Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

Echo is a beautifully written story about a harmonica.  Although the harmonica isn't magical it has a huge impact on the lives of it's various owners.  The harmonica makes it's way to three different owners throughout the story.  The three children that possess the harmonica are each experiencing some difficult times in their lives.  They each have a great appreciation for music.  They are also very appreciative for small gifts.

Echo is a beautifully written children's novel that could easily be enjoyed by many adults as well.  It's quite long - over 500 pages.  Definitely a book for an avid reader.  Last year my school had a visit by Marsha Skrypuch.  Her books are still requested quite frequently.  I think this would be a good suggestion for her fans.

Kay's Lucky Coin Variety by Ann Y. K. Choi

Kay's Lucky Coin Variety is a coming of age story of young Mary stuck between two cultures.  Mary was born in Korea.  She can remember the day her family left for a better life in Canada.  A variety store in Toronto becomes their life.  Mary, her parents and brother, Josh must take their turn working shifts manning the store.  Is this the better life her parents dreamed of?  Selling cigarettes and newspapers and living in fear of being robbed and losing that days earnings or worse.

Mary begins each morning with a Korean soup prepared by her mother.  Then Mary heads to school where she struggles to fit in when there aren't any other Korean children around.  It's a struggle to maintain her Korean identity and adapt to her Canadian society.  It's a struggle for Mary to meet her parents expectations and dreams they have for her life.  She's in love with a white man but questions whether she could grow to love the Korean boy who whispers her birth name.
  
Kay's Lucky Coin Variety is the first novel for Toronto's Ann Y. K. Choi.  It will be on sale May 3rd, 2016.

Liberty Street by Dianne Warren

Years ago before I started my blog I read Cool Water by Dianne Warren.  It was the story of a cast of characters living in a small Canadian town and it took place over the course of one day.  Since that time I have been frequently looking out for something new by Dianne Warren.  I subscribe to many email newsletters to keep me up to date on the latest book releases so I was completely surprised to see this one in Chapters and that I didn't already know about it.

Once again, the setting is a small town in Canada.  The story is about Frances Mary Moon and her coming of age story.  She grows up often not meeting the expectations of her parents.  She makes a few mistakes given the town folks lots to gossip about.  She manages to push some of those mistakes behind her and move on in a new relationship but when she witnesses a tragedy many years later the truth comes slipping out surprising her and her long term boyfriend.

I love Dianne Warren's writing style.  I look forward to her next novel.

Will to Survive by Eric Walters

It's no secret that I love every Eric Walters book that I read.  He is very talented and if you ever get the chance to hear him speak - don't miss it!  The most viewed post on my blog is Sleeper by Eric Walters.  My very first published book review was of the Seven series that he was the mastermind behind.  I've also reviewed a few of his other books in between.

Today though is the final book in his Rule of Three trilogy.  First, you must read these books in order.  I don't want to say too much about this book in case you haven't read the first two yet.  Let me just say that I was satisfied with the ending.  I've read book one aloud to grade 7 and 8 classes and they've loved it!  You know you've hooked them when they ask you to read to them at lunch.  This series is fantastic for teenage boys but girls like it just as much.  Also, I've recommended it to a few adult men that haven't read a book and years and they all loved it.

I'm sorry to see it end.  I have eagerly awaited the last few February's for the most recent title.  I'm sure Eric Walters is currently working on something else for me to love.  I hope.  

Speechless by Valerie Sherrard

Jelly dreads the yearly speech competition at school but when this year's prize is revealed to be a gaming device he's extremely motivated.  Problem is that when Jelly has to talk in front of a group he's speechless.  Jelly's classmate Victoria wins every year.  Victoria's the school co-president.  She's every teacher's favourite.  How can Jelly compete with her?  What topic will win the votes from his classmates?

Speechless is a great read aloud.  It's funny and has many great discussion points.

Flood Girls by Richard Fifield

Rachel Flood is an alcoholic.  She's been faithfully attending her AA meetings and working through the steps.  She's on the right path.  But Rachel knows she's left a path behind her with a lot of emotional casualties and she can't let it go.  She needs to right her wrongs in her hometown of Quinn, Montana.  Rachel knows that no one, including her own mother, will be happy to see her back in Quinn but she needs to give it a try.  

Quinn's most spunky women all come together each summer to form the town's baseball team.  The hilarious characters of Flood Girls will have you checking NetFlix to re-watch '90's movie A League of Their Own.  Will Rachel receive the forgiveness she seeks?  Will she be driven to drink again?  Beneath all the rough and tough exteriors are the residents of Quinn hiding a big heart after all?

You'll laugh.  You'll cry.  You'll want to keep reading Flood Girls.

Simon & Schuster Canada are kicking off 2016 with a series of novels with kick-ass women characters.  Flood Girls has a few kick-ass women in it.  What other novels have you read with kick-ass women characters?

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Love Letters to the Dead is about a girl named Laurel.  She is starting grade 9 at a new high school out of her district so that she won't know anyone and won't have to talk about her sister, May's, recent death.  Her mom couldn't cope with May's death so she skipped town and went to California.  Laurel divides her time between living with her Dad and her Aunt Amy.  Life isn't easy for Laurel.  She has a lot to deal with.  When her English teacher gives an assignment to write a letter to a dead person the novel Love Letters to the Dead is formed.

Laurel writes letters to all kinds of dead people such as Kurt Cobain, Amelia Earhart and Janis Joplin.  The letters tell Laurel's story and become therapeutic for her.  The novel is beautifully written but it is very sad and parts of it were hard to read.  Definitely not a book I will be getting for my school but would be appropriate for high school.