Reading Challenged: April 2020

Thursday, April 30, 2020

A Novel Death

Title: A Novel Death

Author: Elizabeth Ashby & Ellie Ashe
Publisher: Gemma Halliday
ISBN: 9781943587674

Thoughts: The Danger Cove mysteries are always fun, this one especially so since it takes place in a bookstore.

Rating: 5/5

Nine Ladies Dancing 2018

Title: Nine Ladies Dancing 2018

Author: Donna Hatch, Felicia Rogers, Jenna Jaxon, Kay Springsteen, Patricia Kiyono, Ruth J. Hartman, Sherry Gloag, Tabetha Waite, & Vivian Roycroft
Publisher: Dingbat
ISBN: n/s

Thoughts: Nine Regency stories of fun and clean romance with strong heroines.

Rating: 4/5

Friday, April 24, 2020

Want

Title: Want

Author: Cindy Pon
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781481489225

Thoughts: Parts of this hit a little too close to home with the current health crisis.

Rating: 3/5

Monday, April 20, 2020

Other Words for Home

Title: Other Words for Home

Author: Jasmine Warga
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
ISBN: 9780062747808

Thoughts: Beautiful and heart-felt MG novel about a Syrian immigrant.

Rating: 4/5

Friday, April 17, 2020

When We Left Cuba

Title: When We Left Cuba

Author: Chanel Cleeton
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: n/a

Thoughts: Lots of intrigue and history, but the flash-forwards didn't need to be.

Rating: 3/5

Ms Marvel: No Normal

Title: Ms. Marval Vol 1: No Normal

Author: G. Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona
Publisher: Marvel
ISBN: 9790785190219

Thoughts: Good story, but the art seemed wonky in a few panels.

Rating: 3/5

The Next Great Paulie Fink

Title: The Next Great Paulie Fink

Author: Ali Benjamin
Publisher: Little Brown
ISBN: 9780316380881

Thoughts: An amazing book about philosophy and fitting in that all middle graders should read.

Rating: 5/5

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Something Like Gravity

Title: Something Like Gravity

Author: Amber Smith
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
ISBN: 9781534437180

Thoughts: Complicated story about first love while having lots of baggage.

Rating: 4/5

The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

Title: The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

Author: Juliet Grames
Publisher: Ecco
ISBN: 9780062862822

Thoughts: Highly detailed saga that is just a bit too long.

Rating: 3/5

Pie in the Sky

Title: Pie in the Sky

Author: Remy Lai
Publisher: Henry Holt
ISBN: 9781250314093

Thoughts: Very well executed novel about grief and learning to fit in that expertly mixes words and graphics.

Rating: 5/5

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Tru & Nelle

Title: Tru & Nelle

Author: G. Neri
Publisher: HMH
ISBN: 9780544699601

Thoughts: Fun story based on the real-life friendship of Capote and Lee that feels very nostalgic.

Rating: 3/5

Midsummer Mayhem

Title: Midsummer's Mayhem

Author: Rejani LaRocca
Publisher: Yellow Jacket
ISBN: 978149980889

Thoughts: Fun MG retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Rating: 4/5

Friday, April 10, 2020

A Swirl of Ocean

Title: A Swirl of Ocean

Author: Melissa Sarno
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
ISBN: 9781524720124

Thoughts: Beautiful magical realism for MG-readers with a hint of mystery.

Rating: 4/5

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Turning the Hourglass

Title: Turning the Hourglass

Author: M.J. Keeley
Publisher: Black Rose
ISBN: n/a

Thoughts: Had a few interesting moments, but mostly dry and confusing.

Rating: 2/5

Monday, April 6, 2020

Alien Superstar

Title: Alien Superstar

Author: Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
ISBN: 9781419733697

Thoughts: Fun book for MG readers, but the story really took a while to coalesce.

Rating: 3/5

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Stacking the Shelves: 2/23-4/4

LibraryThing Early Review:

Simon Grave and the Drone of the Basque Orvilles by Len Boswell

The Rite of Abnegation by Mackenzie Flohr

The Chelsea Girls

Title: The Chelsea Girls

Author: Fiona Davis
Publisher: Ballantine
ISBN: n/a

Thoughts: Davis is an amazing historical fiction writer, but this is missing the juxtaposition between past and closer present that is in her other novels.

Rating: 4/5