Audacity Jones to the Rescue (Audacity Jones #1) by Kirby Larson

4 stars An engaging story that mixes adventure, mystery, history, and a hint of the fantastical. This was a nice bit of historical fiction geared toward young readers. Larson admits to taking a lot of liberties with the story of the disappearance, but many elements are inspired by facts and the whole thing comes together…

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Stargazing by Jen Wang

4 stars A sweet, compelling story exploring the ties between family, friends, and oneself. Loved the emphasis on being true to yourself and embracing who you are, even if that makes you stand out or is different from what people expect you to be. The artwork is stunning. The characters are adorable. And the story…

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My Haunted House (Araminta Spookie #1) by Angie Sage

4 stars A fun story packed with mischief and oddities. Araminta is prone to trouble-making, exploring, and schemes, making for an entertaining read. Join Araminta as she hunts for ghosts, introduces the reader to her unique living situation, makes new friends, and does everything she can think of to save her beloved home. I listened…

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Razzle Dazzle Unicorn (Phoebe and Her Unicorn #4) by Dana Simpson

4 stars Another fun-filled collection featuring Phoebe and Marigold. This one features a certain role-playing game, various holiday festivities, interactions with friends (and frenemies), and going back to music camp for the summer among other shenanigans. As always, the artwork is adorable and engaging. I loved all the new adventures and general silliness of this…

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Nim’s Island (Nim #1) by Wendy Orr

4 stars A fantastic tale of a young girl’s unique island life with her father and some unusual friends. Great blend of day-to-day descriptions of life on the island such as collecting food and taking measurements as well as adventurous turns like heavy storms and volcanic eruptions. A fun tale that was engaging and unique….

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The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

4 stars A fantastic look into modern food industries told in three parts. Each represents a way of obtaining food by following a specific source. Corn represents the industrial food complex, touching on corn surplus, monocultures, subsidies, health effects, the co-evolution of plants and humans, and concentrated animal feeding operations. Next is the pastoral view,…

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