Books for Healing and Other Soft Reads

Hello fellow readers! I know it has been quite some time since I have blogged. 2020 was quite a year for me with many changes, and 2021 has quickly become a year of growth, healing, and then some! I have been reading and working on my own young adult fiction novel as many of you may already know, but if you're looking for some fresh reads... check out these books perfect for a year of healing: 

Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn

Gemma's heart is broken at the beginning of summer by the love of her life. Rejected in a parking lot by her perfect guy and spotting him with a flirty tattooed girl was not quite how she pictured her season of fun to begin. She is sent off to the Hamptons with her father and pushed into a past that she must now come to terms with. As Gemma tries to get over her heartbreak and make amends with an old best friend, she is caught between telling the truth and finding a new love that may last. Fans of light romantic fiction will enjoy this read and may learn a lesson or two on revenge and love. I can't wait to finish off the series and share it with you.  

How to Be Calm by Anna Barnes

This easy to follow guide book focuses on ways we can input calmness and peace into our lives. The chapters include beautiful quotes and ideas which include changing our diet, scenery, and home for a peaceful life. Young adult will find the writing practical, inspiring and easy to follow. 

The Velvet Room by Snyder

This week, I re-read an old favorite from my childhood, The Velvet Room, and it was just as beautiful as I recall. What are some of your old favorites that you are reading during quarantine? Share them below. Also, if you love mysterious old mansions, historical fiction, and wanderlust characters... The Velvet Room is for you! 

She also wrote the fantastic novel, The Egypt Game, which is a fantastic story for middle schoolers depicting the time of Ancient Egypt. 

I'm also trying out a new hot pick from Barnes and Noble.... I'll be posting the review next week so stay tuned! 

#JessicaPennington #teensummerreads

Old Favorites for Teens - Blue is for Nightmares by Stolarz

I have been working on adding favorite titles to my home book shelf and came across "Blue is for Nightmares" by Laurie faria Stolarz at Book Off. As stores slowly start to open up during this COVID-19 pandemic, I was excited to finally walk into a bookstore! I finished off the first title in the series. Remember, some libraries in California are starting to do curbside pickup with a valid library card.
Title: Blue is for Nightmares
Author: Laurie faria Stolarz 
Summary: Hillcrest Boarding School is home to Stacey Brown, a teenager who utilizes her Wiccan powers and premonitions to ward off a killer. When her roommate starts to receive creepy phone calls, Stacey must use her powers and images from her nightmares to find the killer and keep her friend safe. Will she make it on time or will she lose friends over keeping this and other things a secret?


More in this series:
White is For Magic
Silver is For Secrets
Red is For Remembrance

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Emoni Santiago's life has been very different ever since she got pregnant freshman year. Her decisions revolve around her precious abuela and her baby girl Emma. Her one place of sanction is the kitchen where she cooks up fiery recipes to match her fiery personality.
At school, she is invited to participate in a culinary elective class to showcase and hone in on her talents. The class begins to be a bit much for her and she has to make a decision to stick it out and also learn to trust in love again.
Teens will love the realism depicted in this book. Finally a story about what happens to a teen mother after she gives birth and how young girls in her situation can still achieve their dreams!

Mystery Lovers... are you out there?

As we struggle through almost a month of quarantine COVID-19 blues....I invite you to revisit a few of your favorite books. As teens, mysteries can be a fun genre to dive into, especially if you love a good realistic fiction novel with a twist. I am very old school, so this week I propose that we take a look at everyone's favorite female detective Nancy Drew. Once this #safeathome era is over, I'm hoping to revive this old character at my library with a fun book club... complete with a scavenger hunt and selfie station.

Here's a few mystery titles that teens and tweens may enjoy:

    

Comment below if you would like more information about these books or the Nancy Drew bookclub I am planning. Cheers and be safe!

Donut Go Breaking My Heart

Sheyda is an aspiring set designer who doesn't mind helping out in her friend's Donut Cakery shop, Doughlicious, in Manhattan. Her life is filled with the normal middle school activities and her position as the perfect daughter with a drama-free life. One day, celebrity Caleb Sadler shows up at the doughnut shop and his manager asks to film in the facility. Her best friend Kira appears to be smitten with him and longs to star in his film, yet it is Sheyda who is selected. As her admiration for Caleb grows, Sheyda has to speak out to Kira about her feelings for him alongside other issues that have emerged. Can she stay in her perfect bubble or will her perfect world collide?
This is another sweet tale from the Wish series to enjoy. Oh! It will also make you crave doughnuts with all the delicious recipes at the end of the book.

Lighthearted reads for your quarantining feeds

Hello all! I hope everyone has been staying safe and inside. Libraries and reading are still so vital to many of us. As teens work on homework indoors and online, why not give them some fun reading material? Most libraries have ceased their holds but e-books are still available and most Barnes and Noble locations are doing curbside pickups. That's awesome.
I've been reading some fun light-hearted books (Wish Series and Jenn Bennett stories) and catching up on Netflix movies. Right now I'm hooked on All-American! It's like an up-to-date Los Angeles version of the OC in case you are interested.
Oh! On to the book I'm reading...
Here are a few of my picks of the month. They are not all light hearted topics, but they are fun none the less.

Donut Go Breaking My Heart by Suzanne Nelson

With the Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana Lopez

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Starry Eyes is the third book I have read from my new favorite author Jenn Bennett.
Zorie, a stargazing teen finds herself glamping with her ex-crush and family enemy Lennon. Before she leaves for the trip she learns that her father has cheated on her mother and may have done so multiple times. With no one but each other to hash out the camping trip from hell, the two star-crossed exes/ frenemies  turn to eachother and fight through the rugged Northern California terrain. Can their feelings survive the outdoors and real life when they return home? Read em and weep!


Photo from: https://rantsandravesofabibliophile.wordpress.com/2018/03/30/starry-eyes/

#teenreads
#jennbennett

Dr. Seuss Day Crafts

While most of my reviews are for teen books... I thought I would share the events from our Dr. Seuss Day at the library. This program was geared towards ages 4-12 years so we did have a few tweens present. We read aloud from Horton Hears a Who and There's a Wocket in My Pocket. The latter was a fun favorite.
We also hosted a tossing game... it was really simple with two baskets. One would gain the participant a free book and the other would earn them a free bookmark. We marked off one of our aisles in the stacks and held it there with a a teen volunteer.

Two craft stations were featured. One with a mini Cat in the Hat hat and another with a super cute Lorax windchime I created.

We had over 90 participants and my lead also made green eggs and ham inspired candy with frosted pretzels and green M & Ms.

This was one of our larger programs, so teen volunteers were a must. If you have teens looking for volunteer hours this is the perfect way to incorporate them in your programs. They earn extra hours and you get a quality program!


HOORAY FOR DR. SEUSS DAY!
#readacrossamerica #drseussday #loraxcrafts

Materials Used:
Googly eyes
Cut out mustache and eyebrows from yellow card stock
Wind chimes from "Colorations"
Comment below if you have any questions

Author Jenn Bennett review

I absolutely love Jenn Bennett as a teen author. I find that her books start off with a soft pace yet by the middle of the book you can't put it down. She builds up to something great and lyrical.

 

(photo from booksandwafflesblog.blogspot.com)
I just finished Serious Moonlight, which stars a girl with a sleeping disorder in the dreamy town of Seattle. Throw in a whirlwind romance that gets Birdy out of her shell and a sub-plotted mystery and you've got a great book!

Teen Reads for February... Romance is in the air

I'm truly a sucker for great teen romances. Check out these fun titles hot off the press! 

Well, at least hot and new to me!
I love the feel of these bright and honest female characters who hold their own against society. The stories are not deep, but deeply involving. Serious Moonlight is my currently reading pick for the month and it tells of a beautiful gal named Birdie who enjoys a good mystery in  her moody city of Seattle. 

Enjoy! 

#newteenbooks

#EmilyWibberly #NinaMoreno

#JennBennett