Tiny Dancer by Siena Cherson Siegel and Mark Siegel

Tiny Dancer is the beautiful graphic memoir from Siena Cherson Siegel, with artwork by Mark Siegel.  Both the story and the art are memorable and done in a way that each enhances the other.  This is the story of a young dancer who struggles to find her fit in the world after giving up the thing that has always defined her.  How do you find your place when you have dreamed of only one thing for your entire life?  

In this memoir, Siena Cherson Siegel tells us of how she always dreamed of being a ballerina, in particular a ballerina in the New York City Ballet.  We learn of all the hours and all the work that went in to achieving this dream.  But when she decides to step away, where will she fit.  This beautifully told story will dive into Siegel's young life as she navigates a world that looks different from the one she always dreamed of.  

I can't wait for my tiny dancer to read this moving story one day!

 

From Amazon: 

A teenage ballet dancer struggles to find her next step, and her place in the world, in this exquisite graphic memoir—a follow-up to the Sibert Honor–winning To Dance.

All her life, Siena has dreamed of being a ballerina. Her love of movement and dedication to the craft earned her a spot at the School of American Ballet, with hopes of becoming a member of George Balanchine’s world-famous New York City Ballet company. Siena has worked hard for many years to be a professional ballet dancer, but injury and doubt are starting to take their toll.

Maybe it’s time to look beyond the world of dance—but Siena’s whole identity has been shaped by ballet. When you have spent your entire life working toward something, how do you figure out what comes next? And how do you figure out who you are without the thing that defined you? This is a moving and beautifully drawn memoir of a dancer struggling to find her next step—and a young woman finding her true footing in the world.

 

You'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow

You'd Be Home Now is the newest novel from Kathleen Glasgow.  This story is powerful and moving and important.  It is a story that tackles the disease of addiction, specifically the opioid crisis that is all to common.  It tells of one family's struggles to find help and acceptance amid the constant pull of addiction.  You'd Be Home Now tackles not only the struggles of those with addiction, but also the effects addiction has on the family and friends of those who fight this disease.  In this deeply personal novel, Glasgow gives the reader a deeply moving story about family and how to find our place in a world that too often tries to force us in to a box not of our choosing.  This is such a good and important read!

 You'd Be Home Now is the story of Emory, a girl dealing with the fallout of her brother's addiction, in particular a car accident that not only injured her, but killed one of their classmates.  As she returns to school and Joey returns from rehab, she must find a way to handle the world around her.  A world that blames her and her brother for the accident.  A world that often fails to see her for who she really is.  A world that constantly poses chances for Joey to relapse, no matter how much Emory supports him.  And as we all know, this is a world that is relentless.  But while trying to protect Joey, can Emory discover who she is and who she can be?  

 

From Amazon: 

From the New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces comes a stunning novel that Vanity Fair calls “impossibly moving” and “suffused with light”. In this raw, deeply personal story, a teenaged girl struggles to find herself amidst the fallout of her brother's addiction in a town ravaged by the opioid crisis.

For all of Emory's life she's been told who she is. In town she's the rich one--the great-great-granddaughter of the mill's founder. At school she's hot Maddie Ward's younger sister. And at home, she's the good one, her stoner older brother Joey's babysitter. Everything was turned on its head, though, when she and Joey were in the car accident that killed Candy MontClaire. The car accident that revealed just how bad Joey's drug habit was.

Four months later, Emmy's junior year is starting, Joey is home from rehab, and the entire town of Mill Haven is still reeling from the accident. Everyone's telling Emmy who she is, but so much has changed, how can she be the same person? Or was she ever that person at all?

Mill Haven wants everyone to live one story, but Emmy's beginning to see that people are more than they appear. Her brother, who might not be "cured," the popular guy who lives next door, and most of all, many "ghostie" addicts who haunt the edges of the town. People spend so much time telling her who she is--it might be time to decide for herself.

A journey of one sister, one brother, one family, to finally recognize and love each other for who they are, not who they are supposed to be, You'd Be Home Now is Kathleen Glasgow's glorious and heartbreaking story about the opioid crisis, and how it touches all of us.
 

You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus

It's been almost two weeks since I finished You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus, but because life often gets in the way, I'm just getting around to writing this. McManus is a must read for me.  If she has a new book being released, it will immediately go to the top of the TBR pile.  And her latest novel did not disappoint.  She is a master of suspense and mystery.  She always creates an ending that will shock you. You'll Be the Death of Me checks all of the boxes.  This one was so much fun and I can't wait to see what McManus has in store for us next!

From Amazon: 

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand-new pulse-pounding thriller. It's Ferris Bueller's Day Off with murder when three old friends relive an epic ditch day, and it goes horribly—and fatally—wrong.

Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Now all they have in common is Carlton High and the beginning of a very bad day. Type A Ivy lost a student council election to the class clown, and now she has to face the school, humiliated. Heartthrob Mateo is burned out from working two jobs since his family’s business failed. And outsider Cal just got stood up . . . again. 
 
So when the three unexpectedly run into each other, they decide to avoid their problems by ditching. Just the three of them, like old times. Except they’ve barely left the parking lot before they run out of things to say. . . 
 
. . . until they spot another Carlton High student skipping school—and follow him to the scene of his own murder. In one chance move, their day turns from dull to deadly. And it’s about to get worse. It turns out Ivy, Mateo, and Cal still have some things in common...like a connection to the dead kid. And they’re all hiding something. 
 
Could it be that their chance reconnection wasn’t by chance after all? 
 
Fans of the hit thriller that started it all can watch the secrets of the Bayview Four be revealed in the One of Us is Lying TV series now streaming on NBC's Peacock!

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

Wow! I'm not even sure what else to say about Me (Moth), the debut novel from Amber McBride.  This novel in verse blew me away and messed with my head, but in the best way possible.  I finished this book in the morning while my students were free reading and I felt like I needed to take the rest of the day off to deal with this book.  Me (Moth) was a Finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and I completely understand why.  First of all, the written language in this book is just beautiful. The poetry and storytelling of McBride is breathtaking.  Second, the ending of this story completely caught me off guard and shook me to the core.  The journey of Moth and Sani culminates in a place of peace and understanding and will make you look back and question every word that got you to that place.  This is definitely one of my favorite (if not #1) reads of 2021!

This is the story of Moth, a girl who was the sole survivor of a car accident that took the lives of her whole family.  She now lives with her aunt and continues to deal with the guilt of being the lone survivor.  She has given up everything she ever loved and is ignored by the people in her school.  Her aunt has never really embraced her and gives little help to her guilt.  All this changes when Moth meets Sani, a new boy at school who seems to be on the same path as her.  With summer now here, they take off on a road trip to the Navajo Nation in the hopes that Sani can reconnect with his roots and help ease the depression he suffers from.  Along the way, Moth tries to reconnect with the ancestors that her Grandfather said would always be watching over her.  These two will search for their place in a world that has seemingly forgotten them.  They will discover love and understanding and acceptance along this unforgettable journey. 

 

From Amazon:

FINALIST FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE

A debut YA novel-in-verse by Amber McBride, Me (Moth) is about a teen girl who is grieving the deaths of her family, and a teen boy who crosses her path.

Moth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted.

Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he’ll be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover the history she carries in her bones.

Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable.

Here is an exquisite and uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe.

In The Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

I have been a huge fan of Jeff Zentner since his debut novel, The Serpent King.  His newest novel, In the Wild Light, lives up to the promise of his first three books.  This story is wonderful, one of my favorite reads of the year.  This story screams Jeff Zentner.  If I started reading it without knowing who the author was, I would have figured it out pretty quickly.  Zentner's beautiful style is all over this book.  In the Wild Light is a story about family and grief.  It is about young love and finding your voice amid the chaos of the world.  The language of this story is beautiful and it is a book I won't soon forget.   

In the Wild Light is the story of Cash Pruitt, a young man growing up in small town Tennessee.  He has faced his share of tragedy already, with the passing of his mom from an opioid addiction and the slow on-coming death of his grandfather from emphysema.  But his best friend, Delaney, has recently made a big scientific discovery and has received a scholarship offer from one of the best prep schools in the country.  But she's not going if Cash can't come with her.  After much deliberation and hesitation, he agrees to join her at Middleford Academy.  When he struggles to adjust to a school he doesn't feel he belongs in, the support around him continues to grow.  From new friends to incredible teachers to his grandfather who's health is continuing to decline, Cash starts to find a place where he can not only survive, but one where he can grow and thrive.  In Jeff Zentner's beautiful writing, we see the story of a boy who not only finds where he fits in, but discovers a way to blaze a trail along the way.  

 

From Amazon:
 

From the award-winning author of The Serpent King comes a beautiful examination of grief, found family, and young love.

Life in a small Appalachian town is not easy. Cash lost his mother to an opioid addiction and his Papaw is dying slowly from emphysema. Dodging drug dealers and watching out for his best friend, Delaney, is second nature. He's been spending his summer mowing lawns while she works at Dairy Queen.

But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash will have to grapple with his need to protect and love Delaney, and his love for the grandparents who saved him and the town he would have to leave behind.

They'll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman

My newest review is for the thrilling new novel by Jessica Goodman, They'll Never Catch Us.  This book combines cross country and murder mystery....I mean, how could I not like this one?!?!  I love a good mystery and this story doesn't disappoint.  It is fun and fast-paced and will keep you guessing as you try to unravel what has happened to Mila Keene.  If you are a fan of such writers as Kara Thomas and Karen McManus, you will enjoy this novel from Goodman.

They'll Never Catch Us is the story of the Steckler sisters, Stella and Ellie.  These two sisters are the stars of the Edgewater cross country team, a town and a team with a dark past.  Edgewater has moved on from this past and the team is focusing on bringing home a state championship.  With the addition of Mila Keene, a transfer student who is one of the best runners in the region, things look promising.  But when Mila goes missing during an early morning run, questions start swirling.  Is the old Deadwater killer back?  Did Stella, with her violent past, feel the need to eliminate her biggest competition?  Goodman does a fantastic job of creating suspense and mystery as the story unfolds.  If you are looking for a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, you can't go wrong with They'll Never Catch Us.

From Amazon: 

**A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**

From rising star Jessica Goodman, author of They Wish They Were Us, comes a new fast-paced thriller about two sisters vying for the top spot on their cross-country team—until a teammate’s disappearance throws their lives off course.
 
"An utter page-turner. Goodman's voice is razor-sharp and keenly precise. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn!" —Tiffany D. Jackson NYT Bestselling Author of White Smoke and Grown

Stella and Ellie Steckler are only a year apart, but their different personalities make their relationship complicated. Stella is single-minded, driven, and she keeps to herself. Cross-country running is her life and she won't let anything get in the way of being the best. Her sister Ellie is a talented runner too, but she also lets herself have fun. She has friends. She goes to parties. She has a life off the course.

The sisters do have one thing in common, though: the new girl, Mila Keene. Both Stecklers' lives are upended when Mila comes to town. At first, Ellie and Stella view the new star athlete as a threat. But soon Ellie can't help but be drawn to her warm, charming personality. After her best friend moved away and her first boyfriend betrayed her, Ellie's been looking for a friend to share her secrets. Stella finds herself noticing the ways she and Mila are similar. Mila is smart and strong--she's someone Stella can finally connect with. As the two get closer, Stella becomes something she vowed she'd never be: distracted.

With regionals approaching and college scouts taking notice, the pressure is on. Each girl has their future on the line and they won't let friendships get in their way. But then, suddenly, Mila goes out on a training run and never returns. No one knows what happened, but all eyes are on the Steckler sisters.
 

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

My latest read is White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson.  If you have ever read my reviews before, you probably know about my feelings for Jackson's writing.  The author of such incredible books as Allegedly and Monday's Not Coming, Jackson is one of the best YA authors of the time.  With her newest novel, she does something new, taking a dive into the world of horror.  In doing that, she is also able to keep some of the psychological thriller elements that often make her novels so memorable.  If you are a fan of hers like I am, White Smoke will not disappoint.  

Mari has a troubled past and is all set up for a fresh start.  Her mom is recently remarried, has accepted a new job in a new town, and has even been given a home to live in free of charge as she completes her job.  But Mari's new little sister isn't the easiest to live with and the new home isn't what it is cracked up to be.  Renovated in a run down part of Cedarville, the new house seems to take on a life of its own.  Mari eventually discovers that the city of Cederville and the house itself has a dark history.  While trying to keep her sanity amid the growing chaos that surrounds her, Mari starts to understand that the Sterling Foundation, her mom and step-dad's new employer, isn't the generous and well-meaning group that it appears to be on the outside.  The house itself is closing in on Mari and her family and she must find a way to survive when it seems like the odds are increasingly growing against her.  

This one continues to build the suspense and creepiness as the novel progresses.  It culminates in a twist that Tiffany D. Jackson has come to perfect.  If you are a fan of Jackson's or just a fan of horror, this novel should be right up your alley.   

 

From Amazon: 

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!

Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.

The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.

But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?

As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.