A Must Read - I Wish I Didn't Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir by Eugene Yelchin

I was mia for December and January. I should probably never post in December since it's a busy time. And in January, life just took over. To me, life is always a rollercoaster, just normal life. But I have been reading and finally getting a review posted. Maybe I'll even have one mid-month, but I'll see if I can read faster! Hope everyone had lovely holidays and welcome to 2026. Maybe January should always start in February. LOL

I Wish I Didn't Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir by Eugene Yelchin

From the publisher, Candlewick Press, Published September 16, 2025.

No longer the creative little boy under his grandmother’s table, Yevgeny is now a young adult, pursuing his artistic dreams under the constant threat of the KGB’s stranglehold on Russia’s creative scene. When a chance encounter with an American woman opens him up to a world of romance and possibility, Yevgeny believes he has found his path to the future—and freedom overseas. But the threat of being drafted into the military and sent to fight in Afghanistan changes everything in a terrible instant, and he takes drastic measures to decide his fate, leading to unthinkable consequences in a mental hospital. With bold art bringing a vivid reality to life, National Book Award Finalist and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin’s sequel to the acclaimed memoir The Genius Under the Table returns to Yevgeny’s saga, balancing the terror and oppression of Soviet Russia with the author’s signature charm and dark wit. I Wish I Didn't Have to Tell You This shines a stark spotlight on history while offering a poignant, nuanced, and powerfully resonant look at growing up in—and ultimately leaving—Cold War Russia in the early 1980s.

This latest book by Eugene Yelchin is more Young Adult or New Adult. If you haven’t read any of Eugene’s books, whether he wrote or illustrated it or both, middle grade or picture books, do yourself a favor and read them.

This story follows his life from 1980-1983. What he lived through and survived, his point of view is so important. He shows the difficulty of life and death of living in Russia during this time. Details and experiences that most of us would never have encountered. There’s so much I want to write but not give anything away. Art and love, pain and death. Courage and sacrifices. Definitely worth a read. 

Tension Filled YA - Best of All Worlds, by Kenneth Oppel

Best of All Worlds, by Kenneth Oppel

From the publisher, Scholastic Press: June 3, 2025

Xavier Oaks doesn't particularly want to go to the cabin with his dad and his dad's pregnant new wife, Nia. But family obligations are family obligations, and it's only for a short time. So he leaves his mom, his brother, and his other friends behind for a week in the woods. Only... one morning he wakes up and the house isn’t where it was before. It's like it's been lifted and placed... somewhere else.

When Xavier, his dad, and Nia go explore, they find they are inside a dome, trapped. And there's no one else around...

Until, three years later, another family arrives.

Is there any escape? Is there a reason they are stuck where they are? Different people have different answers -- and those different answers inexorably lead to tension, strife, and sacrifice.

In this masterpiece, award-winning author Kenneth Oppel builds to a heart-stopping pitch in drawing a story that feels very much of our moment, where our very human choices collectively lead to humanity’s eventual fate.

This book has mind-bending twists. What is the truth? Why is this happening?

The story had a fascinating hold on me throughout. The suspense is intense and the tension riveting. The story ups the ante with the addition of the new family, with very opposing views, into their world.

It’s a wild ride – enjoy it. 

Two Unputdownable Books by Holiday House

The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza

From the publisher: Holiday House, May 14, 2024

Tegan Masters is dead.

She’s sixteen and she’s dead and she’s standing in the parking lot of the Marybelle Motor Lodge, the single most depressing motel in all of New Jersey and the place where Tegan spent what she remembers as the worst weekend of her life.

In the front office, she meets Zelda, an annoyingly cute teen angel with a snarky sense of humor and an epic set of wings. According to Zelda, Tegan is in heaven, where every person inhabits an exact replica of their happiest memory. For Tegan, Zelda insists, that place is the Marybelle—creepy minigolf course, sad breakfast buffet, filthy swimming pool, and all.

Tegan has a few complaints about this.

When Tegan takes these concerns up with Management, she and Zelda are sent on a whirlwind tour through Tegan’s memories, in search of clues to help her understand what mattered most to her in life. If Zelda fails to convince Tegan (and Management) that the Marybelle was the site of Tegan's perfect moment, both girls face dire eternal consequences. But if she succeeds…they just might get their happily-ever-afterlife.

A tender and edgy take on coming of age in the afterlife.

I really liked this book. I don’t find many that I keep reading, stay up late, take the book with me wherever I go so I can read it during downtimes. The premise is unique and intriguing. The two main characters are quirky teens with attitude, pain, joy, awkwardness, longing, denial, and love. Plus, they are funny and gross, sad and angry. They felt real. The family felt real and their reactions dealing with a difficult situation and real strife. We all have our coping mechanisms.

There are plenty of cringe-worthy moments and we all have those somewhere in our pasts. Or most of us do. 😊 I almost went to the end to see how it all turns out, but I didn’t. That shows great restraint when I’m gripped to a book. 

The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney by Carol Williams

From the publisher: Holiday House, May 7, 2024

Unmasking evil witches, rescuing kidnapped pets, saving the town from evil--exactly what kid reporter CJ Delaney had in mind for summer vacation.

When a boring old skatepark opening becomes the scene of a something truly strange, CJ Delaney can’t believe her luck. This is just the kind of big story she’s dreamed of breaking for the town's local paper.

With best friend Parker in tow, CJ is determined to get to the bottom of everything and save the town from evil. Isn’t this what summer vacation is for? But when all answers point to someone close, CJ stands not only to lose her byline but the scariest thing of all—the people and pet she loves.

With a strong, snappy voice and a warm sense of humor, The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney is a fast-paced middle grade mystery (with just the right amount of hair-raising thrills) that begs to be read cover-to-cover in one sitting. This debut from Carol Williams shines with love for its characters, college-town setting, and belief in the power of the written word.

This book is full of fun and appealing, quirky characters! There’s lots of action and great twists that will keep you reading. I enjoyed the supernatural element, along with the family and friendships, boss and coworkers. It’s fast paced with a terrific mystery.

YA Book Blurb - STUCK WITH YOU by ‘Nathan Burgoine

Very accessible, enjoyable and quick read.

STUCK WITH YOU by ‘Nathan Burgoine

From the publisher: James Lorimer & Company Ltd. (April 2023)

Stuck With You is a story of Queer joy and a playful teen romance, following two frenemies as they fall for each other while stuck in adjacent seats on a day-long train trip.

Ben is on a train back to Ottawa after a visit with his dad in Toronto when he runs into the last person he wanted to see: Caleb, the handsome, confident boy who recently and accidentally broke Ben’s phone. Preoccupied by worrying about whether he should take a gap year, Ben has little time for Caleb’s jibes.

But when the two start talking, not only does Ben find himself won over by Caleb’s roguish charm, but he also learns his seatmate is bisexual.

Stuck With You discusses important issues facing teens as they contemplate their futures within the context of a light-hearted romance plot with witty dialogue and charming interplay, almost all taking place within the space of a single long train trip.

If you are a fan of HEARTSTOPPER, then you should definitely check out this book. I was seeing STUCK WITH YOU in so many ads and the library had it, so I wanted to read it myself. It’s quick and fun. I think many will find it relatable and accessible. It’s always satisfying when you read a, don’t judge a book by its cover, story. I like seeing perspectives change and minds open up to others. And who can resist first kisses? Seriously! Innocence and crushes make the heart go, awwwwww. There’s also a good storyline of speaking up for yourself; something that can be very hard to do.

If you like this book, then you may be interested in this whole hi/lo line by Lorimer:

https://lorimer.ca/childrens/real-love/

New Year - New Book - New Adult

I was so happy to be reading again and this was a good entry back in. I’ve seen this story called YA, but with the characters being a bit older, I thought it was New Adult. Unless that genre has gone away and it’s just Young Adult again. Either way, enjoyed it.

Begin Again by Emma Lord

From the publisher, St. Martins/Wednesday Books: available January 2023

As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: Transfer from community college to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, and maintain her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure despite the nerves that have recently thrown her for a loop. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together.

But the moment Andie arrives, the rest of her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated when she discovers he transferred out of Blue Ridge to her community college. Her roommate Shay needs a major, and despite Andie’s impressive track record of being The Fixer, she’s stumped on how to help. And Milo, her coffee-guzzling grump of an R.A. with seafoam green eyes, is somehow disrupting all her ideas about love and relationships one sleep-deprived wisecrack at a time.

But sometimes, when all your plans are in rubble at your feet, you find out what you’re made of. And when Andie starts to find the power of her voice as the anonymous Squire on the school’s legendary pirate radio station–the same one her mom founded, years before she passed away–Andie learns that not all the best laid plans are necessarily the right ones.

I liked this book: the characters, friendships, and the twist. It drew me in every time I picked it up. I was with them in everything they did and saw. I especially liked when the friends became family. That always speaks to me. And being a planner, I could relate. It was a really fun book.

One thing that drove me nuts was how often the word “wince” was repeated. There were others, but that was the biggest offender.

I haven’t read this author before and would easily pick up her previous works. Feel free to jump right in, the story is fine.

Young Adult Review with a wee bit of horror 😲

First, I wanted to say Happy Canada Day and Happy July 4th - I hope your holiday weekend is fun and safe!

Second, let's get to the boooook! I have been reading SOOOO many good books! I can’t wait to post them all. I’m trying to go in order with a couple at a time even though I really want to list them all. Soon. I’ll pace myself. LOL

The one today is young adult. I don’t think I’ve ever read a horror novel, nope, not even Stephen King. So, I wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be like. I read fantasy and love that. Read some sci-fi. Is horror kind of a combination? I have no idea. And I’m sure I’m way off base.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

From the publisher, PUSH, a Scholastic Imprint: available May 2022

From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.

Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant.

Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions -- and expectations -- of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.

What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying -- and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death.

But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.

I like this book and think it’s light horror. There are some gross parts but like movies with gross parts, I put my hand up, or in this case, skim over any grossness. I know I’m a wimp – I’m okay with that.

The opening sequence is mind-blowing. This novel is gripping and engaging. The characters make you feel like you might know what they’re like, but there are great twists and turns, so you realize you can’t judge a book by the cover. The story plays with your mind making you wonder what’s real. It keeps you guessing.

And what’s more fun than a summer camp novel?! I can totally see this being a movie.

What’s also fun is the chapter headings and how they continually get more warped; similar to what’s on the cover. The six sections gathering more flowers – could that be bee related???

I still think of this book even though I read it weeks ago. There’s something about it that gets under your skin, like a bee sting, perhaps? Sorry, I don’t seem to be able to contain myself. But the characters stay with you.

There are a lot of layers in this book, and now I definitely want to read La Sala's Reverie!

Book Review - A VOW SO BOLD AND DEADLY

I have just finished A VOW SO BOLD AND DEADLY and it was SOOOOO good. This is the third book in the Cursebreakers series: A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY (Book 1); A HEART SO FIERCE AND BROKEN (Book 2). And I’m hoping there will be more in this series. It sounds like it from the ending, but you never know. Her latest series may take priority. I can still hope! You can see my previous fan girl gush here for the first book, as well as more gushing on her other books.

From the publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Face your fears, fight the battle.

Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyone—even Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace. 

Fight the battle, save the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles to rule Syhl Shallow with a gentler hand than her mother. But after enjoying decades of peace once magic was driven out of their lands, some of her subjects are angry Lia Mara has an enchanted prince and a magical scraver by her side. As Grey's deadline draws nearer, Lia Mara questions if she can be the queen her country needs.

As the two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and a dangerous enemy returns, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker series.

There aren’t a lot of books I reread, but this series I blew through a second time in preparation for the third book! Brigid Kemmerer’s writing draws you in and never lets you go. Which is exactly how I like to read. I really want to put exclamation marks after everything, but I will refrain.

I love these characters and the story and the writing. The first book was perfect. The second one was good, too. There were only a couple of things that took me out of this one, but otherwise, I got swept up. It’s hard for me to read critically with writing like this. Just love it. And then I bought my niece the series for her birthday. I love to share good books! 😊 

Brigid Kemmerer Bookfest!

I have been on a huge Brigid Kemmerer reading kick lately. Since A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY was an upcoming Book Talk book (something we do in SCBWI CenCal) and so many people said they loved it, I definitely wanted to read it. And I wound up loving it, too. I never think I’m going to like a fairy tale retelling, and then I do. Not only is the story excellent with wonderful twists, the writing is just so darn addictive, compelling and good.

Why stop there? I got all her books that my library carried and read them. Some of her older books are only ebooks and I don’t want to read on the computer or my phone. I have ordered her latest standalone book and another one that I couldn’t get at the library (also accidentally ordering one I already read). The great thing about her writing is that reading it over and over is immensely helpful with my own writing.

Another plus, her website offers writing advice too. I am a total fangirl now and just can’t get enough. The stories are unique and interesting and the characters full and awesome.

Here are the books I’ve read already.

A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY – book one in the Curse Breaker series

(Description from the publisher)

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall … and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

Harper is such a feisty and formidable heroine. Prince Rhen is full of confidence and self-loathing. They help each other grow and understand others and find compassion for the other, making you root for them individually and together. The two worlds are fully realized. I was never taken out of the story. The tension and suspense is magical, too. It is IMPOSSIBLE to wait for the next book, A HEART SO FIERCE AND BROKEN.

  

     

The next book I read was, LETTERS TO THE LOST. (Description from the publisher)

Juliet Young has always written letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother’s death, she leaves letters at her grave. It’s the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he’s trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can’t resist writing back. Soon, he’s opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither of them knows that they’re not actually strangers. When real life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.

I loved the passion and angst in this story. I don’t usually enjoy angst, but it wasn’t too much and fit the characters perfectly. All the characters are fully developed and have their own lives going on and it’s artful to read. But what’s extra cool is, this story takes one of the secondary characters and continues his story in the next book, MORE THAN WE CAN TELL.

     

  

MORE THAN WE CAN TELL (Description from the publisher)

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay…until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected.

What is wonderful about each book is that there is a unique story and a love story. Every book is told from two points of view, the male and female main characters. The voices are spot on. The interactions, storytelling, endings, I want to be Brigid when I grow up. The details in this one range from Bible quotes to online gaming to abuse in many forms. I care about the characters and feel what they go through whether familiar to me or not. Universal storytelling at its best.

The series I’d like to read is her Elemental Series. I don’t understand why these aren’t sold as a box set anywhere. I will read them eventually.

Her next two books I’m reading: THICKER THAN WATER and CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT. 

I can’t wait!

Four Book Blurbs - All Genres

I have so many good books to read and a few I've read lately. I wish I read faster to recommend more. But for now, this will do. Also, I'm sharing a book blurb by Lynn Becker with her link provided. PS, I love all these covers.

The first one up is a picture book. It's beautiful and poignant.
WHEN SPRING COMES TO THE DMZ by Uk-Bae Lee

This story has so many levels and layers of relationships. There's the grandfather and his grandson and the many times they visit the DMZ in the different seasons and you feel the longing in the grandfather and what he's showing his grandson. Where he came from, how different it is now, how much he misses his family in North Korea. Freedom has a high cost. The separation between the grandfather and his brother is painful. 
The DMZ, the land between the Korea's, has flourished when left alone. It came back to life and hosts so many birds and creatures. It offers hope, a chance that maybe someday, the North and South can be united again. 
The illustrations are beautiful and the story so well told and deep. You will see something new with each reading.



Here is the blurb by Lynn Becker at https://lynnbeckerbooks.blogspot.com/
For more wonderful books reviews by Lynn, please click on the link above.

In WHEN SPRING COMES TO THE DMZ, Uk-Bae Lee cycles through the seasons of this singular place, contrasting the innocence and beauty of the natural world with the sadness of the “razor wire fence,” and the "warships from South Korea and North Korea [that] face off in the sea near the island.” A boy and his grandpa visit throughout the year, and Grandpa gazes across the land, wishing he could just go home.

From the publisher:

Korea’s demilitarized zone has become an amazing accidental nature preserve that gives hope for a brighter future for a divided land.

This unique picture book invites young readers into the natural beauty of the DMZ, where salmon, spotted seals, and mountain goats freely follow the seasons and raise their families in this 2.5-mile-wide, 150-mile-long corridor where no human may tread. But the vivid seasonal flora and fauna are framed by ever-present rusty razor wire, warning signs, and locked gates―and regularly interrupted by military exercises that continue decades after a 1953 ceasefire in the Korean War established the DMZ.

Creator Uk-Bae Lee’s lively paintings juxtapose these realities, planting in children the dream of a peaceful world without war and barriers, where separated families meet again and live together happily in harmony with their environment. Lee shows the DMZ through the eyes of a grandfather who returns each year to look out over his beloved former lands, waiting for the day when he can return. In a surprise foldout panorama at the end of the book the grandfather, tired of waiting, dreams of taking his grandson by the hand, flinging back the locked gates, and walking again on the land he loves to find his long-lost friends. 

When Spring Comes to the DMZ helps introduce children to the unfinished history of the Korean Peninsula playing out on the nightly news, and may well spark discussions about other walls, from Texas to Gaza.

Next up is GLITCH by Sarah Graley
This is a great graphic novel for gamers and reluctant readers. I know because I gave it to one and he immediately said, I want the sequel. I think there are themes that might be for older readers but it appealed to an 11 year old boy and that is hugely satisfying. This also has 14 year old main characters, which is an area in the market not well represented. I consider it a middle grade book but it has a foot in younger young adult as well.


Here's the info from the publisher:

Izzy has an incredible secret -- she can enter the world of her new video game! She meets Rae, a robot who says Izzy is destined to save Dungeon City from the Big Boss. How is this possible?! And how can she fight for this virtual world when she's got a whole real life to keep up with: her family (though she could do without her mom's annoying cat), and her best friend, Eric.

Things get even weirder when Izzy loses a life while in the game, and she starts to worry about what might happen if she gets a Game Over for good.

Meanwhile, Eric has been super upset with Izzy since she's been keeping secrets and bailing on their plans.

Can Izzy survive Dungeon City and save their friendship?

And now for two young adult books that are so relevant and important.

THE QUIET YOU CARRY by Nikki Barthelmess

This is a remarkable debut and well done in so many ways. You're drawn right in to the characters' lives and you like them even when they're not that nice. They are layered and revealed so well. The tension is held throughout the novel with great pacing. And the setting is real and so easy to see and put yourself in each scene. It deals with painful and hard topics: abuse in many forms, manipulation, and foster care. But it also has love, friendship and growing up.

From the publisher:

Victoria Parker knew her dad's behavior toward her was a little unusual, but she convinced herself everything was fine until she found herself locked out of the house at 3:00 a.m., surrounded by flashing police lights. Now, dumped into a crowded, chaotic foster home, Victoria has to tiptoe around her domineering foster mother, get through senior year at a new school, and somehow salvage her college dreams . . . all while keeping her past hidden. But some secrets won't stay buried especially when unwanted memories make Victoria freeze up at random moments and nightmares disrupt her sleep. Even worse, she can't stop worrying about her stepsister Sarah, left behind with her father. All she wants is to move forward, but how do you focus on the future when the past won't leave you alone?

The last book is A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti, A Printz Honor Book

A masterclass in weaving an incredible story. Dotted throughout the book is the flashbacks of what transpired, making Annabelle snap, and in this day of all kinds of shootings, it hits a nerve that, unfortunately, so many young people know. It takes the rest of us inside what that PTSD could look like. Being a woman, it was easy for me to identify with so many of her feelings, thoughts and decisions. The ping pong that goes on inside when navigating growing up, until someone changes that course forever.

From the publisher:

When everything has been taken from you, what else is there to do but run?

So that’s what Annabelle does—she runs from Seattle to Washington, DC, through mountain passes and suburban landscapes, from long lonely roads to college towns. She’s not ready to think about the why yet, just the how—muscles burning, heart pumping, feet pounding the earth. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t outrun the tragedy from the past year, or the person—The Taker—that haunts her.

Followed by Grandpa Ed in his RV and backed by her brother and two friends (her self-appointed publicity team), Annabelle becomes a reluctant activist as people connect her journey to the trauma from her past. Her cross-country run gains media attention and she is cheered on as she crosses state borders, and is even thrown a block party and given gifts. The support would be nice, if Annabelle could escape the guilt and the shame from what happened back home. They say it isn’t her fault, but she can’t feel the truth of that.

Through welcome and unwelcome distractions, she just keeps running, to the destination that awaits her. There, she’ll finally face what lies behind her—the miles and love and loss…and what is to come.

Book Review Time!

So - I'm going to consider the past couple of months a hiatus. 
Sometimes life just takes over. It happens. Whatchagonnado?! 
I'm posting three wonderful books that were reviewed by Lynn Becker and I offer my two cents on the first one. The second and third books were originally published in Shelf Awareness. Everything Lynn reviews, I always want to read!
Then I will get back on track with writing exercises and I also want to post about the incredible writing retreat at Asilomar I recently attended. First, book reviews.

LONG WAY DOWN, by Jason Reynolds

LONG WAY DOWN was recently named a Newbery Honor Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and the audio (narrated by the author) won an Odyssey Honor at the ALA Awards this year.

LONG WAY DOWN tells the story of fifteen-year-old Will, whose brother Shawn has just been shot. The sadness feels like a tooth, “somewhere in the back,/ one of the big/ important ones,” has been ripped out and now there’s a “new empty space,/ where you know/ a tooth is supposed to be/ but ain’t no more.” After all the screaming, and the sirens, and the questions, Will knows that it’s up to him to follow The Rules: no crying, no snitching, and, finally, “[i]f someone you love/ gets killed/ find the person/ who killed/ them and/ kill them.” Will finds his brother’s gun, and gets on the elevator to look for the kid he’s sure is responsible for his brother’s death. But on his way down to the lobby, Will is joined by some very important ghosts who make him question everything he thinks he knows.

I think the form of the novel is pretty brilliant. Telling it in free-verse and, for the most part, during a one minute elevator ride allows the author to cut straight to the heart of his story. The riders who join Will form a chain of violence, and readers will feel all the pain, panic, and despair that drive him to believe he must follow the same Rules that got these ghosts from his past killed. The ambiguous finish hints at a possible end to the seemingly inevitable cycle of violence. Hope is good.
Lynn Becker

Such a beautiful book. The words are so perfect. When I read verse like that I want to have all those incredible phrases written where I can see them all the time. But there’s so many! 

I wondered if he would not go and shoot the person he “thought” did it. I reread the last part of the book looking for definitive answers. 

I saw a lot of press and hype for the story and definitely wanted to read it. 

I found it interesting that there was quite a bit of story at the beginning before he gets to the elevator. I originally thought the entire book took place in it. 

Really good. 

Angela 

MG Review: Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison


Originally begun as a social media project during Black History Month, Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History highlights courageous African American women who broke new ground by following their dreams--women who persevered, didn't listen to "no" and found success despite overwhelming odds. Bessie Coleman was denied entry to "every aviation school in America," so she moved to France and "became the first African American woman in the world to receive her pilot's license." Phillis Wheatley was "the first African American woman poet ever to be published." Rebecca Lee Crumpler, who attended "a private school in Massachusetts," became "the first African American woman physician in the country." And, at 80 years of age, Alma Woodsey Thomas had her colorful paintings exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art, "the first-ever solo exhibition of an African American woman artist at one of America's most important art museums."

The short, engaging biographies are accompanied by charming portraits. Each woman, depicted in clothing and costumes reflective of her time and vocation, seems to be looking within, mustering the strength necessary to persevere in the face of daunting odds. Backgrounds are minimal, rendered mostly in pale shades, which leaves the focus on the women and helps ground them in history. Debut author Vashti Harrison created Little Leaders with her younger self in mind, but she hopes readers of every background will find these stories compelling. Little Leaders will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of high achievers. 
Lynn Becker

PB Review: A Couch for Llama by Leah Gilbert


This charming and silly picture book begins by announcing that "[t]he Lago family's couch was very well-loved." But now, after playing host to many cozy activities, including "snuggling... fort building, and hiding and seeking," it's clear that the couch has seen better days. The family decides it's time to replace it. After trying a couch that is "too big" and one that is "too small," the Lago family happily finds a replacement that is "JUST RIGHT." They pack their perfect new couch on top of their car and head home. Unfortunately, before they get there, the new couch flies off the car and into a field, where it lands at the feet of a rather startled llama.

Llama is intrigued. He sniffs and brays and tries to share his lunch, but the couch doesn't say anything or seem very hungry. It doesn't taste good either, so Llama concludes the couch is useless. But, just as the Lago family discovers their couch is missing, Llama realizes his new couch is not as boring as it seems.

The illustrations showing Llama making friends with the couch are not to be missed. Llama has a big round belly and teeny-tiny legs, making his jumping and twirling very comical indeed. He exudes plenty of emotion, moving from a "stubborn, couch-loving kind of llama" to a dejected, couch-less llama in a jiffy as the family takes away his "smooshy-mooshy, fluffy-puffy cushions" that he "completely" loves. A Couch for Llama manages to be both tender and action packed, and shows the rewards of spreading the happiness around. It's a thoroughly entertaining read, especially while ensconced on a suitably comfortable couch of one's own. --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.
Lynn Becker

Book Review: SAY WHAT YOU WILL by Cammie McGovern

If you’re looking for diversity in novels, SAY WHAT YOU WILL by Cammie McGovern, is exactly that. Told from two perspectives, the female main character, Amy, has cerebral palsy. The male main character, Matthew, has OCD.

The story starts in the last year of high school, continues through the summer and into the first year of college. This novel probably falls into the New Adult category.

I found a better insight into people who have these particular conditions. You get to feel and experience what goes on inside them. Amy talks with a computer keyboard that voices what she wants to say. She can type in a speech beforehand or type a response with her one working hand that isn’t spastic. Matthew’s OCD shows us his internal struggle. They find a way to help each other face the truths they haven’t faced before.

Matthew challenges Amy that she’s happy on the outside and surpasses all goals, but that isn’t really how she feels. Amy gives Matthew exercises to overcome some of his issues and gets him to see that going to a doctor, taking meds and accepting help really does make a difference.

There is a lot more going on in this book, too. Amy’s mother pushes her to excel at everything and Amy has to figure out what she actually likes and who she is without people telling her. The mishmash of friends she ends up with due to hiring classmates to be her aids at school, bring her experiences she’s never had before.

What I liked about this story is that it isn’t predictable. That’s not always easy to find. The story shows how not communicating or actually saying what you feel, can lead you down different paths, not the way you thought it would.

I was curious as to how this story came about and I checked out Cammie McGovern’s website and found that exact question and her answer. Here is her website and below is the question she answers on her website. http://www.cammiemcgovern.com/faq/

How did you get the idea for Say What You Will?

One of the mothers who helped start Whole Children had a daughter born with pretty severe cerebral palsy.  After she was born, her parents were told she would probably never learn to walk, talk, or even roll over.  Maybe because her problems were so different than my son’s—who could run around fine, in fact that’s all he did do—I became really fascinated by the long and amazing journey this girl took.  She not only learned to roll over, she was walking independently by the time she was eight, and has since gone on to defy all the doctor’s initial predictions.  She’s still a part of Whole Children and a dear friend of my son’s (in fact, if you watch the Whole Children music video, that’s her and my son in the second to last snippet.  What a wonderful smile she has, looking up lovingly at my boy…)

Great information about her, the WHOLE CHILDREN program and her other books. SAY WHAT YOU WILL published on June 3, 2014.