My Top Ten Books of 2016

10.Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
9.The Walled City by Ryan Graudin
8.The Painter's Apprentice by Charlotte Betts
7.The House at Quill Court by Charlotte Betts
6.P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
5.Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatric
4.All the Truth That's in Me byJulie Berry
3.Lunar Chronicals by Marissa Meyer
2.Wonder by R.J. Palacio
1. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

The Apothecary's Daughter and The Painters Apprentice
By Charlotte Betts
Genre: Historical Fiction
Personal Rating: 9/10

These were the first two books I listened to from an audio book that I actually enjo
yed. I used to be very much against audio books,but since I've had to take some very long car drives recently I started getting into them. These two books were ones my mom picked out for me--based on our mutual love for English history. The events in the first book cover the plaque and the great fire of London, while the second novel is based on an event I didn't know about called The Glorious Revolution of 1688.

 These were very intriguing events to learn about and it's very obvious that the author did an enormous amount of research for each book. I particularly appreciated her attention to detail in The Apothecary's Daughter, describing all the different herbs and remedies they used back then to fight the plague. Everything form the language to the descriptions felt genuine for the era she wrote about.

I also adored the characters created for these novels. Each had their own unique personality that brought something to the story, and I really grew attached to them by the end. These first two books go together and have many of the same characters, so if you choose to read these make sure you read The Apothecary's Daughter first,

As afar as adult books go these are actually pretty appropriate. There is one love scene in the first book that was a little too descriptive, but over all I thought the books were wholesome. I really enjoyed these books and would recommend
them to any fan of British history.

My Story
By Elizabeth Smart and Chris Stewart
Genre: Memoir
Personal Rating: 10/10

Ten years after she was kidnapped from her Salt Late City bedroom, Elizabeth tells her story of brutal cruelty, and recovery. On June 5, 2002 a fourteen-year-old Elizabeth was stolen from her own bedroom by a heavily bearded man and help captive by him and his wife for nine months. During her captivity she was mentally tortured, starved, and raped daily. In this memoir she tells how she survived her nine month of hell and discovered happiness after her rescue.

This was an amazing and inspirational book. I had been putting off reading it for several years, because I was nervous that the content would be too graphic, but after hearing so many good things about it, I finally picked it up. While Elizabeth's story is heart-wrenching and terrible, Elizabeth tells it in a way that isn't graphic or disturbing. She doesn't spare the details about what happened to her, but she doesn't go into so much detail that it was hard to read.

Elizabeth's story is very dear to me, since she was kidnapped so close to were my hometown is. I remember when the news first came that she was missing, and I remember when she was found. I remember being so shocked and sick that she was being kept so close to her home, and was often brought into the city, and still no one found her for so long.

My favorite part about this book was Elizabeth talking about how she recovered after she was rescued. She has such a positive attitude about what had happened to her, counting her blessings instead of turning bitter and depressed. She gives such strong and important advise for all of those affected by abuse. I am also amazed and impressed at how she was able to hold onto her faith throughout the whole ordeal.

The Midwife's Apprentice
By Karen Cushman
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Personal Rating: 10/10

A young girl with no home and no family finds purpose as an apprentice to the village midwife. Known as only Brat or Dungbeetle, this girl eventually finds her place in the world and discovers her own worth. A medieval historical fiction for children and a Newbery medal winner.

I started reading this book with some children I babysat, but I ended up reading ahead because I enjoyed it so much. I love historical fiction and even though this is a children's book I felt like I gained something by reading it. It was very well researched and the language of the writing felt genuine for the medieval era. This book teaches that every life has purpose, and that you can achieve more than you think you can.

The only reservation I have with this book is that I don't know how appropriate some parts are for small children. This book is about midwifery, so there is a lot of discussion about giving birth. While there wasn't any graphic description, but I still wouldn't feel great about reading this to a classroom of students. There are also a few uses of mild swears like hell and damn. The girls I read it to really enjoyed the story, but I did have to edit a bit as I read out loud.

Overall I was very impressed with this book and I plan and reading the rest of Karen Cushman's historical works.

The Glittering Court
By Richelle Mead
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Personal Rating: 7/10

The Glittering Court is a school that takes girls from lower classes and raises them up to become the nobility of the new world. Adelaide, a countess, isn't the ideal candidate for such school, but in order to escape an arranged marriage she takes on the identity of one of her servants and runs away to the Glittering Court. The only person who knows of her identity at the school is Cedric, son of the owner. When Adelaide discovers Cedric's dangerous secret, they work together to come up with a way to save both of them from being discovered. But complications arise when a forbidden attraction forms between the two.

This book was very entertaining. It's written likes it's about America and England but with a surprisingly enjoyable fantasy twist. I loved all the details about the school--the fashion, etiquette lessons, ect. It was very entertaining for a history nut like me, even if it wasn't supposed to be a historical novel. The description in this book was amazing!

This world had a weird religious system set up, but overall I felt like a main theme was about religious freedom, and what we do to fight for it. There were some other aspects in this book I didn't agree with, but the language was clean, and there were
no explicit scenes.

 I've herd a lot of good things about Richelle Mead,, but this was the first book of hers I've read. There were certain elements in this book that I wasn't crazy about, but I did really enjoy her writing style. I look forward to reading the rest of her work.

P.S. I Like You
By Kasie West
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Personal Rating: 10/10

I adore Kasie West's books! She writes adorable, fun, and clean contemporaries that I always fly through. This one is my new favorite of hers.

To get through her Chemistry class, Lilly scribbles lyrics and song ideas into her fateful notebook. One day she absently writes some of her favorite song lyrics onto the desk. The next day, she discovers that someone else had continued the lyrics. This escalates into Lily and her mystery pen pal exchanging letters back and forth. At first it's a fun distraction from Chemistry lessons, but soon Lily and her pen pal are opening up to each other, sharing secrets and hopes. So when Lily discovers that her pen pal is a boy, she begins to fall for him. But what if the boy on paper isn't exactly who she's expected?

This book was adorable. I expected to love it, since I love everything Kaise West wrights, but I didn't expect it to be my new favorite contemporary novel. This book was clean and romantic, funny and sweet. The plot line does have a lot of potential to be overly cheesy, but I actually thought it was full of compelling characters and real-to -life problems I actually could sympathize with. These books are the only contemporaries I feel comfortable
recommending to my little sister, and I'm happy to have a new one to give her.

Fight Club
By Chuck Palahniuk
Genre: Fiction
Personal Rating: 7/10

While I have definitely heard of Fight Club before, it never appeared to be a book I would want to read. But then a few weeks ago my brother declared it to be his new favorite book, and I figured I should check it out. To say I was surprised would be an understatement.

"The first rule about fight club, is that you don't talk about fight club."

And that's about as much of an introduction as I can give. I really had no idea what this book was about, except for maybe a club where people fight, and I think that's the
best way to read this book. However, I will say that I was shocked to discover what the real focus of this story is.

While I was entertained and surprised by the end, I did not give this book a very high rating. This is because I wasn't actually a very big fan of the writing style. It was unique, but it also made it hard for me to get into the story. Also, this book has some very mature content in it that I really feel like was just added for shock value and not really to enhance the story. I liked how complex the story was, and how much was open to the reader for interpretation, however.

It was an interesting book to read, and I'm glad that I read it. However, there was just a lot about it that I did not agree with.

Hearts in Hiding
By Betsy Brannon Green
Genre: LDS Fiction
Personal Rating: 7/10

As far as LDS fiction goes, this was actually a very well written book. It was about Mormons but also included many other different religions and cultures then just that of Utah County. It was a clean romance that was written without being overly cheesy.

When Kate's FBI agent husband is killed in the line of duty, she is placed in the witness protection program. The people who killed her husband want her dead, taking her unborn child with her. For her safety, the FBI send her to a small town in Georgia, where she poses as the wife of another FBI agent, Mark. She is given a completely new identity, one that can be overwhelming to live. The plan is for her to stay hidden until the warrant for her death is lifted and the bad guys in jail, but as feelings start to kindle between Kate and Mark, the more this small town begins to feel like home.

The only real problem I had with this book is that pacing. It was a very cute and entertaining story, but there was so much repetition for the first half of the book that could have easily been taken out. Then the story continued on for quite awhile after the big climax was resolved, and I was bored by the end simply because of the extra chapters that didn't add practically anything.

I do think that this book was well planned and thought out. The details and little clues about the FBI investigation were honestly very interesting. However, while Kate is in the witness protection program they basically give her an unlimited credit card and she spends her whole time in hiding decorating a house. I found that not only highly unrealistic, but a but boring to read about. But it was a nice, clean, and entertaining story overall.

Frostfire
By Amanda Hocking
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Personal Rating: 4/10

Bryn is a tracker. Her job is to go into the human world and retrieve the changelings-- troll babies who were hidden in the human world as infants. She's the best at her job, but when an enemy from her past shows up, she finds her self in a tricky situation where she can decide if she needs to kill or help him.

If this synopsis sounds bland and confusing, then it describes this book pretty well. I'm not a big fantasy fan in general, but I gave this one a try, mostly because I thought the cover was pretty. But overall I just did not like it at all. There was nothing really unique about the story or the characters, and it just had a really immature tone to it, when the character tries to come across all serious and mature. The cover is still very pretty, but the rest of the book is less than thrilling.

More Than the Tattooed Mormon
By Al Fox Carraway
Genre: LDS Non-Fiction
Personal Rating: 10/10

It's been a while since I've read a Church Biography, but when I read that Al Carraway (the Tattooed Mormon) had a book out, I knew I had to read it. Her story is an amazing one about converting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, even when all her family and friends were against it. She became famous through a blog she started shortly after her move from New York to Utah. She is a very popular public speaker for the Church, and has traveled all over the world to speak.

This a really short and sweet book--only 147 pages--but I felt like it really leaves a mark on the reader. Al did not grow up in the Church, so hearing about her conversion, and her strength through everything, was a point of view I rarely get to hear about. If there's anyone reading this who isn't a member, or doesn't know much about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, (and I doubt there is, since I think my mom is the only one who reads this thing) I encourage you to pick this book up. It won't answer all your questions, but it will give you a sense of what the Church really is about, from the point of view of someone who joined against all the odds.

Overall, this was a very worth wile read, something I can see myself rereading several times. I would recommend it not only to every member of the Church, but those who have even a little bit of interest in what the Mormons believe.

Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here
By Anna Breslaw
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Personal Rating: 4/10

 Scarlett is a fanfiction writer. She spends most of her time with her online friends, writing about fictional characters.It may not be a very popular activity, but it makes her happy. Then her favorite TV show is canceled and her long time crush is sucked into the dark hole that is the popular group. Feeling alone with no TV characters to rant about, Scarlett turns to writing fanfiction about her classmates. It seems harmless at first, but what happens when the people in her stories find out what she really thinks of them?

Overall, this story is very hilarious. I was immediately intrigued by this synopsis, it sounded like that old Disney Channel show, Read it and Weep. And I did actually enjoy the fanfiction part of this book, it was a story line I would actually read. However, I felt like what should have been a big part of the story climax was just a short part of the book. I felt like the author was trying really hard to make these characters seem unique, but it ended up with them just seeming outrageously unrealistic to me. I felt like this is a book where the author was just trying to stuff as much diversity in as she could, whether it related to the story or not. This is a very modern book, so there are a lot of modern pop culture references, and while it added to the humor, I think all the references just really dated the book. I can't see it being relevant past the end of this year.

I would have liked to give this book a higher rating, but in the end it just focused too much on subjects I didn't agree with, and was full of unnecessary vulgar language and inappropriate slang.

Stolen
By Lucy Christopher
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Personal Rating: 8/10

When Gemma was sixteen-years-old she was kidnapped. Stolen from an airport, drugged, and taken to a remote house in an Australian desert. Her captor, Ty, has been watching Gemma for a long time, waiting for the opportunity to take her, to "save" her from the world. Her new life in the wilderness has been years in the making. Ty is no stereotype--he's young and fit. He won't let Gemma leave, but he doesn't hurt her either. All Gemma can think about is escape, but the beautiful wilderness and her wild captor have ways of getting to her.

This book is written in second person point of view, with Gemma writing this as a letter to her captor. I was hesitant to start this book at first, because I didn't want to read anything too disturbing, but actually this is a very well written book and, while does handle a scary topic, it was nothing traumatizing. There were a few cases of strong language, including the F-word, but nothing graphic or disturbing. Overall, I actually really liked this book. There where so many moments where I wasn't sure exactly who or what I was rooting for. The characters where so dynamic and real, and the writing was enjoyable to read. The setting was beautiful and I loved how the rustic house and land were described. It was a lot of fun to see exactly what it would be like to survive in an Australian desert.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. I thought the story was thrilling and terrifying, but also very beautiful and heart-wrenching.

The Crown
By Kiera Cass
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia
Personal Rating: 6/10

The last book in the Selection series. At lease I hope so. I do love this series and I was really looking forward to reading this spin-off. However, The Heir was quite disappointing, and this book wasn't much better. I feel like the concept of a selection is only interesting in the point of view of a contestant. Because reading about Eadlyn's selection was honestly very annoying at times. Though that may just be because she is an annoying character. Also, the romance that does eventually occurs between Edalyn and another character felt too sudden. There was another book to get to know him, but their feels just turned too abruptly to seem real to me. Kiera Cass's books usually lack in plot but make up for it with great characters and romance. This one didn't really have a great love story, and the plot was still flat.

There are some enduring characters in this book, but I found myself only wanting to hear about Maxon, America, Aspen, and basically just all the original characters. Even though we got two books to get to know the characters, I didn't feel any connection to any of them by the end of the book. This wasn't a terrible book, but it just fell short of what I hoped for. It didn't ruin the Selection series for me, but it didn't really add to it either.

The Lunar Chronicals
By Marissa Meyer
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction/ Retelling
Personal Rating: 10/10

It's been a while since I posed anything because I have become utterly obsessed with this series. Once I started reading the second book, I didn't want to stop until I finished the entire story. I didn't want to post about each book individually, so I decided to wait until I finished each book and could give my thoughts on the entire series.

I honestly can't stress how much I recommend these books! It's a story that sounds kind of strange--fairy tales in space? But it is actually incredibly entertaining. Each book is a retelling of a famous fair tale--Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White--but it all takes place in a futuristic world. All the characters and their stories eventually intertwine as they all ban together to take down the tyrant queen of Luna--the city on the moon. There is a vast cast of characters with diverse looks, skills, and backgrounds, I loved reading about every one of them.

I was hesitant to read these books because I was intimidated by the length of this series. There are four books, each over 400 pages long, a novella, and a book of short stories. It seemed like a lot for one series, but once I got into the story, I was wanting more after every page turn. These books are also very clean. No swearing, no sex, nothing I'd be uncomfortable with my little sister reading. There is some violence, but I didn't think it was overly graphic at all. Bottom line: if you haven't read these books yet, pick them up now.

Starflight
By Melissa Landers
Genre: Young Adult Sci Fi
Personal Rating: 8/10

Solora Brooks is looking for a second chance. Marked as a felon, she is desperate for passage to the outer realms, a place where she can live and work without prejudice. But in exchange for passage she has to indenture herself to her Doran Spaulding--heir to a multi million dollar company, and the person that made high school heck for Solora. For the first few days servitude to Doran is as unbearable as Solora predicted. But then Doran looses his memory. Solora convinces him that their roles are reversed and gets some overdo payback.

This book was addicting! It's based off the 80's movie Overboard , but with a sci fi twist. This book is super action packed and hilarious. There wasn't a moment where a wasn't thoroughly entertained.The relationship between the two main characters, and the hilarious way it unfolded, felt genuine. Also, there wasn't much use of strong language in this book--no F-words--and no graphic sex scenes. The ending of the book did feel a little rushed, but their is a companion novel coming out next year, so hopefully that will expand the story a little more. Overall, this was a fantastic read!

Reign of Shadows
By Sophie Jordan
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Personal Rating: 6/10

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse shadowed the entire land of Relhok, leaving the world cloaked in darkness. This darkness not only made it impossible for food to grow, but it also made everyone pray to the Dwellers--creatures that thrived in the darkness. On the night of the eclipse, the royal family was murdered. Only the princess escaped and she remained hidden in a tower, safe. But Luna yearned for more than just safety. So, when her tower is discovered, she journeys with Fowler, a brave archer, into the woods. Into a world far more dangerous than Luna ever realized.

The only reason I picked this book up was because I've enjoyed the author's previous works. I did enjoy the writing--especially the descriptions and the way Sophie Jordan set up the world--but in the end there was nothing really original about this book. This was a fast read, and I did enjoy it, but I just felt like every plot point and character was overly familiar. Also, I didn't feel like the story really went anywhere, Most of the book is spent with the two main characters running through the woods, running from the same things over and over. Also, the romance between the two characters was terribly unrealistic. It was a romance that began with them hating each other, but somehow that changed in a matter of hours for no real reason.

This isn't a book I would really recommend, but it isn't something I would discourage anyone from reading. It's not a terrible book, just not the most exciting plot in my opinion.

Cinder
By Marissa Meyer
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Personal Rating: 10/10

This is the first book in the very popular Lunar Series! I am very mad at myself for not picking up this book sooner! I've heard nothing but good things about the entire series, but I didn't think they would be my type of books for some odd reason. Even though this book is about 400 pages long, it reads very fast--I read the whole book in less than two days.

If you don't know what this book is about, basically it is a science fiction retelling of Cinderella. And the Cinderella in this novel is a cyborg mechanic. Sounds interesting, right? This book follows Cinder's journey of discovering her true identity, while trying to keep out smart an evil queen.

I really didn't think I would like these books very much, despite how much good I've been hearing about them. I loved the futuristic world that
Marissa Meyer set up, and I loved what she did with this fairy tale to make it like nothing I've ever read before. Her writing is honestly very enjoyable and easy to read. I never felt like I was reading a 400 page book! It went by so fast! Also, this book was very clean with very little language and no disturbing or graphic descriptions.

Salt to the Sea
By Ruta Sepetys
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Personal Rating: 10/10

I cannot say enough good things about this book. It was incredible! Ruta Sepetys is the author of my favorite book, Between Shades of Gray. She is an expert of writing about hidden history, and this book was no exception.

In the winter of 1945, millions of refugees tried to flee Germany as the Russians where closing in. Operation Hannibal involved evacuation through all sorts of ships. And one those evacuation ships was the Wilhelm Gustloff. This ship was packed with German soldiers, infants, children, and teenagers. And it was sunk by a Russian submarine. With a death tole the dwarfs the tragedy of the Titanic and Lusitania, this is a forgotten story that is finally being brought to light. This story is told in the point of views of four different teenagers from four different homelands. But they are all trying to survive, and they are all aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff. 

This is a story that stays with the reader for a very long time after the book is closed. I just can't believe that something of this magnitude happened, and hardly anyone knows about it. I had the honor of meeting Ruta Sepetys before I read this book. She is an incredible woman who really has a passion for writing historical fiction. The amount of research that went into this novel is amazing, and it really shows. I HIGHLY recommend this book. Just like with Between Shades of Gray, I feel like this is a story that everyone needs to read.

Me Before You
By Jojo Moyes
Genre: Fiction
Personal Rating: 8/10

When Louisa Clark looses her job at a cafe, she accepts the position of caretaker will a quadriplegic man, Will Traynor. When Will was in a motorcycle accident that left him unable to do anything by himself, he lost all desire to live. But then his mother hires bright and eccentric Louisa, and both their lives are changed forever.

This is a very difficult book to review. I have never read anything like this story before, and it was really emotional. I would have loved to give this book a 10/10, but I had an issue with the ending. There are two prominent themes I got from this book: the first is to live boldly, or to live life to it's fullest. And second, anyone can do whatever they want to themselves, no matter who it hurts. It's this second theme that really bothered me. I felt like this idea contradicted the whole idea of living life to it's fullest, no matter your circumstances.  I don't want to say too much and ruin the ending or anyone, but this is a tricky book to talk about. There are people who would love this book and others who would hate it. I was in between. I will say, though, that this is a book that stays with you for a long time after you've finished reading it.

Everything, Everything
By Nicola Yoon
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Personal Rating: 8/10

This book is about a Madeline--a girl who hasn't been able to leave her house for the past seventeen-years. Madeline had SKID, also known as Bubble Baby Disease. She is allergic to the entire world. Madeline has never interacted with anyone besides her mother, her online tutors, and her nurse. Then one day a moving van pulls up next door. Her new neighbors have a son her age. His name is Olly, and Madeline knows from the moment she sees him that he was going to be very important to her . But seeing the untouchable world outside can be more harmful than Madeline ever imagined.

I read this book in one day, it is a very quick read. I really liked the writing and the voice of the main character. There have been a lot of books coming out lately about sick teens--Falt In Our Stars knockoffs--but this one felt very genuine and sweet. The romance was sort of cheesy and unrealistic, but I felt like the focus was really on Madeline and her sickness. My favorite part of this book was the visual aspects. There are lots of sketches and funny lists that really add to the story. Also, I liked the twist at the end, it was pretty unexpected. Overall, I think this is a wonderful thing to read when you're looking for a quick, entertaining, and heartwarming read.

Mirrored
By Alex Flinn
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Personal Rating: 8/10

To Violet--ugly and bullied--beauty seems to be the key to happiness. And with the help of a witch, Violet gets what she wants most in the world, to be beautiful. To Celine, her beauty us a curse. Especially with a stepmother who is jealous of her looks. But beauty is only skin deep, and Violet and Celine find their lives mirrored in many ways.

This book is a modern retelling of Snow White. An idea that isn't incredibly original, but I thought that Alex Flinn did a wonderful job telling the story and making it unique. She is also the author of Beastly which is a Beauty and the Beast retelling and one of my favorite fairy tale books.

One aspect of this book that was really interesting and unique, is that it is written in three parts and three perspectives, with the the villain's story told first. I really loved this because it really added an interesting dynamic to the rest of the story. It make it hard to hate the villain when her backstory was the first thing I read. Also, the love interest in this book was really unique. This is the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and in this case the dwarfs are a wonderful family of littler people. The love interest in this story is actually one of he dwarfs, and I loved it. He is such an interesting and fun character.

As far as fairy tale retellings go, this one was a winner. Slightly cheese and overdone at parts, but the story and characters where actually really enjoyable.

Wonder
By R.J. Palacio
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Personal Rating: 10/10

This is the story of August Pullman, a ten-year-old boy who only wants to be like everybody else. He feels like a normal boy, except that he doesn't look like a normal boy. August was born with a rare and terrible facial deformity, so he's used to being stared at everywhere he goes. His parents have protected and sheltered her his whole life, but now August is going to a real school for the first time. He's excited to meet kids his own age, but can his classmates actually see him for who he really is?

I am so mad that it took me so long to read this book! It is fantastic! This is a middle grade novel but I feel like it's something everyone needs to read, it's a book for all ages. It is such a beautiful story about acceptance and loving those who are different from us. It is written in several different point of views, and I loved seeing all the different views. It is a very impact story, but it is also very humorous and fun. I highly recommend it!

The Walled City
By Ryan Graudin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Personal Rating: 9/10

There are three rules for living in the walled city: run fast, trust no one, always carry your knife. In this lawless cage, crime and poverty run rampant. And even more terrifying--it was a real place. The walled city existed in China and was finally torn down in the 80's. It was originally a military base that turned into a breeding ground for drug circles and prostitution. While the author doesn't label this book as historical fiction, it's obvious that  did a lot of research for it. This book is written in three perspectives, three types of people who live within the walled city. Dae: running from a haunting past, looking for freedom. Mei Lee: a young girl who's trapped in a brothel within the city. Jin Lee: a young girl searching for the sister stolen from her.

 I really enjoyed this book. I'm not a huge fan of alternating perspectives in books, but in this book it's done really well. It's a fast paced and heart wrenching story. One of the characters has a huge secret that drives the entire plot, but you don't find out anything about it until half way through. Because of that I had a hard time really getting into the story. Secrets and mystery are good in books, but in this situation I think I would have preferred to know a bit more sooner. Overall, I really loved this book. Graudin has a real compelling writing style and I loved learning about such a secretive and terrifying place in history. I highly recommend it.

All the Truth That's in Me
By Julie Berry
Genre: Historical Fiction
Personal Rating: 10/10

Four years ago Judith and her best friend disappeared. Two years later only Judith returned, permanently mutilated and unable to speak. She now lives as an outcast in her town, ignored by those who used to be her friends. She finds peace  silently pouring out her heart to Lucas, the boy she's loved as long as she can remember. But when her town is attacked, Judith has to seek help from the man who was her capture for two years. But is Judith and her town ready to face the truth of the past?

Despite how creepy this cover looks, this is actually a very beautiful book. It's written in second person point of view which is very interesting and unique. It was a very fast read and an incredibly impactful story.There isn't anything graphic in this book, despite how the synopsis sounds. I highly recommend it.

Can You Keep a Secret?
By Sophie Kinsella
Genre: Adult Fiction
Personal Rating: 6/10

This book was recommended to me by a friend and the whole premise sounded absolutely hilarious. It's about a girl named Emma. She goes on a business trip to Scotland and encounters disaster on the way home. When Emma's plane experiences extreme turbulence, she's sure she's about to die. And so she spills every last one of her secrets to the stranger sitting next to her. The plane eventually makes a safe landing and Emma goes off, expecting never to see the man on the plane again. Until she goes to work and discovers that the man is her new boss.

Overall this book was really hilarious, however, I found that my expectations fell short. There was an extreme amount of unnecessarily language in this book that really annoyed me. I also felt like there was a lot of unnecessary fluff that made the story drag on. I wished I was a bigger fan of Sophie Kinsella's writing, but so far I haven't been incredibly impressed.

Dangerous Lies
By Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: Young Adult Thriller
Personal Rating: 10/10

I have been waiting to read this book for so long! Becca Fitzpatrick is one of my all time favorite authors and this is her newest novel that actually came out mid November, but I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy until now. I love Becca Fitzpatrick's books because they are exciting, fun, scary, intense, and pretty much anything else you could want in a young adult novel. This one did not disappoint.

Stella Gordan is in the Witness Protection Program. Stella isn't even her real name, it's a name the government gave her, along with a completely new identity. Stella witnessed a terrible crime and is forced to relocate to a terrifyingly small down in the middle of Nebraska. Stella doesn't want to be there, but in order to remain safe he has to completely give up her old life. She doesn't plan on being in Nebraska long, nor dose she plan on caring for any of the locals. But then their's Chet--the
neighbor who becomes the closest friend she's ever had. And Carminia--her course but loving guardian. But as Stella grows for comfortable in the small down, the danger from her past begins to catch up with her.

Overall, I adored this book. The main character bugged me to no end at the start of the novel but she grew and changed so much by the end--exactly what I like to see in a character. The author did an amazing job painting the picture of small town life in a place like Thunder Basin, Nebraska. The plot isn't as scary or mysterious as her previous work--like Black Ice--but I overall was not disappointed in the story, the setting, the characters, or the overall writing. It was a wonderfully entertaining read.