Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

So this book came to me on a recommendation from Andrew Smith.  As a general rule, if Andrew says so, I read it.  And as expected, Dear Child by Romy Hausmann did not disappoint.  This story is terrifying in all the right ways.  It will keeping you guessing throughout, trying to figure out who you can trust and who you can't.  If you love those WTF?!?! moments in a book, this one will definitely deliver.  It was just unfortunate that I had students in my room when I read one of those parts.  I really wanted to yell out loud, but I restrained myself.  If you are looking for a read that will keep you on edge and take you on a roller coaster of emotions, look no further than Dear Child.  This one will for sure be on my list of favorite books of 2020!

 

From Amazon: 

“[A] tantalizingly disturbing debut…As enthralling as it is thought-provoking.” -New York Times Book Review

Bustle Best Books of Fall 2020
Publishers Weekly Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers of Fall 2020
She Reads Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2020

A woman held captive finally escapes―but can she ever really get away?

Gone Girl meets Room in this page-turning, #1 internationally bestselling thriller from one of Germany’s hottest new talents

A windowless shack in the woods. A dash to safety. But when a woman finally escapes her captor, the end of the story is only the beginning of her nightmare.

She says her name is Lena. Lena, who disappeared without a trace 14 years prior. She fits the profile. She has the distinctive scar. But her family swears that she isn’t their Lena.

The little girl who escaped the woods with her knows things she isn’t sharing, and Lena’s devastated father is trying to piece together details that don’t quite fit. Lena is desperate to begin again, but something tells her that her tormentor still wants to get back what belongs to him…and that she may not be able to truly escape until the whole truth about what happened in the woods finally emerges.

Twisty, suspenseful, and psychologically clever, Romy Hausmann's Dear Child is a captivating thriller with all the ingredients of a breakout hit.

“Chilling, original and mesmerizing.” ―David Baldacci

All the Pretty Things by Emily Arsenault

All the Pretty Things by Emily Arsenault is a delightful mystery novel that may also have you devastated as the truth comes to light.  While a mystery, this story is all about family and friendship and what exactly those things mean when they don't always fit together.  The main setting for this story is an amusement park, Fabuland, and all that goes along with it.  This setting makes for a fun place to be as Ivy tries to unravel the mysterious death of Ethan, a coworker and classmate, who appears to have fallen off a bridge walking home from work one night.  Ivy was out of town at the time, but her best friend Morgan is the one who found Ethan's body.  This discovery has shaken Morgan to the core.  As Ivy begins to ask questions about the night of Ethan's death, she soon discovers there is more to Morgan's fragile mental state than just her gruesome discovery.  Ivy now has to figure out what role her father, the owner of Fabuland, has played in all the strange things that have been going on with the employees at the park.  Arsenault keeps the read on edge throughout this enjoyable novel. 

 

From Amazon: 

"A skillfully plotted mystery, bursting with the glare and feverish energy of its summer amusement park setting." --Holly Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

For fans of Sadie and The Cheerleaders comes an all new thriller about a boy who turns up dead under suspicious circumstances and the one girl who may be the key to solving the mystery of his untimely death.

For Ivy, summer means roller-coaster season, spinning cotton candy at the Fabuland amusement park, and hanging out with her best friend, Morgan. But this summer is different.

One morning, Morgan finds a dead body. It's their former classmate and coworker Ethan. To make matters worse, Morgan is taken to a hospital psych ward only days later, and she's not saying much--not even to Ivy.

The police claim that Ethan simply took a bad fall, but Ivy isn't convinced and realizes it's up to her to get answers. What she finds is unsettling--it's clear that some people aren't being honest about Ethan's last night at Fabuland. Including Morgan. And the more secrets Ivy uncovers, the closer she gets to unraveling dark truths that will change her life forever.

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Dear Justyce is the incredible follow up to Nic Stone's bestselling debut, Dear Martin.  This book is important and powerful and will stick with the reader longer after turning the final pages.  It is about the injustice our young people often face in the juvenile justice system.  It is a novel about the trauma that youth often face in their own homes and the impact it has on their lives.  Most importantly, this is a story about the importance of having people in your life who truly believe in you. 

Dear Justyce tells the story of Quan, a young man who has been incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit.  Through flashbacks and letters to his childhood friend Justyce, we learn what has put Quan where he is.  Through the trauma of a troubled childhood, Quan finds a group of people who fulfill his familial needs.  But his loyalty causes him to take the rap for a crime he didn't commit.  As he awaits trial nearly two years after being arrested, he suddenly finds himself surrounded by a support team who truly believes in him, including Justyce, who has just completed his first year of pre-law at Yale.  When Quan finally tells Justyce that he didn't do what he has been accused of, Justyce puts together a team that is intent on giving Quan a chance at a new life.  Having people with a true belief in him gives Quan a new outlook on a life that he felt, and was often told, was destined for a prison cell.  With the support that he always lacked, Quan now has the chance at a life that he not only wants, but one he deserves. 

The stunning sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Martin. Incarcerated teen Quan writes letters to Justyce about his experiences in the American juvenile justice system. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Angie Thomas.

In the highly anticipated sequel to her New York Times bestseller, Nic Stone delivers an unflinching look into the flawed practices and silenced voices in the American juvenile justice system.

Vernell LaQuan Banks and Justyce McAllister grew up a block apart in the Southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Wynwood Heights. Years later, though, Justyce walks the illustrious halls of Yale University . . . and Quan sits behind bars at the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Center.

Through a series of flashbacks, vignettes, and letters to Justyce--the protagonist of Dear Martin--Quan's story takes form. Troubles at home and misunderstandings at school give rise to police encounters and tough decisions. But then there's a dead cop and a weapon with Quan's prints on it. What leads a bright kid down a road to a murder charge? Not even Quan is sure.

"A powerful, raw, must-read told through the lens of a Black boy ensnared by our broken criminal justice system." -Kirkus, Starred Review

Bye-Bye, Blue Creek by Andrew Smith

Bye-Bye, Blue Creek is the latest middle grade novel from the incomparable Andrew Smith.  This is the sequel to The Size of the Truth, his first novel in the Sam Abernathy series.  It is such a fun novel about growing up and letting go.  It is about holding on to those things that are most important to us, while at the same time accepting what the future holds.  Sam is such an enjoyable character and this story about his last days before starting high school is a beautiful way to inform the reader about this boy we encountered years before.  

We first met Sam in Smith's YA novel Stand Off.  In this newest story, Sam is getting ready to leave his small Texas town of Blue Creek and head to school in Pine Mountain, Oregon.  As a 12 year old incoming freshman, this is a pretty scary prospect.  Sam is preparing to say goodbye to all that he has ever known: his family, his friends, this quirky little town.  And as he embarks on a scary little adventure in his last days in Blue Creek, Sam learns that saying goodbye doesn't mean it's the end.  In fact, this is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure to come. 

From Amazon: 

Sam Abernathy prepares to leave home for the first time in this charming follow-up to award-winning author Andrew Smith’s The Size of Truth.

Vampires have just moved in to the haunted house next door.

All twelve-year-old Sam Abernathy wanted to do was make the most of his last few weeks in Blue Creek before he has to say goodbye. Goodbye to the well he fell in eight years ago; goodbye to cooking at Lily Putt’s snack bar; goodbye to his overdramatic best friend, Karim; goodbye to unsweetened iced tea at Colonel Jenkins’s Diner every Saturday with Bahar (who he does not have a crush on); goodbye to his old life.

But the arrival of the Monster People throws a wrench into his plans. Things only get worse when the new family hires Bahar to babysit their child, Boris, who is almost certainly a cannibal. And then—scariest of all—they employ Sam’s catering services. He can’t possibly say no.

If he doesn’t survive the summer, Sam might not have to say bye-bye to Blue Creek at all.

Thoughts & Prayers by Bryan Bliss

My latest read is the new novel from Bryan Bliss, Thoughts & Prayers.  This one is immensely powerful and uniquely told.  Bliss's novel is all about our reaction to trauma and the healing that must come from it.  It is about connecting with those around you and finding peace in their presence.  Even in shared trauma, we all heal differently, and Bliss has given us a novel, told in three different stories, about the different ways in which we find help.  

Thoughts & Prayers is a beautifully told story about three teens, Claire, Eleanor, and Brezzen, who are all survivors of a school shooting.  Each have handled the trauma in different ways, but each are searching for a path to healing.  While told in three separate stories, they are all connected to one traumatic and shared event in the lives of these three students.  This novel is powerful and important and will help the reader understand the trauma our kids go through each time we face these unspeakable acts. 

From Amazon: 

"In his unflinching and resonant new novel, Bryan Bliss shows that there is no straight line through trauma, no easy recipe for healing. Instead, in three loosely connected stories of young people bound by an all-too familiar tragedy, he deftly illuminates the small  moments of human connection and resolve that might just lead to a place of grace."—Gayle Forman, bestselling author of If I Stay and I Have Lost My Way

Fight. Flight. Freeze. What do you do when you can’t move on, even though the rest of the world seems to have? 

For readers of Jason Reynolds, Marieke Nijkamp, and Laurie Halse Anderson. Powerful and tense, Thoughts & Prayers is an extraordinary novel that explores what it means to heal and to feel safe in a world that constantly chooses violence.

Claire, Eleanor, and Brezzen have little in common. Claire fled to Minnesota with her older brother, Eleanor is the face of a social movement, and Brezzen retreated into the fantasy world of Wizards & Warriors.

But a year ago, they were linked. They all hid under the same staircase and heard the shots that took the lives of some of their classmates and a teacher. Now, each one copes with the trauma as best as they can, even as the world around them keeps moving.

Told in three loosely connected but inextricably intertwined stories, National Book Award–longlisted author Bryan Bliss’s Thoughts & Prayers follows three high school students in the aftermath of a school shooting. Thoughts & Prayers is a story about gun violence, but more importantly it is the story of what happens after the reporters leave and the news cycle moves on to the next tragedy. It is the story of three unforgettable teens who feel forgotten.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

One of my absolute favorite authors, Tiffany D. Jackson, has once again given readers an unbelievably powerful story.  If she writes it, I am going to read it, and this one, like every other novel she has written, did not disappoint.  In this dark and gritty story, Jackson gives us a novel about the abuse of power that adults often inflict on young victims.  It is about how fame and money often causes people to look away when they should be looking deeper.  This is a novel about trauma and the perseverance to survive and move on.  But most importantly it is a novel about how often we don't believe the victims, especially when they are people of color.   Just like her other novels, this one is timely and important and one that should force you to open your eyes to the things we often overlook in our world.  

Grown is the story of Enchanted Jones, an aspiring young singer.  While on an audition, Enchanted catches the eye of Korey Fields, one of the biggest superstars in the music industry.  Korey sees something special in her voice.  And as he convinces her parents to let him make a star out of her, he also starts to seduce this young woman.  The sweet and loving side of Korey is often replaced with a terrifying and abusive man who continues to isolate and abuse Enchanted.  When she wakes up one morning covered in blood, she becomes the prime suspect in Korey's murder.  Did all the trauma she endured finally cause her to snap or did someone frame her for a crime she didn't commit.  Either way, what we see is a group of adults who covered for a man who knew what he was doing was wrong.  We see a group of adults who don't believe the accuser because she is young and black.  Jackson begs us to listen to the victims and condemn the abusers.  This is just another masterpiece in the works of Tiffany D. Jackson. 

 

From Amazon: 

An instant New York Times bestseller! “Grown exposes the underbelly of a tough conversation, providing a searing examination of misogynoir, rape culture, and the vulnerability of young black girls. Groundbreaking, heart-wrenching, and essential reading for all in the #MeToo era.” —Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles 

Award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another riveting, ripped-from-the-headlines mystery that exposes horrific secrets hiding behind the limelight and embraces the power of a young woman’s voice.

When legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots Enchanted Jones at an audition, her dreams of being a famous singer take flight. Until Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night. Who killed Korey Fields?

Before there was a dead body, Enchanted’s dreams had turned into a nightmare. Because behind Korey’s charm and star power was a controlling dark side. Now he’s dead, the police are at the door, and all signs point to Enchanted.

“Never have I read a story that so flawlessly hits the highest high and lowest low notes of Black girlhood in pursuit of the American Dream.” —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin and Jackpot

 

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

 If you are a horror fan, The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones will be right up your alley.  This one is intense and terrifying, but offers a satisfying and hopeful ending.  This is a story about our own personal history and how our choices will sometimes come back to get us.  It's about finding our path in life and knowing which direction we should be heading.  

The Only Good Indians is the story of four friends who find themselves in hunting grounds that are off limits to them.  This part of the reservation is for the elders only, but they head in anyways.  When they find a huge herd of elk in their sights, they can't help themselves and open fire, taking down more than they ever could have imagined.  But one of the elk was unexpectedly pregnant, clinging to life to protect her calf, to no avail.  As the 10 year anniversary of the "Thanksgiving Classic" is approaching, things start getting weird for Lewis.  He is driven to madness as the thoughts of that struggling calf come back to him.  But Lewis is only the first of his friends that finds the memories of that day haunting them.  Soon the others are fighting for their lives as their past comes fighting back in to the present. 

Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation by Michael Powell

Canyon Dreams by Michael Powell was my latest read, and I was just blown away.  Powell's storytelling is beautiful and stunning and heartbreaking.  While this book tells of one season of the Chinle High School basketball team, this is a story about so much more than basketball.  It is really a novel about the Navajo people and the struggles they often face living on the reservation.  It is about the history and traditions of the Navajo and how their lives have evolved over the years.  This is a human interest story that will have you cheering for this group of boys as they navigate not only the long basketball season, but lives full of heartache and hope.  I loved this novel so much.  I really can't say enough good things about it.

Note: There is a series on Netflix to accompany this novel.  It is called Basketball or Nothing. 

From Amazon:

The moving story of a Navajo high school basketball team, its members struggling with the everyday challenges of high school, adolescence, and family, and the great and unique obstacles facing Native Americans living on reservations.

Deep in the heart of northern Arizona, in a small and isolated patch of the vast 17.5-million-acre Navajo reservation, sits Chinle High School. Here, basketball is passion, passed from grandparent to parent to child. Rez Ball is a sport for winters where dark and cold descend fast and there is little else to do but roam mesa tops, work, and wonder what the future holds. The town has 4,500 residents and the high school arena seats 7,000. Fans drive thirty, fifty, even eighty miles to see the fast-paced and highly competitive matchups that are more than just games to players and fans.

Celebrated Times journalist Michael Powell brings us a narrative of triumph and hardship, a moving story about a basketball team on a Navajo reservation that shows how important sports can be to youths in struggling communities, and the transcendent magic and painful realities that confront Native Americans living on reservations. This book details his season-long immersion in the team, town, and culture, in which there were exhilarating wins, crushing losses, and conversations on long bus rides across the desert about dreams of  leaving home and the fear of the same.

Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams

Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams was an engrossing and tense read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  In a novel about faith, family,  and trust, McWilliams gives a strong and powerful female lead.  Through Agnes we learn about the cruelties that people (especially women) face inside a cult.  We learn about the strength and determination it takes to leave and the faith it takes to come back. 

Agnes has always been the faithful servant in her small Red Creek community.  She does the right thing and is obedient to her father and the Prophet.  Except when it comes to her little brother Ezekiel.  Ezekiel depends on a monthly supply of insulin from the outside world and nobody knows that Agnes has been receiving this forbidden medicine from an Outsider.  When she realizes that life in Red Creek isn't the paradise she has been led to believe, Agnes makes the courageous decision to leave for the Outside.  But what she finds is shocking.  The Outside is caught in an apocalyptic pandemic and things are deteriorating quickly.  But through this chaos, Agnes discovers she has more power than she ever thought.  She may just be the answer to saving her family and many others from the illness that is ravaging the planet.  Now she has to decide if she is strong enough to once again face Red Creek and the world she thought she had escaped. 

From Amazon:

The Handmaid's Tale meets Wilder Girls in this genre-defying novel about a girl who escapes a terrifying cult only to discover that the world Outside has succumbed to a viral apocalypse.

Agnes loves her home of Red Creek -- its quiet, sunny mornings, its dusty roads, and its God. There, she cares tirelessly for her younger siblings and follows the town's strict laws. What she doesn't know is that Red Creek is a cult, controlled by a madman who calls himself a prophet.

Then Agnes meets Danny, an Outsider boy, and begins to question what is and isn't a sin. Her younger brother, Ezekiel, will die without the insulin she barters for once a month, even though medicine is considered outlawed. Is she a sinner for saving him? Is her sister, Beth, a sinner for dreaming of the world beyond Red Creek?

As the Prophet grows more dangerous, Agnes realizes she must escape with Ezekiel and leave everyone else, including Beth, behind. But it isn't safe Outside, either: A viral pandemic is burning through the population at a terrifying rate. As Agnes ventures forth, a mysterious connection grows between her and the Virus. But in a world where faith, miracles, and cruelty have long been indistinguishable, will Agnes be able to choose between saving her family and saving the world?

I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick

The first thing I want to say about I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick is that the book itself is beautiful.  Not only the cover, but the edges of the pages are a brilliant blue.  I love books with colored edges.  The inside of this book is pretty damn good as well.  If you like mysteries and who-done-its, this one should be at the top of your list.  It was such an intriguing and fun read.  From the very first pages you will be hooked.  Frick has given us a great story with tons of twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout.  If you are a fan of authors like Karen McManus or Kara Thomas, this one will be right up your alley!

I Killed Zoe Spanos is the story of newly graduated Anna Cicconi.  Anna's senior year of high school was filled with hard partying, blacking out, and police rides home.  Before she starts college in the fall she is determined to change her ways.  When she takes a job as a nanny in the Hamptons for the summer, it gives her the perfect escape from the temptations of her life in Brooklyn.

Things quickly turn strange for Anna as people all around the small town of Herron Mills begin to do a double take when they see her.  What she finds out is that she has a strong resemblance to Zoe Spanos, a local girl who went missing on New Year's Eve.  As the summer rolls on, Anna begins to obsess over the disappearance of Zoe Spanos, while at the same time having vivid memories of the people and places in Herron Mills, even though she doesn't believe she has ever been there before this summer. 

When Zoe's body is discovered late in the summer, Anna begins to believe she may have had some involvement in her death.  Soon she finds herself confessing and is placed in a juvenile detention facility.  But did Anna really do it or is she simply conjuring up memories that aren't really connected to Zoe's disappearance?  With the help of aspiring journalist and current podcast host Martina Green, the truth will finally be revealed.  Will Martina clear Anna's name, or will we be convinced that she is guilty as charged?   

From Amazon:

A People Best Book of Summer 2020
A Parade Best Book of Summer 2020
“The YA thriller of the summer.” —Bustle

First print edition includes blue sprayed edges!

For fans of Sadie and Serial, this gripping thriller follows two teens whose lives become inextricably linked when one confesses to murder and the other becomes determined to uncover the real truth no matter the cost.

What happened to Zoe won’t stay buried…

When Anna Cicconi arrives to the small Hamptons village of Herron Mills for a summer nanny gig, she has high hopes for a fresh start. What she finds instead is a community on edge after the disappearance of Zoe Spanos, a local girl who has been missing since New Year’s Eve. Anna bears an eerie resemblance to Zoe, and her mere presence in town stirs up still-raw feelings about the unsolved case. As Anna delves deeper into the mystery, stepping further and further into Zoe’s life, she becomes increasingly convinced that she and Zoe are connected—and that she knows what happened to her.

Two months later, Zoe’s body is found in a nearby lake, and Anna is charged with manslaughter. But Anna’s confession is riddled with holes, and Martina Green, teen host of the Missing Zoe podcast, isn’t satisfied. Did Anna really kill Zoe? And if not, can Martina’s podcast uncover the truth?

Inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, Kit Frick weaves a thrilling story of psychological suspense that twists and turns until the final page.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

My latest read is the debut novel by Iain Reid, I'm Thinking of Ending Things.  This story is dark and haunting and is one that will stick with you for a long time.  The psychological horror of this novel will scare you and leave you breathless in moments.  And as Reid dives in to the ideas of relationships and loneliness, you will begin to question your own psyche.   Reid does a masterful job of building suspense throughout the course of the novel and leaves the reader with one of the most WTF endings I have ever read (and I mean that in a really good way).  If you like to be scared in a very real way, this is the perfect novel for you!

From Amazon:

SOON TO BE A NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM DIRECTED BY CHARLIE KAUFMAN
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016

“I’m Thinking of Ending Things is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. Iain Reid has crafted a tight, ferocious little book, with a persistent tenor of suspense that tightens and mounts toward its visionary, harrowing final pages” (Scott Heim, award-winning author of Mysterious Skin and We Disappear).

I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always.

Jake once said, “Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can’t fake a thought.”

And here’s what I’m thinking: I don’t want to be here.

In this “dark and compelling…unputdownable” (Booklist, starred review) literary thriller, debut novelist Iain Reid explores the depths of the human psyche, questioning consciousness, free will, the value of relationships, fear, and the limitations of solitude. Reminiscent of Jose Saramago’s early work, Michel Faber’s cult classic Under the Skin, and Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk about Kevin, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is an edgy, haunting debut. Tense, gripping, and atmospheric, this novel “packs a big psychological punch with a twisty story line and an ending that will leave readers breathless” (Library Journal, starred review).

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power is an intense and creepy read from the acclaimed author of Wilder Girls.  The sophomore novel from Power does not disappoint.  This novel takes some of the elements from her debut, but weaves it in to a much different tale.  This story is all about finding family and uncovering our roots.  It's about finding our identity, even if it isn't anything like we expected.  This novel also shows us how we don't have to be tied to our past, but instead finding a way to blaze our own future.

This is the story of Margot, a young girl who has lived her whole life with only her mom.  She knows nothing of her dad or any other family.  Any time she asks, her mother refuses to give her any details.

But by chance, she one day finds an old photo, the only scrap she has ever uncovered about her family.  This photograph leads her to the small town of Phalene, a town that was once highly influenced by her family, the Nielsens.  But tragedy fell upon the family and the Nielsen name isn't what it used to be.  As Margot finds more questions than answers about her family, she starts to realize she may have stumbled upon something much more sinister than she ever could have imagined.  And now she has to wonder if she will ever be able to escape the past she so desperately wanted to uncover.  

From Amazon:

"[A] deliriously creepy tale...that'll keep your nightmares up at night." --Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Wilder Girls comes a feverishly twisty thriller about a girl whose past has always been a mystery--until she decides to return to her mother's hometown . . . where history has a tendency to repeat itself.

Ever since Margot was born, it's been just her and her mother, struggling to get along. But that's not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she may have just found the answer: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Only, when Margot gets there, it's not what she bargained for.

As soon as they see her face, everyone in town knows who Margot belongs to. It's unmistakable--she's a Nielsen. And when a mysterious girl who could be Margot's twin is pulled from a fire, Margot realizes that her mother left Phalene for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what's still there?

The only thing Margot knows for sure is there's poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she's there, she might never escape.

When the Light Went Out by Bridget Morrissey

When the Light Went Out by Bridget Morrissey is a deeply intense novel about grief and guilt and memory.  It is a story about understanding and self-discovery and forgiveness.  Maybe most importantly, this is a novel about how to keep someone's memory alive without letting it consume you.  As you read, you will be rooting for this group of kids to find forgiveness and closure as they deal with the unspeakable tragedy of Marley Bricket's death. 

Five years after the death of one of their own, the six remaining kids of Albany Lane are all together for the first time.  Since the unfortunate accident that stole the life from Marley Bricket, Nick has stayed away.  But the anniversary of her death has brought him back to the group of friends, reuniting in Marley's memory.  But this reunion helps old memories to resurface and these friends now have to answer a difficult and unanswered question: Did Marley know that her father's gun was loaded?  

From Amazon:

I Was Here meets Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls in this story of seven friends, five years of silence, and the one mystery that will bring them back together again.

It's been five years since Marley Bricket died by accidental gunshot. On the night of the annual memorial, Olivia Stanton, the only witness to Marley's death, gets an unexpected visitor in the form of Nick Cline. He's the boy who pulled the trigger on what he didn't know was a loaded gun. Since then, nothing in the quiet desert town of Cadence, California has ever been the same.

Nick's surprise reappearance puts all the Kids of Albany Lane in one place for the first time since Marley died. The once-inseparable group of neighborhood friends, formerly led by Marley herself, has disbanded. But when Olivia discovers a scavenger hunt orchestrated by Marley before she died, the group must come together again to complete it, reopening old wounds and unearthing new questions about what really happened. Most importantly, did Marley know the gun was loaded?

"A thrilling, adventure-filled story that captures the anguish of losing a friend."―Kirkus

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal

My latest read is I'm Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal.  This is a riveting, intense, and page turning novel about friendship, understanding, and racism.  It is a story about racial inequalities and learning to understand the differences we all have.  It's about prejudice and realizing where our prejudices are dead wrong. 

This wonderful novel is told through dual narrators, Lena and Campbell.  Lena is black and full of confidence and swagger.  Campbell is white and is the new girl at school.  With no friends and no real desire to make any, Campbell is quiet and withdrawn.  When these two virtual strangers are thrust together amid chaos at a football game, they must rely on each other to survive the madness.  During the course of the events of one night, these two learn that everything they initially thought about the other is false.  They only have each other for most of the night and through the ongoing trauma, come to see the best in each other and form a friendship based on a mutual understanding of what is real and what isn't.

This story is intense and it will keep you turning the page as our two main characters fight for their survival.  It is timely and important and one that will remain in your thoughts for a long time.    

From Amazon:

"An absolute page turner, I'm Not Dying with You Tonight is a compelling and powerful novel that is sure to make an impact. " ―Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give

An NAACP Image Award Nominee, I'm Not Dying with You Tonight follows two teen girls―one black, one white―who have to confront their own assumptions about racial inequality as they rely on each other to get through the violent race riot that has set their city on fire with civil unrest.

Lena has her killer style, her awesome boyfriend, and a plan. She knows she's going to make it big. Campbell, on the other hand, is just trying to keep her head down and get through the year at her new school.

When both girls attend the Friday-night football game, what neither expects is for everything to descend into sudden mass chaos. Chaos born from violence and hate. Chaos that unexpectedly throws them together.

They aren't friends. They hardly understand the other's point of view. But none of that matters when the city is up in flames, and they only have each other to rely on if they're going to survive the night.

This book is perfect for:

• Sparking conversations about prejudice and the racial tension that exists in America
• Parents and educators looking for multicultural and African American books for teens
• Fans of Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, and Jason Reynolds

Seven Clues to Home by Gae Polisner and Norah Raleigh Baskin

As I am sure you may know, I am a big fan of the young adult novels by Gae Polisner.  Her writing is phenomenal.  Seven Clues to Home teams up Gae with award winning author Nora Raleigh Baskin to bring us this incredible middle grade novel.  Seven Clues is a beautiful story about love and grief and the importance of home.  Polisner and Baskin have given us a novel that dives in to the grief our young protagonist feels and the path to healing she travels along.  With the words and clues left behind after the untimely death of her best friend, Joy is able to start living again.  She is able to find strength through her journey, a journey that will take her right back to the place that means the most.  Home.  Seven Clues to Home is an incredible story, told by two wonderful authors, that will stick with you longer after you are finished. 

From Amazon:

An endearing story of love and grief as one girl follows the clues in a scavenger hunt left behind by her best friend, perfect for fans of Bridge to Terabithia and Nine, Ten.

WHEN YOU'VE LOST WHAT MATTERS MOST,
HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR WAY BACK HOME?

Joy Fonseca is dreading her 13th birthday, dreading being reminded again about her best friend Lukas's senseless death on this day, one year ago -- and dreading the fact he may have heard what she accidentally blurted to him the night before. Or maybe she's more worried he didn't hear.

Either way, she's decided: she's going to finally open the first clue to their annual birthday scavenger hunt Lukas left for her the morning he died, hoping the rest of the clues are still out there. If they are, they might lead Joy to whatever last words Lukas wrote, and toward understanding how to grab onto the future that is meant to be hers.

Running with the Buffaloes: A Season Inside With Mark Wetmore, Adam Goucher, And The University Of Colorado Men's Cross Country Team by Chris Lear

Running with the Buffaloes: A Season with Mark Wetmore, Adam Goucher, and The University of Colorado Men's Cross Country Team by Chris Lear is my latest read.  This one is quite different from what I usually read, but one I enjoyed immensely.  While not a runner myself, my son is.  Because of his love of running, I love to know all about it.  And this story of the 1998 cross country season for the University of Colorado men's team is one for the ages.  While this book is obviously about the running, it is about so much more.  This novel tells of teamwork, leadership, toughness, courage, grief, and persistence.  We learn about work ethic in the training of Adam Goucher and his teammates.  We learn about trust as each of the runners follow the plan of Coach Mark Wetmore.  And we see what can be accomplished after unspeakable tragedy by having faith in those who surround you.  Whether you are a fan of running or not, Running with the Buffaloes is a story that will have you cheering for this group of runners from starting line to finish line.  

From Amazon:

Top five Best Books About Running, Runner's World Magazine

Top three Best Books About Running, readers of Runner's World Magazine (December 2009)

In RUNNING WITH THE BUFFALOES, writer Chris Lear follows the University of Colorado cross-country team through an unforgettable NCAA season. Allowed unparalleled access to team practices, private moments, and the mind of Mark Wetmore--one of the country's most renowned and controversial coaches--Lear provides a riveting look inside the triumphs and heartaches of a perennial national contender and the men who will stop at nothing to achieve excellence. The Buffaloes' 1998 season held great promise, with Olympic hopeful Adam Goucher poised for his first-ever NCAA cross-country title, and the University of Colorado shooting for its first-ever national team title. But in the rigorous world of top-level collegiate sports, blind misfortune can sabotage the dreams of individuals and teams alike. In a season plagued by injury and the tragic loss of a teammate, the Buffaloes were tested as never before. What these men managed to achieve in the face of such adversity is the stuff of legend and glory.
With passion and suspense, Lear captures the lives of these young men and offers a glimpse of what drives a gifted runner like Adam Goucher and a great coach like Mark Wetmore. Like Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike, RUNNING WITH THE BUFFALOES is at once a glowing celebration of a sport and an inspiration to anyone who has ever had the courage to beat the odds and follow a dream.

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe

My latest read is The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe, this year's winner of the William C. Morris Award for the best YA debut.  And that award was very deserved.  This novel was fun and funny, but also thought-provoking.  It is a look in to the life of teenagers, but also an outsider's story of trying to fit in to that typical life.  It is about finding your way in the world and figuring out how to make it all work.  And in the end, it's a story not about the messes we make, but what we do to clean them up.  I highly recommend!

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager is the story of Norris Kaplan, a Black French Canadian who suddenly finds his life uprooted as he moves to Austin, Texas.  The temperature is too hot, the cheerleaders are too full of themselves, and the sports are too "not hockey."  He is miserable in his new life, but as he leans in and gives Austin a chance, he finds it may not be too bad.  He has a job, has made a few friends, met a girl (or two), and even helped start a hockey team.  Everything seems to be looking up for Norris. That is until one night when he messes everything up.  His world falls apart and now me must figure out how to put all the pieces back together again.  

From Amazon:

William C. Morris YA Debut Award Winner!

A hilarious YA contemporary realistic novel about a witty Black French Canadian teen who moves to Austin, Texas, and experiences the joys, clichés, and awkward humiliations of the American high school experience—including falling in love. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon, When Dimple Met Rishi, and John Green. This young adult novel is an excellent choice for accelerated tween readers in grades 7 to 8, especially during homeschooling. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.

Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A Black French Canadian, he knows from watching American sitcoms that those three things don’t bode well when you are moving to Austin, Texas.

Plunked into a new high school and sweating a ridiculous amount from the oppressive Texas heat, Norris finds himself cataloging everyone he meets: the Cheerleaders, the Jocks, the Loners, and even the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Making a ton of friends has never been a priority for him, and this way he can at least amuse himself until it’s time to go back to Canada, where he belongs.

Yet against all odds, those labels soon become actual people to Norris…like loner Liam, who makes it his mission to befriend Norris, or Madison the beta cheerleader, who is so nice that it has to be a trap. Not to mention Aarti the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, who might, in fact, be a real love interest in the making.

But the night of the prom, Norris screws everything up royally. As he tries to pick up the pieces, he realizes it might be time to stop hiding behind his snarky opinions and start living his life—along with the people who have found their way into his heart.

Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby

Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All is a National Book Award Finalist and very deservedly so.  Laura Ruby has given readers another beautiful story and one that will stick with them long after turning the final page.  The storytelling in Thirteen Doorways is incredible and Ruby will draw you in immediately.  This haunting story is all about survival, persistence, forgiveness, and hope.  It is a story about finding your future while reconciling your past.  This is a novel about self-understanding and knowing that the life you have built for yourself will always be enough.  I can't recommend this one enough.  It is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far!

From Amazon:

National Book Award 2019 Finalist!

From the author of Printz Medal winner Bone Gap comes the unforgettable story of two young women—one living, one dead—dealing with loss, desire, and the fragility of the American dream during WWII.

When Frankie’s mother died and her father left her and her siblings at an orphanage in Chicago, it was supposed to be only temporary—just long enough for him to get back on his feet and be able to provide for them once again. That’s why Frankie's not prepared for the day that he arrives for his weekend visit with a new woman on his arm and out-of-state train tickets in his pocket.

Now Frankie and her sister, Toni, are abandoned alongside so many other orphans—two young, unwanted women doing everything they can to survive.

And as the embers of the Great Depression are kindled into the fires of World War II, and the shadows of injustice, poverty, and death walk the streets in broad daylight, it will be up to Frankie to find something worth holding on to in the ruins of this shattered America—every minute of every day spent wondering if the life she's able to carve out will be enough.

I will admit I do not know the answer. But I will be watching, waiting to find out.

That’s what ghosts do.

A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet

A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet came highly recommended by one of my favorite authors, Andrew Smith.  And what I have learned is if Andrew tells you that you should read something, you probably should.  This novel is no exception.  This is not a YA novel, but that should not stop young people from reading it.  A Children's Bible is a funny and thought provoking look at the difference between adulthood and adolescence and what that difference may mean for the future.  And maybe most importantly, it can be an eye opener about the legacy we are leaving for our children by the actions we are taking in the present day.

A Children's Bible is the story of a group of kids (mostly teens, but a couple younger) who are brought together by their parents.  Their parents have all rented a vacation house together, intent on a full summer of drugs, booze, sex, and general debauchery.  The kids are left to fend for themselves, but knowing their parents, this is how they want it.  When a powerful storm sweeps through the area, maybe signaling the end times, this group of young people is forced to venture in to this apocalyptic world on their own.  As chaos continues to unfold, the kids and parents must come together to confront the vices that have divided them.  This eventual cooperation may not be enough to overcome what the adults have already established.   And maybe, just maybe, the future is placed in to the hands of those who are best equipped to handle it.   

From Amazon:

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2020 by Apple Books, Literary Hub, The Millions, and The Week

An indelible novel of teenage alienation and adult complacency in an unraveling world.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Lydia Millet’s sublime new novel―her first since the National Book Award long-listed Sweet Lamb of Heaven―follows a group of twelve eerily mature children on a forced vacation with their families at a sprawling lakeside mansion.

Contemptuous of their parents, who pass their days in a stupor of liquor, drugs, and sex, the children feel neglected and suffocated at the same time. When a destructive storm descends on the summer estate, the group’s ringleaders―including Eve, who narrates the story―decide to run away, leading the younger ones on a dangerous foray into the apocalyptic chaos outside.

As the scenes of devastation begin to mimic events in the dog-eared picture Bible carried around by her beloved little brother, Eve devotes herself to keeping him safe from harm.

A Children’s Bible is a prophetic, heartbreaking story of generational divide―and a haunting vision of what awaits us on the far side of Revelation.

We Speak in Storms by Natalie Lund

We Speak in Storms by Natalie Lund is a beautifully crafted novel about merging our past with our present in order to create a future.  It is about self-acceptance.  It is about following our dreams.  It is about letting go and moving forward.   

We Speak in Storms is told through the perspective of three teens who suddenly find themselves thrown together in the aftermath of a tornado.  More than 50 years to the day that a tornado took the lives of many teens, another storm hits.  Joshua, Brenna, and Callie, three teens who have always found themselves on the outside looking in, suddenly find the spirits of the past are now a part of their lives in the present.  While finding peace in their past, these spirits will help to build a future of hope for the three teens who so desperately need their help.     

From Amazon:

A powerful and haunting debut novel about friendship, acceptance, and learning to let go as the balance between the living and the dead is upended, perfect for fans of We Were Liars.

It's been more than 50 years since a tornado tore through a drive-in movie theater in tiny Mercer, Illinois, leaving dozens of teens -- a whole generation of Mercerites -- dead in its wake. So when another tornado touches down in the exact same spot on the anniversary of this small-town tragedy, the town is shaken. For Brenna Ortiz, Joshua Calloway, and Callie Keller, the apprehension is more than just a feeling. Though they seem to share nothing more than a struggle to belong, the teens' paths continue to intersect, bringing them together when they least expect it, and perhaps, when they need it most. Both the living and the dead have secrets and unresolved problems, but they may be able to find peace and move forward--if only they work together.

A beautifully told, haunting yet hopeful novel about pushing past the pain, facing the world, and finding yourself.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

A couple of years ago, Elizabeth Acevedo won ALL the awards for her incredible novel The Poet X.  Clap When You Land is the third book we get from her, and it is another beautiful story.  It won't surprise me one bit to see this one take home a bunch of awards as well.  Like The Poet X this one is also told in verse.  Acevedo's words are beautiful and poignant as she tells the story of two sisters, worlds apart, who never knew the other existed until their father tragically passes away.  This is a story about grief and pain, but also one of forgiveness and understanding.  It is a novel about family and the sometimes unseen bonds that hold them together.

Clap When You Land is the story of Camino and Yahaira, two sisters who don't even know the other exists.  But when their father dies in an airplane crash, they soon discover their common link.  As both mourn the passing of their father, and the things he left with them, they have to face the reality that he may not have been the man they always thought he was.  And when Yahaira comes to the Dominican Republic to bury her dad, she meets her sister for the first time.  While both often want to be angry with each other, they realize that they are not the real target of their own anger and grief.  They are able to see their father reflected in each other and find the bond that ties them together may be much stronger than they ever could have imagined.  Through her beautiful words, Elizabeth Acevedo is able to give the reader a story of two sisters who are able to build a bridge that spans so much more than the ocean that has always separated them.  

From Amazon:

In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen

Wild Bird is the second novel I have read from Wendelin Van Drannen (The Running Dream being the first) and both of them have left me in tears.  Happy tears, but tears none the less.  The novel is such an incredible story of self-discovery and even more importantly, self-acceptance.  It is a story about families and friendships and understanding what is real and what isn't.  And finally, Wild Bird is a story of hope for the future.

Wild Bird tells the story of Wren Clemmens, a 14 year old girl who has lost her way.  After moving to a new city, Wren finds it difficult to make new friends until she crosses paths with Meadow.  This new friend leads her down a path that includes drugs and shoplifting among other things.  Wren often lashes out at her family when all they want to do is help her.  Then one night she is yanked out of her bed by people she doesn't know.  She is quickly whisked away and put on a plane to Utah.  She discovers that she has been enrolled in a wilderness therapy camp where she must survive eight weeks in the desert.  And during this time she is forced to discover who she is and who she wants to be.  She has to figure out what family and friendship really mean.  Most importantly, she is faced with finding hope for a future she never really believed she could have.  

From Amazon:

From the award-winning author of The Running Dream and Flipped comes a remarkable portrait of a girl who has hit rock bottom but begins a climb back to herself at a wilderness survival camp.

3:47 a.m. That’s when they come for Wren Clemmens. She’s hustled out of her house and into a waiting car, then a plane, and then taken on a forced march into the desert. This is what happens to kids who’ve gone so far off the rails, their parents don’t know what to do with them anymore. This is wilderness therapy camp. Eight weeks of survivalist camping in the desert. Eight weeks to turn your life around. Yeah, right.

The Wren who arrives in the Utah desert is angry and bitter, and blaming everyone but herself. But angry can’t put up a tent. And bitter won’t start a fire. Wren’s going to have to admit she needs help if she’s going to survive.

The Lucky Ones by Liz Lawson

They Lucky Ones is Liz Lawson's debut novel, and if this story is an indicator, we have a lot to look forward to in her writing.  The Lucky Ones is emotionally raw and gritty.  It is a beautiful story about guilt, grief, and finding yourself among the trauma you have endured.  But probably most importantly, this novel is about resilience, hope, and forgiveness.  Lawson captures the pain of survivor's guilt while at the same time moving toward a future of acceptance and fulfillment.  It is both a beautiful and painful debut that will surely stick with you long after you have finished the final words.

The Lucky Ones is told through dual points of view.  First comes May, a survivor of a school shooting which claimed the life of her twin brother.  May was the only one in the band room that day that came out alive.  And almost a year later, she still feels guilt over that day.  Guilt that she didn't do more to save her brother and the others.  Guilt that she had drifted apart from Jordan before he was gone.  And suddenly guilt that maybe it was all her fault. 

Zach gives us the other point of view.  Zach did not go to same high school as May and the other victims, but his mother is a lawyer who has taken on the task of defending the shooter.  Because of this, Zach has lost almost all that he has ever known.  His girlfriend has left him.  One of his closest friends has abandoned him.  Others at school treat him as an outcast because his mom has taken on the case.  All he has left is his best friend Conor, who has been by his side throughout.  Conor is all he has until he happens to cross paths with May.  They find an unlikely friendship in each other.  One that isn't always easy, but is most definitely worth it.  Now these two have the opportunity to show each other what self-forgiveness looks like while blazing a path towards a future that is full of hope.  

From Amazon:

For fans of Thirteen Reasons Why, This Is How It Ends, and All the Bright Places, comes a new novel about life after. How do you put yourself back together when it seems like you've lost it all?

May is a survivor. But she doesn't feel like one. She feels angry. And lost. And alone. Eleven months after the school shooting that killed her twin brother, May still doesn't know why she was the only one to walk out of the band room that day. No one gets what she went through--no one saw and heard what she did. No one can possibly understand how it feels to be her.

Zach lost his old life when his mother decided to defend the shooter. His girlfriend dumped him, his friends bailed, and now he spends his time hanging out with his little sister...and the one faithful friend who stuck around. His best friend is needy and demanding, but he won't let Zach disappear into himself. Which is how Zach ends up at band practice that night. The same night May goes with her best friend to audition for a new band.

Which is how May meets Zach. And how Zach meets May. And how both might figure out that surviving could be an option after all.

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

First of all, you would think this quarantine would mean that I have tons of time to read and I would be plowing through the books.  Unfortunately that is not the case.  For whatever reason, I am finding it hard to take the time to read, and from things I have seen on Twitter, I'm not the only one.  With that being said, I just finished this fantastic novel last night.

To say that I am a huge fan of Jenny Torres Sanchez would be an understatement.  I adore everything I have read of hers.  Through her kindness in helping me with another project, she sent me an advanced copy of her newest novel We Are Not From Here, which will be released May 19.  And it is stunning!  This story is gritty and grimy, but also full of resilience and hope.  It is a story about dreams.  Dreams of escaping a life that is full of danger and desperation.  Dreams of having a life free of fear and worry.  It is a novel about family, both blood and those closest to us that we consider our family. 

We Are Not From Here is the story of Pulga, Chico, and Pequena, three teens from Guatemala desperately fleeing to the United States to escape the harsh realities of home.  The death and danger they see everyday in their home town has become too much.  They are determined to follow their dreams and seek out a better life.  With a plan to catch a ride on La Bestia, a series of trains that run through Mexico to the U.S., these three teens will risk it all to find safety.  This deadly journey will have them clinging to life and gives the reader some insight in to the dangers that so many put themselves in so they may escape the perils of their everyday life. 

Jenny Torres Sanchez has given us a beautiful and heart-wrenching tale that is so incredibly relevant to today.  As a big fan of hers, she definitely did not disappoint with her latest novel.    

From Amazon:

A poignant novel of desperation, escape, and survival across the U.S.-Mexico border, inspired by current events.

Pulga has his dreams.
Chico has his grief.
Pequeña has her pride.

And these three teens have one another. But none of them have illusions about the town they've grown up in and the dangers that surround them. Even with the love of family, threats lurk around every corner. And when those threats become all too real, the trio knows they have no choice but to run: from their country, from their families, from their beloved home.

Crossing from Guatemala through Mexico, they follow the route of La Bestia, the perilous train system that might deliver them to a better life--if they are lucky enough to survive the journey. With nothing but the bags on their backs and desperation drumming through their hearts, Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña know there is no turning back, despite the unknown that awaits them. And the darkness that seems to follow wherever they go.

In this striking portrait of lives torn apart, the plight of migrants at the U.S. southern border is brought to light through poignant, vivid storytelling. An epic journey of danger, resilience, heartache, and hope.

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

Diana Urban's debut novel, All Your Twisted Secrets, was a really fun and exciting thriller.  If you are a fan of mysteries, this one will be right up your alley.  You will spend pages trying to piece it together, and when you figure it all out, you will probably find yourself as shocked as I was.  If you have read Kara Thomas or Karen McManus and enjoyed their novels, you will be a fan of this one.  I highly recommend you dive in to the worlds of Amber, Sasha, and the rest of this crew.  

From Amazon:

"Talk about frightening page-turners! I kept reading chapter after chapter. I had to know what happens next! And trust me―the scares just keep on coming!" ―R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps & Fear Street

This thrilling debut, reminiscent of new fan favorites like One of Us Is Lying and the beloved classics by Agatha Christie, will leave readers guessing until the explosive ending.

"Welcome to dinner, and again, congratulations on being selected. Now you must do the selecting."

What do the queen bee, star athlete, valedictorian, stoner, loner, and music geek all have in common? They were all invited to a scholarship dinner, only to discover it's a trap. Someone has locked them into a room with a bomb, a syringe filled with poison, and a note saying they have an hour to pick someone to kill ... or else everyone dies.

Amber Prescott is determined to get her classmates and herself out of the room alive, but that might be easier said than done. No one knows how they're all connected or who would want them dead. As they retrace the events over the past year that might have triggered their captor's ultimatum, it becomes clear that everyone is hiding something. And with the clock ticking down, confusion turns into fear, and fear morphs into panic as they race to answer the biggest question: Who will they choose to die?

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

My latest read was Dragon Hoops, the newest graphic novel from Gene Luen Yang.  To say I was blown away by this story would be an understatement.  It is phenomenal!  As a sports fan in general, and specifically a basketball fan, I knew I would be a fan.  Seeing Gene develop his love for the game during the course of this novel was so fun to watch.  And as fun as this was to watch, the personal stories of the kids and coaches involved was even better.  Yang has given us not only the story of a special season for the Bishop O'Dowd Dragons, but he has given us numerous history lessons in the process.  He has shown us how so many of the people involved, both past and present, were incredibly brave as they took that first step in to the unknown.  This is an incredible story that spans generations to tell us the tale of one unforgettable season!  I cannot recommend this one highly enough! 

From Amazon:

In his latest graphic novel, Dragon Hoops, New York Times bestselling author Gene Luen Yang turns the spotlight on his life, his family, and the high school where he teaches.

Gene understands stories―comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins.

But Gene doesn’t get sports. As a kid, his friends called him “Stick” and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it's all anyone can talk about. The men’s varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that’s been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships.

Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he’s seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn’t know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons’s lives, but his own life as well.

Let's Call It A Doomsday by Katie Henry

My latest read was Let's Call It A Doomsday by Katie Henry.  This one was highly enjoyable and a story that will keep you rooting for its protagonist.  This is a story about family and friendship.  It is a story about faith and finding whatever it is that you truly believe in. It is a story about self-discovery and understanding.  And maybe most importantly, it is a story about finding the truth in our own lives.  Katie Henry has given us a novel that is not only entertaining, but also one that is thought provoking. 

From Amazon:

An Amazon Best Book of the Month! An engrossing and thoughtful contemporary tale that tackles faith, friendship, family, anxiety, and the potential apocalypse from Katie Henry, the acclaimed author of Heretics Anonymous.

There are many ways the world could end. A fire. A catastrophic flood. A super eruption that spews lakes of lava. Ellis Kimball has made note of all possible scenarios, and she is prepared for each one.

What she doesn’t expect is meeting Hannah Marks in her therapist’s waiting room. Hannah calls their meeting fate. After all, Ellis is scared about the end of the world; Hannah knows when it’s going to happen.

Despite Ellis’s anxiety—about what others think of her, about what she’s doing wrong, about the safety of her loved ones—the two girls become friends. But time is ticking down, and as Ellis tries to help Hannah decipher the details of her doomsday premonition, their search for answers only raises more questions.

When does it happen? Who will believe them? And how do you prepare for the end of the world when it feels like your life is just getting started?

Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

I am a huge fan of Mindy McGinnis and was really looking forward to reading her newest release, Be Not Far From Me.  This novel did not disappoint.  I really cannot say enough good things about this novel.  It is phenomenal!  It is such an incredible story about survival and self-reliance.  At the same time, it is a story about the importance of those people who play a role in our lives.  It is about understanding that each of us is trying to survive every day, whether that is lost in the woods or just trying to navigate our daily lives.

Be Not Far From Me is intense and gritty.  It will keep you turning the page as fast as you can while you hang of every move that Ashley makes as she tries to survive.  You will watch in wonder at the extremes she goes through in order to make it out alive.  And as a reader, you will be rooting hard for Ashley to not only survive, but to find her place in world that is often cruel and dangerous.  

From Amazon:

Hatchet meets Wild in this harrowing YA survival story about a teenage girl’s attempt to endure the impossible, from the Edgar Award-winning author of The Female of the Species, Mindy McGinnis.

The world is not tame. Ashley knows this truth deep in her bones, more at home with trees overhead than a roof.

So when she goes hiking in the Smokies with her friends for a night of partying, the falling dark and creaking trees are second nature to her. But people are not tame either. And when Ashley catches her boyfriend with another girl, drunken rage sends her running into the night, stopped only by a nasty fall into a ravine.

Morning brings the realization that she’s alone—and far off trail. Lost in undisturbed forest and with nothing but the clothes on her back, Ashley must figure out how to survive with the red streak of infection creeping up her leg.

Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

If you are looking for a fun and creepy horror story, Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics will do the trick.  I heard about this book as "Little House on the Prairie meets Stephen King" and it immediately caught my attention.  It didn't disappoint.  There are a handful of creepy scenes that will keep your skin crawling long after you have turned the page.  Lukavics has given the reader an intense page-turner that will surely keep them up at night.    

From Amazon:

God bless the little children

When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner’s family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly Ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries.

When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn’t right on the prairie. She’s heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can’t be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.