Anna and the French Kiss – Read It and Rate It

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Realistic Fiction Romance * * * Stars (Pretty good) As a senior, Anna wanted nothing better than to celebrate her last year at home in Atlanta. However, her dad decides to ship her to a snotty boarding school in Paris. She’s less than thrilled until she sees Etienne St. Clair, who’s got everything: the looks, popularity, and a sense of humor.  I liked it because it took … Read more

Among Others – Read It and Rate It

Among Others by Jo Walton Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Morwenna, who used to be a twin, has been able to see fairies her whole life. But this knowledge of magic threatened her life & took her sister’s. She tries to live a normal life at school, but most of her only true friends are books. But then she uses a bit of magic herself & suddenly things start going … Read more

Place to Call Home – book review

A Place to Call Home by Alexis Deacon illustrated by Viviane Schwarz Picture book * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) A group of (what appears to be) hamsters outgrows their hidey hole home in the junkyard and the seven of them decide that they must find new digs. They are afraid to venture out into the world without some kind of protection (very, very small portable holes that they can take with them on … Read more

Only the Mountains Do Not Move – book review

Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation by Jan Reynolds Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) The Maasai are a group of semi-nomadic people who live in Kenya and Tanzania. In the past they traveled thousands of miles with their herds, following rain and growing seasons and seeking out new pastures for their animals. They do not believe in land ownership. Their way of life has had to … Read more

Princess and the Pig – book review

The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett Illustrated by Poly Bernatene Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) This is one of those books where two infants are switched at birth (or close enough) and raised by unsuspecting families until they come of age and all is revealed! Because of all of the stories they’ve read (where that sort of thing happens all the time) it’s not surprising to the King and Queen … Read more

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon – book review

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Minli lives in a small, poor, rural village in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain (called so because it is barren of life). Her parents – Ma and Ba – work hard cultivating crops, but barely manage to get by. Ma is bitter and resentful about their misfortune and poor circumstances, and when Minli uses one of her copper coins … Read more

Saving Audie – book review

Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent photos by William Munoz Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Michael Vick, NFL quarterback, was running an illegal dog-fighting ring and raising “fighting dogs” at his appropriately named “Bad Newz Kennels.” When information about his crimes came to light, the dogs were seized, as evidence, and spent many months in isolation in an animal shelter. In the past, fighting dogs … Read more

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident – Read It and Rate It

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident Artemis Fowl series #2 by Eoin Colfer Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Artemis Fowl returns for another epic adventure. He must save his father from the Russian mafia and come up with money to save him. He also has to help fairies with a goblin problem. It is led by two people who are ready for revenge.  I liked it because it is all about … Read more

Awakened – Read It and Rate It

Awakened House of Night series #8 by PC and Kristin Cast Fantasy Supernatural Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Zoey has been healed, now she must leave the Isle of Skye and return home.  Countless and ageless evils, love, death, and shocking secrets await her. Will she save Tulsa, defeat Neferet, and survive whole?  Read to find out.  I liked this because it was easy to read (in modern language), had in-depth … Read more

Anne of Green Gables – Read It and Rate It

Anne of Green Gables Anne of Green Gables #1 by LM Montgomery Classic Historical Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) A girl named Anne is sent to live with a brother and sister in the place of a boy. The siblings almost send the girl back, but her charm stops them. Anne makes some great friends and gets several prestigious honors in school, as she does very well at school. The brother … Read more