Tag Archives: Goodreads

Jadeite’s Journey

January 25, 2017Science Fiction, Teen Reads, YA book clubs, YALitAward winning author, Bookclubs, Goodreads, SciFi, YALit, YASciFilucindastein

When romance turns deadly…

Jadeite’s world comes crashing down on her. In futuristic jadeites-journey-final-cover United Society, her only problem has been how to act around the cute boy on the air shuttle. But Jadeite’s life changes when she comes across a man who looks alarmingly like her father. Clones were declared illegal years ago. When she sees her father, a robotic engineer, headed to the Dark Edge of United Society, she follows him and uncovers her father’s secret life.

Jadeite shadows her father past the boundary of United Society and into a primitive world of canyons and high deserts. She learns her father is a Ridge Runner passing between the two worlds. Even more alarming, she discovers her younger brother, Malachite, is sick and requires medicine only available from over the Ridge. After her father is arrested, Jadeite takes his place in order to save her brother’s life.

But her world turns even more precarious after she breaks up with her obsessive boyfriend, Mattie. Jadeite soon learns his threats are more than words—and her life is in jeopardy.

Lucinda Stein is the award-winning author of several adult novels and short stories. Jadeite’s Journey is her first YA novel.

Available:

I hope you enjoy Jadeite’s Journey!

Happy reading

A Court of Thorns and Roses

November 12, 2016fantasy, NALit, YA book clubs, YA Writing, YALitBookclubs, fantasy, Goodreads, YALitlucindastein

Nineteen-year-old Feyre resides in a village with two sisters and a crippled father at the edge of a magical land called Prythian—a land of faeries. Living in poverty after her father lost his fortune, Feyre hunts for their food, keeping the family from starving. While out hunting one day, she kills a wolf.

Later a fearsome creature breaks into their cottage, seeking revenge for the death of one of its own kind. The wolf Feyre killed turns out to be a shapeshifter who was actually a faerie. The creature called Tamlin drags Feyre away and across the border to Prythian. At his estate, Tamlin allows her free access of his mansion and estate grounds. Instead of killing her, she’s allowed to live according to the regulations of an ancient treaty. However, she can never return to her family. Ever.

Feyre panics over her family’s survival, but Tamlin assures her he has taken care of her family. Over time, she realizes Tamlin truly means her no harm and slowly finds herself attracted to the lethal, immortal High Fae.

She learns that a blight across Prythian endangers the High Fae and has lessened his magical powers. Tamlin’s estate and even his life is in danger. To protect Feyre’s life, he sends her home. But Feyre’s love for Tamlin leads her back to incredible danger and deeper into the secrets of Prythian.

In an intriguing version of Beauty and the Beast, Sarah Maas leads the reader through a story of magic, war, and fated love. Well written, the book contains plenty of conflict and mystery. Due to scenes of sexual and violent nature, I recommend this book for New Adult or older YA readers.

When Dreams Are Put on Hold

August 14, 2016Teen Reads, YA book clubs, YA Writing, YALitBookclubs, Goodreads, TeenReads, YALitlucindastein

This new-adult novel deals with the challenging choices a young adult struggles with after high school. FYI: This book contains strong language and sexual scenes. Skylar I'll Meet You There Evans can’t wait to leave her hometown after graduation. The small town of Creek View has little to offer other than a run-down trailer park and one eccentric motel, the Paradise, where she works. Skylar has a pact with her male friend, Chris, that they will both leave Creek View and attend college. Her best friend, Dylan, has gone the route of many girls in Creek View, becoming pregnant in high school. Dylan is now raising her son, Sean.

Skylar’s father died in a car accident, and her mother is not coping well—she loses her job at Taco Bell and drinks all the time. Skylar starts to reconsider her decision to attend college, a dream she’s held for years. Someone has to take care of her mother.

Skylar’s life becomes even more complicated when she attends a party for Josh Mitchell, a Marine home from Afghanistan. Josh’s life is changed forever after he loses one leg in the war. She starts to fall for Josh, but wonders if it’s pity or real attraction drawing her to him.

The summer after graduation proves full of complications for Skylar. Her longing to study art is threatened by her mother’s downward spiral, and Skylar’s growing feelings for Josh. The night she finally admits she’s in love with Josh, he cheats on her. She’s devastated—her first love and he has betrayed her. Skylar’s life has become totally unraveled.

I’ll Meet You There tackles tough problems that can occur in a young adult’s life. The author realistically paints the pain of difficult issues while maintaining a broad stroke of hope. A person’s choices and attitude—along with a little help from friends—can overcome the worst heartbreaks and even the most dismal situations.

Villians You Love to Hate

July 6, 2016Teen Reads, YA book clubs, YALitBookclubs, Goodreads, TeenReads, YALitlucindastein

Essential for good conflict in a story, a villain is someone you hate or fear—or both. Here’s just a few:

Queen Levana, The Lunar Chronicle—Levana uses mind control and works to appear more beautiful than she actually is. She seeks to kill her own family making her a chilling villain.

Slagar from Mattimeo, A brutal slave trader who kidnaps children.

The Eye of Sauron, Lord of the Rings A god-like eye of fire that sees everything we do—need I say more?

SCNR-Captain Hook from Peter Pan Unlike the child-friendly adaptions of this book, the original Captain Hook proved more vicious.

Lord Voldemort or Dolores Umbridge? in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Many people will choose the noseless Lord Voldemort as the chief villain but what is more frightening that a villain who hides behind the veil of goodness? Think pink and kittens!

The frenemy, Nancy Wheeler, in Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret

What’s worse than a friend who turns out to be an enemy? A BFF turned villain—pure pain!

Who’s your favorite villain and why?

YA, NA, Whatever!

June 19, 2016NALit, Teen Reads, YA book clubs, YALitBookclubs, Goodreads, TeenReadslucindastein

Several award-winning novels are categorized as adult books yet have young protagonists or main characters. You might want to challenge yourself and try one of the following books.

Eleven-year-old Reuben Land was born with no air in his lungs. When his father picked him up and commanded him to breathe, Reuben’s lungs filled. Reuben has seen other strange occurrences connected to his father and believes his father is tied to the miracles. But why doesn’t his father heal Reuben from his severe asthma?

One night two kids break into their house to retaliate against his father and Reuben’s brother, Davy, shoots and kills both trespassers. Davy runs away the day of his trial forcing Reuben and his father on a long journey to find him.

You may have seen the movie, but remember the book is always better! Fourteen-year-old Lily Owens runs away from her mean father and sets off on a journey to find out about her mother, who died when Lily was four. With only the name of a town from a honey label that was left with her mother’s things, Lily finds three eccentric black sisters who are beekeepers. Slowly Lily uncovers the mystery behind her mother’s death.

Drop me a line if you enjoyed either of these books. I’d love to hear from you!

2616 A.D.

May 11, 2016Science Fiction, YALitAward winning author, Bookclubs, Goodreads, Sciencefiction, SciFi, SciFiNovel, TeenReads, YALitlucindastein

Barrier Canyon Pictographs in Thompson Canyon, Utah

**A Perfect World**

Jadeite lives in a future society where everything is controlled. Under the artificial covering, even weather is tamed. In United Society, the color of the sky changes depending on the effect it produces in its citizens. Imagine a red sky in varying hues but not a hint of blue! Jadeite’s only anxiety is how to act around the cute boy on the air shuttle but when she discovers her father’s secret life, her perfect world comes crashing down upon her.

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