Category Archives: Book Opinion

One Paris Summer

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one paris summer

Author: Denise Grover Swank
Publisher: Blink
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: BEA 2016

Goodreads:  Most teens dream of visiting the City of Lights, but it feels more like a nightmare for Sophie Brooks. She and her brother are sent to Paris to spend the summer with their father, who left home a year ago without any explanation. As if his sudden abandonment weren’t betrayal enough, he’s about to remarry, and they’re expected to play nice with his soon-to-be wife and stepdaughter. The stepdaughter, Camille, agrees to show them around the city, but she makes it clear that she will do everything in her power to make Sophie miserable.

Sophie could deal with all the pain and humiliation if only she could practice piano. Her dream is to become a pianist, and she was supposed to spend the summer preparing for a scholarship competition. Even though her father moved to Paris to pursue his own dream, he clearly doesn’t support hers. His promise to provide her with a piano goes unfulfilled.

Still, no one is immune to Paris’s charm. After a few encounters with a gorgeous French boy, Sophie finds herself warming to the city, particularly when she discovers that he can help her practice piano. There’s just one hitch—he’s a friend of Camille’s, and Camille hates Sophie. While the summer Sophie dreaded promises to become best summer of her life, one person could ruin it all.

Ope’s Opinion: This is definitely a YA I would encourage my student to read.  It has a lot of relationships that are easy to relate to.  The characters are typical high school students.  They have relationships with each other that are up and down.  The parents are very involved in the students lives – I like that.

I just wanted to keep reading this book.  It had a nice flow of tension, quiet and tension through the whole book.

It was great to see Sophie so focused on her piano.  She was interested in Mathieu, but he wasn’t her sole focus. I like the well rounded characters Swank created.  These are good examples to read about.

At BEA each year, I try to pick up an author that is new to me.  This was my pick this year and it was a hit! I will be looking into Denise Grover Swank’s other books.

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Before the Fall

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Before the fallAuthor: Noah Hawley
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Mystery
Source:  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  From the Emmy, PEN, Peabody, Critics’ Choice, and Golden Globe Award-winning creator of the TV show Fargo comes the thriller of the year.

On a foggy summer night, eleven people-ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter-depart Martha’s Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs-the painter-and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul’s family.

With chapters weaving between the aftermath of the crash and the backstories of the passengers and crew members-including a Wall Street titan and his wife, a Texan-born party boy just in from London, a young woman questioning her path in life, and a career pilot-the mystery surrounding the tragedy heightens. As the passengers’ intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy. Was it merely by dumb chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something far more sinister at work? Events soon threaten to spiral out of control in an escalating storm of media outrage and accusations. And while Scott struggles to cope with fame that borders on notoriety, the authorities scramble to salvage the truth from the wreckage.

Amid pulse-quickening suspense, the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy glows at the heart of this stunning novel, raising questions of fate, human nature, and the inextricable ties that bind us together.

Ope’s Opinion:    I took this book from a Starbucks in Virginia on the airplane to California!  Might not have been the wisest of choices to read on an airplane!

The story in this book is amazing and intense. The story toggled from present day, where they are trying to figure out how the accident happened to each character and how they ended up on the plane. Noah Hawley can write  a great story, but all the characters are rich men who only want money and women.  It was kind of disappointing to have such a great story, not followed up with great characters.  Scott and JJ are the two characters that kept me reading this book.

The ending wrapped up the investigation, but left me wanting more of how Scott and JJ’s lives moved on

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All Summer Long

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Author: Dorthea Benton Frank                     all summer long
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: William Morrow

 

 

Goodreads:  Filled with her trademark wit, poignant themes, and rich characters, the perennial New York Times bestselling author returns with a sensational novel that follows the travels of a one couple though a tumultuous summer.

Dorothea Benton Frank’s magical stories take us deep into the heart of her beloved Carolina Lowcountry. In her novels, this lush landscape comes alive in all its vibrancy and color. She ignites all of our senses with her vivid descriptions of landscape and atmosphere. In her novels you hear the ocean washing the shore on different islands so profoundly that you can nearly hear the sea gulls squawking too.

This is a story of people whose lives are changing—a southern gentleman returning home to lead a more peaceful life and his talented New York wife who is not quite sure she is ready to make the transition. They are moving north to south, fast pace vs slow pace, downsizing. And while they are doing this, they are getting glimpses into other people’s lives over the course of a summer, holidays that will amuse, shock and transform them.

This irresistible story is home to captivating characters as funny, complicated, and real as our best friends—husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, friends and family who wrestle with the complexities, pain, and joys familiar to us all.

Finally, we’ll come to recognize the face of love, the kind that deepens and endures but only because one woman makes a tremendous leap of faith. That leap changes them all.

Ope’s Opinion: There were quiet a few interesting characters in this book.  Dorothea Benton Frank knows how to write descriptions so that you can see what she has written.

I liked seeing the LowCountry from a New York character perspective.  It added depth to the story.  This was an entertaining read, but not something that will stick with me in the long run.

I have read Dorothea Benton Frank before and I will probably read her again, but I don’t think I search her out.

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The Island House

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island houseAuthor: Nancy Thayer
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  The charms of Nantucket tempt a woman to leave her established life in Kansas City—but with a piece of her heart, and a love interest, in each world, she discovers she must look within to choose the right path.

Every summer since college, twenty-nine-year-old Jenny has traded the familiarity of the Midwest for the allure of Nantucket. Now an established university professor in Kansas City, she finds herself caught between two lifestyles and two very different men. She chooses Nantucket and the glamorous life she associates with it, unaware that the summer will take an unexpected turn, and she will have to let her heart decide what it truly wants.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is not a light beach read like I was expecting.  This book is about a flawed family, how those flaws effect those around them and the people who love them anyway.

The beginning of the book moves slow, as you are introduced to the Vickerey family and their friends.  Nancy Thayer continued to remind you of each relationship to the other person.

The book goes from present day to flashbacks. The flashbacks fill in the history of each of their relationships.  It helps you understand why they are where they are in present time.  It also reveals several secrets along the way.

The ending was more like a beach read.  It was not predictable, but it wrapped things up nicely.

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The Good Dog

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the good dog

Author: Todd Kessler and Jennifer Gray Olson
Publisher: IPG
Source: BEA 2016

Goodreads:  Discovering that sometimes you have to be a little bad to be very good, Tako the puppy makes a brave choice in this adventure tale and proves that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. When 8-year-old Ricky Lee finds a puppy on the side of the road, he takes him home and names him Tako. Ricky’s mom and dad agree to let Tako stay under one condition: he must be a good dog who always follows the rules—or it’s off to the pound he goes. Tako wants more than anything to be a good dog and stay with Ricky, but when the Lees open Happy Family Bakery and a competing store owner sets out to sabotage the shop, Tako has to break the rules to protect Ricky and his family.

Ope’s Opinion:  This was such a pleasure to read to my granddaughter.  It kept me interested and the  illustrations were very original.  I would be willing to read this over and over again to her.                  good dogEmma’s Opinion:  She was very happy that Tako found a home.  She wants me to come read to her again real soon.  hand

This is Emma’s five finger seal of approval for The Good Dog.

reading with emma

Saving Abby

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saving abby

Author: Steena Holmes
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source:  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

Publication Date:  May 31, 2016

Goodreads:  All children’s book illustrator Claire Turner ever wanted was to be a mother. After six years of trying to conceive, she and her husband, Josh, have finally accepted that she will never be pregnant with a child of their own.

Yet once they give up hope, the couple gets the miracle they’ve been waiting for. For the first few months of her pregnancy, Claire and Josh are living on cloud nine. But when she begins to experience debilitating headaches, blurred vision, and even fainting spells, the soon-to-be mother goes to the doctor and receives a terrifying diagnosis. Since any treatment could put their unborn baby’s life at risk, the Turners must carefully weigh their limited options. And as her symptoms worsen, Claire will have to make an impossible decision: Save her own life, or save her child’s?

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Steena Holmes brings us an unforgettable story of one woman’s courage and love.

Ope’s Opinion:  When you start this book be sure to bring a tissue or two.  It will not be a pretty cry.  Steena Holmes makes you love her characters so much they feel like family.  You take them into your heart and you don’t want to let them go.

I don’t want to say much about the story – you just need to read it.

I may have read all of Steena Holmes books and they are all worth reading again.  I will pick up one of her books without even reading the synopsis – she is that good!

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Edgewater

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edgewater

Author: Courtney Sheinmel
Publisher: Amulet Books
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source:  BEA 2015

Goodreads:  Lorrie Hollander used to be a rich girl who spent her money on boarding school and equestrian camp. But that was before. It’s been twelve years since Lorrie’s mother skipped town and left Lorrie and her sister in the care of her unstable aunt Gigi. Together they live in a decaying mansion called Edgewater, the eyesore in a town of extraordinary wealth and privilege.

While Lorrie is desperately trying to keep her family from collapse, she meets Charlie, the son of an esteemed senator. Terrified that he will learn the truth about her, she holds him at a distance. But Charlie’s family is hiding something, too. And Lorrie could never have imagined how their secrets, and their lives, are inextricably bound.

Courtney Sheinmel’s Edgewater is a gripping story of scandal and romance, shame and redemption, and how one girl must come to terms with a shocking past in order to understand who she truly is.

Ope’s Opinion:  From the beginning I was invested in Lorrie’s life.  Susannah and Aunt Gigi drove me nuts!!  I wanted them to “wake up” and see the mess around them.  I felt sorry for Lorrie dealing with both of them.

There were a lot of interesting twists in the story.  I did not see most of them coming.

I really liked that Lorrie’s romance was only a part of the book.  She had her horse, her friends and had to deal with her family.  It made her a well rounded person – not one dimensional.

I am excited to see what Courtney writes next – and I hope it will be soon!!

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Don’t You Cry

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Author: Mary Kubica
Publisher: MIRA
Genre:  Mystery
Source: Emer of MIRA

Goodreads:  New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl, Mary Kubica returns with an electrifying and addictive tale of deceit and obsession 

In downtown Chicago, a young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace. A haunting letter addressed to My Dearest is found among her possessions, leaving her friend and roommate Quinn Collins to wonder where Esther is and whether or not she’s the person Quinn thought she knew.

Meanwhile, in a small Michigan harbor town an hour outside Chicago, a mysterious woman appears in the quiet coffee shop where eighteen-year-old Alex Gallo works as a dishwasher. He is immediately drawn to her charm and beauty, but what starts as an innocent crush quickly spirals into something far more dark and sinister than he ever expected.

As Quinn searches for answers about Esther, and Alex is drawn further under Pearl’s spell, master of suspense Mary Kubica takes readers on a taut and twisted thrill ride that builds to a stunning conclusion and shows that no matter how fast and far we run, the past always catches up with us in the end.

Ope’s Opinion:  This mystery is written from two points of view.  First is Quinn, her roommate is missing, the other view is from Alex, who confused me in the beginning.  Just hang in there, you’ll get his part of it later.

Although, this story started out moving slow, there were a lot of twists and turns ( as in any good mystery ).  All of this is vague because I don’t want to give anything away.  It is a quiet, tense book.

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Infinite in Between

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infiniteAuthor: Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: BEA

Goodreads: The Breakfast Club meets Boyhood in this striking young adult novel from Printz Honor author Carolyn Mackler, which chronicles the lives of five teenagers through the thrills, heartbreaks, and joys of their four years in high school.

Zoe, Jake, Mia, Gregor, and Whitney meet at freshman orientation. At the end of that first day, they make a promise to reunite after graduation. But so much can happen in those in-between years. . . .

Zoe fears she will always be in her famous mother’s shadow. Jake struggles to find the right connections in friendship and in love. Mia keeps trying on new identities, looking for one that actually fits. Gregor thought he wanted to be more than just a band geek. And Whitney seems to have it all, until it’s all falling apart around her.

Carolyn Mackler skillfully brings the stories of these five disparate teens together to create a distinct and cohesive whole—a novel about how we can all affect one another’s lives in the most unexpected and amazing ways. Infinite in Between received four starred reviews, was listed on several best books of the year lists, and is perfect for fans of books by Jandy Nelson, Sara Zarr, and E. Lockhart.

Ope’s Opinion:

  • Fast read
  • Well developed characters – realistic / relatable characters
  • Fast paced story
  • Some foul language – not an over abundance
  • Some sexual content – not too detailed
  • Short chapters – some times too short
  • Realistic situations – what teens face

    I would definitely allow my teen to read this one, but I would want to have open discussions with them.  There are some deep subjects that are touched on, but no judgement is made.  It is a perfect opening for a dialogue with your student.

    I will be looking for another book by Carolyn Mackler to read.

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