The Quantum League: Spell Robbers by Matthew Kirby

  

When I started reading this I was really enjoying it.  Secret powers, a portable device, new friends.  But then the portable device is stolen and Ben's teacher is kidnapped.  Ben finds himself being recruited by "the good guys" but when the recruited him they made it so Ben's mom wouldn't remember him.  This doesn't sit well with Ben at all.  Throughout the whole book he struggles with who the good guys are - are they really good or just as manipulative as the "bad guys".

The was definitely the first book in a series.  I'll be intrigued what side of the fence Ben will come down on.  I'll probably have to read the sequel just for that.

As far as my overall impression of the book...still not quite sure...

Susan Marcus Bends the Rules by Jane Cutler

  

Susan Marcus has to move from New York City to St. Louis during World War II.  There she first comes face to face with Jim Crow laws and prejudice.  In an effort to fight Jim Crow she and some friends decide to ride a bus together and eat at a Chinese restaurant.

The book was okay for what it was but it ended rather abruptly.  It was weird that my NetGalley version actually had the whole book twice so I thought it was going to be twice as long as it was.