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Perfect Ten
Book
"A sweet summer read about a boy looking for love and the lengths he will go to to find it." —Teen...
LGBTQ Young Adult
The Waltz of Devil’s Creek
Book
Judith Campbell is dying, and she cannot take the painful truth about where her son came from to the...
Adult Historical
How to Make a Wish
8.0
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Book
If you really want something, the stars won't help you. You have to reach out and take it. Grace...
young adult lgbtia romance fiction
Dalysian Hope (Dalysia #1)
10.0
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Book
A young girl. An ancient war. Secrets and lies around every corner. Who will you trust? Sophie...
Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Like Water in Books
Dec 17, 2018
I'm always interested in queer young adult books, and this one especially caught my eye with its mention of "performing mermaids." Because y'all know I love my mermaid books! So Savannah isn't a real mermaid, she just plays one at a water park. But it was enough to make me pick up the book, and it's a good book. Young adult books about discovering your identity are always needed, and this book is about Savannah realizing she's bisexual.
Much of the angst in this book comes from Savannah not knowing if she has the same disease her father does, and she's not sure if she wants to know. Altogether, in this book we have chronic illness, hispanic teens, bisexual, lesbian, and genderqueer teens, small-town angst....there's really a LOT of demographics covered in this book.
I like Savannah, but I don't like her love interest, Leigh, very much. Leigh does NOT have her shit together, and between drinking and doing drugs, all while underage, she poses a very real threat to Savannah's well-being.
I'm a little nonplussed by the ending of the book. It leaves a few questions unanswered, but not in a cliff-hanger-y way. It's more of a possibilities-left-open kind of way. Which makes sense for a "first love" romance. It's not necessarily a "true love" story. It reminds me of John Green novels in that way.
So - it's a great book for representation, but don't expect a tidy, wrapped-up ending. You won't find that here.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Much of the angst in this book comes from Savannah not knowing if she has the same disease her father does, and she's not sure if she wants to know. Altogether, in this book we have chronic illness, hispanic teens, bisexual, lesbian, and genderqueer teens, small-town angst....there's really a LOT of demographics covered in this book.
I like Savannah, but I don't like her love interest, Leigh, very much. Leigh does NOT have her shit together, and between drinking and doing drugs, all while underage, she poses a very real threat to Savannah's well-being.
I'm a little nonplussed by the ending of the book. It leaves a few questions unanswered, but not in a cliff-hanger-y way. It's more of a possibilities-left-open kind of way. Which makes sense for a "first love" romance. It's not necessarily a "true love" story. It reminds me of John Green novels in that way.
So - it's a great book for representation, but don't expect a tidy, wrapped-up ending. You won't find that here.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Four Three Two One
Book
In this contemporary YA novel, a girl reunites with the three other survivors of a bus bombing that...
Four Three Two One Courtney C. Stevens Young Adult Young Adult Fiction
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Everyone has most likely heard the quote, "History is written by the victors." Although the quote is often attributed to Winston Churchill, it is not known who originally said it. However, the author does not matter, only the truth of the quote.
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Young Readers’ Edition Everything American History Textbooks Get Wrong by James W. Loewen is part of his campaign to correct mistakes that have been taught in schools for years. His most famous work, Lies My Teacher Told Me, was originally published in 1995.
This history book is geared toward "young readers". I, as an adult, found the information interesting and some was outright surprising to me. However, I think young readers would find it wordy. This was not a book to sit and read cover to cover. I needed time to reflect, discuss, and to research sections for more information.
Adding it to an advanced or higher level history course to complement a traditional history textbook would be an asset to the student's education. Allowing both books to be read at the same time would probably help encourage the reader's curiosity to not just accept what the textbooks offers as history as fact.
Everyone has most likely heard the quote, "History is written by the victors." Although the quote is often attributed to Winston Churchill, it is not known who originally said it. However, the author does not matter, only the truth of the quote.
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Young Readers’ Edition Everything American History Textbooks Get Wrong by James W. Loewen is part of his campaign to correct mistakes that have been taught in schools for years. His most famous work, Lies My Teacher Told Me, was originally published in 1995.
This history book is geared toward "young readers". I, as an adult, found the information interesting and some was outright surprising to me. However, I think young readers would find it wordy. This was not a book to sit and read cover to cover. I needed time to reflect, discuss, and to research sections for more information.
Adding it to an advanced or higher level history course to complement a traditional history textbook would be an asset to the student's education. Allowing both books to be read at the same time would probably help encourage the reader's curiosity to not just accept what the textbooks offers as history as fact.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Cursed (Beholder, #1) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is not my normal read as lately I have been hitting the erotica/contemporary romance hard. However, it had to do with necromancy and that is something I simply cannot pass up. Necromancy is something I am highly interested not only because it is rarely written about (compared to vampires, shifters, etc.), but also because rarely is the hero/heroine ever the necromancer. Usually the necromancer is the villain/antagonist.
This story was refreshing, like a breath of fresh air from what I have been reading. Elea is such a powerful character, both in magic and personality. I could definitely get behind her and her ideals. The authors created world was also fascinating. I felt she not only created a marvelous world but also did a good job at explaining it. Sometimes in fantasy novels, I get lost concerning the authors created mythology, but I wasnt with this novel.
It definitely has a young adult feel to it though. Regardless, I loved it and cant wait to read more. If you are a fan of strong heroines with interesting magic, and a fascinating world beyond imagination, then you may enjoy this novel. Not to mention the young love that spurs main characters. I am all for young, dewy eyed love
This is not my normal read as lately I have been hitting the erotica/contemporary romance hard. However, it had to do with necromancy and that is something I simply cannot pass up. Necromancy is something I am highly interested not only because it is rarely written about (compared to vampires, shifters, etc.), but also because rarely is the hero/heroine ever the necromancer. Usually the necromancer is the villain/antagonist.
This story was refreshing, like a breath of fresh air from what I have been reading. Elea is such a powerful character, both in magic and personality. I could definitely get behind her and her ideals. The authors created world was also fascinating. I felt she not only created a marvelous world but also did a good job at explaining it. Sometimes in fantasy novels, I get lost concerning the authors created mythology, but I wasnt with this novel.
It definitely has a young adult feel to it though. Regardless, I loved it and cant wait to read more. If you are a fan of strong heroines with interesting magic, and a fascinating world beyond imagination, then you may enjoy this novel. Not to mention the young love that spurs main characters. I am all for young, dewy eyed love
Christine A. (965 KP) rated After the Fire in Books
Nov 14, 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
"After the Fire" is a chilling look at a young adult's tale of growing up in and surviving a fictional cult. I have read from the perspective of an adult but this was through the eyes of a young girl, "Moonbeam". She lived for years in the fanatical religious cult with her mother and her "brothers" and "sisters". We are given a glimpse into her thought process, her true faith, and relationships with the other cult members.
By Will Hill selecting Moonbeam as his central character to tell the story of what happened before and after the fire, we are able to empathize with her and the other "family" members. As with any group, there are good and bad, young and old, male and female. We are able to see they are regular, every day people who believe they are following a prophet.
"After the Fire" was inspired by the 1993 Waco siege in which members of the Branch Davidian sect, including children, and government agents died in a fire fight. This story imagines what it was like to like in a similar base (Moonbeam does not like the word compound) and is told mostly through an interview and flashbacks.
"After the Fire" is a chilling look at a young adult's tale of growing up in and surviving a fictional cult. I have read from the perspective of an adult but this was through the eyes of a young girl, "Moonbeam". She lived for years in the fanatical religious cult with her mother and her "brothers" and "sisters". We are given a glimpse into her thought process, her true faith, and relationships with the other cult members.
By Will Hill selecting Moonbeam as his central character to tell the story of what happened before and after the fire, we are able to empathize with her and the other "family" members. As with any group, there are good and bad, young and old, male and female. We are able to see they are regular, every day people who believe they are following a prophet.
"After the Fire" was inspired by the 1993 Waco siege in which members of the Branch Davidian sect, including children, and government agents died in a fire fight. This story imagines what it was like to like in a similar base (Moonbeam does not like the word compound) and is told mostly through an interview and flashbacks.