Month: April 2018

BOOK NEWS: May 1, 2018

BOOK NEWS: May 1, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

I think we have finally shaken off the last snowflakes and spring is finally here. Let’s celebrate with some new books! Here are some of the books releasing this week that I have on my watch list:

Books for Kids

Albie Newton – A young inventor struggles to make friends at preschool. This looks adorable!
Donuts: The Hole Story – An ode to donuts with puns galore
Pete the Kitty and the Groovy Playdate – Before he was Pete the Cat, he was Pete the Kitty. First book in this new line focuses on sharing.
Snail Mail – Celebrates the days of handwritten letters and cross-country treks to deliver them.
This Is a Taco – A funny little story starring a squirrel named Taco who loves to eat, what else? Tacos!
The Wolf Who Didn’t Like to Read – A wolf who would rather eat books than read them has to help a librarian find 10 missing books.
Pete the Cat’s Groovy Bake Sale – An early reader starring Pete the Cat
Ada Lace, Take Me To Your Leader – Book 3 in a series about a STEM-loving girl and a possible alien invasion
Gordon: Bark to the Future (A P.U.R.S.T. Adventure) – Gordon, the dog from the fantastic Binky the Space Cat graphic novel series, gets to save the day. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

The Alcatraz Escape – Book 3 in the Book Scavenger series about an escape room challenge on Alcatraz Island. I have book 1 on my TBR list.
Bad Mermaids Make Waves – First in a new series about a trio of mermaids who have to battle some bad mermaids to save their queen.
Bob – Five years ago, Livy promised a little creature that she would help him find out where he came from. Now that she is back, it’s time to follow through. The latest from Wendy Mass (The Candymakers) and Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me), this one will be huge!
Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual – A companion to the Red Pyramid series by Rick Riordan (Egyptian mythology)
The Burning Maze – The third book in the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan starring the god Apollo who has been turned into a human teenager by Zeus and sent to Camp Half-Blood.
Curse of the Ancients – Book 2 in the Supergirl series based on the TV show on the CW network. The books contain original adventures for the cast of the TV show.
Endling: The Last – The latest from Katherine Applegate about the last of a mythical doglike species who goes in search of others of her kind who may be hidden. This quest story is sure to be a hit.
The Fantastic Library Rescue and Other Major Plot Twists – Book 2 in the Ruby Starr series about a girl who loves to read, is nervous about a poetry assignment, has a book club called the Unicorns, and who is determined to save her school library. You know I will be reading this one!
Freya and the Magic Jewel – The Goddess Girls now have a Norse series called Thunder Girls about prophecy and Ragnarok. Terrific timing for this series with Riordan’s Norse series wrapping up and all the Thor appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Lost in the Jungle – Book 3 in the Jack and the Geniuses series. This time the kids are headed to the Amazon to find a missing scientist. If you are looking for a solid science-based series for kids, check this one out!
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl – When a lightning strike gives a girl genius level math skills, her grandmother challenges her to complete one year of middle school and a series of tasks before she can leave for college. This is one of the books at the top of my list for this week.
Out of Left Field – Even though she is the best pitcher in the neighborhood, a girl in 1957 is denied the opportunity to play Little League because she is a girl. This sounds fantastic! Looking forward to reading this one.
Positively Izzy – A companion book to Invisible Emmie. This graphic novel focuses on two girls, one a dreamer and the other a “brain,” whose worlds collide at the school talent show. I’m looking forward to this one!
The Rose Legacy – In a world where horses have been killed off for carrying a deadly plague, a girl finds a secret farm of them and discovers she has an affinity for understanding their thoughts and feelings. When I was teaching, I could have started a book club with the number of kids who would have clamored for this title. Sure to be a hit.
Shining Night – Lena in the Spotlight book 3, from FaithGirlz. The latest story in the faith-based series focuses on Lena’s attempt to help a friend by putting on a huge fundraising event and the things she learns about herself and about God along the way.
The Stolen Summers – First in the new Time Tracers series about a boy who has to stop rogue time travelers who have stolen his summer vacation.
Allied – Book 3 in the Ruined series about sisters pitted against one another in a battle to save their kingdom. I have book one on my TBR for April, but I don’t think I am going to get to it before tomorrow.
Bookish Boyfriends: A Date with Darcy – A girl who believes boys are just better in books gets that theory tested in ways she never imagined. I’ll be reviewing this later this week – it’s fantastic!
Everywhere You Want to Be – Loosely based on the tale of Red Riding Hood, a girl heads off to a summer dance program, promising her mother she will give up dance when college starts in the fall. But her summer in New York opens up new opportunities – and new threats – to her dreams of dancing.
If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say – A careless online comment blows up in a teen’s face and takes her future with it. Sounds like a timely story!
The Lies They Tell – The daughter of a man suspected of starting a fire that killed 4 out of 5 members of a family gets drawn into a group of teen boys which includes the last surviving member of that family. Getting close to them might just get her close to the truth of what really happened. Yes, please!
Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey – Graphic Novel collecting the first 5 comics in this line. My only contact with the Jean Grey character is through the XMen movies, but I have always been curious about the Phoenix aspect of her character. I’d love to check this book out.
Royals – When her perfect older sister falls in love with the Crown Prince of Scotland, Daisy must give up her quiet life and go learn how to fit in with the royals. But the Crown Prince’s younger brother is ALWAYS looking for trouble, and he might just take Daisy along for the fun. This sounds like the fabulous Prince in Disguise without the reality TV angle. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
Star Wars Lost Stars Vol 1 (Manga) – The story of two friends who find themselves on opposite sides of the Empire/Rebellion battle in Star Wars now appears in a manga format. I enjoyed the novel, and I’m curious to see what they do with the story in this format.

Books for Adults

Cisco Ramon’s Journal – The Flash’s Cisco Ramon comes to the book store/library with this journal based on the fictional character in the CW’s series about DC’s main speedster.
Down the Aisle with Murder – Book 5 in the Otter Lake mystery series. In this book, the protagonist is trying to solve the murder of a maid-of-honor. I have not read anything in this series before, but I have book one on my library list.
Dressed for Death in Burgundy – Book 2 in the French Village Mystery series about an American transplant trying to be accepted in her French home who stumbles across a murder. I have book one on my TBR shelves.
Falling for You – Book 2 in the Bradford sisters series. In this book, a young woman is forced back into relationship with the NFL quarterback who once broke her heart. I’ll be reviewing this one this week, too.
Hey Ladies: The Story of 8 Best Friends, 1 year, and Way, Way Too Many Emails – A fictional tale of friendship told through emails and direct messages and texts and such. Sounds like a perfect summer read!
Lethal Literature – Book 4 in the Book Barn mystery series. This time Charli’s dad is keeping secrets and one of those secrets turns up dead.
The Otter of Death – Book 5 in the Gunn Zoo series. This time, an otter is seen holding a cell phone which is tied to a murder. This is a series that has been on my reading wishlist since it first started. I might just have to jump into the middle with this book though. Sounds great.
The Theory of Happily Ever After – After being dumped by her fiancé and sliding into a funk, Maggie’s friends book her to speak about happiness on a cruise. When a fellow passenger asserts that smart women can never be happy, Maggie decides to set aside her recent disappointments and prove him wrong. This is a must-read for me – sounds terrific!
Amateur Hour: Motherhood in Essays and Swear Words – This sounds funny and apropos.
Fabulous Figures – An art and drawing book focusing on drawing people. When I get in creative moods, books like this call to me.

REVIEW: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

REVIEW: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Princess Theodosia is the only daughter of the Astrean Fire Queen. But that is before the Kalovaxians come. Before the Theyn kills her mother and the Kaiser conquers Astrea. Before the people of Astrea are turned into slaves and the Spiritgems that provide the kingdom’s magic are mined almost to extinction just for decoration of the Kalovaxian nobility. Before the Kaiser declares Theodosia is now “Lady Thora,” the Ash Princess.

Stripped of her strong, true name, Lady Thora tries to keep her head down and survive. She is publicly beaten if there is even a hint of rebellion anywhere in Astrea. She is whipped to remind her – and anyone who would even think of helping her – that she is nothing. No longer a princess, but only an Astrean disgrace. Thora’s only friend is the daughter of the Theyn, the man who murdered the Fire Queen. But how much can Thora truly trust this “friendship?” She’s been betrayed before – even by her own people trying to curry favor with the Kaiser. How could any Kalovaxian be a true friend to the Ash Princess?

When the Kaiser forces Thora to kill the Fire Queen’s last guardian, she starts to wonder if keeping her head down and merely surviving her beatings is enough of an existence. Thousands of her people are dead or dying while she lives in relative “comfort” in the palace. But the Kaiser has decided the Ash Princess is now of age, and he is plotting decisions for her life that will place her on a dark and dangerous path. Perhaps it is time for Theodosia to return and take a stand.

Review

In a Young Adult market full of books of displaced royalty fighting to reclaim their throne, this book stands out from the crowd. It’s captivating!

The fantasy thread in the story is thin but intriguing. The Spiritgems are a foundational piece of Astrea’s history, but I don’t think we have seen yet all they can mean to this story. I am eager to see them cut loose.

The most satisfying part of the story for me was the intricate relationships and competing loyalties in the besieged world of Astrea. Theo/Thora has worked so hard to merely survive, she hasn’t been able to spare a lot of energy to think about her people. She has no one she can truly trust. And her enemy is stunningly manipulative and cut-throat. It’s hard enough for her to even think about standing up to the Kaiser. Her feelings for some of the Kalovaxians who have been her only companions for the last 10 years complicate her desire for freedom. I loved the complex and competing motivations.

There are some nice twists in the end that make the wait for book 2 excruciating. I can’t wait to see how things progress for Theo next. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to the folks at Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Andy Carpenter is a defense lawyer retrying an old case at the urging of his father. Some issues have come to light that get the original trial thrown out.

What’s odd is that Andy’s dad was the District Attorney who prosecuted the original case. Andy’s not sure why his dad wanted him to re-try it. And now that his dad has died, he’s not available to ask.

Adding to the “odd” factor is a photo of four young men that Andy finds hidden at his father’s house. Andy recognizes his father and one other man in the photo – a man connected to his retrial.

Why did Andy’s father hide this innocuous-looking picture?  Does it have anything to do with the unexpected millions Andy inherited?  Is it a coincidence that one of the men in the photo is part of Andy’s case?

Whatever’s going on, Andy and his team will have to work fast to figure it out. Someone wants Andy to back off – either from the case or with his questions about the photo – and their threats start escalating.

Review

After reading five books from the end of this series, I decided to start at the beginning with book one and see how everything started.

Since this is the start of the series, the ensemble I love from the latter books isn’t in place yet. This changed the tone of the book for me. While there’s still a lot of great dry humor, the fun interplay between characters wasn’t quite there in this book.

The mystery is great. The evidence against Andy’s client is tremendous. There’s a reason he was found guilty the first time. Andy himself spends a lot of the story feeling like he might not pull this off. The pieces twist together to a satisfying conclusion.

My rating for this is lower than what I have given to the others in this series. And that’s entirely due to the comparison to Rosenfelt’s later work. Without the full ensemble, I just didn’t enjoy this one as much as I have the rest of the series. The books just get better and better!

I’m glad I went back to book one to see how it all began. By now, I have worked through the entire series to see how the team comes together to become the ensemble I love. Every book in this series is a terrific, intricate mystery.  New books in this series are must reads for me! I highly recommend this entire series.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Peanut Butter and Jelly by Ben Clanton

REVIEW: Peanut Butter and Jelly by Ben Clanton

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Narwhal has never tried peanut butter. In fact, he only eats waffles! But after tasting one of Jelly’s peanut butter cookies, Narwhal is in love. He loves it so much, he changes his name to Peanut Butter instead of Narwhal. And he’s eaten so much of it, he’s turned a nice peanutty-tan color. Jelly is not quite sure what to do.

Review

This was my first Narwhal and Jelly book, and it’s cute! The format is like a mash up of a Ballet Cat sort of story with chapter-ending spreads like you find in a Stink Moody chapter book.

Pages are set up like comics or a graphic novel so kids can start to work through sequencing in a story. One “chapter” transition is facts about the eating habits for narwhals, jelly fish and whales. The second is a comic.

I appreciated the references to common allergies – like to peanuts and peanut butter. This could be used to introduce kids to the idea of knowing what you are eating and what food they are allergic to.  This is a fun book – third in the series – to introduce to the Piggie and Gerald set.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tundra Books for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: April 24, 2018

BOOK NEWS: April 24, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the final release week of April 2018. This year is flying by already! Here are some of the books releasing this week that are on my reading list:

Books for Kids

Back to the Future – The classic movie is now a picture book. Great for kids or for adult fans.
Dude! – A platypus and beaver want to go surfing, but there is a shark in the water. I adore anything and everything Dan Santat (illustrator) works on, so this is a must read for me.
Misunderstood Shark – A shark disrupts an underwater newscast, but he wasn’t trying to cause trouble! Or was he? This is another one I have on my reading list for this week – sounds hilarious!
Crafty Cat and the Great Butterfly Battle – Book 3 in the Crafty Cat graphic novel series for young readers focuses on the school play where everyone wants the starring role. This series looks adorable. If I was still teaching, this would have been a must-have for the library.
Edward – Book 49 in the Puppy Place series
Peachy and Keen: Spirit Week Showdown – Book 2 in the Peachy and Keen series. This time, the friends are at odds over which kind of vlog will get the most views for spirit week – a prank channel or posts about the daily spirit events. This series for kids ready to try chapter books looks great.
Remy Sneakers and the Lost Treasure – Book 2 in this transitional chapter book series sends Remy and his crew on the hunt for the person who stole the Raccoon Family memory book.  The cover illustrations for this series really grab my attention; I’d love to see the books in person.
Robot Rescue – Book 4 in the CatStronauts graphic novel series  looks at what happens when the CatStronaut’s bot is left on one of Jupiter’s moons. This is another series that would have found a happy home in my former school library.
UFO Spotted – Book 4 in the Hilde Cracks the Case series from Branches/Scholastic. I have only read the third book in the series, but I loved it. This time Hilde is investigating a UFO sighting.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Code Word Courage – Dogs of World War II book 4. This book includes information on the Navajo code talkers and their role in WWII.
The Lifters – The new kid in a run-down town and his new friend discover the reason the town is developing sinkholes – a mysterious wind that is creating undergound tunnels. An interesting premise!
LouLou and Pea and the Bicentennial Bonanza – Book two in the series focuses on a bicentennial celebration and the secrets of the founding of the town. This sounds like a great middle grade story. Includes Spanish glossary in the back matter.
The Reckless Rescue – Book 2 in the Explorers series which is about a couple of kids who stumble onto a secret international explorer’s society. I have book one on my TBR shelves.
Star Wars Forces of Destiny – Graphic novel celebrating the women of Star Wars.
Two Peas in a Pod – Book 11 in this fractured fairy tale series, Whatever After. This time, Abby is mistaken for the princess a kingdom has been looking for. But she needs to find them a real princess so she and Jonah can get back home.
Waste of Space – Book 3 in the Moon Base Alpha mystery series that takes place on the moon. I am stunned that my library doesn’t have any of these in their ebook system already, but I will be rectifying that soon!
Ash Princess – As a child, Theo’s mother was killed and her kingdom was overthrown. Now as a teenager, Theo is tired of being a captive, hoping only to survive. She’s ready to fight back any way she can. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom – A murder mystery at weight loss camp. Graphic Novel. Sign me up for this one; I love mysteries!
The Fandom  – In a freak accident at Comic Con, a girl and her friends are transported into their favorite fandom. In the first few minutes, they accidentally kill off the heroine and are left to rescue their favorite story. I can’t wait to read this!
A Prom to Remember – The story of seven kids and a prom to remember. This strikes me as an older, more mature version of Best. Night. Ever. This one is definitely on my reading list.
Stay Sweet – When the founder of a WWII ice cream stand that has employed only girls since 1944 passes away, the staff aren’t sure what the future holds for their beloved Meade Creamery. This is on my list, too.
Trouble Never Sleeps – Book 3 after Trouble is a Friend of Mine and Trouble Makes a Comeback. This is the final book in the series, and this time Digby and Zoe are digging into the mysterious disappearance of Digby’s sister. This is a must read.

Books for Adults

Bleeding Tarts – Book 2 in the Pie Town mystery series about a pie eating contest and an old ghost town. A yummy-sounding series
Expiration Date – Book 1 in a new series about a competitive chef. This sounds fun.
Hide and Sneak – Book 23 in the Savannah Reid mystery series. I discovered this series in an airport many years ago, and I haven’t missed a book since. This is on my list for this week as well.
Murder in the Locked Library – First in a new Book Retreat mystery series about a book retreat and rare book conference.
Murder Most Fermented – Book 2 in the Rose Avenue Wine Club mystery series about a NYC transplant  setting up a vineyard in California who stumbles across a murder.
Read Herring Hunt – Book 2 in the Mystery Bookshop mystery series about a shop owner/writer trying to clear her favorite tenant from a murder rap. I have the first book for this series on my reading list.
Always Enough, Never Too Much – A new devotional from the authors of Wild and Free, a book that encourages readers to know and enjoy who they are in Christ.

REVIEW: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

REVIEW: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Bruce Wayne is about to turn 18 and inherit a fortune and take over the family business. But one choice on a dark night changes his course in a way he doesn’t expect.

After an argument with a “friend,” Bruce drives off to clear his head. In a custom Aston Martin built for speed, Bruce drives around Gotham to process his thoughts. Sirens and curiosity lead Bruce into a police situation and a high speed chase. (Hey, the Aston Martin could keep up better than what the police were driving!) While he ultimately helped catch the criminal, he’s a civilian interfering in police business. So Bruce earns community service. At Arkham Asylum.

The Nightwalkers are a new, dangerous criminal element in Gotham. They target the rich and drain their bank accounts. They use the money to commit acts of terrorism and then kill their victims. One of the Nightwalkers is in Arkham, and she takes a liking to Bruce. She refuses to talk to anyone else, and the police need her talking. But she is more dangerous than Bruce can imagine.

Review

I have mixed feelings about the DC Universe in general, which I have mentioned before. And I’m not usually a big fan of Batman. But I love the whole idea of this DC Icons series. I have Wonder Woman Warbringer already, and Catwoman: Soul Stealer is on my wish list for August. Both the Wonder Woman book and this one about Batman have exceeded my expectations!

There are plenty of nods to the Batman cannon – probably more than I caught as I read this. I could see the hints of the hero/vigilante yet to come in Bruce’s thinking and drive. His choices here as a young man felt consistent with what I’ve seen of Batman in other venues over the years.

This story was terrific. Madeleine is a fascinating character full of secrets and lies. She is complex and nuanced. A perfect foil for Bruce Wayne. The Nightwalker situation was a great way to build tension and suspense. I was supremely happy with how all the pieces clicked together. I hope there will be more Batman books by Marie Lu! This was a joy to read.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Finish by Jon Acuff

REVIEW: Finish by Jon Acuff

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

There are a ton of factors that can keep you from accomplishing your goals. When it comes to the factors in your own head, Jon Acuff has some suggestions.

Jon wrote a book called Start several years ago to help people take the first step toward their dreams. Then he noticed that a lot of folks are “chronic starters.” Those folks don’t need a book to help them start things; they are almost too good at that. Where they need help is getting past the perfectionism that keeps them from finishing anything.

Finish addresses the places where perfectionism can get in the way of readers accomplishing their goals – setting goals that are too big and quitting at the first roadblock instead of building on the progress made, knowing what works as an incentive for you, etc..  Each chapter includes questions to help readers apply the insights from the book to their current goals.

For me, every chapter was on target. I’m an only child – of course I have issues with perfectionism! I underlined, starred, and laughed my way through the book and finished with renewed energy for my goals. In fact, this is the first Acuff book I have ever finished. I am something of a “chronic starter” when it comes to nonfiction books. This particular one is a book I’ll keep close by so I can apply it to new goals as time goes on. I anticipate that it will also be a great resource when I get stuck in my journey to accomplish some dreams this year.

I’ve heard great things about the audio book, too. I have it, but haven’t started listening to it yet. If audio is more your style, this is supposed to be a great book to explore in that format.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Click'd by Tamara Ireland Stone

REVIEW: Click’d by Tamara Ireland Stone

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Allie gave up a summer of soccer with her best friends to follow her passion. She spent her summer at coding camp. And while she was there, she developed a game – an app. Click’d takes a user through a multiple choice quiz and then matches him or her to other users who answered similarly. Then users are sent  on a scavenger hunt to find their matches. It’s a great way to meet people and make new friends. And Click’d gets Allie a coveted spot in a coding competition.

When Allie shares Click’d with her friends, it’s a HUGE hit! And the popularity only builds in the week leading up to the competition. But that many users exposes a glitch in the app. Allie tries to find the bad code. She doesn’t want to shut down the app before the contest. She has a real chance to beat her nemesis with Click’d. But only if she can find and fix her glitch.

Review

I know almost nothing about coding. But I didn’t have to know anything to completely love this whole book!

The characters in this book are delightful. Allie is smart, dedicated and earnest. She loves coding. And her friends accept and celebrate her passion. Her “nemesis,” Nathan, is a kindred spirit, but Allie doesn’t see that because of her competitive nature. There’s a great dynamic between the different characters.

The games/apps are fun! I can totally see how kids would go crazy for a social app like Click’d. And I’d play Nathan’s game in an instant. It’s very cool. The fact that these are 7th graders in advanced coding classes and building their own apps is inspiring.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough to kids, teachers, parents and librarians. This book would work for coders as well as kids who have no interest in creating their own tech. This is a great story on its own and a great tech story, too.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BOOK NEWS: April 17, 2018

BOOK NEWS: April 17, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

Some fun books are releasing this week. Let’s take a look:

Books for Kids

Right Now – A picture book about living in the moment and loving who you are. I’m looking forward to seeing this one in person to get the whole story.
Baeoh and the Bully – Book 2 in the Team Taekwondo series, this book looks at bullying. I met the illustrator for this series at a con recently, and I really enjoy his work. As a TKD family, I love the idea of this series.
Star Wars Han and Chewie (Choose Your Destiny) – What a terrific idea! Star Wars stories and choose-your-own-adventure format!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Council of Mirrors AND The Inside Story – Books 8 (Inside Story) and 9 (Council of Mirrors) in the revised 10th Anniversary release of this great fairy tale series. I adore the new covers! I recently treated myself to book one so I can see how the series has been updated for the anniversary celebration. Looking forward to reading it soon.
Ghost Boys – When a police officer shoots and kills a 12-year-old, the boy’s ghost observes the fall out from the tragedy. This has been a big topic, both in the news and in recent fiction, although I have generally seen it more in YA books than middle grade. I have already requested this one from the library.
Sharks: Nature’s Perfect Hunters – The next installment of Science Comics focuses on a hugely popular topic for kids – sharks.
Wedgie and Gizmo Vs. the Toof – Book 2 in the fabulous Wedgie and Gizmo series. I adored book one, and book 2 is just as funny. I’ll be posting a full review of both at the end of May, but for now I will say that I highly recommend both books for kids looking for a funny story.
Every Shiny Thing – Two girls used to caring for their families find friendship with one another, but a Robin Hood-type plan by one looking to help families with autistic kids could expose the other girl in ways she can’t imagine. This sounds fantastic. It’s described as “middle grade” in some places and “teen” in others, so this might span from upper elementary/middle school to high school.
Suitors and Sabotage – Historical fiction from the author of Duels & Deceptions (which I loved!). Imogene has found a suitor her father approves of, but it’s actually his younger brother who really catches her heart. But when several “accidents” indicate that someone is out to hurt him, their unexpected affection could cause more trouble than just in the London social scene. I loved Duels & Deceptions so much, this is absolutely on my list for this week!
Your Robot Dog Will Die – In a future where dogs stopped wagging their tails and were thus euthanized and replaced by mechanical dogs, a girl finds a real puppy that wags its tail. She has lost so much recently, that she is not about to let the puppy be taken from her. It’s an odd dystopian set up – dogs almost extinct because they stopped wagging their tails – but it is so curious that I’m going to have to read the whole book to find out how it all comes together.

Books for Adults

The Fallen – The latest in Baldacci’s Memory Man/Amos Decker series (book 4) focuses on a set of bizarre murders. If you enjoy suspenseful stories, you should be reading Baldacci.
Star Wars Last Shot: A Han and Lando Novel – In the past, Lando and Han both tried to secure a mysterious device from Fyzen Gor, without much luck. Now that Han and Leia are married, he hasn’t given Gor a thought in ages, but when Lando shows up on Han’s doorstep, running from Gor’s assassins, he’s drawn back into the hunt for this tech that could turn the galaxy upside down. I’m curious about this one. I love the Star Wars characters, of course, and I love the idea of a new, original story. This is on my list of books to look for at the library.
Practicing the King’s Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save and Give – A book on “economic discipleship.” I love the whole idea of this!
Winning the Worry Battle – A study on worry and the life of faith based on the book of Joshua in the Bible. Sounds like a great study!

REVIEW: Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

REVIEW: Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Vivian is a junior at a small high school in Texas. The football team is the pride and joy of the town, whether they are winning or losing. The whole town shuts down for games so absolutely anyone and everyone can go.

The team is the pride of the school as well. Money is funneled to the football program while other areas – girls soccer, textbooks, the science lab – are making due with decades-old material and supplies. And the football players themselves are untouchable.

Vivian has watched these things play out for years. The boys on the football team make derogatory comments to girls or make sexual references, and they never get called out by a teacher. In fact, the principal’s son is one of the worst offenders – but his daddy protects him at every turn.

Vivian is starting to take notice of her mom’s old feminist zines and music. And she’s tired of watching the injustices around her. She doesn’t want to just duck her head and endure the harassment anymore. If she could dare to show a little “moxie” at school, would anyone else step up and push back, too?

Review

This was exceptionally good. And also completely infuriating. The injustices going on in the story made my blood boil. And Viv’s reaction was realistic. She wanted to speak up, to fight back. But she also wanted to spare herself and her family any trouble. She felt helpless to stop a culture of misogyny that had been around for ages. The system was set up against the girls. What power does one 16-year-old girl have in such a situation?

Part of the power of the story was the message of what can be accomplished when enough people decide to be brave. Viv took the first (anonymous) step. But Moxie wasn’t just her thing. It became a counter-culture, little by little. It let students feel like they weren’t alone.

One of my favorite parts of the book was Viv’s clueless, well-intentioned  boyfriend. He’s a great guy who sees and recognizes the big issues, but some of the more subtle pieces he misses. He’s been indoctrinated in some ways – we all have. And that is explored in the novel, too.

This is an important and timely story for teens – and adults – regardless of gender. These issues need to be seen and discussed so we can make things better for those who come behind us. I highly recommend this novel. It’s one my whole family will be reading and discussing this summer.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥