A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley

I absolutely loved the spin off title from Heasley's Where I Belong, titled A Long Way from You. The book follows one of the previous characters Kitsy as she embarks to art school in New York all the way from Broken Spoke, Texas. I loved all the New York tidbits and places mentioned in the book and how Kitsy finds herself and her roots through her art. This is a great title for fans of Sarah Dessen and any lover of New York and/or Texas.
The main character Kitsy gets carried away by the Big Apple, but finds her way in the end back to who she really is and where she wants to be. The characters were well developed and it was a fun read. It was also a great lesson for teens in that the character always struggles to be herself no matter what situation. I think a teen who travels or is caught in a small crossroad would greatly relate to this book.

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Brody has a true gem on her hands with the book, "The Karma Club." These high school characters really delve their readers into something that most teens think of seeking out when they're heartbroken, Revenge! They start a club to hurt people who have hurt them.... but in the end it's karma who has the last laugh. This book is great for soul searchers, heart-broken teens, and anyone who wants to read a great teen book that is not predictable. I think it is also a great lesson learning book for teens who fall into the social trap of being a"mean girl."

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Best selling author Jenny Han gives us a fresh look at what would happen if all our past crushes knew how we felt. Lara Jean, a spunky high school student who likes to stay away from the popular crowd finds her hat box of love letters mailed out by mistake.In the middle of this mishap, she must learn to cover up her feelings for her sister's "barely" ex and convince everyone that she and Peter ( her cover-up and fellow love letter recepient) are an item. Lara learns some lessons about sisters, real relationships, and surviving the teen dating game. Readers will enjoy how the author makes the characters come to life and how the story is not as predictable as you might think. What would you do if all your "unmailed" love letters were sent away? The sequel is P.S I Still Love You and is hard to get your hands on... but do try! 

The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

 I just finished reading Myracle's book which was a big surprise to me. I would recommend this book for older teens in grades 10 to 12 as there are some adult issues that come up throughout the book. It reminded me of Judy Blume's "Forever" if you get my drift, although it is very real and I like the way the author incorporated the teens of today within the story ( i.e the texting, the friendship patterns, and the insecurity that sometimes comes about when socializing via cell phone)
So, here's the review... Charlie and Wren meet in high school and bond over Charlie's broken hand. They immediately fall in love and begin Wren's very first hot and heavy romance. Charlie's friend and ex-girlfriend Starrla is not impressed. Although she does not have the capacity or desire to have a true relationship with Charlie, she still wants him to herself in a very broken way. Wren has made some very different decisions during her senior year that her parents are not happy about. Add this to a whirlwind romance, teenage sex, a boy from a foster family, and a few friends that help them along the way and you've got an amazing teen book! You may not be able to put this book down mid-way. It gets off to a slow basic start and then takes on a life of its own.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I fell in love with Eleanor & Park within the first three pages. Like many of the reviews state, don't let the cute cover fool you. Let's begin with Eleanor... an emotionally ( to say the least) abused girl who wears men's clothing and has just moved to a new school. And Park, a Korean-American who comes from a great family but doesn't fit in with the neighborhood kids either. They meet and their love for one another makes you want to cry and play songs by The Cure all day. They try to beat the odds but Eleanor's self-sabotaging ways get the best of them at times, yet Park tries to find a way to save her happiness in many ways throughout the book.
I highly recommend this book for all Y.A collections and teens who are looking for something different to read.
Enjoy!

We Can Work It Out by Elizabeth Eulberg

Fans of Eulberg's book The Lonely Hearts Club will be thrilled to read this second novel. Penny Lane is back again with her girl power club in full force and the number of members is growing by the minute. I love how Eulberg depicts the teen characters with so much depth and spunk. As Penny enters a new time in her life, she struggles with the issues of balancing school, the Club, and the relationship with her boyfriend Ryan. She makes some painful mistakes along the way and learns how to cope with life and change. A fun, light read that takes a look at the true compromise of relationships and friendships. The book is also filled with great lyrics from Beatles songs and a Beatle themed birthday for the main character to boot!

Prey by Lurlene McDaniel

I decided to try something different from Lurlene McDaniel. Prey, is a story about the taboo teacher/student relationship that sadly occurs today despite the damaging consequences behind such relationships. I recommend this book for college teens but I can surely understand that some younger teens would be interested as well. With that said, I'm glad that the author notes a cautionary introduction to the reader about such sensitive issues. Younger teens that read this book would do well to discuss the issues with their parents as well.

Everyone at McAllister High is talking about the new teacher Ms. Settles. With her tight clothes and stiletto heels, she has caught everyone's attention including a freshman student Ryan Piccoli. They soon engage in a forbidden teacher/student relationship that has Ryan's friends and family wondering what secret he is hiding. Ryan's childhood friend Honey, secretly has a crush on him and is curious about his "MIA" actions that have him distracted. Told from the point of view of three individuals, Lurlene takes us on a journey filled with passion, crime, and the consequences of a damaging relationship. Predator or Prey? For Ryan there is no black and white answer. Such an eye-opening book for all readers.

Roger and Amy's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

It's been a while since I've posted, but I'm back in full effect for 2015. With award season right around the corner, I am anxiously awaiting for Gone Girl to be available to me. I did begin a great teen read this past fall by Matson. So, with that said here goes....
Amy is a bit surprised when she finds out that her mom has arranged for her to travel across the country with a stranger. She soon finds out that this handsome stranger, however is quite a match for her. As Amy tries to deal with her father's death and fear of driving, she quickly learns that life can take some quick and scary turns, especially on a road trip with a new friend. Readers will love the "scrapbook" that Amy puts together as it adds life to the book.

YOLO by Lauren Myracle

I have finally finished a Lauren Myracle book and a good one to boot! Myracle's new book in her series The Internet Girls is fantastic! It follows Maddie, Zoe, and Angela as they begin their first year of college at different schools in very different locations. I was amazed by the way the author depicts a story through texts and instant messages. The girls come to life across the pages and you feel like you're right there in the dorm room with them. Life is not all fun and games for the girls in this book. They deal with break-ups, being apart from one another, new friendship issues, and crazy dorm-mates that steal things. A must read for young adults in college and even parents sending their first-timers off. I'm hoping to go back and read the other books in the series.

The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick

Author Heather Vogel Frederick works some magic by writing a cool middle school tale about four unlikely friends who are forced together by their mothers for a book-club. At first the girls simply hate one another and can't come to friendly terms. Cassidy is a tomboy who enjoys hockey, Megan would rather be at the mall and hang out with a different group, Jess is going through some hard family issues, and Emma is always being picked on for her "thrift-store" wardrobe. Soon the girls discover that they do need eachother and have more in common than they imagined. The mothers are just as different and have some issues to work out as well. As they read along to the classic Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, they also discover that they too have things in common with the book's characters. This is a fun middle school read that many young girls would enjoy. It also includes a few tidbits from Little Women that classic readers will enjoy. I don't know if I enjoyed this book enough to read the entire series, however teens in grades 5 and 6 might find this book to their liking.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn



 I just finished a young teen ghost story by Mary Downing Hahn. A concerned parent came to me with this book inquiring on how appropriate this read would be for a ten year old. While I would not recommend this title for younger readers, an 8th grader who is thrilled by reading horror/ghost stories may enjoy it. Ali is a quiet responsible thirteen year old who's mother suffers from depression and worry. Her mystery begins when she finds an old ripped photo. The picture clearly shows her mother, her Aunt Dulcie, and the arm of a person who has purposely been cut out of the photo. Ali finds herself back at her mother's hometown cottage where secrets and rumors still lie. She soon discovers that her young cousin is talking to a spooky girl who knows her mother's secret and why so many people fear the water nearby. Who is this mystery girl? Is it possible that she is the young girl in her mother's photo. Ali must be strong and help unravel a ghostly secret that has haunted the family for years. It takes a family friend, voices from the water, a spoiled stranger, and her Aunt Dulcie to piece together Ali's mystery. Can she uncover the past and stay alive?