The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43706712-the-secrets-of-lost-stones" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Secrets of Lost Stones" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552082043l/43706712._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43706712-the-secrets-of-lost-stones">The Secrets of Lost Stones</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15164758.Melissa_Payne">Melissa Payne</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3024518549">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.<br />The beautiful cover and description of this book made me excited to read it, but the story itself fell flat. Events just seemed too coincidental, this clairvoyant old lady that draws everyone together to tie up loose ends. It was predictable and repetitive, so just an ok read for me.
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Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45892859-stay" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Stay" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568962913l/45892859._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45892859-stay">Stay</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/126447.Catherine_Ryan_Hyde">Catherine Ryan Hyde</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3015507579">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.<br />This is a coming of age story of a 14-year-old boy, Lucas, in 1969. His brother is off to war, his parents are constantly fighting, and his best friend is severely depressed. After a chance discovery of an isolated cabin in the woods and the woman and her dogs that live there, Lucas saves her life then decides to try and find a reason for her to want to stay.<br />I love this story of this loving boy who just wants to help the people in his life. The character Zoe, although in the beginning is standoffish and rude, becomes a wonderful friend and role model to both Lucas and his friend Connor, then also eventually his brother Roy. Although the book deals with a lot of heavy topics, seen through the eyes of this happy and helpful boy, it comes off as happy and hopeful instead of depressing. I love the books I've read by this author and I was so excited to get a chance to review Stay.
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In the Warsaw Ghetto by Glenn Haybittle

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47169211-in-the-warsaw-ghetto" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="In the Warsaw Ghetto" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565697027l/47169211._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47169211-in-the-warsaw-ghetto">In the Warsaw Ghetto</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14050193.Glenn_Haybittle">Glenn Haybittle</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3012666113">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.<br />Ala Silberman is a young girl living in Warsaw with dreams of becoming a ballerina. When her family is forced from their home into the ghetto, she thought her dream was over. But her teacher organizes a dance class to perform for the ghetto residents. Ala's uncle Max reconnects with his old girlfriend Sabina, and after discovering that she and her two daughters were abandoned by her husband, he offers them shelter and himself a chance for the love he always dreamed of. As tensions between the Jews escalates over increasing overcrowding and lack of food, it's a struggle to survive. It's every person for themselves when helping a neighbor might get them killed in the increasing violence of the Nazi soldiers. <br />This book is shocking and heartbreaking. Told from the perspectives of both a young girl and a grown man, it captures the harsh reality of life in the ghetto. The struggle Max has with his conscience when the risk to himself is too great to help others he sees suffering made me wonder what i would do in that situation. Although the book covers more on the sexual insecurities of both Max and Ala than I thought was necessary, overall it was a wonderful book.
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The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43263520-the-grace-year" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Grace Year" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548518877l/43263520._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43263520-the-grace-year">The Grace Year</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6693411.Kim_Liggett">Kim Liggett</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3008612556">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.<br />Unlike many of the girls her age, Tierney James is a girl that longs for a future doing field work rather than becoming one of the "marrieds", under the control and ownership of a husband. Only a percentage of girls get chosen for marriage, so when Tierney unexpectedly gets a veil during the veiling ceremony, it's like an invisible target on her back by jealous girls that will live a life of servitude after their grace year. At sixteen, girl's desirability and sexual attractiveness are seen as "magic" that must be burned out before they can return to society and respectable marriages. They are sent away to a compound for a year, at the mercy of the elements, poachers, and each other and only the strongest survive.
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