Picture Book Review: Goodbye Friend, Hello Friend

Hellos usually follow a goodbye. Sometimes it's something simple like saying goodbye to snow and hello to Spring. But sometimes it's more complicated - like saying goodbye to a friend.

With great illustrations, this book is sweet. It goes through the seasons to the year. Some moments are sad and some are happy. But the ending is hopeful.

Top Ten Tuesday: Quiet Books

This week's topic is  Ten Books I Really Love But Feel Like I Haven't Talked About Enough/In A While or as it's talked about on Twitter- Quiet YA (with a side of a few middle grade books). For me, many of these were emotional reads or books I couldn't put down.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Middle Grade:

YA:

Have you read any of these?

Upcoming Review: This is Where it Ends

At 10 am, the principal ends her welcome to the new semester speech. Two minutes later, the students get up to leave. That's when they discover the doors won't open.

The bullets start flying.

54 minutes later, it's all over. But what happens in those minutes will forever change the lives of everyone involved. 

My Thoughts: What a powerful book! I couldn't stop reading it despite the tears rolling down my cheeks. I have to say, I hate that we live in a world where this happens. This book captures the terror of what I imagine the situation to feel like...and I hope that no one has to go through this again.

I liked the different perspectives of the book at different places in school at the time of the shooting. I liked the diverseness of voices. 

I felt the fear. I felt the heartbreak. I felt the emotional pull of this story. I can't say I liked this book because it's such a terrible type of story - but it was a good book and a story that needs to be told.

Cover Thoughts: Powerful
Source: ARC sent for review
Release date: January 5th

Final Thoughts: Pick this up and read.  Then pass it on. A very important book for all. 

Review: Life After

Life in Argentina is a nightmare for Dani. Her father's broken after the loss of his sister and his family business. He sits home every day, sleeping or starring at the wall. Plus he flies off the handle at a moment's notice. Her mother works too hard for too little money. Dani needs to watch her younger sister. Everything's just hard. She lives for those quiet moments with her boyfriend Roberto. Lately those are few and far between. Now, his family is talking of moving.

She doesn't know how she'll survive without him. There are nights when she goes to bed hungry. There are nights when the lights don't work. There are nights her anger grows until it threatens to explode. She's so angry with her father for his behavior, angry at her mother for allowing her father to act so hurtful, and angry at life.

Dani can't imagine life will magically improve, but suddenly they have the chance to move to America themselves. Her father refuses to entertain the idea. He's too proud to accept handouts. Dani can't believe him. Why would he want to stay in Argentina where life is so hard? Finally, he breaks down and agrees to the move. When Dani finally reaches America, will life be better for her or will the move come with a whole new set of troubles?

My Thoughts: Wow, a very powerful and emotional novel. Dani's life brings out a wealth of emotions from sympathy to horror to sorrow to hope. A very interesting way to look at the aftermath of 9-11 from a different perspective - a real eye opening novel. I've felt this way about the authors to previous books as well: Confessions of a Closet Catholic and Purge.

The Cover: Confession - at first I hated this cover, I mean yeah it's pretty, but I didn't really get it. And then after reading it, it's beautiful, really simply amazing.

Source: Sent from the publisher at the author's request

Review: Chasing Brooklyn

Brooklyn's still getting over the death of her first love. It's been a year but she can't stop thinking about him or writing him letters. She lives in pain, but it's nothing compared to the pain she feels when his best friend dies of an overdose. They made a pact to be there for each other, to help each other through the tough days. She didn't hold up her end of the bargain. Now she sees him in her dreams. He haunts her - chasing her down hallways and forest paths. There are night when she doesn't want to sleep because of the nightmares.

Nico's also having haunting dreams - but it's his brother telling him to help Brooklyn. At first, he barely tries after Brooklyn shuts him out. But his brother's ghosts won't rest and Nico's forced to try harder. Soon Nico and Brooklyn are working out together and slowly becoming friends.

Brooklyn's not reading to share her inner most thoughts with Nico - including the ghost, but she's trying. Can Nico break through Brooklyn's barriers?


My Thoughts: I really loved this book - it's a beautiful amazingly emotional story. I loved the different points of view and hearing Nico's side and his haunting. I liked how Ava makes a brief, but important appearance.

Similar Read: Twenty Boy Summer


The Cover: I really like this cover, I feel a sense of lost (as in the character doesn't know what to feel or what to think) and emotional barriers - staring out the window in the rain. It really fits the food of the book.

Source: My library - I placed the book on hold as soon as I could (perk of being a librarian)