The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The suspense developed by the author at the beginning of this novel was amazing. I was intrigued from the very beginning and my suspense was held until the end. I am going to be honest and say the ending was a bit of a disappointment. The author never came back to the original storyline laid out from the start and I felt that I was left with more questions than answers at the end.



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Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A funny, engaging story about a young boy growing up in a model town established by Eleanor Roosevelt. The mischief of a twelve-year old boy mixed with the nostalgia of an original Norvelter leads to a summer of growth and learning.



Part autobiographical and part fiction, the novel at times makes you laugh out loud and at other times stop and think about history and our part in it.





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Zebratown: The True Story of a Black Ex-Con and a White Single Mother in Small-Town America by Greg Donaldson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A non-fiction work that tells the story of a former prison inmate who relocates from New York City to Elmira. It is the story of his years out of the prison system and the life he tries to build in this town.



I found parts of the book interesting, particularly the historical pieces of the area. Other parts were more disturbing.





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The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


How many people wish they had the courage to right a wrong done to them? How many people actually do it?



In this novel, Alex is date-raped while she is sleeping after a night of drinking. She did not give consent. She did not say yes. Her case is going to be heard by the Mockingbirds. An organization started by her older sister to right the wrongs done to students in a school where teachers do not pay attention to what is really going on.



At the end of the novel, you must read the author's note. This is based on an incident that happened to her when she was a freshman in college. The author, Daisy Whitney, has taken a traumatic event, and turned it into a work of literature to help others.



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Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An amazing story of fortitude and resilience. Breaks my heart that so many children in our country are forced to deal with living conditions that are deplorable and relationships that are harmful. To make a difference in the lives of children - a positive difference - is truly a gift that no one should discredit.



A wonderful quote from the novel that the author used in a speech. The quote is by Moliere, "It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable."



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Tempted by P.C. Cast

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It is not very often that I get engrossed in a book series. Normally, I will read two books in the series and be bored with the characters and tired of the predictability of the plot. This series, however, has kept me entertained and engrossed in the storyline and the characters. Even though the characters and vampires or fledlings, their connections with each other are believable and valid. They show true emotions that bring validity to their characters.

I am almost disappointed in how fast I have been plowing through this series that leaves me with only two books to finish.



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If I Stay by Gayle Forman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A wonderful story of love, tenderness, passion, youth and letting go. The power of thought and the power of love are two major themes found in this novel. The author creates characters who are real in every sense of the word. You can feel Mia's love for her family and her friends, sensing their pain and anguish as they await her decision - a decision that she didn't even know she was able to make.





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