The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer

This book, The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer, is on the Sequoyah Intermediate List this year.  I do try to read most, and hopefully all, of the titles.  I think it's important to support the Sequoyah Team of OLA, and then be able to adequately recommend the latest and greatest picks each year.  Plus, it's exciting to see if the students select your favorite book as the Sequoyah winner... which hasn't happened too often, but it's usually in my top 3 picks.

Now onto the review... If you like family drama, then this is a great choice.  The realistic novel starts at a funeral, where Grace is having to bury her mother and live with her estranged grandmother.  She rebels and slowly you discover the friction between these two.  Personalities play into the drama - with a clean and orderly type A person trying to raise a more free spirited soul.  Grace is stubborn, even goes as far as sleeping in the barn vs. her mother's old room.  There's a bit of a mystery throughout the story where Grace believes her mother is sending her messages.  Again, this story is about people coming to terms with each other in a bittersweet and heartwarming way.  I would definitely recommend this book, especially those craving realistic drama.

Illuminae: The Illuminae Files_01 by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

I just finished an incredible book - Illuminae: The Illuminae Files_01 by AmieKaufman & Jay Kristoff.  What really intrigued me about this book is how it is written.  It's strictly done using just emails, data reports, and documents saved during an attack and evacuation of a tiny planet on the edge of the solar system.  There are no "chapters," but rather countdowns to approaching warship and time needed to make it to the nearest safe planet.  Have I peaked your interest yet?

Katy and Ezra are the main characters, along with an AI (artificial intelligence), known as AIDAN.  Katy has just broken up with Ezra when the attack happens.  Together they try to locate parents and make it to the 3 evacuation ships.  They are separated, but communicate to each other via Katy's computer hacking skills.  This books has lots of twists and turns, including a horrible virus that basically turns people into zombies and AIDAN, who is convinced it knows best.  Strong female character, which I loved, along with "Seriously! I didn't see that coming!" scenes made this book one of my favorites.  Happy dance because I just discovered there's a book #2 coming out in October!

This is a definite purchase for high school, and I would only recommend to mature middle schoolers.  The zombie scenes get a little intense.  Plus, Katy and Ezra do reminisce about their relationship - it's subtle, but there.

The Land of 10,000 Madonnas by Kate Hattemer

I had a long road trip... to New Orleans, so I grab some of the books needing to be previewed.  This was the first one I read, The Land of 10,000 Madonnas by Kate Hattemer,

The book starts off with a flashback of two close cousins on an adventure.  Jesse is a courageous teen trying to enjoy life, but knows his heart is not going to last much longer.  Before he dies he arranges for his 3 cousins, including the girl in the opening chapter, and two other friends to go on a quest to find his mother.  One of the friends is actually his girlfriend - these two girls do not get along!  So the boys do their best to keep the peace.  Jesse, using his college fund, arranges for this backpack tour to start in Germany, and the group ends up following the trail all through Europe.  Each of these five teens has their own unique quirk, and way of handling grief and remembering Jesse.  It's a story of a group thrown together under unusual circumstances with a task they all feel compelled to complete in order to honor their loved one.  Each comes to terms with his/her relationship with Jesse and learns the importance of flexibility and cooperation.  I enjoyed it, but it would not be a book I would select for middle school.  It did kind of remind me of John Green novel, but not as humorous as his writing.  There is some mature content, such as the relationship between Jesse and his girlfriend.

My Seventh Grade Life in Tights by Brooks Benjamin

This would be a light-hearted read.  If you're into So You Think You Can Dance or Dance Moms, then this book might be right up your alley.  The main character, Dillion, loves all things dance, but has never been formally trained.  The plot twist - there's a dance competition with a grand prize of a dance studio scholarship.  Dillion is faced with choices throughout the book - his dad's not thrilled with the dance phase and would rather see his son play football, and he starts falling for one of his friends, but does she feel the same way - issues middle schoolers can relate to.  In the end Dillion learns some great life lessons and everybody's happy.  Like I said - an easy and enjoyable read, especially if you're interested in dance.

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman has written another outstanding YA novel, Challenger Deep.  I did get this for my middle school, but I will only point the older and more mature students towards it.  The main reason is the subject matter - the main character deals with schizophrenia.  I certainly know many families are affected by mental illnesses, but might be a little too much for a 6th grader to handle.  However, this book is an intriguing way to handle the mind of someone struggling.  It turns out Neal Shusterman's son actually helped his dad write the book - highlighting the daily struggles and hospital/psychiatric care necessary to turn people's lives around.  It's not something you can cure, but regulate through medication and counseling.  I also enjoyed the original art work in the book done by his son, Neal.

Red Queen Series Book Review

I read the first book in this series when we our first book order arrived back in December.  Loved it!  I kept telling everyone how fantastic it is, and I just know this series is the next big Hunger Games/Divergent for young adult fans.  

Victoria Aveyard starts us off with Red Queen.  The world is divided by the color of blood - the silver bloods have great powers and live very elite lives, while the red bloods are treated horribly and end up having to do whatever the silver bloods tell them to.  This includes being the soldiers in wars between battling silver blood domains.  Our heroine is getting ready to go be a soldier when she meets someone who offers her a job at the palace.  Rather than go to war, she decides to become a servant.  During her first day something significant happens and we discover Mare also has silver blood powers, even though she has red blood.  The silver bloods try to hide it... meanwhile there's a revolution brewing.  It's non-stop action and sure to be a favorite!

Luckily my next book order arrived with the second book, Glass Sword.   Many times in a series (and usually it's the middle one) that drags a bit.  I get it though because the author is laying down the important parts and setting up for a fantastic ending.  This book is not that at all.  I loved it - just as much as the first.  The action is still happening, with surprises mixed in.  You continue Mare's journey as the revolution continues.  Definitely ends with you hanging on the seat of your chair - I cannot wait to read the final book, Cruel Crown.