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Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Canada Year by Year in Books
Jun 18, 2018
<a href="https://awindowintobooks.wordpress.com">Full Review</a>
Canada Year by Year by Elizabeth MacLeod is a wonderful non=fictional book about Canada. The book gives facts from the start of when Canada became a country in 1867 to 2017 when Canada turns 150 years old. The author has picked one event per year to highlight, which includes Nobel prize winners, Olympic champions, government firsts, women’s rights as well as inventions.
Readers will learn about Canadian history through pictures and text. It is perfect for learning about Canadian history whether for being more knowledgable about the country, or doing research for a school project. The book is written in a middle school level but any age from 9 and up will enjoy this informative book about Canada. The illustrations are wonderful and add to the text. In the back of the book there is a biography section about famous Canadians. I would love to have this book part of my classroom library.
I received a copy of this book from Kids Can Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Canada Year by Year by Elizabeth MacLeod is a wonderful non=fictional book about Canada. The book gives facts from the start of when Canada became a country in 1867 to 2017 when Canada turns 150 years old. The author has picked one event per year to highlight, which includes Nobel prize winners, Olympic champions, government firsts, women’s rights as well as inventions.
Readers will learn about Canadian history through pictures and text. It is perfect for learning about Canadian history whether for being more knowledgable about the country, or doing research for a school project. The book is written in a middle school level but any age from 9 and up will enjoy this informative book about Canada. The illustrations are wonderful and add to the text. In the back of the book there is a biography section about famous Canadians. I would love to have this book part of my classroom library.
I received a copy of this book from Kids Can Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children in Books
Jun 4, 2018
I’ve got mixed opinions about this one. I mostly enjoyed reading it, but towards the end you begin to realize that you are being set up for a sequel, which disappoints me every time.
I really did love the premise…especially how Riggs uses the old photographs as part of his narrative, but I’m just a bit underwhelmed overall. I love how Riggs brings up the idea that all of these children are stuck emotionally in adolescence, but then he doesn’t really ever develop that and build it as a plot point.
For some reason, the end feels very similar to The Golden Compass for me. Everything is very rushed and the tone of the narrative gets much darker and everything builds to a climax that doesn’t mesh very well with the rest of the narrative and leaves so much unresolved that I’m just frustrated rather than intrigued.
Unfortunately, a colleague has already lent me the next book, so I feel obligated to continue with the series. Maybe…
I really did love the premise…especially how Riggs uses the old photographs as part of his narrative, but I’m just a bit underwhelmed overall. I love how Riggs brings up the idea that all of these children are stuck emotionally in adolescence, but then he doesn’t really ever develop that and build it as a plot point.
For some reason, the end feels very similar to The Golden Compass for me. Everything is very rushed and the tone of the narrative gets much darker and everything builds to a climax that doesn’t mesh very well with the rest of the narrative and leaves so much unresolved that I’m just frustrated rather than intrigued.
Unfortunately, a colleague has already lent me the next book, so I feel obligated to continue with the series. Maybe…
ClareR (6054 KP) rated The Necromancer's Apprentice in Books
Jun 6, 2018
This is not a Harry Potter copy (just so's you know!)
I liked this little book (it’s very short), and can’t help but think that it’s all set up to be the start of at least another book! But perhaps not!
Jyximus Faire is a student at the magical academy, and gets caught reading what he shouldn’t be. Instead of being expelled, he is given over to the city’s Necromancer to become her assistant.
I thought this was going to end up a copy of Hogwarts, but it’s not. It’s very much it’s own story, and the characters are not copies of any other books characters. The Necromancer is a woman who doesn’t stand for any nonsense, and I quite liked her. Her Wolfkin servants are the strong silent type, and Jyximus is a very curious boy who wants to run before he can walk!
A great little story ideal for children as well as adults. I think my 11 year old would have loved this as much as I did!
Jyximus Faire is a student at the magical academy, and gets caught reading what he shouldn’t be. Instead of being expelled, he is given over to the city’s Necromancer to become her assistant.
I thought this was going to end up a copy of Hogwarts, but it’s not. It’s very much it’s own story, and the characters are not copies of any other books characters. The Necromancer is a woman who doesn’t stand for any nonsense, and I quite liked her. Her Wolfkin servants are the strong silent type, and Jyximus is a very curious boy who wants to run before he can walk!
A great little story ideal for children as well as adults. I think my 11 year old would have loved this as much as I did!
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated The Signature of All Things in Books
May 29, 2018
First of all.. this book is loooooooooonnnnng. I feel like I may have read 3 books in 1 binding.
I expected it to be similar to Eat, Pray, Love in style, but boy was I incorrect! Don't get me wrong, the writing is beautiful, the characters are extremely interesting and I loved the first half ... I couldn't get enough of this riveting story, rich historical references and so much beauty in the descriptions of nature and plants and their surroundings. I felt like I was learning so much, as well as being treated to a beautiful story. I was hooked in, and fast....
But then.... I got stuck. Like REALLY stuck. I felt like it just turned into a different writer all together? I couldn't focus, the tone changed, the story faltered as quickly as the characters lives did. It was hard for me to finish this one. I loved the first half of the book. I wish she had stopped it there ... it just went on too long, and I was so sad that it did.
I expected it to be similar to Eat, Pray, Love in style, but boy was I incorrect! Don't get me wrong, the writing is beautiful, the characters are extremely interesting and I loved the first half ... I couldn't get enough of this riveting story, rich historical references and so much beauty in the descriptions of nature and plants and their surroundings. I felt like I was learning so much, as well as being treated to a beautiful story. I was hooked in, and fast....
But then.... I got stuck. Like REALLY stuck. I felt like it just turned into a different writer all together? I couldn't focus, the tone changed, the story faltered as quickly as the characters lives did. It was hard for me to finish this one. I loved the first half of the book. I wish she had stopped it there ... it just went on too long, and I was so sad that it did.
Liliannar (58 KP) rated Thirteen Reasons Why in Books
May 29, 2018
This was a difficult read done in an incredible way. It's a hard topic and this is a book I wouldn't have picked up if I didn't see my little sister reading it. I like to try to read what she's reading so we have something to talk about when it comes to books. This was well written and done in a way I felt I had to keep going. I finished it over about a 4 hour reading span split between two nights. It's a very fast flowing book with a tempo that makes you want to keep going until you get to the end.
I recommend this one to anyone with high school aged kids, if nothing else it opens up the eyes a little about some of what goes on. I was the quiet kid in high school. No parties, no going out and being crazy, it was school, home, work. This book shows a bit of a different life than the one I knew.
I recommend this one to anyone with high school aged kids, if nothing else it opens up the eyes a little about some of what goes on. I was the quiet kid in high school. No parties, no going out and being crazy, it was school, home, work. This book shows a bit of a different life than the one I knew.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Good Sister in Books
Jul 22, 2018
A very thought-provoking, interesting and challenging read about a very real and current situation.
Written from the two perspectives of the father and daughter, Sofia and Abraham, makes this book flow extremely well with the pace being good. Both Sofia and Abraham are believable and definitely grow on you as the book progresses; I do admit that I didn't particularly like them at the start but the more their inner-workings are explored, the greater the understanding of their motives which resulted in me becoming fully invested in their stories and completely engrossed in their respective journeys.
The book comes across as pretty authentic ... whether it is or not I would only know if I was in Sofia and Abraham's situation which is highly unlikely .... but I do wonder how and where the author got the information for the book from and how accurate it is because, as I said, it feels pretty authentic.
Thank you to Jellybooks for giving me the opportunity to read something a bit different.
Written from the two perspectives of the father and daughter, Sofia and Abraham, makes this book flow extremely well with the pace being good. Both Sofia and Abraham are believable and definitely grow on you as the book progresses; I do admit that I didn't particularly like them at the start but the more their inner-workings are explored, the greater the understanding of their motives which resulted in me becoming fully invested in their stories and completely engrossed in their respective journeys.
The book comes across as pretty authentic ... whether it is or not I would only know if I was in Sofia and Abraham's situation which is highly unlikely .... but I do wonder how and where the author got the information for the book from and how accurate it is because, as I said, it feels pretty authentic.
Thank you to Jellybooks for giving me the opportunity to read something a bit different.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated One Fete in the Grave in Books
Jul 6, 2018
This Fourth of July Ends with the Bang of Murder
When the fireworks show ends, party planning Liv McKay thinks her day organizing her town’s Fourth of July festival is over. Unfortunately, someone finds the body of councilman Bubba Rowland. Despite being on the council, Bubba had his enemies, and one of them was Earl, her mother’s new fiance. Can Liv help her mother by clearing Earl’s name?
This book starts with a bang – of fireworks, but it isn’t too long before we find Bubba’s body. Unfortunately, the book does still have some pacing issues as Liv’s party planning business slows things down. I did find one sub-plot lots of fun, however. The mystery does have some good suspects and twists before we reach the logical climax. Liv’s family and friends, including best friend Di, are as charming as ever. The suspects work, although we don’t get to know them as well as we might in some mysteries. This is a fun cozy for a relaxing summer read or any time of the year.
This book starts with a bang – of fireworks, but it isn’t too long before we find Bubba’s body. Unfortunately, the book does still have some pacing issues as Liv’s party planning business slows things down. I did find one sub-plot lots of fun, however. The mystery does have some good suspects and twists before we reach the logical climax. Liv’s family and friends, including best friend Di, are as charming as ever. The suspects work, although we don’t get to know them as well as we might in some mysteries. This is a fun cozy for a relaxing summer read or any time of the year.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Life After Life in Books
Sep 25, 2018
Great idea but needs more of a central plot
This story is fairly similar to other books like The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, however it has its own unique spin on reincarnation/Groundhog day type experiences.
This is a very intriguing story about how the choices you may in life affect everything,but with Ursula being able to relive her life over and over again, constantly making different choices to change how her life plays out. For me it was interesting to pick up on some of the smaller details that change through each reincarnation. Ursula is a well written and in-depth character, although the same cant always be said for the rest of her family and other minor characters. My only problem with this is that other than Ursula reliving her life repeatedly, there's no central plot or grounding. Its just the same life over and over again with slightly different circumstances. There's nothing else to hold it all together and it can become a little repetitive (unsurprisingly).
This is a very intriguing story about how the choices you may in life affect everything,but with Ursula being able to relive her life over and over again, constantly making different choices to change how her life plays out. For me it was interesting to pick up on some of the smaller details that change through each reincarnation. Ursula is a well written and in-depth character, although the same cant always be said for the rest of her family and other minor characters. My only problem with this is that other than Ursula reliving her life repeatedly, there's no central plot or grounding. Its just the same life over and over again with slightly different circumstances. There's nothing else to hold it all together and it can become a little repetitive (unsurprisingly).
Joelene Marie (28 KP) rated Gork, the Teenage Dragon in Books
Oct 1, 2018
Hilarious, cute (at least to me) adventure in finding love with the young Gork. The authors take on dragons is wholly original. These aren't your typical dragons, either as destructive creatures hording treasure and demanding maidens and being slain by knights or as respected creatures of magic and wisdom. Gork and his dragons are a very interesting alien species that have the characteristics of typical dragons with their wings and tails and scales and claws and breathing fire and just plain fierceness but with an intelligence similar to humans, a more militarized society, and a huge love of poetry. Have I mentioned it's hilarious? yes? well that's cause it is lol. My only problem, and it's not much of one, was the repetition of things like "scaly green ass," the first few times it added to the humor but after that it got a little annoying. Gabe Hudson has clearly shown his talent and I'm interested to see what he does in his (hopefully very long) career.
**Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to review the ARC!**
**Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to review the ARC!**
Erika (17789 KP) rated Dracula vs. Hitler in Books
Oct 6, 2018
The title of this book grabbed me, alone. What wouldn't be cool about Dracula being awakened during WWII to kill some Nazis?
Well, all the crap in between. It was written in epistolary form, like the original Dracula novel. We've got Van Helsing, who wakes Dracula up, who coincidentally (or not) has a daughter named Lucy. A member of the Harker fam shows up, as does Renfield.
There were a lot of scenes of vampire carnage, but then an insta-love story thrown in (gag), and a little Hitler.
I'm sorry, but if you write an alt-history book, and you have Dracula in it, why wouldn't you have him straight up ripping out Hitler's spinal column or something?
I started this book when it came out in October 2016, and picked it back up a few days ago. After reading a few pages, I remembered why I put it away, it moved at a snails pace, and honestly wasn't that interesting. Overall, a yawn.
Well, all the crap in between. It was written in epistolary form, like the original Dracula novel. We've got Van Helsing, who wakes Dracula up, who coincidentally (or not) has a daughter named Lucy. A member of the Harker fam shows up, as does Renfield.
There were a lot of scenes of vampire carnage, but then an insta-love story thrown in (gag), and a little Hitler.
I'm sorry, but if you write an alt-history book, and you have Dracula in it, why wouldn't you have him straight up ripping out Hitler's spinal column or something?
I started this book when it came out in October 2016, and picked it back up a few days ago. After reading a few pages, I remembered why I put it away, it moved at a snails pace, and honestly wasn't that interesting. Overall, a yawn.