Lena has grown up terrified of touch--because any human contact with her skin means a horrible, gruesome death for that person. She was cursed by a wiLena has grown up terrified of touch--because any human contact with her skin means a horrible, gruesome death for that person. She was cursed by a witch before she was born, and her father has done everything he could to keep her safe. Everything except tell her the truth. Lena's need to find her truths bring her on a journey she never imagined through a magical world she never knew existed. After being lied to and shielded for so long, it's nearly impossible to know who to trust, and who will betray her.
This is, primarily, a Sleeping Beauty retelling, but it's important to note which version. This is not the Princess Aurora, sanitized Disney version. This is closer to the Charles Perrault version, or the Grimm Briar Rose version, with the darkly haunting visuals of Trina Schartt Hyman's illustrations. Consistent rules for magic and other worldbuilding details add to the experience. Highly recommend....more
Grief has a funny way of getting in the way. Rose is part of the way home from her best friend's parents' house when her car breaks down, and a radio Grief has a funny way of getting in the way. Rose is part of the way home from her best friend's parents' house when her car breaks down, and a radio signal plays the last voicemail Gaby ever left her. Rose follows the signal into Lotus Valley, where the residents greet her with wariness and fear, being prophecies to bring about the town's destruction in 3 days time. The neighbors--ghosts of the past, creatures of memory or spirit--have something they need to say, and Rose might be the only one who can hear it.
Rose's grief and PTSD cloud her ability to really understand, struggling as she is with her own issues. Her story is sensitively told and emphasizes that grief isn't a linear series of stages and that healing takes time....more
Marin and Kaia are reunited, but there's still so much to be done--freeing the dragons and rescuing Sev, but also renegotiating their relationship givMarin and Kaia are reunited, but there's still so much to be done--freeing the dragons and rescuing Sev, but also renegotiating their relationship given all that's happened to each of them....more
An honest account of one person's journey with gender identity. I'll be passing this title along to a couple of my 8th grade students who I think coulAn honest account of one person's journey with gender identity. I'll be passing this title along to a couple of my 8th grade students who I think could benefit from it....more
Read for a book group, though I'd been meaning to read it for literally years, and I'm glad I finally did.
Jane's beloved aunt has recently died, and JRead for a book group, though I'd been meaning to read it for literally years, and I'm glad I finally did.
Jane's beloved aunt has recently died, and Jane is at loose ends. So when a casual friend invites her to their estate, Jane goes, and it's here that Jane's story fractures. In a moment of chaos, Jane makes a decision to follow someone, and who she follows determines the next part of her story. The multiverse sends her far from home and very close to her starting point, exploring and exploding everything she's known and believed.
The story splits into five vignettes, some grounded (more or less) in reality and others pretty far-flung, and one notable instance of body horror.
Much of this is about Jane's self-discovery and self-acceptance. No one story is the "real" ending. No one Jane is the "real" Jane. And that's okay....more
It should have been over. After Simon's death, the school has been shutting down the gossip apps left and right. But then a new one pops up and whoeveIt should have been over. After Simon's death, the school has been shutting down the gossip apps left and right. But then a new one pops up and whoever is running it wants to play Truth or Dare. The truths are hurtful and destructive. The dares are harmless pranks, right up until they aren't. Maeve has some ideas on how to find whoever coordinates this one, but then her own truth gets revealed--and now she's extra-motivated to destroy this person.
It's been a long time since I read the first book, so details are a little fuzzy for me. Still, there's enough context here to catch new (or forgetful) readers up without bogging the story down in exposition. Well paced and plotted, and hard to keep on my library's shelves....more
Something happened to Hannah's roommate. Something bad. Now, Hannah is in a psych ward "until this is all straightened out," the lawyer says. Which shSomething happened to Hannah's roommate. Something bad. Now, Hannah is in a psych ward "until this is all straightened out," the lawyer says. Which shouldn't be long! She just has to sit tight and befriend her new roommate, and wait for the evidence to exonerate her.
I do love an unreliable narrator, and one in a psych ward is generally a good starting place. I had questions and suspicions by the midway point, but it wasn't immediately obvious....more
Famous horror movie director is attacked in his home, so his teen daughter is sent to stay with her maternal grandmother in the town where her mother Famous horror movie director is attacked in his home, so his teen daughter is sent to stay with her maternal grandmother in the town where her mother grew up--and where her father set his most famous movie. Right from the beginning there's something weird in town--a ghost, or a demon-creature, in the abandoned mines, or just a creepy vibe in the whole town seemingly stuck in the past when the mine collapsed. With no internet or cell service, Lola is stuck piecing together past events from scant clues....more
More Stevie Bell! This time they're at a summer camp, investigating the murders that happened decades earlier and the strange goings-on in the currentMore Stevie Bell! This time they're at a summer camp, investigating the murders that happened decades earlier and the strange goings-on in the current day. Familiar characters, witty writing, and a well-plotted mystery....more
Boarding school, new friends and love interest, Jack the Ripper copycat. I don't really have anything else to say (except Give Me Book 2).Boarding school, new friends and love interest, Jack the Ripper copycat. I don't really have anything else to say (except Give Me Book 2)....more
It's been a few years since Ivy, Cal, and Mateo hung out regularly, so their impromptu cut day together surprised everyone--especially since there's aIt's been a few years since Ivy, Cal, and Mateo hung out regularly, so their impromptu cut day together surprised everyone--especially since there's another student out, and he's found dead by mid-morning. But they saw him go into a building and saw him dead a few minutes later, and each of them had a reason to privately celebrate that.
As usual for McManus, there are a number of twists, turns, and red herrings leading to a conclusion that you couldn't predict but is obvious in retrospect....more
The teens at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center have been convicted of various offenses: arson, thievery, (possibly) murder. At the end of one shift, the The teens at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center have been convicted of various offenses: arson, thievery, (possibly) murder. At the end of one shift, the guards go home–and none come to replace them. Hope is surrounded by armed soldiers, who tell them (not kindly) of the strict lockdown and quickly-spreading plague. The kids at Hope are on their own. Some leave to find a way around the roadblocks. Some stay to make it work until help comes. If help comes....more
Rory is excited to be spending a school year in London, worlds away from her Louisiana home. But as she arrives there, so does a Jack-the-Ripper copycRory is excited to be spending a school year in London, worlds away from her Louisiana home. But as she arrives there, so does a Jack-the-Ripper copycat killer. And because Rory has seen him, he's now playing a game with her. Rory is the only one who CAN see him. How do you find and arrest a ghost? She's about to find out. ...more
ARC via Netgalley, but a paper copy in my house now and I'll be buying a copy for my school library in September. This comic is self-referential and dARC via Netgalley, but a paper copy in my house now and I'll be buying a copy for my school library in September. This comic is self-referential and demented and absolutely hilarious. You can't go wrong....more
Is there a way to discuss one of NRS's books without massive spoilers?
A girl leaves her abusive home situation and moves to a boarding house in NYC--tIs there a way to discuss one of NRS's books without massive spoilers?
A girl leaves her abusive home situation and moves to a boarding house in NYC--the same boarding house her mom stayed in when she was a teen. But now that she's there, there's something weird going on. Why is there a curfew? Why does the portrait of the house's founder appear to move? What's the deal with the tiny door behind the bed?
I called (part of) the ending, but that's bc I'm an adult who has read other books. Still a compelling, recommended read....more
Narrator goes back home to her remote Alaskan town for her best friend's funeral. Friend has died by suicide while Narrator was away at boarding schooNarrator goes back home to her remote Alaskan town for her best friend's funeral. Friend has died by suicide while Narrator was away at boarding school. Narrator is left struggling to understand what happened: Friend was an outcast, avoided and sort of feared due to bipolar disorder, but now that she's dead the townspeople are talking about how loved she was and how much they miss her.
I never got the visceral sense of Place that I have with other books, but I did get the claustrophobia of a small, isolated town in which everyone knows everyone else's business. Narrator must come to terms with what's changed in her absence and what's changed due to her absence, while also grieving.
I have plenty of students who will love this book, and assuming I get a budget next year, I'll be adding it to my school library....more
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