Maria Padian has written another beautiful story. This time it's about Izzy, a girl who is half Puerto Rican, half-white, and trying to figure out where she fits in the world. Her father died 6 years ago, and her family has moved 6 times since then, her mother trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Izzy goes to a Catholic private school but lives in a mobile home neighborhood, and she spends a lot of time keeping the worlds separate. Her family is given a great opportunity in having a house from Habitat for Humanity, but it would involve some of her worlds colliding. Add in a budding flirtation with a boy who her best friend also has her eye on, and you've got a great story with drama and heart.

It did not surprise me at all that Izzy would act the way she did. A lot of people hide their backgrounds to make people think more highly of them. I also liked Izzy's struggle with the fact that her mother and younger brother speak much better Spanish than she does, based on their respective ages when both parents were alive. A lot to chew on in this one.

This book is pretty good, but I still felt somewhat removed from Norma Jean. Isn't that just the way though? Something that makes her a star? It left me wanting more. Maybe, for me, what I need is a big biography in prose form.

For the music loving teens in your life. I loved this one. The two leads alternate telling their story. They both have major crushes on the other, but are too scared to say it. Life brings them together, and they truly get each other's musical nerdiness.

Note: I like music, but I'm not as obsessed as these teens. Is Adam Duritz still a big thing? The Counting Crows?

The only soccer games I have really watched are my brothers. Still, I have a soft spot for the US Women's Soccer team, and I follow many of the players on social media. I wish La Furia was one of those players.

Camila is a headstrong girl who loves futbol, even though she has to hide it from her family. Her brother also plays, and their father focuses all the energy on him. Honestly, the father is emotionally and physically abusive. Mama mostly tries to stay out of his way and sew beautiful clothing. Camila is known as La Furia on the field. Can she bring that energy off the field as well?

There is also a romantic interest, Diego, who is an up and coming futbol star. Can Camila be with him and be a star?

I am really intrigued by Reynolds' ability to write slightly science fiction stories with such real characters. I started out feeling bad for Jamal, and while I still did by the end of the book, it was also mixed with feelings of how his own choices made life hard for others.

This book will make you think about what you would do if you could bring a loved one back from death for a brief period of time. Would you want to? What would you say?

I think this will be really fun to read at storyime. Another excellent book from Portis.

A beautiful book that is needed.

I wanted to feel cozy today and it fit the bill.

Kangaroos say that no one can have noodles except them. Resistance happens. I don't think I've read anything quite like this before, and I doubt I will soon. Social justice for young readers.

I had never heard of Cashier before this book. Sanders does an excellent job laying out what we know about his life, and how his fellow soldiers fought for him to have his pension.