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Stella is sick. No, not with the typical cold or flu, as Stella would rather have, but with a rare disease: Cystic Fibrosis. Her lungs have been faulty all her life and she hopes to obtain a lung transplant soon. In order to fulfill this goal, Stella attempts to maintain constant control of her life, risking nothing that would prevent her from getting the transplant. That is until she meets Will, who's only thing in common with Stella is his Cystic Fibrosis. With no care about control (or his medication) Will is fascinated with Stella and her orderly life. However, their illness prevents them from coming closer than six feet apart, and any close contact could jeopardize everything. Stella wants nothing to do with Will, how could she risk everything she's ever wanted? Yet as the two become closer, being six feet apart seems unbearable.
This was a good teen romance that captured what it's like to be controlled by something completely out of control or reach.
Stella is sick. No, not with the typical cold or flu, as Stella would rather have, but with a rare disease: Cystic Fibrosis. Her lungs have been faulty all her life and she hopes to obtain a lung transplant soon. In order to fulfill this goal, Stella attempts to maintain constant control of her life, risking nothing that would prevent her from getting the transplant. That is until she meets Will, who's only thing in common with Stella is his Cystic Fibrosis. With no care about control (or his medication) Will is fascinated with Stella and her orderly life. However, their illness prevents them from coming closer than six feet apart, and any close contact could jeopardize everything. Stella wants nothing to do with Will, how could she risk everything she's ever wanted? Yet as the two become closer, being six feet apart seems unbearable.
This was a good teen romance that captured what it's like to be controlled by something completely out of control or reach.
Abby desperately wants a baby. Nothing has worked out; not the treatments and not the potential adoptions. Losing hope and grieving with her husband, Sam, Abby is shocked when a solution finally arises: Monica. Monica is Abby's assistant at work and has offered to be Abby's surrogate. Despite the deep worry Abby feels, she convinces Sam, who doesn't like the idea, that this is the chance to finally have a child. With the conditions set and off to a great start with Monica, Abby is ecstatic about the future of being a mother. Except, when things start going downhill and Monica's behavior begins to raise concerns. As Abby becomes even more suspicious of Monica, she experiences a downhill spiral of events. Abby, with no one to turn to, realizes that Monica may not be such a miracle after all...
I would be surprised if you haven't already read this book--not just because it's well-known! If you don't know the classic story of a neglected child turned super-genius, I'm telling you, you're missing out. When least favorite child Matilda teaches herself to read at the age of two, she soon unlocks a whole new realm of possibility. With her parents out of the house at least one day of every week, Matilda is free to go to the library and read whenever. With her new intelligence, she finds creative ways to punish her parents' cruel treatment. But the fun really starts when she starts school. Run by the tyrannic Trunchbull, Matilda has to find a way to help her teacher, Ms. Honey with an even better power than knowledge that she got from books. I would say this book is a must read for kids of all ages!
Margret "Jet" Mason's motto has always been "there's always later." But everything changes when, on Halloween night, someone breaks into her house and fatally hits her on the back of the head three times. The doctors tell her that, due to the resulting brain aneurism, Jet only has seven more days left to live. Determined to solve her own murder, Jet and her childhood friend, Billy, set out to expose the secrets surrounding that night. With Jet's time running out, they must find the killer before it is too late.
"Not Quite Dead Yet" is one of the best books I have read all year. Holly Jackson blended her signature captivating murder mystery with an almost "The Fault in Our Stars"-style doomed romance, causing me to completely fall in love with this book! Not only were the characters both relatable and loveable, but I was moved to tears by how real all the situations felt. This book is a perfect mix of a thrilling and twisty mystery and heartbreaking love story, perfectly executed with Jackson's amazing writing style. I would recommend "Not Quite Dead Yet" to anyone, regardless of whether or not YA murder mysteries are your go-to genre, as the unique plot makes this book truly one of a kind.
For any Hunger Games fans out there, this book is incredible! Sunrise on the Reaping revisits a favored character from the original books: Haymitch Abernathy. The book revolves around his experiences before, during, and after the 50th Hunger Games.
When Haymitch’s 16th birthday comes around, he must sacrifice himself for the one he loves and is selected to be in the “Second Quarter Quell” — a game with more opponents and decreased odds, especially coming from District 12. He faces challenging experiences in the Capitol with threats from President Snow, differentiating friends versus foe, and watching those he cares about die. He realizes after the games he will never be safe or at peace like he dreamed of.
The book brilliantly portrays themes seen throughout the original trilogy and the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: love, despair, resilience, and defiance. The relationship between these themes in all of Collins books made this book not only a heart-wrenching shocker, but it also explained how Haymitch Abernathy’s 50th games shaped the 74th Hunger Games. If you’re looking for a book filled with love, heartbreak, plot-twists, defiance, and a nostalgically classic dystopian feel, Sunrise on the Reaping is the book for you!
"The Queen's Spade" by Sarah Raughley tells the story of Ina Omoba, better known as Sarah "Sally" Forbes Bonetta, who was Queen Victoria's African goddaughter. After being taken from her homeland in Nigeria and witnessing her friend's murder at the crown's hands, Sally is determined to get her revenge on Queen Victoria and her inner circle. Enlisting the help of her friend, Rui, Sally works behind the scenes to expose secrets and create chaos, ruining the lives of all those who had hurt her. This is a true story based on Sarah Forbes Bonetta's real life in the 1800s, reimagining her life to create a YA romantacy.
When I read the synopsis for this book, I was really excited for its potential. The idea of reimagining such an interesting historical figure's story was really intriguing, and the revenge plot seemed exciting. However, after reading this book, I was sorely disappointed. The plot fell flat, as the storytelling was often confusing and seemed unorganized and even rushed. None of the characters were developed, and it was hard to like any of them. Additionally, the ending was dissatisfying, left a lot of unnecessary loose ends, and was not historically accurate at all, which was heartbreaking and took a lot away from Sarah Forbes Bonetta's story. I was really looking forward to reading this book, but the execution was so poorly done that I could not enjoy it. I would not recommend reading it.
The Cruel Prince is just straight up amazing. I LOVED Jude and her development as a character and how it was done. Cardan is a 10/10 no notes. This book is the original enemies to lovers and I am here for it! The only thing about this book is it can tend to have a lot of politics which might confuse readers but otherwise this is a masterfully written book that transports readers to the land of Faerie. Would recommend this to most if not all fantasy readers as it is a staple of the genre.
The Cruel Prince is just straight up amazing. I LOVED Jude and her development as a character and how it was done. Cardan is a 10/10 no notes. This book is the original enemies to lovers and I am here for it! The only thing about this book is it can tend to have a lot of politics which might confuse readers but otherwise this is a masterfully written book that transports readers to the land of Faerie. Would recommend this to most if not all fantasy readers as it is a staple of the genre.
The Cruel Prince is just straight up amazing. I LOVED Jude and her development as a character and how it was done. Cardan is a 10/10 no notes. This book is the original enemies to lovers and I am here for it! The only thing about this book is it can tend to have a lot of politics which might confuse readers but otherwise this is a masterfully written book that transports readers to the land of Faerie. Would recommend this to most if not all fantasy readers as it is a staple of the genre.
First off, I love Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and this novel did not disappoint. A bunch of kids with talents like analyzing people and detecting lies solving cold cases in the FBI? Yes please! Cassie's backstory was well thought out, and I loved her character development. The mystery was also very well thought out and the plot twists omg! The only part I didn't love was the hinted at love triangle mainly because it didn't feel essential to the story. I loved the You chapters (serial killer perspective), which were equally creepy and interesting. This book is perfect for mystery lovers, the only thing I wouldn't recommend doing is reading this in the dead of night haha.
After reading A Court of Thorns and Roses, I was hesitant to pick up Throne of Glass, but I was pleasantly surprised. Throne of Glass is masterpiece. Celeana is a take no prisoners kick butt character and I fell in love with her narrating immediately. This is now my new favorite series, and I am happy to say it only gets better from here. Maas's world building skills are on full display here and mixed with the captivating plot, it was a quick and exciting read. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy with girl power main character!
If you are looking for the perfect enemies to lovers/romantasy look no further! Fourth Wing is a masterpiece by Yarros who combines master world building skills with an exciting and engaging plot. I really liked Violet's determination, perseverance, and acceptance of her circumstances. Her character was well rounded and a 5-star narrator. Xaden and Violet's chemistry was off the charts, and it really added that final piece to the plot. I would definitely read again and again and again. This is the perfect book for romance and fantasy lovers.
A Court of Thorns and Roses was really disappointing mostly because of the main character Feyre. She was whiny, obnoxious and all around a dislikable person. I struggled to finish to read this book and didn't finish the second one. This plot has the potential to be great with a few tweaks and character changes but instead it fell flat. This book is all hype and no substance and the only redeeming part of the book was Rhys. I would not recommend this book to anyone with little patience for terrible books.
“What If It’s Us?” is a LGBTQIA+ romance book involving two teens in New York. The two main characters, Ben and Arthur, meet in a post office. Ben, 17 years old and a New York resident, is there to mail his ex-boyfriend’s stuff back to him. Arthur, 16 years old and staying for the summer because of an internship, held the door open for Ben and became interested in him. The two hit it off, but they end up getting separated by a flash mob proposal. The two keep thinking of each other and how they want to meet again, but they have a hard time finding each other. Arthur finally figures out a way to get Ben’s email, and the two reconnect. Their whole summer together is filled with ups and downs, laughter, and drama.
“What If It’s Us?” is a sweet, well-written book. The characters are very likable and diverse. Arthur and Ben have a realistic relationship, with the two having their ups and downs since they come from different backgrounds. Arthur, coming from a well-off white family, and Ben, coming from a lower-class Puerto Rican family. The two also have some very sweet romantic moments that touched my heart. The plot has a nice climax, and the ending makes sense for the characters and the story. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are fans of LGBTQIA+ romance.
“What If It’s Us?” is a LGBTQIA+ romance book involving two teens in New York. The two main characters, Ben and Arthur, meet in a post office. Ben, 17 years old and a New York resident, is there to mail his ex-boyfriend’s stuff back to him. Arthur, 16 years old and staying for the summer because of an internship, held the door open for Ben and became interested in him. The two hit it off, but they end up getting separated by a flash mob proposal. The two keep thinking of each other and how they want to meet again, but they have a hard time finding each other. Arthur finally figures out a way to get Ben’s email, and the two reconnect. Their whole summer together is filled with ups and downs, laughter, and drama.
“What If It’s Us?” is a sweet, well-written book. The characters are very likable and diverse. Arthur and Ben have a realistic relationship, with the two having their ups and downs since they come from different backgrounds. Arthur, coming from a well-off white family, and Ben, coming from a lower-class Puerto Rican family. The two also have some very sweet romantic moments that touched my heart. The plot has a nice climax, and the ending makes sense for the characters and the story. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are fans of LGBTQIA+ romance.
This book has all the makings of a great book--a sweet plot, magic, and of course, candy. The storyline follows Nate, who moves to a new town and joins a club with three other kids: daredevil Summer, steadfast Trevor, and brainy Pigeon. When the new sweet shop shows up in town, they have no idea how good-or dangerous-the candy could be. Mrs. White, the owner, is the sweet old lady who owns the shop, but is that all she is? Can normal people make candy that lets you leap twelve times as high as you could? Soon, she has recruited the four kids. They do special missions in return for magic candy, but something doesn't feel right. Soon, the kids begin to suspect Mrs. White. However, they might be too late, and how can they expect to fight against magic? This book is full of unexpected twists and is an enjoyable read. The combination of candy and magic is too good to resist. Definitely check it out!
When my mom recommended this book to me, I was skeptical, because I don't read a lot of ghost/horror stories. However, though there are some eerie specters and situations, the overall feel of the book is dry comments and tea parties. This book takes place in an alternate London, where an epidemic has broke out. It's called The Problem, and it is ghosts returning from beyond the grave. There are many agencies that people hire to fight against ghosts using salt and iron. Only children and teenagers can see and hear ghosts, but everyone can die from ghost touch. Some children are born with psychic talents that allow for easier recognition of ghosts, and so can defeat them easier. The series follows Lucy Joan Carlyle, an agent who joins a small company, the smallest in the city, and the ghosts they find, but in the third one, an especially large outbreak plagues London. Every agency is out every night (ghosts don't come out during the day) fighting ghosts and searching for the source of the outbreak. Lucy and her team, charming and fearless Lockwood, the leader of the group, George, a crusty intellectual, and Holly, perfection personified and a new addition to the team, need to find the source. They need to find it quickly, before there are more casualties. Overall, I loved the writing style, as the characters seem real though the circumstances are outlandish and the whole series is definitely worth reading. I personally have read all the books at least twice, and some parts still surprise me!
This book is in my top five of all time. I really enjoyed the writing style as it makes the characters easier to relate to. Every time I reread it, I noticed something new, a detail here and there. The plot seems sad in the beginning, and sad things happen, but the end puts the sweet in bittersweet. It follows the main character, Doug Sweiteck and his transition to Marysville as he struggles with two big secrets that Schmidt reveals through the actions of the characters--so read carefully, you don't want to miss anything. When Doug sees James John Audubon's paintings of a variety of birds, they change his life. The character growth between all the characters is astonishing and it shocked me. Definitely check it out!
This book is in my top five of all time. I really enjoyed the writing style as it makes the characters easier to relate to. Every time I reread it, I noticed something new, a detail here and there. The plot seems sad in the beginning, and sad things happen, but the end puts the sweet in bittersweet. It follows the main character, Doug Sweiteck and his transition to Marysville as he struggles with two big secrets that Schmidt reveals through the actions of the characters--so read carefully, you don't want to miss anything. When Doug sees James John Audubon's paintings of a variety of birds, they change his life. The character growth between all the characters is astonishing and it shocked me. Definitely check it out!
This book is in my top five of all time. I really enjoyed the writing style as it makes the characters easier to relate to. Every time I reread it, I noticed something new, a detail here and there. The plot seems sad in the beginning, and sad things happen, but the end puts the sweet in bittersweet. It follows the main character, Doug Sweiteck and his transition to Marysville as he struggles with two big secrets that Schmidt reveals through the actions of the characters--so read carefully, you don't want to miss anything. When Doug sees James John Audubon's paintings of a variety of birds, they change his life. The character growth between all the characters is astonishing and it shocked me. Definitely check it out!
"I Love You So Mochi" is a book about a Japanese American girl named Kimi who visits Japan on a journey of self-discovery. Her mother is a famous painter who wants her to follow in her footsteps. However, Kimi doesn't feel like painting suits her as a career. After an argument with her mom about her career, she gets a letter from her estranged grandpa, inviting her to visit Japan for spring break. Kimi takes up her grandpa's offer, later meeting a cute boy who offers to be her tour guide for Japan. For just a week, Kimi has the chance to discover herself, connect with family, and fall in love.
This book was really touching. The author does a great job characterizing the characters and making them feel human. The moments when Kimi emails her mom and describes her original designs are also awesome. I really enjoyed reading about the main character and learning about her style of clothing. The romance between the two main characters is so adorable, and I was definitely feeling sad when I came to the last day of Kimi's trip. All in all, this is a wonderful, sweet read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a delightful book.
"The Sun and the Star" is a book in the Percy Jackson universe that is set after "Trials of Apollo" and before "Magnus Chase". Nico keeps having weird dreams where a disembodied voice calls out to him, asking for help. When the Oracle of Delphi sends Nico on a quest to the Underworld, Will, his boyfriend, goes with him. The two go on a journey in the Underworld, and they have to face many hardships. It may seem like the world is against them, but with their love, they can get through anything.
This book is amazing. As always, Rick Riordan manages to move me to tears. Throughout the book, there are little excerpts from later on that make you want to read more. It's very captivating and I could not stop reading it. I would 100% recommend you read this book if you've finished the Trials of Apollo series!
"The Tenant" is a chilling thriller that will you leave you questioning if you should ever open your home to strangers...
Things are not going well for Blake. Having just lost his job (and dignity) Blake faces intense stress over how he's going to pay off his house and make a living for him and his fiancé. Felling incredibly grateful to his fiancé, Krista, for still sticking around, he continues to search for ways to make money. When Krista suggest they rent out a room in the house, Blake is hesitant, but not for long when he realizes this might give him the break he needs. Whitney is a perfect candidate to be a tenant and everything goes perfectly at first. That is, until Blake becomes convinced Whitney is becoming vindictive and malicious towards him. With no one believing him, Blake is determined to figure out who Whitney really is and to stop her from tormenting his life. Except what he finds is far from what he expected...
"The Tenant" was a really interesting read and definitely kept me on my toes and needing to know what happens next.
"Unwind" is a sci-fi dystopian masterpiece that everyone should read. "Unwind" follows Connor, Lev, and Risa, each with a very different life and story. Despite their differences there is one thing they all have in common; they have been scheduled to be unwound. Being unwound is every teenager's worst nightmare, unless that is you're a tithe. After a war that happened long before Connor, Lev, and Risa's time, a decision was made that any child between the ages of 13 and 18 can be unwound, aka have their body harvested to be used for others who need transplants, if their parents so decided. Despite societies persistence that being unwound is a way for the kids to live on forever, Connor, Lev, and Risa have other plans for their future...
"Unwind" is a sci-fi dystopian masterpiece that everyone should read. "Unwind" follows Connor, Lev, and Risa, each with a very different life and story. Despite their differences there is one thing they all have in common; they have been scheduled to be unwound. Being unwound is every teenager's worst nightmare, unless that is you're a tithe. After a war that happened long before Connor, Lev, and Risa's time, a decision was made that any child between the ages of 13 and 18 can be unwound, aka have their body harvested to be used for others who need transplants, if their parents so decided. Despite societies persistence that being unwound is a way for the kids to live on forever, Connor, Lev, and Risa have other plans for their future...
Another one of Lois Lowry's inspirational books, "Gathering Blue" tells a powerful story. The book follows Kira, a girl with a disability living in a society where disabilities and weakness is frowned upon and cast out. After her mother's death, Kira fears what will become of her future, only to learn she has been chosen to repair a sacred item that is of the utmost important in her societies traditions. Being chosen to do this task offers Kira a place to live, eat, and cease worrying about her future. With a new and much more luxurious life, all seems well to Kira at first. However as she meets more people with unique talents like her, she begins to question her work and everything she's been taught, especially when she discovers a shocking secret she never could have thought to have been true...
"Shut Up, This Is Serious" follows Belen as she struggles to come to terms with her father's abandonment and her current mental health struggles. Attempting to help her best friend, Leti, as she as she manages her teen pregnancy, Belen struggles to find herself at the same time. "Shut Up, This Is Serious" is a realistic fiction story detailing the challenges young Latina girls face through a fictional plot with dynamic and diverse characters.
Before reading "Shut Up, This Is Serious", I was looking forward to an interesting YA novel that was full of high school drama and heartwarming moments as Belen grows and changes throughout the plot. However, I ended up not enjoying this book, and having to finish it felt like a chore. Even though I liked the idea and some aspects of the plot, the execution and Ixta's writing style made this book less engaging and was oftentimes confusing. The characters were not relatable and seemed distant, while the plot was chaotic and seemed to skip around a lot. Overall, I would not recommend this book, because the execution of the story line was uninteresting and pretty disappointing.
This book was absolutely amaze! It's a thought-provoking science fiction novel in which the protagonist has to find a solution to the world-ending microorganisms, Astrophage. It just so happens that this book was a required reading in one of my classes. The protagonist has a fantastic sense of humor and chemistry with the other character, Rocky. I loved how there were two timelines that progressively revealed more information about how our protagonist ended up in their current position, as the protagonist figures that out himself. All of the science in this book was well thought out and was explained in a mostly easy-to-understand way. It felt like every chapter was a cliffhanger, and every plot twist was surprising in a way that, when looking back, seems obvious. My one and only critique of the story is that the ending felt a bit rushed, and it seemed like the roadblocks during the end were solved without going into depth about the solutions. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy science fiction; it was my all-time favorite.
Initially, this book was handed out as an assignment for ELA, but after being quizzed and thoroughly reading through the book, I can positively say that the topic explored throughout this story is probably one of the most intriguing ones I've read this year, as it takes inspiration from events that have happened and continue to happen to this day. The central conflict of this story stems from the protagonist, Phillip, who gets into trouble for repeatedly humming the national anthem during homeroom. What makes me love this story, however, is the use of media to further the plot. Many small events that occur daily are often blown out of proportion due to social media platforms like TikTok or YouTube. This is a significant theme in the plot, and one I'm a big fan of. Phillip is an interesting character as the protagonist; he is inherently selfish and avoids responsibility while somewhat twisting the truth about events. However, I think these traits are very relatable to teenagers, who would most likely react similarly if put in that position. My only issue with the book is the pacing, as it sometimes feels like the plot isn't progressing.