The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn by Thomas and Dorothy Hoobler Historical Fiction Juvenile Fiction Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) Seikei is the son of a merchant in ancient Japan, but he longs to escape his current station and become a noble samurai – one of the knights of Japan. He gets his chance when he notices a mysterious figure in the dark while he and his father are staying at an inn. … Read more
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin Realistic Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty Good) Matthew knows that something has to be done about his mother, Nikki. She’s vicious, unpredictable, abusive, and she’s constantly putting him and his sisters, Callie and Emmy, in danger. So, when he sees Murdoch – a man he doesn’t even know yet – standing up for another kid, he comes up with a plan. Maybe Murdoch will protect … Read more
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Frankie blossoms over the summer between her freshman and sophomore years in high school, and when she returns to her elite boarding school (Alabaster), she’s suddenly the focus of a lot of male attention – in particular, gorgeous senior Matthew. They start dating and although Frankie really likes Matthew, she feels like he doesn’t take her seriously. After … Read more