Hello Universe by Erin Estrada Kelly The individual paths of Virgil Salinas, Valencia Somerset, and Kaori Tanaka are united by fate or as Kaori would say, by the universe itself. Virgil ends up in an old well - thanks to a bully named Chet Bullens. But things end up better than he could've ever imagined. I …
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng My neice is an avid reader and suggested I read Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. So I did. I don't usually review books I would have reservations recommending. But this story deals with so many issues which are relevant to our young adult readers, I recommend it with …
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary A sixth grade writing assignment connects Leigh Botts with his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. In his letters to Mr. Henshaw, Leigh opens up about his parents' divorce, his feelings toward his father, and the struggles he has at his new school. Mr. Henshaw suggests Leigh keep a diary. Leigh takes …
The Mona Lisa Mirror Mystery by Latayne C. Scott The Mona Lisa Mirror Mystery by Latayne C. Scott is a novella which takes the reader back and forth between the present-day world and Renaissance Italy. A strange sensation overcomes sixteen-year-old, Addy Serna, while she’s looking into the eyes of the Mona Lisa print hanging on her …
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle Father is missing and Meg's mother is lost in her lab work. Meg and her brother, Charles Wallace, have been making the best of the situation despite the teasing at school. Rather than believing her father chose to leave them, Meg's convinced something happened to him. When Mrs. Whatsit …
Looking for Alaska is well written and deals with death and dying in a fresh way. Nevertheless, the moral tone and worldview are not Christian - sex, profanity, disrespect for authority are prevalent. But this is the world our children are exposed to, and books are effective tools for discussing these topics with our teenage …
The Illuminae Files_01 by Annie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, is written in the style of a report from varied sources. This creative approach was a bit distracting at first, but as soon as I got caught up in the drama I was turning pages too fast to notice. Kady and Ezra flee for their lives …
