Grounded

Grounded
written by Kate Klise

This is definitely the darkest of Kate Klise's, and while I'm sure it'll have English teachers across the country salivating, I'm not a fan.  In the hands of these authors come some of my all-time favorites in epistolary format.  This book is written without the trademark letters and notes, and is your typical Language Arts class fodder, rife with the big questions, symbolism, and your good old token character death.  There are bits and pieces here and there that really are beautiful concepts, such as the brief discussions on grief, trauma, processing emotions, and post-traumatic stress, as well as the whole idea of 'living funerals', which is something I would personally love to see take off.  We so often don't get to tell our loved ones how much they matter until our love doesn't matter anymore.  I can think of all kinds of classroom discussions this book could launch, but as far as a fun read goes, nowhere near my first choice.  Overall, it's an okay book, but it lacks the spark of Klise's previous books.  Humor and quirk is what she does best.  I miss that so much.

Violet in Bloom: A Flower Power Book

Violet in Bloom: A Flower Power Book
written by Lauren Myracle

This is a kids' series.  And yet, at 21 years old, I'm still loving the cleverness of these books.  Lauren Myracle might have found her way into my life through her YA books, but her children's books have a special place in my heart, too.  The books are fun, brightly colored and contemporary, while also maintaining their cleverness and relevance.  All kinds of day-to-day aspects of our lives that are usually glossed over in children's literature are dealt with sensitively but importantly in Myracle's books.  She doesn't hold herself back, she doesn't censor these very real issues kids of all ages have to deal with, and for that, I have the greatest respect for her.  I'm looking forward to being able to read the third book in the series!

Molly Moon, Micky Minus, & the Mind Machine

Molly Moon, Micky Minus, & the Mind Machine
written by Georgia Byng



I read the first few Molly Moon books when I was home sick from school a few years ago.  Turns out, I needed some mindless fluff fiction in my life, so despite being a senior in college, this is what I read today.  I wasn't expecting much, the first few books were enjoyable in a feverish haze, but not all that memorable.  But mindless fluff was what I wanted, and mindless fluff was what I got.  The animal sidekicks are always a bit much for me, but it was an interesting albeit predictable plot.  I was surprised that they didn't exactly pull an evil twin maneuver.  I think this book series would translate well into movies.  Also, if any Nerdfighters read this, evil baby orphanage, amirite?

When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me
written by Rebecca Stead



I'm often wary of books that have won awards.  They are so filled with tropes and, in my opinion, undeserving of the prestigious awards and attention they receive.  This book honestly wasn't terribly different, other than one major plot twist near the end.  Same old flowery descriptions, story that drags on,  "ordinary" young female narrator with missing daddy issues narrating her way through her "ordinary" life.  The twist at the end literally had me jumping out of my chair, screaming "WHAT??" in public repeatedly, but besides that, an ordinary, boring read.  I recommend you read A Wrinkle in Time instead.

I got this book from...:Chatham University's JKM Library