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Book Reviews

This is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew

6/1/2020

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Thank you Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the free advanced digital copy. All thoughts are my own.
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This is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew is a part of the Pocket Change Collective Series.  This tiny book is packed with anecdotes and lessons on how to take a passion, like art, and turn it into activism.  Drew reminds her readers that "art and protest will forever be bound together.  And the beautiful thing about art, like activism, is that it allows us space to be curious and learn."  She is humble in her explanation, reiterating that one person can contribute, but it takes a collective to truly start change.

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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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Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas

3/2/2018

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for a free copy of Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas in exchange for an honest review.
​ All opinions are my own.
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Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life is a perfect read if you grew up reading or watching Little House on the Prairie.  It brought a flood of nostalgic feelings back to my reading life, leaving me wanting to go back and reread (and rewatch) the original.  Tougas highlights all the ways in which Laura Ingalls Wilder portrays life on the prairie, including many ways in which she misrepresents the people and the experience.  

​The main character, Charlotte, moves to Walnut Grove with her twin brother, little sister, and their dog’s ashes after their mother has a dream about Laura Ingalls Wilder.  As a writer, Charlotte’s mom needs the inspiration only Laura’s childhood can provide, causing upheaval in everyone’s lives, especially Charlotte’s.
When they finally arrive, however, Charlotte’s mom begins to spiral into a depression, struggles to write about the prairie, and breaks her promises to her children.  Blaming Laura for all her family problems, Charlotte expresses her disdain for Walnut Grove in an essay assignment, explaining in detail all the ways Laura has ruined her life.  

Perfect for adults needing a tug on their nostalgic heartstrings and middle-grade readers that want to see how life on the prairie compares to the past, check out why you should read Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life​.

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Suspect Red by L. M. Elliott

11/20/2017

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing the free copy of Suspect Red by L. M. Elliott in exchange for an honest review.  
All opinions are my own.
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Suspect Red takes readers back in time to experience life in America 1953 during the height of the Red Scare.  L. M. Elliott uses historical fiction to explain to young readers the impact political events had on everyday kids like them.  Each chapter begins with a few pages of history to immerse readers in the events of the time, which in turn is expertly weaved into the plot.  Photographs, headlines, and quotes from the era help put you in the frame of mind of our characters as they traverse the uncertainty that was the Red Scare.  ​

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The Wish Granter by C. J. Redwine

10/19/2017

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Thank you to Kid Lit Exchange for the free copy of The Wish Granter by C. J. Redwine in exchange for an unbiased review.  
All opinions are my own.
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Inspired by the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, The Wish Granter is an adventure like I’ve never experienced before.  Teague is the infamous and titular Wish Granter, a fae who grants people their greatest desires in exchange for something quite valuable: their souls.  The exchange leads to nothing but misery for now King Thad and his sister, Ari.  Their mother was murdered, the former king and his family were killed, all in exchange for Ari’s safety.  When Ari learns about the magical contract between her brother and Teague, she’ll stop at nothing to save her brother and her community from the reign of the Wish Granter.  She gains a friend, Sebastian, along the way, who may not be exactly who he says he is.  Everything is on the line for both Ari and Teague, and if Ari can’t outwit him she’ll lose everything, including her soul. I loved this one so much that I’m giving it a full review on the blog! Read more to see my rating and full review. 

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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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