Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

I saw Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Christ Grabenstein on the New York Times Bestsellers list for children's books, so I got it from the library. The book is about Kyle Keeley, a middleschooler who is selected with a few others to be part of a lock-in at the brand new library. A world-famous game maker designed the new library, and Kyle and the other kids have to find and follow clues to find their way out.

This was a fun read. The characters were entertaining and distinct, and it was fun to follow the mystery throughout the story. I only wish that I had been more observant while reading because the Author's Note at the end mentions an unsolved puzzle in the book. Oh well. :)

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Long Walk to Water

Sometimes I glance through the New York Times Bestseller Lists to find book recommendations, and the other day I saw A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park on the list of children's bestsellers. The book tells the story of two children in Sudan--Nya (in 2008) who walks to and from the pond twice a day every day (2 hours each way) to get water for her family and Salva (in 1985) who has to run alone to the bush to escape the war in his homeland.

This was an absolutely beautiful book. I was completely engaged from the beginning and didn't want to stop reading. It was a quick read but compelling, heartbreaking, and inspiring. At the end of the book, I found out that this was based on a true story, and I became even more fascinated and inspired. You HAVE to read this book and then visit www.waterforsudan.org. This was a life-changing book, and it made me feel like I really should be doing more good in the world.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Heir

I've been anxiously awaiting The Heir by Kiera Cass--the fourth book in The Selection series (which was originally only supposed to be a trilogy). I was going to be on hold at the library for forever, but luckily a friend who I recommended the books to last year bought this new one--so I borrowed it. :) This book follows King Maxon and his wife's oldest child--a daughter Eadlyn who is next in line to the throne. In this book, Eadlyn reluctantly holds her own Selection to find a husband.

This was another great read. I just love this series--the books are both entertaining/funny and charming/chick-flick-y. I thought the author did a really good job in the book presenting the different characters and making me like (or dislike) them. I liked how she made Eadlyn come across as a likable main character but with obvious flaws that I noticed between the lines as the book went on. The author also kept me guessing on how things were going to turn out, so I liked that it wasn't predictable. This was a great book, and my only unhappiness with it is how it was very inconclusive at the end. Book 5 better come soon!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Focused

I borrowed Focused: Keeping Your Life on Track, One Choice at a Time from a friend after seeing an advertisement for it. This book is by Noelle Pikus Pace, a world champion and Olympic medalist in the Skeleton. I'd heard about her during the last winter Olympics because (1) she won the silver medal after having some big trials in the past (getting hit and seriously injured by a runaway bobsled just before the 2006 Olympics and then getting 4th when she had a comeback in the 2010 Olympics), (2) she was LDS (same religion as me), and (3) she had her husband and 2 young kids travel with her on her Olympic journey. This book tells of some of Noelle's experiences and how she chooses to move forward and be happy even during life's challenges.

This was a really good book. It was a quick read but very inspirational and motivating. I was impressed by how she didn't give up when life threw her curveballs, and I really respected how she stood up for the things she believes in. She also shares some experiences about how she learned to be confident in and accepting of herself. (I think this is probably a great book for teenage girls.) I enjoyed the read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Family Romanov

On the day the 2015 Newbery winners were announced, I read Shannon Hale's blog post and saw that she mentioned that Candace Fleming won a Sibert Honor (most distinguished informational book for children) for her book The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia. I decided to get the book from the library because I've always been intrigued by the Romanovs (mainly because all I know is from the movie Anastasia, which I knew was completely inaccurate historically). This book tells about Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (an incredibly wealthy monarch who was somehow chose to ignore the greatest needs of his people), his wife Alexandra (obsessed with the mystic faith healer Rasputin), and their five children Olga, Tatiana, Marie, Anastasia, and Alexei. The book also describes the lives of others in Russia, the political uprisings, and what eventually brought about the downfall of the Romanovs.

This book was fascinating, and I learned so much. It was incredibly well-researched but didn't feel like a slow, nonfiction read. I was engaged and interested and was anxious to see how things would turn out for this family. The author did a good job presenting both sides--I could see the Tsar and his family in both a super positive light and a super negative light. I love books like this that give me a great history and education in a readable format--not too long and not too boring. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in this time period in Russia or in the Romanov family.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters

Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters is the third book in Shannon Hale's Princess Academy stories. I am a big Shannon Hale fan and loved the two other books about Miri, so I was excited to get this one from the library. This book follows Miri after she is asked to start a princess academy for three royal cousins who live in a faraway swamp. The experience turns out to be very different than she expects,  but Miri becomes close to Astrid, Felissa, and Sus. When trouble comes, the new friends must work together to save the kingdom.

This was another great read. I loved how the plot came together, and it's always fun to reunite with loved characters from previous books. The writing was beautiful with lots of great details and lots of little humor hidden in the dialogue. I was continually engaged and wanted to see if my predictions would turn out how I expected. And based on how the book ended, I'm hoping Shannon Hale writes another continuation book.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

(Book 1 review, Book 2 review)

How to Be Like Walt

I recently decided I wanted to read a biography about Walt Disney, and after some research, I chose How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life by Pat Williams. This book tells the story of Walt Disney's life--his background, the beginnings of his animation studio, his movies, Disneyland, and his death.

I really enjoyed this book. I have always loved Disneyland, and I love so many Disney movies, so it was fascinating to learn the background on Walt Disney. I especially liked the way this book focused on the admirable traits of Walt Disney and how we can apply them into our lives to be better people. The book didn't act like Walt Disney was perfect--it definitely admitted his faults, but I liked that the book didn't dwell there. Instead, it used the words of dozens of people who knew him to show us what an amazing person he was. Not only did he dream big dreams and never give up, but he was a man of true compassion who cared about people. I really felt like I came to know Walt Disney in a small way after reading this book, and it made me even more admire and appreciate him and what Disney stands for. In the end, I was tearing up as I read about his death. The shock felt by those who knew him was just heartbreaking--one said, "We couldn't imagine living in a world without Walt Disney." Another quote I loved was this: After Walt's death, Walt Disney World was finished, and someone said, "Isn't it too bad Walt Disney didn't live to see this?" A Disney employee and friend of Walt's replied, "He did see it--that's why it's here."

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)