Month: April 2019

REVIEW: The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

REVIEW: The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Imprint in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Lenora is stuck. Her parents are off traveling the world, and she is left behind with a nanny. A horrible nanny, too, who is working her own angles and agendas while dragging Lenora along. But when the nanny has to head to the library, Lenora sees her chance to escape.

Ditching the nanny by dodging through the stacks, Lenora opens a gateway to an unusual library thanks to an act of protective kindness. And this new library offers exactly what Lenora wants – a chance to both learn things and make a difference to others.

While Lenora is learning what it means to be the “Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian,” dark forces are gathering. They know knowledge is dangerous, and they are determined to destroy it.

Review

This is a fun fantasy story on the young side of middle grade. I loved Lenora! She is bright and resourceful. She keeps a notebook to record what she learns and her questions – I love that! And I learned some cool things right along with her. She has an earnest desire to learn. And she works to overcome the fear and angst that would naturally arise in such an unusual setting with few if any instructions for how to proceed.

I was frustrated by the villains when they appeared in the story. I felt like the villains, and their cause, lived on a different level in the storytelling than the fantasy worlds Lenora visited. It was like her travels and tasks were painted in rich, vibrant colors, and I was immersed right along with her. But the direct confrontations with the villains to me felt like black and white interactions in comparison. They pulled me out of the delightful fantasy.

This could be a function of (a) being an adult reader of a book for kids, and (b) reading a lot of adult and young adult fantasy where things are far more drawn out and motives are more often teased rather than stated plainly. So, I wanted this to be longer, with more drawn out trials for Lenora on each task. With a longer story, the villains could have been developed more slowly, too. And their motives would have felt less obvious.

But as I considered it, I don’t think that is the goal of this book. There are books for that – for the longer trials and nuanced villains – Percy Jackson and the like. This feels like more of an introduction to fantasy for maybe a slightly younger audience. A good introduction for readers who aren’t yet ready for those longer books just yet (The first Percy Jackson book is twice as long as this one.). For those almost-ready readers, this will be great! I feel like Lenora and the library will give a taste of the magic and mythology and world building of fantasy, but in a politely-sized format with a relatively quick return on the reading investment – action, results, resolution, and hints at a future adventure.

I think this would make for a great family or classroom read aloud. The quickly resolved adventures (1 – 2 chapters) work for classroom or bedtime reading. And depending on the age and insight of the readers, discussions about the villains and their goals could be very interesting, too.

I think readers will love Lenora, so be sure to watch for her future adventures! The library in this book is a delightful place to spend some time.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: April 30, 2019

BOOK NEWS: April 30, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last week for an April release day Tuesday. Let’s see what some of the books are that are out this week!

Books for Kids

How to Care for Your T-Rex – How to babysit a dinosaur. This sounds hilarious!
Most Marshmallows – Most marshmallows do all the things marshmallows do. Some marshmallows were born to stand out!
You’re Missing It! – While a kid enjoys the neighborhood park, he admonishes his dad that he’s missing everything because he is on his phone. Timely!
Handimals: Animals in Art and Nature – This may be the coolest book I have seen in awhile! Filled with animal facts, it’s the pictures of animals painted on human hands that left me with my mouth hanging open. Stunning!
Little People Big Dreams Mahatma Gandhi – Picture book biography
Do You Like My Bike? – It’s no secret around here that I adore the Branches line of transitional chapter books from Scholastic. Now they have a new series for slightly younger readers called ACORN which is also fabulous. I haven’t read this story yet, about a hedgehog and his friend, but I have read a few of the others and loved them.
A Friend For Dragon – Scholastic is reissuing this story from Dav Pilkey (Dogman, Captain Underpants) as part of their Acorn line.
Hello Crabby! – This was my FAVORITE of the new Acorn books I read this spring. It’s SO funny!
Sparkly New Friends – This darling story of a Yeti and a Unicorn is the last of the Acorn books out this week. It’s so cute!
Brute-Cake – Scholastic Branches kicks off a spin off of the Notebook of Doom series, the Binder of Doom. As before, this includes weird monsters and the kids who have sworn to protect their town.
Eye of the Earthquake Dragon – Book 13 in the Dragon Masters series from Branches. None of the other series in this line have gone on this long! (Owl Diaries is closest with 10 books so far, and two more due out this year.) There are two more books out later this year, too. This is a fun dragon series for kids ready to dive into chapter books!
Bentley – Speaking of long-running series, this is book 53 in the Puppy Place series!
Dragons of Krad – Book 4 in the Dragonling series. This is another reissue, but with new cover art. I haven’t checked the latest books, but my thoughts on the first one were that the story was terrific but the interior art could use an update as well as the covers.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Aru Shah and the Song of Death – Book 2 in the Pandava series, part of Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint for mythology stories. I have’t read book one yet, but this series has been a huge hit with readers!
Bigger, Badder, Nerdier – Geeked Out, book 2. A team of geeks have decided to fight back against the cliques and bullies at school in a familiar sounding plot with a dystopian twist. I have GOT to read book one. This sounds like a fantastic and fun series!
A Dog’s Porpoise – A porpoise thrown off course and lost from his pod teams up with a puppy who was rescued after being knocked off a boat and a local girl in this story full of heart. I can’t wait to read this one.
A Kind of Paradise – After a BIG mistake at the end of the school year, a girl has to spend her summer volunteering at the library as punishment. I already have this on hold at the library.
The Library of Ever – An act of protective kindness opens a new world to a girl who ducked into the library to escape the boredom perpetrated on her by a negligent nanny. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Spill the Beans – Book 13 in the Whatever After series tackles the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. This is a fun fractured fairy tale series.
Spy School British Invasion – Book 7 in the Spy School series. The Spy School kids are going rogue and joining up with MI6 to try to take down SPYDER.
Share Your Smile: Raina’s Guide to Telling Your Own Story – How to make your own graphic novel from the author of Smile. Includes a sneak peek at her new book, Guts, out this fall.
Where Is Broadway?

 

Books for Adults

Avengers: Infinity Prose Novel (Hardcover) – This is NOT related to the Avengers Infinity War movie but instead based on a graphic novel line. While the Avengers are away, trying to protect the galaxy, Thanos decides to attack Earth. The Inhumans, Doctor Strange, Black Panther and the X-Men must protect the planet. I adored the prose novel of Planet Hulk, so I’d like to try this story out, too.
Bitter Brew (Hardcover) – Book 24 in the delightful Savannah Reid Mystery series.  This time, Savannah’s medical examiner friend is the one asking for a favor when a choice she made to help a dying friend could be helping someone hide a murder. This sounds fantastic!
Getting Hot with the Scot (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new  Sometimes in Love series. Scottish Highlander meets a pop-culture reporter. The second book in the series (Smitten by the Brit, May 28) is the one that is primarily on my radar from this series.
Knit One, Die Two (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Knit and Nibbles series, which I have on my TBR list – look at those adorable cats on the cover!! A newcomer to the community – and to the knitting club – is killed when she threatens to dish dirt on others in the community theater. I need to carve out some cozy mystery time this summer to get started on this series.
Murder in the Reading Room (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Book Retreat Mystery series. Retreat manager Jane leaves Storyton on the hunt for her missing boyfriend. One dead body later, she finds him, but she also finds a ton of trouble which could lead to another victim. This sounds so good. I need to get caught up on this series, too!
A Prince on Paper (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Reluctant Royals series. I adored book one – A Princess in Theory – and I have book two on my TBR shelves (A Duke by Default). In this new book, my favorite trope – fake relationship – is at work when a woman returns home and stumbles into a fake engagement with the bad boy step-prince. There are also two novellas that are part of this series.
Prologue to Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. Trying to launch a new life in a new town proves difficult when Addie is accused of murder. I’m looking forward to digging into this series, too.
Sweet on You (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bradford Sisters series after Falling for You. Old friends team up to look into a mysterious death while also trying to deny the feelings between them.
Wed, Read & Dead (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Bookshop Mystery series. Bookstore owner and mystery writer Sam has a new mystery on her hands when the wedding planner working on her mom’s wedding is killed. I have this series on my shelves too.
Jesus, King of Strangers: What the Bible Really Says about Immigration (Trade Paperback, May 1) – Looks at how Christians, people who have been described as “aliens and strangers” should respond to the questions of immigration.
So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians in a Challenging World (Trade Paperback, May 1) – Research-based training for those who work with young people and are dismayed to see so many leaving the church.

REVIEW: Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye

REVIEW: Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Kingdom of Kichona is a tiger-shaped island in the sea, ruled by Empress Aki. Aki and her twin brother, Gin, battled for the throne in what is now called the Blood Rift. Prince Gin followed a cult that inspired his bloodthirsty quest for conquest. He was defeated, but only after great loss of life, including all of the younger children set apart to be the future magical guardians of Kichona, the Taiga.

Sora lost her little sister, Hana, in the Blood Rift. And it haunted her. But her mother encouraged her to channel those feelings to help her be the best Taiga she could be. Together with her partner Daemon and their best friends, Sora operated under the mantra, “Work hard. Mischief harder.” But in memory of Hana, Sora would try to be more disciplined.

On their first Taiga mission, Sora and Daemon observe a strange group in a remote part of Kichona. They seem to have strange magic – and a disturbing leader. But when none of the Taiga leadership believes them, Sora and Daemon sneak off on their own to track the strangers and protect Kichona.

Review

This was spectacular! I immediately clicked with Sora. She’s smart, clever and determined, but also irreverent. Her peers love her. Her teachers grow weary of her antics. And that leads to some of the mistrust Sora receives when she tries to alert them to danger. It’s a little like the boy who cried wolf.

The fantasy world is fantastic! The magic was intriguing, and the strangers are quite formidable. It all made for an engrossing story. The short chapters helped build even more urgency to the story. And some great twists – both some I figured out on my own and others that were total surprises – tied this up beautifully into an unpredictable story.

I can’t recommend this highly enough to fans of fantasy novels. The storytelling is top notch, as is the world the author has developed. I’m sure I’ll have to wait a year for the sequel, but it is already on my 2020 Must Read list. Don’t miss this one! (Language, violence, attempted assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Chocolate à la Murder by Kirsten Weiss

REVIEW: Chocolate à la Murder by Kirsten Weiss

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Wine and Chocolate Days are in full swing, even at Maddie Kosloski’s Paranormal Museum. She has a haunted molinillo for Mexican hot chocolate on display. And she also has a fortune teller coming in to do hot chocolate readings. Local chocolatiers are also providing chocolates for Maddie to sell.

That’s why she was at their shop, Reign, that day. Her delivery was late, so she walked down to pick it up. Finding one of the business partners dead in a pool of melted chocolate was enough to put Maddie off the sweet for years to come.

Maddie’s natural curiosity and local connections means she falls easily back into investigating the crime, but like before, her questions might put her in danger of being the next victim.

Review

This is the fourth Paranormal Museum mystery in the series, but the first book I have read in the line. The overall mystery was pretty typical of the cozy genre. The paranormal pieces for the series aren’t a great fit for me as a reader. The tarot cards and ouija board and such are a step too far for me which led me to rate this lower than I would have otherwise. It’s a matter of personal preference rather than quality of the book.

The characters in the series are interesting. I didn’t get a great feel for Maddie’s best friends. Harper didn’t get a lot of page time, and Adele’s wedding planning woes made her come off a little shrill. I didn’t like her. Maybe if I read other books in this series, I’d have a better feel for her.

In this book, Maddie seems out of step with everyone. This may be something that has been building through the series, and it’s headed toward resolution. But Maddie’s investigations put her at odds with everyone in this book – the cop boyfriend, her mom, her best friends, etc. But investigations seem like one of the few places in her life where Maddie is pretty direct. In her relationships, she sometimes lets stronger personalities bulldoze over her. And in other relationships, she hides from direct questions and conversations. I enjoyed trying to puzzle out this piece of her personality. If not for the occultish elements, I’d read more of these to see how those personality elements play out.

If you enjoy more of the paranormal elements than I do, by all means, check out this series. The mystery was solid and the characters have some intriguing dynamics to dig into!

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Twinchantment by Elise Allen

REVIEW: Twinchantment by Elise Allen

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

In the kingdom of Kaloon, magic was outlawed during the reign of King Lamar. Only the Keepers of the Light could use magic in the kingdom. Anyone – or anything – considered magic was banished to the Twists, a magical prison. This included people who did magic, black cats, anyone who was left-handed and twins.

This was all thanks to a dark magician Maldevon who betrayed King Lamar and killed the entire royal family except for the king and his son, Prince Alistair. The king was rescued by a mage named Grosselor who became the leader of the Keepers of the Light. Grosselor and the Keepers kept the kingdom safe for years.

King Edwin, Lamar’s great-great-grandson was the next king who had to deal with an attack. Queen Latonya was pregnant with their first child, and the court jester Gilward attacked her with a green mist. But the queen – and Princess Flissara – were thankfully fine.

Only four people know the truth. The queen delivered twin girls that night, Flissa and Sara. No one was certain what the Keepers would do about a royal set of twins. So the two girls take turns being Princess Flissara, working hard to deal with the strengths and weaknesses of one another.

When the queen is attacked a second time, just before the girls’ twelfth birthday and Ascension Day, the girls believe Gilward has escaped the Twists to curse the queen again and must be hiding back in the Twists, biding his time until the queen is dead. With time running out to save their mother, Flissa and Sara will take on the dangers of the Twists with Gilward’s own son helping to track the mage/jester down. Gilward is their only hope to save the queen.

Review

This was fun! Be sure to look closely at that cover – isn’t it gorgeous?!! It’s a terrific representation of this fun tale. I enjoyed Sara and Flissa and the rest of their traveling companions. The split perspective storytelling was perfect for showing how the girls were wrestling with their identity on an adventure when they didn’t have to hide and pretend to be one person.

The magical world was interesting, too. The girls question everything they have been taught about their kingdom once they are actually out of the castle and seeing the reality of things. They have to face the contradicting stories of their history – something that will continue to be addressed in future books.

I wish this book had existed when I was teaching. I had several students who wanted “brown kid books,” but so many of their choices were what I would call issue books. If there were Black characters, the book was often about racial issues. Those books are usually excellent, and serve a purpose. But sometimes a kid just wants to read a friendship story or an adventure that stars a kid who looks like them. While this book stars two Black girls, their race has nothing to do with the story. It’s just an element in their character description. Not only is it a fun fantasy story, but it adds this diversity piece that is so needed. Be sure to add this one to your home or classroom library!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: April 23, 2019

BOOK NEWS: April 23, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

If you celebrate Easter or Passover, I hope you had a good celebration with family and friends! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

How I Learned to Fall Out of Trees – When a friend is getting ready to move away, she promises to teach her buddy how to climb a tree before she goes. This looks darling. I can’t wait to read the whole story!
I Will Be Fierce – A book about courage and kindness.
Flubby Is Not a Good Pet AND Flubby Will Not Play with That – A new series about a disinterested cat and his owner. Those covers are adorable.
Motor Mouse – First in a new series. Includes three stories starring Motor Mouse.
The Great Bake Off – Book 14 in the darling early chapter book series starring Sophie Mouse. In this book, Sophie and her mom have a lot of fun baking, but they make too much and have to find a way to share what they have before it spoils.
Love the Fur You’re In – Life advice from the characters of Sesame Street. A celebration of 50 years of the show.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers – First in a new series. Kazu is on the hunt for a ring of dognappers when their crimes hit close to home.
Marvel Spider-Man Spideyography – Peter Parker’s secret notebook.
Toy Story Toyography – The story of Andy’s toys through the years.
Unicorn Bowling – Book 9 in the fun and fabulous Phoebe and her Unicorn series.
If I’m Being Honest – A new twist on Taming of the Shrew. Cameron is the shrew in question, and when she shows her true colors to her crush, she decides she has to change her ways if she wants to redeem herself in his eyes. As a big Shrew fan, I am eager to read this one.
The Tiger At Midnight – A legendary rebel and a soldier think they are calling the shots in a volatile world, but someone else is pulling the strings. Inspired by Hindu mythology and ancient Indian history.
Secret Soldiers: How the U. S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis – The story of actors and set designers and sound engineers who fooled the Nazis. I am fascinated by this whole idea!

Books for Adults

Decades: Marvel in the 70s (Paperback Graphic Novel) – This is the decade of monsters for Marvel.
Fumbled (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Playbook series. (I really enjoyed book one, Intercepted.) A single mother has carved out a life she loves, but when she crosses paths with the NFL wide receiver she dated in high school the secrets they never shared with each other put a potential rekindling of their relationship at risk. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
New Orleans Rush (Trade Paperback) – An artist follows her boyfriend to New Orleans only to discover his cheating. Now she’s the assistant to a magician, struggling to keep her relationship with him strictly professional.  This looks fun!
Sifting Through Clues (e-book) – Book 8 in the Cookbook Nook series. A book group’s progressive dinner ends in murder.
Star Trek TNG: Terra Incognita (Trade Paperback Graphic Novel) – After a season in the Mirror Universe, the crew of the Enterprise returns without realizing that one of their own has been replaced by his mirror counterpart.
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool (Hardcover) – From the author of Expecting Better comes this exploration of the data regarding the choices new parents will be making about their children.
Nanaville (Hardcover) – A celebration of grandparenting from Anna Quindlen. I can’t wait to read this one – and I am years away from being a grandparent.
Road to Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame (Hardcover) – A collection of all that has led to this moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Stressed Years of Their Lives: Helping Your Kid Survive and Thrive During Their College Years (Hardcover) – A focus on the emotional skills adolescents need to successfully launch to college.

REVIEW: The Similars by Rebecca Hanover

REVIEW: The Similars by Rebecca Hanover

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Emma is back at Darkwood Academy for her junior year. And it’s going to be an unusual one. The biggest change is that her best friend Oliver won’t be with her. She’s still grieving the loss and medicating away the pain of finding him dead at the start of the summer.

The other big change is the arrival of the Similars, a group of six clones set to attend school alongside the kids whose DNA was used to create them. In a United States that forbids cloning, in a world still trying to decide how to treat clones, this group of six is big news.

One of the prominent families embroiled in the story tried to pay off the Similar of their daughter so she wouldn’t show up at Darkwood. No such luck. All six clones arrived on schedule.

Emma’s roommate and other best friend also has a Similar. Her family welcomed the girl into their home for the summer. They’re committed to changing the negative view people have of clones. And Emma agrees with them.

Until she sees that one of the six is a clone of Oliver named Levi. Levi is a punch in the chest, a twist of the knife, every time Emma sees him. As far as Emma is concerned, Levi shouldn’t even exist.

Review

That summary doesn’t even scratch the surface of what is going on in this story. This is suspense meets science fiction, and someone even described it as dystopian. There’s a LOT to this one. And I found it completely engrossing.

Emma is a great protagonist. She’s smart and confident. She knows her place at Darkwood, and she knows how things work there. Or at least she thinks she does. She has her mixed feelings about the Similars, especial Levi. She empathizes with them. They are distinct individuals with their own stories and feelings. And someone plunked them into a no-win scenario. But Emma also knows they are hiding things. Everyone seems to be  hiding things!  And Emma is determined to find the answers and uncover the secrets, especially when someone dear to her disappears.

I didn’t want to put this one down. It’s captivating. I still have questions, so I’ll have to wait until book two to see how things evolve from here. If you enjoy twisty, suspenseful stories, be sure to check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Too Lucky to Live by Annie Hogsett

BONUS REVIEW: Too Lucky to Live by Annie Hogsett

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Allie can’t believe her luck. She rescues a blind man from a rude driver who honks at him, causing his groceries to go flying and trapping him in the street. Not only is Thomas Bennington III gorgeous, but he’s also smart, single, and interested in Allie. Could this day get any better?!

Maybe yes. Maybe no.

Just as Allie is about to enjoy her first kiss with Tom, a neighbor’s TV blares the winning lottery numbers. Tom’s winning lottery numbers. Tom bought the ticket to show a boy named Rune how pointless it is to spend money on the lottery. Now Tom has won $550 million. And Rune’s told everybody in his run down neighborhood about their good luck.

Before everything can even sink in, people are gunning for Allie and Tom – and Rune – and the money! Dead bodies are dropping, Tom and Allie’s homes have been ransacked, and Rune’s mom has been beaten up so badly, she’s in the hospital. Allie and Tom better lay low  until they can figure out what to do with the lottery ticket and who they can trust.

Review

This was terrific! The characters and the premise were fun and fresh. I loved Allie and Tom as individuals and as a couple. Their commitment to one another and to Rune through the story was excellent.

The action was non-stop. The plot was intricate and twisty. I couldn’t figure out the culprit on my own. There were too many things going on to get a clear picture. It was terrific!

It was a joy to spend time with these characters, trying to figure out the puzzles in this book. I love where things ended for Allie and Tom. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series to see what happens. The series is called A Somebody’s Bound to Wind Up Dead Mystery series and book two is Murder to the Metal.

If you love a good mystery with great characters and a romantic subplot, you should definitely check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala

REVIEW: Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Twenty years ago the world came crashing down for Phoebe and Aidan. A fire at Aidan’s father’s garage led to the death of Phoebe’s father at the bakery next door. The rumor was that Aidan’s father set the fire to get the insurance money because his wife’s cancer had wiped them out. It wasn’t true, but Phoebe’s family kept stoking the flames of the story. While Aidan had thought they were in love, Phoebe didn’t stand up for his family. When his mother died from her illness, Aidan and his father left town, ready to shake off the dust of Blessing’s accusations and mistrust. And when Phoebe showed up as they were leaving town to tell Aidan she believed them and still loved him, it was too little too late.

At the time, neither of them knew Phoebe was pregnant. She vowed not to tell Aidan until he chose to come back for her. When he didn’t, she raised their son on her own.

But Aidan is back in Blessings to handle some old family business. It won’t be long before someone tells him about his son. The question is what Aidan will do when he finds out.

Review

This is book 6 in the Blessings, Georgia series. I hadn’t read anything in the series before this, but it wasn’t an issue. The story stands completely on its own, although there are hints at some possible stories from previous books with some of the other town’s people. The author also seemed to be setting up a couple of characters for a future story in this book.

I loved every minute of this one. The three main characters – Phoebe, Aidan, and their son, Lee – are fantastic! And the road to reconciliation, while not easy, was not filled with needless angst and lies or hidden motives or misunderstandings to thwart them at every turn. That gets old for me after awhile. But this story just… unfolded. And I was able to sit back and enjoy watching it all happen.

Now I absolutely have to track down the rest of the series – including book seven, because the story I think is coming up next is shaping up to be excellent. [Some language.]

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Right Hook of Devin Velma by Jake Burt

REVIEW: The Right Hook of Devin Velma by Jake Burt

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

From the beginning, we know that Devin punched Addison. But the events of the story help Addison figure out why.

The story starts with a scheme called The Double-Barreled Monkey Bar Backflip of Doom. Devin is convinced if he can pull off this legendary playground move, he’ll become internet famous. And he wants Addison to be the look out and guy on the camera. But when the playground monitor approaches them, Addison freezes. Just like always. Too much attention, potential trouble, or just too many eyes turned his way, and Addison clams up. He might think of the right thing to say, but he’s too frozen to even speak.

Usually Devin is fine with being Addison’s voice in these moments. But Devin is obsessed with his grand plans to be internet famous. But it’s not for himself. Devin’s dad needs a really expensive surgery. If he can find the right move, and get the right attention, he can fix this thing for his family. But when the moment comes, things don’t go quite how Devin planned.

Review

I enjoyed Jake Burt’s first book, Greetings From Witness Protection, so much, this book was a must-buy for me. And this one was so fun! I love smart, funny stories. And this is exactly that. I was reading in a public space and had to remind myself not to cackle out loud as I read. This was a treat!

I love the families at the center of this story. Yes, Devin and Addison are great – but the magic of this is the big picture. It’s the relationships between these boys AND these families.

The stories of the two boys when they were little are precious. But this is the biggest challenge their friendship has faced. And the journey is fantastic. This is a great look at what friendship is about. I could see this being a great choice for a book group at a school or a classroom read-aloud.

Jake Burt is now an author I buy automatically. His third book, The Tornado, will be out this fall, and I can’t wait to read it. He’s an author to keep an eye on. Be sure to check out Greetings from Witness Protection AND The Right Hook of Devin Velma if you haven’t already! (Language – “damn” is used twice.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥