Review: In Real Life: My Journey to a Pixelated World

In Real Life: My Journey to a Pixelated World by Joey Graceffa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had no idea who Joey Graceffa was, but was directed to this book from a teacher whose student said it was one of his favorites. When I started to research Joey, I knew I needed to read more about a 24 year-old young man who already wrote a memoir!

Joey Graceffa's memoir will instantly connect to junior high and high school students. His message is clear - it's okay to be different as long as you stay true to yourself.

Readers will learn about Joey's childhood with an alcoholic mother, being in special education classes, bullied by students, troubled friendships and him publicly coming out gay. Each chapter offers great advice to people in similar situations.

Best of all for me, I learned how Joey became a YouTube sensation. How he took a passion for creating original videos and turned into an internet sensation. Self motivated, driven, silly & all things fun he is followed by over 7 million viewers. I admit - I became one of his followers too.

Well done Joey Graceffa for letting all kids be themselves!

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Review: Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall

Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall by Wendy Mass
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Wendy Mass has always been popular in our library. I was excited about her newest book, and made sure to read it right away. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. Written in verse, the book is quick quick to read. Tessa, a high school student, is struck in the head during a dodgeball game in PE class. She believes to be in heaven when she is now in the neighborhood mall she has spent her life growing up in due to both her parents working there. Each chapter is titled with a different store name where something has happened in her life. Tessa is terrible person. I think this is why I struggled so much with the book. Each chapter I was forced to read another terrible thing this girl did during elementary, middle and high school. I still forged on and finished the book hoping that Tessa will come to her senses if she comes out of this life threatening situation and become a better person.

I was satisfied with the ending, but won't be shoving this book into students hands. On the bright side, I believe readers can learn from Tessa and hopefully make better decisions than she did.

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Review: We Are All Made of Molecules

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A quick read and worth it! Told from both Steward and Ashley's perspectives, a unique take on what a now modern family looks like.

Stewart's mother died almost 2 years ago and his father has been dating someone and has asked them to move in to her house. Stewart is a gifted boy who is still trying to deal with his mother's death, but is hopeful about the new family he will have...including a sister!

Ashley's mother and father divorced about a year ago and now her mother is dating Stewart's father. They are coming to live them and Ashley is not happy. She is still mad at her father who broke their family up, but announcing he is gay. He now lives in the carriage house behind them and Ashley is mortified. Not only is she going to have to deal with nerdy Stewart, his cat, and father, but also getting used to her dad's new life.

Funny, realistic and at time sad. Each of these characters is unique and seeing them trying to live together is humorous!

Recommended for a YA audience
2 copies will be available soon at the LV IMC!

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Review: Masterminds

Masterminds by Gordon Korman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a while to get to this book, but I was not disappointed! Great detail and plot to go along with the 12 year-old male and female characters. I can easily recommend this book to both boys and girls in grades 6 & 7.

Eli, Malik, Hector, Tori & Amber all live in a Utopian town. They basically live a perfect life until Randy & Eli venture outside of the town's limits. Instantly Eli is very sick and the "purple people eaters" (the town's police) come looking for them since they left the town limits. The peculiar thing is Randy is fine. That's when things start to change, and Randy suddenly is moving to his grand-parents house.

A story of twists and turns - don't pass it up!

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Review: The Adventures of Captain Underpants

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've heard Dav Pilkey speak a few times and have always wanted to read the adventures he talks about, but I wanted to wait until my son wanted to read the books together. Even though we have a few books at home, to my surprise he came home from school with a copy from the library and eager to read!

What can I say, two mischievous little boys playing pranks in school - who doesn't love that? George and Harold are laugh out loud funny and always up to no good. I think I enjoyed it the most hearing my son giggle as we read through the adventures and talked about how silly everyone in the book behaves.

Looking forward to more adventures!

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Review: Emmy & Oliver

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is just one of the books you don't want to end! If only I could continue reading about these characters and where life continues to take them! Thank you Robin Benway for creating a YA book that is age appropriate and "gets" teenagers. Thank you for keeping the material appropriate to put in a junior high library for my 8th graders to get excited about how great high school can be and strong friendships do exist.

Emmy & Oliver share the same birthday, live next door to each other and are best friends. That is, until Oliver goes missing after a long weekend with his dad. Oliver's parents are divorced and his father has decided to keep Oliver - permanently. Until one day when the kids are 17 years-old and Oliver has been found.

Emmy has waited her whole life to be reunited with Oliver. Will they still be best friends? How does Oliver now fit into the group of friends he was quickly whisked away from?

This story is beautifully written and you will feel like you know Emmy & Oliver as well as your own friends by the time you are finished with this book.

Laugh out loud funny, sarcastic and emotional.

Coming this spring to the LV IMC!

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