Snitchers

If you're looking for a black Nancy Drew book, then Snitchers is a perfect fit for you. When five year old Little Petey is shot in his front yard, Nia is beside herself. If only she had been there a few minutes earlier. She was on her way to babysit him when he got caught in crossfire and became an unintentional casualty. Nia convinces her two best friends Miracle Ruth (love the name) and Dontay that they have to to do something, they have to find out who shot Petey so he can have justice. This is very personal for Nia because not only was she close with Petey, but her own father was murdered a few years prior and no one had ever been convicted. She wants justice for her loved ones and her neighborhood. Obviously, they decide to conduct their investigation in secret because no sane adult would let them be involved in something so dangerous - they are just getting ready to enter high school for goodness sakes! Memorable characters, minor cussing, and improbable plot. I would read more by this author!

The Chaperone

This is like a teen version of The Handmaid's Tale. It's aimed at younger audiences, only decently well written, and the plot only varies slightly to the premise of Margaret Atwood's classic. In New America women are governed by men. Young women from the time of their first blood can never be alone and are provided a government chaperone to help mold them into subservient young women. Their education is subpar and the only thing their future holds is marriage or spinsterhood as a chaperone. Sound familiar? I thought the ending was rushed and their were some big plot holes. Fast paced and easy to read but could have used some more work. 

Better Luck Next Time

Tatum is so ready for high school to be over so her new life can begin. She is chomping at the bit to go to college; the only thing concerning her is her boyfriend Jeremy. He has no idea what he wants to do after graduation and it's causing Tatum to be very concerned about their future. It also doesn't help that Tatum has daddy issues and is convinced that all men will leave her. She doesn't want to say the L word and isn't sure if she should lose her virginity to Jeremy. She likes him a lot and wants to look forward to a future together but being in love and making love seem like too big a leap. Right before graduation Tatum, her best friend Kait, and Jeremy go to a party together and nothing will ever be the same. I really wanted to like this, but this highlighted such a toxic relationship. It was cringy and uncomfortable. I was so ready for the book to end and I didn't like a single character (except Dean). I think I may be getting to old and cynical for young adult books?!

Not Good for Maidens

I absolutely loved the setting and the premise. The world building was top tier - unfortunately for me, I didn't care about the main plot. I loved the idea of a market, an inbetween place full of goblins and horrors. It was truly intriguing and it reminded me of a darker labyrinth. I wanted Jareth to pop out so bad! Instead a girl, living thousands of miles away finds out about it when her aunt is taken there. Her mother rushes back to York to try and rescue her and Lou finally finds out what her mother and aunt had been hiding from her all her life. When her mom and aunt were her age they too entered the market and ended up killing a goblin and getting banned from their coven of witches (oh yeah - she also finds out she comes from a coven). A lot of plot holes but I truly loved the setting. So dark and creepy!

Just for the Summer

A light hearted and enjoyable summer read about two women who decide to swap jobs for the summer. Ginny is the manager of a high end hotel in Seattle and is in dire need of a break. Her job is demanding and her boss is a tyrant. Jacqueline is sick of running her grandfather's fishing lodge and is ready for the finer things in life. The two women both reply to an ad about a job swap and then the two switch places. Jacqueline is in awe of the glitz and the glamour but is in way over her head; she may have lied a bit about her managerial experience. Ginny on the other hand is happy for the first time in years. The scenery is beautiful, the job is less stress and more rewarding, and the hunky fishing guide is starting to win her over. This is a sweet clean read with a happy ending. I do feel the ending was a little rushed and that Jacqueline was a little two dimensional; but other than that I really enjoyed it. I loved the hotel management aspects of the book - it sounded fun! 

Clear

 

Beautiful and masterfully crafted; Carys Davies delivers a unique and moving novel about a minister tasked with evicting the lone inhabitant from a small distant island. During the 1840s the Scottish Clearances were in full effect, removing thousands of poor residents through mandatory evictions. John, a poor Scottish minister desperate to earn some income, takes the job of removing Ivar from a remote island. When John finally arrives at the island, he immediately falls off a cliff and is nursed back to health by Ivar, who has no idea what John's arrival means for him. Used to being solitary, with only his animals and the ocean for company; he quickly takes to John. Together they work past their language barriers and begin to understand each other; forging a much deeper companionship and outlook on life. Impeccably narrated by Russ Bain whose Scottish timbre effuses the story with authenticity and soul. Short and simple; Clear is a thought-provoking historical novel that showcases the nuance of words, the complexity of relationships, and hauntingly beautiful atmospheric writing.  

Always Sunshine Yellow

Always Sunshine Yellow is a profoundly moving collection of deeply personal and emotional poetry. Maria doesn't shy away from reflecting inward and her prose is all the more brilliant from it. This poetry collection is broken into three sections: Faith & Hope, Lessons & Resilience, and Love & Family. Each section contains poems that reflect joy, introspection, triumph, and hope. The poems themselves range from a few lines to a few pages, but no matter the word count, they all elicit emotion from the reader. One of my favorites is a short poem entitled, "Excess." 

Lord, pour yourself over me,

and allow the excess

to flow from my pen. 

Interspersed amongst the poetry are small illustrations that help add to the mood and add some charming whimsy. A wonderful book of prose that can be devoured over one sitting or sampled at intervals. As an added bit of interest, Maria Gray-Gerhart is a Johnson County resident currently living in Franklin.