CRASH

 

Jules has a big problem. Several, in fact. For instance, she lives above her family's Italian restaurant, which means she smells like pizza always. She has to drive her family's meatball-shaped food truck to school because she has no car. And she sees a vision. It's everywhere. On billboards, television commercials, windows, rearview mirrors. And she's the only one who can see it. It's driving her crazy. And she knows crazy. Crazy is her father hoarding everything in their small apartment. Crazy is her  former crush abandoning her. Crazy is the life-long feud between her family and the enemy restaurant, also family-owned by Angottis. Angottis and Demarcos hate eachother. So isn't it just perfect that Sawyer Angotti and Julia Demarco have feelings for each other? Kind of an Italian Romeo and Juliet.  Back to the story.

Jules is desperate to stop the vision. Until she gets a closer look at the vision and realizes it's actually going to happen. The vision is simple. A yellow snowplow truck jumps the curb, crashes through a building, and explodes. Not simple. Jules thinks she can stop the vision, but she needs more. So she analyzes every aspect of the vision, nailing down fact after fact, And then she has a plan. Does Jules save lives? You'll have to see. I, however, do NOT rate this a Read It Twice. It just wasn't interesting enough for me to want to read more. I did enjoy the romance, though. Try it for yourself. Check it out at your local library or bookstore.

-BOOKWORM 

FORGOTTEN

Every morning at 4:33 a.m., London Lane's memory resets. She forgets everything that has ever happened to her. But she can see into the future. So every night before she goes to sleep, London writes herself a note, detailing everything she did that day and everything she needs to remember for tomorrow. She meticulously implants everything she will need into her cell phone and uses her memory of the future to help guide her through the day. But there are negatives to her condition. London lies to herself. And when that magic moment hits at 4:33, and London hasn't written EVERYTHING down, she forgets things. Things that could change her life. London uses her gift of seeing the future to help herself, and then later on, to help others. Then London meets a boy who's KNOWN her before. He knows her secret, and he doesn't tell her. But then London lets herself forget Luke, and he just pushes onward. As London bonds with him, she realizes that he is starting to help her piece together the past she can't remember But there's a huge mystery London can't remember and it's the key to healing her family. London is hunting for her clues, and she's haunted by a nightmare that is holding all the secrets. But there's something bigger, something that's scaring London. She's happy with Luke as her boyfriend, but when she looks into the future, she can't see Luke with herself. In fact, she can't see Luke at all. In a race against the clock, London is desperately searching herself because she knows she holds the key to it all. She pushes her brain to the limit until she discovers a shocking truth; she has a little brother who was kidnapped years ago. And she remembers it. London remembers all of it, and she starts to trace the path to her brother. By the end of the book, they've tracked the kidnappers down, but they haven't found Jonas. But London looks into the future and sees her brother, safe and happy. As for her and Luke?? You'll have to read and see. I definitely rate this a Read It Twice. Cat Patrick twists the story and creates a unique, lovable character with a believable problem. It's an incredible read. Look for it at your local library or bookstore.

-BOOKWORM 

Out of Nowhere

 

Tom Bouchard is a high school senior who has it all. Hot girlfriend, good grades, popularity, and the treasured soccer team captainship. He's on top of the world. Until. Until 9/11 takes the world by storm and Tom's town becomes home to hundreds of Somali refugees fleeing their war-torn country. Just like that, Tom's whole life is turned upside down. Watching people in his town display shocking prejudice against these foreign visitors has a permanent effect on Tom.

Somali kids are now attending Tom's school. As Tom helps these kids around, he starts to realize there's another side to each refugee. And then he meets one that's going to turn his senior year around, Saeed. Saeed is good. Real good. Already Tom's whole team is improving because of him. But it also has some negative effects. For instance, the team is penalized every day that Saeed is late. Tom discovers Saeed is sharing cleats with other members because he can't afford any of his own. Saeed and his fellow Somali people are showing the kids how wealthy they really are. And then the trouble begins,

In a game against the local Maquoit High team (the best team that can be), Saeed helps them defeat Maquoit. Instantly, an enraged father of one of the players (the son is coincidentally one of Tom's old best friends) sues the school district, claiming Saeed os too old to legally play. Tom quickly discovers Saeed does not know what his actual age is. Their team is falling apart. Then Tom, who has by now broken up with his clingy girlfriend, is seen with one of the Somali muslim girls, and all hell breaks loose. The Somali people stop talking to Saeed and his sister, who is the muslim girl Tom's seen with. Then Saeed leaves, and with him go all Tom's hopes of winning the championship. Maria Padian tells a story of racial inequality that's moving and true. But for me, it was a little boring. There wasn't much going on, and it seemed like an older story that wasn't really new. I do NOT rate this a Read It Twice. But that's my opinion. Go find out for yourself. Look for it at your local library or bookstore.

-BOOKWORM

Code Name Verity

The book opens with a depressing phrase penned by one of the two main characters: I AM A COWARD. "Verity", as she is referred to, has agreed to record anything and everything she can remember about the English Resistance in exchange for her life. She is supplied with pen and paper, and she begins to write her life story, slowly but surely, adding in occasional notes about her surroundings and her guards. But Verity plays a dangerous game. Her German supervisor notes she is using classic literature techniques to suspend her audience, and therefore create a need for her to still be alive. As she narrates her story, we see the ashamed thoughts of a coward who knows she is betraying her country. She is also slowly breaking down, getting closer and closer to revealing the climax of the story, and also the final piece of information the Nazis need. Finally, she reveals her last secret: She is a well-known English interrogator. After this last clue is given, Verity is taken away. After all, she is a designated NN prisoner and everyone knows that once the Nazis have used an NN, you never see them again.
          Part II is told by Maddie, the close friend of Verity and the pilot that landed Verity in her current situation. She narrates what happens after we stop hearing from Verity. She also gives us a startling insight into what's really going on: Verity is part of a major set-up. She was supposed to land in Germany and begin a complex assignment that would flush out major leaders and destroy Nazi records. But Verity is captured because she looks the wrong way while crossing the street. And it all goes downhill from there. Author Elizabeth Wein is a master, spinning a web of realistic, believable lies that capture you. What seems to be truth is a lie, and then that's also a lie. She captures the desperate search for Verity, and gives a glance into the world of secrecy and lies that surrounded the Holocaust. It thrilled me to the bone, and I definitely rate this a Read It Twice. But be warned: There's a shocking twist waiting for you. And you'll never see it coming. Look for Code Name Verity at your local library or at Barnes and Noble.
-BOOKWORM