Book Sketch: Rules of Rain by Leah Scheier

RULES OF RAIN
By: Leah Scheier
Published By: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: December 5, 2017
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: A dramatic new novel about the bond between a teen and her twin brother.

Rain has taken care of Ethan all of her life. Before she even knew what autism meant, she's been her twin brother's connection to the hostile world around him. She's always prepared—when her father abandons them, when her mother gets sick, when Ethan is tortured by bullies from school—Rain is the reliable, stable one holding them all together. She's both cautious carer and mad chef, preparing customized meals for her family and posting crazy recipes on her cooking blog.

Each day with Ethan is unvarying and predictable, and she's sure that nothing will ever change—until one night when her world is turned upside down by a mistake she can't take back. As her new romance with her long-time crush and her carefully constructed life begins to unravel, she discovers that the fragile brother whom she's always protected has grown into a young man who no longer needs her. And now, for the first time, she finds that she needs him.

First Thoughts After Finishing: What a rollercoaster!

Initially I was drawn to the synopsis of this book because it features a character with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I teach at a school for autistic children, so I was curious to see how an autistic teenager would be represented in literature. Add to that a neurotypical twin and what seemed like a dramatic contemporary plotline, and I was sold. And Leah Scheier did not disappoint.

For as long as Rain can remember, she’s been taking care of her family. Her twin Ethan has autism, and she has been his support and caretaker, helping him navigate safely through the world. When he couldn’t talk or didn’t understand why something was happening, she was there to fix things. When Ethan became gluten-free, she started inventing new recipes and blogging about them. Rain thinks she has her family’s entire future mapped out. But Ethan, who never changes, seems to be changing. And one misstep has her questioning what she thinks. And if Rain isn’t holding everything together, who will?

Rules of Rain isn’t the kind of book that you fly through, but it is the kind of book that draws you in and doesn’t let you go. I started reading this on vacation, and I found myself wanting to steal moments to read to see how everything developed. This book is about relationships: Rain and Ethan, obviously; Rain and her parents (her mother is dysfunctional, to put it mildly), Rain and her crush, which unfolds in an interesting way, and Rain and her friends, who are purely awesome. I would have loved to have seen more from her friends, particularly Hope. She is completely endearing and a great best friend to Rain, and I wish that we had been able to read more of her storyline.

Then there is Ethan and the treatment of ASD. Excuse me while I hop onto my soapbox for a moment. There’s a saying about autism: If you’ve met one person with autism, then you’ve met one person with autism. Each person is different, which is why it’s considered a spectrum. Still, certain tendencies are common. I thought Ethan’s manifestation of autism was handled very well; it was most peoples’ treatment of Ethan that bothered me. People with autism shouldn’t be ridiculed for it any more than people should tease others who are different. Moreover, autism isn’t a disease to be “fixed” or “cured.” It’s just a different approach to the world. Autistic individuals are still capable of leading richly fulfilling lives complete with any experiences they want. And with that said, I’ll hop down now.

I loved reading about the world from Ethan’s point of view. Even after working with autistic individuals for a number of years, it’s still not always possible to fathom how their brain works, but it is fascinating to explore. In a way, this book was as much Ethan’s journey as Rain’s, and I was cheering for him every step of the way. I would love to know what happens next for him.

Overall, this book took me through every emotion, and I never stopped caring about the characters or where they would end up. Nothing was one-sided, and that was such a refreshingly honest depiction of real life. I look forward to reading more books from this author!

Most Memorable Aspect: The treatment of ASD.

Book Sketch: Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally

COMING UP FOR AIR
By: Miranda Kenneally
Published By: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 4, 2017
Series: None
Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Netgalley
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.

All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic tryout, so Maggie feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to sacrifice in the water to win at love?

First Thought After Finishing: I really love Miranda Kenneally’s books!

As a teenager and in my early adult years, I was never a huge sports person. I remember when Catching Jordan released, and I almost didn't read it because it was about football. But a friend told me how good it was, so I gave it a chance. Looking back now, I can't believe I almost missed the great stories of Hundred Oaks!

Maggie eats, sleeps, and breathes swimming. As a competitive swimmer hoping to make an Olympic trial, she has time for little else. Her best friends are also athletes, and though they take one night a week off, the rest of their time is spent training. But Maggie knows that high school is ending soon, and college life without her friends is getting closer and closer. She doesn’t want to be the only girl there with no experience. So she asks her friend and swimming teammate Levi to teach her how to hook up. It was supposed to be easy and fun. Her Olympic trial was supposed to fall into place. So what is she to do when feelings might make everything fall apart?


Maggie is one of those teens that even as an adult I admire. She knows what she wants, and she has the discipline to get there. It’s hard to have that level of focus and drive in high school, but Maggie has it. Only that means her social life has suffered quite a bit. I found myself relating to Maggie from the beginning. In high school, I spent all of my time doing homework and missed the whole social scene that other teens seem to have. I found myself living vicariously through Maggie. I wish I had been brave enough to ask what she did—or even to ask someone out. She took charge of what she wanted (and what she didn’t want), and I applauded her for doing so.


But this book has more than swimming and sex—there are relationships with friends, relationships with parents and teachers/coaches, and relationships with frenemies. I loved how this book showed all the different facets of life. Jordan (from Catching Jordan) plays an important role here, and it was fun to see her again and see the Hundred Oaks characters’ lives interwoven. And then there was Levi, Maggie’s friend-turned-teacher. He wasn’t perfect by any means, but the chemistry was undeniable. Finally, I loved how involved Maggie’s swimming coach and her parents were in her life. So many young adult books have absentee parents, and it was nice to see a different perspective here.

I have to admit that I'm not ready to say goodbye to this world. The way characters favorite characters have cameo roles and their lives intertwine made these novels something special. But I am looking forward to seeing what magic Miranda spins next!


Most Memorable Aspect: The life lessons that Maggie learns.

Book Sketch: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS
By: Marieke Nijkamp
Published By: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: January 5, 2016
Series: Non
Pages: 285
Genre: Contemporary
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: 10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.

Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

First Thought After Finishing: I hope and pray that something like this never happens at the school where I teach, because it would be all too easy. 

I've wanted to read this book for some time, but I didn't think it would be a good idea during the school year. Reading it during the summer didn't make it any less frightening--especially when horrors like this happen far too often--but at least there was some distance.

Nothing ever happens in Opportunity. For some, they can't wait to get out. Others are happy with the small town life. Most people know each other, know each family's secrets, and found their niche within the city. So when someone starts shooting students at Opportunity High, it seems unthinkable. Death seems imminent, and help seems unavailable. Told minute by minute from four different perspectives, this book gives an inside glance at this real-life nightmare.

"There are no words in that fleeting moment between hope and the knowledge. There is no way to express how a heart can burst and break at the same time, how the sun can cut through the darkness but will cast shadows everywhere."

What can I say about this book? It's terrifying in that it hits far too close to home. School shootings are far too prevalent, and it's far too easy for students to be pushed to a breaking point that brings them to that awful decision. The fear these students have is palpable through the pages. Yet there is far more than that. Fred Rogers tells the story that his mother told him, in the aftermath of destruction, to look for the helpers. And that is true in this book. Even those who were defenseless against a gun were willing to try and help, showing humanity in the face of inhumanity. Sometimes, that is all we have.

Even though this book is short and the story is told within hours, there is so much emotion and character development. I felt like I knew each of the four main people, and it shows just how complicated and tumultuous the lives of teens can be. Even in a small town, even when you have a perfect life plan, one instance or one person is all it takes to change everything. My heart broke again and again as more was revealed and more people suffered. Despite that, this is not a book you would ever think of putting down. There's an old saying I like: "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." I kept turning the pages hoping that this would be true once again. But real life is never wrapped up perfectly, and Marieke Nijkamp reflects that.

Most Memorable Aspect: This book feels too frighteningly real to ever forget. 

Book Sketch: Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

LABYRINTH LOST
By: Zoraida Cordova
Published By: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: Sept. 6, 2013
Series: Brooklyn Brujas #1
Pages: 336
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation...and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can't trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange marks on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland...



First Thought After Finishing: I knew I always loved books about witches for a reason!

Alex—short for Alejandra—is a Brooklyn bruja from a powerful family. But while her sisters embrace their powers, Alex wants to be rid of them. She knows that no good can come from her magic, and she is dreading her Deathday celebration. When she meets a brujo boy, he tells her there might be a way to get what she wants. Only her plan backfired, and her family ended up in Los Lagos, an in-between land. In order to get them back, she will have to embrace everything she has try to run from, trust someone she barely knows, and discover that some bonds go beyond worlds.

Growing up, one of my favorite book series was about witches. I’ve never read any of Zoraida Cordova’s work before, but a story about witches infused with Latin American culture had to be on my to-read list. And just like the Devourer in Los Lagos, I devoured this story—but in a good way. From the beginning, I loved seeing Alex’s family dynamic. Being an only child, I always wanted sisters. These sisters were the kind I always imagined having—sometimes on each other’s case, but always having each others’ backs. Alex’s deceased family members also have an important role, and it made me wish there were ways to communicate with our ancestors.

Los Lagos itself is as inventive as it is dangerous and unpredictable. I loved meeting the different tribes of creatures there as Alex and the others traveled to the labyrinth. Then there were Nova, the guy you want to like but aren’t quite sure if you should, and Rishi, the BFF every girl should get to have. They both have their own stories, and I wanted to know them just as much as Alex. The story made me want to pull all of the characters into a huge group hug, and then let them go because I had to know what was coming next.

Most Memorable Aspect: I loved the excerpts from the bruja history and Book of Cantos that began every chapter. I wish there was a way to learn more about this world!

Book Sketch: Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally

DEFENDING TAYLOR
By: Miranda Kenneally
Published By: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: There are no mistakes in love.

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor's always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that's what is expected of a senator's daughter. But one impulsive decision-one lie to cover for her boyfriend-and Taylor's kicked out of private school. Everything she's worked so hard for is gone, and now she's starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor's escape from the pressures of school and family, but it's hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she's going through is her older brother's best friend, Ezra. Taylor's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it's hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?



First Thought After Finishing: I’ve missed Miranda Kenneally’s books and her wonderfully relatable characters.

Sometimes you read a book that just fits your day or your current situation even when you weren’t expecting it. Defending Taylor happened to be just that. Miranda Kenneally’s books deal with issues that go beyond the high school setting or the sports field and speak to different phases of life.

Taylor is a senior in high school, captain of her soccer team, and Yale-bound. Her father, a US Senator from Tennessee, has tried to instill the best values in her and holds her to high standards. However, one major mistake lands Taylor expelled from her boarding school and attending Hundred Oaks High. She has to try and put her life back together if she wants to get into Yale, and she has to do it without her best friends and boyfriend, all while handling her family’s disappointment. As Taylor tries to get back on track, she begins to wonder if her father’s track is really the right one for her.

"What do I expect of myself? I have no clue. I’ve never felt so lost, but the more I think about it, I wonder if I’ve ever actually found myself to begin with. Maybe I’ve always been lost."

One of the reasons that I love YA books is that I enjoy the self-discovery stories. Taylor’s story was no exception. She’s courageous as she challenges the expectations from her family and herself. She learns that some things are beyond her control, there is such a thing as too little, too late, but sometimes we can only make the best of what we have. In the process of finding herself, she realizes that it’s okay to be passionate about what she wants and to try and make her own happiness. It’s a quality that I admire.

Another thing I love about Miranda’s books is that the characters are always more than they seem. And even when we don’t see a character very much, we still get to know them. For instance, Taylor’s love interest, Ezra, is a guy that we all hope to have. Like Taylor, he’s trying to make his own path, but there is more to his story than simple rebellion against his parents. I enjoyed watching the two of them develop a relationship that was meaningful. Taylor’s soccer friends and family also play a role in the book. It was refreshing to see such a well-rounded picture of life, very real, encouraging, and sweet.

Most Memorable Aspect: Taylor’s morning conversations with Ezra. I love that they cared enough about each other to talk about hard things.

Review: Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

THINGS I CAN'T FORGET
By: Miranda Kenneally
Published By: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Series: Hundred Oaks (#3)
Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA Midwinter
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Note: Mature themes, sexual situations, religious discussions.



I loved Miranda Kenneally's first book, Catching Jordan - I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story was about so much more than just football. She did the same in Stealing Parker. Because Things I Can't Forget isn't so focused on sports, everything else that Miranda does so well - friendships, romance, addressing aspects of teenage life other books shy away from - was allowed to take center stage and create a book that really resonated with me.

After a rough couple of months, Kate is looking forward to being a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, the same church camp she went to as a kid. Even though she wishes her best friend was still going to be a counselor with her, and despite the fact that her outdoor survival skills aren't necessarily strong, she's sure she can make it work. Legend has it that every year someone gets a sign from God at this camp, and this year Kate's hoping that it will be her. She never expected to see Matt again - Matt, the first boy she kissed back at this camp years ago. Once again Kate finds herself drawn to him...but how could Matt like someone who did what she did? Kate was expecting everyone at camp to be "good Christian people." But what she finds is that things aren't always black and white, and sometimes you just have to decide for yourself.

"Does being in love mean forgetting everything you know? Or is it about folding that love into your life? Because right now, I have no idea how to balance that.

Love weighs a million pounds."

I have to admit that this book really bothered me at first, just like Stealing Parker did, not because of the religion aspect, but because of how it was portrayed. Kate seemed so narrow-minded, and even though I knew that was the point and certainly her right to believe that way, I found the first few chapters very frustrating. Fortunately, the book changed quickly, becoming more than a book about religion or about summer love at camp. Instead, through Kate, Miranda Kenneally tackled the tougher issues about how to decide who you want to be - not just who, but what kind of person, questioning long-held beliefs, and the self-discovery that can only come when you're in a different environment from that in which you were raised. Kate's time at camp reminded me not only of my own summers spent at church camp as a child but also the first time I was away from home and surrounded by people with vastly different backgrounds from myself, and how I changed as a result. I enjoyed watching her journey and was glad to see her find something that worked for her. Throughout the book there are flashbacks related to whatever Kate is sketching at the moment; I loved how these scenes were incorporated, as they helped show Kate's development as a character.

With one big exception, I really enjoyed the other characters that showed up at Cumberland Creek camp. Parker and Will both played a big role in the book, and it was fun to see them again. Jordan shows up as well, and I enjoyed her talk with Kate. But mostly, there is Matt, the incredibly sweet Matt, who was the first boy Kate ever kissed and who just might want to kiss her again. Matt's a couple of years older, and like Kate, he has things in his past that he'd rather not talk about. But the two always seem so right together. And there is one scene between them that is a definite "awwww" moment. My one character complaint is Megan. I kept hoping that there would be a bigger reason behind her behavior, or some kind of realization and apology, but there was nothing. Perhaps that goes to show that some people don't change. But for everyone else, it's safe to say that the summer at Cumberland Creek takes them to a good place.

Of Miranda Kenneally's three books, Things I Can't Forget is a definite favorite (though it may be more suited to older teens than younger due to some of the situations). You can read it without having read the other two, but really, they are all worth reading. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

STEALING PARKER
By: Miranda Kenneally
Published By: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: Oct. 1, 2012
Series: None
Pages: 245
Genre: Contemporary
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.



I loved Miranda Kenneally's first book, Catching Jordan, so I was very excited to read Stealing Parker. The book turned out to be different than I expected, but it still had so many of the characteristics that I loved from Catching Jordan.

Parker Shelton's life used to revolve around softball...until her mother left her family to be with another woman. Suddenly the subject of all the town gossip, Parker was desperate to prove that she wasn't like her mother. She quit softball, lost weight, and started kissing a lot of guys. And yet she can't give up the sport entirely. She becomes the manager of the boy's baseball team, which lets her spent time with her best friend Drew but also puts her right in the path of the new assistant coach, Brian. Even though he's a teacher, there is an undeniable spark between Parker and Brian. But there just might be someone else who is intent on stealing Parker's heart...

Only Miranda Kenneally could turn a book about sports into a wonderful romance story that even someone who is anti-sports would want to read. Once again, the playing field is just a backdrop for the story, and so much of the action happens outside of that setting. Stealing Parker explores the difference between love and lust, hookups and relationships. Even though Parker's flirtation-and-maybe-more with Brian should theoretically be doomed from the start, it's impossible to not root for them. After all, he's just the guy Parker needs...at least in the beginning. But Parker has other things going on in her life at home and even at school. I loved that nobody in this book was one-dimensional; they all had their own stories. Because they were all so dynamic, I felt like a student at Hundred Oaks High along with them. And for fans of Catching Jordan, we do see Jordan and Henry again.

I have to say that religion plays an important part in this book. Parker was raised in church, and she has a habit of writing down her prayers and burning them. I liked reading her prayers, as they gave more insight into her thoughts. However, I couldn't help but be bothered by the conservative nature of the church she attended. It was necessary for the tension, and it makes the small-town setting come to life, and yet I still wished it could have been different.

Stealing Parker is a great coming-of-age story about a girl choosing who she wants to be and what will rule her. With romance, great friendships, and more, this is a book you will want to add to fall reading lists. I can't wait to read the next book by Miranda Kenneally!