Unbelievable and predictible

Hole in the Middle

By: Kendra Fortmeyer

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: 352

Published: 2018

Read:  September

2.5 out of 5

Morgan Stone is born with a hole in the middle of her body – the size of a fist. Even more far-fetched for me, she is a senior in high school who shares her own apartment with her best friend – also a senior. This is for no apparent reason except her mom is rich and the author needed less parental supervision of Morgan. Of course, they have fake ID’s and it’s at the local night club where Morgan decides to show off her hole for the first time. This starts an internet sensation and news reporter frenzy. She eventually meets Howie, who has a lump the exact size and location as Morgan’s hole. Will they be able to cure each other? Even though this book was well-written and had a unique story line, it was too unbelievable and predictable for me.

An Entertaining LGBTQ novel

Tales of the City

By: Armistead Maupin

Genre: Adult Realistic Fiction/LGBTQ

Pages: 272

Published: 1989

Read:  August

3 out of 5

I chose to read this book because it is one of the 100 Great American Reads. It reminded me of the TV series Sex and the City (1998-2004) and the movie Singles (1992). It takes place in San Francisco and follows several people that live in the same apartment complex. All the chapters were about 3 pages long (love, love, love) with lots of humor. Being primarily about a gay community, I am sure there was more humor than I picked up on. Nonetheless, it was funny and an entertaining read. I loved the format of the book, which flipped back and forth between the characters and how the characters intercept each other. However, I thought some characters and their story line were boring, hence the 3 star rating.

A book about Cerebal Palsy

Petey

By: Ben Mikaelsen

Genre: Juvenile Historical Fiction

Pages: 256

Published: 2000

Read:  July

4 out of 5

1920 – A boy, Petey, was born with Cerebal Palsy and raised in a mental institution because they thought he was an idiot. . He did learn to communicate by nodding his head and making certain sounds. The story is about how he befriended several staff members, a special fellow resident, and a little boy.

            My daughter recommended it to me when she read it in junior high school.  I thought it was good, but sadder than I expected. I liked that it followed the boy’s entire life and not just a portion. It is definitely a circle of life story.

A coincidence or more?!?

The Cheerleaders

By: Kara Thomas

Genre: YA Thriller

Pages: 384

Published: 2018

Read:  July

4 out of 5

CONNECT THE DOTS.  A car accident, a murder, and a suicide. 5 cheerleaders – all dead within a month. Told in the voice of one of the cheerleader’s sister, is the dark twisted story of this small town’s tragedy. Thomas keeps the reader guessing throughout the book, once you think you got it - wait - another twist is upon you. Never having read Thomas before, she is definitely on my radar now. I’m going to have to consider going back and reading Little Monsters (2017) and The Darkest Corners (2016).

Definitely in the minority here...

All the Light We Cannot See

By: Anthony Doerr

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 531

Published: 2014

Audiobook: 16 hours and 2 mins

Read:  July

1 out of 5

I know I am in the minority when I say I didn't like this book, but I just couldn't get into it.  I usually love historical fiction and multiple story lines, but I didn't find this novel intriguing at all. I started the book in print and gave up on it, but decided to try again on audio. The audio was phenomenal, but I found the story blah.

“There is a book for every person and a person for every book” – This one just isn’t mine

a Bit Disappointing

Ghost

By: Jason Reynolds

Genre: Juvenile Realistic Fiction

Pages: 192

Published: 2016

Read:  July

3 out of 5

This book definitely had some great qualities and taught some valuable lessons. However, I do feel the story was unrealistic and sugar coated. For instance, the coach never told Ghost’s mother about getting in trouble – some which were very big instances. As a mother, I would be beyond upset and this aspect was never addressed. In real life, I also don’t believe he would have gotten off so easily with stealing an expensive pair of shoes.  I feel the book, Holes by Louis Sacher, taught the life lessons much better. I am very surprised to see this novel as one of the 100 books on The Great American Read.

a mix of mystical realism and realistic fiction

Out of the Blue

By: Sophie Cameron

Genre: YA Mystical Realism

Pages: 272

Published: 2018

Read:  May

3 out of 5

This book begins with angels falling from the sky. Most are dying as soon as they hit the ground, but Jaya has one fall right at her feet that is still alive. Even though this novel is very mystical it deals with friendship, guilt and grief as well. Jaya has to deal with the sudden death of her mother, the disappearance of her ex-girlfriend, and her own struggles with her dad. This is a great debut novel by Sophie Cameron whether you like realistic fiction or fantasy.

Bollywood and movie references!!!

My So-Called Bollywood Life

By: Nisha Sharma

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: 304

Published: 2018

Read:  May

2 out of 5

This is a typically teenage love story – with a twist of Bollywood! Unfortunately, that is the only twist throughout the book. The overall story was very cliché and predictable. On the up side, there are a ton of movie references and even a guide of all movies mentioned in the back of book. I thought that was a great feature. Besides learning a bit about Indian culture and Bollywood movies, I feel you can skip this book.

Too much going on...

Picture Us in the Light

By: Kelly Loy Gilbert

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: 368

Published: 2018

Read:  March

2 out of 5

There are so many storylines in this book, I couldn’t get emotionally attached to any of them. Some were unnecessary to the story (Danny being gay) and some took away from what I felt was the “true” story (Danny’s parents’ secret). I don’t generally have a problem with multiple plots, but in this particular novel, I wanted to feel more from the characters and the issues they were dealing with at the time. The story wasn’t complex or hard to follow; I was wanting more on each storyline to really feel it.

Take this review with a grain of salt

Thunderhead

By: Neal Shusterman

Genre: YA Dystopian

Pages: 504

Published: 2018

Read:  February

2 out of 5

I love Shusterman and I loved Scythe, but for some reason I personally could not get into Thunderhead. It was well written and continues the story of Citra and Rowen nicely, but for some reason I had a tough time getting into the storyline and found my mind wandered a lot. I think my lack of enjoyment was more my fault than Shusterman’s story telling. If you enjoyed Scythe, I still recommend reading Thunderhead. I have heard that some liked it better than Scythe, I just did not.

If you ever wondered about Iranian immigrants, read this book

Americanized: A Rebel without a Green Card

By: Sara Saedi

Genre: YA Memoir

Pages: 288

Published: 2018

Read:  February

3 out of 5

This is a great memoir about an Iranian teen living in America without a green card. She went through her childhood without even knowing she was an illegal immigrant. Although not seemingly directly affected (she was still able to get a job), but the fear of being departed was always in the background. However, my favorite part was the Frequently Asked Questions added throughout the book. These weren’t directly related to her family, but Iranians in general. I thought this was very informative, while still being entertaining. I loved how the book was written in novel format, but still nonfiction. At first, one may not even realize it is nonfiction.

Another empowering read...

Piecing Me Together

By: Renee Watson

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: 272

Published: 2017

Read:  January

3.5 out of 5

Jade is one of the few black students in a privileged high school which she attends on scholarship. She has few friends and desperately seeks to travel abroad with the school. She knows it is her only way out of her poor neighborhood. Instead she gets selected to be in a “woman-to-woman” group where she is paired with a mentor. Although this may be a great opportunity, her mentor isn’t as stable herself as she should be. Only with Jade’s determination and learning alongside her mentor makes this a powerful book. They both teach each other a lot about the outside world. Watson’s focus is on teaching the reader’s that you create your own future and that empowerment and standing up for oneself is as important as the opportunities one may receive.

An Empowering Book

Moxie

By: Jennifer Mathieu

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: 330

Published: 2017

Read:  January

4 out of 5

It isn’t often that you come across a book with such a strong female character. Viv is fed up with her school and especially the principal. Fed up with the sexist dress codes, sexual harassment, and a football team that can do no wrong and has the best of everything- equipment, uniforms, etc. So one night instead of going to the football game (which the entire town literally shuts down for), she single-handedly creates the Moxie zine. Moxie unites all the girls in the school to fight back. It takes off like rapid fire and soon the Moxie group is formed. This book is fun and entertaining while providing a great lesson in feminism. I feel this book will empower many teen readers. It is definitely a feel good book and will inspire all. Moxie Girls Fight Back!!!

Not the book for me...

Your Lie in April

By: Naoshi Arakawa

Genre: YA Manga

Pages: 224

Published: 2015

Read:  January

2 out of 5

This is the first manga I have read, so I will be the first to admit that I am probably not the best judge for this book (no good comparison). I felt the book jumped around and added too many unnecessary parts and YES, I read it from right to left. The story did pull me in immediately with the tragic death of Kosei’s parents and the resulting monotone view of his life. However, it seemed to jump around too much – in the café buying food to playing with a cat to school being let out for no reason to riding their bikes away in the distance. I just couldn’t follow the side stories and didn’t understand why some aspects were even included (ex: not being able to buy food in their school uniform, WHAT?!?). It may be because I am an adult and a YA librarian, but I did appreciate the notes on Beethoven, Mozart, and music in general. I hope the teens do as well. 

Real or Imaginary. That is the question

Calvin

By: Martine Leavitt

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: 181

Published: 2015

Read:  January

3 out of 5

Imaginary or Real? That is a tough question for a kid with schizophrenia. I believe it would even be tougher to write from the point-of-view of a person that has the disease. The main character, Calvin, tries to blame Bill Watterson, the creator of Calvin and Hobbes, for the fact that Hobbes, an imaginary tiger, talks to him. See, he was born on the day that Watterson released his very last comic of Calvin and Hobbes. AND then his parents named him Calvin! Throughout the book, Calvin is writing a letter to Mr. Watterson about his hike across Lake Erie to meet him. Along the travels, Calvin with Hobbes and school friend, Susie, the reader needs to decipher who is real and who generated by Calvin’s mind. Leavitt writes a story that leaves you guessing, but isn’t very personal. Maybe schizo individuals aren’t very personal? I felt this was just an okay story and do recommend for anyone who enjoys realistic, yet fictional stories about schizophrenia. However, there are many other YA novels on mental illnesses that are better and more character driven.

A boring adventure...

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares

By: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: 260

Published: 2010

Audiobook: 6 hours and 40 mins

Read:  January

2.5 out of 5

This book sucked me in right away (4 stars). I love scavenger hunts AND books, so this was right up my alley. It was fast-paced and fun.  Dash find a little red moleskin notebook in a book store and that starts a trail of clues around town. However, once the two teenagers meet in person the book takes a turn for the worst. No longer interesting the book loses its enthusiasm and roller coaster of adventure. If the premise of an exciting mystical hunt around a town is what draws you to this book, Skip it. I would recommend this only to Cohn fans. Levithan has written much better books – pick up Will Grayson, Will Grayson instead.