I’m so excited to post today about an amazing new teen book – The Other Side of Freedom by Cynthia T. Toney. I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this fantastic Historical Fiction novel. The actual release date is October 9^th; however, it is on pre-sale starting today at an incredible price.

In case you’re not familiar with Cynthia T. Toney, this very talented writer is the author of the award-winning Bird Face series of books – 8 Notes to a Nobody, 10 Steps to Girlfriend Status, and 6 Dates to Disaster. I have read them all and thoroughly enjoy her signature style of creating intriguing stories full of unique topics with interesting characters that readers care about. These books are like enjoying a beautiful spring day, under the shade of your favorite tree, with a glass of cold lemonade – in other words, they fill you with joy.

I knew of Toney’s flawless ability to write from a modern teenage girl’s perspective, so was curious when I heard her newest book is set in the 1920’s and told from the point of view of a middle school age boy – Salvatore. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. She effortlessly delved into the mind of a young boy who lived in Louisiana during the tumultuous Prohibition years, weaving together a fascinating tale of hardship, corruption and the importance of family and faith. This intriguing, coming of age story focuses on the difficult choices and decisions one Italian immigrant family must face while desperately trying to keep their family together.

I didn’t know much about this interesting time in our history when Italian/Sicilian gangsters terrorized American communities, but was fascinated by this story and how these crime sprees affected law-abiding families of Italian descent. Besides being a captivating story, this book provides plenty of discussion topics including the repercussions that can arise when trying to do what is right, as well as the issues of: prohibition, segregation and immigration. Bravo to Cynthia T. Toney for creating yet another wonderful, thought-provoking teen novel.

The Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman

The Shadow of the Bear is a modern retelling of the Grimm fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red. This book is the first of the author’s Fairy Tale Novels where she takes an old story and creates a fresh and entertaining tale for modern teens. This exciting novel – part mystery, adventure and fairy tale, is about sisters Blanche and Rose and how their lives are forever changed when a mysterious stranger named Bear happens upon their door, in the “wilderness” of New York City.

There are many things I enjoyed about this book including the very different personalities of the sisters and the incorporation of faith. I especially liked how the innocent sisters found themselves in several precarious situations, a mixture of unlikely predicaments and some very real and relevant dangers of today’s teens. This book is loaded with fantastic topics for discussion – being taken advantage of, stealing, drinking, bullying, drugs, hazards of dating. I will offer a bit of a warning though – if you value your sleep, don’t read this book close to bedtime because the second half of the novel is a real page turner and you won’t be able to put it down. You’ve been forewarned!

 

When Bear, a mysterious young man, lands on Blanche and Rose Brier’s doorstep in New York City, the two sisters have conflicting opinions on whether or not he is dangerous. Even as Blanche learns to trust him, her fears that Bear’s friendship threatens their family prove terrifyingly true. A modern retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale.

a.k.a. Genius by Marilee Haynes

I loved this book! What a delightful middle grade book about finding yourself and fitting in. The story follows Gabe, a middle school student – smack dab in the middle of those difficult awkward years. Oh, and he just found out he’s a genius.

I’ve never read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books but this novel reminded me of the movies. A young boy making his way through the difficult years of middle school, in a humorous story with colorful characters. I was about halfway through the book when I was out of town and unable to read for a few days but I couldn’t get Gabe, his friends and their predicaments out of my mind.

Haynes is a fabulous writer who expertly captures Gabe’s voice. Though this book is fun it also has some powerful moments and inspiring messages. Warning: you many need to keep some tissues nearby to wipe away the tears of laughter and sadness.

I highly recommend this funny and touching book.

 

Thirteen-year-old Gabe Carpenter is just like any other middle-school boy at St. Jude Academy…well, except for the fact that based on his scores on some seventh grade test, he is considered a “genius” and is placed in an enrichment class with other gifted students. But he sure doesn’t seem like a genius-after all, he can’t even open his own locker and his brain stops functioning when Becca, his sister’s best friend, comes around. 
As if these problems aren’t enough to deal with, he is convinced that one of his arms is longer than the other, he’s still waiting for signs of puberty, and his second best friend is mad at him. Even worse, his nervousness causes some pretty embarrassing bodily functions. And at home, his dad expects him to be some kind of basketball star athlete instead of a science nerd who predicts the weather.

Join Gabe as he navigates the trying times of middle-school, wonders what it means to have brains, and learns what it truly means to be himself.

Themes include: self-acceptance, giftedness, and humor.

This is the first book in the McCracken series by Mark Adderley. I’ve heard this series described as “Indiana Jones with a rosary” and that is a great description. This delightful book is perfect for middle school and high school boys who love adventurous novels. It is set in the 1930’s with an interesting group of international characters including the English engineer/inventor McCracken, the lovely Ariadne – a communications expert with an interesting past relationship with McCracken, a French deep sea diver, a Russian pilot and a rich German Baron who gathers them all for an adventure to find a lost island. I thoroughly enjoyed the exciting plot which reminded me of the movie version of “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. McCracken’s strong faith and engineering genius makes this character a fantastic role model for teens.

 

Seeking adventure? Look no further! The year is 1913: the place, Europe. McCracken, inventor, engineer, big-game hunter and faithful Catholic, tells the stories of his adventures in a series of novels made for everyone who loves adventure–but especially for boys. McCracken and the Lost Island is an adventure beneath the waves and atop a hidden land. The team assembles: Ariadne Bell, communications expert; Nicola Jaubert, deep sea diver; Vasili Sikorsky, airship pilot; and “Mac,” McCracken, inventor and engineer. Together they find the lost island–but will its secrets prove too dangerous for a world at the edge of war?

I Am Margaret by Corinna Turner

This is an amazing book, truly one of the best that I’ve read this year. This Dystopian story for older teens and adults is about a teen named Margaret (Margo) and her boyfriend/fiancé Bane. They live in a world that is full of evil and only the most productive members of society are wanted or needed, the others are basically recycled and used for parts to help the more worthy citizens. Margo has always struggled with math and doesn’t pass her sorting exam and is sent to a facility where she will ultimately be killed, but not if Bane has anything to say about the matter.

Unlike other dystopian novels this one is written from a Catholic point of view. At first this idea seemed a little odd to me but as I was reading I realized that if we ever did find ourselves living in an evil, deranged society, people of faith would band together and depend on their belief in God to get them through their ordeals. In the popular dystopian stories such as Divergent or Hunger Games, this element is of course missing, which is a huge flaw in those novels because Christians would delve deeper in their faith knowing that no matter what happens in this world we have the promise of eternal salvation.

Because I write YA and recommend novels for teens and their families, I feel I must warn that this book is not for everyone. It has some crude language, violence, as well as disturbing imagery and subject matter. However, it is so well written with intense action and incredible characters. (In fact, I admit to having a bit of a literary crush on Bane. ?) Margo is strong, smart, fearless and her faith is unshakable. Bane, though a bit reckless is brave, selfless and devoted. This couple, as well as many of the other characters, are fantastic. But the best part of this book is the strong Christian message. The way the author showcases the importance, power and beauty of a strong faith is incredible.

 

IN MARGO’S WORLD, IF YOU DON’T PASS YOUR SORTING AT 18 YOU ARE RECYCLED.

LITERALLY.

“Look, if you don’t pass…” said Bane, “I’ll have to see what I can do about it. Because… well… I’ve been counting on marrying you for a very long time, now, and I’ve no intention of letting anything stop me!”

Margaret Verrall dreams of marrying the boy she loves and spending her life with him. But she’s part of the underground network of Believers – and that carries the death penalty.
And there’s just one other problem.
She’s going to fail her Sorting.
But a chance to take on the system ups the stakes beyond mere survival.
Now she has to break out of the Facility – or face the worst punishment of all.
Conscious Dismantlement.

As a mystery lover I was excited to start reading this Christian suspense novel. The only bad news is that I enjoyed it so much that I finished it much too quickly. The author drew me into the spell of this book immediately. Her ability to build suspense made me nervous and anxious from page one. Somehow this quaint small town and its residents felt spooky and odd, filled with secrets. This sense of eeriness was so palpable that I found myself extremely frustrated when the lead character trusted the new people in her life immediately. I wanted to scream at her not to be so trusting but of course she was a lonely, heart-broken, vulnerable young lady without the knowledge that she was the main character in a suspense novel. ? This story was spell-binding and I just had to keep reading to figure out what would happen. Which is always the problem with a good book – you can’t stop reading but then you’re disappointed when the book is finished too soon. Looking forward to reading another one of Therese Heckenkamp’s books.

 

“Don’t trust anyone…” So whispers Robin’s mother just moments before she dies.
Uprooted from all she’s ever known, Robin Finley is on the verge of turning 18 when she is forced to her mother’s old hometown to live with an uncle she’s never met. The town is small, but it shelters big secrets. Robin encounters two mysterious young men, a tragic mansion, and disturbing questions about the past. While unraveling the threads of her mother’s shrouded life, Robin meets more confusion. Her soul longs for peace and her heart yearns for love–yet she’s consumed by suspicion and fear. Why did her mother flee this town so many years ago and never return? Robin’s determination to discover the truth ensnares her in a tangled web that spans the years and threatens to destroy her future.

The King’s Prey is the story of St. Dymphna of Ireland and Susan Peek’s best book yet! I am a huge fan of her Little Known Saint’s series of books. And her newest book doesn’t disappoint, she has taken this story about an incredible saint and created a heart-pounding adventure.

As St. Dymphna flees her demented father, her journey across Ireland makes for an amazing story that will appeal to both genders. Girls will be inspired by this strong, kind, spiritual female. While boys will enjoy the equally compelling story of the two brothers, with a heart-breaking past, that help her.

The combination of perfectly timed humor, riveting chase scenes, and swashbuckling fights makes for a must read book.

 

An insane king. His fleeing daughter.
Estranged brothers, with a scarred past,
risking everything to save her from a fate worse than death.
Toss in a holy priest and a lovable wolfhound,
and get ready for a wild race across Ireland.
Will Dymphna escape her deranged father and his sinful desires?

I am such a huge fan of Susan Peek’s books. This is the third book of hers that I’ve read and once again I found the story extremely difficult to put down. This author has an uncanny knack for making little-known saints from previous centuries, relatable to modern teens. Her witty dialogue, fast-paced action, and compelling characters make these books perfect for teens and adults.

Camillus de Lellis may have been an unlikely candidate to become a priest and saint with his mercenary background full of gambling, drinking and fighting, but these characteristics make him a fantastic example that anyone can be called by God to do amazing things.

 

Soldiering, gambling, brawling, drinking. As a young man, Saint Camillus excelled at them all. Add to that his fiery temper and innate knack for getting in trouble, and Camillus de Lellis seems the last person who could ever achieve holiness1 But God had plans for the stubborn young soldier, whether Camillus liked it or not . . .

Awakening by Claudia Cangilla McAdam is one of those books that is hard to set aside. While reading, I had trouble putting it down, wanting to know what would happen next, and found myself wanting to read just one more chapter after one more chapter. Even after I finished the book, my mind couldn’t put it aside, thinking about this powerful and imaginative story long after I devoured it.

Much like the movie it often references, The Wizard of Oz, the story is of a young teenage girl who finds herself waking up in another world, wondering how to get back home. Awakening is the story of Ronni, a contemporary teenager who find herself in first century Jerusalem, days before Jesus is betrayed and crucified.

This compelling story is such a unique and moving way to view the Easter story that I think will appeal to teens. The author seamlessly adds entertaining, modern items that teens will relate to – tenuous friendships, unrequited crushes, complicated relationships with parents – with the Passion story, creating a hard to put down novel.

I loved the many elements highlighting the time period, the historical details of Jewish and Roman culture, and experiencing firsthand what the disciples might have felt. Just when you think you know what will happen some unique twists are thrown in to keep you wanting more, while keeping to the facts of this Holy event.

A must read this Easter season.

 

Fear drives me forward as I rush down a rocky path in Jerusalem, trying to sort things out even as dusk makes it harder to hurry. Am I really an American girl, cast back to the time of Jesus? Or a delusional Jewish teen, plagued with visions of a place called America, thousands of years in the future? I don’t know anymore. But I do know that something awful is about to happen to my Jesus: they’re going to arrest him tonight, and kill him. No one believes me; they think I’m crazy. So it’s up to me to save him, hurrying down this dark path toward Gethsemane, toward the turning point of all history, the attempt to kill Jesus . . . toward the uncertainty of whether I can actually manage to change the future.

The Rose and the Sword by Gina Marinello- Sweeney, is the second novel in her Veritas Chronicles series. These delightfully charming books follow the life of college student, Rebecca Veritas. If you enjoy beautiful, poetic prose, these books might be just what you’re looking for. Marinello-Sweeney’s writing style is unique and incredibly creative. The imagery she creates in her stories is unlike any other books I’ve read. And, as a fan of mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed the elements of mystery and suspense added to this novel.

Many young adult novels center around main characters that are in high school, these books however, are about college age students. While this series is completely appropriate for teens, the depth of the relationships and topics put them on a slightly different level than most YA. This book is full of snippets, thoughts and moments of Rebecca’s world as she moves into a new phase of her life, living away from home and working at an internship in psychology.

There are many interesting issues Rebecca has to face in this novel, such as deepening relationships, discovering just how strong she is, standing firm for her beliefs and faith, speaking up for those who are unable, and protecting the vulnerable. I loved seeing the growth of this young woman through the two books. Rebecca is an incredibly likeable and relatable character. In fact, I wish I could meet her for coffee at the fictional Coffee Bean, although she would be drinking “anything but coffee” (This line made me smile, reminding me so much of myself at that age).

The readers of Ms. Marinello-Sweeney’s previous novel will be happy to know that many of the characters are back, friendships grow, relationships deepen and Rebecca remains wonderfully quirky. This is a beautiful, faith-based book for teens and young adults.

 

Can a rose survive in winter?

Rebecca Veritas is a new college graduate, eager to pursue her dreams as a clinical psychologist. After receiving a full scholarship for an internship recommended by her old professor and friend Dr. Everson, she leaves the quiet suburban town of Cedar Heights for the big city of Los Angeles. As she adjusts to her new surroundings, beginning to work with her assigned mentor and a wide variety of clients with all the enthusiasm of a fresh intern, she finds solace in a mysterious antique bookstore. Yet, as her thoughts still linger on someone from her past, she is unaware that the present has the potential to haunt her the most. As time passes, a growing sense of unease quickly transitions into more disturbing events that make her question if all is as it seems. When circumstances take an eerie turn, Rebecca will find herself a player on a larger scale than she had ever anticipated, a scale that could cause one to pay the ultimate price.

In this riveting sequel to I Thirst (2013 YATR Literary Award for Best Prologue), the adventures of Rebecca Veritas, the young, introspective dreamer with an inclination toward random insanity, continue.