Originally published in School Library Journal, March 2018. Gr 9 & up - On summer break, Virginia (Vee), a talented songwriter and musician, leaves Michigan for a 3 month reality band competition tour with best friend, Logan. Much to her surprise and initial dismay, the newest member of Your Future X is Cameron, Vee's not-quite… Continue reading Love Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington
Tag: realistic fiction
My Name is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd
Originally published in Library Journal, February 2018. Readers meet Venus Black, age 13, in 1980 Washington state, as she is locked up in juvenile detention after a horrific event involving her stepfather Raymond. Her father died when she was 5, and soon after Inez, her self-absorbed mother, married Ray. The only positive aspect of their… Continue reading My Name is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd
Where I Live by Brenda Rufener
Originally published in School Library Journal, November 2017. Grade 9 & Up - Secretly living in Hinderwood High, teenager Linden is homeless and working two jobs to afford living essentials. After her mother was killed, she ended up in Oregon at her grandmother's nursing home, before she died too. Linden, white and homeless, and her… Continue reading Where I Live by Brenda Rufener
Welcome to the Slipstream by Natalka Burian
Originally published in School Library Journal, May 2017. Grade 9 & up: Van, 17, was forced to grow up quickly in the slipstream of her mentally ill, brilliant mother. Her father died of a drug overdose when she was an infant. Van, her mother Sophie, and Ida, a surrogate grandmother, have lived as vagrants, following… Continue reading Welcome to the Slipstream by Natalka Burian
Subject to Change by Karen Nesbitt
Review first appeared in School Library Journal, February, 2017. NESBITT, Karen. Subject to Change. 276p. Orca Book Publishers. Feb. 2017. $14.95. ISBN 9781459811461. Gr 9 & Up -In Nesbitt's debut realistic fiction novel, readers come face-to-face with Declan, a teen living in Quebec and dealing with major family issues. Told through Declan's (at times) vulgar point of view,… Continue reading Subject to Change by Karen Nesbitt
The Heartbeats of Wing Jones by Katherine Weber
Review first appeared in School Library Journal, January 2017. WEBBER, Katherine. The Heartbeats of Wing Jones. 336p. Delacorte Press. Mar. 2017. $17.99. ISBN 9780399555022. Gr 8 Up - Set in 1990's Atlanta, this coming-of-age story is realistic fiction with a touch of magical realism, is full of diverse and strong female characters. Bullied for her looks,… Continue reading The Heartbeats of Wing Jones by Katherine Weber
The Memory Book by Lara Avery
I was excited to see Lara Avery had a new novel coming out, because I read A Million Miles Away and loved it. Now The Memory Book has become my favorite Lara Avery novel. I devoured it in just over one day. The chapters are short, mostly written as journal entries into Sammie's memory book, making for… Continue reading The Memory Book by Lara Avery
First Comes Love by Emily Giffin
The bad news is that we have to wait until June 28th for this beauty to be published! The good news is that it is totally worth the wait! I love, love, LOVE this book. I'll try to do it some justice with my review. First Comes Love is filled with highly relatable family situations and candid conversations among… Continue reading First Comes Love by Emily Giffin
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nivens
All the Bright Places is at its heart a story of an unlikely friendship and then love between a girl named Violet and a boy named Finch. However, it's not your average YA romance, and there are richly created scenes and moments. It has been compared to The Fault in Our Stars, but I found… Continue reading All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nivens
The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek
This was a great book. It follows the lives of Bella, Sam (male), and Suzie from the time they are 15 until they have reached adulthood. The story switches back and forth between the characters, giving the reader glimpses of each as they grow older and experience love, loss, marriage, children, etc. The author does… Continue reading The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek
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