Category Archives: Contemporary

Review: The Manager by Caroline Stellings

By | | , , ,
Comments Off on Review: The Manager by Caroline Stellings

The Manager by Caroline StellingsThe Manager
Caroline Stellings
Cape Breton University Press
Published October 1, 2013

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Convinced an experimental surgery will solve her problems, Tina drags her sister on a wild journey from Nova Scotia to Boston. Along the way, Tina finds a gem of a boxer and convinces him to let her operate as his manager. Though skeptical at first, Jesse Mankiller begins to respect Tina’s unorthodox style. Together they hope to prove they have what it takes to win the big fight.

Like its protagonist, Tina MacKenzie, this is definitely one of those books that you might overlook at first. But while the cover won’t … Continue reading →

Review: Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

By | | , , ,
Comments Off on Review: Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

Rain Reign by Ann M. MartinRain Reign
Ann M. Martin
Feiwel & Friends
Published October 7, 2014

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Rose finds comfort in two things: homonyms and her dog Rain. When a fierce storm rips through her sleepy northern town, her dog disappears. Rose enacts a plan to find her missing companion, but along the way she learns about empathy for others in her community who’ve lost homes and family in the hurricane.

It’s difficult not to compare this novel with others with a similar narrator. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime particularly came to mind. Martin’s tale is a lot more kid friendly. The plot is … Continue reading →

Review: Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold by Iain Reading

By | | , , , ,
2 Comments

Kittyhawk and the Curse of the Yukon GoldKitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold
Iain Reading
Published November 30, 2012

Amazon | Goodreads

Teen adventurer Kitty Hawk’s dreams come true when she receives funding which allows her a chance to study the behavior and habits of humpback whales in waters off the coast of Alaska. Aboard her trusty De Havilland Beaver, Kitty observes and documents information about the whales from the air. The altitude gives her more than a bird’s eye view of the whales, though. When she spots a suspicious boat she fears may be carrying stolen Yukon gold, she stops to investigate – and gets swept away in a conspiracy stretching all the way back to the … Continue reading →

Review: Paper Towns by John Green

By | | , ,
Comments Off on Review: Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John GreenPaper Towns
John Green
Penguin Group
Published October 16, 2008

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Popular and notorious Margo Roth Spiegelman shocks Quinten out of his low-key, rule-abiding existence when she drags him along with her on a night of pranks and misadventures. When Margo disappears the following morning, Quinten believes she left clues to her whereabouts behind, hoping he will find her. As he searches for clues, he realizes there’s much more to Margo than the queen bee people perceive her to be. Through the Whitman poem she leaves behind and the abandoned hideaway Quinten discovers, he learns about seeing past the faux exterior to knowing someone as … Continue reading →

Review: Nest by Esther Ehrlich

By | | , , , ,
Comments Off on Review: Nest by Esther Ehrlich

Nest by Esther EhrlichNest
Esther Ehrlich
Random House Children’s
Published September 9, 2014

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Chirp begins fifth grade looking forward to another year of beloved family traditions: dancing with her mother, bird-watching hikes, and impromptu performances with her older sister Rachel. But something is different in the Orenstein house. Rachel hushes Chirp when she asks questions or wants to show her mother some new dance steps. Chirp can’t understand how these things could make her mother sad like Rachel says.

Then comes her mother’s devastating diagnosis. There will be no more dancing. As her mother’s health deteriorates, Chirp’s family unravels. Even her father’s ever-positive, talk-about-it outlook can make this … Continue reading →

Review: It’s Addicting by Laura L. Smith

By | | , , , , , ,
2 Comments

It's Addicting by Laura L. SmithIt’s Addicting
Laura L. Smith
Status Updates
Published April 23, 2014

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Palmer, Hannah, Claire and Kat begin the spring semester ready for any challenge. Kinda. Palmer wants to be among the elite writers of the university magazine, but she can’t seem to break into the group. That is, without a glass of Moscato in her hand. After years of being the supportive best friend to the girl who could have any guy, Hannah finally has a boyfriend of her own. When a chance to see Germany with her guy arises, Hannah really wants to go, even if it means … Continue reading →