Two Very Different YA's

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Aislinn is a high school girl who is just a little different than her friends, she is able to see and hear fairies. They are all around her and some are following her. Keelan, the Summer King, is looking for his queen when he sets his sights on Aislinn. He uses his fairy mojo to attract her, but Aislinn is in love with Seth - her best friend and a mortal. Keelan believes that Aislinn is his true Queen and he needs her to stop the evil Winter Queen at any cost. But can Aislinn give up everything to assume the role?

In the beginning I found this book very confusing a kind of ridiculous. It did grow on me as I went, and I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. Maybe fairies just aren't my thing?

Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse

This is a great short book about a jewish girl named Rifka who helps her family escape Russia post WWI. Three of her brothers escaped Russia before she was born to avoid fighting in the war and now another brother has escaped the army. The family escapes to Poland where the become ill with Typhus. They make it to Warsaw eventually, where money is waiting for them to buy transatlantic steaship tickets, but Rifka has caught ringworm and must be sent to Belgium to heal. The family goes on to America without her and Rifka follows later.

This story shows the struggles many faced trying to escape to America and the challenges of arriving at Ellis Island.