Red Bird Danced

I saw Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley on the new book shelf at the library, and it looked like one I'd enjoy (in verse, Native author). The book description says, "Ariel and Tomah have lived in the city’s intertribal housing complex all their lives. But for both of them, this Dagwaagin (Autumn) season is different than any before. From his bench outside the front door of his building, Tomah watches his community move around him. He is better at making people laugh than he is at schoolwork, but often it feels like his neighbor Ariel is the only one who really sees him, even in her sadness.  Ariel has always danced ballet because of her Auntie Bineshiinh and loves the way dance makes her feet hover above the ground like a bird. But ever since Auntie went missing, Ariel’s dancing doesn’t feel like flying. As the seasons change and the cold of winter gives way to spring’s promise, Ariel and Tomah begin to change too as they learn to share the rhythms and stories they carry within themselves."

This was a good read. It was super quick but captured the characters Ariel and Tomah really well even with limited text. It introduced me MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) and the symbol of the red dress and also helped me see the strength and value of Native communities. Glad I read this.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Pie in the Sky

I got Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai after reading the author's book Fly on the Wall recently. I'd heard about Pie in the Sky a lot before and knew it was a well received book. The book description reads, "When Jingwen moves to a new country, he feels like he’s landed on Mars. School is torture, making friends is impossible since he doesn’t speak English, and he's often stuck looking after his (extremely irritating) little brother, Yanghao. To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen daydreams about making all the cakes on the menu of Pie in the Sky, the bakery his father had planned to open before he unexpectedly passed away. The only problem is his mother has laid down one major rule: the brothers are not to use the oven while she's at work. As Jingwen and Yanghao bake elaborate cakes, they'll have to cook up elaborate excuses to keep the cake making a secret from Mama."

This was a good read. The author did a great job creating distinct, believable characters, and I really was rooting for Jingwen throughout the book. I also loved Yanghaho and the contrast the author created between the two characters and their journeys toward learning English. The book was hard for me to keep reading at times because it was just so full of Jingwen's heavy feelings and the secrets he was keeping from his mom, so I felt like I often had to take a break from the book rather than plowing through, even though I wasn't losing interest. I liked how the book came together in the end. I think the combination of text and pictures is really well done, and my kids would probably enjoy this author's books.

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

In Order to Live

I've had In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park on my to-read list for forever and finally got the audiobook from the library. The book description says, "In In Order to Live, Yeonmi Park shines a light not just into the darkest corners of life in North Korea, describing the deprivation and deception she endured and which millions of North Korean people continue to endure to this day, but also onto her own most painful and difficult memories. She tells with bravery and dignity for the first time the story of how she and her mother were betrayed and sold into sexual slavery in China and forced to suffer terrible psychological and physical hardship before they finally made their way to Seoul, South Korea—and to freedom. Park confronts her past with a startling resilience. In spite of everything, she has never stopped being proud of where she is from, and never stopped striving for a better life. Indeed, today she is a human rights activist working determinedly to bring attention to the oppression taking place in her home country. Park’s testimony is heartbreaking and unimaginable, but never without hope. This is the human spirit at its most indomitable."

This was a great read. Yeonmi's story was heartbreaking and unthinkable. She really endured horrifying situations during her childhood in North Korea and escaped to China for a better life but then just found herself a victim of human trafficking as a young teenager. It was a relief that she was eventually able to escape to South Korea with her mother, but that wasn't the end of hardships in her life. Her story was inspiring and helped me see the power of the human spirit to never give up. I think it was a good book as well to just open my eyes to what it's like for those who live in North Korea. The story was compelling and kept me interested throughout.

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

The Happiest Man on Earth

I had The Happiest Man on Earth: The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor by Eddie Jaku on my to-read list (can't remember where I originally heard of it) and got it from the library. After I got it, one of my book clubs decided to do a read-any-memoir this month, so this worked out nicely. The book description says, "Born in Leipzig, Germany, into a Jewish family, Eddie Jaku was a teenager when his world was turned upside-down. On November 9, 1938, during the terrifying violence of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, Eddie was beaten by SS thugs, arrested, and sent to a concentration camp with thousands of other Jews across Germany. Every day of the next seven years of his life, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors in Buchenwald, Auschwitz, and finally on a forced death march during the Third Reich’s final days. The Nazis took everything from Eddie—his family, his friends, and his country. But they did not break his spirit. Against unbelievable odds, Eddie found the will to survive. Overwhelming grateful, he made a promise: he would smile every day in thanks for the precious gift he was given and to honor the six million Jews murdered by Hitler. Today, at 100 years of age, despite all he suffered, Eddie calls himself the 'happiest man on earth.' In his remarkable memoir, this born storyteller shares his wisdom and reflects on how he has led his best possible life, talking warmly and openly about the power of gratitude, tolerance, and kindness. Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. With The Happiest Man on Earth, Eddie shows us how."

This was a super good read. I liked that it wasn't an overly long memoir--like the author just told his story in a succinct way without unnecessary tangents. It was a simple book that tells the story through a first-person narrative. I thought the book was well organized and easy to follow and also balanced out the story with advice and lessons learned. Eddie went through the unthinkable, and it was inspiring to read about his bravery and resilience and the power of friendship. True accounts of the Holocaust are always very heavy, but I also think it's important to read the stories of what happened so we never forget.

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

Unsettled

I saw Unsettled by Reem Faruqi on the library shelf, and it caught my eye because I've liked books by this author before, and with a glance inside, I saw it was written in verse. The book description says, "When her family moves from Pakistan to Peachtree City, all Nurah wants is to blend in, yet she stands out for all the wrong reasons. Nurah’s accent, floral-print kurtas, and tea-colored skin make her feel excluded, until she meets Stahr at swimming tryouts. And in the water Nurah doesn’t want to blend in. She wants to win medals like her star athlete brother, Owais—who is going through struggles of his own in the U.S. Yet when sibling rivalry gets in the way, she makes a split-second decision of betrayal that changes their fates. Ultimately Nurah slowly gains confidence in the form of strong swimming arms, and also gains the courage to stand up to bullies, fight for what she believes in, and find her place."

This was such a good book! I love books written in verse because they can be really quick reads. The author did a great job developing the characters for such a fast book. (I especially loved Nurah and her new friend Stahr.) The plot was engaging and I could just feel the emotions of all the different things going on. I also liked the lessons about kindness and finding yourself. At first I was in between for "liked it" and "loved it" for this book, but there were a few spots that I really just LOVED (the part about Stahr's mom helping Nurah's mom, Nurah's bravery on the bus, the kind girl at lunch, etc.), so that bumped it up. I also loved that the book is based on some of the author's own experiences.

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

Not Nothing

I saw Not Nothing by Gayle Forman on a list of Newbery contenders for next year, and it looked like the type of book I'd like. The book description says, "Alex is twelve, and he did something very, very bad. A judge sentences him to spend his summer volunteering at a retirement home where he’s bossed around by an annoying and self-important do-gooder named Maya-Jade. He hasn’t seen his mom in a year, his aunt and uncle don’t want him, and Shady Glen’s geriatric residents seem like zombies to him. Josey is 107 and ready for his life to be over. He has evaded death many times, having survived ghettos, dragnets, and a concentration camp—all thanks to the heroism of a woman named Olka and his own ability to sew. But now he spends his days in room 206 at Shady Glen, refusing to speak and waiting (and waiting and waiting) to die. Until Alex knocks on Josey’s door…and Josey begins to tell Alex his story. As Alex comes back again and again to hear more, an unlikely bond grows between them. Soon a new possibility opens up for Alex: Can he rise to the occasion of his life, even if it means confronting the worst thing that he’s ever done?"

This was such a great read. I got through it in just a couple days (partially because the kids and I had a readathon so I had some uninterrupted, dedicated reading time at my disposal). The story was super engaging with characters I loved. I really liked the messages in there about rising to the occasion, about a person's capacity to change, about the power of stories. The story got me teary-eyed at the end, and I think it was just a meaningful read.

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

Black Girl You Are Atlas

I saw Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renee Watson on a list of Newbery contenders for next year, and since I already love the author, I got this book from the library. The book description says, "In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender. Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power."

This was a super quick read with BEAUTIFUL illustrations throughout (by Ekua Holmes). Some of the poems were just fine to me, but some I really liked. (Like the one "How to Survive Your Teen Years" I thought would be a nice read for my daughter.) Overall, it was a good read but not one I particularly loved.

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

Hotel Balzaar

I've been on hold for Kate DiCamillo's new book Hotel Balzaar and got it from the library this week. It's another "Norendy Tale," so basically a companion book in the same world as Puppets of Spelhorst. The book description reads, "At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta’s mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly—like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel’s wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story—in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father’s disappearance lie in the countess’s tales?"

I enjoyed this book. The small girl living in a hotel gave me the happy vibes of Eloise and A Gentleman in Moscow, both stories I really enjoy. I loved Marta as a character and her relationship with the countess and how things all tied together in the end. It was a short and sweet story and just the classic feel of the Kate DiCamillo writing style.

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

Fly on the Wall

I saw Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai on display at the library and started to read it while hanging out at the library for awhile (while Ollie was reading). The book description says, "Henry Khoo's family treats him like a baby. He’s not allowed to go anywhere without his sister/chaperone/bodyguard. And he definitely CAN’T take a journey halfway around the world all by himself! But that’s exactly his plan. After his family’s annual trip to visit his father in Singapore is cancelled, Henry decides he doesn’t want to be cooped up at home with his overprotective family and BFF turned NRFF (Not Really Friend Forever). Plus, he’s hiding a your-life-is-over-if-you’re-caught secret: he’s the creator of an anonymous gossip cartoon, and he's on the verge of getting caught. Determined to prove his independence and avoid punishment for his crimes, Henry embarks on the greatest adventure everrr. . . hoping it won’t turn into the greatest disaster ever."

This was a fun, quick read. It caught my interest right away, and I finished it within a couple days (which has not been my track record lately). I liked that it had some illustrations throughout, and I liked the journal format where Henry was just kind of figuring himself out. I thought it had some relatable messages for kids (helicopter parents, friendship issues, doing things you regret, etc.) and overall just an enjoyable read. I think I'll look for the author's other book Pie in the Sky next since I've heard good things about it.

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

Out of My Dreams

I was excited to see there was a book 3 in the Out of My Mind series and so got this one from the library right when it came out: Out of My Dreams by Sharon M. Draper. The book description says, "When Melody saves an elderly back-in-the-day actress’s life, the woman is so grateful—and impressed by Melody—that she nominates Melody to be a US spokesperson at an international symposium for kids with different abilities. To Melody’s utter shock and delight, she and two friends of her choice are chosen to participate—and this year’s symposium is in England! Melody finally gets to fly on an airplane, and even the airline’s somewhat clumsy handling of her wheelchair can’t dampen her excitement to be in London. There, Melody meets kids from all over the world who are rallying for greater accessibility and more thoughtful planning on how to make the world more equal for every kid, no matter the unusual challenges they face. As Melody’s time to speak approaches, she hopes she can find a way to make every word count and make an impact."

I liked getting back in the world with Melody, but this wasn't as engaging as I hoped it would be. I loved Out of My Mind so much and just loved that story, but I feel like the sequels haven't measured up. I almost had to force myself to keep reading this one because I just wasn't that invested in the story, and there were lots of things that just struck me as unrealistic throughout the book (like unrealistic enough that I was distracted from the story to comment on it to myself). I guess I liked that nothing that bad happened to Melody in the book because that would just be really unbearable for me, but I think the book's format of just describing a play-by-play of her trip with no major conflicts just didn't keep me super interested. But I still highly recommend book 1!

* (1/3 = It was okay)

The Art Thief

I read The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel for book club. The book description says, "Stéphane Bréitwieser is the most prolific art thief of all time. He pulled off more than 200 heists, often in crowded museums in broad daylight. His girlfriend served as his accomplice. His collection was worth an estimated $2 billion. He never sold a piece, displaying his stolen art in his attic bedroom. He felt like a king. Until everything came to a shocking end. In this spellbinding portrait of obsession and flawed genius, Michael Finkel gives us one of the most remarkable true-crime narratives of our times, a riveting story of art, theft, love, and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost."

This was a really interesting read. I listened to the book on audio and was often happy to read more and follow the story. Stéphane was just a fascinating person (not in a good way), and I just couldn't believe his recklessness and decisions. I thought the author did a good job telling the story from start to finish. I think this will be an interesting book to discuss at book club.

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

What Happened to the Bennetts

I read What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline for my book club with my mom and her friends. The book description says, "Jason Bennett is a suburban dad who owns a court-reporting business, but one night, his life takes a horrific turn. He is driving his family home after his daughter’s field hockey game when a pickup truck begins tailgating them, on a dark stretch of road. Suddenly two men jump from the pickup and pull guns on Jason, demanding the car. A horrific flash of violence changes his life forever. Later that awful night, Jason and his family receive a visit from the FBI. The agents tell them that the carjackers were members of a dangerous drug-trafficking organization—and now Jason and his family are in their crosshairs. The agents advise the Bennetts to enter the witness protection program right away, and they have no choice but to agree. But WITSEC was designed to protect criminal informants, not law-abiding families. Taken from all they know, trapped in an unfamiliar life, the Bennetts begin to fall apart at the seams. Then Jason learns a shocking truth and realizes that he has to take matters into his own hands."

This was a good read. It was definitely an engaging story where I wanted to keep reading, and there were some unexpected twists along the way. I liked how the author pulled in side characters (like the truck drivers), and I liked that the story concluded well. The writing style was different than I was used to--kinda a casual first person that seemed a little off to me at times (like Jason describing really terrible things sometimes couldn't come across as heavy as it really was). The book made me super interested in the witness protection program and how that would work in situations like this. Fun read.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Death of Mrs. Westaway

I read The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware for a book club. The book description says, "On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money. Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it."

This was a great read. It was kinda scary (like I probably would have been too scared to watch a show of this book) but super engaging, and I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen. I feel like the author did a good job creating solid characters that I wanted to stick with (mainly Hal). There were things I predicted early on but other things that were complete surprises. (I did feel like there were some gaps that maybe the author should have closed up or explained better.) I liked how things concluded in the end.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Fever in the Heartland

I got A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan from the library on audiobook after my friend Rebecca (a history teacher) recommended it. The book description says, "The Roaring Twenties--the Jazz Age--has been characterized as a time of Gatsby frivolity. But it was also the height of the uniquely American hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Their domain was not the old Confederacy, but the Heartland and the West. They hated Blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants in equal measure, and took radical steps to keep these people from the American promise. And the man who set in motion their takeover of great swaths of America was a charismatic charlatan named D.C. Stephenson. Stephenson was a magnetic presence whose life story changed with every telling. Within two years of his arrival in Indiana, he’d become the Grand Dragon of the state and the architect of the strategy that brought the group out of the shadows – their message endorsed from the pulpits of local churches, spread at family picnics and town celebrations. Judges, prosecutors, ministers, governors and senators across the country all proudly proclaimed their membership. But at the peak of his influence, it was a seemingly powerless woman – Madge Oberholtzer – who would reveal his secret cruelties, and whose deathbed testimony finally brought the Klan to their knees."

This was such a great book. The story was completely engaging, and it was so alarming to read about this time in history and the grip of the Ku Klux Klan. I was so sickened by Stephenson and so impressed by those who had the audacity to stand up to the KKK (like a newspaper editor/reporter who continually wrote stories and published lists of names trying to bring them down). I just couldn't believe how many people had such terrible ideas and thought the KKK had things right. There are a lot of parallels to Nazi Germany and even to people in the US today who believe in white supremacy. The subtitle of the book is a little bit misleading since really Madge doesn't come into the story until you are more than 50% done with the book, but I really liked how the author highlighted her and the impact she had. (I found after reading this that there is a book called Madge just about her story, written by a different author, and I may be interested in reading that.) I sometimes got lost in some of the details of this book, but it may have been because I was doing audiobook. Also, as a warning, the book can be quite heavy at times, especially with some content about rapes.

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

Out of My Heart

I just re-read Out Of My Mind and then Out of My Heart by Sharon Draper and noticed I hadn't ever written about the latter on the blog so decided to do it now. The book description says, "Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp. There have to be camps for differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse! A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream! By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is."

This is a sweet read and fun continuation of book 1. It's no where near as good as the first book (as is often the case with sequels), but it was fun to return to Melody and see her on a new adventure. I thought the camp she went to seemed super cool. One thing I didn't like about this book was there were lots of things she was experiencing at camp for the first time that I think really her loving, involved parents would have helped her experience earlier in life, so that didn't seem realistic to me. But it was an engaging story with likable characters, and I'm looking forward to book 3 when I make it down on the hold list at the library.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Hope in the Valley

I got Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins from the library after my sister recommended it. The book description says, "Twelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul doesn't like change. She's not ready to start middle school and leave the comforts of childhood behind. Most of all, Pandita doesn't want to feel like she's leaving her mother, who died a few years ago, behind. After a falling out with her best friend, Pandita is planning to spend most of her summer break reading and writing in her favorite secret space: the abandoned but majestic mansion across the street. But then the unthinkable happens. The town announces that the old home will be bulldozed in favor of new―maybe affordable―housing. With her family on opposing sides of the issue, Pandita must find her voice―and the strength to move on―in order to give her community hope."

This was a great book! I stayed interested and really loved Pandita as a character and watching her wade through the various difficulties she was facing. I also really liked her friend Leo as a character. I thought the book came together really well in the end (happily ever after) and taught some good lessons. I enjoyed the read. It almost qualified as a loved it but not quite.

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

The Expectation Effect

I listened to The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World by David Robson an audiobook after a friend recommended it awhile back. The book description says, "You’ve heard of the placebo effect and how sugar pills can accelerate healing. But did you know that sham heart surgeries often work just as well as placing real stents? Or that people who think they’re particularly prone to cardiovascular disease are four times as likely to die from cardiac arrest? Such is the power and deadly importance of the expectation effect―how what we think will happen changes what does happen. Melding neuroscience with narrative, science journalist David Robson takes readers on a deep dive into the many life zones the expectation effect permeates. We see how people who believe stress is beneficial become more creative when placed under strain. We see how associating aging with wisdom can add seven plus years to your life. People say seeing is believing but, over and over, Robson proves that the converse is truer: believing is seeing. The Expectation Effect is not woo-woo. You cannot think your way into a pile of money or out of a cancer diagnosis. But just because magical thinking is nonsense doesn’t mean rational magic doesn’t exist. Pointing to accepted psychology and objective physiology, Robson gives us the practical takeaways we need to improve our fitness, productivity, intelligence, and happiness. Any reader who wants to take their fate into their own hands need only pick up this book."

This was a really interesting read. It kind of reminded me of the vibe of Why We Sleep in that it was a heavy (and dry at times) research-based book that was also super fascinating. There were so many amazing studies that just made me thing, "Wow!" and helped me see the impact of our expectations. I liked the sections on school teachers and aging and also just enjoyed various studies throughout that highlighted the power of what we expect to be true and how it has real, measurable effects on us. I thought this was a meaningful read.

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

I'm From Here Too

I saw I'm From Here Too by Kashmira Sheth recommended on a list of new middle grade books and so got it from the library. The book description says, "Anoop is many things: a brother, a son, a grandson, a friend, a middle school student, and a budding writer. He is also Indian American and Sikh. When he joins a new class, separated from longtime friends, aspects of his identity—especially his long hair, covered with a patka—draw attention in new and uncomfortable ways. At the same time, his beloved grandfather in India is nearing death, leading Anoop to think about faith and identity and his place in the world, especially as attacks on American Sikhs accelerate and he is reminded of his grandfather’s experiences during Partition. Can the tenets of his faith—equality, justice, service, honesty—help Anoop navigate life? Can he even maintain them?"

This book was SO GOOD. I was originally a little turned off by the cover (yes, I sometimes judge books by their covers) but wanted to give it a chance. The book was written in verse and pulled me in from the beginning. I always wanted to pick up the book to keep reading. I loved Anoop's journey with his faith and trying to handle things in the right way with his bullies. I loved how this book will help children better understand the Sikh faith and be more understanding of kids who wear a patka to school. I loved Anoop's friendship with his friend Jacob, his relationship with his siblings, his trip to India, his teacher, etc. Lots of great stuff in this book.

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

We Still Belong

I saw We Still Belong by Christine Day won the 2024 American Indian Youth Literature Award winner for best Middle Grade Book and so got it from the library.  I've been meaning to read a Christine Day book for awhile, so I'm glad I finally got around to it! The book description says, "Wesley is proud of the poem she wrote for Indigenous Peoples’ Day—but the reaction from a teacher makes her wonder if expressing herself is important enough. And due to the specific tribal laws of her family’s Nation, Wesley is unable to enroll in the Upper Skagit tribe and is left feeling “not Native enough.” Through the course of the novel, with the help of her family and friends, she comes to embrace her own place within the Native community."

This was a light-hearted read with some important lessons, and it helped me understand Native American culture a little better (things like blood quantum laws). I liked Wesley as a character and appreciated the moments where she made an effort to be kind to those around her. This was a sweet book overall.

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

Louder Than Hunger

I saw Louder Than Hunger by John Schu on a list of new book recommendations for 2024. The book description says, "Jake’s an outcast. He’s so lonely that he just wants to disappear. He used to have friends, but now that he’s in eighth grade, he just has the Voice in his head. The Voice tells him not to eat and not to trust anyone. The less he eats, the bigger Jake feels—but he knows it could kill him. Only with help at Whispering Pines, a residential treatment facility, does his life slowly start to get better. But will it be soon enough?"

This was a super quick read due to being written in verse and pages with lots and lots of space. I was engaged the entire book and was just rooting for Jake and hoping that he could get the help he needed and overcome this really hard condition. There was really sad stuff in there too, and the book just felt really real. I thought this was a beautifully written and super important book, and it was even more meaningful that it was based on the author's own experience with anorexia as a teenager. Definitely recommend this read.

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

Aniana Del Mar Jumps In

I saw Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasmine Mendez on a list of Pura Belpre honor books and so got it from the library. The book description says, "Aniana del Mar belongs in the water like a dolphin belongs to the sea. But she and Papi keep her swim practices and meets hidden from Mami, who has never recovered from losing someone she loves to the water years ago. That is, until the day Ani’s stiffness and swollen joints mean she can no longer get out of bed, and Ani is forced to reveal just how important swimming is to her. Mami forbids her from returning to the water but Ani and her doctor believe that swimming along with medication will help Ani manage her disease. What follows is the journey of a girl who must grieve who she once was in order to rise like the tide and become the young woman she is meant to be. Aniana Del Mar Jumps In is a poignant story about chronic illness and disability, the secrets between mothers and daughters, the harm we do to the ones we love the most—and all the triumphs, big and small, that keep us afloat."

I liked this book! I thought Aniana was an awesome character, and I really felt for her in her struggles. I was frustrated by her mom during the book (her extreme religious beliefs, her inability to cope with her own trauma at the detriment of her child, etc.) but felt like the book ended in a positive way. I enjoyed the book being written in verse, including lots of poetic devices like shape poems and things like that included throughout the book. Good read.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Black Cake

I read Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson for a book club with my mom and her friends. The book description says, "In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage and themselves. Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to 'share the black cake when the time is right'? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?"

This was such a great book! It took me a few chapters to get into it, but then once I had some uninterrupted reading time to dedicate to the book, it pulled me in. I loved the story, the mysteries in it, the characters and the heavy things each one carried. I thought the flashbacks and switching perspectives were handled perfectly by the author--I was never confused or lost even with lots going on. I really liked how things came together in the end and just thought this was a beautiful story.

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

Tom Lake

I read Tom Lake by Ann Patchett for my book club. The book description says, "In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew. Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart. As in all of her novels, Ann Patchett combines compelling narrative artistry with piercing insights into family dynamics. The result is a rich and luminous story, told with profound intelligence and emotional subtlety, that demonstrates once again why she is one of the most revered and acclaimed literary talents working today."

I listened to this book on audiobook, which was recommended by a few members of the book club who had already read the book because the narrator is Meryl Streep. And I will say, the narration was amazing. I usually struggle with fiction audiobooks because I can't follow the story, but not with this one. It drew me right in, and even though I had a hard copy of the book, I didn't want to switch over because I was really enjoying listening to it. Her voice was just perfect and engaging. Overall, this was a great read. I thought the story was fun to follow and written in a creative format, and I loved the author's character development. I loved Lara and her husband and girls and hated Duke and respected his brother. Just lots of emotions connected to the characters. It's hard to describe what made the story so charming and good, but it just was. Some of the words on the reviews that stuck out to me as great descriptors of the book include poignant, reflective, quiet, and reassuring. This book did have more language and sexual references than I usually like to read, so that was the downside for me.

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

Shark Teeth

I found Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston when searching online for recommendations of new middle grade books. The book description says, "Sharkita 'Kita' Hayes is always waiting. Waiting for her mama to mess up. Waiting for social services to be called again. Waiting for her and her siblings to be separated. Waiting for her worst fear to come true. But Mama promises things are different now. She's got a good job, she's stopped drinking, stopped going out every night--it's almost enough to make Kita believe her this time. But even as Kita's life is going good, she can't shake the feeling that everything could go up in flames at any moment. When her assistant principal and trusted dance coach starts asking questions about her home life, Kita is more determined than ever to keep up appearances and make sure her family stays together--even if it means falling apart herself.  As the threat of her family being separated again circles like a shark in the water, the pressure starts to get to Kita. But could it be that Kita's worst fear is actually the best thing that could happen to her family . . . and to her?"

This was SUCH a good book! The book pulled me right in, and I often wanted to pick up the book to read more. I loved Kita as a character and thought the author did a wonderful job making her real. She went through such difficult things, and I loved her relationship with her siblings, her best friend, and the wonderful adults at her school. The book had me crying at the end, and I just loved the balance of the ending between happily ever after and realistic. Great read. 

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

Telephone of the Tree

Telephone of the Tree by Alison McGhee caught my eye on the new-book shelf at the library. The book description says, "Ayla and her best friend Kiri have always been tree people. They each have their own special tree, and neighbors and family know that they are most likely to be found within the branches. But after an accident on their street, Kiri has gone somewhere so far away that Ayla can only wait and wait in her birch, longing to be able to talk with Kiri again. Then a mysterious, old-fashioned telephone appears one morning, nestled in the limbs of Ayla's birch tree. Where did it come from? she wonders. And why are people showing up to use this phone to call their loved ones? Especially loved ones who have passed on. All Ayla wants is for Kiri to come home. Until that day comes, she will keep Kiri's things safe. She'll keep her nightmares to herself. And she will not make a call on that telephone."

This was an interesting read. The beginning (like the entire first half plus some) was super slow for me, and I think it was because Ayla was in denial and it just felt like she (and the story) were kind of stuck. But then things shifted, and the book became super heartfelt and beautiful. I teared up a bit in the end sections of the book, and I thought the book taught some beautiful lessons about grief and losing those we love.

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

Across So Many Seas

I read Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar at the recommendation of my sister Molly. The book description says, "In 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, Benvenida and her family are banished from Spain for being Jewish, and must flee the country or be killed. They journey by foot and by sea, eventually settling in Istanbul. Over four centuries later, in 1923, shortly after the Turkish war of independence, Reina’s father disowns her for a small act of disobedience. He ships her away to live with an aunt in Cuba, to be wed in an arranged marriage when she turns fifteen. In 1961, Reina’s daughter, Alegra, is proud to be a brigadista, teaching literacy in the countryside for Fidel Castro. But soon Castro’s crackdowns force her to flee to Miami all alone, leaving her parents behind. Finally, in 2003, Alegra’s daughter, Paloma, is fascinated by all the journeys that had to happen before she could be born. A keeper of memories, she’s thrilled by the opportunity to learn more about her heritage on a family trip to Spain, where she makes a momentous discovery. Though many years and many seas separate these girls, they are united by a love of music and poetry, a desire to belong and to matter, a passion for learning, and their longing for a home where all are welcome. And each is lucky to stand on the shoulders of their courageous ancestors."

This was a really great book. I loved all the different stories and how they tied together, and I loved that the author's ancestry and culture influenced the story. There were some stories that were super heartbreaking, others that had more positivity, but it was fascinating to learn about all these different time periods and what it was like for the girl in the place/time she lived and how being Jewish affected her life. I thought this was a really nice read that kept me interested. The ending was very satisfying.

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

Kyra, Just for Today

I got Kyra, Just for Today by Sara Zarr from the library after seeing it a list somewhere and thinking it sounded like my kind of book. The book description says, "Kyra has always felt like she’s a bit too much. Too tall. Too loud. Too earnest. But she’s okay with that, because she’s got her mom. Ever since Mom got sober about five years ago, she and Kyra have always been there for each other—something Kyra is thankful for every week when she attends her group meetings with other kids of alcoholics. When Mom is managing her cleaning business and Kyra is taking care of things at home, maybe, she thinks, she’s not too much. Maybe, she’s just enough. Then seventh grade starts, and everything Kyra used to be able to count on feels unsure. Kyra’s best friend, Lu, is hanging out with eighth graders, and Mom is unusually distant. When Mom starts missing work, sleeping in, and forgetting things, Kyra doesn’t dare say 'relapse.' But soon not saying that word means not saying anything at all—to Lu or to her support group. And when Kyra suspects that her worst fears might be real, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all."

This was a really great book. I was completely engaged in the story and often wanted to continue reading it. The author did a great job developing the characters, and I just loved the plot and its details (the AA family support group, her mom's job, etc.). The book was really heavy, in that Kyra was dealing with a lot the entire book and was very overwhelmed and sad, which was a little more negativity than I could fully enjoy in a book. (But she deserved to feel what she felt for sure! It was just a lot for me as the reader.) I liked that the book taught some valuable lessons and showed positive ways to handle hard things. This was a great read.

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

The House in the Cerulean Sea

I read The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune at the recommendation of my friend Hilary. The book description says, "Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days. But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn."

This was a great book. I haven't read a book in awhile with such good character development. I LOVED these characters. At the beginning, it was just Linus, and I just loved him. Then I met Arthur and the children, and each of them was just so delightful and endearing in their own ways. The story was engaging, and while there were a few spots that seemed a little tell-y (vs. show-y), I didn't mind it too much. I loved the book's message about accepting and loving the children, and it was definitely a happily-ever-after type ending. I thought it was a fun read, and I plan to read the sequel when it comes out.

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

Alone

I came across Alone by Megan Freeman after reading a social media book about a companion book that is coming out soon, and I so got this on Kindle. The book says, "When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She’s alone—left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned. With no one to rely on, no power, and no working phone lines or internet access, Maddie slowly learns to survive on her own. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. After a rough start, Maddie learns to trust her own ingenuity and invents clever ways to survive in a place that has been deserted and forgotten. As months pass, she escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But Maddie’s most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day. Can Maddie’s stubborn will to survive carry her through the most frightening experience of her life?"

This was a unique read due to the storyline being so different (a modern-day type Hatchet book is how it's described in reviews). I got through the book super fast read since it was written in verse, and the story was engaging and interesting. I liked Maddie as a character and following the choices she made. The ending left a lot of unanswered questions as to why the evacuation even happened, but it sounds like that's something that is addressed in the companion book, so I'll probably read that too.

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

The Night War

I saw Kimberly Brubaker Bradley had written a new book, The Night War, so I got it from the library on Kindle. The book description says, "It’s 1942. German Nazis occupy much of France. And twelve-year-old Miriam, who is Jewish, is not safe. With help and quick thinking, Miri is saved from the roundup that takes her entire Jewish neighborhood. She escapes Paris, landing in a small French village, where the spires of the famous Chateau de Chenonceau rise high into the sky, its bridge across the River Cher like a promise, a fairy tale. But Miri’s life is no fairy tale. Her parents are gone—maybe alive, maybe not. Taken in at the boarding school near the chateau, pretending to be Catholic to escape Nazi capture, Miri volunteers one night to undertake a deadly task, one that spans the castle grounds, its bridge, and the very border to freedom. Here is her chance to escape—hopefully to find her parents. But will she take it? One thing is certain: The person Miri meets that night will save her life. And the person Miri becomes that night could save the lives of many more."

This was a great read. I have loved Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's other books as well (The War That Saved My Life & Fighting Words), so with this book being great as well, I now know to just read everything she writes. In this book, I was engaged pretty quickly and loved the characters and the story. The description on Amazon adds that the book had a "mythical twist," which was probably the only part I didn't love, but I also see how it added value to the story. This was an exciting, page-turner kind of book, and it had a kid-friendly happy ending, which makes it a great one to recommend to sensitive readers.

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

Mid-Air

I found Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams on a list of new books, and it caught my eye since I really liked the author's previous book Genesis Begins Again. The book description reads, "It’s the last few months of eighth grade, and Isaiah feels lost. He thought his summer was going to be him and his boys Drew and Darius, hanging out, doing wheelies, watching martial arts movies, and breaking tons of Guinness World Records before high school. But now, more and more, Drew seems to be fading from their friendship, and though he won’t admit it, Isaiah knows exactly why. Because Darius is…gone. A hit and run killed Darius in the midst of a record-breaking long wheelie when Isaiah should have been keeping watch, ready to warn: 'CAR!' Now, Drew can barely look at Isaiah. But Isaiah, already quaking with ache and guilt, can’t lose two friends. So, he comes up with a plan to keep Drew and him together­­­—they can spend the summer breaking records, for Darius. But Drew’s not the same Drew since Darius was killed, and Isaiah being Isaiah isn’t enough for Drew anymore. Not his taste in clothes, his love for rock music, or his aversion to jumping off rooftops. And one day something unspeakable happens to Isaiah that makes him think Drew’s right. If only he could be less sensitive, more tough, less weird, more cool, less him, things would be easier. But how much can Isaiah keep inside until he shatters wide open?"

This was a great book. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but then the characters and story drew me in. I loved Isaiah as a character and his journey to find confidence in himself and his interests and his path to coping with the death of his friend. I loved his trip to live with his aunt and uncle and watching him grow and thrive. This book was special too because (1) it was written in verse and (2) it had some illustrations throughout, which isn't as common in middle grade books but were a nice addition. I can't really describe what it was that made me love this book--just the characters, the journey, the messages, and the overall positive feeling I ended the book with.

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

Remember Us

I saw Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson on the new-books shelf at the library and decided to grab it since I really like Jacqueline Woodson. The book description says, "It seems like Sage’s whole world is on fire the summer before she starts seventh grade. As house after house burns down, her Bushwick neighborhood gets referred to as 'The Matchbox' in the local newspaper. And while Sage prefers to spend her time shooting hoops with the guys, she’s also still trying to figure out her place inside the circle of girls she’s known since childhood. A group that each day, feels further and further away from her. But it’s also the summer of Freddy, a new kid who truly gets Sage. Together, they reckon with the pain of missing the things that get left behind as time moves on, savor what’s good in the present, and buoy each other up in the face of destruction. And when the future comes, it is Sage’s memories of the past that show her the way forward. Remember Us speaks to the power of both letting go . . . and holding on."

This was a great read. I got through the book super quickly (a day or two) and just loved the gentleness of the story and the way it was written. Sage and Freddy were such likable characters, and I loved that the book had some serious conflicts but nothing felt over the top. I loved how things came together for Sage and enjoyed watching her path of becoming confident in who she was. I'm marking this book as "liked it" because I wasn't raving at the end wanting to recommend it to everyone--but I really enjoyed it and am glad I read it.

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

None of This is True

I read None of This is True by Lisa Jewell for my newest book club with friends at church. The book description says, "Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins. A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life. Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home. But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat. Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?"

This was such an addicting read! I read it in just a couple days because it was hard to put down. The author did a great job making the stories and characters super compelling, and the story kept me guessing on who or what to trust--even till the very end. I thought the book was very cleverly written, and I really enjoyed it. I kind of left the book with a creepy feeling that stopped me from completely loving the book, and it also had quite a bit of bad language. But otherwise it was a great read.

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

All Over But the Shoutin'

I read All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg for my book club with friends. The book description says, "This haunting, harrowing, gloriously moving recollection of a life on the American margin is the story of Rick Bragg, who grew up dirt-poor in northeastern Alabama, seemingly destined for either the cotton mills or the penitentiary, and instead became a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for The New York Times. It is also the story of Bragg's father, a hard-drinking man with a murderous temper and the habit of running out on the people who needed him most. But at the center of this soaring memoir is Bragg's mother, who went eighteen years without a new dress so that her sons could have school clothes and picked other people's cotton so that her children wouldn't have to live on welfare alone. Evoking these lives—and the country that shaped and nourished them—with artistry, honesty, and compassion, Rick Bragg brings home the love and suffering that lie at the heart of every family. The result is unforgettable."

I loved this book! I alternated between audiobook and just reading, depending on what I had time for at a given moment, and I loved it both ways. The narrator of the audiobook had a southern drawl that just really captured the story. I loved hearing Rick's story of where he started and his path to becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. I loved getting to know some of the amazing members of his family (his mom and his brother Sam). Rick just has a way with writing and describing things that just made everything so vivid. I found myself often wanting to look up people he described or articles he wrote because I was just so interested in seeing/reading more. One of my favorite chapters was chapter 39, "1.3 Acres." And also the part where his mom went with him to receive his Pulitzer Prize. I really enjoy memoirs of people with interesting lives, so this was a great read, and I liked that it gave me a glimpse into the lives of those who live in poverty.

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

Pavi Sharma's Guide to Going Home

Emmeline randomly found Pavi Sharma's Guide to Going Home by Bridget Farr on the shelf at the library, and when I read the inside of the book jacket, I knew it was my kind of book. The description says, "Twelve-year-old Pavi Sharma is an expert at the Front Door Face: the perfect mix of puppy dog eyes and a lemonade smile, the exact combination to put foster parents at ease as they open their front door to welcome you in. After being bounced around between foster families and shelter stays, Pavi is a foster care expert, and she runs a 'business' teaching other foster kids all she has learned. With a wonderful foster family in mom Marjorie and brother Hamilton, things are looking up for Pavi. Then Pavi meets Meridee: a new five-year-old foster kid, who is getting placed at Pavi's first horrendous foster home. Pavi knows no one will trust a kid about what happened on Lovely Lane, even one as mature as she is, so it's up to her to save Meridee."

This was such a good read! I think I finished it in like a day because I was just super interested in the story and loved the characters. I also have been so busy reading books for various book clubs lately that it was refreshing to just read a book for me. This was one of those books where the kids don't tell adults things that they really should, which kind of drives me crazy, but that's kind of what makes all these middle grade stories work. :) I thought Pavi was such a cool person, and I loved her relationship with both Hamilton and Santos. Definitely recommend this book. I only wish that the author was either Indian-American or a foster child herself, but it sounds like the based the story on her husband, who is ethnically Indian and grew up in the Canadian foster care system. So definitely still some authenticity there.

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

The Twits

Ollie and I are continuing reading Roald Dahl books and just finished The Twits. The book description says, "Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, nastiest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything—except playing mean jokes on each other, catching unsuspecting birds to put in their bird pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads all day. But the Muggle-Wumps have had enough. With the help of Roly-Poly Bird, they set out to get some well-deserved revenge."

This was one of the Roald Dahl books I enjoyed slightly less. It was just weird with Mr. and Mrs. Twit repeatedly doing mean things to each other, so there wasn't much to enjoy in that. Ollie did enjoy the story and often wanted to read more, and he correctly predicted how the animals got revenge on the Twits, which was fun. Quentin Blake's illustrations are always super well done and add a lot to the story.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

Manhunt

I read Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson for my newest book club. (I'm in too many book clubs). This book description says, "The murder of Abraham Lincoln set off the greatest manhunt in American history--the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth. From April 14 to April 26, 1865, the assassin led Union cavalry troops on a wild, 12-day chase from the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia, while the nation, still reeling from the just-ended Civil War, watched in horror and sadness. Based on rare archival materials, obscure trial transcripts, and Lincoln’s own blood relics Manhunt is a fully documented, fascinating tale of murder, intrigue, and betrayal. A gripping hour-by-hour account told through the eyes of the hunted and the hunters, it is history as it’s never been read before."

This was a good read. I started it on audio and couldn't quite follow it well enough, so I switched over to the paper book, which was better for me because I ended up needing to finish it kind of quickly over a week, and reading is faster than listening. I found the story engaging and never was bored with it. The author did a great job describing details and helping us get to know all the players in the story and keeping the action moving forward. It really is pretty fascinating to learn the details behind Lincoln's assassination and the manhunt for Booth and the people who helped Booth along the way. If you enjoy historical nonfiction, I recommend this one.

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

George's Marvelous Medicine

I read George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl to my 7-year-old as he continues his interest in all things Roald Dahl. This book description says, "George is alone in the house with Grandma. The most horrid, grizzly old grunion of a grandma ever. She needs something stronger than her usual medicine to cure her grouchiness. A special grandma medicine, a remedy for everything. And George knows just what to put into it. Grandma's in for the surprise of her life—and so is George, when he sees the results of his mixture!"

This was a super goofy book. My son was SUPER engaged and always wanted me to keep reading more chapters. I thought the book was pretty weird and felt like I had to give my son a disclaimer to make sure he knew never to do what George did (putting a bunch of random cleaners/chemicals and things all together in a pot--and then feeding it to someone). But of course in classic Roald Dahl style, the book was funny and well written and an interesting story.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers

I read The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Lisa Damour after seeing the title on my friend's GoodReads page. Since I may have faced an emotional teenager at times, the book seemed relevant, so I got the audiobook from the library. The book description reads, "In teenagers, powerful emotions come with the territory. And as teens contend with with academic pressure, social media stress, worries about the future, and concerns about their own mental health, it’s easy for them—and their parents—to feel anxious and overwhelmed. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Parents who read this book will learn:
• what to expect in the normal course of adolescent emotional development and when it’s time to worry
• why teens (and adults) need to understand that mental health isn’t about “feeling good” but about having feelings that fit the moment, even if those feelings are unwanted or painful
• strategies for supporting teens who feel at the mercy of their emotions, so they can become psychologically aware and skilled at managing their feelings
• how to approach common challenges that come with adolescence, such as friction at home, spiking anxiety, risky behavior, navigating friendships and romances, the pull of social media, and many more
• the best ways to stay connected to their teens and how to provide the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want."

This was such a good read. I found it super relatable and relevant, and it was a great parenting guide on how to navigate interactions with teenagers in a healthier, more helpful way. I found myself laughing at times because it was describing things exactly how I've experienced them. Mostly it just helped me understand why teenagers have such emotional states at times and the importance of how I can best support my kids. This was a great book. I may purchase it so I have it to refer back to.

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

The One and Only Family

I was excited to see that Katherine Applegate had written another book in the One and Only Ivan series, so I got The One and Only Family from the library. The book description says, "Ivan has been happily living in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob, and his mate Kinyani by his side. And in the happiest turn of all, Ivan and Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family! Ivan loves being a papa, even though it can be hard sometimes. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus, his own childhood in the jungle—and his own twin."

I really enjoyed this book. This is a great series with characters I really like, so it was fun to follow up with them again. I thought this one had a fun plot to follow as Ivan becomes a father and sorts through the trauma of his past. I definitely got teared up toward the end (during a tense situation when Ivan remembers the third rule for a silverback, and he steps up and saves the day). Great characters, great series. I definitely recommend this one if you've enjoyed the first three.

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