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Book Reviews

What Does a Princess Really Look Like? by Mark Loewen

7/30/2018

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Thank you to Mark Loewen for the free copy of What Does a Princess Really Look Like? in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.

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What Does a Princess Really Look Like? It’s not at all what Chloe imagines.  In this adventure with her dads, Chloe learns that a princess is more than a crown and pretty dresses.  A princess is kind, observant, and stands up for what is right. Throughout the story, Chloe represents all of the ways to be a strong woman (or even a strong human) with the different aspects of a princess that she draws.  

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Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

5/29/2018

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange and @kasiewest for providing me with a free copy of Listen to Your Heart to read in exchange for an unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.
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Kate Bailey isn’t an extrovert.  Instead of hanging out with friends like a “normal” teenager she’d rather be on her family’s lake, alone with her thoughts, the sun, and the water.  Kate finds herself pushed out of her comfort zone when she is chosen to co-host the school’s podcast so she can give advice to her fellow students. Kate is hesitant at first, but finds that she’s pretty good at both listening and giving thoughtful advice, that is until an anonymous caller asks about a topic she has little experience in: love.  Kate thinks she knows the caller interested in her best friend, Alana, and the more time Kate spends with who she thinks is the caller, the more she herself falls for him.  I loved this fun summer romance, and I think you will too! 

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Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure by Amy Kaufman

4/27/2018

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I haven’t always been a fan of The Bachelor.  I used to think it was crummy television, but after I moved in with girls that love the show I found myself watching too.  Now I’m knee-deep in roses, fantasy suits, and Neil Lane diamonds (okay, I wish on that last one, but you know what I mean).  The thing is-I don’t think I like it for the right reasons, which is why I couldn’t wait to read Amy Kaufman’s behind-the-scenes look at the franchise.  Read more to see if I gave Bachelor Nation a final rose and why I still watch The Bachelor! ​

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Love, Hate, and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

2/13/2018

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for a free copy of Love, Hate, and Other Filters in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.
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Love, Hate, and Other Filters is a recent release by Samira Ahmed that I absolutely devoured.  This coming of age story of a Muslim girl who just wants to experience the world through her own lens rather than the filter of her parents’ Indian heritage is poignant, clever, and just plain wonderful. It starts off as a tale of forbidden love but quickly shifts into a discussion of Islamophobia.  Ahmed creates a strong female protagonist, Maya Aziz, to handle all of the topics from the romance to the real-world issues we face today.  In her struggle to figure out where she’s headed in life after high school, she learns to rely on her own strength and to trust in herself.  All of my reads so far in 2018 have been heavy, but this is the kind of breath-of-fresh-air writing my reading slump needed.  I highly recommend you check it out (along with my full five star review below)!

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Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge

10/27/2017

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It might sound like your typical “stuck on a desert island” story, but I assure you, Castle of Water is anything but.  Yes, it has two castaways with a bit of a language barrier and no hope of survival.  Yes, our two castaways learn to set aside their differences in the name of survival.  But, folks, this one is so much more than another version of the movie Castaway.  It has humor, romance, heartbreak, and an ending that left me literally hugging the book to my chest.  Billed as a “modern day castaway story with a French twist,” Castle of Water is easily my favorite book of the year.  I loved the characters.  I loved the plot.  I loved all of the twists and turns along the way.  Most of all, I loved the writing.  It’s a story about the triumph of the human spirit, and I hope you check out the blog to read more about why this book is getting five stars very high stars from me.

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The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

9/13/2017

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When I first finished The Glass Castle, I sat for a full afternoon staring at my computer hoping to find the right words to explain what it was like to read it.  It’s been almost a month since I finished it, and I still am having a hard time expressing my feelings about it.  Jeanette Walls writes in a way that makes you feel like you are reading your favorite fairy tale, except that her story doesn’t exactly have a fairy tale ending.  It’s a story of resilience and redemption, all through the eyes of woman who decided to take off the rose-colored glasses of her childhood. If you’re looking for a raw and unapologetic memoir, this is the one for you.

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Reading People by Anne Bogel

8/30/2017

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Raise your hand if you’ve taken a BuzzFeed quiz today?  More than one?  Yeah, you’re not alone.  I hate to admit I might have just taken a quiz titled “Choose Some Baked Goods and We’ll Predict Your Future” because if you know me, you know I love bread more than Oprah.  (Don’t worry, I received good results.  I’m going to travel the world.)  I’m a sucker for those silly little quizzes, and for good reason too.  It’s more than wanting to know if my choice in baked goods will lead me to have a good life; it’s wanting to know more about myself and my life.  

Anne Bogel’s Reading People goes beyond the silly check-box quizzes to help you deal with the complexity of real life.  She explores several of the leading personality frameworks, including Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, Keirsey’s Temperaments, and the 5 Love Languages, to show you how they are set up and interconnected.  If you’re looking for a good way to get an overview on these frameworks, this is book for you.  Read more to hear my thoughts on this highly engaging read.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of Reading People as part of the Reading People Launch Team, which allows me to give you an unbiased review.  Thank you Anne Bogel, NetGalley, and Baker Books. All opinions are my own.)

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Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

7/17/2017

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 What can a taxidermied raccoon teach you about happiness?  Everything.  
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Furiously Happy is one of those books that just stays with you.  Jenny Lawson is a queen at humor, especially when it deals with the more difficult parts of life like anxiety, depression, and chronic illness.  The Bloggess, as she is fondly known on her blog and social media, finds a way to make all of the hard in life seem bearable, even comical. The cover of this one explains it all: this is a funny book about horrible things.  Lawson uses her own life experiences to make you laugh until you cry (like I literally did) at the absurdity of life.  I found myself highlighting whole pages and reading them aloud to anyone that would listen, regardless if they wanted to hear it or not.  The situations Lawson finds herself in are indeed outrageous, and I always found myself wanting just one more story.  She balances her anecdotes with humor and candor, which left me laughing and contemplative at the same time.  Wonder how that happens? Read more to find out. ​​

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

7/13/2017

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Books like The Hate U Give are important to read not just because they’re timely, but because the fill a gap.  They make waves.  They make you think about how you view the world.  Angie Thomas writes in a way that makes you immediately engage in this novel, so much so that I could imagine her quietly coming up and putting her arm around me saying, “I know this makes you uncomfortable, but let’s think about why.”  It’s uncomfortable because it’s supposed to be.  Many of you will shy away from that, choosing to read books that make you feel good.  That’s great!  As for me, I’m finding that I take more from a book that makes me think, feel, and wrestle with some difficult issues.  This book fits the bill.  The Hate U Give is a young adult novel and one that I would have as required reading in my classroom.  I think I might make it required reading for my friends and family as well.  Read more to find out why…

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

6/18/2017

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No, this isn't a new book, but it's one I've been dying to read for years.  Something always pops up as more important or more pertinent to read, causing it to slip further down the TBR list.  I have actually owned The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in a lovely leather-bound cover since middle school, but have been too intimidated to read any or all of the five novels because of the sheer weight of carrying the thing around.  I'm so glad I finally read the first one, though, because it is one of those few books that actually make me laugh out loud.  I can't recommend this book enough, especially if you're a friend of kooky sci-fi or fantasy.  This one will have you wanting to grab a towel and explore the universe quicker than you can say "Zaphod Beeblebrox".

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    The way to Alexandra's heart is through a great book recommendation.

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