THE LOST BOY

Author:  Greg Ruth

Genre:  Sci-Fi YA Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  1/5 (Don't Bother)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  2

From Goodreads:

Some mysteries are too dangerous to ignore. . .

After Nate moves into his new house, he discovers an old tape recorder in his bedroom and is suddenly thrust into a dark mystery about a boy who went missing many years ago. Now, as strange creatures begin to track Nate, he must partner with Tabitha, a local sleuth, to find out what they want with him. But time is running out, because a powerful force is gathering strength in the woods at the edge of town, and before long Nate and Tabitha will be forced to confront a terrifying foe and uncover the truth about the Lost Boy.

This is not the genre for me! I'm sure there are many, many people who thoroughly would love this graphic novel. The artistry was terrific, but again -- just not for me.

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AWKWARD

Author:  Svetlana Chmakova

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Awkward #3

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  52


From Goodreads:

Cardinal rule #1 for surviving school: Don't get noticed by the mean kids.

Cardinal rule #2 for surviving school: Seek out groups with similar interests and join them.

On her first day at her new school, Penelope--Peppi--Torres reminds herself of these basics. But when she trips into a quiet boy in the hall, Jaime Thompson, she's already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her the "nerder girlfriend." How does she handle this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away!

Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi still can't help feeling ashamed about the way she treated Jaime. Things are already awkward enough between the two, but to make matters worse, he's a member of her own club's archrivals--the science club! And when the two clubs go to war, Peppi realizes that sometimes you have to break the rules to survive middle school!

This first in the trilogy (read them backwards) is not my favorite, but still worthy of a good rating.  The hardcopy of this book had terrific drawings like the others, but it had less color - making it different from the other two.  Not sure what happened there.  Like the others, lessons to be learned in a fun way.

I'm not sure if they all have them in it or not, but raccoons abound!  :)

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BRAVE

Author:  Svetlana Chmakova

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Awkward #2

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  51


From Goodreads:

In his daydreams, Jensen is the biggest hero that ever was, saving the world and his friends on a daily basis. But his middle school reality is VERY different - math is hard, getting along with friends is hard...Even finding a partner for the class project is a big problem when you always get picked last. And the pressure's on even more once the school newspaper's dynamic duo, Jenny and Akilah, draw Jensen into the whirlwind of school news, social experiment projects, and behind-the-scenes club drama. Jensen's always played the middle school game one level at a time, but suddenly, someone's cranked up the difficulty setting. Will those daring daydreams of his finally work in his favor, or will he have to find real solutions to his real life problems?

I've been reading this series backwards, but no matter. They can all be read independently. This is a good story for middle grades - maybe teach them a thing or two. The art work is terrific - loved it.

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THIS ONE SUMMER

Author:  Mariko & Jillian Tamaki

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  50

From Goodreads:

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

Not much to say about this graphic novel. Some of it felt realistic and some not, but whatever. I continued to read, so that says something.

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SAY WHAT YOU WILL

Author:  Cammie McGovern

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/
Rebecca Lowman

Yearly Count:  44

From Goodreads:

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

This was just okay for me.   I've discovered that this type of storyline just isn't my cup of tea.  Or at least it doesn't rank up there as a good read. 

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CRUSH

Author:  Svetlana Chmakova 

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Awkward #3

Published:  2018

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  35

From NetGalley:

Jorge seems to have it all together. He's big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he's also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends. The only time he ever really feels off his game is when he crosses paths with a certain girl... But when the group dynamic among the boys starts to shift, will Jorge be able to balance what his friends expect of him versus what he actually wants?

Perfect for YA (and others as well)!  :)  The characters were true to life, as well as the scenarios.  The drawings were terrific, and it read very smoothly.  I discovered that this is the third book in this series.  Oops!  However, that made no difference in my reading pleasure.  I will be picking up the others.

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My thanks go to Yen Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

RE-GIFTERS

Author:  Mike Carey, Sonny Lieu & Marc Hempel

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2007

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  52  (Phew!  Made it!)

Oh goodness.  This is actually a re-read, which I never do!  I recognized the storyline immediately, but couldn't find it on my blog, so I continued to read thinking it may have been a DNF.  Afterwards, I looked again . . . lo and behold, it was there!  Error on my part, but I still enjoyed the book just as much.  Below are my thoughts that I wrote in 2014.  I feel exactly the same.  :)

Dixie, a martial arts enthusiast, gets wrapped up in her thoughts of true love around the time of a tournament.

I enjoyed this graphic novel.  I was interested in the storyline and artwork . . . even the second time around!

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THE HATE U GIVE

Author:  Angie Thomas

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Bahni Turpin

Yearly Count:  37

High schooler, Starr, lives in a poor, gang-invested neighborhood, yet she attends school in a posh environment.  She struggles with where she fits in.  With the past and current violence around her, Starr needs to figure out who she is and what she stands for.

This book was interesting, and it kept my attention, but it may be more eye-opening for the intended audience of young adults.  Actually, it's perfect for them.  It delves into a lot of teen topics (adult, as well) and gives a personal feel to emotions experienced.  Good book, but not great.

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ONE OF US IS LYING

Author:  Karen McManus

Genre:  YA Mystery, Standalone

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Various

Yearly Count: 35

From Goodreads:

One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive.  Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.

I've been incredibly busy with life lately, and trying to find a book that would keep my attention has been a huge endeavor -- until this one.  It kept me engaged, and I enjoyed it.  Although, I guessed totally wrong, but had fun trying to figure it out.  This was a well done YA mystery.

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GIRL IN THE BLUE COAT

Author:  Monica Hesse

Genre:  YA Historical Fiction/Standalone

Published:  2016

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Natalia Payne

Yearly Count:  5


In 1943, Amsterdam, Hanneke seeks after black market items for customers.  One customer asks her to locate the missing teenager she had been hiding.  Hanneke reluctantly accepts the challenge.

There was much research acquired for this book, and it was apparent.  However, there still were scenes that didn't feel realistic, but the whole Nazi occupation seems unfathomable.  So who am I to say?  I enjoyed the storyline and found some surprises along the way.  It was definitely a good, YA historical fiction read.

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FINDING AUDREY

Author:  Sophie Kinsella

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Gemma Whelan

Yearly Count:  47

Fourteen-year-old, Audrey, is dealing with diagnosed anxiety disorder brought on by an undisclosed event.

Sophie Kinsella always makes me giggle a time or two (often more) in her books, no matter the topic.  Even though this was a more serious topic of teenage anxiety, she still managed to tickle me.  Her version of a young adult (14) was depicted very well.  I appreciated that Audrey didn't act like a child with incredibly immature behaviors left and right (some were anticipated, though, she is 14).  I didn't feel like this was a serious attempt to cure anxiety or anything like that.  It was a glimpse into one girl's life as she works through her problems.

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LOST AT SEA

Author:  Bryan Lee O'Malley

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2003

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  42

Raleigh is on a road trip with 3 other students from high school.

What?!  This was just a bunch of rambling thoughts of nothing.  I kept reading because it's a graphic novel (short) and was hoping something would come of it.  Nope.

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ANOTHER DAY

Author:  David Levithan

Genre:  YA Fiction, Every Day Companion

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Kathleen McInerney

Yearly Count:  29

From NetGalley:

Every day is the same for Rhiannon. She has accepted her life, convinced herself that she deserves her distant, temperamental boyfriend, Justin, even established guidelines by which to live: Don’t be too needy. Avoid upsetting him. Never get your hopes up.

Until the morning everything changes. Justin seems to see her, to want to be with her for the first time, and they share a perfect day—a perfect day Justin doesn’t remember the next morning. Confused, depressed, and desperate for another day as great as that one, Rhiannon starts questioning everything. Then, one day, a stranger tells her that the Justin she spent that day with, the one who made her feel like a real person . . . wasn’t Justin at all.

I didn't remember all the happenings of Every Day, so this didn't seem too much like a rehash for me. Therefore, it was an enjoyable YA book.  It has a good message regarding looking at a person's inner being versus their outer appearance.  And, I liked the ending.

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My thanks go to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with the eGalley.

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING

Author:  Nicola Yoon

Genre:  YA, Standalone

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  2.75/5 (better than eh)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Bahni Turpin

Yearly Count:  8

Maddy is homebound due to an illness.  The only people she has direct contact with are her mom and nurse, until a boy moves in next door.

This screams YA.  I think I have grown out of the genre, because there haven't been too many that I enjoy anymore.  This is another that is so far-fetched and boring at times that I was happy for the ending.

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ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES

Author:  Jennifer Nivens

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  2.5/5 (eh)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Kirby Heyborne

& Ariadne Meyers

Yearly Count:  66

Finch & Violet meet on the ledge of a school bell tower.  Under the stressful situation, a relationship buds, then blooms.

I can absolutely see the references to The Fault in Our Stars (3/5) and Eleanor & Park (4/5).  But for this book, it wasn't too long before I started not buying in.  Sadly, I didn't even care about either of the main characters.  Too unrealistic.  There ended up being so much that I just didn't believe that my rating ends up below TFioS, and I'm disappointed.  It appears to be another YA book that works best for YAs.  

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THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY

Author:  Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/

Julia Whelan & Luke Daniels

Yearly Count:  40

Hayley struggles living with her father that suffers from PTSD.

Hayley had to deal with some serious issues that didn't just involve her father.  The issues were handled well, but there were a lot of them.  Some relief came in the form of Hayley's conversations with boyfriend Finn.  Overall, it was a "just okay" listen.

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TWILIGHT

Author:  Stephenie Meyer

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Series #1

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  104

Yes.  This is THE "Twilight" book in a graphic format.

The graphic format made this a light version of the whole story.  I, surprisingly, enjoyed the first book in this series.  It was my introduction to vampires, and it explained the hows and whys, etc.  This book lacked any detail of any thing.  I understood what was going on, because I could fill in the holes.  Due to that, it turned out to be just okay, instead of a confused reader.

The best news . . . it has fulfilled my GoodReads 2014 Reading Challenge.  WOO!!!  

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PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Author:  Jane Austen

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Manga Classic Series

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  98

From NetGalley:

Pride & Prejudice is delightfully transformed in this bold new manga adaptation. All of the joy, heartache, and romance of Jane Austen’s original, perfectly illuminated by the sumptuous art of manga-ka Po Tse, and faithfully adapted by Stacy E. King.

Pride and Prejudice.  Never read it.  Now I have.  I will not venture into reading the novel version, but I am so glad I finally know this story.  The graphics were incredibly detailed and fully developed the characters and their feelings.  It was a pleasurable read . . . backwards and all!  :)

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My thanks go to Udon Entertainment and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

THE SCARLET LETTER

Author:  Nathaniel Hawthorne

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Manga Classic Series

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  97

From NetGalley:

A powerful tale of forbidden love, shame, and revenge comes to life in Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter.

Faithfully adapted by Crystal Chan from the original novel, this new edition features stunning artwork by SunNeko Lee (Manga Classics: Les Miserables) which will give old and new readers alike a fresh insight into the Nathaniel Hawthorne's tragic saga of Puritan America.

 I enjoyed the idea of reading a Manga style graphic novel again and found this one to be pretty good.  The graphics were done well, but nothing compels me to say it was any better than that.  I definitely love the idea of reading classics in this format.  That idea is a 5/5!  :)

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

LOVE, STARGIRL

Author:  Jerry Spinelli

Genre:  YA fiction, Sequel

Published:  2007

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Mandy Siegfried

Yearly Count:  96

Apparently this is the sequel to Stargirl, which I did not read.  Oops!  Anyway . . . Stargirl moves with her family and leaves behind her whole life.  It's written in epistolary style as Stargirl writes the longest letter to an ex-boyfriend.

I didn't enjoy this.  It didn't keep my attention, and I definitely didn't care for a character or two.  I just didn't buy in.  Maybe if I was a teen I'd enjoy it.  Who knows.  

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