bj neary's Page

Couldn't put this one down and so compelling too! Jennifer Harris is 9 years old, fat and a social outcast and recalling a scary time when she was at her best friend, Cameron Quick's (LOVE HIS NAME)house without permission and his father is yelling and scary and lots of other things. Fast forward to Jennifer at 17 and she is now Jenna Vaughn, pretty, thin, funny, with lots of friends and a boyfriend of 3 months, Ethan. But Jenna Vaughn's carefully constructed world is about to fall apart when Ca… Continue

Couldn't put this one down and so compelling too! Jennifer Harris is 9 years old, fat and a social outcast and recalling a scary time when she was at her best friend, Cameron Quick's (LOVE HIS NAME)house without permission and his father is yelling and scary and lots of other things. Fast forward to Jennifer at 17 and she is now Jenna Vaughn, pretty, thin, funny, with lots of friends and a boyfriend of 3 months, Ethan. But Jenna Vaughn's carefully constructed world is about to fall apart when Ca… Continue

Retaliation by Yasmin Shiraz had my heart pumping the whole time I read it. Now I understand why it received 2009 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers! What would you do if someone you loved was senselessly targeted, beaten up and left for dead? This is the premise of this book and what happens continues to reverberate through each chapter. People's lives are changed (Sheila Odom and her son Khalil who was in a gang and now spends his days in a wheelchair)--- they jump to conclu… Continue

First of all, I love David Small as an illustrator and author, especially his children's book, Imogene's Antlers, and I think he illustrated the book written by his wife, The Gardener (Not sure of the title) and my idea was this was one happy man. Stitches totally blew me out of the water with his horrendous childhood graphically depicted (a graphic biography)and the fact that he was able to overcome his family dysfunction. Small's words and drawings are superb in what they show and don't show a… Continue

I just love novels in verse and Ava has just lost her boyfriend, Jackson in a freak accident. She feels responsible and is now "feeling" he is still with her. The spare words are perfect in describing Ava's profound love for Jackson. She has a strong support system with family and friends but wants to just "sleep" or stay close to home to be with him. I ached for her desolation, loved her friends for supporting her and rooted for her to find happiness and peace without Jackson.