The Plain Janes – Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group Canada
Published: January 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Art, Friendship, Mental Health, Romance, High School

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REVIEW:

This graphic novel makes the following claim, supported by multiple events, throughout its story: that art saves. That without it, we can easily drown underwater and lose sight of the beauty that surrounds us even in bleak times.

Throw Like a Girl – Sarah Henning

Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group Canada
Published: January 7th, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Sports, Romance, Friendship, High School

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REVIEW:

This is an easy enough book to breeze through.

It’s not a story that is going to blow your mind. It will probably not make its way onto your list of top favourites. You might even completely forget it in a couple of months.

But.

Jackpot – Nic Stone

Jackpot by Nic Stone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Penguin Random House Canada
Published: October 15th, 2019
Publisher: Crown BFYR
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Romance, High School, Family, Social Issues, Money

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REVIEW:

I love the concept of this one. Two teenagers, one rich and one poor, are brought together as they try to retrace the steps of an old lady who may have just won herself over a hundred million dollars! It’s also possible she may not even have realized it…

Frankly in Love – David Yoon

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Penguin Random House Canada
Published: September 2019
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
Recommended Age: 13+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Romance, Family, Senior Year, Korean Culture

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REVIEW:

This novel was written by the husband of Nicola Yoon, the amazing writer of EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING and THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR so, of course, I absolutely needed to read this book ASAP.

I really liked the representation. I knew little about Korean social norms and cultural habits before going into this book so my brain was definitely awake and ready to learn. Without info-dumping us, the author clearly explained why Frank Li felt caught between two worlds and why he disagreed with some of his parents’ beliefs and traditions.

All-American Muslim Girl – Nadine Jolie Courtney

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: November 12th, 2019
Publisher: FSG
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Religion, Race, Family, Contemporary Romance, High School

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REVIEW:

This book starts with a bang.

It’s a book that is impossible to ignore. Once you start it, that’s it. It has you. You won’t be able to put it down, and honestly, you won’t want to. It is a real page-turner and one of the most engaging YA stories about religion and race that I have ever read in my entire life. I don’t know what people are waiting for. It should get at least a thousand requests on NetGalley and ten times as many pre-orders.

The Infinite Noise – Lauren Shippen

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: September 24th, 2019
Publisher: Tor Teen
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, LGBTQIA+, Romance, Fantasy, High School, Bullying, Mental Health

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REVIEW:

This is a story that is centered on human emotion, and we all know that teenagers have a lot of them as they are struggling to figure out who they are and where they belong and who is a friend and an enemy. This book brought me back to being a high school student and unsure of anything but still trying hard to find myself and stand out from the crowd. Caleb and Adam are two such young souls who need guidance and whose presence helps the other tremendously. Watching them grow closer made me very happy.

Cupid’s Match – Lauren Palphreyman

Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
Published: October 1st, 2019
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Recommended Age: 12+
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Action, High School

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REVIEW:

I like when stories first published online become traditionally published because their hype is contagious to me. I become really curious about them and want to find out what makes them special. Cupid’s Match is the kind of YA paranormal romance that you’ve read before… but with a twist. I’m okay with that, since I don’t think the wheel always needs reinventing and as long as a story is catching my interest I am a happy reader.