The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Adventure Classic Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Jody is the only child (though he had siblings born before him, none of them survived) of Penny Baxter, “sound as copper itself,” and Ory, his stern, yet loving mother. Free willed and full of the wild spirit yet willingness of young boy living in rural Florida in the late 1800s (around 1870). Jody, … Read more
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park Adventure Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This book follows two stories. It starts with the story of Salva Dut in 1985. Throughout his life, the only home that Salva knew until the age of 11 was the small, South Sudanese village he lived in. He’s forced to flee his village to avoid the ongoing civil war in his country. … Read more
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson Adventure Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) It’s the first World war. Hattie Inez Brooks lives with her rather harsh and VERY opinionated aunt, and her passive and a bit kinder uncle. She’s living a humdrum life, nowhere close to where she wants to be, when she gets a letter from her Uncle Chester. In it, he deeds his homestead in Montana … Read more
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series, book #1 by Brian Jacques Adventure Historical Fiction Mystery Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Ye all have heard of the Flying Dutchman, that cursed ship that has been cursed to sail the seas forever… Woe to the sailor who sees Captain Vanderdecken and his ghostly crew… Sometime in the near future, those who see this ship shall be cursed to … Read more
Aru Shah and the End of Time Aru Shah series, book #1 by Roshani Chokshi Adventure Fantasy Hinduism Supernatural Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) One day three of her classmates show up at Aru’s doorstep to catch her lying. They don’t believe the “Diya of Bharata” in the museum is cursed, so they dare Aru to prove it. Overwhelmed, Aru lights the Diya with dire consequences, as she unwittingly frees the Sleeper, … Read more
Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor Winterborne Home, bk #1 by Ally Carter Adventure Mystery Supernatural Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Through numerous foster homes, and most o fthem terrible, April is waiting for one thing: the return of her mother. She was dropped off on the front doorstep of the fire station with a note stating her name, and a promise from her mother (who said she was returning). … Read more
Fairy Tale by Stephen King Adventure Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) Charlie Reade made a bargain with the universe to pay it back if his father stopped drinking and he finds an opportunity to make good on his word when he rescues his cantankerous neighbor after a fall. Mr. Bowditch is old and grumpy and cherishes his independence, but he reluctantly accepts Charlie’s assistance when that seems to be the only way he … Read more
Front Country by Sara St. Antoine Adventure Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Ginny Shepard’s world comes squealing to a halt when her science teacher starts a unit on climate change. Unlike her classmates, Ginny can’t seem to stop thinking about all the animals going extinct and the planet dying. Her friends and family don’t understand why it’s hard for her to care about anything else. When Ginny starts ignoring her grades in … Read more
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher Adventure Fantasy Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) When Princess Marra learns that her older sister is trapped in an abusive relationship, she vows to find a way to release her from her torment. This involves a lengthy quest to acquire the tools and companions she needs to do so – a bone dog, a gravewitch, her own fairy godmother (who is actually much better at curses than … Read more
How to Get Away with Myrtle Myrtle Hardcastle series, book #2 by Elizabeth C. Bunce Adventure Mystery Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Myrtle Hardcastle is fuming. Though she solved the mystery of Redgraves, her father has sent her and Miss Judson packing off to the seashore for a “relaxing vacation,” or in Myrtle’s knowledge, to get her away from her Morbid Obsession with Death. Additionally, to further lengthen the … Read more