"Us Against You" by Fredrick Backman--We Both Liked This!

Us Against You by Fredrick Backman is the sequel to Bear town. It is about the aftermath of the rape of Maya and how Bear town and Hed become not just rivals, but enemies! This book really centers on the community and the way society changes. There are many well-developed characters in this, not just the hockey players. When the hockey coach takes most of his good players and plays for Hed instead, Bear town has to rebuild its team, starting with finding a new coach who is a woman! This second book shows how politicians use their power and comparisons are drawn between them and “the pack.” The characters feel like real people—both good and bad at the same time with real life problems.

This book started out pretty slow for me because I’m not into politics and wanted more hockey. The beginning of the book is spent on political deals and trying to build up a hockey team, but then the violence started and I began to get attached to the characters. I really liked Benji, the pack, Ramona, Vidar, Amat, Jeanette (martial arts teacher) and Elisabeth Zackell (hockey coach). This is mostly a sad story with a few bright spots. It is about loyalty and dynamics of friendships which I found interesting. If you enjoyed Bear town, I think you will also enjoy the sequel.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review:
Us Against You by Fredrick Backman is the follow-up to Bear Town and is as good!  It picks up where Bear town left off.  I loved both these books!  I really enjoyed all the different people in this one.  The writing is so good I read every word!  What I enjoyed most was that from page to page I never knew what character was going to tell the story next or what the outcome would be.  The twists and turns were very good!  I WANT MORE BEAR TOWN!
(5++ stars) 

Teaser from pg. 9: The worst thing we know about other people is that we’re dependent upon them. That their actions affect our lives.


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"Neverworld Wake" by Marisha Pessl

In Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl, Beatrice has five cool friends she made in high school.  Her boyfriend was the sixth and the leader of the group!  He has a shocking death and two year later, Beatrice is not over it.  Now the old gang is getting back together for the first time since high school graduation.  Beatrice decides to go because she knows secrets about her friends and maybe she can get some answers about her boyfriend's death.

For the most part, this book was pretty good.  Some parts were far fetched, but the ending chapters more than made up for that!  Beatrice was a real good character!  Give this a shot!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)  

Teaser from page 30:  "You're all nearly dead.  Wedged between life and death."

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"Lying in Wait" by Liz Nugent is a Wild Read!

Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent is told by multiple people.  The two main people who tell it are Lydia and Laurence.  They are a mom and son.  Lydia made Laurence share a secret that is the central part of this book. 

I thought this book was wild!  In a good way!  Secrets come out that will have your head spinning.  There are some dull spots, but for the most part the pacing of this book is really good.  The last part of this book will have you turning pages and the ending is one that I did not see coming at all!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 47:  "I was a fool to go along with your crazy plan.  I did it because I loved you."

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"Life in a Jar--The Irena Sendler Project" by Jack Mayer

Life in a Jar--The Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer is so Good!  What started out as a school project turned into something that has touched many lives!  Four young Kansas teens discovered the true story of Irena Sendler, and what a story it is!  This book is told in three parts.  Part 1 is the girls discovering Irena's story.  Part 2 is the main part of the book.  The true story of how Irena risked her life every minute of every day to save 2,500 children from the Germans and certain death!  Part 3 is the girls meeting Irena! 

I thought the main part of the book was so captivating I found it hard to put down!  Irena was a true hero!  I loved this book!  Part 3 when the girls met her in person was really good too!  You owe it to yourself to read this book!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 160:  "Doesn't this make you nervous?" Irena Schultz said.  "A few orphans every week is one thing--ten times that many--and not orphans--that's quite another."

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"Underdogs" by Mike Lupica

The Underdogs by Mike Lupica is a football story about a youth football team in a small town that can’t afford another season. Will comes up with a way to save the team, but they are one player short until they let a girl try out. Of course, there is some tension over letting a girl on the team and also they need a coach. Will is determined to not let the town take away football from and actively seeks a coach.

This is predictable, but a very good football story with dads and sons bonding, a girl proving she can play, and overcoming many hurdles to get to the championship game. I liked the football action, the team dynamics and the interaction between Will and Grayson.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page  83:  So Will wasn't even close to giving up yet, on the season or on Toby or getting the coach he wanted, the coach he knew would be perfect for his underdog team.  What did his dad always say?  'If you don't think you can, you can't.'

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"Aftermath" by Kelley Armstrong

Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong is a book straight out of the real world with a high school shooting, but this has a twist, trust me! This book deals with it three years later. Skye comes back to her hometown where her brother was the shooter. As you would expect, people do not exactly welcome her back. This book is also told by Jesse, who was Skye’s best friend/boyfriend. His brother was killed in the shooting and he is still dealing with it.

I thought this book was really good! It was told very well. Skye and Jesse were both very likeable. I thought the ending was okay but could have been better. That being said, it is still good and I give it 5 stars!
(Gerard's review)

Teaser from page 8:  I see their expressions, and I crumple to the floor.  I hear this scream, this terrible scream, and I realize it's coming from me.


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"Summer Ball" by Mike Lupica

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica is a story about Danny, a short 13-yr-old who loves playing basketball.  His dad used to play but had an accident so had to stop.  When his dad wants to send Danny to the Right Way Basketball camp for three weeks, he really does not want to go.  He knows kids will make fun of him and he'll have to prove he can play with guys who are bigger all over again.  He is disappointed when he finds out he is not bunking with his buddies and then gets stuck with an old grouchy coach who he doesn't like.  Danny decides to stick it out and makes some new friends.  He gets his chance to prove he can play.

I enjoyed this book once Danny got to basketball camp.  It has a lot of basketball games, tips for practicing and strategies.  It also has a bit of bullying and follows Danny through his ups and downs.  I think anyone who enjoys basketball would like this book, especially short kids who play basketball!
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 48:  "I never have to play basketball," Danny said.  "I always want to play."  Then he made a sudden cut to the basket.

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"Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemirovsky

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky tells the true story of the people who lived and died as the Germans came and took over Paris, France.  This was good stuff!  A lot of people dealt with this in so many different ways!  The writing puts you right in the middle of this.  The author of this book was arrested and died in a German concentration camp.  This manuscript was hidden for years before being discovered.  this is a very good non-fiction historical book!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars) 

Teaser from page 15:  Monsieur Pericand looked at him.  "My poor boy!" was all he said.

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"I'll Be Gone In The Dark" by Michelle McNamara

In I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, some person is going around killing people.  The police label him "The Golden State Killer."  Michelle wants him stopped and goes all in on doing just that!

This book was like a book version of the TV show, "Dateline."  Michelle was a consultant for that show.  I found it very interesting how she put the pieces of the murders together to try to find the killer.  The book has been on the New York Times  Best Seller list for a long time.  I see why!  It's very good.  Sadly, Michelle passed away.  May she rest in peace.  She sure put together a great book!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 6:  My husband was on his side, sleeping.  I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at him until he opened his eyes. 
     "I think I found him," I said.  My husband didn't have to ask who "him" was.

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"Heat" by Mike Lupica

Heat by Mike Lupica is a story about Michael, a little league pitcher who loves baseball, has a very strong arm and a big secret he shares with his older brother, Carlos.  They are from Cuba, just like Michael's favorite Yankee pitcher!  He pitches lights out until a rival team challenges his eligibility because they can't believe he's only 12.  When he signed up to play, they accepted his baptism certificate as proof of age, but now must produce a birth certificate which his dad apparently forgot to bring when they left Cuba.  He can't play until he gets it!  Michael only cares about playing ball until he sees a mystery girl named watching them practice with an arm as strong as his and is immediately attracted to her.  

I enjoyed this baseball book and liked Michael's relationship with his best friend and catcher, Manny.  There is also some humor along with some actual games.  I liked how Michael and Carlos stuck together and went to great lengths to keep their big secret.  Ellie also added some extra bit of interest to the story.  I recommend this to anyone who likes reading about youth baseball.  I was a bit disappointed that it stopped short of the Little League World Series game in Pennsylvania.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 44:  Michael turned around and looked at Manny.  Who was staring at the girl in the distance the way you stare at fireworks the first time you see them in the sky.  "I saw," Manny said.

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"The Outsider" by Stephen King

In The Outsider by Stephen King, a Little League baseball coach is arrested on the field for the murder of a young child.  The police have a witness that placed him at the crime scene and DNA all over the crime scene indicates he was there.  However, other witnesses claim he was at a book convention far away from the murder scene when the crime was committed.  How can he be in two places at the same time??? 

There is good stuff here.  This kept my interest and kept me turning pages.  The only problem I had was that the ending dragged out.  That being said, I enjoyed this, and if you are a Stephen King fan, you will too!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 21:  "You can preach to the multitudes later, Maitland.  Right now you're going to jail."

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"Ellen" by Rachel Wesson

Ellen is Book 6 in the Clover Springs Mail Order Bride series by Rachel Wesson that I am enjoying very much! The author introduces one main character in each book and the reader sees how the small town in Colorado gradually builds up. I’m loving it! Ellen is Katie’s sister. Ellen got a chance to attend a University to become a school teacher, but discovered it was harder than expected and returned to Clover Springs. She starts teaching again in Clover Springs and Father Molloy comes for a visit with two orphans who are mixed breeds. Talk of an orphanage for the town comes up and plans go forward. Some matchmaking ensues for Ellen and Samuel Higgins, but can a fire destroy their dream?

I didn’t feel Ellen was as a dynamic character as the first five so this book was not quite as good as the others in my opinion, but it went quickly and I still enjoyed it. (4 stars)


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"Dog Medicine" by Julie Barton

Dog Medicine by Julie Barton is a true story about how her dog helped her. Julie had a rough childhood to say the least. She tried to go it alone and that turned into a total disaster. She needed help and fast! She decided to get a puppy! She could not even take care of herself so it was hard to see how she would manage to take care of a young dog.

I LOVED this book! I rooted for Julie all the way! This is a very short book. It goes fast so give it a chance, you will be glad you did! (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 104:  And, miraculously, I knew in that moment that I was more than capable of caring for him.  I felt enormously driven to create a space for Bunker that felt safe, free of all worry, fear, and anxiety.

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"Team Players" by Mike Lupica

Team Players by Mike Lupica is a children’s book about a girls’ softball team and a boys’ baseball team that I enjoyed. Cassie, an eighth grader, is a good athlete and loves sports. She has some close friends who are boys that she hangs out with. Her dad coaches her softball team and they are good! When a new girl, Sarah, tries out, she easily makes the team because she is so fast and has a great arm. For never having played before, she is pretty amazing and can hit the ball too! She seems weird though to the other girls because of some quirkiness due to her Asperger’s. When Cassie tries to help her fit in, things get crazy causing a lot of drama on her team! Meanwhile, the boys’ team her friends are on have a new coach that is a total jerk so have drama of their own. He just yells constantly and is way too intense which takes all the fun of playing out of it.

This book is like getting a double-header since it covers the team dynamics and season of two teams, not just one. I read it in one day and enjoyed it very much. It is about friendship, sports, and teamwork. As an adult reading this, I identified more with the coach and tried to think how best to handle the dissension on the girls’ team. I highly recommend this to any kid who enjoys baseball or softball, but especially team dynamics.
(Karen's review,5 stars)

Teaser from page 33:  Cassie gave Greta her biggest smile now and said, "We've only known her for two days.  What I think would be weird is not giving her a chance to fit in."

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"The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah (We Both Liked This!)

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah is a wild book! We meet the Allbright family. The husband Ernt, a former POW, Cora his wife and their daughter Leni. Ernt is still suffering flashbacks from the war and he has a hard time keeping a job and his temper. When a friend of his leaves him a house in Alaska, he wants a fresh start for him and his family. All will be well again!

I thought this book was really good! The three main characters are excellent and well brought out. At 644 pages (large print), this is no light read. I thought the pacing was okay and appreciated that it did not hop back and forth between present to past. A few twists caught me by surprise and I enjoyed the ending! (Gerard’s review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review (5 stars):  
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah is about standing by those you love.  Leni is raised by her mother, Cora, and her father, Ernt who changes after he gets back from being a POW in the Vietnam war.  He is very abusive to his wife, but can't help it and she always forgives him.  Her and Leni are very close and both pretend everything is fine.  When Ernt decides to make a fresh start with his family in Alaska, the book gets quite interesting.  

I thought this book was very good even though it moved a bit slow.  It delves into several different relationships and explores love between an abusive husband and his wife, a love/hate relationship between a daughter and her father, young love between Leni and Matthew, and love between mothers and daughters.  Another aspect of this book is how the community helps each other.  This book shows how decisions and choices we make affect not only us but those we love as well. 

Teaser from page 21:  Dad wanted a new beginning.  Needed it.  And Mama needed him to be happy.

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