Book Reviews | Librariel Book Adventures

ARC Review: Let’s Talk About Love

Posted on February 19, 2018February 20, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: Let’s Talk About Love
Author: Claire Kann
Genre: Young Adult LQBTQ Romance
Pages: Print 277
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Rating: ★★★★.5

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of this book from @KidLitExchange #partner in exchange for my honest review. Thanks again to @KidLitExchange #partner for access to review a free copy of this book! The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or KidLitExchange. The copy used in this review is an uncorrected copy from Swoon Reads.

Goodreads Synopsis:

College student Alice Johnston, 19, is in the closet—sort of. Her friends and family know that she is bisexual, but what they don’t know (and what Alice isn’t really ready to tell them) is that she’s also asexual. Alice is hurt when Margot, her roommate and girlfriend, breaks up with her, but she isn’t surprised. Giving up on love seems to be the best solution until Takumi enters the picture. Registering an unprecedented “black” rating on Alice’s “Cutie Code,” Takumi makes Alice’s heart beat faster than normal, and their developing friendship allows Alice to slowly begin to reveal things about herself, her friendship with Feenie and Ryan (her now-engaged best friends from high school), and her family. Debut novelist Kann thoughtfully tackles what it means to be asexual and gives Alice a platform to discover who she is and what it means for her relationship with Takumi. Asexual readers will appreciate the visibility, and those—like Alice’s ex—who know poorly understand it, will gain a better sense of what love without sex can look like.

Favorite Quotes:

“A curious, nervous sensation wriggled and rooted itself inside her chest.” -Alice’s first impression of Takumi, this gave me warm and fuzzy feelings.

“You’ve exceed my Cutie Code,” she said. “You’re the reason why I retired it. I don’t need it anymore.” -Alice to Takumi

Final Thoughts:

Let’s Talk About Love is a young adult fiction romance novel that sheds light on LGBTQ issue. The main character, Alice, must learn to accept herself while trying to figure out exactly who she is. This ranges from her selecting a major, being in a relationship, and the relationships with her friends and family. The book starts with Alex, who identifies as asexual, getting dumped by her girlfriend Margot for not feeling a physical attraction. Alice blames herself the entire novel while trying to move forward into a new relationship with the new worker at her library. Alice seems to struggle with every relationship in her life. Her parents and her siblings are presurring her to go to Law School throughout the entire novel. I felt this book could have been developed more to shed light on the challenges of being asexual. However, I did get to see a glimpse of the challenges as Alice came to terms with her sexuality. You watch her build relationships and struggle with connecting with Takumi. Will he understand her sexuality? Will be accept her for who she is or will she be alone forever?

I recommend this novel to anyone interested in reading a young adult romance novel. This book had me entranced the whole time. I loved the awkward moments of Alice and seeing her learn. I commend the author on writing a truly informative novel. I would have loved for a bit more and there were small details missing that I thought were important. Overall, I did not want to put this book down until I finished it.

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

ARC Review: Sneaking Out

Posted on February 19, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: Sneaking Out
Author: Chuck Vance
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
Pages: Print 384
Release Date: March 3,2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Could you sleep next to a murderer?

Luke Chase—yes, that Luke Chase, a modern hero ripped from the headlines—didn’t mean to get caught up in Mrs. Heckler’s murder. He just wanted to hook up with the hot new British girl at St. Benedict’s, and if that meant sneaking out to the woods after hours, then so be it. But little did he know someone would end up dead right next to their rendezvous spot, and his best friend and roommate Oscar Weymouth would go down for it. With suspects aplenty and a past that’s anything but innocent, Luke Chase reluctantly calls on his famous survival skills to find the true killer.

Favorite Quotes:

“You refuse to acknowledge your heroics. Now you can’t deny them. You can now know that you are truly special.”

“Ever since he had been in captivity he had learned to play game where he had tried to pick up on small clues from the small things people said about themselves. Sort of like honing his powers of inference, Sherlock Holmes style. He had started it because he never wanted to be surprised by people he thought he knew.”

Final Thoughts:

First off, Chuck Vance did a great job capturing my attention this entire novel. This young adult fiction book provides a thrilling mystery between these pages. The begins with a group of four students at a boarding school all deciding to sneak out one evening. They have no idea what awaits them in the woods on that starry night. Luke, Oscar, Kelsey, and Pippa all decide they want to take a break from the dorms and head into the woods for a midnight stroll. Luke is hoping to get closer to Pippa, the new student from England with a hard personality. The story begins to unravel when the students hear a noise out in the woods hoping they are alone they remain quiet while Oscar ventures out to investigate. Luke hears Mrs. Heckler arguing with a man in the woods but who is that man? Everyone assumes that Luke is paranoid because of the things that occurred in his past. The four start to head back towards their dorms hoping not to get caught and put the chilling night behind them. The following day the entire school gets word that Mrs. Heckler was found murdered in the woods the same night those four were out there. Luke, Oscar, Kelsey, and Pippa must decide to either share the information about that night and risk expulsion or try to solve the mystery on their own. Luke must decide who to trust as he watches his roommate and best friend get framed for murder. Everyone has something to hide including Oscar, Kelsey, and Pippa. As Luke starts investigating her begins to uncover many secrets about his friends, his teachers, and even the late Mrs. Heckler. Can the Kidnapped Kid use his survival skills to locate the real murderer?

This book is well written, and the plot twist was fantastic. The entire novel I thought one character killed Mrs. Heckler, but in the end, it was someone else. I was extremely confident in my detective skills, and I was on the edge of my seat. I prevented myself from looks to the end of the book to ease the pressure of finding out who did it. In this “whodunit” novel it is hard not to love the writing style and the cliffhanger at the end. Sneaking Out is book one of the Chased Series, so I am curious to see what other things Chuck Vance has up his sleeves. I recommend this book to any young adult or adult looking for a great mystery novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

ARC Review: How to Sell Your Family to the Aliens

Posted on February 15, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: How to Sell Your Family to the Aliens
Author: Paul Noth
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary, Fantasy
Pages: Print 210
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ten-year-old Hap’s grandmother has experimented on his family and confined them to the basement of a mansion paid for by his father’s inventions, but his plan to sell her to aliens goes awry.

Rear Cover Synopsis:

Happy Conklin Jr. is the only 10-year-old who has to shave three times a day. Hap’s dad is a brilliant inventor of screwball products, and being a Conklin kid means sometimes being experimented on. So Hap has his beard, and his five sisters each have their own unique–and often problematic–qualities too. And although Hap’s dad has made a fortune with his wacky inventions sold via nonstop TV infomercials, all of that money has gone to Hap’s tyrannical Grandma. While she lives in an enormous mansion, the rest of the family lives in two rooms in the basement.

All Hap has ever wanted is to have a normal life, so when he sees a chance to get rid of Grandma, he takes it! He only means to swap out Grandma, but when he–oops!–sells his whole family to the aliens, he wants nothing more than to get them back. He just has to figure out . . . how?

Favorite Quotes:

“Before you assume I’m a bad person, you should know that I had originally only planned on selling Grandma to the aliens.”

This is the opening line of the book. The first line really grabbed my attention. I enjoyed reading further on in the story to understand why Hap wanted to sell his family to aliens.

Final Thoughts:

First off, I want to say that I laughed a lot throughout this entire novel. I thought it started off a bit slow for me, but it picked up fast. The author did a fantastic job capturing my attention throughout this book, and the small illustrations provided an excellent basis for the description of the characters. The author offered detailed backstory on each character in this novel except for Chip, the grandmothers assistant, the wrestler, the zookeeper, and the detective. These supporting characters did not need a backstory or explanation in the novel, so it worked well for the author to leave that extra information out. Hap Senior is a business partner for Conklin Business which sells products to “enhance” the lives of people in the area. Hap Senior is the star of many of the businesses commercials.

I enjoyed the hint of diversity in this story in Hap Junior’s family. Hap’s mom is from Romania, and all the kids are bilingual. Hap spends the entire book trying to both get rid of his family and protect them at the same time. He has to figure out who he needs to protect them from, his grandmother, the FBI, or the potential alien threat. The book focuses on the importance of family and accepting each other’s differences. Hap is a member of a unique family, and he must learn the importance of family while his siblings learn to accept themselves for who they are. Each young member of the Conklin family has undergone many experiments to “enhance” their lives, but these tests have consequences. Will Hap sell his family to the aliens? Is that actually what he wants to do? He will have to create a plan, which has three parts, and one outcome.

I am going to recommend this book added to my library collection. I thought the author did a great job highlighting the importance of family. Also no matter how annoying your family is, they are your family. I was excited to receive a copy of this book to review and enjoyed reviewing it. I recommend this book to anyone in late elementary and early middle school. It is an easy-to-read and is very captivating. If you are looking for a story that will make you laugh and think of your family, then this is the book for you!

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

Prodigy Prince by Natasha Sapienza

Posted on February 12, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

The following image was taken from : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36277347-prodigy-prince

Title: Prodigy Prince
Author: Natasha Sapienza
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: E-Book 328 Pages
Release Date: December 17, 2017
Rating: ★★★★.5

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher.

Goodreads Synopsis:

At seventeen, all Prince Nuelle had ever known was safety and peace while living in the Supreme Palace of Zephoris.

But one night, his older brother, Tane, defies their father by traveling to a cursed land. Now Nuelle holds the signet-ring and carries more responsibility than even Tane bore. Thrust from the palace and sent to a knight-building academy, Nuelle must discover his purpose for the entire kingdom’s sake.

From his place of banishment, Prince Antikai has been exacting revenge through fear and rebellions. Nuelle has the potential to defeat him, but he needs the help of a powerful book called the Acumen and six gifted youths.

Summoned by Antikai, shape-shifting beasts and other enemies hunt Nuelle and the Acumen. If either is destroyed, the faithful citizens in Zephoris will perish, and darkness will rule forever.

Favorite Quotes

“There are worse enemies than fear.”

“If you are not willing to give your life for a friend, then you’r not a true companion.”

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thought this book is well written. It started off a bit slow for me in the beginning but started to pick up the further along I read. I like the development of the main characters and enjoys the overall storyline. The plot twist was fascinating, and I assumed there would be a different outcome for the ending. The author did a fantastic job ensuring the novel grabbed the attention of the reader. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time wanting to find out the ending. However, I wanted to know more about each character and personally wanted to know more about Ave. I also found it interesting about Nu’s past and his brother; I expected Tane brother to be adopted. I also wanted to know about his mother, but I wasn’t entirely sure that the youth of this nation was born the human way. I was also a bit confused on the age of the King and how each person received their gifts. However, the story continued to progress with more action, love, fighting, loss, and characters finding themselves. Each character must learn who to trust and whether or not they are ready for the responsibility that awaits them.
I enjoyed reading about the overall message and the hint of family drama. There is also a lot of unique abilities displayed in this novel that I felt really contributed to the overall story. There are a lot of strange creatures that lurk in the shadows but the group of Sentiels must decide which one is real and which one is out to kill them!
I recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a fiction novel. It starts off a bit slow, but the story progressively gets more interesting. There are a few jokes in this story that made me laugh and want to read more.

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

ARC: Payback on Poplar Lane by Margaret Mincks

Posted on February 9, 2018February 9, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: Payback on Poplar Lane
Author: Twitter, Margaret Mincks Blog
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary, Realistic
Pages: Print 315
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Rating: ★★★★.5

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of this book from Penguin Young Readers as a part of Viking Publishing #partner in exchange for my honest review. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher. The copy used in this review is an uncorrected copy from the publisher, some quotes may have been changed prior to publishing.

Author Bio:

Margaret Mincks grew up the second oldest of eight kids. When she wasn’t swimming, acting, making up slightly disturbing songs, or filming B-movie parodies with siblings and friends, she was writing and illustrating stories. After graduating from the University of Virginia, she moved to Chicago to perform improvisational comedy with the iO Theater. She later worked at Spider, a literary magazine for six- to nine-year-olds, as an editor. Margaret has also written for children’s nonfiction series like Ripley’s Believe It or Not. She now lives in Florida with her husband, young daughter, and her Staffordshire bull terrier named Reesie.

Book Description:

“ABC’s Shark Tank meets The Terrible Two when a pair of sixth grade entrepreneurs compete to become top mogul on their block.

Twelve-year-old Peter Gronkowski prides himself on being a professional businessman. Tired of the clichéd lemonade stands that line his block, he decides to start a better business with the help of an intern. But his intern of choice, the quiet and writerly Rachel Chambers, turns out to be more than he bargained for. Rachel is innovative, resourceful, driven–and when she’s had enough of Peter’s overbearing management style, she decides to start a competing empire next door. As their rivalry and sabotage tactics become more outrageous–Slander! Espionage! Lemonade threats!–Peter and Rachel ultimately learn the hard way that “nothing gold can stay” and that friendship is more important than money.

Alternating perspectives reveal what really motivates each character to win. And Peter’s memos and “business tips” as well as excerpts from Rachel’s melodramatic novel-in-progress generate fresh hilarity and tension at every page turn. Payback on Poplar Lane is a pitch-perfect comedy with heart, reminiscent of your favorite classic middle-grade series.”

Favorite Quotes:

“Business tip: you can be nice or you can be honest. Choose wisely.”

-One of Peter’s many business tips. I loved this tip. It is hard to emphasize in students on how to be honest without being rude.-

“Business tip: A strong person can admit weakness.”

– I encourage people to share this with others. Peter fails in this novel but he learns from his mistakes each time. He learns to adapt to each situation and grow.-

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I thought this book was adorable. I have heard about this book before its release. The idea of a young boy trying to support his family is a greats storyline. I enjoyed reading how Peter learned to build his own business and how he learned what is important in life, relationships. Peter provides these business tips throughout the novel to the readers. The author used this to connect with the reader, and I felt like Peter was giving me business tips this entire book. The character development and the back story created for Peter and Rachel provided an excellent basis for understanding their actions. I felt that Clover and Peter’s supplemental friends could have been developed more, but that did not take away from the overall message. I liked how Rachel struggle with finding her voice throughout the novel and also loved how the author developed Rachel to be an author in this book. Rachel’s form of escaping is by writing about a character that best describes her situation. Inserted in between a few chapters is excerpts from Rachel’s book about Cyrano. It was fascinating to see Rachel develop throughout the entire novel. I also felt the argument between Rachel and Clover was lackluster and could have been improved more. The author did a great job of showcasing the fact that people fail but you have to learn from your mistakes. Peter and Rachel both fail a lot in this novel, but each time they pick themselves up and try again. This is a great message to emphasize with any age group. The strategically placed business tips also added to the overall delivery of the clear message. Also, kuddos to the author for making Rachel’s dad a librarian. That was a fantastic idea of enforcing the idea they could go to the library to get information.
I am a Youth Librarian and this book definitely made me want to share it with the young patrons that come into my library. The grade range for this novel is 6th and up, but you could give this book to an advanced 4th and 5th grade. I recommend adding this book to your collection. The message is clear, you should always discuss your issues, friendships are meaningful, and family is there to support you.

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Posted on February 6, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Trilogy
Next Book in the Series: A Court of Mist and Fury
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: Print 419
Rating: ★★★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I checked out a copy of this book from my local library. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a Young Adult Fantasy fiction novel that follows the journey of Fayre. Fayre is an outspoken, energetic, defiant female character. She has taken on the responsibility of ensuring the upkeep of her family by serving as the provider. After her father’s accident and her mother’s death, Fayre decided to take care of her family as a promise to her mother. She must hunt, kill, and trade with the people of the village to feed her father and two sisters. Unfortunately, one kill may be her last. Fayre lives in a land separated from the High Fae, which are magical beings with a variety of powers. The High Fae are known to have a disdain for humans and have slaughtered them in the past. Fayre hunts for survival, when she encounters a wolf in the woods, she has no choice but to kill it. She has no idea that the wolf she murdered is a fairie until she is taken back to the other side of the wall meant to protect them. The High Fae who takes her is wearing a mask. Fayre discovers all of the occupants of this kingdom are forced to wear masks due to a curse that was placed on the entire kingdom out of hatred. Fayre must find her place in this new territory, learn who trust, and fight for the man she loves.

Favorite Quotes:

“Tam told me that your first shot was to save the Suriel’s life. Not your own.” ” It seemed like the right thing to do.”

-I loved this interaction between Lucien and Fayre after she survived an attack that could have killed her. This quote shows a compassionate side to Fayre that I did not get to see earlier in the novel.-

“I’m sending you away because it makes me sick thinking about you in their hands.”

-These were the words Tamlin uttered to Fayre before sending her away to be safe. He made a decision to do what was best for her. I cried when I read this part.-

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I thought this was a great novel. I loved the development of each character, especially Fayre. I also enjoyed the backstory of Lucien and the history of how he became a part of Tamlin’s closest friends. I enjoyed the building of Fayre and Tamlin’s relationship. Tamlin’s strong character fit well with Fayre as they both worked to decide their importance to each other. Fayre is portrayed as a strong female character and faces many obstacles throughout this novel. The writing style of this book was particularly important to me since this book is over four hundred pages. The author did a great job capturing my attention during the entire story. I loved the plot twist, and I especially loved the last few chapters of the book where there is a significant action scene. I think throughout this entire book I hoped that Fayre would overcome her disdain for the High Fae and that she would become a key component in them breaking the curse. There were a lot of moments in this book where I was mainly on the edge of my seat, and I loved it. I enjoyed the build-up of each vital scene and the interaction between each character. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in young adult fantasy fiction. If you are giving this book to a teen, there is a bit of a tame love scene in the middle of the novel (be mindful of this). I am excited to see Fayre and Tamlin’s characters developed more in the next book in this series. I hope to learn more about a particular part of the ending that had me question why Lucien’s father would come to his aid in those challenging moments. (If you’ve read the book then you know what I am referring to.) My feelings were all over the place once I finished this novel. I was angry, and I cried for a moment. I felt a secure connection to each character and that only happened because of the fantastic writing by Sarah J. Mass.

Will I continue to read the remaining books in this series? Yes, of course!
Will I read more books by this author? Yes!

Have you read this series? If so, what were your thoughts?

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

ARC Review: Lou Lou and Pea and The Bicentennial Bonanza

Posted on January 29, 2018February 4, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: Lou Lou and Pea and the Bicentennial Bonanza
Author: Jill Diamond ; Pictures by Lesley Vamos
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary, Realistic
Pages: Print 251
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

This Middle-Grade contemporary novel provides a realistic view of two friends, Lou Lou and Pea. This book is the second book written by this author about these two friends who seem to have an eye for solving mysteries. Lou Lou and Pea are incredibly excited about their neighborhood hosting the two hundred year anniversary of the town. The Flyers have both their names showcased. Lou Lou is a horticulturist and will be showcasing her prized honeysuckles at the event. Pea is a designer and will be showcasing her hats from the hat shop where she is an apprentice. Unfortunately, Mayor Montoya’s dog becomes ill a few weeks before the ceremony, leaving the vice mayor in charge. Andy Argyle will stop at nothing to get to the Bicentennial Bonanza moved to Verde Valley from El Corazon. Andy and his daughter Amanda create a scheme together to get the event relocated. How far will these two go to get what they want? Will Lou Lou and Pea save the day with the help of a few friends?

Favorite Quotes:

” If conclusions were a pool, Lou Lou would be constantly wet.”

I laughed so hard after reading this because it is just too clever. This is an iconic moment in the story where the plot starts to unravel.

“‘Being kind is always in style,’ Pea replied with one of her fashion quotes. ‘Who said that?’ Lou Lou asked. ‘Peacock Pearl, of course.’ Pea winked one bright blue eye.”

This is an absolutely amazing lesson to teach young readers. Kindness is important regardless of the way others may treat you.

Final Thoughts:

I adored this novel and thought the author did a great job capturing the essence of Lou Lou and Pea. I also loved the author used a Spanish influence throughout the entire novel, providing text in a bilingual manner was very creative. I was able to learn a few words throughout the story. I enjoyed the instructions on how to make a hat and the Spanish-English dictionary at the end of the story. I loved the connection between friendship throughout this novel and the emphasis on kindness. The author spent time providing details of the characters that fueled my imagination throughout the entire book. I loved the portrayal of Lou Lou’s parents and their uniqueness. I thought it was a bit strange that her parents went with a nautical theme for their home, but it does happen. I would have liked a bit more explanation of Pea’s parents instead of the full focus on her grandmother. This novel is well written, and I recommend it to any in middle school who is interested in a little bit of mystery, friendship, and excitement.

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

The Book of Storms by Ruth Hatfield

Posted on January 28, 2018February 4, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: The Book of Storms
Author: Ruth Hatfield
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Pages: Print 357
Rating: ★★★★.5

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I purchased a copy of this book on my own from book outlet. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher.

This Middle-Grade fantasy fiction novel follows the life of Danny. He awakes one morning to find out that his parents are missing after a harsh storm that occurred the night prior. Danny searches outside in hopes of locating his parents and discovers the sycamore tree in his yard has been struck by lightning. As he examines the tree more closely, gazing upon the charcoal color, he finds a piece of the tree that looks different. Danny reaches to pick up the stick, and from that moment on he can hear the sounds of the earth. This startles him, and he takes the stick places it in his pocket and heads to school assuming his parents will be home when he returns. Danny returns home and realizes his parents are indeed missing. He must journey to find his parents and uncover their secrets. While searching his parent’s room for clues, he stumbles upon a journal that explains that his parents were storm chasers. With the help of the neighborhood cat, Mitzy, Danny journeys to the home of Abel Korsakof in hopes of discovering what the Book of Storms is. Danny must learn who to trust and who not to trust. He must also find his parents, the Book of Storms, and try not to be killed by Sammael. Will Danny see his parents or will he be killed?

Favorite Quotes:

“What would you do if you woke up and your mum was missing?”

Danny said this line to his cousin Tom after arriving at his Aunt’s farm.

“He waited for an uncountable time in the hop of seeing the earth re-form and rise up into the shape of the great gray dog he had loved, but there was nothing there.”

This was one of the saddest parts for me. Even though I know Sammael is the villain in this story, he still had a heart for his dog. I am assuming Sammael will seek vengeance for the death of his dog and still continue to try to control the storms.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a great story. I liked the way this book was written and felt the same feelings Danny felt. Danny was in complete shock at the beginning of the book, not realizing his parents were indeed missing. He struggled to come to terms with the fact that he had to journey alone to find them but continued to seek out help from others such as Mitzy and the creatures of the earth. I did not wholly understand the power that Sammael had or the importance of his dog, other than being a companion. I also did not understand the concept of a Lurcher and felt that could have been explained more in the book. Overall, I thought this book did a great job of capturing my attention and had me on the edge of my seat a good portion of the time. I recommend this book for anyone in middle school interested in a fantasy novel that focuses on the importance of working together. I assume the overall lesson in this book is not to give up and to seek out help when needed. It is also important to be careful who you trust because Tom made a mistake in this book towards the end and I am curious as to how his error will affect everyone else.

What would you do if you came home and your parents were missing?

ARC Review- Bringing Me Back

Posted on January 22, 2018February 4, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: Bringing Me Back
Author: Beth Verabel
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Pages: Print 244
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Rating: ★★★

This Middle-Grade contemporary novel takes a realistic approach to connecting the life of a bear trapped in a bucket to the life of a young boy stuck in a small town. Noah is smart, quiet, once favorite seventh grader facing the challenge of another year of school. A mistake made during his previous school year not only cost the school their football team but also cost his mother her freedom. He is forced to pay for the mistakes made by his mother now being deemed an outcast in his town. In a school filled people who dislike him, he has one friend, Raina. Raina is a spunky, out-spoken, pre-teen who feels she is more cultured than any person in this entire school. She will do whatever it takes to get her message across to people, even if that means starting a school newspaper to spread the word. The town of Ashtown has a known problem with bears. The school begins an “ice-bucket themed” challenge to raise money for charity in hopes of appealing to the Football League to get the football team reinstated. This challenge has now caused a surplus of buckets around town, and a small cub seems to have its head caught in a bucket. As Raina and Noah try to save the cub, Jeff (Noah’s now guardian) seeks to help Noah mend his relationship with his mom. I recommend this novel to anyone who interested in a middle grade novel that focuses on forgiveness, dealing with guilt, and friendship. I recommend this book for any middle schooler having a hard time fitting in.

Quote Examination:

” The bear rose on her back feet, slamming down to her front paws so hard the impact echoes through the woods. Head swinging, she pawed the dirt in front of me with long, sharp claws. A fierce rumbling growl ripped through her and over me. That was it. We were both out of time.” Page One

Okay, let’s discuss this opening line in the book. This quote is directly from the first page of the book. First glance I was intrigued. This quote does a bit of foreshadowing of what is to come closer to the end of the novel.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thought this novel was just okay. I did not completely dislike it, but I felt it could have developed more. There are a few areas that felt forced. I wanted a bit more character development of Diane, Noah’s mom. I would have liked more character development of the supporting characters in this novel as well, such as Jeff and Raina. These characters play a vital role in this book in supporting the main character and the development of the plot. Typically when I read any book made for teens or under I look for two things, the overall lesson and the intended influence. I assumed the experience was to find something you believe in and don’t let the struggles of things you can not control get you down. This is a great lesson to provide.

I am giving this book three stars because I can tell the author tried with this novel. The life lesson is present, but I did not entirely like the delivery or fully understand the purpose of the bear.

A Cactus in the Valley by Olivia Bennett

Posted on January 22, 2018February 4, 2018 by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: A Cactus in the Valley
Author: Olivia J. Bennett
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Realistic
Pages: Print 387
Rating: ★★★★★

Author Q& A Below: Check out her inspiration for this novel!

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was given a copy of this book from the author Olivia Bennett, in exchange for my honest review. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author.

This contemporary novel follows the journey of the two main characters, Terra and Wyatt. This book is written well and focuses on the lives of both the main characters. Each is struggling with their demons and are forced to face them head on or not survive. The book This novel begins from the perspective of Terra waking up from a terrible plane crash. She comes to her senses realizing that something terrible has happened. We then are shifted to the point of view of Wyatt and his view of waking from the plane crash. In the beginning, both experience grief, strength, awareness, and physical pain all before we get to the first 50 pages. The author spent time explaining each character’s past, using foreshadowing as a method to do so. The reader gains an understanding of the moments leading up to the day of the crash and the moments both characters face to survive. They are both stranded in a desolate area hoping to survive long enough to make it to their families. Terra and Wyatt must decide what they are living for, they must not lose hope, and they must rely heavily on each other. We watch as these two spring into action, noting their survival instincts, rooting for them to survive, mourning their losses, and crying for their pain. A Cactus in the Valley is an incredibly captivating novel, and I recommend this to anyone. The author did a fantastic job capturing the attention of the reader throughout the entire story.

Favorite Quotes

“Take chances, Terra. Make mistakes, because nothing is so terribly messed up that it can’t be fixed.” -Abigail, Terra’s Grandmother

” But eventually, I would get doused with cold water, putting out the flames of rejection and betrayal, downing out the perpetual grief, and overflowing the void left by my parting grandmother. But, I guess that’s a story for another day.” – Terra

In these quotes, I feel Terra’s pain for the loss of the only person in her life that cared for her. There are many quotes like this throughout the novel showcasing the challenges Terra faced in her life before the crash.

” Before long, I was sobbing at the kindness of the truth before me. And that night, I, Wyatt Hartman, came to know the truth.” -Wyatt after a night of partying

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is novel one of my favorite novels. I loved the writing style throughout the entire book and enjoyed the style diary chapters. I was captivated by the dates in each section and the point of view from both of the main characters. These two found each other in a time of grief and let their faith continue to inspire them to have hope. There is a hint of religious influence in this novel, but it is not overbearing. I could tell that the author has a bit of power on this part. The secret that Terra shared at the beginning of the novel was jarring, but it emphasized the hardships she faced and her inner battle. Wyatt is sometimes demanding and other moments loving. These two find solace in each other’s presence and there is a short period in the novel where a natural force separates them. During these moments, each character fights to face the past that continues to hold them captive. The moments leading up to the crash explained in detail from the perspective of both characters, and we finally get the full details of the accident closer to the ending of the novel. I say that was strategically placed at the end because I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. These two characters are developed so well that you have no choice but to get tangled up in this story.

Question and Answer with the AUTHOR:

1.What was your inspiration for the novel?

I don’t think I had a direct inspiration for A Cactus In the Valley, but I was inspired by other survival stories, both real and fictional. I saw that there was potential for a good story in the heightened emotions and desperation that came with the territory. But overall, I wanted to create an allegory of my own experience becoming a young adult, finding oneself, and overcoming the past.

2.Is there any other novels in the works?

There is! I’m actually in the process of editing the companion novella to A Cactus In the Valley. It centers around Harper, Lilly, and Nick as they grapple with the loss of Terra and Wyatt. It kind of tells the story of what goes on behind the scenes. I’m planning on publishing it this summer!

3. I saw a bit of a religious aspect in this novel, is this stemmed from you have a religious background?

I am a Christian, but I also know that life isn’t all sunshine and roses, so why should I write that way? This novel does stem from my religious background of being nondenominational/charismatic Christian.

Because of my circumstances, I find myself around people (and Christians) who don’t conform to the squeaky-clean Christian stereotype. I ultimately saw a need for gritty, real fiction for broken teens. I hope to bridge the gap and create a new genre of fiction that’s too secular to be Christian but too Christian to be secular.

Special thanks to the author for agreeing to answer my questions and for sending me a copy of this book!