Review: Crossing Niagara: The Death-Defying Tightrope Adventures of the Great Blondin

Crossing Niagara: The Death-Defying Tightrope Adventures of the Great Blondin by Matt Tavares
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I knew someone had crossed Niagara on a tightrope, I just didn't know anything about him or her. This is the story of the Great Blondin and his multiple crossings in 1859 and 1860. As usual, the illustrations are stunning. You won't find me on a tightrope any time soon!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy to review.

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Review: Imprudence

Imprudence by Gail Carriger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another topping book from Carriger. I just love her style so much. She's one of two authors that I have to buy whatever comes out by her, and probably the only one whose entire published works I have read. Of course, gobbling them up as they come out can lead to forgetfulness between books, as I don't often have time to reread, but the story is still fun and understandable. If you're looking for action, romance, history, and steampunk, you really can't go wrong with one of her books.

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Review: The Passion of Dolssa

The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who doesn't want to read about possible heretics in the 1240s? Well, I certainly didn't know that I did! Dolssa's life is thrown into chaos when the Catholic Church finds out about her Beloved and how she speaks about Him. They burn her mother at the stake and she is on the run. A young woman with two sisters, Botille, finds Dolssa and rescues her. They still are not safe, because Friar Lucien will not stop until she is brought to justice for her "heresy."

Berry chose to tell her story from many different perspectives. You hear from Botille and Dolssa most often, but you also hear from Lucien and different witnesses to Dolssa's life on the run and her actions. This gives us an all-around view of the story, which I appreciated. It also helped to humanize characters like Lucien a bit, who otherwise we would all rail on for stupidity (forgetting historical accuracy.) The book also describes a genocide I had never heard of (Albigensian), part of the Crusades of the Catholic Church. It brings the Crusades to horrifying life, where it's not just your life at stake, but your family and anyone who has ever helped you. These are themes we see repeated throughout history.

The other thing I really liked about this book were the female characters. When I think about this time period, I often think life was hard and boring for women. Botille, Sazia, and Plazensa, along with Astruga and Sapdalina and all these others, illuminated for me that yes, life was hard for peasants, but they also had fun and joy and love and their life was not that different from our own.

I also really loved the end matter. As a librarian on a book review committee, I very much appreciate glossaries, sources cited, bibliography, etc. Berry gives you an overview of the Crusades and Provensa, definitions of non-English words used, as well as where to look for continued reading. Excellent!

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Review: Ask Me How I Got Here

Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was drawn in by this story, but then, I was such a huge fan of Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty. I knew what to expect from Heppermann's poetic voice, and she did not disappoint. I liked the interplay of religion and choices, how to reconcile faith and the lived life when they disagree. I also liked that Addie had support from her parents and boyfriend about her abortion. This is not a tale of hardship to get one, or dealing with angry family members. There is one young woman who talks a lot about a charity for "repenting women", which I have mixed feelings about. It seems both helpful and also guilt-inducing.

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Review: Morning Star

Morning Star by Pierce Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fitting end to the trilogy. It was rapid-paced and fun and horrifying and everything a good book should be. I almost wish I had gone back and re-read the whole series before this one, as there was one scene at the end that caused me to go "WHAT???? I DON'T REMEMBER THAT HAPPENING!"

I hear Brown is writing a follow-up series, and I think that will be very interesting.

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Review: Fowl Language: Welcome to Parenting

Fowl Language: Welcome to Parenting by Brian Gordon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review! I very much enjoyed it, despite not having children. I have definitely seen this behavior, both as a librarian and with my friends who have children. I think most parents would enjoy reading it, as it would definitely help them feel less alone!

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Review: Pax

Pax by Sara Pennypacker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one that I'll be thinking about for a while. The writing of this story is beautiful. I love the general plot. I love the way Pennypacker chose to tell part of the story from Peter's point of view and part of the plot from Pax's. I love Vola so much, and she breaks my heart.

I need to sit with the ending however. It doesn't end the way I would like, which isn't really the problem. I had to read it three times, because I felt like I missed something. It was so sudden. I'm hoping it will rise in my esteem as time goes on.


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