YA – Page 4 – One Chapter

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

5 stars YA Realistic Fiction

Read this! This book is fabulous! Although written about a subject we are unfortunately all too familiar with, this book has many laughable moments and moments where you where you want to reach inside the book and hug the characters. Imagine being 12 years old and moving into the National Quiet Zone. What is that? You’d be living in the only place in the United States without internet! No TV’s, cell phones, cable…..think about it. For Simon, this place sounds perfect as finally, the limelight will be off him for a change.

The story of his father’s Blessing of the Animals started the book off but this was just the beginning of the humor that fed through the story. As a Catholic Deacon, dad was trying to perform his duties when things got out of control and the inside of the church erupted in madness and disorder. Dad should have set up more boundaries but now, dad was unemployed, and Simon blamed the llamas for their move to Nebraska. Anxiety plagues Simon and I wondered as I read what caused this. Was his family plagued by bad accidents? Did something happen in his past? It’s as if Simon wants to remain invisible.

Simon meets Agate and she is a feisty character. In the National Quiet Zone, Simon finds that there is a lot of scientific research occurring. Without the internet, scientists can focus on the vast unknown areas of space without interference. When Simon meets Agate, he gets an education in space as she has done her research. Agate is one feisty individual and I loved her personality. She senses that something is wrong with Simon and that he is anxious. When she brought him a puppy, my heart soared, and I laughed as this new adventure with them began.

When Simon met Agate’s dog, I cracked up laughing as the dog retrieved a beer out the refrigerator by himself. As Simon stares, Agate tells Simon that it’s okay, “he only has one.” As a person who trains service dogs, Agate explains to Simon that her dog Todd doesn’t like pleasing people. What a hoot! Later, Ash Wednesday arrives and then comes the incident in the church with the consecrated host, I’m still laughing today about those.

Simon tries to move forward with his new life but every day moves him closer to the anniversary. How will he be able to survive the day? As the truth comes out, I’m lost for words as Simon tries to grasp the extent of being a survivor. Why or why me?

Wowza…. fantastic book that put me on a roller coaster. The fun-facts in the book were interesting and funny too, 5 stars!!!

Impossible Escape by Steve Sheinkin

5 stars YA History

“The Nazis were not really guarding Prisoners at Auschwitz. They were guarding the secret of their massive crimes.”

A story of survival turns into a story of bravery and honor as individuals take it upon themselves to reveal the reality of their daily lives. This mission of hope gives them strength, energy, and determination every day, as they live in an unimaginable nightmare in Nazi Germany. If only they could escape and share their story, other lives could be saved.

It was March of 1942 and I found myself getting to know a young teenager named Rudi. In its second year, World War II was far from being over and Rudi was determined to be a part of it. Armed with a plan, Rudi wanted to fight against Hitler, and he was going to do it his own way. He had to put his plan into motion soon before he was shipped off to who-knows-where with other Jewish boys. I was rooting for Rudi as he put his plan into motion. His plan had worked to some degree, as he covered quite a bit of ground in his travels. Unfortunately, Rudi got stopped and without any papers, his plan had come to an end.

As a prisoner now, Rudi became part of a group of prisoners that were forced to work in the Nazi gas chambers and crematoriums. Able to make friends easily, Rudi does his job well and he keeps his wits about him. I became a part of Rudi’s life as he explains his duties, the situation, and his surroundings. Death and disease are everywhere yet, Rudi’s eyes are open as he watches and observes everything around him. Details are important to Rudi as his head fills with the sights, sounds, and smells of Auschwitz. The gas chamber changing rooms were constructed like a bath house, giving the victims the hope that their lives were important. Hooks, signs, and fans awaited the prisoners as they walked in, only they didn’t realize that they would never walk out. Rudi knew after watching such despair and horror for two years in Auschwitz that something had to be done.

Rudi knew that he needed to make another plan. He needed to tell his own personal story of what he had witnessed firsthand to someone who could warn others. Rudi needed to return home. Rudi needed to return to the place that he once escaped from and give them an account of his past two years. He needed his message to spread as a warning so lives could be.

What a fantastic read! Between the journeys that Rudi tried to make, his time inside Auschwitz and the prisoners, I couldn’t put this book down. As I read Gerdi’s story, this Jewish teen had a different outlook on life as the war raged on. Rudi wanted to make a difference and he was willing to take some risks while Gerdi chose a more sheltered and safe approach to the war. Gerdi had some risks but on a different level than Rudi’s. Two friends, one war, and an uncertain future. 5 stars.

Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying

5 stars YA Graphic Novel

This is a powerful graphic novel! I wanted to shake, hit, smack (I think you understand) Val’s mother as she definitely had a one-tracked mind with Val suffering because of it. The first pages of this graphic novel, Valerie’s mom is hovering over young Valerie at her own birthday party celebration. Valerie doesn’t seem happy, more reserved. A party complete with pizza, chips, and other goodies, kids running around and an oversized cake. Val is handed a slice of her birthday cake from her mother, as Val witnesses the other kids enjoying the cake. Val mother says to her, “Remember don’t eat, just taste.” Just Taste!! What??!! That’s one of the best things about a birthday party- the cake and she’s just supposed to taste HER own cake. That’s just cruel. Then, when Jordan asks Val if she’s going to eat her piece of cake and Val replies that she’s full, it’s that look on Va’s face as Jordan stabs Val’s cake and eats it, that’s priceless. How can Jordan do that? Why is Jordan allowed to that? Who gives Jordan the right to do that?

I feel that it’s Jordan’s personality that makes her attractive to Val but yet, I think it’s something more. Jordan possesses something that Val wants and as the two of them become best friends, I hoped that Val would listen more to her friend than the voices in her head.

Val hears her mother’s voice in her head about being thin all through her childhood leading her into a life of bingeing and purging. The book does an excellent and I mean excellent job, disclosing the emotions and turmoil that reside inside Val. I liked how the book addresses all the issues that Val is struggling with surrounding her obsession with food. She’s been forced to believe her mother all her life yet now, as a young adult, Val is witnessing the world herself and forming her own opinions which don’t always follow the guidelines her mother instilled in her. How what? Who should she believe? Val wants to be happy but how. Individuals around her are happy and she just wants a piece of it, but she can’t seem to find her way out of the misery that’s been buried inside her. A fantastic YA graphic novel addressing a serious condition for many individuals. 5 stars

““Hi dear. I saw your post on Instagram. I hope you didn’t eat that whole thing.” Got it, stalker. What time is it in San Jose? I guess I’m failing at being good enough.” (Val on trip to Paris with her friends)

“I couldn’t die now and feel like I have lived my life, I haven’t. I’ve lived like a prisoner to my body. “

“She’s doing her best to love you the way she knows how, and her best maybe just isn’t enough. But you can’t rely on her to change. You can’t rely on her to be enough for you. No one ever is. You have to find your own way to be happy. Whatever that means.” (I love this !!)

A Perfect Mistake by Melanie Conklin

5 stars Mystery YA/Children’s

Let’s unravel this mystery together. Where it all begins, we don’t know but we know that it ends with Will, lying in the hospital, in a coma. How he got from A to B they don’t really know, but the fingers keep pointing at Max for the answers. Eleven-year-old Max. Max, the boy who has just recently been diagnosed with ADHD. Max, the child who because of his height looks older than any other kid his age. Max, the child who wishes that they’d never left the house that night. Max, the best friend, realizes that if he doesn’t remember what happened that night, they may never know what happened to his best friend.

I enjoyed unraveling the mystery of what happened that night. It was more than just solving Will’s medical condition(s) as Max is facing some tough issues himself. The characters felt credible and natural, which is one of the qualities I like about Melanie’s books. I was mad with Max when I read that he wouldn’t visit Will in the hospital when he was first admitted. Yet, the more I read about Max, the more I understood why. I thought Max’s friendship with Sam was needed to bring everyone together. Friendship, medical conditions, accountability, and trust were the main issues I thought this book addressed. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more books by Melanie Conklin. 5 stars

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

5 stars Graphic Novel YA/Children’s

Resilience. If I were to describe Bree, this word should be at the top of her list. Life starts over as Bree moves with her father to Florida. Bree adores her dad and the time that she spends with him, but she knows Florida will change all that. New opportunities await her father, little does Bree know what opportunities await her. Florida, the state bursting with water, sunshine, sports, swimming, did I mention water? Negative thoughts begin rolling through Bree’s head before the move and intensify when Bree arrives at her new home. Bree likes her new housing complex, it’s the pool that catches her off guard.

Bree is excited to start a new middle school: new possibilities and the list of elective classes have got her pumped. She’s having a great morning as she runs into the girl from her apartment complex, Clara shows her around before leading Bree to the office to sign up for classes. Sorry. Sorry. Full. Full. Every elective that Bree wanted to take was full! Her only choice…..Swim 101. A huge problem considering Bree doesn’t know how to swim.

Bree handles this problem and all the other challenges that come her way, how I would expect a young teen to handle them. Avoidance, denial, hesitation, etc. but as Bree’s character grows so does the way that she handles the conflicts.

Bree tries to avoid the pool but when her homework ends up floating in it, Bree finds herself fighting against the terrorizing waters to free herself. She’s doomed, until Ms. Etta comes to her rescue.

This is a great book about overcoming obstacles and watching a character develop as they become responsible and mature.

This is a good clean book comprising of family, friends, and girlfriend relationships.

The graphics in this book do an excellent job completing the story. Detailed, colored framed boxes provide a good flow as Bree learns to accept Florida as her new home. The text is easy to read, and the story is broken into 8 (eight) chapters. 5 stars

Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson

4.5 stars YA/ Middle School Historical Fiction

She was like no other. Sage’s eyes were open and she wanted a life that was different. Set in the 1970’s, life may have been simpler, but the issues were still the same: who am I and where am I going?

On Palmetto Street in Brooklyn, Sage knows that the fires are close-by. This is her neighborhood, these are her neighbors, and surrounding her are the businesses and houses that are supposed to protect them, yet she knows that fire will consume the wooden structures. A portion of her world could go up in smoke, just-like-that.

Sage spends a great deal of her time on the court; she would have it no other way. The basketball court is her second home. This court is just like home as she shoots from different spots on the ink and as she plays a pick-up game with the neighborhood kids. Sage realizes and so do the other kids, that Sage is the only girl on the court. The only girl who dreams of making it big, shooting hoops. Sage is first-pick when choosing teams and they know, that she’s one that will take it to the hoop and score for their team. It’s Sage’s female friends who question this choice, a doubt that throws a shadow on Sage.

It’s Freddy who gives her reassurance. He’s the light that Sage needs. A friendship that benefited them both, as they felt tossed around.

I enjoyed the way that Woodson used reflection to set the stage for this book. As Sage remembers the past, she reflects on that summer in the late 1970’s and we can see how it has impacted her life. It’s Woodson use of words, their spacing and the conversations that were spoken on the page that amazes me. Reading this book, you need to stop and appreciate the talent and skill an author has, as they ignite the reader without over-explaining the situation. 4.5 stars

I’m the Girl by Courtney Summers

3 stars YA

Well, I’ve been waiting for the latest Courtney Summers book, and I finally got around to reading it. I tried reading it before, but I just couldn’t get into it, so I thought I’d give it another go. This book just didn’t grab me like Courtney’s previous books have.

Georgia stole some money from her brother which her brother discovers. With their mother no longer with them, it’s important and urgent to replace these funds. Georgia feels that the time has come for her to become an Aspirant Girl. This dream job can finally now become a reality. Her brother though, will begin working more hours at work.

Aspirant Girl. Nestled in the mountains, the member-only resort, just might be Georgia lifeline. Surrounded by wealthy individuals, Georgia might be able to repay her brother and fulfill her dream. Sounds simple enough but the road to her dream is complicated and not direct. Georgia does land a position at Aspera but it’s not what she desired. An accident while in route to Aspera has Georgia discovering a young body in the woods. Did I mention that Georgia’s mother used to work at Aspera and Georgia believes that she was terminated from her position? Why oh why would you want to work there Georgia? To prove yourself or are you shouting something to someone who is not even there?

I felt like Georgia was playing. I could understand her confidence and esteem to a point, but the book kept going and what was she doing? I felt frustrated and tired, feeling confused and lost at where this all might go. The whole thing was confusing. Sorry, but this book just wasn’t a good fit for me. Not a thriller but more drama than anything.

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt

5 stars YA/ Middle School

What can I say about this fantastic new book from Gary Schmidt? You need to read it! Yes, what an interesting, thought-provoking read that I laughed, I cringed, and I stopped while reading to thoroughly enjoy the text that I had just read. It’s a clever story of Hercules Beal as he attempts to fulfil the writing assignment from his teacher at the Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences. This is Beal’s first year at the academy and he’s not thrilled about having a retired marine lieutenant colonel as his teacher. Hercules has other classes at the academy but they don’t take up his time as much as the Beal lives with his brother as his parents died and they’re trying to keep the Beal Brothers Farm and Nursery running.

What got me first about this book. Every morning, Hercules leaves his house and takes a half-mile run/walk to a sand Dune. Before dawn, every morning. He stands there at the top and just as the sun “jumps into the sky, he whispers, ““Morning, Mom,” and “Morning, Dad” and the light is all around me now, so much of it that it finally spills over onto the west side of the Dune and it fills the dark.” What a sweet tribute to his parents every morning! Hercules knows that his brother Achilles is not happy to be living in Truro as he used to be a writer for a famous magazine and travel the world but they need to keep the family business going and Hercules feels that Truro is the most beautiful place on Earth.

This was a fun read and it went fast. I liked that the other students in the class also got interesting assignemnts and I read how their assignemnets went as I read how Hercules kept up with his assignment. Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer runs the classroom tightly but he does have some fun and tender moments as he keeps the students in line and he writes in Hercules . Each student in his has a yearlong Classical Mytholody Application Project. The project is individually based on the student and classical myths. I liked how each of them were unique and different, and I thought they brought a personal touch to these myths. When Hercules started his project, I was worried how difficult it was going to be but he was creative in the application of the myth’s story to his life.

An entertaining read and one I would highly recommend- heck, I highly recommend all of his novels! 5++ stars

“ I don’t know what happiness beyond belief would feel like. I can imagine, I guess, but I’m not sure what it would like. What I am sure of is this: Who would not want to give someone else happiness beyond belief?”

“ ….even if Hercules the Myth had to go down into hell alone, I didn’t.”

Brighter Than the Sun by Daniel Aleman

5 stars YA

What had once been an opportunity had now turned into an obligation as the situation changed. It had felt like privilege to cross into the U.S to attend school but now, as the family situation changed, Sol felt that attending school would have to go on the back burner as the family’s restaurant needed her attention. Trying to juggle school and work just wasn’t cutting it, perhaps she should just work as the family needed her financial help now before it was too late.

What a heavy burden for a 16-year-old to carry. Being the only individual in her family born in the U.S., Sol had the ability to travel back-and-forth freely between the U.S. and Mexico which was a tremendous benefit for their family. Sol and her family lived in Mexico and they owned a restaurant there. Her mother had just recently passed away and this restaurant was her passion. Since her death, this restaurant has struggled to stay afloat and unfortunately so has her family. Her mother was a huge part of their family and they all miss her badly. Sol has traveled to the U.S. to attend school for a few years with her father being her driver to the border. I can just imagine this ride as the two of them sit in the car twice a day. Sol proud that she is able to get a better education and her father proud and reserved, his daughter the person he could never be. As the restaurant struggles, Sol takes a job after school to help the family financially. With the long hours, Sol decides to stay with her best friend in the U.S. during the week and return to her family in Mexico on the weekends. I was having mixed feelings as I know that some sixteen-year-olds can handle this separation and for some, it’s a breaking point.

The first couple weeks went good as Sol tried to get into a routine. She was embraced by her new weekday family and when she returned to Mexico, she crammed as much as she could into those few days. Needing more money, she worked more hours and her time away from Mexico stretched. The more money that she brought it, it didn’t seem to be enough. Losing the restaurant would mean losing another piece of her mother, she couldn’t let that happen. As she fought with her emotions, I could feel the tension and her hope fading. When is enough……enough.

I really enjoyed this book. The cover of the book and the synopsis is what hooked me on this one. The book starts off rather sad as Sol talks about her name. Born on the day of the Feast of Our Lady of Solitude. Soledad feels the loneliness follows her wherever she goes. She had even tried to give herself a couple nicknames to get away from her name but nothing took. So, she was stuck with Sol. She has high expectations for herself which she has a hard time lowering throughout the book. Her best friend, who she stays with in the U.S. tries to talk to her about this. Ari tells her that she needs to let go and that she doesn’t need to control everything all the time and Sol listens but its hard to apply this information when you life is spinning out of control. The more that Sol spends in the U.S., Sol realizes that she’s different than when she’s at home. I love it when she makes this light-bulb moment yet what can Sol do with it. A great read that worth picking up. 5 stars

The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez

4 stars Fiction

It’s Kirkwood Apartments, the home to a variety of Hispanic individuals who all have a story and a voice. Maribel and her parents move into the building when they arrive in the U.S., after Maribel experiences a medical issue. Needing special schooling for Maribel, Kirkwood Apartments fits the needs for their family since Mexico couldn’t. It’s a difficult adjustment for everyone but there are other individuals in the building who are experiencing these same issues, so the family has others that they can lean on.

I enjoyed the residents of this building, as they all had unique stories and they all came to the U.S. with high hopes. Although many were still were struggling, as I heard their stories, I couldn’t stop the emotions that I was feeling for them. They had expectations once they arrived in the U.S. and now, what do they do? The person that they once were back in their native country is now standing on foreign soil, confused and lost. Who can they turn to?

Once an important businessman in his country, this man is now working in the U.S., a gloomy, bleak environment, because it was the only business that he could find that would sponsor the Visa’s that he desperately needs. Then, there’s this another gentleman, who came to the U.S. and he begins selling drugs to make the money that he needs to survive. I’m sure that the church would look down upon this man, should he go back to his native country and try to resume, the Lord’s calling of his name. The stories were moving and heart-breaking, each one unique but they were all the same.

Mayor lives across the street from the Kirkwood Apartments and he meets Maribel. Mayor knows there is something special about her and he takes his time getting to know her. Mayor feels more relaxed and carefree around Maribel and he especially likes the way that she pays attention to him. A romance starts to occur, a slow and gentle relationship that’s surrounded by the residents of the Kirkwood Apartments. 4 stars