Saturday, December 31, 2016

Garden of Dreams and Desires (Crescent City #3) by Kristen Painter

Garden of Dreams and Desires (Crescent City, #3)
This is the last book in the trilogy and it gives the story a satisfying ending.  Harlow struggles to be free of Ava Mae, her dead twin sister who is possessing her, while trying to keep the secret that dwells within her house.  Augustine is working to free her and find out why tourists are disappearing and Giselle, the witch is trying to get rid of Augustine and get the witches out from under the rule of the fae.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Run by Kody Keplinger

Run
An unusual friendship between a girl who is legally blind and a girl from a very dysfunctional family who become best friends and run away together.  The book goes back and forth between the present - when they are on the run, and the past, describing how they became friends, until you finally learn why they are running away.  Many issues are addressed in the book from foster care to having a disability to bullying, courage and friendship.

City of Eternal Night (Crescent City #2) by Kristen Painter

City of Eternal Night (Crescent City, #2)
In this book, Harlow learns why her evil father wants his house.  He will do anything to get it and when he kidnaps a teenage fae girl, it is up to Augustine and Harlow to save her.  There is action from the witch sector of the city as well and Augustine suspects that all the problems are connected.  Action, romance and fantasy fill this second book in the trilogy.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Witch's Pyre by Josephine Angelini

Witch's Pyre by Josephine Angelini
Excellent last book in the trilogy.  It is up to Lily to save the world - not her world, but Lillian's world and she will need all the allies she can get to help her - even those who are not the usual type.  I enjoyed this book and the fact that it was able to end the trilogy with a third book that is just as good as the first one.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Fire Walker by Josephine Angelini



Firewalker (Worldwalker, #2)
In this second book in the series, Lily and Rowan arrive back on Lily's world and are found by Lily's mother and sister.  Her mother, Elizabeth, is a spirit walker and was watching Lily and knew when and where she would arrive.  There is trouble with the FBI and other authorities since Lily had been missing for 3 months.  She is badly burned and Rowan has to heal her.  Due to the FBI, Lily must return to school, where she gains a few friends, both new and old.  Excellent second book in the series and I am off to read the third.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Trial by Fire (Worldwalker, #1)
In this young adult paranormal romance, 17 year old Lily is whisked from Salem to an alternate universe in which she is a witch and her severe allergies are proof that she is a crucible, a powerful witch.  She is guided by her alternate self, who goes by  her full name, Lillian, and she meets Lillian's ex-mechanic (healer), a handsome young man named Rowan.  Lily sets out to defy Lillian and her evil deeds and to help Rowan and the native people who he lives with who are outcasts from the thirteen walled cities in their world that keep the citizens safe from the dangerous creatures that roam the world.  Rowan helps Lily to learn how to use her magical powers and the two are bound together.  This is the first book in a trilogy.  I look forward to reading the other two books.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Simon Thorn and the Viper's Pit by Aimee Carter

Simon Thorn and the Viper's Pit (Simon Thorn #2)
In this second book in the series, Simon finds a postcard from his mother and he and his friends go to the reptile kingdom headquarters to find her and rescue her from her father, Orion.  Simon continues to keep secrets from his brother and uncle and fights Animalgams in an attempt to rescue his mother and stop his evil uncle and the evil ex-Alpha.  There is action, adventure and more action in this fun to read middle grade novel.  I look forward to reading the other books in the series!

Can I tell you about Gender Diversity? A guide for friends, family and professionals by CJ Atkinson


This is a short, simple book about gender diversity that is suitable for reading to children in elementary school and can be read by upper elementary and middle school children. The book contains clear and simple explanations about what gender is, what gender dysphoria is and how many people feel when they are transgender.   In addition to the story about Kit, there are facts and resources for adults listed in the back of the book.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by Aimee Carter

Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by [Carter, Aimée]
Like Harry Potter, Simon Thorn has powers that he does not know about or understand.  He is 12 years old and has recently been able to talk to and understand animals.  Similar to Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, Simon eventually winds up at a school for others who have similar abilities, who are also Animalgams, people who can shift into animal forms.  The others all grew up knowing about their abilities and world, where as Simon had grown up in the normal world knowing nothing about the other world to which he belongs.  He makes some friends and learns more about his family and his destiny and begins to fight the ones who want to take over.  I think that middle grade students who enjoy fantasy will enjoy the Simon Thorn series.  I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

All The Breaking Waves by Kerry Lonsdale

All the Breaking Waves
In this paranormalish romance, Molly is a single mom, raising her 8 year old daughter, Cassie.  Now that Cassie has developed a gift of premonition and can tell when bad things are going to happen to people who are close to her,  Molly finds that she needs help teaching her daughter about her psychic gift.  They go to visit Molly's grandmother, who is also psychic, like Molly and Molly's mother was.  When she returns to her childhood home, she is reunited with her old love, Owen, who Molly had spurned and left behind when her parents died.  Can the four of them work things out?  The paranormal bit helped to make this book more fun to read and added a bit of mystery to the story.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

It's. Nice. Outside by Jim Kokoris

It's. Nice. Outside.: A Novel by [Kokoris, Jim]
It took me a while to get into this book.  The beginning, which is just John, is rather slow.  I kept putting it aside thinking "I. Can't. Read. This." Then I would look at the reviews and they were all wonderful, so I gave it another try.  Twice.  Finally, I got into the book, and it really is great.  John tells the story of taking his 19 year old son,Ethan, who is severely mentally challenged, across the country on a road trip to his daughter Karen's wedding.  Only, there are problems with the wedding and Karen and her sister Mindy, who acts on  SNL, are not getting along.  John's ex-wife Mary is none too cooperative herself.  The book addresses the challenges of a family who has an adult child who has special needs and the effect that person has on the family.  The story kept me reading once I got into it.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Between XX and XY : Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes by Gerald N. Callahan

Between XX and XY: Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes by [Callahan, Gerald]
This book discusses a variety of the different genetic differences that can cause a range of gender differences that are often referred to as intersex.  There are personal stories and stories about animals who have gender differences.  The book is interesting and factual.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

The Witch Hunter by [Boecker, Virginia]
This is a totally fun to read young adult paranormal romance!  Set in the 1500s, Elizabeth Grey is a witch hunter.  Her parents died of the plague when she was 11 years old and a boy named Caleb took her under his wing and together they were trained to be witch hunters.  When Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft herself and put in prison, she is rescued by people working for Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in the kingdom, because she has been designated in a prophesy.  There is action, magic, betrayal, love and more action in this fun first book in what promises to be a fabulous series!  I look forward to reading the next book.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Brightwood by Tania Unsworth

Brightwood by [Unsworth, Tania]
Eleven year old Daisy has never left the grounds of her home, Brightwood mansion, where she lives with her mother.  She has never even spoken to another person in her life.  She has no idea what the outside world is like at all. Her mother is a hoarder, filling a box a day with things to help her remember and the house is so full that it  has become a maze.  One day, Daisy's mother goes out to the store, and does not return.  Then, a man shows up at the house.  He claims to be her cousin.  He is not a nice man.  Can Daisy survive?  Will her imaginary friends help her?  This is an intriguing mystery for middle grade children.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Forest of Whispers by Jennifer Murgia

Forest of Whispers (Hedge Witch) by [Murgia, Jennifer]
Sixteen year old Rune has grown up in the Black Forest in Bavaria, raised by an old woman who tells people's fortunes using Rune stones.  Laurentz, whose step mother is ill and dying,  is the son of the Electorate.  Rumors of witchcraft, plague and ruin, witch trials and drownings are part of the dark history in the story.  Can Rune avoid burning at the stake with the help of Laurentz?  I enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to the next.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel
Although this is the 8th book in the series, it is only the second one I have read.  I found this book and the previous one to be thoroughly enjoyable!  Flavia is a delightful 12 year old precocious chemistry loving detective who enjoys solving mysteries.  She has returned home from her stint in boarding school in Canada only to find her father in the hospital and herself totally ignored.  When she finds a dead body, things liven up a bit and she is off to find out who done it and why.  I think that readers of this series will enjoy this book!