Listen with me

 

The Cove by Claire Rose

This tale of a troubled teen exiled to a strange farm in Maine could make for an entertaining listen. Let's give it a go together.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Tell Me My Future

 

Title: Tell Me My Future

Author: Eileen M Ruvane

Genre: mystery

Age range: teen

Similar book: Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours

Summary (provided by publisher): Kess Turner is used to starting over. Her mom has dragged her all around the country her whole life, never spending longer than a few months in one place.

But nothing is normal about their new home—a dusty psychic shop—or the the way Kess's mom was summoned when a mysterious accident left the psychic Madame Amalia in a coma. When Kess finds coded messages and cash hidden among the crystal balls and Tarot cards, she knows there’s a lot more to the story than her mom is telling her.

Desperate for answers, Kess poses as a psychic in order to pump Madame Amalia’s clients for information—only to start experiencing strange visions of events that actually come true. The more she investigates, the more she suspects her mom and Madame Amalia were involved in a murder years ago.

When Kess’s visions escalate—and seem to predict her own death—it becomes clear that if she wants to save her future, she’ll first have to unravel the secrets of the past . . .

What I liked: Desamours's approach to psychic abilities here is compelling. As is standard in these tales, the visions are never a clear picture. They are fractured, impressions without context. As a result, the exploration becomes more about not having the full story, about making a vision happen by trying to prevent it, and raises the question of the changeability of the future. While these questions aren't explored in depth they are certainly raised. With engaging characters and a reasonable plot, this remains a solid read.

What I didn't like: A lot of what is happening here is quite expected. The twist ending is solidly threaded through the rest of the narrative so an attentive reader won't be particularly surprised. Additionally, the final action scenes are chaotic and over the top.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Spiritualists

 

Title: The Spiritualists

Author: Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

Genre: historical magical realism

Age range: teen

Similar book: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Summary (provided by publisher): Stella Bohdan is never alone—never—and yet she is the loneliest person she knows, dead or alive. A gifted psychic who can hear the voices of spirits, all Stella wants is to con enough people to survive on the brutal New York City streets and find a way to deal with the tragic death of her sister.

Performing seances in parlor rooms and tarot readings by candlelight, Stella is barely holding on. Until she meets Pax, a mysterious young man who offers Stella an invitation and a promise: Join a secret group of talented mystics who explore the darker realms of spiritualism, and together they will get revenge on her sister’s killer.

But how can Stella admit she is the reason her sister is dead?

In the hope of righting past wrongs, Stella joins Pax and his team of mystics. It’s soon clear there is more behind their partnership than just vengeance.

They must tread carefully though, because in the world of spiritualism, not everything is what it seems—especially when communing with the unknown.

What I liked: This book strongly captures the setting. We see a lot of the Spiritualism movement, of course, but also simply historical New York in the wake of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. This is also more than just an historical novel, though. In many ways it is a heist narrative as we walk through the assembling of the team, their diverse abilities and the secrets they all carry. There's a strong emphasis on action, constant twists and complications that make for an engaging read.

What I didn't like: The pacing can be a bit inconsistent, dwelling on introspection at moments that disrupt the flow of the narrative. The characters are no equally portrayed, with some members of the team serving as little more than props. While it is an engaging read it may not hold up to repeat reading.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

The Spiritualists by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb - A young psychic finds herself embroiled in a revenge plot.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Chismosas Only Book Club by Laekan Zea Kemp - Starting high school proves to be more challenging than a group of friends expected and threatens to drive them apart.

What do you think you'll read next?

Summerwork by Carrie Mesrobian

Book review - The Chismosas Only Book Club

 

Title: The Chismosas Only Book Club

Author: Laekan Zea Kemp

Genre: realistic fiction

Age range: upper middle grade

Similar book: The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick

Summary (provided by publisher): Cat, Sofia, Ana, and Mari are best friends. Nothing, nada, can break their bond. When Cat’s mom scolds them for their loud cackling at the bookstore, calling them a bunch of chismosas, the name sticks. Cat creates the The Chismosas Only Book Club, giving the girls a way to stay connected as they begin high school.

But ninth grade is hard, and it seems like no amount of conchas y libros y risas at Milagro’s Books, founded generations ago by Cat’s great-great-great-grandmother, can repair the ever-growing cracks in their friendship. But maybe the spirit of Milagro herself can . . .

What I liked: The characters here are realistic and deeply flawed. For all of their close connection they are also distinctive and have wide ranging problems. None of them are portrayed as innocent victims, pure hearts. These are kids actively making choices that the outsider can recognize will go wrong even as we understand the choice they make. The pacing is solid and has enough going on to keep us engaged.

What I didn't like: The transition between perspectives can be a bit jarring as we jump between narratives. It isn't always a comfortable read but it is a reasonable one.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Our Fair Share

 

Title: Our Fair Share

Author: Sarah Marie Jette

Genre: realistic fiction

Age range: middle grade

Similar book: Family Week by Sarah Moon

Summary (provided by publisher): Seasonal work at the fairgrounds for most summers means Serafina, James, Avory, and Cassi are all experienced in fair life. Beloved traditions keep the best friends plenty busy. For them, this is more than just a summer vacation in Knox County, Maine. These are the best months of the year. This is their fair.

But it seems like everyone is distracted. James is having trouble at his new school. Avory is feeling smaller than ever. Cassi just wants to be left alone, but that's hard when your dad is caught in a scandal that leads to more eyes on her that she's never dreamed of. And Serafina is afraid she'll never get over the accident no one knows about. To make matters worse, there's a new fair manager - a community outsider - who seems determined to take away what is special about their fair. This summer is feeling a little too different. With two months ahead of them, the four friends need to find a way not just to survive their own inner turmoil, but to help their fair community thrive.

What I liked: This is a book populated by realistic, complex characters. Their problems are unique and never minimized. We never get the sense that a character could fix their life if they would only make one small change. We see how long term relationships change as we age without it becoming a simple issue of "outgrowing" a person. 

What I didn't like: Balancing four separate narratives can be challenging and often means that one doesn't get the space it deserves. The pacing is a bit slow and we don't always get enough depth on an individual issue.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Hairpins

 After making my bowtie hairpins, I was inspired to come up with another new design. I settled on these little balls of "yarn" made from narrow strips of t-shirt and little pieces of vintage ribbon.