Phoenix

I saw that Kimberly Brubaker Bradley had written a new book, so I got Phoenix (Book 1 of the Ride On series) from the library. The book description says, "Harper’s life has just exploded. Her parents are getting a divorce. And she suspects her best friend, Cat, may have known the reason for it long before she did. Now Harper and her mom are starting over in a cramped house, in a new town, where everything feels unfamiliar, including the riding barn next door. Harper’s never been around horses before. And no, she does not want to learn to ride—Until a truck dumps a starved and neglected horse right in Harper’s yard. Harper has no idea what to do with a live horse, let alone a nearly dead one. But one look at this horse’s huge eyes and skinny body, and something inside Harper unlocks. The horse is named Phoenix, she decides. And she will not give up on him. Neither, it turns out, will Phoenix give up on her. She doesn’t know it yet, but this is Harper’s first step—toward new friends, new challenges, new adventures. Toward riding."

This was a nice read. I liked that it was a short middle grade book (only 162 pages), which is hard to find. I really liked the characters and rooted for Harper as she sorted through some difficult situations and emotions. I would enjoy reading more the series and would recommend this to my kids. I didn't LOVE this book like I have some of the author's other books, but I still enjoyed the read and was engaged in the story. (P.S. I think technically this is an older middle grade book, like ages 10–14.)

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Dividing Sky

I read The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew for book club. The book description says, "In 2364, eighteen-year-old Liv Newman dreams of a future beyond her lower-class life in the Metro. As a Proxy, she uses the neurochip in her brain to sell memories to wealthy clients. Maybe a few illegally, but money equals freedom. So when a customer offers her a ludicrous sum to go on an assignment in no-man's-land, Liv accepts. Now she just has to survive. Rookie Forceman Adrian Rao believes in order over all. After discovering that a renegade Proxy's shady dealings are messing with citizens' brain chemistry, he vows to extinguish the threat. But when he tracks Liv down, there's one problem: her memories are gone. Can Adrian bring himself to condemn her for crimes she doesn't remember? As Liv and Adrian navigate the world beyond the Metro and their growing feelings for one another, they grapple with who they are, who they could be, and whether another way of living is possible."

It's been awhile since I read a dystopian type book, so this took me a little bit to make sure I was following the story and the new world correctly. But once I got into the story, I was invested and enjoyed following it to see what happened to the characters and how things worked out. It was a fun premise, and again, I probably would have had more to say if I'd written this review right after finishing.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Burning Season

I saw The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose on a list of potential Newbery contenders and so got it from the library. The book description says, "Twelve-year-old Opal has a secret: she’s deathly afraid of fire. Still Opal is preparing to become a fourth-generation lookout on Wolf Mountain, deep in the New Mexico wilderness. She, Mom, and Gran live at ten thousand feet in a single room at the top of a fire tower. They are responsible for spotting any hint of smoke before it becomes an uncontrollable blaze. Instead of training for the lonely life of a lookout, Opal wishes she could be starting seventh grade in Silver City, attending real classes with kids her own age and even going to afterschool clubs like FFA. But Wolf Mountain has other ideas. When Mom makes the long trek to town for supplies and Gran goes missing, Opal is the only one to spot a tell-tale spiral of smoke moving up the mountainside. She’ll have to be braver than she’s ever been as she heads into the woods, beyond Wolf Ridge’s old blackened burn scar, to face down a fire on her own. But when a fire is what took her father away, and Opal herself knows the sting of smoke and lick of flames, how can she be brave enough when it really counts?"

This was a good read. The story kept me interested, and I liked Opal as a character. I thought it was fun to see her draw connections and inspiration from Hatchet and Brian's Winter, books I enjoyed as a kid as well (but I didn't live out in nature like she does!). It was a really unique story premise, which I enjoyed. I thought the verse format wasn't as good as some books in verse, and I'm not sure why. It just gave a bit more of a choppier vibe, but I know the author is a capable verse writer since I liked her book May B as well. I liked how the book came together in the end, which made me like it a little more (originally this was maybe more of an "it was okay" book).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Outrun the Moon

I chose Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee for my book club read for this month (since I've read two other books by the author and enjoyed them). The book description says, "Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty of Chinatown, San Francisco in 1906, and an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare’s is off-limits to all but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy stands strong—until disaster strikes. On April 18, a historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying Mercy’s home and school. Now she’s forced to wait with her classmates for their families in a temporary park encampment. Though fires might rage, and the city may be in shambles, Mercy can’t sit by while they wait for the army to bring help—she still has the 'bossy' cheeks that mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenage girl do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?"

This was another good read by the author. I enjoyed the story and Mercy's assertive, go-getter personality. I thought the story had lots of fun plot lines to follow that kept me engaged, and I liked lots of great side characters (like Tom and Francesca). There were some sad things that happened but the book had a keep-moving-forward vibe that kept things positive. I learned a lot about the time period and the history related to the earthquake and what it may have been like for Chinese people living in San Francisco at that time.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Murder Among Friends

I love Candace Fleming as an author, so when I saw her book Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime, I got it from the library. The book description says, "In 1924, eighteen-year-old college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb made a decision: they would commit the perfect crime by kidnapping and murdering a child they both knew. But they made one crucial error: as they were disposing of the body of young Bobby Franks, whom they had bludgeoned to death, Nathan's eyeglasses fell from his jacket pocket. Multi-award-winning author Candace Fleming depicts every twist and turn of this harrowing case--how two wealthy, brilliant young men planned and committed what became known as the crime of the century, how they were caught, why they confessed, and how the renowned criminal defense attorney Clarence Darrow enabled them to avoid the death penalty."

This was a pretty engaging book and of course, well written, like all of Candace Fleming's books. But I think just the content of this book was kind of upsetting, so the vibe just wasn't one I completely enjoyed. The boys were just so messed up that it was kind of disturbing to read about. I feel like sometimes books like this are fascinating, but this one wasn't as much for me. I did think it was well-organized and well-researched. I liked the connections to what the killers would have been diagnosed with in today's world.

Rating: * (1/3) = It was okay

Whale Eyes

I saw Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson on a new book list and got it from the library. This book is about the author's experience with strabismus, an eye condition. The author created an Emmy-nominated short film by the same name, and this book is expanding on the same topic. The book is interactive (trying a vision test, for example), and the book description says, "James’s story equips readers of all ages with the tools to confront their discomfort with disability and turn confused, blank stares into powerful connections."

This was an interesting read. Right when I started the book, I decided to go watch the video he had made, and that really got me invested in his story. The book helped me understand how to respectfully approach interactions with someone who has strabismus or similar eye conditions (just look into the eye that is looking at you!), and it helped me understand what it would be like to grow up like he did. I liked following his journey into the documentary world and then watched a couple of the other memoir-style documentaries he created about people with disabilities on NYT (face blindness and stuttering). They were so great! Overall this was a good read but best for 10+ due to a spoiler about something my 8-year-old still believes in. :) I think kids will enjoy the pictures and interactive nature of the book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Scattergood

I read Scattergood by H.M. Bouwman after seeing it recommended on one of the children's book pages I follow on social media. The book description says, "Growing up a farm girl, Peggy’s life has never been particularly exciting. But a lot changes in 1941. Her friend Joe starts acting strange around her. The Quaker hostel nearby reopens to house Jewish refugees from Europe, including a handsome boy named Gunther and a troubled professor of nothing. And her cousin and best friend, Delia, is diagnosed with leukemia—and doesn’t even know it. Peggy has always been rational. She may not be able to understand poetry and speak in metaphors like Delia, but she has to believe she can find a way out of this mess, for both of them. There has to be a cure. And yet the more she tries to control, the more powerless she feels. She can’t make Gunther see her the way she sees him. She can’t help the Professor find his missing daughter. She’s tired of feeling young and naive, but growing up is proving even worse."

This was a really good read. I was super engaged in the story (enough that I had to return it to the library when it was overdue, so I went through the effort to put it on hold again and find my spot and continue reading). The book was heavy at times and had so many bad/sad/hard things happening that it was almost too much to bear. But things came around enough that I still loved the book. The characters were really real and complex, and I really loved Peggy. The book had me crying in the end (but I was sitting in public while my son had a class, so I had to keep it together) and just had some beautiful parts at the end. I really liked the part with Peggy and her mom where the mom said, "I think--I think it's okay to be mad at God....I think God can take our anger." Peggy responded, "I'm not mad at God....Not anymore....I don't believe in God." And her mom replied, "Well, I think God can take that, too."

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Octopus Moon

I saw Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron shared somewhere as a new book coming out and got it from the library. The book description says, "Pearl loves watching the majestic loggerhead turtles and octopuses glide through the water at the aquarium. Pearl finds it especially easy to identify with the octopuses, who have millions of touch receptors all over their bodies. They feel everything. Sometimes, Pearl wishes she was more like a turtle, with a hard outer shell—it hurts too much to feel everything.And the changes at the start of fifth grade don’t feel good to Pearl at all. New teachers, lockers, and being in different classes than her friends is unsettling. Pearl tries her best to pretend she’s fine, but she starts to struggle with things that used to come easy, like schoolwork, laughing and skateboarding with her best friend, Rosie, running and even sleeping. After a disastrous parent-teacher conference, her parents decide to bring Pearl to Dr. Jill, who diagnoses her with depression. At first Pearl is resistant to Dr. Jill’s help; she doesn’t like feeling different, but she also doesn’t want to continue feeling so bad all the time. When Dr. Jill asks Pearl to try one Impossible Thing each day, like running, skateboarding, or walking her dog Tuck, she decides to try. For each impossible thing she attempts, Pearl puts a bead on a string. Bead by bead, and with the support of family and friends, Pearl finds her way back to herself. She discovers just like the moon is always there in the sky, even if it isn’t full, she’ll always be herself even when she doesn’t feel whole."

This was a great read. I definitely liked it throughout, but once I finished it and read the author's note, I was like, wow, this was an amazing book, and I should share it with others. I think it would definitely be an important read for any child struggling with depression. I liked how there were a wide variety of characters in her life who all handled her depression in different ways (easy for the reader to know who you should be emulating if you have a friend who is struggling). The book was really real, and though it could be a little heavy at times, it was beautiful to watch Pearl work through things with Dr. Jill. I also loved that Dr. Jill was such a perfect therapist. Maybe not realistic but really nice for the book. :) I liked Pearl's relationship with her grandpa. Overall I think this was a great read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Beat I Drum

I got The Beat I Drum by Dusti Bowling for my daughter and then decided to read it too! It's book 3 in the Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus series, which we had read previously. The book description says, "Connor Bradley is dreading the first day of high school. Not just because he is new, or because he misses his best friends, but because he knows the other kids won’t understand his barking and tics. Connor has Tourette Syndrome, and every day has been a challenge—from the mimicking to the laughing, the questions, and the stares. It turns out school isn’t quite as bad as he expected. Connor forms a fast friendship with a girl who also has Tourette’s and is welcomed into her accepting circle of friends. He also meets a special music teacher who encourages him to take up the drums to manage his stress, and maybe get a break from his tics. But Connor’s world is turned upside down when his absent father reappears and a bully starts to escalate at school. All these problems—with family, with friends, and even with himself—build and build until Connor feels ready to explode. Will a surprising revelation save him and help him find his beat again?"

This was a great read. I enjoyed diving deeper into Connor's character and watching him navigate a lot of heavy things. I liked that he found good friends and an amazing teacher, and I thought the book taught some good lessons and relationships and forgiveness. It also was a great perspective on what it's like to live with Tourette Syndrome. I'm glad I read this one.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

It's All or Nothing, Vale

I saw It's All of Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango on a list of new books and so got it from the library. I've read two other books by the author (Iveliz Explains It All and Something Like Home) and loved them both so thought this would be a good read as well. The book description says, "No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was . . . until the accident. After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it’s much harder than before. Her body doesn’t move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can’t accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn’t the only thing holding her back. If she can’t leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to?"

I enjoyed this read. The author did a great job creating characters you really get to know and understand, and she really described well the journey Vale was facing. I did feel like the book was kind of heavy -- like lots Vale was dealing with internally and not talking to her parents and sorting through things like she needed to. I don't know if the author could have written it differently to give it more of a positive vibe, but I just felt like that made it hard for me to read for most of the book. I was almost going to rate it "it was okay," but things came together really nicely in the end and gave me a happier feel. This one is for ages 10-14, so it's one of those upper middle grade books--I tagged it as both children and young adult for that reason.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

All the Blues in the Sky

I saw that Renée Watson had written a new book, so I got All the Blues in the Sky from the library. The book description says, "Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life-and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all."

I LOVED this book. It was beautifully written (not surprising since I love most anything Renée Watson writes). I loved Sage as a character and watching her work through her grief. The plot and side characters were just flawless in how everything came together. The book had me tearing up, and I feel like it was just an important, relatable book for young people who are dealing with the loss of someone they love. Great read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

And Then, Boom!

I'm putting off reading several book club books and found And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps at a library book testing event. The book description says, "Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books—superheroes have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn’t tell anyone he’s on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out—bills are piling up, the electricity’s been shut off, and the school year’s about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He’s never felt so alone—until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home—and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted."

I LOVED this book. I finished it in one morning because it was written in verse and was a quick, engaging read. I loved Joe as a character and his relationship with his grandma. I liked how the book opened my eyes to kids who are living in poverty and hunger, and I liked how the book had such solid, helpful adults in Joe's life (besides his mom)--teacher, therapist, landlord, foster parents, case worker, etc. I feel like in lots of these types of books, the kid has a deadbeat caseworker or a bad foster home or something like that, so I was glad Joe just got a break in the end. This was a great read and one I'd recommend. I noticed that the age range online says 10-13, so it's kinda an upper middle grade or younger YA book. I also now want to read the author's book Starfish, a book I've seen for years but never got around to reading.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Black Girl You Are Atlas

I saw Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renee Watson on a list of Newbery contenders for next year, and since I already love the author, I got this book from the library. The book description says, "In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender. Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power."

This was a super quick read with BEAUTIFUL illustrations throughout (by Ekua Holmes). Some of the poems were just fine to me, but some I really liked. (Like the one "How to Survive Your Teen Years" I thought would be a nice read for my daughter.) Overall, it was a good read but not one I particularly loved.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Louder Than Hunger

I saw Louder Than Hunger by John Schu on a list of new book recommendations for 2024. The book description says, "Jake’s an outcast. He’s so lonely that he just wants to disappear. He used to have friends, but now that he’s in eighth grade, he just has the Voice in his head. The Voice tells him not to eat and not to trust anyone. The less he eats, the bigger Jake feels—but he knows it could kill him. Only with help at Whispering Pines, a residential treatment facility, does his life slowly start to get better. But will it be soon enough?"

This was a super quick read due to being written in verse and pages with lots and lots of space. I was engaged the entire book and was just rooting for Jake and hoping that he could get the help he needed and overcome this really hard condition. There was really sad stuff in there too, and the book just felt really real. I thought this was a beautifully written and super important book, and it was even more meaningful that it was based on the author's own experience with anorexia as a teenager. Definitely recommend this read.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Once Upon a Broken Heart

I read Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber for a new book club some friends at church started. (I'm already in a book club with other friends at church, but this is a group of young moms who I guess wanted a different vibe of a book club, so I figured I'd try it out sometimes too when I can fit it in.) The book description reads, "For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings . . . until she learns that the love of her life will marry another. Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game ― and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy."

This was a silly but fun read. I haven't read a book like this in a long time (like a YA romance with sappy stuff throughout), and it made me laugh sometimes just because of how silly certain things were. But the story was definitely engaging and made me want to keep reading, and there were some fun and unique storylines. I thought the characters were fun to get to know and figure out. I did think the author had the main character overexplain all of her choices, which I guess was good since I would have been questioning her choices if not, but I don't know if I loved that style. Unfortunately, the author ended the book completely inconclusively, making the story feed right into book 2. (I probably won't read it but will have a friend summarize books 2 and 3 for me because I definitely want to know what happens.)

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

I got The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day (with art by Brett Helquist) from the library after seeing it won the Sibert Medal for this year (most distinguished informational book for children). The book description says, "On a hot August day in Paris, just over a century ago, a desperate guard burst into the office of the director of the Louvre and shouted, La Joconde, c’est partie! The Mona Lisa, she’s gone! No one knew who was behind the heist. Was it an international gang of thieves? Was it an art-hungry American millionaire? Was it the young Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, who was about to remake the very art of painting? Travel back to an extraordinary period of revolutionary change: turn-of-the-century Paris. Walk its backstreets. Meet the infamous thieves—and detectives—of the era. And then slip back further in time and follow Leonardo da Vinci, painter of the Mona Lisa, through his dazzling, wondrously weird life. Discover the secret at the heart of the Mona Lisa—the most famous painting in the world should never have existed at all."

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed learning the story of the theft of the Mona Lisa and how that is what made the painting so famous. I also liked learning more about Leonardo da Vinci. I wasn't a huge fan of the format of the book (jumping between different interconnected stories) and wasn't always completely engaged, but I do think the author did a great job as a storyteller and trying to make a story like this interesting for kids. I think this was almost a "liked it" rating, but I didn't like it as much as all the other "liked it" books I read this year, so I feel like I had to go one notch lower. (But I do feel terribly guilty doing that for a Sibert award winner. It still was a good one!)

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

Simon Sort Of Says

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow has been on my to-read list for several months now (and I even started it once but didn't get the chance to finish). But I found out last week that it won the Newbery Honor AND a Schneider Honor (for middle grade), so that was the push I needed to actually get it read! The book description says, "Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the one starring Simon as a famous survivor of gun violence at school. Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone—the only place in America where the internet is banned. Instead of talking about Simon, the astronomers who flock to the area are busy listening for signs of life in space. And when Simon makes a friend who’s determined to give the scientists what they’re looking for, he’ll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell."

This was a great read. It kept me interested, and there were parts that made me laugh out loud (particularly the part where you first meet Agate's dog). I really liked the main characters (Simon, Agate, Simon's parents), and I thought it was a nice storyline with lots of fun extra things on the side to keep things interesting and entertaining (like the super incapable assistant of Simon's mom, who is an undertaker, and the peacock in their yard). I thought this was a great read and a good introduction for kids to PTSD and how it might affect someone. I found Agate to be a wonderful, supportive friend, and I loved watching that friendship help Simon find some healing. The book is technically middle grade (ages 8-12), but I would definitely consider it more of an upper middle grade read or young young adult due to both the school shooting content but also some little side things throughout.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Agathas

I read The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson for a book club I'm in with my mom and her friends. The book description says, "Last summer, Alice Ogilvie’s basketball-star boyfriend Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. She's not talking, so where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove. Or it was, at least. But now, another one of Steve’s girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice’s ex–best friend. And it doesn’t look like Brooke will be coming back. . . Enter Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn’t have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward Brooke’s grandmother is offering to anyone who can share information about her granddaughter’s whereabouts. The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Alice isn’t so sure, and with Iris on her side, she just might be able to prove her theory. In order to get the reward and prove Steve’s innocence, they need to figure out who killed Brooke Donovan. And luckily Alice has exactly what they need—the complete works of Agatha Christie. If there’s anyone that can teach the girls how to solve a mystery it’s the master herself. But the town of Castle Cove holds many secrets, and Alice and Iris have no idea how much danger they're about to walk into."

This was such a fun read. I got into it pretty quickly and then just couldn't stop reading! I finished the book really quickly because I was super engaged and really wanted to find out what happened. By the end, it was a can't-put-it-down read. This book kind of gave me the same vibe as the Theodore Boone books I read years ago in that there's a mystery, and young people are the ones solving it better than the police....which is not really always super realistic, but it's fun. :) I really liked the main characters (Alice and Iris) and their stories and personalities, and I didn't find the book too overly predictable. The book did have some language and other content that would make it not ideal for my 13-year-old, but it wasn't terrible. Overall this was a fun read, and I'd probably read book #2.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Something Like Home

I saw Something Like Home on the new book shelf at the library and recognized the author from a book I read earlier this year (Iveliz Explains It All) and loved. The book looked like one I'd enjoy, so I checked it out. This book description reads, "Laura Rodríguez Colón has a plan: no matter what the grown-ups say, she will live with her parents again. Can you blame her? It’s tough to make friends as the new kid at school. And while staying at her aunt’s house is okay, it just isn’t the same as being in her own space. So when Laura finds a puppy, it seems like fate. If she can train the puppy to become a therapy dog, then maybe she’ll be allowed to visit her parents. Maybe the dog will help them get better and things will finally go back to the way they should be. After all, how do you explain to others that you’re technically a foster kid, even though you live with your aunt? And most importantly . . . how do you explain that you’re not where you belong, and you just want to go home?"

This was a great read. It was written in verse (which I love) and was a quick and engaging read. I loved Laura as a character and felt she was a well-developed, believable character. I also loved her friend Benson and her aunt. I thought the author did a great job helping the reader get into the mind of a child placed in foster care and all the emotions that experience might entail. This was a really good book--glad I read it. Passing it onto my 13-year-old next!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Game Changer

My daughter read Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald for her Battle of the Books club at school and was super into it and finished it in a day, so I decided to give it a read too. The book description says, "Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma, fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery—and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident. Was this the inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or did something more sinister happen on the field that day?"

This was a good read. It was a fun format (Amazon describes it as "an innovative multimedia format combining dialogue, texts, newspaper articles, interview transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy’s inner thoughts"), which made it a quick read. The story was definitely engaging and made you want to keep reading to see what was going on and get the truth. I was annoyed by some of the characters (like the parents constantly fighting), but I thought the book was thought-provoking and addressed some issues to be considered surrounding football and hazing.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)