The Broken Vow (Spill Zone, #2)

The Broken Vow by Scott Westerfeld

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: July 10th, 2018
Publisher: First Second
Genres & Themes: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, Action

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Only the very brave or the very desperate dare enter the Spill Zone—Addison Merritt is a little of both. In exchange for a suitcase full of cash, she made one last to the Zone. She survived the encounter, but came back changed. Addison is not alone. In a remote village in North Korea, a young man named Jae was touched by the unholy fire of the Spill Zone. He made it out alive—alive, but also changed. Now bestowed with uncanny powers, Addison and Jae may be the only ones strong enough to face a new threat that has risen in the Spill Zone. This deadly entity is searching for his runaway bride—and his hunt is bringing him closer and closer to Addison and her little sister.

Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths

Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: April 10th, 2018
Publisher: First Second
Genres & Themes: Graphic Novel, Humor, Adventure, Friendship, Animals

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Peter and Ernesto are sloths. Peter and Ernesto are friends. But Peter and Ernesto are nothing alike. Peter loves their tree and never wants to leave, while Ernesto loves the sky and wants to see it from every place on Earth. When Ernesto leaves to have a grand adventure, Peter stays behind and frets. The two friends grow even closer in separation, as Peter the homebody expands his horizons and Ernesto the wanderer learns the value of home.

An Unwanted Guest – Shari Lapena

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: August 7th, 2018
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Recommended Age: 14+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Adult, Mystery, Thriller

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It’s winter in the Catskills and the weather outside is frightful, but Mitchell’s Inn is so delightful! The cozy lodge nestled deep in the woods is perfect for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. The Inn boasts spacious old rooms with huge wood-burning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a book and someone you love. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in for the long haul. The power’s down but they’ve got candles, blankets, and wood–a genuine rustic experience! Soon, though, a body turns up–surely an accident. When a second body appears, they start to panic. Then they find a third body.

Not If I Save You First – Ally Carter

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: March 27th, 2018
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Adventure, Survival, Romance, Friendship

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BLURB:

Maddie thought she and Logan would be friends forever. But when your dad is a Secret Service agent and your best friend is the president’s son, sometimes life has other plans. Before she knows it, Maddie’s dad is dragging her to a cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness.

No phone.
No Internet.
And not a single word from Logan.

Maddie tells herself it’s okay. After all, she’s the most popular girl for twenty miles in any direction. (She’s also the only girl for twenty miles in any direction.) She has wood to cut and weapons to bedazzle. Her life is full. Until Logan shows up six years later . . . And Maddie wants to kill him.

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: April 2018
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Genres & Themes: Picture Book, Disability, Animals, Adaptation, Friendship

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Rescue thought he’d grow up to be a Seeing Eye dog — it’s the family business, after all. When he gets the news that he’s better suited to being a service dog, he’s worried that he’s not up to the task. Then he meets Jessica, a girl whose life is turning out differently than the way she’d imagined it, too. Now Jessica needs Rescue by her side to help her accomplish everyday tasks. And it turns out that Rescue can help Jessica see after all: a way forward, together, one step at a time. An endnote from the authors tells more about the training and extraordinary abilities of service dogs, particularly their real-life best friend and black lab, Rescue.

Geek Charming – Robin Palmer

Geek Charming by Robin Palmer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: 2009
Publisher: Speak
Recommended Age: 10+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, High School, Popularity

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Dylan Shoenfield is the princess of L.A.’s posh Castle Heights High. She has the coolest boyfriend, the most popular friends, and a brand-new ‘it’ bag that everyone covets. But when she accidentally tosses her bag into a fountain, this princess comes face-to-face with her own personal frog: self professed film geek Josh Rosen. In return for rescuing Dylan’s bag, Josh convinces Dylan to let him film her for his documentary on high school popularity. Reluctantly, Dylan lets F-list Josh into her A-list world, and is shocked to realize that sometimes nerds can be pretty cool. But when Dylan’s so-called prince charming of a boyfriend dumps her flat, her life–and her social status–comes to a crashing halt. Can Dylan–with Josh’s help–pull the pieces together to create her own happily-ever-after?

Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood

Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Received: Distributor
Published: 2017
Publisher: Image Comics
Recommended Age: 16+
Pacing: Slow
Genres & Themes: Adult, Comics, Fantasy, Horror

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In this second volume of Monstress, collecting issues 7-12, Maika’s quest takes her to the pirate-controlled city of Thyria and across the sea to the mysterious Isle of Bones. It is a journey that will force Maika to reevaluate her past, present, and future, and contemplate whether there’s anyone, or anything, she can truly trust–including her own body.

Giants Beware! (Chronicles of Claudette #1)

Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Distributor
Published: 2012
Publisher: First Second
Recommended Age: 8+
Pacing: Super Fast
Genres & Themes: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Friendship, Adventure

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Claudette’s fondest wish is to slay a giant. But her village is so safe and quiet! What’s a future giant slayer to do? With her best friend Marie (an aspiring princess), and her brother Gaston (a pastry-chef-to-be), Claudette embarks on a super-secret quest to find a giant—without parental permission. Can they find and defeat the giant before their parents find them and drag them back home?

Bright We Burn (The Conqueror’s Saga, #3)

Bright We Burn by Kiersten White

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: July 10th, 2018
Publisher: Delacorte
Recommended Age: 14+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, War Setting, Siblings

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Haunted by the sacrifices he made in Constantinople, Radu is called back to the new capital. Mehmed is building an empire, becoming the sultan his people need. But Mehmed has a secret: as emperor, he is more powerful than ever . . . and desperately lonely. Does this mean Radu can finally have more with Mehmed . . . and would he even want it? Lada’s rule of absolute justice has created a Wallachia free of crime. But Lada won’t rest until everyone knows that her country’s borders are inviolable. Determined to send a message of defiance, she has the bodies of Mehmed’s peace envoy delivered to him, leaving Radu and Mehmed with no choice. If Lada is allowed to continue, only death will prosper. They must go to war against the girl prince.

Giant Days, Vol. 5

Giant Days, Vol. 5 by John Allison

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Received: Distributor
Published: 2017
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Comic, Humor, Friendship, Romance, University Life

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Their freshman year is finally coming to a close and Daisy, Susan, and Esther say goodbye to Catterick Hall forever. Literally forever. It’s being bulldozed and re-purposed as a luxury dorm next semester. But as one door closes, another opens and between end of semester hookups, music festivals, and moving into their first home together, the life experiences are just getting started.