The Badger Knight deals with some complex issues, such as war, death, killing, dehumanization of the enemy, recognizing evil even amongst your own, inThe Badger Knight deals with some complex issues, such as war, death, killing, dehumanization of the enemy, recognizing evil even amongst your own, infantilization of people with disabilities, and general medieval backward thinking about people who look slightly different in a well-done and hopeful way that highlights the value of loyalty, goodness, kindness, bravery, smarts, cleverness, the importance of literacy, feminism, and a shared humanity.
I also really liked Adrian, though if he said "Saint Jerome's Bones" one more time, I thought I was going to reach into the book and shake him silly! Lol! (...more
Good, but not the most moving or heart-stirring novel. Which is fine, this did its job; it kept me engaged while introducing us to young (imp3.5 stars
Good, but not the most moving or heart-stirring novel. Which is fine, this did its job; it kept me engaged while introducing us to young (impressionable) characters who grew and changed their perspective throughout the story.
Karl is a young twelve (read, immature) and really doesn't know the meaning of safe, cautious, and discreet. Lisa gives off Luna Lovegood energy, and they both are graced with so much good luck, it's semi-miraculous. I did really like Stefan, and think a story of brothers is a great way to showcase a split of consciousness (especially with a younger brother, swept up in the Hitler Youth).
The end action was wild (view spoiler)[the break out from "prison" and the explosion that kills Wolff. I have to say, I LOVE that Wolff was killed at the end. I think it makes it a little bit more "real" than other kids' books. (hide spoiler)]. And while this book was a work of fiction, Smith writes a note at the end on the Edelweiss Pirates, which was a real "loosely organized youth movement." <3...more
At first, I thought it was a typo. Gus and Julia -the main characters -the MFCs couldn't be forty-two. Right? That's just unheard of! They must be tweAt first, I thought it was a typo. Gus and Julia -the main characters -the MFCs couldn't be forty-two. Right? That's just unheard of! They must be twenty-four! But no! They are forty-two! And smart! And daring! And kick-ass!! (Ok, Gus is a bit more of the MC than Julia, but still.)
Going in, I had high expectations for this book. I loved Goodman's Lady Helen series & knew the writing would be good, but HOT DAMN this book is PERFECT. Just absolutely wonderfully written, emotionally provocative, and chock-full of adventure and romance (though, so far so "clean"). I even teared up a few times at the indignities Gus faced at the hands of her brother and how women were treated in general throughout. I can't wait for the next book (and hopefully the next and the next and the next!!)!!
Agree with another reviewer, that this was an unexpected beautiful little book!
A pretty simple, but wild concept, paired with great character writingAgree with another reviewer, that this was an unexpected beautiful little book!
A pretty simple, but wild concept, paired with great character writing in Maude and Isabelle. This book was fascinating, enjoyable, and easy to gobble up in a single sitting. I also appreciated the addition of The Repulsors by Émile Zola at the end for reading/comparison. Loved the struggle in Belle Epoque of true friendship and the struggle with body image and self-love, and how it ties together/works out in the end. Easy (though the subject matter wasn't) and enjoyable read!...more
This time Ranger is sent to ancient Rome to take care of Marcus, a young boy working at the Colosseum, andTwo for two on a great Ranger in Time book!
This time Ranger is sent to ancient Rome to take care of Marcus, a young boy working at the Colosseum, and Quintus, a new gladiator. Not only does he save their lives in this book, but by the end, he sets them free. <3
I love how these books introduce different times/periods in history to kids through Ranger's heroism. Very stinking cute.
This is an old favorite of mine. I read it in High School (my first Vonnegut) and it just blew my mind. It was so real in its manipulation of history This is an old favorite of mine. I read it in High School (my first Vonnegut) and it just blew my mind. It was so real in its manipulation of history and facts and love and art, and it's just stayed with me all these years.
I recently re-read it, and I was surprised at how completely I had forgotten all its plot points and intricacies and was just left with the feelings of the book. I chose it for my book club, and that was oddly something everyone agreed on -that a few weeks removed from finishing the book they forgot a lot of the story's details. Not sure why that is, or what that means. Maybe that the ideas of the book are bigger than the story itself? Not sure.
Anyway, 5 big stars from a teenage me & adult me. :)...more
I really enjoyed this book about Chile, though I have to say, the historical-ish aspects of this book confused me as an adult reader. I Lived on ButteI really enjoyed this book about Chile, though I have to say, the historical-ish aspects of this book confused me as an adult reader. I Lived on Butterfly Hill is about the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, but the details are all a little off. Names of key players and the length of the coup were altered for the sake of this book. So, it's "historical-ish." The key ideas are still there though, and Celeste Marconi is a beautiful MC, with a very lyrical narrative.
The only aspect of the book I actively didn't like was when Celeste (view spoiler)[went after her father (hide spoiler)]. I thought it added to an already very long book (a little too long IMO), and didn't really add to Celeste's journey as she (view spoiler)[had to learn patience and wait for her mother's return anyway, so...why couldn't she have just waited for her father's return as well? Not sure I understood that plot point... (hide spoiler)].
LOVED the setting & focus on refugees. LOVED the (surprise) Jewish representation. I think this could be a lovely book for Middle-Grade readers....more
Found this book to be such a disappointment. Meandering story (no plot, just the passage of time) with really emotionally immature characters.
With noFound this book to be such a disappointment. Meandering story (no plot, just the passage of time) with really emotionally immature characters.
With no plot and unlikable characters, I found this to be a hella boring read, but through sheer force of will, I stuck with it, wanting to see what happens at the end with Antony & Lily...and boy, I really shouldn't have.
SPOILERS BELOW.
. . Time passes and Lily and Antony are both grown-ass adults with the stunted emotional maturities of their younger selves! Why?! What is this book? What is this story? I literally don't understand who this was written for. It's not Middle Grade, as the characters age from teens to octogenarians. It's not for Young Adults, because it's written with such a young voice... What is this book??
Anyway, somewhere in the last few chapters of the book Lily is 40 years old, married, and has three sons. Yet she still is in love with Anthony(!?!) and cries when she finds out from Simon that he's had a daughter with his nurse/caretaker (whom he doesn't love btw). I understand young love that hangs on with no logic or reason for years, but she's now FORTY YEARS OLD! Antony never thought of her, treated her well, or expressed any real affection for her outside of being a "brick" and good sport to get into shenanigans with. Get. Over. It. Lily. Lily's emotional range is still the same stunned little girl that loved him unrequitedly and I just don't understand this adult woman at all. And honestly, Lily's character "development" made me hate this book and its ending.
And, and! Anthony is no better, btw! He's 44 years old, wheelchair-bound, and ill. He's dying when he decides to have a child with his wife/nurse/caretaker to leave something behind in this world. But then admits to Lily and Simon that he hadn't thought past having the baby and had made no plans for her future without him/her growing up with his dreadful Aunt. His wife/nurse/caretaker didn't want a child to begin with(!!!), and so they ask Lily to adopt their little girl as her own. Since she's still in love with Antony, of course, she says yes. Oh, and this was after Antony surprise names the baby "Lily Antonia" at the Christening. Seemingly just a mindf*ck for Lily... WTF is this book?!
Antony never thought ahead as a child, and still didn't as a dying adult. Lily was devoted to Antony as a child, and still was as an adult. By the end, I hated them both.
The book ends with Lily in her 80s, doing a secret parachute jump from an airplane.
Wish I had saved my time and ditched this in the beginning. 1/1.5 stars.
P.s. Also, his sister's death was totally Antony's fault. He was selfish and stupid and put her life in danger. ...more
A great kids' read. Somehow sweet, yet it doesn't shy away from difficult topics, such as moving, hardship, death, and loss. Messner does a great job A great kids' read. Somehow sweet, yet it doesn't shy away from difficult topics, such as moving, hardship, death, and loss. Messner does a great job here. (+ an Author's Note in the back with more historical information on the Oregon Trail.)
The Oregon Trail was dangerous and bleak. :( I love how a book about a protective and loyal dog will introduce this period/event to kids.
I loved that Ranger made sure there was another dog to take care of Sam before he returned home. <3 And I especially loved this line on pg. 7 re: moving: Pa said it was all right to be sad. "But your heart has room to love more than one place," he promised.
4 stars for The Dire King and 5 big stars for this series! I'm so sad to see this story end. I think this series has SO much more to give us & I'm sup4 stars for The Dire King and 5 big stars for this series! I'm so sad to see this story end. I think this series has SO much more to give us & I'm super bummed to say goodbye. <3 *PLEASE COME BACK, Abigail & Jackaby!!*
Thoughts on The Dire King: While there was a lot of action in this book (view spoiler)[a literal war at the end (hide spoiler)] (we do need to have a climax with the big baddie with the red eyes, after all), I thought Ritter did a good job trying to give us enough of the characters we love and their development mixed in... But... I honestly would have traded for a little less action and a little more of my favorite characters interacting with each other in this last chapter, because, well, it's the end and I'm bummed. But, for all that, it was super enjoyable, and I have happy chest feelings for having finished a wonderful series with wonderful characters I absolutely love and adore. I did sob lots of hot and heartbroken tears at the end (view spoiler)[I had emotionally prepared myself for Jackaby possibly dying, or Jenny moving on, but Charlie?! I had NOT prepared myself for losing Charlie!! And the friggin buildup Ritter gave us with the ring and the proposal that never came?! OMG, I was leaking like an emotionally broken faucet!! But, BUT! I was waiting, patiently waiting, for the Twain to reverse it, and he does in literally the last second so we don't see the reunion because the book ends and OMG. The suspense! So now, I'm left feeling so grateful and hopeful, but also still really sad because it's all off-page. But still grateful! (hide spoiler)], but the *hopeful* ending was really healing.
I spent four books falling in love with Jackaby's cooky nature. His matter-of-fact weirdness & depth of caring. I really love his character. I adore Abigail and how strong and brave she is. She's also super smart and a great foil to Jackaby's flutterbrain. Jenny has had a great character arc and & I've loved seeing her develop into her own person outside of being just a ghost. She is also super strong and brave. And Charlier. <3 What a noble and lovely romantic interest. I've loved him since the beginning.
So, here are my thoughts on The Series Ending: (view spoiler)[OMG, Abigail is the new Seer! And while I would have happily accepted Jackaby as the Seer for 10 more books with Abigail as his assistant, I'm not mad about this development. I'm SO happy Jackaby didn't die, I mean, he did, but he came back! The passing of his Seer abilities to Abigail was wild & I would LOVE to see another series with her as lead detective & Jacakby playing consultant + help from Jenny. Also, with Abigail and Charlie together. <3 <3 <3 (hide spoiler)]...more
Had a hard time getting into this book & finally called it DNF at pg. 100. I feel like that's enough of a chance to say what I have to say.
The world-Had a hard time getting into this book & finally called it DNF at pg. 100. I feel like that's enough of a chance to say what I have to say.
The world-building was interesting & well set up. I got where we were early on & even though I'm not a Steampunk fan, I liked the elements here well enough. (Especially with the class warfare & magic using magisters.)
What I didn't like & finally gave up on, was Verity. Her First-Person narrative reads so young, and I just really lost all interest in how she got swept up with the Rebel Mechanics and the mystery surrounding her boss Lord Henry, and the hinted at romantic triangle (Verity+Alec+Henry?). Verity is the weakest link in this book, and that's why I (sadly) had to call it quits. ...more
I'm a big fan of Stacey Lee's YA Romance, so I picked this up, all ready to go for a big adventure of a young Asian-British woman ready to change her I'm a big fan of Stacey Lee's YA Romance, so I picked this up, all ready to go for a big adventure of a young Asian-British woman ready to change her future/fate... and while we got the wonderful Valora Luck (she really is wonderful!), whomp whomp (view spoiler)[it DOES NOT have a HEA. We'll sort of. Only a half of one. (hide spoiler)] And I hate to lower a book's rating based on whether it made me sad or not at the end, but this one really kicked me in the tuchus after a bit of a long story. I enjoyed the characters, I did(!), but it was a little sloggy at times, and the "slog" + the ending, led me to feeling super let down by Luck of the Titanic. Is that the book's fault for dressing up as a YA Romance (view spoiler)[in which I expect a HEA, just as I've gotten from Lee's other books that I've loved (hide spoiler)]? Or is it my fault for going in expecting this book to be something it isn't?
The Goodread's blurb gives it away, but I wasn't expecting the (view spoiler)[death of Carrie's father, Rabbi Levin, when I started reading this. I waThe Goodread's blurb gives it away, but I wasn't expecting the (view spoiler)[death of Carrie's father, Rabbi Levin, when I started reading this. I was totally caught off guard by his death and was devastated by it! (hide spoiler)].
I'm not the intended reader but I adored this book and this family. Carrie is the perfect narrator: somehow both wise and mature and also very naive and young. Like most kids, she is both kind and selfish, and unlike most kids, she takes every opportunity to learn from her father (who is both wise and kind).
I loved that this 'slice of life' book had an Orthodox Jewish family in Middle America in 1923. Was a real special reading. #representationmatters! <3 ...more
This book hooked me from the first. Yes, the writing was good, but honestly it was the characters (very good). I was fascinated by them and invested iThis book hooked me from the first. Yes, the writing was good, but honestly it was the characters (very good). I was fascinated by them and invested in them.
I love that we got the POVs of all the women (and even the grandma at the very end). I really liked Jude and found her love story with Reece to be captivating. Both sisters Desiree & Stella were really interesting women, and while I liked Desiree, (view spoiler)[I couldn't believe she ended up staying in Mallard after her initial arrival/return, -in the town she hated and the town that hated how dark her daughter was. I know it started out of desperation, but I feel like her staying was something revealing Bennett is saying about people and their choices, but I'm just not sure what it is yet. (hide spoiler)] Stella was the most fascinating character to me. Not because of her choice to pass, but because of all the choices she had to make after that to keep her secret. (view spoiler)[She became a horrible (and bigoted) person. Isolating herself to the point where she had no friends and no relationship with her daughter -just to keep her secret. She thinks "I'm not like them." (The racist she plays.) But she is like them. She becomes like them. (hide spoiler)]
I also really liked Early. I love that he "lost" the job for Desiree....more
Found this to be quite a bummer of a read. Not because it was sad (it had sad bits for sure), but because it was a disappointing bore. I was so exciteFound this to be quite a bummer of a read. Not because it was sad (it had sad bits for sure), but because it was a disappointing bore. I was so excited to read a book about a Yemenite Jewish girl, but Adela has absolutely no agency in this book, the story just happened around her in a way that was tedious to get through. I mean, I get it, that's probably how most young women lived their lives in 1920 (especially in Yemen), but it reads for a really boring "this happened-then this happened-then this happened." I'm honestly surprised I made it all the way to the end (I wanted to quit the whole way through), but I really wanted to get to the answers from the Prologue's "mystery" of what happens to Hani and Asaf... And while the answer was shocking(!!) it was not satisfying, and it was not worth reading the whole book through. It was actually super unrelated to the whole book & I could have just looked up the answer to the same effect. (view spoiler)[Actually, I was the only one in my book club who didn't like that Hani and Asaf were killed in the Holocaust. While Hani's life ended in place of Adela's -I didn't like how this Jewish Yemenite story became another European Holocaust story for a little bit at the end. But that was just me. (hide spoiler)]
The only part of the book I ended up liking was the ending (Part Four) with Adela immigrating to Israel with thousands of other Yemenite Jews. I liked the true history of this period in history and seeing Adela take agency of her life for the first time by becoming a teacher, and (view spoiler)[by finally marrying Binyamin (hide spoiler)].
P.s. I couldn't get over the point that Adela had little idols. Idols & images are forbidden in both Judaism and Islam, so I'm not sure where she would have gotten the idea for the gods and goddesses in her cave.
P.p.s. I also didn't understand the underage sex scenes at all. (view spoiler)[How would Adela have known to take him in her mouth at the age of 10ish without understanding sex or how it worked (unlike modern children, who are exposed to these things way too early). (hide spoiler)] Made me super uncomfortable... ...more
We read this for my book club (it was on my To-Read list forever) & I went in knowing nothing... which makes me kinda want to laugh about it now, sincWe read this for my book club (it was on my To-Read list forever) & I went in knowing nothing... which makes me kinda want to laugh about it now, since this book was a doozy! I had a hard time with it in the beginning, as I'm sure a lot of readers do, but there was definitely a turning point for me as a reader -kinda aligned with Celie's turning point. I loved Nettie's letters and I really rooted for these sisters.
The book does a lot of things very well: I loved the themes of female friendship and love. Celie starts off broken and alone (forcibly married to a man who she calls Mister), and when Harpo (her stepson) asks Celie for marital advice, she tells him to beat his wife Sofia. (!?) I asked my book club, how could Celie, a woman who was getting beaten herself, suggest beating on another woman?! Someone suggested that it was all Celie knew, but I think it was more that that. I think Celie was just so alone in the world she couldn't empathize with Sofia getting beaten, because she couldn't even feel sorry for herself getting beaten! She was that low down.
After that (Sofia confronted Celie), Sofia was then Celie's first true friend (after Nettie was taken away from her). And then Shug Avery, of course. And then even Squeak at the end. By the end they were their own tribe of women, there to support and do anything for each other. Just as Nettie describes in her letters from Africa, of "the friendship of women who share a husband" & how they'd do anything for each other... Yes, Celie was wowed by Shug in the beginning, and then infatuated with her, and then in love with her, but I think there's some of that "tribe of women/wives" (around Albert) theme at play here as well.
I also thought the race play between Black Africans (especially the Olinka from Nettie's letters) and Black Americans was fascinating and very well done and explained to a non-Black reader, like myself. (Like how the Olinka didn't think of Black Americans as "related to them" or like them in anyway, which must have broken Nettie's hart in a way.)
And as painful as this book's beginning was to read, Celie goes through such a transformation throughout the book, it's like a whole 180 when she finds herself alone again towards the end. This time, she has her own self-worth & and agency, and is so strong!
I finished this book right before July 4th, and the book's ending was just a perfect celebration!
4.5 stars for incredible character development and the best redemptive ending that this book so deserved.
P.s. I loved when Sofia tells Elinor Jane that she doesn't think her baby is sweet. It reminded me a lot of The Help, which I loved, and I thought it was a perfect "teachable moment" for the book, lol.
P.p.s. I also really loved the God themes & how Shug teaches Celie to find God in Nature and in the color purple in a field as you walk by. So beautiful.
P.p.p.s. Sadly, I've just learned some really upsetting (antisemitic) info about Alice Walker. I will always love The Color Purple as a book, but it's really hard to separate the book from the author & the author's views......more
This is my first children's book about a father/parent who has gone off to war & my first Vietnam War bo3 stars for a real middle of the road review.
This is my first children's book about a father/parent who has gone off to war & my first Vietnam War book. And I did enjoy reading about the (more mature) themes of war and PTSD. Barbara Kerley does a good job breaking it down for (Theo &) young readers.
Janet shook her head. "I don't know what I want to do. It's so confusing." Theo considered this. "It's like my models -the complicated ones. I think it's only confusing when you try to figure out the whole thing at once." (Pg. 233)
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BUT, and I seem to be in the minority here, but I really couldn't get passed the writing... This book is all jumpy dialogue with no (or weak, if any,) transitions. I love a good Middle Grade book, but the style read quite young because of this & I ran out of patience for it and skimmed to the end....more
3.5 Beautifully written book, which I found utterly captivating... right up until the end.
The book is split into smaller "book" sections (going with t3.5 Beautifully written book, which I found utterly captivating... right up until the end.
The book is split into smaller "book" sections (going with the Bible theme), and I loved Books One through Four, which covered the Price Family's time as missionaries in the Belgian Congo. I loved the descriptions of their daily life in Kikongo, the culture shock, and the villagers. I loved the individual voices of the female Price family members & reading/hearing how they adapted to and interacted with their new life. And while I didn't love all the characters equally, I cared for them as a whole. Sadly, that ended for me in Book Five as the family splits after their loss (and trauma). And while Africa is still the setting for most of Books Five, Six and Seven, I was sad to leave Kikongo. And because the Price family splits, each of their sections are theirs alone, insular in their living separate lives, highlighting all of their their negative or selfish characteristics that I was able to "ignore" when they were together and told parts of the same story of a shared life in Kikongo. Apart, I didn't care for them at all. And I'm really bummed/think it's a shame that I loved so much of the book (448 pages worth), but pooped out on the ending (201 pages).
I guess I loved the setting here more than the characters....more
I accidentally read/listened this first before books 1 & 2, whoops! And having started with book 3, I am actually surprised to see that Erast FandorinI accidentally read/listened this first before books 1 & 2, whoops! And having started with book 3, I am actually surprised to see that Erast Fandorin is the series's main character...as this was really a multi-character book, and I didn't see him stand out/apart from the other characters until he solved the whole murder mystery at the end. Actually, I would say I thought "Papa" Gauche was our main for a long time.
I don't generally like murder mysteries (I don't not like them either, I just don't really care either way), but I did really like the writing (and translation), the distinct narrative voices of all the characters/narrators, and the historical aspects/time period. It was all very well written (though a little bit racist, of course), and I was surprised at the multiple reveals (I liked the trial a lot).
Well done! 3.5/4 stars. (I may go back to read 1 The Winter Queen, as it comes highly recommend, or I'll stop here, as this was a pretty good one-off book.) ...more
3.5 stars for a book I didn't really love, but seriously got me in the feels at the end. So, we can count that as strong writiFirst-time adult reader.
3.5 stars for a book I didn't really love, but seriously got me in the feels at the end. So, we can count that as strong writing, or at least, good storytelling, even if it wasn't a favorite. (Honestly, I found the beginning boring, and came to Goodreads to read a few favorable reviews before I DNFd, but all the 4 & up star reviews + mystery of how Miyax/Julie ended up lost in the wilderness compelled me to keep going.)
Did I cry when (view spoiler)[Amaroq was killed? (hide spoiler)] 1,000% yes. Damn these kids' animal books. They are all so depressing!...more
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