Similar to Mean Girls, the movie..

Gone Too Far

By: Natalie D. Richards

Genre: YA fiction/mystery

Pages: 304

Published: 2015

Read: February

4 out of 5

I have read both of Richard’s books. Her first one, Six Months Later, was nominated for the teens’ top ten award in 2014. This one reminded of the movie, Mean Girls (2004).  There is a notebook with pictures and schoolmates’ secrets, lots of blackmailing and horrible tricks played by all. The mystery is...who is the owner of the notebook? Who is playing these horrible humiliating acts on their peers?  This book is more realistic fiction that Six Months Later, but still seems a little over the top. However, I haven’t been a teen for many years so maybe things have gotten more out of control, sophisticated and crueler.

My favorite childhood book

Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret

By: Judy Blume

Genre: Juvenile fiction

Pages: 149

Published: 1986

Audiobook: 3 cd’s (3 hours 9 mins)

Read: February

5 out of 5

This is my all-time favorite pre-teen book. I read it at least 11 times in two years! I guess you could say I was a little obsessed with getting boobs, my period, and boys. I will never forget “We must, we must increase our bust” and will even admit to practicing a times. This was my first time reading it as an adult and I did enjoy the audio version. I also discovered that the story itself involved more than just Margaret’s physically growing up. Margaret struggles with her religious views because she was raised with no beliefs since her parents have different backgrounds. I did not remember this at all. This book will always hold fond memories for me.  

Judy Blume = GREAT READS

Summer Sisters

By: Judy Blume

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pages: 416

Published: 2006

Read: February

5 out of 5

I forgot how much I loved this book. It is such a quick, easy read that I thought maybe I wouldn’t enjoy as much. However, it brought me back to my younger days and I was completely sucked in again. As a 4^th and 5^th grade, I read Judy Blume’s Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret, about 11 times. It still is my all-time favorite book, if for no other reason than the memories. Summer Sisters is the high school, college, and beyond story of those Margaret, Nancy, etc. to me. Both are coming-of-age stories about growing up, girlfriends, and love. If as a little girl you were a fan of Judy Blume, I highly recommend Summer Sisters and prepare to reminisce. 

An historical fantasy book...

Grave Mercy

By: Robin LaFevers

Genre: YA historical fiction/fantasy

Pages: 549

Published: 2012

Read: February

4 out of 5

Ismae’s story is captivating from the very beginning, but did lose me as it continued. Lafevers includes WAY too many characters in the story, which is probably why she starts with a list of characters. I felt I would have been able to grasp and enjoy the story more if there were only half the number of characters. It’s not that all those characters were meaningless, but they weren’t so essential that without them I would have found the story more enjoyable. I am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy, which is the stories of Sybella and Annith, both fellow covent sisters of Ismae. However, I still found the story VERY captivating and intriguing, so 4 stars it is. 

A great read about undocumented immigrants

The Land of Careful Shadows

By: Suzanne Chazin

Genre: Adult fiction/Multicultural

Pages: 352

Published: 2014

Read: February

4 out of 5

This book was recommended to me by the author herself when she read how much I enjoyed The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez. Although both are unique in their plots, they both deal with undocumented, or illegal, immigrants.  Careful Shadows is about a Latino homicide detective’s murder case that may or may not involve illegal immigrants. The story captured my attention immediately, but I did find it pretty predictable and the love connection between, Jimmy Vega and Adele Figueroa, an immigrants’ rights activist, felt forced. It is as though it was an afterthought, just to add romance to the story. While I enjoyed Unknown Americans more, I definitely was sucked into this storyline and look forward to reading the next in series.  

Where are the chapter headings?

The Infinite Sea (The Fifth Wave #2)

By: Rick Yancy

Genre: YA Sci-fi

Pages: 320

Published: 2014

Read: February

3 out of 5

I was not looking forward to reading this book (as my stepson says, “It’s a work book”), however overall I enjoyed this one more than the first in the series. I listened to the first one on audio, which I LOVED because there were 2 narrators making voice distinguish clear. In both books, the chapters alternate between characters.  I had expected, in the print version, it to be just as clear. That is not the case for this trilogy. There were even a few chapters I didn’t know which character was narrating until the last page of chapter. Often I cheated, otherwise, I had a hard time focusing on the words or would need to reread a paragraph after the narrator was identified. It was annoying and I would love to know the author’s purpose for this. Normally I love stories that alternate storytellers. I feel it makes a well-rounded story.  

Trilogy starts as a romance dystopian, second book leans towards sci-fi

Crossed (Matched #2)

By: Ally Condie

Genre: YA Dystopian

Pages: 367

Published: 2011

Audiobook: 9 hours and 51 mins

Read: February

2 out of 5

Although I would classify Matched as a romance dystopian novel, I found Crossed to be more sci-fi in nature, but similar to Matched it is not very unique from other YA novels in this genre. The romance triangle between Cassia, Ky and Xander continues, but the plot has more of a sci-fi twist regarding the rebellion against the Rising. Futhermore, I felt that Crossed could be marketed to teen boys that enjoy sci-fi, but will never be read by them because Crossed, doesn’t portray that angle.  Readers that read everything in the dystopian genre will definitely enjoy this trilogy. I only wish there was a creative way to get the trilogy into the boys’ hands.

The finale of Alona and Will

Body & Soul

By: Stacey Kade

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 316

Published: 2012

Read: February

3.5 out of 5

I imagine it being very difficult to write the last book of a trilogy. Like the many readers, the author has invested a lot of time and energy into their characters. The author then needs to say goodbye and leave the readers satisfied. Satisfying the readers must be a difficult, but rewarding challenge.  For me, it doesn’t have to be a “Happily Ever After” ending. I enjoy the hopeful endings, but most of all I want closure. I felt Kade did a great job writing a book that had adventures throughout, but ended with closure I needed. I can say goodbye to Alona and Will and happily greet the new characters in the rest of Kade’s books.