Genre: Young Adult General (for 12-18 year olds)

Review: Witness by Christine Kersey

Review: Witness by Christine Kersey

This is the first book that I’ve read by Christine Kersey. I liked it. Courtney is in college and her mother has recently moved out of state, so this is her first time on her own. Her mother has taught her well. But when Courtney witnesses a gang-related murder and is then threatened by the killer, she is at a loss for what to do. Honestly, I would be too. The reader experiences a lot of Courtney’s internal debate as she tries to do what […]

September 10, 2015 | 0 Comments
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Review: A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

Review: A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

Let me address the content warning up front. I put it there because some of my readers will be offended by the portrayals and themes in this book. I usually only give a content warning for gratuitous language, violence or sex—when they’ve been thrown in for the shock value alone. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE BOOKS! I soooo loved this book! I don’t even know how to describe how much I loved it. Amy Harmon is a talented writer and this book pulled me […]

July 11, 2014 | 1 Comment
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Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I read this as part of one of the book clubs I’m in. I have mixed feelings about it. First, the good stuff. I love this to-do list that Sloane sends Emily. I love how it pushes her boundaries and that she struggles to check things off. I like the character growth seen in Emily, how she finds the determination and courage within herself to defy her limits and step outside her comfort zone. I think this is a good lesson for all humans. Most […]

June 13, 2014 | 0 Comments
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Paris Cravings by Kimberley Montpetit

Paris Cravings by Kimberley Montpetit

My good friend Kimberley Montpetit asked if I’d be interested in reviewing her book and I said YES! Because, um… 1) We are BFFs on Facebook, and 2) I’ve read all of her Middle Grade books that she writes under another name, and loved them. I expected no less from her alter-ego in this YA novel—and I wasn’t disappointed. Chloe is having boy trouble at home. Her steady has given her an ultimatum, demanding a more physical relationship. She doesn’t feel right about it and […]

February 4, 2014 | 0 Comments
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Just Like Elizabeth Taylor by Lu Ann Brobst Staheli

Just Like Elizabeth Taylor by Lu Ann Brobst Staheli

Just Like Elizabeth Taylor is an excellent read for girls who need to know they can be brave. This book deals with some tough issues—specifically abuse by a stepfather. I hate that we need books like this in our library, but I believe that we do. I was lucky. I had kind and loving parents. But as a young girl and teen, I had several friends whose parent (one or the other or both) regularly beat the crap out of them. I was too young […]

November 25, 2013 | 0 Comments
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Lair of the Serpent by T. Lynn Adams

Lair of the Serpent by T. Lynn Adams

Got an older teen looking for great suspense but you want one that’s clean and that you can feel comfortable letting your kid (and yourself) read? Here’s a great one! Lair of the Serpent by T. Lynn Adams is the third book in a mystery/suspense series about teen-ager Jonathon Bradford. We first meet Jonathon in Tombs of Terror, when at age 16 he goes to Peru to reconnect with his father and ends up getting lost in the tunnels under ancient ruins. Tombs is the […]

June 5, 2013 | 0 Comments
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The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson is amazingly fun! It’s got all the humor and sass of Meg Cabot and Louise Rennison, but without all the inappropriate stuff (language, sexiness). If you like those authors or Janette Rallison’s funny Young Adult reads, you’ll definitely like this book! I always like to get the down-side of a review over with first. So, book cover. Meh. Not really a good one. But don’t let that stop you from giving this book a try. It’s also […]

May 22, 2013 | 0 Comments
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A Blind Eye by Julie Daines

A Blind Eye by Julie Daines

I’m always just a little apprehensive when someone asks me to do a book review. If it’s an author I already like, no problem. But otherwise, it makes my tummy just a little uneasy when I open the book and start into those first few pages. I’m so afraid of being disappointed. Especially when the offer of review started as, “My friend wrote a book and I loved it…” Well, of course you did. They’re your friend; you’re going to like their stuff. You’ll get […]

February 11, 2013 | 3 Comments
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The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

The Chosen One is a heart-rending account of Kyra’s struggle. She loves her family very much—that’s obvious in her story. But like all teens, she is trying to find her own way between what she was taught as a child and what she truly believes. This coming-of-age is complicated by the fact that Kyra is part of a religious sect where women and children are controlled by the iron fists of the men around them. Kyra’s life hits a turning point when she realizes she […]

October 18, 2012 | 2 Comments
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Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

When Annika’s little brother faces the prospect of surgery, she is determined that he will pull through successfully. A firm believer in the power of positive thinking, she convinces Jeremy that she has a magic lamp that will grant him a successful surgery and his greatest desire—which she believes is a Teen Robin Hood action character. Jeremy upsets her well-made plans when he wishes instead to meet the “real” Teen Robin Hood, an actor from his favorite TV show. Annika sets off to make Jeremy’s […]

September 18, 2012 | 0 Comments
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I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

This was a fast, fun read. I wanted to be a spy when I was Cammie’s age and I would have loved reading a book like this back then. There is enough adventure to be entertaining and keep you on the edge of your seat at times, but it never dips down into the gore. The romance is sweet and light, some hand-holding and kissing but nothing I’d be embarrassed to have my mother or my daughters read. The characters are great. Cammie and her […]

November 14, 2008 | 0 Comments
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Heaven Scent by Rebecca Talley

Heaven Scent by Rebecca Talley

Heaven Scent (isn’t that a gorgeous cover?) is Rebecca Cornish Talley’s debut novel. Written for LDS teens, this book will be particularly enjoyed by young women, ages 12 to 16. Rebecca stopped by for a visit. Many of my readers are published authors or are in the process of writing a book for the first time. They are always interested in the writing process. Where did you get the idea for writing Heaven Scent? How long did it take you to finish it? My mother […]

June 7, 2008 | 18 Comments
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Secrets in Zarahemla by Sariah S. Wilson

Secrets in Zarahemla by Sariah S. Wilson

Secrets in Zarahemla was a stretch book for me because it’s a romance and “traditional” romance is not my favorite genre. Okay, here are my issue with romances. I just don’t believe them. I don’t believe people fall in love at first sight. I don’t believe a strong relationship can develop in a matter of days. I don’t believe all the fainting and sighing and does-he-love-me-or-not junk. Since this is the currency of romance, I spend most of my reading time rolling my eyes and […]

December 14, 2007 | 0 Comments
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My Not So Fairy-Tale Life by Julie Wright

My Not So Fairy-Tale Life by Julie Wright

Due to subject matter, I recommend this book for older teens, 16 and up. Although not offensive, it deals with some tough subjects. Suzanna “Cue” Quincy has had a rough life—an abusive mother, emotionally absent father, drugs and alcohol. If that’s not enough, she discovers she’s pregnant and isn’t sure who the father is. Suzanna’s mother kicks her out of the house because she won’t get an abortion. Her friends abandon her because she will no longer party with them. With nowhere else to turn, […]

June 21, 2007 | 2 Comments
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