Space Boy (series) by Stephen McCranie Graphic Novel Mystery Realistic Fiction Science Fiction Teen Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing) When Amy’s father loses his job at the mine, the family is forced to leave the mining colony and return to Earth – a journey that will require them to be cryogenically frozen (so they will not age) and will take 30 years. By the time they arrive, Amy’s best friend Jemma will … Read more
The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin Realistic Fiction Adult/older teen * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Alice Holtzman, now in her forties, always wanted to do something special with her life, but after losing her much beloved husband and facing up to the facts that her job is a placeholder for the things she really wants, she’s starting to question her choices. Now she’s planning to expand her beekeeping hobby into a business, … Read more
Better Together by Christine Riccio Funny LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Romance YA (older teen) * * * Stars (Pretty good) Two sisters, separated in early childhood, are reunited in their young adulthood at a retreat where they form a plan to get revenge on their parents, whose poor decisions have torn their family apart. Jamie, the older sister, is an aspiring stand-up comedian, who was just evicted from her apartment after bombing her first long set. … Read more
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley Realistic Fiction Romance (sort of) Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Rachel and Henry were best friends for years and just when Rachel decided to declare her love for him, pretty, perky Amy came along and swept him off his feet, but was wrong for him in so many other ways. Rachel moved away and successfully put Henry out of her mind and started dating someone else, … Read more
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson LGBTQ+ Magical Realism Realistic Fiction Science Fiction Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Henry Denton has been abducted by aliens countless times. They perform all kinds of experiments on him, then return him to Earth – naked and inconveniently far from home. He made the mistake of talking about it once, which earned him eternal bullying and the moniker “Space Boy.” Now the aliens have given … Read more
All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker Realistic Fiction Juvenile Fiction Review #1 * (A waste of time!) This book was not what I was expecting. There were quite a few subplots within the main plot, none of which ever seemed to be tied off in the resolution. There was no resolution, no final ending. Olympia is an artist, along with her parents. Her father paints, her mother makes sculptures, and Olympia draws … Read more
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Realistic Fiction Adult Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) It is a good hearted book about an old man who is ready to join the afterlife. He is constantly stopped as he helps neighbors and such. This book is amazing making it feel so real and like the retelling of a story. It has humor but also touches on some of the realer parts of … Read more
Unplugged by Gordon Korman Funny Mystery Realistic Fiction Tween * * * Stars (Pretty good) As the son of a tech billionaire, Jett Baranov is accustomed to getting whatever he wants and is well known for his stunts, which have gotten him into plenty of trouble. Tired of paying for/covering up his son’s pranks (which are becoming more and more dangerous), Jett’s dad sends him (and one of his employees – Matt – to babysit … Read more
Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Everything changes when Wren’s family moves right before she starts middle school. Wren feels lost and alone and disconnected from everyone. She has trouble making friends and the only person who does seem to accept her is Meadow – a year older and Trouble. Over the next couple of years, Wren starts drinking and smoking pot, stealing from her parents, and … Read more
The World Ends in April by Stacy McAnulty Adventure Funny Realistic Fiction Suspense Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I loved this book! This book is about Eleanor, a middle schooler who is like most middle schoolers. She has been best friends with Mack since kindergarten. Even though Mack is blind and way more social than Eleanor, they will most likely survive the end of the world. When they figure out the … Read more