MotherReader

Wow, I almost forgot about Rock the Drop! Fortunately, my social media connections tuned me in, answering the eternal question "What has Twitter done for me lately?" So I went to my bookshelves - okay, book piles - to find something special to share with teen readers. Unfortunately, I had recently done a purge which made my search a little more difficult. But digging deeper, I am parting with some Bloomsbury ARC's so they can find new homes with a new readers.

The Fool's Girl
by Celia Rees

The book boosts of "a lush, epic historical novel with an added Shakespearean twist." Well, if that doesn't bring in the readers I don't know what will. In today's market it would be a better sell to add "and zombies" to the end of any description. But it would be unfair to dismiss this smart book for smart readers. Set in Shakespearean times - with actual Shakepeare included - the story follows the royal Violetta and her fool on a mission to find a holy relic and restore a kingdom. Spun from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the historic details are well-balanced with adventure, intrigue, romance, and suspense.


Going Underground
by Susan Vaught

I'm in a tagline mood so... "When does falling in love become a crime?" With that question and the intriguing cover, the reader is pulled into the story of a good kid on the wrong end of a bad law created for the right reasons. Del is seventeen and digging graves without prospects for college or love because of something that happened three years ago that made him a social outcast - and a felon. Through flashbacks, the reader learns about his past and comes away with a timely cautionary tale. An interesting story based on real-life sexting cases, this is a book to open discussions and open minds about complicated issues.


Fallen Grace
by Mary Hooper

Continuing the trend, a bit from the jacketflap: "Mary Hooper's latest offers Dickensian social commentary, as well as malicious fraud, mysterious secrets, and a riveting read." Following my earlier note, let's add "and zombies" to this description and move some books. The Grace of the title is - along with her sister - penniless and struggling to survive in Victorian London. Giving birth to a stillborn baby conceived through terrible circumstances, sets Grace into a series of connections and let's say great expectations. (Dickens reference for the win!) A detailed historical setting, strong characters and plot twists make for a fun read.