Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything

Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans // 384 pgs

⭐⭐⭐

Murder most fowl? In this sardonic and campy YA thriller, an anxious, introverted nonbinary teen birder somehow finds themself solving a murder mystery with their neighbor/fellow anime lover, all while falling for a cute girl from their birding group . . . and trying not to get murdered.

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Torre is an avid birder undergoing a gender identity crisis and grappling with an ever-growing list of fears. Some, like Fear #6: Initiating Conversation, keep them constrained, forcing them to watch birds from the telescope in their bedroom. And, occasionally, their neighbors. When their gaze wanders from the birds to one particular window across the street, Bianca witnesses a creepy plague-masked murderer take their neighbor’s life. Worse, the death is ruled a suicide, forcing Bianca to make a choice—succumb to their long list of fears (including #3: Murder and #55: Breaking into a Dead Guy’s Apartment) or investigate what happened.

Bianca enlists the help of their friend Anderson Coleman, but the two have more knowledge of anime than true crime. As Bianca and Anderson dig deeper into the murder with a little help from Bianca’s crush and fellow birding aficionado, Elaine Yee (#13: Beautiful People, #11: Parents Discovering They’re A Raging Lesbian), the trio uncovers a conspiracy much larger—and weirder—than imagined. But when the killer catches wind of the investigation, Bianca’s #1 fear of public speaking doesn’t sound so bad compared to the threat of being silenced for good.

In this absurdist, bizarrely comical YA thriller that is at turns a deceptively deep exploration of anxiety and identity, perhaps the real murder investigation is the friends we make along the way.

--

I enjoyed this one, though Bianca did annoy me a bit. I went in knowing there was a LGBT focus in this, but the questioning of Bianca’s gender identity did surprise me a bit. I think it’s a really good concept to explore in a teen book, and I do enjoy that there wasn’t ever a focus on coming out, but just accepting yourself and just being who you are. I do wish those moments came up a bit more organically; one chapter we’re focusing on a murderous bird cult and the next their gender identity. There was just some tonal whiplash, but it was a nice inclusion!

The side characters were good, though honestly a little too nice and affirming. I think it could have been interesting to have a bit more struggle on that end, since realistically not everyone is going to be accepting of someone’s gender identity. Anderson was a great character, and I think he and Bianca had some great chemistry and character development. The anime references did get a little annoying, but those also slowed down a bit when the stakes became more serious.

The murder mystery itself was very predictable, but I still had a fun time! I liked how absolutely absurd it all was, and a lot of aspects reminded me a bit of Hot Fuzz, which definitely left me entertained. Overall it was a fun, quick read with a focus on LGBT characters; I can’t help but like it.

They Both Die At The End

 

They Both Die At The End  389 pages

On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today.

Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.

I enjoyed this story very much and recommend it. It also shows how we can affect other's lives without even knowing it.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

 

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune  384 pages

Welcome to Charon's Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

This was an enjoyable read about love, regret, happiness, and doing the right thing. 

The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert

 

The Revolution of Birdie Randolph  336 pages

Dove "Birdie" Randolph works hard to be the perfect daughter and follow the path her parents have laid out for her: She quit playing her beloved soccer, she keeps her nose buried in textbooks, and she's on track to finish high school at the top of her class. But then Birdie falls hard for Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past...whom she knows her parents will never approve of.

When her estranged aunt Carlene returns to Chicago and moves into the family's apartment above their hair salon, Birdie notices the tension building at home. Carlene is sweet, friendly, and open-minded--she's also spent decades in and out of treatment facilities for addiction. As Birdie becomes closer to both Booker and Carlene, she yearns to spread her wings. But when long-buried secrets rise to the surface, everything she's known to be true is turned upside down.

As a reader,  I felt for the teenage character Birdie. Some of the things she went through brought back memories of being a teenage girl myself. It had an interesting twist at the end. I would recommend  this book to a young reader.

Heat Wave by TJ Klune

Heat Wave (The Extraordinaries #3) by TJ Klune, 376 p.

"Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz are back in action bringing justice, protection, and disaster energy to the people of Nova City.

An unexpected hero returns to Nova City and crash lands into Nick's home, upturning his life, his family, and his understanding of what it means to be a hero in the explosive finale of the thrilling and hilarious Extraordinaries trilogy"--Goodreads blurb

Fun and dramatic (both actual drama and teenage drama) finale to a fun and dramatic series. I'm not sure I liked the way the mom storyline was handled at first, but once the twist was revealed, I got behind it a bit more. I love Klune and he stays on my automatic-buy list.

 

Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey

 

Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey - 351 pages

Last Herald Mage #3

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Valdemar—the once-peaceful kingdom protected by the magic of its Herald-Mages—is now besieged on all fronts. The king lies near death, the neighboring land of Karse wages a relentless war against Valdemar, and the forces led by a master of dark forbidden magic are massing to strike the final devastating blow against the kingdom.
 
And Vanyel, the most powerful Herald-Mage Valdemar has even known, has become the primary target of the evil which is reaching out to poison all the land.
 
With all his fellow mages slain, Vanyel alone remains to defend his people against the dark master’s army. Yet a dream vision has revealed to Vanyel the fate which awaits should he and his Companion Yfandes take up the dark master’s challenge.
 
And if either Vanyel or Yfandes falters, the dream will become a horrifying reality in which both Valdemar and its last Herald-Mage must pay the ultimate price.

Magic's Promise by Mercedes Lackey

 

Magic's Promise by Mercedes Lackey - 320 pages

Last Herald Mage #2

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wild magic is taking its toll on the land. Many Heralds and Herald-Mages have died fighting to preserve the peace. Even Vanyel, the most powerful of the Herald-Mages is almost at the end of his strength, in need of a respite from the dual threats of war and dark magic.

But for Vanyel, there can be no rest. Not when his Companion, Yfandes, receives a summons which can’t be ignored—a desperate cry of a magical holocaust in the neighboring kingdom. Almost overwhelmed by the devastations they discover there, Herald-Mage and Companion must try to unravel this tragic mystery.

Is the young Prince Tashir, a newly Chosen Herald who can’t control his magic, responsible for the destruction? Or is Tashir a pawn in a deeper, more deadly game—and, if so, will Vanyel be able to find and defeat the true destroyer before this master of dark powers can strike again?

Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey

Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey - 349 pages

Last Herald-Mage #1

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic, he wants no part of such things. Nor does he seek a warrior's path, wishing instead to become a Bard. Yet such talent as his if left untrained may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered with his aunt, Savil, one of the famed Herald-Mages of Valdemar.

But, strong-willed and self-centered, Vanyel is a challenge which even Savil can not master alone. For soon he will become the focus of frightening forces, lending his raw magic to a spell that unleashes terrifying wyr-hunters on the land. And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shin'a'in Adept, Vanyel's wild talent may have already grown beyond anyone's ability to contain, placing Vanyel, Savil, and                                                             Valdemar itself in desperate peril...

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu

 Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu - 304 pages

Astronaut.  Empress.  Apache Warrior.

Throughout history and across the globe, one characteristic connects the daring women of Brazen: their indomitable spirit. Against overwhelming adversity, these remarkable women raised their voices and changed history.

With her characteristic wit and dazzling drawings, celebrated graphic novelist Pénélope Bagieu profiles the lives of these feisty female role models, some world famous, some little known. From Nellie Bly to Mae Jemison, from Josephine Baker to Naziq al-Abid, the stories in this comic biography are sure to inspire the next generation of rebel ladies.

How to Bang a Billionaire by Alexis Hall

How to Bang a Billionaire by Alexis Hall - 365 pages

Arden meets Caspian Hart while making calls for a college telethon.  Arden quickly gets a crush on Caspian that only grows the more time he spends with him.  Then Caspian suggests they have a short-term pre-arranged association.  But what Arden really wants is a relationship.

I am not sure why I put this book on hold to read.  While I did read the book, it took a very long time to get into the story.  I will not be reading the sequel stories.

 

The Lost Book of the White (The Eldest Curses #2) by Cassandra Clare

 The Lost Book of the White (The Eldest Curses #2) by Cassandra Clare -- 400 pages

Life is good for Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. They’re living together in a fabulous loft, their warlock son, Max, has started learning to walk, and the streets of New York are peaceful and quiet—as peaceful and quiet as they ever are, anyway.

Until the night that two old acquaintances break into Magnus’s apartment and steal the powerful Book of the White. Now Magnus and Alec will have to drop everything to get it back. They need to follow the thieves to Shanghai, they need to call some backup to accompany them, and they need a babysitter.

Also, someone has stabbed Magnus with a strange magical weapon and the wound is glowing, so they have that to worry about too.

Fortunately, their backup consists of Clary, Jace, Isabelle, and newly minted Shadowhunter Simon. In Shanghai, they learn that a much darker threat awaits them. Magnus’s magic is growing unstable, and if they can’t stop the demons flooding into the city, they might have to follow them all the way back to the source—to the very realm of the dead. Can they stop the threat to the world? Will they make it back home before their kid completely wears out Alec’s mom? 

Love, Creekwood: A Simonverse Novella by Becky Albertalli

Love, Creekwood: A Simonverse Novella by Becky Albertalli - 120 pages

Ever wonder what happened to Simon and Bram or Leah and Abby?  In this book, we see their emails from their first year of college.  Simon and Bram are dealing with a long distance relationship as they attend college apart.  Meanwhile, Leah and Abby are at the same college and navigating being in a relationship.  

I really enjoyed catching up with these characters.  It was fun to revisit their world and relationships.  The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so it will be interesting to see if the author gives us another book in the future.
 

Bloom by Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau

 

Bloom by Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau - 355 pages

Ari can't wait to move to the city with his friends.  He's been dreaming of it for years.  However, his father is determined he is to stay at  home to help with the family bakery.  Then Hector starts working at the bakery . . .

This wasn't my favorite graphic novel.  The characters never really clicked in my opinion.  It also bothered me that everyone treated Ari horribly (parents, friends, etc) but then also complained that he was a horrible friend/son.  The ending was a little perfect also with Ari "seeing the error of his ways" and the family rebuilding their bakery with a huge insurance check.  I won't be recommending this book.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

 

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall - 432 pages

Luc O'Donnell needs a boyfriend -- a respectable boyfriend that can redeem his public image -- in order to not lose his job.  What he gets is a fake boyfriend in uptight barrister Oliver Blackwood.  They hate each other . . . or do they.  Soon Luc is thinking that maybe Oliver is the person he needs most in his life.

This was a fun romance.  While it is an overused story line of a fake boyfriend becoming one's true love, it was really well done.  There was character development by both characters.  I would definitely recommend this book.

The State of Us by Shaun David Hutchinson

 

The State of Us by Shaun David Hutchinson - 408 pages

They thought they were enemies.  They thought they could never be friends -- after all their parents are running for president against each other.  But that was before they were forced to spend time together and discovered they had more in common than anyone thought.  Slowly their friendship turns into something more.  But nobody can know about their relationship.  It could ruin both of their parents' campaigns.  Then someone discovers the truth and threatens to tell everyone . . . 

Overall I enjoyed this book.  The main characters of Dean and Dre were interesting and made you want to root for them.  The politics were also kind of interesting.  However, the political stereotypes and caricatures were a little much at times.

Artistic Pursuits by Andrew Grey

 Artistic Pursuits by Andrew Grey - 202 pages

Timothy finds a "treasure" left to him in his grandfather's house -- a sack of gold coins from the 1930s.  Included in this sack is a double eagle gold coin that has supposedly never been given out by the American government.  Timothy enlists the help of lawyer Joiner to fight the government and keep the coin his grandfather left to him.

This was an interesting book.  I enjoyed it.  The only issue I had was a character that had been abused seemed to shake off that abuse a little too quickly.

Legal Artistry by Andrew Grey

 Legal Artistry by Andrew Grey - 230 pages

Dieter is shocked when he discovers that he is the actual owner of several masterpieces.  Unfortunately, a museum in Austria houses these paintings and claims them as theirs.  With the help of lawyer Gerald, Dieter sues the museum to retrieve the artwork stolen from his great-grandfather by the Nazis.

I enjoyed this book about retrieving stolen artwork.  The legal side of it was fascinating.  The personal story was also interesting.

The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean

 

The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean

Ellie starts fifth grade feeling as if she is alone.  She lost her friends over the summer when she accidentally let out a secret.  Now she goes through school silently not really talking to anyone.  Instead she pours out her feelings in letters she releases with balloons in the hopes of finding a friend.  Little does she know that a friend is closer than she realizes.

I read this book as I wanted to see if it should go in the kids or teen section of the library.  It deals with many issues including being transgender, experiencing incest, and feelings of depression.  Although it is a very uncomfortable book to read I think it is an important book for the library to have.  I also think that it belongs in the children's section as that is the intended audience (it also never goes into graphic detail about anything) and who would be helped the most by the book.

The Last Herald Mage series by Mercedes Lackey

Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey - 349 pages
Magic's Promise by Mercedes Lackey - 320 pages
Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey - 351 pages
The Last Herald Mage series

Vanyel Ashkevron is the most famous Herald in Valdemar's history.  This is his story from first arriving in Haven, meeting his love Tylendel, becoming a Herald-Mage, reconciling with his family, and his final battle with an evil magician determined to take over Valdemar.

I love the Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey.  Since being in quarantine limits my books I determined to re-read the Valdemar series as they are some of the few books I actually own.  I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

Nameless Asterism, v. 1 by Kina Kobayashi

Nameless Asterism, v. 1 by Kina Kobayashi - 180 pages

Shiratori, Washio, and Kotooka are the best of friends since they started middle school.  Just one problem -- they are in a love triangle and don't know it.  Shiratori has a huge crush on Kotooka.  Kotooka secretly likes Washio.  And Washio is just crazy for love in general.

It took a while for me to get into this manga.  It wasn't until the last couple of chapters that I really got hooked.  I think part of it was jut that I kept confusing the different characters up.