Jack Reacher is an iconic character. Even if you’ve never read a book in the series (28 books and counting) you may have heard of the two Tom Cruise movies where he played the antihero and divided a rabid fanbase. For me, Tom Cruise is no Reacher. Jason and I just finished season 2 of the Amazon series, Reacher, where Alan Richson deftly plays the larger than life killing machine with his own moral code. The series is good.
Jack Reacher is an ex-military cop who is roaming the United States, seeing the country he barely knows after a lifetime (36 years) spent on military bases around the world. From one of my reviews, “Jack Reacher is a man’s man, but one that women are drawn to because of his sheer masculinity and unavailability. He is who he is, take him or leave him and that confidence and physical presence makes him a force to be reckoned with.”
Why should you be reading the Jack Reacher series? Because he’s alpha male dreamy. He isn’t held back by rules but is ruled by what is good and just and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty in the pursuit of justice. He’s a tall, commanding man who, if you count the number of women he’s charmed out of their clothes, knows his way around a woman’s body.
Read if you like – Drifters with a hero complex, larger than life characters who say as little as possible, justice being served no matter how many get hurt, and don’t mind lots of violence.
Like most readers of Harry Potter, I love JK Rowling books and when I started seeing the reviews for this series I knew I’d have to give her a post HP chance to win me over. And she did. I love this series.
I love Cormoran Strike. I loved him in the first of the series and I’ve loved him in every one since. He’s smart, grumpy and a hero who came back to London after losing a foot in Afghanistan. He could have milked the media because of his being the (illegitimate) son of a famous rock star, but he chose, instead, to live a life of purpose. He’s a bit of a mess but an honest and earnest one. He and his partner Robin’s relationship is the heart and soul of this this series.
I love the narration by Robert Glenister. He became Strike for me so I’ve listened to all 7 books (so far) on audio. I totally recommend trying the first one and seeing if you like it.
Read if you like– well plotted thrillers, disability front and center, the possibility of a workplace romance, grouchy yet smart private detectives, big big books, or mysteries set in London.
I do think that you need to read these in order to appreciate them.
That title is a bit misleading. I watched 49 movies this year and these are my 5 favorites. Only two of them came out in 2023.
I’d like to watch some really good movies in 2024, so please leave me a few of your favorites in the comments.
Peanut Butter Falcon, 2019 (Shia LaBouf, Zack Gottsagen. Dakota Fanning, John Hawkes, Bruce Dern, John Bernthal, Thomas Haden Church, Yelawolf) Grade A
Everyone deserves to be seen.
Air, 2023 (Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, Viola Davis, Chris Messina) Grade A
Is MJ really MJ without his Jordans?
Joker, 2019 (Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy) Grade A
So many good books this year! You can find my picture book recs here, here, and here. My middle school recommendations here. My adult fiction 5 stars here.
Now for my nonfiction, graphic novel, and high school favorites.
These 4 boys were in high school when they beat college teams, including MIT, in a national robotics competition. It starts with telling you how they came to be in the US, how they found family in the robotics room, and where they are now 20 years later. Middle school/teens. Highly recommend for adults too.
Many of you may have heard of Zion Clark, a short documentary on his life was number one on Netflix. He was born with no legs to a mother in jail with an unknown father. He got bounced around Ohio’s foster care system before finally being adopted at the age of 17. He made headlines in his senior year of high school when he started winning wrestling matches.
Zion grew up in the Canton/Massillon area, less than an hour from where I live so this was a local story for me. But even if it wasn’t I would’ve been so moved my his story and spirit. I think that all teens would benefit from reading such a powerful story of perseverance. And adults should read it too!
This was my first book of 2023 and there were my thoughts when I first posted about it on IG.
My first book of the year is also perfectly suited for today, January 6. On Tyranny, Graphic Edition: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Professor Timothy Snyder, illustrated by Nora Krug is an important read, especially as we reflect on this day 2 years ago when our democracy was under attack from within. Drawing in the histories of Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, and others, Snyder provides stark similarities to things happening in the United States.
An important read for every American, no matter your political leanings.
#10 “Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. You submit to tyranny when you renounce the difference between what you want to hear and what is actually the case. Post-truth is pre-racism”
I’ve posted more excerpts on my blog so I recommend clicking over there. Get your eyes on a copy and learn, dissect, and come away with a renewed sense of what it means to be a citizen of a functioning democracy and what that demands from us in return.
“Natural warmth has the power to heal all relationships-the relationship with ourselves as well as with people, animals, and all that we encounter every day of our lives.”
“We’re like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand in hopes of finding comfort. This running away from all that is unpleasant, this continual cycle of avoiding the present, is referred to as self-absorption, self-clinging, or ego.”
“We’re all looking for a permanent reference point, and it doesn’t exist. Everything is impermanent. Everything is always changing- fluid, unfixed, and open. Nothing is pin-down-able the way we’d like it to be. This is not actually bad news, but we all seem programmed for denial. We have absolutely no tolerance for uncertainty.”
Joan Chittister, a Benedictine sister, writes with such grace and wisdom about topics perfect for my meditative time. Vision, an understanding heart, humility, soul, holy indifference, gentleness of spirit, imagination, questioning, emotional stability, purity of heart, inclusion, and nature of the heroic in life are the chapters you’ll find.
I’ll leave you with a few quotes… “Compassion is the ability to understand how difficult it is for people to be the best of what they want to be at all times.”
“We’re not here to suppress the gifts of others in order to make room for our own. We’re here to put all the gifts of humankind into the great pool of humanity so that, because of the gifts of each of us, we can all live better in the end.”
“There are too many people trying to get into Heaven who have yet to muster the amount of soul it takes to appreciate all the life there is on earth.”
“People who refuse to question all of the assumptions that underpin the way they live-on the grounds that to ask is a violation of faith-are people, ironically, who want cheap answers, not hard faith at all.”
“The societies we live in are increasingly making our minds ill, making it feel as though the way we live is engineered to make us unhappy. When Matt Haig developed panic disorder, anxiety, and depression as an adult, it took him a long time to work out the ways the external world could impact his mental health in both positive and negative ways. Notes on a Nervous Planet collects his observations, taking a look at how the various social, commercial and technological “advancements” that have created the world we now live in can actually hinder our happiness.” from Goodreads
I’m sure most of you have seen Humans of New York online. Brandon Stanton started taking photos of people in various cities along with a caption or story and his blog gained traction. By the time his camera found the humanity and exuberant essence of NYC, people were paying attention. And still are. This book was originally published in 2013. I loved every bit of it. The people, the quick story, the quote, the photos.
I can stare at these faces for days. In this over sized picture book, James & Other Apes, James Mollison exquisitely captures these 50 apes found in sanctuaries around the world. They are seen on all of their primate glory. The eyes are the window to the soul, after all. They are each identified by names with short bios at the end of the book.
The graphic biography all ‘ladies’ and the people who love them need to read. Even if you don’t read graphic novels you will want to get your eyes on this one.
I LOVED the art, but also the women included. I knew many, like Temple Grandin and Hedy Lamar, but there so many new names to me, like Agnodice, Clementine Delait the Bearded Lady, and Nazis Al Abid. I learned more about Margaret Hamilton and Mae Jemison.
This is a graphic bio of the time when she wrote Strangers on a Train and the lesbian thriller A Pinch of Salt under a pseudonym. A Pinch of Salt was later retitled Carol and is known for having the first happy ending gay characters had gotten in books.
Loved the book and recommend it. It was the Author’s Note at the beginning that hooked me. I left out more good stuff for brevity.
“This is a story I believe is worth telling. That being said, I want to be clear: The protagonist of this story is not a good person. She was deeply anti-Semitic, racist, and misogynistic, even by the standards of her time. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that many of her beliefs were nothing short of evil…
What a fun book this is! If you love Steve Martin’s humor and New Yorker covers you are going to get many chuckles at the mostly single panel funnies in this collection.
Interspersed amongst the rest is the story of Steve Martin and Harry Bliss, told in comic style, and how they came to put together this book. My favorite is when they were checking each other for ticks. It’s a great 20-30 minute read, sure to make you chuckle.
It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category.
Since I read over 100 nonfiction picture books for Cybils alone, this will be two separate posts (part one is here) SO MANY fantastic books!
This little forgotten story was made great fun by the humor of the words and illustrations. The mother and her son lived in the house as it was being rolled to a different location – for a whole month!
An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illustrator Dare Coulter. 56 pages, 2023
It’s a beautifully illustrated book that will generate great discussion no matter how old your child is. Alexander wrote this book after a conversation with his daughter’s teacher when he asked why she was teaching about the 13 colonies without talking about slavery. It belongs on all of the shelves! The illustrations were a mix of sketches, paints, and clay figures.
We Are Branches by Joyce Sidman, Beth Krommes illustrator. 40 pages, 2023
I’m obsessed with the illustrations in this book! Perfect for early elementary nature lovers.
It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category.
Since I read over 100 nonfiction books for Cybils alone, this will be two separate posts. SO MANY fantastic books! Let’s start with the ones told about specific people. The first two are my favorites.
Gage and I studied Antarctica this year so I was so excited to see this book on the Cybils first round reading list. I love everyhing about this book. Tom has many dangerous adventures exploring Antarctica. If cats have 9 lives, I think Tom may have been part cat. Sure to please any adventure loving kid.
What a beautiful, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, hopeful picture book about Sachiko Yasui, a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan during WWII.
Sachiko and her family always ate out of her grandmother’s bowl, filling it with the delicacies of the region, until the war forced plainer fare. At 6, she was half a mile from ground zero. It killed all of her playmates and one of her siblings. Two of her brothers died soon after from radiation exposure.
When the family went back 2 years later they found her grandmother’s bowl in the rubble of their home, unscathed. Every August 9, first her mother and then she, put ice in the bowl to remember those last.
I cannot recommend this book enough for your middle schooler, but be prepared to talk about death and the ugliness of war. Gage knew the details of the war but this story really brought the people to life.
Sachiko outlived her family and died in 2021 at the age of 83. I’ll be feeling this book for awhile.
In 1820, at just 12 years old, he made his way from Philadelphia to the White House to work in the kitchen. He served 3 presidents before heading home and opening up his own ice cream shop where his innovation led to shipping ice cream to other cities.
Performing in the air from a young age, Tiny Broadwick became the first woman to parachute from an airplane. Often overlooked because of her size, she proved underestimating her only made her work harder. Inspiring.
“Beulah’s brain worked differently. She had hyperphantasia, which meant she saw things in extreme detail in her mind, as well as synesthesia, which caused words and numbers and even music notes to show up as different colors in her brain. Beulah’s unique way of seeing the world helped her think up vivid solutions to problems—her hunches came to her fully formed with gears whirring and wheels spinning. She invented everything from a new and improved parasol to cuddly stuffed animals and from ice cream makers to factory machinery. Beulah’s inventions improved daily life in lots of ways, earning her the nickname “Lady Edison,” and she became one of the most prolific inventors in American history.” from Goodreads.
My Night in the Planetarium tells a bit of the country’s history and politics (like a few pages worth, so it’s not overwhelming) with true experiences of the author’s childhood during the resistance.
Gage and I both loved the humor and conversational flow. I especially loved the real photos that were included and what happened after the night in the planetarium when the government police came for his family. Highly recommend for the older elementary and above reader.
In the 1960s she became a trailblazer as the first black woman on the TV show Star Trek, and she used her platform to make a huge impact for women in STEM. I loved reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence. And I just this cover!
The Emperor tasks Zhang Zheng with finding a way for the those in charge to know when deadly earthquakes have taken place. Great story and fabulous illustrations.
A fantastic book with excellent illustrations. The recurring theme was no matter what people said Salvador Dali just kept being himself. This was one of those quick reads when we studied Spain.
“She became fascinated by science as a child and grew up determined to find a way to use messenger RNA―a copy of a part of DNA that provides cells with instructions to make proteins―to help fight illness. An mRNA vaccine had never been made before, and she faced frequent criticism and was told by other scientists she would never succeed. Kariko refused to give up her research, and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she played a critical role in developing the successful Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine faster than any other vaccine in history.” from Goodreads
It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category.
As I pulled my 5* reads I noticed that this was my year of romance. I’ve always loved romance, but have read less over the years. This year I discovered and went on a bit of a reading binge on two of the authors on this list! I read my first three books by Ali Hazelwood and Katherine Center.
What a great modern day romance! I’m partial to historical romance, but love it when a contemporary is done well. I read People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry and liked it, but this one hit the sweet spot for me.
Literary agent Libby and book editor Charlie had a rocky start, but when they meet in an unexpected place feelings start to thaw and heat up. What reader doesn’t love a book about book lovers?
This is my first Katherine Center book and it was so much fun! In her author’s note she talks about this being a book she wrote during the first year of the pandemic and she wanted it to be full of “as much light as possible.” Mission accomplished!
Hannah was a workaholic who just lost her mother and had her boyfriend break up with her right after the funeral. She’s hired to guard Jack Stapleton, movie star and People’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive,’ after he comes back home and there’s a stalker situation. Hannah steps into the embrace of the family she never had.
This was my first book by Ali Hazelwood was so much fun! If you have a thing for smart men, are inspired by intelligent women, and love some spice then this is the romance for you! I loved this book. Stories set in academia always appeal to me. Pure escapism.
I loved this for so many reasons, but let’s start with two. I laughed out loud many times and was brought to tears once. I loved the dry humor, the puns, and the pure escapism.
Florence is the ghost writer for a bestselling romance author in NYC about to miss an impossible deadline when’s she’s called back home to her family’s funeral home in South Carolina. There we find out that in addition to being a ghost writer Florence also sees ghosts. She’s heartbroken in more ways than one, adjusting to her family and small town once again (um, so small the mayor is a dog 😹), when a familiar face shows up on her doorstep with a shimmery aura and a body you can walk through.
Even if you think you know how it’s all going to turn out, you won’t want to miss the ride. I listened to this and loved it.
Evelyn Hugo was a force to be reckoned with. Abused by her father and determined to become a star, she used the assets she was born with to reach the highest echelons of 1950s Hollywood. She reaches out to Monique, a relatively unknown reporter to write her life story and we find out what can be hidden during a lifetime spent in the public’s eye.
This was a fast read with highs and lows, but always at its heart, a story about the price of fame. I loved it.
I didn’t really know much of anything about it and went in blind. Finding some maptastic magical realism along the way made me happy 😁
Nell was estranged from her father and her college boyfriend for 7 years because of a disagreement at the NYPL map division, where they all worked. When her dad is found dead in his office it sets off a hunt that Nell can’t quite quit even at great danger to herself.
I really liked this one. There are a lot of characters, but one storyline. I liked learning more about map making. The mystery was good and told at just the right pace to keep me hooked. If you don’t like bits of magic in your book, you might try a different title.
This was the perfect book at the perfect time. I love when that happens! It was magical, romantic, and fun.
The Estrada women are tied to their Mexican flower farm. Each one of them, for generations, has been born with special powers and the ability to help others through spells, like erasing memories or bonding to another person. Harlow didn’t have any such gift and always felt like the odd one out. When she goes home to regroup after a breakup she finds the magic she’s been looking for her whole life.
There are lots of women in this family and something tells me we might see more of these women in the future.
Broken Girls was such a haunting read that takes place at a creepy boarding school for girls. It has a 1950s storyline and a current day one, both equally good, a rarity. A found body, a missing girl, a dead sister, a corrupt police department, and old prejudices make this one a fast read.
Oh, did I mention the ghost? I’m not into ghost stories, really, but this one was good!
This is reread number 54 of my comfort historical romance novel. Okay, I don’t have an exact number, but over the years I know it’s added up. Some books from your teens don’t hold up, ESPECIALLY romances, but this one continues to please. Lady Elizabeth Cameron is ordered to choose a wealthy husband. Ian Thornton has no intention of settling down. But, as often happens in a romance novel, sparks fly.
It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category. Here are the 12 nonfiction and 2 fiction middle school books that I rated 5 * on Goodreads.
What happened to Muzoon, age 14, and her family when the civil war in Syria started to hit too close to home? An escape that leaves the reality of ‘home’ a question. I think this will appeal to a lot of middle schoolers as well as teens. We need more Muzoons as role models for our kids (and even for adults like me!). Inspiring. (Amazon)
Do you have a political or current events kid? This is a visually inviting non-partisan book full of excellent information about the things Americans hold dear; freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. Told in a conversational manner with fun examples. (Amazon)
Do you have that kid that enjoys gross stories or interesting facts? This is sure to please. Full of fantastic illustrations and written with great humor and fun. It will teach them loads of history without them even realizing it! (Amazon)
A gorgeously illustrated book about the Japanese American incarceration during WWII, a terrible time in this country’s history. The photos and art make this feel like a graphic novel. While this is a middle school book, older teens would probably appreciate it more. (Amazon)
I ❤️ illustrator Jerry Pinkney and any fan of his over 100 children’s books is going to want to pick up this memoir. The copy was almost done, but only sketches of the final artwork were done before he died in 2021. The sketches were used in the book. This is for the artist in your life. (Amazon)
The story of the children put on trains by their parents to escape Nazi controlled homelands. The Kindertransport movement took almost 10,000 children to Britain at the outbreak of WWII. Most of them never see their families again. An important book. This is a picture book, but the content is best for middle schoolers. (Amazon)
A perfectly illustrated memoir about growing up in Cold War Russia. His observations on communism and his experience as a Jewish boy in Russia during the 1980s make this a compelling read. Told with great humor. (Amazon)
Timely. Important, Inspiring. Tackled big things with approachable ways to make a difference at home. Science is always evolving and it’s imperative that we all stay up to date. For that kiddo who loves science or is interested on conservation. Colorful layouts make it fun. (Amazon)
A fascinating look at the old, the new and everything in between. It’s an oversized picture book, but with lots of reading on each page with huge pictures and graphics. This covers things like mapping out a city, getting around, water, electric, food, at different points in history. (Amazon)
I loved the mix of women in this book! Most I’d heard of, but not all. I also loved the full page drawing of each. An entertaining and well laid out book sure to hold your musical middle schooler’s attention. (Amazon)
This oversized, illustrated picture book was SO MUCH FUN. The professions start with the oldest and end with a job that Jason had when he was a teen, sadly extinct now. And, no, it wasn’t a professional fartist, walking toilet, or ornamental hermit, althought those are all in here! Buy it for a kid, but make sure you read it yourself first. (Amazon)
Presents 50 quotes from Poor Richard’s Almanac with a bit of history. I loved the full page illustrations. An appealing book that has bite-sized life lessons. (Amazon)
This book was so good I didn’t even mind that it made me cry twice. Not just tears in my eyes, but having to close the book and grab some tissues.
Conor’s mom has been sick awhile and he’s having trouble at school. When a monster appears he’s scared, but nothing can be as scary as his nightly nightmare. The monster tells his stories and Conor’s life continues to get worse.
This is the illustrated version and it’s so good! This is a kids book, but it goes to dark places. I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s so much to say!
This is a middle school book, but with teen issues. (Amazon)
Ann-Marie and her best friend Ellen are making the best of growing up with Nazis on every corner of their town, until one night the unthinkable happens at the local Jewish synagogue and now the Nazis have a list of Jews. Ellen’s parents leave her with Ann-Marie’s family as they flee and what happens next is so emotional and horrifying that I became attached very quickly. Ann-Marie and her family take extraordinary risks to do the right thing.
Historical fiction at it’s finest. This is was a Newbery Award Winner for a reason. (Amazon)
It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category. Let’s start with Elementary Picture Books (fiction) that I rated 5 * on Goodreads.
I’m recommending you put these under the tree for your littles, middles or put them on hold at your library. If you head over to my Instagram I’ll be including a quick video of each so that you can see some of the pages inside.
Your kid is never to old to read picture books. Give them one at breakfast and talk about it. Read it before dinner and discuss. So many picture books have great things to discuss. In particular, Addy’s Cup of Sugar and Last Flight will benefit older kids and the discussion will probably stick with them.
As I ‘tallied’ this list I was pleasantly surprised at how many countries are represented!
The Yellow Ao Dai by Hanh Bui, illustrated by Minnie Phan. 40 pages, 2023
A beautiful story on so many fronts. It showcases the history of the Vietnamese Fan Dance and the girl’s connection to it through her mother and grandmother. The small girl tries to hide something from her mother and the resolution of this was my favorite part and further enriched the circle of past and present. And to top it off, the illustrations are so colorful and fun. A perfect read aloud for elementary kids. (Amazon)
Have you had to deal with the death of a pet (or even a loved one) with a child? It’s tough enough for adults and a child has little way of making sense of it.
Addy’s cat was killed by a car and she asks Stillwater to help bring him back to life. Stillwater says he can help, but first Addy needs to borrow a cup of sugar from a neighbor, but not from any home who has lost a loved one. Sounds easy enough but as Addy learns, loss is a part of everyone’s life.
It’s based on the Buddhist legend, The Mustard Seed, but it is a book for any faith (or none at all). (Amazon)
This oversized picture book is gorgeous. Gage loves choose your own adventure books and when I saw this I knew it would be fun lunchtime browsing material. After he chose at least a half a dozen endings he rated it a 10 out of 10.
There are a few favorite fairytale characters you can run into and some of them are scary 🐺. The illustrations are great and the reading level is maybe 3rd grade? It’s a great gift for your younger readers and one they can proudly display on their bookshelves. (Amazon)
This troll book based on a Noregian folktale about Halva and her foundling pet polar bear is a Christmas story sure to entertain the older elementary set. The troll illustrations alone are worth a look. (Amazon)
Rainbow Weaver by Linda Elovita Marshall and Elisa Chavarri. 34 pages. 2016
This is everything a kids picture book should be. A story set in modern day Guatemala about a little girl born of the Mayan weavers who finds a very timely and creative way to solve more than one problem. Based on what’s really happening. Gorgeous artwork and told in both English and Spanish 😍 (Amazon)
A very creative story that will engage the older elementary kid. Ideas weren’t being shared and the inventions, songs, and performances were overwhelming the Cave of Untold Stories. Encourages creativity and putting thoughts and ideas out into the world. (Amazon)
The Pear Tree. A folktale retold by Luli Gray, illustrator Madelyn Goodnight. 40 pages. 2019
A great folktale about when Death comes to visit. I’m a sucker for a these folk retellings and this was well done. I’ll admit that the adult reading this to/with their child will get more out of it than the child. You’re welcome. This retelling is based on an old folk tale called Miseria y la Muerte. (Amazon)
Varenka by Bernadette Watts. 32 pages. 1971
A Russian folktale with the miracles of faith and the horrors of war. (Amazon)
I’m not the biggest fan of wordless books, but this is the exception. It’s a fantastical story of a tree that’s made into a brown paper bag and given to a boy at the store. It’s conservation at its finest and will make kids think about reusing instead of throwing away or even recycling. (Amazon)
Every year a boy and his parents visit his grandparents for the Dragon Boat Festival. The festival honors the patriotic port Qu Yuan. I love the inclusion of so many Chinese traditions and foods as well as the end pages that give more information. For the older elmentary kiddo. (Amazon)
Last Flight by Kristen Mai Giang, illustrator Dow Phumiruk. 56 pages. 2023
Historical fiction at its finest. In 1975 the last flight out of Saigon, over 400 children flew out of war torn Vietnam. This is written by one of the children on that flight. This is mostly fact, not fiction, so please share with your child when discussing the Vietnam War or that some heroes you’ve never heard of do miraculous things, like Allan Topping and his adoption of 463 children so that they could escape the country before its surrender. There is additional historical information in the last few pages. This is for older elementary kids because of its length. (Amazon)
September is coming to a close and my favorite month is about to begin. Cheers to all you fall lovers! I read 15 books this month, bringing my 2023 total to 201. I read 6 picture books (3 fiction, 3 nonfiction), 2 romances, 3 fiction, 2 thrillers, 1 kids fiction, 1 inspirational.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Rainbow Weaver by Linda Elontz Marshall and Elisa Chavarri is everything a kids picture book should be. A story set in modern day Guatemala about a little girl born of the Mayan weavers who finds a very timely and creative way to solve more than one problem. Based on what’s really happening. Gorgeous artwork and told in both English and Spanish.
Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy by Joan Chittister. I loved it. I always get something I need out of Joan Chittister’s books and this one was perfect for me during this transitional time of Gage going back to school after 3 years of homeschooling. When you’re at a crossroads, or even at a place where you’re acknowledging that there’s something unfinished in you, this is a nice read. I read a chapter every morning for a few weeks and it was a nice way to start the day. Clink on the link to get some of my favorite thoughts from the book.
ALSO VERY GOOD
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood is very similar to The Love Hypothesis by the same author. It’s set in academia, has offbeat heroines and stoic heroes (unless there’s sex and then all bets are off), and an obvious attraction seen by the reader even though the heroine misses it. But, in all of the ways that TLH went over the top and sometimes missed the mark, this one didn’t. It’s a more mature story, complete with cats and near death experiences.
The Enchanted Hacienda by JC Cervantes. I’m a sucker for all things magical realism. This was the perfect book at the perfect time. I love when that happens! It was magical, romantic, and fun.
The Estrada women are tied to their Mexican flower farm. Each one of them, for generations, has been born with special powers and the ability to help others through spells, like erasing memories or bonding to another person. Harlow didn’t have any such gift and always felt like the odd one out. When she goes home to regroup after a breakup she finds the magic she’s been looking for her whole life.
Hello Stranger is the latest feel good novel by Katherine Center. Sadie is an artist in her 20s living in a not-fit-to-rent apartment on a dime. She’s just reached the finals of a prestigious portrait competition, when an accident and subsequent surgery cause prosopagnodia, an inability to ‘see’ faces.
Sadie’s family story was the most moving part of the story for me. Her mom was gone, and she had an evil stepmother and stepsister to make her miserable while her father looked away. Needless to say, I was rooting hard for Sadie.
Sundiata: Lion King of Mali. I’m a David Wisniewski fan. I always love the historical tale and the paper cut illustrations. If you see his books make sure to take a look!
Long Shadows (Amos Decker #7) by David Baldacci. I wrote about this series here.
The Sentinel (Jack Reacher #25) by Lee Child and Andrew Child. I’ve read this series from book 1 and love the character of Jack Reacher. This was the first that Lee wrote with his brother and another solid addition to the series.
Flying Colors: One Man’s Magical Journey to Find Fulfillment by Christopher Laney. John meets a mysterious man in an airport who opens his eyes to a different way to live, to new possibilities never dreamt of before. When John arrives back home to a job that is ready to serve up the life he’s always wanted on a silver platter, the memory of the man in the airport has him questioning what it is he really wants.
Stacy's Books 