Pick 6: murder mysteries

 The world of fiction is full of mysteries and when those books are aimed at teens, they take on a decidedly murderous bent. Murder mysteries are full of intrigue and danger, making them rather thrilling to read. And some ask us to consider our relationships with each other and with society, so they can also be great for discussion. Here are six murder mysteries for teens published in the last six months.

Six new murder mysteries:

1. Cold by Mariko Tamaki
   
2. All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney
   
3. The Summer We Forgot by Caroline Gorge
4. Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed
5. Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich
6. Summer's Edge by Dana Mele
   

Book review - The Name She Gave Me

 

Title: The Name She Gave Me

Author: Betty Culley

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: See No Color by Shannon Gibney

                      The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert

Rating:

 

emotionally complex

Summary (provided by publisher): Rynn was born with a hole in her heart—literally. Although it was fixed long ago, she still feels an emptiness there when she wonders about her birth family.
As her relationship with her adoptive mother fractures, Rynn finally decides she needs to know more about the rest of her family. Her search starts with a name, the only thing she has from her birth mother, and she quickly learns that she has a younger sister living in foster care in a nearby town. But if Rynn reconnects with her biological sister, it may drive her adoptive family apart for good.
This powerful story uncovers both beautiful and heartbreaking truths and explores how challenging, yet healing, family can be.

My opinion: While we get a fair number of stories about adopted characters, it's not often that these stories explore the emotional turmoil that can come from being adopted - the conflict between loving the parents who chose them and the desire to know where they came from. Even rare is what Culley has given us here. Rynn's adoption is not ideal. Her relationship with her parents is tense at best. While she feels loved (at least by her father) she also feels inadequate. She can't live up to her mother's idea of what a child should be. Her journey is fraught and as much about self discovery and learning to rely on her own strength as it is about the love of a family. The driving force behind this story is almost entirely emotional and quite limited to Rynn's perspective, so it's not a story for everyone. But if you enjoy contemplation this may be a good choice for you.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Mini-cards

 Last year I bought some small pieces of brightly colored cardstock and decided to make some small format notecards out of them. I piloted just a few at a craft fair and was pleased enough with how they turned out that I thought I'd make some more. Here are three sets (I sell them in threes) that I made this weekend.

Book review - The Summer of June

 

Title: The Summer of June

Author: Jamie Sumner

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Living With Viola by Rosena Fung

                     Aster's Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon

Rating:

 

a sensitive, thoughtful read

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old June Delancey is kicking summer off with a bang. She shaves her head and sets two goals: she will beat her anxiety and be the lion she knows she can be, instead of the mouse everyone sees. And she and her single mama will own their power as fierce, independent females.
With the help of Homer Juarez, the poetry-citing soccer star who believes in June even when she doesn’t believe in herself, she starts a secret library garden and hatches a plan to make her dreams come true. But when her anxiety becomes too much, everything begins to fall apart. It’s going to take more than a haircut and some flowers to set things right. It’s going to take courage and friends and watermelon pie. Forget second chances. This is the summer of new beginnings.

My opinion: Clinical anxiety is overwhelming, and nearly impossible for the outsider to understand. That's what makes books like this one so important. In June we have a protagonist who has fully come to terms with her anxiety. She accepts the need for her therapist and finding the right medication. And she is determined to "beat" her illness. She's determined and pushes back against things that are hard for her. But the narrative is also realistic. Sometimes she fails. Sometimes the fight is too hard, her anxiety too overpowering, and she shuts down. There is no miracle cure, no perfect ally who will help her overcome. It's a constant battle to win as many days as she can and find comfort in the days that she can't. The plot is fairly simple, giving Sumner plenty of space to develop the characters into fully fleshed people with quirks and failings. A charming read for the introspective sort.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel spotlight - Enola Holmes

 

Enola Holmes by Serena Blasco

The Enola Holmes stories find the delicate balance required in middle grade mysteries between genuine stakes and a lack of gruesome details. Enola investigates actual crime: theft, kidnapping, smuggling, etc. Her life is at times threatened, making for an exciting read, but never goes over the top. Enola herself also finds a balance between doing things her own way and fitting into societal expectations. This is a series that will work well for readers who enjoy a more historical setting. This volume is comprised of three stories, each telling a complete mystery of it's own while also contributing to a larger series plot. The text works in concert with dynamic illustrations to tell a charming tale.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - In the Beautiful Country

 

Title: In the Beautiful Country

Author: Jane Kuo

Genre: realistic fiction/verse novel

Similar books: Front Desk by Kelly Yang

                     A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr

Rating:

 

gives the reader something to think about

Summary (provided by publisher): Anna can’t wait to move to the beautiful country—the Chinese name for America. Although she’s only ever known life in Taiwan, she can’t help but brag about the move to her family and friends.
But the beautiful country isn’t anything like Anna pictured. Her family can only afford a cramped apartment, she’s bullied at school, and she struggles to understand a new language. On top of that, the restaurant that her parents poured their savings into is barely staying afloat. The version of America that Anna is experiencing is nothing like she imagined. How will she be able to make the beautiful country her home?

My opinion: An immigrant story is a solid choice for a verse novel since a lot of the conflict is internal. This is a story of Anna trying to fit in, trying to make a life in a place she feels constantly off balance and discovering that reality isn't living up to her expectations. Kuo presents the reader with a hard view of the immigrant experience: the constant struggle to get my, harsh criticisms from random people, racism and ignorance, the limitations on opportunities. It's a quick read and doesn't get into deep depth but could work well in contrast to a more idealized story and could inspire discussion of the "American dream" and the notion of the US as the land of opportunities.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Wretched Waterpark

 

Title: Wretched Waterpark

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: mystery/humor

Similar books: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

                      The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

Rating:

 

fun, and a bit off the beaten path

Summary (provided by publisher): Meet the Sinister-Winterbottoms: brave Theo, her timid twin, Alexander, and their older sister, Wil. They’re stuck for the summer with their Aunt Saffronia, who doesn’t know how often children need to eat and can’t use a smartphone, and whose feet never quite seem to touch the floor when she glides—er—walks.
When Aunt Saffronia suggests a week pass to the Fathoms of Fun Waterpark, they hastily agree. But the park is even stranger than Aunt Saffronia. The waterslides look like gray gargoyle tongues. The employees wear creepy black dresses and deliver ominous messages. An impossible figure is at the top of the slide tower, people are disappearing, and suspicious goo is seeping into the wave pool.
Something mysterious is happening at Fathoms of Fun, and it’s up to the twins to get to the bottom of it. The mystery, that is. NOT the wave pool. Definitely NOT the wave pool. But are Theo and Alexander out of their depth?

My opinion: White follows the pathway that Lemony Snicket laid, presenting the reader with odd scenarios that the characters largely accept as simply the way the world works. There is a larger mystery at play that is certain to be further revealed as the series progresses but this volume has a complete story all it's own. While that mystery/adventure is a fairly wild one, it never takes itself too seriously so we don't question the logic of events. While it lacks the pseudo-serious tone of Snicket's series, it has a charm all it's own. If your reader has worked through A Series of Unfortunate Events give Sinister Summer a try.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley