Tag Archives: young adult

Book Title:
Winterfolk
Book Author:
Janel Kolby
Page Count:
320
Publishing Date:
February 6th, 2018
Publisher:
HarperTeen
Date Read:
February 3rd, 2018
Source:
eARC from publisher via Edelweiss - Thank you!

Synopsis

Rain is a homeless teen living with her father in the woods outside Seattle, near a community of other homeless people called the Winterfolk. She finds safety and sanctuary in this hidden world—until the day that safety is shattered when she learns the city plans to clear the woods of everyone who lives there. Now she’s forced to confront Seattle, which is full of strange sights, sounds, people—and memories...

My Review

I don’t know why I put off writing my review for this book for such a long time.  Winterfolk was a lot different from other books that I’ve read, and to be honest, it’s probably the very first book that … Continue reading

3 stars
8 Comments
Book Title:
This One Summer
Book Author:
Mariko Tamaki
Book Illustrator:
Jillian Tamaki
Page Count:
320
Publishing Date:
May 6th, 2014
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
February 27th, 2018
Source:
Purchased

Synopsis

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

In This One Summer two stellar creators redefine the teen graphic novel. Cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, the team behind Skim, have collaborated on this gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of her teen age — a story of renewal and revelation.

My Review

This One Summer has been on my to be read list for a while now.  I finally bought it back in early November of 2017, but for whatever reason I just kept putting off reading it.  I either wasn’t in … Continue reading

5 stars
12 Comments
Book Title:
Reign the Earth
Book Author:
A. C. Gaughen
Book Series:
The Elementae, #1
Page Count:
438
Publishing Date:
January 30th, 2018
Publisher:
Bloomsbury
Date Read:
February 20th, 2018
Source:
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for peace. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bonelands.

But she soon learns that her husband, Calix, is motivated only by his desire to exterminate the Elementae—mystical people who can control earth, wind, air, and fire. Even more unsettling are Shalia’s feelings for her husband’s brother, which unleash a power over the earth she never knew she possessed—a power that could get her killed. As rumors of a rebellion against Calix spread, Shalia must choose between the last chance for peace and her own future as an Elementae.

This intense, richly drawn high-fantasy by the author of Scarlet will hold readers spellbound.

My Review

I had head nothing but the absolute best things about Reign the Earth, and all the hype that had been building up around the book really had me excited to read it.  I was excited for the chance to read … Continue reading

1 stars
12 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
Road to Eugenica
Book Author:
A.M. Rose
Book Series:
Eugenica Chronicles, #1
Publishing Date:
February 5th, 2018
Publisher:
Entangled Teen
Date Read:
February 14th, 2018
Source:
eARC from publisher via NetGalley - Thank you!

Synopsis

Yesterday, Drea Smith couldn’t do anything spectacular—even walking and texting at the same time was a challenge. But today, she suddenly has more answers than Google, can speak and understand numerous languages, and she can fight. Like a boss.

Seriously cool.

Drea has no idea where her encyclopedic knowledge has come from, but she’ll take it when she discovers someone out there knows her secret and wants her badly. And that they’ve been searching for her since she was born.

Since she was created.

With the help of her best friend Dylan, who just wants to keep her safe, and Maddox, a mysterious new boy who is prepared to get her answers, Drea will have to push her new skills to their limit as she uncovers nothing is quite what it seems.

As she uncovers…Eugenica.

My Review

When I first heard of Road to Eugenica, read the synopsis, and checked out the cover, I never expected to love it as much as I did.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, the book has a pretty cover and … Continue reading

3 Comments
Book Title:
When Light Left Us
Book Author:
Leah Thomas
Page Count:
416
Publishing Date:
February 13th, 2018
Publisher:
Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Date Read:
February 9th, 2018
Source:
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

When the Vasquez siblings’ father left, it seemed nothing could remedy the absence in their lives . . . until a shimmering figure named Luz appeared in the canyon behind their house.

Luz filled the void. He shot hoops with seventeen-year-old Hank’s hands. He showed fourteen-year-old Ana cinematic beauty behind her eyelids. He spoke kindly to eight-year-old Milo. But then Luz left, too, and he took something from each of them. As a new school year begins, Ana, Hank, and Milo must carry on as if an alien presence never altered them. But how can they ever feel close to other people again when Luz changed everything about how they see the world and themselves?

In an imaginative and heartfelt exploration of human—and non-human—nature, Leah Thomas champions the unyielding bonds between family and true friends.

My Review

I honestly had no idea what I was expecting when I started reading When Light Left Us.  I had read the synopsis, of course, and it kind of made me a bit more confused, and when I started the book, … Continue reading

3 stars
4 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
The Prince and the Dressmaker
Book Author:
Jen Wang
Book Illustrator:
Jen Wang
Page Count:
288
Publishing Date:
February 13th, 2018
Publisher:
First Second
Date Read:
January 31st, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart.

My Review

I love graphic novels, and when you combine a graphic novel with a fantasy/fairy tale theme, I find that it becomes something that I love so much I don’t even know how to put it into words!  There is so … Continue reading

12 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
Your One & Only
Book Author:
Adrianne Finlay
Page Count:
320
Publishing Date:
February 6th, 2018
Publisher:
HMH Books for Young Readers
Date Read:
February 5th, 2018
Source:
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

Jack is a walking fossil. The only human among a sea of clones. It’s been hundreds of years since humanity died off in the slow plague, leaving the clones behind to carry on human existence. Over time they’ve perfected their genes, moving further away from the imperfections of humanity. But if they really are perfect, why did they create Jack?

While Jack longs for acceptance, Althea-310 struggles with the feeling that she’s different from her sisters. Her fascination with Jack doesn’t help. As Althea and Jack’s connection grows stronger, so does the threat to their lives. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?

My Review

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a dystopian novel.  I kind of stopped reading them because I felt like I read the same story over and over a few times, and I needed to branch out to a … Continue reading

6 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
American Panda
Book Author:
Gloria Chao
Page Count:
322
Publishing Date:
February 6th, 2018
Publisher:
Simon Pulse
Date Read:
January 31st, 2018
Source:
eARC from publisher via NetGalley - Thank you!

Synopsis

An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her germophobia and crush on a Japanese classmate.

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth—that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

From debut author Gloria Chao comes a hilarious, heartfelt tale of how unlike the panda, life isn’t always so black and white.

My Review

From the very first chapter of this book, I knew for a fact that this was going to wind up being a 5 star read.  It’s been a while since a book has really captured my attention and made me … Continue reading

13 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
Fade to Us
Book Author:
Julia Day
Page Count:
320
Publishing Date:
February 6th, 2018
Publisher:
Wednesday Books
Date Read:
January 29th, 2018
Source:
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

Fade To Us is a story about found families, the bond of sisterhood, and the agony and awe of first love.

Brooke’s summer is going to be EPIC--having fun with her friends and a job that lets her buy a car. Then her new stepfather announces his daughter is moving in. Brooke has always longed for a sibling, so she’s excited about spending more time with her stepsister. But she worries, too. Natalie has Asperger’s--and Brooke’s not sure how to be the big sister that Natalie needs.

After Natalie joins a musical theater program, Brooke sacrifices her job to volunteer for the backstage crew. She’s mostly there for Natalie, but Brooke soon discovers how much she enjoys being part of the show. Especially sweet is the chance to work closely with charming and fascinating Micah--the production’s stage manager. If only he wasn’t Natalie’s mentor…

When summer comes to an end, will Brooke finally have the family she so desperately wants–and the love she’s only dreamed about?

My Review

Fade to Us is a moving novel about family, first love, and what it means to be a great sister, even when circumstances make it difficult to be your best. I went into Fade to Us wondering just how much … Continue reading

8 Comments
Book Tour
Book Title:
Nice Try, Jane Sinner
Book Author:
Lianne Oelke
Page Count:
416
Publisher:
HMH Books for Young Readers
Date Read:
January 25th, 2018
Source:
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

Synopsis

The only thing 17-year-old Jane Sinner hates more than failure is pity. After a personal crisis and her subsequent expulsion from high school, she’s going nowhere fast. Jane’s well-meaning parents push her to attend a high school completion program at the nearby Elbow River Community College, and she agrees, on one condition: she gets to move out.

Jane tackles her housing problem by signing up for House of Orange, a student-run reality show that is basically Big Brother, but for Elbow River Students. Living away from home, the chance to win a car (used, but whatever), and a campus full of people who don't know what she did in high school… what more could she want? Okay, maybe a family that understands why she’d rather turn to Freud than Jesus to make sense of her life, but she'll settle for fifteen minutes in the proverbial spotlight.

As House of Orange grows from a low-budget web series to a local TV show with fans and shoddy T-shirts, Jane finally has the chance to let her cynical, competitive nature thrive. She'll use her growing fan base, and whatever Intro to Psychology can teach her, to prove to the world—or at least viewers of substandard TV—that she has what it takes to win.

My Review

I heard that Nice Try, Jane Sinner was funny, but I wasn’t expecting to fully enjoy it and laugh as hard as I did.  From the very first page I caught myself laughing, and as the book went on, I … Continue reading

7 Comments