Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

My initial reaction to finishing the free verse book by Jason Reynolds was simply, "wow!" It's not that I was shocked in the ending, but I was hoping it wasn't true. This book was a page turner because of the intensity of the plot and the ease of the free verse. It took me a little over two hours to read this book because it was written in short, free verse so I flipped through it quickly, but also because it kept me interested the entire read! A family of two boys, a mom, and a dad torn apart by gun violence and sticking to the three rules of brotherhood: no crying, no snitching, and always get revenge. The bulk of the story happens over a 60 second time span, but the intensity is timeless. I highly recommend this book to all teenagers and adults who enjoy an intense, thought-provoking, and powerful book...and who want to read something quick!  

#7 Mrs. Staples

Beartown by Fredik Backman

When it comes to reading, my favorite books (and movies) are almost always realistic and often involve sports. When my book club selected Bear Town, for the month's selection, I couldn't wait to read it. Set in a town where hockey is EVERYTHING, Bear Town addresses many of the issues surrounding athletics. Current athletes in Bear Town are at the top of the social ladder. The town itself is in desperate need of a winning team to bring it out of financial ruin and is willing to risk anything and step on anyone to make sure the team wins.