Genesis is no stranger to eviction. She‘s been the new kid many times. So when her family moves again, her expectations are low. This is not an easy read. Genesis is subjected to verbal abuse which affects her self-image. She internalizes her self- hatred along with the complicated worries of the threat of another eviction. The reader has access to the deepest thoughts of Genesis and her perspectives about her life.

Well, this is a tough one. This book was really good, but my eyes basically leaked the entire time I read it. Similar to P.S. I Love You, this book features a whirlwind romance and intense heartbreak. I couldn‘t help but fall in love with the characters and empathize with the feelings of loss. No mistaking it, this is a sad book, but it‘s a worthwhile read. Read comment…

Decent suspense thriller. Elin is visiting her brother at a new hotel that was built from a sanatorium that housed tb patients. After arriving, her brother‘s fiancé goes missing, another hotel worker turns up dead. Elkins a deceive on leave, but starts investigating since the weather is making it impossible for the police to get to the hotel. Elin took a break for a reason. Is she trustworthy? Quite a few others are suspicious as well.

Sadly, another example of the sequel not being able to live up to the original. While it was nice to revisit a beloved character, the plot is implausible and tries to achieve too much. While coming to the assistance of a damsel in distress, Max quickly realized the severity of the distress and helps a young girl run away from her abusive stepfather and enabling mother. While it is honorable, many of the events are just difficult to believe.

This book was mentioned by many of my coworkers and we have multiple copies in my school, so I decided to read it. It was such a great novel of an unlikely friendship between two boys: one is large, quiet, and struggles in school; the other is tiny, needs braces or a wheelchair, and is a genius. Together, they are Freak the Mighty. It‘s all good until reality sets in and the reader realizes that it really is too good to be true. Must have tissues!

If you ever read and enjoyed The Glass Castle, Running With Scissors, or A Million Little Pieces, then this is right up your alley. This is a memoir detailing the life of a girl living with a family whose religious convictions do not include doctors, hospitals, or public schooling. The children help their father in the scrap yard and any injuries, regardless of severity, were treated by the mother.

Mia thinks she is having a one-night stand. Instead, she is kidnapped and taken to a cabin deep in the woods while her family, well her mother, desperately waits for her to be found. Her father doesn‘t really seem to care too much about anything but himself. Meanwhile, as Mia and her captor coexist in the cabin, things get a bit interesting. The story is told in multiple narratives and it is also told on differing timelines as well.

I loved teaching about the radio broadcast of War of the Worlds when teaching the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. The fact that the broadcast was so well done that listeners could not tell it was a performance rather than fact demonstrates the persuasive power of information platforms. This account details the origin of the broadcast screenplay, the input of the actors and those involved, and the effect the broadcast had on listeners.

When life in Syria become ps dangerous, Jude and her mother leave her brother and father behind and move to America. In Cincinnati, Jude struggles to fit in with American culture while honoring herself. She is challenged to find a balance between both cultures while worrying about her family in Syria. This is a great story about perseverance and self-confidence. I would read this with my fifth graders.

Another important book in which we encounter representation for any kids living below the poverty line. Rex is embarrassed because he has to announce each day that he qualifies for free lunch. At times, this is the least of his worries due to the cruelty and neglect he experiences at the hands of his parents. This book is difficult to read as a result. I don‘t think I will be reading this to my class but It should be available on the bookshelf.

Wow! This is an amazing and important book about neglect, sexual abuse, and a ten-year old trying to process what has happened to her and her family while dealing with foster care and school. I‘m paraphrasing but one of the characters in this books says it helped her to read a book with characters like her in it. This is one of those books. Trigger warning for abuse and suicide. I just wanted to hug Della and her sister, Suki.

I‘m always looking for good stories to share with my fifth grade students and this is a heavy contender. Quintana is half Guatemalan and half American. She doesn‘t really identify with her Guatemalan roots despite familial encouragement to do so. As she enters middle school, she finds close friends. She is also concerned about her brother‘s unusual behavior. Great novel for cultural diversity, multilingual students, and understanding autism.

I have enjoyed all of Reid‘s books that I have read so far, but this one was just meh. It is a take on Sliding Doors (when a characters life splits into concurrent storylines detailing two possible life paths). The payoff at the conclusion was a boost, but much of the story felt surface-y to me. I couldn‘t become invested in the characters. There wasn‘t enough depth.

I really enjoyed this modern take on Freaky Friday. Two moms, who couldn‘t be more different, find themselves in each other‘s bodies. They must live as the other until they can figure out how to switch back. They hate it, they deal with it, and, of course, they learn a lot about themselves and each other in the process. This books made me giggle and even tear up a bit.

I did not watch the series that was made from this book.
I really enjoyed this book. I love the way Ng weaves the layers of her novels. Not all of the characters were likable, but that was essentially the point. I don‘t think I will watch the series because I don‘t see how it could possibly live up to the book.
Mia and her daughter rent an apartment that it owned by a wealthy family and their lives become entwined in unexpected ways.

Not gonna lie…I wasn‘t really a fan of this one. For me it was uninteresting and predictable. I kept reading to see if there would be an unexpected twist, but I had already guessed how it would end. Essentially, Sadie and Will move their family for a fresh start. Soon after, a neighbor is dead. Lots of twists and turns follow, many red herrings…I just didn‘t find it believable and many of the red herrings felt like a waste of time.

There is just something about Rainbow Rowell‘s writing that draws me in. Her characters have a Dawson‘s Creek quality to them that I just love. In this book, Cath is a huge Simon Snow fan (Harry Potter) and writes fan fiction that has generated many followers. Now she is JUST trying to navigate college despite suffering from pretty severe anxiety. Add to that, an absent mother, a twin who wants space, and a bipolar father. Oh, and Levi!!!!

I wanted to like this one more than I did. I figured out the twist well before the reveal, so the ending was just meh for me. A woman and her husband move to care for a young family member after her mother committed suicide. Not long after the move, a woman on their block is brutally murdered. Multiple narrators add layers to the suspense

I am a huge fan of Shari LaPena,but this was not my favorite book of hers. The poos main character is exhausted as she stays home each day with her colicky newborn twins. She means well and is doing her best. Unluckily for her, it seems as though she married an man with a past. His past revisits in the form of a haughty (annoying..want to punch her) woman who is attempting to blackmail them. Can her husband be trusted?

I‘m a little hesitant to leave a review for this book because it is rather controversial. Look, I enjoyed reading it. I thought it was interesting and explored the travails of a Mexican mother and her son as they escaped a murderous cartel. And that‘s all I‘m gonna say about this because it is loved, hated, and understandably problematic.

This was another audiobook and, honestly my favorite part about it was Imogen Church‘s voice and accent. I was a bit disappointed with this one. The story was suspenseful enough and I liked most of the characters. The less likable characters were intriguing. Overall, I didn‘t feel as though the story delivered or met my expectations.

The main character was an escapee from a basement prison situation and is now trying to survive life as an adult. She tried to remain somewhat anonymous because many are obsessed with the story of her past. Regarded, just as her i prisoner is facing parole, a serial killer seems to be sending messages to her within the crime scenes.

Read this with my fifth graders. Actually, the school year ended before we could finish the book together, but I was enjoying it so much that I keep reading it on my own. The beautifully illustrated book details the experiences within the Negro Baseball Leagues. The facts were fascinating, entertaining, and sometimes difficult to read.

Challenging book to review because I don‘t want to give too much away. I enjoyed the suspenseful plot created by Fisher. The premise is that the narrator is involved in a consensual polygamous marriage, but the wives are kept away from each other and don‘t really know much about each other. Then….well, you just need to read it. Nothing is as it seems.

My second foray into audiobooks and WOW, what a ride!! What a messed up catastrophe of a story. A string of horrific events, so much sadness and trauma, but I couldn‘t stop listening. Slaughter once again weaves a complicated web of a mystery that you almost feel guilty for enjoying because the content is so horrifying.

Very similar format to The Guest List: large cast of characters (ahem..suspects) gathered for a celebration. Suddenly, something goes wrong. A person is dead. The timeline becomes shuffled as we learn of present and past events until all is revealed. I was a little disappointed at the lack of originality with the plot format, but was entertained with the story.

My first foray into audiobooks now that I have a longer commute to work. I was not disappointed. I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters at first, but it was short-lived. The characters are not necessarily the most likable and it takes awhile before you understand the way in which the characters‘ stories intersect. At times, Karin provides TMI with the crime and the goriness of the violence, but I was hooked!!

There was so much hype about this book and the Netflix series. Unpopular opinion: I was not impressed. The book was entertaining enough, but when a certain element of a supernatural nature (trying not to spoil here) came into play, I lost interest. The reveals weren‘t all that surprising either. At least I know that I don‘t need to make the Netflix series a priority.

Read this with my fifth-graders. It was difficult for them to relate to the time period,but as I explained what was occurring in the story, they were amazed by the twists and turns of this Civil War historical fiction. When two exotic women disembark from a steamboat from New Orleans, they are invited to board with the Pruitt family and they turn the town upside down. Gossip and rumors abound. Are they southern spies?

Sometimes I enjoy reading a book with an unlikeable character. You know, the kind you love to hate? Well, that is Kira who is suspected of poisoning another mom on the PTA. Her defense attorney, Allison, needs a big win but she has to deal with Kira.

Nosy narrators crack me up and this one certainly kept me entertained. While on a cruise ship for work, the narrator witnesses a horrid scene that she can‘t quite explain and spends the rest of the cruise being nosy, avoiding her work, and trying to figure out what had happened.

I read this one with my fifth graders. This is a brutally honest portrayal of the experiences of young boys (under 18) who fought in the Civil War. It is comprised of primary sources that have been researched by the author. Many photos are included as well.

Hmmmmm…it is difficult to review suspense books without revealing spoilers. Let‘s just say I had higher hopes for this one. I was hoping for a bigger payoff with the plot reveals.

My first Karin Slaughter book and it won‘t be my last. Being inside her mind is not a pleasant experience, it it is certainly suspenseful and entertaining. She peels back layers slowly and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was next.

I really enjoyed this novel and I am sad that it is over. I loved the quirky misfits and their relationship despite the odds and adversity. I also loved all the 80s references and mixtapes. I flew through this and now wish for a sequel.

I now feel compelled to go back and read his previous books....and watch all of the shows he has been in. I clearly haven‘t been paying attention to all that he has accomplished, but I am intrigued. I also admire Fox‘s honesty concerning his Parkinson‘s diagnosis and all the ways this progressive disease has affected his life.

I really enjoyed this book, despite the fact that some parts of it were a little predictable. There were multiple twists and I didn‘t see all of them coming. I look forward to checking out more books by this author.

This novel follows the lives of two young women who quickly become friends in college. After being responsible for the firing of a black maid and watching her best friend get rejected from sororities because she was half-Jewish, Eve decides to take a stand. Then...craziness! This novel was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. When it was finished though, I couldn‘t help but wish for more. I feel as though I was left with something incomplete.

This is the second book I‘ve read by Reid and I really enjoy her method of storytelling. Similar to Daisy Jones and the Six, this novel is presented in an interview format. Monique is chosen to write the life story of Hollywood legend Evelyn Hugo and her life is anything but ordinary. It is fascinating to travel through Evelyn‘s life as she fought to make a name for herself in Hollywood.

Interesting take told from the point of view of young girl who was found drifting in the water as a newborn. She wants to know where she comes from and who she belongs to. Her search leads to unexpected discoveries and a bit of danger. For years, many around her avoided her because they believed she had come from the island that was used to quarantine lepers. Will she finally know the truth?

I was pleasantly surprised with the read. I really enjoyed it and many of Doyle‘s perspectives were interesting and relatable to my personal experiences. I found myself highlighting quite often. I can see why she is a motivational speaker.

Caught up!!! Finished this one today. Twisted and suspenseful, this one keeps you intrigued until the final pages. When Rowan accepts a nanny position after a slew of nannies have not lasted very long, clearly there is something wrong..with the house? With the parents? Clearly something isn‘t right. Additionally, the story opens with Rowan in jail desperately writing to a lawyer begging for representation because she is innocent

1/31/2021 Trevor Noah has such a captivating personality. He also has a traumatic childhood growing up as a child of mixed race in Apartheid‘s South Africa. Such an eye opening read.

1/27/2021 A decent suspense story. The narrators returns to a castle where she spent several summers as a young teenager. Her memories are mostly happy ones, yet her sister went missing while they were there, so what REALLY happened? Of course, the huge castle and it inhabitants are very mysterious and the narrator‘s sister is not the only girl to have gone missing.

1/18/2021 (See review for The Summer I Turned Pretty) I was glad to have finished the series. I wanted to know how the characters ended up. There was a sufficient payoff for an ok trilogy.

1/16/2021 Reading this book felt like work. I just didn‘t sink into this one. When an enigmatic woman suddenly disappears on a hike leaving behind a husband and a teenaged daughter, her remaining family struggles with grief while trying to figure out what has happened to her. Her daughter starts to have visions and believes her mother is still alive, so she begins to research into her mom‘s life.

1/6/2021 (See review for The Summer I Turned Pretty)

1/3/2021 I loved this book! I loved the characters. They were well developed and endearing. This book reminded me a bit of that Ethan Hawke/Uma Thurman movie where they spent 24 hours together and they just click. They are obviously meant for each other, but the circumstances of their lives interfere.

1/1/2021 I had greater expectations for this book. I thought it may offer a strong perspective into the experience of the Civil Rights movement. It is a book for a younger audience and it serves that audience well.

12/31/2020 just found out that this is going to be made into a movie!!! I could not put this down!!! I had no clue what was going on. It is necessary to question the reliability of the narrator, but she doesn‘t seem that far gone, does she? Then again, there is all the wine...so much wine...yet, at the agoraphobic narrator witnesses a horrific murder, can she possibly make anyone believe her?