Yellow Bird

 Title: Conversion
                                   # of Pages: 420

                                   Author: Katherine Howe
                                   Previous Work: 
                                                         The Penguin Book of Witches

                                                          The House of Velvet and Glass

                                                          The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

                                   Summary: "Are there any questions?" Father Molloy said,
                                   folding his arms over his chest and looking at us. I inclined 
                                   my head over to Emma, about to ask if she had any idea 
                                   what he meant, but she didn't seem to be listening. She was 
                                   staring at the front corner of the room, her cheeks flushed a 
                                   splotchy pink, and gripping her pen so hard, her knuckles
                                   were turning white. My gaze swiveled, following Emma's 
                                   stare over the heads of my classmates to the hallowed corner 
                                   where Clara Rutherford sat, her desk practically bearing a 
                                   little reserved card written in calligraphy. And that was the 
                                   first time that I saw Clara Rutherford twitch.

                                  After the Salem witch trials Ann Putman finally prepares to
                                  give her confession to the new reverend, as to her role in the
                                  events. In modern times an epidemic breaks out at Colleen's
                                  school with no apparent cause. As she investigates the events
                                  surrounding he strange illness Colleen discovers something
                                  startling. Her town is located where Salem used to be. Could
                                  the Salem witch trials be repeating themselves?

                                  Rating: This book is a 3.5.
                                  Awards: 

                                  2015 Young Adult Massachusetts Book Award

                                  Opinion: I really enjoyed the way the book effortlessly changed
                                  between present day and the past.  Anne's story was just as
                                  engaging as Colleen's. That being said, the stories seemed to
                                  reach a climax where they should have become intertwined, and
                                  instead, Anne's story and character arch seemed unresolved.
                                  Colleen's situation was left up to the reader to decide, but at
                                  least it felt finished. Overall, the story had a great presence with
                                  an eerie feeling, and enough history and suspense to keep the
                                  plot interesting.

A Happy Holiday Whodunit

 Title: Greenglass House
                                      # of Pages: 373
                                      Author: Kate Milford
                                      Illustrator: Jaime Zollars
                                      Previous Work: (For the author)

                                      Bluecrowne (Companion to Greenglass House)

                                      The Boneshaker

                                      The Broken Lands

                                      The Kairos Mechanism

                                      Summary: Milo was looking forward to an event free
                                      Christmas vacation at his adoptive parents' smuggler hotel,
                                      filled with holiday traditions, not guests. Unfortunately for
                                      Milo, luck was not on his side and the hotel filled with odd
                                      guests with strange habits and even stranger motives. As
                                      Milo and the cook's daughter Meddy set off to investigate a
                                      map one of the guests dropped, they became their alter-egos:
                                      Negret and Sirin. Could they figure out the mystery of the
                                      hotel? Or were they left out in the cold?

                                      Rating: I'd give this a 4.
                                      Awards:

                                     2014 Agatha Award Nominee for Best Children's/ YA Novel

                                     2014 National Book Award Nominee for Young People's
                                     Literature Longlist

                                     2014 Kirkus The Best Children's Books

                                     2015 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile

                                     2016 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Nominee

                                     Opinion: Greenglass House is the companion to Bluecrowne,
                                     but you can definitely read it by itself. That's what I did.
                                     Bluecrowne is about the ancestors of some of the characters in
                                     this book, so while it might provide some interesting
                                     connections, it isn't necessary.  Greenglass House draws you
                                     in from the very beginning. The author is very good at giving
                                     you a clear picture of what is going on. At times, I saw a vivid,
                                     beautiful movie in my head. I really hope this book is made
                                     into a movie at some point. The story is riddled with folktales
                                     that relate to the main story, as well as ones that are
                                     mentioned but not told. In my opinion those were almost
                                     better than the book, and I wished I could have read the ones
                                     that weren't written. The story was complex and realistic with
                                     a hint of whimsy. It was amazing. However, there's a reason I
                                     only gave this book a four. The first issue with the book was
                                     the illustrations. They're small and don't really add anything
                                     to the book. Not to mention, that while beautiful, they are
                                     actually kind of jarring. Some of them don't quite fit the
                                     descriptions in the book and I didn't like how the characters
                                     looked. The other issue was the end of the book. I won't give
                                     anything away, but the ending became seemingly more
                                     juvenile and less realistic. It almost seemed like a cop-out. If
                                     it weren't for the end, I could love this book without
                                     hesitation.


                                       

I Spy a Lie Part 2

 Title: The Agency Novels/Mary Quinn Mysteries:

                                                 A Spy in the House

                                                The Body at the Tower

                                                The Traitor in the Tunnel

                                                Rivals in the City

                                      Author: Y.S. Lee
                                      Previous Work: None

                                      Summary: When orphan Mary Quinn is sentenced to the
                                      gallows for thievery, she is instead rescued and educated at
                                      Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for girls. She finds out the
                                      organization is more than they seem, and agrees to start
                                      spying for them. Between her new job, London's general
                                      mistrust of foreigners, and a growing attraction to a man who
                                      seemingly appears at every turn, can Mary satisfy her need
                                      for freedom? Or will the constraints of England in the 1800's
                                      cripple her spirit forever?

                                      Rating: I'd give the series a 4.
                                      Awards:
                                      (For A Spy in the House)

                                      2011 CCBC's John Spray Mystery Award

                                      2011 Agatha Award Finalist

                                      2011 Red Maple Award Finalist

                                      (For The Traitor in the Tunnel)
                                     
                                      2013 Arthur Ellis Award Nominee for Best Juvenile/YA
                                      Crime Book

                                      Opinion: I love this series. You can't help but root for Mary,
                                      and it's nice to read a historical fiction where women have
                                      opportunities. The story has a real yet unreal feeling. The
                                      only issue I have is that while the characters always stayed
                                      with me, sometimes the finer details of the plot didn't. That
                                      said, I'm still sad the series is over. This is definitely a series
                                      worth reading.

                                                                       

Summer Romance Reads Part 1

 Title: The Selection Trilogy-
                                      The Selection
                                     The Elite
                                    The One
                                   (There are also three novellas: The Guard, The Prince, and (soon
                                    to come out) The Queen)
                                   Author: Kiera Cass
                                   Previous Work:
                                                   The Siren
                                                    In the Clearing (short story in Brave New Love)
                     
                                  Summary: America Singer has never wanted to be "selected".
                                  To compete for a man she's never met and a crown she doesn't
                                  want,while 35 other girls fight desperately for the same goal. It
                                  would mean leaving her family and her secret love Aspen. And
                                  what if she ends up wanting her new life more than the old one?

                                  Rating: This is a 4.5.
                                  Awards: None

                                 Opinion: I really enjoyed this series. I had been thinking the
                                 whole "love triangle thing" was overdone, but this one worked. I
                                 loved America's personality, and the two guys were great.
                                (Although I have to say, I'm partial to Maxon, the Prince.) I also
                                 liked that the book wasn't entirely about the romance. That can
                                 be tiring. People compare this book to Matched or Hunger
                                 Games, but personally, I think it stands on its own merit.

A Good Detective...

 Title: The Nancy Drew Sleuth Book: Clues to Good Sleuthing
                                     # of Pages: 152
                                     Author: Carolyn Keene
                                     Previous Work:

                                                     The rest of the Nancy Drew series
                                                     (This is a companion novel)

                                     Summary: Nancy Drew starts a mystery club, to teach her
                                     friends how to solve mysteries, like her. As they bring in
                                     different mysteries they've found around town, Nancy teaches
                                     them (and us) different techniques to use to crack the case.
                                     
                                     Rating: I'd give this book a 3.5.
                                     Awards: None

                                     Opinion: This book is really cool. There's a chapter on code
                                     cracking and they gave a tip that allowed me, by the end of the
                                     book, to crack a code. However, some of the tips were outdated.
                                     The handwriting analysis was entirely in cursive. And most
                                     houses no longer have false floors. But altogether this was a
                                     very fun, enjoyable book.

Lightning Girl

Title: 1-800/ Vanished:

           When Lightning Strikes      OR   Vanished
                                                                  Volume 1
           Code Name Cassandra
                                                                  Vanished
           Safe House                                     Volume 2

           Sanctuary        

           Missing You                                                                                                  

                                        Author: Meg Cabot

      Previous Work: 
                                         
                                          All-American Girl Series

                                          Allie Finkle Series

                                          Avalon High Series

                                          Princess Diaries Series

                                          And many, many more!

                                          Summary: What would you do if you got struck by
                                          lightning and woke up the next day able to locate missing
                                          people just by seeing their picture? What if the FBI wanted
                                          to use you for your powers? And a totally cute guy broke
                                          you out of their facility? Welcome to Jessica Mastriani's life.
                                          How does she want to use her new abilities? Does she even
                                          have a choice?

                                          Rating: I'd give it a 4.5 because there was a little too much
                                          swearing for my taste.

                                          Awards: 
                                                 Basis for television show Missing

                                          Opinion: This book series is laugh out loud hilarious! The
                                          characters seem realistic, even if the effect the lightning had
                                          on Jess was not. I love the tension between Jess and Rob,
                                          the fact that the "bad guys" weren't who you'd think they'd
                                          be. The rivalry at the school was kind of like a warped
                                          Montague vs Capulet kind of situation. I loved this series
                                          sooo much- especially the ending. Yes that's right! A
                                          conclusion that actually makes sense. I'd recommend these
                                          books to almost anyone.

Girl Power

 Title: The Trials of Kate Hope
                                      # of Pages: 336
                                      Author: Wick Downing
                                      Previous Work: 
                                                          Kid Curry's Last Ride

                                                          Leonardo's Hand
                                                         
                                                          And many books for adults.

                                      Summary: Kate was just a normal girl who lived in 1973.
                                      Normal, except for the fact that she had the credentials to
                                      be a lawyer. But, as if being a girl in a man's profession isn't
                                      hard enough, she's fourteen, and no one will give her any
                                      cases. When an old woman's dog, Herman is going to be
                                      put down, or "Destroyed" for, allegedly, hurting a baby,
                                      Kate steps in to help.
                                      Rating: I give this book a 2. (Remember on my scale that
                                      doesn't mean 'bad'.)
                                      Awards: None.
                                      Opinion: This is an awesome book, based on the themes of
                                       protecting the innocent and believing in yourself, no matter
                                       the obstacles. Despite those lofty ideas, this book is not boring
                                       as paste, or so sweet you need to put the book down from
                                       nausea. Plus all legal terms are explained.  Kate's so... normal
                                       that you can't help but love her. She's daring, and definitely
                                       the devil's advocate, which helps her in the courtroom. She's
                                       not afraid of dirty work. She has a crush on her friend, Mike,
                                       and struggles to get over the death of her father and brother.
                                       Basically, because of Kate Hope, this book is ruled in favor of
                                       Kate, by me! (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun!)