Outrun Battlefuture by Will SciFi


Outrun Battlefuture by Will SciFi
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

WHAT IF YOU HAD TO ESCAPE WAR? ONLY PROBLEM – YOU’RE TRAPPED ON AN ISLAND.

In the year 2082, Noah lives peacefully with millions of kids who go to school and live on the island Trinity. The peace is shattered when news of student abuse is revealed, causing students to protest. As the situation worsens, riots happen, and war breaks out between students and the military which sends the island into absolute chaos.

Now Noah and his friends must make it off the island while being pursued by a vicious military and radicalized students. As they run for their lives, Noah must decide between escaping and finding out the truth behind the conflict. But this is no easy task for they are fighting for their lives in outrunning the battlefuture in this gripping scifi dystopian.

How far would you go for freedom?

The action scenes were well written and exciting. I especially liked the portions of the plot that described the battles that went on between the students and Heelers who were essentially a form of law enforcement for these schools. There were some pretty intense moments in these fights, and I couldn’t wait to see how everything would turn out.

I would have liked to see more world building in this novella. There wasn’t a great deal of time spent describing what Trinity, the boarding school where Noah and other children in this society lived between the age of five and eighteen, was like. Having a firm understanding of how kids were treated there was crucial for me to understand why Noah and his friends were so quick to revolt when they found out what had really happened to their missing classmates. The basic framework for a compelling story were definitely there. I simply needed concrete details to help me make the leap from what appeared to be a fairly contented life for them to outright revolution.

The dialogue felt natural to me. It was interesting to see how the characters’ speaking patterns changed depending on how much danger they were in at the moment. They went from speaking full sentences to getting their points across as quickly and quietly as possible. That’s exactly how people tend to react in frightening situations in real life in my experience, so it was nice to see it represented in fiction, too.

Anyone who loves gun battles and action in general should give Outrun Battlefuture a shot, pun intended.

Tales From an Odd Mind by Nom D. Plume


Tales From an Odd Mind by Nom D. Plume
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A selection of short stories and poems from many universes.

There’s a little bit of everything here for teens of all ages.

This unique collection was arranged into three sections. The first one shared stories that didn’t have endings, the second was a series of vignettes about the same group of characters, and the third was mostly composed of poetry. I felt obliged to clarify this since the blurb hinted at it but didn’t go into specifics.

Given that this was my first experience with the author’s writing style, I enjoyed getting a sort of sampling platter of the many different sorts of things they write. They’re the sort of author who seems pretty quite jumping between genres. With that being said, it was a little jarring as a reader to be introduced to so many different types of characters without having resolutions for most of them. I’d be a little hesitant about who I recommended this to because of that. Many people prefer more closure than what was offered here, and I do think that hampered the storytelling after a while because of how unusual this stylistic choice was.

Opening scenes are some of my favorite things to read as well as to write. There’s a real art in explaining enough about a world to draw the reader’s attention in without giving away too many details about what might happen next. I was intrigued by all of the beginnings in this first section and would have liked to see where they ended up. There was definitely a lot of room here for character and plot development as readers only got a brief taste of each scene before moving onto a new one in a different universe. It sure would have been helpful to get to know these characters and their conflicts better. I liked what I saw, but I didn’t get to see a lot of it.

“We Few Old Souls” was the name of the short stories that followed the same group of friends as they took care of each other after accidents and tried to figure out why they all kept being reincarnated and finding each other. This was by far the most interesting section to me. I was fascinated by their various lifetimes and had so many theories about why these characters were destined to meet up again no matter who they were in their latest lives.

The poetry was filled with wonder and emotion. I particularly enjoyed “An Ode to Langston Hughes.” Not only was it written in a style similar to the one this poet used, the subject matter was as timeless as his work, too. These patterns were repeated with the rest of the poems as well. They had conversational styles that made me smile.

Tales From an Odd Mind should be read by anyone who is in the mood for something creative.

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden


The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
(Chester Cricket and His Friends #1)
Publisher: Square Fish
Genre: Historical, Fiction, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

One night, the sounds of New York City–the rumbling of subway trains, thrumming of automobile tires, hooting of horns, howling of brakes, and the babbling of voices–is interrupted by a sound that even Tucker Mouse, a jaded inhabitant of Times Square, has never heard before. Mario, the son of Mama and Papa Bellini, proprietors of the subway-station newsstand, had only heard the sound once. What was this new, strangely musical chirping? None other than the mellifluous leg-rubbing of the somewhat disoriented Chester Cricket from Connecticut. Attracted by the irresistible smell of liverwurst, Chester had foolishly jumped into the picnic basket of some unsuspecting New Yorkers on a junket to the country. Despite the insect’s worst intentions, he ends up in a pile of dirt in Times Square.

Mario is elated to find Chester. He begs his parents to let him keep the shiny insect in the newsstand, assuring his bug-fearing mother that crickets are harmless, maybe even good luck. What ensues is an altogether captivating spin on the city mouse/country mouse story, as Chester adjusts to the bustle of the big city. Despite the cricket’s comfortable matchbox bed (with Kleenex sheets); the fancy, seven-tiered pagoda cricket cage from Sai Fong’s novelty shop; tasty mulberry leaves; the jolly company of Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat; and even his new-found fame as “the most famous musician in New York City,” Chester begins to miss his peaceful life in the Connecticut countryside.

A small cricket is about to make a big impact!

Chester had no idea his life was about to change the day he hopped into a picnic basket. When he wakes up in a subway station in New York City, he’s understandably confused and frightened. Things could have easily gone back for a small cricket in such a big city. Fortunately, the first inhabitant of New York that Chester meets is a young boy named Mario. The meeting will change both their lives forever.

Chester is a wonderful character. He’s kind and honorable. When he makes some mistakes that could cost the Bellini family dearly, Chester doesn’t run away. He stays and faces the consequences. With the help of his friends, Tucker and Harry, he finds a way to make it up to them by utilizing a rather incredible ability! I won’t spoil the story by revealing what Chester’s special talent is, but I will say that Chester’s talent soon attracts throngs of people to the newsstand! As much as Chester enjoys life in the city helping the Bellinis, he realizes he has to be true to himself and makes a very tough decision

Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat are great friends for Chester. Tucker can be selfish and greedy at times, but he has a good heart and, with a small nudge from Harry, Tucker always does the right thing. I loved watching them help Chester acclimate to city life. Their little dinner parties are especially entertaining!

I will say the portrayal of Sai Fong, a Chinese man who helps Mario learn about caring for Chester, is a bit problematic in that his dialogue and actions are stereotypical despite his otherwise positive character traits. Mario’s Italian mother also comes across in a stereotypical way at times as well. However, I think this book is worth reading, and these characters could prompt a discussion about stereotypes with children.

I had so much fun reading this tale with my children! The ending is bittersweet and satisfying while still leaving the door open for the next story. While I recommend this novel for ages 8-12, it can easily be read to children a bit younger. I look forward to reading the next installment in the series!

The Apprentice by Pilar Molina Llorente


The Apprentice by Pilar Molina Llorente
Publisher: Square Fish
Genre: Historical, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

In Renaissance Florence, thirteen-year-old apprentice Arduino’s dreams of being a painter are challenged after he discovers the extreme measures the Maestro Cosimo di Forlç will take in the name of jealousy. Arduino faces a decision that could cost him his only chance to realize his life’s dream.

Arduino’s dream is finally within reach.

Arduino comes from a family of very successful tailors. While Arduino’s father and brothers enjoy their work, Arduino dreams of taking a different path. He dreams of becoming a painter. Arduino comes from a happy home, and I love seeing healthy families represented in children and young adult books. Consequently, Arduino isn’t pursuing a dream of becoming an artist as a way to escape from home. He’s doing it because it is his passion. Despite his reluctance to disappoint his father, Arduino’s restlessness radiates off the pages. Arduino knows that becoming a painter will not be easy, but his heart is set on it. Even though his father disapproves, he arranges an apprenticeship for Arduino with Cosimo di Forli. Unfortunately, the apprenticeship is nothing like Arduino imagined.

I felt so sorry for Arduino. Cosimo is always in a foul mood and doesn’t teach Arduino anything. Instead, Arduino’s time is consumed with doing menial tasks and chores. As if that weren’t bad enough, the food is terrible, and there isn’t even room for Arduino in the bedroom with the other apprentices. I admire Arduino for putting up with it all. He has a good heart and is truly dedicated to his dream of becoming a painter. Everything changes when Arduino discovers Cosimo has a terrible secret. Arduino has a tough decision to make. Will he reveal what Cosimo has done even if it means the end of his apprenticeship, or can he find a way to do what is right and hold on to his dream?

The Apprentice is an intriguing and fast paced story. As I read with my children, they were so wrapped up in Arduino’s story that at the end of each chapter they would beg me to read more! In addition to being an engaging story, Ms. Llorente provides historical information concerning life and social customs during the Renaissance, life as an apprentice, and even a bit on the differences in the situations of men and women. All of this information is smoothly incorporated into the story so it doesn’t feel forced or slow the pacing of the story.

I enjoyed reading The Apprentice. Arduino’s story is captivating, and the ending is absolutely wonderful! Fans of children’s historical fiction would do well to give this story a try.

The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant


The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

How does an old woman who has outlived all her friends keep from being lonely? By naming the things in her life she knows she will never outlive—like her house, Franklin, and her bed, Roxanne. When a shy brown puppy appears at her front gate, the old woman won’t name it, because it might not outlive her. Tender watercolors capture the charm of this heartwarming story of an old woman who doesn’t know she’s lonely until she meets a plucky puppy who needs a name—and someone to love.

Love comes in all shapes, sizes, and species.

The unnamed main character had the unfortunate experience of living longer than everyone she ever loved. She was now nervous about growing attached to anyone else because of her fear of losing them. This isn’t something I’d ever seen brought up in a picture book before and I was quite curious to find out what this character’s solution to her problem would be. It obviously needed to be something that was appropriate for children, and it was. I had so much empathy for her and her loneliness.

There were some themes about death and grief that I thought could have been explained a little more gently, especially given the age group this was written for. These sections seemed to be geared towards adults instead of young children, so I’d probably have a conversation with little ones about this stuff before diving into the storyline. With that being said, they are important things to discuss with children and I’m glad the author decided to write about it.

Yes, this was serious subject matter, but it was presented in a lighthearted manner that I found pretty appealing. The old woman’s budding friendship with the stray puppy who kept showing up in her yard made me smile. She was kind to him from the beginning, but she was also so nervous about welcoming him into her home and heart. I truly enjoyed the tension between her conflicting desires to look after him and to protect her heart.

The Old Woman Who Named Things was a unique tale that I’d recommend to children and adults alike.

Adeline’s Aria by Laynie Bynum


Adeline’s Aria by Laynie Bynum
Infernal Echo #1
Publisher: Fire and Ice YA
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

What would you give up to be with your idol? Your reputation? Your best friend? Your sanity?

Addie is a small-town high school senior with a best friend to take care of and college plans to figure out. Jude is a drop-dead-gorgeous British rock star turned actor and one-half of Hollywood’s favorite “it” couple alongside his co-star, Lana Thatcher.

When the two cross paths at a music festival in Addie’s hometown and begin an undercover whirlwind romance, the press becomes vicious, his faux fiancé flames rumors, and Addie must decide if her “dream come true” is worth the nightmare it’s becoming.

Addie’s always admired Jude from afar. Now he’s right in front of her.

I found the premise of Adeline’s Aria extremely intriguing. Meeting a celebrity crush is something many people dream about, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened when Addie not only met Jude but also began a secret relationship with him!

Addie is a very likable character. As a young woman on the cusp of graduating from high school, she’s still trying to work out what her next step will be. Does she go to college? Pursue her love of photography? Both? Addie is smart, talented, and completely devoted to her family and friends, but what I like most about her, is how real she is. Sometimes she’s totally confident and has it all together. At other times, she’s a mess who needs the comfort of her mom and her best friend. She’s doesn’t have it all figured out, and that’s okay. When Jude comes crashing into her life, Addie is understandably swept off her feet, but through it all, she stays true to herself. I admire her quite a bit.

Jude is definitely a rock star. He’s talented, attractive, and I love the description of his tattoos. I also love the fact that (Un)Lost by The Maine is on his playlist! However, there is more to Jude than his on-stage persona. He’s a regular guy who is sweet and kind but also has faults and family drama. I will say that his occupation does seem to amplify some of his problems quite a bit. While Jude loves his work, he’s also trapped by it to a certain extent. Everything he does is scrutinized by the public. I admire his resilience in being able to live in the spotlight and not completely lose himself.

I love how Addie and Jude meet! I can’t say much without spoiling the story, but I will say this. It could have gone horribly wrong, but Addie handled herself extremely well. I can only hope if I find myself in a similar situation, I’m as cool under pressure as Addie was. From the moment they meet, they certainly have chemistry, but I do think their relationship moves a bit too fast. After spending a few hours together, things start to get pretty serious. Jude is very open with Addie from the start, which I like, but his life moves at a different pace, and Addie soon finds herself out of her depth. Consequently, Addie and Jude often find themselves at odds as they try to figure out how to have a serious adult relationship. I found myself wishing they would just slow down and have an honest conversation. Despite this issue, I have a lot of hope for Addie and Jude’s future.

I enjoyed reading Adeline’s Aria. The relationship drama was intense at times, but the ending made it all worthwhile. I look forward to finding out what comes next in this series!

The Midnight Before Me by Elizabeth Lo


The Midnight Before Me by Elizabeth Lo
Publisher: Westbrook Publishing
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Young Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

HOW MUCH IS A LIFE WORTH? WHEN THE WORLD DEMANDS AN ANSWER WE ALL SCRAMBLE TO FIND ONE.

My name is Midnight Thunder. The town crazy person; the Demon Eyes girl. The girl whose existence rests on a curse that saves her from death yet sets her on a path to an inevitable end.

I live in a world full of magic: spells, curses, enchantments, and everything in between. It would be a whimsical place, but, like anything, it’s imperfect. Little by little, my own country has begun to fall apart beneath its own mistakes. The queen’s gone a little bit more than mad, our military has collapsed, and of course, the only way to break the deadly curse at the root of it all is to sacrifice… me.

Midnight Thunder is just a girl who wants a simple life, and her picture of happiness is just a tree where she and her brother Black used to spend a lot of time together. But can her “Demon Eyes” that have been the reason for her isolation from society, suddenly become the solution to her finding true happiness? The Midnight Before Me seeks to answer the age-old question, “What makes life worth living?”

The plot of this story is so emotionally driven for a group of main characters that would have you believe they have given up hope on finding their meaning. This emotion powers through and pushes our characters together, making the anticipation for things to come truly agonizing when it comes time to finally put down the book and go to sleep.

Each chapter gives us the perspective of a different character, which brings the story such energy and depth, helping the readers be in two places at once and worrying about outcomes for all of the characters involved rather than just Midnight.

Lafayette is a troubled soldier, but the interactions between him and Midnight fill the novel with a warm life that would be missing otherwise. Their unspoken bond connects the readers to the story, and gives new meaning to “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

Midnight and Lafayette live in an entirely unique fantasy world of magicians and non-magical beings that is put together in a way I have never seen before in the world of Fantasy. Each of these qualities act as interchanging parts that bring suspense to the reader making them question how every aspect fits into the story.

Desperate for a happy outcome The Midnight Before Me was written so thoughtfully by Elizabeth Lo that it has me caring for each character and wondering what their lives are like after the end of the novel.

This is an excellent story for young adults and children alike, filled with lessons of finding one’s true purpose, living life to the fullest, and not being afraid of the things that make us different. It is in these qualities where our true power lies, and as an adult I am thankful to have been reminded of their importance in my life. You will not regret picking up a copy for yourself and letting Midnight Thunder show you that it should not take death to teach you how to live.

Forgiven Are the Starry-Eyed by Christine Dore Miller


Forgiven Are the Starry-Eyed by Christine Dore Miller
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Sixteen-year-old Andrea Cavanaugh is elated when Josh, a bright-eyed piano prodigy, becomes her first boyfriend. But the closer she gets to him, the more she realizes that he’s not the boy she first fell for. In its poignancy and emotional darkness, Forgiven are the Starry-Eyed takes you deep into the delicate and devastating web of shame that spirals from the depths of dating violence when dreamy teenage love turns dark. Andrea must find not only an escape, but a belief that she is even worthy of freedom.

Love isn’t supposed to hurt.

I appreciated the way the author showed the audience the many warning signs of an abusive relationship through multiple examples in the storyline itself. This was so much more effective than sharing a list or having another character spout them off once Andrea was more deeply involved with Josh. It also gave the audience a chance to think for themselves, especially when it came to the small moments of discomfort the main character felt on her first date that can so easily be brushed off.

There were some pacing issues in the beginning that I found distracting. What made them even more noticeable was that one scene from a faster-paced section was included out of chronological order early on. This was the only thing I wish had been written differently about this tale. Everything else about it was so accurate, interesting, and sympathetic that I wish every teenager would read it before they jump into the dating pool for the first time.

The ending was perfect. I often wondered how Ms. Miller was planning to resolve everything, especially since this was a fairly short novel and there were still so many loose ends to tie up by the time I got to the last ten pages or so. It was delightful to see where she went with the plot at that point. It was satisfying but also left room for a sequel if she ever decides to write one. I, for one, would love to know what happened to Andrea next!

Forgiven Are the Starry-Eyed was a timely, educational read that I’d recommend to teen and adult readers alike.

Avocado Bliss by Candace Robinson & Gerardo Delgadillo


Avocado Bliss by Candace Robinson & Gerardo Delgadillo
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Dacre Vinson has spent the majority of his life in quite the predicament—even the surf and his books can’t erase his Type 1 diabetes. But when Dacre’s family moves to a new Mexican town, an eccentric girl obsessed with trees offers him a job on the spot, leading to what could be the perfect distraction from his problems.

Salbatora Tames has one true love, her avocado farm. Her family constantly nudges her to be more social, but Sal much prefers the dirt, the sun, and the solitude. Besides, trees listen better than people do.

For Sal and Dacre, their job won’t stay easy breezy for long, not when an avocado delivery to Palenque, Mexico pops up on their radar. Together, they embark on a road trip across the jungle, where they form a tighter bond. However, as obstacles arise, their new-found troubles may lead to more woes than bliss.

This could be a summer full of changes.

Salbatora and Dacre’s character development were both handled wonderfully. It isn’t easy to pull this off when working with two narrators, so I commend the authors for putting so much work into making both of these characters well-rounded and interesting folks. It made me eager to get to know both protagonists better and see if they received the happy endings I thought they deserved.

While I initially understood Dacre’s strong reluctance to talk about his Type 1 Diabetes, there did come a time about halfway through the book when this personality trait of his strained credibility. I’m saying this as someone who has a different medical condition that can become life threatening if not handled correctly. Yes, it made total sense for Dacre to feel embarrassed and annoyed by the way certain folks babied him after learning about his condition. That is always irritating. At the same time, there are certain medical conditions that really need to be disclosed for safety reasons so that others will know what warning signs to look out for in an emergency and when they should call for help. There were so many other things I loved about this story, but I sure struggled to understand why that main character hadn’t learned to communicate the basics about his condition to new people yet.

The road trip was filled with adventure. I never would have guessed that delivering a shipment of avocados could be so dangerous, especially since this was set in modern times and the characters had cell phones and a vehicle. It was a great deal of fun to see just how much trouble two teens could get into despite these advantages.

Avocado Bliss was an exciting read that I’d recommend to anyone who has ever wished they could be like other people.

June Book of the Month Poll ~ Binding Circumstance by Kelley Griffin


Binding Circumstance by Kelley Griffin
Publisher: Champagne Book Group
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense/Mystery
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

To save the life of the man she loves, she’ll have to risk her own.

Costume designer, Leslie Carroll has mastered the art of flying under the radar. She’s had to, or risk being found by the psychopath who almost killed her.

When she literally falls into Hollywood heartthrob Charlie Erickson’s dressing room on her first day of employment, their mutual attraction is instant and undeniable. Despite his star status, Charlie is a sweet southern boy at heart, and for the first time in a long time, Leslie begins to think she has a chance at happiness.

When her harrowing past catches up to her and targets Charlie, will she run to save herself, or face her monster to save the man who is her future?

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE!