JO AND LAURIE by Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz When I first began reading Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz's YA novel, Jo and Laurie, I was not impressed. In fact, the words "they got this all wrong" went through my head. BUT I was the one who got it wrong. Thank goodness I pressed on! When reading the original Little Women we understand why Alcott ties things up in the end the way she does. We understand, but that doesn't mean our hearts didn't yearn for something DIFFERENT, something MORE. Authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz offer us another possibility. Jo and Laurie's relationship is so very simple, after all they are the best of friends, and so very complicated, after all... they are the best of friends. The book thrusts the complications directly into the light. We see the relationship, the pain, the rejection, and the dreaded realization. (Can anyone say Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe?) Our hearts positively cry out as possibilities die and with it our dreams of rightful matches. But then, the littlest hint of a crack begins to show, and the flutterings of hope gently beat in our hearts. And that, my dear friends, is where I will leave you and recommend you get your hands on this book! HEADS UP- One word of minor caution. There is a spot where d*** is used a handful of times in a row. Besides that I believe it showed up 1 other time. Happy Reading!!

LOVELY WAR by Julie Berry Lovely War is a fantastic read bringing together three completely different, unlikely story lines: Greek Gods, World War I and World War II. Marrying together the atrocities of war, racial discrimination, love, and the Greek Gods behind the scenes, Lovely War is a book that will keep you hooked until the very last page. I highly recommend this read. HEADS UP- In the beginning the story begins with an affair. Nothing ends up happening, and it all plays into the story until the very end.

FAIRY TALE RETELLINGS Do you have a high schooler that loves the idea of fairy tales for their age? Then you will want to check out the Once Upon a Time series. Authored by several authors (Cameron Dokey is a main one), these books are a clean option for YAers! My girls loved this series during their high school years and consistently grew our collection anytime they could!

VALENTINE'S DAY READS There are some really fun, sweet reads for the middle grade age range! My oldest daughter especially loved They Candymakers series. Wendy Mass does a fantastic job of telling the story from multiple character's view points. The Dragon With the Chocolate Heart is a perfect fit if you have a child that enjoys a bit of fantasy mixed into a chocolatier's story.

VALENTINE'S DAY READS I would be remiss if I didn't include one of the most romantic authors ever to grace the pages of a book in our Valentine's Day collection. Jane Austen captures the heart of romance in a way that is unparalleled. in literature. Not only are her stories fantastic to read, but keep your eyes open as you read other romance books. You'll find pieces of her creativity borrowed and added into new stories.

VALENTINE'S DAY READS There are so many great picture books to enjoy during Valentine's Day! From Nate the Great and his mysteries to how Valentine's Day came to be to some fun Bernstein Bear Adventures! You won't go wrong with any of these great stories to help celebrate the holiday!

VALENTINE'S DAY BOOKS You can't go wrong with Fairy Tales for Valentine's Day reads! There are so many beautifully illustrated editions that you can really enjoy sharing with your children! Here are a few of our favorites!

MY STINKY SUMMER by Paul Meisel Want to learn a few facts about the stink bugs that show up in your windows or buzzing around your indoor lights when the weather starts to warm up a little? Even though it's titled My Stinky Summer by Paul Meisel, this book will take you through the life cycle of these annoying and potent insects. The story is humorously written in diary form. Illustrations are bright and fun to examine.There is lots of additional information in the end pages if you haven't gotten enough by reading the book!

PRESIDENTS DAY READS Want to learn a little more about Ronald Reagan? These two reads are great for high school age students.

PRESIDENTS DAY READS These are some of our favorite chapter book reads on presidents.

PRESIDENTS READS These are some of our favorite reads for Presidents Day for the elementary age. Grover Cleveland, Again especially is a favorite!

PRESIDENTS READS Even though Presidents Day is a couple of weeks away, Abraham Lincoln's birthday is February 12. Therefore, I am posting books about presidents as our first February Collection! Pictured here are some great reads on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abe Lincoln