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.

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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.


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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.

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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.

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Review: Take Me with You When You Go

Take Me with You When You Go by David Levithan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ezra thinks it is a normal day until he finds out that his sister has run away.  She didn’t leave a note and left her phone in her room so she couldn’t be tracked.  Ezra is now left in a house with a stepfather who treats him badly and a mother who could care less.  In a place only Ezra would think to look he finds an email address.  When he logs in he finds he can contact his sister.  Bea may have left Ezra behind, but she is hoping to find someone who hasn’t wanted to be found.

 

Take Me with You When You Go is a stand-alone realistic fiction book that is written in an unusual format.  This book is told from multiple points of view (primarily Ezra and Bea) through email exchanges and some letters.  The format makes this a very quick read and I enjoyed the casual style of learning about these characters and what they were going through.  Levithan and Niven have co-written a book that will tug at the heartstrings and have readers wondering what they would have done.  I enjoyed this novel and expect readers who are fans of these authors will also enjoy it.

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Review: Eyes of the Forest

Eyes of the Forest by April Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bridget has always thought of herself as RM Haldon’s biggest fan.  She was proved right at a book signing when she knew more details about the books than he did.  Now she works for him and cross-checks facts and insures the characters are on point.  Haldon has been working on the final book in the series, but he can’t seem to get started.  It doesn’t matter that he is years behind what even his publishers would like to see.  Now, Haldon is missing and no one has noticed.  Bridget doesn’t understand why she hasn’t heard from him, even if he has writer’s block.

 

Eyes of the Forest is a stand-alone mystery that will have readers thinking about Stephen King’s Misery.  How Haldon got into the situation becomes clear quickly, but the solution to the dilemma will take readers to the end.  This is not a long book and I found myself glad I could finish it quickly.  Henry has written a completely unexpected book.  Most of her novels have a young girl getting out of a tight situation, but this had a man in a tight situation with a young girl needing to help him out.  Eyes of the Forest is an enjoyable read and I might go back and reread Misery for the thrill of it.

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Review: Fairies and Frosting

Fairies and Frosting by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elle and Alec are back together but they have new troubles on the horizon.  Alec’s business is losing money and may go bankrupt.  What do they do?  They craft a scheme that is meant to rescue Le Charme.  Of course, nothing goes smoothly with these two and the Unseelie are at it again.  Not only do they want to destroy Elle, but they also want to destroy Alec and his gemstone empire.    Will Elle and Alec be able to save what they love?  Will the Glass Slipper Festival take place or will it need to be sacrificed?

 

Fairies and Frosting is the sixth book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series.  This fantasy novella is quick to read and readers will need to pay attention.  Bauer has filled the pages with twists and turns and I found myself rereading sections because I thought I missed something (and I was right).  These characters are fun to lose ourselves with and the next novel is already in progress.  This is a fun escape read and should be enjoyed before moving on to your next book.

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