Wow, I've read some really good middle-grade books this year that deal with tough subjects. These books are opening up dialogue for kids on some hardWow, I've read some really good middle-grade books this year that deal with tough subjects. These books are opening up dialogue for kids on some hard-hitting topics.
Not until I got to the end of the book did I find out this was a graphic novel memoir about Omar Mohamed's experience of being a refugee in Kenya. His journey to get to America started when he was 4 years old in a refugee camp. It took 15 years before he made it to America.
I listened to this graphic novel but I also have a digital copy so I could see how the author designed the book.
When Stars Are Scattered packs a powerful punch.
Audio book source: Library Narrator: full cast Length: 3H 42M
One Crazy Summer caught my attention because it won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2011. And it also was given the Newbery Honor title.
The story centOne Crazy Summer caught my attention because it won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2011. And it also was given the Newbery Honor title.
The story centers around 3 sisters whose mother left them years prior with their dad. They are being raised by their dad and grandma. In the summer of 1968, the girls flew across the country to spend a month with their mom.
Unfortunately, their mother doesn't want anything to do with them. Their mom is involved in the Black Panther movement and has the girls attend their camp to get them out of her hair.
The summer isn't going the way the girls had hope. They were hoping to see movie stars in the grocery store and spend their days at Disneyland. But instead, they are learning they don't like California very much ... the people they've met aren't friendly and there aren't any movie stars grabbing groceries in the stores.
There are 2 more books in this series. I look forward to see what these sisters will do in their next adventure.
Audio book source: Hoopla Narrator: Sisi Aisha Johnson Length: 5H 7M
Embracing the Journey is a book designed for Christian parents whose child has come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The authors, Greg and Lynn McEmbracing the Journey is a book designed for Christian parents whose child has come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The authors, Greg and Lynn McDonald take you through their 20-year journey with their son who came out to them. They share all their mistakes and how they went about learning to accept their son even when it went against everything they learned in church. Through this journey, they started a ministry to help other families to love their family members who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. The Mcdonald's mission is to help families show love without judgment.
Audio book source: Hoopla Narrator: Danny Campbell & Cassandra Campbell Length: 6H 8M
If All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood and Twilight - the part of the story with Jacob and his family - mixed together with a pinch ofIf All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood and Twilight - the part of the story with Jacob and his family - mixed together with a pinch of Harry Potter -the magic part- you'd end up with WOLFSONG. Possibly a love child of those books. *lol*
I enjoyed listening to this one but found it a little challenging on keeping everyone straight for the first part of the story. Since I listened to the audio I wasn't able to go back and search for a name or a word. So, I wrote out a quick character cheat sheet.
CHARACTERS: Ox - main character. As a pre-teen, his dad walked out of his life but not before making Ox feel unwanted. Maggie - Ox's mom ____ The Bennett Family: Thomas - dad and alpha of the werewolves Elizabeth - mom and Thomas's wife Carter - oldest son Kelly - middle son Joe - youngest son, the love interest for Ox Mark - Thomas's brother, first one to meet Ox and friend him ____ Gordo - gives Ox a job. Tether to Ox. Also a (view spoiler)[ witch (hide spoiler)] Tanner, Chris, and Rico - works for Gordo Jessie - Chris's sister and Ox's first girlfriend ____ Richard Collins - bad guy
There are Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. Omegas = bad guys It's been a while since I've read a book with the setting in Oregon, so I was glad I could add this one to that shelf.
Audio book source: Audible Narrator: Kirt Graves Length: 18H 40M
I know Leslie Jordan from the tv show Will & Grace. But that was the extent of me knowing about him so, hearing him share stories from his life was enI know Leslie Jordan from the tv show Will & Grace. But that was the extent of me knowing about him so, hearing him share stories from his life was enjoyable to listen to.
I found it interesting how Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds played a big part in helping Leslie's mom be okay with how Leslie represented their family name in public.
Last year on IG I saw a funny video that Leslie did. Here is the video. *LOL* After seeing that short clip every so often I check out his page to see what entertaining tales he has to share. For readers looking to laugh Leslie's Instagram is the place to look.
Audio book source: Library Narrator: Leslie Jordan Length: 4H 14M
The Checklist is the story of Dylan who is a corporate consultant. Like the book, the title implies she does have a checklist.
Her checklist includes:The Checklist is the story of Dylan who is a corporate consultant. Like the book, the title implies she does have a checklist.
Her checklist includes: 1) making partner at her firm 2) getting a condo in Texas with her boyfriend
Her job has her going to Seattle to help a company that is failing. During that time she starts to discover her boyfriend is a snob and not someone she actually likes.
As the story moves along Dylan comes to the realization of what is important to her and what she really wants in her life. This awareness has her realizing that what she originally put on her checklist might not be what she really wants in her life.
Even though the book is marketed as a rom-com it felt more like Women's Fiction. Readers who enjoy the heroine finding her voice and paving her own path will enjoy this story.
Audio book source: Audible Narrator: Adenrele Ojo Length: 11H 59M
Revamped fairytales! I think this is a cool concept - taking Disney fairytales and changing who the hero is in the story.
In Desperate Measures Jafar bRevamped fairytales! I think this is a cool concept - taking Disney fairytales and changing who the hero is in the story.
In Desperate Measures Jafar becomes the anti-hero. Then throw in some kink and you have an erotica book.
Jasmine is a virgin who finds herself thrown into the underworld of a sex club where she finds herself loving it all. That seems to be a popular trope in the erotica I've read -a virgin who finds her sexual awakening and is up for all kinds of things.
Wasn't a fan of the over-the-top use of "Daddy" throughout the book. I'm not an anti-daddy term reader but after a while, it wore on my ears.
Audio book source: Hoopla Narrator: Lessa Lamb & Jack Calihan Length: 7H 40M
Always Only You intrigued me when I heard that the heroine, Frankie, has rheumatoid arthritis. I'm a mother of a child who has juvenile rheumatoid artAlways Only You intrigued me when I heard that the heroine, Frankie, has rheumatoid arthritis. I'm a mother of a child who has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. When I read about how people called Frankie a faker I felt that in the chest. When my daughter was toddling around other parents would say that her limping was because she was faking it. Unfortunately, my daughter wasn't faking it, and even to this day as a young adult, she is still dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. I did tell her about this book because it's the first time I've read a romance where one of the characters has RA.
The hero, Ren, was perfect for Frankie. He was a cinnamon roll of a guy - sweet, caring, and huggable. Growing up in a big family taught him how to have patience and to look out for others. He saved himself for the right one which is why the title fits this book perfectly.
ALWAYS ONLY YOU ♦ grumpy (heroine) / sunshine (hero) ♦ sports romance (hockey) ♦ autistic and rheumatoid arthritis ♦ slow burn ♦ virgin ♦ #OwnVoices (autism) ♦ standalone
Bergman Brothers series can be read as standalone. The Bergman’s are a Swedish-American family of five brothers and two sisters.
The birth order of 5 brothers and 2 sisters: 1) Freya 2) Axel 3) Ren 4) Ryder 5) Viggo 6) Oliver 7) Ziggy
#1 Ryder - Only When It’s Us #2 Ren & Frankie - Always Only You #3 Freya - Ever After Always #4 Alex - With You Forever (releasing 2021)
The author has said, “All the Bergman siblings are getting books.” You can keep watch on this page for when more books are released.
Audiobook source: Hoopla Narrator: CJ Bloom & Nelson Hobbs Length: 10H 18M
Another enjoyable middle-grade book. Ms. Park's love for Little House on the Prairie inspired her to write this book. Prairie Lotus gives a different Another enjoyable middle-grade book. Ms. Park's love for Little House on the Prairie inspired her to write this book. Prairie Lotus gives a different perspective to what life would have been like for a non-white person.
PRAIRIE LOTUS ♦ 14 year old girl - Hanna ♦ half-Asian (Mother is Asian / Father is Caucasian) ♦ Mother has died ♦ traveling East from California ♦ The 1800s ♦ Hanna is a seamstress ♦ Hanna faces ridicule and racism ♦ standalone
I started this series with this book which happens to be the third in the series. While it can be read as a standalone I’m sure iFOUR POINT FIVE STARS
I started this series with this book which happens to be the third in the series. While it can be read as a standalone I’m sure if I started with the first book and continued in ascending order I would have had a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the plotline. There’s an overall arc throughout these stories that help tie everything together.
Shattered By You is a dark romance. It’s been years since I’ve read a dark romance and I had forgotten how addicting they are with their intense storylines.
Ms. Rose’s writing was well done. She created a world where I could feel the character’s pain and the adrenaline coursing through their bodies. Love songs are made out of what Haven & Crisis endured to be together.
Haven’s character is one of perseverance and survival. She has spent her life forced into selling her body and to keep her compliant she was drugged to make her reliant on the people who controlled her life.
Crisis is in a famous band and known for his manwhorish ways. But what people around him hadn't noticed was that he had stopped jumping from bed to bed as he was preparing himself to be there for Haven when she was ready to let someone into her life. He wanted to be that someone.
SHATTERED BY YOU ♦ dark romance ♦ Haven is a survivor of abuse (sex and drugs) ♦ Haven is detached ♦ Haven is Ream’s twin ♦ Crisis is Ream’s band member ♦ Crisis’s parents adopted Ream
Darker romance readers if you haven’t already read this series get to it.
A fictional story based on some real people and events in the 1800s. Even though there is no mention of Anges's husband and HamnTHREE POINT FIVE STARS
A fictional story based on some real people and events in the 1800s. Even though there is no mention of Anges's husband and Hamnet's dad by his first name it is implied that he is the man we know as William Shakespeare.
It was very interesting to listen to how the bubonic plague traveled via a flea from one area to another and ended up infecting Agnes's twins, Hament & Judith. Seems even more poignant as we, the readers, are coming out of our pandemic (Covid19).
The writing was well done and the story was interesting.
HAMNET ♦ “shotgun wedding” ♦ bubonic plague ♦ death of a child ♦ the story of the flea (carrier of the plague) ♦ Anges childhood has a Cinderella-like storyline ♦ standalone ♦ 2 timelines: ➜1st timeline - when Hamnet’s twin sister becomes infected with the plague. ➜2nd timeline - 15 years earlier when their parents first start their relationship
Audiobook source: Library/Overdrive Narrator: Ell Potter Length: 12H 42M
Twelve Years a Slave was put on my radar after watching a BookTuber talk about it. After I started reading it I learned it was also made into a movie.Twelve Years a Slave was put on my radar after watching a BookTuber talk about it. After I started reading it I learned it was also made into a movie. I haven't decided if I'll watch it or not - it was hard enough reading it so I can only imagine watching it play out on my tv screen would even be more crushing.
The book is a memoir by Solomon Northup. He was a born free Black man who was kidnapped from the north and enslaved in the south for 12 years. Solomon not only shares about his experiences but also of those who he witnessed.
The experiences shared are not easy to read. They portray a time of suffering and cruelty of what life was like for Solomon and other slaves in 1841. He was rescued in 1853. To think that was only 168 years ago is mind baffling. It's hard to wrap my head around how this was ever considered acceptable practice. “I could not comprehend the justice of that law, or that religion, which upholds or recognizes the principle of slavery;”
“Really, it was difficult to determine which I had most reason to fear—dogs, alligators or men!”
Last year there was a Twitter thread about what seems racist but isn't. And several people posted German Shepherds. I was confused by that until I read the comments relating to dogs. People talked about how dogs have been used by police to gain compliance. After reading how they were used in this book with the slaves I could see why they are viewed negatively.
While this a hard-hitting book it's one to read to help understand the dynamics of a system of oppression.
Audiobook source: Audible Plus Narrator: Hugh Quarshie Length: 7H 22M
As children, Sophie & Holden became friends over the summers when Holden would come to visit his grandfather. Now, as adults, thTHREE POINT FIVE STARS
As children, Sophie & Holden became friends over the summers when Holden would come to visit his grandfather. Now, as adults, they haven't seen each other for 10 years when Holden returns to help his grandfather with his vet clinic.
Holden was in between jobs when his grandfather asked for his help. At Holden's last job the owner's wife had the hots for him and when the owner found out he fired him. So, while he is waiting to hear about his dream job he applied for he agreed to help his grandfather out short termed.
Sophie's grandmother left her bed and breakfast. Sophie's love for the place shines through the pages.
Sophie and Holden first got married when they were children with a candy-pop ring. Now, in a roundabout way, their grandparents brought them together.
Knowing that Holden will be moving on to a new place if he gets his dream job these two are cautious about getting in a relationship with each other.
LIKE YOU LOVE ME ♦ Holden is a veterinarian ♦ Sophie is an owner of a bed and breakfast ♦ friends to lovers ♦ marriage of convenience ♦ dual pov’s ♦ small-town romance (Honey Creek, Tennessee) ♦ standalone
Audiobook source: Audible Narrator: Ryan West & Lidia Dornet Length: 9H 26M
If I Only Knew is the fourth book in the Second Time Around series. It can be read as a standalone. This is my first book by Corinne Michaels. I look If I Only Knew is the fourth book in the Second Time Around series. It can be read as a standalone. This is my first book by Corinne Michaels. I look forward to reading more from her.
Danielle's husband was murdered while at work. Which leaves Danielle as a single mom of two kids. To put her life back together she takes a job at her friend's husband's company. One day a stranger showed up in her office demanding that her job is actually his job. At this point, she realizes this guy is the owner's arrogant brother, Milo. To teach Milo a lesson his brother makes him Danielle's assistant. Milo & Danielle's relationship starts out rocky until Milo learns of Danielle's situation.
IF I ONLY KNEW ● second time around romance ● widow / boss's brother ● single mom ● enemies to lovers ● America / London ● standalone
Audiobook source: Audible Plus Narrator: Sophie Eastlake & Shane East Length: 7H 21M
Who is Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "She was the second female and the first Jewish female justice of the Supreme Court. She eventually became the longest-servWho is Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "She was the second female and the first Jewish female justice of the Supreme Court. She eventually became the longest-serving Jewish justice."
What does her quote "When there are nine.” refer to: Her famous response to a repeatedly asked question of when she thought there would be enough women on the court.
RBG has said many things over the years that are very quote-worthy. Last year a group of friends got together and surprised our friend by flooding her Facebook wall with RBG quotes and how those quotes reminded us of our awesome friend.
The quote I picked for my friend: “Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” ~Ruth Bader Ginsburg
I really loved how Justice Ginsburg's husband was so supportive of her. He took up cooking because that was something Justice Ginsburg wasn't good at and it was decided she needed to be phased out of the kitchen.
I loved learning all this information about RBG. I was sad when she passed last September but I'm thankful for all she's done for human rights that will continue on.
A month ago I read Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi. This book is a remix of that book A month ago I read Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi. This book is a remix of that book designed to get young adults thinking. I have to admit I'm not a young adult but it got me thinking and googling.
I had never thought about the movies: Tarzan, Planet of the Apes, or Rocky and what they represent.
Like in Tarzan of the Apes I never knew that the word Tarzan means "white skin' in "ape language." Tarzan is the white overlord of the African jungle where he saves Jane from the Africans.
STAMPED is a book about race and how the United States ended up where we are now.
Audio book source: Library/Overdrive Narrator: Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi - introduction Length: 4H 11M
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