Ghost Track #1 by Jason Reynolds Realistic Fiction Sports * * * * Stars (Great!) Castle Cranshaw (aka Ghost) ends up on the Defenders track team after schooling one of its sprinters – even in rolled up jeans and old high tops, Ghost is faster. Although Ghost isn’t really interested in running, Coach convinces him that it’ll help his basketball game. While that isn’t necessarily true, Ghost discovers that he loves running and he likes … Read more
Slated Slated trilogy #1 by Teri Terry Dystopian Mystery Romance Science Fiction Suspense/Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Kyla is one of the Slated – her memories have been erased to give her a clean slate and she’s just been given clearance to go home with a new family. As part of her contract, she must wear a monitoring bracelet (a Levo) that measures her mood – if she drops below a certain level, … Read more
Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf Fairytale Fantasy Horror Romance Supernatural Suspense/Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) When Zera’s family was murdered by bandits, she alone was saved – by a witch (Nightsinger) – who turned her “Heartless” by removing her physical heart and placing it in an ensorcelled jar. Heartless have some wonderful abilities due to their ties to their witches (they can’t die, and their wounds heal almost instantly), but they … Read more
Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom written by Terry Blas & Molly Muldoon illustrated by Matthew Seely Graphic Novel Horror Mystery Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Teens attending a summer camp for weight loss are witnesses to the grisly murder of one of their senior counselors. When they learn that the camp director is either knowingly or unknowingly covering up the truth about what really happened, they decide to launch their own … Read more
The Agony of Bun O’Keefe by Heather Smith Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When Bun O’Keefe’s mother (a hoarder) tells her to “Get out!” Bun does. Homeless and not sure what to do or where to go, Bun approaches a busker/musician who, charmed by Bun’s quirky character, takes her under his wing and back to his temporary lodgings. Bun goes on to charm his housemates with her forthrightness and they form a … Read more
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Kiko Himura (half-Japanese) is hoping to get into the art school of her dreams – Prism – in New York. She can’t wait to leave home, where her self-obsessed mother makes her and her siblings miserable. But she doesn’t get in. And her uncle, who sexually abused her, is moving in with them. As she grasps at the straws of her future, … Read more
The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Historical Fiction Juvenile Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Ada and her brother Jaimie are now permanent wards of their guardian, Susan, who took them in when they were evacuated from London. The first thing Susan does is arrange for Ada to have surgery to correct her clubfoot, which has long been a source of pain and shame for her. The recovery process is long … Read more
Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Josie is part of a close-knit family who understand her even if they don’t always speak the same language. Josie is pretty particular about her likes and dislikes and when her older sister brings home her fiancé, Geoff, she takes an immediate dislike to him. He is SO obnoxious – talks far too much, makes ridiculous assumptions about … Read more
Hungry by H. A. Swain Dystopian Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Thalia’s mother helped create the innovative nutritional substitute and drugs that feed everyone and suppress their appetites and other urges (Synthamil). No one really eats or cooks anymore and there isn’t any food (there may not be any plants or animals either, as previous generations poisoned the Earth). Now her parents work for the company that distributes Synthamil – One World … Read more
Halfway Normal by Barbara Dee Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Norah Levy is in remission (she had leukemia) and is returning to school (7th grade) after being out sick for 2 years. Although her academics are in good shape thanks to her tutor, her friendships and social life are kind of in turmoil. Almost everyone treats Norah like she’s still sick – her guidance counselor won’t even say the word “cancer” in … Read more