Classic Review: Make Lemonade

LaVaughn's determined to go to college; she'll be the first person in her family to attend. She'll need money to get there - so she finds a babysitting job. 

Answering an ad, she meets seventeen year old Jolly with two children. They don't have much, but the kids take to LaVaughn immediately. 

She tries to help Jolly improve her life, but Jolly isn't interested in taking advice from a 14 year old who's a little judgmental about her choices. Still Jolly doesn't have that many options. Between the two of them, they learn life lessons both outside and inside the classroom.

My Thoughts: I've been meaning to read this book for years. When I realized I needed to order an updated cover for my Teen Collection at the library, it was time. This is the start of a trilogy and a novel in verse before it was popular.

It's sad and yet hopeful. My heart ached for LaVaughn, Jolly, and the two kids. Those kids were a handful, but they seemed cute. I'm curious to see what happens next.

Cover Thoughts: This one is so much better.
Source: My Library
Release Date: 1993 

Picture Book Review: Emerson Barks

Emerson likes to bark at things - squirrels, the mailman, and other animals. But the neighbor next door doesn't like his barking. In fact, she's fed up. Eva tries to stop him from barking, especially after the cat goes missing. Emerson tries really hard, but it's almost impossible to stop barking, especially since he has something Very Important to share.

My Thoughts: I adored this book. I loved Emerson, how he tried to be good and not annoy people. But holding in the barks made him uncomfortable. He had to be true to himself. I liked the ending of the story with Kissy the cat. The illustrations were charming. All around great read.

Cover Thoughts: Cute!
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for both schools and public libraries.

Review: NIL

Charley goes to Target one day and finds herself melting in the parking lot. She wakes up in a rock field - without her clothes.

With no one in sights, she does her best to survive on an island. She builds shelter, finds something to eat, and passes the time. Twelve days later, she sees two guys. Thad and Jason bring her to the city.

Thad becomes her island guide, explaining the rules of NIL. You get 365 days to get off the island from on of the dates. Everyone counts their days. You must contribute something to society while waiting for your turn to go hunting gates.

As Thad shows Charley around, their feelings for each other starts to grow. Can love last on the island?

My Thoughts: I really liked this one, it reminded me of LOST - but with a way off the island. I liked the beauty of the island. I loved how Charley thought about the island as a whole and attempted to figure out it's secrets. A wonderful debut novel with a great visual scene, action, danger, betrayal, friendship, and romance. I can see this one going out a lot in my library. 

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: ARC for review

Mini Review: Cool Creations in 35 Pieces

 The Good: A fantastic idea. I loved the variety of the creations from robots to animals to cities to furniture. I loved the creations - while it was a hard job picking out some favorites, I did it and they include: Space Shark, Intergalactic Capital, Electric Guitar, Camera, Steam Engine, Oogly, and Shocked Bunny. Great photos, funny names, and helpful instructions. There are not instructions for all of them, but figuring out how to build the other pieces is part of the fun. An interactive book that could provide hours of entertainment!

The Bad: I have an urge to build things with Lego and I have none in the house. A trip to the store might be in order.

Library Idea: Hold a Lego program and give everyone the same pieces. Have them all build something around a centered theme. Take pictures of all the various creations.

Source: Sent for Review

Tween Tuesday Review: Mountain Dog

 * This book comes out in August*

Tony's mom has gone to jail, forcing him to stay with family he's never known - a great-uncle. Tony's not sure what to think, but he didn't like his previous life. He still has nightmares.

On the mountain, he learns that not all dogs are bad. Gabe, his uncle's rescue dog, is nothing compared to the mean pitt-bulls his mother used to make fight. Gabe loves to work-play. He loves learning new tricks, being in the wilderness, and most of all, he's curious about Tony.

Tony starts to feel a purpose and to think of his future. He begins to blossom - getting involved at school, writing a blog, and helping to train the other rescue dogs. 

My Thoughts: The free verse makes this book a fast read and also allows for vivid imagination of the setting. I love the alternative perspectives from Tony and Gabe. I love Gabe's view of Tony and how Tony changes over their time together. I love how Tony's scared and unsure of himself, but little by little he begins to blossom and find his place in this new chapter of his life. I love the fact that he writes a blog - about Gabe and about rescuing animals. I found the rescue parts fascinating! A fantastic book for tweens who love animals!

Cover Thoughts: I love the idea, but I would have liked to see a photograph
Source: from the publisher

Review: Courtship and Curses

 * prequel to the Bewitching Season and the Betraying Season *

As Sophie makes her debut into society, it isn't everything she hoped it would be. Her mother isn't here to guide her through society. She never thought her sickness would create a deformed leg.  She certainly never imagined that she would need to regain her magical skills lost during her sickness to save her family and friends from accidents.

These accidents are triggered by magic. As more and more accidents occur at social events, Sophie becomes curious. She notices that all the targets seem to work in the War Office. Could someone be trying to make things worse between England and France?

Sophie confides her secret in her new friend, who happens to be the cousin of the man she admires. Can Sophie trust her new friends enough to confide in her own powers? She'll have to figure out something if she wants to save members of the War Office, including her father's!

My Thoughts: I really love this series - for the time period (I'm a sucker for Regency England), the magic, and the mystery. Although I didn't like the reactions from society members, I loved reading about Sophie's debut. I liked watching Amelie smooth over her entrance to society with beautiful dresses instead of the boring subdued colors her aunt wanted to wear and the festive canes that didn't hide her deformed leg.  I really enjoyed Parthenope with her bubbly nature, her determination, and her sense of loyalty. I found her amusing. I liked how Sophie didn't give up when everything seemed impossible and how she blossomed under the friendships in society. I liked her how her magical abilities failed, but worked at times. 

I would have liked the see this book connected with the previous two books about magical twins at the time of their debut. For me, having read those books when they first came out, it hard connecting character wise.

Cover Thoughts: I like the soft purple, but it doesn't match with the review two covers who used models, still it's a very nice cover.
Source: My Library.

Review: Ruby Red

For sixteen years, Gwen's always lived in the shadow of her cousin. Charlotte's the chosen one, the one in the family who will inherit the time-travel gene. The girl who will fulfill the prophecy.

Except, Gwen realizes that there's been an error. She's the one with the gene. She's the one who time-traveled. At first, she doesn't think anyone will believe her. She hasn't spent in life in lessons. She doesn't know about the past.

When her mother takes her to the society, she has to force them to listen to her. When Gwen time travels in front of them, they have no choice but to believe her. Gwen hopes that she's learn finally learn the family secrets that she's heard whispers about her whole life.

She's not prepared to travel back in time and fight for her life. Someone doesn't want the prophecy fulfilled. Gwen doesn't know who she can trust. Can she trust her time traveling partner, the handsome Gideon? She hopes she can figure everything out before the next attempt on her life.

My Thoughts: I liked this beginning of a new series. I liked Gwen's experiences with time travel before she told her mother. I adored her best friend Lesley and her research to help Gwen. I liked the snarky moments between Gwen and Gideon. I loved Aunt Maddy and admired Gwen's mom. I felt a little sorry for Charlotte, who's trained her whole life for....nothing. While I like unraveling the mystery with Gwen,  I wish a little more had been explained. I must read the next book Sapphire Blue out at the end of October to uncover more of the secrets behind the prophecy. 

Cover Thoughts: I love the paperback cover. The hardback cover didn't do anything for me.
Source: my Library

Fun Fact: I read this book for a post on Time Travel for The Hub. That post will be up later this week.

Mysterious Saturday Review: The Night She Disappeared

Gabie switched shifts at the pizza joint, where she works, with Kayla. Kayla had a date on Friday. When a mysterious call requests a pizza delivery, Drew doesn't think twice about it. Kayla goes to deliver the pizza and never returns.

Now Drew feels terrible as the police attempt to figure out what really happened that night. He shares information about the call to Gabie, telling her that the man asked if the girl in the mini cooper was delivering tonight. Once she hears that, Gabie understands it's significance. She was supposed to be kidnapped.

Now she'll do anything to piece together the events that night to find Kayla before it's too late.

My Thoughts: A fast paced mystery set in a small town.


I can't imagine what must have gone through Gabie's mind when she heard the truth from Drew. I think she handled it with composure. I admired her determination to find Kayla and her insistence that her friend wasn't dead. Together she and Drew made a great team.


I liked the relationships in the book, mostly how you can be work with people and be friendly but never really know them. Of course, I liked watching the relationship develop between Drew and Gabie. I really enjoyed reading the story from multiple perspectives, it made me want to turn the pages faster.


I loved the setting of the pizza joint. I worked for one when I was in college and loved it. This brought back memories and you could smell the pizzas they were baking.


A gripping read full of friendship, determination, and creepy moments.


Cover Thoughts: Creepy and perfect to match the story


Source: my Library

Review: Toads and Diamonds

Diribani and Tana both meet a goddess while fetching water from the town. She grants each sister a gift. When Diribani speaks, jewels and flowers fall from her mouth. When Tana speaks, toads and snakes fall from her mouth.

When their secret is discovered, it changes the sisters' lives. Diribani finds herself traveling with the Prince and his family. Each jewel is recorded and taken to send back to her village. Diribani learns a new set of customs but struggles to keep part of herself intact.

Tana's gift brings fear. She, too, leaves her home and travels to a monastery. Before long, she sets off on a pilgrimage to learn the true meaning of her gift. Her travels bring her grief and destruction follows in her path.

Are their gifts a blessing or a curse?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this read. I'm starting to adore Fairy Tales. The chapters alternated with each sister's story. As each sister struggles to understand her gift, they encounter danger, friendship, romance, hardships, joy, tests of their strength, and a strong desire to see her sister.

Cover Thoughts: I LOVE this cover - it's so different and vibrant!

Source: My library