Tag: books

REVIEW: Books Aren't for Bears by Mark Barry

REVIEW: Books Aren’t for Bears by Mark Barry

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Bear discovers a book, and Owl teaches him to read it, Bear decides he wants more! (I feel you, Bear.) So he takes a bike he finds to the city, both to try to return the bike to its owner and also to find more books.

Review

This simple, sweet story was a joy to read! Through his ups and downs, Bear doesn’t completely lose hope. His perseverance eventually brings him to a perfect bookish spot where he finds the help he needs to continue his bookish life.

The illustrations by Katy Halford are a large part of the book’s charm. I LOVED them. The cover art was what first drew me to pick this up. I think readers will be captivated by the art as well.

This would be a great storytime book – for school, a bookstore, or the library – but I think many kids will also want the up-close experience of reading this in someone’s lap. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

BONUS REVIEW: The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

BONUS REVIEW: The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

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

When Duggar Hargrove, town manager, decided that bringing Cypress, South Carolina “into the future” meant turning the library into a book-free zone, the decision was hardly popular with library patrons, much less the staff. The books were headed to a landfill, and whenever Tru raised her concerns, Duggar patted her on the head dismissively.

So Tru and her friends snuck into the library late at night, rescued some of the most popular titles in the library’s print collection, and stashed them in the library’s old bomb shelter.

And while they were setting up their secret book room, Duggar Hargrove was killed.

Now a hot shot new detective trying to prove himself likes Tru for the murder. How can she prove her innocence when her alibi is creating a secret room with essentially stolen books?

Review

This was fun! I enjoyed the cast as well as the premise. I felt for Tru, watching outsiders dismantle her sanctuary, dismissively destroying a place that was so much a part of her life. The final explanation of the crime was interesting and satisfying.

It felt odd to me that there were many moments in the book where Tru is supposed to be this drab, disinteresting, forgettable character. People outside her closest circle are pretty dismissive about her in her day to day life. At the same time, though, she is supposed to have made such a spectacle of herself with her anger over the changes at the library that most of the town believes she is a murderer. Those pieces felt at odds with each other. I didn’t see a lot of evidence of a murderous level of anger in the book. It’s just something we are told.

The cast here felt just right. There are enough people to have several suspects as well as Tru’s closest friends. The townspeople were plentiful enough to feel real but not so many to feel overwhelming. The cat was a fun part of the story, too.

Considering how popular the secret book room is, I’m kind of surprised there wasn’t a stronger rebellion in town over the changes to the library. I’ll be interested in seeing how long Tru and her friends can – or need to – keep their bookroom a secret. Book 2 is currently scheduled to release this fall. Mystery fans, bibliophiles, and library advocates should definitely give this new series a try.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale

REVIEW: Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Josie used to be “kind of a big deal.” Her choir director told her she had “star power.” She knew how to light up a stage. And her talent and some connections got her a Broadway audition. She left home – and quit high school – with a one way ticket to New York.

When the audition doesn’t go as planned, Josie decides to stay in New York, crashing wherever she can find a spot. She eventually starts nannying part time, going to any casting call she can find. Nothing clicks. How awful to discover your best moments were in high school. When her nanny job moves to Montana, Josie goes, too, for lack of any other plan.

On a trip to the park with her charge, Mia, Josie stops in a local book shop. And everything changes. She picks up a book, and as she’s reading, she falls into the story, becoming one of the characters. It’s like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. All of the people in Josie’s life play the characters in each story she falls into. Each time she dives into a book, she has a harder time remembering her real life and pulling back. What would happen to Josie – or to Mia – if she fell into a story and never came back out?

Review

This one didn’t click for me. Spending time with Josie felt like going to a high school reunion with someone who had never moved on. It’s tragic in a 40-year-old, and it’s tragic in an 18-year-old. Josie believes she peaked in high school. She puts everything into a shot at Broadway, and when it fails, she has no direction. She is lost, desperate. And she doesn’t know how to bounce back.

To Josie’s – and the book’s – credit, she doesn’t stay stuck. She starts to develop some insights, and she gets a better understanding of herself and the relationships she has been relying on. She sees the toxicity in some of her relationships as well as in her perceptions of herself and her life.

The jumps into books, and the big climax for that part of the story, while effective for producing some change in Josie, didn’t work for me. I skimmed over most of the book jumping. Josie’s a lot to take at times. In these passages especially, she was exhausting for me. I was more interested in the things going on in her real life. Josie’s charge, Mia, and her transgender friend Nina were the characters I most wanted to see. In the end it felt like the story I wanted with the characters here and the story the author wanted to tell with them just weren’t the same story. And the climax, while an interesting twist, felt a little too out of left field for me.

Readers who enjoy angsty teens (who feel like realistic teenagers) and fantasy stories centered around books might give this one a try. Some readers have really enjoyed this one. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥½*

*♥♥½=mostly solid to solid

REVIEW: What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

REVIEW: What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Nash is an artist and a graphic novelist. He’s active on Twitter where he has shared his graphic novel, Rex, with the world. That’s how he met Kels.

Kels is a baker and a book reviewer. Her blog and social media accounts – One True Pastry –  pair book covers with cupcake designs that Kels bakes herself. She’s built a big following online and a small inner circle of Twitter friends, including Nash. He’s become her best friend over the last few years online.

Halle has moved to Connecticut for her senior year so she can focus on applying for college and building on her other interests. She and her younger brother are living with their widowed grandfather while their parents are in Israel filming a documentary. Usually Halle and Ollie would go with them. That’s one of the reasons Halle has struggled to make friends IRL (in real life). The family has moved so much, Halle has never really gotten to put down roots. Add to that her anxiety and her general awkwardness, and it’s easy to see why face-to-face relationships are hard for her.

Halle’s expectations for finding friendship in her new home are low. And then she runs into Nash. He knows her grandfather from temple and says hello, knowing she’s new in town. But Nash isn’t new to Halle. She’s been best friends with Nash online for years. Only he has no idea that Halle is Kels.

Review

There are so many things I enjoyed about this:

  • All the book love – This is a book lovers book. There are book Twitter stories and Bookstagram examples that will be familiar to readers who frequent those spaces. The book signing, cover reveals, and book convention pieces felt like home to me. This was my favorite part of the book.
  • The baking – I loved Halle’s/Kels’ take on her book reviews. The cupcakes sounded amazing. (There were no recipes in the review copy of the book.)
  • The characters – I loved the characters in this. Halle’s circle of friends – online and off – were great. And her family was even more delightful than her friends.

I’ve read other secret identity sorts of books before, but this one was on the painful side at times. I couldn’t relax into enjoying Nash and Halle together because of all the angst on her side and the lying by omission. As painful as it was – as much as I was dreading the moment where it all falls apart – I was also craving that moment. I wanted the lying done! I wanted Halle to get to be wholly herself and not this divided character.

The end wraps things up well. I loved  where everything settles in the end, both for Halle and Nash as well as for the other characters. Don’t miss this fun YA romance! (Language, LGBTQ+, TW: anxiety/panic attacks)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

BONUS REVIEW: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Nina Hill is quite content with her bookish life, thank you very much. She works at a bookstore, and runs their kids’ book clubs. She attends her own book club and store author events. She is very attached to her planner and her quiet routines. Add in her trivia team – Book ‘Em, Danno – and what more could she possibly need?

Certainly not the good looking guy from her rival quiz team You’re a Quizzard, Harry. He might be handsome and all, but he seems to only know useless sports trivia. Sure, that horse racing fact came in handy for the Quizzards, but if she was going to date a guy, he had to be a reader.

Nina also does NOT need the drama of discovering her birth father. She’s lived almost thirty years without him, and now that he’s dead, what more could he provide?

But the man had a family – and money. Nina’s new siblings and extended family want to meet her, and some want to keep her from any part of the estate. An estate she couldn’t care less about.

Life was so much simpler when it was just Nina, her cat and her quiet bookish life!

Review

I’m sure my husband was tired of me reading passages to him every couple pages, but the writing here is clever and snappy. I adored it! This falls into a narrow category of the “perfect” book for me. I loved the characters. The writing is sharp. I laughed often; the book and pop culture references were fantastic! I didn’t want to put the book down, but at the same time I didn’t want it to end.

Nina is a hoot! She’s crazy smart, witty and quirky. I clicked with her book love – of course – and her organized approach to life. She’s a cat person. She has made the best out of a non-traditional upbringing. I adored her. Add in two awesome kid characters – Clare and Millie – and a couple of Nina’s new relatives, and I was in awesome-character heaven. Even the most abrasive character was a favorite by the end.

I expected Nina’s anxiety over this new family to make that part of the story awkward and angsty, but it was actually my favorite part of the book.  The romantic storyline was good, but the family piece was outstanding! I read this from the library, but this is now a must-buy for me. And I loved the writing in this from the first sentence, so I’ll be checking out the author’s other work asap. (Mostly off-page sex. Includes discussion questions for book groups.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Mr. Lemoncello is at it again. This time, his latest game is going to be televised on Kidzapalooza, a station “where kids rule.” It’s the station where Haley Daley’s TV show broadcasts.

Mr. Lemoncello has created a game where teams of kids enter fictional stories in motion capture suits and play out stories from different genres. Each story contains a puzzle to be solved. Solve 5 to get to the final puzzle to win the game and “breakout” from the Alexandriaville library.

Charles Chiltington is determined to beat Kyle Keeley once and for all. He puts together a crack team of 8th grade book fanatics to compete against Kyle and his 7th grade friends. But when the game gets started, all of the teams are in for some surprises!

Review

This was another fun Lemoncello adventure. There are tons of book references in this one, just like in earlier books. But specific books are not the focus of the game itself which gives this a little different “flavor” from the other books in the series.

Kyle and his friends are as delightful as ever. As usual, Kyle is a normal pre-teen – never perfect but always well-intentioned. And in this story he gets to experience some empathy-building tasks that help him grow as a hero for the series.

I was disappointed by some of the adults in this one – Kyle’s parents and the teachers who apparently buy the baloney Charles is still shoveling. As a teacher – and a parent – my “spidey-sense” would have been tingling at all the sucking up Charles does. Add in Charles’ behavior from the previous books, and there should be no adult outside Charles’ own family who would take him at his word. The author puts some effort into making Charles somewhat sympathetic, but I wasn’t buying it. Sure, he has some terrible influences at home, but Charles still makes the choice to be a bully and/or a cheat every time. And those choices are on him. Maybe it’s time for a new nemesis for Kyle to square up against.

Kids will love this new Lemoncello adventure. Character qualities, motivation, and empathy are great discussion topics for group reading.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

REVIEW: The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lenora is stuck. Her parents are off traveling the world, and she is left behind with a nanny. A horrible nanny, too, who is working her own angles and agendas while dragging Lenora along. But when the nanny has to head to the library, Lenora sees her chance to escape.

Ditching the nanny by dodging through the stacks, Lenora opens a gateway to an unusual library thanks to an act of protective kindness. And this new library offers exactly what Lenora wants – a chance to both learn things and make a difference to others.

While Lenora is learning what it means to be the “Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian,” dark forces are gathering. They know knowledge is dangerous, and they are determined to destroy it.

Review

This is a fun fantasy story on the young side of middle grade. I loved Lenora! She is bright and resourceful. She keeps a notebook to record what she learns and her questions – I love that! And I learned some cool things right along with her. She has an earnest desire to learn. And she works to overcome the fear and angst that would naturally arise in such an unusual setting with few if any instructions for how to proceed.

I was frustrated by the villains when they appeared in the story. I felt like the villains, and their cause, lived on a different level in the storytelling than the fantasy worlds Lenora visited. It was like her travels and tasks were painted in rich, vibrant colors, and I was immersed right along with her. But the direct confrontations with the villains to me felt like black and white interactions in comparison. They pulled me out of the delightful fantasy.

This could be a function of (a) being an adult reader of a book for kids, and (b) reading a lot of adult and young adult fantasy where things are far more drawn out and motives are more often teased rather than stated plainly. So, I wanted this to be longer, with more drawn out trials for Lenora on each task. With a longer story, the villains could have been developed more slowly, too. And their motives would have felt less obvious.

But as I considered it, I don’t think that is the goal of this book. There are books for that – for the longer trials and nuanced villains – Percy Jackson and the like. This feels like more of an introduction to fantasy for maybe a slightly younger audience. A good introduction for readers who aren’t yet ready for those longer books just yet (The first Percy Jackson book is twice as long as this one.). For those almost-ready readers, this will be great! I feel like Lenora and the library will give a taste of the magic and mythology and world building of fantasy, but in a politely-sized format with a relatively quick return on the reading investment – action, results, resolution, and hints at a future adventure.

I think this would make for a great family or classroom read aloud. The quickly resolved adventures (1 – 2 chapters) work for classroom or bedtime reading. And depending on the age and insight of the readers, discussions about the villains and their goals could be very interesting, too.

I think readers will love Lenora, so be sure to watch for her future adventures! The library in this book is a delightful place to spend some time.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Reading People AND I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

REVIEW: Reading People AND I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

Posted on by Jaymie

Reading People – Summary

This nonfiction book is about several different personality assessments and how they can be used to help the reader understand him or herself better. The book covers

  • Introverts and Extroverts
  • Highly Sensitive People
  • The Five Love Languages
  • The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Keirsey Temperaments
  • The Clifton Strengths Finder
  • The Enneagram

Reading People – Review

This was an enjoyable read. The writing style and tone is conversational and approachable. I felt like I was chatting with a friend about her exploration of these tools. And as I love several of these tools, this is a conversation I would actually have with someone! The author shares not only her personal discoveries but also her false starts and personal growth as she learns about herself and her friends and family.

I was familiar with each of the systems on the list except the Highly Sensitive People one. While most of the other information was review for me, it was a great review and got me thinking about digging into my old materials on each of these tools/assessments.

If you already have a deep knowledge about these tools, this may be too basic for you. If these are mostly new to you, this is a terrific introduction. This was my first exposure to Anne Bogel, but I’ve found that I like her work a lot. She has an online presence (Modern Mrs. Darcy blog) and a podcast (What Should I Read Next?) as well as another book that I loved.

Rating:♥♥♥♥

 

I’d Rather Be Reading – Summary

I’d Rather Be Reading is a collection of essays on the reading life. Libraries and bookstores get a lot of love, and readers are encouraged to embrace their reading lives as they are, not as someone thinks they SHOULD be. There are cautions about becoming “book bossy” and some encouragement to develop a system to record or track your reading. Bogel’s love of story and books and reading is evident throughout.

I’d Rather Be Reading – Review

I adored this! I feel like Anne Bogel and I could go to the bookstore together and have a great time – although I think our personal reading preferences are pretty different. The writing in this is, again, friendly and down to earth. It feels like a chat over coffee. There’s no pushiness or “my way is the right way.” It’s a celebration of reading and readers – whether you haven’t read a book all year or you’ve read three this week already.

My favorite chapter was Chapter 10 – Bookworm Problems. It could not have been more perfect or accurate in my opinion.

I think this would make a lovely gift for the avid readers in your life. Be sure to get one for yourself, too. The book is hardcover but in a smaller size – about the size of a mass market paperback, though thinner. I consider it “gift book” sized.

The book inspired me to think about my own stories as a reader – milestone books and memorable reading experiences. I loved the whole experience of reading this and celebrating my own reading journey. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Fantastic Library Rescue and Other Major Plot Twists by Deborah Lytton

REVIEW: The Fantastic Library Rescue and Other Major Plot Twists by Deborah Lytton

Posted on by Jaymie

[Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC/review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Ruby Starr is a book fanatic. She loves to read and even started a book club with her friends. And then other kids also started book clubs. They’ve started a great reading culture in their school.

When Ruby and her friends pick out a brand new book for their club to read, they struggle to get enough copies for their group to share. That’s when Ruby discovers the school library is having budget issues. The library hours are being cut, and they can’t buy any new books.

Ruby and her friends decide to do something to help the library. But Ruby’s desire to be the hero in her own story causes some trouble that snowballs into a big mess.

Review

This is a cute middle grade book that feels geared toward the younger side of the age range. The characters are around ten and their interactions focus on friendships, homework and food fights. Ruby is a fun, imaginative, and creative character. The action of the story is occasionally set to the side when Ruby’s imagination kicks in.

I love that Ruby owns and names her feelings – even if she’s not proud of them. She recognizes that she wants to be in charge, be the hero, save the day. And that can make her envious and make her refuse the help of others around her.

The story about the book club and the library rescue was solid, but even better was Ruby’s personal story. Her thoughts and feelings and choices, her triumphs and failures, made this a worthwhile read for me.

This is the second book in a series. I haven’t read the first book, but that did not impact my understanding of the things going on in this story. Give this to elementary kids who enjoy friendship stories and stories that celebrate books and reading.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Ban this Book by Alan Gratz

REVIEW: Ban this Book by Alan Gratz

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Amy Anne is a quiet girl. A reader. She’s bright and articulate, but people don’t always know that. Amy Anne has a comeback and a response for everything that happens around her – from obnoxious sisters, to unfair expectations at home, to things that happen at school. But Amy Anne keeps all those thoughts on the inside.

When Amy’s favorite book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is removed from the school library by Mrs. Spencer, an overzealous parent, and an acquiescing school board, Amy Anne has a lot to say. She even prepares a speech for the school board. But when it comes time for her to speak, Amy Anne keeps her seat, keeps her speech, and keeps quiet.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Spencer isn’t done “protecting students” from the books in the library. So Amy Anne gets an idea. She’ll start her own library and run it out of her locker. And she’ll stock as many of the banned books as she can get her hands on!

Review

This is a fantastic book! I loved Amy Anne from the first page! I longed to speak up for her and rescue her, but it’s so much more satisfying to watch her find her own voice along the way.

There are three main things going on in this story. First,  this is a love letter to the power of books. Books can teach us about things we don’t know, they can entertain us, and they can help us understand ourselves and others. There’s a guest appearance by author Dav Pilkey that is terrific.

Another big piece is the free speech/censorship issue the school goes through. The author does a great job of helping Amy Anne see the “villain” as more than a book-hating monster. It’s fantastic.

Finally this is the story of Amy Anne finding her voice. Her thoughts and feelings about things around her are often right on target. But she doesn’t say them so nothing can change. The evolution of THIS part of the story was my favorite.

I highly recommend this book to parents and librarians and teachers. This would be fantastic to read aloud with a class or for a kid’s book club. There are questions in the back for discussion or writing as well as common core standards references for teachers.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥