Serefina and the Black Cloak YA

 

This book was a little slow to start but give it a chance, it will not disappoint! It picks up speed like a train and never lets up, it was full speed all the way to the end.  Even though it was fairly predictable as to who done it, as they say, there is so much more to this book that you won't stop reading it, you will want to find the answers to all your other questions.  I was drawn to this book by my own love of the hills of North Carolina and the Biltmore House.  I have family that live in North Carolina and they talk of the Biltmore's and the Estate often and with great fondness so I wanted to review this book for my nieces and I am sure they will love this book as much as I do (as soon as I buy it for them).
Serafina is a girl of the night, she is CRC (Chief Rat Catcher) of the Biltmore Estate.  But one night she sees I a different kind of rat, one that steals little children, and wears a black cloak.  It goes after Serafina but she is to clever to get caught.  But as the adults of the estate are searching for the lost (stolen) children, Serafina breaks her fathers biggest rule by making herself seen and talking to one of the people from upstairs, and if that isn't bad enough it happens to the nephew of the house owner, Braeden Biltmore.  Serafina tells Braeden about what she saw and they become quick friends and cohorts in the rush to solve who is behind the black cloak and how to stop him.  Especially, since it seems that Black Cloak is out to get Braeden.  Can Serafina stop Black Cloak before it gets her only friend, and is it still possible to rescue the other children?

5 STARS

More Happy Than Not YA

When I took on this book I was not asked to write about the book but actually asked to write what makes me More Happy Than Not?

You see the main character in the book Aaron lives in a tenement in the Bronx his dad committed suicide and his mother is overworked.  He has a girlfriend and some other good friends, but still has a hard time dealing with things.  He meets Thomas from another tenement and that is great until he starts having strange feelings for his new friend, that make things even more difficult.  Enter the Leteo Institutes memory-relief procedure, that will make Aaron more happy than not.

So what makes ME more happy than not?  Family.  Recently I have had two days that have made me more happy than not, let me explain.  Coming from military families and having been in the military myself (hubby too) family gatherings are pretty much non-existent.  Also, I suffer from chronic migraines, so that is self explanatory.  But as I was saying I have had two very awesome days recently.  The first was my moms retirement from teaching after 40 years, it brought my brothers (from another mother) all 3 of them, and my real brother of course, from all over, together for the first time since my dad died over ten years ago, it was awesome and pain free.  It was such a great time for all, sure hope mom enjoys her retirement once summer is over and she doesn't have to mow her three acres til next year.
The second day, was when we got a chance to get together with my husbands side of the family, there were four generations in my house at one time, how awesome is that! Also a pain free day.  After all of the years of not being able to get together it happened twice in one month!
Family is great and our family has learned though separation and loss to not take it for granted - to make every moment count because it can be taken away in a blink of a eye.  So make those time together More Happy Than Not!

Alive YA

 

This is a great action packed book, and the first of the Generations trilogy.  And, well, I want to do this review a bit different than the way is usually do my reviews, so just hang with me.  I will reprint a synopsis from the book so I accidentally don't away any spoilers, not that I usually do, but I really don't with this book.  You will just have to believe me and if you have found my recommendations up to your liking before please trust me that this is a book you will want to read.  It was so fierce and passionate, it had me hooked from the first chapter.  I really don't want to say to much because I want you all to go into this book fresh.  Please libraries get this book for your teens to try it won't be a mistake and teens go, read, you will love it.  I did, I hope you will love it too.

5 STARS

Synopsis of Alive:

A teenage girl awakens to find herself trapped in a coffin.  She has no idea who she is, where she is, or how she got there.  Fighting her way free brings little relief-she discovers only a room lined with caskets and a handful of equally mystified survivors.  Beyond this room lies a corridor filled with bones and dust but no people...and no answers.
The girl knows one thing about herself-her name, M. Savage, which was engraved on the foot of her coffin-yet she finds herself in charge.  She is not the biggest among them, or the boldest, but for some reason the others trust her.  Now, if they're to have any chance, she must get them to trust one another.
Whatever the truth is, she is determined to find it and confront it.  If she has to lead, she will make sure the others survive.  Maybe there's a way out, a rational explanation, and a fighting chance against the dangers to come.  Or maybe a reality they cannot comprehend lies just beyond the next turn.

Jerry's Madness MG

This is a fast paced, action packed book about Jerry, a eleven year old with some anger issues he is working on thanks to his good friend Wilcox.  But when different situations cross his path, including his good friend nearly committing suicide from being bullied so much, Jerry learns how forgiveness, kindness, and understanding can even change the enemy, as well as help friends.
This was a pretty good book, it just seemed at times old fashioned and other times very modern.  I am not entirely sure the time period it was supposed to be written in.  But the message and how it was dealt with was done really well, there aren't many books written for this age group about the affects of bullying.

4 STARS

The Witch Hunter YA

Elizabeth Grey, kitchen girl who worked hard along with her best friend, Caleb, both became witch hunters.  Elizabeth believes in what she is doing, after all she is just upholding the law, until the day she is caught with the witches herbs and sent to prison and ultimately sentenced to burn at the stake.  Elizabeth doesn't even try to escape thinking the whole time that Caleb will come for her, but it is not Caleb that comes but Nicolas, the greatest sorcerer in the world, and that can't be good can it?
This was a good book.  The pace was fast and the characters were believable but sometimes jumped  between the time then and the more modern times, but it seemed to work out ok in the end.  There are no huge surprises, but still had enough suspense to keep you reading until the end and looking for another book to see what happens next to Elizabeth and her friends.

4 1/2 STARS

Restore (YA/AUDIO)

This is a awesome short story by Susan Kaye Quinn set in the world of her singularity series.  Restore is told from the point of view of a medical (AI) robot, that is suppose to provide restorative care to humans.  But how much can a AI feel?

Like I said this is a awesome short story, very interesting from the point of view chosen, the perception of the relationship and how it works its way through as the story progresses.  Not to mention, how the robot changes and progresses as the story is told and end up being the one in need toward the end, makes this story very thought powerful and thought provoking. The story will definitely leave you wanting more.  

I Am Traitor YA

Zach is back and he has two objectives and nothing and nobody will get in his way.  He wants to find out the truth about his father, and he wants his friend Howard back, and Zack is prepared to give everything he has to get these things from the Program.

This the third book in the Assassin series, and is jammed packed with high octane, non stop action, this story just keeps on coming.  The characters, old and new, are awesome and very believable.  Since this is the third book in the series the characters have had time to build and evolve, it has been great to watch them grow.  This is a great young adult series for anyone who loves action and suspense.  The only bad part is having to wait for the next book to come out to see what happens next.

5 STAR