Thursday, June 15, 2017

Review: Dreams of Gods & Monsters

Dreams of Gods & Monsters Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the most beautifully written series I have ever read. Love, love, love it. I love all the ships. I don't really have great words for my feelings about it, just that it is wonderful and that I stayed up late reading it.

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Saturday, June 10, 2017

Review: The Gauntlet

The Gauntlet The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one. It's a lot like Jumanji in a chapter book, with some cool twists. Farah loves to play games, despite the fact that she always has to include her younger brother, Ahmed. It's her 12th birthday party, and friends and family are gathering in her new apartment on the Upper East Side of New York City. Things with her friends are a little strained, but she's hoping they get better. Her aunt gives her a gift of a mysterious game. When Ahmed impulsively goes into the game, Farah and her friends Alex and Essie must go in after him and beat the game in order to make it back out...alive.

I am a big fan of diversity in books, and so I was excited to read this offering from Salaam Reads. I think Riazi does an excellent job of setting the groundwork for a game in a world different from others. I had to do a little research to picture everything, but it was fun to do. I do think the actual world of the Gauntlet was hard to picture, I was imagining clockwork and minarets together but trying to get all the different levels was a little hard. I did find the games intriguing. Overall, I liked it a lot.

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Thursday, June 8, 2017

Review: Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song

Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song by Gary Golio
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I didn't like this as much as his previous book about Jimi Hendrix, this book is an excellent introduction to Billie Holiday and the song. I think it treats the subject of lynching with the respect it deserves, while also not being too much for the age group it is aimed at to handle.

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Review: A Letter to My Teacher

A Letter to My Teacher A Letter to My Teacher by Deborah Hopkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved it! It's definitely a great gift for the teachers that have been special in your child's life.

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Multicultural Children's Book Day: Mystery of the Troubled Toucan

 Hi everyone! It's been a long time since I posted a review, hmm? I thought my Goodreads reviews had been cross-posted here all this tim...