Friday, July 30, 2021
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Book Review - This is Not the Jess Show
📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖
by Anna Carey
It's 1998, and Jess Flynn is trying to get through junior year without drama, but it keeps finding her. Her parents are overprotective, her sister's health condition is getting worse, and she is developing a crush on her childhood friend. Add in the fact that her town of Swickley seems to get weirder by the day, and not just because half the town seems to have come down with the flu. Jess begins to question her town, especially after a strange rectangular device falls out of her friend's bag.
If you think this is historical fiction, you're wrong. It's actually a thriller/suspense novel. There are several twists and turns, most of which you won't see coming. When it comes to the characters, they are a mix of likable and not. A fun and enjoyable read.
Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio
Friday, July 23, 2021
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Book Review - The Far Away Brothers
📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖
by Lauren Markham
After ending up on the wrong side of a gang in El Salvador, seventeen-year-old Ernesto Flores must flee to the United States for his safety. His identical twin brother Raul soon follows for his own safety. After facing a treacherous journey to cross the border, the boys are met with a challenging life in the States. Ernesto and Raul are fortunate they have their older brother who had traveled North years early, making certain things more manageable. However, since he also traveled illegally to the States, there are still several obstacles.
Names and certain aspects were changed for privacy reasons, but this is a true story—the book adapted from the adult novel of the same name. Ernesto and Raul’s story is the main focus, but readers also get insight into the family they left behind. Their story is eye-opening into what immigrants go through to get to a safer life in the United States but still met with challenges. Certain aspects of the story are a little heavy but handled in an age-appropriate way. At times the story reads like fiction, making it easier to read for those who aren’t non-fiction fans. It is just important to remember that while names may be changed, this story is not made up.
Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio
Friday, July 16, 2021
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Book Review - Little & Lion
📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖
by Brandy Colbert
Suzette returns home to L.A. after spending the year at boarding school in New England. Between the fact that L.A. is where her friends and family are and an incident that occurred right before heading home, she isn't sure she wants to return to boarding school in the fall. Her stepbrother Lionel also needs her support, having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Things get complicated when Suzette finds herself not only crushing on her old friend Emil but on this new girl she met. This girl is the same one who Lionel is also crushing on.
Little and Lion is an excellent portrayal of how mental health often affects a person's living life and their loved ones. This book covers many aspects of diversity regarding race, religion, ability, and sexual orientation. While's mental illness is a significant plot point, the other is Suzette coming to terms with her sexual identity. The story's main plot takes place over the summer, but there are flashback chapters included that are important to the story.
Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio
Friday, July 9, 2021
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Book Review - Sunkissed
📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖
by Kasie West
Avery’s parents have dragged her and her sister Lauren to a family camp for summer. Which wouldn’t be so bad, she is away from her best friend who betrayed her, but the camp has no internet, her sister is always in her face, and the cute staff member Brooks is off-limits. So when Avery sets off on a journey to try new things and find herself, with the help of the attractive off-limits staff member, her summer turns into a worldwide adventure complete with romance.
If you are looking for a great summer read that isn’t super summery, this is one to check out. Despite some drama, it is a light read. The characters are mostly likable, but some may be hard to keep straight. There is a heavy focus on music in this book, as Brooks is a musician, but don’t worry if you’re not knowledgeable about it. You won’t be lost or confused.
Friday, July 2, 2021
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