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Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Nightmares! (Nightmares!, #1) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. Being a teacher i saw it splashed throughout our book fair & I. The Scholastic book orders so I decided to give it a try. It is definitely aimed at a late elementary early middle school set. It started off a bit slow in my opinion, but the last half hooked me & I flew through it. It tells the story of Charlie & his "stepmonster" who of course, turns out to be not nearly as witchy as he thought. It has great themes for a preteen audience & the story flows nicely. It's supposed to be the first in a series but it ended satisfyingly so we will see. I'd keep reading the, though.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Educated in Books
Apr 5, 2018
Harrowing and inspiring
It seems almost impossible that Tara Westover is an academician from both Harvard and Cambridge given that she had never been to school. Her story is important, revealing how women are treated and subjugated in fundamentalist societies.
Brought up in a survivalist, Mormon family, Westover speaks about a poverty-stricken, difficult childhood where education is seen as secondary and violence is rife. Her relationship with her abusive brother is horrifying, And moreso is her family's acceptance of his behaviour. So gaining scholarships to top universities in the world despite having had no clue about the Holocaust, the civil rights movement, and Napoleon, is no mean feat.
While parts are repetitive, it is engaging and harrowing to hear her inspiring story.
Brought up in a survivalist, Mormon family, Westover speaks about a poverty-stricken, difficult childhood where education is seen as secondary and violence is rife. Her relationship with her abusive brother is horrifying, And moreso is her family's acceptance of his behaviour. So gaining scholarships to top universities in the world despite having had no clue about the Holocaust, the civil rights movement, and Napoleon, is no mean feat.
While parts are repetitive, it is engaging and harrowing to hear her inspiring story.
How do a group of students survive after being trapped in their high school after a huge blizzard that never seems to let up? The story line and characters of the book seemed to react appropriately to the situation at hand with different cliques and personalities. I only had a few issues with how they would react like having your teacher go out in the snow storm and he never returns but nobody seems to be very concerned that he's probably dead? I think the girl's especially would be freaking out about this. Other than that and what seemed to be a slightly rushed ending this is a great book for young adults giving them a mix of suspense and survival.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010) in Movies
Jan 19, 2018
A beginning to an end
The second to last Harry Potter book. We find Harry right after the Death of Dumbledore all distraught along with Hermione and Ron. They take it upon themselves to search for Horocruxtes which a the way Voldemort has made sure his life will live on and destroy them. They leave Hogwarts to begin their journey to only find out it will be much harder than originally believed now that Snape is in charge of the school and has everyone on the look out for enemy number 1.
The first half of this two parter shows us the acts they need to find all of the Horocuthcxtes and leading up to the finale of the battle between good and evil.
The first half of this two parter shows us the acts they need to find all of the Horocuthcxtes and leading up to the finale of the battle between good and evil.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Charlie's high school rival, successful novelist Godfrey Priest, comes to down, Charlie isn't too thrilled. Godfrey was always an ego driven jerk, and time and success hasn't changed any of that. But when Godfrey is killed and Charlie finds the body, he starts poking around trying to figure out who did it.
This series debut had lots of twists to the plot, even in the first 100 pages. The characters were real and fresh right out of the gate as well. I truly felt for them. I can't wait to visit them with the next book in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-review-murder-past-due-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This series debut had lots of twists to the plot, even in the first 100 pages. The characters were real and fresh right out of the gate as well. I truly felt for them. I can't wait to visit them with the next book in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-review-murder-past-due-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated I Even Funnier (I Funny, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
As Jamie Grimm prepares for the regionals in the Planet's Funniest Kid Contest, he must continue to deal with typical middle school problems like figuring out girls and relationships, his friend's problems, and tutoring his cousin who also happens to be the class bully.
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series, possibly because I saw the more slice of life nature of the book. Some stories start and end early while others for running threads that last longer. Holding it all together is the comic contest. The fun illustrations help make this book a very fast read.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-i-even-funnier-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series, possibly because I saw the more slice of life nature of the book. Some stories start and end early while others for running threads that last longer. Holding it all together is the comic contest. The fun illustrations help make this book a very fast read.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-i-even-funnier-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Signalman in Books
Mar 15, 2018
I've never read a Dicken's novel before, I always felt like I would come out of them dumbfounded... his writing seems too intellectual and educational for my little brain. But, this is just a ghost story, so it was easy enough to get on with!
Yes, I enjoyed this, but it wasn't my favourite short story. A classic old school ghost story, but it could have been so much creepier than it was, so that let me down. There is a slight pang of shock at the tail end of this short, but it's nothing to write home about.
What's most interesting, to me, about this book, is the fact that it's been pulled out of a personal tragedy of Dicken's.
Yes, I enjoyed this, but it wasn't my favourite short story. A classic old school ghost story, but it could have been so much creepier than it was, so that let me down. There is a slight pang of shock at the tail end of this short, but it's nothing to write home about.
What's most interesting, to me, about this book, is the fact that it's been pulled out of a personal tragedy of Dicken's.
Kristin (149 KP) rated Ethan's Story; My Life With Autism in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I rather enjoyed "Ethan's Story." I don't personally know anyone with autism, but being a Psychology major, I've learned about the spectrum. I like that we get to hear (and see, thanks to the wonderful illustrations) what it's like for Ethan to be at school and around other people, in his own words. This would be a very good book to show/read to a child who either has autism or is a classmate of someone who has it, so they might better understand what's going on. At the end, I really wanted to be Ethan's friend!!
5 stars, and I hope he writes more =)
I rather enjoyed "Ethan's Story." I don't personally know anyone with autism, but being a Psychology major, I've learned about the spectrum. I like that we get to hear (and see, thanks to the wonderful illustrations) what it's like for Ethan to be at school and around other people, in his own words. This would be a very good book to show/read to a child who either has autism or is a classmate of someone who has it, so they might better understand what's going on. At the end, I really wanted to be Ethan's friend!!
5 stars, and I hope he writes more =)
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated A Spell for Chameleon in Books
Jul 12, 2018
I really wish that I loved this book as much as I loved it in middle school. I guess science fiction/fantasy really is not my favorite type of book. I found that I was bored quite a lot with this book.
I have realized that I struggle with books when they are logical. I like my emotional books. The logical nature of this novel seemed dull to me. I did like the plot line, I just did not enjoy the writing style.
All in all, this book kept me entertained. It is a good mix between science fiction and fantasy, however, it falls too much to the science fiction side that I had a hard time enjoying the novel.
I have realized that I struggle with books when they are logical. I like my emotional books. The logical nature of this novel seemed dull to me. I did like the plot line, I just did not enjoy the writing style.
All in all, this book kept me entertained. It is a good mix between science fiction and fantasy, however, it falls too much to the science fiction side that I had a hard time enjoying the novel.
saheffernan (157 KP) rated Lies We Tell Ourselves in Books
Jul 21, 2018
Lies we tell ourselves review
Lies we tell ourselves is a book of rights. Not just those of black individuals but also a hint of rights for those in the LGBTQ community. This takes a hard look at what integration in a school in the south looked like for 8 kids just trying to get what they should be entitled to. I say it's so so because I feel the relationship that was in this book is a bit forced and took away from the rest of the story which made me not super interested in finishing this book. I am glad that I did though.