Long Way Down

Will has just lost his brother Shawn to a drive by shooting. And this isn't the first person Will has lost. Violence has plagued his life. But he knows the rules. no crying, no snitching and be sure to get revenge. He knows where his brother keeps his gun and he knows what is expected of him. Get revenge for his brother's death. He knows who shot him, at least he's pretty sure. So he gets into the elevator and begins the ride down to the lobby. But what awaits him on each floor could change the course of his life. This book is written in verse and is so unique and interesting in it's basic premiseThe Hate U Give. It tells of how gun violence begets gun violence and how certain communities are more impacted by it then others. The ending is frustrating and heartbreaking and thought provoking on many levels. Highly recommend. Happy reading my friend.
. What would the dead tell us if they could tell us anything? And would knowing what they know change our actions? This is a great companion to

Court of Frost and Starlight

This is a little bridge novel in Sarah Maas's other series. That being said, I don't know how she does it. She writes the most amazing characters and I can't decide which series or which character I love the best. This is Feyre and Rhysand's story after the war that destroyed so many things. They are getting ready for the Solstice celebrations as their kingdom begins to rebuild. Each of the characters is trying to find their way back to normal. Everyone has problems- big problems. But at the heart of this small novel is family. The family that Feyre has joined in all their glory. Azrael, Cassian, Mor, Amren... her sisters Elain and Nesta. Even Lucien. They must all find a way to hold the tenuous peace together even as everyone is trying to destroy it. I sense a huge brawl on the horizon and I can only hope that they remain intact. I couldn't handle it if they aren't. Warning- this is not a G-Rated series. AT ALL. So no young readers, I don't keep this series on my shelf at school, it's a little to graphic for 8th graders. If you haven't entered either of Maas's series, I urge you to try one. They are captivating, exciting and at times heartbreaking. Happy Reading my friends.

Hamilton and Peggy

Angelica..... Eliza..... and Peggy- The Schulyer sisters. This book is about And Peggy. The youngest of the three Schulyer sisters is finally in the forefront of this piece of historical fiction. She is smart, sassy and often finds herself in the shadow of her two older sisters. The brilliant and beautiful Angelica and the angelic and even tempered Eliza are role models to the younger Peggy. But she has a life of her own and she wants to be taken seriously by the men running the war, especially her father Philip Schulyer. Peggy battles agains the convention of being a young woman during Revolution times. She is often criticized for her interest in politics. Hamilton sees the spark in her and employs her to help him woo Eliza. But Peggy doesn't always like the way he behaves towards both of her sisters. She must navigate her way through some tricky and dangerous situations as the countryside around her is filled with dangers both from within and without. This was a well researched novel and we get to meet some of the big boys of the Revolution- especially George Washington who I now have a crush on. There is a lot of description of the hardships of the war and it brings the time period to life. Peggy may have been the most interesting of the sisters as well as the most overlooked. I enjoyed this book, but I am a Hamilton fan, so if you like this time period, books about feisty young women and don't mind the Hamilton soundtrack running through your head the entire time, you might like this one! Happy reading my friends!

Blood Rose Rebellion

Sometimes it is strange how books imitate life. I have been thinking about my next trip and planning where I want to go. My friend just got back from Hungary and I think that may be my next destination. So when I randomly picked this book up off my overflowing shelves, lo and behold, it takes place in Hungary. Weird-eh? Anna lives in a time where magic rules the world. And those that have access to magic rule society. Unfortunately for Anna, even though she comes from a magical family, she herself has no magic. This makes her unsavory to the high society set. Not only that, she seems to make any spells set in her presence go all wonky. When she is sent away with her Grandmother to Hungary, she begins to figure out what she is and how her power could actually break the world. Along the way she meets her cousins Noemi and Matyas as well as revolutionaries determined to break the Binding that limits the common man's access to magic. She also finds herself drawn into the world of the Romani- especially Gabor- who tries to help her channel her magic. Theirs is a forbidden relationship for many reasons. (Some of which still exist today) Anna must make decisions that will put those she loves in danger as well as the world order. Big decisions for an impetuous teenager. I liked the historical aspect of this novel, but I wasn't really connected to the characters. I didn't find myself drawn into their world. But I love reading about history and how people have fought throughout time to find some level of equality. It is a universal problem still a concern now more than ever. You'll have to decide about his one yourself. Happy Reading my friends!

The You I've Never Known

Ellen Hopkins is a unique voice in YA. She has a masterful way of weaving the characters of her stories together in ways you would never suspect. This is no different. This is Ariel's story. She and her dad live the live of wanderers. Moving from place to place, woman to woman, sometimes living in their car. The story is that Ariel's mother had deserted the family to live with her girlfriend. This is the story Ariel carries with her. When they finally put down roots for a minute Ariel finally starts to make friends. She is questioning her sexuality and finds herself drawn to both Monica and Gabe. This is a confusing and stressful time for Ariel as she must navigate these feelings in the presence of a homophobic and volatile father. Interspersed is Maya's story. She is trying to escape from a mother who wants to drive her into Scientology. Her way out is getting pregnant by an older soldier and moving onto the base with him. She is hopeful that this is her way out. Unfortunately, Jason is not the loving and compassionate husband she was hoping for. Ariel and Maya's stories collide in ways that are both natural and unexpected. It will shatter one and give the other one long lost hope for the future. If you have read Hopkins' books you know that they are written in beautiful free verse poetry, with Maya's story told in journal entries. These books are for a mature audience and always deal with relevant current issues. So that is 3 modern, issue based books in a row for me. I may take a little break and head back into the fantasy realm for a while. Happy reading my friends.

The Hate U Give

This book is a must read. For everyone. Starr is a black girl living in two worlds. Her home is in the Garden Heights area, it's where her father's store is. But her school is in a fancy, mostly white neighborhood. She has to be two Starrs to fit in. When her best friend from way back is shot and killed by the police, Starr is the only witness. She and her family must decide if she is going to use her voice to speak for Khalil or stay safe and remain quiet. This book was eye opening, relevant and heartbreaking. Its perspective is important and thought provoking. It should be required reading in every police academy. It should be required reading for everyone. Can't recommend it enough and my words won't do it justice. Trust me, take the time and then take heart. Happy reading my friends.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon is gay. He is trying to decide if he wants to come out to his friends and family. He has started an online relationship with Blue- another boy at his school whose identity is a mystery. He and Blue are having similar experiences and use each other to work through problems. They finally each have someone to talk to. Simon's best friends Nick and Leah don't know about him. Leah has a crush on Nick and Nick has a crush on the newest member of their group Abby. Then there is Martin, who stumbles on Simon's emails and uses them to blackmail Simon into setting him up with Abby. When things don't go Martin's way, he makes a decision that will take away all Simon's decisions. This book is the fallout of these actions. I think this book is amazing. It is current, thought-provoking and character driven. Each character is going through their own journey- all of which resonate with today's teens. It touches on the perils of social media, bullying and the way family dynamics can impact how topics are dealt with. Simon is a lovable goofball who has no shame in his game. His interactions with his friends is genuine and his family relationships are refreshingly positive. I can't recommend this enough. It should be on every bookshelf. Loved this book. Happy reading my friends.