Thoughts and reviews vol. 13
Mysteries, love, and kids on adventures
Hello! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? First off: congratulations to Beth Reimer for winning the audiobook giveaway! I hope you enjoy it!
(enjoy this photo of a dragon in our school library to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year in preparation for an author visit).
It’s raining here today and has been off and on since yesterday, which fits the wintery-cozy-low-key-hibernation mood I’ve been cultivating since December. Fall has always been my favorite season, but honestly, I think winter is my second favorite. (Of course I realize that it’s easy for me to say that when I don’t live somewhere that has snow and ice for months. But I’d like to think it would still be true if I did). Getting back into the swing of things in January post-holiday break has been a little more challenging than I expected, but I’m going to blame unexpected inclement weather day and some sickness.
Now on to some reviews!
The Shadows by Jacqueline West. Of course, I’m still deep in a middle grade novel phase (and, let’s be honest, will be for the foreseeable future. Or at least, as long as I have my current day job). This novel is a spooky and creepy magical mystery with a creepy old house, paintings that are portals, and talking cats. I really enjoyed it.
Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater is a cute, creative, whimsical middle grade novel about a girl who can talk to magical creatures (even though no one believes her). She spends the summer with her aunt who is a veterinarian for magical creatures, makes a new friend, and helps with an outbreak of fire-starting pests. It’s full of fun shenanigans. Both me and my 8 year old enjoyed it.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. This month’s final middle grade novel is one I’d recommend to any adult—it’s excellent. It’s about friendship and growing pains, with a little bit of a science fiction mystery and a lot of delightful references to A Wrinkle in Time. It’s a bit sad (did I cry? Maybe), but also very hopeful. I really loved it.
Defiant by Brandon Sanderson was a fast-paced and satisfying conclusion to the Cytonic series. It had lots of good tension, action, and fist-pump moments.
Much Ado about Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin. I thoroughly enjoyed this second-chance rom-com. The characters were endearing and relateable, and I love a good Shakespeare riff. It’s also excellent on audio.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman is the latest in the Thursday Murder Club series, and I enjoyed every second with the gang from Cooper’s Chase. This one had some personal heartbreak, but Osman is so great at beautifully portraying all of the realities of life – love, sadness, grief, joy.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center is a fun, breezy rom-com by another Houston-area author. From the first chapter I was hooked by the story of an ambitious female firefighter who is forced to relocate and reconnect with her estranged mother, and I loved the endearing characters. It was an excellent balance of lightness and depth, and a perfect read-in-a-day book.
That’s it for this month! Let’s talk again soon.