Bacon Pie by Candace Robinson and Gerardo Delgadillo

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Thanks to Evernight Teen and an author request for the opportunity to read and review Bacon Pie by Candace Robinson and Gerard Odelgadillo. Evernight Teen. Lia and Kiev began a relationship under the strangest of circumstances; Lia punches Kiev in the face! For punishment, they have to perform community service at the local festival that celebrates all things pig. Teen angst, awkward friends, family diversity and family struggles round out this story to make a charming and fun realistic fiction read for young adults. I enjoyed Lia’s and Kiev’s differences in and passion for their hobbies, retro video games and Shakespearean plays, respectively. Tough topics are lightly addressed and added to the depth of the storyline and overall, the cute theme and humor won me over, 4 stars!

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

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Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw! Chapter One opens the book with the introduction of the main characters, the setting of the town of Sparrow and Lumiere Island, a spooky tale and foreshadowing of death. The main characters are Penny, who lives alone with her mother after her father disappeared three years ago, and Rose. Rose’s mother owns a bakery that sells mini cakes that supposedly help people forget their struggles and painful memories. Tourist season starts and the town celebrates the legend of the three Swan Sisters and their drowning centuries ago. The Swan sisters Marguerite, Aurora and Hazel were drowned after being accused of witchcraft. The story is told in parts, past and present, alternating to reveal the history of the sisters, the disappearance of Penny’s father and the secrets of Bo, the visitor that ends up working on Lumiere Island with Penny. Wicked Deep is a fantasy wrapped in darkness, engulfed in tragedy and heartbreak with intrigue, deception and sacrifice that ultimately brings love into its pages. Wonderfully written and rates a highly recommended 5 stars!

The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables by Catherine Reid

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Thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for the opportunity to read and review The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables by Catherine Reid. Prince Edward Island is the setting of L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series and this book brings all that Anne saw to the reader’s eyes with beautiful photographs, both old and new, plus the wonderful descriptions given by L.M. Montgomery in the stories of Anne and also her own personal journal writings. Also, an in-depth look into Maud’s life experiences, both happy and difficult, this book opens her world up to us and shows the similarities between herself and the fascinating character she created in Anne. 5 stars for this reverent and beautiful dedication to the author of a true classic!

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

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Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi! Females, young and old, train together to learn to be strong, independent and to gain self-defense skills. This training is hidden from the rest of the kingdom because they would be in trouble and danger if anyone else found out they are more than timid servants. These women lost loved ones in a horrific act of violence against their community and have been training ever since. Zelie is a part of this group and when she was five she watched her mother being dragged away and then hung. Amari is an unhappy princess who escapes and inadvertently ends up with Zelie and her family. They run from Prince Inan, Amari’s brother, as he struggles with his internal conflict of whether or not magic is good or evil. During this time, Zelie’s magic grows and she works at controlling her powers. As Zelie, her brother Tzain and Amari learn to trust each other and work together, they encounter horrific dangers as they continue their quest for the artifacts-the scroll, sunstone and the bone dagger. With these artifacts, magic can be restored. Some romance and humor lighten the dark world that Zelie lives in and both of these help her conquer the evil and pain that drags her under. The impressive storyline, immaculate world building and strong, dynamic characters make Children of Blood and Bone an intense fantasy read worth 5 stars!

 

Can Your Outfit Change the World? by Erinne Paisley

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Thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for the opportunity to read and review Can Your Outfit Change the World? by Erinne Paisley, a book in the PopActivism series full of information on eco-friendly choices in clothing. PopActivism is Activism fused with pop culture. “Buy less, choose well, make it last” -quote by Vivienne Westwood, fashion icon that sums up the content of this book. This book contains a basic education of where our clothes come from and what they are made of, sweatshops, child labor, debt slavery and the story of Iqbal Masih, who was in bonded child labor, escaped and joined the Bonded Labour Liberation Front and helped over 3,000 other children escape before he was murdered at the age of twelve, which inspired the creation of Free the Children; an organization that fights for human rights. Some blogs and websites that help in the search for positive brands are listed: Freestate, Style Wise, Eco Fashion World and The Good Trade. There are many ethical companies in the world and this book gives details of several of them and the good things they do, such as TOMS giving shoes and eye exams to those in need. I’m impressed by Emma Watson’s fashion statement when she wore an outfit made from recycled plastic bottles which was created by Calvin Klein along with Eco-Age. I’m equally impressed with Melissa McCarthy’s clothing line, Seven7! Resources are listed at the end of the book, by chapter. Amazingly informative, 5 stars!

The Garden in Every Sense and Season by Tovah Martin

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Thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for the opportunity to read and review The Garden in Every Sense and Season by Tovah Martin. This gardening book is separated into the four seasons with each season further categorized into the five senses. Beautiful photos of all types of plants, weather, some birds and even a cat are included for this journey of the senses throughout the year. Advice and wisdom is bestowed upon the reader by the knowledgeable author regarding asparagus, kale, wild grapes and even winter’s frost. A relaxing, enjoyable read for garden inspiration, 5 stars!

Unraveled by Kate Jarvik Birch

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Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Unraveled by Kate Jarvik Birch, the third installment in her Perfected series! Ella and Penn are on the run for their own freedom and safety and they continue to fight for the freedom of all of the Pets. The group they’re with is bombarded after being deceived into believing they would be rescuing many Pets. No one is truly sure about who can be trusted after that deception. Penn and Ella still have a beautiful relationship, regardless of Penn being the horrible Congressman’s son and Ella still deeply cares for Ruby, Penn’s younger sister. Unraveled shows growth in its characters and the mark that choices leave, decisions always have consequences. Suspense is the overriding emotion throughout the story and the feeling of not knowing who to trust carries on also. I thoroughly enjoyed Unraveled and especially the variety of characters and their dynamics. 5 stars for this dystopian novel!

Zombie Abbey by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

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Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Zombie Abbey by Lauren Baratz-Logsted. The story opens with the three daughters, their family owns the Abbey, getting ready for a party that evening. The eldest daughter, Kate, is meant to marry and bear a male child as heir to the Abbey. The party will introduce possible suitors for her to choose from or for them to choose her. The lovely British setting begins with tongue in cheek humor and the calmness of a classic but eventually, horror ensues when a woman is forced to shoot her already dead husband! No one but her nephew believes that her husband came home after she had already verified his death. She claimed that his eyes were unusual and he was no longer her husband, but a monster. Little by little, the Abbey community and surrounding village is overtaken by zombies and the survivors must defend themselves or fall victim also. The gutsy Fanny, a kitchen maid, builds up bravery throughout the Abbey and helps fight to save the residents, along with the three daughters. Zombie Abbey is a fun horror story, which seems oxymoronic, but the author pulls it off quite well! 4 stars for this adventurous dystopian!

The Rules of Rebellion by Amity Hope

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Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Rules of Rebellion by Amity Hope. Kylie gets teased by her younger sister, Allie, because of her complete lack of social fun, so Kylie decides to make a rebellion list of things she can do to expand her high school social experience. Kylie’s rebellion list contains rules also, such as attend a party (without drinking). With Kylie’s list and the help from her friend Leo, the adventures begin. This story turned out to be more complex than I expected and the foreshadowing was subtle and perfect. Kylie’s group of friends are supportive and fun and I enjoyed the prank that Leo planned for her list. Rules of Rebellion is a fun teen romance with the added maturity that makes it a perfect young adult realistic fiction book! Very adorable and worth 5 stars!

Losing the Girl by Marinaomi

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Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review Losing the Girl by MariNaomi. The illustrations are emotionally accurate even though they are minimally drawn. The story tells us about four teenagers and their relationships and the twists and surprises that life can bring. Not really my type of story but 3 stars for material that’s relatable and relevant to its teen audience.