Reviews, Etc. - Page 15 of 180 - The Neverending TBR

REVIEW: Duck and Moose by Kirk Reedstrom

Posted on April 12, 2024March 16, 2024 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

Posted on April 10, 2024March 16, 2024 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

Posted on April 8, 2024March 16, 2024 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.

REVIEW: Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

Posted on April 5, 2024March 2, 2024 by Jaymie

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

Summary

Riley’s busted! Borrowing Mom’s car without permission and driving to see a Broadway show on tour, hours away from home, without a license. Since her parents feel she can’t be trusted at home alone now, she has to work at her dad’s gaming store as part of her punishment along with being grounded from her friends and extracurriculars.

The store inspires a lot of feelings in Riley – most of them negative. It was at the core of her parents’ divorce. And while an occasional board game over a holiday break is fine, gaming has never been a thing that grabbed her interest. And to make it worse, she has to work with Nathan who doesn’t even try to hide his disdain for her.

But when Riley’s ex shows up at the store, rubbing in the fact that he has a new girlfriend, Riley says she’s dating Nathan, who couldn’t be more horrified. But when Riley points out that a fake relationship could help him get his crush’s attention, he reluctantly agrees. What could possibly go wrong?