  He lives with his father and disabled grandfather.  Finley doesn't want to talk about what happened to his mother, although the counselor keeps trying.  They live in a town ruled by the Irish mob, but Erin's gangster brother has made sure that no one messes with them.  Basketball is their ticket out of this depressing town.  Right before he is about to wear #21 on the basketball team for his senior year, Russ comes to town.

Russ is black and is also harboring a secret, one that only Finley knows about.  Finley has been entrusted to look after Russ, convince him to play basketball.  Like Finley, basketball has been a huge part of Russ's life, and coach is hoping basketball will get him through this terrible tragedy.  But Russ is coping (or not) in his own way, by having everyone call him by his basketball number; Boy 21.

Basketball, hope and friendship will help these boys overcome the adversity in their lives.  But will their lives ever be the same?  Find out in this well-written and compelling story about what it means to survive in a world that has dealt you a bad hand.  

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

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The Crossover 

by Kwame Alexander

Told in verse, this basketball tale is reminiscent of stories from the Barber brothers.  However, in this case, the brothers have a rivalry that turns ugly.  Josh and Jordan are twins that are phenoms on the court.  All Josh needs is his twin and the court, but when Jordan falls in love, Josh feels an unexpected resentment.  'Sweet Tea' is the Yoko Ono to these brothers' bond.  It will take tragedy and a healthy dose of growing-up-quick to bring these brothers back together, but will it mean saying good-bye to basketball?

City of Halves by Lucy Inglis

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City of Halves

by Lucy Inglis

The start of this book is very Nancy Drew, but the end brings to mind Divergent!  Lily is a young woman who lives with her father in London.  She has a rare blood disorder that makes it impossible to have a blood transfusion.  Her mother has died from this disease and Lily must make regular blood transfusions so that her blood is stored in case of emergency.

Enter the handsome and enigmatic Regan, who saves Lily's life by giving her his own blood after a 'dog' attack.  This event and subsequent ones entwine the couple until Lily learns of the prophecy.

Lily and Regan work together to ward of Chaos and save London as they know it.  Lily will have to choose between the only family that she's ever known and the defense of all that is right and good in the world.  Will Chaos win?  Will Lily figure out what really happened to her mother?  Can the outcome of a prophecy be changed?

My prophecy is that City of Halves will become the next hot series, once it hits the U.S., that is!