Wow, just saw my number for May and it was bleak. I did actually read more than that but didn't blog about all of them. With summer vacation on the near horizon my pace with definitely pick up.
In this book Kaede is being given an option. Since the death of his mother he has been angry. He has taken it out on the driver whose inattention cost his mom her life, he took it out on his best friend, and his grades have suffered greatly. His assignment for the summer is to write about home. But, in order to do that, he needs to discover what that is for him now which means going to Japan and trying to connect with his father.
But when he gets to Japan his brother meets him, telling him that his father is off on a photo shoot. As the weeks go by and his father doesn't show Kaede decides to take matters into his own hands. What he learns helps him to finally put the past behind him and come to terms with his present.
I liked the cultural aspect and the focus on different meanings of home but some things were resolved too easily or not at all.
Flor is not looking forward to the summer. She has to dress up as a mattress to help out in her family's store, her best friend will be at camp, and she has to participate in the 50th anniversary festival as a former pageant winner with her former friend. They also get roped into helping an old man at his house.
Flor soon finds common ground with Candice and they learn more about bees in the process. In fact, they decide to incorporate bees into their "talent" with Flor doing a bee beard.
Even though Flor is struggling and things actually get worse she does find friendship again and learns things about herself.
This was a solid middle grade book.
I loved this book so much!!! It has been slow going lately with work, fatigue, family matters but even though a bit disjointed in my personal reading I was quite drawn to this.
This is the story of Isabelle - the ugly stepsister who cut off her toes and what happened after. It is also about the Fates and Chance and free will. Isabelle is fated to meet a terrible end shortly after Ella becomes queen. Her family is now outcast and soon homeless as well and war is coming to their village. But Chance steals the map of Isabelle's life from the Fates and is determined to give Isabelle - well - a chance. Isabelle also gets help from the same fairy queen who helped Ella. Isabelle is told she must mend the 3 broken pieces of her heart in order to get her wish. It takes her awhile to figure it out but it all comes together nicely.
This is a story of choosing your own fate, making restitution, with some awesome girl power as well. So good...
Orion didn't really know his grandfather that well. Sure there were yearly visits and he knew his grandfather was funny but he could always tell that his dad and grandfather had a strained relationship. So when his grandfather died he wasn't quite sure what to expect - although the clown telegram should have been a clue. First there was a funneral where people shared their memories and then there was a band and food trucks. It all made his dad uncomfortable but just when they were about to leave they discovered that Orion's grandfather wasn't in the casket. They were supposed to find him - like a scavenger hunt. What happened next was funny and revealing at the same time and a reminder to communicate before it's too late.
I quite enjoyed this...
Jude and her mother are Syrian refugees that have just arrived in America. Her father and brother stayed in Syria and her mother is pregnant. The book follows Jude's first year in the country as she learns English and tries to find her place in America while staying true to herself.
This is well done and I can see students really warming to this sweet character.
Jaclyn has always pushed herself to be perfect. She is a perfect student - thoughtful, prompt, dependable, the perfect friend, the perfect understudy. She even wants the perfect science fair project especially if it will show the principal, Miss Carver, that not all the students are bad.
When Jaclyn finds a "Perfection Potion" in the abandoned manor of the old mysterious scientist she decides to try it. But the results are disastrous. Each time something comes up where she may not be perfect an alter ego - Jackie - appears and ruins things in such a way that Jaclyn either appears perfect or the event is ruined anyway. Jaclyn soon discovers that the change may soon be permanent. Can she save herself and her classmates?
This was a fun read - humorous with a bit of a message.
Wow, that was intense and not for the faint of heart!
5 teens are on their way home from a trip to California when their plane is hijacked. But why - for what purpose? As the teens try to figure out what is going on and who they can trust. Meanwhile, the military is also trying to piece together what is happening and trying to decide the best course of action. On the ground is an intern, Melissa, about the same age as the teens on the plane who is using new methods to try to piece everything together.
Very fast paced and not all rainbows and unicorns. Spoiler alert - they don't all make it. I really liked it.
