Have You Seen My Sister? by Kirsty McKay

Published April 25, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Esme is visiting her older sister, along with her parents, all the way from England. Her sister is taking a gap year and is currently working at a ski resort. On the night before Esme is supposed to leave, her sister, Gaia, disappears and no one has any idea where she might have gone. Obviously, Esme’s family stays to look for her and it quickly becomes quite a group effort as searches are organized all over the snowy mountains. Esme has a condition called dyspraxia, which means she has trouble keeping track of details such as how much time has passed and when she last saw her sister. As Esme and another resort worker, Bode, try to retrace her sister’s footsteps, she quickly realizes that her sister was not telling her family everything about her life in the U.S. The other resort workers all seem to be hiding something as well. Is it possible they know where Gaia is? Could Gaia have run away? Esme and her parents are determined not to leave until they know what happened to Gaia.

This mystery is engaging from the beginning, but does set itself apart due to the fact that the main character has dyspraxia which does hinder her ability to help in the investigation. Slowly, information comes out about Gaia’s relationship with the family and how her being in another country all of this time has greatly challenged those relationships. The way all of her friends handle the disappearance really shows how much technology has changed reality in both how they try to find clues for finding Gaia to actually trying to use her disappearance to bring more attention to themselves and possibly elevate their online presence personally. It is unclear exactly why no one really thinks Esme could be helpful in locating her sister, but in many ways it works in her favor as she is able to do her own thing and investigate in ways that the adults around her might not approve of. Recommended for mystery lovers.

Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

Published April 18, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Eighteen-year-old Ellerie has lived her entire life in the small town of Amity Falls, which is protected from monsters by a rudimentary alarm system that was installed around the border by the original town settlers. No one has seen or heard of a monster in many years and many believe it was just an old legend, but when a routine supply run ends in disaster the town is left scrambling as to how to proceed. If they stay within the confines of the town they will run out of supplies and medicine, but if they wander out they run the risk of facing a terrible fate. Meanwhile, a mysterious new young man has begun hanging around the town and has taken an interest in Ellerie. As things begin to fall apart, Ellerie is left to take on more responsibility for her younger sisters and her twin brother proves to be less than trustworthy to help out. Can she trust this new stranger? Is he somehow involved in the town’s new found bad luck? When she has the opportunity to make her wish come true does it come with unacceptable strings?

This engaging story is based on the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, but the characters and setting really add a lot to that original story. Plus, even if you are familiar with Rumpelstiltskin this story is modern enough that you don’t necessarily expect what is going to happen. The motivations of the townspeople are easily explained as resources get more scarce and people become more scared and desperate. The plot takes many unexpected turns as well and not all is explained, which seems to be on purpose as the author wants to leave some things open ended. This open endedness works in this story as it makes it feel more believable and realistic that not all would be perfectly explained or solved by the story’s end. Recommended for anyone looking for something bold and unique.

The Girls From Hush Cabin by Marie Hoy-Kenny

Published April 4, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Calista, Holly, Zoe, and Denise were best friends at the summer camp they went to every summer and they loved their camp counselor, Violet. A tragedy strikes the camp and forces it to close and a few years go by as they finish up high school and slowly drift apart from each other. Then, one of them learns that Violet has died tragically and they all come together again to go to the funeral. At the funeral they are stunned to learn Violet died by drowning because she was a very strong swimmer. Even more shocking is that her appearance has completely changed and they almost don’t recognize her. They start to become concerned that this might not have been an accident. Despite the fact they all have things they need to get back to, they decide to stick around and find ways to investigate what happened on their own. They are forced to face the reality that Violet was not perfect and in many ways manipulated the girls in their youth. Can they get to the bottom of what happened to Violet? Can they reconcile the past and become good friends again?

This mystery has an interesting premise and four strong main characters. The details of the past are slowly revealed until it becomes clear what led to the close of the camp they all loved so much. They all have things they are dealing with at home as well. The final reveal won’t be satisfying to some mystery readers, but it does explain everything and gives hope to the four characters that they’ll be able to move on from this. Recommended for fans who enjoy mysteries.

If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang

Published March 29, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Alice Sun has always felt motivated to do well at her elite boarding school because she knew that it was a struggle, even with a scholarship, for her parents to afford the costs. So, it is not totally unexpected when they tell her she can’t return after the current semester and she’ll need to find another school to attend at that time. Alice can’t imagine herself anywhere else and feels all of her hard work, including her bitter rivalry with the other top student, will have all been for nothing. When she discovers that she has started turning invisible for some unknown reason, she hatches a plan to earn enough money to pay her next semester’s tuition. She actually teams up with her rival to create an app that is completely anonymous where students can ask for favors that only a “ghost” could accomplish in exchange for a hefty fee. At first, it goes well and she starts a hefty savings, but as time goes on the requests get more and more difficult and many are something she doesn’t want to do morally. How far will Alice go to stay at this school? Is there anyone she can trust with the secret that she might not be able to return?

This thought provoking story really allows the reader to understand the main character and how she feels pushed to do these tasks in order to stay on her educational path. It would be easy to make parallels between her story and those of countless others who have gotten involved in dubious choices because they felt they had to in order to survive. It is never explained why she can suddenly turn invisible or if that will be something that happens to her forever, but it is an interesting plot point that makes the rest of her plan possible. Her relationship with her academic rival is also interesting because once she gets to know him better she realizes that his perception of their relationship was completely different than hers was. The ending is dramatic and believable and will leave readers with a lot to think about.

The Night in Question: An Agathas Mystery by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Larson

Published March 22, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Iris and Alice are back in this new Agathas mystery and their friendship seems stronger than ever despite their very different backgrounds. While attending a school dance at the infamous local Levy Castle they can’t help but feel a little haunted by the fact that a famous actress, Mona Moody, died mysteriously at this very place in the 1940s. When a bizarre attack happens to a girl in their class, they find themselves in the center of another mystery and despite their success in helping to solve their friend Brooke’s murder (in the previous book), no one wants or seems to appreciate their help. The police seem to be focused on the friend who was found at the scene holding the murder weapon, but Alice does not think she is capable of something so heinous. Plus, Alice finds it curious that all of the Mona Moody archives that had been on loan from the historical society appear to have been rifled through at the attack scene. Is it possible the two cases are connected? Can they find a way to help find the right person who committed this attack? What surprises might they find inside this castle?

Fans of traditional mysteries will enjoy this title because there are a lot of references to old mystery tropes such as hidden staircases, old diaries, etc. The characters have developed a bit more in this novel too and it’s understandable why Iris’s mom might be hesitate about her new friendship with Alice as well as why Alice’s relationship with her own parents is so complicated. The resolution is interesting and holds up with the facts presented and there’s still room for more sequels as it is obvious there is more to learn about the main characters. Fun for mystery fans, especially those who like Agatha Christie.

Any Sign of Life by Carson Rae

Published March 18, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Paige wakes up in her bedroom hooked up to an IV without any memory of how she got there. Her mother is a nurse, so she’s guessing she got sick and her mother rigged the IV for her, but it’s obvious no one has checked on her for awhile as she is weak and underweight. As she begins looking around it becomes obvious that not only has her family died, but so has everyone in her neighborhood. As she struggles to get her strength back she finds her neighbor’s beloved dog still alive and finally has a companion. Eventually, she meets a few other survivors, but no one seems to know what caused this horrific turn of events. To make things even worse, they have spotted alien type creatures out patrolling as if looking to make sure no one has survived. Is this some kind of alien invasion? Why didn’t Paige and the other survivors die along with everyone else? What could the aliens want from Earth? What must Paige and her new friends do in order to survive long term?

The first in this series is compelling from the start as Paige struggles to come to terms with her new reality. She loses absolutely everything within a matter of days including her family, best friend, house, belongings, etc. She is definitely affected by this, but her desire to survive outweighs her need to feel sorry for herself. The other people she meets all have their own baggage as well, but despite their grief and fear they all do want to survive even though life as they knew it is completely different now. This book will interest everyone from avid readers to reluctant readers and everyone in between. It has a lot of action and plot twists that will keep everyone guessing and there’s plenty more story to come out as there is more to come. Highly recommended.

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

Published February 23, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Safiya is a high school student working on the school newspaper who hopes to study journalism in college. She is of Indian American descent, which becomes an issue when hate crimes begin occurring around her school and in her community. First, a boy at a nearby school is arrested for wearing a backpack that a teacher thought was a bomb and in fact ended up being part of his Halloween costume that was comprised of old plastic bottles. After he was cleared and released he was bullied relentlessly until one day he went missing. The police didn’t seem too concerned as they believed he might have fun away, but Safiya has a strong feeling that is not the case and eventually finds his body. Meanwhile, her school newspaper got hacked and her school vandalized by unknown people who seem to believe that all immigrants should be expelled from the country or worse. As Safiya and her friends try to convince the authorities to take these threats seriously, she can’t help but feel like she might be the next target for whoever is committing these crimes. Can she get to the bottom of this without endangering herself? Will the authorities every take her seriously?

Safiya’s story is well written and highly engaging. Safiya desperately wants to find justice for Jawad, the murdered boy, but it’s difficult when no one will see the issues right in front of them. It was interesting how it was depicted that some of her wealthier friends assumed the police would want to know everything they had learned and were super disheartened when that ended up not being the case. The daily struggles of immigrants trying to start over in this country was described in a way that you couldn’t help but feel their constant struggle and fear that people would go out of their way to make their lives harder, or worse, actually hurt them. There’s a lot to discuss with this story from the mystery of who killed Jawad to the social pressures facing immigrants on a daily basis.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Published February 13, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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                  Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

The Davenports are one of the few prominent, wealthy Black families in 1910 Chicago. They have a son, John, who is ready to not only take over the carriage business, but hopefully bring it into the modern era. He has also fallen for the maid, Amy Rose, who is mixed race and therefore poses more than one obstacle for them to ever be together. The Davenports also have two daughters, Olivia and Helen, who are both supposed to be trying to find suitable husbands. Olivia has always taken her role seriously and knows how proper ladies should act and run a household. Helen, on the other hand, is much more interested in working on cars in the family garage and would love to be a part of the family business even though that is considered highly inappropriate for a woman at this time. Is there any way she can convince her father to let her help with the business? When Olivia meets a human rights lawyer her entire view on life changes, but can she really give up everything she has ever known to pursue a very dangerous life of potential violence and protests? Ruby, Olivia’s friend, has always dreamed of marrying John and becoming family with the Davenports, but when she meets a new man she cannot help feel he might be a better match for her. Can she go against her parents wishes to marry for love?

The first installment about the Davenport family introduces several great characters as well as historical background that helps the reader truly see the obstacles facing people of color at this time in the nation’s past. The action in the story is also really exciting and keeps the reader guessing as to what might happen to these characters as they balance what is expected of them with what they actually want to do with their lives. The setting is really engaging and there is still a lot of story left to tell with not only the main characters, but several of the minor ones as well. Fans will be very excited for the second installment to find out what happens next with these dynamic characters. Recommended for fans of The American Royals series.

The Knockout by Sajni Patel

Published February 6, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Kareena Thakkar, a 17 year old high school student of Indian descent, excels in a sport called Muay Thai, which is a type of fighting. Due to this interest, many people in their Indian community have shunned her and her parents because they don’t think it’s an appropriate activity for a proper young lady. Kareena’s parents have been nothing but supportive, especially since her father is very ill and they have suffered financial difficulty due to his bills and inability to work. She has shied away from telling too many people at school, however, because she is afraid of what the reaction will be, but when she is offered the chance to attend the US Muay Thai Open she knows word will get out. Plus, she desperately needs to raise enough funds to actually go to the competition that her coach thinks she has a chance of winning. To make matters more exciting, there is talk of making Muay Thai an Olympic sport. Once other female athletes begin to hear about her sport they are very supportive and want to help her reach her goal of attending this prestigious competition. She has also begun tutoring a young Indian guy who is very charismatic and smart but seems preoccupied and exhausted most of the time. She doesn’t feel she can press him on what is bothering him without sharing her goals for Muay Thai and her father’s illness in return. Also, when his traditional parents hear about her untraditional aspirations they are less than supportive. Can Kareena manage to be there for her parents, keep up with her studies, and train for the US Muay Thai? Can she trust her friends to accept her for who she is, even if it doesn’t conform to Indian traditions? Can she find time to begin a relationship with her new Indian friend?

This story does a great job of illustrating how difficult it can be for anyone to adhere to the expectations other set on them. Kareena is very lucky to have supportive parents and friends, but it’s obvious how much it weighs on her when people judge her and her decisions unfairly. Many high school students of all backgrounds will be able to identify with a character who doesn’t feel she is accepted by those around her. This book also illustrates how times are changing and it’s becoming more and more celebrated to be who you want to be with your individual strengths and goals. Stress and familial pressure are another theme in this story which is another thing young adults struggle with. Recommended for anyone looking for an engaging read. 

Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph

Published January 24, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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                  Genre: Suspenseful Thriller

Sam Hall was a child tv star until tragedy struck and he stepped away. Rumors have plagued him ever since as no one really knows the truth about what happened to his family and why he wanted to quit acting. Sam and his friends have a yearly tradition where they go into an abandoned hut in the woods on Halloween and reveal their innermost secrets. They believe it is cathartic and will help them heal, but this year their session was interrupted by screaming and someone throwing eggs at the hut that are filled with blood. They are all justifiably scared by this, but they convince themselves it was a Halloween prank and try to move on. Soon, however, they all start receiving creepy messages from someone named Sasha and it is quickly revealed that this “Sasha” has something to do with one of their secrets. It becomes clear that someone knows the secrets they revealed in the dark that night and they are coming to life to haunt them. None of them want to seek help because then they would have to reveal their innermost secrets, but as the threats become more serious they wonder if they have any choice and what lengths the person behind this will truly go to in order to get what they want. Would this person actually harm them? Is there any way to confront their attacker without having to let the entire world know their darkest secrets?

This story was surprisingly creepy and suspenseful. The threats are intricate and keep getting spookier and spookier. Eventually, they do bring in their families, but their reaction to the threats is very unexpected and helps build up to the climax of the story. Most readers will find the ending satisfying, but it is still a little crazy who is behind it and how far they were willing to go to terrify these teenagers. The story does send a positive message about how bad things happen to everyone and it’s important to try to heal, move forward, and look at any positivity that may have come from the bad things. Many teens often feel like everyone else has it all together and they are the ones struggling when in reality everyone has stuff they are dealing with. Recommended for fans of more suspenseful mysteries. 

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

Published December 13, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery/Adventure

Ross Quest, a seventeen-year-old girl raised by a single mother in a famous thieving family, is desperate to break out on her own and experience a little normalcy. However, her plans fall apart when her mother is kidnapped and held for ransom and she is forced to dive deeper into the thieving world by entering the Thieves’ Gambit. The Thieves’ Gambit is an elaborate three part competition designed to pit the world’s best thieves against each other. The winner earns one wish, any wish, that is guaranteed to be granted. The winner is also required to work for the organization running the gambit for an entire year with no questions asked. Ross did not have any interest in doing this, but after exploring all options realizes she must in order to truly save her mother’s life. Can she compete among very determined and talented young thieves such as herself? Can she save her mother without condemning herself to another year or intense thief work? Is it possible she might find some common ground with the other teens in the competition?

Fans of heist shows and books will be immediately drawn to this title. It’s exciting, fast paced, and has many twists and turns as Ross tries to outmaneuver her opponents no matter what obstacles are placed in her way. The other characters are well described and it’s easy to see where they are all coming from, but that doesn’t change the crazy lengths they will all go to in order to win the competition. Ross has been warned her entire life not to trust anyone and the few times she has it has ended in disaster. She does not plan to make that mistake again, but some of the contestants help her see that trust isn’t always a bad thing…or is it? Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun, fast paced escape. 

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

Published December 6, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Goldie loves Camp Alpine Lake more than almost anything, and after the terrible year she’s had she’s desperate to go back one more time to be a counselor with her best friends, Ava and Imogen. They have been going to this camp since they were little and now proudly serve as lifeguards. Camp Alpine Lake is a favorite among the wealthy and powerful people to send their kids to and therefore the local townspeople are not always fans of the campers because they feel they are entitled and bratty. Goldie grew up in that small town, but since her parents work at the camp she has always been allowed to go for free. Ava and Imogen became very important to her from a very early age, which is why it has been so hard to keep her terrible secret from them, but she’s afraid they’ll look at her the same way everyone in her town does if they knew the truth. Shortly after they arrive, however, a local boy turns up dead on camp grounds and Goldie instinctively knows it could not have been an accident. As she’s putting the pieces together it becomes obvious that her two best friends are also keeping secrets from her. Is it possible one of them could have hurt this local boy to keep their secrets safe? Can she find her way back to trusting her friends with the shambles that has become her life? Will she ever get over what happened to her or will it plague her forever?

This mystery story does a nice job of getting the reader to know and therefore care about the main characters. Once it is revealed what happened to Goldie it is heartbreaking to see how the repercussions of that terrible night have completely unraveled her life. The vivid camp descriptions will make anyone long to go back to camp, even those that never attended in the first place. The traditions and activities seem so American and wholesome, but underneath there are many secrets that cannot stay hidden forever. The ending is satisfying and not too predictable which will please mystery fans. Recommended for those looking for a fun book to escape into.

Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

Published November 29, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

In this mystery retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, Fanny Price is an aspiring artist who was sent 8 years ago to live with wealthy relatives because her family had too many children to take care of. She has been reasonably happy all these years despite being treated poorly by most of the people she is staying with. The one person she always got along with was Edmund, a nephew form the other side of the family who was sent to Mansfield Park when he became orphaned. Edmund was sent away to school, but has recently returned and Fanny has found she is attracted to Edmund, but has no idea if the feelings are reciprocated. Meanwhile, the aunt and uncle she lives with run an art house where her uncle works tirelessly, but still manages to be kind to her. Therefore, it is shocking when Fanny witnesses him trip and fall down the stairs of their warehouse where, unfortunately, his injuries ultimately kill him. She can’t get it out of her head that he did in fact trip before he fell, though, which leads her to wonder if it was in fact premeditated or an accident? Who would want to kill her uncle and what does it mean for her now that he is gone? Will she be sent back to her family or allowed to stay and keep working on her art?

Fans of the original story will enjoy this title as there are some similarities, but many differences as well. The resolution to the mystery will shock many, but ultimately readers will be satisfied with the ending. As always, Tirzah Price’s characters really help the reader become engaged in a story that is familiar to many but in a new way. The motivations and actions of the characters are written in a way that the reader cannot help but want to know more about what will happen to everyone.

Throwback by Maurene Goo

Published November 22, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Sci Fi/Realistic Fiction

Sam and her mother, Priscilla, often do not get along because they tend to value different things in life. Priscilla has worked hard as a first generation Korean American to find the American Dream and feel accepted by those around her. Meanwhile, Sam is very modern and doesn’t want to be labeled in any way and wants to be free to just be her, even if that means some people don’t understand her. When Sam is nominated for homecoming queen her mother is over the moon, but this actually leads to a huge fight between the two of them because Sam isn’t sure if she wants to participate in the archaic traditions of Homecoming. Plus, her grandmother is in a coma and although Priscilla and her mom are not close, Sam is surprised how cavalier her mom is about the situation. Sam is very close to her grandmother and is struggling with the fact she has no idea if she’ll ever wake up. After their fight, Sam calls a rideshare service who ends up taking her to the 90s where she can see first hand what her mother and grandmother were like when they were younger and its very eye opening for Sam. Not only are the social norms much more rigid, but there’s a lot Sam didn’t know her mom had to deal with growing up. Can Sam find a way back to her own time in time to make up with her mom and hopefully see her grandmother wake up? Who is the mysterious boy she keeps running into and why does it feel like they have a connection even though they are from different times?

This engaging story says a lot about how much society has changed in the last 30 years, as well as how complicated mother/daughter relationships can be. Sam finding a way to navigate this time is much more than her learning to live without Internet and smart phones. Instead, she finds instances of racism, classicism, bullying, and so much more. She also sees that the grandmother she knows and loves was a lot different when her mother was growing up due to the fact that she was a single mother working day and night to run a dry cleaners in order to keep the bills paid. In the meantime, Priscilla was expected to run the house, maintain good grades, and stay involved at her school. The pressure to succeed was immense for her mom and helps Sam to understand how understanding and supportive her parents actually are. The ending is well explained and very satisfying and most teenagers will find a way to relate to Sam and her struggles.

Reign by Katharine McGee

Published November 15, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Romance

In this fourth and final chapter of the American Royals series, Jeff and Daphne are getting married because Daphne told Jeff she’s pregnant (which is a lie). Beatrice is still in a coma from the accident she suffered in the last book and Sam doesn’t know right away about her sister’s accident because she had run off with her boyfriend to live a quiet life on the beach. Once she learns that her sister has not woken up yet she rushes to her side only to find that in her absence Jeff has been named the acting King and she has been completely left out in the cold. She must prove herself to be accepted back into the family business, but is that something she really wants? Meanwhile, Jeff is suddenly forced into the principal position of power and he begins to wonder if anyone really knows who he is at all or if they just see him as the royal heir? Nina is doing great in college and trying to shed her feelings for Jeff after learning of his engagement, but try as she might she cannot avoid romance for long. How will this riveting series end for these characters?

This final chapter of the alternate America Katharine McGee has created is everything readers will want it to be. There is action, romance, drama, surprises, and so much more. Plus, while the book does offer hope for all of the characters it comes with realistic expectations and outcomes. Fans who have followed this series will be very pleased with how this book remains faithful to the characters while also moving the story along.

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