Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: What I Carry by Jennifer Longo

REVIEW: What I Carry by Jennifer Longo

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Muiriel is 17. One more year and she ages out of the foster care system. She’s learned to pack light – to LIVE light – with the goal of getting to 18, beating the odds, and living healthy and free on her own.

Her social worker begs her to settle in for this final year of high school. Her eyes are on college for Muiriel, and she knows a strong senior year is important. Joellen has always been there for her, and her request seems simple enough for Muir to agree.

Muir’s new home across the Sound from Seattle seems too perfect. Too many signs of the few things she anchors her life to – her namesake John Muir, the wilderness, and independence. But it’s also all wrong. She’s the only placement in the house, so she can’t hide in the chaos of other kids. Her foster mom, Francine, lives on five acres of land out in the middle of nowhere, so there’s no city noise but tons of quiet. And Joellen is a ferry-ride away, so she can’t call for a quick escape. Even if she did, there were no other placements that would take her.

But maybe this last placement will give Muir something she’s refused to let herself hope for – a sense of home.

Review

“Not being perfect is for people who have families; you can screw up and they still keep you.”

This book was amazing! Excellent! Stupendous! I don’t know that I have an adjective for how much I loved this book. I’ve always had a soft spot for foster care stories, but this is so much more than that!

Muir is one of the best characters I’ve read in awhile. There’s a thread of her “packing light” philosophy that runs through the whole book and is brilliant. Her gradual shift from living out of her suitcase to setting things ON the dresser before putting something IN the dresser was a glorious way to SHOW how she’s feeling about her placement. The trinkets she carries from foster home to foster home illustrate her experiences and show why she has built these protective walls around herself.

The other characters are just as amazing. And there are fantastic tidbits about John Muir, as well as a sweet romance, and a skewering commentary about racism woven into this bigger story that is fantastic.

When I step back from the story I loved and think about how the author built it – her understanding of the out-of-home care system, her excellence in conveying Muir’s thoughts and feelings, the layers to the story itself and the characters – I appreciate the book even more. Do not miss this AMAZING story! (Language, off-page sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

BONUS REVIEW: Shake Down by Kendel Lynn

BONUS REVIEW: Shake Down by Kendel Lynn

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Elliott Lisbon enjoys life on Sea Pine Island, South Carolina. She’s the director for the Ballantyne Foundation which means, for the latest Foundation event, she’s only in charge of set up and centerpieces while the board handles the rest of the details.

Elli has contracted with Juliette Pete of Cake & Shake for 25 cake centerpieces for the Ballantyne Beach BBQ. The BBQ honors families who have helped the homeless community in the area while also raising funds for a new shelter.

After a few local mysteries, Elli is also working on her South Carolina PI licence. That comes in handy when Juliette’s maid of honor, Daphne, goes missing. Daphne’s gone off grid before, but the timing – with the wedding days away – is odd. Surely Daphne wouldn’t disappear when her best friend is counting on her.

Elli’s connections at the police station – her supervisor, Captain Sullivan, and her neighbor/boyfriend Lieutenant Nick Ransom – can’t do much about Daphne. She’s only been missing for a few hours, and she doesn’t live in their jurisdiction. But they’re working with the right authorities, and Elli gets the materials she needs to launch her first missing persons case.

As Elli starts investigating, the stories about Daphne don’t line up. She finds out Juliette and Daphne were on the same dating show – and Juliette won the fella. While Juliette believes she and Daphne are best friends and work partners, Daphne’s mom and boyfriend insist there’s more to the story. But with no word from Daphne, and hours ticking by, even those who at first figured she left town to avoid the wedding and her “broken heart,” are starting to look worried.

Review

This is book 5 in the Elliott Lisbon Mystery series, but the first book that I have read, and it was great! I’ll definitely be going back to check out the previous books.

There’s a HUGE cast of characters in this. I don’t know if it’s just all the folks from the previous books (so regular readers would already know everyone) or if it’s just for this case. It was hard to keep track of folks at times. Otherwise, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Elli is a terrific protagonist. She’s actively working to become a PI, and works somewhat cooperatively with local law enforcement. That gives this a different feel from most of the cozies I usually read.

I didn’t get a great feel for the Foundation work Elli does and the other “home base” pieces of the series, but I know I can go back to the previous books for that. And the mystery in this was so well written, I definitely want to go back and check those out. The case was perfectly paced and there were plenty of questions and twists to work through. Mystery fans should be sure to check this one – and the rest of the series – out! (Language, TW for the ending)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Crush the King by Jennifer Estep

REVIEW: Crush the King by Jennifer Estep

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Queen Everleigh has survived the Seven Spire Massacre and numerous assassination attempts. And she’s over playing defense. As all the kingdoms prepare for the annual Regalia Games, she’s ready to crush the king of Morta once and for all.

He’s the one who ultimately orchestrated the massacre. His illegitimate siblings comprise the Bastard Brigade who have tried to kill off the entire Blair line and conquer Bellona. If Everleigh can eliminate him at the Regalia Games, not only does she eliminate the threat to her kingdom and her friends, but she will show the rest of the world that she is not to be underestimated.

Review

This was perfection!!! It’s my first five star plus review of 2020.  I loved everything about this. All of my favorite characters were back for this – and we added some new ones.

There’s a TON going on here! We get some new backstory on Evie we haven’t had before. There are some new players adding into the plots to kill her. We get to meet all the other royalty in this world. And through it all, Evie is learning even more layers to what it means to be Queen, and what that role looks like when she is in it.

One of my favorite pieces in this is the way Evie starts to see her various responses to danger based on where the responses come from. There are techniques she learned as a gladiator and others she learned growing up as an orphan in the palace. She traces her plans to these sources – including one that is ALL her, all part of the legacy of her family and her people. She realizes that another queen might handle things in different ways, but she is best served by being herself and using her unique skills. I loved all of it.

Fans of the series should not hesitate to grab this one immediately. I had hoped there would be a last minute shake up to point us towards a fourth book. There was certainly a weird wrinkle in this that could have developed into something. But this wraps up in a completely satisfying way with no cliffhanger. There may be lingering questions, but it sounds like the author has wrapped up this particular story arc with this book. There may be future stories set in this world, though, and I can’t wait to read them.

If you’ve missed the earlier books in the Crown of Shards series – book 1, Kill the Queen, and book 2, Protect the Prince (♥♥♥♥½) –  and you love fantasy stories, you’ll want to scoop up all three right away. There’s plenty of royal intrigue and magic, amazing characters, and tons of scenes that will leave you frantically flipping pages. Don’t miss this series! (Language, sex, violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn

REVIEW: The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Meg has lived in Willow Pond her whole life. She knows what to expect from her family, her school, and her neighborhood. She’s been best friends with Beatrix since kindergarten.

As they’ve gotten older, Meg and Beatrix’s interests have started to change. Beatrix is into dance and sets the standard for most things at school with their peers. If Beatrix thinks something is great – or lame –  everyone usually falls in line with her opinion.

Meg loves science. In fact, she’s one of only four 7th graders invited to do a science experience at her school. Meg is thrilled, except it means telling Beatrix she won’t be doing dance. Meg’s never been great at dance anyway. But Beatrix has expectations. If Beatrix didn’t care, it would be fine. But she has a way of punishing people who go against her. She “froze” Meg out for a week last year, and it was miserable.

Hazel is new in Willow Pond. From the way she dresses to her fascination with honey bees, she stands out. Beatrix knows all the tricks for drawing negative attention to Hazel, while still seeming “nice” to adults, or avoiding teacher attention. But Meg, and Hazel, know the truth. Beatrix doesn’t like Hazel and she’s determined to make her miserable.

Meg’s mom encourages Meg to befriend Hazel. She moved a lot as a kid, and she knows how it feels to be new. But her mom has no idea that it can be just as hard to be with the kids you’ve known forever when your place in your social circle is in jeopardy.

Review

I enjoyed this middle school friendship story filled with bee information. The author does a good job linking the bees to the larger story. As Meg learns about bee behavior in the hive, she makes connections to her situation at school with Hazel and Beatrix.

Beatrix is a classic mean girl “villain.” I suspect her strong reaction to Hazel comes from (a) seeing that Hazel marches to the beat of her own drum and likely wouldn’t yield to Beatrix and (b) fear of losing Meg who always gives in and does what Beatrix wants. She’s catty and manipulative and pretty unlikable all the way through the story. She will give readers lots to think and talk about.

The emphasis on science – and the creativity in science – is great. I learned a lot about bees, just like Meg does.

I loved all the ways Meg grows through the story. This season in her life changes how she thinks about bees, how she sees her relationship with Beatrix, her relationship with her mother, and her understanding of herself. This would be a good class read aloud or book group choice. It’s full of things to prompt great discussion and interaction.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: March 17, 2020

BOOK NEWS: March 17, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin – A picture book biography of Ben Franklin
Write! Write! Write! – Poetry collection
Swim, Mo, Swim! – Book 5 in this early reader series starring Mo, who is at summer camp in this book.
Hattie in the Spotlight – Book 16 in the Adventures of Sophie Mouse series. Hattie auditions for a play. This series is DARLING!
Lily to the Rescue AND Lily to the Rescue: Two Little Piggies – The first two books in this new early chapter book series from the author of the Dog’s Purpose series. Lily the rescue dog helps her person, Maggie Rose, and her mom rescue other animals.
Vera Vance, Comics Star – Book 2 in the After-School Superstars series. Vera loves all things comics, so she signs up for comics camp at school. But Vera’s mom doesn’t think comics are academically rigorous enough. I would like to read this one and see how it all works out.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

DC Super Hero Girls: Powerless – The second graphic novel based on the Cartoon Network DC series. The power is out at Metropolis High which impacts the various heroes in different ways.
Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death – Book 2 in the Ronan Boyle series about a teen who helps the Irish police deal with magical creatures.
Stand Up, Yumi Chung! – A girl who longs to be a comedian stumbles into a comedy camp, and lets everyone believe she is someone else.
Wondrous Rex – Grace’s Aunt Lily is a writer who is struggling. When Lily advertises for a writer’s assistant, Rex  the dog arrives for the position.
What Are the Paralympic Games? AND What Was the Bombing of Hiroshima?
All the Pretty Things – When Ivy’s friend Morgan finds the body of one of their amusement park coworkers and is taken into the psych ward at the hospital, Ivy starts looking into what happened to the dead teen.
All Your Twisted Secrets – Six teens invited to a scholarship dinner find themselves trapped in a room where they are told they have to kill off one of the group for the rest to survive. WOW!
Frozen Beauty – The Malloy sisters are the subject of town gossip as one of the sisters is killed and no one knows exactly what happened that night.
Girls with Razor Hearts – Book 2 in the Girls With Sharp Sticks series. The girls have escaped Innovations Academy and the twisted experimentation they endured there. But now they only have each other as they seek a way to take down the corporation responsible for what they went through. This series sounds amazing.
Super Adjacent – Two “regular” teens connected to the superheroes of Warrior Nation have enough going on in their own lives to keep them plenty busy, but when the heroes all go missing, these two are left to save the day. I have this on my list for this week!
Dragon Hoops (Graphic Novel Memoir) – A non-sporty teacher teaching at a school having a stellar basketball year gains a new perspective as he gets to know the guys on the team.

Books for Adults

Bound to Execute (e-book) – Book 3 in the St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. The bookshop-owning star of the series stumbles across the body of a much-despised bank manager.
Cross Her Heart (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Bree Taggert series. A homicide detective who survived her parents’ murder-suicide find herself investigating a similar crime when her sister is killed and her brother-in-law goes missing.
Crush the King (Trade Paperback) – Book three in the fantastic Crown of Shards series (Book one is Kill the Queen – my favorite book of 2018). Queen Everleigh has survived many assassination attempts, but she’s done playing defense. As all of the area kings and queens gather for an event, she’s determined to eliminate the King of Morta for all he has done to her and to her family. I will be reviewing this one later this week. It’s fantastic!!
The Earl Not Taken (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Wallflowers of West Lane series. Four young women make a pact to protect one another from disreputable matches, so Poppy teams up with her nemesis, the Earl of Marsden, to investigate a duke intent on marrying her friend who has never met him before.
In Bed with the Earl (Trade Paperback) – Book one in the new Lost Lords of London series. Reporter Verity Lovelace discovers a lost heir in the sewers of London and exposes him to the world. When he becomes the focus of attention for all manner of matchmakers, it seems only fair that the woman who caused all this trouble pretend to be his wife until he can get a handle on this new life.
Jerusalem Assassin (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Marcus Ryker series. Former Secret Service Agent Marcus Ryker is called upon to investigate violent deaths surrounding the President’s peace efforts in the Middle East. In the course of his investigation, Marcus discovers a plot to assassinate the American President.
Father, Friend and Judge: Three Dimensions of Prayer that Receive Answers from Heaven (Hardcover) – Discover Biblical strategies for prayer based on the identities of God as Father, Friend, and Judge
How to Be Fine: What We Learned from Living by the Rules of 50 Self-Help Books (Hardcover) – The two authors share what they discovered when they followed various pieces of self-help advice including getting off your device, downsizing, and meditation.

REVIEW: The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp

REVIEW: The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp

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

When Barbara Gordon is shot at the scene of a robbery her father was investigating, she loses a lot – the use of her legs, the presence of her best friend, and her sense of self.

After the hospital, she goes to the Arkham Center for Independence for rehab. She’s angry. Her best friend ignores her texts. She argues with her dad. This place is a reminder of all the ways her life has changed. Barbara would rather be home.

Barbara is resistant to making friends, but after a rough day she meets Jena who tells her a spooky story which helps Babs get to sleep. Slowly she warms up to some of the other kids. Jena tells her other weird stories. And she says her brother has disappeared from Arkham. The doctor says Jena’s brother died in the fire where Jena got her injuries. Barbara is not sure who to trust. Then Jena disappears.

There are enough weird things at the Center to get Barbara fired up about something again. She’s determined to find out what really happened to Jena and her brother, and solve the puzzles of the ACI. And her new friends are right by her side.

Review

While I enjoyed this, it starts off a little on the dark, painful side with Barbara’s injury. Her anger felt honest and to be expected. And it was ever present as she tried to adjust to her temporary home and this new normal. But through the grief, her instincts, her curiosity, and her skills with mysteries and puzzles are still there. And they indicate that something at the Center is not right.

Then her determination kicks in. And I loved how she grows through the next part of the story. The trauma isn’t immediately cured. But she has a distraction – a project, a calling to focus on.

The mystery was good. One small twist or two, but nothing super unexpected. I enjoyed watching Barbara re-discover that her mind, her hands and her instincts still work fine, even if her legs do not. And she doesn’t have to face anything alone.

I’m curious to see how DC plans to put all of these new stories together. For example, this Barbara Gordon story doesn’t line up at all with the Barbara Gordon parts of Shadow of the Batgirl. Also, there’s only a hint at “Oracle” in this, which was a little disappointing to me. But if this is going to be a series, this is a great start to establishing the character.

Fans of DC characters should check this one out – and don’t miss the other DC graphic novels coming out this year. I am thrilled about the DC publishing schedule for kids and teens for 2020!

DC has graciously provided some pictures of the interior of the book – check these out:

 

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: From Alaska with Love by Ally James

BONUS REVIEW: From Alaska with Love by Ally James

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

It started on a whim. Sara heard a radio announcement about sending letters to deployed soldiers. After a particularly upsetting family event, Sara decides to do something kind for someone else and composes a letter. If it lets her vent a little, and her crazy life amuses someone else, all the better.

Gabe has been in the military for a long time. He’s structured his whole life around it. The most long-term relationship he’s had is the one with his dog, Trouble, because a military life can be hard on a family. When someone hands him the letter, his first instinct is to give it to one of the younger, newer guys. But they received so many letters this time, there were plenty to go around. So Gabe gets Sara’s letter.

They exchange emails and then texts. Sara’s are funny and self-deprecating. Gabe’s messages are brief, but honest. And over the course of many months, a relationship grows. When Gabe returns to the States for awhile, he hopes they can meet in person. Sara wants that, too. But is she ready to put herself first for once, or will she let the family who have come to see her as the maid, babysitter, caretaker, and financial planner for their lives convince her their needs are more important than her heart?

Review

This was good! I was thoroughly frustrated by Sara’s family. They used her and had no qualms about doing so. And when she pursued something she wanted for herself, they resented her, punished her, and even bad-mouthed her to her beloved niece. It was infuriating. It was mostly sorted out by the end, but it was aggravating along the way.

Therefore, it was extra delightful when Sara followed her heart and let her family deal with their own dysfunction. Trouble the dog was a fantastic icebreaker for Sara and Gabe, and so, so sweet. I enjoyed the Alaska part of the story the most.

There were a couple frustrations. Structurally, there were moments where Sara’s letters to Gabe were repeated verbatim in the book. The reader saw the letter as Sara was writing and then again when Gabe read it. Definitely not a deal-breaker for enjoying the book, but it was a curious formatting choice. Also, the book description online doesn’t match the story. I was expecting this six-week deadline or timeline that Gabe convinces Sara to give him. That never happens. So my expectations didn’t line up with the story I read. But I was happy with how things went in the book, so other than a curiosity, it wasn’t a big issue.

Contemporary romance fans, especially those who like great animal characters, should check this one out. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

REVIEW: Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Liv (sister of Thea in The Bromance Book Club – ♥♥♥♥♥) is a pastry chef at the high end Savoy. She’s responsible for many of their special treats including a $1000 gold-infused cupcake called the Sultan.

Braden Mack is at the Savoy for a date with the first woman he’s wanted to have stick around, maybe ever. But nothing at this date is going quite right. He’s hoping the Sultan will help.

When Mack recognizes Liv things start to go sideways. Her boss, Royce, is fuming because Liv is getting the attention he feels he should always have from customers. Then, when Mack insists on a selfie with Liv and the cupcake, the dessert ends up in his date’s lap. Liv knows Royce won’t let this go. Surely she’s going to be fired.

But when Liv shows up for the dressing down she’s expecting, Royce is in the office with the restaurant’s young hostess. And what Liv hears through the door is NOT right! She storms in, rescuing the girl and incurring even more of her boss’ wrath. She’s fired and blackballed. The hostess refuses to report their boss. And Liv is stunned that Royce is going to get away with this behavior. How many times has he done this before?

Mack becomes an unexpected partner in Liv’s plan to take Royce down. She has no interest in the cocky playboy except to give the Savoy hostess a job if Liv can convince her to leave. But the feelings between Liv and Mack might hold more warmth than either of them expect for such an antagonistic relationship.

Review

This was even better than the first book! I loved Mack and Liv together. And this story was SO funny! The banter between Mack and Liv alone was hilarious. But there were so many other terrific, funny moments. Between the humor and the romance, I was a happy reader. But add to that the we’re-not-going-to-take-it-anymore vibe, and I was in reading heaven.

One of my favorite things about this series is the men’s book group. It’s an unusual feature in contemporary romance, and I love it. Not only do they have a fascinating perspective on the romance novels they read, but the way they show up for each other is excellent. In this particular book, they show up for the plot – for the Royce take down plans – but they also show up for Mack emotionally. That scene is one of my favorites in the whole series. And the explanation of the title was brilliant. I loved all of it!

Fans of contemporary romance – Well Met (♥♥♥♥♥),  Love on Lexington Avenue, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill – should not miss this series! If you haven’t read the first book yet, run right out and get both of these and clear your reading schedule. And while you are at it, pre-order Crazy Stupid Bromance (releasing in October) because you aren’t going to want to miss a moment with these characters. (Language, sex, possible triggers for abuse and harassment)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane by Kate O'Shaughnessy

BONUS REVIEW: The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Maybelle Lane lives in Louisiana with her mom. Not in Baton Rouge where they used to live – where Maybelle had a best friend and a more comfortable life. Now they’re in Davenport. Maybelle is alone a lot while her mom works two jobs to make ends meet. And instead of friends, she has a gang of boys to avoid whenever possible. They’re bullies at school, and they tease Maybelle because her mom went on a date with the art teacher. Maybelle’s mom called off the relationship with her when Maybelle asked, but apparently word got around anyway.

Maybelle is about to be even more on her own than usual. Her mom has a job singing on a cruise ship for a month. It’ll pay really well, and they need the money. And it could open doors for her mom for the future. So Maybelle will stay with a neighbor.

Just before her mom leaves, Maybelle discovers her dad is a radio DJ in Nashville. Her mom is adamant that there’s no place for him in their lives, but listening to him on the radio makes Maybelle feel a little less lonely.

When her father announces a singing contest in Nashville where he will be one of the judges, Maybelle knows she has to go. Her mom loves the idea of Maybelle performing – of course, Maybelle left out all mention of her father. So Maybelle and her neighbor head out on a road trip that could change Maybelle’s life forever.

Review

This was lovely. I adored the traveling trio on their summer road trip to Nashville. Maybelle was sweet, determined and afraid. There was just the right amount of introspection and self-discovery and awareness in this. A perfect balance of outward living and internal processing. Tommy and Mrs. Boggs were delightful – and did their own growing along the way. I got a kick out of Maybelle’s collection of sounds, something that threads through the book. There are also pieces in here about anxiety and panic attacks that are handled well. The book also looks at grief and evidence of child abuse.

I’ve read other road trip stories with secret or semi-secret treks to meet a relative or a personal hero or to dream an impossible dream. What makes this one special is the ensemble on the journey. I was thrilled to find an epilogue in this that shows a quick view of the next year in the characters’ lives. It’s a satisfying wrap up to the larger story as well as the individual journeys of the main characters. Be sure to check this one out.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Newspaper Club by Beth Vrabel

REVIEW: The Newspaper Club by Beth Vrabel

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Nellie’s dad is out of town for a long term work assignment and her mom loses her newspaper job, her mom’s college friend, Mrs. Kim-Franklin comes to the rescue. She invites them to move to Bear Creek and helps them get set up in the house next door. By default that means Nellie and Mrs. Kim-Franklin’s daughter Min are now “best friends,” at least according to Min.

Nell’s not really had friends before. She’s brilliant and can be off-putting to her peers. But living in a new town, and stumbling onto some mysterious events at the park piques her journalistic curiosity. To get the answers she is looking for, Nell needs to get to know the locals. Nell’s neighbor Thom offers to walk her to the local newspaper office so she can give them the information on the park. Min tags along, and the three discover yet another mystery in this small town that Nell would like to dig into.

But the newspaper office is not what Nell was expecting. Many of the reporters are packing up their desks because they were laid off. When Nell asks the editor how the town is supposed to know what is going on at the park, or when it is safe to return, if there’s no newspaper to tell them, he tells her she might have to write the story herself.

With Thom and Min’s help, that’s exactly what Nell plans to do!

Review

I LOVED this! The six kids at the core of this book are delightful! Nellie is bright and brings the newspaper experience. Thom is loyal and thoughtful. Min is enthusiastic. Gordon is talented. Gloria is passionate, and Charlotte is brave. I loved them. I hope there will be shelves full of books starring these kids.

The mysteries here are kid-friendly – pranks or vandalism at the park and a sad business owner. There are a few serious moments which were especially endearing because I was already so attached to the characters from the rest of the story.

I loved the adults in this – the exasperated police chief who still answers Nell’s questions, Thom’s moms who make Nell feel welcome, Gloria’s dad who gives Gloria space to put her own “flavor” on their restaurant, etc.

The newspaper pieces are well written and informative. Readers could put together their own newspaper with the ideas and examples in this book. But it’s never overly technical.

Do not miss this delightful story! This would be so great as a read-aloud or for book groups. I loved this like I loved Beth Vrabel’s 2018 release, The Reckless Club. I can’t wait to see what happens for these characters next!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥