Category: Reviews

REVIEW: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

REVIEW: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Carter Kane and his dad are in London for Christmas to visit Carter’s sister, Sadie, who lives with their mom’s parents. After their mom died, the grandparents sued for custody, taking Sadie in. This left Carter to travel the world with his archaeologist father and only see his younger sister twice a year.

Going to the museum on Christmas Eve wasn’t Sadie’s idea of a great visitation plan. The whole evening had been weird. Carter and her dad had been late. There was that Amos guy who talked to their dad and then disappeared.

But all of that weird was nothing compared to the Rosetta Stone exploding in a bit of magical combat. Now their father is gone, the police are threatening to arrest them, and their uncle has magically whisked them away to Brooklyn.

Turns out, the Egyptian gods are real. And two of them are working with Carter and Sadie to help take down the evil god, Set. But the Egyptian magicians of the day don’t trust anything to do with the gods. So they, too, are trying to stop Carter and Sadie.

Review

This book is 10 years old this year, and it’s been close to that long since I read it. At my first reading, I liked the story and the characters, but I preferred Percy Jackson’s world of Greek mythology. This is written for older middle grade readers – 10 and up.

My son assigned this to me as part of our Summer Reading Challenge, and I loved getting to read it after also reading the first five Percy books this summer.

The world building here is extensive. I don’t know if the magic system in Percy Jackson is just easier, or if Greek mythology is just more familiar. But grasping the details of the Egyptian gods as well as the magic system here felt like more work than with Percy.

I did like the other differences in this book. Carter and Sadie take turns telling the story, and there’s an interesting framework for readers that is more extensive than in the first Percy books. I also liked that Carter and Sadie have two fronts for battle – the magicians who don’t trust them and then the gods. I’d like to re-read the rest of this series – The Kane Chronicles – soon. I have enjoyed the return to this world.

I had forgotten the references to racism that are sprinkled throughout the book. (Carter’s parents were an interracial couple. Carter presents as Black, and Sadie presents as white.) Considering the discussions of race and racial justice from this summer, this book felt like a timely read. Sadly, little has changed in the last 10 years.

I think it’s easy for readers to dive into Percy because it’s more well known. But kids who love mythology stories should not miss this series. In the last 10 years, Riordan has expanded into Roman mythology and Norse mythology as well as launching a publishing imprint which has explored other racial and ethnic groups. There is a beautiful library of mythology stories to choose from these days. Don’t miss the Egyptian ones in this series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½= Loved it! Would re-read

REVIEW: Talk Nerdy to Me by Tiffany Schmidt

REVIEW: Talk Nerdy to Me by Tiffany Schmidt

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Eliza’s best friend, Merrilee Campbell (A Date with Darcy), is convinced their English teacher, Ms. Gregoire, is magic. But science-minded Eliza knows that is not remotely possible. Merrilee and her sister, Rory (The Boy Next Story), believe Ms. Gregoire gives students books that magically come true in their lives. But that’s ridiculous.

Not willing to take any chances, though, Eliza chooses Frankenstein as her free reading choice for class. Ms. Gregoire is reluctant to let Eliza go with that book, but Eliza is confident that its lack of romance and its emphasis on science make it the perfect choice.

As Eliza digs into the assignment, she’s also trying to keep up on her parents’ ever-increasing demands. They are world-famous scientists currently working at the South Pole. They monitor Eliza through exacting logs, a personal tracker, and the grad student they have watching her at the house. Her 89% on a recent math test has them concerned. They want her to beef up her study habits as well as add an extracurricular – from three choices they feel would be appropriate. She chooses Quiz Bowl team, not expecting to find Curtis there.

Curtis is the sophomore class’s Class Clown. He always has a joke or zinger at the ready. How is HE on the Quiz Bowl team?

Soon Eliza’s assumptions – about her English assignment, her parents’ expectations, and even Curtis – are going to be challenged in ways she can’t begin to imagine.

Review

I have been crazy for the Bookish Boyfriends series since I first heard the plot of book 1!  And this book is no exception. I’ve been eager to read Eliza’s story since Merrilee’s book. Her parents’ controlling behavior is stunning. I wanted to know more about why they were like that and why Eliza put up with it. She’s also been putting up with Curtis since the first book. So this was my chance to see that relationship explored. It was so satisfying!

Curtis and his siblings are my favorite characters from this book, although I also love the whole ensemble. But Curtis is a perfect contrast for Eliza’s controlled and controlling life. He’s fun and sweet and endearing. He’s also confident enough to ask for what he wants and stand up for his right to be treated with kindness, courtesy, and honesty. This is my favorite pair in the series – at least for today. I think I say it every time I finish a book in the series!

There is no element of anyone trying to figure out how Ms. Gregoire does what she does. And I’m loving that. They accept it as part of life and just watch to see what happens. Each book in the series so far explores two pieces of literature. The second book in this one is Anne of Green Gables.

We already know where book four – Get a Clue – is headed. I am looking forward to seeing what happens when Huck and Curtis’ brother, Win, team up to solve a mystery à la Sherlock Holmes. That is currently scheduled to release in January 2021. I already have it sitting in my online shopping cart. These are characters I already love. And a new book gives me the perfect excuse to go back and re-read the whole series over Christmas.

Fans of YA romance, especially with a lot of book love and a touch of magic, should not miss this series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥= Outstanding, Fantastic

BONUS REVIEW: The Switch by Beth O'Leary

BONUS REVIEW: The Switch by Beth O’Leary

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Leena’s been trying to hang onto her “normal” life with both hands, but it’s not working. She’s still grieving the death of her sister. She’s not speaking to her mother after everything that happened. And then she has a panic attack in the middle of a huge pitch for work. In an act of compassion – instead of firing her for her declining work – her boss gives her an 8-week sabbatical to get herself together.

Leena’s grandmother, Eileen, is feeling lonely. In the months since her husband ran off with another woman, she’s been  staying busy with community events and her “Neighborhood Watch” group. She’s tried to be a bridge between her daughter and her granddaughter, but they are still estranged. She still has years of life to live! The men her age in town, though, are not good candidates for romance.

When Leena comes to visit, she suggests the switch. She’ll stay in rural Yorkshire, work on her relationship with her mother, cover her grandmother’s responsibilities to the town, and try to find her equilibrium again. Her grandmother will head to London, stay in Leena’s flat with her flatmates, and see if she can find love in the big city.

Review

This was a delightful surprise! I thought the premise was clever, but the execution was so much more than I expected. It was fabulous!

I fell in love with Eileen’s story first. I loved her relationship with Leena’s flatmates and the difference she makes in their building. She’s a bridge builder, both at home and in London. And she has the wisdom of age and experience, so she’s willing to take risks and ask for what she wants in life. Her story is SO fun!

It takes Leena a lot longer to find her footing in the swap. And that makes sense. She’s there because she has repressed her grief. She is furious with her mother and flees from memories of her sister. She has a lot to work through. But when she finds her groove – in herself and with her grandmother’s friends – her story shines as much as her grandmother’s.

I loved all of the relationships here – the romances, sure, but even more, the family relationships, Eileen’s relationships with the folks in Leena’s building, and Leena’s relationship with the seniors from her grandmother’s home. I loved how the grief pieces are handled here and the growth Leena experiences over time.

Do not miss this rich, character-driven story. I adored it! (Language, LGBTQ+ secondary characters, TW: grief)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½=Loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young

REVIEW: On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lyla Moody is the receptionist for her uncle’s private investigation business and a mystery buff. But she doesn’t expect to be personally caught up in a case in real life.

Carol Timms is a member of the Jane Doe Book Club with Lyla. So when the black BMW almost mows Lyla down, she recognizes Carol in the driver’s seat. She doesn’t get a good look at the person with her, but Lyla can tell Carol’s upset. But she never says anything to Lyla. She only drives away.

A hour later, Judge Timms, Carol’s husband, calls the PI office to hire Lyla’s Uncle Calvin. The judge claims Carol has either gone missing or been abducted.

When Lyla and her best friend Melanie find Carol’s body stuffed in a suitcase and left by Lyla’s door, all their mystery and true crime reading for the Jane Doe Book Club becomes all too real. Who could have killed Carol? Did it have to do with her time in therapy with Lyla’s father? Where there problems in her marriage? Could it be over money? Or does it have anything to do with the cold cases Carol wanted the book club to look into?

Lyla and Mel are determined to find out, both to clear Mel and Lyla’s father of suspicion, but also to ensure closure for their friend.

Review

The case at the center of this mystery is captivating. The Janes are drawn in not only because of Carol’s death but also because of the cold cases she wanted the group to look into. The book group didn’t feel very cohesive, and sometimes they didn’t even seem like friends, which was odd. I expected a cozier group for the namesake of the series. But I did like Lyla and Mel quite a bit, and I enjoyed watching them work through the case. I’m not sure if the author is setting up a romance for Lyla or a love triangle. We’ll have to see how things unfold as the series moves forward.

The author does almost too good a job in coming into the story in the middle of the action. There are references to Lyla’s past obsession with cold cases and subsequent therapy, but I didn’t feel like this was fully explained or explored. It made me feel like I missed a book in the series. I don’t mind that when I start a series with a later book, but this is the introduction to the series, so I want to feel like I have a great handle on the people, the setting, and the context.

The hints about Lyla’s mom’s past are intriguing. Those felt like teasers for something to dig into in a later book, and that was perfectly comfortable for me. I did have a hard time liking her mom, though. She runs hot and cold to the extreme, which started to wear on me in this book. Maybe with more of her backstory, she will either be more sympathetic, or she will relax some of her tight control because she isn’t trying to shield Lyla from the past any more.

The mystery was a mixed bag for me. I picked out the culprit the first time they appeared in the book. I like to work through the clues in mysteries and see if I can tease out the ending before the protagonist, so I was disappointed to figure it out right away. Some of the rest of the case felt scattered – like things were thrown at the wall to see what stuck. Instead of being intrigued by all of the possibilities, they were distracting instead. I do wonder, though, if I would have felt differently about those pieces if I didn’t already know who did it.

There are some solid pieces to this that I loved – Lyla, Mel, Lyla’s grandmother, and Lyla’s job. I might give the second book a shot to see if some other the other pieces tighten up in book 2. (Some language, a few gruesome descriptions.)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥=Good/solid/fine

REVIEW: Finally Something Mysterious by Doug Cornett

REVIEW: Finally Something Mysterious by Doug Cornett

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Duckies. A yard full of rubber duckies.

That’s what launches Paul, “Shank,” and “Peephole” on their latest mystery investigation. Someone dumped a ridiculous number of bath toys in Mr. Babbage’s yard. Who would do that? And why?

Could it be one of his competitors from the big bratwurst competition? Or maybe it’s his grouchy neighbor? Then there’s a teen from the neighborhood who’s acting strangely and sneaking out of the house.

The One and Onlys are on the case. That’s the name of their detective agency, because the three of them are only children. Or at least, they were. Now Peephole’s parents are having another baby which is really going to shake things up. As if Peephole wasn’t already afraid and paranoid all the time. Everything for the One and Onlys could be changing this summer – especially if they can crack their first case.

Review

This was so fun! I love middle grade mysteries. The silly duckies are only the starting point for a low stakes case that pushes the kids to use their skills – Peephole’s photographic memory, Shank’s confidence and daring, and Paul’s problem solving. There’s a lot going on in town with the bratwurst competition as well as a big box store coming in that could dramatically change life for Paul’s family. There’s plenty to engage readers and keep pages turning.

The clues for the mystery are all there for clever readers to notice and fit together. The wrap up of the case was terrific and satisfying.

I would love to see more mysteries for the One and Onlys to solve. Their relationship with local law enforcement was great – I’d love to see where that could go in the future.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥= Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater

REVIEW: Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Alec and Walker Holland are spending their last summer before college with their cousins out in the country because of some… discord at home. For twins, the boys couldn’t have more different personalities. Walker is the extrovert, the life of the party. It’s not long before he knows everyone in town. Alec, on the other hand, is quiet and introverted. He’s far more interested in his plant-based science experiments than in people.

Some problems with Alec’s experiments lead to strange reactions in the local wildlife. And then in the people. But just when Alec finds someone to share his breakthroughs with, things escalate to a shocking degree.

Review

I am still stunned by where this story goes from start to finish. It’s an odd little story. And I loved it.

I have no history with Alec Holland or the Swamp Thing. I looked up the character’s history online, and wow! I liked the ways this changes the story. I liked the twin brothers angle to this a lot – the way they care for each other even when they are so different and don’t always understand each other.

I didn’t understand all of the plant science/science fiction in this, but I enjoyed it. The depiction of Alec connecting with a plant while his parents are talking in the background to the school personnel about his difficulties with people was beautiful and gave me a ton of insight into the character. That may be my favorite moment in the book. What happens to the local animal life after encountering Alec’s experiment was fascinating, too. Although not as interesting as what happens to the people.

The story and the characters here are supremely engaging. I would have loved a longer story, but I’ll settle for a sequel! Hand this to graphic novel fans and readers who want to dive into some of the lesser known DC characters. The way the author re-imagines this character really clicked for me. And the art work – while not my favorite style (just a matter of personal preference) – is lovely. (Language, sexual references)

You can read more reviews of books and graphic novels from the DC Universe here. DC has graciously provided some samples of the interior artwork for you to enjoy!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great. Might re-read.

REVIEW: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

REVIEW: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Marcus Caster-Rupp has just finished shooting his final season of Gods of the Gates. His public persona has always been on the “pretty but dim” side, and as an actor he can play that role convincingly. But now that shooting is done, maybe he could be something… more.

No one knows Marcus is Book!AeneasWouldNever!. He writes Gods of the Gates fanfiction. He loves the book version which is so much better than what the show runners have done lately with the characters. His favorite person on the fanfiction sites is UnapologeticLaviniaStan. She gets him and gets these characters. She will flip when she sees what the show runners have done in this next season. And not in a good way.

April, UnapologeticLaviniaStan on the fanfiction sites, is ready for serious life change. She kept her cosplay and fandom life secret at work in order to be taken seriously. And she’s never posted pictures of herself online in her cosplay because she doesn’t want to deal with fatphobic trolls. But she’s ready to take a stand and be 100% herself both in person and online.

When a beautiful cosplayer is trolled on Twitter, and Marcus is pulled into the conversation, he takes the high road, asking the woman out on a date (rather than eviscerating the trolls, which was his first instinct). But Marcus has no idea April is his fanfiction best friend, UnapologeticLaviniaStan. And if anyone finds out about his alter ego, Book!AeneasWouldNever!, Marcus’ career will be over.

Review

This was fantastic! It includes a fandom as well as a convention, which I always enjoy. (You can read my post from earlier this year about fandom and fan convention stories here.) There’s a You’ve Got Mail piece to this too where April and Marcus meet in real life while also having an online relationship hidden behind screen names. At first, neither one knows about the connection. The main difference here is that they are not antagonists in real life like in the movie.

But the real life relationship means Marcus has to break the online relationship and keep the connection a secret for the sake of his job. While he likes April, it’s too soon to know if she can be trusted or if she would even understand the risks he has already taken by writing fanfiction – and talking about the show- in ways that could jeopardize his job.

I loved April and Marcus, together and separately. They have fantastic chemistry together. They also have depth. The author does an exceptional job with the emotional pieces of this – the personal insights, the empathy, the descriptions of toxic family relationships, etc. I adored this layer to the characters and to the larger story.

There’s a secondary relationship that was teased in this book, but mostly took place off-page. I had hoped it would get it’s own book. It seems like that relationship will be the focus of the next book, out next year. I am absolutely here for that story. This is my first book by this author, although I own one of her e-books – Desire and the Deep Blue Sea – and its sequel is on my wishlist. I’ll be bumping her books up on my TBR.

If you enjoy fanfiction and fandom stories like I do, do NOT miss this one! It feels like an adult version of the Geekerella/Once Upon a Con series, which I love. (Language, sex, CW: fat shaming, disability shaming, toxic families/trauma)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Ashton's Dancing Dream by the Pitts sisters

BONUS REVIEW: Ashton’s Dancing Dream by the Pitts sisters

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Ashton’s friend, Rani, announces that her dad’s been offered a promotion that would move the family to London, Ashton starts looking for a way to help her friend stay. Ashton, Rani, and their friend, June, decide to be in their elementary school spring talent show. The show, and the preparation, can be their reason for why Rani can’t move yet. The girls will use moves from a dance they performed at Christmas for their dance school to help simplify the preparation.

But when their full group – five girls in total – gets together, they can’t agree on anything. They bicker over music, dance moves, and the showcase dancer. Ashton’s perfect idea gets more and more complicated. And while her dad supports the idea of the talent show, he asks Ashton to consider that God’s plans aren’t always in line with our preferences. But Ashton hopes God wants Rani to stay too.

Review

This is a solid story with a lot of friendship pieces and a focus on taking your problems and burdens to God. Ashton experiences a power struggle with one of the other girls in the dancing group. There are times when they all forget it’s about having this experience with Rani, too. But there are good examples of sincere prayers and interpersonal effort to make peace, apologize, etc..

Another factor to the story that I didn’t mention in the summary is the arrival of a new student at the girls’ Christian school. Jasmyn is in a wheelchair, and Ashton is asked to be her school “buddy” and help her get acclimated. I loved Jasmyn’s part in the story. Ashton is a great friend and helper both at school and at church.

I appreciated Ashton’s efforts to stand up for Jasmyn. Rani makes some poor choices out of jealousy of Ashton’s new friendship. But I wish Ashton’s response had been stronger. Ashton does address the issue without prompting from anyone else. And Rani does apologize in part. But I felt like the most heinous choice on Rani’s part was to run off to a second floor of the house deliberately because she knows Jasmyn can’t go with them. It’s a blatant act of exclusion.  Yet when Rani apologizes, it’s more for what she said (saying the crocheting they are about to do is dumb) than what she did which was far worse. I’m concerned some readers will be hurt that this issue wasn’t addressed more directly.

I enjoyed the story, but there were moments when the writing pulled me out of the flow. This is a first person point of view book. But occasionally Ashton would look at someone and “know” what they were thinking either about themselves or even one time about a third character. First person can’t pull off all of that. I am hopeful that these moments were addressed in final edits.

This is book two in the series after Ansley’s Big Bake Off which focuses on Ashton’s older sister. Book 3, Amber’s Song, releasing in April 2021, will focus on Ashton’s twin sister. The characters have an older sister, Lena, who had her own series, Lena in the Spotlight (which was written by the authors’ older sister and their late mother, Wynter Pitts).

If you are looking for books for your middle grade reader with a blatant spiritual message, be sure to check out both series by the Pitts sisters. (CW: Unkindness to a person with a disability)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥=Good/solid/fine

REVIEW: Max Meow: Cat Crusader by John Gallagher

REVIEW: Max Meow: Cat Crusader by John Gallagher

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Max Meow accidentally leads an evil robot to his scientist friend Mindy Microbe’s secret lab, it leads to trouble. The robot tries to steal a weird space meatball Mindy has been studying, and in the process, Mindy’s lab is destroyed.

And then Max accidentally eats some of the weird meatball. And he becomes a super hero.

Review

This is Max’s origin story. He’s a regular cat who ingests a bit of space meatball and gains super powers. He can fly, he has super strength, and he can zap things with his tail. This is all very timely because Agent M and his evil robot minion are trying to steal the meatball for their secret boss.

The story is pretty standard for the genre. While Max gets powers, he also gets cocky which causes trouble with his friend Mindy. He learns he’d be better off if he listened to her.

Max needs to repair his friendship, learn to be a better hero, and face Agent M. Standard superhero/villain battles ensue. The setting of the putt-putt course made for some fun moments. Fans of these sorts of graphic novels will enjoy this one. There are instructions for drawing Max in the book, so kids who love creating their own art will enjoy that feature. There are a couple nice reveals at the end that set up book 2, Donuts and Danger, which will release next year. This doesn’t have the heart or the humor of something like the Hilo series (book 1, The Boy Who Crashed to Earth – ♥♥♥♥♥), but I think kids will get a kick out of this one.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/fine/solid

REVIEW: Running by Natalia Sylvester

REVIEW: Running by Natalia Sylvester

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Mariana Ruiz’s father is running for president. He’s been in the state legislature before, and he’s currently a US Senator for Florida. Mariana knows what politics means for their day-to-day life. But she hasn’t really registered that his run for the Republican nomination means this election is at a whole new level.

Joe, her father’s assistant, is dictating her comments for TV spots and interviews. Her bedroom gets made-over like an elementary school classroom, complete with motivational posters, against her will because reporters are going to be seeing it. The whole family will be interviewed. No matter how many times Mariana asks to be left out of things, no one listens. So she disappears before the interview and goes to a friend’s house. That’s the first time Mariana pushes back. But it won’t be the last.

Review

This was excellent! No only does the book look at big issues like politics and the environment and activism, but it also drills down to interpersonal issues like family unity, teenage autonomy, family obligations, and political identity. For most of Mariana’s life, politics was just what her father did. It was background noise like other parental jobs might be for teens. But her father’s run for president amps up all the pressure over appearances and media scrutiny. Mariana’s discomfort starts there.

Then, a school assignment converges with a friend’s personal issues and raises her awareness about real life factors – things that impact people she loves. Things that used to just be political talking points. Mariana connects with students at her school who are more politically aware and engaged. She sees her father’s voting record, and it doesn’t line up with what he’s always said he believes. The more she learns, the more the idealized picture of her father fractures.

There are no easy answers offered, which I loved. This is Mariana’s coming-of-age story where her assumptions are torn down and what she rebuilds is a new comprehension of not only her family but also the larger world. And she realizes she has a place in it, and she has a unique platform where her voice can be heard. I loved this! (Language, LGBTQ+, TW: gaslighting)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ – I loved it! Would re-read.