Month: August 2019

REVIEW: Marvel Champions: Change the World by Mark Waid

REVIEW: Marvel Champions: Change the World by Mark Waid

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

After the events of Civil War II (Marvel comics), Ms. Marvel is fed up! The adult heroes don’t seem to care about the destruction they leave in their wake. There’s always an excuse for why they can’t help clean things up. And they’re losing some of their good will with the people.

She seeks out Nova and Miles Morales – two other heroes who left the larger hero team for the same reason. They add in Amadeus Cho (Totally Awesome Hulk) and Viv Vision to the team and try to right wrongs and be heroes without becoming vigilantes.

Those goals are put to the test as they confront human trafficking and bigoted, power-mad law enforcement officers who are breaking the laws they are supposed to enforce.

Review

I liked this graphic novel introduction to these heroes (and others) as a team. I would have liked some more substance from Miles. And Amadeus Cho’s attitude can get tiring at times. And I could have done without Gwenpool all together.

But I liked that the characters faced some of today’s real issues. And that they had to wrestle with what’s an appropriate use of their power. And the heroes weren’t the only ones wrestling with that question.

I would read more of these to see how the characters develop. Volume 2 is The Freelance Lifestyle (issues 6-11). Volume 3 is Champion for a Day (issues 16-21). Avengers and Champions: Worlds Collide includes issues 13-15.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Wishful Thinking by Helen Harper

BONUS REVIEW: Wishful Thinking by Helen Harper

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The full title of this book is Wishful Thinking (How to Be the Best Da** Faery Godmother in the World – or Die Trying).

Saffron Sawyer is a “dope fairy, ” one of the fairies responsible for the hallucinations seen by people who are on drugs. On a good day, those hallucinations can help people muster the courage to face the difficulties they are fleeing with drugs. They have even convinced some people to go into rehab. But now Saffron is headed to “the show” – she’s gotten an interview to join the fairy godmothers!

While Saffron gets the job, it’s nothing like she expects. The other fairy godpersons can be petty and abrasive. No one seems to want to help her settle into her new role. Maybe it’s the audit going on in the department. The Devil’s Advocate is onsite, and everyone seems skittish.

Then Saffron discovers the agency’s big secret. Five fairy godpersons have gone missing. Suddenly it’s all clear – Saffron isn’t there to fill an open position. She’s there as expendable bait for a kidnapper. But Saffron didn’t snooze through her years as a dope fairy. She’s scrappy and determined to solve the mystery and secure her spot as a fairy godmother for good!

Review

A fun addition to the urban fantasy genre. I loved Saffron – she’s smart, sassy and scrappy. She puts up with a lot of flack in this book, but she dishes plenty back as well.

I enjoyed the world building for this. The different fairy types were interesting. The “dope fairy” piece was jarring when I first started the book, but in the larger context it worked. And the Devil’s Advocate was a fascinating character.

The mystery with the kidnappings is solid. And the over-arching story with the villains doesn’t end with the end of this book. There will be more to work through in the rest of the series.

This felt a little like the Enchanted, Inc. series, which I love, thanks to the different fantasy characters, the world building, and the fight between good and evil. I will be watching for book 2, Wish List, which might be out later this year. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Sidelined by Suzanne Baltsar

REVIEW: Sidelined by Suzanne Baltsar

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Charlie Gibb has been working in recruitment at Georgia Tech for five years. But no matter what she does – playing professional women’s football, assistant coaching special teams, or recruitment – she knows this is the best she will get at Georgia Tech. Too many people think she only has the job she does because her dad is the football coach. So she goes looking for another job. And she ends up head coach at Douglass High School in Minneapolis.

Connor McGuire has been with the Douglass team for eight years. When the coach retired, everyone assumed Connor, the offensive coordinator, would get the job. But Charlie got it instead. Connor knows the players and the parents. He’s put in the time. Who is this woman they chose over him?!

There’s a lot of push and pull between Connor and Charlie as Charlie develops her team and Connor discovers she might actually know what she’s talking about. Charlie’s own past causes her to keep impossibly high standards for herself both professionally and personally, making it hard to feel like she has found a home in Minneapolis.  Add to that the forces at work that want to push her off the team. When push comes to shove, will Connor stand with her or against her?

Review

This was great! I loved the football pieces and the character development in this. The feminist story line had some familiar themes, but they felt fresh in the context of this football story. It was great.

I liked Charlie and Connor as a couple, although it was often more antagonistic than warm between them. The larger circle of their friends, and Connor’s family, had a fun dynamic, too. I haven’t read the first book, Trouble Brewing, which includes some of these same characters, but that didn’t impact my enjoyment of this story on its own.

I enjoyed the wrap up of the conflicts central to the story. I especially enjoyed some encouragement Charlie gets in one part of the book to keep a bigger/wider perspective on her skills and experience. I thought it was a good reminder for anyone in a tough work situation.

Fans of The Playbook series or romance stories in general (and the enemies to lovers trope in specific) should check this one out! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Taming of the Shoe by Sarah Darer Littman

REVIEW: Taming of the Shoe by Sarah Darer Littman

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Araminta “Minty” Robicheaux is so annoyed with her parents. Her mom’s cleaning supply business is really growing. (Her mom, “Cinderella,” really knows cleaning!) And to move to the next level, they have to leave the small country of Robicheaux and move to New York City. For Minty that means changing schools in the middle of the year. And when her parents leave on a business trip right after school starts, it also means her step-aunties are coming to stay with her.

One good thing about the aunties is that their shoe business – Comfortably Ever After – gets Minty noticed by the school Queen Bee, Eva Murgatroyd. Sure, her other friends have warned Minty to watch her back with Eva. And Eva tries to get Minty to ditch her other friends because “they are nobodies.” But Eva is Minty’s chance at meeting singing star Theo Downey of Retro of Sync and showing him her shoe design ideas. Minty is eager to be seen and noticed for herself and her ideas rather than her famous family.

Review

This is the third book in this series, but the first I have read. It’s a cute fractured fairy tale type of retelling, except with a new generation, which I enjoyed. Minty’s step-aunts were a great part of the story. The reader keeps wondering if they have really changed or not. I loved it!

At the core this is a standard friendship story. Will the new girl be friends with the regular kids or will she join the popular ones? What might she have to give up to stay with the populars? This plays out in a fairly expected way in this story.

I didn’t quite make the leap with the story that a popular boy band would be having a shoe design contest for free concert tickets. It was too coincidental that Minty (I had a hard time with that nickname, too) designs shoes and her favorite band is having a shoe design contest. It tied pieces of the story together, but it was an odd pairing to me. The story didn’t do anything to sell me on the reasonableness of this contest.

But overall, the shoe angle was fun for a story about Cinderella’s daughter. Fans of Whatever After  or Ever After High should check out this series starting with book one, Charmed I’m Sure, and then book 2, Fairest of Them All.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

BOOK NEWS: August 27, 2019

BOOK NEWS: August 27, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

August has zoomed by and here we are – the last week. Here are some of the books releasing this week to close out the month.

Books for Kids

  

Once Upon a Goat – A king and queen ask their fairy godmother for a “kid” to start their family. And that is precisely what they get. This reminds me of the delightful book, The Princess and the Pig. I can’t wait to read this new one!
Oscar the Octopus: A Book About the Months of the Year – This picture book with flaps introduces preschoolers to the months of the year as well as marine life.
Spencer’s New Pet – Looks like this is a wordless picture book about a boy and his “dog.” This looks darling!
This Book of Mine – A celebration of books and readers. I can’t wait to see this one in person.
You Should Meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Get to know this Supreme Court Justice.
Arnold and Louise: Happy Fell – Book 3 in the Arnold and Louise series of early chapter books. When two friends have different ideas of how to spend a perfect fall day, what can they do?

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Battle – Book 2 in the Gauntlet steam-punk series. Ahmad is battling the evil Architect once again when a new virtual reality game causes time in New York City to stop. I didn’t get to read the first book, but these sound fun. I’ll have to add them to my list.
Beauty and the Dreaded Sea Beast AND Private Eye Princess and the Emerald Pea AND Rapunzel vs. Frankenstein AND Thumbelina, Wrestling Champ (September 1 – Graphic Novels) – When I was a librarian I discovered a line of graphic novels from Capstone/Stone Arch books called Far Out Fairy Tales. I loved them and so did my students. Four new books in the series release this week.
Best Friends (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Real Friends series. If you have a reader who can’t get enough of Raina Telgemeier’s books (Smile, Sisters, etc.), and they need something to keep them busy until her new book releases in September, steer them toward Shannon Hale’s graphic novels. The first was terrific, and I’m excited to dig into this new one. I already have it on hold at the library.
Count Me In (Older Middle Grade) – I have been hearing rave reviews all summer about this book! An Indian-American girl and her grandfather are targeted in an assault. While her grandfather recovers, the girl uses her social media accounts to bring attention to the attack. I am eager to read this one. This is one of a subset of middle grade books that are written for kids in the older, 10-14 age range.
The Good Thieves – A middle grade heist novel about a girl determined to right the wrongs done to her grandfather when he is conned out of his home and possessions.
Gryffindor – A small gift book celebrating Gryffindor House with pictures from the Harry Potter movies. There is a companion book for Slytherin.
Hoax for Hire – The latest from Laura Martin. A boy’s family members are legendary hoaxers – people who fake Bigfoot sightings and the like. When two members of his family go missing right when they are supposed to be pulling their biggest job, the boy and his brother have to save the day.
Last Meeting of the Gorilla Club (Older Middle Grade) – A boy starting at a new school tries to escape the imaginary friend he had at his last school – the one his parents say he is far too old for. But Big Brother is back – and a kid at the new school seems to see one of Big Brother’s friends. This is an unusual sounding story – an older take on the delightful Crenshaw. I am curious about this one. Another book for older middle grade readers (10-14).
My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich (Older Middle Grade) – A girl raised by her grandfather – the first black engineer at NASA – in Huntsville spends time with her father in Harlem, not sure if she could ever fit in there. I am eager to read this one, too. I have it on hold at the library. This is also for readers 10-14.
Taming of the Shoe – Book 3 in a second-generation fairy tale series. Araminta is stuck at a new school, and she’s staying with her mother’s step-sisters (you know, the awful ones from Cinderella) while her parents travel for work. All she wants are some new friends and a ticket to Theo Downy’s concert. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Code This! – Puzzles, games and coding challenges for kids.
Pumpkin Heads – A graphic novel for teens from Rainbow Rowell. Deja and Josiah are friends only when they work together in the fall at the pumpkin patch. Now that they are seniors, they are eager to wrap up their last season, and their last shift together, with a bang. I’m curious about this one. If my library hold list wasn’t already full, I’d have this one on hold.

Books for Adults

The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice (Trade Paperback) – The cover of this screams FALL!!! I’m ready for the coziness of the next few months. Includes three short romances set around a Halloween Parade.
The Blacksmith Queen (Trade Paperback) – A prophecy about a rising queen to replace the recently dead king angers his sons who want no part of anything that would force them to give up the throne. When it looks like the new queen will be her younger sister, a blacksmith gathers supporters to help her defend her family. I have requested this one from the library!
Crypt Suzette (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series about a hit-and-run that kills a guest at the new bookstore in town.
Death by Cafe Mocha (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series. The main characters leave their usual setting and head to a convention of coffee lovers where someone is murdered. I’d love to dig into this series. Book one is Death by Coffee.
Death by Jack-o’-Lantern (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Abby McCree Mystery series about the murder of a pumpkin farmer. It is officially fall in publishing circles!
Decades: Marvel in the 10s – Legends and Legacy (Paperback Graphic Novel) – A celebration of Marvel comics in this decade.
Flour in the Attic (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Bread Shop Mystery series. This one focuses on the death of a local whose body washes up on the beach.
Jealousy Filled Donuts (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. A firecracker hidden in a stack of donuts kills someone at the Fourth of July picnic.
Molded 4 Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. When a retiree in Sun City West Arizona is found dead with Phee’s mother’s name on a paper in his hand, she is investigating once again to be sure her mom hasn’t been targeted by a murderer.
Mulberry Mischief (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Berry Basket Mystery series, another fall title for this week centered around a health fair, an eccentric woman, and a murder.
Sidelined (Trade Paperback) – From the author of Trouble Brewing (which connects with this novel, although the series hasn’t been given a name that I can find). When a woman is chosen as the new high school football coach, she and the offensive coordinator clash as he expected to get the job. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Merry is hosting a reunion of her mother’s college friends when murder strikes. I love stories that include reunions, so I might have to check this one out!
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire (Hardcover) – A book designed to give backstory to Disney’s new Star Wars expansion at the parks – the planet Batuu. A rebellion spy is on Batuu looking for resources when the First Order arrives looking for her. I’ll certainly be giving this one a try!
Tilling the Truth (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Garden Squad Mystery series starring a group of spunky retirees who investigate the murder of a local who kept thwarting the sale of a piece of beachside property.
Wishful Thinking (Trade Paperback) – First in the new How to Be the Best Damn Faery Godmother in the World (or Die Trying) series. This urban fantasy stars a fairy who gets her big chance to join the fairy godpersons, but discovers there are more problems in the department than anyone wants to say. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, too.
Wonton Terror (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. I have the first book on my TBR shelves, waiting. This time, murder strikes during the Asian Night Market when a food truck run by friends of Lana’s parents explodes during the festival.
How to Have Your Life Not Suck: Becoming Today Who You Want to Be Tomorrow (Trade Paperback) – Bianca Juarez Olthoff is one of my favorite Christian speakers from the collection of women who have spoken at If: Gathering events. Her new book looks at steps to becoming the person you want to be. The book centers around the Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. This one is on my list. (Her first book, Play with Fire, is available right now on Kindle Unlimited)
Live Big Love Bigger: Getting Real with BBQ, Sweet Tea and a Whole Lotta Jesus (August 30 – Trade Paperback) – Christian blogger and mom of 6, the author writes about embracing imperfection with examples from her life and from a week-long road trip she took with her family. This is on my list, too.
See Jane Win: The Inspiring Story of the Women Changing American Politics (Hardcover) – The story of women, inspired by the 2016 election, who decided to run for political office, focusing specifically on 4 candidates through the whole process from decision to Election Day. This is on my list, too.
Sex and the Enneagram: A Guide to Passionate Relationships for the 9 Personality Types (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Enneagram and Eating. This book focuses on the 9 Enneagram types and their most intimate relationships. I’m holding off on this one until I read some more reviews.
Write on, Sisters!: Voice, Courage, and Claiming Your Place at the Table (Trade Paperback) – An examination of the trials women face in publishing circles today and support to overcome them.

REVIEW: Technically You Started It by Lana Wood Johnson

REVIEW: Technically You Started It by Lana Wood Johnson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It starts with a text message.

Haley gets a text about her AP history essay from Martin Nathaniel Munroe II, a guy in her class.

Believe it or not, there are TWO Martin Nathaniel Munroe IIs in her class (cousins – it’s a long story). But this Martin says he’s “the good one.” And Haley assumes that means he’s the one she doesn’t hate.

Next comes the mistake text. She thought she was texting someone else, but she starts another text exchange with Martin. And that turns into a regular exchange of texts – about school, parents, quirks, TV shows, books, friends, and all manner of things as they get to know one another. A real friendship starts to form. But there are hints in their exchange that clue Martin in on the fact that Haley thinks she’s talking to his cousin. He’s actually the Martin she hates. But their new relationship is so important – and too fragile – for him to spring the truth on her. So they keep texting. And he keeps hoping Haley will catch on.

Review

This was so cute! I was reading two text-exchange books at the same time. One I finally had to put down because I just didn’t care. But I was captivated by this one from the beginning!

For 300+ pages of text messages, the conversation was full of sass and bantering, which I loved. And the progression of the messages from reserved and shallow to vulnerable and rich felt honest and real. And the author did a great job with subtext and inference (like when Martin figures out who Haley thinks she is texting) with such a sparse medium like text messages.

There are a couple conversations about sexuality in the book – the Kinsey scale, bisexuality, and demisexuality – that drove me to Google for more information. So I felt like I learned some things along the way as well as enjoying a good story.

If you are a fan of teen/young adult rom-coms, don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

REVIEW: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Rhiannon has worked her tail off building her dating app, Crush, into one of the top apps in the country. As a woman, she had a long list of bad dating experiences she wanted to screen out for herself and other women looking for someone with her app. And people responded. Now she has a chance to buy out the older style Matchmaker. It would give her a huge market share and help her serve folks who wanted to go with the personality profile style of dating AND the app-swiping folks who used Crush.

Samson Lima was a football player for awhile. And when that fell apart, he took care of his sick uncle for many years. Now, his aunt needs him. She’s the sole owner of Matchmaker now that her sister has passed away. The company needs an infusion of something fresh – and that’s Samson. He’s agreed to be a spokesperson for Matchmaker and also let them find him a match publicly to get some good publicity and show people what the process looks like.

Samson and Rhiannon are at an industry event when they run into each other. Again. Awhile ago, they matched up on Crush and spent a steamy evening together. Rhiannon broke her own rules for hook ups and agreed to a second date. When Samson didn’t show, she deleted the profile she had on the app. He was dead to her. She didn’t know his uncle’s health took a turn. When Samson got his feet under him again and remembered the broken date, he couldn’t find “Claire” on Crush anymore and had no way of apologizing for ghosting her. But judging from the daggers she glares at him, forgiveness is not going to come from Rhiannon any time soon.

Review

This was delightful! Samson and Rhi are fantastic characters. She has a history that keeps her wary and always on the offensive. He has been burned by people he thought of as family. They are both terrified to be vulnerable and trust others, which makes trying to build a relationship tricky.

Which is fine because Rhi doesn’t want a “relationship.” A physical connection is all she wants from Samson – and she tells herself she doesn’t even want that. But the chemistry between them is unavoidable. Their trust issues keep cropping up, though, and put a wedge between them again and again.

This is another football-adjacent story that addresses concussion issues. I enjoyed how the author worked the issue in without using active players. It felt different and worked in some additional dynamics that I enjoyed.  It never felt like it was tacked on to be timely or “relevant.”

The secondary characters were as delightful as Rhi and Samson. I would love for this to be a series like the Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole or the Bluff Point series by Jenn McKinlay. In those series, a secondary character in one story becomes the protagonist in another. There are several secondary characters in this I would love to see star in their own book! *

I have been on a romantic comedy (rom-com) kick lately, and I’m loving it. This is a terrific entry in that genre. Don’t miss this one! (Language, sex)

*[I discovered this IS going to be a series!! This is book one in the Modern Love series. Book 2 – currently titled Girl Gone Viral – is scheduled to release in Spring 2020]

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Cape by Kate Hannigan

REVIEW: Cape by Kate Hannigan

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

World War II is underway. Men are fighting. Women are helping build battleships. Many Japanese Americans are in camps while others fight for America in the war. And three girls – one Irish, one Black and one Japanese – can’t sit together in a diner for a slice of pie.

The world needs heroes, but supers like Hauntima and Zenobia have disappeared. No one knows where they’ve gone or why they don’t help any more.

Josie, Mae and Akiko are part of a larger group of people who answered an ad for “puzzlers” to help in the war effort. Josie isn’t sure what they’d actually do if they were chosen, but she’s great at codes and puzzles, and her family could use the money. But she’s crushed when the test moderator dumps her test – and any others completed by women – into the trash without even scoring them.

But someone else is also watching the girls. And she thinks they could be even more help to the world than puzzlers. They could be heroes. With a pair of boots, a mask, and a cape from another hero, the girls could become a super team.

Review

This was so much fun, AND I learned a lot!

This is a prose novel with four small sections told in comic book-style art and panels. It’s an interesting format, and I enjoyed it. The timeline – World War II – is interesting with a diverse set of main characters who all have family tied to the war. There’s a strong girl power vibe to this which ties beautifully to the sections about a very real group of women called the Eniac Six, the women who worked on the first electronic computer. The author’s note includes great historic information as well as book and internet recommendations for further information. For me, this gives the book an extra layer of awesome!

The superhero pieces of the story are fun – learning new powers, developing team work, etc. The author does a great job of holding back some key secrets for the sequel. Book 2 of the League of Secret Heroes series  – Mask – will release in 2020. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: August 20, 2019

BOOK NEWS: August 20, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Bad Kitty Searching for Santa – Kitty wonders if she has been good enough for Santa this year, so she writes him a letter and heads out to see him at the mall.
Hats Are Not for Cats! – A patronizing dog tries to convince a small cat wearing a red fez that hats are only for dogs. I can’t wait to read this in person.
Snowmen at Halloween – When an early snow strikes, the kids make snowmen and dress them up for Halloween. When the kids go to bed, the snowmen have their own fall celebration.
Star Wars: Rey and Pals – A fun collection of images from Star Wars films, but starring kid versions of Rey, Kylo and others from the franchise. Adorable!
The Dragon Bots – Book 4 in the BOTS graphic novel-style early chapter book series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

The Quest for the Kid – Book 3 in the Explorers series, a funny mystery/adventure series. I have these on my reading list.
Color Me In – A bi-racial teen struggles with identity and where she fits when her parents divorce. Her Black relatives feel like her light-colored skin allows her to pass for white and avoid the struggles the rest of the family faces. And her dad wants her to connect more with her Jewish roots, leaving Nevaeh feeling pulled between the two parts of her heritage.
Fan the Fame – Three teens at a video game convention collide when their individual goals and plans circle around one mega-famous YouTuber. I have had this on hold from the library for months! Can’t wait to read it!
Hawkeye: Private Eye (Graphic Novel) – A Kate Bishop graphic novel. Kate is heading to LA to be a Private Investigator.
My Box-Shaped Heart – Two teens hang out at the pool because it is the one place they both know who they are. As they get to know each other, their lives outside of the pool collide. I’m curious about this one (TW: Domestic violence)
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph – A teen has yielded to her family’s expectations, but the arrival of her aunt (who has been in and out of addictions treatment) and a love interest leave her feeling like she wants to push back and stretch her wings.

Books for Adults

The Empty Nesters (Trade Paperback) – Three women who have connected over the years as army wives find themselves empty nesters as their daughters have all enlisted. They take their elderly neighbor up on her offer to accompany her on a road trip to connect with memories of her late husband – a perfect journey for this turning point in all their lives. At the time of this writing, this was available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers for free.
Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples (Hardcover Graphic Novel) – A fantasy retelling of Snow White.
I Was Hungry: Cultivating Common Ground to End and American Crisis (Trade Paperback) – A call for Christians to lean into the hunger crisis as we follow Jesus’ instructions to care for the poor. I am curious about this one.
Nice: Why We Love to Be Liked and How God Calls Us to More (Trade Paperback) – What might we sacrifice – honesty? conviction? courage? – in our quest to be liked by everyone? The author asserts that this desire to be liked is an idol that is yielding bad fruit. I am curious to check this one out.

REVIEW: Screen Queens by Lori Goldstein

REVIEW: Screen Queens by Lori Goldstein

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

ValleyStart is a summer tech incubator program. The winners of the summer competition would secure an internship at Pulse, the hottest influencer rating app. Lucy is hoping to win ValleyStart to get her off the wait list for Standford. She’s gotten Ryan Thompson, founder of Pulse, as her mentor. Her whole life has been leading her to this moment. She’s ready to crush ValleyStart.

Maddie isn’t happy about leaving her brother Danny to go to ValleyStart. But he’ll be at summer camp while she’s gone, and that will keep him out of the War of the Worlds going on between their parents. But really, ValleyStart is just something else to put on her resumé to help her build her graphic design business. Win or lose, she’ll be fine.

Delia is feeling out of her depth at ValleyStart. She’s more than capable of handling the coding. But she’s working part time while she’s there, and she’s self-conscious about all her parents sacrificed to get her there. If she can win, she can get a tech job. And then that money can save her parents’ theater. No pressure.

ValleyStart has never had an all-female team win the competition before. Tech tends to be a boys club. And all three of these girls are aware of that. But this summer at ValleyStart will be their chance to show what they can do to stand out in the crowd.

Review

I loved this!! In the beginning, the girls are a little prickly, and it takes awhile for them to thaw to one another. But once they started clicking as a team, I was in it until the final page. (And I actually would have been happy to have another couple chapters!)

I loved the core characters. And I loved them even more when they stepped away from ValleyStart and engaged with a middle school tech day camp. It was a fantastic example of what can be gained when you take your eyes off yourself and your situation for awhile and focus on someone else.

There’s an excellent female empowerment message through the whole book – from celebrating the history of women in technology to looking out for the next generation of coders, designers and developers. I can’t recommend this highly enough. Do not miss this one!! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½