"Levitation: The Story of Rollins" by R.L. McDaniel

4 of 5 stars

The Basics: This short story/novella coincides with the full length novel Levitation (which is next on my To-Read List). In this futuristic world of Teles, Nick notices there is something peculiar going on with his brother. After following Rollins to a warehouse, things become serious when his brother is among a group of Teles who have seemingly been tricked into using their abilities to steal and cause destruction. Nick is then left figuring out what to do when his brother is arrested for using his telekinetic abilities in public.

My Thoughts: This novella got me excited for the novel. I'm looking forward to reading it and getting a better look into this futuristic world of Teles. I also love that there is a male protagonist, I'm looking for books like this to recommend to my male students.

~Remember, teachers read fun stuff too!

"Vanishing Girls" by Lauren Oliver

3 of 5 stars.

The Basics: Nick gets into a car accident with her sister Dara and she can't seem to remember what caused the accident or what happened afterward. After moving back in with her mother (since she's been living with her father), Nick gets a job at a local theme park, FanLand, where she is reconnected with her old best friend, Parker. Things changed between Parker and Nick after Parker started dating Dara. Though Dara is the rowdy one in the group, Nick is striving to make a connection with her sister since they have not spoken since the accident.
Among this all, 9 year-old Madeline Snow is missing. She supposedly disappeared after being left in the car when her sister and friend left her in the backseat of the car to run into an ice cream parlor. Eventually, Dara goes missing too and Nick seeks to figure out what kind of trouble Dara has gotten herself into.  

My Thoughts: This is an unpopular opinion, but I disliked this book. I wouldn't give it a 2 or 1 rating because it wasn't awful, it just seemed disjointed. I was left with more questions that answers by the end of the book. Towards the end, before the plot twist was revealed, I already had a feeling that Dara actually did die in the car accident. But that twist left me trying to figure out how the rest of the story made any kind of sense. For instance, when Dara and Parker went to the car and Parker called out Nick's name, was that all in Nick's mind? I don't get it. Also, when Dara wrote the note in her diary telling Nick to come find her, what was that about? Did Nick imagine/ make that up?
And then what was the plot point of Madeline Snow being missing? Was it so that Nick would eventually realize that Dara was dead?
This was just a weird freaking plot. I didn't like it.

~Remember, teachers read fun stuff too!

"The Favorite" by Kiera Cass

4 of 5 stars

The Basics: This novella gives us the background story of Marlee and Carter. Throughout The Selection series, Marlee becomes a public favorite until she is caught with the guard Carter. Through the leniency of Prince Maxon, they are caned instead of put to death and he secretly allows them to stay in the palace instead of becoming Eights.
This novella gives us a little background on how their romance blossomed and how Maxon was able to let them stay in the palace. It also continues to show Maxon's gratitude and graciousness.    

My Thoughts: I enjoyed the novella. It was short and sweet but it gave me enough insight into how Marlee became involved with Carter. This novella continues to make me even more excited about the last novel in the series which is being released in a few months!

~Remember, teachers read fun stuff too!

"Daughter of Deep Silence" by Carrie Ryan

4 of 5 stars.

The Basics: Frances is one of the three survivors of the Persephone disaster where masked men killed everyone on the boat, except Senator Wells ad his son Grey. Frances and Libby make it onto a life raft but Libby dies before they are rescued. After Libby's father makes Frances a proposition she can't refuse, she decides to take on the life of Libby. Four years later, she plans an elaborate revenge plot since Senator Wells has continued to lie about the destruction of the Persephone.

My Thoughts: I liked this novel. It was an Ok read. I do like the internal conflict that Frances/Libby struggled with throughout the book because she was in a unique situation where she didn't know who she really was. I did think it was weird that her and Grey fell in love so deeply within a few days on a cruise ship at the ripe age of 14, like really? That was kind of weird.
I did enjoy the end of the book (which is why I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 3). But I did not like that truth about the Persephone would still not be brought to the light. I thought that was the point of Frances/Libby's whole plan. Either way, the book was Ok.

~Remember, teachers read fun stuff too!