Tag: sisters

REVIEW: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

REVIEW: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Rory and her older sister, Merrilee, got into Hero High, it was supposed to be this “great opportunity.” Their oldest sister, Lilly, was marrying into a senator’s family, and the senator used her influence to get the girls into Reginald R. Hero High. Nevermind that her influence led to some resentment by some students and administrators about the girls skirting the rules and procedures. While Merrilee had negotiated a lot of that, and emerged triumphant, Rory was dealing with her own struggles.

Rory’s early weeks at Hero were not filled with a lot of academic success. It’s hard to be the little sister to someone as brilliant – and as personable – as Merri. And the one place that should have been a safe haven for Rory – the art room – was a bigger minefield than any of her academic classes. In Advanced Art, the freshman and “new girl” stuck out. And the resentment of the older students meant her easel was always under “accidental” assault. Her projects were “lost” or “destroyed” constantly. School was one disaster after another for Rory.

Even her life outside school was filled with complications. Her forever-crush, Toby, was her next door neighbor. There was no avoiding him. That meant she also couldn’t avoid seeing how he looked at Merri. Toby’s affection for Merri was at war with his hurt at seeing her fall for someone else. It was painful for Rory to watch while her own feelings of longing were obviously never going to be returned.

Two reading assignments for the mysterious Ms. Gregoire stir up a lot of questions and feelings for Rory as she considers her school woes, her family relationships, and her crush. She’s embarking on a life and literature adventure she won’t ever forget.

Review

When book 1, Bookish Boyfriends: A Date with Darcy released last year, there was no way I wasn’t going to read it. Books, romance and a possibly magical teacher pulling strings to use literature to instruct her students on life? SIGN ME UP! And book one was a DELIGHT in all ways – characters, story, heart. And I re-read it before starting this one so all the story details would be fresh for me.

That re-read actually made me a little nervous about reading this book. I loved Merri in book 1.  Her voice is a huge part of why I enjoyed that first story. Since this is Rory’s story, I was concerned I wouldn’t connect with her like I did with Merri.

Rory’s voice and story is EVEN BETTER!

I almost don’t have words for how much I adored this book. I think chapter 3 was when I started crying and fell in love with Rory. All the sharp, snarky attitude and behavior in book 1 suddenly made complete sense. I could see all the ways Rory developed to protect herself – from feeling “not enough” or left out or “settled for.” And this is a young woman who should never feel like she is second fiddle to anyone – no one should. I bookmarked more than 40 spots that were just magical for me in this story. Actually, I wasn’t even 1/4 through the review copy when I set it aside to pre-order my own copy. I am a fanatic for this story!

Just like with Merri’s story, Rory works through two books with Ms. Gregoire – The Great Gatsby and Little Women. As with book 1, I’ve only read one of those books, but I was completely able to follow the action here anyway. I almost felt like I was reading two whole books because of the depth of Rory’s story related to both of these classic novels. The author does not skimp through the arc of the first to get to the second. Both were important – to the story and to Rory’s growth.

I gushed at the author on social media because I just could not contain how much I was adoring this story. (It was too early to talk about it online because it wasn’t going to release for another month or two.) She told me book three will be Talk Nerdy to Me (2020), and she’s already at work on book 4. This series is now firmly on my “must buy” list. The richness in the characters and the stories are not to be missed. At every page turn, my heart sang, “I LOVE this book!” I could not have asked for a more perfect book for me.

I feel like there’s a lot for readers to learn here from Rory – what happens for her when she speaks her truth, how her feelings have driven her behavior, what role she should play when she’s unhappy in a relationships, etc. You do NOT want to miss this book – be sure to check out A Date with Darcy and then scoop up The Boy Next Story too. Perfect for summer reading. I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

REVIEW: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Serina has trained all her life it seems to be a Grace. The Superior of Viridia has chosen three women of beauty and refinement to be his Graces every three years for ages. And now it is his oldest son, Malachi, the Heir’s turn.

Nomi is wild where her sister is meek. Their culture holds little value for women. They aren’t allowed to go to school or learn to read. They have no real choices in their own lives. And Nomi hates it. How could Serina choose the empty, shallow life of a Grace? Nomi has a duty to her family to be Serina’s handmaiden, but she doesn’t have to like it or do it without complaint.

Things with the Heir don’t go at all like Serina expected. One heated exchange in a hallway with Nomi and he chooses HER to be one of his Graces. Serina is relegated to handmaiden status. And if that’s not bad enough, Nomi is keeping a secret that could get their whole family in trouble. But Serina is caught and blamed instead.

Now Nomi is alone at the palace, unsure of who she can trust and desperate for any scrap of news about what happened to her sister. And Serina has been given a punishment usually reserved for the worst female offenders – prison on the volcanic island Mount Ruin.

Review

This was excellent! Initially I wanted more world building and character development up front. The rules for the world were unclear, and the action starts immediately. But I only felt off kilter for a couple chapters before everything was clear. And once I hit that point I couldn’t put the book down until I was finished.

The characters are great. I was furious with Nomi whose own carelessness and rebellious nature ruined her sister’s life. But the evolution of Serina through her trials was fantastic.

The story was riveting – the fight for survival, the alliances and betrayals, the secret source of the misogynistic culture of Viridia. And the action runs clear up to the final page with no happily-ever-after in sight. I loved it!

I saw one of the twists coming only because it’s been done before in another series I read. But the author really did a great job setting it up. Readers who have read that other series might recognize the set up, too. But others will be delightfully caught off guard. I have no complaints for this – just praise. This is fantastic. I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel! (Violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Portrait of a Sister by Laura Bradford

REVIEW: Portrait of a Sister by Laura Bradford

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Even though they were identical twins, Katie always felt like an afterthought where Hannah was concerned. Hannah was the outgoing, energetic, fearless one. Katie was quiet and cautious. The differences between them became even more pronounced when Hannah decided not to be baptized and to leave their Amish community. Katie, the rule follower, stayed. Of course she stayed. This was her home, her family, and her community.

When Katie’s mom got sick, her commitment to home and family was even stronger. Her mother and family needed her. And after her mother’s death, Katie kept the family going. She picked up her mother’s responsibilities in the home and cared for her younger siblings as if they were her own.

When Hannah comes home for the funeral, she discovers Katie’s secret. She’s an artist. She draws in a secret sketch pad. And she’s extremely talented. But the Amish believe that photos or art of people are making “graven images.” A sin. Since Katie was baptized into the faith, she would be shunned if anyone ever found out. And if she chose her art over her community, she would never be able to contact her father or siblings again.

Drawing is the only time when Katie feels like herself, though. It’s the only thing that makes her smile. And it’s been months since her family has seen her smile. So her father sends her off for a week to visit her sister Hannah in New York City. It will be an opportunity to just be herself with no family responsibilities. She can see what life might be like if she chose her art over her faith. Would it be worth all she would lose?

Review

This was lovely! I don’t usually read Amish fiction, but after enjoying Belle and Ella so much earlier this year, I was interested in trying some more. This author’s Amish mystery series is on my TBR shelves, but I haven’t tried them yet.

I didn’t sense the same  level of faith in this story as I did in Belle and Ella. Katie’s commitments felt more like a commitment to tradition and expectation than a strong sense of faith. Katie has a lot of questions about the Amish assertion that her mother’s death was “God’s will” and something to just accept. But that was really the only place where faith was really explored. I completely identified with Katie’s need to do the “right” thing and put others before herself. Her struggles to choose her own path apart from her sister and her wrestling with where art could fit into her life, if it could at all, really clicked for me.

I did not care for Hannah for most of the book. She is bossy and brash and self-centered. She takes Katie’s art and does what she wants with it without respect for Katie’s perspective. Hannah knows the rules it violates but maybe since she doesn’t personally follow those rules anymore, she doesn’t even think about what the violation means for Katie. It’s almost as if she wants Katie on the “outside” with her – like she misses the family connections she once had. If Katie leaves, too, she can have it all, family and freedom. And she’ll risk Katie’s shunning and the fall out to do what she chooses. It was frustrating, but it made me appreciate Katie that much more.

There’s a slight love triangle in this – the Amish man Katie has been promised to and the man in New York who listens and understands her because she is free to tell him everything. I was thrilled with how that all worked out in the end.

This was a terrific story and I highly recommend it to fans of Amish fiction as well as those who enjoy stories about characters looking for – and finding – their identity.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

REVIEW: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ruby has gotten used to being abandoned. After her parents’ divorce, her dad drifted off to a new life without Ruby, or her sister Cora. When Cora left for college, she never looked back at her life with an alcoholic mother. Even though she had been Ruby’s protector when they were kids, she left Ruby alone with their mother. Now, Ruby’s mom has walked off, too, leaving 17-year-old Ruby to fend for herself. And she can only dodge their landlord for so long before someone notices that she’s alone and barely getting by.

Once Social Services gets involved, Ruby is sent to live with Cora and her husband, Jamie, in their ritzy neighborhood with expensive cars and expensive private schools. How is Ruby supposed to live in this foreign place with the sister who left her? They are like strangers now. Her other life may have been lonely and desperate, but it was familiar and comfortable. Maybe Ruby would be better off going back to that life.

Review

I must confess, I’ve never read a Sarah Dessen book before. She’s wildly popular, but I just hadn’t tried one. A former student said this was her favorite, and I decided to give it a try on her recommendation.

I really enjoyed it. It felt familiar in some ways – the teen pulled out of her unhealthy yet familiar surroundings, struggling against a safe yet foreign new way of living. But I loved the configuration of family and friends – and circumstances – that led Ruby to eventually give this new life a chance. The road isn’t easy. New challenges and revelations push Ruby to see herself and her life from new angles. This is so well done.

Definitely for teens with language and substance abuse as well as child abuse and neglect. This was so well done. I would definitely read more Sarah Dessen books after enjoying this one.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Silver Moon of Summer by Leila Howland

REVIEW: The Silver Moon of Summer by Leila Howland

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Silver Sisters are back in Pruett, Massachusetts to spend a couple weeks with their Aunt Sunny. Marigold (14), Zinnie (13), and Lily (7) are ready for another summer of East Coast adventures and self-discovery.

Marigold auditions for a part in a TV show shooting in Pruett. While the TV filming is making life difficult for her maybe-boyfriend, Peter, it gives Marigold a chance to make a new friend who will be at her performing arts school in the fall.

Zinnie is going to spend the summer working on her blog. She hopes the school writing assignment will help her earn the job of Editor in Chief for the school’s literary journal. But she has to find adventures around Pruett to write about.

Lily has become an animal expert over the last year. She loves her naturalist camp at Pruett, and she teaches her family all sorts of things about animals. But an even bigger job this summer is reminding her big sisters not to fight. Their fights have caused major trouble over the last two summers. Is it even possible for Marigold and Zinnie to NOT fight for two whole weeks?

Review

This is a lovely third installment for this terrific middle grade series about family and identity. The girls have grown up nicely over the three books. They each have found their own niche (acting, writing, science), but the push and pull between Marigold and Zinnie is still there. Sisters so close in age vacillate  between being best friends and needing their own space. Marigold and Zinnie seem very normal in their sisterly dynamic.

Romance is a bigger factor in this story than in previous books as both Marigold and Zinnie hope their friendships with Peter and Max respectively can become something more this summer. This is still kept at an appropriate level (hand holding, declarations of “like,” quick kisses) for the book’s target audience.

These books are ideal summer reads – the setting is perfect – or fall reads for kids who want to relive the freedom of summer. The content is realistic, and the conflicts keep the story moving while still being “light” in tone. Great fun in store for readers of all three books in this series. (Some readers/families may raise a red flag at the use of a Ouija board by the girls in one scene.) I’ve been recommending this series to a lot of folks this year.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Forget-Me-Not Summer by Leila Howland

REVIEW: The Forget-Me-Not Summer by Leila Howland

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Marigold, Zinnia and Lily are sisters living in Los Angeles with their parents. Their dad is a screenwriter, and their mom was a film editor. Both parents get work opportunities at the same time and decide to send the girls to stay with family in Massachusetts for three weeks in the summer.

Marigold is devastated. At 12-years-old, she’s just gotten an agent for her acting career. She is desperate to try out for a part in a movie based on her favorite books. This trip out east is ruining her career plans.

A year younger than Marigold, Zinnia tries to follow in her sister’s footsteps. She tries acting, She begs to go out with Marigold and her friends. And like most big sisters, Marigold is convinced that Zinnia is trying to ruin her life.

Massachusetts will give each of the girls an opportunity to discover themselves a little more as they get to know their Aunt Sunny and their East Coast vacation  home.

Review

This is a great family story! The close age between Marigold and Zinnia makes their relationship prone to highs and lows. At times the girls are the best of friends. Zinnia does her best, both in LA and Massachusetts, to help Marigold achieve her dreams. At the same time, Marigold also longs for some space to do her own thing and be her own person without her sister-shaped shadow.

Zinnia feels out of step with her beautiful older sister and adorable baby sister. While at times she recognizes Marigold’s meanness and attitude, she also wants to be just like her in some ways. The summer trip gives Zinnia a chance to step out from behind Marigold and find her own “voice.”

The author does a good job of making this story about the growth that takes place for both of the girls pretty equally. The rest of the characters fill in nicely around the girls. The adults coach and mentor and correct, but don’t fix things. This is a nice, healthy example of family.

There are three books in this series. Book 2 is The Brightest Stars of Summer, and book 3 is The Silver Moon of Summer and comes out today. I will definitely be adding both of these books to my summer reading TBR!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥