I found the premise of this book to be very intriguing: Libby, the author of the famous Falling Children book series, is diagnosed with dementia at the same time that her next book is due. She is close to finishing it, however her memory is failing her so much that she enlists an avid 11 year old reader, Peanut, to help her figure out how to write an ending that will save the children in the story. Stephanie Booth's writing is excellent and Peanut is a well developed character with an engaging voice. I feel like this book would be enjoyed by YA readers and even middle grade readers, because I found the story to be focused on Peanut and the child characters in the book more than it was on Libby, the author experiencing cognitive deficits. Libby's story was the one that interested me, but I struggled to get through parts of the book that were about Peanut and her friends and the Falling Children series. With that being said, I think this book would do very well as a YA publication and even as a middle grade selection. I am a retired teacher, and my students and I loved reading the Harry Potter books together, so I think this book would make a great classroom read-aloud!

This story is told to us by Dr. Alan Forrester, the brilliant psychiatrist who is treating Jenny Kramer, the teenaged victim of a brutal rape. For Jenny's parents Tom and Charlotte, the horror of what has happened to their daughter is made even worse because of the pain each of them carry from their own pasts. The identity of the rapist remains a mystery throughout most of the novel, but the author builds intrigue as back stories and secrets of the various characters are gradually revealed. I especially enjoyed the unique perspective of having the story narrated by the psychiatrist who has access to the intimate thoughts of each of the characters. If you enjoy psychological thrillers like Gone Girl and Defending Jacob, you will definitely want to read All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker!

The narrator is Matthew, a teenage boy who witnessed the traumatic death of his brother when they were both young. He has repressed his intense grief and guilt, which ultimately leads to a breakdown, hospitalization, and diagnosis of schizophrenia. Nathan Filer writes brilliantly as the voice of this young man, and as a reader I empathized with Matthew a great deal. With that being said, this was a difficult read for me because Matthew's thoughts and narration are somewhat disjointed - at times I felt like I was plodding through it, which is not my favorite way to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone whose life is affected by mental illness.

Max Walker was born intersex, a fact that apparently did not cause much conflict or confusion for him as a child. However, when he is 16, aspects of his sexuality are forced into immediate consideration for Max and his parents. Karen and Steve had been completely oblivious to the psychological and social dilemmas Max would face as a teenager, so they had not discussed sex with him at all. Max is tormented about something that has happened to him, and his anguish is made very palpable by the author. He is dealing with so many confusing issues, with no one to turn to who might be able to understand and empathize with his unique condition. I very much liked the two characters who DO provide some support: his doctor, and his friend Sylvie. This book brought to mind two books I have read which also featured intersex protagonists: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and Annabel by Kathleen Walker. I think that having read these standout novels enhanced my enjoyment of Golden Boy.

I loved the detailed descriptions of the settings in this novel. I was able to sustain vivid images of the ocean, morrow, lighthouse, tide pools, cave, and artifacts. There were passages I found myself re-reading because of the beauty of the language. I empathized with Trudy's initial difficulty in adjusting to the isolation and lack of material comforts at Point Lucia, yet I came to appreciate her satisfaction with the life she made for herself. The plot itself was not quite as riveting as I had initially imagined it would be, and yet I was compelled to read this entire book in one sitting, always wanting to learn more about the mysterious character who is introduced mid-way through the book.

I was very eager to read this book, based on the advanced praise. However, I found that it got off to a very slow start for the first 65 pages. Then, finally, I started to care about Frederick, Jette, Joseph, and Rosa. These characters were well drawn and had great potential for development, but it seemed to me that the author put more focus onto the historical events (WW l, Prohibition, Big Flood, Stock Market Crash, WW ll, etc.) that surrounded their lives. Lomax was one character that I felt I knew well, and I really enjoyed the way he befriended and loved both Joseph and Rosa. The book soon turned its focus onto the next generation of Meisenheimers- James, Freddy, Frank, and Teddy.
I must honestly say that I didn't feel a connection to any of these brothers, their wives, or their children. This novel was a generational saga, but I feel that the author could have written a better book if he had aimed for more depth, rather than breadth.

I was pulled right into this fascinating novel because of the beautiful writing style, the complexity of Victoria's character, and the mesmerizing story that unfolded. A lovely bonus included at the end is a Dictionary of Flowers and their meanings. If I could make a bouquet for the author, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, I would fill it with bouvardia (enthusiasm), lisianthus (appreciation), and bellflower (gratitude).

This book provided a fascinating insider's look at the Chinese parenting style, as related by Amy Chua. I had always believed that I myself used an authoritative parenting style; however, in comparison to this Tiger mother, I look permissive! I personally feel that at times, she was far too demanding of her daughters Sophia and Lulu - and yet, I can hardly argue with the results she achieved. Aside from the girls' extraordinary academic and musical accomplishments, from all accounts they are also polite, interesting, and well spoken young women. It occurs to me that there is far more to the "Chinese versus western parenting" than meets the eye. At the surface level, it appears to be about controlling versus permissive. However, I translated it in my mind to INVOLVED versus apathetic. No matter how domineering or controlling Amy Chua was in her parenting style, the level of her involvement in her children's lives was incredible. I think any child, whether they realize it or not, would rather have an involved parent, than one who was disengaged and uninterested.

I have to admit that I was feeling very disappointed throughout the first half of the book - it didn't seem to be living up to my expectations at all. However, once I got past all of the background and arrived at the problem around which the story was based, I must say that I actually became quite riveted! At this point the story really drew me in, and the author really was able to get into the minds and emotions of the 4 characters directly involved in the situation. The whole experience of reading the book completely turned around for me and I found that I wasn't able to put the book down. At the end, I felt that Ladd did a great job getting into the psychological aspects of how adultery affects both the cheating spouses as well as their unsuspecting partners.

I was thrilled to receive this book because the theme was of great interest to me. I had previously read Caucasia, by Danzy Senna, another book about a biracial girl coming of age and trying to find her roots, her family, and her identity. I loved that book, so I had high hopes for Heidi Durrow's book. I typically enjoy books told from several different points of view, but with this story I wanted to hear so much more of Rachel's voice- so I was not drawn in by the alternating stories told by Nella, Roger, or Brick. I was really trying to get to know Rachel...but the book ended before that could happen, and that was disappointing to me.

Carla Buckley's first novel takes on some very timely subject matter, and it is clearly well-researched. I was impressed with the detailed and vivid portrayals of the many unexpected obstacles that arose as the days of the quarantine turned into weeks. This novel raises so many survival instinct issues (like family before all else) that I connected with at a very personal level. The novel's protagonist, Ann, was a very fully drawn, sympathetic, and fascinating character. I was completely engrossed in the plot and the interactions amongst Ann and her family members from the first chapter on.