Listened to this as a family and we are LOVING this series. (I've read it before, but in my pre-Goodreads days.) High-stakes action adventure, with soListened to this as a family and we are LOVING this series. (I've read it before, but in my pre-Goodreads days.) High-stakes action adventure, with some violence (the series is, at its heart, a war story). Love it, recommend it to everyone....more
Geoffrey is sent off to his grandmother's while his mom has a baby. On his first day, a bird poops on his head. Luckily the gardener is nearby to explGeoffrey is sent off to his grandmother's while his mom has a baby. On his first day, a bird poops on his head. Luckily the gardener is nearby to explain how lucky it is--and this sets Geoffrey on a quest to collect the poop of every animal and display it in a museum. As long as you don't take yourself too seriously, this book will appeal to anyone's interested 8-year-old boy. It's the tongue-in-cheek "seriousness" one expects of Terry Pratchett, and while I don't think this is anywhere near his best work, it might prove an easy gateway for younger readers...more
Not exactly historical--it's not based in any real kingdom or time period--but it has that same feel. A city that has changed hands many times as diffNot exactly historical--it's not based in any real kingdom or time period--but it has that same feel. A city that has changed hands many times as different groups conquer it, and finally an idea to bring peace. Not that everyone in power wants that, of course.
No magic, no tricks--this is a realistic story of two young people who are friends despite being on opposite sides....more
Simon has been writing--anonymously--with another boy at school, another boy who is gay, and they've been falling in love by email. The problem is theSimon has been writing--anonymously--with another boy at school, another boy who is gay, and they've been falling in love by email. The problem is the anonymity, meaning neither knows who the other is. But somebody knows Simon's secret, and is blackmailing him with it. Simon isn't out to anyone (except Blue, the email friend), but he could soon be outed to the whole school.
Coming of age, coming out, and friend drama, with a side of supportive parents. If my heart weren't made of stone I'd be having All the Feels....more
Still really enjoying this series and eagerly awaiting the last book. I am wondering if it would be so hard to include a glbtq character, but then I fStill really enjoying this series and eagerly awaiting the last book. I am wondering if it would be so hard to include a glbtq character, but then I feel bad hoping for that when it's already including multiracial characters. But can't we have both? (except why am I expecting Jason Reynolds to check all of our boxes?)...more
Dashiell's family is among the first to live in the moon, and while that's pretty awesome conceptually, it's also kind of boring. But then one of the Dashiell's family is among the first to live in the moon, and while that's pretty awesome conceptually, it's also kind of boring. But then one of the scientists is found dead outside the airlock. The scientist who has lectured everyone about not leaving the airlock without a buddy. And Dash is horrified to find out just how few Moonies think it's in any way suspicious.
Space adventure mystery, complete with a bunch of red herrings and plot turns. highly recommend for the fourth-to-seventh grade set. (Also: non-white main character! He does mention that there are very few full-blood white people in the world at this point, but it's still great to see.)...more
Very early Gordon Korman, or at least Korman of 30 years ago. This time, two high school boys take jobs as summer camp counselors with Junior Tours, dVery early Gordon Korman, or at least Korman of 30 years ago. This time, two high school boys take jobs as summer camp counselors with Junior Tours, driving a van of kids on a cross-country road trip with regular check-ins. Fun for all, but especially for Artie, who disappears off each tour stop.. and makes money hand over first while he's gone. Not that his counselors know that--at least, not for a while, not until he can't keep his business private anymore. And especially not once the FBI gets involved....more
I don't know how I managed to not read this book until now. I don't know what inspired me to buy it for my Kobo and read it suddenly, but I'm glad forI don't know how I managed to not read this book until now. I don't know what inspired me to buy it for my Kobo and read it suddenly, but I'm glad for whatever it was. I've been in a reading slump--nothing holding my interest, not much motivation to pick up a book--but this one is what I needed, when I needed it. Light and funny while also darkly comic and pessimistic, with a certain depth of meaning. Are the characters richly developed? No. Is the plot deep and complex? Heck no. But none of that matters. I'm off to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe to contemplate, and see what happens next....more
Eh. A decent premise (mental asylum turned college dorm), with mediocre writing and some big plot holes. The inclusion of photos is trying to be Miss Eh. A decent premise (mental asylum turned college dorm), with mediocre writing and some big plot holes. The inclusion of photos is trying to be Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, but it falls far short.
That said, when I'm looking for a creepy thriller, I might pick up the sequel. Maybe....more
So very dated, but somehow still current. What do you do when your dad's multinational corporation goes against everything you believe in, and is actiSo very dated, but somehow still current. What do you do when your dad's multinational corporation goes against everything you believe in, and is actively trying to destroy the environment around your art school? Start up a counter-corporation to stop them, and get the whole student body involved.
What I particularly liked about this was how Dad and Son have this huge issue between them--but they're still able to hang out as father and son. (This is partly because Mom banned all politics from the house, but still.)
Funny, quirky, with a good underlying message of working together....more
Ungifted is one of my favorite reads. When I saw there was a sequel, I immediately requested it from the library. But.... it's not nearly as good. ThiUngifted is one of my favorite reads. When I saw there was a sequel, I immediately requested it from the library. But.... it's not nearly as good. This time it's Noah's book. Noah is a supergenius--200+ IQ, start student at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, and desperate to learn things. There's no greater achievement to him than going to the regular middle school, failing woodshop, and joining cheerleading--because those things all so he has room to improve. He still has plenty of social deficits, though, and logic doesn't apply to all situations. So when he tries to cover for Donovan (who did a great thing but can't take credit without getting into huge trouble), it's no surprise that things spiral quickly out of control.
While Ungifted had the spiraling sense of things going sideways with the reader along for the ride, this sequel feels forced. It's still funny and compelling, but far less than the original....more
On the whole, this was a strong, compelling book. My heart broke for these kids, saddled with a terrible parent and surrounded by adults who didn't reOn the whole, this was a strong, compelling book. My heart broke for these kids, saddled with a terrible parent and surrounded by adults who didn't really help. (Oof, the dad who tried to step back! The aunt who lived downstairs!) The pacing of the book is a little weird--it unfolds over months and years, but the pacing of the book feels more like weeks, which makes it hard to convey just how slow and long the process is, extricating oneself from an abusive parent.
When Chase falls off a roof, he's concussed--but he's also scrambled his brain enough that he can't remember anything from before the fall. Mixed blesWhen Chase falls off a roof, he's concussed--but he's also scrambled his brain enough that he can't remember anything from before the fall. Mixed blessings: he's forgotten his mother, but he's also forgotten that he's been horrible to nearly everyone. He's bullied kids, caused extensive property damage, forced a classmate to leave town--and that's not even all of it. But post-head-injury, Chase wants to be a better person. He doesn't remember who he was, and when he finds out pieces of his past, he can't imagine WANTING to be that person.
Another pretty standard-issue Korman. That's not a knock--it's a great boy-centric story of finding yourself and coming to terms with the less-than-great aspects of yourself, while still being funny and engaging and not didactic. ...more
This started out as promisingly as the other two--a slightly demented fairy-tale themed adventure. And it moves along a little more slowly than the otThis started out as promisingly as the other two--a slightly demented fairy-tale themed adventure. And it moves along a little more slowly than the other two, a little less engagingly, and then the fourth wall isn't just broken but stomped all over and demolished. It doesn't work as well here and in the previous books....more
Not quite as raw or powerful as The Hate U Give, but still paints a strong picture. A black teenager--prep-school educated, Ivy-bound, surrounded by aNot quite as raw or powerful as The Hate U Give, but still paints a strong picture. A black teenager--prep-school educated, Ivy-bound, surrounded by affluence--falls victim to police profiling and brutality when he's found trying to get his drunk (white) ex into the car to drive her home. Justyce is shaken by the event--what happens from there? How does he continue in the world with these blinders removed--the knowledge that the color of his skin now than outweighs the privilege he has in other areas?...more
We all know the story of Jack and Jill. Or do we? Because Jack has any number of adventures, involving magic beans and candlesticks and rolling down hWe all know the story of Jack and Jill. Or do we? Because Jack has any number of adventures, involving magic beans and candlesticks and rolling down hills with his cousin Jill. But their adventures also include goblins and a three-legged talking frog.
In other words, it's another mashup of fairy tales and nursery rhymes, and it's every bit as fun as the first one....more
Will's brother was killed last night. Now Will is following the rules--no crying, no snitching, always get revenge. He's on his way to follow the thirWill's brother was killed last night. Now Will is following the rules--no crying, no snitching, always get revenge. He's on his way to follow the third rule, but first he has to get downstairs in the longest elevator ride of his life.
Cam really only wants his parents to leave him alone so he can focus on video games. But when his focus nearly burns the house down, his parents forceCam really only wants his parents to leave him alone so he can focus on video games. But when his focus nearly burns the house down, his parents force him to join a school club, or do SOMETHING, anything, besides his game. So his idea is born: set up a fake club that nobody would want to join, and it looks like he's involved. Except that his boring-sounding nothing of a club is a good idea, and lots of people want in--and it's really biting into his carefully-constructed slacker lifestyle.
Korman has written another story that seems far-fetched while being perfectly realistic, with a great sense of humor. His books are a pretty easy sell to middle-schoolers (boys in particular), with enough meat for discussion and enough plot and humor to propel them through on their own....more
I'm totally not the target audience for this, and that's okay. Kids will find out hilarious. it tries for a similar tone to Captain Underpants--two miI'm totally not the target audience for this, and that's okay. Kids will find out hilarious. it tries for a similar tone to Captain Underpants--two mischief-making boys writing their adventures into a book--but doesn't quite hit the mark. But the 2nd grader will love it, and I'll have to get him the rest of the serious, I'm sure....more