Ten Top Tuesday: 2018 Books

This week's topic is 2018 books I still want to read. 

Confession: I have more than 10. 

I didn't get to read lots of books I wanted to this year, it seems to be a theme with me. There's simply never enough time to read everything. 

Review: the Other F-Word

When Hollis get s a text from her half brother, everything changes, even though she  responds negatively. Milo wants to  find their sperm donor father- partly for medical reasons and partly out of sheer curiosity.

But after another meeting (their second), Hollis and Milo work out a plan.They contact the online system at the cryolab. What they learn will change their lives, themselves, and their futures.

My Thoughts: I loved this book - it's different than most family stories. I enjoyed the duel perspectives. I really liked JJ. I loved watching Hollis and Milo learn more about each other and become family. I loved the message about family this book sent. I admit I was a tiny bit surprised by the ending, but looking back it's perfect. Another winner for Friend - entertaining, touching, and all about relationships. 

Cover Thoughts: Funny
Source: ARC sent for review
Release Date: Out Today (grab it!)
Library Recommendation: Get this one for both school and public libraries.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2016 Favorite Reads

This week's topic is favorite reads of the year. Usually my list is SUPER long (and it really is) but I've done a favorite for twitter's #libfav2016 and due to timing, I'm going to use that list too. I read way more than 10 amazing books this year. It's really hard to pair down or create an entirely different list. So here goes.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Tween Tuesday Review: Where You'll Find Me

Right before eighth grade, Anna's life changed. Her best friend dumped her to hang out with the more popular girls and her mom attempted suicide. Anna's the one that found her.

Now she's living with her father, his new wife, and their baby. Anna's not sure who to talk to about her life.

She starts eating lunch with other outsiders. The more time she spends with the misfits, the more she realizes she's one of them.

After hanging out with them, maybe she'll be able to find herself again.

My Thoughts: I would never ever go back to middle school. Anna's at the age, where everything she does is uncool. My heart went out to her as she struggled hard with the problems in her life without having a support system. I loved how she spent time with the misfits and eventually came to accept them as friends. I love how they owned their differences and how they had fun together. I liked how Anna's relationship evolved with her family.

I devoured this book and didn't want it to end. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: Purchased
Fun Fact: I got my copy of the book signed at an author event. Read about it here.

Final Thoughts: This one should be in every library - grab it up and read it first though. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Recent 5 Star Reads

This week's topic is Recent 5 Star Reads. This might be my easiest one yet. Most of the books I read are rated 4 or 5 stars because I've stopped reading books that don't interest me (unless I have to review them). So here are my recent favorites...from pictures books to adult books.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

RJ Julia's: Natasha Friend

Last night, I attended an author event for Natasha Friend for RJ Julia's bookstore. It was a packed house for the local author.

I've seen Natasha speak before, she came to talk at a library event at Otis Library.

Her brand new book, Where You'll Find Me came out yesterday. I've only read the first chapter, but it's great so far!

Natasha spoke about her memories from middle school (those dreaded terrible years.) She talked about how her clothes weren't right, the trouble with friends, and how she remembers it all like it was yesterday. These memories come in handy for her writing.

At the previous author event, she had told a story about meeting Judy Blume and how wrong it went. Here she retold the story, adding how she met her again. The meeting was a little better than the previous meeting, but what happened after is amazing! 

For more details - check out the back of the book!

Book Summary from Goodreads:

In this powerful and buoyant YA novel, a thirteen-year-old girl learns to navigate the shifting loyalties of friendships in middle school and deals with challenges at home.

The beginning of the eighth grade is not what Anna thought it would be. Her lifelong best friend has ditched her for the cool kids, and her mom is in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Anna finds herself where she least expects to: living with her dad, his young new wife, and their baby, and starting a new year at school without a best friend. With help from some unlikely sources, including a crazy girl-band talent show act, Anna learns that sometimes you find what you need to pull you through in the most unlikely places.

Sounds great right? I can't wait to read more!

Ten Things: Natasha Friend

Natasha Friend came to Otis Library this week. We had a great time chatting with her. I met her while at a Sarah Dessen signing at R.J. Julia's Bookstore. She was behind me in line with her newborn girl. I immediately asked her to come to my library and we finally found at date that worked. She was the teen author for our stop on the Connecticut Author Trail. It was a rainy night, but those who came out had a GREAT time!

Chatting about her ideas

The Book Table

Books and Goodies

The Goodies

Reading from Bounce

Here's ten things I learned about her:

1. A lot of people compare her latest book For Keeps to Gilmore Girls (not just me- read my review)

2. For Keeps is actually based on her moving during high school and a rumor started about the reasons for the move
3. She has a pretty good idea who started that rumor.
4. Judy Blume is her HERO and role model. Her story of meeting Judy Blume is hilarious.
5. She passed around Forever to her fellow classmates with the "good" pages marked.
6. She didn't have a TV growing up, which fostered her love of reading.
7. She was the girl who took stacks of books out of the library
8. Her book LUSH was number 6 on the books most challenged in 2010
9. She loved the book The Help - but waited to read it because of all the hype. She was sure she wouldn't like it as much, but she was wrong.
10. She has a new book coming out next year called My Life in Black and White - it's about a beautiful girl who was in a very serious car accident. Her face has massive scarring. She has to figure out who she is now that she's no longer beautiful.