tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63396022024-03-19T03:08:21.430-04:00Goddess LibrarianYoung Adult Literature ReviewsGoddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-8588515956767321042023-12-20T10:43:00.003-05:002023-12-20T10:45:20.223-05:00Beauty That Remains, The--Ashley WoodfolkTitle: <b>The Beauty That Remains</b><br />Author: <i>Ashley Woodfolk</i><br />Publisher: Random House Children’s Books, 2018.<br />Pages: 336 p.<br />Source: VOYA<br />Compensation: none<br />Read: November 2017<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3OTQfgs-RZvZU_v0i6mF1lA3h_KSMCmUjgSNQ8yLQWxL3DTlnxu560-cdK0kwAIXy47KTTIeXmS3k855LEKy54UP7_hwE80RNRhiwv1nLtHUomy1nDQrFu4rpTWeBbZHYa1v6xJhMSaNRFgsTyoneSSPpWi56kVjgKmH_11MtyoXr7zdK40X/s425/beauty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3OTQfgs-RZvZU_v0i6mF1lA3h_KSMCmUjgSNQ8yLQWxL3DTlnxu560-cdK0kwAIXy47KTTIeXmS3k855LEKy54UP7_hwE80RNRhiwv1nLtHUomy1nDQrFu4rpTWeBbZHYa1v6xJhMSaNRFgsTyoneSSPpWi56kVjgKmH_11MtyoXr7zdK40X/s320/beauty.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12.7px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Told from three different points of view </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Beauty That Remains</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"> is an emotional examination of loss and grief. Autumn mourns her best friend Tavia who died in a car crash after leaving a party that Autumn decided not to attend. Guilt complicates Autumn’s grief since she chose to spend the evening with Tavia’s older brother Dante. Both Autumn and Dante lament not being with Tavia to prevent her from driving in icy conditions. Shay feels lonely and devastated since her twin sister Sasha died of leukemia. Frequent panic attacks make it difficult for Shay to continue her hobby as a music blogger. Logan is a songwriter who cannot write songs since his ex-boyfriend committed suicide. He drowns his sorrows in alcohol and obsessively watches his ex’s vlogs searching for clues. Autumn, Shay and Logan are connected not only by their overwhelming loss, but also by the band Unraveling Lovely. Dante, Logan, and Shay’s friend Rohan are all former members of the band that Shay and her sister managed until they dramatically broke up. When Shay decides to plan a reunion of Unraveling Lovely, the three teens are able to take their first steps toward healing. </span></span></div><span><br /></span><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Beauty That Remains</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"> is a gut wrenching tear jerker that teens are sure to love. Although the chapters alternate with the three different perspectives, the characters still feel developed and real. Frequent mentions of alcohol, drugs, sex, and adult language make this more appropriate for mature readers.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>******<p></p>Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-33767184721015170532018-03-30T20:34:00.000-04:002018-03-30T20:34:37.303-04:00Disruptor—Arwen Elys DaytonTitle: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30211963"><b>Disruptor</b></a><br />
Author: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/817907"><i>Arwen Elys Dayton</i></a><br />
Publisher: Delacorte, 2017<br />
Pages: 352 p<br />
Source: Library Ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: January 2018<br />
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<b>Disrupter</b> is the thrilling conclusion to the <i>Seeker</i> series that started with <b>Seeker</b> and continued with <b>Traveler</b>. Everything comes together in this final book and it’s well worth the wait. The series starts with Quin, Shinobu and John attempting to finish their Seeker training... and learning that being a Seeker is not what they thought it would be. Instead of protecting people, righting wrongs, and avenging evil, Quin’s father has perverted the sacred Seeker training and created a team of assassins to murder other Seekers. The young Seekers revolt but cannot even trust each other. In <b>Disruptor</b> we learn the true history of the Seekers and the Dreads and the only way anyone can be saved is if they work together. <br />
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I loved this entire series and <b>Disruptor</b> is no different. It was written perfectly, alternating chapters with the different characters, slowly revealing the secrets and mysteries set up in the first book, and keeping the reader riveted the whole time.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1893045557">View all my reviews</a>
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-7242323230245796042018-03-23T16:06:00.001-04:002018-03-23T16:06:52.468-04:0036 Questions That Changed My Mind About You—Vicki GrantTitle: <b>36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You</b><br />
Author: <i>Vicki Grant</i><br />
Publisher: Running Press, 2017<br />
Pages: 288 pages<br />
Source: Library ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: January 2018<br />
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Hildy signs up for the local college’s psych study because she’s interested in things like that and she needs someone to talk to. Paul signs up because he needs the 40 bucks. All they have to do is ask each other 36 questions and answer them honestly. They couldn’t be more different—Hildy is the well spoken daughter of the high school principal and Paul *almost* graduated high school. Hildy is sensitive and cries easily, Paul is gruff. Can 36 questions really bring strangers closer together?<br />
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This was a quick cute read. Interspersed throughout the traditional narrative are messages between Hildy and Paul, and Paul’s drawings. There were no major surprises and the big reveal of their secrets was predictable, but it was an enjoyable read.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2254278781">View all my reviews</a>
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-6076061278361910922018-03-13T12:49:00.002-04:002018-03-13T12:49:36.118-04:00Shadowcaster—Cinda Williams ChimaTitle: <b>Shadowcaster</b><br />
Author: <i>Cinda Williams Chima</i><br />
Publisher: Harper Teen, 2017<br />
Pages: 551 p.<br />
Source: Library<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: May 2017<br />
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<b>Shadowcaster</b> is the sequel to <b><a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2017/01/flamecaster-cinda-williams-chima.html" target="_blank">Flamecaster</a></b>, which is the “sequel” series to the <a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2017/01/flamecaster-cinda-williams-chima.html" target="_blank">Seven Realms</a>. I really liked the universe that Cinda Williams Chima created with the Seven Realms so I’m thrilled that she’s continuing to explore it. While <b>Flamecaster</b> focused on Han & Raisa’s son Ash, <b>Shadowcaster</b> tells his little sister’s story. Alyssa is the heir to the throne, but much like her mother, she’d rather be fighting with a sword than dealing with Princess duties. The events in <b>Shadowcaster</b> take place at roughly the same time as <b>Flamecaster</b>, with Jenna making an appearance towards the end of the book. There’s SO much in this one in addition to Alyssa and her journey. There’s a young boy Breon who has a mage mark similar to Jenna’s and who can also do strange things. There’s an honorable Arden captain who is taken prisoner by Alyssa’s company but winds up being much more. Fans of the series will enjoy this one and eagerly await the next book. <br />
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-20566244940388367292018-03-09T16:02:00.000-05:002018-03-09T16:11:44.752-05:00Satellite—Nick Lake<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29543122" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Satellite" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485357884m/29543122.jpg" /></a>
Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29543122"><b>Satellite</b></a><br />
Author: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2885318"><i>Nick Lake</i></a><br />
Publisher: Knopf, 2017.<br />
Pages: 464 p.<br />
Source: Library e-book<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: January 2018<br />
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Leo, Orion, and Libra were born on a space shuttle 16 years ago and have been waiting ever since to go “home” to planet Earth. Before they can leave their bodies have to be strong enough to withstand the space flight home. Twins Orion and Libra are excited to go to Earth and be with their caring astronaut mother, but Leo is not so sure about his future. He’s excited to finally meet his beloved grandfather, but he has a strained relationship with his aloof mother who doesn’t have time for traditional mothering when she is working on the space station. When the three space friends make it to Earth, they discover it’s much harder to adapt than they thought it would be. <br />
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This book was not written as a traditional narrative, although it read like one. There was little to no capitalization, words were abbreviated (ur for your), and it was written like a message would be rather than a book. At first it bugged me, but the story was good and the characters were good and once I decided to read it as a message from Leo rather than as a traditional book, it bothered me less.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2233036542">View all my reviews</a>
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(Imported from my Goodreads review)Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-83769896910074077562018-03-02T19:26:00.000-05:002018-03-02T19:27:33.244-05:00Once and For All--Sarah DessenTitle: <b>Once and For All</b><br />
Author: <i>Sarah Dessen</i><br />
Publisher: Viking, 2017<br />
Pages: 356 p.<br />
Source: Library Ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: July 2017<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah Dessen’s <b>Once and For All</b></td></tr>
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Louna is spending the summer after high school graduation doing what she's done for years--helping her mom in the wedding planning business. Although she works in the business of "love" Louna is becoming more and more cynical about relationships and romance and true love. Despite her mom's unhappy divorce and jaded outlook, Louna wasn't always this way. She had one perfect night with the perfect guy and hope for the future until it was stolen from her during a school shooting. Ever since then Louna has refused to date anyone, refused to get close to anyone, thinking that she'll never have a chance to get another perfect night. Enter Ambrose, the son of one of her mom's clients. Louna is sent to track him down when he's late for his own mother's wedding and she's strangely drawn to him despite his annoying optimism. When her mom decides to give him a job to keep him from annoying her newest client (his sister), Louna thinks she's crazy. But Ambrose grows on her and she realizes that she can't cut herself off from life forever.<br />
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Have I ever read a Sarah Dessen book that I didn't like? Nope. I have not. I always care about the characters, I always sympathize with the situations, I always want to continue reading. I'll be honest, I don't remember plot points years later. I remember characters and when they pop up in later books I have to go back and read my past reviews to jog my memory as to who they are and what they did. But that's ok. Because when I'm reading a Sarah Dessen book I am fully immersed in that world. If you're a Sarah Dessen fan, you won't be disappointed with her latest offering.<br />
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-53738704510051109542018-02-23T13:41:00.002-05:002018-02-23T13:41:36.522-05:00Always and Forever, Lara Jean—Jenny Han<span style="font-family: inherit;">Title: <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Always and Forever, Lara Jean</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Author: <i>Jenny Han</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Publisher: <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Simon & Schuster, 2017</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pages: <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">336 P.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Source: VOYA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Compensation: None</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Read: April 2017</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny Han’s <b>Always and Forever, Lara Jean</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jenny Han first introduced us to the quirky but adorable Lara Jean in </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2018/02/to-all-boys-i-loved-beforejenny-han.html" target="_blank">To All the Boys I've Loved Before</a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> and </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2018/02/ps-i-still-love-youjenny-han.html" target="_blank">P.S. I Still Love You</a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">. Lara Jean has survived the embarrassing reveal of her love letters, the awkward private romantic video that went viral, the jealousy and sabotage of ex-best friend Genevieve, and the transition from Peter as fake-boyfriend to Peter as real-boyfriend. Now in her senior year of high school, Lara is comfortable in her relationship with Peter and looking forward to attending the same college. Her widowed father has unexpectedly found happiness in a new relationship, her older sister Margot has a new boyfriend, and her younger sister Kitty is thrilled with their father's romance. Everything is going exactly as planned for Lara Jean, until it does not. When Lara Jean's plan is disrupted, she is torn between her heart and her head. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although the time period is very clear and there are frequent mentions to today's technology, Jenny Han's story is really timeless. First love, finding one's identity in school and at home, navigating the delicate transition from kid to adult, are all universal themes in teen literature and Han has done a good job of exploring them. She has written a sweet coming of age love story and fans of the first two books will be clamoring for this conclusion. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">****** </span>Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-41075124125666511002018-02-15T12:28:00.002-05:002018-02-15T12:28:33.943-05:00P.S. I Still Love You—Jenny HanTitle: <b>P.S. I Still Love You</b><br />
Author: <i>Jenny Han</i><br />
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2015<br />
Pages: 337 p.<br />
Source: Library<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: April 2017<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny Han’s <b>P.S. I Still Love You</b></td></tr>
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We were introduced to Lara Jean in <b><a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2018/02/to-all-boys-i-loved-beforejenny-han.html" target="_blank">To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before</a></b> and her story continues in this sequel. The last thing Lara expected when she and Peter pretended to be dating was that she and Peter would actually wind up liking each other. But that’s exactly what happened. Everything’s going great until people from both of their pasts start to intervene. Is it possible for Lara to go from having no real boyfriends to being in love with TWO boys at once?<br />
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I enjoyed this one just as much as the first book. This was definitely more focused on Lara’s love life than her family life, but her family still played a large role in the story. I was SUPER glad I had the ARC of the third book in the series so I didn’t have to wait for it. Definite read for fans of the first book!<br />
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****** <br />
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-24085734275424704302018-02-09T16:41:00.000-05:002018-02-09T16:53:36.518-05:00To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before—Jenny HanTitle: <b>To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before</b><br />
Author: <i>Jenny Han</i><br />
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2014<br />
Pages: 368 p.<br />
Source: Library<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: April 2017<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/516WcmsApcL._SX332_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/516WcmsApcL._SX332_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny Han’s <b>To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before</b></td></tr>
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VOYA has the tendency to send me the third book in a trilogy to review. I don’t know how other reviewers handle it, but I don’t feel right reviewing a conclusion when I haven’t read the first two books! So, when I was sent <b>Always & Forever, Lara Jean</b> last spring, I had some catching up to do.<br />
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<b>To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before</b> is a funny quick read about a 16 year old girl. Lara has written each of the boys she has “loved” a letter and kept it safely hidden for years. Until the day they get mailed to their recipients and much embarrassment and hilarity ensues. This is not a romance novel, even if it is about all the boys Lara has crushed on. It’s more about a girl finding her place in her family and finding herself. I loved Lara’s relationship with her older sister. I finished the book in one day and that is a rare feat for me in my old age. They’re making a movie of it which is sure to attract even more readers.<br />
****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-52289212514300718202018-02-02T13:41:00.001-05:002018-02-02T13:41:20.070-05:00Cloud Cuckoo—R.E. PalmerTitle: <b>Cloud Cuckoo</b><br />
Author: <i>R.E. Palmer</i><br />
Publisher: Front Runner Publications, 2016<br />
Pages: 222 p<br />
Source: Purchased ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: April 2017<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472305762l/31689384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472305762l/31689384.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R.E. Palmer’s <b>Cloud Cuckoo</b></td></tr>
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I was so impressed with the first book in the <a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2018/01/the-never-dawnre-palmer.html" target="_blank"><b>Never Dawn</b> series</a> (given to me by the author) that I purchased the second one on my own. The first one had ended with such a strong shocking discovery that I wanted to continue the overall story.<br />
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Unfortunately, <b>Cloud Cuckoo</b> didn’t measure up. The majority of the book Noah couldn’t remember what he had discovered, he and Rebecca were separated, and he was isolated during a “re-education” time in which they tried to brainwash him into compliance. There were some more secrets revealed, but this second book very much felt like it was a second book—just a bridge to get from the first to the third. This is my problem with most planned trilogies. There wasn’t anything spectacular about this one, although it does end on a pretty big cliffhanger. The third one is out now and I’m sure I will read it because I like to see how things end.<br />
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****** <br />
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-54394332213002981432018-01-26T09:00:00.000-05:002018-01-26T09:00:25.640-05:00The Never Dawn—R.E. PalmerTitle: <b>The Never Dawn</b><br />
Author: <i>R.E. Palmer</i><br />
Publisher: Front Runner Publications, 2016<br />
Pages: 252 p<br />
Source: Author<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: April 2017<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515qNp0pmOL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515qNp0pmOL.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R.E. Palmer’s <b>The Never Dawn</b></td></tr>
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I don’t respond to book review requests anymore because I am so behind in my reviews, but I was intrigued by the description of this book and the author’s assertion that he didn’t need a review written by a certain date. So, I accepted and here I am writing a review 9 months later.<br />
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<b>The Never Dawn</b> is the first book in a dystopian trilogy about an underground society of people tirelessly working to be able to someday return to the surface of the earth. Noah’s work is very monotonous and repetitive but he’s highly motivated to do a good job and win approval from “Mother”—the mysterious leader of the group. Noah is not really sure how his work will help, but he knows the more units he completes, the closer they’ll get to being able to go home. Noah’s faith in the system is unshaken until he meets Rebecca—a beautiful girl that makes him question everything. Together they begin to realize that things are not quite what they seem.<br />
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There have been many dystopian stories, making it difficult to find one that’s different. <b>The Never Dawn</b> is—it made me think about control and freedom and choice. Although you can guess what the true purpose of Noah’s work is, the twist at the end of the book is unexpected. I found myself really wanting to know what happened next—so much so that I bought the second book on my own.<br />
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-25380077483410525362018-01-25T11:00:00.000-05:002018-01-25T11:00:51.854-05:00Queens of Geek—Jen WildeTitle: <b>Queens of Geek</b><br />
Author: <i>Jen Wilde</i><br />
Publisher: Swoon Reads, 2017<br />
Pages: 288 p.<br />
Source: VOYA<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: March 2017<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51j46Kt0igL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51j46Kt0igL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen Wilde's <b>Queens of Geek</b></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Taylor, Charlie, and Jamie have traveled all the way to the United States from Australia to attend the ultimate fandom convention, SupaCon. Charlie has a fan base of her own as a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie and was able to use her new celebrity status to get lifelong friends Taylor and Jamie into SupaCon as well. Charlie's co-star, the swoon-worthy Reese Ryan, is also her ex-boyfriend and his presence at SupaCon complicates things for the young actress. She strikes up a relationship with fellow vlogger and super cool-girl Alyssa Huntington and discovers that her crush on the internet star isn't in vain. While Charlie and Alyssa are exploring their new relationship, anxiety-prone Taylor and trusty sidekick Jamie are determined to make SupaCon the best experience ever by meeting their favorite author. Taylor must overcome her deepest fears in order to get what she wants. Jamie helps her to realize that what she really wants is him in this geeky romance. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;">Queens of Geek</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> is full of book and movie references and is a fun look at the fandom convention phenomena. Taylor's anxiety and experience with Asperger's is treated sensitively. The story is told in chapters alternating between Charlie's and Taylor's point of view, giving the reader a chance to see inside both of their minds. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-weight: bold;">Queens of Geek</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> is a fun quick read that will appeal to romance readers and self-proclaimed geeks. </span></span></div>
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-53627030075294815622018-01-24T11:59:00.002-05:002018-01-24T11:59:58.142-05:00Take the Key and Lock Her Up—Ally CarterTitle: <b>Take the Key and Lock Her Up</b><br />
Author: <i>Ally Carter</i><br />
Publisher: Scholastic, 2016<br />
Pages: 336 p.<br />
Source: Library<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: March 2017<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51vJgWBgLtL._SX345_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="347" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51vJgWBgLtL._SX345_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ally Carter's <b>Take the Key and Lock Her Up</b></td></tr>
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Ally Carter’s <i>Embassy Row</i> series began with <a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2016/01/all-fall-down-ally-carter.html" target="_blank"><b>All Fall Down</b></a>, continued with <a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2016/03/see-how-they-run-ally-carter.html" target="_blank"><b>See How they Run</b></a>, and now ends with this final installment. I read the first one two and a half years ago and I still vividly remember how it made me feel. I remember the tension and the stomach clenching and the suspense. Am I an Ally Carter fangirl? Maybe. Do I start out each of her books already knowing I’m going to like it? Maybe.<br />
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If you haven’t read the first two books, get that done before you attempt this one.<br />
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This is a solid conclusion to the series. Some of the tension is missing because the cards are on the table now—we know who the bad guys are and what they want. I know that at the time I read this (nearly a year ago) I gave it 4 stars, but I’m having trouble remembering specific details. Yet, I can clearly recall things that happened in the first book. I’m not saying this to mean that I didn’t enjoy <b>Take the Key and Lock Her Up</b>, because clearly I did, but it may not be as strong as the first two books. Things are wrapped up neatly and I would still recommend this entire trilogy.<br />
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-77115140667471146372018-01-18T21:29:00.000-05:002018-01-18T21:29:26.594-05:00All the Bright Places—Jennifer NivenTitle: <b>All the Bright Places</b><br />
Author: <i>Jennifer Niven</i><br />
Publisher: Knopf, 2015<br />
Pages: 378 p.<br />
Source: Library ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: Dec 2016<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://target.scene7.com/is/image/Target/51465356?wid=520&hei=520&fmt=pjpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://target.scene7.com/is/image/Target/51465356?wid=520&hei=520&fmt=pjpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Niven’s <b>All the Bright Places</b></td></tr>
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Violet Markey is mourning the death of her sister when she meets mysterious Theodore Finch. Theodore is obsessed with death, constantly coming up with different ways he could kill himself, but something always stops him from going through with it. Violet and Theodore embark on a school project to discover the unknown natural wonders of their state. As they discover each new place, they learn more and more about each other. Theodore brings Violet out her shell and gives her something to look forward to other than just counting the days. But even as Theodore helps Violet, he falls deeper and deeper into his own depression.<br />
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I picked up <b>All the Bright Places</b> because I really liked <b><a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2017/02/holding-up-universe-jennifer-niven.html" target="_blank">Holding Up the Universe</a></b>, a book I was sent to review for VOYA. <b>All the Bright Places</b> was just as good and difficult to put down. Violet and Theodore are both likable characters that readers will naturally root for. The writing is poignant and meaningful; Theodore’s positive post-it notes are thoughtful & insightful. Although it’s difficult to put this book down, it’s not an easy book to finish. It’s heart-wrenching and emotionally exhausting. Have a box of tissues nearby.<br />
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-89868716770999113902018-01-18T18:41:00.002-05:002018-02-22T08:38:05.309-05:00Goldenhand—Garth NixTitle: <b>Goldenhand</b><br />
Author: <i>Garth Nix</i><br />
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2016<br />
Pages: 368 p.<br />
Source: Library<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: December 2016<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515IlO44eXL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515IlO44eXL.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garth Nix’s <b>Goldenhand</b></td></tr>
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It’s been over a year since I read this book and while I know that I absolutely enjoyed it and gave it 5 stars at Goodreads, some of the details are a little fuzzy. This is what happens when you tend to read a lot of fantasy—at some point they all blend together. Which is yet another reason for not waiting a year to do a review.<br />
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<b>Goldenhand</b> takes place 6 months after the events in <b>Abhorsen</b>. Lirael is now the Abhorse-in-Waiting and one of her first missions is to rescue Nick Sayre who has just been attacked by a Hrule creature—events that are described in the short story <i><a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2006/09/across-wall-garth-nix.html" target="_blank">The Creature in the Case</a></i> from the collection, <b>Across the Wall</b>. She helps him as much as she can but realizes that he needs medical attention that only the Clayr can give, so the two travel to Lirael’s former home, the Glacier. At the same time, Ferin races towards the Glacier to deliver a message to Lirael from her mother—a message with apocalyptic visions of the future. Lirael and Nick must again battle Chlorr of the Mask and attempt to defeat her once and for all.<br />
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I’ve loved all of Garth Nix’s books. Some more than others, but I honestly have never picked up a Nix book and said, “eh.” Although I can’t remember the minute details, I very much remember being so happy to be back in the Old Kingdom. I loved reading about Lirael and Nick again. This was a satisfying follow up to the original Abhorsen trilogy.<br />
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-29131866132617022732018-01-16T09:35:00.000-05:002018-01-16T09:35:28.289-05:00Love and First Sight—Josh SundquistTitle: <b>Love and First Sight</b><br />
Author: <i>Josh Sundquist</i><br />
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company, 2017<br />
Pages: 288 p.<br />
Source: VOYA<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: Dec 2017<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Y96wyka%2BL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Y96wyka%2BL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh Sundquist’s <b>Love and First Sight</b></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Will starts his first day at a new high school groping a girl on the stairs, sitting on a kid in the cafeteria, and making a fellow classmate cry just by looking at her. All in all a successful day for a sixteen-year-old blind boy who had never been in a public school. Will manages to navigate high school with his cane, his iPhone, and his ability to memorize routes once he has taken them. Navigating high school friendships turns out to be a bit trickier. Will becomes friends with the boy from the cafeteria and the girl he made cry, but when an experimental surgery gives Will eyesight he discovers that they were not as forthcoming with him as he thought. Cecily, the crying girl Will is falling in love with, has a facial birthmark that does not meet traditional standards of beauty. Will insists that what Cecily looks like really does not matter, but he feels betrayed by her and their friends for keeping it from him when he could not see it. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11pt;">Sundquist writes about Will's blindness with sensitivity. Although Will is completely incapable of seeing anything in the beginning of the story--not even shadows--he is not helpless or powerless. He is flawed, not because he cannot see with his eyes, but rather because of how he responds when he can see with them. The lesson in </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Love and First Sight</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11pt;"> is clear and predictable, but readers will enjoy Will's journey anyway.</span></div>
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****** <br />
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-50812755643608938462018-01-15T09:29:00.001-05:002018-01-15T09:29:52.407-05:00Keep HerTitle: <b>Keep Her</b><br />
Author: <i>Leora Krygier</i><br />
Publisher: She Writes Press, 2016.<br />
Pages: 264 p.<br />
Source: VOYA<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: November 2016<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453684901l/28649438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453684901l/28649438.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leora Krygier’s <b>Keep Her</b></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Maddie is a seventeen-year-old recent graduate contemplating her future. Although she loves numbers and scientific rational thinking, she has been accepted into a university program for fine art. She creates collages from photographs and unwanted scraps of material. While waiting for her pictures to be developed, the camera store she is in is suddenly flooded from a water main break. Maddie starts to panic, but is quickly rescued by a young man. Aiden and Maddie instantly bond over their frightening experience and form an interesting friendship. Maddie is dealing with emotions from her adoption, as well as the consequences of her brother's criminal behavior. Aiden is dealing with his own demons, namely the guilt over his younger brother's accidental death and the life-changing decision he is faced with--whether or not to keep his infant daughter. When Maddie learns Aiden is considering putting his daughter up for adoption, she tries to convince him to keep her.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Keep Her </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">is a quick interesting read that will engage fans of contemporary fiction. Maddie and Aiden's relationship blooms very quickly, but throughout the novel there are flashbacks to Aiden's mission to save endangered whales that suggest that maybe Aiden's been waiting for Maddie for a lot longer. Fans of meant-to-be romance stories will not be disappointed.</span></div>
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-38835062319784594762018-01-08T16:46:00.001-05:002018-01-08T16:46:30.911-05:00Visitors--Orson Scott CardTitle: <b>Visitors</b><br />
Author: <i>Orson Scott Card</i><br />
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 2014<br />
Pages: 608 p.<br />
Source: Library Ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: November 2016<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91aJpM7EocL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="529" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91aJpM7EocL.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orson Scott Card's <b>Visitors</b></td></tr>
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<b>Visitors</b> is the conclusion to the Pathfinder trilogy that includes <a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2017/09/pathfinder-orson-scott-card.html" target="_blank"><b>Pathfinder</b></a> and <a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2018/01/ruinsorson-scott-card.html" target="_blank"><b>Ruins</b></a>. There is no point in even attempting to read this unless you've read the first two.<br />
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I've seen the negative reviews of this book (and series) but I enjoyed this series. Rigg and his friends have discovered that the world is in danger of obliteration from visitors with deadly intentions. Luckily, Rigg and his friends are not ordinary teens. They each possess different talents letting them manipulate time. They put those talents to use as they frantically search for a way to prevent the destruction of everything they know and save the world.<br />
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Just like Ruins, this is not the book to read while watching TV or multitasking. You need to devote some time to this and then some more time to think about it when you're done reading. I love time travel and I'm a big fan of tv shows/movies that explore its ramifications. It helped that I've already thought about the concept of time and Riggs & Umbo's conversations about causality and the relationship between the past and the future were conversations that I've thought about. This book is *deep*. The entire series is deep. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it, but it'll take a special reader to truly appreciate it.<br />
****** <br />
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-38407198019087236612018-01-04T14:07:00.000-05:002018-01-08T16:46:56.944-05:00Ruins—Orson Scott CardTitle: <b>Ruins</b><br />
Author: <i>Orson Scott Card</i><br />
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 2013<br />
Pages: 544 p.<br />
Source: Library E-Book<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: November 2016<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orson Scott Card’s <b>Ruins</b></td></tr>
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This is the second book in Orson Scott Card’s <a href="http://www.goddesslibrarian.com/2017/09/pathfinder-orson-scott-card.html" target="_blank">Pathfinder</a> series and without reading the first you’ll be lost and confused and simply unhappy. If you haven’t read the first, go ahead and do that before you read this review.<br />
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Rigg, his friend Umbo, and his newly discovered sister Param all have special powers to help them manipulate time. On the run from people who would like to prevent Rigg and/or Param from claiming their birthright, they cross the forbidden Wall between the world they know and one they can only imagine. Here they uncover even more mysteries and are not sure who they can trust. Even though they spend a lot of time bickering and being suspicious of one another, they have to work together if they are going to prevent the horror that the future brings—a destructive force with deadly intentions that’s hurtling across time and space towards Garden.<br />
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Get ready to use your brains because there is some DEEP thinking about time and cause/effect in this mind-bending sequel. This is a complex book that deserves undivided attention.<br />
******Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-77765244762669861312017-09-12T10:20:00.000-04:002017-09-12T10:20:28.502-04:00Pathfinder--Orson Scott CardTitle: <b>Pathfinder</b><br />
Author: <i>Orson Scott Card</i><br />
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 2010<br />
Pages: 657 p.<br />
Source: Library e-book<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: October 2016<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0EZYfSxJxutJdt2WIn3VHHJwWOuSLh23Ry7ZVo-DdD55FiDzvoSA6C6et3y6RDG5w6e1XWrZrNPaG7g-qeE9aCoxVGZ-uC2pB1JuICcZGRSxKqRGsMzTEza_aDFxu6tRssUL/s1600/pathfinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0EZYfSxJxutJdt2WIn3VHHJwWOuSLh23Ry7ZVo-DdD55FiDzvoSA6C6et3y6RDG5w6e1XWrZrNPaG7g-qeE9aCoxVGZ-uC2pB1JuICcZGRSxKqRGsMzTEza_aDFxu6tRssUL/s320/pathfinder.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orson Scott Card's Pathfinder</td></tr>
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I read Pathfinder nearly a year ago (yes, I know, I've gotten so horrible at these reviews. I think often of just scrapping this blog altogether, but it's hard to let go.) and my brain still hurts. It's the type of sci-fi time travel book that keeps you up at night thinking of paradoxes and how it all works. I loved it.<br />
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Rigg has had a strange education--taught by his unemotional father to excel in game theory and politics and survival. He has a strange talent too; he can "see" the paths of people's pasts. When Rigg's father dies in a freak accident, he must use his talents and skills to figure out the truth of his own past and his real identity. He teams up with a childhood friend, Umbo, who has a unique talent of his own and the two of them set out on a dangerous journey through the country and through time.<br />
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Juxtaposed with Rigg's story is another suspenseful one chronicling a spaceship that has split into 19 different versions of itself and its captain Ram. This story is completely gripping and while you know it will relate to Rigg's story eventually, it's quite fun to try to figure out how.<br />
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I really liked Rigg's character, as well as his super team of talented friends. I enjoyed the two separate stories and found myself thinking of the book often and wanting to read more. <br />
****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-44922800676598089902017-07-19T15:19:00.000-04:002017-07-19T15:41:03.485-04:00I Woke Up Dead at the Mall--Judy SheehanTitle: <b>I Woke Up Dead at the Mall</b><br />
Author: <i>Judy Sheehan</i><br />
Publisher: Delacorte, 2016<br />
Pages: 288 p<br />
Source: Library ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: October 2016<br />
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This is another one of those books that I found while searching my library's ebook collection for something quick and fun. The title stuck out at me as something I might be interested in.<br />
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16 year old Sarah has her whole life ahead of her--until she wakes up dead at the mall. That's right, purgatory is at the mall. Sarah hasn't moved on because she still has unfinished business that she can't let go. Although there was nothing exciting or dangerous about Sarah's life, she was murdered and she needs to find out who did it. Her death coach wants her to find peace and accept that her life is over, but when Sarah has a pretty good idea who the culprit is and discovers that her father's life is also in danger, she knows she can't move on until she does everything she can to save his life. In the meantime she flirts with fellow ghost Nick and hatches a plan for them to stay together and avoid the dreaded "mall walker" curse of ghosts who lose focus and get stuck at the mall.<br />
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This was a solid ok read. It was nice and quick and entertaining. There wasn't anything really groundbreaking or extraordinary, but it was a good book.<br />
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-76747748141507935552017-07-18T11:28:00.000-04:002017-07-18T11:28:43.731-04:00I am Princess X--Cherie PriestTitle: <b>I am Princess X</b><br />
Author: <i>Cherie Priest</i><br />
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine, 2015<br />
Pages: 256 p<br />
Source: Library Ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: September 2016<br />
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May and Libby are best friends who do everything together, including writing and illustrating a comic featuring a sword carrying heroine called Princess X. When Libby dies in a car crash, May is devastated and withdraws from everything. Until she starts noticing stickers around town with the Princess X image. She starts investigating and discovers an underground culture devoted to Princess X and becomes convinced her friend Libby is at the center of it all.<br />
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This was a good quick entertaining read. The story was interesting and suspenseful and kept me up reading late at night. I was looking for something to read on my iPad and the cover was intriguing enough to make me read the description. I can't truly remember if there were any formatting issues with the ebook and the illustrations, but I do remember thinking they were a nice touch.<br />
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****** <br />
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-88784170098974731422017-02-06T09:00:00.000-05:002017-02-06T09:00:00.180-05:00Cursed--Jennifer L. ArmentroutTitle: <b>Cursed</b><br />
Author: <i>Jennifer L. Armentrout</i><br />
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press, 2012<br />
Pages: 304 p<br />
Source: library ebook<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: September 2016<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer L. Armentrout's <b>Cursed</b></td></tr>
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Ember and her younger sister have strange abilities ever since being in a car crash. Ember technically died in the crash, but she was brought back to life by her sister. In true yin-yang fashion, while her little sister can bring things back from the dead, Ember's touch is like poison and is fatal to anyone around her. Ember's Dad died in the crash (but was too dead-dead to be brought back) and her mom has been catatonic with grief, so Ember is left alone to take care of her little sister and try to keep their abilities a secret. Then she meets Hayden, a cute boy claiming he can help them both control their "gifts". Ember is intrigued by Hayden but suspicious of his adopted father who seems to be collecting kids with gifts. Is she helping her sister or leading them both into a trap?<br />
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I wanted to like this more than I did. I thought the plot was interesting, but it felt a bit incomplete. It was worth the read, but it could have been better. I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied, like there was more that could have been explored.<br />
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****** Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-9602677457558816642017-02-03T11:12:00.000-05:002017-02-03T11:12:01.843-05:00Holding Up the Universe--Jennifer NivenTitle: <b>Holding Up the Universe</b><br />
Author: <i>Jennifer Niven</i><br />
Publisher: Random House Children's Books, 2016<br />
Pages: 400 p<br />
Source: VOYA<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: September 2016<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Niven's <b>Holding Up the Universe</b></td></tr>
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Three years after Libby Strout was named “America’s Fattest Teen” and was airlifted out of her house, she is ready to start her junior year of high school and put her infamous past behind her. She is determined to make up for lost time and to be the girl who can do anything—if only her classmates will see her for who she truly is instead of just seeing her size. Jack Masselin is one of the cool kids, the popular kids, who seem to have everything easy. But Jack is hiding a big secret that could jeopardize his entire school life. Jack has a disorder called prosopagnosia, an inability to recognize faces. Each morning he wakes up his family and friends are strangers to him. Relying on hair styles (that can change) and personality traits to identify his family and friends is getting harder to do as Jack gets older. When Libby is the victim of a cruel joke and Jack is the reluctant perpetrator, they are both sent to group counseling, where they learn that they are not as alone as they thought.<br />
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Told in chapters alternating Libby and Jack’s point of view, <b>Holding Up the Universe</b> is a thoughtful story of friendship and love. Both Libby and Jack are vulnerable flawed characters who find peace when they find each other and the strength to be honest with themselves and their loved ones. A worthy addition to any YA collection, this story is engaging and difficult to put down.<br />
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****** <br />
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6339602.post-44384873260207444322017-02-02T16:01:00.000-05:002017-02-02T16:01:48.345-05:00Haters, The--Jesse AndrewsTitle: <b>The</b> <b>Haters</b><br />
Author: <i>Jesse Andrews</i><br />
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, 2016<br />
Pages: 336 p.<br />
Source: Library<br />
Compensation: None<br />
Read: July 2016<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse Andrews' <b>The Haters</b></td></tr>
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Wes and Corey are all set for another boring summer at music band camp when they run into free-spirited singer Ash and have a totally inspired monster jam session. They decide that the three of them mesh so well together that rather than waste their time at camp, they should take their new act to the road. Because gigging across America is the only way to truly refine your musical chops. Their road trip is not without some hilarious drama.<br />
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I read this book while we were camping and I distinctly remember being in my sleeping bag with a flashlight because I couldn't put it down. I also remember trying not to giggle and wake my kids up. <b>The</b> <b>Haters</b> was an enjoyable coming-of-age book and is sure to delight music fans, as well as kids who just want a regular realistic funny non-dystopian read.<br />
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****** <br />
Goddess Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13622554664262823997noreply@blogger.com0