42. The Racketeer by John Grisham

What if you planned to escape prison and everything went according to plan and you ended up walking away with millions of dollars.  This good luck escapee is the subject of John Grisham's latest book.  It is a testament to Grisham's good storytelling that you still want to finish this book after it loses all plausibility.  You have a guy who committed a perfect crime and then so easily gets set up.  Too many things had to go right to pull this escape off and if you are able to block that from your mind then it is a good book.

41. Drop Dead Healthy by A.J. Jacobs

This book is very much like A.J.'s other books he starts a project and we get to see the progression and its affect on his family.  In this book he aims to be the healthiest person alive.  Each chapter focuses on a different part of his body and he's efforts to improve.  It was an easy read with insight into what we need to be mindful of in our bodies.  I think it starts with awareness and being conscious on the affect of our decisions today will have on our health in the future.

40. Mirrors by Marianne K. Martin

The romance was the best part of the book and I wish there was more of it.  The book is borderline preachy.  But has a good message.  So many angles are left unexplored.  With Shayna case it like she gave us all these details but the conclusion doesn't come in detail just a summary of the conclusion.  Too much internal dialog wish it would have focused on external dialog.  Overall very readable page turner on some parts.  Good not great.

39. Dare, Truth, or Promise by Paula Boock

This book was well written.  The story enduring, compelling, and sweet.  The love between Louie and Willa is well developed.  It doesn't take the same road as other books in this genre.  I like that it has more external conflicts then internal. Even though the characters struggle internally it doesn't get overwhelming.  The ending was okay I think it took the easy way out with having an accident bring them back together but it was alright.

38. Have you seen Marie? by Sandra Cisneros

Death and loss.  The pain of moving on from a devastating loss finding comfort in helping a friend find something she has lost.  A very moving concept.  I loved the pictures in the book.  They are simple and complex portraits.  Very beautiful.  Quote: You don't get over death you just learn to travel alongside it.

37. Fierce Overture by Gun Brooke

Fierce Overture is the story of Noelle and Helena as they both go on the road of self discovery that leads them back to each other.  The story is a page turner.  The author keeps you interested even though it has several weakness.  The misunderstanding plot line has been overused as it is overused in this story.   But the plot weakness doesn't make the reader want to stop reading.  Overall, okay but far from great.  It is what it is.

36. From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson

 

Fourteen-year-old Melanin Sun just found out his mother is in love with a white women.  He's emotions are mixed.  He doesn't want his mother to be "queer."  Melanin starts to question everything his relationship with his mother, friends, and girls.  He expresses himself by writing in his notebook.
Write the names of the most important characters in the story:  Melanin Sun, EC, Raphael, Sean, Angie, and Kristen.

Was the main character in the book good or bad? Defend your decision with 
examples from the book:  Melanin Sun is neither good or bad.  He loves his mother but treats her terrible when he finds out she loves Kristen.  He's young an acts immature when presented with the information about his mom.

The notebook and the miss amphibians are unnecessary but a guess it adds depth to the characters.