The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is easy, fast paced YA fiction, not quite fantasy, with minimal world building, no dragons or other magic, and no gratuitous sex or violence (hooray). The plot is straightforward with a few surprises and the characterization is wonderful with a strong message of loyalty and determination. It won several YA award nominations and I now want to read its sequel, The Runaway King, which won the Whitney Award, but this book stands alone with a satisfying conclusion if you are a reader who doesn't appreciate series. I highly recommend--- everything in the book just works to make it a fun read for a pretty wide audience.

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Hate U Give, an extremely powerful story about racism and police violence in America, is told from a black 16 year old girl's point of view and is one of the best books I have read so far this year. . . the sort of book that there can always be more of! Considering the amount of profanity used in this impressively important & timely novel, friends who follow my reviews may be surprised by my 5 star rating because I usually dock a book 1 point for language. But it is real and the language is necessary. It is an engaging, well-written story with complex characters that are real, likable, and all-too-human. It’s compassionate, complex, powerful, and profoundly sad yet is also uplifting and positive without being preachey. There is also some humor that had me laughing out loud. I "read" the audio book and the narrator is superb.

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Sourdough by Robin Sloan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was a somewhat charming and enjoyable but not compelling read. Basically it's about discovering yourself and about making really good sourdough bread. If you are a foodie who enjoys books about books, fantasy, and mystery , you will find it enjoyable also. Sloan, the author, is good with metaphor, simile, and word choice. It's a short read but I had to push myself to finish it.

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