Tag: family

REVIEW: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

REVIEW: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Coyote and her dad live in an old school bus that they’ve turned into something of a mobile home. They come and go as they please, living life on the road. They have a few rules for their nomadic life. Before they pick up any passengers, they ask them about their favorite book, place and sandwich. Also, Coyote calls her dad “Rodeo,” never “Dad.” And they never talk about the life they had before – before Coyote’s mom and two sisters died in an accident.

After five years on the road together, Coyote’s gotten really good at managing Rodeo. She knows what to say or how or when to say it to convince him to do almost anything. She used these skills to get her kitten, Ivan, for example.

So when Coyote finds out from her grandmother that the park near their old house is about to be dug up, she knows it will take some epic finessing to get her father to leave Florida and get to Washington before the park is destroyed. And she can’t come right out and tell him why they need to go, because it would break the rule of never talking about their loss. But Coyote and her mom and sisters buried a time capsule in that park just days before the accident. Now, Coyote absolutely has to get back to that park and save those last memories before they are destroyed forever.

Review

Oh, this was lovely! Dan Gemeinhart is an amazing writer! I have enjoyed several of his other books. He develops these fantastic characters. And he really knows how to get to the heart and soul of a story. This book is a perfect example of that skill. Coyote and Rodeo are amazing. They have developed an extreme coping strategy for their loss. But as Coyote gets older, and when the park situation comes up, it’s no longer enough for her. But Rodeo won’t give up his coping mechanisms easily. Watching the two of them walk through this challenge was fantastic.

They pick up some awesome passengers along the way. I loved the whole ensemble. Each one was on his or her own journey of identity or self-discovery or a scary new start – and they became something of a family on the journey.

Bring your tissues for this one. I absolutely loved the heart of this. This is an emotionally rich and complex story, which is awesome for middle grade readers. There’s lots to think about and talk about with this one. I could see this being great for a book club or discussion group.

I would steer this one to older middle grade readers. That’s my gut for this one, first because of the emotional intricacies. Some younger readers won’t have the life experience and empathy yet to really “get” Coyote and her story.  There’s also some language which might catch younger readers – or Christian readers – off guard (g-damn, “lord,” etc.). For the older crowd – upper elementary, middle school – this is a story and a character that is not to be missed!! (Language, LGBTQ)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Even If I Fall by Abigail Johnson

REVIEW: Even If I Fall by Abigail Johnson

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

It was raining, and he was walking. His truck seemed broken down at the side of the road. Brooke could have ignored it. There was too much history there. It would probably be easier if she kept driving. But she stopped and offered Heath a ride.

Cal, Heath’s older brother was dead. Jason, Brooke’s older brother, was in prison for Cal’s murder. When Jason was arrested, Brooke was absolutely convinced of his innocence. But when Jason confessed, every aspect of her life crumbled. Her mom lost her job and had become almost manic in her efforts to keep the family together. Brooke’s dad withdrew into his work, and her younger sister became a shadow of her former self. Brooke’s boyfriend at the time sold her out to the tabloids. They had to leave their church. Everyone treats them as if the whole family is guilty.

And Heath actually has an idea of what that’s all like. While his family gets pity where Brooke’s gets suspicion, they, too, are living every day with the fall out of whatever happened that night between Jason and Cal. And while both Brooke and Heath know no one would understand how they could even look at each other much less be friends, there’s something between them they just can’t let go.

Review

This was stunning. This is an emotionally messy, complicated story. And it’s told remarkably well. I loved Brooke and Heath. The ups and downs in their relationship are completely believable, but there’s also tremendous chemistry between them. The emotional fall out for Brooke’s family is raw and painful. How do you balance the love you have for your family with the guilt and shame from the crime? Each family member takes a role – and Brooke’s is that of the caretaker. She can only let her guard down with Heath, and even that is dangerous. The emotional complexity of this is excellent.

There’s a suspense element to this, too, as Brooke tries to figure out what really happened the night of the murder. This part of the book was also especially well done. And all the pieces of the story were tied up in a satisfying way without a perfect – and unbelievable – happily ever after.

Other than the dark subject matter with the murder, this is a “clean” book for teens. No language or other mature content other than the emotional complexity of the story and the murder case. I highly recommend this one for teens who want to dig into a rich story with great characters in complicated scenarios.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

REVIEW: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Sawyer has learned to take care of herself. She’s 18, she has a job (mechanic), and she passed her GED. Sure, her mom’s around – some of the time – but Sawyer has been taking care of her for years, too. Her mom was 17 when she got pregnant with Sawyer. Her mother kicked her out and the two of them made the best of their life together. Without the need for the Taft family.

Then Lillian Taft, Sawyer’s grandmother, shows up with an offer Sawyer can’t refuse. If she lets Lillian run her through all of the debutante rigmarole and Sawyer keeps out of trouble, Lillian will give Sawyer half a million dollars for college. Lillian also hints that Sawyer would finally have an opportunity to figure out who her father is. Sounds totally worth it!

But Sawyer encounters more secrets and lies than she anticipated. On her journey through debutante activities and her hunt for her father’s identity, she’ll learn – for good or bad – what it’s like to finally have family around. And what wealthy families will do to keep their reputations and power intact.

Review

While Sawyer Tate is no Tess Kendrick, she’s also a terrific protagonist. Sawyer is more subtle than Tess, but she’s just as smart, strong and sassy. She doesn’t put up with anything, whether it is wolf whistles at the garage or mean girl antics from a fellow Deb. I loved her from the first glimpse of her picking the lock of her jail cell in her white gown and gloves. Characters like Sawyer are part of why I love Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ work!

The structure of this includes a time jump. The story starts in the spring with several Debs in a cell. Then it jumps back to the previous fall. Periodic returns to the jail cell kept me guessing about how the story gets there. When it all comes together, it’s completely satisfying!

I was nervous to start this. I love Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ work so much, and I wanted this to be as awesome as her other books that I have loved. My anxiety was unnecessary. This was fantastic! I loved Sawyer. I loved watching her handle her new surroundings without changing who she is at her core. I was fascinated by the story. So many questions and twists – including several revealed at the end that will likely be dealt with in book two. And I need book 2 asap! I can’t wait! As soon as I finished reading the review copy I received, I pre-ordered my own copy of this. I can’t wait to read it again. I highly recommend this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm

REVIEW: The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Ellie, the star of The Fourteenth Goldfish, is back. In that book, Ellie discovered her grandfather, Melvin, had found a way to get younger. He was on his second trip through adolescence.

In this book, Melvin is back, and Ellie is glad to have him around. She asks him to help her with an experiment for the science fair. They decide to use an axolotl Melvin found that had two extra legs. They use wingless fruit flies to see if the axolotl cells would cause any structural changes in the fruit flies. And some of the wingless fruit flies grow wings! On its own, that’s astonishing. But not nearly as stunning as Melvin regrowing his appendix when he injects some cells from the axolotl into himself!

In the middle of all the amazing science, there are some relationship things happening for both Melvin and Ellie, but they are complicated. Why can’t everything just get better, like with the axolotl experiment?

Review

This was an absolute delight! It took a little while for the two pieces – the science piece and the relationship piece – to tie together, but when they did, it was perfect. I love these characters!

If you haven’t read The Fourteenth Goldfish, I highly recommend it, but you don’t have to have read it to enjoy this. The only real reference to the first story is about Melvin’s age. If you accept that Melvin is a scientist who figured out how to get younger, that’s all you need to know for this book. But it’s a great story, so by all means, check it out.

I love the science emphasis in this! The end notes include additional details on the scientists mentioned throughout the book. There are great tie-ins for teachers and classrooms regarding the scientific method and science fairs.

My favorite part is the heart of this. The relationships between the characters, the emotions for different events in the book, and the delightful ending were perfect. It was all so fun to read.

Hand this to any upper elementary or middle school kid you know. There’s something here for kids who love science, kids who love science fiction, kids who love family stories, and more. Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Annie's Life in Lists by Kristin Mahoney

REVIEW: Annie’s Life in Lists by Kristin Mahoney

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Annie has a fantastic memory for people. She remembers names, faces and details. Usually, this is less of a gift than you might think. Annie is a quiet, blend-into-the-background kid and others think it’s weird when a “stranger” knows so much about them.

Annie’s awesome memory causes problems for her at school when her people-skills expose a family secret. Now Annie has to go to a different school. To make matters worse, Annie’s parents decide to leave the city and move to a small town. Her dad says it’s for his job, but Annie wonders if it was because she exposed their secret.

Annie is determined to keep her weird memory to herself when she starts at her new school. It takes time to make friends, and she doesn’t want her freaky skills to alienate people. Her brother already hates her because they had to move. And her dad doesn’t seem as enamored with the small town life as he did at first. How can Annie make things better for everyone after  she ruined everything?

Review

My list of things I loved about this book:

  • Annie. I really identified with her and her memory for people. I feel like I remember people better than others remember me. I also loved her lists. They tell the reader so much about what she’s thinking and how she’s feeling.
  • The kids in Clover Gap. Annie makes some great friends in her new home. The dynamic between Annie and Amelia is a great one for Annie to work through.
  • Annie’s growth across the story. One of my favorite themes in books is finding your voice. And Annie is on that journey here. It’s great.
  • The format. The “new kid at school” thing has been done before. But a story told almost entirely in lists? It’s brilliant! I can’t believe the author composed such a rich and intricate story with lists and a handful of paragraphs to fill in some details. This format created an absolutely excellent, unique reading experience.

This would make a fantastic addition to home and school libraries. This would also be an excellent mentor text in a writing classroom. Imagine young writers creating lists and list stories of their own! This has become one of my favorite books of the year. It’s one I recommend all the time.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: The Unusual Chickens series by Kelly Jones

BONUS REVIEW: The Unusual Chickens series by Kelly Jones

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? from Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer – SUMMARY

Sophie and her family have inherited her great-uncle Jim’s farm. And Jim at one time had some very special chickens. Now those chickens belong to Sophie – but someone is trying to steal them! Sophie shares the story of her family’s adjustment to the farm and her own learning curve when it comes to chickens in general as well as her unusual chickens through letters to her dead great-uncle, her Abuelita who has also passed away, and a farm supply catalog company.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Are You Read to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? SUMMARY

Sophie continues to care for her unusual chickens, and now she gets to hatch a batch of her own for the very first time. She has a lot to learn – about the hatching process and also about caring for the farm she inherited in book 1 (a different farm than Great-Uncle Jim’s). The biggest lesson of all, though, is learning to ask for help. Sophie is a bright girl who loves her chickens. She’s committed to doing whatever it takes to care for them. And that’s good because her new chicks are a whole new level of “unusual.”

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

Review

I adore this series! I read book one from the library in  preparation for reading book 2. It was adorable! I loved Sophie. She’s got a great “voice.” The format – letters to deceased relatives and an unknown person at the catalog – is clever. It’s like a journal, but it keeps Sophie connected to family, which is important to her and to the story.

In the second book, Sophie continues to tell her story in letters to the dead and also emails to the living. Her letters and emails are where Sophie pours out her heart about the ups and downs of family, friends, a new school, and being a farmer with unusual chickens. There are illustrations and chicken facts throughout the book, which were fun to read. There are general illustrations for the story, too, which I loved. Henrietta is my favorite chicken from the illustrations!

The bulk of this story is anchored in reality – Sophie’s family is trying to find their way on a farm when they are city folks, and they have little money to put into the farm while they get it up and running. Sophie is making new friends and starting at a new school – pretty typical activities for kids her age. The Brown family is becoming part of the community around their farm, especially as Sophie meets people who can help her with chicken tasks. The unusual chickens are the only fantasy elements in the books. I read a lot of fantasy where the whole WORLD around the story is fantastical. This is a lovely change of pace. It reminds me of the author’s YA book that I read last year.

I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series, and I recommend them highly!!

REVIEW: The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher

REVIEW: The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Zak is in trouble. Coasting through Health class and using too much Wikipedia for an assignment leave him in danger of not graduating. Zak doesn’t have big plans for his future. Or any plans, really. But not graduating would put him in an awful bind. So when the Health teacher says he can redeem himself by serving as an alternate for the Quiz Bowl Team’s next competition, he jumps at the chance. It’s only later that he realizes the competition is the same weekend as his favorite comic book/fandom convention.

Ana can’t believe they have to put up with Zak on the team. He’s a total slacker! He doesn’t take anything seriously, playing card and role playing games all the time. She needs their team to WIN. That’s why she talked the advisor into putting her 13-year-old genius brother, Clayton, on the team. Ana is desperate to do everything right, and make all the right choices. She saw what her parents did when her big sister didn’t follow their expectations.

But when Clayton sneaks off to the con after the Quiz Bowl, Ana will have to trust the “slacker,” Zak, to help her find her brother and get back before anyone finds out they were gone. Otherwise she could lose everything she’s tried to hard to hold onto.

Review

This he-said, she-said story was a lot of fun! I loved Ana and Zak. They think they know about the other person, but their adventure at the con while they try to find Clayton helps them open up to one another. With time, they each see the other a lot more clearly.

The con was a hoot! Our family loves comic book conventions, so parts of the setting were very familiar. In fact, that was the whole reason I read the book. I did a library search for books that take place at or around conventions and discovered this one. I’ve never had a con experience quite like Zak and Ana, thankfully. But I loved watching Ana work her way through her feelings as an “outsider,” especially as she watched Zak in his element.

There are many fun fandom references in the book as well as a sweet romance between the characters. There’s also cosplay, a gay wedding, a case of mistaken identity that turns ugly, and a kidnapping. It’s a WILD ride to the satisfying end. I loved how the author dealt with the parental issues as the story wrapped up. There are a lot of examples here of the problems that come when you assume things about others and the solutions you find when people communicate. Great fun!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

REVIEW: Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Michael is angry – annoyed – bitter. His dad takes a new job or promotion, and their whole family is uprooted. They’ve moved four times in ten years. And for the latest move Michael, a self-professed atheist, is enrolled in a Catholic high school.

Michael’s never had a faith system. At the school, he knows none of the “rules” – he crosses himself wrong, he’s never been to mass, and he has an uncanny ability to stick his foot in his mouth about anything religious.

But he finds his people – Lucy, the Catholic who wants to be a priest; Avi, the Jewish kid who’s also gay; Max, who likes to wear a cloak to school and is Unitarian; and Eden, who is a Celtic Reconstructionist Polytheist. Together, they are Heretics Anonymous.

It starts out as just a place to commiserate about all the things at the school that make them crazy. But Michael thinks they should do more – actually try to make a difference. But the best of intentions sometimes have a way of going horribly wrong.

Review

This was fascinating and funny! I loved Michael. He’s opinionated and sarcastic, and his anger at home comes out at school with various repercussions. I felt for him in his anger and hurt, but I also understood his faith questions and his struggles at school.

There’s an irreverence  to some of this that might turn off some readers. But I loved the honesty of it. It’s raw at times. I’m more comfortable with faith questions than I’ve ever been before in my life (I think it sometimes comes with age.). And I love that this book raises some hard questions. But Michael finds a safe place to raise his questions and fall apart and try to put the pieces back together. I loved all of it. I don’t embrace all of the faith systems and ideas expressed in the book, but I enjoyed the experience of watching the teens try to work through their own ideas. It would be fascinating to talk with some teens who’ve read this and hear their thoughts.

There’s some language and other mature moments in this. And there’s one Bible reference that’s inaccurate in some of the details, but the information and point is right on target.  I highly recommend this for readers who love books that make them laugh AND make them think.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

REVIEW: Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Readers may know Jarrett J. Krosoczka from his previous work. He is the author and illustrator of many picture books as well as the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, the Platypus Police Squad middle grade series (LOVED those), and the second phase of the Jedi Academy books.

Adults may know Krosoczka from his popular TED Talk called “How a Boy Became an Artist.” It’s an inspiring story of his development as an artist and illustrator. And it hints at his childhood experiences. Hey Kiddo, Krosoczka’s new graphic novel memoir, tells more of that story.

Krosoczka was raised by his grandparents due to his mother’s addiction to heroin. His mom was in and out of his life as she was in and out of treatment and jail. Jarrett didn’t meet his father until high school. The details of his home situation impacted him as he grew up and as he developed as an artist. Hey Kiddo shares some of the significant moments of that journey.

Review

This graphic novel memoir for teens is moving and inspiring. I loved it. It’s definitely for a mature audience – teens and older. There’s some language and a few dark moments in his story. He doesn’t shy away from the emotions of his journey – the anger and despair when his mom didn’t show up for important things, his discomfort with anyone finding out she was in jail, etc. Kids who have experienced similar things will feel seen and understood – maybe for the first time – by reading this. Readers who have not walked a similar path have an opportunity to gain insight and empathy for others. And any reader can be inspired by Jarrett’s journey to his creative career.

There are several pages of notes in the back that were even more moving than the book itself. One note shares the rest of the story about Jarrett and his family. Another note focuses on the art included in the book. I love that the book has scans of Jarrett’s actual childhood pictures and letters exchanged with his mom.

This is an excellent, engaging and thought-provoking story. If you love Krosoczka’s work or if you love memoirs or graphic novels, don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: When We Found Home by Susan Mallery

REVIEW: When We Found Home by Susan Mallery

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Jerry Carlesso was a salesman for his father’s company, Alberto’s Alfresco. As he traveled around the country, he had “a woman in every port” so to speak. Jerry loved the ladies. But when a few of those ladies got pregnant, Jerry was long gone.

Malcolm’s mother sought out Alberto Carlesso when Malcolm was twelve. She was dying and knew Malcolm would need someone to care for him when she was gone. Jerry was completely disinterested, but Alberto welcomed his grandson with open arms.

When Jerry died many years later, Alberto discovered two granddaughters he didn’t know existed. Keira was twelve and living in foster care in LA. Alberto found her and moved her into their enormous Seattle home. Callie, who was closer to Malcolm’s age, was harder to find.

With a felony on her record from a moment of idiocy at eighteen, Callie stayed under the radar. Her record made it hard to find steady work. When Alberto’s lawyer showed up, she was skeptical but hardly in a a position to refuse the offer of a home.

Now these three people, linked by biology but world’s apart, are trying to negotiate what it means to be family. It’s possible that a DNA connection won’t be enough to hold them together.

Review

This was fantastic! I was hooked right from the start watching 34-year-old Malcolm try to figure out how to integrate a pre-teen into his life. I expected him to be the arrogant, aloof, workaholic type. But he was genuinely motivated to care for Keira but entirely clueless about how to do that. Malcolm was my favorite character in the book. But Callie and Keira were close seconds. I loved how Callie, so used to protecting herself and being alone, connected with Keira immediately.

There are two romantic side plots to this – one for Callie and one for Malcolm – which were great. Both of those had things to contribute to the story about family as well. There were two detailed romantic scenes that were unexpected  with the tone and focus of the rest of the story. It almost felt like they were there out of obligation – I have to throw these in so this can be a “romance” – rather than part of the flow of the book. They are a small part of the larger story.

Susan Mallery is a prolific author, but this is the first book of hers I have read. I will absolutely be checking out the rest of the collection to see if there are more stories with characters like these. And if she decides to write more with the stars of this book, I will be first in line for a sequel.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥