Review: Awkward

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fans of Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels will enjoy Awkward just as much! A cute story about how all kids feel awkward in different situation in school, home and life! Penelope is new to school and immediately does something she regrets - pushing Jaime who was trying to help her, but he was being bullied. Penelope didn't want to get "linked" to Jaime so she pushed him away.

Penelope carries around this guilt while starting to feel comfortable in the confines of the school art club. However, every time she see Jaime she hides - but knows she needs to apologize.

While this is going on there is also a "war" between the art and science clubs which Penelope and Jaime are members of.

A cute story that reminds us all that we feel awkward at times.

This book is available in the LV IMC and is a Rebecca Caudill 2018 nominee.

View all my reviews

Review: I Let You Go

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have mixed reviews about this book. We selected it for our book club because a few of us had marked it as a "to read" on Goodreads, but I just don't think this delivered in the way I was hoping. The book is told from multiple perspectives and is broken into 2 parts. I'm not spoiling anything, but at the beginning of the book there is a death which sets the book into motion. Alternating between Jenna's point of view and a police detective Stevens. I found the police sections to be confusing since the setting is in London and the jargon is different from here in the states. The first part of the book was slow moving where I found myself just wishing for something to happen.

Jenna has started over in a new isolated small town in Wales. The reader isn't given much, she is an artist and somehow injured her hand is now exploring photography. She is lonely and takes a long time to warm up to her neighbor. With too many references about the lock that is always sticking to her front door, one would have to be clueless to not know something will happen at the house!

When I finally reached part 2 of the book, I was instantly thrown in and couldn't put it down. Jenna's past is explained and we find out exactly what happened to her. But what about this death at the beginning of the book? You'll need to read it to find out for yourself.

Worth a read - knowing that it will start out slow.

View all my reviews

Review: A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everyone should have an Ove in their life! I really enjoyed this book. Clever, witty and laugh out loud funny. Ove, a fifty-nine year-old man, has recently been pushed into early retirement from a company he has worked at for 40+ years. Also, being recently widowed, he is down and doesn't feel the need to keep living. Ove is committed to committing suicide to join Sonja in the afterlife. If only those pesky neighbors could stop needing so much and caring for Ove!

A book with heart and a strong message that anyone can be family.

View all my reviews

Review: I Was Here

I Was Here by Gayle Forman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

13 Reason's Why fans will enjoy I was Here.

Being a fan of Forman's book If I Stay, I was drawn to this book. While it is too mature to have at the LV IMC, I'm sure some students will seek it out on their own.

Cody Reynolds lost her best friend to suicide. She is distraught and doesn't know how her own life can continue when she's lost a part of herself. Cody & Meg have been best friends most of their life. Cody lives with single Mom Tricia - who seems more like a friend/roommate than mother. Meg has been her other family. The Garcia's include Cody as if she is one of their own and took care of her when Tricia would work late.

Meg's parents ask Cody if she can go to Meg's college town to pick up the last of her belongings. Maybe this is what Cody will need to be able to move on. As soon as Cody arrives, she knows something cannot be right about what happened to Meg. She discovers her laptop and something just doesn't feel right.

A journey begins with Cody feeling more alone than ever, but slowly getting to know the people in Meg's life and starts to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.

A book that will take you on an emotional journey of loss, friendship and love.

View all my reviews

Review: Trouble Makes a Comeback

Trouble Makes a Comeback by Stephanie Tromly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book #2 in this series.

Stephanie Tromly - not enough good things to say about this YA author and series! Digby is back and wherever he is adventure follows! Tromly cranks out another great mystery, but what I love is her whit, sarcasm and the reality of these characters. Her narration creates the scenes vividly that I beg for a TV series!

The book is too mature for my LV IMC junior high, but for high school students I totally recommend. These books are smart and I believe there will be more! I also like that Tromly has written this well enough that the 2nd book can stand alone without reading the first, but why would you do that and skip out on a book?!?!

View all my reviews