The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie

Pages: 294

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Suspense / Horror

Notes for Parents: There are some scary scenes that may be too much for sensitive readers.

The Back Cover

Shortly after her sixteenth birthday, Sunshine Griffith and her mother, Kat, move from sunny Austin, Texas, to the rain-drenched town of Ridgemont, Washington. Though Sunshine is adopted, she and her mother have always been close, sharing a special bond filled with laughter and inside jokes. But from the moment they arrive, Sunshine feels her world darken with an eeriness she cannot place. And even if Kat doesn’t recognize it, Sunshine knows that something about their new house is just…creepy.

On their first night in Ridgemont, Sunshine is awakened by the sound of footsteps coming from above, followed by a child’s ghostly laughter. In the days that follow, things just get more frightening. But Kat seems oblivious to the terror, insisting that Sunshine’s imagination is getting the best of her. Determine to prove her mother wrong, Sunshine begins taking photographs, desperate to catch evidence of the supernatural presence. At her new school, Sunshine meets Nolan Foster, a cute—if slightly bookish—classmate. Nolan also has a passion for photography—and, more importantly, for ghosts. He offers to help Sunshine figure out exactly what’s going on.

What they uncover is a story that’s much bigger and runs deeper than they could have imagined. She can hardly believe it, but as the spirits haunting her house becomes stranger—and it becomes clear that Kat is in danger—Sunshine learns that everything she thought she knew about her past has been wrong.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

Paige McKenzie is the teen star of the hit YouTube channel The Haunting of Sunshine Girl on which the books are based. The web series, which began in 2010, is a fictional vlog about a girl and her mother living in a haunted house. This book is the first in what appears to be a trilogy. A television show is reportedly in the works.

What’s good?

This is more than just a ghost story. A pinch of scary and a whole lot of creepy permeate this supernatural adventure which features strong world building and realistic, likeable characters. The tale is told at a good pace with action, suspense, and a few plot twists and turns. The story is part ‘coming of age,’ part ‘fish out of water,’ and part ‘chosen one.’ The chapters are short and easy to read, the mystery unfolds skillfully, and the story is engaging.

Best Part: Nolan

What isn’t good?

While I enjoyed all the characters, Sunshine is a bit of tired trope found in many young adult novels. She’s a little odd, dresses in thrift store clothes, is self-conscious and clumsy, has frizzy hair, odd colored eyes and an unusual name. She’s also a bit of a ‘Mary Sue.’ I would have liked to see a stronger, more confident character. Perhaps she will evolve in subsequent stories.

Worst part: I don’t care what she’s wearing.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

It was good but not great. I enjoyed the story, loved the characters, and was intrigued by the supernatural, but it lacked a little…luster. The first half of the story was eerie and suspenseful, which I loved, but that dark ambiance is lost somehow in the second half. Still, it was worth the read. 

McKenzie, Paige. The Haunting of Sunshine Girl. New York: Scholastic, 2015.

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Pages: 371

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Real life drama

Notes for Parents: Contains coarse language, sexuality, mature themes.

The Back Cover

At first, Jude and her twin brother are NoahandJude: inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and does all the talking for both of them.

Years later, they are barely speaking. Something has happened to change the twins in different yet equally devastating ways…but then Jude meets and intriguing, irresistible boy and a mysterious new mentor.

The early years are Noah’s to tell; the later years are Jude’s. But they each have only half the story, and if they can find their way back to one another, they’ll have a chance to remake their world.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This book was the winner of the 2015 Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. It also made several Top 10 lists and was named YA Book of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, Boston Globe, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, and School Library Journal, to name a few.

What’s good?

Complex characters in alternating voices and times carry this candid exploration of emotional relationships. Young love, sibling rivalry, secrets, lies, and grief are cleverly interwoven themes in this story about a brother and sister – Noah and Jude: twins – who struggle to relate to each other, and to the people around them after a tragedy. Noah’s narrative, told when they were 13, is a rush of lyrical words while Jude’s narrative, told when they are 16, is a melancholy tale. Grandma Sweetwine’s Bible and Noah’s self-portraits add some humor and reflection that make this a poignant and passionate story.

Best Part: “I wanted to catch the unglued schizo way he looked before he got run over by misery…” (page 73)

What isn’t good?

The writing style can be difficult to get used to. The narratives are saturated with images that can be difficult to discern between the metaphorical and the literal. Especially with Noah, his thoughts are fidgety and complicated, often blurring the line between what’s in his mind and what’s really happening. The plot itself lacks substance, relying on misunderstandings, assumptions, jealousy, and all-around poor communication skills to create conflict and action. Oscar is a feeble stereotype.

Worst part: The overuse of the word “toilet-licking.”

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

Long chapters and metaphor-soaked narratives make it a challenge to read. While I personally enjoyed the author’s style of writing, many will not. Regardless, this is an intricate, expressive drama about relationships and how they change and grow. Recommended.

Nelson, Jandy. I’ll Give You the Sun. New York: Speak, 2014.

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Pages: 370

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Suspense/Intrigue

Notes for Parents: Contains mature themes, some underage drinking.

The Back Cover

When sixteen-year-old Tess Kendrick is sent to stay with her older sister, she has no idea that the famed Ivy Kendrick is the capital’s number-on “fixer.” For powerful people looking to make a scandal disappear, Tess’s sister is there to help…for a price.

And no sooner does Tess enroll at the prestigious Hardwicke School that she unwittingly finds herself following in Ivy’s footsteps. Tess never thought she and Ivy had much in common, but when her new friends at school need help, she discovers that her talents quickly make her Hardwicke’s go-to high-school fixer.

Secrets pile up as each sister lives a double life—until their worlds come crashing together in a conspiracy that reaches from the halls of Hardwicke to Capitol Hill. Suddenly, there is much more on the line than good grades, money, or politics.

The odds are stacked against Tess, and the price for this fix might be more than she can pay.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the author’s 15^th book. Barnes has a degree from Yale University in cognitive science and is currently working on her PhD.

What’s good?

Mystery, murder, and political intrigue are at the heart of this fast-paced thriller about a teen who gets drawn into a world of power and influence. The plot is swift-moving with strong characters and clever dialogue. The complex world of politics is presented in a sophisticated but easy-to-understand way. Tess is a well-drawn, female character with strength, wit, and vulnerability while Asher is full of exasperating charm. While there’s definitely sexual tension, there’s no romance to get in the way of the action. The characters are a healthy mix of adults and teens who interact with each other in a realistic way. The story wraps up well, tying up loose ends but still leaving room for a sequel.

Best Part: The banter between Asher and Tess is hilarious!

What isn’t good?

The politics might be a turn off for some, and a few characters were a little flat.

Worst part: None.

Recommendation ☻☻☻☻☻ (5/5)

This was an engaging story full of fun, action, and plot twists. The chapters are short and easy to read, there’s plenty of humor, suspense, and interesting characters. I was surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed this book! Definitely recommended.

Barnes, Jennifer Lynn. The Fixer. New York: Scholastic, 2015.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Pages: 378

Intended Audience: Mature teens

Genre: Historical fiction

Notes for Parents: There are mature and disturbing scenes that may not be suitable for sensitive readers.

The Inside Cover

Winter, 1945.

Four teenagers.

Four secrets.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.

As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.

Yet not all promises can be kept.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

Although the characters are fictional, the story is based on real events.

What’s good?

Fear and desperation are palpable emotions in this heart-wrenching story about refugees fleeing from a war torn country, hoping to escape the horrors of their past to find a peaceful future. It’s a terrifying tale of survival and courage. The writing is beautiful and the narratives are truly haunting. Based on a disturbing true event that’s rarely talked about, the atrocities of World War II are painfully drawn from the perspective of four young refugees that carry both their worldly possessions and terribly secrets as they race to the coast. The short (often very short) chapters move swiftly between the points of view of a 21-year-old nurse from Lithuania, a teenaged Prussian boy, a 15-year-old pregnant Polish girl, and a naïve, young German sailor.

Best Part: “The Wilhelm Gustloff was pregnant with lost souls conceived of war. They would crowd into her belly and she would give birth to their freedom.” (pg. 218)

What isn’t good?

Things moved quickly at the beginning and I had a hard time keeping the characters straight, but that only last for the first few very short chapters. I would have liked to know a little more about some of the characters, but that’s only because I liked them so much!

Worst part: Nothing.

Recommendation ☻☻☻☻☻ (5/5)

Short chapters and amazing storytelling made this an engrossing story. The fact that it was inspired by true and disturbing events made it all that much more absorbing. Definitely recommended.

Sepetys, Ruta. Salt to the Sea. New York: Philomel Books, 2016. (Hardcover)