Poems and Poets

                                                              Publication Date: February 28th, 2017 Genre: Young Adult, My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Source: Own Copy Starr Carter attends a fancy suburban prep school. She has friends who live in suburbia and spend hundreds of dollars on clothes and makeup. Starr can't afford that. Starr goes home to a poor neighborhood, where tragedy seems to be the norm. The balance she's managed to strike between her two worlds is shattered when tragedy befalls her community again. Starr witnesses a policeman shoot her childhood friend, Khalil. He was unarmed. Now his death is making headlines around the country. People are calling him a drug dealer, a gangbanger and so many other things. The cops try to intimidate Starr. The local drug lord tries to intimidate Starr's family. All the while, sh...

Publication Date:  June 23rd, 2015 Genre:  Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source:  Own Copy Emmy's best friend was kidnapped ten years ago. Life in her small town home has been stilted since Oliver was taken by his father. Her parents are the most over-protective parents in town and she keeps so many secrets from them it's hard to keep count. Then Oliver comes back. After ten years, Oliver finally learns that his father was the bad guy. It wasn't his mother who deserted him, it wasn't a messy separation that led to him never seeing her again. He needs time to figure out his new world. He's back in a place he doesn't remember calling home and his life has changed drastically. In the second grade, Emmy and Oliver pledged to be best friends forever. Has their relationship withstood the test of time and distance? Can they mend their friendship and build it into something greater? Emmy has held onto him for a decade. Has Ol...

Publication Date: August 15th, 2017 Genre: Young-Adult Contemporary My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 Source: Own Copy Emma's life had forever revolved around the actions of her elder sister, Henri. This wasn't some sort of eternal punishment or trap she couldn't escape- Emma simply adored Henri to the extent that she worshiped her every step and molded her life to fit Henri's. While this may seem like an unhealthy relationship to some, Emma and Henri had perfected their routine- sharing a seamless experience together for all their teen years. Suddenly, after a devastating fight (left a mystery to the audience), the siblings find themselves awash on an island after a boating trip gone wrong, with only a fellow teen to guide them. They must find their way back to each other to find their way home- but with their shattered past, can the sisters shape a new future?

Publication Date: October 3rd, 2017 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) This is the story of three siblings who didn't know they could rely on each other. Joaquin has been in the foster system for 17 years. He's lived the hard life, trying to rid himself of emotions. Finding out that he's an older brother is not what he needs, specially not when his younger sisters want to bond over their biological mother. Grace is an only child, adopted at birth- or so she thought. Now she finds out that she's a middle child, in a family that doesn't want to get closer to one another. Maya is the sarcastic younger sibling, who always thought she was the older child. Adopted at birth by a well-to-do family of red-heads, her younger sister was the miracle birth that came after her adoption. The siblings struggle to form memorable connections, share secrets with each other, or even communicate like regular si...

Publication Date: September 19th 2017 Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Kadi is a young girl in modern-day Timbuktu. Daughter of a scripture librarian. A fan of literature, music and art, she hopes one day to become the esteemed guardian of the scriptures her father currently looks after. Ali is a small-town boy from the villages of Mali. He's joined the Defenders of Faith, a branch of Al Qaeda and is an important player in the take of Timbuktu. As life changes drastically in Timbuktu, Ali and Kadi meet. They hate each other instantly- but something about their natures encourages them to interact with one another. Opening up to each other was a huge mistake- or was it?

Publication Date: September 12th 2017 Genre: Young Adult Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Wendy's dad was a police officer in Chicago. She always thought he resembled the heroes in movies. That is, until he was arrested. Her life turns upside down when she is ostracized for her last name. To make things worse, she gets threatened on the way back from a party one night. Finally, Wendy meets exactly the right kind of girl to help her build up a defense system. Kenzie is mean, popular, and an alpha. Along with two other girls, Wendy has become part of the school's most popular clique- where no one can touch her. This "toxic friendship" begins to drain Wendy. She knows bullying others to protect herself is wrong. She knows that Kenzie is possibly one of the worst people she has met. But is she so addicted to the safety and power that she should compromise her values?

 Publication Date: September 5th 2017 Genre: Young Adult My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Leo and Caleb aren't best friends. Then again, most siblings have complex relationships. When Caleb's angry though, his outbursts literally send Leo running. This violent behavior forces the family to relocate, to a new setting where Leo and Caleb both hope to prosper. Over time, Leo develops the ability to run fast and think ahead. He joins the cross-country and track teams at his new school, and even befriends a state champion. Learning from the best runner his age, Leo improves his skills and even meets a girl he has a crush on. Yet Caleb still hasn't managed to settle down in his new life. Leo's newfound peace won't last long, because Caleb's jealousy will soon start to show in violent beatings and scary behavior.

Publication Date: September 5th 2017 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary My Goodreads Rating: 2/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Charlotte and Frankie are ordinary, boring high schoolers who live with their almost-normal parents. They don't have a perfect body, or a soulmate (except maybe each other). They haven't had the perfect romance, the best adventure or the wildest party. They are just teenagers. Until Charlotte decides to document their lives in a book to prove how boring they are. Sophomore year is just the same as freshman year, her friends are still the same and she's the kid she always was. Or is she?

Before I say anything else- let me wish all the Indians reading this a Happy Independence Day! We celebrate our 70th year of Independence this year! Getting back to the post- I'm linking back up with the Broke and the Bookish for a Top Ten Tuesday post- the first after a break they took over the summer. My theme today is Young Adult books that are a must read- even for people with a strong dislike of Young Adult books! (All links go to my review) 1. Unbecoming by Jenny Downham 2. Made You Up by Francesca Zappia 3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell 4. Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas 5. This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp 6. The List by Siobhan Vivian 7. Night Road by Kristin Hannah 8. This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills 9. Mosquitoland by David Arnold 10. My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga These were some of my all-time favourite reads. I think that any of these books will be enou...

Publication Date: January 5th 2016 Genre: Young Adult My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Source: Own Copy I know that this is normally where I have a summary of the book- but this book is just so hard to describe without ruining the story. I'm going to say this- the story is about a school shooting. The Opportunity High School students find themselves locked in the auditorium after the principal's speech. A few minutes later someone starts shooting. "Everyone has a reason to fear the boy with the gun". This book has been quite a controversial one. I've been through so many reviews and ratings and what I've understood is that people either hate it or love it. I absolutely loved it!

Publication Date: February 28th 2017 Genre: Middle Grade/ Young Adult My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Own Copy Alex Petroski is an 11-year-old, space obsessed boy. He also happens to love his mother, his older brother and his dog- named after his hero, Carl Sagan. Alex dreams of launching recordings into space the way Carl Sagan (the hero) launched his golden record on the Voyager. Along with Carl Sagan ( the dog), Alex travels from Colorado to Nevada and from New Mexico to California. What Alex discovers are secrets about his family and a new family that he never imagined existed. When he gets home however, he meets a version of his known family he has never been able to embrace.

Publication Date: August 1st 2017 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Olivia wakes up confused in a hospital bed. After a week-long coma, she can't remember the accident that brought her to the hospital. What she soon figures out however, is that she's lost four precious years of her life. She can't remember starting- or graduating- from my high school. She doesn't remember her boyfriend Matt. She doesn't remember why one of her best friends is no longer in touch with her. She realizes that she's quite different as an 18-year-old and struggles to figure out who she really is. With a constant army of people supplying her with memories she doesn't know she had, Olivia needs to hear from her savior to figure out the truth. Olivia feels different with tight-lipped Walker, the man who rescued her. As she determines whether or not she still loves Matt, she finds herself getting closer to Wa...

Publication Date: 21st February, 2012 Genre: Young Adult My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Borrowed' Aristotle is a confused teen with an elder brother in prison- who no one ever mentions. He barely has a relationship with his ex-veteran father and prefers to be alone all the time. Dante is a smart teen with a unique perspective on life. He gets along great with his parents and adds his own flair to everything. He's artistic and science-oriented at the same time When both immigrant teens meet one summer day, they begin hanging out unsure of where their friendship will go. What they discover is a relationship that lasts a lifetime and the opportunity to make a difference in each other's lives.

Publication Date: 25th July 2017 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Mercedes Moreno is an award-winning artist- who hasn't been able to paint anything decent for over a year. Her painting Food Poisoning #1 won her first place at the County Art Festival, but since then she's had a lack of inspiration. This could be because her Puerto Rican grandmother is comatose after suffering a stroke. It could also be because she is in love with her best friend Victoria, but is too afraid to tell her. Regardless of her struggles, art worms its way into Mercedes' life. A piano shows up on her doorstep one day, and a mysterious artist moves in next door. She gets invited to the Red Mangrove Estate. At the Estate, Mercedes paints and creates like never before. The only problem is that she can't take her work, emotions or "newfound clarity" outside the Estate. As she struggles to deal with her life, Merce...

Publication Date: August 1st, 2017 Genre: Young Adult, Thriller My Goodreads Rating: 3.5/5 Source: Publisher (Through Edelweiss) Lee has just broken out of juvenile prison after taking the fall for her perfect friend. On the run, she encounters a homeless shelter called the "Crystal Castle" where she takes up refuge for a few days. Suspicious of the "too good to be true" environment, Lee discovers that the groups of homeless children disappearing have some inexplicable link to this secret society. After moving away from the shelter, she finds an unexpected ally. Tomi is a young artist and hacker- who has deep knowledge of the cities abandoned buildings and the dark web. Using these skills, Lee and Tomi find perfect hide-out spots to unravel the mystery of the secret society. The further Lee gets from them, the worse damage the society does to the outside world. Is there anything Lee is supposed to be doing to stop it? Can she stop it? Will she risk her...

Publication Date: September 3rd 2015 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source: Own copy Three women and three secrets create one compelling story in Jenny Downham's Unbecoming . 17-year old Katie falls in love with the wrong person- or so she thinks. She keeps up her secret tryst without revealing the identity of the one her heart yearns. Caroline, Katie's mother, is rigid and strict and afraid of her past becoming her present. Her confusing childhood has taught her to constantly protect her children. Mary, Caroline's mother, makes a startling  reappearance in her daughter's life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's following the death of her husband. Still capable of breaking all the rules, Mary is not your usual grandmother. Katie spends her summer caring for Mary, attempting to learn about her mother's disgruntled attitude towards her. As Mary struggles to grasp her memories she reveals her family's secrets to Kati...

Publication Date: March 31st 2003 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 Source:  Own Copy Francesca has recently shifted to St. Sebastian's, a formerly all-boys school. The school has recently made the shift to co-ed, but students frequently forget that the girls are a part of the school. She surrounds herself with girls, but finds friends only in a dorky musician, passionate activist and rumored slut. She can't find any boy she'd rather hang out with. The burping and farting masters are disgusting and the serious prefects are way too self-absorbed. Just when Francesca needs her the most, her uber-confident mom is diagnosed with acute depression. Her family doesn't want to talk about it, her dad pins everything on her and her younger brother is sent away to live with their grandparents.

Publication Date: January 1st 2015 Genre: Young-Adult and Middle-Grade My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 Source:  Own Copy Stewart is the gifted and talented. He's also geeky and socially awkward. His mom passed away last year and he finds himself missing her quite often. Ashley is gifted and talented. She's popular and stylish. She's also failing 9th grade. Her dad has just come out and divorced her mother.It's a year later, and both her parents have now found themselves boyfriends. Enter the parents- Ashley's mom asks Stewart's dad to move in with them, creating the most awkward living situation for both Ashley and Stewart. Stewart's excited about this new adventure in his life. Ashley... not so much. Stewart doesn't fit in at school and Ashley struggles at home. When both of them attract the attention of Jared, a popular boy at school, things start to go terribly wrong. Do they have a strong enough relationship to confront the problems together? ...

Publication Date: February 17th 2016 Genre: Young-Adult (Contemporary) My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 Source:  Own Copy Maddie has just graduated from high school and she plans on spending the summer before college ticking items off her bucket list- or her "loose ends" list, as she likes to call it- with her best friends. Her socialite grandmother, who's young-at-heart and fiercely passionate- calls a suspicious family gathering at her town house one day which changes the way Maddie looks at life forever. Her amazing grandmother has been diagnosed with cancer- and she doesn't want to be treated for it! To spend as much time with her family as she can, the O'Niell Matriarch books an international family cruise. The up-side? Great food, interesting people, amazing destinations. The down side? Grandma O'Niell may not come home at the end of the trip.

Publication Date: March 7th 2017 Genre: Young Adult (Contemporary) My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 Source:  Own Copy Julia finds something nasty written about her best friend on a wall at the Kingston School for the Deaf. As a true best friend, she covers it up with a beautiful graffiti mural. This so-called best friend snitches, and gets her expelled from her school. Julia's two mothers send her to a "mainstream" school in the suburbs, where she's treated like an alien for being the only deaf student. The only thing she has left is her art- and although she promised her mothers she would give up graffiti, Julia finds herself being more and more dependent on her art. Eager to let the world know that she's willing to declare art turf even in the suburbs, Julia paints everywhere. Soon, she realizes that someone is improving her tags, adding their own style to them. Julia has been dragged into a "full-blown graffiti war".