Instructions for Dancing

 

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon  YA

(from Amazon)  In this romantic page-turner from the author of Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also a Star, Evie has the power to see other people's romantic fates--what will happen when she finally sees her own?  Evie Thomas doesn't believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began . . . and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.  As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything--including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he's only just met.

(My Review)  I thought this was a cute, solid little romance.  I like the addition of magical realism (her ability to see if a couple will stay together when they kiss), and how that added complications for her friendships and in her own romantic life.  Great read!

Ace of Spades

 

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-lyimide  YA

(from Amazon)  All you need to know is . . . I’m here to divide and conquer. Like all great tyrants do. ―Aces  When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too.  Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures.  As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?

(My Review)  I really wanted to like this book - I had such high expectations.  It wasn't bad, it just wasn't my favorite style.  It had multiple points of view, and it was very slow paced.   I've heard the comparison that its a cross between Get Out and Gossip Girl.  I can see that, and I liked it more for the former than for latter. I thought the story was very intriguing.  

This Story is a Lie

 

This Story is a Lie by Tom Pollock  YA

(from Amazon)Seventeen-year-old Peter Blankman is a math genius. He also suffers from devastating panic attacks. Pete gets through each day with the help of his mother—a famous scientist—and his beloved twin sister, Bel.  But when his mom is nearly assassinated in front of his eyes and Bel disappears, Pete finds himself on the run. Dragged into a world where state and family secrets intertwine, Pete must use his extraordinary analytical skills to find his missing sister and track down the people who attacked his mother. But his greatest battle will be with the enemy inside: the constant terror that threatens to overwhelm him.  Weaving between Pete’s past and present, This Story Is a Lie is a testimony from a  protagonist who is brilliant, broken and trying to be brave.

(My Review)  I was intrigued by the mystery of this book, and the mental illness representation in this book.  However, there was so much science and math discussion (knowledge that I did not have) that made it difficult to follow sometimes.  Some books can handle this without disrupting the flow of the book (I'm thinking Project Hail Mary), but I kept getting bogged down, and even had to Google a few things just to get through a paragraph.   It took a while for me to read this one, even though the mystery/story was interesting and original.  Overall, I really liked the story, I just wished it wasn't such a difficult read.

Tokyo Ever After

 

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean - this is a Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club Book -   

(from Amazon)

Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in―it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi―or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”―and her mom against the world. But then Izumi discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity…and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.  In a whirlwind, Izumi travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight.  Izumi soon finds herself caught between worlds, and between versions of herself―back home, she was never “American” enough, and in Japan, she must prove she’s “Japanese” enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairy tale, happily ever after?

(My Review)

I mean, come on!  Look at this cover!!  It's so beautiful, I was immediately drawn to this book.   Izumi is a Japanese-American girl who finds out that her father is the crown-prince of Japan.  She travels to Japan to meet him.  I love the clash of cultures and stories where a girl finds out she's royalty.  There is definitely Princess Diary and Crazy Rich Asians vibes here.  This is a fun read.

Ophie's Ghost

 

Ophie's Ghost by Justina Ireland   Middle Grades

(from Amazon)

Ophelia Harrison used to live in a small house in the Georgia countryside. But that was before the night in November 1922, and the cruel act that took her home and her father from her. Which was the same night that Ophie learned she can see ghosts.  Now Ophie and her mother are living in Pittsburgh with relatives they barely know. In the hopes of earning enough money to get their own place, Mama has gotten Ophie a job as a maid in the same old manor house where she works.  Daffodil Manor, like the wealthy Caruthers family who owns it, is haunted by memories and prejudices of the past—and, as Ophie discovers, ghosts as well. Ghosts who have their own loves and hatreds and desires, ghosts who have wronged others and ghosts who have themselves been wronged. And as Ophie forms a friendship with one spirit whose life ended suddenly and unjustly, she wonders if she might be able to help—even as she comes to realize that Daffodil Manor may hold more secrets than she bargained for.

(My Review)

After the death of her father, Ophie realizes she can see ghosts (i.e. the movie the Sixth Sense).  She and her mother flee the South and move to Pittsburgh to live with relatives and work at Daffodil Manor.  She learns more about her gift from her aunt, and soon finds her gift sets her out on solving a mystery at the manor.  This books does deal with the prejudice and discrimination of the time.  I highly enjoyed this book.

The Agony House

 

The Agony House by Cherie Priest (Illustrations by Tara O'Connor).  YA/Comic Hybrid

(from Amazon)

Denise Farber has just moved back to New Orleans with her mom and step-dad. They left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and have finally returned, wagering the last of their family's money on fixing up an old, rundown house and converting it to a bed and breakfast. Nothing seems to work around the place, which doesn't seem too weird to Denise. The unexplained noises are a little more out of the ordinary, but again, nothing too unusual. But when floors collapse, deadly objects rain down, and she hears creepy voices, it's clear to Denise that something more sinister lurks hidden here.Answers may lie in an old comic book Denise finds concealed in the attic: the lost, final project of a famous artist who disappeared in the 1950s. Denise isn't budging from her new home, so she must unravel the mystery-on the pages and off-if she and her family are to survive...

(My Review)

Denise and her family move into a creepy old house in New Orleans, and she finds an old comic in the attic.  Also, strange noises and things start to happen, so Denise and her two new friends start to investigate and realize the mystery is tied to the newly discovered comic, and the previous owner who died in the house.  I enjoyed this creepy, haunted mystery, and I loved the addition of the comics in the story.

Anthropocene Reviewed

 

Anthropocene Reviewed:  Essays on a Human-Centered Planet  by John Green

(from Amazon)

The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale—from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar.  Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together.  John Green’s gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.

(My Review)

Dang!  John Green made me cry!   And laugh.   So, this is just a collection of essays, thoughts, ponderings, reviews of things Green believes that humans have impacted.  He's such a witty writer, and he is so transparent, that he hits on subjects that we all can appreciate.  This is a great read!

The Gilded Ones

 

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna YA

(from Amazon)

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.  But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.  Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.  Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.

(My Review)

In this fantasy novel, Deka is a gilded one, meaning that her blood runs gold, which a sign of impurity.  She is sent to train in army of girls like herself.  She soon learns more is not as it seems.  She soon learns secrets about herself, that explains why she has unnatural intuition.  I loved this kind of story where character discovers things about themselves.

Shatter Me

 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi  YA

(from Amazon)

One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill.  No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon.  Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.

(My Review)

This book was pretty intense.  In this dystopian novel, Juliette is being held prisoner because her touch is deadly.  Now, they want to use her as a weapon.  She doesn't know who she can trust.  I thought it was sad, and my heart ached for her trauma.  This is the first book in a series of 7, so it will be interesting to see how her character develops.

1.  Shatter Me

2.  Unravel Me

3.  Ignite Me

4.  Restore Me

5.  Defy Me

6. Imagine Me

7.  Believe Me

Amari and the Night Brothers

 

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (book 1 of 2:  Supernatural Investigations)  Middle Grade)

(from Amazon)

Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good.  So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton—if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.  Now she must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known about magic their whole lives. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can’t seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny—especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed “illegal.” With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she’s an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.

(My Review)

I LOVED THIS!!!  Amari and the Night Brothers totally gave me the Harry Potter vibes.  Amari's brother is missing.  She gets sent to a secret school, which happens to be a school for magic.  She finds out she has magical powers...  B.B. Alston has created a fun, magical world and I can't wait for the next book.

1.  Amari and the Night Brothers

2.  Amari and the Great Game

Neverworld Wake

 

Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl  YA

(from Amazon)

It's been one year since graduation, and Beatrice Hartley has mixed feelings about joining her friends for a weekend reunion.
     She's right to be worried. After a night out, they narrowly avoid a collision with a car on a deserted road. Or so they believe.
     Back at the mansion where they are staying, a mysterious man knocks on the door during a raging storm. He tells them that they must make a choice: one of them will live, and the rest will die. And the decision must be unanimous.
     Soon time backbends. Beatrice and her friends are forced to repeat that dreadful day so many times they lose count. With each replay, events twist and fears come alive in horrifying ways.
     This nightmare, this nothingness . . . this is the Neverworld Wake.
     To escape, they have to vote. But how do you choose who to kill? And then how do you live with yourself?

(My Review)

Hmm...this book was weird.  Not bad, just weird.  After an accident, a group of friends get stuck in a "ground hog's day" loop until they decide/vote which one of them will LIVE.  Their decision leads them on an adventure to discover why they are in the situation, and to solve the murder of one of their friends a year before.  I thought the author did a good job taking this very complicated concept, and making a very interesting story.  The characters were college-aged, so I am not sure if this, technically would be considered YA (Amazon says it is).

Firekeeper's Daughter

 

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley  YA  

(from Amazon)

Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team.  Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug.  Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims.  Now, as the deceptions―and deaths―keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

(My Review)

I thought this book was very interesting.  It was an intriguing look into the Native American culture of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but also had a mystery that kept you guessing right until the very end of the story.

New releases I'm looking forward to!

 The following are new books that either have recently been released, or are soon to be released, and that I am looking forward to reading.  

A Box in the Wood by Maureen Johnson (already released - June 15, 2021).  I love this series!  It's a great YA mystery series set in a boarding school.  It has great characters, and I love that because of the location of the school, it gives the isolation thriller vibe!  This is the fourth in the Truly Devious series.  

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz.  (Just released today - August 3, 2021).  This was just announced today as a Reese Witherspoon Book Club book.  This psychological thriller sounds great!  Two friends go backpacking in South America, and end up with a dead body in their hotel room.   Hmmm..  right up my ally.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConoghy.  (Just released today - August 3, 2021).   Two sister on a team to reintroduce gray wolves to the Highlands of Scotland.  It seems to be successful, until a farmer ends of dead.  Are the wolves to blame, or someone closer to the sisters??  

The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding.  (To be released on August 10, 2021).  This is a psychological thriller about a family.  Small pranks start happening, and they begin to escalate revealing secrets...

Survive the Night by Riley Sager.  (Already released - June 29, 2021).  I loved Home Before Dark!  This book looks to be different.  A guy gets a ride share with a stranger, things get creepy.  This sounds like some of the horror movies I watched as a kid.  I'm definitely looking forward to this one.  

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-lyimide.  (Already released - June 1, 2021). This is a YA book.   I have heard so many good things about this book.  Imagine a mix of Gossip Girl and Get Out!  I can't wait to read this one!!!

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean (Already released - May 18, 2021).  I mean, come on!  Look at this cover!!  It's so beautiful, I was immediately drawn to this book.  This YA book is one of Reese Witherspoon's Book Club selections.  It's about a Japanese-American girl who finds out that her father is the crown-prince of Japan.  Definitely getting the Princess Diary vibes here.  Yes, please!

How We Fall Apart Katie Zhao. (To be released on August 17, 2021).  This YA book is being compared to a mix of Crazy Rich Asians and One of Us is Lying.  I'm definitely looking forward to this one.

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee.  (Just released today - August 3, 2021).  This YA book sounds so creepy and awesome.  It's about a boarding school with a history of witchcraft, and two students who start digging up the past.  Yes!

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee.  (Okay, not too recently released - March 2, 2021).  This is another Reese Witherspoon selection.  In this YA book, the main character is the daughter of a lady's maid who anonymously writes an advice column, which she uses to address problems she sees in society.  This leads to backlash.  This books looks like it has some Titanic, and maybe some Bridgerton vibes.  Looks like a good read.

Ophie's Ghost by Justina Ireland.  (Already released - May 18, 2021).  Yea!  This one just popped into my Libby/Overdrive bookshelf (audiobook).  This is a middle grade book about a young girl, Ophie, who learns she can see ghosts.  Due to tragic events, she and her mother have to leave Georgia and move to Pittsburg.  Her mother gets a job in an old manor house...ghosts...you can see where this is going.  Yes, I can't wait!

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk.  (Already released - April 27, 2021).  This is another middle grade book.  I am so enchanted by the cover!  The main character, Ellie, and her family, move from town to a home in the "wilderness" to start a new life.  This book sounds so beautiful and heartwarming!

Okay, I could go on, but I will stop here.