Far Far Away

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
Jeremy Johnson Johnson is just like any other 14 year old boy except he can hear the voice of Jacob Grimm. Jacob has been dead for many years and is unable to cross over. He has attached himself to Jeremy. He feels there is something evil stalking Jeremy and the other children of Never Better. Jacob feels the only way to join his brother, Wilhelm, is to protect them.

Far Far Away is narrated by the ghost of Jacob Grimm and is told in the typical  Grimm Fairy Tale style, dark and twisted. There are many likeable characters but my favorites were Jeremy and Jacob. Jeremy is a nerd who gets into trouble when a fiery red head named Ginger convinces him to pull a prank. The prank goes horribly wrong and the town turns on them. Jacob is stuffy and tries to keep Jeremy out of trouble and safe. You are drawn into their story right from the start. This has something for everyone a ghost, a love story and magic. If you like a dark and twisted tale then this is for you.

                                                                  
                                     

                                                                  





                                                          

Shine

 Shine by Lauren Myracle
Don't be fooled by the beautiful book jacket. This is a very tough book to read. Cat and her best friend Patrick are close but lately Cat is pulling away and spending more time on her own. Patrick is openly gay and has paid for it many times in this small North Carolina town. But after he is found brutally beaten and left for dead Cat must come out of her self imposed exile and try and find the person or persons who did this to Patrick. As the story unfolds we find that Cat also has a dark secret.

This is a tough read and deals with some even tougher subjects; bullying, gay bashing, rape and bigotry. I think this is a must read. It will leave you feeling angry and drained but Myracle's writing is so beautiful it is well worth it.

Where Things Come Back

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
This story is about Cullen Witter and Benton Sage. Two separate lives that are on a collision course with each other. Cullen lives in Lily, Arkansas. A small town with not a whole lot to do, that is until someone spots the Lazarus woodpecker, then the entire town goes woodpecker crazy. In the middle of this craziness Cullen's younger brother, Gabriel, goes missing. Cullen is heartbroken. Now for Benton Sage; he is a missionary in Africa whose father is an overbearing and critical man. Benton is searching for a purpose to his life. How do their lives intersect? Well you will just have to read the book.

I liked this book; however the connection between Benton and Cullen seemed a little farfetched. It is a story of first love, friendship, loss and hope. If you like John Green you will like this book.

Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Kathy, Ruth and Tommy all grew up together in a secluded English boarding school, Hailsham. They were raised by "guardians" who limited their contact with the world outside of Hailsham. The residents of Hailsham were no ordinary students, they were "donors", cloned and used for their spare parts until they have nothing left to give. The story is told by Kathy, now 31 and a "carer". She is reunited with Ruth and Tommy after many years and old feelings and self doubt start to surface.

This is a story about a very controversial subject. It begs the question, "just because we can, should we?" It is also a story of forgiveness.

Caring is Creepy

Caring is Creepy by David Zimmerman
Lynn Sugrue is a 15 year old self-centered, manipulating, all around nasty teenager. I found myself really disliking her and her best friend, Dani, by the end of the book but it did not stop me from reading it. Lynn's mother is a nurse who works too much and is too busy with her pill popping boyfriend, Hayes, to notice that her daughter is playing a very dangerous game. Enter Logan, a 25 year old soldier in the Army, who meets Lynn on the internet. Logan has his own troubles. He is AWOL. I found this part of the story a little hard to believe, I would like to think that no matter how busy or distracted a parent might be they would notice their 15 year old daughter having a relationship with a 25 year old man. Everything comes together in the end and Lynn's world will never be the same.

Wonder

Wonder by R. J. Palacio What a great book!! Once again I leave the comfort of my reading zone and I find  a book that I totally enjoyed.

Wonder is a heart-warming story of a young boy with a facial deformity. He has lived a somewhat sheltered life with an incredibly supportive and loving family. After many years of being home schooled August is finally ready for public school. Unfortunately for August he is entering the dreaded world of middle school. He will need all of his strength to deal with the bullies and drama that 5th grade has to offer.

My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
This book it totally out of my comfort zone but when I saw it I just had to read it. 

Jeffery Dahmer a serial killer who killed 17 young men before he was caught, had a friend and this is his story.

In Zanesville

In Zanesville by Jo Ann Beard
To be perfectly honest this is not my kind of book. Does it mean I do not recommend it? Absolutely not. As I was reading, I kept waiting for something tragic to happen, it didn't. This is a story about a friendship between two girls growing up in a small town.

In Zanesville is beautifully written. The friendship between the narrator and her best friend, Felicia is totally believable. It chronicles the trials and tribulations of friendship, from babysitting pitfalls to that first kiss. If you like John Green then this is for you. 

NW

NW by Zadie Smith

This book is not for everyone. If you like to read traditionally narrated books then you may not like this book but give it a chance. There is not a single plot but 4 as we are introduced to each of the characters and their lives. Each story is written in a different style, for example one is written in poetry and one as online chat and yet another is a series of vignettes.

NW follows the lives of 4 friends in NorthWest London. All close growing up in a housing project but each growing up to live very different lives with very different secrets.

Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

If you like historical fiction then this book will blow you away from the first page to the last. The characters are strong and believable. From the moment you are first introduced to Verity and Maddie you want to know more about them and what happens to them.

Julia, Queenie, Eva, Katherine or Verity her name changes to suit her mission, is captured and tortured by the Nazis during WWII after her plane crashes in France. They want the wireless codes she has memorized for the British government as an operator. We are lead to believe that she sells her soul to save herself. As her confession unfolds we learn about Maddie, the pilot that flew her to France, their friendship and more details about her capture by the Nazis. We also learn Maddie’s story told in her voice. The final third of the book will blow you away.

Almost Perfect

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher. 
 Logan is an 18 year old high school student in Missouri. His mom works to much and is getting over a broken heart. Logan is also recovering from the break up of a 3 year relationship. He feels neglected and all alone that is until he meets Sage, a new student who has a very big secret and turns his world upside down.
This one will make you laugh and cry.