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Brief synopsis: Two old ladies face a lonely Christmas in a California nursing home. One of them, Myrna, still believes in the goodness of people and the other does not. And so with a phone call to her own children,Myrna sets out to prove that there are still good people in the world. C ategory : Adult Fiction, Holiday.   Why I chose this book : My Mom read it to us every year at Christmastime and I have kept up that tradition.   My personal opinion: I have an emotional connection to this book because my family read it every year at Christmastime. I do like the story and the lesson that it teaches, however, the writing itself could have been better.   Warnings: None.   Movie rating equivalent: PG Protagonist description : Myrna is an old woman reflecting on her life, wondering if she taught her children anything. She is an elderly woman, but it is fun to see some of her younger years in the flashbacks she remembers throughout the story.   Point of view of story:

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Giving further voice to Four (Tobias Eaton), this collection of seven short stories provides the backstory of the "Divergent" trilogy... Fans of the novels are given access to the thoughts and emotions of one of their favorite characters, while also learning more details about secondary characters like Eric, Zeke, and Shauna. Listeners will better understand how Tobias was raised by a tyrannical father and an absent mother and how joining Dauntless was a life-changing decision that catapulted Tobias from a fearful and withdrawn boy to become Four, a strong and confident leader. Two years pass within this collection, from the first story of Four's initiation into Dauntless until he meets Tris in the final stories. - Amazon Review Category : YA   Why I chose this book: It's an extension of the Divergent Series   My personal opinion (the review): This set of stories really gives insight into Tobias and his background. We see int

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): What happens when happily ever after…isn’t? Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah. And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom. (Amazon) Category: YA Why I chose this book : Recommendation of a friend, I like the author, I like fairy tales   My personal opinion (the review): Overall I liked the storyline of this book. The ending was cheesy, as were some of the plot elements. Honestly, as an English major, my favorite part of it was th

This is the fifth book in the Artemis Fowl series Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Artemis continues his adventures, leaning farther and farther away from the villain role, and closer to the hero role. He's quite the teenager, with all the hormones of that age. He has discovered another group of the People (demons), and they need saving. Artemis Fowl to the rescue! Category YA Fiction Why I chose this book Next in the series My personal opinion (the review) Artemis is typically flawless. His plans execute perfectly, and when they don't, coincidence saves him. This time, he fails a bit. He loses some time, his body is a little less perfect, and not all of his plans go through perfectly. I like that- it makes him more real, as a character. Warnings : Language - none Violence - mild "Adult" situations - none Death - yes, but temporary Movie rating equivalent PG Protagonist description Artemis is a genius beyond description. He tends to be prideful a

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) It's the hard life for the inhabitants of the FAYZ. In case starvation, isolation, and a supernatural enemy weren't enough, now we have infestations. Yes, multiple. And like the plagues of Moses' time, they end up being devastating. Category YA Fiction Why I chose this book Next in series My personal opinion (the review) Not my favorite in the series. Some main characters are "growing up" and engaging in adult activities- with all the risk that goes along with sexual activity. And the constant peril that these kids face is getting to be a bit much. No respite ever. Frankly, it's not even very believable that anyone's left alive. It felt like only hundreds were around originally, but I'm sure hundreds have died by now- there must only be a couple dozen left, at most. At the same time, the story line is getting even more interesting. Bad guys are getting worse, good guys are battling indifference and burnout, chan

Brief synopsis: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves. Category : YA   Why I chose this book: I enjoy mythology and young adult literature   My personal opinion (the review): I enjoyed this book. It's a fun, n

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Life in the Fallout Alley Youth Zone continues. We've waded through the initial shock and then through hunger, now we're passing through tribulation- even more than before. Villains return, new ones are introduced, and even some of the heroes fall through. FAYZ inhabitants are facing the tough choice of sticking around through tribulation, or stepping out when they hit 15. But (of course there's a but), the decision isn't really that simple. Category YA Fiction Why I chose this book Next in series My personal opinion (the review) I enjoyed this installment in the series the most. There are multiple stories going on at once, double-crossings, human frailties, and some much-needed justice being dished out. I found myself saying "Finally!" several times in the story, as terrible situations were finally neutralized for good. Albert was very much the big name in the last book, but in this one, he fades into the backgroun