Tree of Life and Death

 

Title: Tree of Life and Death

Author: Elizabeth Ashby & Gin Jones

Publisher: Gemma Halliday

 
ISBN: 9781943587155

Thoughts:  Christmas cozy that takes place all in one day in one location, which is unlike any cozy I have read before.

Rating: 3/5

The Mayflower

 

Title: History Smashers: The Mayflower

Author: Kate Messner

Publisher: Random House

 
ISBN: 9780593120323

Thoughts:  Entertaining, fast-paced, and true - the perfect combination for history for young readers.

Rating: 4/5

Measuring Up

 

Title: Measuring Up

Author: Lily LaMotte & Ann Xu

Publisher: HarperAlley

 
ISBN: 9780062973870

Thoughts:  A lot of life lessons were packed into this graphic novel, but maybe too many?

Rating: 3/5

A Guide to the Good Life

 

Title: A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy

Author: William B. Irvine

Publisher: Oxford University

 
ISBN: 9780195374612

Thoughts:  The historical background was interesting, but the rest was too pompous.

Rating: 2/5

Rest and Be Thankful

 

Title: Rest and Be Thankful

Author: Emma Glass

Publisher: Bloomsbury

 
ISBN: 9781526601070

Thoughts:  Very poetic and haunting story, but a little too ephemeral.

Rating: 3/5

Home to Me

 

Title: Home to Me

Author: Catherine Bybee

Publisher: Montlake

 
ISBN: 9781542009850

Thoughts:  Sweet romance that doesn't follow the standard romance story arc, so very refreshing.

Rating: 4/5

Serena Says

 

Title: Serena Says

Author: Tanita S. Davis

Publisher: Katherine Tegen

 
ISBN: 9780062936974

Thoughts:  True and honest yet easy to read, this is a must for all girls about to enter middle school.

Rating: 4/5

Simon Grave and the Drone of the Basque Orvilles

 

Title: Simon Grave and the Drone of the Basque Orvilles

Author: Len Boswell

Publisher: Black Rose

 
ISBN: n/a

Thoughts:  Fun humorous futuristic police procedural.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe for a Perfect Wife

 

Title: Recipe for a Perfect Wife

Author: Karma Brown

Publisher: Penguin

 
ISBN: n/a

Thoughts:  Some excellent character development, but some very fine plot threads seems to have been missed.

Rating: 3/5

Stacking the Shelves: 12/13-12/19

For possible review (on Bookloons):

Influence by Sara Shepard & Lilia Buckingham

A Knock at Midnight

 

Title: A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom

Author: Brittany  K. Barnett

Publisher: Crown

 
ISBN: 9781984825780

Thoughts:  Everyone the least bit interested in social justice needs to read this incredibly moving and informative book.

Rating: 5/5

Doppelganger

 

Title: Doppelganger

Author: D.L. Lewis

Publisher: self

 
ISBN: n/a

Thoughts:  Great premise with interesting characters, but I wish it was longer.

Rating: 4/5

Shirley & Jamila Save Thier Summer

 

Title: Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer

Author: Gillian Goerz

Publisher: Dial

 
ISBN: 9780525552857

Thoughts:  MG graphic novel about friendship wrapped in a fun mystery.

Rating: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves: 12/6-12/12

 

 Received from Owl Post:

 

The Dark Intercept by Julia Keller

 

Half Lost by Sally Green

Oona Out of Order

 

Title: Oona Out of Order

Author: Margarita Montimore

Publisher: MacMillan

 
ISBN: 9781250774897

Thoughts:  Very imaginative concept with characters whom you really care about.

Rating: 5/5

The Rite of Abnegation

 

Title: The Rite of Abnegation

Author: Mackenzie Flohr

Publisher: BHC

 
ISBN: 9781643980943

Thoughts:  While this was indeed the second book in a series, there were many, many parts where I felt like I was missing something, and I do not think all of them were in the first book.

Rating: 2/5

Ways to Make Sunshine

 

Title: Ways to Make Sunshine

Author: Renee Watson

Publisher: Bloomsbury

 
ISBN: 9781547600564

Thoughts:  Adorable story for older elementary school readers about friends, family, and becoming yourself.

Rating: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves: 11/22-12/5

LibraryThing Early Review:

Daytime Drama by Sarahlyn Bruck

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

 

Title: The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Author: Hiro Arikawa

Publisher: Berkley

 
ISBN: 9780451491336

Thoughts:  Warm yet bittersweet story told by a cat and the people he meets.

Rating: 4/5

Rule Breaker

 

Title: Rule Breaker

Author: Sienna Snow

Publisher: Hachette

 
ISBN: 9781455568734

Thoughts:  I know fans of this type of romance like a little fantasy (not the magical kind), but these characters and the plot were just too far-fetched for me to take the least bit seriously.

Rating: 1/5

Hatchet

 

Title: Hatchet

Author: Gary Paulsen

Publisher: Listening Library

 
ISBN: 9780553751901

Thoughts:  The pacing of this was rather off, which just made it boring, plus I am not sure it aged well, but the underscore of the audiobook was cool.

Rating: 2/5

Cursed by Furies

 

Title: Cursed by Furies

Author: Diedra Drake

Publisher: Apache Creek

 
ISBN: n/a

Thoughts:  A well-imagined new mythos for vampires, but the action was enough without the romance.

Rating: 3/5