The Shadows

 The shadows

By:Alex North

*****

Thriller

YA

What a bone chilling piece of work! 

Several times I found myself with goose flesh and felt like I was being watched. Such a great thriller! I usually peg books quickly at what is going to happen but this one.... NOPE!

Charlie is convinced he can become immortal. He gets some friends to try dream walking with him and to record what happens. Until Charlie goes missing and a boy is found dead.

Years later more murders have been identified with the same MO as the one where Charlie went missing and Detective Amanda is assigned to the case. 

Will she solve this long over due case or will she just go home and find another case to solve?

This book was FANTASTIC! I listened to the audio version literally every where I went.

Thank you NetGalley and to macmillan audio for the audio version to review.

The language of ghosts

 The language of ghosts

By: Heather Fawcett

****

This is a great book for 5th-8th grade I would think. I dont think any younger would fully understand unless they had a high reading level. Older than 8th grade and I dont think they would be interested in the genre. BUT to each their own . :)

Noa, Julian and their little sister Mite are on a floating island to survive. They are the last 3 living royals. Julian and Mite have magic and Noa feels like an outcast. She is the only one in the family who does not posses any magical abilities.

Beauty is a sea serpent who unwillingly protects the floating island. She also loves cake, like a lot of cake! 

These 3 siblings need to figure out how to stop "the king" from killing them and taking over the kingdom. 

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc. 

The time of green magic

 The time of green magic

By: Hilary McKay

****

Childrens fiction

It was an adorable book. I probably wont keep it as I dont think my kids would really enjoy it though.

Abby is struggling to share her dad, her granny and a house with her new step family. After some time and tears later she finds herself caring about them and wanting to help with their problems.

Max has a cleaning/bike repair "shop" that he and his friend Danny own.

Louise is just a little guy and misses his mom. He wishes for an owl but gets something much much bigger.

What a magical journey these 3 children find themselves in. 

                    (I bought my copy from Owlcrate jr monthly subscription for around $32.00)

Unplugged

Unplugged

By: Gordon Korman 

*****

Middle grade

Fiction

(Set to be published January 5th 2021)

Anyone who is a fan of Gordon Korman will like this book. 

Thank you Netgalley for the audio version (the arc audio states this is not the final voice and is just a synthetic voice). Once you get past the bland voice it is a great book. This will change when a final narrator is selected.

I’m reviewing this from a middle grade perspective (which I love this genre anyway).  

I think 5th-8th graders would love this book even if they just saw the cover and didn’t know who the author was.

Jett is a spoiled rich kid who is sent to an Oasis to “better himself”. He hates it, but he has to be there. There are no electronics and only vegan food. He becomes “friends” with some of the camp kids and they find a little reptile whom they name Nibbles. They are breaking all kinds of camp rules by taking care of this reptile. Secrets are exposed and friendships are made as Jett exposes the deep rot within the camp. 

Scythe

Scythe (book 1)

By: Neal Shusterman

*****

(If I could give this more then 5 stars I would!)

Ya, fiction

This was a fantastic book! It was set in the future and the year isn’t clear to anyone anymore, they just name New Years after animals. 

Citra and Rowan have nothing been chosen as apprentices to a scythe. This has never been done. They must both prove they have what it takes to become a scythe at the end of their year long apprenticeship. 

Neither one of them want it, and they soon realize they both have a lot at stake if they don’t pass their final test.

In this first book you see the heart ache, the laughable moments and the moments that just pull at your heart strings. I can’t wait to read book 2. 

* I bought my copy from a local book store for $12.99 plus tax and is definitely a keeper.*

Lies like poison

 Lies like poison

By: Chelsea Pitcher

*****

On sale November 10th 2020.

Raven lost his mother to a violent crime and the person responsible was never caught. His grieving father has remarried and now Ravens step mom and Lilly live in their estate. 

Belladonna and Raven seem like the perfect couple with Bella always looking out for and taking care of him. Bella and Poppy try going to the police for the abuse Ravens step mom is doing to him but there is not proof so they assume the girls are lying. Raven is being sent away and Bella has come up with a plan to murder his step mom. They will put flower petals in her tea. Belladonna, Poppy and Lilly. That way the murder can not be traced back to them. One of them chickens out and the whole plan falls apart. Raven gets sent away and 3 years later the step mom is actually murdered with the recipe for murder that Bella wrote all those years ago. 

Now Jack (formally Poppy) is trying to figure out who the real killer is and they dont have a lot of time. So many buried secrets are brought to life and the struggles of the friendships will keep you on your toes. I really enjoyed this book...

*Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster children's publishing for the advanced e-copy for my honest review*

Scritch Scratch

 Scritch Scratch

By: Linday Currie

*****

On sale September 1st 2020

Children, middle grade, paranormal

This was an interesting read. I believe that 5th grade and up would be interested. It has a bit of haunting in it if they are ok with that. Or, an adult that wants a quick light read. 

Claire is a scientist. She doesn’t believe in things she can’t explain but she is still afraid of them. When she goes on one of her dads “ghost tours” she brings back more than she bargained for. She brought back a ghost. This ghost is now haunting her and wants her attention.  She needs to figure out what it wants before she can get rid of it. While trying to save a friendship, not go crazy and not tell her dad about it because he will use it in his bus tour.  There is actual Chicago history in this book which makes it even better. I had no idea those events even happened and I am glad I am now able to actually look into them. *Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks kids for the advanced e-copy to review for my honest opinion.*