Originally published in School Library Journal, September 2019. Gr. 9 & up: Francine "CeCe" Wells plans to spend three weeks in the summer before her senior year of high school at Camp Three SixTeen, a Christian camp for teens. As a nonChristian, CeCe is spending her parents budgeted funds to try to win back Ethan,… Continue reading Have a Little Faith in Me by Sonia Hartl
Tag: Young Adult Book Review
The Voice in My Head by Dana L. Davis
Originally published in School Library Journal, May 2019. Gr. 9 & Up: Davis’s second YA novel set in Seattle, follows 18 year old black twins Indigo and Violet and their chaotic family on an unlikely road trip. While attempting suicide, Indigo hears a voice say that her terminally ill twin Violet will live if she… Continue reading The Voice in My Head by Dana L. Davis
Waiting for Fitz by Spencer Hyde
Originally published in School Library Journal, March 2019. Gr 9 & Up - Midway through her senior year, 17-year-old Addie Foster is sent for inpatient psychiatric therapy at Seattle Regional Hospital for OCD. Quick-witted and literary-minded, she dreams of being a playwright. Making some unlikely, but unique friends from the first day of group therapy,… Continue reading Waiting for Fitz by Spencer Hyde
Purple Hearts by Michael Grant
Purple Hearts is the final book in the Front Lines trilogy by Michael Grant. This young adult historical fiction story takes place in 1944. Though the Battle of D-Day at Omaha Beach, the Battle of the Bulge, and the depiction of German death camps is written with historical accuracy, the one twist in the story… Continue reading Purple Hearts by Michael Grant
Till it Stops Beating by Hannah R. Goodman
Librarian Laura's Review Till it Stops Beating, a young adult realistic fiction from author Hannah R. Goodman tackles some very heavy themes including mental illness, alcoholism, sickness (cancer), and loss. The language and scenes are very mature, so I would not recommend it for readers under the age of 16. It is, however, a great book… Continue reading Till it Stops Beating by Hannah R. Goodman
Holly Jolly Summer by Tiffany Stewart
Originally appeared in School Library Journal, April 2018. Gr 7 & up - The summer tourist season is bustling in the stifling hot town of Christmas, Kentucky, as 15 year old First Daughter, Darby causes a very public disaster at the annual Snow Globe unveiling. Her single father, Mayor Peacher, encourages her to get a… Continue reading Holly Jolly Summer by Tiffany Stewart
Us In Progress by Lulu Delacre
I'm very fortunate to have received a complimentary copy (from the author) of Us In Progress by Lulu Delacre in exchange for a book review for Multicultural Children's Book Day. You can read all about MCBD below. Us in Progress is a middle grade fictional collection of short stories about young Latinos living in the… Continue reading Us In Progress by Lulu Delacre
There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
Stephanie Perkins' YA horror/thriller novel, There's Someone Inside Your House, will have adults and teens alike reeling until the very last page. Think Scream, but much more original and clever! Try to go right to sleep after finishing this book and let me know how that works out for you. It certainly didn't work for… Continue reading There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
Four Weeks, Five People by Jennifer Yu
Originally reviewed in School Library Journal, March 2017. Gr. 9 & Up - Yu's debut, realistic fiction young adult novel is set in upstate New York at Camp Ugunduzi, a wilderness therapy camp for troubled teens. The quickly-paced story is told in alternating points-of-view between five unique campers, just introduced and grouped together during the… Continue reading Four Weeks, Five People by Jennifer Yu
Guest Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
I let my father, Monty, also an avid reader, borrow an ARC and asked him to write up a guest review for the blog. Here's what he thought about Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. Definitely worth reading, informative and enjoyable - this is my summary of Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology due for publication on Feb… Continue reading Guest Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Librarian Laura 