The Summer I Turned Pretty Summer I Turned Pretty #1 by Jenny Han Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * Stars (Just ok) “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han follows the protagonist, Isabel “Belly” Conklin, as she navigates a summer at the beach. Belly has always spent her summers with her family and their close friends, the Fishers, at the beach house. However, this summer is different. As Belly matures, she finds herself … Read more
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Classic Historical Fiction Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) George and his best bud Lennie are migrant workers in California. Lennie isn’t always the brightest, however. Will they be able to reach their dream of owning a farm? Or will Lennie’s childish ways get in the way of that? Review #2 * * * * Stars (Great!) Of Mice and Men is about two men going … Read more
Good Girl, Bad Blood A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #2 by Holly Jackson Adventure Mystery Thriller Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) “Good Girl, Bad Blood” by Holly Jackson is the gripping sequel to “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”. This mystery novel follows the pursuit of truth by amateur sleuth Pippa Fitz-Amobi. Pippa finds herself entangled in another perplexing case. When her friend’s brother (Jamie Reynolds) goes missing, it is Pippa’s … Read more
Killer Instinct Naturals #2 by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Adventure Mystery Thriller Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) “Killer Instinct” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the gripping sequel to “The Naturals”, continuing the thrilling journey of Cassie Hobbes and her fellow talented profilers (The Naturals). In this book, the Naturals find themselves facing a new and dangerous challenge as they become embroiled in an unsolved case. This case involves a string of unrelated murders. … Read more
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Adventure Mystery Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Five kids with special talents are asked to help in the most infamous criminal cases. Seventeen-year-old Cassie is amazing at reading people. She wasn’t able to read, however, that they were in grave danger. You won’t believe the twist! Find out what happens in “The Naturals.” Review #2 * * * Stars (Pretty good) “The Naturals” by … Read more
Whole Heart, Whole Horse: Building Trust Between Horse and Rider by Mark Rashid Nonfiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Mark Rashid is world renowned horse trainer who is gifted in understanding the “horse’s point of view.” Whole Heart, Whole Horse collects some of his anecdotes about the horses and humans who have passed through his life, as well as some of his early experiences with “the old man,” whom he credits with teaching … Read more
How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone by Alex Norris Graphic Nonfiction Nonfiction Self-help * * * * Stars (Great!) If you’re not sure how to relationship (or if you even want to), this book is a good place to start your inquiries. It busts a lot of pre-conceptions/myths/expectations folks hold about relationships and gives readers space to think about how they feel about things and what matters to them. The … Read more
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
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran Horror Supernatural Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) Jade is coerced into staying with her father in Vietnam for 5 weeks to receive money for her college tuition from him. Her sister, brother and mother will also be traveling to Vietnam but since her parents are separated her mother and brother, who has chosen not to spend time with his father, will be staying with … Read more
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Emmanuel Acho is a former professional football player (now sports analyst) and author who created a series of videos called “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man,” where he tries to answer questions about race and racism and the black experience. This is the young readers edition of the book published for adults and it poses a series of questions … Read more