Book Review: The Union by T.H. Hernandez @TheresaHernandz @AnAudiobookworm

Title: The Union
Author: T.H. Hernandez
Series: The Union Series, Book 1
Narrator: Alexa Elmy
Publisher: Theresa Hernandez
Released: Nov. 19, 2021
Genre: Fiction; Young Adult

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The Union
The Union Series #1
T.H. Hernandez
Narrated by Alexa Elmy
Theresa Hernandez, November 2021
Downloaded Unabridged Audiobook

 

After global warming and a second civil war devastated the former United States, two different societies rose from the ashes – the Union, a towering high-tech utopia, hugging the perimeter of the continent, and the devastated, untamed midsection known as the Ruins.

Seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor has an easy, privileged life in the Union. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with the rest of her life. She only knows she wants to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the lives of others.

When she’s kidnapped and taken into the Ruins as a pawn in a dispute involving her boyfriend, Bryce, her ideal world is turned upside down. What she learns while in the Ruins shakes her faith in everything she’s ever known, from Bryce to her family and even the Union itself.

Now Evan must choose whether to stay with Cyrus, the sexy, resourceful survivor who believes she’s in the Ruins for a reason, or return to the only life she’s ever known. But when she stumbles upon a dangerous plot that threatens both worlds, her decision could tear her apart.

It’s been a while since I’ve read any post-apocalyptic and/or dystopian books, mainly because I guess you could say I got obsessive. Okay, I greatly overindulged to the point of being saturated 😄. Anyway, this one piqued my interest, especially since I was being offered the audiobook, and I’m SO glad I decided to join the tour.

Evan’s story is downright enthralling, aided by the author’s vivid worldbuilding so that I understood from nearly the beginning what her young life is like and the restrictions placed upon the populace by the powers that be…and some of the consequences of flouting those restrictions. If there was anything I still don’t quite get it’s why the teens go on this sort of walkabout in the first place but that doesn’t really matter.

Shortly after Evan goes on her trip with her best friends Lisa and Colin, later meeting up with her crush, Bryce, Evan is kidnapped by a pair of very unsavory characters and her real adventure begins. Eventually, a new dude, Cyrus, enters the scene along with his family and she begins to learn the truth, the REAL truth, about the Ruins, the supposedly barren area outside of the Union where only the dregs of America’s former society live. This is when Ms. Hernandez’s story truly takes off and I was listening to my audiobook as often and long as I could. And then comes a whopper of a twist, not entirely believable but exciting nonetheless.

Speaking of the audiobook, narrator Alexa Elmy was an excellent choice. Her voice is young enough that she can easily carry off teen girl voices but mature enough that she does a more than decent job with males. I couldn’t always differentiate between characters but, no matter, the prose always let me know who was speaking.

So, thanks to an intriguing story and very engaging characters, I thoroughly enjoyed my return to this subgenre and, while there are occasional flaws, I’m hooked again. Can’t wait to listen to the next book!

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, February 2022.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by T.H. Hernandez. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

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T.H. Hernandez is a published author of young adult novels. THE UNION, a post-climate change dystopian adventure, was a finalist in the 2015 San Diego book awards in the Young Adult Fiction category. SUPERHERO HIGH, an urban scifi teenage romance, set in San Diego, about the offspring of the world’s superheroes. Her first young adult contemporary, co-written with Jennifer DiGiovanni, PROM-WRECKED, is published through Entangled Teen.

She thrives on coffee, peanut butter-flavored anything, Doctor Who marathons, Bad Lip Reading videos, and all things young adult, especially the three young adults who share her home.

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside her head, you can find her in usually sunny San Diego with her husband, three teenage spawns, a bearded dragon, a couple of cats, and Artemis, a neurotic rescue mutt.

Alexa is a NYC based actor and voice over artist. Born in Connecticut, Alexa has been creating art in all its forms since childhood. She graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Theatre and a concentration in Performance. Alexa previously trained at the London Dramatic Academy (UK), the Stella Adler Studio of Acting (NYC), the New York Film Academy, and the Greenwich Performing Arts Studio.

She is pursuing performance opportunities on the stage, screen, and in audio. Her recent acting credits include the tv show Shattered (Investigation Discovery), Innards (Troma Ent.), Ray Gun Say0nara (New Ohio Theatre) and a voiceover for Google. Alexa’s other talents include playwriting, painting, playing piano, and singing. Her favorite play is Oil by Ella Hickson and her favorite genre is comedy.

She is represented by Innovative Artists and Stefanie Talent & Entertainment.

Q&A with Author T.H. Hernandez

• Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.
  • I’ve been wanting to turn this series into audiobooks for awhile now, but with the pandemic and my ever-increasing time spent at home instead of out and about, I figured now was the right time. But I had no idea where to begin.
    Queue online writing conferences in 2020. I attended one where two narrators broke down the process into easy steps I knew I could complete. They also explained the pros and cons of the various ways to bring my audiobook to life.
    Finally, in 2021, I was ready to begin the process. I signed up on ACX and put my book up for audition, but I just wasn’t connecting with any of the samples. Frustrated, I did my own search, putting in search parameters for what I was looking for. I stumbled upon two amazing narrators and asked them if they’d be interested in auditioning. Luckily they did, but the moment I heard Alexa Elmy read in Evan’s voice, I knew I had my narrator!
    Alexa has been amazing. She’s an experienced narrator and really held my hand through everything. I firmly believe without her by my side, The Union would still not be an audiobook.
• Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
  • Actually, no, believe it or not. When I was drafting, I didn’t really think much beyond the eBook and paperback formats. Even though I’m a devoted audiobook listener, this didn’t occur to me, because it seemed so far beyond what I was capable of doing. I’m a writer. I write. Both for my day job and my hobby. I put words on the screen, not in the air. But now that I’ve been through the process, you can be sure, this will be in the back of my mind with every future book I write.
• How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
  • It’s more like Alexa guided me than the other way around, but I’d say we worked closely together. I had no idea how quickly she’d turn the recordings around. She was always waiting for me to listen and approve the chapters. I had a few things that came up during the process that interfered with me getting things done faster. As a seasoned professional, I only had a handful of pronunciation tips to ask of her. And because this wasn’t her first rodeo, she asked me for some background on my characters. As an avid plotter, I had details ready for her. I think she perfectly captured the essence of all my characters in her narration.
• Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
  • I conceived of the idea behind The Union series back in 2008, when weather changes were getting to the point that we couldn’t ignore them. But it was some of the driest weather in San Diego history in 2010 that made me take the idea of climate change to extremes, and what would happen if people went to war over their disagreements of whether climate change was natural or influenced by man-made causes.
• How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
  • I haven’t had much of a problem with this yet. I write for my day job, but it’s not particularly fascinating stuff. Marketing content, proposals, web content, etc. So it’s fun to roll up my sleeves in the evenings and weekends and write really fast-paced action instead of product differentiators.
• Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
  • Very much so. I started back in the early days when books were on tape, then CD, and the early days of MP3 books. I used to drive over 30 miles to and from work every day. I loved being able to listen to a book during my commute. Made the drive a lot less frustrating. Now I listen when I’m knitting, walking, or doing mundane chores. It’s a great way to get more “reading” in and entertain myself when I’m doing boring tasks.
• Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
  • I think some of the more dramatic, emotional scenes come to life in a way in the audiobook that they may not on the printed page. There’s an immediacy in the spoken word that can’t be ignored. You can slow down when you’re reading, but the narration draws you into the tense nature of the scene and won’t let you go.
• If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
  • Oh, absolutely!!! I’m intrigued by time travel more than just about any other scifi concept. Doctor Who is one of my favorite shows. If I could only go to one time and place, and not go to lots of places, I’d love to go back and relive my daughter’s birth. That was the most magical day of my life.
• If this title were being made into a TV series or movie, who would you cast to play the primary roles?
  • This is hard, because the actors I envisioned when I wrote the book a long time ago, are far too old to play teens now. I don’t really have new actors in mind.
• What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
  • I’d say they’re incorrect. As someone who does both, there are books I’ve read and books I’ve listened to, and I have to really think long and hard to remember which ones I listened to and which ones I read. A good story is a good story. The words are sucked into your brain, it’s just the pathways to get them there – either your eyes or your ears – that differ. I don’t think it matters beyond that. Plus, there are people who have difficulty reading due to poor eyesight or dyslexia, and audiobooks are everything to them. I can’t imagine why anyone would try to make one type of book inferior to another.

 

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Book Review: Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith

 

Join Us for This Tour:  February 7 to February 25, 2022

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Discovery of the Five Senses
Book One – The Urban Boys Series
K. N. Smith
Two Petals Publishing, September 2015
ISBN 978-0-9894747-5-7
Trade Paperback

From the author—

Welcome or unwelcome. Fate has arrived.

A suspenseful incident in a forbidden preserve heightens the senses of five friends. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell become super-gifts that forever change the world. But furious battles confront the boys as they try to understand their sensory super powers in a race to save mankind. With light beings and mysterious strangers complicating their plight, will the boys be able to defeat the evil Druth before it’s too late?

Get prepared for the twisting and grinding of this award-winning, action-adventure story — an edge-of-your-seat narrative for young and mature readers alike. 

Have you ever noticed that most young adult fantasy is chockablock full of girls? There are notable exceptions of course—male romantic interests as well as heroic boys doing all sorts of heroic things—but the girls seem to be the focus more often than not.

That is not a bad thing, mind you. Still, I was chuffed to see that this particular series is centered on boys, a whole passel of them, in fact, and that was enough reason for me to snatch this right up. Was that a good idea? Well, mostly, with a few missteps.

The author has a good premise here and appealing protagonists but I thought the actual plot was more than a bit muddled and the pacing was erratic. What it boils down to, I think, is a tale well worth following but in need of a little tweaking here, some prose tightening there and maybe more in-depth worldbuilding. When you get right down to it, you can’t really go wrong with a bunch of young superheroes who each have one special ability and I’m looking forward to the next installment in their adventures.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, February 2022.

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“Brilliantly crafted and written!” – Megan King, Indie Book Reviewers“An energetic adventure debut with stellar action sequences. Smith’s writing is intelligent and often lyrical. Her exuberant prose never fails to dazzle.” – Kirkus Media

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EXCERPT:

As one would imagine, a mysterious forest might offer deep, eerie chills, especially at night. Instead, the forest cast a rich glow, and the environment was beautiful and serene.

Walking slowly with their eyes absolutely feasting on the horticultural delights, the boys were approached by something they weren’t sure was real. It floated effortlessly, lighting up in a sporadic pattern, but had neither sound nor discernible shape, other than being somewhat clear and round.

Its fluttering wings suspended it in the center of their disbelieving huddle. All eyes were on it, but what it was provoked more mystery than the forest itself. It bounced in a cheery, beckoning fashion, flashing its stunning wings, drawing the boys into a never-ending waltz. They were transfixed, unable to glance at each other, prevented by the daze each silently battled.

The little glowing being carried about, moving closer to their faces. It moved in and out of trees, spewing, sparkle and splendor, then floated away from the boys, yet stayed close enough to continue the enticement.

Contributing to the amazing glow ricocheting from sprawling fronds to soaring trees and fallen leaves, the being’s creativity advanced in a display of twirls and spins, astonishing the boys. And they followed their little friend further and further into the forest.

Deeper ahead, the visual spectacle beautifully intertwined with the clicking noise, which grew louder and more defined, moving up the scale into high notes. The repetition of the noise mesmerized the boys, equating to an invisible lasso.

The friends grouped together, looking ahead and behind. Their stomachs tightened as the tension grew.

What they saw next would pale in comparison to their little, wondrous friend, who steadily bounced around several curvy pathways.

The small creature led them into an area deep within the preserve housing two large, floating, clicking balls of light. The boys instinctively covered their eyes, yet still tried to peep through their fingers.

The light balls began spinning wildly and grew louder, with their tops spitting out free-falling shavings of light like fireworks.

The sputtering light bounced off the dirt only to end up against a tree or one of the boys, then back down and up again.

Slowing down, the beings moved in between the boys. Too scared to move and struggling with reality, the boys’ eyes locked onto the radiant balls.

And with a striking force, the five friends were encased by a bright, piercing light as the balls exploded, emitting their energy onto the boys.

Mixing and mashing north, south, east, and west, bright waves covered the soil, spreading across trees, rock, and all plant life. The forest fell silent, frozen like an inhale without an exhale. It was dark and quiet, except for the liquid energy dripping from the huge, wavy leaves.

Being subjected to drifts both in and out of reality, the boys succumbed to the lure of a vacant black space within the deepest parts of their minds. They fell to the ground unconscious, laying in this forbidden domain in the center of a place they had been warned not to approach.

And from some distance toward the other side of the preserve, a draped shadow had been looking inward and saw this mysterious incident.

The curve of his black hood was loose enough for him to witness the unthinkable. But it also shrouded his expression, which was impassive.

This figure, a dark stranger, had been watching the boys for a period of time and saw the explosion of light. He knew it had exposed them to a grave risk in this place of both awe and fear. He realized time would now take the reins as a master guide for these stricken young men, all of whom would need hope as a rod and stamina as a spear on the long journey ahead.

Knowing the veil of normalcy would need to be maintained in order for this inconceivable episode to be minimized, the Dark Stranger drew upon his strength to physically move each of the boys to Rhee’s house.

He knew familiar surroundings would ease them as they roused, barely able to comprehend their predicament.

For he knew much, and every step, every footprint left an indelible impression on the path leading to the studio in Rhee’s backyard. Indeed, footprints providing a window to the past meshed with hope for the future.

And like a laser, the Dark Stranger steadied his gait, hurling each one up and over his powerful shoulders.

As he absorbed the totality of the scene, he breathed deeply. His head hung in a manner to which only trauma could relate. But in a sign of resilience, it swiftly sprung back.

Under the circumstances, he knew time would not be patient nor friendly.

Welcome or unwelcome. Fate had arrived.

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Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
IndieBound ~ Apple ~ Smashwords ~ Kobo
add to goodreads

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About the Author

K.N. Smith, winner of the “Best of” in the category of “Outstanding Young Adult Novel” at the Jessie Redmon Fauset Book Awards, is an author, screenwriter, and passionate advocate of literacy and arts programs throughout the world. She inspires people of all ages to reach their highest potential in their creative, educational, and life pursuits. She lives in California with her family.

Connect with the author: 

website ~ facebook ~ goodreads

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Tour Schedule:

Feb 7 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Feb 8 – Bookworm for Kids – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 8 – Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway
Feb 9 – Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting – book review / giveaway
Feb 10 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Feb 11 – Pick a Good Book – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 11 – Stephanie Jane – book review / giveaway
Feb 14 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Feb 14 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
Feb 15 – Buried Under Books – book review / giveaway
Feb 16 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Feb 17 – Lamon Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 17 – Westveil Publishing – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 18 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 18 – Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
Feb 22 – Books are a Blessing – book review / giveaway
Feb 22 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Feb 23 – Kam’s Place – book review
Feb 24 – @twilight_reader – book review
Feb 25 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 25 – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway

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Enter the Giveaway:

Win a $100 VISA eGift Card courtesy of K.N. Smith, author of
Discovery of the Five Senses Book One – The Urban Boys Series
(ends Feb 25)

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Book Review: Have You Seen Me? by Alexandrea Weis @alexandreaweis @VesuvianMedia

Have You Seen Me?
Alexandrea Weis
Vesuvian Books, 8/21
ISBN 978-1-64548-075-4
Hardcover

Aubrey LaRoux knew she’d stand out at the prestigious Waverly Prep School. Land, rumored to be cursed when it belonged to the Chitimacha, developed a darker history as a sugar mill plantation. Indisputably responsible for the dismal lives and deaths of countless slaves, the historical remains on site presented an unwelcoming atmosphere.

Although she’d be one of only a few Black students, the fact that she was there on a Creole scholarship would be well-known and was more concerning. Aubrey had no hopes of making friends, only securing a solid education.

As predicted, popular student, Marjorie made sure Aubrey bore the brunt of bullying. Then, Marjorie went missing. The majority of the student body expressed shock and sadness. Aubrey, in her infinite teen-aged wisdom, angrily and emphatically stated delight in Marjorie’s absence, changing her status from student to suspect.

Returning to Waverly as a history teacher seemed surreal as Aubrey stepped back onto campus. Unease turned to trepidation when she noticed a Missing poster featuring a face remarkably similar to her own tormentor. Marjorie’s little sister, Lindsey, followed too closely in her sibling’s footsteps. She is missing from Waverly.

Insisting that teen-aged girls create drama and run away, Probst, the apathetic headmistress, was determined to run the school “business-as-usual”. Just like when Marjorie disappeared. They all did nothing.

But students are bolder and Ms. LaRoux is staff now. Lindsey’s disappearance will not be ignored. It doesn’t hurt that the calm and capable sheriff is quite handsome and intriguing. Even if he seems to be always holding something back.

Ms. LaRoux and students are pretty stellar sleuths. They are connecting dots and most assuredly assembling a big picture. Until the first in their group is brutally murdered. The pace of the investigation picks up and becomes a race to solve the mystery before any more lives are lost.

Have You Seen Me? grabbed my attention immediately. I stayed totally engaged, sometimes turning pages fast enough for paper-cuts. The timing is impeccable, I just met with “my” students for the first time this school year and this spot-on, YA-mind-boggling-mystery wherein every character could be a killer is exactly what they were asking for.

This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under
Books, with huge thanks for the Advance Review
Copy to donate to my favorite classroom library.

Reviewed by jv poore, October 2021.

Book Review: Dear Justyce by Nic Stone @getnicced @CrownPublishing

Dear Justyce
Nic Stone
Crown Books for Young Readers, September 2020
ISBN ‎ 978-1-9848-2966-5
Hardcover

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone is the Young Adult, Realistic Fiction companion to Dear Martin. But, please do not pass it by if you’ve not yet met these characters. Dear Justyce does just fine on its own.

Quan is, once again, in Juvenile Detention. The difference: this time…he actually may not have committed the crime for which he is accused. Yeah, he panicked when the very officer that killed Manny swung his weapon toward Quan and his crew. He even pulled his nasty little .22. And brilliantly, he left it behind. Along with the cop’s body.

Hell, he even confessed…sort of.

Quan knew his rights and stated that he chose to remain silent. Several times. But the police had kept talking. And moving Quan from his holding cell to the tiny room with two-way mirror. And back.

Meanwhile, his friend from play-ground-days, Justyce, is working through his first year at Yale. They’re too tight for Quan to feel (much) bitterness. Plus, Justyce had given Quan his notebook filled with the letters he wrote to the late Dr. King, in lieu of a diary. The letters revealed issues that Quan hadn’t known his friend struggled with. Quan takes to writing to Justyce.

Turns out, the writing is therapeutic for Quan and intriguing to Justyce. He senses issues and injustices in Quan’s arrest and processing. The more he listens, the more Justyce believes that Quan’s case is not being taken seriously. Justyce makes it his personal goal to right this wrong.

While the story is as hopeful as it is heart-breaking, the hard truths are going to haunt me. I am so appreciative that Ms. Stone told Quan’s story and I’m pleased that I pre-ordered several copies. Now I can keep one for myself and still add this gem to some of my favorite high-school classroom libraries.

Reviewed by jv poore, December 2020.

Book Review: They Stay by Claire Fraise @XpressoTours

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Title: They Stay
Series: They Stay #1
Author: Claire Fraise
Publisher: Sabertooth Press
Publication date: October 12, 2021
Genres: Dark Fantasy/Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult

Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble // Kobo // Amazon // Indiebound

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They Stay
They Stay #1
Claire Fraise
Sabertooth Press, October 2021
ISBN 978-1-7372253-0-0
Trade Paperback

From the author—

For fans of Stranger Things comes a suspenseful YA mystery about a missing kid, a girl who can see ghosts, and a horrifying crime only four outcasts have the power to stop.

What if the only person who could help you find your missing brother was dead?

Nothing is as important to sixteen-year-old Shiloh Oleson as her little brother Max. So when the six-year-old goes missing without a trace, a heartbroken Shiloh refuses to believe nothing can be done and sets out to find him.

When one of Shiloh’s classmates says she knows where Max is, Shiloh hesitates to believe her. Francesca is creepy. She says she can see ghosts, but everyone knows ghosts aren’t real … right?

But Francesca says that Max is going to be murdered.

And a ghost told her where he is.

As the line between the dead and living begins to blur, Shiloh starts to think Francesca might not be as crazy as she believed. One thing is becoming clear. Someone has gruesome plans for Max, and Shiloh must confront her worst nightmares to find him before it’s too late.

THEY STAY is the first book in the They Stay Series. Read on if you like ghost stories, plot twists, enemies-to-friends, creepy circuses, budding romance, and unlikely heroes.

Content Warnings: This book contains death, kidnapping, domestic abuse, references to suicide, bullying, and mild adult language.

There’s nothing really new about the premise of this story—after all, there are a limited number of plots out there—so it’s incumbent upon the author to make her specific tale interesting and appealing to readers. Ms. Fraise has done this quite nicely, particularly in her evocation of emotional attachments between the reader and various characters as well as emotional tension.

I think my favorite element of this book is that of Francesca being able to see ghosts and interpret their actions but the developing friendship, if that’s what it really is, between Francesca and Shiloh is truly intriguing and I’m interested to see where things go with this relationship.

Although I’m decidedly not a fan of first person present tense, especially in a mystery, I enjoyed They Stay and will look forward to the next installment of the series.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, October 2021.

About the Author

Claire Fraise earned her B.A. in English from Tufts University. She is also the author of YA dystopian novel Imperfect (winner of the San Francisco and Beverly Hills Book Festivals), which she published when she was 16. When Claire’s not writing, she likes crocheting amigurumi animals, reading, and hanging out with her dogs. Even though it goes against every introverted bone in her body, she is on social media. Connect with her on Instagram at @clairefraiseauthor, on YouTube at Write with Claire Fraise, or visit her website at clairefraise.com.

Author links:

Website // Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Pinterest // Goodreads

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Follow the tour here.

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GIVEAWAY!

A copy of They Stay

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Review: Mercury Boys by Chandra Prasad @chandrabooks @soho_teen

Mercury Boys
Chandra Prasad
Soho Teen, August 2021
ISBN 978-1-64129-265-8
Hardcover

Saskia is angry about her abrupt exit from Arizona. It’s where she became the content, confident and not-too-terrible teenager her parents could trust. It is also where Mom openly hooked up with the (very young) man students had dubbed “the hot substitute”.

Moving with just Dad was depressing. As a suddenly-single parent and nurse with a bonkers schedule, he may not notice her mood. It’s fine. Saskia is making friends.

Lila certainly seems responsible. She’s a good student and holds a part-time job on the Western Connecticut State campus. To be fair, any work would be way better than baby-sitting her squad of younger siblings; but Lila genuinely enjoys the opportunity to study the origins of processing photographs.

When Saskia is assigned to study Robert Cornelius (chemist, considered pioneer of photography), Lila is quite happy to show Saskia the daguerreotypes so meticulously maintained in the school’s library. She’s less comfortable when her new friend is so fixated on the likeness of Cornelius that she insists on “borrowing” it.

Saskia meant to keep it overnight only, but she hadn’t realized it was a portal. Or, that when she closed her eyes to sleep, she would meet Cornelius. Face-to-face. In his time. Too real to be a dream, time-travel was the only explanation. Unless it was mercury poisoning. Probably should not have handled that.

In an enthusiastic effort to share her discovery and befriend the oh-so-popular Paige, Saskia loses sight of that-which-is-important. Including Lila.

Mercury Boys is the archetypal YA narrative. Actual issues that can, and often do, affect adolescents today, are addressed. The eye-on-the-prize type of tunnel-vision that can lead a typically reasonable teen astray, aptly portrayed. Ms. Prasad’s antagonist employs peer-pressure in its most passive-aggressive form and the girls’ summer “fun” has very real, adverse repercussions.

I’ll be excitedly introducing Mercury Boys to “my” students. I think the combination of fact and fantasy creates a captivating story.

This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks for the Advance Review Copy to donate to my favorite classroom library.

Reviewed by jv poore, September 2021.

Book Review: Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater @mstiefvater @DCComics

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches
Maggie Stiefvater
Illustrated by Morgan Beem
DC Comics, October 2020
ISBN 978-1-401-29323-9
Trade Paperback

There have been innumerable iterations of DC Comics’ super-hero, the Swamp Thing. The monster that most resembles a mobile mound of plant matter first appeared in a comic book the summer of 1971. Inspiring films, television shows, an animated series and even participating in a Public Service Announcement; he generally fought to protect his Louisiana swamp lands, the environment as a whole, with hope for humanity.

Ms. Stiefvater’s graphic-novel, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches, illustrated by Morgan Beem, does feature an Alec Holland, albeit the youngest one I am aware of. Alec and his twin, Walker, are high-school students unexpectedly spending their summer in the dismal swamps of Virginia. While the two brothers seem to be as different as dark and light, collectively they are worlds away from their wilder, rambunctious cousins.

Walker will always be ready for more friends and tons of fun. Alec is entirely engrossed in his scientific experimentation of isolating plant memories and experiences from his beloved Boris and transferring them to a new seedling. Preoccupied and prickly generally, Alec was snarly about having to upend and move his fragile work. Transportation tumult adversely affected not only all of Alec’s hard work, but also the canine companions of his cousins.

As Alec focuses on resurrecting a year’s worth of work, he is surprised to meet like-minded folks in his new, communal, lab. Through his new acquaintances, he learns that these swamps have harbored their own secrets for quite some time.

I feel like this could be the introduction to a simply stellar Swamp Thing series. If so, I am all in.

Reviewed by jv poore, November 2020.