Description: For some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams, offering to “fix” the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered. All he has to do is say “Yes.” But “yes” is a powerful word. It is also a dangerous one. And once it is uttered, can it be taken back?

Review: Kenneth Oppel's The Nest is a creepy, subtle horror read that is perfect for the Halloween season. Steve has always been a worrier, but since his baby brother was born with a rare congenital disorder he's become even more anxious. After a curious gray and white wasp from the hive above their house stings Steve, he develops the ability to speak to the hive's queen, who promises to replace the ailing baby with a new one. Agreeing to the queen's offer, Steve confronts a dangerous traveling knife sharpener, his parents' concerns over his mental health, and strange phone calls from Mr. Nobody, a family legend turned real, it seems. As Theodore's health deteriorates, Steve must decide what is best for his brother and what he will do to save him. The more he learns about the wasps' plan to "fix" the baby's congenital condition, the more he's conflicted. The tension and unease grow as Steve begins to wonder if the wasps are real or imagined.
 The Nest is not blatantly dark but quiet yet emotionally haunting. The book is exclusively written in Steve's perspective so the sense of safety and anxiety in particular are heightened in the story. The book comes to a climactic end that is cathartic and comforting while also showing the beauty of imperfection. I also like the sneaky way of including scientific information on the life cycle, anatomy, and behaviors of wasps is woven into the story. Readers who enjoyed being frightened by reading Coraline by Neil Gaiman will really enjoy this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some disturbing images in the book that might be too much for younger readers. Recommended for strong Grade 5 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Coraline by Neil Gaiman, The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Description: Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.
   Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap.

Review: This is an another adrenaline pumping read in the Kate Daniel series. We finally meet Hugh D'Ambray, a character that I loved to hate. Hugh is almost like the male version of Kate herself, he has the same fighting skills, tenacity, and stubbornness. The big thing that separates them is Kate's strong moral code and conscience, both of which Hugh finds unnecessary and useless. It's clear that Kate hates Hugh though there is a part of her that can not deny a pull towards him, but to be clear there is no love triangle.
  There is a lot of conflict, angst, and miscommunication in this book. I know a lot of readers hated Curran in this book but I wasn't one of them which isn't to say that I approved what he did but I knew his heart had the best intentions. We also lose a valuable pack member in this book which was shocking, but necessary in order to move the plot arc along. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, strong violence, and some crude sexual humor. Recommended for adults.


Description: As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.
   As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear.

Review: After hearing about Roland and his immense power for six books, we finally get to meet him in person and find out what his feelings are towards Kate and the pack. When Roland makes a power move, we anxiously see how Kate responds and whether or not she resorts to using her magic to keep the people she love safe or some other means.
  Unlike the other books in this series, this book zeroes in on the politics of the Pack which is preambled by a prologue written from Barabas' point of view. Curran makes a world shaking choice that opens a new story arc. Though I understood why Curran made his choice, I had a really hard time agreeing with it.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, strong violence, some crude sexual humor, and sexual situations. Recommended for adults.

 I'm all caught up reading the Charley Davidson series, but I'm behind in review the series on the blog. Here are my reviews for books 8 and 9 plus a Reyes novella. I enjoyed all of these books.

Description (edited to avoid spoilers): With twelve hellhounds after her, Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can’t get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Fortunately, a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.
  Charley’s been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can’t traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn’t know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he’s near, but naturally he swears he’s fine.
  While the team searches for clues on the Twelve, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they’ve accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. But the good feelings don’t last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life.

Review: Reading this installment of the Charley Davidson series is much like riding a roller coaster. There were so many moments of happiness only to crash you with the deepest lows. We finally get to see a wedding though I would have liked an actual account of it rather than the rushed version that we got. There were a two mysteries that surrounded the church, but the ones about the girls held my attention and the nun one was just filler. Like the other books, we are finally getting some answers regarding the twelve hellhounds and the mystery of Mr. Wong is finally solved! Of course with the answers we are also have a lot of more questions to ask. The ending broke me and it was horrible. This is really a world breaking installment and I'm curious to see which direction Jones takes her heroine. All I know is that I'm fully on board.   

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, some strong violence, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for adults only.



Description: All his life, Reyes Alexander Farrow has suffered the torments of the damned. Only one thing has given him hope: the woman who radiates a light that no mortals can see; a light that only the departed can see.
Told from his point of view, Brighter Than the Sun chronicles the first time Reyes ever encountered Charley, and how their relationship has been the one thing that can either save him or doom him.

Review: This is a fun novella that takes place that takes place during the timeline of First Grave on the Right and told from Reyes's point of view. While it was great hearing Reyes's voice, no new information was gained from reading this novella. I did, however, get a better sense of his discomfort in having everyone lust after him. I used to think he just tuned it out especially with the women at the diner, but it really does bother him. I would only recommend picking this novella up if you are a die hard Charley Davidson or Reyes fan.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, some strong violence, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for adults only.


Description: In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she's more than a little taken aback. Stranger still are the people entering her life. They seem to know things about her. Things they hide with lies and half-truths. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in and the fry cook, a devastatingly handsome man whose smile is breathtaking and touch is scalding. He stays close, and she almost feels safe with him around.

Review: Like the eighth book, this one was a very bittersweet novel. After a life shattering event, Charley is suffering from amnesia and going through life as struggling waitress Janey. She has no memory of who she is or how she ended up in the café, but we as readers find familiar faces to help make sure Charley is safe and okay. It hurt my heart to see our lovable heroine be so lost especially when she felt that she was the "other woman" with Reyes. I couldn't imagine what Reyes must have gone through. We slowly watch Charley's past reasserting itself: she is still able to converse with the dead, and she realizes that there are beings out there trying to kill her. While there is a side mystery, the focus is clearly on Charley as we bite our nails in hopes that she recovers her memory by the end of the book.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, some strong violence, sexual situations, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for adults only.

If you like this series try: Naked Werewolf series by Molly Harper, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, The Disillusionists series by Carolyn Crane

Description: When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. She survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek. Suddenly, though, dissent is rising. And Valek’s job—and his life—are in danger.
As Yelena tries to uncover her enemies, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. And now she must find a way to keep not only herself but all that she holds dear alive.

Review: I absolutely loved the first three books in the Study series by Maria V. Snyder. I really enjoyed the balance between political intrigue, magic, and romance in those books and I read them very quickly. I was elated and also scared when it was announced that the Study series would continue for three more books. I was really hoping that it would not result like my depreciating excitement for the extension of the Mortal Instrument series.
  For the most part I enjoyed Shadow Study, but the writing is not as strong as its predecessor. I had no issues with the plot which was complex and moved the story quite nicely. Yelena is on her way to enjoy a much-deserved vacation with her lover Valek when she is attacked. Believing herself healed from the arrow wound, she later discovers that a poison has stripped her of her magical powers. While Valek is far away in Ixia dealing with political plots against the ruler there, Yelena must find who did this to her and whether there is any way to reverse the damage. I also appreciated seeing returning secondary characters from both the Study series and the Glass series play a pivotal role in this book as well as some new characters. My main issue in this book was the unnecessary split of narration between Yelena, Valek, and Janco. I wouldn't have mind if the book had a dual narrative of just Yelena and Valek, but the Janco portion of the story didn't need his point of view because in my opinion it didn't add any new information.
 The transition between narratives isn't smooth as I had hoped and I thought it was weird that Yelena's point of view is in first person and Valek's and Janco's point of views were not. However my favorite part of this book hands down is getting a glimpse into Valek's past and the path he took to become the most fearful and deadly spymaster and assassin. The cliffhanger and surprise ending definitely makes me want to continue this series.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence, language, and allusions to sexual situations. Recommended for older teens and adults.

Description: Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia is safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.
  Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

Description: A host of the smartest young adult authors come together in this collection of scary stories and psychological thrillers curated by Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’s April Genevieve Tucholke.
Each story draws from a classic tale or two—sometimes of the horror genre, sometimes not—to inspire something new and fresh and terrifying. There are no superficial scares here; these are stories that will make you think even as they keep you on the edge of your seat. From bloody horror to supernatural creatures to unsettling, all-too-possible realism, this collection has something for any reader looking for a thrill.

Review: Slasher Girls and Monster Boys is an anthology of horror stories written by fourteen popular YA authors. Each author draws inspiration from a mix of literature, film, television, and music to create a new, fresh, and unsettling stories. Like in most cases in which I read a collection of short stories, there are a number of standouts in which I loved and would love to check out some of the writer's other works and there are others that didn't work for me.
 I absolutely loved the Daphne Du Maurier inspired The Birds of Azalea Street by Nova Ren Suma which beautifully captured the gothic horror and creepy men. I also thoroughly enjoyed Megan Shepard's Hide and Seek which is a suspenseful and fast paced story of a girl who is trying to cheat death. Jay Kristoff's alarming tale of online dating gone horribly, horribly wrong in Sleepless was a chilling read. 
 The diverse stories in this anthology is sure to have something for everyone. I would recommend checking it out if you are looking for a quick read or are interested in reading horror or supernatural stories.   

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong violence and disturbing images in most of these stories. There is also some strong language. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Monstress Affections by Kelly Link, The Restless Dead edited by Deborah Noyes

  I absolutely adore G. Willow Wilson's Ms. Marvel graphic novel series. While the series may not be of the award winning quality of comics such as Alan Moore's Watchmen or Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, it is undoubtedly revolutionary. In Wilson's re-imaging of the famous female heroine, Ms. Marvel is a Pakistani, Muslim teen, which is revolutionary especially when our media only show oppressed Pakistani women. Ms. Marvel refreshingly blends cultural identity, religion, and the normal hijinks of a superhero.

Description: Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! If Kamala can stop fan-girling out about meeting her favorite super hero, that is. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity -- by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. Kamala bands together with some unlikely heroes to stop the maniacal villain before he does real damage, but has she taken on more than she can handle? And how much longer can Ms. Marvel's life take over Kamala Khan's? Kamala Khan continues to prove why she's the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is!

Review: In the second volume of Ms. Marvel, Kamala is still adjusting to her new role as a superhero. She is not quite comfortable with her powers, but she is trying. She is also trying to figure out her identity from her familial obligations of being a daughter, her obligations to her faith, and to her responsibilities of as a superhero. I love the inclusion of Kamala's traditional Pakistani family and Wilson not shying away from including religion in the graphic novel such as showing Kamala going to the mosque and asking her imam for guidance. These depictions may not seem like a big deal for me, a reader that shares these similarities with the protagonist, but those who are unfamiliar with the religion and culture it is a striking contrast of what they see in media. This banality is what I think makes the Ms. Marvel series powerful and necessary.
  Along with the character development of Kamala, we are treated with the special appearance of Wolverine and their shared adventure, which was a lot of fun to read. Wolverine knows a thing or two about being an outsider and gives Kamala reassurance that she will figure everything out. It was really cute seeing Kamala become a fangirl. I also adored Kamala's helper, a gigantic bull dog.
 This volume wraps up with Kamala saving the day from a villain called the Inventor, who is sucking the youth out of the teens and giving their life energy to the older generations, which is the graphic novel's weakest point. The villain is just not menacing enough and the ending does take a little dive into cheesy and preaching area, but it didn't deem my enjoyment when reading the graphic novel.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.



Description: Love is in the air in Jersey City as Valentine’s Day arrives! Kamala Khan may not be allowed to go to the school dance, but Ms. Marvel is! Well sort of--by crashing it in an attempt to capture Asgard’s most annoying trickster! Yup, it’s a special Valentine’s Day story featuring Marvel’s favorite charlatan, Loki! And when a mysterious stranger arrives in Jersey City, Ms. Marvel must deal with...a crush! Because this new kid is really, really cute. What are these feelings, Kamala Khan? Prepare for drama! Intrigue! Romance! Suspense! Punching things! All this and more! The fan-favorite, critically acclaimed, amazing new series continues as Kamala Khan proves why she’s the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is! Plus, see what happens when S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jemma Simmons goes undercover at Kamala’s school!

Review: In the third volume of Ms. Marvel, Kamala is diving into the trouble waters of romance in the graphic novel's Valentine's Day theme. Bruno, Kamala’s buddy who works in the local store, is pining for Kamala but he can't seem to get out of the friend-zone. While I ship Bruno and Kamala together, there are a lot of obtacles in their way such as culture, race, and religion. I am really curious how Wilson will address these issues is she does decide to go this route. It is clear that Kamala is expected to marry someone Pakistani and then she is actually swept off her feet by a seemingly perfect Kamran who not only meets her parents' expectations but also match in Kamala's interests too. While the romance is cute, it was pretty easy to see that Kamran was just too perfect and when his real motives are revealed I wasn't too surprised. I was actually more interested to see how this romance will further develop Kamala's identity. My favorite part of the graphic novel is actually the introduction of Loki, who in my opinion stole the show. I really wanted to him to stay longer than his brief stint.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.



Description: From the moment Kamala put on her costume, she's been challenged. But nothing has prepared her for this: the last days of the Marvel Universe. Lucky she's got the help of Carol "Captain Marvel" Danvers! Between teaming up with her personal hero to rescue her brother and trying to keep her city from falling into an all-out frenzy, Kamala has barely had time to come to terms with the fact that the world is literally collapsing around her. But the truth will catch up to her, and soon. When the world is about to end, do you still keep fighting? Kamala knows the answer. Let's do this, Jersey City.


Review: Compared to the first three volumes of Ms. Marvel, the fourth volume is much darker and serious in tone. Kamala is dealing with heartbreak, but she's got bigger problems when she sees New Jersey come under attack by a foreign intruder and everyone running for the hills. Kamala's self doubt is stronger than ever, but luckily Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel steps in as Kamala's mentor. I don't know much about Carol Danvers, but it was really fun having two female superheroes kick butt.
 There are lot of new surprises in this volume in regards to the different relationship dynamics. I won't go into details because of spoilers, but one of them took me by surprise and I'm really curious to see what happens next. Like the previous volumes, there is some crossover with the Marvel characters, which I'm not a big fan of because they take me completely out of Kamala's story.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution:There is some minor language. Suitable for middle grade readers and up.

If you like these books try: The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, Princeless series by Jeremy Whitley, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North, Thor: The Goddess of Thunder by Jason Aaron, The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers.  I have been slowly working my way through the widely popular and critically acclaimed Fruits Basket manga series. Fruits Basket is a completed series with a total of 23 volumes.

Description: A family with an ancient curse...

And the girl who will change their lives forever...

Tohru Honda was an orphan with no place to go until the mysterious Sohma family offered her a place to call home. Now her ordinary high school life is turned upside down as she's introduced to the Sohma's world of magical curses and family secrets.

Review: I would highly recommend reading Fruits Basket to readers who want to try reading manga, but are not sure where to start. The series is complete so you don't have to wait for volumes to be released. It also has a broad range of genres ranging from cute romantic comedy to serious reflection on what it means to grow up and change, which makes the series very appealing to a wide variety of readers. 
  It took me a while to get my footing in this series. The first few volumes felt repetitive as we watch Tohru learn about the Sohma clan's curse and meet each member of the Chinese zodiac. Once we have the initial meet and greet of the large cast of characters, the story switches its focus from exploring the zodiac to the relationships between the characters and it was at this point where I got hooked into the manga series. 
 The characters of Fruits Basket gives the manga its emotional depth and heart. Tohru is a selfless and resilient heroine who is consistently positive and full of life despite the hardships she has faced. Some readers may see her as a stereotypical shojo girl who is clumsy, ditzy, and naive, but I would strongly disagree. Tohru is a symbol of warmth, love, and acceptance. She knows there will be times when life will have some steep lows, but she tries her best to be happy and do her best. Tohru is a stark contrast to those of the Sohma family. For many members of the Sohma family, Tohru fills a void in many different ways ranging from a mother figure to a sister and to a friend.
  The Sohma family's curse in which hugging a member of the opposite sex will turn them into their zodic animal is initially used for comedy relief in the first few volumes, but as the manga continues the curse is used metaphorically for their phobia of growing up and assimilating to the outside world. The interactions within the Sohma family are surprisingly heart wrenching, dark, claustrophobic, and cold as the characters are pretty much void of any emotional attachment until Tohru comes into their lives. Any attempts of being remotely happy are squashed under the iron fist of the Sohma family leader who 'chains' himself to everyone. Even the innocent children are not spared and almost all of their parents have abandoned and neglected them. I was very surprised about the dark and mature issues in this manga series given the volume's cheery and cute cover art.
 As the manga processes, its characters also grow and change both physically, emotionally, and mentally. I really liked how the author focused on all of her main characters, giving them their own subplot stories that are critical to the manga's overall plot arc and themes.  
 I did have a few issues with the artwork in the manga series. In the first few volumes, the art looked too compressed and squished in their panels. There were many times I was confused as to who the characters are because they look so much alike, but it did get better as the manga moved along and the author becoming more comfortable with her characters and story.
 While I did have some lingering questions that were not addressed in the story, I was overall pleased with how everything came together. There were a few volumes that seemed to be a bit filler and I would have combined them, but that is not unusual for manga series. There are certainly dark moments throughout the manga series, but the ending was full of hope and heart. I can certainly see why many people chose this series to begin their manga reading journey and I would definitely recommend it. I plan on watching the anime shortly.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution:  The first few volumes in this manga are suitable for tweens, however, as the series continues mature situations and themes are explored. There is some language, suggestive nudity, crude humor, allusions to sex, and depictions of emotional abuse in the manga series.Recommended for strong Grade 7 readers and up. 

If you like this book try: Sand Chronicles by Hinako Ashihara

Description: In volume 5 of Olympians, author/artist George O'Connor turns the spotlight on that most mysterious and misunderstood of the Greek gods, Poseidon: Earth Shaker. Thrill to such famous stories as Theseus and the Minotaur, Odysseus and Polyphemos, and the founding of Athens—and learn how the tempestuous Poseidon became the King of the Seas.

Review: Poseidon is one of the few Greek gods who doesn't have a physical presence in mythology. We usually hear of him by the raging waters or his monstrous children, but never the actual god himself. The narrative style of his graphic novel follows this same train of thought.
 Instead of an overarching theme which was featured in the previous Olympian graphic novels that I read, Poseidon reads more episodic. He begins his story of how he came to rule the sea after the war of the Titans. There is palpable resentment and tension as Poseidon keeps a tally of the wrongs done by his siblings, particularly Athena who favored Odysseus rather than her brother (uncle?). He tells the gory stories of how the clever Odysseus injured Polyphemus and Theseus managing to survive the Minatour. While he may appear to receive the shorter end of the stick, Poseidon knows he can cause significant amount of damage and does so in several tales.
  Unlike the other Greek deities that O'Connor drew, I didn't like how Poseidon was drawn. He looks like a mash up between Kung Fu master with his long, wispy mustache and Conan the Barbarian on steroids. I didn't picture him to be like that in my mind.
  While the plot jumps from story to story, it is easy to follow in the crisply drawn sequential panels. I do like how O'Connor makes his subject relatable by today's standard's of action heroes. While this may not be my favorite book in the Olympians series, I did find it enjoyable.
 
Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong, bloody violence on the PG-13 scale. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds, Theseus Battles the Minator by Gary Jeffrey




Description: In volume six of Olympians, graphic novel author/artist George O'Connor turns the spotlight on Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Look for the same thoroughly researched and wonderfully accessible comics storytelling as O'Connor tackles the story of the Aphrodite from her dramatic birth (emerging from sea-foam) to her role in the Trojan War.

Review: I was really curious to see how O'Connor would spotlights the goddess of beauty and love in a kid friendly graphic novel. I thought he made a clever decision in emphasizing on power instead of sexuality in this solid addition to his Olympians series. Aphrodite's three attendants, the Charites, narrate a recap of the origin of the Titans and Olympians, leading up to the goddess's birth and highlighting that Aphrodite is essentially Eros embodied. After a series of shorter myths, various affairs and the introduction of Aphrodite's capricious son (Eros aka Cupid), the graphic novel concentrates on the beauty contest of the goddesses Aphrodite, Hera and Athena, judged by the mortal Paris. It was really cool to see how he problematic female stereotypes be pointed out by the goddesses themselves. They find the contest "beneath" them and "debasing" even while participating and re-frame the contest as one of power instead of beauty- each offering Paris either wealth, being a hero, or a chance to have one of the most beautiful women in the world. While there might not be a lot of action in this volume of the Olympians, there is a lot more tongue in cheek humor and great one-liners sprinkled in the story. This graphic novel shows Aphrodite's power in femininity and sexuality without being overt and crude.

Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: There are sexual situations alluded to in the book that happen off the page which older children make understand. There is also some crude humor in the graphic novel as well. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: Aphrodite: Goddess of Love and Beauty by Teri Temple

  If you are in the mood for a light and uplifting read full of friendship, love, and food definitely check out Jenny Colgan's Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe. This is a perfect read when you want to escape into a book just for a little while.

Description: Having grown up in an apartment above her Grandpa Joe's little bakery, Issy Randal has always known how to make something sweet. She's much better at baking than she is at filing, so when she's laid off from her desk job, Issy decides to open up her own little caf . But she soon learns that her piece-of-cake plan will take all her courage and confectionary talent to avert disaster.

Review:  Issy works for a property development company and has a clandestine romance with her hot and ambitious boss, Graeme. Though she likes her job, she doesn't find it fulfilling and when rumors spread that the company is down sizing, Issy feels at ease that at least Graeme will help her in securing her job. The rug is ripped under Issy's feet when she gets laid off and Graeme breaks up with her.
   Issy, understandably wallows in her bad luck, but with the nagging from her feisty roommate, she finally musters the courage to move on in her life. She remembers that her fondest memories are of those helping her grandfather in his bakery in northern England. He always told her that bread was life and baking was love, and each chapter opens with one of his recipes. Feeling inspired, Issy finds her dream in opening a bakery/cafe. We follow Issy as she becomes her own boss and establish herself on her own two feet.
  I loved the humor of this book, especially with the clueless Issy who has no idea about what it means to run a business. Issy wins people over with her warmth and sincerity, which can also be found in her baked goods. There are a wide variety of positive relationships, both of friendship and those of business, that are examined. Even the secondary characters of a single mom trying to make ends meet as well as another woman going through a hard breakup with her child's father that come to life in the story.
  Along with following her dreams, Issy also gets a second chance at love with Austin, the adorable bank manager who also has his own hands full. I loved watching Issy and Austin together, their hilarious miscommunication always made me smile. Though they are bumps in their romance, I loved how they came together. I just wished their romance wasn't rushed too quickly in the end. I would have loved to see them resolve and talk about their issues.
  Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe will have you smiling, laughing, and craving for pastries. While it may not stick with you long after you read it, you will enjoy it while reading it. It definitely hit my spot of wanting a fun and light read. Just be sure not to read this book on an empty stomach because it will most definitely make you hungry.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and sexual situations of the PG-13 variety. Recommended for teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Chocolat by Joanne Harris, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

 The Fever caught my eye as I was browsing the shelves at my public library. I was curious to see how an adult writer would capture the high school milieu and portray teenagers who are usually in the background in many adult novels.

Description: The Nash family is close-knit. Tom is a popular teacher, father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and his sister Deenie, a diligent student. Their seeming stability, however, is thrown into chaos when Deenie's best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in class. Rumors of a hazardous outbreak spread through the family, school and community. As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town's fragile idea of security.

Review: The Fever is a deliciously twisted tale of hormone driven teenagers with echoes of hysteria and witch hunt that is first seen in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. The premise of the book is very simple: a mysterious illness occurs at school and everyone has little information as to how it started and how to stop it.
  Abbott's talent shines in depicting the viciousness of high school where jealousy, entitlement, manipulation to get what you want, and the desire of immediate satisfaction knows no bounds. The book follows a group of female friends at Dryden High School. At the center of the group is Deenie Nash and her best friends Lise Daniels and Gabby Bishop, an inseparable trio. Deenie is our main character and the daughter of a popular teacher, and the younger sister of hockey star and school heartthrob Eli. I liked how Abbott portrayed Deenie, who balances on the seesaw of confident and vulnerable. Not only is she trying to navigate her own sexual awakening, but she also has to deal with her distant mother, school drama, and feeling jealous of Skye, a girl who is spending way more time with her best friend Gabby.
  The book's suspense is kicked into high gear when the mysterious affliction appears. What seemed like an ordinary school day is changed when Lise suffers an unexplained and violent seizure in the middle of class. Many people thought Lise's incident was isolated until a series of girls began exhibiting the same symptoms. The rumors seem to spread as fast as the mysterious affliction, which is blamed on everything from a rotten batch of vaccine to female hysteria.
  Abbott expertly withholds just enough information to slowly ratchet up the hysteria and suspense as the school is shaken with half-formed theories and speculations. One speculation in which the disease is transmitted sexually is a curious thought. As a society, we seem to be fine with boys being sexually active as if it is their rite into manhood and an event to be celebrated, however, there is a double standard when it comes to females. Interestingly, Abbott shows this double standard in how she creates her male characters, attractive beings who is always on the outside and something to be possessed, conquered.
  As Deenie tries to solve the mystery, she has to sort through uncomfortable complex social and emotional issues. While I was a bit disappointed on how the mystery is solved, I really liked going on this bizarre and dark journey with Deenie. All of the characters were fleshed out and I would definitely recommend it if you like character driven stories. The Fever is a book that might not please all suspense readers, but it does make you think. I really liked Abbot's writing and I will definitely read another book by her again.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Since the contagion is rumored to be sexually transmitted, there is a lot of discussion and mention of sex along with sexual situations. There is also strong language in the book. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn, Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter, Furies by Natalie Haynes

Description: Jasper Rabbit loves carrots—especially Crackenhopper Field carrots. He eats them on the way to school. He eats them going to Little League. He eats them walking home. Until the day the carrots start following him...or are they?

Review: Creepy Carrots is a fun read. I really like how it plays on the old horror movie tropes of a main character feeling paranoid that something or someone is stalking them only to find out that there is no one there when they turn around. I thought the use of using carrots was very clever, honing on the distaste of many children who don't like to eat their vegetables. The panels vary in size, highlighting Japer's fears and his attempts to secure himself from the looming carrots that just won't leave him alone. The gray coloring reminds me of an old school black and white noir film. Creepy Carrots would be a great read for any time of the year, but I think it would be especially great for Halloween.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for PreK to Grade 1.

If you like this book try: The Monster's Monster by Patrick McDonnel, Black Dog by Levi Pinfold, and Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott



Description: As a boy and his mother move quickly through the city, they're drawn to different things. The boy sees a dog, a butterfly, and a hungry duck while his mother rushes them toward the departing train. It's push and pull, but in the end, they both find something to stop for.

Review: Wait is a beautiful story. The plot is very simple yet very relatable. A mother and her young son are trying to rush to their morning train. While the mother passes by ordinary events and her sole focus is getting on the train, her son times time to observe all of things around them with a repeatable chime of "Wait" and the mother's response of "Hurry". I love how the images from the mother's perspective flash by like a blur, but for her son's point of view things are much larger and impressive, mirroring the perspective of time as an adult and as an innocent child. The pacing is just right. Just when the mother and child reach the door of the train, the mother does scoop up her son and they both marvel at a rainbow together.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for PreK to Grades 1.

If you like this book try: Waiting by Kevin Henkes, Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena



Description: There's been a terrible mix-up in the royal nursery. Priscilla the princess has accidentally switched places with Pigmella, the farmer's new piglet. The kindly farmer and his wife believe it's the work of a good witch, while the ill-tempered king and queen blame the bad witch-after all, this happens in fairy tales all the time! While Priscilla grows up on the farm, poor yet very happy, things don't turn out quite so well for Pigmella. Kissing a frog has done wonders before, but will it work for a pig?

Review: The Princess and the Pig had me chuckling throughout the story. A new baby princess is accidentally switched with a piglet. I enjoyed the author's clever fractured fairytale and his nods to other famous and familiar fairy tales such as "Sleeping Beauty", "Thumbelina", and "The Frog Prince" as the princess and the piglet try to back to their rightful places. I think young readers would get a kick of pulling out references to the fairy tales and also point out the absurdity of a king and queen actually believing that their daughter is a pig no matter how much lipstick or expensive gowns they make the piglet wear. It will also be a good reminder in a lesson that wealth and advantage do not equate with self-worth.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades K-4.

If you like this book try: Fairly Fairy Tales by Esme Codell, The Other Side of the Story by Trisha Speed Shashkan

 Jojo Moyes' breakout novel, Me Before You, is a heartbreaking and emotional novel. I was a bit surprised to learn she had planned on writing a companion novel. Though it was nice to see the characters again, the sequel did not have much of an emotional impact on me.

Description (edited to avoid spoilers): Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.
  Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future.

Review: Though After You is a companion novel and takes place 18 months after Me Before You, I would highly recommend reading Me Before You first as there are major spoilers in the plot of After You. After Louisa was given the opportunity of a lifetime to live her life, she is still left with a hollow heart. She's settled in an empty London flat and has taken a dreary waitress job at an airport pub. After falling off her apartment roof terrace in a drunken state, she momentarily fears she'll end up paralyzed herself, but Sam, the paramedic treats and saves her. Louisa's family, scared of her mental state, takes her in, which is where the books shines with the family's warmth and humor. 
  Just when I wanted to know more about Sam, the story then shifts when Louisa returns to London and finds a troubled teen named Lily on her doorstep. Lily is a selfish, bratty teen, and a character that I didn't much care for until her relevance is revealed. Once we found out Lily's role in the story, she takes over the book, which made wonder why Louisa is even present in this book and told mostly in her point of view. 
  There are surprises and misunderstandings sprinkled throughout the book to keep the plot moving, however, they are all neatly tied up. The romance between Louisa and Sam is cute, but it felt a bit superficial to me because Sam was a little too perfect as a love interest. While the novel does a decent job in exploring how different people grieve and mourn, its seriousness doesn't sustain with the addition of stereotypical characters such as Lily's narcissistic, rich, and distant mother.
 While I'm glad to be back with the characters that I liked in Me Before You, After You does not leave a lasting impression and isn't as emotionally intense. If you had to choose of the two books to read, I would highly recommend just reading Me Before You. 

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, sexual situations, and mature themes. Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern, The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel, Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain

Description: Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.
   Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.
    The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.
   The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

Review: I had really high hopes for These Shallow Graves and was disappointed with the book for many reasons. After starting with a promising prologue, the book's melodrama and a lackluster, predictable murder mystery drives the book. Set in 19th-century Manhattan, much like an Edith Wharton novel, socialite Jo Monfort's wealthy father meets an untimely death. Suicide is deemed the cause of death, but Jo believes foul play is the real cause because her father would never have thought to kill himself. When Jo overhears that her father's partners in a shipbuilding firm paid hush money to keep the fact that it was murder out of the press, she knows that solving her father's murder mystery is her mission and she is willing to risk her reputation to solve it.
 I have mixed reactions to Jo. On the one hand, I admired her for asserting her right to run her own life, but on the other hand she makes no attempt to give up the comforts of her privilege lifestyle such as letting her maids put the clothes on her or serve her at the house. I was also very annoyed with her blatant naivety of the less pleasant side of city life such as poverty, prostitutes, and unsavory men just to name a few. Though I understood the author wanted to emphasis Jo's sheltered life, her ignorance became repetitive and very annoying. Donnelly also does a fair job in establishing the social expectations for women like Jo such as being married to a man of good status and having babies and comparing women with dog breeds, however like Jo's naivety, this was also repetitive and heavy handed.
  In addition to the murder mystery and social issues in the book, there is also a bit of a romance, which fell flat for me. The insta-love with a bland love interest made me roll my eyes. I also thought a forced love triangle in which the other person didn't even know he was on it was very awkward and unnecessary.
 Though the pacing was steady with the right amount of clues leading to the next step in solving the mystery, I had figured the mystery out pretty early on. I don't think this book needed 500 pages and I think it could have been told much better in 300 pages.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, crude humor, scenes at a brothel and opium dens. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

If you like this book try: The Agency series by Y.S. Lee, Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown, Out of The Easy by Ruta Septys



Description: Emily’s dad is accused of murdering a teenage girl. Emily is sure he is innocent, but what happened that night in the woods behind their house where she used to play as a child? Determined to find out, she seeks out Damon Hillary, the enigmatic boyfriend of the murdered girl. He also knows these woods. Maybe they could help each other. But he’s got secrets of his own about games that are played in the dark.

Review: The Killing Woods was a solid mystery, however, I was expecting a bit more from the book. The novel starts with an attention grabbing first chapter in which Emily Shepherd looks out the window in the early morning and sees her father carrying the body of a teenage girl through the woods. Things become much more complicated because Emily knows the dead girl, Ashlee Parker, a classmate, and girlfriend of football star Damon Hilary. Emily's dad is a war veteran, who suffers from extreme post-traumatic stress disorder, is accused of the murder, and it is up to her to find out what really happened in the woods that horrible night.
 I really enjoyed the first half of the story. The narrative is split between Emily and Damon as we try to find out what really happened in the woods. Both Emily and Damon refuse to take responsibility for Ashlee's death and have their own personal motives making them unreliable narrators. Damon who was in a drug induced state the night Ashlee died can't remember his own actions and his lack of memory haunts him. The characters are revealed in complex layers and the woods themselves have an eerie personality, the only witness of the real truth. This first half is taut, suspenseful, and very intense.
  The second half of the novel is not as smooth. The story becomes bogged down with repetitious dialogue and descriptions. The clues to the mystery are not given as much which slows down the pace and made me lose interest. I was also really disappointed how Emily's father seems to disappear from the book, making the mystery to be a bit more obvious. The ending does try to get back to the fast paced story with lots of action and details thrown rapidly. While I liked the book, it lacked a polished feel to the story.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, underage drug usage, allusions to sex, and strong violence. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks, The Last Good Place of 
Lily Odilon by Sara Beitia

 I stumbled upon George O'Connor's Olympians graphic novel series as I was browsing the graphic novel section at work. As readers of this blog know, I'm a big fan of Greek Mythology and I couldn't resist picking up this series. O'Connor's attention to details, meticulous research, incredible artwork, and great storytelling makes the Olympians an enthralling read and a must have series in libraries. Please note that this review is based on the advanced reader's copy that I received from First Second via Netgalley. Olympians: Apollo the Brilliant one will be published and available on January 26th at libraries and bookstores.

Description: Mighty Apollo is known by all as the god of the sun, but there's more to this Olympian than a bright smile and a shining chariot. In the latest volume of Olympians, New York Times bestselling author George O'Connor continues to turn his extensive knowledge of the original Greek myths into rip-roaring graphic novel storytelling.

Review: Unlike the previous installments of the Olympian series, Apollo's graphic novel is narrated by the nine Muses who were also worshiped along with the Greek deity. Each muse tells a different story featuring Apollo and they all paint him as a tragic hero "who has had many loves, but whose loves seldom prosper."
  O'Connor successfully shows different aspects of Apollo's personality through a variety of myths, some of which I was familiar with before and a few others that I did not know. We witness Apollo the hero when he goes off to avenge his mother, Leto, by defeating Python, the humongous serpent who had harried Leto at Hera's instigation, with fiery arrows. We also watch Apollo's ill luck with finding love as he lusts and chases after the nymph Daphne who would much rather be transformed into a laurel instead of being with him, kill his lover Hyacinth, the Prince of Sparta, who was killed by a misguided discus he threw and was led by the winds of a jealous Zephyr, and have his sister shoot the unfaithful mother of his own not-yet born son, Aklepios.  
  In addition to theses heartaches, we also see the majestic Apollo as he reminds everyone that he is indeed the greatest musician ever created after he gruesomely skins the hubris satyr Marsyas and wears it as his cape. Perhaps out of all of these different sides to Apollo, what struck me the most was the parental side of Apollo as he watched helplessly as his gifted son who healed many mortals be killed for upsetting Hades. As we wrap up the graphic novel, we can't help but think that the Muses maybe right in stating that Apollo is the most human out of all of the Greek gods and goddesses.


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Though not graphically depicted, there are strong violent allusions in the myths and mature themes. Recommended for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: Greek Gods and Monsters by Bernard Evslin, Mythology by Edith Hamilton, or any of the Olympians series by George O'Connor

   Confessions is Kanae Minato’s debut novel and the winner of Japan’s National Book Award. It has now been translated in English. This book is a spellbinding and jaw dropping read. It offers a fascinating peek into modern Japanese society, and one of the best revenge stories that I have read so far.

Description: After an engagement that ended in tragedy, all Yuko Moriguchi had to live for was her four-year-old child, Manami. Now, after a heartbreaking accident on the grounds of the middle school where she teaches, Yuko has given up and tendered her resignation. But first, she has one last lecture to deliver. She tells a story that will upend everything her students ever thought they knew about two of their peers, and sets in motion a maniacal plot for revenge.

Review: Confessions is a disturbing and mesmerizing psychological thriller that challenges what we think of right vs. wrong, good vs. evil, and law vs. justice. The book begins with an explosive chapter in which Yuko, a single mother and science teacher at the S Middle School announces her departure from the school and begins to tell her students that two students in her class are the murderers of her four year old daughter Manami whose body was found floating at the school's pool. Yuko knows who killed her child, but the punishment of juvenile offenders in Japan is far too lenient for her taste. So she sets a revenge plot in motion that changes the lives of everyone around her. While she never comes out and reveals the names of the student and simply calls them Student X and Student Y, she gives plenty of details describing them so that their classmates knows the real identities.
  The story is revealed through the alternating viewpoints of the class prefect, the two presumed killers, and an overprotective mother of one of the presumed killers. Though the point of view changes in each chapter of the book, I never felt lost. Books with multiple of views can be tricky to read because the readers tends to feel as if they are not able to connect to the story or its characters. In Confessions, however, the transition from one point of view to the next is a smooth transition. Each point of view held importance and sheds a different light on the situation not only inciting a wide range of emotions from the reader, but further building up the suspense.  
 After reading the first chapter of Confessions, I could not put the book down. I read it whenever I had a spare moment. I have become pretty good at figuring out or spotting twists in books early on, but I could never figure out what would happen next with Confessions. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read it. If you are looking for a well written, excellent psychological thriller, I highly recommend Confessions. It was one of my favorite books from last year.

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There some disturbing themes and some language. Recommended for teens and adults.

If you like this book try: The Dinner by Herman Koch, Last Winter We Parted by Fuminori Nakamura

Description: As a child in the late 1800s, Horace Pippin loved to draw: He loved the feel of the charcoal as it slid across the floor. He loved looking at something in the room and making it come alive again in front of him. He drew pictures for his sisters, his classmates, his co-workers. Even during W.W.I, Horace filled his notebooks with drawings from the trenches . . . until he was shot. Upon his return home, Horace couldn't lift his right arm, and couldn't make any art. Slowly, with lots of practice, he regained use of his arm, until once again, he was able to paint--and paint, and paint! Soon, people--including the famous painter N. C. Wyeth--started noticing Horace's art, and before long, his paintings were displayed in galleries and museums across the country.

Review: A Splash of Red is a biography picture book of self-taught African-American artist Horace Pippin. As a child, Pippin drew pictures at every opportunity, but due to his family's economic struggles he had less free time for art and instead picked up other jobs such as stacking grain sacks, shoveling coal at a rail yard, and he even served in the army in World War I. Despite a war injury to his right arm, Pippin adapted in order to continue drawing and painting, eventually leading to recognition and fame in the art world. Before reading this book I knew virtually nothing of Horace Pippin, but this book's great artwork infused many art techniques such as collages that blend thick, solid color blocks with motifs that reflect Pippin's inner emotions and his wide range of artwork from war scenes to that of children at play. What really stood out to me were the quotations from Pippin about the psychological scars of war and his artistic process which are are hand-drawn and further emphasizes that for Pippin art wasn't just a past-time, but his means for catharsis and trying to understand the world around him.

Curriculum Connection: Art and Black History Month

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades K-3

If you like this book try: Art from Her Heart by Kathy Whitehead, Draw What You See by Kathleen Benson



Description: Alan loves animals, but the great cat house at the Bronx Zoo makes him sad. Why are they all alone in empty cages? Are they being punished? More than anything, he wants to be their champion—their voice—but he stutters uncontrollably. Except when he talks to animals. Then he is fluent.

Review: A Boy and a Jaguar is a poignant autobiography in which author Alan Rabinowitz recalls the alienation he felt as a child who thought he was “broken” because he stuttered. While he had difficulties in speaking in class and around large groups of people, Alan could easily communicate with small groups of people and with animals. Thus his bond with and love for animals was born. As he grows up, Alan learns to both conquer and embrace the fact that he will always be a stutterer, and he soon becomes an advocate for animals.
 I really liked how the illustrations were a bit understated and more emphasis was given to the expressive faces that spoke more than the actual text. I also liked how the illustrator played around the sizes of the various characters of the book. For example, Alan is shown as this small boy who can easily be overlooked when he has to speak up in class and as his confidence grows so does he. The animals have a mystical and mysterious quality to them as Alan gazes into their eyes and "speaks" to them. I think this a great read that remind us that there are many ways to tell a story, with or without words.

Rating: 4

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades K-3

If you like this book try: Can we save the tiger? by Martin Jenkins, The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins


Description: What is a haiku? It sounds like a sneeze. and isn't a lantern a light source? Actually, they are two types of ancient Japanese poetry.

Review: I always had difficulty in sparking interest in poetry for students, but If It Rains Pancakes makes poetry look fun and easy. In easy to understand language, the author explains two forms of Japanese poetry the hiaku and lantern poems. I was already familiar with hiaku, but I didn't know about lantern poems before this book. The examples of both forms of poetry are given withe a wide range of interests from a silly poem about a pet pig doing karate to the weather seasons. The illustrations like the poems are also fun and vibrant, complementing the poems nicely. If younger readers are having a hard time grasping the poem, they can use the illustrations as a reference and practice their inferring skills.

Curriculum Connection: English

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 1-3

If you like this book try: I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder, Guyku: A Year of Haikus for Boys by Bob Raczka

 Unlike many readers I did not care for Marie Lu's Legend series. I thought Legend was too plot driven and shared too many similarities with the Hunger Games series that I had a really hard time enjoying Legend on its own. I do, however, continue to book talk Legend and its sequels to my students. The series has circulated really well in my library. Personally, I am liking her Young Elites series much more.


Description: Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina's black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family's good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever's survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it's Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they've never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn't belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

Review: There have been many books written with worlds in which humans have superpowers much like Marvel's X-men graphic novel series. I have read a few of these books and wasn't impressed by them at all mainly due to boring plot-lines, lack of world building or interesting characters. I had the same trepidation with starting Young Elites, but Marie Lu's meticulous world building of kingdoms that remind me of Renaissance Italian culture and multi-layered characters won me over.
  A deadly fever has ravaged the island of Kenettra, killing many and leaving others marked in strange and dangerous ways. Those scarred by the disease, known as malfettos, are considered bad luck, dangerous, and some are even rumored to have magical abilities.
 Adelina is a survivor who carries two marks: once-black hair has turned silver, and her left eye is gone. After a dark confrontation with her power-hungry father, Adelina discovers she is a malfetto when she kills her father in an act of self defense. I felt bad for Adelina who always seems to be the victim in each situation. While running away from the royal guards, she is thrust into a group of rebel malfettos, the Young Elites, who like her also have powerful powers. As Adelina begins to develop trust with the Young Elites and learns of their political interest, she begins to feel more like a political pawn in a dangerous game to overthrow the queen rather than a real member of the Young Elites.
 There are multiple perspectives in the book, each highlighting the viewpoints of other members of the Young Elites including the enigmatic leader, Enzo, as well as the queen’s Inquisitor, Teren, who is hunting them all. What I loved about the multiple points of view is that none of them felt extraneous and each held their own, showing how character has his or her own personal motives and are not what they appear to be. Despite the multiple point of views, this is very much Adelina's tale. We can see how her painful past of being abused sets her on a dark journey of revenge. Though she reels in her anger, which could be argued as justified, it often comes at a price. Adelina is still learning about her powerful abilities and her descent into darkness is inevitable. The book does have a slow moving plot at first as Lu spends her time carefully building her world of kings and queens, but there is plenty to discuss and enjoy. The book ends with a surprise ending, some may even call a cliffhanger, but there is an even more intriguing epilogue.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is implied sexual situations as one character is a courtesan. There is some disturbing images and strong violence. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: The Rose Society (Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu, Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken, Steelheart series by Brandon Sanderson


Description: Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she flees Kenettra with her sister to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her. But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good when her very existence depends on darkness?

Review: I did not have high expectations when I picked up The Rose Society. I thought the book would drag considering its a middle book in the series, however, I was pleasantly surprised with The Rose Society and it exceeded my expectation in every way. While the Young Elites was a beginning of a dark journey though it had a bit of light when a small, subtle romance, The Rose Society is much darker and bleaker. Adelina's tragic tumble in darkness dominates the book. After she’s cast out yet again from a people who she called once as a "family", Adelina flees with her sister, Violetta, determined to form her own society and, ultimately, seize the throne for herself. The Young Elites have plans of their own including putting the rightful heir back on the throne.
 It was fascinating and harrowing in watching the darkness grow in Adelina’s heart. No one, regardless of how Adelina cares for him or her, is safe around her. Adelina has claimed her identity through her powers and without it she is again a vulnerable, helpless victim who she swore she will never be ever again. Though she struggles with being good and seeing how her struggle to do what is right always backfires, Adelina begins to wonder what is so noble about being good? What was initially her plan of revenge for justice or love is now morphed into blind ambitious and winning at any cost.
   While the first book in the series focused much on the world building, Rose Society's focus on the character arc of its characters. Lu up ends the world of her characters and is not afraid of making the characters and the readers uncomfortable with their decisions. Characters die in this book in the most gruesome, jaw dropping ways, many of them I didn't expect. I really enjoyed how the relationship between Adelina and her sister Violetta gain depth. Even secondary characters who were regulated in the background are also brought to the forefront with personalities of their own. I have no idea what is installed for Adelina in the next book, but I expect a lot more darkness and heartache.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong violence throughout the novel and some disturbing images. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken, Steelheart series by Brandon Sanderson, Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Mass, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

 I am not sure where the story arc is going in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8. We still know very little about the Big Bad in this season and I was hoping to know more in this volume. The third volume of Season 8 reads more like a fan fiction rather than a cohesive volume.

Description: Vampires that, at will, can transform into wolves, panthers, insects, or fog invade the Slayer base of operations in northern Scotland, and not only walk away unscathed, but in possession of Buffy's scythe, the symbol of Slayer power worldwide. Buffy and the Slayer legion travel to Tokyo in order to learn more about their dangerous new foes, as Xander journeys to Transylvania to solicit the only person they've ever known to possess such power: Dracula.




Review: I did not like this volume as much as the first two volumes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 graphic novel series. The overarching story of this volume did not flow and it had no connections to the last volume which dealt with Faith's inner turmoil. Everything in this graphic novel seems like it was slapped on just to make a volume.
 In addition to the lack of structure, I also had a hard time buying into Buffy and Satsu's relationship. There was no growth to the relationship, but it came across as a fan fiction romance. I'm not sure what plot point it served and I thought it was gratuitous. I did like how their relationship did mirror that of Buffy and Angel in Season 3, but the roles were reversed. Buffy is now in Angel's shoes and Satsu is in Buffy's.
  There are a few things that I did like in this volume. I did like the setting of Tokyo and the creators putting an effort to diversify the cast of characters. I also really liked the bromance between Dracula and Xander, which brought in humor but also highlighting the depth of the characters and their relationships. Overall this volume was very weak and disappointing.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is implied nudity and sex. There is also some language and strong violence in the graphic novel. Recommended for teens and adult.

If you like this book try: Time of Your Life (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 4), Fray by Joss Whedon

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 Although I'm still wrapping up a few left over reads for this year and will be participating in a few reading challenges for next year, I wanted to list my top 15 books of 2015. The following books left a lasting impression and may not have necessarily received a 4.5 or 5 stars from me. I have listed the books in alphabetical order by the title of the book. I still have to write a few reviews for a few of them, which I hope to do so in the next few days.



Blood of My Blood by Barry Lyga (Jasper Dent #3)- Disturbing, chilling, and incredibly smart, the Jazz Dent series is definitely worth checking out if you are a thriller fan but just be aware it is not for readers with a light stomach.



Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - While I may not have cared for Simon Snow when I started Fangirl, I did get swept away in the whimsical tale that is full of heart and wit.




Confessions by Kanae Minato- An intelligent thriller that I could not put down. I had a book hanger over after finishing this book.




El Deafo by Cece Bell- El Deafo is a humorous and touching graphic memoir about growing up deaf, finding friendship, and self acceptance.



Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng- Everything I Never Told You is a subtle, nuanced book. Its full impact and complexity is only evident after you have put all the pieces together and see the full picture. The book begins with the death of a teenage girl and then uses the mysterious circumstances of her drowning as way to examine the tensions and conflicts hidden beneath the calm surface of her Chinese-American family.

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero- Gabi, a Girl in Pieces is a breath of fresh air and a book that you won't easily forget due to the fantastic voice of Gabi Hernandez.




The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco- I am not a horror fan, but this book was really well written and gave my goosebumps. I'm really looking forward to picking up the companion  novel for Halloween next year.




Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen (Scarlet #2)- It is very rare that a middle book surpasses the first and last book in a series, but Lady Thief delivered plenty of surprises and avoided the dreaded middle book syndrome.




Nimona by Noelle Stevenson- Nimona is a fun mash-up of a medieval setting with magic, science, and technology. Although it provides lots of humor and great action sequences, Nimona is much more complex and at times heartbreaking in its exploration of assumed identities and what makes a person good or evil.

Olympians graphic novel series by George O'Connor- Yes, I know this is cheating but I couldn't really pick just one graphic novel from this series. I love the superhero treatment of the Greek gods and learning new myths and seeing the Greek gods from a fresh perspective. An added bonus, you don't have to read this series in order!

Graphic novels from the Olympians that I have reviewed so far: Zeus, Athena, Hera,  Hades

Princeless by Jeremy Whitley- Princeless is a great, fun graphic novel that will appeal to both boys and girls as well as young readers and adults alike. The graphic novel stands out for many reasons: an African American family are the main characters, the plot subverts typical fairy tale and comic cliches as well as gender roles and expectations.

Rose Society by Marie Lu- While I liked Young Elites, I had zero expectations for Rose Society at all. I loved the political intrigue along with the journey of an anti-heroine. I have absolutely no idea how this series will end but I'm looking forward to reading it next year.


Rosie, Revere Engineer by Andrea Beatty- My favorite picture book of 2015 in which a girl who aspires to be an engineer uses her creativity and passion of science and math to create a brilliant invention.