The Kids are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony

Savannah and Thomas McClair are twins that lost their mom in an accident when they were 13 years old.  They've known their dad but they've got a grandmother, Maggie, that loves and cares for them.  Maggie likes to be surrounded by people and hear their stories so every Friday night she invites a guest for dinner.  When Savannah needs a project at school their podcast is born and it's based on the Friday night dinner guests.  

Thomas has been wondering about his dad for a while so when a Friday night dinner conversation sways that way he gets an idea.  Why not try and do a podcast and see if they can find their dad.  After a few reservations from Savannah and Maggie they podcast begins.

The podcast turns out to be equally loved and hated by listeners but it's definitely gaining a lot of popularity.  The McClair's have teamed up with an agency and attention is getting out of hand.

I found The Kids are Gonna Ask intriguing to begin with but I did find it dragged on a bit too long.  When I found the book it was listed as General Fiction - Adult but I think it might be more appropriate in Young Adult.  Aside from some excessive drinking I think it would be appropriate.  I don't believe there were any curse words.  Perhaps the more appropriate age would be 17 - the age of the McClair twins.  Overall though I did enjoy the plot and I was invested to discover whoever the father is.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis

Poor Emmie Blue has had a rough life.  Her mom is hardly a caring mother.  She knows very few details about her father.  Certainly not enough to find him - she's definitely tried.  She's been on her own as long as she can remember.  When she was younger she had a great friend who's family always included her but after the father, who is also a teacher at her school, sexually assaulted her she's lost her best friend, any security she may have had.  Plus, she's become an outcast at school.

In an act of loneliness she writes her story and attaches it to a balloon.  Never did she suspect that Lucas was a lonely boy in France looking for a friend too.  After many emails and visits the two become the closest of best friends.  Lucas's older brother Elliot used to hang out with them all the time too until one night Elliot betrays Emmie Blue and they haven't talked much since.

Now they are older and Lucas is getting married.  Emmie was always certain that they would end up together and now she has to put a smile on her face and help her friend get ready for his big day.  It also seems she's not going to be able to get through this wedding without confronting her issues with Elliot.  Poor Emmie has never felt lonelier.

On top of the wedding stuff to deal with she's lives in her bedroom that she rents from an older lady and they barely share a few words with each other.  She's working in a job that makes next to nothing and she's barely scraping by for money.  Everyone around her seems to have it all together love; money; a home.

Emmie Blue is certainly a character to be pitied.  I found myself just hoping someone would love her and give her a hug.  Her poor self-esteem is rock bottom and you wish you could just sit down with her and tell her it's going to be ok.

I really enjoyed Dear Emmie Blue.  It was a fun book to read that had me wanting to see how things would end for her.