Category Archives: Young Adult/Teen 12-18

Review: As White as Snow by Salla Simukka

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As White as Snow by Salla SimukkaAs White as Snow by Salla Simukka
Translated from Finnish by Owen F. Witesman
Skyscape/Amazon

After risking her life to bring down a crime ring in Finland, seventeen year-old Lumikki retreats to the anonymous streets of Prague, hoping to find a little peace. Instead she finds a young woman claiming to be her long-lost sister whose life may be in danger. Even though she finds the girl’s story suspicious, Lumikki can’t turn her back on the girl and the mystery surrounding her.

Some elements – an investigative reporter working to uncover a far-reaching scandal aided by a brilliant but odd girl – may remind readers of Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Yet despite the drama and suspense, the story’s pace … Continue reading →

Review: The Lost Princess by Dani-Lyn Alexander

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The Lost Princess by Dani-Lyn AlexanderThe Lost Princess (The Kingdom of Cymmera #2)
Dani-Lyn Alexander
Lyrical Press
Published: 10/13/15

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Ryleigh’s boyfriend is from another dimension. Literally. Jackson, the newly crowned king of Cymmera wants her to leave the human world behind and join him in ruling his kingdom. Torn between what could be her destiny and her love for her younger sister still in the human world, Ryleigh isn’t sure what to do. Then an important Cymmeran relic disappears. Ryleigh sets out to find the missing stone and stumbles onto a treasonous plot that could destroy Jackson’s fragile kingdom. She must find a way to warn him before the betrayal can be carried … Continue reading →

Review: Never Said by Carol Lynch Williams

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Never Said by Carol Lynch WilliamsNever Said
Carol Lynch Williams
Zondervan

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

In the midst of her devastation over a break-up, Sarah realizes something isn’t right with her twin. Annie has been withdrawing from the family for some time, but her behavior seems to be escalating. She chops off her hair, gains weight, and gives up the beauty pageants she once lived for. Though shy and socially anxious Sarah has always been jealous of the way her parents favor Annie, she begins to worry about her sister. Sarah pushes toward her sister, and finds that in return, Annie reluctantly opens up to her.

The writing style was the first thing that captured me in this story. … Continue reading →

Review: Shades of Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

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Shades of Doon by Corp and LangdonShades of Doon
Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon
Blink YA/Zondervan
Published: September 1, 2015

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As Vee embraces her role as Doon’s Queen, she looks forward to the day she and Jamie will be able to rule together. Her best friend Kenna still searches for her own place in the kingdom. Just as Kenna begins to feel she’s found her niche, a dark force boots both girls from their beloved land and drops them back in the real world. As if facing the shock of their old, broken lives wasn’t enough, all signs indicate that this is just the beginning of a new threat. Together with the MacCrae boys, they’ll … Continue reading →

Upcoming Reviews: October 2015 Part 1

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oct2015_part1October Reviews at The Story Sanctuary: Part 1

This month The Story Sanctuary has a pretty diverse line-up, featuring reviews from indie authors, Christian publishers as well as some books from Netgalley’s list of YA publishing houses. Good stuff which I can’t wait to share coming this October 2015. Here’s a bit about why I chose each of these titles for review:

Never Said by Carol Lynch Williams

About the book: Sarah’s sister Anna has always been the perfect one, and then suddenly she’s not. Sarah’s own crises draw her and Anna together once again, and the walls between them crumble once again as they finally share the things they never said to one another.

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Review: On a Clear Day by Walter Dean Myers

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On a Clear Day by Walter Dean MyersOn a Clear Day
Walter Dean Myers
Crown Books for Young Readers
Published: September 23, 2014

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Since her mother’s death, Dahlia has simply survived. On her own in a rundown apartment, she waits for a way to make her life mean more. Then two boys offer her a chance to make a difference. She joins other teen prodigies in brainstorming a strategy to take down C-8, a group of corporations that have the world in a stranglehold. But just as Dahlia and her team stumble onto something big, a big-shot terrorist comes to town. The team knows he must be stopped, but taking him on might simply be … Continue reading →