Fallout by Todd Strasser

It's the summer of 1962 and the threat of war is looming.  Scott is in grade 6.  Old enough to know that things are serious but young enough that his parents don't share the extent of it with him.  Fallout is told by Scott's point of view with the time frame flipping from before the bomb and after the bomb.

Scott's dad has built a bomb shelter for their home.  His mother and all the neighbours think he's crazy.  There won't be a bomb.  Readers quickly discover that there has been a bomb though.  Scott's dad isn't so crazy anymore!  All the neighbours rush to fit into a shelter that has been built for a family of four.  Soon the shelter door is shut and now ten neighbours must survive two weeks with only enough supplies for four people.

Before the bomb is built Scott has normal young boy worries such as getting in trouble for dumb ideas that his best friend Ronnie ropes him into.  Ronnie's next big plan is that before Scott is killed by a bomb he needs to see a woman's breasts.

I really enjoyed Fallout.  Perfect for grade 6-8.  However, not a great read allowed due to Ronnie's obsession with breasts.  There is also some under age drinking.  No bad language though.

The Invoice by Jonas Karlsson

How happy are you with your life?  Do you think you are more or less happy then your friends and neighbours?  What makes one person happier than another?  Is it money?  Family?  Travel?  Love?

The main character (no name given) has received an invoice for an obscene amount of money.  He's been told it is time to pay up for all the wonderful experiences he's had in life so far.  But how has this company come up with this number?  How have they rated his level of happiness?  Is he happy?  What's the worst things that have happened to him?

This was a quick read.  Interesting how he reflects and evaluates his life.  This would make a good book club discussion.  The Invoice will be published in Canada on July 12th, 2016.

Insidious by Catherine Coulter

I enjoy a good murder mystery now and then but it can't be too gruesome and gory and it can't have kids.  That can be tough to find.  I was a bit sceptical when I received a copy of Insidious but all was good.

Insidious was a good clean murder mystery.  A real page turner without a ton of blood and guts and harming small children.  There is a serial killer though and someone is trying to kill an 87 year old grandmotherly business tycoon.  At first it seemed like so many characters to keep straight and try and figure out how they all fit together but it all came together quickly.

Someone has been trying to poison Venus the 87 year old grandmother.  But who?  And why?  Surely, she can't have that much longer to rule the business empire.  Can't they just wait to die naturally?  And which one of her children or grandchildren is so anxious to see her gone?  They are all quick to point fingers.

In Hollywood it's a pretty competitive world.  Everyone is trying to be a star.  After the third murdered starlett the FBI realize they have a serial killer on their hands but how many more up and coming stars need to be brutally murdered before they catch the killer?

The Good Sister by Chelsea Bolan

The Amador family takes great pride in their family name and family business - the bar that all the tourists flaunt to.  They are a family that is respected in their community.  Raul Amador is the proud leader of his family.  Nothing will tarnish their family name.

When rumours begin to circulate that his youngest daughter Gabriela has been up to no good with a local man, Raul can take no chances and must protect his family image.  He acts quickly to cleanse his home and name of any shame not stopping to think twice or listen.

With Gabriela no longer a name that is allowed to be spoken in the presence of her father, Lucy must remain the good sister.  Although her name may not be spoken, Lucy can't drive away her thoughts of her sister.  Where is she?  Is she safe?  Is she alive?

Lucy travels across Mexico to find her beloved sister.  Her travels take her through a side of Mexico that is hidden away from the many tourists that visit every day.  The author, Chelsea Bolan, describes a Mexico filled with history and beauty.  The Good Sister tells a story of tragedy and loss but throughout the story the sisters each encounter so many kind and giving strangers as well.  The Good Sister will transport readers to Mexico with every page.