Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Mara Valentine is a model student and daughter and has her whole future mapped out for her when her “niece” V comes to live with her. V is almost the same age, and is wilder, freer, and more spontaneous than Mara could ever hope to be. And she’ll be attending the same high school. And Mara’s parents want Mara to … Read more
The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Told from the points of view of four different teenagers growing up in Alaska in the 1970s, this takes a look at what it’s like for Ruth, who is unknowingly following in the footsteps of her ancestors (and ends up in a nunnery), Alyce, who desperately wants to become a professional dancer, but has to work … Read more
The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork Realistic Fiction (audio edition) * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Vicky Cruz is just going through the motions of her life when she decides to take it. Her suicide attempt fails, but it lands her at Lakeview Hospital where she meets Dr. Desai and several other troubled teens who she can relate to (and who understand her) much better than anyone she knows. Through her interactions … Read more
Ellie the Flower Girl The Critter Club #14 by Callie Barkley Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) Ellie has always dreamed of being a flower girl. Well, her dream does come true. Her cousin Hailey asks her to be a flower girl for her wedding. The Critter Club gets a surprising visit from a little French bulldog. Ellie tries hard to find it a home, but she’s having no luck. She … Read more
It’s Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Isabel is a young girl whose mother is opening a cupcake shop that used to be a laundromat. Later she finds out she ahs to move away from her best friend, Sophie. Isabel feels that her mother is only thinking about her shop. When Isabel goes to Sophie’s house, Sophie tells her there is a baking contest and Isabel … Read more
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Supernatural * * * * Stars (Great!) Cat and her family move to the coastal town of Bahia de la Luna to help with her little sister Maya’s health issues (she has cystic fibrosis). The whole town seems to be obsessed with spirits and Dia de los Muertos is coming up fast! Maya, too, becomes interested in ghosts – she has questions about death and the afterlife … Read more
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) A girl named Sam is doubting her belief in God. But after her mother gets a DUI, she is stuck with her dad and their badly-managed house. Then, a girl in the town goes missing. Everything is going wrong for Sam! I liked this book because there were many different, interesting things and the ending surprised me.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I’ll Give You the Sun, by Jandy Nelson, is the story of twins who were brought together by their love for art. When their mom passed away, it severed their close relationship and left them to grieve in their own ways. One twin gave up his love for art, while the other embraced it in hopes … Read more
El Deafo by Cece Bell Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Recommended for readers 4th grade and up * * * * Stars (Great!) Have you walked around with your eyes closed to see how it would feel to be blind? Think about what it might be like to be deaf. What would you miss hearing? Music? Television shows? Voices of family, friends, teachers? Take a look at El Deafo by Cece Bell. In this graphic novel, the author/artist tells … Read more
Diamond Willow by Helen Frost Novel in Verse Realistic Fiction Review # 1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Diamond Willow is about a girl named Diamond Willow who loves dog sledding. But, when her lead dog (Roxy) gets badly hurt because of Willow, her world changes. Will Willow be able to save Roxy or will there be one less dog on their team?