A true, and pretty engrossing YA mystery. And also, pretty disturbing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 Stars
To be honest, I didn’t have too high hopes for this book. But it A true, and pretty engrossing YA mystery. And also, pretty disturbing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 Stars
To be honest, I didn’t have too high hopes for this book. But it isn’t too bad! Although I didn’t enjoy the YA aspects, the mystery was captivating and the plot twist truly took me by surprise. There was a slow start but it did get more interesting. I wished there was more character development, though, but I did get to know all of the Naturals well. Besides that, I also didn’t feel any connections with the main character, Cassie.
But it was an okay book. Not the best, but not the worst either.
P.S. The best part was discussing it with the most amazing buddy, Miss Who! :)...more
What if when night falls, dreams come true? And in the morning, no one knew?
Sunflowers Rise in a Midnight Sky is a beautiful and imaginative poetry an
What if when night falls, dreams come true? And in the morning, no one knew?
Sunflowers Rise in a Midnight Sky is a beautiful and imaginative poetry and picture books that will bring a whimsical world into the heads of readers of all ages.
The artwork and colors are absolutely stunning and unique! It definitely took me further into the magical world of dreams. The details will awe you as well, with all the texture and glitters.
Overall, I recommend this to readers and daydreamers young and old seeking a good book of poetry that will take them onto a quick but rewarding journey of magic and dreams. :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Empyrean Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
“Violet Blandin makes it a habit to blend in. At school, no one notices her, but in the kitchen, she cooks up confidence and can't be missed. When a h“Violet Blandin makes it a habit to blend in. At school, no one notices her, but in the kitchen, she cooks up confidence and can't be missed. When a hands-on lesson about measurement goes haywire, Violet finds she is the only one who can save celebrated Chef Delaclaire from an awful encounter with a very salty cookie.”
Get ready to be swept away by the magic of Quiet Violet Finds Her Voice! This is a simple yet powerful picture book not only for kids—but resonates with readers of all ages. It shows us how introverted kids have plenty to say. Especially when it comes to their passion. Gabrielle Nidus has crafted a delightful story, showcasing an important lesson, making parents and peers alike have a sense of understanding to those who are quieter than others.
The illustrations are also spirited and lively, promising to make readers visualize the story and making it a joy to dive into the pages.
But wait, there’s more! With a section for adults, including discussion questions and activities, Nidus successfully informs the caretakers and provides them with all the important, correct information to guide their children.
This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of understanding, the collaborative potential with peers for introverted children, and the drive of pursuing one's passions!
Thank you to NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!...more
Kid Christmas is a cozy and whimsical picture book, in which presents the origin of Santa Claus.
Nicky is a boy with a heart of gold, and also works inKid Christmas is a cozy and whimsical picture book, in which presents the origin of Santa Claus.
Nicky is a boy with a heart of gold, and also works in a toy shop with his three uncles. But sooner than later, Nicky finds children who aren’t so lucky to be in the toy store. After befriending the kids with fireflies, he tells his uncles about his grand idea. An idea to make Christmas for everyone…
Of course, he finds challenges within his goal, but in the darkest moment, can he turn things around? Rather, can his friends?
This is a perfect Christmas eve bedtime story for four to eight year olds, making them feel cozy and more excited for Christmas than ever! If you’re interested, consider picking this up for the following reasons; the artwork, the imagination, and the theme.
I have to admit—I almost made the spellbinding artworks my wallpaper, and it’s probably the biggest strength of this book. Nevertheless, the story takes a unique spin on the origin of Santa, and could encourage readers to further their imagination. Ask your kids, or yourself; What if I can retell this? What would Santa’s origin look like to me?
The message or theme of this book is also important. In the simple twenty or so pages, Nicky decides to be kindhearted to a group of kids, and gets a surprising return from them when he’s in trouble. This book teaches all of us the power of kindness, and what you can receive in return.
However, there are a few things that didn’t quite work out for me! I have high standards, for one, and it may not apply to you. Though, the plot hasn’t shown the readers anything too valuable. And although the artwork is certainly amazing, the story is bland and seems ever so cliché. Sometimes, the dialogue doesn’t seem like children speaking, since one called the other “kid”.
I don’t give picture books high ratings, but for this, I would reward this a 3 stars! I had fun reading this book, and couldn’t help daydreaming what my origin would look like. If all this sounds interesting to you, it is worth a try!
Thank you to Netgalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
When I’m reading, I’m constantly looking for a few things. One important thing is that the story feels satisfying for me. And how else better to do thWhen I’m reading, I’m constantly looking for a few things. One important thing is that the story feels satisfying for me. And how else better to do that than provide a great ending?
The Lost Library, a cozy village mystery, a book about books, and just how magical a library can be. How valuable it is. It’s about a fire that no one talks about, about Mortimer, Al, and Evan. And perhaps what Evan, a fifth grader from Matinville, was looking for, has been right beside him the whole time…
⭐⭐⭐️. 5 or 7/10
The Lost Library is pretty average for a book, to be honest. Not bad, and not spectacular either. However, the book’s greatest problem, perhaps, is that it’s slow paced. In the publishing world today, novellas are especially hard to get into readers’ hands. However, Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass have both published numerous bestselling books, and also collabed on a novella, Bob.
Although this book consists of two hundred plus pages, each page merely contains about two hundred forty words (hardcover edition), which is a small amount even for Middle Grade. Novellas like these tend to be fast paced, but the Lost Library is surely an exception. And, often it’s not a good thing! One way to turn this around, is to make the book character driven—the plot heavily influenced by the characters choices, while they struggle with their internal conflict. However, this book is neither fast-paced or character driven, causing the plot to seem bland in the first eighty percent, and hard to get into!
But, but! The tension building and mystery was great. And that ending! I would really gush about it if this isn’t a review. The ending makes the three stars surely greater, and made me stay up later than I’m supposed to to finish it.
Anyways, the tension building. There were clues splattered here and there, and although I kind of predicted the ending a bit more than halfway through, the way everything builds and suddenly clashes, halts, and comes out in beautiful ways… That was really awesome.
And the mystery! This book showed me that mysteries can be so much fun, and I’m definitely trying out more. Evan’s “adventure” is also full of fun little clues. And although it’s simple, this book created a mystery one of a kind. I’m not an expert, but I could really see how this mystery would take a lot of brainstorming.
I have high standards, and maybe I’m not the targeted age group? But however so, I think a middle grade reader, who is craving a cozy book, should no doubt try this! Also, try this if you love mysteries, a happy ending, multiple point of views, and a book that’s a bit heart-breaking and a bit not. But in the end, all is well. Everything is sealed. And your heart will be full.
I know, I know—that was pretty cringe! But truthfully speaking, that was some of the best endings I’ve ever seen. :)...more