A bomb, some poison...what could go wrong?

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban: This thriller was a page-turner. 6 teens are invited to a fancy dinner and arrive to find out that it was just a ploy to lock them in a room with a timed bomb, a syringe with poison, and a note saying that they have to pick someone to kill so the rest can stay alive. The ending was not what I expected, and I loved seeing the way the stories of all 6 kids unraveled throughout the book. I especially related to main character Amber and her ambition to study music post

high school.

"The importance of honesty and being true to oneself..."

This is How it Happened by Paula Stokes: I've read and reread this book many times, and it always makes me think. Genevieve Grace wakes up from a coma to find out that she was in a car accident, her boyfriend is dead, and she was the one driving. All fingers point to the other driver involved in the accident, and the result is this story. It covers the intersection of drunk and drowsy driving, online shaming, and the important of honesty and being true to oneself. I'm appreciating this story even more as a new driver.

The very true story of a ...

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: Very touching. Salt to the Sea is set during WWII, and the circumstances surrounding this is the very true story of a German cruise liner shipwreck, which was considerably more deadly than the Titanic. The narrative is told from the perspectives of 4 different characters, each with a distinct voice and background story. I loved everybody but the dry and pompous Albert.

*Content Warnings Apply