When I Was Joe by Keren David


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ty and his mother, Nicki, are taken into witness protection after Ty witnesses the death of a young boy in a London park. In his new persona as Joe, Ty is able to reinvent himself. He makes friends at his new school, attracts the attention of Ashley, the clique queen, and starts training as a runner. But living a lie proves difficult for both Ty and his mother, because Ty hasn't told the police the whole truth.

The novel vibrates with tension. There are several attempts on Ty's life, his Gram is attacked, and school personnel treat him with suspicion because they've been told 'there was some trouble at his old school.' David uses Ty's point of view to frame the narrative. This effectively highlights the tension between playing the role of Joe and reflecting on exactly who Ty really is. This is the first of several novels about Ty; a teaser chapter to the next book is included. David has created an interesting young adult who must navigate his journey of self discovery while caught up in truly suspenseful game of cat and mouse. I look forward to the next installment of his journey. This book was reviewed from the ARC.

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Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
With Eyes Like Stars Lisa Mantchev opens the door to the Theatre Illuninata where all the characters of literature live, just waiting to act their parts. Amid the dramatis personae lives Beatrice Shakespere Smith, an orphan who has grown up in the theatre. Prone to getting into mischief with the help of Moth, Peaseblossom, and other Midsummer Night's Dream faeries, Beatrice must prove her worth and find her role in the theatre or face being expelled out into the wider real world. I appreciate authors who create a world that is so appealing I hate to disengage my imagination and put the book aside; I am already craving the sequel. (reviewed from the ARC)


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