This sequel/companion novel to COLD THE NIGHT, FAST THE WOLVES expands the world-building and characters in ways I found super intriguing and fun! ThiThis sequel/companion novel to COLD THE NIGHT, FAST THE WOLVES expands the world-building and characters in ways I found super intriguing and fun! This installment is set on a jungle planet, and the protagonist is Remy, a supporting character introduced in WOLVES. I loved the fast-paced, action-packed plotting and devoured this book in a matter of days. Remy's backstory is complex and tragic, and one of the best things about the storyline is her fraught relationship with Kiran, an old friend from her past who quickly became my favorite character. Highly recommended!...more
I read an early version of LET THE MONSTER OUT and adored it. (I'm a huge fan of THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE as well, and fully intend to read everything CI read an early version of LET THE MONSTER OUT and adored it. (I'm a huge fan of THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE as well, and fully intend to read everything Chad Lucas ever writes.) The story is a blend of mystery, sci-fi, and spookiness - the cover truly captures it perfectly. While this book is more speculative compared to TALU, which is firmly contemporary, Bones, Kyle, and their friends felt every bit as multifaceted and real as Brian & Ezra. They're lovable characters, impossible not to root for, and while they face dire situations and work through serious personal troubles, there's just enough humor to balance out the darkness, too. ...more
An action-packed magic school book full of lovable characters! This is the kind of story with the kind of world-building I would've wanted to return tAn action-packed magic school book full of lovable characters! This is the kind of story with the kind of world-building I would've wanted to return to over and over again as a kid, imagining myself as a student at the Academy alongside Kelcie and her friends. The twists and suspense as Kelcie tried to unravel the mystery of her past had me completely hooked. I also loved the use of Celtic mythology, plus the team-as-family trope (one of my favorites). Anxiously awaiting the sequel!...more
I absolutely loved this lighthearted, hilarious MG adventure! It's about a Filipino-American kid who's spent his whole life dealing with a family cursI absolutely loved this lighthearted, hilarious MG adventure! It's about a Filipino-American kid who's spent his whole life dealing with a family curse that causes bad luck. He's suffered countless embarrassing situations and awkward moments thanks to the curse, and his social life is in shambles because of it, too. But when he finds the amulet at the root of the curse, he finally gets his chance to break it - unless the curse manages to kill him first.
Freddie is such a great narrator. Engaging, clever, upbeat. And his cousin Sharkey is tough and smart, exactly the kind of girl I loved reading about as a kid (and still do). They make a great duo and were my favorite part of the book! At its core, it's a really touching story of family, forgiveness, and owning who you are. I can't say enough good things about it - I'm so excited for kids to get their hands on this....more
THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE features two of my new favorite MG protagonists, Brian and Ezra, who are sweet, hilarious, and so real. Brian's anxiety and EzrTHANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE features two of my new favorite MG protagonists, Brian and Ezra, who are sweet, hilarious, and so real. Brian's anxiety and Ezra's struggles with first crushes & opening up to others about who he is felt incredibly honest and authentic, and I expect many readers will feel deeply connected to the two of them, as I did! Although the story deals with some heavy subject matter, there's plenty of humor as well, and the boys are fun narrators - so fun I breezed through this book in about two sittings. The ending was perfectly satisfying, everything I'd hoped for both of them. Love!...more
RAVENFALL is a spooky, fun adventure filled with magical creatures and mystery, with a truly sinister antagonist. It's split between two POVs, both ofRAVENFALL is a spooky, fun adventure filled with magical creatures and mystery, with a truly sinister antagonist. It's split between two POVs, both of which I loved for different reasons: Colin is so wounded but determined, and Anna's struggle to figure out how she fits into this fantastical world when she feels outshined by those around her will resonate with many. Fast-paced and full of action, with a dash of humor to balance out some of the darker themes, this is the perfect autumn/Halloween read....more
My favorite thing about this book is the protagonist, Jane: practical, down-to-earth, feminist, funny as heck, but still vulnerable and flawed in waysMy favorite thing about this book is the protagonist, Jane: practical, down-to-earth, feminist, funny as heck, but still vulnerable and flawed in ways that felt very real. I love that LUCKY GIRL takes a hypothetical we've probably all thought about in passing - "what would I do if I won the lottery?" - and uses it as a springboard into a story that feels completely fresh. More things I loved: that super sweet m/f friendship, Jane's dreams of being a marine biologist, and the ending. Put this at the top of your YA contemporary reading list....more
I absolutely loved The Gravity of Missing Things, which is about a plane that goes missing and how the daughter of the pilot deals with the fallout. TI absolutely loved The Gravity of Missing Things, which is about a plane that goes missing and how the daughter of the pilot deals with the fallout. The mystery of what happened to the plane is threaded through the plot and the reveals about it are perfectly spaced out, so that the suspense was always there in the background even as I became immersed in the relationships and personal conflicts that played out.
This book somehow accomplishes the difficult feat of exploring grief in a way that felt authentic and hits hard emotionally, but also weaving in humor and romance seamlessly. I loved Landon, the kind, anxious, adorably awkward love interest; Alex, the upbeat and charismatic best friend; and Savannah, the overachieving older sister whose love for Violet is so clear even as they butted heads. All of their relationships with Violet were sweet and complex and real. And Violet's voice is a nonstop delight. Special shout-out to Onion, the best boy. Highly recommended!...more
Hilarious, honest, sweet, and painfully relatable. I wish I'd had this book in middle school! It captures so many things about that time perfectly--thHilarious, honest, sweet, and painfully relatable. I wish I'd had this book in middle school! It captures so many things about that time perfectly--the highs and lows of friendship, the emotions and drama. Reminded me very much of Judy Blume, in all the best ways. A must-read!!...more
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