GIRL, STOLEN by April Henry

This was another of my bonus point books from my classroom Scholastic orders and I am happy to say it was good.  Since it was an actual book I was not able to take it to the gym with me so I will not be giving it any Barbell rating.  Girl, Stolen is the story of a girl, Cheyenne, who has lost her sight and while sleeping in the back of her step mom's car while she is off getting antibiotics, is accidently kidnapped during a car jacking.  The writing was sharp and concise and the dialogue was believable.  The dialogue between Griffin, the teenage boy who accidently kidnapped her and Cheyenne, is natural while still giving us background information to their lives.   When Griffin begins to sympathize with her and his dad gets the idea to ransom her off things start getting strained and Cheyenne isn't sure she's going to make it out alive.  I enjoyed the book and think it would be a good recommendation for MG to YA.  I give it 4 stars.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Lucky!!!  I have to count my blessings lately because I have read one great book after another for the last couple of weeks.  I absolutely loved this book...and again give it 5 barbells for getting me up and to the gym...although I admit I crawled into bed and read for two hours one night because I was so engrossed with these characters I didn't want them to go.  First I have to say besides the incredible writing and dialogue (those of you who follow me know I am a sucker for dialogue) this book also took place in the 80's!  I was in high school at the same time a these characters and felt so connected to the music references and the struggle with identity.  Park, one of the main characters is of korean and american decent and struggles with who he actually is.  While Eleanor is a red headed, "big" girl (at least that is what she calls herself) She feels ugly and her home life is a mess!  But somehow while riding the school bus Park and Eleanor form a connection and fall in love. They try to help each other with acceptance of who they are and learn how to not let go of the good things because of the bad. This is a sweet and sometimes heart breaking book but one I know will stay with me until I am able to be immersed in another good book.  Sure fire 5 stars.

What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

Loved this book!  Definitly a 5 barbell rating.  I especially appreciated this book because it was set in the Pacific Northwest, where I was raised and on Orcas Island, where my husband and I spent our first year Anniversary.  Yeah!  This book grabs you from the get go.  Although the chapter time line was a bit confusing in the beginning but I got the hang of it.  Jake is the main character and after a horrific accident he loses his vocal cords.  The story takes you through his trials trying to communicate with his peers as well as the strange way people feel comfertable telling him things since he can never repeat it.  I thought the author did an excellent job of communicating for him through written notebooks.  I personally felt his frustration at writing so much and wanted to scream for him to learn sign language faster.  I can't imagine having to write everything down.  Jake's love interest, Sam, has her own issues to deal with and the story does a good job of teaching us that everyone has there trials and each impacts their life at a variety of levels...so before you get too depressed remember someone else could be worse off.  Really enjoyed the writing and the story.  Fell in love with Jake and his family.  Big 5 star recommendation.