Reviewed by Amy Raines for Readers' Favorite

Pushing Through the Darkness: From Montserrat to Montserrat by Linette Arthurton Bruno tells the story of a young married couple, Clementine and Christophe, as they honeymoon in the Caribbean islands. The young couple revels in the history of events in both Montserrat and Martinique as they intertwine with the lives of their family. Can their discoveries uncover the change in Clementine’s father? Will the clarification of the family’s frightening past help Clementine discover herself and have a happier future with her new husband? Will the couple’s family see eye to eye upon their return home?

Pushing Through the Darkness is an interesting trip through the past and present with a well thought out plot that unfolds through the history of two islands tormented by volcanic activity that destroyed homes as well as lives. The characters are very interesting and easy to relate to as Clementine and Christophe discover and share historical events that left emotional damage on the people involved in the natural but tragic events. I love how Pushing Through the Darkness shows how the distant past can influence families and communities, causing them to change physically, emotionally and psychologically, as well as influencing the futures of the people who endure the trauma and the aftermath of events. I recommend Bruno’s Pushing Through the Darkness to anyone who enjoys history and its effects on the future of the people who survive and find a way to carry on after the tragedy has passed.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

I admit, I read and review lots of books but it’s not long before I forget most of them. Such will never be the case with Speak No Evil by Liana Gardner. Aimed at young adults, it presents the story of Melody Fisher, a sensitive, talented young adult thrust into the foster home system following the death of her mother and disappearance of her father while still a child. It takes many years, an in-tune therapist and a caring case worker to break through Melody’s wall of silence regarding the abuse she’s endured both at school and in those foster homes.

Unlike most, including myself, who have written books related to child sexual abuse, Gardner has chosen to tell Melody’s story in a most unusual and powerful way. Rather than simply proceeding chronologically, while Gardner does begin with the joy and love her parents showed Melody, readers suddenly find themselves listening to her story at various stages of her life: sometimes she’s 5, or 9, 11, or 16. Then she’s 7 again. Is this confusing? Initially, a little. But when readers realize that this teen who refuses to speak to anyone is slowly facing the unspeakable heartaches of her past with the help of her therapist, it all makes sense. It’s also a very clever way that Gardner has used to keep readers in suspense about what really happened to Melody. By writing Speak No Evil this way, Gardner gave me an unforgettable book impossible to put down.

When we first meet the teenaged Melody, who instead of a cell-phone always carries a music player, who dreams constantly of the mountains and natural surrounds of her early childhood, and who aches incredibly from the loss of her parents and others whom she came to love, like Quati Raincrow, we are intrigued by her love of and comfort in music, nature and all animals, including snakes. Some of the episodes with snakes will make readers cringe but no more than Melody’s encounters with male sexual abusers, both adult and teen. Those encounters ultimately plunge Melody into the only place she finds comfort: music and silence. The therapist has his work cut out for him, but the method he chooses to finally get Melody to open up is brilliant and effective.

There is so much I’d like to tell you about Speak No Evil. It’s made an indelible impression on me, as I’m sure it will on most readers. There are too Melody Fishers in our homes and schools who lock themselves away in a world where they are both desperate to be heard and afraid to speak up. Though circumstances won’t be identical, Speak No Evil is their story. It’s not my job to tell them that story but to encourage them, and those who care about young people’s mental health to read it for themselves. I have no doubt, that like me, they will find this book unforgettable. A brilliant and novel approach to addressing important social issues. Bravo!

Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball by Mike DeLucia is based on a true story about the little-known fact of how one man changed the history of basketball. The year is 1926 and ten-year-old Angelo "Hank" Luisetti is among a crowd of spectators at the Galileo High School Gymnasium in San Francisco. A less popular sport compared to baseball and football, basketball players at this time strictly follow the stop-set-shoot philosophy and generally pass and shoot the ball using two hands, which made the game less of a thrill. Of Italian origin and groomed to inherit his father's business, Hank develops a love for basketball that will take him to Stanford University to become their star player. His innovations will later be considered as the start of a new era for this now highly popular game.

Mike DeLucia's Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball is obviously a tribute to Angelo "Hank" Luisetti and it is richly well deserved. It is fascinating to learn about this young man who pioneered the running one-handed shot and helped make basketball the exciting and popular game that it is today. Mike DeLucia traces Hank's story with surprisingly meticulous detail and the result is a vivid picture of an unassuming young man that made an important mark in basketball history. What makes Madness an engaging read is that when readers turn the pages of this book, they somehow get to personally know the man whose significant contributions to basketball history are largely ignored; his hopes, dreams, and struggles. So the next time we enjoy watching a thrilling basketball game, we can thank Hank Luisetti for it.

Reviewed by Deborah Adams for Readers' Favorite

In Keeping Up Appearances by Elizabeth Stevens, Holly and Xander were the last people anyone would have ever imagined pairing up. That’s because one, her best friend and long-time crush was, you know, enemies with the guy. Two, Holly hated the popular arrogant jock. But, when she finds out her other best friend has made her move on him, all the while encouraging Holly to spill her own feelings, she runs in the opposite direction. Once Holly and Xander agree to “fake date” to make her former crush jealous, all bets are off. Neither Holly nor Xander seem to do a great job of keeping in mind that their relationship isn’t real. But could it be?

Keeping Up Appearances by Elizabeth Stevens was a thoroughly enjoyable, laugh-out-loud, YA romance that I couldn’t put down. The banter between Xander and Holly was hilarious and sharp. The chemistry was sizzling and tangible. Readers of Keeping Up Appearances will be on the edge of their seats as Elizabeth Stevens takes them on a coming-of-age journey that teaches our heroine to look beyond the surface, and step outside of her comfort zone when it comes to friends and life. Will she decide for herself that there is more to the “it” crowd that she’d ever imagined? Will she learn to trust the bad-boy “King Douche” of the school when she realizes there is more to him than anyone, except his closest friends, knows? Don’t wait! Find out now and pick up a copy of Keeping Up Appearances. Your romantic, snarky soul will thank you.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Princess of Baker Street is a young adult coming of age novel written by Mia Kerick. Eric Sinclair and Joey Kinkaid had always been best friends, and they were the focal point of the Baker Street gang, five kids who ran and played and pursued a grand fantasy of the imagination. Joey was their Princess Ariel, and the gang had no issue with that, until they all got a little bit older. Now that they were in middle school, however, Travis and Lily made it their goal in life to torment Joey, and Eric’s own home situation made it imperative that he not get involved or in trouble at school. When their geography teacher assigned Eric and Joey to be study partners, Eric was conflicted. He feared the condemnation and scorn of his peers at school, but, even more so, he loved being part of Joey’s life again. He just couldn’t understand why Joey did the things that made his time in school so very difficult.

Mia Kerick’s young adult coming of age novel, The Princess of Baker Street, is a beautifully written and compelling story about a transgender teen and her childhood friends. I loved witnessing the story through Eric’s eyes and felt for him as he struggled to keep his awful home situation a secret. While Joey’s story is the dominant theme here, Eric’s tale is equally transfixing, and their interactions make this coming of age novel an unforgettable one. Kerick’s depiction of a transgender teen and the stresses and strains of life both at home and in school experienced by her is right on point. Kerick’s characters are remarkably real, and her storytelling is powerful. The Princess of Baker Street is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Two young women, from opposite ends of the spectrum, are set to collide in L.C. Perry's dystopian fiction Gold Shadow (Bronze Rebellion Book 1). Eighteen-year-old Ebony, born a slave, has only ever known the horrors and struggle for survival underground as a slave in the root city. She yearns for one thing only - to end it all and to take some of the accursed overseers with her. Princess Irene is surrounded by luxury and treated with deference by everyone. Her only focus in life is her coming-of-age celebrations and to meet the man of her dreams and marry him, so he can rule and she can live the pampered life she is so used to as queen. Princess Irene has no clue of the way in which her country is structured; that it is slaves who allow the wealthy to live the life of luxury they do. She blithely believes her mother and father rule with a gentle and loving hand. This is a dystopian America some time in the future, and two very different young women will determine its direction.

L.C. Perry, in Gold Shadow (Bronze Rebellion Book 1), has given us a fascinating vision of what a dystopian America could look like if democracy was swept away by a form of monarchical feudalism. The author's ability to contrast the two vastly different lifestyles and makeups of these two women gives the reader a hint of how clever and skilled a writer she is. On the one hand, we have Ebony whose entire life has been dedicated to following orders, to never answering back, to never making connections with others and, most of all, to hiding her beauty from the cruel and merciless masters. Contrast that with Irene, who is the archetypal spoilt little princess, whose every thought is self-centred and vapid. Perry does a marvellous job of serving up both sides of this coin. The book is easy to read and will definitely appeal to a young adult audience, but is equally suitable for all adults. I think the biggest compliment I can pay any author writing the first book in a series is that I want to read book two and find out what happens to these characters I have invested in. I can say this about Gold Shadow. As the beginning of a series, this book has hit the mark - bull's eye. Great job by L.C. Perry.

Reviewed by Becky Walker for Readers' Favorite

In a brilliant start to this new science fiction series, Mary Fan’s writing is fluid and poetic. Starswept centres on the fate of fifteen-year-old Iris Lei, a talented violist who has lived under the protection of the Papilio performing arts school since birth. Earth, 2157, is a dismal place. In this dystopian society, poverty abounds. One of the few ways to escape a life of misery is for a talented artist to impress the rich and powerful from the far-off planet of Adryil. This advanced, telepathic alien race prizes those that perform to the highest standards and the aim of every student at Papilio is to ‘rise in the rankings’ and attract an Adryil patron before they ‘age out.’ Students and their families are in debt to the school, so even if they are lucky enough to find patronage, it will mean a lifetime of service in order to repay the vast sums involved. Despite this, it is every pupil’s dream, for at least they will have an opportunity to live a better life – on Adryil – and, if they succeed, possibly help their loved ones in the future.

Iris’s only true friend in this fiercely competitive environment is Milo, a ballerina who is gradually losing faith with the system. When Iris has a chance encounter with Dámiul, an Adryil youth being chased by the authorities, her life takes a dramatic turn. Via telepathic communications, he warns her that there is more at stake than her musical career. As their relationship starts to blossom, Iris begins to uncover the shocking truth that questions everything she has taken for granted.

The author, Mary Fan, has a lovely flowing style, elevated with enchanting descriptive passages of music and art that contrast so well with the dark portraits of an unfair and unbalanced society. Iris’s character, at the start of the book innocent and somewhat naïve, evolves with the story to become a more analytical and feisty protagonist. Her relationship with both Milo and Dámiul are central to this growth and development, the romantic elements agreeably intertwining with the brooding political backdrop. Some of my favorite sections were those relating to Iris’s inner thoughts as she plays ‘Butterfly’s Lament’, the piece she chooses to play at the school spectacle, drawing a parallel to her growing feelings for Dámiul and her fear that a match between an Earthling and an alien could prove futile. However, this is much more than a romantic read. There are probing questions about the misuse of power, ethics and inequality. I thoroughly recommend Starswept to young and new adults - who will identify with Iris’s coming of age – and also to older readers who are looking for a unique and compelling read. Bring on the next book in the series!

Reviewed by Stacie Haas for Readers' Favorite

Livia Stone’s life will never be the same again, not since her twin brother, Jasper, was tragically killed while on a college visit. It seems that everyone is trying to help—her mother, best friend, teacher-mentor, and even her dead grandmother—but no one understands the nightmare Livia is living. She can’t seem to stop wearing her brother’s shirts, having sex with his best friend, or taking the little white pills prescribed by her psychologist. When the pills run out, Livia turns to her absentee father’s old alcohol stash. Livia is fully aware of her bad decisions, but feels powerless to stop making them as the grief consumes her. Her spiral escalates when she returns to school and her struggles are laid bare for all to see, including Daniel, a new British student who knows something about loss and pain, and some days helps her cope with her own. Livia comes to see that Jasper lived his truth, but the question is, can she find a way to live hers and go on without him?

Standing Sideways by J. Lynn Bailey is a deeply-felt, heart-wrenching story that drew me in from the very first page. Ms. Bailey’s writing is superb; Livia’s grief is palpably felt throughout the novel. Standing Sideways is well paced and addictive with its emotional pull and perfectly delivered plot twists and revelations of who Jasper was, how he died, and finally how he lived. There were times I had to sigh at Livia, cry with her, and was disappointed in her, but I always rooted for her. Although fiction, the story was based on a real tragedy suffered by the author’s family. This sad truth is unbelievably and bravely shared in Standing Sideways. Reading the book deeply affected me and it’s one I’m not likely to forget. A penetrating and beautiful story about grief, love, and standing in the end—even if it’s “standing sideways.”

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Dealing with the Devil is the first book in The Earthwalker Trilogy, written by Jennifer Siddoway. While visiting her comatose Romani mother in hospital, Wynnona (Wynn) Hendricks catches a glimpse of a handsome stranger in the lobby, staring back at her. Back at home, Wynn finds herself face to face with none other than Lucifer himself, who reveals a shocking secret which forces Wynn to question who her mother had truly been, and the color of her tainted soul. After being rescued by Caleb (a celestial guardian), Wynn is forced to stand trial for her life. With angelic Caleb and purely evil Lucifer cemented into her life, Wynn is destined to fight a terrifying inner battle of good versus evil within her very soul.

In possibly one of the most intense plot twists I have ever read, Dealing with the Devil has everything occult fans could desire. Not only has Jennifer Siddoway created a character whose innocent life seemingly careens off course without any notice, but the level of deception involved in each character's interaction is intense. What I loved the most about this book is that it throws the reader into a world which is so phantasmagorical, immersing them into different realms of both darkness and light. Just as I thought I’d developed a firm grip on the story’s plot lines, each one becomes shrouded in an infinite number of questions, leaving the reader desperate for more and more information, so that they might also come to a logical conclusion.

Dealing with the Devil is left open, making way for the second installment (which I simply cannot wait to read). It is so rare that I come across an occult tale which leaves me with goosebumps – not of the horrific kind – but Jennifer Siddoway’s first book in the series has done just that. I look forward to reading what comes next for Wynn, and recommend Dealing with the Devil to fans of the paranormal genre who do not mind being blind-sided by what jumps out of the shadows of each thrilling chapter.

Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

Paper Airplane is a compelling read of adolescent angst by Kevin N. Fair that straddles the fence somewhere between upper middle-grade fiction and younger Young Adult fiction. Thirteen-year-old Mitchell (Mitch) Connor Jr. has started the eighth grade at Brookdale Middle School. He and best buddies, Jeremy (Jay) Ramsey and Percival (Peanut) Simmons, are convinced that eighth grade is going to be a stellar year for all of them. Mitch’s life has been pretty good so far – if not entirely stellar. For the most part, Mitch has a great family. His older sister, Yvette, is a senior in high school, his mom – now pregnant and soon to give birth – teaches at her high school, and he also has a seven-year-old brother, Sammy, while Mitch’s dad owns Mitchell’s, a local pizzeria. Altogether, things are pretty good on the home front, but Mitch wishes he wasn’t chunky and that he could be more comfortable around girls, especially when he discovers that Stephanie Miller, the hottest girl at Brookdale, is in his math class. Mitch is a gifted student and hopes to use his skills in math as a way to get closer to Stephanie, who’s on the verge of failing the class. To complicate matters, Mitch has won a spot in the musical chorus where he becomes close to another girl, Becky, whom he also likes. Just when a guy really needs his best buds, Mitch discovers that Jay and Peanut aren’t the stand-up guys he thought they were. Then things with his mom and her pregnancy get kind of hairy and, suddenly, Mitch’s pretty normal life takes a turn for the complicated…

Paper Airplane is compelling and a great read, thanks in large part to the author’s solid voice, which resonates convincingly, making the character of Mitch speak to every kid who’s ever had problems in their life that they’ve never been able to talk about to anyone. Despite the fact that Mitch is likeable and gifted, he’s nevertheless got his hang-ups with his weight and his awkwardness around girls, just like any other kid his age. What is particularly interesting about this story is that it shows that all it takes is for a few things to go wrong and, suddenly, things start to go south very quickly. Despite his intellectual smarts, Mitch is nevertheless a kid who relies on a stable home life when his best friends betray him and, when things at home take a turn for the worse, Mitch reacts and does so badly. The dialogue is genuine and believable while Mitch’s relationship with Becky is sweet and so necessary in order to bring some stability to Mitch’s suddenly turbulent life. Fair’s writing effortlessly gets to the heart of the adolescent psyche and Paper Airplane could easily pass as a collaboration between two of the greatest writers of adolescent angst, John Green and Judy Blume.