Monthly Archives: May 2019

May 29, 2019 · 7:41 pm

Clouds Tumble Down by Daniel Pericich

Clouds Tumble Down is the fictionalized true story of Sara, a friend of the author. Both her brother and new/potential boyfriend were killed in car accidents and then she moved from a city to a tiny town. The book is the story of a very difficult year or so. Parts were good, but most of the time I just didn’t like Sara. She had been dealt a rough hand, but even when good things happened, she acted like a spoiled brat. I didn’t find it to be that great of a portrayal of mental health issues, mainly because she was so unlikable. It also really needs an editor for the many grammar, usage, and mechanics issues. It’s worth reading if you really want to, mainly because it’s so short, but I’d skip it if given the chance again.

3 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 63
Pages Read in 2019: 16,906
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Realistic Fiction, Reason: Asked by the Author, Reason: LitHub Bingo

Tagged as

May 29, 2019 · 7:25 pm

Shades of Gray by Carolyn Reeder

When young Will is left an orphan, he is delivered to his aunt and uncle, a place he does not want to be. Will is devoted to the Confederacy, for which his father gave his life, and his uncle chose to stay out of the war and refused to fight, an act Will views as cowardly. Through Shades of Gray, Will grows in how he views the war, the Union, and the Confederacy. It’s written for young people so it reads fast. It would likely be helpful for the reader to already know some about the Civil War beforehand. I recommend it to kids who are interested in or learning about the Civil War.

4 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 62
Pages Read in 2019: 16,750
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Middle Grades, Reason: Pre-Reading for Adrian

Tagged as

May 29, 2019 · 7:13 pm

Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants by Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen

Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants goes pretty much verse by verse with ideas, quotes, activities, questions, and more to help your family learn lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants. I used it for religion class in our homeschool with my 10 and 12 year old sons. It worked so well and they learned so much. I highly recommend this for families who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

5 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 61
Pages Read in 2019: 16,598
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Religious

Tagged as

May 20, 2019 · 7:30 pm

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon

In a stream of consciousness from a teenage boy with special needs (sounds like autism), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells of being a detective to find out who killed Wellington (a dog), finding out way more than expected, and what happens after the answer is found. I really liked the narration style, though I was thrown off a bit when the first chapter was chapter 2 (chapter numbers are all prime numbers). I think the author really captured the voice of his narrator very well and believably. I highly recommend this book to mid-teens and up.

5 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 59
Pages Read in 2019: 15,855
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Realistic Fiction, Reason: LitHub Bingo

Tagged as

May 20, 2019 · 7:19 pm

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan

The Worst Hard Time is packed with information about the dust bowl. It focuses on several people so everything is presented in story form making it very enjoyable to read. It is well-researched with extensive notes and sources. I didn’t know much about the dust bowl before I read it, but after reading it, I feel like I know quite a bit. I recommend this book to late teens and up learning about or interested in that part of US history.

4 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 58
Pages Read in 2019: 15,615
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Non-Fiction, Reason: Pre-Reading for Cameron

Tagged as

May 20, 2019 · 1:46 pm

Mississippi River Blues: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Tony Abbott

In Mississippi River Blues, Frankie and Devin find themselves in yet another book, this time The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. They read their way through it, participating in all of Tom’s adventures and learn enough to ace their tests back in Mr. Wexler’s English class. The Cracked Classics books are super fun and excite kids to read the “real” version. I very highly recommend this book and the whole series (no need to read them in order) to people of all ages. They make excellent family read alouds.

5 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 57
Pages Read in 2019: 15,262
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Middle Grades, Reason: Bedtime Story for the Boys, Reason: I Like the Series

Tagged as

May 8, 2019 · 4:19 pm

Artemis by Andy Weir

Artemis is a city on the moon. Jazz has lived there since she was little. As an adult, she works in the not so legal realm which of course leads to extra trouble. The story is enjoyable and, really, I felt like it ended a little bit too soon. I love how the author slips in science and it just makes sense. I recommend reading this book to anyone who enjoyed The Martian.

5 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 56
Pages Read in 2019: 15,135
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Reason: I Like the Author, Reason: LitHub Bingo, Science Fiction

Tagged as

May 7, 2019 · 6:13 pm

1984 by George Orwell

1984 is one of those books with themes that continually appear in pop culture and everyone, whether they’ve read it or not, know the basics of how it goes. There’s Big Brother and the Thought Police and the constant fear that you’ll be picked up and just vanish because you said something in your sleep or made a face that was construed as being anti-Party. The main character, Winston, realizes that history keeps getting rewritten (he works in the department where they do just that after all) and that things aren’t what the government claims. The only problem is pretty much everyone else seems to buy into it all, and if they don’t they no longer exist (and never existed). Some things in the book are frightening when you look around and see shades of them in real life (don’t believe what you see and hear… only I tell you the truth). The gaslighting is amazing. If anyone wonders what gaslighting is, reading 1984 should help them understand. The end is rather depressing and give a bleak outlook on what a society like the one portrayed would do to free thinkers. I highly recommend reading it to older teens and up.

5 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 55
Pages Read in 2019: 14,783
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Classic, Dystopian, Reason: Pre-Reading for Cameron, Reason: Well-Educated Mind Challenge

Tagged as

May 6, 2019 · 3:44 pm

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

The Woodlawn family live in pioneer times Wisconsin. Caddie has been allowed to run wild with her brothers leading to lots of adventures. It’s a cute story and easy for younger kids to read. I recommend it people of all ages. It makes a great family read aloud.

4 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 54
Pages Read in 2019: 14,452
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Historical Fiction, Middle Grades, Reason: Pre-Reading for Adrian

Tagged as

May 6, 2019 · 7:27 am

Trapped in Transylvania: Dracula by Tony Abbott

When two slacker kids get stuck in Dracula, they discover that the chubby book is actually pretty exciting. Trapped in Transylvania is a fun, and often funny, book that hits the highlights of Dracula and just might get your kid interested in reading the real thing (my ten-year-old said we should definitely read Dracula now). I highly recommend it to people of all ages. It makes a great family read aloud!

5 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2019: 53
Pages Read in 2019: 14,177
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Leave a comment

Filed under Middle Grades, Reason: Bedtime Story for the Boys, Reason: LitHub Bingo

Tagged as