Archive Page 5

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

Published February 23, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , ,

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
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

                  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
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

                  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
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

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
Tags: , , , , , ,

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
Tags: , , , , ,

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
Tags: , , ,

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
Tags: , , , , ,

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.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

Published November 8, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , ,

Genre: Mystery

Alice went missing for several days over the summer and it became a big scandal until it was revealed that she had just ran away. Now, as Alice tries to reenter her high school life as the new social outcast, her ex-boyfriend is suddenly accused of having something to do with his new girlfriend Brooke’s disappearance. Brooke is also Alice’s ex-best friend and as much as she is angry at her for taking her boyfriend she can’t help but notice how unfazed everyone (the police, her stepdad, the boyfriend) seems to feel about the fact that she’s missing. So, she calls Brooke’s grandmother who immediately enlists help and establishes a reward for any information that leads to Brooke’s whereabouts. Iris, who has been assigned as Alice’s tutor, could really use that reward money, so her and Alice decide to start investigating in order to find out where Brooke is. Will anyone take two teenage girl detectives seriously? Can they find out the truth about what happened to Brook before it’s too late? Will anyone ever take Alice seriously again after her disappearing act the summer before?

This fun story follows two teenage girls trying to solve a murder for a variety of reasons and will definitely remind readers of famous teenage girl detectives Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars. Alice is a complex character with many things those around her do not know and therefore even though it appears she has everything she actually feels quite alone and abandoned. Meanwhile, Iris feels completely invisible in this school and just wants to earn a little extra money to help her mom make ends meet, even if it means tutoring someone who claims to not know her despite the fact they have gone to school together since kindergarten. As the two begin to really work together and get to know each other they learn quickly that high school perceptions are not always accurate and can lead to snap judgments. Recommended for readers looking for a fun mystery.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels

Published November 1, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Genre: Survival/Realistic Fiction

The Arcadia was once a beautiful cruise ship, but then a terrible war broke out on land and those aboard the ship were forced to stay, survive, and raise their families. It has now been 40 years and the Arcadia is starting to break down. Esther and her family have always lived on the Arcadia because her grandparents were honeymooning when they got stuck there for life. Esther is training to be a medic so that she can hopefully be granted passage to land. There’s another medic who is also vying for one of the top two spots and he has made it very clear he thinks they would be even more likely to get off the ship if they were married, but Esther isn’t sure that’s the path for her at the moment. Meanwhile, Nik, works with a rebel group who desperately wants to take over the ship so that they can get out from under the terrible Coalies, or military presence, on the boat who uses brute force to keep the passengers in line. When Nik gets hurt, Esther is abducted by the rebels in order to treat him, but this throws her unexpectedly into the rebel cause whether she wants to be in it or not. The intel the rebels are getting suggests that big changes could be coming for the Arcadia, and not in a good way. Can Esther and Nik put aside their differences in order to help save the people on board? How much are they willing to risk in order to protect those they love?

Fans of books such as Avalon and Divergent will enjoy this title because even though it has a realistic feel to it there’s definitely futuristic undertones. The premise of the refugee cruise ship seems so crazy, but absolutely believable at the same time. The characters are all well described so that it’s easy to see what motivates each of them and why they have so many unanswered questions. There are some brutal truths in this and not everyone is guaranteed a happy ending, but throughout the danger there is always hope that eventually things will turn out better than the way they started. Recommended for those looking for a fun adventure story with a unique setting.

The Only Girl In Town by Ally Condie

Published October 25, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , ,

Genre: Realistic Fiction

When July waked up to find she is the only remaining person left in her town she immediately begins to look for people anywhere she can think of including her school, her friend’s houses, and even local businesses. When she fails to find another living person she tries to get in her car and flee the town only to be stopped by an invisible barrier. As she starts to get used to being the only girl in town she notices objects left around the town that each represent a person she deeply misses including her best friend and her parents. She gets the idea that maybe she is supposed to solve a puzzle with the objects in order to bring everyone back, but the harder she tries to connect the objects the more she is reminded of several painful memories that have happened over the last year. Can July face her difficult past in order to move forward? What is going on in this town and where did everyone disappear to?

This story uses past memories to help the reader feel why July is struggling so much in addition to the fact she is now totally alone in her town. The objects she finds help her to start facing all the things she misses about those around her so that she can better focus on a plan to bring all of those people back into her life. The relationships around her start to become very clear with each memory she revisits and it’s easy to want to know what happened that made her feel like she had to change all of her priorities in life. Recommended for those who enjoy realistic fiction with surprise endings.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

Published October 18, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Genre: Action Mystery

Winter Young is the biggest pop star in the world, but he is still reeling from the untimely death of his older brother. Despite his enormous popularity he can’t help but wonder if his life is fairly pointless, unlike his brother who was in the peace corp. So, when he is approached by a secret agency to help take down a powerful trafficker he thinks this might be his chance to do something important. He does not have much time to train, however, so he is paired with Sydney Cosette, a long time secret agent despite her young age. The two get prepared as best they can, but then they must go undercover knowing that things could get very dangerous if their true motivations are revealed. As Winter gets to know the daughter of the criminal they are trying to take down, he quickly realizes that every situation has many people involved and is difficult to navigate at times so that the wrong people don’t get hurt. Can he and Sydney fulfill the goals they set out to do with this mission? Will they become more than friends along the way?

This story is fun and exciting with many suspenseful action scenes. Technically, there is a little bit of romance, but I would not let that deter any boys who enjoy action from picking this one up. It very much reads like a spy novel and the characters are engaging from the start with several revelations coming out about both of their backgrounds. There are many surprises in regards to what they think they know about this mission and the ending is very exciting and dramatic. Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys a good action spy adventure.

Red Palace by June Hur

Published October 11, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction

Hyeon is an 18 year old palace nurse in the year 1758 in the Korean country Joseon. Her mother is the mistress of a powerful man in the community and as such she has been treated horribly her entire life until she became a nurse. The woman who took her in and trained her has been a role model and mentor to her and she knows she would be in a much worse place if it weren’t for her. When four palace nurses are massacred and her mentor is suspected of being the killer she knows she must step in to prove her innocence. She ends up working with the new police inspector to try and solve the mystery despite the fact that several people, including her estranged father, warn her to keep out of it and know her place. Can she find out who is causing mischief in the kingdom before it is too late for her mentor and maybe even herself? Will she find an unexpected romance with the new police inspector despite their difference in social status?

This engaging story discusses many topics such as class, race, mental abuse, physical abuse, suicide, and parental neglect. However, the story does so in a way that is historically accurate and respectful. The mystery itself is very exciting and interesting, but the setting really throws it over the top because the main character is restrained by her gender and status at every turn. She has to fight hard for the little respect she has in the community. Recommended for mystery fans who want something different.

All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Published October 4, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , ,

Genre: Fantasy

Emrys is one of the faery bodyguards for the British royal family. The royal family is considered sacred and protected and therefore each member has a protective faery bodyguard, but of course they do not know that and cannot see them unless the faery chooses to show him or herself to that person. Emrys has been doing this for a long time and is therefore surprised when she begins to form a connection to Prince Richard. She also starts noticing that there seem to be more attacks on the royal family than normal and several of them seem extra strong. Faerys lose strength in cities and must take breaks in the countryside to build their strength back up, but as Emrys becomes more concerned about Richard the more she fears what will happen if she leaves his side, even if other faerys step in to help. Then, when tragedy strikes, she knows that someone is organizing forces against the royal family and most likely there is someone that has betrayed them. Who can she trust and what must she do to protect the royal family? Can Richard ever know who she really is?

Fans looking for fun fantasy stories will enjoy this title because there is a lot to the plot and the characters are really engaging. The setting is very unique as several different types of fantasy creatures make an appearance in modern day London. Fans of fantasy romances such as Twilight will enjoy this title.

Archives

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started