The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook

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I have received an advanced reader's copy of this book 

in exchange for an honest review.

The Hanging Girl 

by Eileen Cook

Skye is close to her high school graduation.  She has a best friend, Drew, who has everything; big house, nice clothes, full refrigerator.   Skye does not have these things.  Skye lives in a grungy apartment with her mother and works part time at Burger Barn to have enough money to pay the bills and have enough food to eat.  She and Drew have always dreamed of moving to New York City, sharing an apartment and having adventures.  Drew can afford to have this dream, Skye can not.

Skye makes extra money at school using a deck of Tarot cards to read her classmates' fortunes.  Although she feels some guilt for scamming her peers, she needs the money.  However, when one of her classmates goes missing, Skye has to use her "gift" to help the police locate her.  

When the web of lies becomes too much for Skye to keep up with, her entire future seems to hang in jeopardy.  Can she continue to lie to Drew?  Can she trust her mother not to interfere with her own "psychic" abilities?   Will the police see what's really going on?

The Hanging Girl is a psychological thriller that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.  Although Skye is in high school, the content is mild enough for younger students.  There isn't any sexual content and the violence is not graphic.  I think this story is appropriate for middle to high school students, and most adults!

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

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The Hate U Give 

by Angie Thomas

I laughed, I cried, I sang out loud, I didn't twerk, but at times I wanted to!  I experienced such a wide range of emotions while reading The Hate U Give that I felt I was on a roller coaster!

Starr is a 16 year old teenager living in what some might call "the ghetto."  When she was ten, her best friend was killed in a drive-by.  After that, her parents sent her, and her brothers, to a private school 45 minutes away.

In the vein of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Starr has to navigate between her two worlds.  When in her neighborhood of Garden Heights, she can't be seen as being too "white" or too "good" for her friends.  When at Williamson, her school, she can't be seen as being too "hood"; she always uses complete sentences and says "yes ma'am and no ma'am."

But when tragedy hits again, Starr finds her worlds colliding and tries desperately to keep these worlds from falling apart.

The Hate U Give is a Tupac Shakur reference and is a theme throughout the story.  This book is such a passionate, real look at family, race, police relations, coming of age, gangs, community and so many more topics that I could go on forever.  I think this book will appeal to anyone over the age of 12, black, white or purple.  The violence, realistically portrayed, might not be suitable for some middle school students, although I think they would appreciate the story.

In light of current affairs and the charged political climate around police shootings of people of color, I feel this book should be required reading for all educators and most high school students.  The Hate U Give has made an impression on my heart that will not soon go away.  Thank you Angie Thomas for this gift!

As an addendum to this post - I MET ANGIE THOMAS!!!!!  Here is our picture!

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

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I have received an Advanced Reader's Copy
of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daughter of the Burning City

 by Amanda Foody

Sorina lives in the travelling city of Gomorrah, a dark and stormy place home to freak shows, fortune tellers and magic.  She is an illusion worker, able to create people from her thoughts.  She was adopted at a young age by the Proprietor of Gomorrah, destined to take his place one day.

Sorina is the master of The Gomorrah Festival Freak Show, the show that she has created from her illusions.  There is tree, a lumbering, bark-covered being Sorina created when she was three.  Hawk, born as a little sister but with wings and talons.  Unu and Du, Siamese twins who play music and bicker continuously.  These and other of Sorina's imaginings make up her family.

But Gomorrah is not accepted in all parts of this land.  There is talk of war and rebellion.  And when Sorina's illusions start dying, she is left to figure out how in a world of magic, creatures that aren't supposed to be real, can die.

Daughter of the Burning City is an engaging story of magic and family.  I did have a hard time imagining the world that Foody has created.  This book is for fantasy lovers who are in high school.  I have ordered it for the library, but would warn those who check it out that the violence can be quite dark.

Nemesis by Brendan Reichs

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Nemesis 

by Brendan Reichs

Min Wilder has been murdered every day on her even day birthdays since she was eight.  This year, her sixteenth, was no different.  What is different is that the world seems to be falling apart.  Meteors, tsunamis, earthquakes, all threaten to destroy the earth.  Nothing makes sense, so when she finds out that she's not the only one with these same experiences, she's flooded with relief.

However, that relief is short-lived.  Min realizes that events she experienced as a child, weren't what she thought.  People that she trusted, weren't who they said they were.  And now she doesn't know who to trust.

I have to admit that I did not see the end of this book coming.  It took me totally by surprise.  This story is fast paced and the characters are deep and well developed.  I would not recommend it for middle school as the violence is pretty severe.  However, I would highly recommend it for high school students.

York (The Shadow Cipher) by Laura Ruby

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York (The Shadow Cipher) 

by Laura Ruby

In the early 1800's, twins Theresa and Theodore Morningstarr were behind the growth and creation of New York City.  From the "Underground" to the trash recycling "rollers", all inventions were their brainchildren.  But then one day they vanished, leaving the city to speculate about a cipher they passed on that was said to lead to treasure!  Skip forward several decades and we meet twins Tess and Theo, named for the Morningstarrs and residing in one of their greatest accomplishments, the Tower.

Tess and Theo have always been fascinated by the Morningstarrs and their York Cipher.  Their grandfather was part of a secret society who's sole purpose is to crack the code.  And although they had many people working on it for many years, no one ever came close to discovering the treasure.  

Then one day the twins learn that an evil developer has bought their beloved apartment building and has given the tenants 30 days to vacate.  Tess and Theo feel as if the York Cipher is the key to saving their building.  All of a sudden the clock has started ticking for them to do what no one has been able to do - find the treasure and get their building back.

Will they be too late?  Will the treasure save their building?  Can two kids with the help of some friends crack the Morningstarr code?  These questions will keep you racing through the book to the very last page.  And when you're done, you will be waiting anxiously for the next installment of this gripping series.  

Can you solve the code?  

I would recommend this book for upper elementary school students who love to read and to middle school students.  Even though the story is complicated and intriguing, the characters might be a little young to appeal to high school students; although not for this middle aged librarian!

I Have No Secrets by Penny Joelson

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I Have No Secrets 

by Penny Joelson

Jemma is a teenager with cerebral palsy.  She lives with her foster family who also foster a young, Autistic boy, Finn and a young girl with anger issues, Olivia.  Despite being part of this foster situation, the family is loving and safe.

Jemma has no control over her body at all.  She can't feed herself, she can't use the bathroom by herself, she can't even roll over by herself.  She has no way to communicate to those around her.  She relies totally on her care giver, Sarah, for helping her throughout the day.  Sarah treats Jemma like a regular girl, paints her nails, plays her music and talks about boys.  

Others talk to Jemma too. They find it easy to talk to someone who can't talk back or tell anyone what they might be up to.  When Jemma hears news about a local murder, she is desperate to warn those around her.  Being able to communicate has never been more important, or more impossible.  But by chance, Jemma is introduced to a doctor who thinks he might be able to help her.  Suddenly Jemma's life becomes in danger because of what she's overheard.  Can she communicate what is going on before it's too late?  Can someone with no control over their body communicate the truth?

I Have No Secrets is a murder mystery that you won't be able to put down.  But it's also a discussion about how we treat the disabled within our communities.  Without giving too much away, Jemma is the one who cracks open the case, but she can't do that without help from many others.  We often see the differently-abled as not as smart, capable or valuable as those of us who are lucky enough to be able to walk and talk without aid.  This story examines the biases and stereotypes that many differently-abled people face.

In the vein of Wonder, I Have No Secrets would be a great read for students in middle school through high school.  The murder mystery will engage students who like thrillers, and the relationships between the characters will keep them hooked.

I Have No Secrets was not available through any of my regular book purchasing options as it is published in the UK.  However, it was available on Amazon for a pretty reasonable price.  I enjoyed reading the voice of the British characters and sometimes trying to figure out what they were talking about!  If you read it as a book group, you can teach context clues to decipher some of the vernacular!  Joelson has obviously done her research and I Have No Secrets is a precise look into the life of a family caring for differently-abled children.  I hope you will read it!

Holding Smoke by Elle Cosimano

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Holding Smoke 

by Elle Cosimano

John "Smoke" Conlan is in a juvenile rehabilitation facility for a murder that he didn't commit.  The jury went easy on him, considering he had just been released from the hospital after his father had killed him.  Having being brought back to life after being dead for eight minutes has left John with a gift; one he uses to his full advantage at the "Y", the Greater Denver Youth Offender Rehabilitation Center.

Smoke has earned his nickname by using his new gift to gather information.  You see, Smoke can leave his body.  He can travel through walls, past guards and around barriers.  He is happy to let this gift keep him alive and out of trouble at the Y, a place where he is safe, as long as he has information to trade for that security.  But then, while digging up information for another inmate, he stumbles upon someone who can both see and hear him in this altered state.  Meeting Pink changes everything.  Now he has to get out.

Holding Smoke is a fresh story that will appeal to readers of all ages.  Part fantasy, part realistic fiction, I think this is a book that will cross genres.  I have ordered it for my middle school library, and think it would work in high school as well.  Smoke has a voice that I think many teens will relate to, and even some adults!

All Rights Reserved by Gregory Scott Katsoulis

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All Rights Reserved
by Gregory Scott Katsoulis

Speth is on her way to her party.  When all children in the Dome turn 15, they receive their cuff at a public ceremony.  You see, all words, gestures and other forms of communication are trademarked, restricted or copyrighted.  The cuff will automatically charge each family as they communicate.  At her party, Speth will find out which brands will sponsor her.  She's hoping for some good ones, as her family is poor.  However, before she arrives at the park, a boy her age that she had a flirtation with, walks up to her, kisses her and then jumps off a bridge.

Beecher's untimely death causes Speth to reconsider these long held laws, and she decides not to talk at all.  But this decision sends ripples through the community that creates ramifications that Speth couldn't have foreseen.  Speth becomes disdained by the powerful in her community, yet championed by the disenfranchised.  

Unprepared for the chaos that her decision has incited, Speth has to figure out how to take care of her family while adhering to her stance.  Can she be a change-maker?  Can one girls' actions against an authoritative regime bring down a system that is grounded in fear and greed?  All Rights Reserved is a great choice for book groups as it will bring up many hot-button issues.  It is both relevant and engaging.  

This book would be great for high school students and adults.  The violence might be a little heavy-handed for the middle school student, you have to know your audience.  It might also be paired nicely with a classic, such as 1984.  

Solo by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

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Solo

by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

Finally!  A young adult novel written by the venerable Kwame Alexander!  For all of his fans, you will not be disappointed.  To those readers who aren't yet familiar with Mr. Alexander's work, congratulations, you have a new favorite author!

This novel introduces us to Blade, the youngest child of a burnt-out rock musician.  Blade's mother died when he was young, and the family has never recuperated from their loss.  Blade's dad has retreated into drugs and alcohol, Blade's sister tries to be the matriarch, and Blade throws himself into his guitar and his relationship with his girlfriend, Chapel.

But when Chapel isn't there for him, and he discovers a somber family secret, his life turns even more upside down.  Written in verse, Solo follows Blade's journey to self discovery, friendship and family.

Solo is a young adult novel that will appeal to students of all ages.  This is definitely going in my middle school library, and I will recommend it to readers of all ages!

Frostblood by Elly Blake

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Frostblood 

by Elly Blake

Sometimes when you think the last thing YA readers need is another fantasy about colliding realms, good and evil and love reigning supreme, you are surprised by a story so compelling that you allow the dishes to  pile in the sink to read just one more chapter!  This was Frostblood.

Frostblood starts similarly to Bambi, when Ruby loses her mother.  Again, like Bambi, this event draws the reader in by tugging at their heartstrings.  On her own, Ruby has to keep her special gift hidden while figuring out who she can trust; and more importantly, who she can't.

Frostblood would be great for book groups, there are many themes that will be relatable to young readers.  Hot and cold, good and evil, right and wrong, family all with a little romance thrown in!  This book would also be appropriate for upper elementary school students as neither the violence, or the romance is over-the-top.  And, it's going to be a series, so students will be excited about that!

If you haven't read Frostblood yet, you're in luck.  Save it for poolside and start your summer off with a fun, engaging read!  And with all the descriptions of frost, you won't need a fan to cool off!  I can't wait for Fireblood, I'm hoping it will keep me warm this winter!  

The List by Patricia Forde

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The List 

by Patricia Forde

What if we only had 500 words that we could use?  The List starts with the wordsmith asking for 700, but getting denied.  In this land, everyone must speak "List", an approved list of words acceptable for use.  If you are caught using vocabulary not on the list, you are labeled a "Desecrator," and thrown out of the community.

Ark is the community that John Noa founded after The Melting.  He believed that the world was ruined because men chose to use words instead of use actions.  People argued about climate change rather than do something about it.  He is determined that this new community will not make the same mistake.

Letta is the wordsmith's apprentice.  The wordsmith makes and keeps the list.  Their job is to also make lists of words for specific trades.  When the wordsmith goes missing, Letta is suddenly thrown into the role of wordsmith.  It will be her duty to keep the list.

Letta starts to realize that the Desecrators might not be bad people.  For the first time she is exposed to art and music, and it changes her perspective.  She has always believed in John Noa, that he is trying to save his people.  But now she is not sure.  Should people live in a world limited in words, art and music?  What is John Noa's plan for Ark?  Now that Letta is the wordsmith will she complicit in his plan?  

This List is a beautiful story full of words, art, emotions and history.  It is easy to see John Noa's plan and why it is so wrong.  But it is just as easy to see why he believes in it.  This would make a great book to read in a book group, I imagine students taking both sides of the issues that it raises.  I will certainly buy this for my library, and would recommend it for grades 5-12!

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

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I received an advance reader's copy 
in exchange for an honest review of this book.

Caraval 

by Stephanie Garber

This is how I described this book to my students; "it's about an enchanted island full of magic.  The participants are playing a game, and at the end, they will be granted one wish.  However, Scarlett is not entirely sure if she is playing a game; she can't figure out what is real, and what is fantasy."

I loved this book!  The descriptions are so vivid, I could see everything as I read.  Caraval is a fantasy world where dresses change color with changing emotions, bridges move from one place to another, currency can be secrets or one day of your life and there are trap doors and hidden tunnels that you can get lost in.

Some of the images from the book:

"Someone screamed.  As hot and bright as fire."

"The world tasted like lies and ashes when Scarlett woke."

"...pillows as dark as nightmares..."

"Behind her a cloud drifted over the moon, covering all but two two points of light, which hovered behind her silver hair like devil's horns."

There are more colors in this book than a 24 box of crayons.  But purples, reds and blues dominate.  The food imagery is delectable and made me crave sugary sweets as I was reading.  It was simply exquisite.

This was a book that I couldn't put down.  Not only was it beautifully written, but the story was so twisty that I would have to read on when I should have been turning off the light!  I sped read the last 60 pages because I had no idea how it was all going to end.  It was the kind of book where you are having a conversation with someone, but what you're really thinking about is Caraval!  

I'm looking forward to the next installment of Scarlett's adventure, and I'm sure you will be too!

The Reader by Traci Chee

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The Reader

by Traci Chee

The Reader is 437 pages long, yet I can't seem to find the words to describe this novel.  This is a book.  This is a book about words, stories, self, family and love.  This is a book for people of any age who long for words, who live for stories, who find themselves so wrapped up in the pages of books that they can't determine what is real.  Have you ever been talking to a friend and she tells a story and you think "this reminds me of...." and you realize it reminds you of something you read in a book?  If so, this book is for you!

I don't think that I can properly summarize The Reader, especially without ruining some of the surprises that the book contains.  So instead, let me quote some passages.

In respect to choosing one's one destiny; "Maybe he could choose to be all-person: Archer, hunter, protector, artichoke-trimmer, gambler, ship's boy, quartz-holder, friend.  This realization began to simmer inside him, slowly at first, but then faster and fiercer, until he was hot and brimming with it.  Maybe he could choose."

In respect to the power of words: "People are weak.  They can't be trusted.  Can you imagine what Kelanna would be like if everyone could do what you and I can do?  Men would be turned into dogs and never turned back.  Castles would disintegrate with the wave of a hand.  Thieves and murderers, slave traders and warlords, the worst kinds of people would rule Kelanna because they would use the word for evil.  It would be chaos." 

One more quote, this one is harder to find, but you'll discover it if you're paying attention.  "...words are seeds in which meanings are curled pages of oceans and margins of land are civilizations."  

Yes.  I couldn't have said it better myself.  Thank you Traci Chee.

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

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I have received an advance reader's copy of this book
in exchange for a fair review.

The Bone Witch 

by Rin Chupeco

Tea doesn't realize that she is special, until the day she raises her brother from the dead.  That event ignites the beginning of her epic journey to harness her power.  Tea is a "Dark Asha", very rare, and reviled by most.  Her singular job, once properly trained, will be to rid the land of monsters that the people call "Daeva".  But the ability to raise creatures from the dead isn't the only reason others are leery of Tea, her extraordinary gift means that other Asha aren't as powerful as they'd like to be.

I enjoyed getting to know Tea, both from her point of view, and the alternating voice of a young woman (I think) who is interviewing her.  She is a strong, loyal and smart young lady.  However, I had a hard time following the story line.  Chupeco's description of the world in which Tea lives relies too heavily on my imagination.  I didn't have any background knowledge on which to draw and the maps didn't fill in enough blanks for me.

I found myself confused by the characters and which land they came from.  I was also confused by the different abilities various Asha had.  It felt to me as if this book was written to become a movie.  I needed visual cues to help me through the story.  Chupeco writes in detail of the "hua" or dress that all Asha wear.  She describes her characters in detail so that you could practically smell them.  But, I just had a hard time putting it all together.

The ending was also perplexing.  I have no idea why Tea was exiled, why this young girl is interviewing her, what happened to her brother, and why this particular person ends up as her love interest.  I guess I'll have to read the next one to get my questions answered.

In summary, maybe I'm too old to follow the plot lines in this story.  I don't see any reason that it couldn't go in a middle school.  I added it to my book order, we'll have to wait to see if it circulates.  I'm hoping at least one of my regulars will read it so that they can explain it to me!