Wave by Diana Farid

 

1987 Southern California...13 year old Ava is looking forward to summer surfing and spending time with her best friend Phoenix.  Her mother, who is a doctor, tells her she has to come volunteer at the hospital where she works, which Ava doesn't love, she has extra practice for her solo part in the 4th of July celebration, she ends up breaking her leg so surfing is out and Phoenix's lymphoma comes back.  The summer does not shape up like she wanted, but it is a realistic portrayal of life.

Written in verse with a mix tape selection at the end, I LOVED this book.   

The Seventh Raven by David Elliott

 Disclaimer:  I listened to the audiobook.

Written in verse this book tells the story of  a family of 7 boys.  All named Jack except the 7th is Robyn.  The dad's name is Jack as well and he would like a daughter.  Mom, Jane, also wants a daughter, and their wish comes true, but on the day of her birth, she is dying and the dad wishes to trade all his boys for one girl and the 7 boys turn into ravens.  As the daughter grows she realizes something is being kept from her, and once she realizes she had 7 brothers she goes on a journey to find them.

The cover is AMAZING, but this is one of the weirdest books I have ever read/ listened to.  It's not long at all, but I kept hoping it would get better. The narrators were great and there were several, but the story is just to out there and doesn't even come close to making sense in parts.  Also the ending leaves much to be desired.  It's just not a clean ending.

Starfish by Lisa Fipps

 Ellie has a nickname at school, Splash.  Her older sister actually started it, which is very hurtful, her mother is constantly telling her about her food, weighing her, watching what she eats, limiting her choices and talking about bariatric surgery for weight loss.  Her older brother picks on her as well, with mean jabs.  Her best friend is moving to Indiana and she has no other friends at school, and gets picked on constantly with no teacher intervention.  The only one who seems to be on her side is her dad, except he takes her to a therapist!  Ellie ends up making a new friend, Catalina, her new neighbor.  She also learns to stand up for herself at home and school.

Told in verse, this book was sad and empowering.  I love the fact that overweight kids and "skinny" kids will see themselves in this book and hopefully will create empathy for others.  I think that kids wanting a sad book will definitely have it in Starfish.

rez dogs by Joseph Bruchac

 

Malian was visiting her  grandparents when COVID-19 shut the country down.  Her parents decided to leave her there and she attended school online (when her internet was working) so that her grandparents didn't catch the illness.  One day a dog showed up and becomes her friend and protector.  It brings out stories from her grandparents of animal stories from their tribe and   also memories of their growing up years and her parents as well and how they were treated.  

I really enjoy learning about the Native American culture.  Bruchac always does a great job of bringing to light little known  information and writes in a way kids (and adults) can understand.  I think the general public needs more of this information and I was shocked that social services would still come in like they had in the past to remove kids without just cause. 

Alone by Megan E. Freeman

What would you do if you woke up and everyone was gone?  Could you survive on your own?  That is what happened to 12 year old Maddie.  She and her two best friends hatch a plan to spend the night at her grandparents apartment by themselves.  Her friends are unable to come at the last minute and she ends up alone with her divorced parents thinking she is spending the night at the other one's house.  During the night she hears trucks rumbling and men talking and she is scared, so she doesn't look out the window or see what is going on.  When she wakes up in the morning she has missed calls and text messages from her parents and her friends telling her they will catch up to her thinking she is with the other parent.  Thus begins her three years of survival on her own.

Written in verse, this book reads fast and you want to keep reading to find out if she ever gets found.  Great survival story set in Colorado, in a type of dystopian setting with a dog!  Really enjoyed this one.

 

Three Things I Know are True by Betty Culley

Liv is 15. Her brother, Jonah, is 18 and is a daredevil.  This time though he almost didn't survive his stunt.  He shot himself in the head thinking it a game and the gun wouldn't be loaded.  Now Liv and her mother's life is forever changed by having to care for Jonah, who can't speak, can't eat, can't move, or anything.  Liv thinks he is still inside there, but his mother doesn't.  Clay is their across-the-street neighbor.  It was in his house that Jonah shot himself.  Clay has a lot of guilt as does the rest of his family.  Liv and Jonah's mother is suing Clay's dad for a million dollars for wrongful storage of a firearm.   

This story is written in free verse, so it reads really fast.  It is a tale with a great lesson of gun safety, stupid choices, and forgiveness.