Entertaining, as always, but not particularly compelling. Angelou writes with detachment, but honesty, recording events without seeming to care what tEntertaining, as always, but not particularly compelling. Angelou writes with detachment, but honesty, recording events without seeming to care what the readers think of her.I appreciate the honesty and it's always interesting to hear about what life was like for her....more
I don't really know much about Nicolas Copernicus from history, but this story is a lot of fun. It's like National Treasure (the movie with Nic Cage) I don't really know much about Nicolas Copernicus from history, but this story is a lot of fun. It's like National Treasure (the movie with Nic Cage) for middle school readers. Good, clean fun with just enough suspense to keep you going, but not too scary for kids. Definitely recommended!...more
Accessible, informative, thought-provoking, and a little messy, this was a quick read and I enjoyed it. There were lots of gems, but the one I actuallAccessible, informative, thought-provoking, and a little messy, this was a quick read and I enjoyed it. There were lots of gems, but the one I actually stopped to rewind and write down was in chapter 14, "Life isn't a play, don't rehearse yourself - be yourself."...more
Caleb and his brother Bobby Gene feel like they've won the lottery when they trade their baby sister for a huge bag of fireworks and somehow manage toCaleb and his brother Bobby Gene feel like they've won the lottery when they trade their baby sister for a huge bag of fireworks and somehow manage to keep the fireworks even after Mom gets the sister back. When they head into the woods to retrieve the fireworks the next day, they run into Styx Malone. Styx introduces them to the concept of the "Great Elevator Trade" and convinces them he can help them trade those fireworks into a moped. Caleb, who dreams of being special and leaving the small town where they live, buys into it immediately. Bobby Gene takes a little more convincing but eventually all three boys are "all-in" on the idea of an elevator trade.
A fun and realistic, powerful book about the importance of honestly, friendship, family and belonging. This book has an important message, but it's just such a fun book that you don't realize it's teaching you till it's all over. I definitely recommend this one for readers of all ages....more
Reminiscent of Jerry Spinelli, this is a moving story of family and growing up. The characters were real and believable and I just wanted eve4.5 stars
Reminiscent of Jerry Spinelli, this is a moving story of family and growing up. The characters were real and believable and I just wanted everything to be okay....more
I enjoyed this book - I flew through it in one day. There's just enough horror and creepiness to fit readers who like to be scared, but not so much thI enjoyed this book - I flew through it in one day. There's just enough horror and creepiness to fit readers who like to be scared, but not so much that it overwhelms the target audience, which is definitely middle grade. The characters are believable (assuming you suspend your disbelief long enough to buy into ghosts and an "in-between" place) and their growth is realistic. The story is sufficiently wrapped up to end the novel and be satisfied, but there's enough left unfinished to leave the reader who enjoyed the book wanting a sequel. I have put the sequel on my TBR. :) ...more
This book was entertaining enough and I enjoyed it, but it was more fluff than substance. I had hoped for more insight into Muslim Indian culture, butThis book was entertaining enough and I enjoyed it, but it was more fluff than substance. I had hoped for more insight into Muslim Indian culture, but the Muslim rep was almost nonexistent (the family only went to mosque a couple times a year) and the parents were presented and incredibly one-dimensional. They had no care for Maya's feelings or goals, only her physical safety and their own goals for Maya's life. I know from reading lots of other books that Indian parents tend to be more controlling than many others in American culture, but I had hoped to see more nuance than what was portrayed here. Essentially, this is a book about a teenage romance, which is just not what the blurb insinuates.
I also had a real problem with the little inserts about the terrorist. First, why? They totally broke up the flow of the book. Second, what was the point? Was the author trying to humanize the terrorist? To what end? Was the point to overlook or justify his heinous acts because he had a rough life growing up? There wasn't enough of his story to make an adequate point.
Anyway, I enjoyed the fluff well enough to finish but the opportunity to make an impact with this book was missed completely. 3 stars...more
Harsh and sad, but wow, this kept me compulsively reading - I finished it in one day. Lots of trigger warnings, though! The ending was a bit unsatisfyHarsh and sad, but wow, this kept me compulsively reading - I finished it in one day. Lots of trigger warnings, though! The ending was a bit unsatisfying....more
3.5 stars Not being a fan of either Clinton or Patterson, I only picked this book up to fill a prompt in the #the52bookclub2023 Summer Challenge 3.5 stars Not being a fan of either Clinton or Patterson, I only picked this book up to fill a prompt in the #the52bookclub2023 Summer Challenge (Read a book with the word "lost" or the word "missing" in the title). I found the present tense format and the pacing both to be excellent and quite enjoyed the suspense. (The only reason it took me so long to read it is because I listened to this on audio and I went on vacation and didn't listen during vacation)....more
I enjoy this series so much more in print than on audio. I like the relationship between Charles and Anna, and I like Anna's balance of vulnerability I enjoy this series so much more in print than on audio. I like the relationship between Charles and Anna, and I like Anna's balance of vulnerability and feistiness. This specific story showcases the importance of friendship and judgment based on individual actions instead of preconceived ideas. 4 solid stars
Added 7/3/2023: This one is just as good each time I reread it!...more
I grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and Fred Rogers is one of my personal heroes so I was predisposed to like this book. Then, when I started I grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and Fred Rogers is one of my personal heroes so I was predisposed to like this book. Then, when I started listening to the audio I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it's narrated by Levar Burton. While I would absolutely give Mr. Rogers 5 stars, the book itself only deserves 4 1/2. Burton should not have tried to imitate the accents of people he was quoting and King needed to quote more wisdom from Rogers himself to earn a 5 star rating from me. It was absolutely fascinating to learn about the childhood and early career of Mr. Rogers. We get just enough detail to have an idea of what kind of child he was and what kind of family he came from, without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. I loved his grandparents! Then we move on to Fred's college days and meeting Joanne. I would love to have more detail here as well!
Obviously, the majority of the book is centered on Fred's work on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. So many behind the scenes stories and information. Did you know he started out at Dartmouth but has a degree from Rollins College in Music Composition? He wrote every song used on his show, including 13 operas? Did you know his appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show was a disaster because the producers didn't listen to him when he said not to have any children in the audience? (He ended up spending all his energy/focus on the kids and couldn't coherently answer Oprah's questions or get across the messages to the parents that he wanted to because he was incapable of ignoring the kids talking to him!)
Fred really was an amazing man whose gift was working with children, prioritizing them and understanding their needs. If you have any desire to learn more about him, child development, or interacting with kids, definitely give this book a try! And if you enjoy audio books, Burton does a good job, too. ...more
My favorite of the Alpha and Omega series so far. Briggs has a gift for creating characters you fall in love with and suspense that will keep you turnMy favorite of the Alpha and Omega series so far. Briggs has a gift for creating characters you fall in love with and suspense that will keep you turning pages. This is urban fantasy at its finest.
Re-read 5/16/2024: The suspense isn't as high because you know what's going to happen, but that doesn't lessen the enjoyment of re-reading it!...more
I have yet to read a Sanderson book that I didn't enjoy. This one is sci-fi instead of the high fantasy I'm used to reading from him, and it was YA, bI have yet to read a Sanderson book that I didn't enjoy. This one is sci-fi instead of the high fantasy I'm used to reading from him, and it was YA, but it did not disappoint! Spensa's feelings and actions felt authentic to a 17-year-old and the world she inhabits is believable and intriguing. I especially enjoyed the banter between Spensa (callsign "Spin") and her flight mates and computers and the message about choosing our destiny instead of being controlled by it. Highly recommended!...more
I'm happy to finally be done with this series (I read Ender's Game almost 20 years ago). There is some closure here, however, there's just no2.5 stars
I'm happy to finally be done with this series (I read Ender's Game almost 20 years ago). There is some closure here, however, there's just not enough. This book lacks the strong characters, the ethical dilemmas, and the action of most of the other books in the Enderverse. ...more
Entertaining and thought-provoking, this is a good discussion novel for the middle grade crowd. I enjoyed Isabella's voice.Entertaining and thought-provoking, this is a good discussion novel for the middle grade crowd. I enjoyed Isabella's voice....more
Obviously, the real life experiences of Ms. Wamariya are not what I'm rating, it's the writing itself. The experiences of the author and her 3.5 stars
Obviously, the real life experiences of Ms. Wamariya are not what I'm rating, it's the writing itself. The experiences of the author and her sister were horrific and interesting and inspiring, but the book itself was sometimes confusing and jumped around too much to easily follow. Still, it's a story that needs to be told and I'm grateful to the author for writing the book and telling her story. I'm grateful that I got to read it....more
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