Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

My sister Molly also recommended Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier. It is the story of a child chimney sweep named Nan who works for a terrible master. One day Nan gets trapped in a chimney fire and almost dies but somehow miraculously survives--and wakes up to find nearby a small creature made from soot and ash (a golem). Nan heads out with her golem to find a life of their own.

This was a super strange story but also somehow kept my interest. I enjoyed following the story--lots of action and uncertainty and sadness and goofiness. I liked several of the characters, and overall it was a good read. I don't remember much else since it was a couple months ago. :)

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

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

My sister Molly recommended The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, so I got it from the library. It's the story of Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, who live in an old school bus and travel back and forth across the country. They've lived in the bus for five years, ever since Coyote's mom and two sisters died in a car crash, something Coyote and her dad never speak of. When Coyote hears from her grandma that the neighborhood park is being demolished, Coyote panics--remembering that she and her mom and sisters buried a memory box at that very park. Coyote has to find a way to save that memory box--without her dad realizing her plan.

This was a wonderful book. The story was so engaging and had the best group of characters. Yes, I had to text my sister partway through because I wasn't sure I could emotionally bear the book. Yes, I bawled my eyes out at the end. Yes, I'd highly recommend it.

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

Song for a Whale

I can't remember where I first saw Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly, but I added it to my to-read list and then got it from the library. (I maybe saw it on an award list for the Schneider Family Book Award, which is for books that highlight a disability experience.) This book is about 12-year-old Iris, who is Deaf and also a genius at repairing old radios. One day in school she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who speaks at a different frequency than other whales and is unable to communicate with them. Iris becomes fixated on his story and wants to find a way to sing to him herself.

I loved this book and found the story very engaging. I loved the characters, and even though parts of it seemed a little unrealistic, I didn't really mind too much. Because I have a terrible memory, I can't remember much else of the details of how I felt about this book, but I'm pretty sure I cried.

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

We Were the Lucky Ones

A friend recommended We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter, so I got the ebook from the library. The book is based on the true story of the author's family (grandparent and other ancestors) during WWII. The Kurc family was Jewish and lived in Poland when the horrors of the Holocaust began. The book tells the story of the different siblings and their will to survive.

This was an incredible book--both heartwrenching and inspiring. It is just unbelievable to read all the different family members went through--and then to see them come back together in the end. I also loved reading the author's note at the end describing how she uncovered the details of this story. Also, as a disclaimer, the book did have quite a bit of bad language.

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

The Lightning Thief (by Emmeline)

My 9-year-old daughter Emmeline wants to start contributing to the blog, so here is her first review.

Title: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Ages: 8 and up

Summary: 12- year-old Percy Jackson’s life starts getting weird when his math teacher, Mrs. Dodds, turns into a demon and, while that is happening, his Latin Teacher, Mr. Brunner, throws him a pen that turns into a sword. Then, when he goes on a vacation to the beach with his mom, his best friend, Grover, knocks on the door of the cabin. Percy soon learns his friend is a satyr, an animal with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a goat. He is also whisked away to Camp Half-Blood, a camp for half-bloods, people that are half human and half god. He finds out he is a half-blood! Percy meets Annabeth, daughter of Athena, and She, Percy, and Grover go on the adventure of a lifetime to restore Zeus’s stolen master bolt.

Rating: I would give it 3 out of 3 stars. ***
This book is a very good fantasy story, with cliffhangers that make you want to keep reading. I liked all of it, the characters, the action, and just the story itself. My favorite character was Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena. The whole story is exciting, with monsters and gods along the way. Rick Riordan is an amazing author and his books are unbelievable.

Genesis Begins Again

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams was a Newbery Honor winner as well as a Coretta Scott King New Author award winner. It is the story of Genesis, a 13-year-old whose life involves repeatedly being evicted and starting over at new schools. She keeps a list of things she hates about herself and dreams of being accepted by her alcoholic father. When she starts at a new school, she starts to hope things could get better.

This was a beautiful book; I loved it so much. Genesis and her friends were meaningful, likable characters, and I just kept wanting to read the book all the time. The story was so heartbreaking that it was hard to read at times, but other times the book made me smile and laugh. The book had great lessons in working toward self-acceptance and in finding friends that value who you truly are.

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

Look Both Ways

I saw Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds received an Coretta Scott King author honor award in 2020, so I got it on ebook from the library. I've read several other books by Jason Reynolds and have enjoyed them. Look Both Ways tells ten separate stories of kids who live in one neighborhood, the stories only slightly overlapping.

This was a fun read. Some of the stories had me laughing out loud (like when a boy puts Vicks VapoRub on his lips), while other stories were sweet and endearing (the Low Cuts and their efforts to get ice cream). I only wish that I read this on a hard copy rather than an ebook because there were so many different characters, and I would have liked to have flipped back to refer back to names or other stories. (That process is just not the same on the Kindle.)

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