Mascot by Antony John

Mascot

by Antony John

4/5

336 pages

Noah Savino has been stuck in a wheelchair for months. He hates the way people treat him like he’s helpless now. He’s sick of going to physical therapy, where he isn’t making any progress. He’s tired of not having control over his own body. And he misses playing baseball—but not as much as he misses his dad, who died in the car accident that paralyzed Noah.

Noah is scared he’ll never feel like his old self again. He doesn’t want people to think of him as different for the rest of his life. With the help of family and friends, he’ll have to throw off the mask he’s been hiding behind and face the fears that have kept him on the sidelines if he ever wants to move forward.

A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern

A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Belinda's POV was well done. It was nice to read a perspective of someone with some developmental disabilities. I especially enjoyed the audiobook version of this story.

This books was a reminder for me, not in how to treat those who have some kind of challenge be it physical, mental, emotional, or all of the above, but instead, in how to think of people. I don't know if that makes sense, so now I'm going to ramble as I try to process that comment. If you're not in for some existential rambling today, this is your cue to check out now.

What I think I'm trying to say is that I get that I should be kind, patient, and understanding with all humans. Am I always? Nope, not at all, and least of all with myself.

However, kind, patient, and understanding behaviors are really not enough. People don't just want me to behave politely. Most of them also want me to take them seriously and check my snap judgments at the door, even the quiet, internal judgments that are never spoken aloud.

Do I always do that? Nope.

Do I know I should? Yep.

Do I feel guilty when I pretend to be a better human on the outside than I actually feel on the inside? Definitely.

This book reminds people to be a good human on both the inside and the outside, and it shows you how to both succeed and fail at that, based on your every day choices. That's what I like about it.

Pages: 384

"In the Middle of Somewhere" by Roan Parrish

Daniel Mulligan has just moved to Holiday, Michigan, to teach at a small college after finishing his PhD in English.  Originally from Philadelphia, Daniel is a tough and tattooed outcast who's never really fit in with his family or classmates.  His mother died when he was young, and his father and three older brothers (all mechanics) never much cared for him, especially after he told them he was gay.  So Daniel feels especially out of place in the small town until Rex Vale comes back into his life.  The two men met six months earlier when Daniel was in town for an interview with the college and was literally rescued by Rex when he wrecked his rental car in a snowstorm.  They soon begin a relationship, but Daniel has never really dated and Rex doesn't want to get too attached to Daniel due to others in his life leaving him.  But as they grow closer, they discover that being vulnerable and letting someone help you is not the same as being weak.

This was a great book with two memorable and very likable main characters who seem to have little in common but complement each other well.  Rex doesn't talk much but can fix or build just about anything, while Daniel loves his books and overthinks everything.  Secondary characters, especially Daniel's best friend, Ginger, help move the story forward to a satisfying conclusion.  I have already started reading the next in the series.  350 pages (Kindle edition).

"Strong Signal" by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell

What an unusual story.  Staff Sergeant Garrett Reid has spent nearly eight years in the Army and is nearing the end of his deployment in the Middle East.  When he's not repairing military vehicles, he's fighting off boredom by playing online games.  It's during one of these games that he meets Kai Bannon, a serious gamer with a famous streaming gaming channel.  Garrett becomes a bit obsessed with Kai, and as their friendship grows through chats and e-mail their mutual desire for each other deepens.  As Garrett counts down the days to freedom, he imagines that meeting Kai in person will lead to their happily ever after; however, Kai has serious problems that may derail all of his plans.

I'd never read much about the online gaming community before this book, because I just couldn't see the point of watching someone I don't know play a video game over the Internet.  This popular pastime is an integral part of "Strong Signal" and brings the two main characters together and even gives one of them a full-time job.  Both characters were fleshed out very well; I felt like I could draw pictures of both of them (if I were an artist) and describe their personalities.  I really related, though, to Kai and his social anxiety.  The authors described his panic attacks and his struggles to do everyday things very well.  Garrett's reactions to Kai's anxiety were wonderful and should be emulated by everyone since he never made him feel ashamed for something Kai couldn't control.  This was a great story to which I would love to see a sequel, but I'll just have to settle fot the next in the series.  229 pages (Kindle edition).

Tim by Colleen McCullough

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Tim was born with a mental problem but grew big and strong by his parents. When they die of old age, a friend takes in Tim but has to deal with social issues and peers.

Audio:  7 hrs.

Print:  255 pages

"On Solid Ground" by Melissa Collins

A vet with PTSD and a tattoo artist with a drug addicted sister try to find love in California.

I really wanted to like this book.  It had many good reviews, but it just did not live up to my expectations for several reasons.  One of the main characters jumped to conclusions and became mad very easily; he acted quite immature and did not seem to have the capability for a healthy relationship.  The story was told in the present tense, which I always find a bit odd to read.  One character had been raped, but the story did not deal with any lingering effects of the trauma.  There were also a number of inconsistencies, so it could have used better editing.  However, there was a service dog, a cute kid, and an upbeat ending, so there were some positives.  328 pages (Kindle edition).

"The Mating of Michael" by Eli Easton

This is an unusual love story about two very different men with lots of baggage.  Michael Lamont is a home health nurse with a former burlesque dancer as his main client, and James Gallway is a successful novelist who contracted polio at age five and must use a wheelchair.  Michael loves James' books, and when they meet at a book signing, Michael is smitten.  However, James is practically a hermit and is dealing with his books not selling as well as his first, which he wrote at age 18.  They do eventually start dating, but Michael has a big secret that may tear them apart. 

This was a well written story with enough angst to make me worry that there wouldn't be an HEA.  James is not a very likable person at the beginning, but once we learn more about his childhood the reader can understand why he has a huge chip on his shoulder.  Michael is a sweet, giving, and trusting soul, and is the heart of this book.  His client, Marnie, is a hoot and gives the story a lot of its humor.  I liked most things about it except its title.  (It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone; I have not read the others but might in the future.)  240 pages (Kindle edition).

"Buzz" by E. Davies

Book 1 in the Riley Brothers series centers on Cameron Riley, a 23-year-old Canadian hockey player who is about to move up to the NHL when an unexpected heart condition forces him to give up the game.  He moves back to his hometown and meets Noah Clark, an art curator.  They hit it off right away, but Cameron fails to disclose to Noah that he was a standout hockey recruit or that he has a worrisome heart problem.  When Noah organizes a hockey-themed art exhibition, Riley's secret threatens to be exposed.

This was a novel with a lot of potential, but Cameron's behavior didn't make much sense to me.  First, I thought he gave up his life of hockey too easily.  He gets dizzy and faints when his heart beats too quickly, but instead of doing everything he can to get it fixed ASAP, he just gives up and buys a house in his hometown without any prospects of a full-time job.  I also didn't understand why he kept his heart condition from Noah.  I will read the second book in the series because I liked the characters (Noah is sweet and a little anxious) and am hopeful that it will be an improvement.  302 pages (Kindle edition).

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This contemporary YA novel spotlights characters with disabilities and disorders, and I really enjoyed that. The main character has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound, and her new student helper has obsessive-compulsive disorder.

It's a good read that will put you through the full range of emotions. It makes some beautiful points and is a fantastic character study, though it lacks something in the area of plot, at least for me. It's more of a story that follows the characters through their day-to-day lives. Since their lives are different and fascinating, that kept me turning the pages, but I wouldn't have minded having just a bit more from the story. I really liked it, but I felt it lacked that little extra something that would have made it a 5 star book and had me shoving it on everyone I know.

Pages: 368

"Time and Tide" by E.M. Lindsey

This lovely story starts in 1897 when William Owens returns to Maryland after graduating from Oxford to find himself engaged to a woman he's never met.  His overbearing mother has arranged it, and he doesn't have the courage to say no.  However, he soon meets a blind, French writer, Theodore Renard, who changes Will's life in drastic ways.  But with a pregnant and miserable wife and a job he hates, Will must stand up to his mother and be his true self in order to be happy. 

This is the first book that I have read by this author and found it to flow very well with two very strong and empathetic main characters.  I can't explain more about the story without giving away major plot points, but I'll just say that I really liked the writing and the characters of Theo and Will.  203 pages (Kindle edition).

"Dance With Me" by Heidi Cullinan

This is a very good book with two quite different, fleshed out characters driving a unique story about physical and emotional pain and how dance can help relieve both.  Ed Maurer severely injured his neck in a football game a year ago and still suffers from its lingering effects.  He has a desk job that he hates but volunteers at a community center in St. Paul, MN, teaching teens weightlifting.  Not only can he never play football again, but his neck pain is beginning to take a toll on his mental health.  Laurence (Laurie) Parker also volunteers at the center but is the complete opposite of Ed.  He was a professional dancer until a traumatic event five years ago robbed him of his confidence, his career, and his dance partner/boyfriend.  Laurie never wants to perform in public again, but his socialite mother keeps pushing him to do it.  Instead, he teaches classes to kids and adults.  There's a lot that happens in this story, but it's basically about Laurie teaching Ed to dance and take better care of himself, and Ed teaching Laurie to trust again.  I fell a little bit for both of these wonderful characters.  282 pages (Kindle edition).

"My Brother's Keeper" by Adrienne Wilder

Ellis Harper has lived a solitary life taking care of his mentally disabled older brother, Rudy, who manages to do things he shouldn't when they go out in public.  They become the target of the town bully after Rudy scares the man's girlfriend at the store.  But Ellis and Rudy find a kind of protector, and Ellis a kindred spirit, in Jon Foster, a former cop whose partner was killed because of his mistake.  Helping Ellis take care of Rudy brings Jon out of his depression to find a purpose in life again.  This is book one in the My Brother's Keeper Trilogy.  280 pages (Kindle edition).

Helen’s Big World by Doreen Rappaport

This picture book biography of Helen Keller uses actual quotes from Ms. Keller interspersed with the narrative of her life. A moving but matter-of-fact re-telling of the familiar story,  one that children will be fascinated with.

It begins with Helen as a baby, laughing and gurgling and beginning to talk; then the mysterious illness that left her deaf and blind, and unable to talk. It continues  through her life
as a lecturer, author, and advocate for social causes.

It is a MASL 'Show Me' award nominee for 2014-2015.

48 pages