My Heart and Other Black Holes

This book was on a "must read before it becomes a film" list I saw on Pinterest. I am a sucker for YA, so I've been working my way down the list.

For anyone reading this, that means you are friends with me and probably know that I am also a sucker for debut novels. I just think there is something about them. A spark. The fame and fortune hasn't touched them yet and their writing shows.

Aysel is a depressed teenager who want to commit suicide, but lacks the guts to do it on her own. She finds a website where you can find "suicide partners" and she decides to contact "FrozenRobot", the kid on the other end of the computer who also wants to kill himself.

The book is about how their relationship unfolds, why they both want to end their own lives, and the power of education, depression, and human connection.

I enjoyed the story, the writing, the characters, and the content. I love any book that spotlights a problem, this one being the depression and suicide in teenagers.

I highly recommend this book, but only for older teens and adults.

Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey

My daughter and I love Margaret Peterson Haddix. So this was another one of hers that I read in order to see if it's appropriate. It's borderline, but I did let her read it because of the redeeming qualities. There are some sexual innuendos, but they went over her head.

Tish has to keep a journal for one of her high school classes. The teacher has promised not to read any entries with "do not read" on the top. So, Tish starts writing about her extremely dysfunctional life. That's all I should say since it's a delight to find out as she writes what happens.

Very redeeming book, very difficult book to read though. While nothing earth shattering, it is a better than average YA.

Can't Look Away

I'm on my continua quest for YA books appropriate for my 6th grader. This, thankfully, is one of them. However, it's shallow. Torrey is a high school fashion vlogger who moves states in the wake of her sisters death. And of course, there is a love interest who starts out as a perceived villain.

It's a fine YA book and one appropriate for a 6th grade girl, even though it teaches nothing of substance.

I Was Here

This book is on one of my "Must Read YA books of 2015" lists I found on Pinterest. I now trust that list. This book was fantastic. It's about a college student, Meg, who commits suicide and the aftermath of who is left. Her best friend, Cody, is devastated and spends the book trying to cope and figure out why she didn't know Meg was struggling.

The characters are complex and multi-dimensional (although it is a YA, so they are a little archetypal). I like that the book raises mental heath and suicide as an issue for young people and I highly recommend this book. It is, however, not for kids.

The Last Time I Saw You

I put this book down almost as quickly as I picked it up. I didn't even give it my 50 pages test. 

The characters were unbelievable, immature, and dumb. Fifty-five year olds still acting like they are in high school is not a good book.

Under the Egg

This is a Juvenile book, but kept my attention as we listened to it on vacation. It's about a girl who's grandfather died, leaving her with her absent minded mother and a riddle to solve. She discovers something of worth in the house and goes on a journey to figure out what to do and where it came from. This would be a great read aloud for elementary kids.

This is Where I Leave You

This was a waste of time book. Poor characters and boring plot. Basically, the patriarch of a family dies and his dying wish is for his family to sit Shiva for him. The catch is that his family is so messed up, they can't be in the same room with each other.

Yes, given that description, it sounds like the start of a great plot. However, the characters are so immature, it is annoying. I didn't like any of the characters and I didn't like his writing.

The Bees

The prologue and the epilogue are the only parts of this book that have humans in them. The rest is all about a bee colony. Please read this book. It is not only a fascinating way to learn about bees, but it is an endearing use of personification of the bees. You fall in love with the protagonist, even though she is a bee. Best read of 2015 thus far.

Salvage the Bones and The Good Lord Bird

This came highly recommended, but I couldn't get into it, so I put it down. More of a dude's book I think.

This also came highly recommended. And it was very well written, just not the material I am enjoying reading at the moment.

Although for a full disclaimer: these were both audio books. And I have a harder time getting into audio books than if I just pick up the book and read it myself.

Basically, while I won't be giving these another chance any time soon, I do think they are worth reading for some.

The Devil in the White City

This is one of my favorite books. It's about the creation and building of the World Fair complex in Chicago in 1893. It goes back and forth between the architect of the fair and a serial killer. It's nonfiction, which makes it even more interesting. I highly recommend this book to just about anyone.

Changling

I like Philippa Gregory, even though most of her books are so similar in style and material I can only handle about one every 2 years. When I saw that she had a YA novel out, I was intrigued and hoped it would be suitable for my 10 year old.

It was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. However, there was the following which I'm not ready for my 10 year old to read about:

1. Almost rape scene. But not graphic. 
2. Goose shit and damned. 
3. Graphic autopsy scene. 
4. Some inappropriate sexual innuendos. 

While I love a good book about a girl-guy relationship, I'd prefer her read more friendship based attraction and not so blatantly sexual.

So, if you like YA, this is a good book, but more for an adult or older kid.

The girl on the train

This is a good thriller with intricate relationships. The plot and twists while not fully expected, aren't NOT expected either. Which means it's not the best twists and turns. It's a great beach read, but just a middle of the road book. Nothing special and nothing to remember. But, a fun easy read.