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).