Month: April 2024

BOOK NEWS: April 30, 2024

BOOK NEWS: April 30, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last release week of April – here are some of the books out this week:

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Cats of Silver Crescent – A girl visiting her great aunt encounters walking and talking cats, and they need her help.
The Ultimate Wizarding World: History of Magic (Older Middle Grade) – From the editors of MuggleNet. A collection of historical moments in the magical world of Harry Potter.
Big Dweeb Energy – A new FoxTrot collection!! I have already preordered this!
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge (LGBTQ+) – Three guys having boyfriend trouble team up for revenge and end up launching a student rebellion against those who would try to silence queer voices. Yes, please!
Not Like Other Girls – A girl ostracized after nude photos are leaked ends up in a fake relationship as she tries to get back into her old clique to find answers when an old friend goes missing.

Books for Adults

Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies (Hardcover) – First in a new series. A mystery writer on a book tour finds herself investigating an attempted murder when the con man she based her main character on is attacked. Yes, please!
Happy Medium (Trade Paperback) – A fake medium is asked to help someone sell a house, but instead of the elderly seller she’s expecting, it’s a hot guy her age, and instead of faking her way through a mystical performance she encounters a very real ghost. This sounds like a hoot!
The Library of Borrowed Hearts (Trade Paperback) – Something new from Lucy Gilmore. A librarian discovers a series of books around town with romantic notes left in the margins, and the books seem connected to her grumpy neighbor. Yes, please!
Murdle Vol. 3 – A new volume of Logic Puzzles.

REVIEW: Rise of the Cat by Judd Winick

REVIEW: Rise of the Cat by Judd Winick

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When our story truly begins, after the lava-filled teaser, Polly is in a magical disciplinary hearing. And for her perceived “crimes,” Polly gets sent to the magic school Wombatton. But she doesn’t have to go alone. Her brother Pip goes with her, along with a new friend, Noria, who is a robot.

The teachers and other kids at Wombatton are horrible to Noria – not unlike the people in Polly’s tribe had been.  But while Polly and Pip try to defend her every time there’s trouble, things get worse when Noria is accused of setting weird monsters on the school.

Review

This is OUTSTANDING! And it wrapped up way too quickly. I would have read a story 3x as long in a heartbeat. The bigotry toward Noria is infuriating, but she at least has Polly and Pip on her side, both sticking up for her and helping her puzzle out who is really conjuring the monsters.

Kids new to the Hilo series could probably pick this up without too much trouble – although reading the first 9 books would be SO satisfying! There are helpful references and flashbacks to previous stories to help newcomers jump right in.

Series fans will likely be as distraught as I was over the quick finish. I exclaimed out loud, alone in my office during my lunch break, “That’s IT?!” I need MORE! The year-long wait between books feels almost painful. This is probably my favorite book in the whole series so far – I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Hand this to graphic novel fans, readers who love books with magic schools and magic users, kids who love SASSY cat stories, as well as all of your Hilo fans.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

REVIEW: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Dr. Christa Barnet is a scientist living on the island nation of Violetta in the middle of the Indian Ocean studying bull raft snails.

Outside of scientific circles, Christa is somewhat famous for having a famous father – a TV personality with a national show – who went missing when she was two and has been presumed dead for decades. But he’s been found, and Christa and her family – and the world – are reeling from the news.

Most everyone is thrilled by the news. Jasper’s agent can’t wait to capitalize on all of the media and money making opportunities. And Jasper is on board for whatever. But everyone wants Christa along for the ride – the scientist daughter experiencing her father almost for the first time. If it means Christa can ultimately keep doing her research in Violetta, she’s reluctantly on board to stay in the States for awhile. It doesn’t hurt that she’s discovered white hot chemistry with an old friend.

But when Jasper’s story develops cracks, it raises questions Christa isn’t sure she wants answered. It might just be simpler to leave everything behind and go back to her snails.

Review

This was fantastic!! I was captivated by the story of the missing and presumed dead husband and father and the fallout for his family. But truly the best parts of this were Christa, her sisters, and their mother – not necessarily in relation to Jasper but as themselves. Their personal growth from what Christa remembers from her childhood to the reality she encounters when she gets home is fantastic. And I adored all of them and their fierce love, fierce anger, and fierce protection of one another.

I tend to associate a “no f-s to give” mentality to middle age, but Christa is already there, and I LOVED her for it! I absolutely adored this. Fans of Waxman’s other works – The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, Adult Assembly Required, I Was Told It Would Get Easier (♥♥♥♥) – should not miss this one! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BOOK NEWS: April 23, 2024

BOOK NEWS: April 23, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy April! No fooling, here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

Not My Cat – A women “adopted” by a stray cat insists it is not her cat – but when the cat disappears, she worries about what happened to it.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Tree. Table. Book. – Two Sophies. One in elementary school, the other much older. But they are best friends. But when the elder Sophie starts having memory issues, her family plans to move her away – something young Sophie can’t even imagine. Just reading the description of this book made me tear up. I have to read this one.
Harley Quinn: Redemption (LGBTQ+) – The final book in this DC Icons trilogy. Harley is taunted by a criminal who is taking young girls, daring her to come find them.
Kill Her Twice – When they suspect a coverup at work in the case of their murdered childhood friend, the Chow sisters start looking for a killer.
A Whisper in the Walls – Sequel to A Door in the Dark. Theo has been exiled and Ren has been thwarted in her revenge plan, but there are others who would like to see the end of House Brood. This series sounds fascinating!

 

Books for Adults

Earls Trip (Trade Paperback) – Three earls on an annual “boys” trip have their plans upended when one has to ride to the rescue of childhood friends. This sounds SO fun!
Fake Flame (Trade Paperback) – A firefighter offers to help a woman get rid of her ex by posing as her boyfriend. Yes, please!
Funny Story (Hardcover) – Two strangers become roommates when their fiancés dump them to date the other person’s ex. And it doesn’t take long for someone to get the bright idea that they fake a relationship to try to get their exes back. Yep, this is on the list, too.
The Good Ones Are Taken (Trade Paperback) – When Maggie starts dating a great guy from her gym, her longtime friend keeps finding flaws in him until he finally confesses he’s loved her all along and doesn’t want to see her with someone else. How can she be expected to choose?
The Lady Plays With Fire (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Goode’s Guide to Misconduct series. A theatre critic and the playwright she blasted in print meet and discover their secret identities. Will their professional conflict ruin their chance at love? This sounds fun!
Not How I Pictured It (Trade Paperback) – A former star who left her career behind in shame after her father took all of her money finds herself back with her old cast, 20 years later as the studio tries to resurrect the old show. But on their way to filming the group ends up stranded by a storm on a small island – and they are “the most useless survival group in history.” Yes, please!
Star For Jesus (And Other Jobs I Quit): Rediscovering the Grace that Sets us Free (Hardcover Nonfiction) – A memoir in essays about faith and grace.

REVIEW: Table Titans Club by Scott Kurtz

REVIEW: Table Titans Club by Scott Kurtz

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Val is trying to find her place at a new school after yet another move. And while she’s trying not to get into trouble this time, some of her peers are making that goal even harder to reach.

Then Val gets a chance to join the Table Titans, a Dungeons and Dragons club which helps her make some new friends. But there’s a chance the club will lose their faculty advisor. If that happens – and if Val can’t get her feud with another student settled – the club might have to shut down.

Review

I LOVED this! Val is fantastic. I loved her self-confidence – in trying something new, in asking for what she wants, for boldly addressing conflict. And her imagination! She’s incredible! I enjoyed the rest of the D&D group as well, and I am ecstatic about the set up for their next adventure. I will definitely be picking a second book up the minute it becomes available.

This would be fantastic in a classroom library, especially one where graphic novels are popular. A book group where students could read this together and discuss the social and interpersonal dynamics in the book would be amazing. Highly recommend!!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

REVIEW: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Viv the orc has decided to retire from fighting monsters and securing bounties. She’s (literally) hanging up her sword to open a coffee shop.

Using some old magic, she’s found the perfect spot – and made a few new friends to help her launch her business. But a local protection scam and an old “friend” are putting her shop, her plans, and her new friends in danger. If Viv goes back to her old ways to protect her fresh start, will it ruin all of her work to become a different sort of person and live a different sort of life?

Review

This is a surprisingly low key book for as engrossing as this story is! I was reading this as a print book before bed each night, and I looked forward to getting back to it every evening. I loved the characters and adored the mellow vibes of the coffee shop.

While this “cozy fantasy” is low key, it’s not without tension and danger and conflict. But most of the pages are devoted to fleshing out these characters and building this world – and I was invested in all of it. Viv is a great protagonist, sorting out her identity in a new environment with new challenges. And her surrounding cast is a delight!

Fans of this story can pick up the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, out now. I snapped it up before I had even finished this book. Looking forward to diving in! (Language, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: April 16, 2024

BOOK NEWS: April 16, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

My Lost Freedom – Author, actor, and activist George Takei shares his story of being in an incarceration camp as a boy during WWII.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Dear Wendy (LGBTQ+) – Two college freshmen who identify as aromantic and asexual start to become friends thanks to that shared identity. But neither knows that the other is behind their IG rival’s secret identity. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
The King’s Sword – Book 2 in the League of Rulers series by Jennifer Anne Davis. Sabine finds more than she bargained for when she went looking for her sister’s killer and then became a queen. I already have book 1 on my TBR, and this sounds amazing!
The Lady of Rapture – Book 3 in the Bones of Ruin trilogy. An immortal tightrope walker finds herself in a fight for her life. I have book one of this series on my TBR, too!

Books for Adults

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell (Trade Paperback) – Something new from Abbi Waxman! Christa’s lost and presumed-dead father returns, upending her family, her research, and her personal life. If I see a book is by Abbi Waxman, it’s an automatic purchase for me. I can’t wait to read this one!
The Finders Keepers Library (Trade Paperback) – A young woman lost and looking for any sort of anchor for her life decides to spend the summer with her aunt while trying to put the pieces of her life back together. While there, she finds a community – and the possibility of love.
Nun Too Soon (ebook – April 18) – Book 1 in the Bad Habit Book Club series from the folks with Smartypants Romance. A former nun-turned-librarian and a bounty hunter have a chance at love in this hilarious-sounding story that I have already pre-ordered!
One Last Word (Trade Paperback) – An app creator finds her life turned upside down when her app, which allows users to upload final messages to be released upon their death glitches and she watches her own drunkenly-saved messages get sent when someone else with her name passes away. YES!

REVIEW: Duck and Moose by Kirk Reedstrom

REVIEW: Duck and Moose by Kirk Reedstrom

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of both of these books from Netgalley and Disney Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Duck Moves In – Summary

A moose looking for some peace and quiet gets a rambunctious new neighbor. So Moose keeps taking Duck to other places he could live. But Duck is determined to stay put – on Moose’s head!

Moose Blasts Off – Summary

Moose is playing astronaut, and Duck wants to play too. But this is something Moose likes to do alone. So he teaches Duck about using his imagination. But what happens when Duck’s imaginings are different from Moose’s?

Review

These early chapter book/graphic novels are a lot of fun! Each book has 3 chapters with full color artwork. I LOVE the illustrations, and the friendship struggles will feel familiar to kids. These would be great books to use for talking about resolving conflict, compromise, making new friends, etc.. And I think kids will crack up at some of the things Duck and Moose get into. Fans of Piggie and Gerald, Ballet Cat and Sparkles, or other best friend/”odd couple” pairings will enjoy Duck and Moose! Book 3, Duck in the Dark, is currently scheduled to release in December.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Unfiltered Enneagram by Elizabeth Orr

REVIEW: The Unfiltered Enneagram by Elizabeth Orr

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Convergent Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

When I discovered that @RudeAssEnneagram from Instagram was going to have an Enneagram book, I was eager to check it out. I’ve been working on and through the Enneagram for almost 8 years, and I am to the point where basic books are blah, and I’m always on the lookout for something that can help me go deeper.

The beauty of this book is that it covers the “basics” but in what felt like a completely new way. The author has done a brilliant job with both the voice and the technical writing of this book. Her word choices are brilliant and convey some nuances to the different types that make this resource feel fresh. As I read this it reminded me of some of the irreverence and straight-scoop I loved from Millenneagram, but without the f-bombs that could make that book feel at bit abrasive. Reading this felt like standing at the edge of a pool while someone does a cannonball. You are getting aggressively splashed with a lot of truth – both positive and challenging – right in your face.

But while this is pretty direct, the writing is super conversational. There’s a coaching tone to this that I really liked, with encouragement to lean in, dig deep, and do the work. While with most nonfiction books I struggle to keep moving forward because there’s no narrative arc to pull me through, the writing here drew me into chapters of types that are not closely affiliated with me, just to read the author’s insights and observations about all of the types. And with each chapter, the author is there inviting the reader to explore, consider, and reflect.

My only caution is for those who are new to the Enneagram, or who only know about it because they like funny memes on social media. The frank assessment here may be off-putting for those who don’t recognize the need to do the work, who don’t come ready to be emotionally flayed open a bit for their own long-term good.

This is my new go-to recommendation for Enneagram resources. I would  still advise newcomers to start with The Road Back to You. Listening to some podcasts from long-time Enneagram teachers is another great way to start. (You can also see my reviews of other Enneagram resources at the link above.) But once you see the value of studying the Enneagram for personal growth, you are ready for this excellent resource. Highly recommend! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

♥♥♥♥♥+++ = Best of the best!

 

BOOK NEWS: April 9, 2024

BOOK NEWS: April 9, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

Shared Space – From the author of the Wombats! series. An order-loving mouse gets a new neighbor – Pak-rat. I discovered this book after falling in love with the illustrations for the Wombat! series. And now I want all of the author’s picture books too!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

Keeping Pace (Older Middle Grade) – A girl who wants to run a half-marathon starts training with her middle school rival.
What Was the Great Molasses Flood of 1919? – I had never heard of the “molasses flood” before I read an I Survived book that talked about it. I think this would be a fascinating title for kids to check out!
Teenage Dirtbags (LGBTQ+) – When Phil gets dumped by “golden boy” Cameron, he seeks out his old best friend Jackson to help him show the world who Cameron really is. I have this one on hold at the library already!

Books for Adults

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers (Hardcover) – An orphan raised by the Fellowship of Puzzlers is given a final puzzle to solve that is supposed to tell him about who is is and how he came to be with the Fellowship.
How to End a Love Story (Trade Paperback) – Former friends with a complicated past find themselves working together in the writer’s room for a TV adaptation of her work.
The Kiss Countdown (Trade Paperback) – An astronaut and an event planner concoct a fake relationship plan that gives him a girlfriend for the 3 months leading up to his launch so his family will get off his back. In return, she gets a place to live, rent-free, while she tries to launch her own business.