2023 Five Star Picture Books (nonfiction)

December 26, 20233 Comments

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.

The Indestructible Tom Crean: Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic by Jennifer Thermes. 56 pages, 2023

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.

A Bowl of Peace: A True Story by Caren Stelson and Akira Kusaka. 40 pages, 2020

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.

Ice Cream Man: How Agustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman, illustrator Keith Mallett. 40 pages, 2023

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.

Tiny Jumper: How Tiny Broadwick Created the Parachute Rip Cord by Candy Dahl, illustrator Maithili Joshi. 40 pages, 2023

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.

One City, Two Brothers by Chris Smith, illustrator Aurelia Fronty. 32 pages, 2007

This folktale of how Jerusalem came to be is beautifully told and illustrated.

Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Anna & Elena Balbusso. 40 pages, 2023

Most of us know about Marie Curie. This is the story of Marie and her sister Bronia, successful in her own right.

Beulah Has a Hunch!: Inside the Colorful Mind of Master Inventor Beulah Louise Henry by Katie Mazeika. 40 pages, 2023

“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: A True Story About a Child, a Play, and the Art of Resistance by Innosanto Nagara. 24 pages, 2016

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.

Just One Pebble: One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger by Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky, illustrator Sara Casilda. 32 pages, 2023

An inspiring 9 year old who saw a problem and didn’t look away.

To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton, illustrator Lauren Semmer. 40 pages, 2023

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!

King Sejong Invents and Alphabet by Carol Kim, illustrator Cindy Kang. 32 pages, 2021

This tells how the 15th century king wanted ALL Koreans to be able to read and write. Knowledge is Power.

Zhang Zheng and the Incredible Earthquake Detector by Randal McGee. 32 pages, 2021

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.

Just Being Dali: The Story of Artist Salvador Dali by Amy Gullielmo, illustrator Brett Helquist. 40 pages, 2021

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.

Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines by Debbie Dadey, illustrator Juliana Oakley. 40 pages, 2023

“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

2023 Five Star Fiction Books

December 23, 2023December 23, 20234 Comments

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.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry. 377 pages, 2022

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?

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. 309 pages, 2022

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.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. 383 pages, 2021

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.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston. 368 pages, 2021

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.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 389 pages, 2017

This is so addictively juicy.

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.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd. 392 pages, 2022

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.

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C Cervantes. 368 pages, 2023

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.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James. 370 pages, 2017

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!

Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught. 544 pages, 1989

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.

2023 Five Star Middle School Books

December 20, 20231 Comment

Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out by Muzoon Almellehan with Weandy Pearlman. 299 pages. 2023

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)

Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid’s Guide to the First Amendment by Allison Matulli with Clelia Castro-Malaspina, illustrator Carmelle Kendall. 192 pages. 2023

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)

Plague-Busters!: Medicine’s Battles with History’s Deadliest Diseases by Lindsey Fitzharris and Adrian Teal. 176 pages. 2023

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)

Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adam’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration by Elizabeth Partridge and Lauren Tamaki. 132 pages. 2022

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)

Just Jerry: How Drawing Shaped My Life by Jerry Pinkney. 160 pages. 2023

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)

Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport by Caren Stelson, illustrator Selina Alko. 40 pages. 2023

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)

The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene Yelchin. 208 pages. 2021

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)

Climate Warriors: Fourteen Scientists and Fourteen Ways We Can Save Our Planet by Laura Gehl. 72 pages. 2023

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)

Cities: How Humans Live Together by Megan Clendenan, illustrator Suharu Ogawa. 96 pages. 2023

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)

Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music. 68 pages. 2023

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)

Astonishing and Extinct Professions: 89 Jobs You Will Never Do by Markus Rottmann, illustrator Michael Meister, translated by Ashley Curtis. 88 pages, 2023

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)

Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words: How To Work Smart, Play Well, and Make Real Friends by KM Kostyal, illustrator Fred Harper. 127 pages. 2017

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)

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. 237 pages. 2011

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)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. 137 pages. 1989

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)

2023 Five Star Elementary Picture Books

December 19, 2023December 20, 20231 Comment

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)

Addy’s Cup of Sugar: Based on a Buddhist Story of Healing by Jon J Muth. 32 pages. 2020

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)

Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! by Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat. 92 pages. 2022

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)

Sister Bear: A Norse Tale adapted by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Linda Graves. 32 pages. 2011

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)

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination by Brad Montague and Kristi Montague. 40 pages. 2023

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)

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole. 42 pages. 2020

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)

My Dragon Boat Festival by Bing Ge, illustrator Li Li. 32 pages. 2021

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)

Come back tomorrow for more 5* recommendations!

September Favorites

September 30, 2023September 30, 202322 Comments

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.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay. I just finished this last night, with tears rolling down my cheeks, so I need time to process. I’ll write up a review later this week. Have you read it?

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.

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.

Her Lost Words: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley by Stepahnie Marie Thronton. Another one I just finished yesterday so I need to write a proper review. If you have an interest in Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, or women’s issues of the 1700-1800s then this historical fiction is for you.

The Secret Life of the Flying Squirrel by Laurence Pringle. It’s the story of Volans and life with her 3 pups. There’s a lot of information in these 40 pages! Sure to please any animal loving kid.

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!

ALSO GOOD

A Picture Book of Anne Frank by David A Adler and Karen Ritz handled the story of Anne and her family perfectly for the older elementary, early middle school kids.

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.

Mysterious and mystical and a great first novel.

Tia Fortuna’s New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey by Ruth Behar and Devon Holzwarth led to the most discussion in the house. A fictional story that teaches about the journey of the Sephardic Jews from Spain to Cuba and some of the traditions that went with them. Loved the whimsical illustrations.

Sometimes a book just doesn’t work for you. Such was the case with The Magician’s Visit: A Passover Tale by Barbara Diamond Goldin and IL Peretz.

Favorite Author – Sarah Addison Allen

September 29, 20233 Comments

Sarah Addison Allen had me from the moment I fell in the love with the Waverly Sisters in Garden Spells. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, she brings that southern charm to her magical books. I’ve read all seven and she is one of my few auto buy authors.

These are her books listed in the order I like them best with a few of my thoughts on each and linked to my full review.

Garden Spells. Claire Waverly and her sister Sydney, were part of the Waverly’s of Bascom, North Carolina. The family that was just a bit off, strange, and they had that magic apple tree in the back yard. Claire stayed in the family home after her mother and grandmother died, but Sydney had escaped to New York and beyond as soon as she could. The sisters had never been close, so when Sydney returned to Bascom with her 5 year old daughter in tow, Claire was surprised.

Claire’s gift was affecting people’s mood and feelings through food. The garden was always in bloom, even if she had to put up with the trouble-making apple tree. Sydney had spent most of her life denying her Waverly roots, but even she found her special gift when she returned home. The only other family still around was a great-aunt who had the gift of giving people, even complete strangers, trinkets that they would soon need.

I loved this book. Loved it. It had romance, charm, and drama. The relationship between the sisters was compelling and the magical elements made it very light and fun. The reason that drew Sydney back to Bascom was a shadow hovering over the Waverlys and it provided a grounding effect for this magical story. I was drawn into their world and didn’t want to leave.

First Frost. As much as I really like Allen’s other books, and I’ve read them all, it’s the Waverley’s from Bascom, North Carolina that really make me happy. I want a magic apple tree and a special gift, I guess. Who doesn’t?

Ten years after Garden Spells the sisters and their Aunt Evanelle find themselves settled into relationships and trying to find their way, especially Claire. Claire is questioning her gift and the way that she’s using it, so she is ripe for someone to come along and shake her faith. And he does.

I love that Sydney’s daughter, Bay, is a major part of this story, coming into her own as one of the mysterious Waverley women. She’s 15 and knows her gift, only it has only made her high school experience miserable. I love how she is willing to be different at such a young age.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Emily recently lost her mother, the only family she has ever known, and is shipped off to her grandfather in North Carolina. Julia is from Mullaby but left as a teenager only to return as an adult after her father died. Both plan on being there for short time, but both find themselves with reasons to stay in the quaint, close-knit town full of secrets and charm.

I loved Allen’s first book Garden Spells and found myself almost as enchanted with this quirky and magical tale of lost love and the trials of growing up. She has a talent for making stories that are light and still satisfying. Oh, and romantic. Emily and Julia both found men to appreciate them even when they didn’t want to be appreciated. Julia’s story of her teen years carried the novel for me and I was happy to see her get her happy ending (this is Sarah Addison Allen so I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by saying that).

Lost Lake. There are so many things to love about Allen’s writing. She has a light, lyrical quality that encourages fast and happy reading. And even though I always consider her books happy, she embraces difficult topics, like how to move on when who you love has died. Her characters are always so true and somewhat quirky and the icing on the cake is the magic that movies the story along. All of these make her books a delight to read. This was no exception.

Lost Lake made me wish it were a real place so I could make my reservations today. I loved the idea of the whole town getting behind Eby so she doesn’t sell her property. I loved each unique character’s back story. They were all engaging. I loved the romance of Paris. This is great Southern fiction with charm and the magic of childhood.

Other Birds. There were ghosts, but it wasn’t a ghost story, there were misfits looking for a tribe, there was a mystery or two you didn’t even know needed solved, and there was love in many different forms. There were secrets revealed and secrets kept, invisible birds, and childhood trauma. Even with all of that going on at one this is, at its hear, a comfort read.

In an interview with the author she said that she always envisioned the setting first and that’s why it always feel like a character. This setting is the fictional Mallow Island, South Carolina, known for its marshmallows.

The Peach Keeper. Wall of Water, North Carolina, is home to Willa, Paxton, and Sebastian. Though none of them were friends in high school, Paxton and Sebastian are inseparable now. Willa own her own store and lives a happy but quiet life. When Paxton restores the Blue Ridge Madam, an old home important to Willa’s family, it brings a mystery that leads them both to their grandmothers, looking for answers.

The Sugar Queen.

Josey Cirrini is a 27-year-old who hides sweets and romance novels in her closet so her perfect southern belle mother doesn’t see them. She lives in servitude of her mother with no life of her own until a local woman shows up in her closet to hide out for a while, seemingly to escape a boyfriend. She draws Josey out of her shell and she starts to develop relationships that her mother doesn’t approve of. Chloe and Adam both give Josey the confidence she needs to take a look at life in the small North Carolina town where everyone remembers her as a mean child.

When Chloe had a need in her life the perfect book would appear in front of her. How awesome would this be? I totally loved Chloe’s story and her transformation. I think this is why I liked but didn’t love the book, I wanted Chloe to be the main character, not Josey. I wanted to give Josey a little tough love pep talk.

Any other SAA fans out there? What’s your favorite?

Top Ten Tuesday – Horses, Dogs, Bees, Birds, and an Octopus

April 11, 20234 Comments

Today’s theme for Top Ten Tuesday is books with animals on the cover. These are the first 10 I found on my shelves, both before and after. I snapped a few pics and then the wind had its way with my animal covers.

Books I read and loved

The Falconer by Elaine Clark McCarthy– such an unexpected little love story.

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova– magical realism is my jam.

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews– a fun beginning for this historical romance series.

Anything for You by Kristan Higgins– I adored the Blue Heron series.

Begin with a Bee and 50 Ways to Help Save the Bees– I love me some bees 🐝

Still to be read

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
When We Were Birds Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
The invincible Miss Cusp by Penny Haw
Once Upon a Wine by Beth Kendrick

3+ Books 1 Word – Pick My Next Book

March 30, 2023April 1, 20233 Comments

I saw this challenge over on IG (OliviaReadsFiction) and decided to try it with my TBR piles.
My word is LIGHT

📔The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
📗 All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
📙 All the Light We Left Behind by Tessa Harris
📘The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron

I’m going to let you all choose my book for next week. Which one should I start on Monday?

2022 Reading Stats & Reflection

December 31, 20223 Comments

What a reading year I’ve had! 417 books is my best year yet, quantitywise. I’m not sure about quality because I was reading so much and, you know, raising and teaching a kid and carving out time for a husband, and volunteering 🙂 I rolled over my book a day challenge from 2021 and made it until April 15 and also was a first round judge for the Cybils Awards and both of those things made this total high.

For the first time since I started blogging, I’m not choosing a top 10 for books or movies. I just don’t have it in me. I’m burned out. I did post my 5 star reads and that will have to suffice. I did do some statting (honestly, I’m making everything a verb these days, so why not?) and here’s what I found…

Books read 417

Publication year most read 2022 with 168 titles

Oldest Book Anatole & the Cat by Eve Titus (1957)

Non-fiction 286, Fiction 131

Top visited countries France (17), Canada (12), Australia (10)

Fave Covers