3 stars A spooky tale for young horror fans. The story follows the Finn family. Having recently lost their mother, Liam and Kelly aren’t thrilled about moving to Upstate New York. Then odd things start happening around their new home and they quickly learn its more than just a fixer upper. Some great lines and…
Read More
3 stars A good look at what life was like in America in the late 1800s. The story centers around people moving to settle in the Midwest, including run-ins with wildlife such as grasshopper plagues and rattlesnakes, daily chores, extreme weather, and general living conditions. The blizzard itself is a pretty small section of the…
Read More
4 stars Fast-paced, action-packed historical fiction centering around the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. The earthquake itself happens fairly quickly. There are some interesting facts surrounding earthquakes in the text, but much of the story deals with Leo’s life before the disaster and the resulting fires following the quake. It does contain some useful information…
Read More
4 stars A fast-paced story that pulls the reader into a magical world of fascinating creatures. Auggie lives on an island and uses his talent to care for the wonderful animals who roam there. Though helped by Fen, Miss Bundt, and the unseen Professor Cake, what Auggie really wants is a friend. The artwork pairs…
Read More
4 stars A delightful read with some truly heartwarming moments. This book does a great job of blending the simple with the complex. There’s the obvious appeal of magic, dragons, and other mystical creatures, but it also pulls in some more mature themes and emotions including loss, guilt, and shame. This is a well-rounded read…
Read More
5 stars A delightfully spooky tale featuring a mysterious book, a class field trip to a farm, and an unexpected villain. Perfect for young readers looking for an engaging story that is thrillingly creepy. No gore or intense violence. This one uses unsettling elements to scare the reader. There’s an ominous vibe throughout the book…
Read More
5 stars A delightful read featuring a rambunctious family, a loving neighborhood, and a landlord with a mysterious past. This was such a fun book to listen to. As an only child who grew up in the middle of nowhere, I was instantly pulled in by this charming family of seven and their connections to…
Read More
2 stars Picked this up because I loved the idea of an imaginary mascot cheering the main character on. However, I was pretty disappointed. Chunky feels like he was added on to make the story more interesting but wasn’t actually that important. He sort of serves as Hudi’s conscience, but mostly just enthusiastically roots for…
Read More
3 stars Another hilarious adventure featuring Mr. Wolf and his fellow Good Guy Club members attempting to right wrongs and shake off their “bad guy” reputations. In the second episode, the team joins forces with another misunderstood critter to rescue the mistreated chickens from a Chicken Farm. They must come to terms with their own…
Read More
3 stars An exciting adventure featuring a misunderstood wolf, his attempts to turn around the reputation of carnivores from land and sea, and the mayhem that ensues along the way. I enjoyed the twist on the gray area between “good” and “bad” and the theme of carnivores being misunderstood. Similar style to picture books like Misunderstood…
Read More