All The Silent Bones by Gregory Fun

This book will be published on June 9th.

Genre:  Adult, Suspense, Thriller

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I must admit that I was only familiar with this author’s middle-grade books because I teach middle grades.  However, I have discovered how excellent his adult books are.  I am a very eclectic reader.  My mother used to say if it stood still long enough, I would read it. She wasn’t wrong. I love reading works with a dark side, like this book, which is full of darkness. What is there to love about All the Silent Bones?

The opening of the book introduces two of the characters.  Both characters have very dark sides. Although the book begins with the characters as adults, it then flashes back to their childhood.  When Bobby moves into their neighborhood, Ray’s father forbids him from ever going into their house.  We all know what happens when you tell a kid they can’t do something. I immediately wondered whether his father knew something or just felt something was off with the family.

The trauma that happens at Blackamore Pond is handled differently by each boy. Regardless, we can see that each character is still affected by that trauma years after it occurred. We can see how childhood violence affects the characters as adults.  Trauma stood out the most because I had several students this year who struggled with family violence in their homes. When I have students like this, I often wonder how they will handle it as adults.  For me, seeing the makeup of the characters and the way their past created their present made them feel more realistic.  I liked that.

This book was a bit of a slower read for me, as I am accustomed to reading middle-grade and young-adult books to recommend to my students.  It took a while to get into the adult frame of mind and expectations. It had all the things I love and crave in adult books.  We have characters who have been hiding secrets.  The characters are fleshed out so that we see all their sides, including the good, the bad, and the ugly.  I loved the pacing and the twist.  The only negative for me is a personal thing. I am a grown woman, but not a fan of the “F” word. I hear enough of it from my students.  Overall, I would recommend this book and check out his other adult books.

 

New Book From Kandi J. Wyatt

 Coming  Soon!  The Next Awesome Book From Author Kandi J. Wyatt

Blurb

If only the voices would shut up! 

Eighteen-year-old Kristjan has grown up under the weight of this clan's expectations. Living in the shadow of his father's mighty leadership, he has spent years trying to measure up to the office he'll one day hold. Everyone says he'll be an excellent chief, but he doesn't see it that way, and then, as if to prove his point, a hunting expedition to the icy wastes of Toppur goes awry, and Kristjan's party returns one member short. 

As if the guilt wasn't enough to grapple with, the community is struggling to locate a fresh vein of ore--the only way to revive the trade they rely on for survival. When his future father-in-law is trapped in a cave-in, a desperate Kristjan sees an opportunity to redeem himself, but the success he'd yearned for does nothing to ease his growing doubts. 

Meanwhile the incessant whispers in his head are growing louder--a repeating chorus of condemnation and inadequacy that echoes, telling him that the people in his life would be better off without him. When his best efforts to redeem himself go awry, devastating the woman he's bound to marry, it seals the conviction--how can his betrothed even look at him after what he's done? And how ca a person dogged by such darkness dream of anything but further failure? Burdened by his shortcomings, Kristjan must confront the void growing in his spirit--or else it might well consume his future. 

This coming of-age fantasy is the first of a duology that follows two different young men and the women who love them, as they try to find their place in the world and discover where their worth lies.

 

The Natural Soapmaking Book for Beginners - Kelly Cable

 

Genre:  Nonfiction

When my husband first received the book I was excited. Although I have watched videos of soap making, this is what I needed. I am a reader. This starts out with the basics and safety. To me, understanding the basics is important. The added benefit is all the recipes included in the book. This excited me because, when I retire at the end of next school year, this is going to be my main role in my husband's business. I am entering my next phase of life with the confidence I have not had with all the videos I have watched. I have two students at school who have made soap through their Ag class. I will definitely tell them that this is a must have book if they wish to continue on their own making soap in the future.

Ascended by Kandi J. Wyatt

 

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I purchased a copy

This final book in this series was the best.  I resisted the urge to skip to the end and then go back and fill in the blanks.  I can think of no better way to end this series. We watch the making of a Dragon King.  The themes of forgiveness, kindness and doing the right thing, was all throughout the entire series. This book made me have sympathy for the main character's wife.  I thought about all of our modern day soldiers away from their families for months and years at a time. With the exception of the magic in this book there were so many parallels between events in the world today and the way things are handled in the book.  The characters are believable and, for the most part, loveable.  I loved meeting the different clans.  The allegory in the book made me anxious to know how  it was going turn out. I can't recommend this series enough.  As one of my students said, "This series ticks all the boxes: dragons, characters you can love and hate, fantasy, and clean romance.  Great ending to a great series.

Careful What You Hear by Helen Dunlap Newton

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Mystery
Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing Early Reviewer. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Noah and Lena have been given a gift. They are on their way to space camp. Captain Billings has assured them there is no mission this time. This is to make up for the trouble they endured at the end of their last mission.  But Noah just can't shake the feeling that there has to be a mission.  When Noah is approached by a man claiming to be a teacher and asking about a lost phone, Noah knows something is wrong. Once again Noah and Lena are in danger and will be until the people who were after them before are caught.  This is a wonderful and tightly written mystery.  Noah comes across a your typical young teen, with some trust issues.  Lena has a hard exterior to shelter her true feelings of fear. She is one of the smartest people Noah knows and her truest friend.  I am truly hoping there will be a third book shortly as this is one of the best new series I have read in a while. I am very sure my students are going to love this.

Do You Hear What I Hear? by Helen Dunlap Newton

Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure, Thriller
Source: I purchased a copy

Noah Baker is trying to find a new normal after an accident caused a traumatic brain injury and a complete loss of hearing. His parents have done everything they could to make life normal after the accident. With a new cochlear implant to help him hear again, he dreams of a new normal. But normal is not in the cards. Noah realizes he can hear the thoughts of those around him through his new device. This is how he learns how worried his parents are about the cost of all of this and how his brother blames himself for Noah's loss.  When the doctor learns what Noah's device can do, he is caught up in a government plan. He isn't the only one. Lena, an amputee, has a new leg.  The government is using both of them.  They have been asked to use their new devices, which could put them and their families in danger. Yet, at the same time, they have been asked to serve their country under the guise of being ambassadors for a new organization that puts disabled kids at the front of society.  I loved this story and can't wait to read its sequel, "Careful What You Hear."  This book is full of technological advances and spy adventures. I think I loved this book because it reminded me of Anthony Horowitz's Stormbreaker series.  Anyone, young or old, who loves teens put in adventurous situations will love this book.

Genre:  Nonfiction, Crafting

When my husband first received the book I was excited. Although I have watched videos of soap making, this is what I needed. I am a reader. This starts out with the basics and safety. To me, understanding the basics is important. The added benefit is all the recipes included in the book. This excited me because, when I retire at the end of next school year, this is going to be my main role in my husband's business. I am entering my next phase of life with the confidence I have not had with all the videos I have watched. I have two students at school who have made soap through their Ag class. I will definitely tell them that this is a must have book if they wish to continue on their own making soap in the future.

 

Jake and the Gingerbread Wars by E.G. Foley

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Source: I own a copy

This is a charming book about a young boy who once lived in an orphanage but was now an Earl. While walking through town with his cousins and friend, they visit two different pastry shops. This is where their adventure begins. The two bakers who at one time cared for each other were not warring against each other. Jake discovers that there is mischief and magic behind it all.  With the ability of telekinesis and his friends and family with him, he sets out to make things right. His adventures have him chasing an elf and meeting Santa, Yetis, Jack Frost, and the Ice Princess.  This is a short Christmas novella that falls between books 3 and 4 in the Gryphon Chronicles by E.G. Foley.  This can be read as a stand-alone book. However, I personally want to check out the other books in this series—great adventure with a touch of magic.

Student Saturday: All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Source: Young Adult, Mystery
Student Reviewer: Paige H.

 I'm a DIEHARD Naturals fan. So, when I read All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, you knew I HAD to do a book report on it. "All In" is the third book from the Naturals series, and OH MY! This book was excellent. I also solved the mysteries with the characters while reading, keeping me on my toes the whole time. Like the plot twists! I was mentally pinning the points, thinking of what would happen next, like who would get hurt? What's this character going to do now? All that stuff. I felt very immersed in the book. Also, the character development in this book!! It was amazing; I learned more about Sloane, Micheal, Lia, and everyone. 

Man, this book was a fantastic read! In this book, "The Naturals" heads to Las Vegas to help solve a string of murders, but suspects don't pop up quickly, so this time, they really must dig for clues. Now, the ways the victims were murdered were typical, but for some reason, they have numbers or codes imprinted on their wrists. It's nothing like any cold cases the naturals have solved before. But wait, that's not all. For the first time in years, there's been a crack in her mother's murder case, which can change Cassie's view on everything. The tension is thick between the Naturals, and people's lives, including their own, are at risk. It is now indeed a race between time. Can Naturals solve this case? Cassie, the main character, is a profiler with a unique set of skills. Her orange hair and blue eyes are just the beginning. She deeply cares about everyone, but sometimes her emotions can cloud her judgment. Dean is also a profiler, and he's dating Cassie. He has blonde hair and hazel eyes. He can be pretty mysterious, but you can see him open to the group throughout the books. Sloane is the definition of an AI. She knows anything and everything, and she's fantastic with numbers. He has blonde hair and blue eyes, and she's a sweetheart. The case that the naturals are solving hits too close to home for her. Lia is a human lie detector; she can instantly identify any lie. She has monolids, black hair and dark eyes. She can be nice, but also very direct. Micheal is an emotional reader. Knowing this, he can hide his emotions well. He has brown hair and brown eyes; he's an extrovert at its finest. The Naturals stay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Where they stay in a fancy high-end hotel (Thanks to Micheal's money). The hotel is near different casinos and shops, which can help the Naturals relax while working on this case. 

To conclude, this book is hands down excellent. The plot twists, characters, everything. This book is PACKED with details, so I learned a lot! It's incredible how the author specializes explicitly in stuff like this. (while doing research I found an about the author on Goodreads) For example, the about her says, "Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (The study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006." So, this book was very descriptive; it made me even more obsessed! I give this book a solid 8.7 out of 10. I recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers or young adult books.

Appointed by Kandi J. Wyatt

 

Appointed by Kandi J. Wyatt

 

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I received an advanced copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is the seventh book in the “Four Stars Over Ardatz: Sovereigns” series. In this book we meet Shawnahur. His friends and family call him Shawn. He is the youngest of eight children. His three older brothers are away at war. Shawn is a drover of pucklings. He and his dog watch over these wooly haired duck like animals.  When his brothers come home on leave they love to tell stories of the battles they are fighting. One afternoon while watching his pucklings his dog begins to bark. Shawn checks out the situation looking for whatever danger may be headed toward his animals. What he finds is a small lizard like creature who has its leg stuck between two rocks. As he reaches to help it, the creature lowers his beak and touches Shawn's hand. A small burning sensation  goes through his hand. He keeps talking to the creature, hoping to gain his trust so that he can free him. Once freed, the creature starts speaking to him in his mind. He learns the creature is actually a silver dragon. The dragon, named Keenah had touched his hand to see whether he had a good heart. They both pledge to protect each other creating a bond between them. A rabid fox comes racing toward Shawn and he is able to quickly grab it by the mouth. Keenah helps direct his magic through Shawn’s hands killing it. This is the beginning of Shawn’s ability to use magic.

This is by far my favorite in this series. As we read further we see Shawn rise in power and in favor among the people. The story reminded me of several Bible stories. He takes supplies on the battlefield to his brothers. They are being taunted by a giant of a man. No one will challenge him. Shawn speaks up willing to do so. This reminded me of the David and Goliath story. Earlier in the story he is called upon to help the commander of the army while he is at home. The rains have put him in a foul mood and he has outbursts. Shawn’s flute playing calms him down. This reminded me of David playing to calm King Saul. I love the characters.  Shawn has quickly become one of my favorites.  The world building is outstanding as always.  This is a series you must read. If you have read the first six books then you must read this one.