Lost Girls Adventures

By Jaymin Eve
This book was so much fun! No part of this book dragged for me at all. Abby our heroine is a tough, street smart orphan who grew up in New York learning to fight at Compound 23. It’s the year 2035 and things are looking bleak. Despite the hardships they have endured, Abby and her best friend Lucy keep their spirits up with their humor, sarcasm and witty personalities. I love their characters! I am adding to my fiction bucket list. I want to spend the day exploring First World and having a blast with Abby and Luce.

By Ally Condie
Don’t expect action packed, fight for your life, save the world kind of dystopian novel here. This is a sit in your PJ’s with a hot cup of tea in your favorite reading spot kind of book. Drift away into the story of Cassia (pronounced Cash-a), a girl who lives in a calm society where her life is laid out before her. Who she will marry, what job she will do, where she will live as well as when she will die are all neatly chosen by the society.

In this world you don’t have to worry about disease, hunger or never finding your perfect match. Heart break is a thing of the past. After your 17th birthday you will attend a Match Banquet where your match is announced and you are presented with a microcard containing all the information about your perfect match chosen by the government’s special system. You learn about and see each other before you even set out on your first date. Everyone seems to live a peaceful life. It actually sounds kind of nice.

By Rosanna Chiofalo
Stella Mia is a beautifully written bitter sweet story that takes you on a journey from Astoria, New York to the streets of Sicily and Taormina, dancing with gypsies on the beaches of Italy, and breath taking views exploring various islands. Reading this book was almost like taking a trip to Italy.

Julia has lived without a mother since she was 3 years old. Her mother left and never returned. Her father refused to talk about her mother or why she left. Julia is in her 40s and married when she stumbles on a box of her mother’s things. Inside is a diary documenting her mother’s life. We learn about Sarina’s difficult life, childhood, abusive father and how she escapes her terrible circumstances. She makes friends with the gypsies who take her in and teach her to read tarot cards to earn a living.

By James Dashner
The concept of this book was interesting. Thomas wakes up to find himself trapped in a maze with about 50 or 60 other teen aged boys. He has no idea how he got there, what he's doing there and has no memory of his life up to this point.

The boys seem mature in many aspects, they are able to care for themselves in their own little community, stay organized each doing their own jobs with no adults to keep them in line. They have their own rules and consequences for breaking the rules. It's impressive until they open their mouths. It felt like every other word was either greenie, shank, shuck, klunk or slinthead. Their slang grew old real quick.

Thomas has absolutely no clue what's going on but don't expect any answers from the other Gladers because they can't be bothered to give him any.

By Sue Monk Kidd
This story begins on a peach farm in the American South back in 1964. Lily is a 14 year old girl who was left living with her abusive father after her mother died when Lily was merely 4 years old under circumstances that she feels responsible for. Lily has only a small box with some personal items belonging to her mother, one item is a photo with a single word written on the back, Tiburon. Desperate to escape her father’s wrath and determined to find out more about her mother, Lily runs away from home with Rosaleen, their sassy housekeeper and heads to Tiburon, South Carolina.

The two find their way to the Boatwright sisters who run a bee keeping business. August Boatwright takes Lily under her wing and teaches her many things: how to care for bees, make honey products; she also teaches her about life, what it’s like to be part of a loving family and most importantly, forgiveness.

By Bridget Zinn

Poison starts off with our bad-ass heroine, Kyra, committing a B&E at the former residence she shared with fellow Master Potioners Ned and her ex-fiance Hal. She is on the run from the Queens Guard after a failed attempt to kill the future Queen Ariana, who also happens to be her best friend. Or was. Before the whole attempted murder thing.

With her poisons ready and a newly acquired pig with an extraordinary sense of smell, she sets off to find the princess and finish what she started. Along the way she meets the charming, witty and handsome traveler Fred who is more than he appears. And Kyra just can’t stop thinking about him.

If I had to sum up Poison in one word it would be “fun”. I really enjoyed this book even though it was aimed at teens. It has all the fantasy elements you’d expect- action, adventure, magic, weapons, humor and just a pinch of romance.

We took a trip to the Florida Museum of Natural History to take a stroll through the Butterfly Rainforest. I wasn't sure we would see many butterflies considering spring doesn't officially begin for a couple more weeks but there were so many butterflies! We had to be very careful where we stepped. They flit around landing wherever they please. We also had to watch out for quail crossing our path. This is a fun adventure for anyone who loves butterflies.








We definitely want to return in September for ButterflyFest!