Sharing the Stories

  One of my favorite Lincoln Nominees!  Del is just trying to make sure Kiera notices him and realizes what a good guy he is.  Maybe then she will decide to give him a chance. And he's willing to go all the way, he will do almost anything, including signing up for the Purity Pledge at church. What started as a deceitful way to get her attention will turn into a life-changing event for Del.  So much to unpack in this book from how we are raised to socialize differently depending on our gender, what is acceptable behavior for each gender, how old traditions are hard to change, and how to make your voices be heard it takes courage.  Highly recommend the audiobook version of this book. 

  A storm that tore their town apart will bring three troubled teenagers together.  Truths that needed to be told, a conflict that never was resolved, lives unlived looking for absolution. The ghosts from the past will guide Brenna, Joshua, and Callie if they are willing to listen.  When another tornado touches Mercer, IL on the anniversary of the tornado that killed over 50 of its residents' those left behind and three teenagers from the new generation can sense a change. The ghosts' whispers become stronger, and a few cross over to find the answers they needed years ago. However, they will help the living more than they can help those gone.  "Mistakes help us figure out who we are becoming" To move forward you have to a ccept new realities, stand strong, recognize your own worth, and know that you will be okay.  Loved this story. Each unique character, the back and forth between present and past, between the living and the dead. Each conclusion leads to a reso...

  This story will slowly capture you and grow with you.   Yadriel only has a few days before the day of the death and his chance to become a full brujo and since he wasn't given the chance to complete the ritual when he turned fifteen like others in his community he has to resort to completing the ritual on his own...what can go wrong when you summon Lady Death?   Strong characters, fast-moving plot, twists, and cliff-hanging/chapter turners. This book has it all~ family, traditions, friendships, romance, teenage angst, and hope. 

  Unforgettable. Transformative. Heartbreaking. Hopeful.  How do you move forward if you only look at the past?  A small forgotten town, a big corporation with immunity to walk away from all the damage they had caused.   Three girls with a unique bond coming of age in a town that has given them every advantage while holding them back.   Meet... Mad always doing the right thing because "it's the least she can do". Monday the analytical, questioning, by-the-rules sister. Mirabel is trapped within herself with a remarkable mind bursting to share ideas with the world. Their combined actions will forever change the future of their small town and with it their own destinies. 

Finding an old tattered copy of Echo and Ariston changed Zara’s life igniting her dreams of becoming an actress but she would never have imagined that one day that little book could truly mean life or death.   As the new “muse” for acclaimed director Leopold Henneman Zara is willing to do whatever it takes to please him and make her debut day a success.  Putting her senior year on hold she moves to New York City to be the female lead in the play of her dreams.  Surrounded by an eccentric crew linked to Leopold's life Sara will struggle to fit in, to follow his unconventional ways, while dangerously falling in love with the wrong person. As rehearsals unfold tragic deaths strike the Aurelia Theatre would superstition holds and deaths would end with opening night.  Would Zara’s life end before opening night? Would her dreams ever become true? Will she have to choose between her dream or love?  The story is told from multiple points of view but never becomes d...

Powerful. Moving. Tragic. Hopeful. Imagine navigating middle school when you already stand out because you are the poor kid in a school of wealthy kids. Imagine showing up to school with a black eye and no money for lunch. Instead, you have to tell the cashier that you are in the free lunch program, and because of that, you are made fun of endlessly.  Imagine going from a run-down apartment to living in your car to ending in housing projects. Instead, you stay behind and walk home to avoid other kids knowing where you live.  That was Rex Ogle's experience growing up in Texas, living in poverty, struggling to make friends, navigating his mom and stepdad's violent mood swings, overcoming teachers who just look at him and decide he’s trouble, to not being able to participate in sports, or having to wear handmade Halloween costumes.  Through all his experiences Rex finds moments of hope, friendship, laughter, and authenticity. Listening to the audiobook I fell in love with Re...

This collection of short stories brings together six teens under Mr. Nak's angry management group.  With a short introduction to each teen's background story, Mr. Nak sets the stage for moments in which each character shares their insecurities, their anger, and the prejudice they have lived with. But also they have the opportunity to find love, freedom, and the power of their stories.    This quick read is about surviving, hope, and the power of the human spirit. Ms. Galan

  A mystery wrapped in the past slowly unfolds the story of a "royal" heir.   What starts with the boring task of cleaning her aunt Anna's old attic will turn into an unusual discovery.  Tucked away in the attic is an old chest filled with leather-bound journals.  Could these Russian journals be the story of princess Anastasia Romanov?  In the pursuit of finding her aunt's story, Jess will travel back into a past that is hard to understand and that will challenge her desire to believe the story she wants to believe.  Beautifully written with alternating perspectives and voices.