Month: April 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 21, 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 21, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Baloney and Friends – Launches a new graphic novel series for kids starring a pig named Baloney and his friends (including a rabbit named Krabbit – which makes me laugh every time I think about it!). This is on my must-see-in-person list.
Ronan the Librarian – Ronan the barbarian discovers a new sort of treasure when he discovers a book. Sounds awesome!
Mia Mayhem Gets X-Ray Specs – Book 7 in the Mia Mayhem series where Mia gets new glasses with x-ray vision.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Artie Conan Doyle and the Scarlet Phantom – Book 3 in the Artie Conan Doyle series starring a pre-teen Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. Artie and his friend are investigating a jewel thief.
At Last, Jedi – Book 9 in the Jedi Academy series. Christina Starspeeder experiences life and training at the advanced Jedi Academy campus.
Bird and Squirrel All or Nothing (Graphic Novel) – Book 6 in this hilarious series. Bird joins a cross-country race to save the family honor when his dad is injured and can’t race.
Foreverland – The story of two runaways hiding out at their favorite amusement park. I have this one on my list.
Kazu Jones and the Comic Book Criminal – Book 2 in the Kazu Jones series. Kazu and her friends are investigating vandalism at local comic book shops.
Pathfinders Society Mystery of the Moon Tower (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. A group of kids are drawn into a mystery when their summer camp introduces them to an explorer/inventor who used to live in their town.
Rick (LGBTQ+) – A middle school student explores his own identity through the Rainbow Spectrum club at school, even though his conclusions might put him at odds with his friends and his family.
Rival Magic – A wizard’s apprentice discovers a rival when the maid displays magical powers. But when their master is accused of treason, the girls have to team up to discover the truth.
The Wrong Way Summer – When a girl’s dad sells their house and moves them into a converted van, she wonders if it is time to confront the reality of their situation instead of enjoying her dad’s fanciful tales.
Lifting as We Climb (Older Middle Grade) – Middle grade nonfiction for older readers about the role of Black women in the fight for women’s voting rights.
The Declaration, The Sword, and the Spy – Book 6 in the Epic Order of the Seven focuses on the Revolutionary War.
Eat, and Love Yourself (Graphic Novel) – A woman with an eating disorder discovers a chocolate bar that shows her key moments in her life so she can examine them and learn to love herself as she is. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Kent State – The story of May 4, 1970 at Kent State University when soldiers killed 4 American students protesting the Vietnam War.
Late to the Party (LGBTQ+) – A girl who thinks parties and such are for cool kids – straight kids – crashes one and finds a new friend who agrees to show her around so she can experience all the things she thought were out of reach for her.
An Outcast and an Ally – Book 2 in the A Soldier and A Liar series. Four superpowered teens are accused of treason and are on the run as they try to stop the war between the gifted and the ungifted. I have this duology on my list.
Unscripted – A girl with dreams of improv stardom has to deal with sexism at her camp where she is the only girl on the varsity team.
Verona Comics (LGBTQ+) – Two teens who meet at a comic convention prom wrestle with personal issues and their feuding families (rival comics shop owners) as they grow closer together.

Books for Adults

Don’t Go Stealing My Heart (Trade Paperback) – A conwoman trying to steal a Van Gogh from a “trust fund brat” discovers he’s not the villain she thought he was, and she starts to fall for him.
Girl Gone Viral (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Modern Love series after The Right Swipe. When someone live-Tweets an innocent interaction at a coffee shop, reclusive investor Katrina King can’t escape the internet buzz. When her bodyguard – and unrequited crush – invites her to his family farm to hide out until the buzz dies down, she tries to push thoughts of romance out of her mind. I’m so excited about reading this!
In Other Words Love (Trade Paperback) – A second-chance romance from Hallmark Publishing. A woman is hired to ghostwrite the autobiography of the man who once broke her heart.
Killer Karma (e-book – April 24) – Book 2 in the Julie Cavallo Investigates mystery series. When Julie’s sous chef is accused of murder, she’s investigating once again. I have the first book on my reading list.
Master Class (Hardcover) – In a world where children are routinely tested and only the best and brightest are educated while the rest are sent to federal boarding schools, a teacher sees the system with new eyes when her own daughter bombs a test and is sent away.  From the author of Vox.
Race the Sands (Trade Paperback) – A new stand alone fantasy from the author of Fire & Heist. A down-on-her-luck trainer teams up with an inexperienced rider and an untested kehok (reincarnated monster) to prepare for a deadly race that could make or break all of them.
Seas the Day (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Seafood Capers Mystery series. A caterer with a reputation for being able to find things is on the case of finding a missing man when there’s a murder.
A Simple Wedding (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Heart’s Landing series from Hallmark Publishing. A young woman shows up in Heart’s Landing to plan a wedding for her cousin who is a famous movie star, but to keep the secret she says she is planning her own wedding. The local baker struggles not to fall for the appealing woman who is already spoken for. I will definitely be checking this one out!
Six Cloves Under (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Garlic Farm Mystery series. An app developer inherits a garlic farm – and a mystery to solve.
Walk the Wire (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Memory Man series. Amos Decker is called into London, North Dakota to investigate a strange murder.
The Wedding War (Trade Paperback) – A friendship destroyed by a secret twenty years ago gets a second chance when the son of one and the daughter of the other fall in love and get engaged. Now the former friends have to work together to plan a wedding while also dealing with issues in their personal lives.
Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality (Trade Paperback) – Explores theories of faith development for children from a Christian perspective while also discussing practical application.
Choose Joy Women’s Devotional: Finding Joy No Matter What You’re Going Through (Hardcover devotional)
Consider the Lilies: Get Rooted in Your Destiny By Discovering God’s Plan (Hardcover – April 22)
Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire (Hardcover) – The latest from Jen Hatmaker. Let go of the people pleasing and live fierce, free and full of fire! I am so excited to read this one!
I’m Your Huckleberry (Hardcover) – A memoir from Val Kilmer.
The Truth About Us: The Very Good News About How Very Bad We Are (Trade Paperback) – What would happen if we admitted we aren’t as perfect or as righteous as we would like others to believe? Would it allow us to live more free?

BONUS REVIEW: The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park

BONUS REVIEW: The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Nate is caught between a rock and a hard place. His family is struggling financially, and he needs money to fund his future plans. One of the rich kids at school offers him serious cash – like, buy-a-new-car serious –  if he’ll deliberately let his grades drop. Nate doesn’t need the A’s because his applications for college only care about junior year. And if Nate agrees, some of the other high performing kids will also “take a dive” so these rich kids have a chance for some academic honors for their own applications before high school is over. While Nate needs the money, he’s not really comfortable with the whole idea.

Kate’s dad has always hyper-focused on work. But since her mom died, he’s been worse. She feels like a prisoner in their high-tech home. An internal computer system tracks her comings and goings, her vital signs, her phone calls, and her spending. Even worse, her dad thinks he has the right to dictate what she will study in college, and what she will do with her last semester of high school – and it all has to do with him and his work. If she could get some serious cash, Kate could leave town and follow her own dreams for the future and finally be free.

When Kate and Nate meet through their jobs at a zombie-themed escape room, it seems only natural that they team up for the zombie survivalist contest. The winning team gets $50,000. That would help both of them out of their predicaments. They just have to win first.

Review

This was so fun! I loved it. I don’t generally enjoy zombie things, but this wasn’t too gory or over the top. (These are fake zombies for the contest, not real zombies.) I was expecting the contest to be the bulk of the book, but it was really just most of the second half. The first half really develops the characters as individuals and in their circumstances, as well as their budding relationship with one another. I enjoyed the pacing. It never felt like “get to the good stuff.” It’s all good stuff!

I loved Nate and Kate. They take turns telling the story which is the perfect format for the story. The first part of the book lets the reader get to know both teens. You see who they are as individuals and then get to watch their friendship develop.

The early part of the book also examines the stakes for both kids. They each have a strong motivation for getting the money. Kate’s felt stronger to me – her dad was SO creepy in his controlling! Nate could have just said no to the guy at school. But he was tempted by the opportunity to help his family. This “unevenness” in their motivations, though, was perfect for how things would play out.

The survivalist contest was a clever plot point. I loved how all of the pieces of this came together in the end.

This is a delightful, funny, sweet romance with some suspense – and zombies! I had such a good time reading this one – don’t miss it. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: We Didn't Ask for This by Adi Alsaid

REVIEW: We Didn’t Ask for This by Adi Alsaid

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Every year in April, Central International School holds a lock-in for their senior high students. It’s the highlight of the year, something students plan for and think about all year long.

On that night:

  • Amira is waiting for the decathalon to begin. She’s ready to take on all comers, boys and girls, to be named best athlete in the school.
  • Omar is probably her biggest competition. But his mind is focused less on the basketball competition and more on looking to see if Peejay is in the stands.
  • Celeste, a new student at CIS, is hoping the lock-in will help her finally connect with someone at this school.
  • Kenji is trying to steer kids to the improv room for his favorite activity (even though his dad thinks it’s a waste of time).
  • Peejay is responsible for planning the secret “party” space in the school, a role of immense importance given to one student each year. His brother’s turn was legendary, and Peejay is hoping to live up to that legacy, especially after the accident.
  • Joy, Malik, Eli and Lolo are chaining themselves to the doors and locking everyone in while Marisa, their leader, is leading them in stating their manifesto. The doors will stay chained until the students, teachers, and community agree to her list of ecological changes and demands.

This lock in is NOT going to be anything like previous years.

Review

This was fascinating! I don’t know that I’ve read many books like this. It reminded me of school shooting stories like This Is Where It Ends (Rating: ♥♥♥♥) in that the story moves to different characters and different parts of the building as the story moves forward. But the tension in this is lower because it’s less violent – a protest with unthreatened hostages as opposed to armed assailants – and has lower stakes.

The writing was fantastic. The point of view changes almost from paragraph to paragraph, third person, but each character shares from his/her perspective (third person omniscient). It took several chapters to get used to this, but it was brilliant for conveying urgency and the vast experiences and perspectives in the group. There’s a large cast in this, and this style helped with that, too, once I was used to it. It helped the reader understand what prompted some students to be part of Marisa’s original group as well as understand why some of the other students either became protectors as the story went on or antagonists.

While there were a TON of things going on inside the school – and in the world around the building – regarding the protest, there were tons of “little” things going on too. Friendships and potential romances developed. Parent/child relationships evolved. Teachers made choices on where they stood on the issues. Some kids leaned into their gifts and interests while others became more informed about environmental issues. The whole thing was really woven together well.

The romantic relationships between primary characters – both same-sex – felt heavy handed at times to me. Everything else in the book moved so quickly, but in at least one relationship it felt like time slowed when one character was exploring her developing feelings. This might be because it was going to be a huge cultural issue for her, which makes sense. It just felt like it slowed the story down to me.

If you love YA stories that dig into contemporary issues like the environment; books with a large and diverse cast of characters; or stories where all the characters are stuck somewhere, forced to deal with their feelings, experiences and limitations, do not miss this one! (Language, underage drinking, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: Dead on the Vine by Elle Brooke White

BONUS REVIEW: Dead on the Vine by Elle Brooke White

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Charlotte inherits her great-uncle’s farm, the timing couldn’t be better. While she’s sad her great-uncle is gone, she was in the exact right place in life to leave Chicago and move to California. Her best friends, Diane and her brother Beau, have time to join her on her first trip back to the farm since childhood.

Sadly, the farm is looking run down. The bank says they are barely breaking even. And Charlotte has to wonder if it is even worth her time – and money – to try and make a go of life as a produce farmer. She might be better off selling the place. Although the thought of that about breaks her heart. It also doesn’t endear her to the employees who have kept the place running.

Coming to the farm has introduced Charlotte to some trouble makers in town, crass men who seem to have it out for Charlotte and the Finn Family Farm. But on the plus side, Charlotte also met the charming and bright little pig she names Horse (because he eats like one) and a sweet little ladybug she calls Mrs. Robinson who caught a ride on Charlotte’s car and seems to be sticking close to Horse.

While the animal discoveries have been delightful, the other discovery on the farm – the dead body – could ruin Charlotte’s chances of doing anything with the farm, including selling it. But maybe if she can help the police figure out who the man was, and who might have wanted to kill him, she might be able to see a future for herself with the family farm.

Review

What a fun series launch!

This cozy mystery has all the right ingredients:

  • A fun setting – A produce farm (strawberries and tomatoes) with potential for so much more.
  • Likable characters – I loved Charlotte from the start. She’s spunky and doesn’t put up with much guff. I loved that she stood up to some of the blow-hard personalities in this. Horse and Mrs. Robinson and the rest of the animals were a hoot. And I liked the human characters around the farm as well.
  • Twisty clues and increasing suspense – The mystery here was great! There was no shortage of trouble for Charlotte to deal with, but it was well paced throughout the story. I was guessing on the culprit until about the last quarter of the book. The way the mystery wraps up was perfect.
  • Balance between character development and the mystery – There’s nothing more frustrating to me than a cozy mystery without much mystery. But the interplay between the characters is what will make a series go from good to delightful. When an author can put both together – a cast you care about and want to spend time with alongside a well-plotted mystery – I will read everything they want to write.

This was a delight to read. I will definitely be watching for a sequel. Cozy fans should check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Ready to Rise by Jo Saxton

REVIEW: Ready to Rise by Jo Saxton

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

I so enjoyed reading Jo Saxton’s most recent book, Ready to Rise. Jo is one of my favorite speakers and teachers from If:Gathering, which is where I first heard her. In fact, hearing her is the best way to engage with her because she has the BEST accent! I can hear her voice when I read her writing, and I love it. The audio book of this is a treat, I’m sure!

I was especially eager to read this after hearing Jo speak at this year’s If:Gathering conference where she brought some of the message of this book on leadership, on women rising up into their callings and into the places where God desires to use them. If you get a chance to listen to the message, gift yourself the time – it’s inspiring.

This is a great blend of personal stories, Bible stories, and practical application. Each chapter has a reflection question or two, and some have additional questions to consider as you work through the meat of that chapter. The questions were right up my alley and left me longing for a pen and paper. I am eager to get my hands on a physical copy of this so I can underline and scribble in this as well as engage the questions personally. The tone is conversational. Reading this felt like a conversation I would have with a friend or a mentor.

My favorite chapters were the ones on voice as well as the one on saying yes to who you are. I also enjoyed the places where Jo shared from conversations around a table with women. I would have enjoyed engaging in those conversations in person. Some of the Bible stories explored in the book were the creation story, the story of Deborah from Judges, and the foot washing scene in John 13.

If you love Jo, and/or if you are looking for a resource to explore your God-given gifts and voice to use for God’s purposes and for your passions, be sure to pick this one up!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

REVIEW: The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Bea was 8, her parents sat her down to tell her that her dad was gay and they were getting a divorce. At the same time, they gave her a notebook. Inside they had made a list – The List of Things that Will Not Change. It included affirmations of love from both of her parents as well as a reminder that they were still a family, even if the family looked different in the future.

Now that Bea’s dad and Jesse are getting married, Bea is thrilled with the idea that she is going to finally have a sister. Jesse’s daughter, Sonia, is Bea’s age. She lives in California, but after Christmas she’ll be visiting New York for a week. Bea is certain they’ll become the best of friends and that Sonia will be as happy as she is.

But as the wedding gets closer, Bea discovers that different people, and different families, can have complicated feelings about big changes. And she discovers she has some complicated feelings herself.

Review

This was delightful! I adored Bea from the very beginning. She is creative and insightful and completely realistic for her age. The entire cast of characters is fantastic. No one is perfect or perfectly happy. There are complex situations and complex feelings. But the adults are committed to Bea and Sonia and to supporting one another. And Bea’s friends are a great support for her.

My favorite relationship in the whole book is Bea’s relationship with her therapist. It’s matter-of-fact and never something for her to be self-conscious about. Bea is honest about places where she holds back. She listens to what Miriam says, even if she isn’t sure Miriam is right. The whole thing is SO well done.

Because the relationship between Bea and Miriam is so strong, there are a ton of great pieces here about feelings and emotions – anger, emotions that can be masked by anger, acting on our feelings, dealing with worries, and imagining the feelings of others. I loved all of it!

The relationship between Bea’s dad and his boyfriend is great. Each has his own “voice” and way of relating to Bea that feels realistic. I especially loved Jesse’s relationship with Bea.

Not everyone in the book is on board with the gay relationship, which adds to some of the conflict in the book. It’s painful to watch, but also honest . And the book gives Bea space to process that.

There are SO MANY rich things that could be done with this book in a classroom setting – read-alouds with discussion, book groups, etc. But I think kids will also love just spending time with Bea and her friends and family, soaking up all the goodness here. Fans of Rebecca Stead should not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BOOK NEWS: April 14, 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 14, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books out this week!

Books for Kids

It’s a Moose – When the new baby a family is expecting turns out to be a moose, they run into some difficulties. This looks ADORABLE!
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Harry Houdini AND I Am Susan B. Anthony – Two new 8×8 picture books (with stickers!) from the Xavier Riddle series on PBS.
I Am Leonardo da Vinci – The latest picture book biography in the FANTASTIC Ordinary People Change the World series.
Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words that Built America – The true story of the man who saved the Declaration from destruction during the War of 1812.
Peter & Ernest: Sloths in the Night – Book 3 in the Peter & Ernesto graphic novel series for kids. Even though there are dangers in the dark, Peter and Ernesto form a search party to look for one of their friends who has gone missing.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Anti Hero (Graphic Novel) – A girl who longs to be a superhero switches bodies with another who is super-genius smart and forced to help her villainous grandfather. The two have to live in each other’s lives while they try to find a way to switch back. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Camp Average: Double Foul – Sequel to Camp Average (a book I have had on my wish list for a year now). The kids are back at Camp Average for a new summer of fun while their super-competitive camp director pits the boys against the girls in his neverending schemes to win at anything and everything. I can’t wait to read both of these books.
Finally Something Mysterious – The members of an only-child detective club have a new case when hundreds of rubber ducks end up on a neighbor’s lawn. This is on my list for this week, too.
Marvel Action: Black Panther Rise Together – Collects issues 4-6 is the Marvel Action Black Panther series. There are adventures here for T’Challa, Shuri, and for both together. I can’t wait to read this one, too.
The Prettiest – When a list goes up online, ranking the “prettiest” girls in the 8th grade, three girls band together to stand up for themselves and the other girls in their grade.
When Stars are Scattered (Graphic Novel) – The story of a boy and his non-verbal younger brother growing up in a refugee camp as told to the author by a man who lived it.
Girls Save the World in This One – A “YA horror comedy” set at a zombie convention where three girls are there to enjoy all the fun around their favorite shows until they discover the zombie apocalypse has actually arrived at the con. I’m not much of a horror reader, nor do I usually enjoy zombie stories, but this sounds like a HOOT!
Redemption Prep – YA mystery where the “it” girl at an exclusive and mysterious prep school goes missing in the middle of mass. This is on my wishlist for this week.

Books for Adults

Big Finish (Hardcover) – An elderly man in assisted living teams up with his roommate’s granddaughter who’s hiding from her abusive boyfriend even though he knows any “trouble” could get him kicked out and sent to the horrible local nursing home. I can not WAIT to read this!!
A Case for the Yarn Maker (e-book – April 16) – Book 2 in the Ainsley McGregor series. When the “Yarn Goddess” comes to town, and an argument breaks out with one of the locals, Ainsley never expected it to end in murder. I have the first book in this series. I’m looking forward to digging into it soon.
Cutie and the Beast (e-book) – A local trainer trying to make ends meet after his wife left rents out his master suite to a new co-worker who is also down on her luck. They have daughters the same age and can really help each other out. But living like a blended family when you actually aren’t one can make for some confusion for everyone. I am intrigued by this one.
The Happy Ever After Playlist (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Friend Zone (Rating: ♥♥♥♥½). A woman who is struggling in life gets a new infusion of confidence when she takes in a lost dog. But when the owner of the dog – a musician on tour – wants his dog back, she is not giving the animal up without a fight. This sounds great! I have this one on hold at the library.
The Joy of Falling (Trade Paperback) – Over a year after losing their husbands in a scuba accident, two widows embark on a marathon together hoping to get back some of what they have lost. This sounds charming.
Not That Kind of Guy (Trade Paperback) – A state attorney who’s been unlucky in love needs a date for a family wedding. Her intern is only too happy to be that date, because as soon as she is not his boss any more, he plans to make his move. Sounds great!
Star Trek Discovery: Aftermath (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Two stories from the Star Trek Discovery universe, one involving Saru and Tilly and then the primary story which involves Spock and Captain Pike after the Discovery disappears.
Star Trek: The Unsettling Stars (Trade Paperback) – From the Kelvin timeline (the J.J. Abrams movies). Kirk and his inexperienced crew encounter a new race fleeing an unknown enemy. I’m eager to check out this new story.
Ready to Rise: Own Your Voice, Gather Your Community, Step into Your Influence – The latest book from one of my favorite Christian speakers, Jo Saxton, addresses the things that tend to derail women from leading in the ways God has called them. I heard Jo speak during If: Gathering this year, and I was inspired by what she had to say. It sounded a lot like what this book is going to address. Don’t miss this one.

REVIEW: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz

REVIEW: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Bruce Wayne gets kicked out of his exclusive prep school for defending another student from bullies. So he ends up at Gotham High.

There he reconnects with the literal “girl next door,” Selina Kyle. Since Bruce has been away, Selina’s mom has died leaving her alone to care for her father with Alzheimer’s who needs full time care. Bruce also meets Jack Napier, Selina’s friend and sometimes hook up.

Bruce runs into Harvey Dent – right before Harvey gets kidnapped. The attack happened at school. In fact, Harvey had been trying on Bruce’s long leather coat, making Bruce wonder if he was the actual target. That would make more sense, considering his family’s money, than Harvey. The security footage has been erased, and Bruce was drugged. He can’t remember anything that happened.

While Bruce tries to figure out what happened to Harvey, Selina continues to string both Bruce and Jack along for fun. A distraction from the weight of her life outside of school. When Harvey is returned, but Selina is kidnapped from Bruce’s house during a party, Bruce won’t stop until he finds her and the people responsible.

Review

There are some fascinating twists to the well-known Batman/Bruce Wayne stories here. Alfred is Bruce’s uncle rather than the family butler. He lives in Hong Kong with his husband, but comes to Gotham when Bruce gets kicked out of school. The details of Bruce’s parents’ deaths have been changed up as well. Then there’s the fact that all of these future foes go to high school together.

The usual all-white cast is shaken up as well. Jack Napier (future Joker) is white as is Ivy. Bruce is Asian as his mom was from Hong Kong. Selina presents as Lantix. And Barbara Gordon is Black, and her mom is the principal of the school. I loved this diversity. In fact, Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) is my favorite DC character – I would love to see a story set around this African American version of the character. Maybe there will be future stories from Gotham High. For the story in this particular book, I didn’t love the characters like I did with some of the other DC graphic novels recently. I was most intrigued by Ivy, frankly, and she doesn’t get a lot of page time.

The mystery of what is going on is puzzled out over the course of the book. The reader has more information than the characters in the story, so the final wrap up isn’t a big surprise to the reader.

There’s plenty left at the end with the relationships between the characters for additional stories in the future. Fans of Bruce Wayne story lines as well as fans of the new DC Entertainment graphic novels for teens (Shadow of the Batgirl, Oracle Code, Raven, Mera: Tidebreaker, etc.) should check this one out.

DC Entertainment has graciously shared some pictures of the interior art of the book so readers can see what they will get to enjoy.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

REVIEW: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Naomi and Nicholas have been together for almost 2 years, and their wedding is just around the corner. You’d think Naomi would be feeling deliriously happy or nervous or excited. But what she’s feeling is trapped. Boyfriend Nicholas and Fiancé Nicholas feel like two different people.

Naomi feels like she’s pretending all the time. Then Nicholas acts superior,  like he “knows” her so well, which makes everything feel fake because he only knows the things she displays. She has to rely on a secret document on her computer to remind her of his good qualities.

Everything Naomi has wanted for the wedding has been vetoed or overruled by Nicholas’ controlling mother. She picked Naomi’s gown and her maid-of-honor. It’s hard to be excited about a wedding that will reflect nothing of what you wanted. Naomi says she’s moving forward with the wedding, “40% because I love him and 60% because I’m too afraid to call it off.”

But in an emotionally charged moment, Naomi realizes Nicholas is just as unhappy as she is. In fact, some of her recent misery is his doing! They both know whoever calls the whole thing off will become the villain in their break up story. AND they’ll have to pay for all the ridiculously expensive (and non-refundable) choices his mother has been making for the wedding. But now that Naomi sees Nicholas’ behavior for what it is – trying to push her to call things off – she’s is NOT backing down.

It. Is. On.

Review

The beginning of this was miserable for me. I don’t do well with stories where a character is being railroaded or manipulated and doesn’t stand up for themselves. While Naomi has some spark in her own mind and in her thinking, none of it comes out of her mouth. She and Nicholas are both miserable. And reading about their misery was miserable for me.

And then Naomi catches on. She realizes Nicholas is trying to make her miserable so she will dump him. He gets to be the victim, and she will have to deal with his mother and paying for the wedding she has foisted on them. Then the story started to get interesting. But….

Now here I have to be honest. It has been my intention since I started this blog in 2016 to not post negative reviews. When I have read other books from publishers that weren’t a good fit for me, I told them so and didn’t post a review. I put another book into the schedule and moved on. But this quarantine/virus situation has seriously impacted my reading. I don’t have something else to put into this spot. And at the halfway point through this book, I just had to stop. I couldn’t read any more.

The writing is good. There are funny moments. But this is like the antithesis of books I enjoy. The one-upsmanship in the pranking started to border on immature and hateful. I started to feel like maybe Nicholas wanted to make a go of this relationship and was trying to draw Naomi out, but she refused to entertain that thought. My frustration with her at the beginning, where she had no boundaries or gumption to stand up for herself, became sympathy, but that ebbed away and became annoyance. I didn’t like Naomi, and I was cheering for Nicholas to be rid of her. And she’s the point-of-view character. It just wasn’t working for me.

I’ve read plenty of reviews that found this delightful. There ARE right readers for this book! But I am not that reader. I want warm stories, inspiring stories, and hopeful stories – especially right now. I can only handle so much of a prank war. I rarely find them funny in real life. But I know there are readers that will love to watch this couple dig through this season in their relationship and will care deeply to find out what happens on the other side.  If that is you, you should definitely check this one out! (Language – content for the first half of the book only)

No rating.

 

BONUS REVIEW: Untwisted by Elise Allen

BONUS REVIEW: Untwisted 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

Kaloon has changed. Magic is allowed now. And to help foster a positive relationship between Mages and the general population, the teens of Kaloon will attend Maldevon Academy together (along with any Magical Animals of appropriate developmental level).

The transition to accepting magic came with a high price. The Battle for Unification was a terrible war between the kingdom and Dark Mages. It was only after Kaloon won that the kingdom’s twin princesses, Flissa and Sara, could truly live as individuals instead of pretending to be one Princess Flissara (see Twinchantment for the whole story).

Sara is far more excited about starting school than Flissa. While Flissa’s great with all the academics, the social scene stresses her out completely. Flissa would be happy to stay at home.

School doesn’t turn out like either of the girls expected. Sara keeps saying the wrong thing and offending her new classmates. And she freezes up in front of the magic teacher she wants to impress. Flissa is actually the one who makes a friend on the first day.

Soon the girls’ personal experiences are secondary as they watch the various groups on campus strike out at one another. Kids and teachers are still fighting the magic vs. non-magic war, just in more secretive ways. Is there any chance of Kaloon truly being unified?

Review

I liked this one even more than the first book! The integration storyline with magical and nonmagical factions was fascinating. Even better was the way the relationship between Sara and Flissa evolved! For the first time, the girls get to publicly be themselves. But they’re still discovering who they are after having a shared identity for so long. I loved this aspect of the story!!

There’s a great mystery here, too. Who is trustworthy? Who is working a secret agenda? The relationship between the princesses gets fractured over these questions. Sara is determined to uncover the truth. And her suspicions include some of Flissa’s new friends. For the first time there’s a wall between the sisters – literally and figuratively.

Fans of middle grade fantasy should be sure to check out this series! I think the books are better enjoyed if they are read in order. You can see my full review of Twinchantment here. I’m hopeful that there will be more stories starring Sara and Flissa and all their friends.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½