Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson - 4 Stars

Jade is a young African American girl who feels she needs to get out of the neighborhood she is living in. She has a scholarship to a prestigious mostly white private school, which is a great opportunity, but the other opportunites that come her way make her feel like they are more demeaning. Such as the Woman to Woman group Jade is invited to for "at risk" girls, which is more like a group for "poor black" girls. 
But Jade soon learns more about herself and grows through the group. The story explores that challenges that young black women face every day.

I thought this was a good story. Jade's character was strongly written and I enjoyed seeing her blossom throughout the story.

With Malice by Eileen Cook - 3 Stars

Her trip to Italy was supposed to be the time of her life, but Jill wakes up in the hospital with her leg in a cast and remembering nothing of the last 6 weeks.
Jill's wealthy father has had her transported from Italy to the US for the best medical care. Jill soon finds out that she was in an accident, one that the Italian government thinks wasn't so accidental.
Jill struggles to remember the events that happened in Italy and hopes that her memory isn't correct.

I kept waiting for some big twist or shocking moment in this book and it never came. It sort of slugged on throughout the story and ended on a bland note.

Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon - 4 Stars

Simon is a stay at home dad, while his wife is a successful lawyer. Simon cares for his 2 children, Laney and Jake. When the kids are in high school, Simon's worst fears come true. There's been a shooting at the school. Simon, like the other parents, race to the school to find his 2 children. Simon finds Laney, but as parents and students start to fade away, Jake is no where to be found. Jake has all of a sudden become a suspect in the shooting.

The story goes back and forth from Jake's early life to the current situation, with everything being told from Simon's point of view.

I enjoyed the story being told from the parent's point of view and what Simon felt when he found out that Jake was a suspect. The story flowed fairly well and left you wondering if Jake was really involved. The ending was sad and I almost cried (but I was in public reading...lol). I haven't had a book do that in a while. Still, I felt at points that the book was lacking a little. I still gave it 4 stars.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - 4 Stars

Ruth is an African American nurse who works in the Labor & Delivery ward at her hospital. When a White Supremacist has a baby, Ruth is strictly forbidden to care for the child. Suddenly Ruth finds herself alone with the baby when the baby goes in to distress. Torn between her boss's instructions on not to touch the baby and her oath to help others, Ruth does not know what to do.

It did take me a while to get through (about 8 weeks), but then again, so do most Picoult books. While this one wasn't my favorite, I still enjoyed it. I felt sorry for Ruth and what she was going through. I pretty much expected for there to be a twist, although I wasn't sure what it would be. I was somewhat surprised of what it was. I do think that the ending fell a bit short. I would have liked to have seen another chapter about Ruth at the end.

Clammed Up by Barbara Ross - 4 Stars

When Julia Snowden returns to her Maine home, her intentions are to help revive the family's clam bake business. With a private wedding to start the season out with, Julia has high hopes for the summer. But when the best man is found dead on the island, the whole business is in jeopardy. Who killed Ray, the best man, and why was he hung up inside the island's mansion? 
Julia sets out to find the killer and to hopefully save her business.

This was the first in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. It was a fun, fast paced read. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book. 

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - 5 Stars

Winner of the Newberry Medal in 2010

Things for 12-year old Miranda are pretty normal...she hangs out with her friend Sal, goes to school, and navigates New York City like a pro. She knows where to go and where to avoid. But suddenly she starts receiving weird notes instructing her to write a letter and she can't share this with anyone. The writer of the note has an uncanny ability to predict the future and Miranda has no clue where they are coming from. All she knows is that she needs to write the letter to save a friend's life.

I didn't know it when I choose it, but this is more of a children's book, aimed for grades 4 - 7. But it seemed like a book that I might enjoy, so I got it from the library. Of course it was a super easy read. The story was still good and I enjoyed how the author left you guessing while slowly weaving in bits here and there to let you see where the story was going.

Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke - 5 Stars

Hannah is feeling the results of the new bakery that opened up across the street from her. Shawna Lee and her sister just opened the Magnolia Blossom Bakery and it's eating into Hannah's profits. That is until Hannah finds Shawna Lee dead from a gunshot wound.
Hannah knows she's suspect #1, so she sets out to find out who killed Shawna Lee and why.

This was #7 in the Hannah Swensen mystery series. It was a fun cozy read. So far I'm really enjoying this series.