Coleen
This is the first book I remember reading by myself. I still remember the story fondly because Yertle was such a jerk which I remember as finding funny at the time. I also remember him and the turtles living on the faraway island of Sala-ma-sond. Haven't reread it so I'm looking at it through the lens of nostalgia which is why it's rated so high.
I may be a 40+ year old ,but when I grow up I want to be as sure of myself as Rama Khan (“RAMA KHAN!”)and as creative in my thinking as Mysti. Mysti would love to be the character in a book and she makes up interesting stories about her life. Her real life is confusing. Her “best friend” is performing an experiment in which Mysti becomes the butt of his teasing at school and they have to pretend to not be friends during school. Her mother is agraphobic and her dad is hospitalized due to a fall. Mysti's mom refuses to ask for any help so Mysti has to worry about trying to figure out how to take care of her family while their food supplies dwindle. She has to deal with her “best friend” making her the butt of his jokes at school and worrying about school and friends. However she finds her way with the help of some friends and a Texas loving history teacher.
Great story would recommend it to all those who like well written realistic fiction and don't mind reading books written for middle school kids. I know I'm recommending it to lots of my patrons as a children's library assistant.
After I read this book I felt like I was channeling my 17 year old daughter when I said “meh”. I like different perspective books, I like time shifts and I admit I can take or leave historical fiction. However, this book was just so so. I didn't dislike it at all, but I didn't feel more then okay about it.
Inteeresting coming of age, mystery. Told in differing p.o.v. Lucy is the main character but you do get to see other characters side of the story. Lucy is trying to figure out who killed a her childhood friend and in a way feels if she solves this maybe she can figure out what happened to her mother who disappeared when she was a baby. Overall I think the authors voice was interesting,and even though it isn't much of a mystery as to who the perpetrator I was think the story is well written enough for you to continue the story and see how Lucy figures out and deals with this.
Not as good as the first one. I think I had the most problem with the ending. It wasn't as good as the first. Also, there was a lot of rehash of the first book. I liked it a lot just not as much as I liked the first one. However, this won't keep me from reading the 3rd book.
Advice for those wanting to read this book,if characters who can't focus or finish their task until the last second annoy you this book may not be for you. I understand how it may appeal to a certain audience, and I predict that the tween book club I supervise will mostly have liked it, but I must say the book was not for me. I was annoyed by Terry's character. His creativeness wasn't written in an endearing way or even his lack of focus. However since I see where it can appeal to some, mostly reluctant readers or comic/humor fans I'll give it 3 stars.
Everything about this book said it should've appealed to me more than it did. Ghosts, retellings of Macbeth, diversity of the characters. However, it was just okay. I have no problems with unlikable characters main or otherwise, but these characters never got that strong of a reaction in either direction. I did like the ghosts instead of the witches in this retelling though. Overall just okay.
Actually a 3.5 rounded up for the side characters. The main character was much more wishy washy than I'd prefer. The house and of course Mr. Morningside and his writings were the really good part in my opinion. Does have a nice mix of supernatural and stories about fae, banshees etc.
Just the right amount of creepiness in my opinion. Abby knows something is going to happen in her town and she tries to convey those things the problem is she is autistic and at first, her parents dismiss some of her weird segues as normal for her. I don't know if the characterization of Abby as an autistic teen is correct but I do know I liked her character a lot. The different P.O.V. Carole (Abby's mom), Abby, and The Ceiling Man was well done and ratcheted up the creepiness factor in my opinion. Oh and for those who don't like gore I'd say there aren't a ton of details for most of the murders.
This is a little less for adult's than Go the F*K To Sleep, but it is definitely written more for the parent than a child. At least in my opinion.
I checked this out from my library and started reading and didn't stop until I finished a few hours later. This book really appealed to me in a way I feel I can't express well. The story is about 5 year old Anna and her family and a tragedy while their family is camping. This is told from Anna's prespective of how her parents are attacked by a bear. Anna doesn't understand what is going on, but as a reader you surely do. Through her father's quick thinking Anna and her younger brother are saved, but unfortunately her parents perish. Anna does come across her mother who is still barely concious and she follows her mother's instructions to get her brother and herself in the canoe and go and wait for them (her parents) to come. Anna is given a lot of responsibility that she is too young to understand but wanting to be a good girl she tries to take care of her brother and herself like she was asked. The narration is very stream of conciousness and definitely struck me as a small child trying to figure out what is going on. Great book!
I read this as part of a middle grade book club I was heading where the kids voted on titles I thought they might like. This was definitely not made for me as an adult but I can see why the kids loved it. Yes Greg was not the best but I still saw the humor in the book and I did like the drawings.
This book sounded nice and spooky. It had ghosts, snow(which as a Tucson, Arizona native and now midwesterner freaks me out) and a smaller town feel. However the premise didn't pay up. I wanted characters I actually cared about, more ghost action or at least building up of ghostly tension. There is some nice ghost scenes but those were few and far between. I also felt none of the characters were written in depth enough for me to worry about them. I think there were too many characters Mr. Golden tried to write about and didn't deliver in writing about people I cared about. I've liked other stories by Christopher Golden, but this wasn't one of them.
I had heard the author on the web or some such and I was intrigued by the concept of this book. A book to figure why cats behave the way they do and maybe make me a better cat owner sounds terrific! Not the book I got at all. While there is some interesting facts in the book a lot of it doesn't tell you a lot of the basic why your cat is not as weird as you think and how you can be a better cat owner. I did learn that cats are trainable via treats, but I kind of knew that since my cat does a very cute sit up and ask for her treats on command. It is the only thing I've ever trained her to do. Nice to know maybe I can convince her to do more adorable stuff with food bribes. This book definitely has it's dry science and history side so if neither of those things especially concerning human and cat interaction interest you I would not suggest this book for you.
I don't think this book is poorly written just not what I was looking for. Maybe some day I'll catch that red dot and understand cats, then I can rule the world under my cat gods.
My mom bought this for me after I started reading a library hold. On page 168. So far so good. I really like it.
This book was interesting. Kind of a Stephen King “Under the Dome” concept but first with a mass rage virus then you find out about the survivors who are trapped in some sort of force field. There is gore at the beginning when all these people go murder happy, but then it's kind of how the very few survivors cope with being trapped. Pretty good overall.
It was my first horror book when I was 8. I call it the book that started it all. All being my love of horror stories.
Okay this star rating is just based on the extended preview, but so far this book is GREAT and I can't wait for the full release. I'm already loving Melanie.
Just finished this book and I LOVED it! Melanie is so well written. It's interesting to see this zombie novel from different characters perspective. You don't have to wonder at their motives just sit back and enjoy the story. Well written and I'd suggest it to anyone who likes a novel that explores what characters are thinking and how they're reacting in the situation the author has put them in. To sum it up zombie outbreak that happened a couple decades before, now there is a research outpost trying to find the cure for those who aren't zombies. Research outpost gets invaded and then you get a road trip where their goal is a safe haven. As I said LOVED Melanie, loved the book!!
This book was my first Diane Chamberlain book but if all her works are similar in quality it definitely won't be my last. Necessary Lies is set in rural North Carolina during 60's. Ivy, is 15 and practically running her poverty stricken family which consist of her grandmother who is diabetic and doesn't take good care of herself, Mary Ella, Ivy's 17 year old sister who is mentally handicapped and Mary Ella's two year old son William. Jane is a young social worker, newly married and new to the job. Jane becomes very invested in Ivy and her family and of course as the reader you do too. This book delves into the Eugenics programs that the U.S. had in place, and unfortunately can still be seen as being practiced in smaller ways with coerced consent being still practiced when giving tubal ligations to female prisoners as late as 2010 in California. This book makes you care very deeply about what happens with Ivy and her family and with Jane. Even though I've never been in either women's shoes I found them both very relatable. This story transports you very succesfully back to 1960 rural North Carolina, and into Ivy and Jane's lives. Great book, and I highly recommend it.
The only other memoir I've read is Jenny Lawson's AKA The Bloggess Let's Pretend This Never Happened. This memoir was definitely a totally different type of memoir than that for sure. Thankfully I've never been in Catherine Tidd's shoes, but I thought her book was really well written. It was funny and sad sometimes in the same sentence. I also appreciated the advice in the back for those going through this or for those trying to support someone going through the death of a spouse. I hope this book makes into the hands of all who need it.
I just reread this in preparation for reading Out of My Heart which was gifted to me. It was still great. Melody's can do spirit is wonderful. I still loved how she got “Elvira” and found her voice. I didn't remember Mrs V but I loved her so much a great cheerleader for Melody. I did however remember that she had two girl bullies and was rightfully upset with them. I'd forgotten the outcome of the Quiz Team I just remembered her being disappointed by them but not the details.
I just reread this for a book club I chaperone/run and I'd forgotten how exciting it was. I haven't felt this bad for “orphans” since Harry Potter, but at least these three have each other and the thought that their parents might not be dead.
Kate , Michael and Emma are 3 siblings who have been going from orphanage to orphanage for 10 years when they're finally sent to an orphanage in Cambridge Falls a place no one has ever heard of. They're the only “orphans” at this orphanage though. Of course right after they get settled the magic begins. They travel in time using a blank book and a photograph, lose Michael and go back in time to rescue him. They find out about an evil Countess who wants the magic book they just found, and is holding a whole town hostage to find it. They meet many supporting characters who are trying to help them.
Interestingly described magical world and the magic book, cool characters, harrowing adventure,time travel,and magic. I had forgotten how violent some of the scenes are for a tween book, but not so graphic that I'd put it closer to YA than tween. Depends on the sensitivity of the reader. I've decided after the reread to see how everything turns out for these three so I of course would say read this interesting magical book.
