Month: April 2019

The First True Thing

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Review:

Marcelle’s best friend, Hannah, asked Marcelle to cover for her. The next day, Hannah is missing, and Marcelle doesn’t know what to do.

Marcelle has been sober for just a couple of weeks, after drunkenly crashing her bike, ending up in the hospital, and being mandated to attend treatment at the Center. As part of her recovery process, she promised her parents she wouldn’t lie to them anymore – so now she feels like she can’t come clean about Hannah’s text that night. But the longer she goes without hearing from Hannah, the harder it’s getting to maintain the delicately balanced statements she made.

The First True Thing is told partially as a narrative of current events, and partially in flashbacks of Marcelle’s drinking days. This is a really heavy book, dealing with serious issues like drug and alcohol addiction, sexual exploitation, and death. It’s definitely not for younger teens, but it tells an important story. People who are in recovery might find some of the scenes triggering, so read with caution. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from the publisher, HarperTeen. It will officially be released one week from today – look for it on April 23!

Favorite Passage:

More than anything, I wish Hannah and I both could go back in time. But I know it’s useless to think this way. I am the girl who crashed on the Death Wish path. I can’t be any other girl.
— Chapter Fifteen

What I Loved Most:

Needell’s portrayal of addiction and recovery is raw and real. She doesn’t shy away from addressing how addiction can comprise someone’s identity, and how stopping addictive behavior often means removing the major thing that you identify yourself with. I am of the opinion that getting sober is one of the bravest things you can do. We’re starting to see more books being published for teens that address mental health issues like addiction, which I feel is crucial for helping teens identify these issues in their own lives or the lives of those around them.

Read this book if you like:

Suspense, identity searching, gut-wrenching honesty

Book Details:

Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Review:

Ada Twist has so many questions. Why does her mom’s coffee smell stronger than her dad’s coffee? How many birds live in her backyard, and what kind of birds are they? And most urgently, how is she going to rescue her friend’s uncle, who is floating away due to his helium-filled pants?

Ada is a scientist, and there is so much she wants to learn. She is constantly doing experiments to figure out how the world around her works. STEM is all the rage right now, and it’s never too early to expose your kids to these concepts! For those who aren’t familiar, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. There’s a movement to begin educating children in these areas from a young age, as major job growth is expected in these industries in the future. By teaching children to value and utilize STEM skills from the time they’re little, we are preparing them for success in later job searches. Ada uses her scientific knowledge to get Uncle Ned back on the ground, but she does it in a way that teaches the STEM information on the down-low. Kids won’t even realize they are learning when they read this book.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher, Amulet Books. It will be published next week – April 16, 2019! This is the second book in the Questioners series, but you can read it as a stand-alone book. I had never read the first book (Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters), but I’ll definitely be finding a copy of it and looking forward to future titles in this series!

Favorite Passage:

She shook her head to try to think. She tapped her chin again and scribbled notes. The hum of the crowd faded. There were so many questions to answer. So much to figure out. To Ada, the whole world felt like a big cartoon bubble filled with question marks. 
– Chapter 11

What I Loved Most:

There are a few points in the book where Ada is trying to explain information to someone, but she is too worked up for her words to come out the way that she wants them too. We see her getting frustrated when she can’t communicate well, and then see her try some different techniques to communicate better. In addition to all of the great STEM information in Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants, kids may learn a few new tips for how to get their feelings and ideas across.

Read this book if you like:

Smart kids, jokes about smelly feet, chapter books, empowering children to use science in their everyday lives

Book Details:

Misty Lake

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Review:

After Samantha Taylor’s grandfather passed away, she finds out that she inherited his property in Misty Lake, Minnesota. She’s reeling from his loss, as well as the passing of her brother, but decides to move up to the property and start a new life. A series of strange crimes on her property brings her into contact with Sheriff Jake McCabe. Feelings soon blossom between the two, setting the stage for a sweet romance novel with some suspense added for good measure.

I’m a Minnesota girl, and I love reading any book set in my home state. There was so much Minnesota culture here for my heart to smile at – from Sam’s insistence on bringing pasta salad to a summer barbecue, to shopping at the Mall of America, to Sam’s grandfather’s saying that if you’re going to do something, you have to do it right. The author of Misty Lake (Margaret Standafer) is my aunt, and I’m super proud to be able to review this book so highly.

Favorite Passage:

“Why is everyone so concerned about the fact that I live alone?” she asked, her voice rising. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself as I have had to explain to everyone who’s been out here. What, just because I’m a woman I’m helpless? Really, this isn’t the nineteenth century anymore. And, I bet those women were a lot more capable than men gave them credit for,” she added, well on her way to working up a head of steam.
— Chapter 9

What I Loved Most:

Feminism rings through Misty Lake. Sam is working in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and mentions an experience where a customer was upset to find out that the Sam who ran the woodworking business was a woman. Yet she’s absolutely crushing, and quickly builds up business after moving to Misty Lake. She calls people out on their assumptions that she shouldn’t be living alone because she’s a woman. She doesn’t flinch away from identifying sexual harassment for what it is. She’s a strong woman, and she doesn’t apologize for it.

Read this book if you like:

Clean romance stories, mysteries that you can enjoy without being too freaked out, adorable dogs named Rigi, lake life

Book Details: