Today's read... Burying Eva Flores by Jennifer Alsever

Today's read caught my attention thanks to the cover and the blurb. It sounded a bit gritty with tons of possible suspense...and maybe, high school drama? Honestly, I was afraid that this one could take a bad turn and miss my expectations...But it didn't!

Yep, this is one of the very few YA reads this year, so far, that I'm adding to my possible Favorites for 2022 list. It was really that grabbing and well done. 

Curious? You should be...especially if you enjoy a mystery with a tad bit of Indian myth and magic. But just a drop. 

BURING EVA FLORES

by Jennifer Alsever

YA Mystery / Suspense

388 pages

"Everyone thinks I killed Eva Flores.

Sure, I hated how everyone was over the moon about Eva's stupid TikTok fame. And I suppose I got a little bit carried away with vengeance after the girl tried to ruin my life.

When my friend gave me that leather journal, I’d never felt so much power in my life. It was intoxicating. Who wouldn’t have done what I did to Eva?

But now, everyone thinks that just because she vanished in a local forest in the middle of the night that, "hey, of course Sophia killed her." They point to the blood found on the jackets. The text messages. The slightly weird thing I had with Eva's dad. And the fire.

But the whole thing is far more complicated than you’d think.

So what happened to the horribly obnoxious Eva Flores at the end of the school year? I can't really say."

Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus, Burying Eva Flores unwinds the mystery of two very different rivals with text messages, documentary interviews and more. If you're looking for an unputdownable thriller with supernatural suspense, then pick up Burying Eva Flores today!

GOODREADS   /    BOOK DEPOSITORY  /    AMAZON    

MY TIDBITS

With just the right touch of supernatural, this is a small town suspense, which grabs and doesn't let go until the last page.

Sophia is in her last year of high school and thanks to one individual, her life is being destroyed. Although Eva's family moved to the small town only a couple years ago, she's got everyone worshipping the ground she walks on thanks to her success on TikTok...which wouldn't bug Sophia usually, but thanks to Sophia's uninterest, Eva has it out for her. And it goes way beyond the normal high school bullying as Eva's family ruins Sophia and her family's life step by step. Now, Eva has gone missing during a forest fire and thanks to a journal Sophia kept, many believe that she's the one, who killed her. And in a way, she feels like she did.

The author has done an amazing job at dribbling in just enough clues to jack the suspense into high gear and keep the reader guessing until the end. Some of this is due to the carefully placed text messages and interviews among the usual story. These allow little dabs of insight into the thoughts and perspectives of all characters involved, even the very side ones, before the next 'phase' of the story begins. The chapters then, fluctuate between the main characters' points of view. Together, these draw the reader in and make each character gain personality and depth. Each becomes suspect and each holds their own shadows.

There are so many directions and personal sub-plots to twist the secrets this way and that. At first, everything seems to be clear, but the buried negative thoughts and feelings drip out from every direction. Sophia holds the center-stage and it's clear why, but there are more then a few possible directions the story could take. And while the ending was one of these, it was one of many, making it impossible to guess, which way everything truly would go until the last chapters. 

Each of the characters has obvious flaws, and some are in difficult situations. So, this read does hit upon some issues such as sexual harassment, bullying, eating disorders and more. But there are enough aspects to keep it from weighing down thanks to a few unique characters with more positive vibes, and the supernatural aspect. This last one nods to Indian myth and lore, and adds the perfect touch of magic.

And here she is...

Jennifer Alsever is a Colorado-based young adult author and a working journalist. For more than two decades, she has contributed to such publications as Fortune Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Wired and Fast Company. 

She’s curious and people say she asks too many questions.

You'll most likely find her at her keyboard or under a blanket with a great book, enjoying a handful of frozen chocolate chips. She also loves watching birds, reiki, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, yoga, and surfing.

https://www.jenniferalsever.com/burying-eva-flores

Today's read... Finding Joy by Raven Howell

 I'm a little late...again (that makes 3 days in a row!). I'd say that the days will slow down here soon, but I'd be lying. Call it Summer insaneness until the usual school year starts up again. 

Today's read heads right down the joyful line...well, somewhat. It actually deals with the difficult theme of loosing a beloved pet and finding joy afterwards. We have lost two of our furry family members in the last three weeks due to old age, so the theme hits home in our household, at the moment.

But let's just continue and take a peek.

FINDING JOY

by Raven Howell

Illustrations by Pamela C. Rice

Story Monsters Press

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 7

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 20th!!!

When they adopt an old dog from the local animal shelter, a little girl and her brother are excited to have a special new friend to play with. They embark on all kinds of adventures with Joy, romping through the snow and splashing in spring puddles. But one day, while the kids are at school, sweet Joy lays down for a nap and does not wake up.

The family is very sad. It is natural to feel gloomy when you lose someone special, the girl and her brother learn, but it’s important to remember the happy times, too. Slowly, the family’s hearts begin to heal. Soon it’s spring again, and with a new season comes another furry friend in need of a loving home—MEOW!

Pre-order directly through Story Monsters!

https://storymonsters.com/store/finding-joy/

MY TIDBITS

Concentrating on the wonderful friendship between a pet and its family, this book allows joy to stay front and center when dealing with loss.

When a girl and boy's family adopts a dog, they are excited. Soon, they're exploring and experiencing all sorts of wonderful things. Through snow, sun, and year after year, they play and have tons of fun. But one day after school, the two learn that their dog has passed away. 

While many books about grieving a pet concentrate on the moments surrounding and after the death, this book steers toward the fun shared during the pet's life. It hops seamlessly from one happy scene to the next, giving a general sense of happiness and warmth, while letting the years flow by. With gentle lines and bright colors, the illustrations allow each scene to come across like a hug and will have listeners dreaming of their own pets or wishing they could join in.

When the loss comes, it doesn't concentrate on good-byes and sadness, but rather, lets the emotions hit briefly before introducing the activities the siblings do to remember their dog fondly...and then, they move on and find new joy in life. It's just the right amount of time to let things sit but then, go on and offer hope. The very end of the book offers a few suggestions for caretakers/parents on how to handle a pet's death with their children. 

The story flows very well and makes a nice read-aloud. The beginning first starts with the adoption of the brother, which while nice, did have my kids asking if he was going to pass away, too (kids and their thoughts!). And I'll admit I found it distracting from the main theme of the story (half of my siblings are adopted...so I understand the joy). But that aside, this handles the theme of losing a pet very well and I can recommend it.

And here they are...

Raven Howell is a multiple-award-winning author and poet of children’s books. She is Creative & Publishing Advisor for Red Clover Reader, and a contributing author for Reading is Fundamental. In addition, she writes for several magazines, including Story Monsters Ink, Ladybug, Spider, Highlights for Children, Hello, Humpty Dumpty and The School Magazine. Howell was also the director of a Story Monsters poetry contest for students, and compiled the winning entries featured in I am Monster Magnificent.

Pamela C. Rice has enjoyed a well-decorated career in advertising, graphic design, and visual communications, and now she enjoys creating children’s illustrations that are fun, imaginative and educational. Since 2015, Pam has released 12 books, including When the Brown Bird Flies, The Painting Speaks, Aaron’s Dreams and Rufus Finds A Prize.

Review: Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah

 

MONSTERS BORN AND MADE

by Tanvi Berwah

Sourcebooks Fire

YA Fantasy

325 pages

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 6th!!!

Sixteen-year-old Koral and her older brother Emrik risk their lives each day to capture the monstrous maristags that live in the black seas around their island. They have to, or else their family will starve.

In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite, have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others―if they're lucky―survive.

When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can't afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral's only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race.

But every step of the way is unpredictable as Koral races against contenders―including her ex-boyfriend―who have trained for this their whole lives and who have no intention of letting a low-caste girl steal their glory. When a rebellion rises and rogues attack Koral to try and force her to drop out, she must choose―her life or her sister's―before the whole island burns.

She grew up battling the monsters that live in the black seas, but it couldn't prepare her to face the cunning cruelty of the ruling elite.

Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and These Violent Delights, this South Asian-inspired fantasy is a gripping debut about the power of the elite, the price of glory, and one girl's chance to change it all.

GOODREADS   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY  /   B&N    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Strict social hierarchy mixes with sea monsters, intrigue, action, brutality, and determination to great tons of plot and a large variety of characters.

Koral has been born into a family of Hunters, whose job it is to capture and breed the fearful monsters of their seas, the maristags. It's a job, which always draws blood and luck is the only thing separating the Hunters from death, but the creatures are only there for a short time period, and if a male and female aren't available, the family must live off one month of salary and starve the rest of the year. This year, that can't happen since Koral's younger sister is sick and needs medicine to survive. When the hunt fails, Koral refuses to bow to fate and is determined to save her family by entering a deadly race. The prize money would mean financial relief, but her entrance means stepping up against members of the class above her family's...and they are more dangerous than the monsters.

This one is sold as a type of Hunger Games meets These Violent Delights. and while I wouldn't completely agree with the second of these, the first is hard not to see. The class differences are clear-cut and brutal, which made it intriguing as Koral's family isn't allowed to be anything but what they are. The attitude between the classes rings clear, and the prejudice slams hard. As the higher level gets involved, the nods at Hunger Games is strong. Even the romance and competition settles in clearly along these lines. It did make it a bit cliche, but that's not a bad thing, since it leaves the reader sure of where this novel sits.  Plus, the other aspects are original enough to make it feel too close, too. Although I didn't get as much of the South-Asian feel that I was hoping for.

To say that there are a few plot strings, is an understatement. The author creates a rich weave of sub-plots, which cross and spread to make sure there isn't a boring moment and little is easy to predict. Along with this wide spread comes a large cast of characters, who each hold their own agendas, personalities, and goals. There's tons to follow and even more surprises as everything twists and turns. It makes for a rich and exciting read, especially when the well-done action scenes are thrown in. Deceit and danger go hand-in-hand, giving Koral much more to deal with than just getting the money for her sister's medicine. 

All of this takes place in a complex and original world, where monsters, the sea, and much more are at play. The atmosphere portrays a dark and dirty reality, where survival is harsh and hatred runs high. Even Koral's own family has more than a slightly shadowed side. The monsters are well-described and hold the beautiful deadliness they need. The world, however, isn't given the same attention and is a bit scattered...as are the characters. There's just too much, and it suffers, never gaining the complete attention it needs to really grab hold. The many plot strings also lose their thread because of this. While promising, many things are skid over too quickly and lose their impact. 

These pages hold the promise and beginnings of an amazing tale, so much so that it is fun to read...but it simply could have been more. And the ending...well, that slaps hard and leaves me hoping that there's another book to come. 

Today's read... Guardian by W.J. May (currently free)

I had a little switch-a-roo to do on my reading calendar...the reason today's post is so late...and was in the mood for something easy, quick-paced, and action packed. I stumbled across this one, and since it's currently free on Amazon, gave it a go. I haven't read anything from this author before (not that I know of, anyway) and was surprised at how many books she's already gotten out into the world. This is the first in a fairly new series and had an interesting blurb...so off we go!

 

GUARDIAN

Royal Guard Series, Book One

by W.J. May

Young Adult Science Fiction

204 pages

What you are looking for is not out there, it's in you...

Stass had told her the story a thousand times.

She was ten years old when he found her, lost and alone in the harsh wilderness of the northern Cascades with no memory of who she was. For the past eight years, Amber has lived with him above his martial arts studio in Seattle, slowly losing hope that her family will ever come for her.

Everything changes the day Stass is murdered.

Alone and hunted, with no idea where to turn or who to trust, Amber finds herself connecting with Raven, a young woman, who claims to know her history. The kicker: according to Raven, Amber is an alien princess exiled to Earth by a civil war that claimed the lives of her entire family. To regain her past and go home, she needs to find a relic hidden somewhere in the very mountains Stass claimed to have rescued her from.

With the help of a former member of the Royal Guard and her distractingly attractive trainee, Amber and Raven race to find answers.

But not everyone is who they claim to be, and a betrayal in a critical moment will put everything on the line.

Can a girl without a past win the fight for her future?

Find it on :

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59613603

 

And currently FREE on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09JY57BVK/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sin

MY TIDBITS

With action, secrets, alien royalty, and tons of danger, this is the kind of read to pick-up and simply enjoy.

Amber was found abandoned in the forest when she was young and can't remember anything before that day. But that doesn't matter, since she's found a very good home with a replacement father, who happens to be a martial arts trainer. Now, that Amber is about to turn eighteen, she'd love to head off to college, but he's not thrilled. When she returns home one evening to find him murdered on the apartment floor, her world falls apart. But before she can even begin to mourn, a stranger shows up at the hospital, claiming he was her father's best friend...but she's never heard of him let alone met him. Soon, more people come out of the woodwork, all claiming they want to protect her and the others are trying to use her before killing her. Amber has no clue who to trust, let alone why everyone suddenly finds her important. But it soon becomes clear that they are more than willing to fight to the death to get their hands on her...and she has no clue how she'll survive.

This one starts with two feet grounded in everyday life with a very normal teen girl and her healthy relationship with a very wonderful father. She might have trained with him since he found her, but it's nothing over the top and fits right in with the surroundings. She's kind, determined, and would never do anything to disappoint her father. So, she's an easy character to connect with and root for.

There is quite a bit of action in these pages, but none of the fight scenes are extreme, either. Even when it's clear that aliens are involved, super powers or amazing tech is no where to be seen. Secrets and intrigue power this tale, throwing in one character after the other so that's it's hard to know who to trust. Each one has just enough personality and depth to add to the confusion and keep the reader guessing for the most part. Some clues were a bit obvious, while others hit with complete surprise. Even at the end, it's not sure who is really telling the truth or not. Book two could bring a complete flip...so that keeps things interesting.

The writing flows with ease and a nice natural atmosphere. There are logic holes dribbled here and there, which didn't have to happen, but for the most part, it slides together well. I didn't have any trouble reading this in one sitting and was engaged until the end. The romance is a bit too instant for my taste (especially with everything Amber has to process), but the hero is sweet and restrained. There are some crumbs, which leave big hints at several things, which might happen in book two. And book one does leave on a cliff-hanger, making this a series, which appears to have to be read all the way through to get a satisfying end. It's a fun, easy ride, which doesn't disappoint on the quick-paced end of things.

Today's read... Bakaasur: The Ice Cream (Maker) Monster by Deven Jatkar

 We've been melting in above average temperatures since early June, which means I've hauled out our ice cream maker to ensure extra treats (which don't heat up the kitchen). So, when I saw today's read, it caught my attention. This one takes place in India...I never really thought about India and ice cream makers, but no reason not to...and promises a bit of mythology as well as...well...ice cream! And monsters?

Let's just take a peek, all right?

BAKAASUR

THE ICE CREAM MAKER MONSTER

by Deven Jatkar

Monkey Mantra

Picture Book

46 pages

ages 4 to 8

On a hot summer afternoon in India, seven cousins battle their arch enemy Bakaasaur ( buck - aah - soor ) for a pot of cold, delicious ice cream. Will the cousins triumph over Bakaasur and enjoy the spoils of their labor, or will Bakaasur's terror reign supreme?

GOODREADS   /   B&N   /   AMAZON   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY

MY TIDBITS

Ice cream hits mythology and monstrous fun in an unique adventure, which gives an entire new meaning to ice cream machines.

It's Baba's birthday, but the hot temperatures have the seven cousins sitting around with little excitement and not much to do. When Baba declares it's time to make ice cream, the cousins go into hiding. They love ice cream, but Baba's ice cream maker holds horrors beyond cool treats. Soon, the cousins find themselves fetching the things needed to feed Bakaasaur, the name they've given to the ice cream machine, since it's as demanding as the mythological monster, who ate not only a villages food but one person every week. 

This picture book heads to the slightly older end of the suggested audience and holds a bit of tension—and more than a little humor—as it tells the tale of an ice cream machine. Before the reader meets the cousins and the machine, the author introduces the myth of Bakassaur in a quick but very understandable (and interesting), short story. This perfectly sets the scene before the story starts.

Readers, who have seen an ice cream machine in motion before, will connect with this tale well, while others will hit a more touch-and-go experience. I do see this as a wonderful book to lead into or follow a group project with an ice cream machine (and get a cool treat in the process!). For those, who haven't seen one of these machines themselves, the author does make it very clear how it works. After all, it's the constant 'feeding' and churning, which builds the monstrous fun in this read. There is a bit of panicked tension, but mostly, there's humor, and together, these make an interesting mix.

The illustrations are well done and add to the atmosphere, letting the ice cream machine shine in its monster-ness. But it's the visuals of the culture and daily life, which add the depth. The illustrations allow readers to 'see' how the cousins live, and while they head out to fetch the ingredients, the buildings, people, traffic, and details become clear. The cousins even fetch ice blocks, instead of our usual ice cubes. All of this along with the tension, mythology, and humor, make it a nice read-aloud with a very unique twist.