jake burt – Michelle Reads & Writes

Since starting this blog in May, most of my book reviews have been about the Truman nominees from this year or for the upcoming year. Having just finished the 12th book for the 2019-2020 list, I decided to do my favorites list. I’ll start with 12 then work my way to my #1. My #1 the last two years hasn’t even made it to the top three of the finals, so hopefully I don’t jinx anyone’s chances this year.

Disclaimer - just because a book is in 12th place, doesn't mean I didn't like it. Each book has to go somewhere on the list 🙂

#12 – The Trail by Meiko Hashimoto

#11 Refugee by Alan Gratz

#10 – Greetings from Witness Protection by Jake Burt

#9 – To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough

#8 Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

#7 Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne

#6 Hideout by Watt Key

#5 Renegades by Marissa Meyer

#4 Click’d by Tamara Ireland Stone

#3 Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

#2 Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry

Last fall, I got a list of 21 books that were up for the Truman nominees for the 2019-2020 school year. I set off to read all 21, but I failed miserably because of grad school. I had about 6 books left when they announced the top 12, and of course 4 of the 6 I had left made the final cut.

Greetings from Witness Protection! was a really easy, enjoyable read. I think middle school students are going to like it.

The story starts off in a center for foster children. The main character, you learn rather quickly, has a mom who abandoned her, a dad in prison, and a grandmother who raised her until she passed away. Nicki hasn’t “fit” with any foster family, and she has a past which has led to her have impulse control problems – mainly with kleptomania.

She gets a chance for a new start with the US Marshalls and the witness protection program. I was intrigued by this story line. It definitely made me want to finish the book and find out exactly what was happening.

The book is told in 1st person, but throughout the book we get little glimpses of what is happening outside the main characters point of view. Just a few pages scattered in between chapters. There isn’t a lot of information, but enough to keep the reader intrigued to want to know what will happen with all the story lines.

Overall, the book is well-written. The characters are easy to connect to, especially the main character, Nicki. And for once, there isn’t a dumb, unnecessary romance to get in the way of the actual story!

How much did it make me cry?

~~Not at all~~
A little sniffle
~~A couple tears~~
~~A steady stream~~
~~Ugly cry~~

Tag: jake burt

2019-2020 Truman – My Rankings

Greetings from Witness Protection!