The Rapid Reader

The Assignment by Liza M. Wiemer (Young Adult) I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All I can say is: WOW! I could NOT put this book down. I had to know what happened! This was an important read and teens everywhere should be required to read it - teachers, too! Told from different points of view, this book addresses an assignment in high school that asks students to defend the Nazi perspective.  Warning: This book does have some language and it's hard to read in parts. There are several instances of hate speech and actions.  Purchase this book on Amazon here! Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia (Book 2) (Middle Grade) Sometimes sequels are disappointing, but this one wasn't! I may have enjoyed this one more than the first! I think my kids will be a little bummed out that there's not as much Gum Baby, but there's definitely a LOT of action and adventure! This series is a great way to learn about African folklore

I'm a few days late, but here it is! My top books from 2020! Because of quarantine, I was able to finish 321 books - 83,718 pages. I decided to organize my favorites by genres so they are easier to pick out for those who care! 😊   Middle Grade: -All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker -New Kid AND Class Act by Jerry Craft (graphic novels - 1st two books in the same series) -Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina -A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee -To Be a Slave by Julius Lester (Nonfiction) -Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds -Mistakes Were Made and We Meet Again by Stephan Pastis (Timmy Failure series) -Guitar Notes by Mary Amato -The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden -The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon -Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus AND Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (1st two books) -The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQUeen (Historical fiction) -My Year in the Midd

Purchase this book on Amazon here! The Unteachables is a middle grade fiction novel by Gordon Korman. Told from multiple perspectives, this book tells the story of an eighth grade class of "unteachable" students and their burned-out teacher, Mr. Kermit, who is counting down the days until early retirement. But the class soon finds that their days of learning are not over - and neither are Mr. Kermit's days of teaching. Sex: There is no sex in this book. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are a few instances of kid on kid hitting, but nothing serious.  Final Note: This book was so heartwarming! It will be enjoyed by both students and teachers. I've always really liked Gordon Korman and this book did not disappoint! 5\5 stars from me!

Purchase this book on Amazon here! If Birds Fly Back is a YA contemporary novel by Carlie Sorosiak. Ever since Linny's sister ran away, she has been obsessed by disappearances. She spends her time researching famous people who have gone missing. Sebastian, on the other hand, is more interested in scientific things. That's until he finds out the true identity of his father. Although they've never met, Linny and Sebastian are brought together when Alvaro Herrera reappears, after missing for several years. They both come to him seeking answers, but leave with more than they expect. Sex: There is sex in this book. It's not too graphic, but it's there. Language: Moderate. Drug/Alcohol Use: There is some underage drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is a character that dies. Final Note: This book really fell flat for me. I wanted to like it, but it took me several days to get through it because it couldn't keep my interes

Purchase these books on Amazon here! The Unwind Dystology is a series of YA dystopian novels by Neal Shusterman. Connor, Risa, and Lev are the three main characters in this four book series. The Second Civil War is over after new reproductive laws are passed. Abortions are no longer legal, but when a child is between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, their families can choose to have them "unwound." Unwinding takes all of a person's organs and transplants them into new donors. Unwinding can happen for several reasons. Connor was a problem child whose family just couldn't "handle" him anymore. Risa is the victim of an overcrowded group home. Lev is a tithe, a child designated by his parents from birth for unwinding. But these three manage to escape and start to challenge the way society views them. Will things ever change? Sex: Sex is not a big aspect of this series, despite it's coverage of reproductive rights. There is a near sexual assault

Purchase this book on Amazon here! What to Say Next is a contemporary YA novel by Julie Buxbaum. Kit just doesn't feel like her regular self. It has been months since her dad died and everyone seems to think she should be "over" it, but she can't seem to move on. David doesn't have any friends. He never even sits with anyone at lunch, until the day Kit sits next to him. Kit's grief and David's social disorder lead to an unlikely friendship that neither of them saw coming.  Sex: It's been a few months since I actually ready this book, but I don't remember anything sexual. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Underage drinking on occasion.  Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Kit lost her father in a car accident. She constantly replays this and it's a topic of several discussions.  Final Note: I loved this book! I was really happy to read a book that had high school characters that aren't "typical." Dav

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Warcross is a YA science fiction novel by Marie Lu. The world no longer revolves around reality: it revolves around Warcross. More than just a game, Warcross is a virtual reality that has a fan base that spans the entire world. When Emika Chen hacks the opening game of the international Warcross Championships, she becomes an overnight celebrity. Not only that, but she catches the attention of the Warcross creator, Hideo Tanaka. Hideo immediately gives her a job and a place in the championship games. But Emika's investigation will unearth secrets she wasn't expecting. Sex: There are a couple of mildly sensual scenes. They never go too far, but they have the potential to in future novels or even in the reader's imagination. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: A few instances of drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several fights and battles. A couple of deaths are talked about in the past tense as