More Mini-Reviews!

I'm BAAAACK!!!  I've been tied up with TAYSHAS and other commitments.  Here are some mini-reviews for some of the books that I nominated for new TAYSHAS 2017 list!

Hartzler, Aaron.  What We Saw.  HarperTeen, 2015.

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Kate can't remember what happened at John's party; the night is a blur.  After she sees a disturbing picture of a passed-out Stacie hanging over a football player's shoulder, she realizes something must have happened after she left the party.  Then Stacie accuses four football players of rape, and the whole town goes crazy.  How far will people to to protect their friends and their sports heroes?

Aaron Hartzler's debut novel was inspired by true events from the Steubenville, Ohio rape case, which made national news in 2012. Written in first person point of view, the sensitive topics the book covers are relevant to today. The narrator struggles with discovering the truth and having the courage to stand up for the victim, amid peer pressure and cover-ups.  I recommend this book for high school and public libraries and give it five out of five fleur de lis! ON TAYSHAS LIST!

Quick, Matthew.  Every Exquisite Thing.  Little, Brown, 2016.

Nanette is a soccer player with a promising future and a straight-A student.  Then one day her favorite teacher gives her a copy of his favorite book, The Bubblegum Reaper, an out-of print novel, and she begins to rebel.  As Nanette becomes good friends with the reclusive author and begins a relationship with a troubled teen, she begins to abandon the things she thought mattered and tries to find herself and her place in the world.

--> Matthew Quick has the ability to see right into and understand the teenage mind. He offers insight into unconventional personalities--loners, rebels, and artsy-type kids. Nanette's first-person narrative is strong, emotional, and intelligent. She doesn't want to be who other people think she should be--she wants to make her own decisions and chart her own path--whatever that may turn out to be. This is a novel of self-discovery, coming of age, and some self-destruction.  I highly recommend it for high school and public libraries and give it five out of five fleur de lis!  ON TAYSHAS LIST!

Skye, Evelyn.  The Crown's Game.  Balzer + Bray, 2016.

The Russian Tsar needs a powerful enchanter to help him keep Russia safe from the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs.  Unaware of each other, both Vika and Nikolai have been training for years to become the Imperial Enchanter.  However, the Tsar can only have one enchanter, and so Vika and Nikolai must fight to the death in the Crown's Game!

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This is Evelyn Skye's debut novel and the beginning of a new historical fantasy series. The world building is dense and beautiful, and the characters are extremely well-developed and multi-layered. The book is told in 3rd person in multiple viewpoints in an alternate 1800's Russia. The author has a degree in Russian history, which shows in her writing and research. The magic the enchanters use is stunning, and there is a plot twist at the end of nearly every chapter. This book has action, suspense, fabulous character back-stories, and more than one love triangle!  I highly recommend The Crown's Game for middle school, high school, and public libraries and give it five out of five fleur de lis!  ON TAYSHAS LIST!

Rollins, Danielle.  Burning.  Bloomsbury, 2016.

Brunesfield Correctional Facility is a juvenile detention home for girls. It is run-down, and the guards are cruel.  Angela only has a few months before she will be released and be able to go home to her little brother. Then ten-year-old Jessica shows up and Angela is assigned to help her adjust to life at the facility.  But Jessica is dangerous, and no one will talk about why she is there.  Brunesfield is no longer safe, and Angela and her friends need to escape before it's too late!

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The setting for this novel is an old, broken-down female juvenile detention facility, which is both creepy and horrific. It even contains a segregation ward, for those girls which are deemed too crazy and dangerous to associate with other inmates. There is hostility between inmates, paranormal activity, and brutal authority figures. Many of the characters are minorities who are trying to cope with hard issues and secrets. This is a frightening, gritty read, which is suspenseful to the very end.  I recommend it for high school and public libraries and give it four out of five fleur de lis! TAYSHAS nominated only.

Cook, Eileen.  With Malice.  HMH, 2016.

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When Jill wakes up in the hospital, she can't recall anything that happened during the past six weeks.  She discovers that she is the center of a car accident Italy in which she is accused of murdering her best friend.  How can she clear her name if she can't remember what happened?!

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Told through flashbacks, yearbook signings, police interviews, newspaper articles, tour applications, and other primary source material, this novel is a chilling mystery that will appeal to readers who love mystery and suspense. Twists, turns, and plot twists will keep the readers guessing until the very end. The author has done extensive research on brain injuries and how they affect memory loss. Will Jill be charged with murder and extradited to Italy? Will she be able to attend Yale and follow in the steps of her father and grandfather? This is a real page turner and has a shocking conclusion!  I recommend it for high school and public libraries and give it four out of five fleur de lis!  TAYSHAS nominated only.

More mini-reviews coming soon!