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.