The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 344
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 16+

Daniel and Natasha meet by chance, or fate, or coincidence. Daniel is sure she's the one, but Natasha doesn't believe in love. Besides, she only has one day before her family is deported. In one day, Daniel tries convince her that love can be scientific while she tries stop her family's deportation.

I was halfway through this book when I thought "This kind of reminds me of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." And in a way it did, but not because of the obvious reasons. Sun isn't full of facetious nonsense, nor does it take place in space. It was more that Yoon included a third-party narrator, apart from Daniel and Natasha, who will occasionally interrupt to explain certain things; eyes or time travel paradoxes, or a certain minor character's history. So really, it's nothing like Hitchhiker's.

I liked how Yoon showed that every person can affect each person that they come in contact with. The person in the street, the driver of the car that almost hit you, the train conductor--whoever it is, we're all connected. Maybe it is coincidence or dark matter or fate, but it happens and it's hard deny that.

It was interesting to see the lives of children of immigrants and immigrants themselves. It's something that I have no firsthand knowledge about and know very little in general, except the stereotypes given on TV and in movies. But Yoon knows firsthand, and I think that that gave the story more heart and more validity than anything else. Children that have to carry their parents' expectations of the "American Dream" on their shoulders, who are American, but at the same time, experience the culture of their parents. It was an interesting to view that, even as an outsider.

There was a bit of strong language and some sexual references.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: A Feiwel and Friends Book
Pages: 449
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 13+

Despite being the daughter of a marquess, Catherine only wants to be a baker. Her tarts are known throughout Hearts, and have even earned her the attention of the King of Hearts. However, it's the joker who has caught her eye, and who shows her a world completely different from the Hearts she has known.

I love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I feel that many people don't understand it's importance in literary history, or pass it off as some kind of drug-induced dream (my opinions of this theory are strong and could fill another post on its own). I think that Meyer has the same kind of love and admiration for Carroll's most popular work, because it showed in Heartless.

The kingdom of Hearts is just as strange as we see in Wonderland, with caterpillars and penguins who talk and work, but seen through the eyes of Catherine, who is from Hearts, it is all completely normal. Which is a great way to treat it, and I was pleased to find everything also seemed normal to me. I like how straight from the start, I could pick out familiar characters and see how they fit into the story I already knew.

Catherine is presented as a sympathetic character, with strengths and faults, who experiences things that turns her into a character we are all familiar.

A great one-off story from an author who wrote a series I love.

No language or sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Best Possible Answer by E. Katherine Kottaras

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 260
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 14+

Viviana has always been expected to be good, do well in school, not date, and get in Stanford. But things fall apart when a private photo makes the rounds at her school. Suddenly, her father is gone and Vivi can't seem to pull herself together. Only her friend Sammie has remained constant, but that might change when they both meet Evan.

What happens when too many expectations are put on a person?   Can one mistake ruin everything? We're able to learn along with Vivi that expecting to be perfect, and learning that we're not, can have long and harmful effects on a person.

This novel deals with death, illness, unfaithfulness, anxiety, friendship, cyber bullying, and many more topics. Most teens--most people--deal with one or more of these throughout their life. Vivi has to learn how to live with them, in the best possible way, just like we all do.

There is little language and some sexual innuendos.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Anderson; illustrated by Sanna Annukka

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Publication date: 2012
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Pages: 45
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 8+

The young fir tree in the forest wants nothing more than to grow up. As it grows, it sees men come and get the tall majestic trees, and the small beautiful trees, and it wonders where they go and dreams of traveling.

I've read quite a bit by Hans Christian Anderson, but never this story. Like most of his fairytales, The Fir Tree is a moral story. The tree doesn't enjoy its youth or the small moments in life. The ending is actually rather sad.

Annuka's illustrations in this edition are gorgeous. The modern geometric pictures perfectly complement Anderson's 19th century story in a way that wouldn't seem possible at first.

This is a quick, bittersweet little story that should be added to everyone's Christmas reading list. As the rays of sunlight tell the tree, "Enjoy your youth!"

There is no language or sex.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

A Taste for Monsters by Matthew J. Kirby

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 343
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 13+

When Evelyn becomes the maid to Joseph Merrick, the "Elephant Man," she's just grateful to be off the streets and away from prying eyes. But then the ghosts of murdered women start to visit Joseph and Evelyn must leave the safety of the hospital in order to put them to rest.

This is another Jack the Ripper story, though what was new and interesting about this one is that it focused more on the victims than it did on the murderer. Because of the type of women that the victims were, very little thought was given to them and who they were, besides the most basic of information. Kirby gives them history and sadness and reason.

Kirby's theory on who Jack the Ripper was is interesting too, though I found myself wanting more answers than were given in the book.

Evelyn was a relatable protagonist, not because most of us have  physical scarring, but because we have all have emotional and mental scarring. She's also a good person, with some faults, but who sticks to her word and takes care of Joseph with kindness and friendship, despite his own disfigurements.

There is no language, though some sexual references especially concerning prostitution.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
Pages: 437
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 15+

Viyara is the last city in the world, protected from the Ruining by a magic wall that is protected by the Sisters of Thorn. There is an unsteady peace among the three clans, one that is shaken when Romeo kills a Catresou, though he's in love with the Catresou's "sword," the Juliet. When Romeo and Juliet are separated, each forms an unlikely bond to try to find a better way to save the city and its inhabitants.

Hodge is one of the most unique writers I have come across. She can take stories that we all know and turn them around, upside down, adding a bit of a twist there and creating an entire new story that just shares the bare bones of the original. Her world building is, as always, on point.

The writing in Bright Smoke is just as precise as in her other novels, though it seemed to have some dark undertones to me. Not really in the writing or anything, but in the feeling I received from it, if that makes any sense. Also, this seems to be the beginning of a series, which I wasn't expecting and made me a little disappointed when I started getting close to the end and realized that there wasn't any way that it would all be satisfactorily wrapped up.

There isn't any language, but there are some vague references to sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Master Lists for Writers by Bryn Donavan

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Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Munds Park Publishing
Pages: 269
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 18+

Do you ever find yourself lacking the right word, or not knowing how to perfectly describe how one of your characters is feeling without telling it? Master Lists for Writers contains over 50 lists of descriptions, words, plots, names, and more.

I came across Donovan's website while searching for writing resources on Pinterest. I found her lists interesting and helpful, so I bought her book.

Just reading through this book helped me realize things about me as a writer, especially when it comes to my weaknesses and how to make them better. This isn't just a book of lists, but includes explanations of why certain things are important and how using things on the list effectively can make your writing better.

I put the age so high because there is a section geared toward romance writers, which discusses different aspects of sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.
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Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson
Pages: 318
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages:14+

Audrey Rose is not the typical society woman. She's fascinated by her uncle's work in medicine and spends her spare time studying cadavers. But when women start being killed, Audrey Rose must use her skills to try to find the killer--and she's certain it's someone she knows.

I am strangely obsessed with Jack the Ripper. Almost 130 years ago, someone killed five prostitutes over the course of three months and no one knows who. Everyone has their theories, but we'll never know who did it. Stalking takes that mystery and introduces some theories of its own, in the guise of a gripping forensic thriller.

Audrey Rose is the perfect kind of heroine. She doesn't see why she can't be beautiful and smart; why a woman can't have love and a career. She has strengths and weaknesses, which is what creates an interesting character, male or female.

Maniscalco presents the evidence in such a way that keeps you going along with Audrey Rose, instead of being two steps ahead of her, which I personally find annoying and makes the main character seem stupid. A great debut novel, both for the author and the publisher.

There was no language and no sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

You're Saying It Wrong by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Pages: 192
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 12+

Have you ever said a word and then been told you've been saying it wrong your whole life? In this book, we are given 150 of the most commonly mispronounced words in the English language, with the correct pronunciations and history behind the words. Never be caught in an awkward situation again! (Well, at least when it comes to pronunciation.)

The problem of being a reader is that I know a lot of words and what they mean, but haven't heard many of them ever said out loud. Which means that I have had a few embarrassing situations where I have said a wrong wrong.

This book is a great, and fun, resource. The pronunciations are written out phonetically, so you don't have to try to figure out what all the marks mean. Then the Petrases explain how the mispronunciation probably came about, and the history behind the words. This could be boring, if they weren't so entertaining.

There were a few words that I just couldn't seem to get my mouth around. Others, I was proud to see I already did pronounce right, even if I wasn't sure because I'd heard others say it wrong ("dais" being one).

Great book for all word people.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Diplomatic Immunity by Brodie Ashton

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 352
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 16+

When Piper is accepted on scholarship to Chiswick Academy, she is introduced to the life of the rich and privileged children of foreign ambassadors. She decides to do an expose on what her classmates can get away with, but things get complicated when she starts getting emotionally involved.

I look forward to Ashton's books, partly because each one is so different. This new novel focuses on two different worlds, with interesting and diverse characters.

Now, there is something that I did dislike and to anyone else it would seem so little, but as an editor I've been trained to pay attention to details. In one part of the book, Piper is picked up by a limo to go spend the evening at the Spanish Embassy. About 100 pages later, Piper is going on a date with the Secretary of State's son, and when he comes in a limo to pick her up, she says that she's never ridden in a limo before. At that point, I had to stop reading and flip back to make sure I remembered the previous experience correctly. This isn't the fault of the author, but I feel like should have been picked up by an editor at some point in the process.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the book and a look at the world I know very little about. I can't seem to think of anything else to say, except that I recommend it.

There were at least two instances of the f-word and some sexual innuendos.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

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Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 336
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 15+

Madeline is allergic to the world. It's a rare disease, without any cure, and it's kept her inside her entire life. She's been content experiencing life through her books until a new family moves in next door. Olly is movement and grace and life, with a dark family life. Maddy needs to decide whether staying inside and staying a live is better than experiencing real life for just a few days.

I'm ashamed to say that this book has been on my "to read" list for several months, if not a year. Every time I'd go in to look at it, I just didn't think it would be that interesting. I finally caved and picked it up from a display at the library. And I really liked it!

I couldn't wait to get to lunch to read it and hated having to go back to work (30 minutes just isn't long enough). There are some really interesting elements of the story telling in this book, which just adds to Maddy's story instead of distracting from it. Despite her naivety on "Outside," she's sassy and interesting.

There were some times when I thought, "Would Olly really want to be with this girl who can never leave her house, who he can't touch?" I'm not sure that a real high school boy would be so willing to pursue a girl like Maddy. Maybe I'm a cynic. It's also possible that Olly's home life has made him more sympathetic and willing to look past her illness.

There was very little language and one sexual encounter, not graphic.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle

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Publication date: 1980 (original); 2016 (this edition)
Publisher: Convergent
Pages: 190
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 15+

In an attempt to explain "Christian art;" L'Engle wrote this treatise on how all art is religious, if done well. If story is truth, there is religion in it, even if not written by a religious person.

I first read A Wrinkle in Time when I was in elementary school. And I remember reading it again in sixth grade with the class and I got upset when I was asked to read the part of one of the Mrs. and my teacher said I was reading it wrong. I pictured her with an ethereal, echoing kind of voice, but my teacher said it was a stutter. Anyway, that's off topic.

I read it again sometime in the last two years and I was struck by what a big part religion had in it. I loved it, because it showed what I believe, which is that God and science are not separate, but work together. Reading this book, I learned that L'Engle believed the same.

This book spoke to me as a writer, as a Christian, and as a "Christian writer." It felt so multifaceted and there was so much that spoke to me on all of these levels. At first I was marking passages with sticky notes on the page, but realized that I was marking nearly every page, so I switched to a highlighter. Advice on how to write, quotes on art or religion, facts or stories that spoke to me on some sort of level--these were all marked and I hope to look back over them when I need to.

There were times when I felt that I just couldn't keep up with L'Engle, her writing was so intelligent and high level. I couldn't understand it, but I know what it was about (something she says a reader told her about the first time she read Wrinkle).

Great and interesting read which shows just how talented and amazing L'Engle was.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

The Cure For Dreaming by Cat Winters

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Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 342
My rating: 4.5 stars
Ages: 13+

When Olivia's father decides she has become too rebellious, he hires mesmerist Henri Reverie to cure her of her "unfeminine" thoughts. After her hypnotism, she sees people for who they truly are: monsters, angels, ghosts. She is also unable to argue. Horrified, Olivia tries to convince Henri to put her back, but Henri needs the money Olivia's father promised him.

Set against the suffrage movement in Oregon, this book was an excellent look at the struggle of women not only to get the vote, but to be heard. There is a bit of fantasy, but it is interwoven in such a way that makes it seem typical of the period. To add to that, there are real photographs included at the beginning of several chapters of women or the places discussed.

When I picked this book up at the library, I thought it would be a kind of ghost story or mystery. Though that expectation was proven wrong, what I was given was so much better. I was so into the story of Olivia and Henri that I read it in one afternoon. It was interesting, informative, romantic, and gripping.

No language and no sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

What Nora Knew by Linda Yellin

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Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 292
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 18+

Molly is a divorcee in her late 30s. For her job she writes strange features for an online magazine; in her free time she watches Nicolas Cage movies with her boyfriend. Everything is fine until Molly is assigned an article on love--a la Nora Ephron. Suddenly, her cynicism and her relationship are called into question. Add into that a frustrating mystery writer and Molly's life is becoming a chick flick of her own.

I love Nora Ephron movies; chick flicks just aren't made the way that she made them. They didn't feel silly or over the top, just about two people and their journey to love. That's kind of how this book is. It may not have the finesse or ease of Ephron's writing, and it may be a bit predictable, but, as Molly says in the book, it's the journey to the happy ending that's important.

I actually found this book refreshing, in a way. In a world that seems to need hard language and steamy sex scenes in order to find anything interesting, Yellin went back to the basics. She used storylines, characters, plot, and inferences instead.

The love story may not have made me go all gooey like some, but it was a nice read.

Two instances of the f-word and references to sex and sex-related acts.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Every Frenchman Has One by Olivia de Havilland

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Publication date: 1961 (original); 2016 (this edition)
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Pages: 138
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 15+

In 1953, Olivia de Havilland (Hollywood movie star and Academy Award winner) moved to France to marry a Frenchman. From her American point of view, France and the French have many peculiarities, which she isn't afraid to share with the world.

To me, Olivia de Havilland will always be synonymous with Maid Marion, since that is the part of hers I know the best. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but de Havilland shares the things she has observed and learned living among the French with tremendous wit.

I laughed as she talked about learning the French language and the gaffes she made from not being familiar with the culture.

I'm glad that this book was printed again to celebrate de Havilland's 100th birthday. There is a new interview with her for the new edition, which shows that wit doesn't disappear with age.

Definitely recommend.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life by Jeff Wilser

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Pages: 291
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 14+

Alexander Hamilton has been overlooked in our schools, known by most as the person on the $10 bill. But in this unique book, Hamilton is more than some dead guy, he is a fount of wisdom on every part of life: careers, family, money, and etiquette.

The musical is all the rage right now, which has sparked renewed interest in Hamilton. Before reading this book, what I knew about Hamilton was he was killed in a duel and he was a Founding Father. But this guide made me interested in this amazing and complex man.

This isn't necessarily a biography. Instead, Wilser uses Hamilton's life as a framework to give advice. Or maybe he uses the advice as a framework to share Hamilton's life. However it is, it's interesting and engaging, even funny. It's like going to a lecture by your favorite college professor: he makes it fun and maybe takes a few liberties, but ultimately, you learn more from him than you do from anyone else.

I loved all the seemingly off-the-wall comments on Aaron Burr (which may only be funny to those who know Burr's significance).

All in all, an enlightening and entertaining read and look at history.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux
Pages: 451
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 14+

Ellison had the worst Monday of her life. She got a ticket, had a horrible school picture taken, had an allergic reaction, and to top it all off, her boyfriend broke up with her. All she wanted was a chance to do it all over again. When she wakes up the next morning, it's Monday all over again. And again. And again. All she needs is to get it right.

When I first started this book, I couldn't help but make comparisons to Before I Fall, which was also a Groundhog Day-esque story. Compared to Samantha's repeated day, Ellison's seemed trivial. However, when I let go of comparing, I was able to enjoy Mondays for what it is.

Though this kind of story isn't new (it's been done in movies, TV shows, TV movies, books . . .) I liked how Brody used it. It seems pretty straightforward at first--fix everything that went wrong the day before. But it's more than what just went wrong with Ellison, but her seeing outside of herself and noticing what is going on around her.

It was a fun, light book, which I needed after reading mysteries.

Little language and no sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon. 

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Banned Books Week takes place the last week of September every year. It's a time to bring awareness of the banning and challenging of books that is still prevalent in our society. To support the freedom to read, I choose a banned/challenged book that I've never read before. Because of this, my review is slightly different, as I tend to focus on the reason it was banned or challenged for most of the review. For more information on Banned Books Week, visit ala.org.

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Publication date: 2008
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 365
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 16+

When San Francisco is attacked, Marcus and his friends are taken to an undisclosed location to be questioned as terrorists. When they are let go, Marcus is determined to get back at them anyway he can. Setting up a secret web and gathering other protestors, Marcus tries to find ways to bring back the freedom that was taken from them the moment the Department of Homeland Security decided everyone was guilty until proven innocent. With the threat of prison hanging over his head, Marcus needs to find a way to evade the DHS and to win back his city.

Doctorow's novel was challenged and pulled from the curriculum at a Florida high school in 2014. The reason cited? It promoted questioning authority. Which was the entire point of the book. Authority should be questioned, especially if they seem to be doing something wrong. Our kids should be taught that it's okay to ask questions, to wonder if something is the right way to do something. That is how democracy works, what this entire country was built on.

Other reasons cited include hacking culture. Yes, hacking shouldn't really be the past time for the average teenager. And Marcus did some pretty illegal stuff. But hacking is so prevalent in movies and TVs, that I think kids are so used to hearing about it that it won't be anything new or revelatory to them. And I liked the way Doctorow explained the different parts of hacking and using computers in the way that his characters do. It was simple enough that even I understood what was happening, instead of it being a mysterious amount of typing.

There was some sex and sexual circumstances, but nothing graphic. Surprisingly, there was hardly any language. A brief mention of the "f-word" without the entire word spelled out.

I think that this book could act like a cautionary tale--what if the government did react the way it did in the book to terrorist attacks? What if we were suddenly part of a police state? What would that mean for us and how should we react?

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon. 

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 491
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 16+

It's all there in the history books: after the death of young King Edward of England, Jane Grey ruled for 9 days before being deposed and executed. But, the history books have gotten it all wrong. This is the true story of Lady Jane and King Edward.

I was immediately drawn to this book because of the cover and the promise of a historical romance. I did not know what I was getting into--but I'm glad I got into it.

If you are looking for historical fiction based on, you know, history, this isn't really the book for you. Instead, this is a reimagining of history; it's more like an alternative history with magic and people who can turn into animals. There are robbers, rebellions, kings, deceptions, and romance.

Jane is a headstrong, intelligent woman, faced with something she never wanted. G is a free spirit who just longs to run in the fields. Edward has never faced any hardship before, and his trust has been misplaced for far too long. Each of these characters grow and change and develop in the best possible way. The story is so full and complete. Every character, no matter how small, was interesting and unique. The narrators/authors are funny--and their pop culture references are a special treat.

I completely recommend this book to everyone. There is little to no language and some minute, veiled mentions of sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Pages: 348
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 14+

Witches, a curse, a spirit, and a secret. Samantha Mather is a descendant of Cotton Mather--one of the men who convicted witches during the trials in Salem. When she and her stepmother move to Salem, Sam is met with suspicion and outright harassment. This mostly comes from The Descendants--those teens who are directly descended from the people tried as witches. Then people start dying. With the help of a spirit, Sam must break a curse that she doesn't truly believe in.

I love how Mather 1) uses her own family history to create a story without it seeming like she was making Sam an avatar of herself, 2) used a well-known historical event and put it so seamlessly into a new and interesting story.

The characters were engaging and mysterious. Mather gives the reader just enough information to keep them interested without getting frustrated. I, as I do when reading mystery, tried to make out who was behind it all. I did think of the solution, but kept passing it off as ridiculous.

This is another book that I would recommend to a lot of people--especially when looking at it through the lens of Mather's author note at the end.

Little to no language and no sex.

*I receive no compensation from Amazon.
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The Gilded Cage by Lucinda Gray

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Pages: 245
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 14+

Katherine's and her brother, George's, lives changed the day an attorney came to their small farm in Virginia. Just a few months later they are in England, the only heirs of a large estate and a title. But just as they are getting settled, George dies. Everyone says it's an accident, but Katherine is certain he was killed. That, with the rumor of a beast on the estate and a strange poacher, Katherine is starting to think there is something very wrong about what she has inherited.

A period piece mystery . . . I think that was exactly what I needed when I started this book. Katherine is young, but confident in herself--even when put into a completely foreign situation. She wasn't going to let anyone change her mind, not when what they are saying doesn't add up.

I did have a little bit of a beef with the romance story. Katherine seemed to too quickly change her affections from one man to another. It was pretty obvious (to me) who she was going to end up with, but in less than 250 pages, there are no less than three men mentioned/she has a moment with. I think that the story could have still had the same elements without one of those moments, instead focusing on her developing feelings and confusion toward the main counterpart.

Very mild language and no sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Pages: 121
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 8+

Women have been contributing to science since the beginning of time, though it has always been difficult. From Hypatia in Ancient Egypt to astronaut Mae Jemison, this book celebrates and introduces these women to a new generation of scientists.

This book is wonderful! Each scientist gets her own two page spread, with a wonderful illustration of her and her work, along with a quote, interesting trivia, and a page of information about her life and work. The illustrations are colorful and fun and the information just simple enough to be understood but not to seem condescending.

There were a lot of women in this book who grabbed my interest. Some I had heard of before, some I didn't know anything about. I felt empowered by them. The women are from all time periods (that we have history of), different countries, different races, and different disciplines. I loved learning that every single one of these women had someone who believed in them and supported them--whether that was their parents or spouses or mentors. It's really important to know that you aren't doing it all alone.

This is a great book for everyone to read, whether you're a kid or an adult, male or female.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
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The Telling by Alexandra Sirowy

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 387
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 17+

Lana's life is split between before and after. After is her trying to become brave after seeing her stepbrother's murder. But things start getting scary once other kids start dying--kids that had done Lana wrong in some way. Could it be some random killer? The homeless man? Or has Ben's ghost returned to enact vengeance?

This is one of those books that I was kind of "meh" about during most of it. My brain did keep coming up with different theories on who the murderer was, and there was one that I really liked--and would have preferred for it to have been that theory when it came to the end.

The book seemed long. I kept thinking that I was getting to the end of it, then I'd look to see how many pages were left and there were still a lot. That doesn't necessarily mean that the entire book was difficult to read or get into. There were a lot of moments in the book that kept me reading, but they were broken up by a lot of internal and psychological stuff with Lana. Some of those stopped the narrative a little too much for me. The characters were interested and complex, though it didn't seem so at the beginning.

It brought up a lot of questions and confusion about what is right and wrong to do and feel and act on.

There was some hard language and sexual contexts.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 371
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 15+

Kol's clan is worried about their future--with no girls of marrying age, there is no way to continue their clan. Then Mya and her clan appear on their beach after five years. Kol is instantly drawn to Mya, but Mya doesn't want anything to do with him. There are secrets from the past that complicate things even more, especially when Lo shows up on their shore. The truth is harder to take than Kol imagined.

This is one of the best books I've read in months! A great debut for Eshbaugh and hopefully a look at good things to come from her.

I was really nervous about this book, being set in "prehistoric" times--I had no idea what that meant. Cavemen? No talking? A simple and naive society? Fortunately, none of my fears came true. Instead, I was introduced to an interesting and complex society, one that seemed almost ideal. There was equality and acceptance, religion and government, even science.

I really liked having Kol be the main character and narrator. Too often we are given male characters who are meant to be tough and "masculine," making them one dimensional. Kol had emotions and complicated feelings. He was influenced by the people around him. I think it's important that we have male characters like that, who aren't persecuted for being that way.

This is also a great, loose, retelling of Pride and Prejudice.

No language or sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.
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Life After Juliet by Shannon Lee Alexander

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Pages: 302
My rating: 3.5 star
Ages: 15+

After the death of her best friend, Becca counts the days by how many pages she reads. Becca goes through her days in a haze, but when Max starts to befriend her, the haze starts to clear. The only thing that keeps Becca from truly living her life is the fear that she will lose whoever she lets in. Max helps her open up, but an accident makes Becca wonder if it's worth it.

This was a great look on grief, continuing to live after the death of a loved one, and how we all deal with it differently. Becca is a shy, timid girl who has been hurt and doesn't want to be hurt again. This was something that I could relate to--that I think a lot of people can relate to.

The story is full of ups and downs with friends, family, school, love, and trust. Which is what life is, a series of highs and lows and us learning how to deal with them in a positive and productive way. And knowing that there are people in our life who will help us, and some may only be in it for a short time, but everything we learn from them we should hold close.

There was some strong language.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 249
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 16+

With the announcement of their favorite comic book writer appearing at New York Comic Con, Graham knows that it will be the perfect time to tell Roxy that he loves her. Unfortunately, the entire weekend seems designed to thwart his efforts.

Anyone who is familiar with geek culture and comic cons will enjoy the pretty accurate depiction in this book. The entire book takes place over one weekend, during New York Comic Con. Throughout the weekend, the characters experience some life highs and lows while experiencing panels, photo ops, and browsing vendor booths and artist alley.

I found the book easy to predict, though the journey to fulfilling my prediction wasn't unenjoyable. Graham's crush got to be a little annoying, though it will probably be relatable to teenagers. It was nice to see that there was more to Graham than just his interest in Roxy, though I think I would have liked to have seen that filled out a bit more.

There was some language.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Never Ever by Sara Saedi

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 288
My rating:  3 stars
Ages: 14+
Series: Never Ever

On Wylie's seventeenth birthday, she and her brothers sneak out for one last night together and to escape their parents. When Wylie meets a mysterious stranger, she allows them to be swept away to an island where no one ages. But things aren't exactly as they seem and the island has a secret no one will tell.

This was one of those books that I came to the end of and was a little disappointed to discover it was the first of a series. However, I may actually read the second book--the sneak peak at the back seemed promising.

This is a reimagining of Peter Pan, but with darker undertones. These aren't just wild lost boys fighting crazy pirates--this is about children with lost childhoods, with fears that are invisible, and a secret on the island that forces the kids to behave a certain way. Unlike Neverland, this isn't a colorful place with mermaids and fairies.

There is mention of sex off the page and some mild language.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

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Publication date: 2012
Publisher: Plume
Pages: 323
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 17+

Lincoln hates his job--most of the time he does nothing and the rest of the time he has to read other people's emails. He's supposed to be sending warnings when emails are used for something other than work, but he gets caught up in the email conversations of two women. Beth and Jennifer are smart and funny, as well as a little irreverent. Lincoln slowly finds himself falling for one of them, but how could he explain that he's read all of their emails?

I have this horrible habit of just skimming over information at the beginning of things in books like letters and emails. You know, things like dates and places, etc. Which means that about two chapters in I was asking "When was this written?! This seems like it was written a while ago!" So I flip to the front of the book and see that it's only been four years. When I flipped back to the next chapter I got a look at the date on the emails: 1999. Which totally made everything make sense.

It was interesting to go back to a time when email had only about been around for everyone for a couple of years, when the Y2K scare was a big deal, and before "social media" was even a thought. I liked Beth and Jennifer--I would have wanted to become their friend if I were reading their emails too. I was never sure about Lincoln, which is strange because he's the main character; I followed him around for a year and I just didn't really learn much about him. In fact, Lincoln seemed a bit stale.

Younger readers may not understand everything going on back in 1999/2000, but that's part of why we have books, right?

There was some language.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 421
My rating: 2.5 stars
Ages: 16+

Eleven years ago, six kids disappeared on their first day of kindergarten. Five of them are back without any memory of where they've been or their lives for the past eleven years. As everyone is trying to discover the mystery of the five and what happened to the still missing boy, the teens are conducting their own investigation.

The concept of this book seemed so intriguing, but the execution didn't live up to it.

First, there were some strange typographical choices. While making it hard to read, there were a few that made sense, but most of them didn't seem to add anything to the narrative or just confused the narrative.

Second, there is an event at the beginning of the book that seemed unnecessary and happened so quickly and then glossed over that I was actually in doubt whether it had actually happened. Throughout the last fourth of the book I kept expecting a twist related to it to happen.

Third, the revelation of what happened seemed a little lost in technicalities. Why did what happen continue to happen time and again?

Basically, what started as an interesting mystery and novel turned into something a little mediocre by the end.

Only a little language and mild sexual innuendos.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

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Publication date: 1992 (first edition), 2016 (this edition)
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 261
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 16+

Becca grew up with her grandmother telling her the story of the Sleeping Beauty. Her grandmother's dying wish was for Becca to find the castle and the prince from the story. During her search, Becca learns about her past, her grandmother's past, and the fate of hundreds of thousands of people that no one knows--or will talk--about.

Yolen is one of those names that I know from my childhood. She had written a huge variety of books, from historical fiction, to board books, to fantasy. So, when I saw this book at the bookstore (and intrigued by the Sleeping Beauty retelling), I bought it sight unread.

This was a fascinating way to learn about a part of the Holocaust that I think very few people know about, all framed within the familiar (and yet unfamiliar) tale of Sleeping Beauty.

While marketed to teens, and being an appropriate read for teens, it's a bit different than most YA books. The main character is in her early 20s, instead of being a teenager, though I think that she is still relatable to teens, especially when it comes to her family relationships.

Very light language and vague mentions of sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Emma by Alexander McCall Smith

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Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Pantheon Books
Pages: 361
My rating: 2.5 stars
Ages: 17+

After Emma finishes university, she returns to Hartfield to figure out what she wants to do. Her neurotic father gives her everything she wants and she is well liked in the community, so the summer will go well. But then Emma decides to take the lives of the locals into her own hands. And that's when things start going awry.

I was interested to read a retelling of Austen's Emma, though I was a little disappointed by Smith's version of the heroine. I have always thought of Emma as, yes a snob, but one with the best of intentions. She's a good friend to Harriet, a loyal daughter, and a charitable neighbor. Emma has her faults and makes mistakes, but she's never been a truly bad person.

Smith's Emma is cruel and manipulative. She uses the people around her for her own amusement, thinking she is better than them in every way. Her father and Miss Taylor indulge her, with only George Knightley to ever show her that she's wrong. Speaking of Knightley, where was the romance? They barely spoke more than twice before his declaration.

With that out of the way, Smith was able to take a 200 year old story and update it with rarely anything seeming out of place. It did take me a while to read and didn't hold my attention the way that Austen's works do.

Little language, some sexual dialogue.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Home Cooked: Essential Recipes for a New Way to Cook by Anya Fernald

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Pages: 287
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: N/A

Belcampo founder and CEO Fernald created this new cookbook, full of recipes inspired by the rural cooking of Italy.

When I saw the title of this cookbook, I thought "Oh nice! Simple, flavorful recipes for home cooked meals." Unfortunately, that's not what this book is. While I think that a lot of the recipes seem really interesting and sound delicious, it's not exactly the way I cook. Everything is made from scratch, from the pasta to the cheese, there are ingredients that don't seem that easy to come by (at least, they aren't in my grocery store), and it involves time that I don't have (or don't want to give up).  A lot of them also called for a cast iron pan, which I don't have.

That said, I did make three recipes from the book and they were all good. I made the Amoretti Morbidi, Asparagus and Fried Eggs with the Aioli in the book. I liked the personal touch Fernald gave every recipe, and the instructions were easy to follow. There are a few more recipes that I would like to try, perhaps with the help of family or friends, especially the panzerotti.

The physical book is beautiful. It lays flat, making it easy to look at the recipes while cooking, the pictures are gorgeous and hunger inducing, and pages are thick. I liked the hard cover binding with a fabric finish on the spine. It looks like the kind of book that I would have found in my grandmother's kitchen (which I mean in the best possible way).

I think that this cookbook would best be suited for an experienced cook who enjoys challenges when it comes to cooking.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
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Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

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Publication date: 2012
Publisher:  Penguin
Pages: 369
My rating: 3.5 stars (?)
Ages: 18+

When Lou Clark loses her job at the cafe, she has very few choices. When a caregiver position opens up to care for a quadriplegic man, she decides it's better than working at the chicken factory. However, Will Traynor is rude and sullen from the moment they first met. Determined to help him see that his life is still worth something, Lou steps outside her comfortable life to show him that the world is still open to him.

Moyes's writing is amazing. Descriptive and simple, straightforward but at the same time subversive. I found Lou relatable, though at times I really wanted to smack her (especially when it came to her boyfriend).

The thing about this book is that it isn't the normal "boy meets girl" romance novel. It deals with some pretty heavy morality--which is why I gave it a questions mark after my rating. I've known a quadriplegic man who became paralyzed at 19; my brother was one of his caregivers for two years. This man lived a full life; he was cheerful, funny, went on cruises and did skydiving. He had gone to school and become a lawyer before deciding he wanted to book cruises for people. So when it came to Will . . . it was hard to me to understand his choices. That he had become so caught up in what he used to be that he didn't even try to see what he could still be. For everything that he told Lou, he should have been listening to himself instead.

I know how I feel about the situation at the end of the book. My moral compass couldn't be swayed by the sympathetic nature that Moyes portrayed. However, if we never read about things like this, we wouldn't ever be able to make our own decisions.

There was surprisingly little language and crudeness, based on other English books I've read. However, there was still some hard language spattered throughout and some sexual talk.

*I do not receive any compensation from Amazon.

The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 446
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 16+

It's 13th century France. Men and women are being persecuted by the church as heretics. Botille and her sisters are far from it all in the small sea-side village of Bajas. All that changes when Botille comes across Dolssa, hungry and afraid. Dolssa has a special gift, a gift that they need to keep hidden from the monks that seek her.

Berry is a beautiful writer. The language, the detail, the characters--everything is vibrant. Berry has also written a wide range of books, so those how have read some of her other books should be warned that this isn't the same.

I don't know how easily younger teens would be able to understand this book. Though marketed as a young adult novel, I think that the subject matter and themes are more suited for adults. I consider myself a pretty intelligent person, but I spent a lot of the book trying to understand Dolssa. The author's note at the end of the book helped, giving me the context I needed; however, I think that the story should have been able to help me understand it better without the author's note. I spent a lot of time not sure how I liked Dolssa and the things she said she was, especially as it related to my own personal beliefs.

I don't remember any language, but there are very brief, mild mentions of sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon. 

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 321
My rating: 2.5 stars
Ages:16+

James "Jamie" Watson is a descendant of Dr. Watson--as in Holmes and Watson. Jamie thinks of Charlotte Holmes as his best friend before he ever meets her. When they both end up at the same school, Watson thinks they are going to go on all sorts of adventures. Unfortunately, he didn't think that was going to involve a murder where he is the number one suspect.

The characters were interesting and I really liked how it is set it in a world where the original Holmes and Watson were real people. Sometimes Jamie was a little annoying with his mooning and general teen angst. Charlotte was exactly what you would expect from a Holmes, which anyone knows can in itself be exasperating.

The mystery itself was a little complicated and hard to follow, in my opinion. And I found myself confused over either Jamie or Charlotte's actions/reactions. I found myself having to go back and read the previous page several times to understand what was going on. I feel that the story, even a mystery, should be easy to follow and understand. Also, some events at the end seemed a little contrived, like Cavallaro was trying to fulfill some kind of requirement for teen novels. I would have liked it better without it.

There was a lot of language and sexual dialogue, including talk about a rape.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 384
My rating: 4.5 stars
Ages: 12+
Series: The Trials of Apollo

After angering Zeus, again, Apollo lands in New York as a completely mortal teenage boy. Immediately enslaved by Meg, a young demi-god, Apollo and Meg head to Camp Half-Blood for safety. Apollo hopes that he can just hang out until Zeus is ready to reinstate his godhood, but campers have started disappearing, all lines of communication have stopped working, and the Oracle is still missing.

I have come to the point where I will preorder Riordan's books because I know I'm going to like them. This first book in a new series did not disappoint. It is highly amusing, especially since it's told in first-person from Apollo's point of view. Apollo's ego is probably only exceeded by Narcissus's.

Though I usually suffer from "series fatigue" (not wanting to read a book that is the beginning of a series because then I feel obligated to read the rest of the series), I never feel that way with Riordan's books. This is probably because most of the books in a his series have an ending, for that story line at least. I also like how they are all connected in some way, with "Easter eggs" for those who have read his other books.

I think that this book would be best read after having read Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus, just because it gives a nice background to the events leading up to this. However, Oracle could be read without doing that.

I think this is a great way to introduce younger kids to mythology.

No language and no sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

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Publication date: 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 433
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 17+

Cath and her twin sister have always been a package deal, so when Wren decides she doesn't want them to live together when they go to college, it leaves Cath feeling lost. The only thing that keeps her going is her thousands of fans . . . of her Simon Snow fanfic. It has gotten her through everything so far, so she hides behind it through the ups and downs of her freshman year. She doesn't think she's missing anything, until she starts realizing that she is.

What I liked about Fangirl is that Cath is so relatable. She carries her anxieties around with her, never stopping to relax unless she's losing herself in her fanfic. She's shy and lonely, but at the same time wonderfully snarky and caring. Looking back on my college experience, I would have much rather have stayed in reading or watching a movie than at a party (and still do prefer those over going out), which is what Cath does. Some of the things actually started making me feel anxious, so, trigger warning? Cath doesn't think anyone will accept her crazy, but she finds someone who does--and isn't that what we all want? Someone to understand us and accept us for who we are?

The treatment of mental health was so ordinary that I didn't feel that Rowell was trying to make the novel into a "very special novel" about mental health. There was no trying to stigmatize it, or make it funny, or trying to teach about it. Some people have mental health problems, which can sometimes be a strength and sometimes a weakness. They can make you feel crazy, or maybe make you cautious, or help with your creativity. It's about finding a balance.

The novel also touches on family and growing up and apart and back together again. About finding yourself and sticking up for yourself. But it never preaches.  It also had some really funny lines and sections.

I'm not sure how I felt about the snippets from the fictional Simon Snow books at the beginning of each chapter. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention, but they didn't really seem to add anything to the story or carry the theme through. And since Simon Snow is fictional, I didn't really have a connection to it, making it a little tedious to read several pages at one time.

There was a lot of language, which is part of the reason I put the age so high. Also, since the characters are in college, I don't think readers younger that 16 would be able to relate as well. There were also some sexual situations and dialogue.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

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Publication date: 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 357
My rating: 3 stars
Ages: 16+
Series: Firebird

When Marguerite's father is killed, Marguerite is determined to avenge his death, even if that means chasing his killer across dimensions. With her parents' invention, the Firebird, Marguerite and Theo jump into different versions of themselves, trying to find the killer. But there is something much bigger going on than just her father's murder, something that could change the world--and all its versions.

When I started reading this book, I thought it was a time travel book, so it was a little hard to get my mind around the dimensions (what would probably most commonly be called "parallel worlds"). However, it was kind of like a time travel book, in a way; each world had advanced at a different pace. I found myself wanting to see where Marguerite would go next.

However, though jumping through several dimensions, Marguerite as a character seemed pretty one dimensional. She seemed a little incapable of taking care of herself or understanding any danger. The settings made up for this, as did Paul and Theo. I was also concerned about the lack of moral responsibility that should have been a larger part of the story. Marguerite and Co. are jumping into other people's bodies and are using them for their own devices. There is a moral ambiguity about whether or not they are themselves, and it does cross their minds, but I just feel that it should have been larger. There are several parts where the bodies are being violated, in varying degrees and meanings of the word.

This book is the beginning of a series (which I didn't know until just now), but though there are a few dangling ends, it could be read as a stand alone.

There is a non graphic sex scene and some mild language.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.