Review: Steelstriker

Steelstriker by Marie Lu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The nation Mara is no longer free and Talin is learning that loyalty is not guaranteed.  After the Premier captured her mother, she is forced to betray those she once called friends … she is now a Skyhunter.  Red still has a link to Talin and he firmly believes that Mara still has a chance.  Will Red be able to get Talin’s help to rescue their country?  Will the Strikers be able to reunite and win against the Skyhunters?

 

Steelstriker is the second book in the Skyhunter duology.  Since the entire story was being told in only two books, the pages are packed with action and intrigue.  Lu has brought in a new twist that makes this world seem more like a future version of ours and that connection made the storyline even more appealing.  I was turning pages to the end and felt breathless as I finished.

View all my reviews

Review: Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System

Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System by Jarrett Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jarrett Adams was seventeen years old when he went to a college party in Wisconsin. He was with friends and they all had fun. They even had sex with the same girl. Afterward, they continued to hang out and then returned to their homes in Chicago. That pivotal moment defined the rest of Jarrett’s life. Through a series of events, Adams is sentenced to 28 years for rape. He tries to get help for his case, but it turns out he must help himself by learning about his rights. This process leads him to the Wisconsin Innocence Project and his conviction being overturned … ten years later.

Redeeming Justice is a non-fiction memoir that is a must-read for all people no matter their age, race, or gender. The issues discussed within the pages will shine a spotlight on flaws in our criminal justice system as well as our country in general. I am the first to admit that I am a middle-aged white woman, but I work in a minority-majority high school and see many students who could easily fall into the criminal justice system without a way out. I highly recommend Redeeming Justice to all teens and adults.


View all my reviews

Review: Duplex

Duplex by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ryan’s life has been turned on its head.  His dad has moved out and he also divided their house into a duplex so that they could rent out part of it.  He now sleeps on the couch and dreams about the girl next door, Bizzy.  Ryan works up the courage to ask to walk her home from school and during one of these trips he pulls a bee out of Bizzy’s hair so quickly she didn’t know what happened.  Unfortunately, someone did notice this action and he learns that what he can do is considered a micropower.  Bizzy and her mother also have powers, though theirs are different.  They are on the run from witch hunters who have been after them for a while.  Will Ryan be able to protect Bizzy and her mother?  How can a group of people with micropowers that seem uninteresting stop these people?

 

Duplex is a stand-alone fantasy that fell far short of the mark.  Card has written many fantasy and science fiction stories that are wonderfully complex, yet this novel felt forced and written by a new author.  The majority of the story is about teenagers coming to terms with supernatural powers and an organized group whose mission is to stop them, but most of the action seems contrived.  Young readers don’t need simple books and this book could have used more complexity and more pages.  Duplex was an easy read that was also not satisfying.

View all my reviews

Review: The Halloween Moon

The Halloween Moon by Joseph Fink
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Esther may be 13 years old, but she knows in her heart that she is not too old to trick or treat.  Her parents think otherwise and so Esther has come up with a plan to trick or treat anyway.  This year everything is weird.  No one is there to pass out candy and even the moon looks different, more like a pumpkin.  The few people Esther finds are asleep, except her best friend, her arch-nemesis from school, and the local dentist.  These four people may be all that separates their neighborhood from an infinite curse. 

 

The Halloween Moon is a stand-alone middle grades mystery that was fun to explore even though I am an adult.  Readers will learn that these characters are more than what they seem when introduced and as a bond forms during the hardship, they learn more about themselves and each other.  Fink has developed a storyline that was easy to fall into and Free’s narration made me glad I was listening to the audiobook.  I truly wanted to know how the book was going to end, so I was happy to listen to Free tell the story while I continued to work around the house.  The Halloween Moon is a great read and you don’t need to wait for the fall holiday to enjoy it.

View all my reviews