Review: Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

Review: Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

Review: Ivory and Bone by Julie EshbaughTitle: Ivory and Bone
Series: Ivory and Bone #1
Author: Julie Eshbaugh
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: June 7, 2016
Rating: four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Two clans. Only one will survive.

The only life seventeen-year-old Kol knows is hunting at the foot of the Great Ice with his brothers. But food is becoming scarce, and without another clan to align with, Kol, his family, and their entire group are facing an uncertain future.

Traveling from the south, Mya and her family arrive at Kol’s camp with a trail of hurt and loss behind them, and hope for a new beginning. When Kol meets Mya, her strength, independence, and beauty instantly captivate him, igniting a desire for much more than survival.

Then on a hunt, Kol makes a grave mistake that jeopardizes the relationship that he and Mya have only just started to build. Mya was guarded to begin with—and for good reason—but no apology or gesture is enough for her to forgive him. Soon after, another clan arrives on their shores. And when Mya spots Lo, a daughter of this new clan, her anger intensifies, adding to the already simmering tension between families. After befriending Lo, Kol learns of a dark history between Lo and Mya that is rooted in the tangle of their pasts.

When violence erupts, Kol is forced to choose between fighting alongside Mya or trusting Lo’s claims. And when things quickly turn deadly, it becomes clear that this was a war that one of them had been planning all along.

Amazon “iBooks” “Blackwell’s”

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Book Review: Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh is one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. This prehistoric book teaches the reader a lot about life during the ice age and contains a male main character who is very brave. The theme of family made me appreciate the book even more, and I would definitely recommend it. Continue reading

Book Review: How It Ends by Catherine Lo

Book Review: How It Ends by Catherine LoTitle: How it Ends
Author: Catherine Lo
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: June 7, 2016
Rating: three-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

How it begins…

"You're in my English class, right?"
I almost checked behind me to make sure she wasn't talking to someone else.

How it unravels…

“You can be my best friend without being my only friend."
Her words were knives raked along my skin. I could hear the goodbye in every syllable.

How it Ends.

Why should I keep her secrets when she didn't keep mine? All it would take was one little click and a carefully worded message.

How it Ends is an honest, heart-wrenching tale of a friendship from first meeting to breakup. Told through alternating points of view, it is about two best friends’ tumultuous sophomore year of bullying, boys and backstabbing and what can happen when friends choose assumptions and fear over each other.

Amazon “iBooks” “Blackwell’s”

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Book Review: How it Ends by Catherine Lo

How It Ends by Catherine Lo is such a touching story about friendship. This book has a realistic representation of two friends who slowly drift apart and is very relatable. What I especially enjoyed was the main character and the believable way that her anxiety was shown. Continue reading

Review: Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten

Review: Beware That Girl by Teresa TotenTitle: Beware That Girl
Author: Teresa Toten
Also by this author: The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: May 31, 2016
Rating: three-half-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

This powerful psychological thriller with multiple mysteries is set against the backdrop of the mega-wealthy elite of New York City. Toten delves into the mesmerizing yet dysfunctional world of those who manipulate but seem ever so charming. With its gripping pace and Hitchcockian twists, Beware That Girl will keep readers guessing until the very last line.

The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brian appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change that. She’s book smart. She’s street-smart. Oh, and she’s also a masterful liar.

As the scholarship student at the Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ladder and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.

When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives—becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. How close can Kate and Olivia get to Mark without having to share their dark pasts?

Amazon “iBooks” “Waterstones"

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Review: Beware that Girl by Teresa Toten

 Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten is an interesting read for fans of the psychological thriller genre. I started this book with really high hopes, which is probably why I ended up a little disappointed. This book is told in alternating perspectives and contains a super smart main character, which is enjoyable. The plot, however, is uneventful in certain parts and is quite boring. Continue reading

Review: The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander

Review: The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah AlexanderTitle: The Art of Not Breathing
Author: Sarah Alexander
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Rating: three-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Since her twin brother, Eddie, drowned five years ago, sixteen-year-old Elsie Main has tried to remember what really happened that fateful day on the beach. One minute Eddie was there, and the next he was gone. Seventeen-year-old Tay McKenzie is a cute and mysterious boy that Elsie meets in her favorite boathouse hangout. When Tay introduces Elsie to the world of freediving, she vows to find the answers she seeks at the bottom of the sea.

Amazon “iBooks” “Blackwell’s”

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Review: The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander

The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander is a book that honestly had so much potential! It is about a girl who tries to remember her brother’s disappearance and even incorporates free diving. However, the main character seems emotionless and makes some pretty bad choices, which made the book a lot less enjoyable. Continue reading