Monday, June 28, 2021

Uprooting Racism

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Title: Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice

Author: Paul Kivel

Publisher: New Society
 
ISBN: 9780865716889
 
Thoughts: Good workbook-type read for understanding and challenging systemic racism.
 
Rating: 3/5

Their Eyes Were Watching God

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Title: Their Eyes Were Watching God

Author: Zora Neale Hurston

Publisher: Harper Audio
 
ISBN: 9780060842796
 
Thoughts: It is easy to see why this is a classic, especially with Hurston's wonderful writing.
 
Rating: 4/5

Remember

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Title: Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting

Author: Lisa Genova

Publisher: Harmony
 
ISBN: 9780593137956
 
Thoughts: Memory tips, tricks, and idiosyncrasies presented in a very readable manner.
 
Rating: 5/5

Friday, June 25, 2021

Did I Say That Out Loud?

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Title: Did I Say That Out Loud?: Midlife Indignities and How to Survive Them

Author: Kristin van Ogrop

Publisher: Little Brown Spark
 
ISBN: 9780316497497
 
Thoughts: Fun personal essays about middle age and life in general.
 
Rating: 4/5

Cellmates

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Title: Cellmates

Author: Tori Marlan

Publisher: Amazon
 
ISBN: n/a
 
Thoughts: Another intriguing look at injustices in Chicago that makes you want to dig deeper.
 
Rating: 4/5

Thursday, June 24, 2021

The Year of Magical Thinking

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Title: The Year of Magical Thinking

Author: Joan Didion

Publisher: HighBridge
 
ISBN: n/a
 
Thoughts: Didion is a wonderful writer and her journey through grief is very relatable, but not sure of the title, even though it is mentioned in the narrative.
 
Rating: 4/5

Understanding White Privilege

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Title: Understanding White Privilege: Creating Pathways to Authentic Relationships Across Race

Author: Frances E. Kendall

Publisher: Routledge
 
ISBN: 9780415874274
 
Thoughts: All talk with no real advice for action.
 
Rating: 2/5

The Phantom Tollbooth

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Title: The Phantom Tollbooth

Author: Norton Juster

Publisher: Random House Bullseye
 
ISBN: 9780394820378
 
Thoughts: Fun fantasy filled with puns and play-on-words, but I am not a fan of Jules Feiffer's drawing style.
 
Rating: 3/5

Monday, June 21, 2021

Rediscover Catholicism

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Title: Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose

Author: Matthew Kelly

Publisher: Beacon
 
ISBN: 9781937509675
 
Thoughts: While I do not agree with all of Kelly's observations, this is a good look at Catholicism for Catholics.
 
Rating: 4/5

Hour of the Witch

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Title: Hour of the Witch

Author: Chris Bohjalian

Publisher: Random House
 
ISBN: n/a
 
Thoughts:  Solid historical fiction about domestic abuse set during the witch hysteria.
 
Rating: 3/5

Friday, June 18, 2021

The Little Grey Men

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Title: The Little Grey Men

Author: B.B.

Publisher: Kindle
 
ISBN: n/a
 
Thoughts: Not as whimsical as other older children's fantasies that I enjoy, and also quite dark in some spots.
 
Rating: 2/5

Monday, June 14, 2021

The Souvenir Museum

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Title:  The Souvenir Museum

Author: Elizabeth McCracken

Publisher: Ecco
 
ISBN: 9780062971289
 
Thoughts: Wonderful collection of short stories, some of which share characters.
 
Rating: 4/5

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Stacking the Shelves: 5/23-6/12

 
LibraryThing Early Review:
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Priestess of the Lost Colony by Brandon S. Pilcher

 

Bought at The Fantasy Shop:

50639417

The Case of the Missing Adults! by Scott Bryan Wilson & Bob Solanovicz


Bought on Amazon:

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The Trials of Koli by M. R. Carey

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The Last to See Her by Courtney Evan Tate


Friday, June 11, 2021

Unicorn of Many Hats

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Title:  Unicorn of Many Hats

Author: Dana Simpson

Publisher: Andrew McMeel
 
ISBN: 9781449489663
 
Thoughts: Another great compilation of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics, filled with humor for readers of all ages.
 
Rating: 4/5

Dragons and Marshmallows

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Title:  Dragons and Marshmallows

Author: Asia Citro & Marion Lindsay

Publisher: Innovation
 
ISBN: 9781943147083
 
Thoughts: Cute fantasy that reminds me of Bruce Coville books but for a new (and younger) era.
 
Rating: 4/5

Chews Your Destiny

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Title:  Chews Your Destiny

Author: Rhode Montijo

Publisher: Little Brown
 
ISBN: 9781423157403
 
Thoughts: A cool mix of novel and comic with an old-school feel created by the pink graphics.
 
Rating: 4/5

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Dog Days

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Title:  Dog Days

Author: Karen English

Publisher: Clarion
 
ISBN: 9780547970448
 
Thoughts: Solid mg novel that deals with family, friends, and bulllies, leaving some things unresolved, just like in real life.
 
Rating: 3/5

Behold the Dreamers

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Title:  Behold the Dreamers

Author: Imbolo Mbue

Publisher: Books on Tape
 
ISBN: 9780147523112
 
Thoughts: Wonderful characters and a realistic story despite the name.
 
Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

The Infamous Ratsos

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Title:  The Infamous Ratsos

Author: Kara LaReau & Matt Myers

Publisher: Candlewick
 
ISBN: 9789763676360
 
Thoughts: Funny chapter book with a good message.
 
Rating: 3/5

The Palace of Secrets

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Title:  The Palace of Secrets

Author: Rhona Cleary, Agnese Innocente, Ilaria Urbinati, & Gaia Cardinali

Publisher: Dark Horse
 
ISBN: 9781506716534
 
Thoughts: The artwork might not be like the movie, but Mulan is still herself in this historical mystery.
 
Rating: 4/5

Monday, June 7, 2021

Meet Yasmin!

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Title:  Meet Yasmin!

Author: Saadia Faruqi & Hatem Aly

Publisher: Picture Window
 
ISBN: 9781684360222
 
Thoughts: Cute and positive stories for early chapter readers.
 
Rating: 3/5

Racism Without Racists

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Title:  Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America

Author: Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
 
ISBN: 9781442276239
 
Thoughts: I do not disagree with Bonilla-Silva's thesis, I do question some of his support materials, plus the highly academic nature of the book made for slow reading.
 
Rating: 2/5

Thursday, June 3, 2021

The Witch Boy

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Title:  The Witch Boy

Author: Molly Knox Ostertag

Publisher: Graphix
 
ISBN: 9781338089523
 
Thoughts: A tale of being yourself while trying to conform to your family's magic.
 
Rating: 5/5

Dory and the Real True Friend

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Title:  Dory and the Real True Friend

Author: Abby Hanlon

Publisher: Dial
 
ISBN: 9780525428664
 
Thoughts: A super fun and funny read about school and friendship for young readers and their families.
 
Rating: 4/5

Beloved

 Beloved

Title:  Beloved

Author: Toni Morrison

Publisher: Random House
 
ISBN: n/a
 
Thoughts: Morrison's voice is so melodic and the story is so poetic and free-flowing that the audio book did not really work for me.
 
Rating: 2/5

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

The Chance to Fly

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Title:  The Chance to Fly

Author: Ali Stroker & Stacy Davidowicz

Publisher: Henry N. Abrams
 
ISBN: 9781419743931
 
Thoughts: A must for mg theatre kids and anyone looking for a fun, uplifting story about sticking up for yourself.
 
Rating: 4/5

The Fourth Child

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Title:  The Fourth Child

Author: Jessica Winter

Publisher: Harper
 
ISBN: 9780062971555
 
Thoughts: Very deep novel about mothers and daughters, but the title did not really work.
 
Rating: 3/5